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Post by Stormrider on Apr 1, 2013 19:10:25 GMT -6
As the three ladies went back toward Rivendell, Andy followed behind them at a distance. He seemed to be deep in thought so was not paying attention to his surroundings or where he was headed when . . . wham! He bumped smack into Desi’s backside as she followed DaleAnn and Stormrider through a door.
“Hey! What?” Desi said. “Ouch!” moaned Andy rubbing his nose. Desi turned around and said, “Where did you stash my backpack? I would like it back right now!”
“Errr . . . ummm, It is in my room. Are you sure you want it back?” Andy hedged.
“Of course, I do! There are important personal possessions in that pack that I can’t do without! Lead the way.” Desi instructed pointing her finger down the hallway. Andorinha moved away and the three fell in place behind him.
Andy took the first hall on the left, then went up a flight of stairs and in the middle of that hall, turned right at the top of the stairs, kept going until that hall came to a T and turned left. At the end of that hall, he went up two flights of stairs, turned right again, and then right again, then down a flight of stairs, and took another left turn. At another T, hr turned right and then went up another two flights of stairs. He seemed to be trying to tire them out so they would lose interest and give up following him and perhaps forget about collecting the backpack altogether.
DaleAnn groaned. “Alright, alright. Rivendell is very large, but it isn’t all this complicated to find a room. It isn’t a maze or labyrinth after all! Stop your antics and give Desi her pack back!” Desi and Stormrider nodded in agreement and Andy sighed but continued on in the same manner for still sometime.
Stormrider issued a mild oath. “Blast it!”
Andy was grinning but kept going up and down the stairs, and left and right through the halls until he came to a door in the same hall as the room DaleAnn and Stormrider shared but his room was a corner room at the far end of the hall. He grinned back at them, pulled out a key, slid it in the keyhole, and opened the door. An odorifus smell blasted them and they staggered back three steps until the air began to clear.
“I thought they cleaned you up and discarded that old goaty-smelling vest!” DaleAnn shouted.
“They did, they did that, yes indeed!” smirked Andy. “But they didn’t take my other vest from me since it was in my roll hidden away so no one would see it.” He took the end of his roll and flapped it open. There buried in among a mound of many herbs, gadgets, food, and other clothing was another shaggy, goaty-smelling vest!”
“Gack! Gag!” the three ladies made vomiting sounds as they fought to keep the bile from coming up. “How awful keeping food mixed with all that other stuff!”
“There it is!” shouted Desi as she spotted her backpack leaning up against a wall with a window.” She rushed over, snatched it up, unflapped it, and reached her hand in while she peered inside. She evidently was satisfied that everything was still intact because she flapped it back shut and put it on her back. Desi caught a glimpse out of the window and motioned everyone over. “Come look!”
Everyone rushed over to see what was happening outside to spark Desi’s interest. Outside the window which faced the front, the group could see the nine members of the Fellowship gathered on the front doorstep. Aragorn was clad in rusty green and brown as a Ranger of the North with only one sword, Anduril (which had been forged anew by Elvish smiths in Rivendell from the shards of Narsil) at his side. Boromir bore a shield and long sword as well as his war-horn. Gimli openly wore a chain mail shirt with a broad-bladed axe in his belt. Legolas had his bow and a quiver and a long white knife in his belt. Merry and Pippin had the blades they had taken from the barrow downs and Frodo had Sting. Sam stood next to Bill, the pony, who was laden with food, the warm clothing Elrond had provided the company, blankets, and other needs.
The group looking out the window could hear a few snips of what Sam had to say, “Bill gave … a look … plain as … if you don’t … go with you … I’ll follow …”
They were waiting for Gandalf who had not come out of the house yet. Bilbo was huddled silently on the doorstep beside Frodo. Aragorn had his head bowed to his knees while the others stood in the shadows as grey shapes. Then Elrond and Gandalf came out together and Gandalf called them to him so he could say a few words.
The upstairs group caught a few words, “Ring-bearer … setting out … Mount Doom. On him alone … neither cast away the … nor deliver it … servant of the Enemy … go with as free companions … no oath or bond is laid … do not yet know the strength of your hearts.” Several others spoke but the listeners didn’t catch much of those comments.
Many of Elrond’s household stood in the shadows speaking farewells in soft voices. The Fellowship turned and crossed the bridge and followed the steep, winding path leading out of the vale of Rivendell. They turned for one last glance at the Last Homely House and strode out of sight.
“The departure of the Fellowship—The Ring Goes South.” commented DaleAnn in awe.
“I never thought I would witness this in person.” Gawked Desi.
“That reminds me.” mumbled Stormrider. Everyone turned their head toward her. “What?!” they said in unison.
“While DaleAnn was in bed for so long, I happened to meet Gandalf one evening in the Hall of Fire. He approached me and said he knew we did not belong in Middle-Earth and that several of our companions were becoming too involved in Middle-Earth and would not make it back to where we really belong. He said we needed some help but was not able to help us himself as he had very urgent and critical business he would have to attend to.”
“He did not mention what his business was to me . . . “ Stormrider continued.
“He knew he would go with The Fellowship, as we just witnessed.” commented Andy.
“Yes, but he made a suggestion meant to help us. He told me that you, Andorinha, were near and had friends among the Rangers of the North who had taught you many things in the short time since you dropped in to Middle-Earth. He said that although you may seem strange and ill mannered, you would be very helpful in our own quest.”
Everyone scrutinized Andorinha who had straightened up his spine, held his head up, while knowledge sparkled from his eyes.
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Post by Andorinha on Apr 17, 2013 0:37:03 GMT -6
"Yeah, mebbe I do know some of da guys, and some of the tricks of survival here. And while Princess DA has been snoring her head off, and Stormrider has been no closer to the dirt of ME reality than the stables of Elrond, and Desi was tucked up nicely in Butterburr's cleanest bed -- well, me and the Ranger boys were out doing the real work… Why, I even had to go through Bill Ferny's trash heap, you'd be surprised what the dark agents throw away: bits of plans, maps, a list of evil contacts in all the towns of the Shire -- the ole Sackville-Bagginses are in this deep, and just as crooked as an Orc's scimitar!
"Why you three would smell a whole lot 'goatier' than my second vest if you'd been crawling about with the Rangers through the Midgewater Marshes, Ferny's garbage, and half a dozen Dark Places in the Barrows, where the rotting undead like to jump out at you with a thin screechy cry of 'Boo!'
"Humpf, the way you three treat me, well I've half a mind to just take off. But I suppose Aragorn wouldn't like it, and Gandalf would chew me out proper… Guess I'm 'deputized' to keep you three out of trouble until you can get back to your original homes; or you just decide to stay and leave all that other existence behind, like Annie LT, Glorfindle, and Algamesh… Hmm, reminds me, whatever happened to that 'pinchy-guy,' that River's? Got a birthday card I was supposed to give him, late now…
"Anyway, Aragorn told me, he thought somehow that the Fellowship Quest, and your own travels are connected, that it may be your fates to find your ways Home through following the Fellowship to its end? He talks in hints, because he got his information from the 'Great Riddler' himself, Gandalf. So I'm to go along with youse, whatever you decide, and just make sure you don't wind up as some Orc's dinner…
"So, there it is, and, by the way -- there they go," he indicated the departing Fellowship through the window. "Where do you, er we I guess, go from here?'
Just at that moment Miriel, drawn by the odd scents escaping from Andy's room, pushed open the door and shrieked. "What are you four doing! Standing on the bed to look out the window! Muddy bootprints! You'll be doing laundry for the next week, if I have my way!"
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Post by Andorinha on Apr 20, 2013 12:34:38 GMT -6
While the four of them were doing the laundry, Andy started day-dreaming, and (as usual) he began to embroider the strict, pedestrian truth, preparing another chapter for his self-laudatory memoirs.
