The Crosses Enigma

The flicker of fire, the trickle of water and the cold whistling air.



In the Hidden Hall the passing of strangers had been as familiar as the silence that preceded and followed a visit. The four beat clatter of a Steeds sodden hooves, the creek of a wagon wheel, the soft muttering of voices.

Now an echo of the past wrought its shadow upon the walls.
Again was the forgotten Hall filled with the sound of voices, the foot falls of strangers, and the clip-clop of a horse's hoof.

But the mountain was not so discerning in whom it allowed within its confines, and so a shadow passed just beyond the senses of even the Sylvan Elf whom walked the halls at this hour.
It hovered on the edge of his senses, like the whisper of a warning upon howling winds. Like a shadow one thought they had seen from the corner of there eye, or a flickering darkness that lie just beyond his reach.

He had been uneasy from the very moment this mission had begun. Though not all for the same reasons, his worry blend into one as they stretch on and on.
Legolas grew weary of apprehension, but would not admit this at any cost.

Legolas grew weary period. Again, a thing he would never admit.
He disliked this Cavern almost as much as he had Moria. And that threat continued to grow, causing him to become wired and taught like a bows string wound far to tightly. Every sound, every flicker was picked up by his senses.

He cause himself to breathe, it could be even worse. He glanced at Tempest, ever beside him. It had taken her some time to calm from the brink of panic, and he did not blame her in the least.
//She Dislikes these dark halls of stone as much as I do. Perhaps even more// he realized. He could sense it emanating from her. And he again realized something else, he must be picking up her nervous energy.

This caused him ease, and his chest loosened with another breath. It had not been some looming threat he was sensing, but Tempest own nervousness.

He was able to push the thoughts to the back of his mind, letting them loom where they may.

Yet he did not completely omit a chance of a threat, even while he remained caught in his own thoughts at the moment.
His head shot to the side, listening for a moment at the hint of a sound that seemed to be alien to his ears.

When he heard nothing more he continued to walk; Arod's reins lose in his palm, Tempest at his side, and the Companions in search of the elusive Elvish Crosses.








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They had been waiting.

Far to long in there twisted cruel minds. In the cold dank dark they loved so much, they patiently lie low.

Goblins had no want of jewels or treasures such as these. They had no eyes for the beauty of the Hall, or the natural formations of the mountains. The Mithril could be fools gold for all they cared.

What they did want, was the Caverns itself.

It had occurred to the foul Mountain Orc�s that the Caverns were empty almost a year ago at least. How long they had been empty they did not know. In fact, they happened upon that way purely by chance.

The smell in the air was that of stillness and abandonment. Of course they could pick up the hint of human flesh and horse fur...of fires long gone out, but they could also tell the travelers were long ago gone from this place.

And now it was there's.

Like many small, ugly, smelly little Dragon lings they hoard all they could.
It made no sense, they had no need for such wonders. But that mattered not to them.

Goblins were nomadic at best, moving from place to place. Yet when one could find such a home, so dark, so cold, so wet and so far away from the shining sun it was surely to be taken.
And defended fearsomely.

And so the sound of the Gates opening caught them off there guard.

"I says' we rips there bloody heads off" one murmured low in a screechy voice.

The others agreed and if it hadn't been for the scathing glare sent to them by there leader, they would have done just this. Ripping off heads and arms and legs in the process.
Fresh meat was just what they craved.

"I'm ah leader here, hear me?? And you'll does what I tells yah. We gonna have fresh meat tonight boys, but hardly ain't enough of us to take them you see" to say the leader was ugly was to call a Balrog a small flame.

Scars crisscrossed what would have been his face, none of his nose remained. Instead there was a gaping black infested hole, and where his rotting flesh had been torn a plate of crude metal had been welded in place.

"What�s you mean we ain't got enough of us to takes them?" another dark greenish orc asked dumbfounded. His stomach was growling and he did not see a reason for waiting.

