Moria

Speak Friend and...

Outside Moria

“The darkness holds no fear.” I spoke those words, but knew they were not wholly true. The absence of light was uncomfortable, but it alone held no fear. I knew with certainty that evil things lurked in the dark pit that had once been the greatest kingdom of the Naugrim. Yet did I fear them?

Moria. Perhaps once it had been fair, at least to the eyes of the Naugrim in Elder days. Casarrondo it had been called, before it fell into darkness. Their greatest King, Durin, had ruled it, or so Estarfin had been told. He had seen King Azaghâl upon the field during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad; if Durin was greater than he, he must have been a mighty Lord of their kind indeed.

And after miles of almost emptiness, they finally come across a Goblin camp. Estarfin, Danel and Parnard do not hesitate to clear the way, but reluctantly leave the far less experienced Marawendi some distance from them. And after the immediate path is cleared, they all take a short rest in what appears to be an old library. Parnard takes the first watch. 

The group continue in their slow and difficult traversing of the old Dwarven realm. Narrow bridges, steep stairs, and always an oppressive darkness over what was once a most beautiful place. But the Dwarven ideal of beauty has more to do with caves and mines than the elven ideal. 

Marawendi does well for one so young and inexperienced, but she is obviously scared. At least the situation seems to have diverted Parnard's thought from Brasseniel for the moment.