"Humpf, steal Desi's pack just fer dem gloves? Gotta be more to it, now lessee how should the tale have gone? Ah, I've got it!"
_______________________
How Desi Lost the Biscuits and Kept Her Life or A Wild Hobbit's Tale (or, A Hobbit's Wild Tale?)
Part 1
We have to back track about a week, and several hundred miles, to that moment when an over-trusting Desi nearly came to grief. Bree has always played host to a great variety of characters, most are simple, honest folk, ready with a smile; some are rude and rough (but still well-intentioned); while others are just plain rotten (Bill Ferny springs to mind!); and then there are those occasional few who are downright evil. It was Desi's misfortune that she came to the attention of one of the latter, a sneering Southron fellow, whose twisted features and sallow complexion gave him a decidedly goblinesque appearence.
From his hiding place in Bill Ferny's disreputable cottage, the Southron watched the four hobbits and Strider leave Bree. Sometime later, from the same coign of concealment, he watched Desi ride out a bit along the Ranger's trail, and watched her ride back again after losing their track in the wild country that lay east of the settlement. "Well, Strider knows his stuff," she respectfully opined to her mount, "four hobbits, a pony and his own big feet leave plenty of marks -- then suddenly they just vanish. I'll head back to The Prancing Pony for one more night of comfort, then make straight for Rivendell, I guess everyone concerned with this mission will eventually wind up there. But I wish I knew for sure where Stormrider and DaleAnn went."
The goblin-faced Southron marked her return, and decided she was a "character of interest." The surly, grumbling Bill Ferny, still sporting a bruised nose, was reluctant to tail the hobbit lass, reluctant also to show his wounded face in The Pony, but the Southron insisted, and put the fear of the Black Riders upon him: "You'll go spy on that hobbit, find out what she's up to, or the next time They come back this way, I'll suggest They have a nice long chat with you…" That threat did the trick, wicked as he was himself, Ferny fairly turned to jelly when he thought about those Dark Figures. Poor Bill, he had no way of knowing that the Southron was not really a close familiar of The Riders, being in fact a spy for Saruman, otherwise he might have simply turned the sneering rascal out. But covered in a cold, fine sweat of fear, Ferny went forth that evening, and entered the Inn.
Desi had been treated with some suspicion by The Pony's local crowd, but as she smiled often, talked quietly, and exhibited neither a "conjuring nor an acrobatic" flare -- and mainly because she spent her silver pennies freely, treating "one and all" to several rounds of ale, she was quite soon accepted.
"Well, I'll tell a feller, or even a lass," confided Mr. Mugwort, "it was the most 'orible night in Bree history! And I was right here and saw it all. First that Mr. Underhill commenced a singin', and it was right jolly stuff, but then he 'conjured' his-self across the room, and that's when all the strangeness started up! Don't hold with magiking, myself, unnatural talent fer a hobbit or a man. Then later that night, this very Inn was sacked, blades was drawn, and bolsters slashed, and the ponies and horses was stolen -- but it was worstest down at the gates where the Black Riders came breaking through, and hot as doom they tore up the road to the east. Uncanny things they was…" here Mugwort broke off to shudder, and took a long pull at his ale.
Watching Desi, who watched Mr. Mugwort closely, was Bill Ferny. Watching Bill Ferny watch Desi was a disreputable, Wild hobbit, tolerated here for his knowledge of herbs and simples which he gathered in his wanderings -- cures and palliatives for chilblains, melancholia, love sickness, and the rheumatics. He sat alone, in a dark corner, his solitude protected by a cheesy odor that kept most people at a goodly distance.
"You don't say, Mr. Mugwort!?" Desi finally got a phrase in edgewise. "But what about the other group, them that came through here just a bit later, that Algy fellow, Glor, Annie LT, and Stormrider, I think they were called."
"Oh, them, yes, they went through as well, kind of willful and strange a bunch, not quite sure where they was agoin' to, nor what they should be adoin' once they got there. And they had a wild man, Rivers it was, wid 'em. Lookee here -- he give me this blue mark, a nasty pincher he was! An' that DaleAnn as they called her, well, I can't prove it none solid like, there was that many villainous folk about, but I think it was she whot snatched my second best pipe, anyways it's gone now…"
"Oh my, that is horrid, snatch a feller's pipe, tch, tch, whot's the world coming to?" Desi commiserated. "But, at least they're gone now. That DaleAnn sounds atrocious, and I'll bet the Pincher was her lunatic brother, or maybe her lunatic lover, or maybe even both! Some people! Well, Mr. Mugwort, I'd hate to meet up with that gang -- so, er, do you recall which way they went, jest so's I can go the opposite?"
Mr. Mugwort gladly received a refill, and continued: "Well, they all went east, now didn't they, Mr. Underhill and that Strider, them Black Riders, and then the Pincher and that gang. And good riddance to 'em all, says I!"
Thanking Mr. Mugwort for the intelligence, Desi now knew all that she needed. She was obviously still some way behind Stormrider and DaleAnn (did DA really pinch old Mugwort's pipe?) -- but they were indeed heading for Rivendell, where she hoped to join them soon. As she passed out of the Common Room, she noted two suspicious strangers, one looked foul, and the other merely smelled it. She decided to ignore them both, but the stinky one had caught her eye, and he gestured peremptorily. Liking his looks only a bit better than his smell, she decided to find out what he wanted anyway.
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Post by Andorinha on Apr 20, 2013 12:41:18 GMT -6
How Desi Lost the Biscuits and Kept Her Life or A Wild Hobbit's Tale (or, A Hobbit's Wild Tale?)
Part 2
"So, you are trailing the folks what went out east, are you?" the smelly hobbit (Andy) asked. Then he plowed on without giving Desi a chance to answer. "You ought to be more careful here," and nodding towards the other dark corner where Ferny sat he continued "that one has a bad reputation in Bree, and he keeps even queerer company. He's been eavesdropping on yers all evening. Seems someone is interested in all the recent east-bound traffic, and yer like as not goin' to be stopped, if they have their way. Somethin' big's happening towards Rivendell, and every time someone goes out that direction, they get attacked."
This was uncomfortable news, Desi had been hoping for a quiet ride to Rivendell now that all the "action" had seemingly gone before her. But, apparently, if this fellow could be believed, some agent was still in this neighborhood, bent on preventing any more travelers from heading east. It occurred to her, that this smelly-fellow, just might be a part of the conspiracy, perhaps in league with the ugly customer in the other corner, at any rate he seemed overly concerned with her plans to go to Rivendell. "And you are? I don't think Old Butterburr gave me your name." Desi was angling for more information, and the hobbit facing her obliged. "They call me 'Andy' hereabouts, and if yer smart, you'll go back home before you get in too deep here -- and yers should know that the eastward road yer contemplatin', well it is a very dangerous path jest now."
Desi did not like his patronizing attitude, and thought he must be trying to frighten her, big mistake. "Well, I am, nonetheless, headed east, and your vague warnings will certainly not deter me."
"Hmm, well you are a brave lass then, or maybe jest a daft one, either way I should go with you, keep you outta harm's way a bit." Andy looked at her with his face turned partly sidewise, partly shadowed, and he looked not only disheveled, but decidedly like a rascal.
"You know, Andy, I think I'll do just fine alone…" and she rose abruptly from the table, cast Andy a withering glance over her shoulder, then aimed its twin at Ferny in his corner, and strode off to bed.