"Opens those eyes maggot brain! They's got an Elf..." he trailed off, sniffing the air. The rest of the dark creatures sneered and growled.
"More than one..." he ground out again, turning back to where they had gone. The light of the tall ones stick was dimming into darkness.
"And theys got the White one with them. We needs to be careful, and well get them."

He turned his head set on a greasy stiff neck, his bones cracking as he did. A sneer appeared, showing razor sharp teeth.
"I gots a plan"








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"...one, two, three, go!" Merry�s hand shot out, his fist clenched. "blasted"
"One, two, Three GO!" again, he and Pippin's hands shot out at the same time. Both fists clenched tightly before them. They sighed, it was a tie again.

"Stone, Parchment, Shears GO!" and again with fist�s clenched to represent stone, flat for parchment and index and middle finger extended for Shears they shot out randomly.
Both fists balled before them. Another tie.

This game had gone on for nearly an hour. And for that hour both had ended using Stone. It had been a tie the whole time.

"Stone, Parchment, Shears..." Merry stopped mid sentence and stare ahead. Pippin's hand though continued to shoot out, using stone again. The Brandybuck had held up his hand to pause the game, but Pippin taking it for meaning parchment changed his hand to Shears as Merry was not paying attention.
"I win" he said, a grin plastered upon his faze. You doze you lose he always said.

"No, look" Merry said pointing ahead and causing the younger redheaded Hobbit turned round to stare at that Merry was.

A fork in the road.

The Caverns now split into two separate halls.
Aragorn step forward ahead of the Halflings and passed Gimli and Greer. He stood right up to where Gandalf was.

"What now Gandalf" he murmured. And the look the Wizard turned upon him made his heart drop into his feet. He suddenly hoped he wasn't thinking what he thought he was.

"No.." he began but sighed instead of continuing. He knew this part of the plan, and had not agreed with it. Not at all.

"It must be done, and the fewer the better." Gandalf stated lowly as the others mulled about finding a place to rest for a moment.
"But how can you know if you may Trust her, and the young one? She is not completely well, though she hides it." Aragorn was adamant on turning his dear friend away from this path. It had been pushed out of his mind, but now it crept up so quickly he had not the time to think up a well enough argument.

Gandalf watched the King under scrutinizing grey eyes and sighed, opting for the straight forward path.
"Do you trust her?" he asked. Never faltering in his gaze.

"Not as much as I should like." Aragorn admitted. He did not know Greer well enough to tell her true character. And again he sighed. "Yet, if you see her fit for this task. I will trust you." And with that settled Gandalf nodded his agreement.

"Yet what of the Little one? Are you so sure? Legolas will have your head you know" A hint of a grin crossed his lips as his head turn in the direction of the Sylvan Elf, noting he was not listening.
Or at least it didn't seem like he was, he knew Legolas well enough to know that he might be.

"Yes I know, but he will simply have to understand. This is why Greer has been acquired, for this purpose, and as for my student� I would have her at my side no matter what, for more reasons than one" Gandalf said tilting his chin inward at his meaning. It made Aragorn wonder just what those other reasons were. But there was no time to question them. The sooner this was over, the sooner they could leave this place.

"Very well, are you going to tell him or...your going to tell him" Aragorn stated stubbornly, he did not want to be on the receiving end of that glare.
Gandalf chuckled and nodded his head, Aragorn simply rolls his eyes.

"Legolas, min peth?" Gandalf request, moving away from the rest of the Group. The Elf quickly responded, a surprised look upon his face at being called. The conversation faded to Aragorn�s ears as he and Gandalf strolled away, engulfed in there talk.








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After what seemed like an eternity of debate Gandalf sighed in relief as Legolas gave in. He was stone set against leaving not only Gandalf�s but Tempest side.

"I still do not see your reasoning Mithrandir, it is not wise to be alone." he said one last time. Gandalf nodded his head tersely. "Yes, yes young Prince this I know. But you must trust my judgment...Tempest does" Gandalf tilted his chin down and sent a look to Legolas.

With a defeated, frustrated sigh Legolas moved away.

