"Light thinks it travels faster than anything
but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels,
it finds the darkness has always got there
first, and is waiting for it."

― Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man

7. On the Moria Road

"She has said all these things to you and only now you realize she is not a normal cat? You must be the dullest elf in Middle-earth," grumbled Gandalf, shaking his head in annoyance. He was walking quickly, hurrying to reach the gate of Moria before sunset, and Kat had to run to keep up.

Now the wizard turned to her. "Tell me exactly what Námo said."

Who is Námo? she asked Legolas. He was still acting all strange around her or she would have climbed onto his shoulder. Cats were not built for jogging.

I think he must be the one you thought had a pretty voice. He's the Vala responsible for judging those who passed away. Everyone comes to his Halls when they die.

Vala?

I told you about the Valar before, in the Tale of the Silmarils, remember? They made the Trees which gave the Silmarils their light and power. And they made the world.

Oh, yes I remember now. I thought that was a fairy-tale. Didn't God create your world?

If by 'God' you mean Eru Illúvatar – the One – then aye, he did that indirectly. He created the Valar and other similar beings and together they sang the world into existence after his plan.

Wow. That's beautiful.

"Hello? Is she replying?" asked Gandalf impatiently.

"Sorry, I had to explain who Námo is."

"Get on with it."

I can't remember word for word – he talked kind of weird, you know – but first he said I was to join the Fellowship for a while. Apparently then I must 'take my own path' and save someone important. Bad things happen if he dies – a land 'cast into oblivion' or something ominous like that. When I asked who I must save, Mr Pre– Námo – said it was the one who climbs into the king's vessel at night. And that was it."

When Legolas had recounted that, the wizard thoughtfully began to chew on a strand of his beard. "King's vessel..." he muttered, glancing at Aragorn.

"I do not own any vessels," said Aragorn.

"But which other king could it be? Legolas' father?"

Wait, what? Aragorn's a king... and you're a... prince?

Legolas shrugged. Aye.

Oh my God... I have been so disrespectful. I'm sorry, Your Highness! I didn't know!

He looked uncomfortable. Please... just Legolas. I never cared much for titles.

Kat breathed out in relief. Sure. Me neither. Titles are such an un-Swedish thing! But then you must call me Kat again.

Or Kitty? He grinned, nimbly evading her attack on his feet.

Aragorn and Gandalf continued to ponder over Námo's riddle and Gimli walked in the front with them, very eager to get to the Mines. Meanwhile, since now everyone knew Kat's real identity, the rest of them bombarded her with questions.

Legolas patiently translated and helped Kat answer.

"So, what kind of food did you eat in your world?" asked Pippin.

"She says she likes pizza and kaffe, whatever those are."

"How old are you?" asked Boromir.

"She says thirty-two."

"Did you have a garden, and if so, what did you grow in it?" Sam wanted to know.

"She did not have a garden because she lived in a city."

"What did you do for a living?" Boromir again.

"She taught children how to read and write, and foreign languages."

"Did you have music there? Which was your favorite song?" Frodo asked.

"Her favorite song is called Despacito which she seems to find a bit embarrassing. And they have lots of music but she could not sing even as a human, so she says not to ask."

"About the food, can you describe those dishes you mentioned?" Pippin did not give up so easily.

Legolas was in the middle of an account of roasted and ground, very bitter beans when they came to a place where a dirty creek crossed their path. It came from a black and foul smelling lake which they had been circling to get to where Gandalf thought the gate was.

Gimli bravely led the way into the water. It proved to be fairly shallow but with slippery, slimy green stones, and the others followed in a single file, careful not to stumble. Kat jumped onto the pony's back which crossed with Sam, last of all.

When they had reached the other side there was a noise from the lake, a plop and some bubbling, and they saw ripples on the surface, great rings expanding from a point somewhere in the center. Could anything really live in that disgusting pool?

The sun had set and a pale moon began to rise. The air was growing chilly and the others shivered in their damp clothes as they continued along the narrow path, with the sheer cliff on one side and the foul lake on the other.

At last they arrived where the gate was supposed to be. Beneath their feet the ground was barren and covered in reddish stones, and the only life consisted of two unusually large and old looking holly bushes. Gandalf explained they marked the end of a road that had once gone between the elvish settlement in Hollin and the dwarfish realm of Moria. Back then, those races had been at good terms.

"It wasn't the dwarves' fault the friendship ended," said Gimli.

"I have not heard it was the elves' fault," said Legolas.

"I have heard both." Gandalf scowled at them and sternly told them to be friends and help him find the doors. And to Sam he explained Bill must go home, for he could not walk into a mine.

Sam got angry and upset at that, saying something about hungry wolves and a lot more Kat did not understand, especially since his voice was so distorted. But Gandalf persuaded him at last, and while Sam cried and hugged the pony the others unloaded its pack and divided the items into what to carry with them and what must be left behind.

Then for a long time the wizard stood motionless, staring sternly at the cliff as if he tried to break a hole through it with his gaze, while the dwarf walked along it, tapping here and there with his axe.

"We are ready now but where are the doors?" Merry asked.

Gimli rumbled something long and complicated and Legolas translated to Kat. Apparently dwarf doors were made to be invisible when shut.

"Not these," said Gandalf and went closer, he had discovered a smoother spot right between the trees and rubbed it free of algae and lichen. When the moonlight fell on the cleaned area faint lines emerged, glowing like fine spider silk.

Soon a set of tall doors was outlined. Their surface had an intricate design; some stars, two trees, a hammer, an anvil, and above it all an arch with a row of foreign, flourish letters.