***
A bit later, shooting one last scowl at Andy, Mr. Bill Ferny rose, and rushed out of the Prancing Pony. When he got back to the tumbling pile he called his home, his "guest" was eager for the news. "So that hobbit gurl is heading east as well? Hmm, maybe we should stop her, eh?" Ferny asked. The Southron, was already scheming, there were too many people on the eastern road, potential allies of the Elves, friends of Rangers, and probably supporters of that wizard Gandalf -- who had himself gone through Bree just after Strider and his hobbits. So this "Desi," as Ferny had informed him, was another one of "them," and probably an "Elf-friend" too. He snickered, a foul and guttural attempt at a laugh, and set Bill Ferny one more task before the night was over.
Then the Southron started a flurry of kitchen activity, and soon had a tempting doughy mass ready for the baking. Ferny returned, with several handsful of a greasy/ resinous plant, sickly grey-green, but strangely pleasant in its scent, and taste. It was "hobbits-bane," and he mixed a heavy dose of the stuff into the kneaded dough, and broke it into cakes, each deadly to a hobbit. Ferny was vastly disturbed as the cooking cakes were divinely aromatic, and set his jowls to watering, despite his knowledge that a single, purloined bite meant death.
It was quite lucky for Desi that Andy had shadowed Bill Ferny back to his home, had peeped inside a window, watched the fatal preparations, and overheard the plotting duo.
The next morning found Andy "hanging about" The Pony, where he watched Desi preparing to leave. A small, pink-cheeked hobbit lad carried a basket of fresh-baked goods up to her. Some were from his mother's oven, and some he had been given by Bill Ferny, who told him they were especially for the hobbit lass "as a traveller's gift from the town." Desi's hobbit appetite was fully roused by the fragrances, "Mushroom-bread" she cried, "oh, please thank your mother, and here's a silver penny just for you!" The contents of the basket were soon transferred to her pack.
Her preparations nearly finished, Desi suddenly remembered that she wanted to leave a message with Butterburr, just in case DaleAnn and Stormrider returned to Bree. Dropping her pack next to her mount she strode away.
"Hah! My chance, and if I make sure she sees me, and marks the direction of my flight, why I can lead her directly to Rivendell, and at least get her away from this dangerous place." Doubled over, in a furtive stance, he ran toward Desi's pack, snatched it up, then gave her mount a deep, hard pinch, one of the Rivers' "flea bites," and the poor horse fairly screamed in rage and pain. Of course Desi whirled about, saw the crooked-smile of glee on Andy's face, then watched in shock as her backpack was swiftly carted off, due east, down the great road…
With an oath in some foreign tongue, she sprinted to her mount, jumped into the saddle, turned the horse and spurred it meaningfully. By this time, the nimble-footed Andy had entered a thicket just south of the road, and his form could only be glimpsed from time to time as his short legs windmilled, and he soon disappeared. Her horse refused the thicket, it was as close grown as a bamboo entanglement, but she marked the line of his travel, and with the last sight of Andy (and her pack) she saw he was still moving due east…
Later that day, walking her horse at what she guessed to be a "hobbit's trot" (she feared overshooting Andy) she caught several sightings of him, always just out of reach, on top of a steep cliff, or just being swallowed by another thicket. He entered a long open field, but as she began hoping to overtake him in the rough grass, he swerved into the outlying swamp-lands and disappeared for good -- but still headed eastward.
So it was, moving slowly along the road, hoping Andy would return to its surer footing, she gradually moved towards Rivendell. Unfortunately, for her purposes, she would arrive there a full day after her quarry. In the meantime, Andy removed all the biscuits baked by the Southron (eating those that the hobbit lad had provided -- delicious only as purloined food can be!). He then burned the poisonous things in his campfire -- drooling at the grand aroma they still possessed, even as they charred, then fell away into harmless soot and ash.
Of course, once confronted by Desi when she finally got to Rivendell, that dratted DA had spoiled the tail Andy had prepared, something about her Boxing Gloves, humpf -- Andy certainly preferred his own version, it set off nicely his "true" heroic character.
At this point in his revery, DaleAnn and Stormrider decided to pour a tubful of hot soapy water over him, and suddenly he was back in the Rivendell laundromat, spluttering with impotent rage.
Toweling off, he glared at three of them: "Well, when do we get outta here? I'm tired of all this washing, and the Fellowship ain't gonna wait fer us..."
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Post by Desi Baggins on Apr 25, 2013 6:44:02 GMT -6
Laundry! I hate laundry, Desi thought to herself. To think I left home to do laundry in Middle-Earth! That thought brought her mind back to her backpack and she recalled the biscuits that were missing from it. I hope Andy choked on them when he gobbled them up, she thought as she recalled they were they only thing missing. This then reminded her they needed to get on the road as soon as possible. "I guess we will all have clean clothes once we get on our way," Desi said glaring at Andy. "Well you are to be our guide on our travels so what is your plan?" Andy thought for a minute, "It is probably safest to travel during the day. We should pack and prepare today and leave first thing in the morning." "I will go to the stables and prepare the horses and ponies for our travels," suggested Stormrider. "I will go see about getting us food for our travels," offered Andy, "We don't want to be hungry." Desi couldn't help but agree, must have something to do with being a hobbit now that she was in Middle-Earth. Food sounded so good all of the time. Breakfast and second breakfast, so yummy, you can never get enough eggs or scones or coffee. Do they have coffee in Middle-Earth? At that moment Elrond interrupted their planning and laundry folding. "I need to speak to DaleAnn before you continue on your adventure." “Well then Stormrider you should head to the stables now and I will go with Andy to pack the food.” Desi followed Andy to the large Elvish pantry, there they were greeted by a few Elves that helped them with food for their travels. This basically meant that they were given enough lembas to feed the entire fleet of the Riders of Rohan. “Since Gandalf seems to think you are trust worthy just like he did Strider, I am going to trust you. However when we were at the Prancing Pony you creeped me out just as much as Bill Ferny.” “Well I am not sure why Gandalf is seeing me fit to be your guide, but I am definitely trying my best even though many times it doesn’t seem that way.” “I guess we are to mimic the path the Fellowship took, but I am wondering if there is a way to avoid the mines of Moria…”
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Post by Stormrider on May 10, 2013 19:17:41 GMT -6
As the sun was rising the next morning, the group was gathered on the front door step of Rivendell. Stormrider had the horses and ponies saddled and the packs were stuffed full of provisions thanks to Desi and Andy’s diligence. Elrond and DaleAnn, with her packs in hand, appeared in the doorway. They surveyed the group waiting outside.
“Your journey is now upon you.” stated Elrond matter of factly. “You must follow behind The Fellowship on their path but should you come close to any contact with them you must not interfere in anyway with them. Any interaction you might have with them could drastically alter the outcome of their very urgent and critical Quest.”
DaleAnn nodded to Elrond and stepped off the porch to join the rest of her fellowship. She flung her bags behind her chestnut mare’s saddle and fastened them on tightly and swung herself up into the saddle. Stormrider nodded at Elrond and urged Storm forward. Everyone else fell in behind her as they took the path The Fellowship had taken the night before, crossing the bridge and following the steep, winding path leading out of the vale of Rivendell.
A short time later there was a strange neighing sound that was part horse whinny and donkey bleat. "What is this mount youse picked for me, Stormrider?" mumbled Andy surveying the strange white and black striped critter he was riding. "It's not a smooth ride at all and has a weird neigh."
"The Elves gave me high praise for the Zebron breed that you are riding. They told me it is sturdy, wise, very brave, and, although small, can fight foes similar to the war horse known as a destrier in our own Medieval times." Stormrider assured him. "His name is Zonk."
Andy didn't seem very assured by Stormrider's recommendation of the beast and he continued riding with a frown on his face. "Zonk. Good sturdy name. I like it." he said. "I hope it lives up to the Elves' praise."
Several miles later, Desi said, “We should stop and make breakfast. That quick snack we had at the crack of dawn wasn’t enough to nourish us on a long journey.”
