Ring Child

by Kiamii

Chapter Five "Moria"

"We have only one more path that we can take, against the option of returning to Rivendell in retreat. The travel now is a worse road than Redhorn Gate. The road that I speak of is the path to the Mines of Moria." Gandalf told them this one evening on their travels. He sat upon the floor, smoking his near forgotten pipe, his eyes scanning the other's. His companions.

"The road may lead us there but, let us hope we will not have to go into the mines themselves," Aragorn said, a vein in his forehead throbbing as Archir sat upon his lap and Aragorn kept his arms around the boy who watched them all so curiously and intently. He was irritated by how much the innocent little boy wanted to put himself in danger. Aragorn wished right then and there to hide Archir away with Arwin, keeping the little boy safe and as far away from Moria as he could but, he couldn't. He had agreed he wouldn't... yet.

"I say we go to the Gap of Rohan and from there to Gondor," Boromir interrupted happily, sitting near Legolas and Gimli who were arguing who was better before joining the conversation as well, giving rapt and undivided attention. Gandalf shook his head at Boromir.

"Such an unwise path that would lead us through, for we must not let the Ring at all near Isengard where Saruman lies. We have such little time left in our hourglass and we can not let a hole puncture out the rest. I fear that we have no other way but to go neither over or around but, under the mountains themselves." Gandalf said with a heavy sigh. Archir cocked his head to one side in a puzzled manner. On one of the nights with Gandalf, his mentor had taken to giving him a history lesson of sorts. From what he remembered of that lesson, Moria was a danger to take for them. Why go to that danger then? Boromir seemed very keen on returning to his homeland it seemed.

"I will tread the path with you, to go and look on the halls of Durin," Gimli said in support.

"I too have once passed the Dimrill Gate but, I experienced such evil in my memory from it. I do not wish to repeat my adventure." Aragorn admitted.

"I do not wish to enter it at all!" Pippin informed them with Sam agreeing.

"Of course not, who in their minds would want to. But, I ask this of you; who will follow me if I should lead you to the mines?" Gandalf asked, shifting to be somewhat more comfortable as they sat on the dirt and micro amount of grass. They did not have long before they had to make their decision to go whichever way they needed. When it came to the ring, even the immortals must make haste.

"I will!" Gimli stated at once.

"As will I," Aragorn sighed. Archir felt his chest rumble as he spoke loudly but, softly so not to be heard out of their group.

"I always would," Archir said with an innocent smile when Aragorn nearly glared at him for volunteering to follow. Archir simply adjusted himself on Aragorn's lap and smiled when the man tightened his arms around Archir. His innocent looks was something Aragorn wished to deeply protect, for he was still a child in his eyes, no matter the wisdom that Archir held.

"I choose not to unless everyone goes against me," Boromir said firmly. His eyes looked at Archir with a thoughtful frown though, as if agreeing with Aragorn's private musings.

"I wish not to seek for Moria," Legolas said quietly, not looking at Archir for he too did not want the child anywhere near there. The dangers of Moria was enough to send anyone scurrying off.

"Neither do I but, I do not leave Gandalf. I will go," Frodo said quietly, the hobbits going wherever Frodo chose. That settled, Legolas and Boromir reluctantly retold their votes as going, looking put out in their own ways.

With that now settled and meeting of the Company adjourned, they began to climb to the top of a small hill which was dubbed a shelter, and began to light a fire fleeing from the wargs that trailed behind. Aragorn kept Archir firmly on the horse as they road off into the night until at last they escaped the wargs, and they sought refuge for the remainder of dark. As they all lay on their makeshift bedding, Aragorn slept with an arm looped around the 3-year-old Istari, strangely enough feeling warm. He did not know that Archir practiced his fire abilities during that night, warming the two of them greatly as he stayed awake.

When they all awoke the next day, they found themselves heading out for the doors of Moria, reaching it just before sunset. They had passed a stream long ago and had only stopped to listen to Gandalf's explanations. A former stream though it was. Sirannon, the Gate-stream which was now dehydrated of the water that was once there. According to Gandalf, many things had changed for him. The Stair Falls were no longer there and a shallow valley up to the walls of Moria were missing. They found that they had to travel at a different means and with reluctance, found themselves having to release away the horses they all had.