It is elvish, Legolas explained. It reads: 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.' And that Narvi built them and Celebrimbor wrote the message.

He looked at the inscription with a wooden expression and Kat felt unease radiating from him; if because of the doors or what lay behind them she could not say. She wanted to comfort him but did not know how.

Gandalf had translated the text for the others and Merry asked what it meant. Gimli said it was easy, if you were a friend you spoke the password and the doors would open. Gandalf agreed this must be the case. Now all they had to do was figure out which word that was.

"Do you not know?" Boromir looked surprised and rather dismayed.

"No."

"Then why did you bring us to this evil place? You said you had been to Moria before," he muttered accusingly, glancing at the ugly pool with a shudder.

Gandalf's eyebrows drew together and he retorted something angry-sounding.

He asks if Boromir doubts his word, Legolas translated. And says he should use his brains – for then he would remember Gandalf came from another direction the last time, and realize the doors are easy to push open from the inside.

Ouch! Savage, as the kids say.

Now Pippin asks what Gandalf means to do, and he answers he shall knock on the gate with Pippin's head. The elf's lips quirked up slightly. And if that does not work, he wants to be left alone and hear no more silly questions while he is busy.

He's kind of a grouch, isn't he?

That is just his way. He is not really angry.

I know, I can feel his mood. Pippin seems to get that as well, or either he doesn't care, but Boromir is upset. I don't think he liked being rebuked so harshly. I'll go to him.

Kat went to rub herself against Boromir's legs. He squatted and reached out to pet her, but stopped mid-motion. "Can I still touch you?" He spoke slowly and distinctly so she would understand.

"Meow," she said and tried to nod.

He looked relieved and stroked her back the way she liked. "Now that I know you are a woman this feels a bit strange, but... if you say so."

At the doors, Gandalf was trying his large vocabulary of spells and powerful words. From Boromir's lap Kat looked on, impressed and again rather daunted, the feelings from earlier returning. She knew now there was both a king and a prince in the Fellowship as well as a wizard, and had not Legolas said Boromir was the son of his country's leader? They were all famous and important people and she was nobody.

More time passed and the doors still would not budge. Boromir grew restless despite Kat's presence and began to walk to and fro. Then he froze on the spot as they heard a horrifying sound; howling! The wargs were back! Bill shook his head and stamped his hooves in terror and Sam struggled to calm him.

Muttering angrily, Boromir picked up a stone. "How I hate this water!" He threw it into the lake.

Instantly there was another bubbling sound and new rings formed – further away, so obviously not caused by the stone.

"Why did you do that?" said Frodo, and some more reprimanding words by the sound of it.

Boromir did not reply. Kat felt his fear and frustration and understood him; they were trapped between a sheer cliff and a lake, and beyond came more of those bloodthirsty wargs that had attacked them before.

He scowled at the rippling surface. "I am such a fool. Making things worse," he muttered, but so silently only Kat perceived it.

Everybody except Gandalf was edgy now, casting nervous glances out into the darkness and at the lake, where the expanding circles kept coming closer to the shore.

The howls were nearer too, echoing mournfully over the water and between the cliffs, and it was all Sam could do to stop Bill from bolting. Boromir had told him to keep the pony a while longer – if they could not get into Moria they still had use for him.

Then suddenly Gandalf jumped up from the stone he had sat on with an enthusiastic cry. "I have it!" He was laughing merrily. "Of course! Of course!" After some victory dancing, which looked a bit strange with the doors still closed and unmoving, he stood before them again and said a single word: "Mellon!"

One of the stars in the pattern glowed briefly and the doors began to swing open on silent hinges.

The password was a fruit?

It means 'friend' in my language. The inscription seems to have been a simple riddle; 'speak friend – mellon – and enter.'

Kat groaned. What a terrible dad joke.

The elf did not reply. He was staring warily at a set of stairs revealed behind the doors, which led up into absolute darkness. He looked a bit like that mouse Kat had caught the other day – trapped.

Don't worry, she thought, trying to sound reassuring. At least it will be dry in there, and no snow. It could be worse.

Could it?

Before she could answer, someone yelped behind them. Kat's mouth fell open. Long, sinewy tentacles emerged from the lake and one of them had caught Frodo by the foot, pulling the poor hobbit back towards the foul water.

With a terrified whinny Bill broke loose and galloped off into the night. Sam took a few steps to follow him, but when he discovered his friend's plight he hurried to Frodo's aid. Drawing his dagger he desperately slashed at the tentacles. The one holding Frodo let go at the onslaught, but a score of new ones instantly emerged from the deep.

Sobbing in fear, Sam pulled Frodo away, and now at last the others were roused of their shocked daze and surged forward to help him.

"Up the stairs! Quick!" Gandalf led the way. The company scampered after him, closely followed by the tentacles. They were groping and searching all over the floor and walls like hungry snakes.

A couple of the monstrous limbs caught the doors and slammed them shut. The force was so great the cliff began to crumble. In a series of loud booms and a rattle of gravel the entrance was buried from the outside.

The rumbling of falling stones ceased and the Fellowship halted, still trembling with adrenaline, their hearts pounding. They stood in absolute darkness.

Kat opened her eyes and closed them. Despite her night vision there was no difference at all.

"The passage is blocked," said Gandalf.

That meant there was no turning back – no matter what they might find in here. From now on they could only go forward. Into the dark.

I take back what I said, thought Legolas miserably. It could be worse.

A/N:

What will happen in Moria? Will there be orcs? Balrogs? Mice? Cuddles? Let me know if you have any ideas!

Image Credits:

Printscreen from the LOTR movies.