“Counseling with Elrond all night long, didn’t offer me any chance to eat much either.” agreed DaleAnn.
Stormrider rode up alongside the pack pony Andy was leading and rummaged through one of the packs on its back as they kept going. She pulled out a couple of leaves wrapped with lembas inside and passed them around to everyone. “I’m sorry but we should get much further away from Rivendell before we make any stop to eat. This will hold us over for a few more hours.”
“You are hard on us hobbits,” groaned Andy. “We have to keep up our strength by eating often.” Desi nodded vigorously in agreement. DaleAnn sighed but eagerly ate the fare offered to her.
“So DaleAnn what did youse two talk about all night long?” queried Andy. “Did youse get any helpful hints from Lord Elrond on how to go about this quest of ours other than not interfering with the “real” Fellowship? Does he corroborate what Aragorn told me that youse gals and my own fate are connected to the path The Fellowship took?”
“Yes, why do we have to follow along behind the Fellowship? What is the reasoning behind that anyway? Is there something to learn or experience from trailing them?” asked Stormrider.
“Yeah, why can’t we just go back to The Prancing Pony? That seems to be where most of us entered into Middle Earth, so why not go back home that way?” piped up Desi.
Between bites, DaleAnn nodded. Taking her last swallow of lembas she started to explain, when suddenly there was a strange sound like sled runners crossing a partially grassy and rocky path. From the forest on the left burst a team of eight very large and speedy rabbits pulling a dog-type sled with a long-haired and bearded elderly man in a brown outfit.
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Post by fanuidhol on May 17, 2013 15:35:33 GMT -6
"Seriously?!!!" DaleAnn exclaimed with no effort to conceal her exasperation and disbelief. The other females of the group gasped wide-eyed at her outburst. Andy, with a large mouthful of Lembas, choked out a neigh-bray to which Zonk made an affectionate reply. "You're the one." Radagast squinted as he pointed his staff at DaleAnn. "Take cover!" Andy dove off the Zebron, fearing that the wizard would turn DaleAnn into something unnatural at any moment. He scrambled behind a large rock. Radagast's attention shifted to Andy, "Little smelly one, why did you do that?" "Well, Mister Wizard, Sir...I thought you'd be...ahh...turning her into stone, Sir or...something. I didn't want anything ricocheting and hitting the rest of us...me...,Sir. Sorry, Sir." Andy was visibly trembling. "I will do no such thing," Radagast replied with a smile. Emboldened by that smile, Andy asked hopefully "Why not?" Stormrider, who had dismounted, kicked Andy in the shin, not at all subtly. Andy hobbled away to sit on the rock he had cowered behind. He rubbed his shin gently.
"Now, now, back to you," Radagast paced back and forth in front of DaleAnn, pointing his finger at her now and again. "Tom told me about you. Bombadil said you had deep roots in your reality. He told me not to bring my Bunnies. He said that you'd ruin the effect. He was right, and to top it off, you hurt their feelings. It was their idea. Well, actually, the idea came from Peter Cottontail...no, that's not right. Peter Rabbit...no. It was somebody named Peter, and they liked it and worked really hard to become a team. Tell them that you're sorry." DaleAnn reluctantly turned to the bunnies. They looked at her expectantly. "I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings." They twitched their noses in unison, which DaleAnn took to mean that they accepted the apology. Radagast was pleased. "Ok then. Let's have a proper breakfast and tell me everything." The Hobbits were especially grateful and quickly settled down to rummage through the packs. The wizard protested emphatically. "No, no, no! The animals first! Smelly one, there is timothy and carrots on the sled. Feed my bunnies, please. DaleAnn, there are apples, hay and more carrots in there. Please, give them to the horses. I'll start a fire and we'll get something cooking."
Soon, they were sitting around the fire with full bellies, recounting their adventures to Radagast. Occasionally, he'd stop them to ask questions. He was particularly interested in Elrond's counsel to DaleAnn. "Lord Elrond believes that if we interfere with the Fellowship, the story will not play out to its fate. That was his word 'fate'. Humans have free will so, we may affect how it transpires. The closer to Mt. Doom we get, the likelihood of changing the outcome becomes greater. Elrond warned me that this may be what the Ring desires. He thinks that we should follow Merry and Pippin into Fangorn and Rohan. But, at the last moment, we should hightail it into Mordor to witness the destruction of The Ring. He believes that witnessing the destruction will shock us back to our reality. Of course, he also, said it was our choice to do what we will." Desi wrinkled her forehead. "We have a chance to make Frodo and Sam's journey easier, if we get in front of them and clear the way. Frodo won't get stung by Shelob if we kill her first. Or maybe we're supposed to kill orcs so Sam can get to Frodo sooner. Stormrider pondered this for a moment. "Or maybe we're supposed to send them to rehab. Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. We're going to have to get through Moria, first." The thought of not helping Gandalf fight the Balrog weighed heavily on her mind. Desi noticed the same wrinkle in her mother's forehead that she felt on her own. "Oh boy...we're in for it." Andy muttered as he watched the exchange between mother and daughter.
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Post by Andorinha on May 20, 2013 13:24:37 GMT -6
When DaleAnn insulted the Brown Wizard, Andy rolled expertly to his left -- just hoping to be out of the peripheral blast zone should Radaghast deal somewhat severely with the scoffing lady… But the wizard seemed to be in a "forgiving" mood, he did not ensorcel her at all. As Andy trembled with suppressed rage he mumbled: "Drat that DA, should have been turned into something decidedly 'creepy-and-crawlie,' mebbe wid a hundred, jointed legs…"
Stormrider then booted him into silence -- not wanting the wizard to get any hasty ideas about wholesale transformations.
As he nursed his latest bruises, DA and the Brown Wiz chatted a bit, and she apologized to the sulky rabbits, then everyone amended their bruised feelings with another, impromptu meal.
After eating more than a hobbit's fair-share of the grub, Radaghast belched, toweled off his crumb-laden beard, and proceeded to tell them not to interfere, but nonetheless aid and assist Frodo where possible. "Typical Wizard talk -- 'do this, but without doing that,' and 'be careful not to get involved, but join right in.' Ha!" Then there was something about trailing the Fellowship all the way to Mordor, sticking close enough to Frodo so that the back-blast of the Ring's destruction might blow Desi, DA, Stormrider, and himself back to their Real Life homes…
"Hmm, we'll be lucky if we don't simply die there, vulcanized by the Mountain of Doom's volcanic eruption. Hobbit-a-live, these danged wimmen are really gonna be the death of me," he thought, then added aloud as he caught Desi and Stormrider's seemingly hopeful exchange concerning the possibility of fighting Durin's Bane on some sort of bridge in Moria: -- "Oh boy…we're in for it."
With a clash and a bang, and the ear-torturing scream of iron runners moving quickly over the rocky soil, Radaghast, having seen that there was no more food in the offing, whipped up his bunnies, and was soon quite out of sight.
"That was enlightening," said DA, trying to pretend that she fully understood the Wizard's message. "Er, did any of you others take his meaning?"
Desi muttered, "Er, I guess, you know, we just tag-along after the Fellowship, if we want, eventually, to get home?"
Stormrider said "Yeah, I got that impression too."
"Well, 'ladies,'" Andy interjected, "I guess we get saddled up, and head south-east."
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Post by Stormrider on May 20, 2013 22:30:15 GMT -6
Stormrider was looking rather grumpy. Her brow was furrowed deeply and she had been silent for several hours since they had set out on the road again after Radagast’s departure. Desi seemed rather subdued, too.
Dale Ann rode up between the two of them. “So why are you so glum? You haven’t said a thing for two hours and I’m tired of conversing with Andy.”
Suddenly Zonk’s striped nose crept up alongside with Andy bouncing atop. “And what’s so boring about talking to me? You ain’t such a brilliant talker yourself.” He sniffed.