//That was easier than It should have been// Gandalf noted, a bit concerned at how quickly Legolas had given in. The Elf was highly protective of his apprentice, and of Gandalf himself. It should not be so simple to persuade one of the first born when there minds were set to something.

Yet time was running out, he sensed the need for urgency. And Gandalf the White never, ever ignored that need.

"Tempest, Greer..." He said coming forward.

"You two shall come with me. As for the rest, you shall follow Aragorn and he will lead you beyond the halls. There will you wait for our coming." He said, leaving no room for argument. When he adopted this tone, people listened more and questioned less.

Every single one of them, Hobbits and Humans, Elf and Dwarf...even the horses were paying attention intently.

"We shall complete the task at hand, then regroup outside. Understood?" he said hand upon his hips, eyeing everyone to make sure there was no room for hesitation.

Pippin shoved his hands in his pockets as he nodded among the murmured agreements. He did not like the idea of leaving Gandalf. What if something happened?
He knew of course the Wizard could easily take care of himself. But that thought did nothing to soothe his fears as visions of shadow and flame well up form his memory.

Gandalf passed directly beside him, placing one weathered hand upon his shoulder. Pippin swallowed and looked up, feeling hot tears in his eyes. He was even more upset at his show of emotion, he was a Knight of Gondor after-all!

He felt Gandalf squeeze his shoulder tighter.

"Chins up now, that�s it" he tapped Pippin's chin and smiled. That was the Gandalf Pippin had known since he had memories.

"The quicker we do what is needed, the sooner it is done" Gandalf said most cryptically. It did not answer any questions, but it soothed souls and even Pippin could not help but smile through tears.

"I will need you to be especially brave Perigrin. You and Merry must see that Legolas, Gimli and Strider do not get into much mischief" and with that he nodded, leaving Merry to drape his arm about the Took's shoulders.

Gathering up the reins of his horse, Aragorn untied Roheryn, muttering soft Elven words to the steed.
He spoke to him of what he would do, the horse did not seem pleased but accept his master�s commands none the less.

The 'Ranger' removed his saddlebag from the creature, carrying healing supplies, and stuffed them into his own pack.

Then he turned him around, handing the reins to Gandalf. The Wizard, pat Aragorn�s forearm assuredly and nodded. Aragorn nod in response, showing though he did not agree he would follow Gandalf to the void and back if need be.

To there far left Legolas removed his own saddlebag silently. He turned and tossed the bag, and behind him Gimli caught it deftly. Yet the Dwarf said nothing, he knew Legolas well enough not to.

Turning around he began to unfasten and readjust his stirrups. As an Elf he had not cared for the Equipment used by men. They seemed restricting, but he found that they were comforting to Arod in some way.
And so he used a light treeless saddle, something that could support Gimli easily as well.

His legs though were far to long and he needed to shorten the leathers. With that done he give Arod a fond pat and repeating what Aragorn did as he made his request of the horse.
As if in agreement Arod turned his head a bit and nudged the Elf.

"heb-band i tithen min, lagor meldir" Legolas murmured with a final pat, turning the creature around and giving the reins to Aragorn.

Unsure of what to do, Greer moved forward. Arms crossed as she stood beside the Wizard.
To her surprise Roheryn's reins were handed in her direction. It took her a moment to take them from Strider.


"He shall do as you command him. Keep him well, he will do the same" Aragorn said and Greer nodded, speechless.

As for Tempest Aragorn passed the Reins of Arod to her and she nodded, too nervous for words.
From the horse�s rear Legolas ran one hand along his hindquarter, then slid his long slender fingers across the leather of the saddle, until his hand rest across the shoulder of the grey Rohan horse.
He stood face to face with Tempest, running his hands through the horse�s forelock.

She said nothing, the reins gripped tightly in her small fingers.
With a swift movement Legolas reach up and over his own head and into his quiver. When his hand swiftly came down he hold one of his long white knifes at his side.
He take another step forward till he stand inches from Tempest, and taking her free hand he place the Knife in her own and close her fingers over it.