"I will carry you from here Archir," Aragorn said firmly as they took the pack off their horses and strapped them on their shoulders. Archir gave Aragorn a pout and ran over to Gimli before Aragorn could pick him up. The small boy took the dwarf's hand in his and walked alongside him, not eager to be carried at this moment. Aragorn rolled his eyes, hiding the fondness that struck up in his heart as they set out on their journey.

When Gandalf set a faster pace, Archir had no choice but to be carried in Aragorn's arms as he walked at such a speed that young Archir would be running to keep up with. Archir sulked and whined in his head how the Valar had done that on purpose to him. Make him small to keep him from leaving Aragorn's arms while they ran. Aragorn laughed at Archir's pout and turned back to where they were headed. When they reached the gate at last, they sat down and rested for a minute.

"I don't see the doors," Merry said in confusion, looking around.

"That is because Dwarf-doors are made to be hidden, only found with the right secret." Gimli said, finding the door somewhat.

"Yet this was not a secret for the Dwarves only, unless changed of course." Gandalf said slowly as he studied the door. Archir, having gotten out of Aragorn's grasp, looked at the door as he stood next to the man.

"Alf, what's that?" Archir asked, pointing towards the archway where a design could be seen. The emblems of Durin could be seen as brightly as the Tree of the High Elves and Star of the House of Flanor as they stood proudly in the arch. Wrought of ithildin that mirrors that could only be seen in moonlight or starlight, sleeping away from those who could not know them. Their words were forgotten in Middle-earth.

"What's the writing tell?" Frodo asked, coming up next to Archir and putting his hand on the child's shoulders.

"The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter." Archir read aloud, scrunching his eyes in a rather cute manner, "I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs."

"Quite a reader you are, and a very good translator," Gandalf chuckled, watching as Archir blushed lightly.

"Then it means if you are a friend, speak the password, and the doors will open, and you can enter. Simple as that! Now, the password is the only missing key in that reasonable deduction." Gimli said lightly. Gandalf nodded and Archir watched as his mentor and the dwarf spoke of the possible passwords to use. Archir cocked his head to the side, not minding as Aragorn lifted him up and carried him over to Legolas and Boromir.

Archir listened as Gandalf chanted and banged, trying to gain access in many languages that Archir found himself knowing. He could somewhat tell when Gandalf switched languages, for his accent and words changed, all meaning the same thing. Boromir studied the small wizard.

"Can you understand his words?" Boromir asked.

"He keeps saying Open." Archir said with a light shrug.

"The power of an Istari," Legolas said with a smile tugging at his lips. Archir cocked his head to the side again before sliding off Aragorn's lap and walking over to the gate where Gandalf stood, head bowed. The four watched him walk back over to Gandalf.

"Alf, can I try?" Archir asked as the Company came back over. They looked at Archir as he pulled out his small staff, the holly wooded wand, and pointed at the gate and thought about it for a moment. From his history lessons with Gandalf, some Dwarves found themselves using Elvish names so...

"Mellon," Archir said, poking the gate with his wand. To their amazement the door opened indeed.

"Such a simple riddle that of course, my prodigy could guess," Gandalf exclaimed, chuckling fondly as he himself lifted the tiny lad up into his arms.

"You just said Friend in elvish, didn't you?" Legolas asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It reminded me of something I saw before." Archir said tilting his head forward, arms around Gandalf's neck.

"Oh?" Aragorn stated. Harry grinned as he remembered being 11 years old and peering into a long forgotten mirror.

"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on woshi." Archir said lightly, making everyone pause to look at him.

"I show not your face but, your heart's desire?" Gandalf guessed, suddenly seeing what Archir said. Archir smiled brightly, nodding.

"It was a mirror that showed what you most desire out of anything in the world," Archir admitted to Gandalf in a whisper. The wizard "ahh"ed for a moment before they began to walk inside when Frodo cried out and they swung around to see a creature gripping onto Frodo's ankle, the sound of the water smashing against a tentacle. It was something Archir felt was like the evil twin of the Giant Squid back at Hogwarts.

"Into the gateway and up the stairs! Hurry!" Gandalf shouted, having scooped Archir up into his arms and able to pull away from the squid before it caught the two wizards. Sam managed to rip his master from the squid and the two ran up just a few steps just before Gandalf passed Archir to Legolas and watched as the squid managed to lock itself out...