“Never mind that!” Dale Ann returned. “Something is wrong because Stormrider and Desi are awfully quiet.”
Andy craned his neck to look up at Stormrider (he couldn’t see Desi since she was on the other side of both Stormrider and Dale Ann). He did see that Stormrider looked troubled. “What’s wrong wid youse two?”
Stormrider shook her head and softly said, “If we go into Moria, what will we do with the horses? I can’t leave Storm. I followed her here and she has been with me the whole time we’ve been in Middle Earth. I’ve had her since she was two years old and she is my best friend and partner.”
Desi’s voice piped up from the other side of Dale Ann. “That’s been worrying me, too. I’ve had Melony since she was four and we have been through so much together. I don’t want to abandon her. But Gandalf, Elrond, and now Radaghast say we have to follow The Fellowship to get back home.”
Dale Ann and Andy exchanged glances. “I guess I never thought about that much.” admitted Dale Ann. “Sam let Bill go at the West-door. Couldn’t we do the same with our horses?”
“Yeah, they‘ve all got each others to stick by themselves.” piped in Andy. “They would be a herd and keep watch over each other.”
“I suppose we will have to do that but I still don’t like that idea. It would feel like I am abandoning her. Just look at these big soft brown eyes and trusting face.” Stormrider leaned forward in her saddle and stroked Storm’s neck. Desi nodded, “And Melony would think I don’t love her anymore.”
“They will be fine with the others. They can make their way south. Maybe they will all find Bill the Pony.” Dale Ann reassured Stormrider and Desi.
“Yeah. They have Zonk the Wonder Zebron and war pony to protect ‘em.” added Andy. “Look how tough he is: sturdy legs and big hooves to stomp and kick, thick strong neck, big teeth to bite an attacker and toss him/her/it a mile away.” He grinned a big toothy smile.
Stormrider‘s lip quivered, Desi’s frown smoothed, and suddenly all four of them burst into laughter. They laughed a while longer. “Youse goils are sure sentimental.” noted Andy.
Stormrider sighed. “At least we have several more days to be with them before we have to turn them loose.”
She turned to dig something out of one of her backpacks. It was her copy of The Lord of the Rings, the one she had when she first arrived in Middle Earth. She paged through it and found one of Tolkien’s maps showing the mountains running from Rivendell, past Moria, and further south toward the tip where Isengard was located. As she slowed down and finally stopped riding, everyone gathered around to re-familiarize themselves with the map.”
“We can send them south after the Redhorn Pass and just before we have to turn toward the West-door.”
Packing the book back in the saddlebag, the group returned to riding. A little while later as it began to turn to dusk, they decided to stop and set up camp for the night.
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Post by fanuidhol on May 22, 2013 10:18:24 GMT -6
"Yer lucky Zonk hasn't kicked yer Ladyship. Can't you control her? That's the third time she's nipped his rear in less than 15 minutes." Andy, on Zonk, had taken the lead once they left their campsite. He set a leisurely pace, slow enough to count the dead blades of grass they passed on their trail. They had to ride single file, for the last 3 miles, as they passed an especially rocky area.
"I don't know what has gotten into her, or the other mares for that matter. They are chomping at the bit, too. What do you think, Stormrider?" DaleAnn called out, over the head of Desi, who was next in line.
"They are acting strange, full of sauciness. Any ideas, Desi?"
Desi scratched her head, then patted Melony's neck. "I'm not sure, but, it looks like the mares want to go faster. Zonk seems like he's dragging his heels."
"If we don't drag our heels, we'll be on the Fellowship's heels, in no time. The maps at Rivendell showed that it was about 135 miles to Moria. Doz guyz are doing around 10 miles a day." But, Andy had noticed a reluctance in Zonk, as if he really wanted to delay the inevitable. The trail finally opened up. The mares quickly came up next to Zonk. Andy continued "We can either keep this snail's pace, if youze girls can keep your girls in line, or figure something else out."
The Branduin sparkled. "We could go fishing." DaleAnn piped up. "There's sturgeon in these waters." She didn't know where that came from. All of a sudden she actually liked to fish. She wanted a sturgeon for a trophy!
The mares all shook their heads. Lady took off galloping with DaleAnn holding on for dear life. It took awhile to rein her in. The others soon joined DaleAnn down the trail. "Wow! The only thing that stopped Lady was me telling her that I wouldn't go fishing. Do you think they know common speech?" DaleAnn eyed the other horses suspiciously.
"So, it's time to 'figure something else out'. I don't think the mares will let us stay behind the Fellowship." Desi stated matter-of-factly.
DaleAnn announced "Here's our choices: Beat the Fellowship to the door and go through Moria ahead of them..." DaleAnn trailed off as the horses shook their heads and stamped the earth. "I don't think they like that idea."
Stormrider pondered "What if we ended up on the other side of the mountains and go through the exit...just far enough in to lend what aid we could to help the Fellowship get out?" All eyes were on the horses to see if they liked this idea better. The mares nodded their heads. Zonk remained neutral. "Quite odd," Andy wondered while staring at Zonk. "Which way would youze horses like us to go? Redhorn Pass or the Gap of Rohan?"
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Post by Andorinha on May 29, 2013 23:12:29 GMT -6
There seemed something decidedly peculiar in allowing their mounts to make so momentous a decision, and Andy shook his head a number of times, hoping that the convulsive movements might shake loose some better plan of operation. But nothing seemed to come. The three mares were vastly intent upon moving southward, or eastward wherever they thought they might meet up with Gandalf's Shadowfax…
Meanwhile Zonk exhibited some manifest signs of ambivalence -- apparently he had no great desire to meet the greatest of the Mearas.
"Well, I'm reckoning here that youse horses and us humans had better come to a dandy sort of compromise soon. From all the accounts of the place, hooves won't do in Moria, not to mention the problems of water and feed. So, if we humans wanna see the Dwarrowdelf, and maybe even help the Fellowship along, we'll simply have to split up. You horses find Shadowfax, yes, you too Zonk, you've got the only unhormonally twisted brain amongst your lot, you'll be needed to make the daily, rational decisions until you meet 'His Greatness,' the white horse."
Zonk looked disgusted, but he was indeed a very seriously responsible sort of Zebron, and realized that three half-crazed mares dashing about the countryside, wildly searching for Shadowfax, would be just as disastrous as the teeny-bopper hordes that had once chased poor Legolas nearly to extinction. He did not like the situation, but it was his duty to take care of the hormonally impaired mares…
To keep in the green grass, and out of the potentially choking snows of the Redhorn Pass, the Zebron decided that making directly for the Gap, and dashing into Rohan would be their safest road. Meanwhile Andy was busy convincing the "wimmin" that this would be best for them as well. "We can ride to Moria West Gate, get there before the Fellowship, let the horses go south to The Gap while we enter Khazad-dum. We might also be able to put that dreaded Watcher out of commission, at least drug him -- right DA? You've done some 'fishy' fishing in your time, and I bets you've done it on the sneak. You still got some of that rotenone* on you?"
DaleAnn blushed a bit, and mumbled, "Er, yeah, I guess I got some left…"
"Well, that's just whotcher need for poisoning, or at least dazing him what dwells in the water. Remember JRRT's tale? Well the Watcher was 'asleep' when the Fellowship got to the Gate, right? So, what if it was asleep on account of us spreading some of DA's fish-poison in that lake? See what I mean? Otherwise, if the Watcher is fully awake, the Wizard won't have time to figure out how to open the Gate. That Watcher will get 'em first!"
"Oh," Desi interjected. "I get it, we help out without letting anyone know what we're doing, sort of play within the boundaries of the tale, and give assistance without violating the story!"