"As I've shown you." he murmured for her ears only, his eyes unwavering.
His hand remained clasped over hers for a long moment, and her eyes darted from them back up to his face.


How it was that he always made her feel so strong, yet so very weak at the same time, she knew not.
Swallowing she nod and he finally released her hand.

Tempest breathed a sigh of relief and clasped the knife's strap about her waist. Finally turning her face to Arod she took another cleansing breath and wondered how she was ever going to get on the towering steed.









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"I shall wait for you my friend" Aragorn said, standing with his hand upon Anduril.

"And I shall come" Gandalf said, adjusting his cloak about his shoulders for ridding.

"As you always do" it was more a request than a comment. He wanted noting more than to turn his head towards the Halls gate when this was all finished, and find Gandalf and the girls exiting the caverns.
Crosses or no.

Moving to his own horse he mounted Shadowfax swiftly and turned him with leg pressure.

They face the rest of there company, they were to exit straight out of the Caverns.
As for Tempest, Gandalf and Greer (whom sat each on one side of the Wizard), they had other business.

He nod his head at the all and turning Shadowfax made his way at a walk and then a trot down the left pathway.
In his wake Greer followed, posting easily to Roheryn's floating trot.

After a moment they were followed by Tempest as well, she finally managed the correct stirrup length. Not used at all to the feel of a saddle beneath her while riding with Gandalf.
She looked back once and then trot off after her teacher, and into the darkness that not even Legolas eyes could see.

"Let us make for the exit of this place. The quicker we leave, the sooner they will come" Aragorn said, not fully believing those words.
They brought him little comfort, and were only an attempt to sooth the Hobbits worries.
They did not seem very convinced either.

But something was now looming on the edge of Aragorn�s mind. A warning of sorts, ominous and fell.






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Aragorn was fully convinced they were being watched.

They were moving through the remaining distance of the Caverns and he slow down his feet, as to catch up with Legolas at the rear. Ahead Gimli led the Hobbits and Aragorn continued to walk beside Legolas.

"Legolas..."

"They are behind us" Legolas said tensely. An arrow had been removed already and was notched to the Elf warrior�s arrow string.

"Many?" Aragon said, his hand upon his own sword gripping it even tighter. It sung softly as he loosened it in its sheath.
At the soft sound Gimli�s head slowly turned as he continued to walk.
He brows furrowed, he too was sensing the fell creatures behind him all of a sudden.

"Enough" was all Legolas said, his Elf mind moving swiftly to calculate all he could smell, and hear.

Aragorn nodded to Gimli and the Dwarf removed his Halbard from his belt, alerting the Hobbits to danger.
A year of 'adventure' had taught them well enough that they continued to walk as Gimli did, each with a hand upon there own 'swords. Instead the dwarf shook his head and nodded to there ponies.
Not questioning anything at the moment, they mounted best they could while in motion, with Gimli's help.

"Revio!" Legolas slipped into his native speech at his urgency, and at that one word they began to run.

Legolas had become aware of the threat little than twenty minutes after there separation from Gandalf. And now as they ran he could hear the tell tale sounds of foul claws upon stone and rock.


They had to be 40 at the least he realized. It would have been enough for them to take if the Hobbits had not been there. It would be dangerous battle and he would not risk there lives, so instead they flee.

Ahead of him the Hobbits kept an even canter, maintaining speed but not going to far ahead of the others.

Turning his body as they ran, feet making no sound over the stone, Legolas shot an arrow as the first foul goblin appeared.

Then another, and another.

He wished to save his arrows as need be, but he would take down as many as he could if they came too close.

And Legolas could not help but think one thing.

How were Gandalf, Greer, and Tempest to escape?











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-20 minutes before...-








Ridding at a canter, within the towering stone walls of a mountain cavern would have been a horrible idea. If the horses that the three rode were any other than Elvish or Rohan steeds.

Yet they were not, and these were Elvish and Rohan horses, and because of this speed was possible even in such odd conditions.