"Weird creature," Archir stated, getting a nod from Legolas as he carried the boy up the stairs, having heard from Gandalf that they could now not return out of the gates, only able to go forward.

"Simply follow my staff, and Archir if you so wish to light your own," Gandalf said as Archir pulled out his wand and before he could murmur the words lumos, a light came out of his wand, surprising the boy. Shrugging it off as what Gandalf had said about his magic changing, he poked his staff in front of Legolas as they walked, following Gandalf's dimly lit staff. They stopped for a short rest, rechecking their belongings to notice that they were running low on food. Aragorn handed Legolas a blanket who bundled a protesting Archir in it and sat the toddler on his hip, keeping Archir away from his elven bow and arrows. They continued forward, Legolas passing Archir over to Aragorn who drew his sword while Legolas drew his bow. Frodo pulled forth Sting while the others followed in withdrawing their own weaponry. Archir held out his wand, keeping it lightly lit. It was mostly Gandalf who led the way through, as Gimli had not come through before. They traveled through for a long time, taking sharp turns and descending towards the earth of it all. Moria was vast and intricate beyond the imagination of them all as they walked. They noticed Gandalf having his own conflicts with his far-off memories of a journey once traveled so many decades ago.

As they walked, Archir listened to the footsteps of each; the near ghostly patter of Gandalf and his staff, the dull stump of Gimli's dwarf-boots, the heavy tread of Boromir, the light step of Legolas, the soft, scarce-heard patter of hobbit-feet; and in the rear was the slow firm footfalls of Aragorn's long strides with Archir on his hip. What struck Archir's instincts was the moment they entered seemingly the guardroom, according to Gimli. It had three passages with a well.

Archir's eyes trailed along the skeletons that were lying about, watching as Pippin crept around the well while everyone else were unrolling their blankets and making a bed, ready to drop for the night. Archir's heart dropped and he wriggled out of Aragorn's arms as Pippin dropped a stone down the well and a plunk was heard.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf said with a fierce scowl, beginning to lecture the hobbit. Archir whimpered as he heard a faint knock of tom-tap, tap-tom from far about, though they repeated before dying away. It was like a code, he mused as he was swept up into Aragorn's arms yet again and settled on the man's hip. Pippin was the one forced to keep watch that night as they settled down.

"Go to sleep youngling," Aragorn said softly, tucking the blanket around the toddler as he laid the little boy down. Archir however, was frowning lightly.

"I don't like this place. Something's going to happen, I can feel it." Archir murmured sleepily.

"Something good or something bad, child?" Gandalf asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Something bad for the Company, yet something good to later be," Archir yawned as he felt his eyes flutter close and a hand was placed over his eyes, using their thumb to rub his forehead soothingly. Archir fell into bliss.

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a frie shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king (FOTR PG407)

An image of Aragorn staring defiantly into a crowd, bold and strong as a crown was worn upon his head. He had almost defeated and victorious eyes as an elven woman stood next to him, Arwin. Archir smiled at the image though he frowned at seeing a blur of a child before Aragorn lifted the boy up. Archir's eyes widened slightly as he saw himself, possibly the size of a eight-year-old in the vision.

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,

Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,

Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,

One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. (FOTR PG277)

Archir wanted to scream, cry, kick, or possibly whimper. Now laying before him was an eye of a sort. It was a slit and held a power that felt like the Imperio and the Cruciatus curse combined. Strong and filled with evil... Sauron. The vision flashed thankfully and Archir found himself in blackness, listening to a familiar tune that had been hummed to him a few times when he could not sleep a few nights before Aragorn had joined them. Frodo and Sam would sing him the song at night and the tone had soothed him for some reason.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

and I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with weary feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

And wither then? I cannot say. (FOTR PG 302)

"Archir, child, you need to awake." A voice sounded through the poets of words. Archir's emerald eyes snapped open and he found himself being held in Aragorn's arms, the company walking.

"You've been asleep for a very long night, my dear boy," Gandalf commented lightly, "it was a rather frightening affair."

"I'm sorry. I was dreaming. I kept hearing songs and each was different from the next." Archir admitted, slinging his arm over Aragorn's neck and peeking out at Gandalf who was next to him.

"May I know the songs of which you heard?" Gandalf asked as they threaded through an upward path.