"Yeah," Stormrider added, "and thanks to our having this dog-earred old copy of LOTR, we already know the secret word that will open the Gate. We can stun the Watcher, dash in, and make sure the path through Moria is open -- well, at least as far as the Chamber of Mazarbul…"
"Hmm," DaleAnn was chewing the inside of her mouth, fiercely concentrating. "Well, maybe it'll work, but we're going to have to be careful to stay out of sight of the Fellowship, and not provoke any concentration of the Orcs trying to stop us… But, at least we can be there to see Gandalf and the Balrog, though we've got to find a hiding place somewhere on the correct side of the bridge."
"OK, you horses got the plan?" Desi asked. "After you find Shadowfax, and we get out of Moria, we'll met you at the East Gate, or maybe on the road to Lothlorien."
The Zebron looked a bit skeptical, but the mares expressed approval -- the trek to the Gap of Rohan would be the easiest, and the better-fed route to Shadowfax -- none of them wanted to meet the Great Meara looking trail-worn and underfed…
"So, if that's all decided, let's move south and east through Hollin, and the better behaved you horses are, the sooner you'll get to see your legendary Stallion."
The company was soon moving once again...
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*Rotenone is a white chemical powder/ liquid used to assist fish poaching scoundrels who want to clean out an entire pond in just one afternoon. It stuns or kills the poor, innocent fishes, leaving them to be collected from the surface by the unscrupulous louts...
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Post by Stormrider on May 31, 2013 6:54:57 GMT -6
They began to head southwest in order to stay out of sight of The Fellowship. The country they were now in was rough and barren the further they got from Rivendell. The horses couldn’t go much faster than a walk with the uneven ground.
The mares settled back down and were no longer excitable since they were concentrating on their footing. Zonk and Paul, the packhorse, were pleased by this turn of events. Zonk led the group by picking out the best ground to trod. Occasionally they were able to pick up the pace with short bursts of trots as the ground allowed. Surely they were ahead of The Fellowship by a day already.
There had been no sun and the sky was gray and overcast. They were buffeted by icy blasts of wind coming from the mountains in the east. They rode as close together as they could get to keep warm.The days began to blur as each day was more of the same weather and difficult footing for the horses. It was nearly two weeks of this same dreary, cold weather and they were getting tired of it. A shorter section of the mountains curved away from the main mountain range in front of them now. Stormrider’s book confirmed that they were approaching Hollin Ridge.
Their spirits perked up and the mares became frisky again because the wind died down, most of the clouds vanished, and the sun came out. It felt good to have the sun on their faces. With the horses picking up a lope now, they began to make some good time.
“Look out toward the East.” pointed Stormrider. Everyone looked and they could see three mountains that were taller than the rest in the range.
“That’s Caradhras (Redhorn), Celebdil (Silvertine), and Fanuidhol (Cloudyhead),” said DaleAnn. “And Moria lies between and beneath them.”
“I hope there is still mithril in ‘dem hills.” said Andy. “Mebbe we can mine for some of dat pretty silvery stuff while we’re in there.”
“Don’t be silly,” sniffed Stormrider. “We can’t afford to stir up the orcs, trolls, and the Balrog!”
“Yeah, chipping away at the walls would get us in trouble for sure.” agreed Desi.. “Stirring up orcs and such would really mess up Gandalf’s group.”
“We will probably get lost in there.” shivered DaleAnn. “The Fellowship was guided by Gandalf and he had to stop and think which way to turn.” The three ladies looked at each other with big eyes.
“Don’t youse damsels worry. I’m here to save you all. Give me dat book Stormy and I will make sure I memorize all the turns Gandalf took.” Andy said confidently.
“That’s a very good idea, Andy!” agreed DaleAnn grudgingly. She hated to admit Andy had a worthwhile idea. “When we make camp tonight we will all study it.”
They continued loping and when they reached Hollin Ridge, they continued on over a lower section until they were on the south side of the ridge and made camp. Desi and Stormrider settled the mares, Zebron, and packhorse for the night. DaleAnn and Andy set up the camp, got a fire going, and began to make dinner. This was the first time they had lit a fire due to the windy weather and the first good hot meal they had since they started.
After they settled in they took out the book and memorized all of the twists and turns of the passage The Fellowship would take and the places Gandalf had to make decisions about. Reading inside the dark halls would be difficult. They slept well that night confident that they would not get lost in Moria.
* * * The next morning they ate a quick breakfast so they could be on their way as soon as possible. It was another sunny and warmer day and traveling was easier. They broke into a lope again for a while. Then to give the horses a rest, they walked for a while and chatted quietly. Suddenly Andy said “Shhhhh! Listen!”
They stopped talking and strained to hear what Andy heard. “We don’t hear anything!”
“Yeah. It is just too darn quiet, it isn’t right. We should hear birds chirping and our voices are making the ground echo. I feel like we are being watched.”
“Let’s ride quietly then and keep a watch. Gandalf, Elrond, and Aragorn didn’t recommend Andy for no reason. He does have some ranger experience after all.” stated Stormrider.
“Hey! Look way back where we came from, past Hollin Ridge.” Desi pointed. “What’s that black cloud?” Everyone looked.
“It’s the crebain!” DaleAnn said. “We better hide in that gap in the mountains over there and get up against the wall and look invisible!” They took off at a gallop and were soon plastered against the wall of the mountain. They were at the start of the Redhorn Pass. After a time, they could see the crebain fly overhead and away. Slowly they emerged and continued on their journey. They kept looking at the sky watching for more crebain.
Off in the distance, they could hear the howl of wolves. The horses were getting very jittery, even Zonk. They decided to gallop to distance themselves from the wolves.
“Those aren’t ordinary wolves -- thems Wargs.” commented Andy. “That’s right, the Wargs attacked The Fellowship.” agreed Stormrider.
“We are getting near to the West-door of the Mines of Moria then.” commented DaleAnn.
They continued on at a lope until it was later in the afternoon. Sounds of the Wargs faded.
* * *
Suddenly Lady, Storm, and Melony began prancing and Zonk laid his ears back. Paul was an easy going gelding and was happy just to stay with Zonk. The ladies had to keep tight reins on their mares to hold them back while Andy had to give Zonk a couple of good kicks to get him to move forward. Storm nickered, Lady neighed, and Melony stomped her feet. Zonk planted his feet firmly and wouldn’t move. Paul stayed with Zonk since he was on a leadline.
There was an answering whinny around a bend in the mountain and then the most fabulous white horse appeared at a gallop. The mares took off despite the ladies trying to hold them back but Zonk wouldn’t move. Andy kept kicking and smooching to his Zebron but it seemed fruitless. Then he dismounted and tried pulling him by the reins but he still wouldn’t move.
By this time, the mares had reached Shadowfax – for Shadowfax it was! They eagerly surrounded him and he welcomed them with nickers, whinnies, and some nuzzling. As soon as they reached him, the mares settled down and the ladies could control of them.
“He is gorgeous!” stated DaleAnn. “Magnificent!” said Desi. “Breathtaking!” agreed Stormrider.
Shadowfax stomped the ground with his foot signaling for the mares to hold back. He loped off toward Zonk and Andy firmly and assuredly until he was 10 feet away from them. Zonk watched the magnificent stallion skeptically. Shadowfax neighed and bowed toward the Zebron. Zonk stepped back in surprise jostling Paul a little. Zomk’s ears went straight up but he began to relax. Shadowfax came forward until he was directly in front of Zonk, then turned with a swish of his tail and loped back toward the mares. Zonk took off after him with the pack horse follwing behind. Andy, who was still grasping the reins, ran alongside his Zebron! Suddenly, Andy managed to bounce up off the ground and pull himself up into the saddle again.