They came to a narrowed passage that turned sharply to the left.
As they did moved with it, Gandalf�s hand shot out and gripped a piece of wood that had been intended to be a torch. It remain un-lit and cold.

All three abruptly stopped there horses once entered within this new room.
More light was needed and so Gandalf leaned in tilted the un-lit torch towards Tempest

She took it in one hand, letting Arod�s reins drop.
One slender small finger was placed to the base of the wood, and Tempest muttered words so soft it was hard for even Greer to hear.
"Naur an edraith ammen" and she pulled her finger away quickly as the top of the stick flickered rapidly with a blue flame, then caught and turned red with fire.

The Cavern filled with light and Greer's shock turned from the magic she had just witnessed, to the cavern around her.

It was a Thieves wonderland.

Before her was a hoard that would rival all the Dragons that had ever lived.

"With haste Greer" he said, pointing to the area ahead of him.
Stairs in the center of the room lead up to a platform, a pedestal at the top. Gandalf relieved the torch from Tempest and handed it to Greer.

The change in the woman was a swift one. She transformed from a sarcastic, fiery, amused Thief of Arnor...to a vessel of utter concentration.

Stopping just before where they stood, she lean down to her knees getting as low to the ground as possible.
Her hand slid across the sandy cavern floor and gripped a handful of dirt. Opening her hand, palm up, she blew once spreading the dust fine granules in the air.

Silver tendrils appeared before her, cris-crossed strings of Mithril so thin they seemed invisible. This trap had been set long ago, and she had no way of knowing at the moment who. But she was correct when she thought that it was no craft of the Orc's. They must have taken the Crosses and used the ancient trap to keep it safe, ascending from over and above to avoid whatever deadly tricks there were.

"Clever, very clever" she murmured.

�Very well then, if you wish games...two can play" she said, straightening back up and backing a few steps.

Her eyes were downcast as she memorized the pattern before her, she had to be absolutely sure.
Then turning she handed the torch to, surprisingly, Tempest.

"Watch and Learn Gypsy" she said with a grin upon her face.

Then without warning she stepped once quickly, then skipping with hands in air she rounded off and began to tumble.
Her hand placement was perfect, her feet together as she tumbled three and then four times...coming to a stop on the other side, hands coming down from over her head.

Greer wiped her hands together.
"Hobbit pie" she said and smiled at the shocked look upon the Gypsy face.

After the initial shock wear off Tempest roll her eyes and deftly toss the torch across the way.
Greer caught it easily, and turned.

"Ok, now for the hard part" she murmured to herself.

Without another moment of hesitation she moved forward, and only a few steps had she gone before she paused again.
There were etchings among carved tiles before her. And that never bode well.

Leaning down again, she tilt her head and instantly saw the pattern. It was simple mathematics, a number pattern before her in certain tiles.

//either I must step upon these, or I must avoid them// deciding that she wondered if they had made it obvious because they did not think that anyone would look upon it as she had, or that they expected her to follow the obvious.

''The obvious would be to avoid the etched tiles, but they may expect that" she said squinting and speaking to herself.
"But then they may expect me to expect that and do the opposite of my good judgment, and step upon them anyway...but that too could be a trap. Oh I have no time for this" Frustration getting her she moved her foot over the first etched tile and let her foot fall, moving it at the last second over the tile directly in front. It was not carved with anything, simply plain.

Nothing happened, Greer sighed with relief.

//Well whoever you may be whom crafted these traps, either you were terribly clever...or stupid// she thought highly amused.

This was going to be the easiest earned job ever.

After she was absolutely sure there were no more hidden traps she climb the last step to the top. And before her was the pedestal of marble.

And lying on it, untouched for an untold many years, a jewel who's two 'arms' formed the shape of a cross.
The parts were equally even, and it was wrought of Mithril and gold, at its center a small sapphire.
The chain that hang from its top lie upon the marble, as if waiting.

Greer's hand suddenly shot up to just below her neck, gripping the front of her shirt...griping what was under.
She felt familiar warmth and swallowed.