"One was of a king I think. Something about a blade being broken. The first verse mentioned all that is gold does not glitter." Archir told the wizard. Aragorn's eyes widened slightly as he put a hand on the child's head, lost in his own thoughts. Shaking his head to rid of the memories and musings, Aragorn decided to shrug it off.

"The next I heard was of that ring. Something about nineteen rings being made I think... and another was made to rule them..." Archir said, shuddering as he recalled the eye in his dream. Gandalf frowned lightly but, brushed a lock of the black hair away from the piercing eyes before Archir continued.

"The last one was something I learned from Frodo and Sam," Archir said, finally giving a weak and small smile. Frodo and Sam returned the smile, touched that the boy still remembered the song they sang to him when he had at first been very restless constantly. They walked in silence after that and it was long enough that Gandalf stopped them and they settled for the night, finding that they were on a familiar path at last for Gandalf.

As they relaxed, Sam commented on the 'holes' that were made around the place. Gimli looked indignant and launched into a chant of long ago, about Durin. The words 'In Moria, in Khazad-dym' stuck to Archir's mind as he was laid in Boromir's lap this time, and it seemed Sam agreed, having echoed the sentence. Sam began to ask about jewels, having listened to the tales from Bilbo. This brought out the topic of mithril and Archir noticed that Frodo was biting his cheek as Bilbo's old corslet of Moria-silver (which had been gifted from Thorin as Frodo had told Archir one night before they left the Shire) was mentioned from Gandalf. Archir wondered if he was currently in possession of the kingly gift but, shrugged it off.

At least they began to doze off, though when Archir was sure Aragorn was asleep, he crawled out of the nest of blankets and walked over to Frodo, wobbling slightly from not walking as much as he had been thanks to Aragorn's insistance that he be carried all the time.

"You should be asleep Arch," Frodo said firmly, taking the little boy by his hand, being the one to keep guard.

"I slept away most of the day Fro. I do not wish to close my eyes yet so soon!" Archir nearly whined. Frodo smiled lightly and instead lead the boy to his guard position and sat back down, Archir cuddled to his side.

"Fro, do you see that?" Archir asked in interest minutes later. Frodo turned his head and rubbed his eyes as he saw two pale points of light, like luminous eyes almost as if they were moving. Rubbing again revealed nothing but, darkness.

"I thought I did, you must be tired though. Go to sleep now Archir unless you want me to tell Aragorn how you did not sleep," Frodo said with a teasing grin.

"I think he's already been caught out of bed," Legolas sighed as he lifted Archir up into his arms, "if you will not sleep now then stay in my arms while I stand guard. Get rest Frodo."

Frodo nodded and headed off to his bed while Legolas wrapped Archir up in his blankets and tucked the boy into his arms as he stood to keep watch. Archir wriggled, trying to get loose but, only managed to get his arms free. He felt like a cacoon! Upon freeing his hands, he grasped the shirt of Legolas and rested his head on the elf's arms.

"You're such a cuddler," Legolas teased making Archir scowl lightly. He yawned and closed his eyes, listening softly as Legolas began to sing a song quietly, one of his homeland probably, for it was filled with tranquility in his voice. His eyelids felt heavy and he left himself drift off...

He did not wake up until he heard Gandalf's bright "Good morning!" in his ear. He wriggled and sat up, blinking to find himself already in Aragorn's arms.

"I see you finally awoke little one. Slept well?" Aragorn asked, resulting in a nod from the little boy. They packed up their things and Archir was carried by Gandalf this time after breakfast (which they all made sure that Archir ate as much as he could).

They went under the northern arch and went down a wide corridor as they walked, finding a large square chamber which was dimly lit. Gandalf handed Archir off to Boromir who settled the Istari child on his hip. Gandalf inspected the tomb where Frodo was and spoke in wonder.

"They are Daeron's Runes, old in Moria and written in tongues of both Men and Dwarves:

Balin Son of Fundin

Lord of Moria."

"He is dead..." Frodo stated in realization. Gimli hid his face with his hood in silence, his shoulder's shaking as he mourned. Archir thought of the story he heard from Frodo on their journey. Bilbo had went on a journey in company of dwarves. He felt sorry for the dwarf who now lay, unmoving. He wriggled much until he was finally let down, where he seemed to snap them out of daze and they looked around for hints of the fate of the dwarf lord. Bones littered the room, some armed with broken swords and axe-heads, cloven shields and helms. Crooked swords and orc-scimitars with blackened blades were a sight that was seen.