The ladies were getting teary eyed because they knew it was time to dismount and unpack their horses. “What are we going to do about our saddles?” asked Desi. “Good question.” wondered DaleAnn. “We can’t drag them around with us through Moria.” stated Stormrider. “Why don’t we leave them on the horses?” asked Andy. “With the long journey ahead of them, it would be dangerous to keep them tacked up.” said Stormrider. “The stirrups or other parts of the tack could get caught on brush and they could get hurt.”
“Well, I guess we will have to leave the saddles and reins and get more later. We can always ride bareback.” Commented Desi. “By the way, Andy, that was some awesome stunt riding you did back there. Just like I do on my Dare Devils Equestrian Drill Team back in my real life.”
Andy blushed. “Aw shucks. I didn’t even plan to do that. I just had to otherwise I would have been drug across the ground and I don’t like getting banged up.”
After the horses were unsaddled, brushed down, and the dwindling food and gear was rearranged from the pack horse distributed among them, they said farewell to their mounts.
“Shadowfax will lead you to safety and protect you.” said Desi as she rubbed Melony’s neck. “We will be together again soon, Storm.” Stormrider hugged Storm. “Lady, you watch out for Zonk, too.” smiled DaleAnn as she gave Lady a pat on the rump.
“What’s wid this blubbering over da horses, anyway? Zonk you get along with da white stallion so youse don’t get bit now. Take care of Paul, too.” Andy scratched both behind the ears.
“Shadowfax, take good care of our friends and meet us on the other side of the mountain by the other door.” said Stormrider. With another bow, Shadowfax loped off followed by the rest of his new herd. The ladies all sighed, Andy rolled his eyes, and they headed toward the West Door on foot.
* * * As dusk approached , they made camp. They ate the last of the remaining real food and bedded down. The next morning they continued toward until they stood on a knoll and saw a narrow channel, with hardly a trickle of water flowing in its bed. They saw a broken path and hurried on. They came to the path a trudged along the winding path for many miles. They ate lembas and each had a sip of miruvor to revive them and continued on until they rounded a corner and saw a low cliff with water dripping down.
They found stone steps and came upon a dark still lake and the walls of Moria beyond.
“Alright DA, dole out dem packets of rotenone.”Andy whispered. DaleAnn dug through her packs and handed each of them several packets of the knock out fish poison. As they walked along the narrow path alongside the lake, they sprinkled the water with the powder. “Don’t be stingy with da stuff. The Watcher is huge. We wanna make sure it is stunned good.” The powder floated on the top as they flung it out as far as they could into the lake where it began to sink.
Now the sun was setting and the stars came out as they reached the wall and the moon shown on the wall. They starred at the wall and finally faint lines of ithildin started to appear. They grew broader and clearer until they could see the arch, Elvish letters, and anvil, hammer, and crown with seven stars.
“I don’t see any fish floating on the lake.” noticed Desi. “Are you sure that fish stunner will work?”
“I wouldn’t think there would be any fish in the lake with The Watcher in it. He most likely ate any that had been there.” answered DaleAnn.
They turned their attention back to the glowing entrance, looked at each other, and said “mellon” as one. The door opened and they all passed into the dark passage and started up the stairs that were bit farther down the passage. The door slowly shut behind them . . .
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Post by Desi Baggins on Jun 2, 2013 8:25:44 GMT -6
Andy took the lead, slowly taking them up the wide stairway. It was slow going in the dark. When they finally reached the top Andy said, “200 just like the fellowship counted.”
“Yep I counted that too,” said Desi.
They continued on through the arched passage onto a level floor. It became difficult to navigate the twisted passage. They kept stumbling into one another. That’s when Desi remembered, “Hold up I just thought of something,” she said as she took off her backpack and started going through it. She pulled out her cell phone turned it on and started her flashlight app. “We can use this till my battery dies, but it is fully charged right now.”
As they went further there were more twists and turns and they began to descend. The air grew warmer and they became hot and sweaty. The path became more rugged, there were cracks and holes in the ground. They even came upon the 7 foot wide hole they remembered the fellowship crossing. Stormrider complained she was hot and tired. Everyone kept shooshing her to be quiet, but the heat made her cranky.
Several hours had passed when they came to wide, dark archway that split 3 ways.
“This is where the guard room is,” said Desi pointing to a stone door to the left of the arch. “Let’s not go in there that’s where Pippin dropped the stone down the well.”
“Oh yes, this is where Gandalf stopped to think which passage to take,” commented DA, “but we know to take the right passage that leads up.”
“Let’s not rest yet, it is probably late about midnight. My phones time keeps changing times zones so I can’t rely on it for time. However if we go awhile longer we will reach a great hall and can rest there,” stated Desi.
On they went curving up when finally the path was wider. As they traveled on Desi’s light app still glowed and soon showed a more level and safe path.
“Thank the Valar,” exclaimed Stormrider, “it is finally cooling down.” Just as she spoke they came to an arched door way leading into a big black space. The walls were polished and shiny black and there were 3 other entrances.
Without word they all made themselves comfortable. Desi turned off her phone to conserve it. They all snacked on some lembas and drank water. Desi woke to find Andy awake and she knew he had not slept, but stayed awake to keep a look out.
“We have to go through the tomb and out the side passage to the bridge,” announced Andy out of the blue.
They were all nervous about the tomb hoping they made it quietly and safely through without disturbing orcs or trolls or who knows what else.
The others began to wake and they packed back up after grabbing another bite to eat. They all feared this part of the journey. They had to be quiet and not disturb anything, they were in fear or their own lives and in risking the fellowships journey. They traveled through the side passage which led them back down some stairs. Desi had her light back on the help guide and Andy was up front still leading. The path went straight, no turns. They descended down more stairs and it was hot again though Stormrider was too nervous to complain.
Andy whispered, “See the red glow? It is the fires on the lower levels from the orcs, the bridge is through that arch on the other side of the second hall.”
They went through the second hall which was not in nearly as good shape as the other they had been in. There were cracks and fissures in the floor. It was a much more rugged build, trees held the roof up. They hurried through the hall and when they came to the end of the hall the floor dropped off and there was the narrow stone bridge. Desi turned off her phone, she hated heights and bridges.
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 2, 2013 23:29:16 GMT -6
Andy led them towards the narrow span. They walked single file, midway between the abyss on their left and the chasm to their right. Andy stopped and considered the bridge. With a decisive quarter turn, he continued on to the south wall. The ladies, however, remained rooted to the spot in front of the bridge, looking first across the way and then, at Andy. In the red glow of the chasm, he could see the look of disbelief from Stormrider, chilling anger from DaleAnn, made more ominous in firey glare of the fissure and a hint of relief from Desi.
He returned to the women when he realized they would not move in spite of all his beckoning gestures. "Explain yourself, you yellow-bellied old goat", hissed DaleAnn too loudly. "I will, I will. Let's get in the shadows over there." pointed Andy, to the place he had just left. Realizing their exposure for the first time, the women finally agreed. Together, they walked to the area Andy had chosen against the southern stone wall.
"Think about this", started Andy, "what's on the other side of the bridge?" "The way out..." offered Stormrider. "Orcs!" interjected Desi. "Yes, Orcs. We don't know percisely when Pippin will drop the stone down the well, alerting the Orcs and the Balrog. It will be hours after that, for the attack on the Fellowship to commence. If we are seen by those orcs guarding the Gate, they might forwarn the other orcs. Who knows what will happen to the nine walkers if that's the case?" "Ok, ok, Andy. I see your point." DaleAnn said. "We camp here until all hell breaks loose." "To drive the point home, we know that no orcs impead the Fellowship's from this direction. Not until they are at the gate. This is the safest place to be, I hope."