Reaching quickly into her hip pack she revealed a satchel. Inside was sand she had prepared ahead of time.
This was a common trigger, once the thief thought they had there treasure, they were tricked once more by a weight measuring platform.

Her hand hovered above the cross, and she could feel the warmth under her tunic just at the base of her collar bone intensify. Her hand swiped by like lightning, exchanging the small cross with the small leather bundle.

She stayed like that, bent above the pedestal. Nothing happened, and she sighed smiling.
"like I said, Hobbit pie"

Then something caught her eye, the cross within her hand, it was glowing.
Blue.

She was suddenly reminded what the warmth hanging from the silver chain upon her neck meant.

Turning abruptly she ascended the stairs, careful to take only the ones safe. Greer pocket the cross and taking another breath she grimaced as she forced herself into another round of tumbling. So fast and so forced was her motion this time, she ended in a roll, coming upon one knee.

Her hand reaching into the satchel at her side confirmed she still had the goods.

"Hurry, I think we are being followed" Gandalf said uneasily, and moving around him she mounted Roheryn pushing from the ground, completely passing the aid of the stirrup by.

"No Kidding, I think there's a reason its glowing" she said passing the cross to him.

"Indeed the same reason my sword glows at the moment" he muttered and put the jewel away safely. Tempest had not a chance to see it, but was too concerned by what the glowing of the jewel and Gandalf�s weapon meant.

"Orc�s" he stated simply at her confusion, but she was not listening.

Her gaze was glued before her, head tilted in an unnerving way. //That girl has more of the Eldar in her than she is willing to show// he thought and followed her eyes.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Tempest asked, feeling Arod step back uneasily under her.

"I should like to say, I don't think so. 'Yurg iar' I must have triggered something anyway" she cursed her luck as the pedestal began to ascend.

Suddenly what sounded like the strings of a minstrels lyre being popped, as if wound far to tightly, filled the air. Over and over again the strings lining the ground loosened themselves and wiped through the air.
A shower of debris and stone began to fall from above, and beneath the earth shook and the horses whinny in fright.

"Fly" Gandalf called, Turning Shadowfax swiftly. Greer did not need a second word, she turned as well ready to leave.
But Tempest seemed frozen, with fear.

The Walls were closing in upon them, and the roof above there very heads falling.
And she could not move no matter how hard she try.

Arod took matters into his own hands, leaping off his hindquarters and rushing forward. All Tempest could do was hang on for her life, gripping his grey mane between her fingers.

Now they thundered back towards the passage.

Greer was the first to reach it, Roheryn turned the corner slightly stumbling on the smooth stone. He gained his footing and continued into the adjacent hall.

Behind him Gandalf on Shadowfax turned to make sure Tempest was indeed behind him. She was, or at least Arod was, Tempest was simply clinging to the horse.

Gandalf�s heart clenched, she knew she was terrified of small spaces. And she had been brave thus far, but this was far beyond he would have expected her to keep her calm.

Shadowfax swerved to avoid a huge chunk of roof stone, and Gandalf turned to regain his balance. Making his way through the opening and around.

And earth shattering sound broke through the air, and the ground shook violently and Roheryn stumbled again sending Greer tumbling.
Gandalf managed to stay mounted, barely.

A rain of sand and debris showered them from above and the whole world seemed chaotic for several long moments.
Then it suddenly stopped, and shaking his bearded face and turning his head sharply he felt a sudden cold dread he had not felt since he felt the stone slip away from his hands as he tumble into the unknown of Mordor.

Behind them the passageway was completely blocked off with fallen chunks of stone.


He and Greer upon one side, and Tempest trapped on the other.





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Translations:

Gwelumir ('air-jewel') Referring to the Elven 'Cross' of Air. (The Crosses were named so because they consisted of two lines in the form of a cross. More like an x turned on its side, as each 'leg' were equal in length)

"Legolas, min peth?"= Legolas, one word?

"heb-band i tithen min, lagor meldir"=keep safe the little one, swift friend

'Yurg iar'= Orc blood (a curse)

"Revio"= Fly!


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