They stumbled across a wall that Gandalf discovered to be the record of the fate of Balin's folk.

"We drove out orcs from the great gate and guard," He began and Archir nearly gasped aloud as he found himself in darkness again, watching as a scene formed in front of his eyes. The dwarves about them, all anxious for the moment, "we slew many in the bright", Archir watched in horror as the dwarves began to fight for their lives, for Moria and still he heard the words chopped from Gandalf, "sun in the dale. Flui was killed by an arrow. He slew the great." Archir saw a dwarf cry out as he was struck by a dark arrow, his companions crying out just as much in despair, "Flui under grass near Mirror mere." Archir found himself watching a burial of that once crying dwarf. He was almost sleeping and the halls looked to be dead and murdered by the battle, "We have taken the twenty-first hall of North end to dwell in. There is - I cannot read what it is though a shaft is mentioned," Archir found himself staring at a jewel in a dwarf's hand, being set down on a table. Along with the last of the mithril and of the weaponry to spare. Balin was now in the scene, unmurdered yet ,"Balin has set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul."

"We are in the Chamber of Mazarbul then," Gimli noted, "the Chamber of Records." He said this with a sullen sigh as Aragorn went over to Archir and picked the quiet lad back up, seeing the child's despair. He rocked the boy in his arms and shushed the child to soothe him. Archir whimpered as Gandalf attempted to finish reading and he saw as it happened. Balin becoming lord. Archir tried to distract himself from the horrible images and was relieved when they finally faded when there was such a Boom from behind them that Archir turned his head to see the Company's wide eyes. A hord was being blown and more followed, feet pattering about on the other side of the door.

"Slam the doors and wedge them!" Aragorn suggested.

"No! We will be trapping ourselves in... Keep the east door ajar and we will try to escape if possible. Aragorn, keep Archir safe and hidden!" Gandalf told them. Aragorn quickly covered the little boy with his hood and found a small crack of the wall that could hide a very small body... perfect. He stood Archir in the hole and put his hands on the boy's cheeks.

"Please stay safe little one," Aragorn whispered as he kissed Archir's temple before springing off right as there was a mighty blow upon the door and it began to open. A large toe less foot peaked into the room, silence now adorning them all.

"For the Shire!" Frodo yelled, crashing the blade of the Sting into the foot. A bellow later and the foot was withdrawn and now came crashes upon the door. Archir swiftly and silently pulled out his wand, ready to cast magic should the chance come. He was going to help one way or another.

Author's Note: Hmm... let me reply to a few reviewers who I couldn't do so in public while I have the chance;

billy jean - I find that rude that you think I don't read my own story. As I've said I lose train of thought very easily, I have no beta, and at least I have some grammar in me unlike some writers today. If you can't see past the grammar mistakes that a 15 year old kid like me can make, don't bother reading because it'll keep happening until I either finish High school or find a beta to look this over for me. I'm still in school and learning how to form a scene so until then, yeah I know I suck at this.

Jane - I'm not trying to justify my writing by blaming my OCD. It's more along the lines of that I can get stressed very easily because of my own train of thoughts and I have an addiction to anything I like, which makes me have self-hate a lot of the times and I therefore will just get frustrated and stop in the middle of the writing. When I get back to writing, I usually can't remember what the scene was developing. I'm working on that kind of thing right now but, I'm NOT trying to excuse myself. Sorry if I sounded like I was trying to.

Now that I could finally reply to that, you wouldn't believe how irritated I have been about all these people on my back about that. Yes I rush my scenes. It's my habit and my style. At least it still makes enough sense, right? Anyways, I actually took some time on the Moria scene, since I've been wanting to write about the actual journey for so long! I hope you've enjoyed it. I totally left a cliff hanger for fun. I'm working on it! The real battles are just about to begin in Chapter 6. So see you until then. I had a lot of fun writing this part and I'm getting eager as we get closer to leaving Moria. For some reason, Moria is like my favorite part of the Fellowship of the Rings. Don't know why. Might have something to do with the drama. All well... Archir's character and magic is getting more developed as time goes on. Yes there will be a great reason as to why Gandalf wanted Harry to partake in their journey. You'll see why later.