They tried to relax, but, none could sleep. Each one became lost in their own thoughts. Sormrider broke the silence. "I'm surprised that we haven't seen Gollum. I guess we aren't interesting enough. Or maybe your flashlight scared him away, Desi." "You'd think he'd be interested in a Baggins, any Baggins. I've been thinking he'd pop up any time I just can't figure out when he might or how." Desi replied. "Gollum could still pop up." echoed Andy.
DaleAnn, however, was mulling over her last conversation with Lord Elrond in her mind and didn't pay attention to the exchange. "I wish he knew for certain that this plan of going to Mordor would work. What if it doesn't?"
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 20, 2013 9:42:29 GMT -6
Swoppsies: A Ring for a Swing?
Andy was considering their current predicament. They were "Between Chasms," but off toward the southern wall of the great chamber he could see that the upheavals which had split the floor had brought down heaps and piles of rock. Some of the stuff had slid down from the wall, while other masses had plummeted directly from the ceiling -- and in that broken landscape, behind and among the tumbles, they could find some protection.
"Well, let's get way off over there." Andy said as he pointed toward the "corner" formed by the southern wall and the dark stillness of the bridge chasm. The company would have the security of the wall behind them, and the chasm to one side -- leaving fewer directions from which enemies might approach. Grabbing their gear they started a quick trundling shuffle towards the corner. "Quickly, but quietly!" Andy ordered. Unfortunately, there was a broken line of rock running across the floor, upon which Desi stubbed her bare hobbity-toes, cutting and bruising them on a sharp, protruding edge of the adamantine stuff. She squealed (in a shrill imitation tea-kettle sort of way) sending harsh, ear-jarring echoes throughout the place.
"Desi Baggins! What have you done?" came Stormy's immediate cry. The name Baggins bounced in a booming way from wall to wall. "You clumsy, furry-footed, thick-pated…" the rest of her imprecations trailed off, and she pointed a jerking finger toward the corner into which they had just been charging. Apparently, something else had decided to take advantage of the safety that the dark tumbles offered, as two pale and greenly luminescent spots glared out at them. The four companions skittered to a halt, and an open-mouthed Stormy hissed: "It's that dratted, dreadful Gollum, it isss…"
While the others stood shocked, Andy reached into his knapsack, retrieved a very heavy cast iron skillet, and cast it! The awkward missile was flung-true, and it smacked Gollum a good one on the dome of his unprotected head. He convulsed a bit upon the floor, and then grew ominously still. "Way to go Andy, now you've done it -- you just killed Gollum! How ever will the Ring be destroyed without him?!" DaleAnn wailed, and Desi gnashed her teeth a moment and then sobbed: "Will we ever get home again?"
Acting in concert they all dashed forward, bent over the recumbent Gollum, and while one started checking for a pulse, another put an ear close to the creature's mouth hoping to catch a still rattling sign of a breath. "He's alive!" they shouted simultaneously. Stormy began rummaging in her pack for the first aid kit, while Desi tried throwing about half a canteen of tepid water on his bloody face. Not having anything immediately "resuscitative" to contribute, Andy began a tuneless whistling, and a very annoyed Dale Ann could think of nothing better expressive of her current disgust than to drag forth her boxing gloves and start pummeling him. Whether it was the water, or Andy's indignant shouts of pain, Gollum began to gather his scattered wits. His great eyes opened, focussed, and then sought Desi's face. He seemed puzzled, and tried to sit up for a better look. "Baginses, isss it really you? The years have been most unkind to you, how you have changed. Isss you gurl now? Well, look at me, see what Ring can do to a poor hobbit? Still you look OK, not so much changed as poor Gollum. And can I have my Ring back now? Won't charge you with assault and battery pan, not even bother your insurances for hospital bills, just pleez, give me back my Ring!"
"Great," said Desi with obvious irony, "he thinks I'm Bilbo. Now what are we going to do!"
DaleAnn was now looking studiously thoughtful, the gears of her mind were obviously turning…
"Ha! I wondered why Gollum never caught up with the Fellowship in Moria, I guess we owe Andy a 'thank-you' after all. We'll hold Gollum here, wait for Frodo and the gang to pass, they will be on this outer side of the fires and the crack, remember? They will have escaped by the same back alley passage we used from the Chamber of Mazarbul." The gears did some more turning: "We'll have to be carefully hidden here when the Fellowship comes through, and keep an eye on the Orcs and Trolls who bridge the fire-cracks…"
"And, keep out of the Balrog's way!" interrupted Desi "Though He/ She/ It should be concentrating on Gandalf and the Bridge."
"Hmm," Desi's gears were now grinding as well, "and remember, after the Balrog falls, the opposition just fades away, and the few guards at the exit are cut down by Boromir and Aragorn. So if we can hide, until the 'fun' is over, we should have a clear path outta here!"
"Er, yeah," said Andy, "let's find us a good hidey-hole where these boulders come together, we'll be out of the action's way, at least til after the Fellowship have their encounter with the Balrog."
They were all beginning to feel smuggly relieved, this adventure just might have a happy ending after all. Then Stormy's gears got to grinding, and she was screwing up her face to such a twist with the effort that it nearly looked comical -- though her comments were anything but: "Look, Gandalf will bring down the bridge to stop the Balrog, and that leaves us… stranded!"
DaleAnn was nodding vigorously, "Maybe we better cross now, hide near the wall on the other side? We don't want to be stuck here with no exit!"
Gollum, only half-addled now, but still thinking Desi must be a vastly Ring-altered Bilbo, said: "Well, blesss usss, Preciousss, but if Bagginses here will promise, p'raps we can shows it the other way to the big gates? P'raps we can, for a Ring…" Gollum was apparently fully awake now, and obviously seeking a way to turn the situation to his own advantage.
"You mean there is another way, really?" Desi sternly accosted the ancient relative of some poor Stoor, and Gollum assured her: "Ohh, yesss, very secret, and very scary, and you musst have a bits of rope…"
"I don't like the sound of this" muttered Stormrider, while DaleAnn turned to Andy. "Rope, you've got that goaty skin thing still, I can smell it even now, we cut it into strips, tie it together…"
"Yeah, yeah, youse never did like it -- but it'll be a great tearing agony fer me ter parts with it, sigh, but I'd rather save my skin than the goat skin, so yeah."
Desi was grinding away once more, and suddenly her face lit up. "Er, yeah, Gollum, I just might have a ring for you, if your 'other way' pans out." Gollum's eyes lit up in answer when he heard the word "ring," but they damped again at the sound of "pan." Desi's hand was crammed deep in one of her pockets, and she wiggled the fingers with plain intent. Gollum hissed, his eyes grew bright as lamps, and he whispered to himself, though the others still heard him: "What hass it got in its nasty pocketses?" More vocally he soon asserted, "Oh yesss, we likes riddles, and we likes playing 'swoppsies,' you give me Ring, and I gives you 'swing.' Swing your ways out of dark, nasty places."
"Well, it doesn't sound too promising, but I don't hear any other suggestions, if we want to stay to see the big fight at the Bridge" said Stormrider, somewhat grimly. "So, Gollum, you show us this other way, if it is usable, rope and all, we can stay for the fight. Otherwise, maybe we'd best cross now, and take our chances with the Gate Guard? Well, Gollum, where's this 'other way,' and we'd better like it."
"Likes it? Likes it? You is in Moria now, the Dark Pit, what's to like in here? But it isss a way out, or in. Gollum found it when Orcs were on the Bridge, and he sneaked right around them, yess, he did. You don't want to use Bridge, but do want out?" Gollum waited for an answer.
DaleAnn decided for the group: "Let's see what he has in mind, if we don't like it, we go over the Bridge now, 'take our chances with the guards,' as Stormy says. But I'd like to stay for the big show, and the far side of the chamber is bare and smooth, no rock falls to hide in over there..."
"OK, Gollum, you show us." Said Desi, still playing with something in her pocket.
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