CLAIMS: All claims are at the start of chapter one.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for the review(s) and follow(s). It sure does help to know people like my story. Enjoy chapter two!

Chapter Two:

The Misty Mountains Cold

The next day I woke with the sun. The start of adventure awaited me at the gate. I pulled on my travelling clothes, though I knew we weren't riding horses, slung my satchel, quiver and bow on my shoulder and stepped out of my room. The fellowship was all standing on the hill, at the gate. I ran to catch up. As I was running, something pounded on the ground behind me and was running in my stride. It was Legolas, who had jumped down from a tree and joined me in pace.

"Ready to go?" I asked him.

"I've been ready for an hour or so." The prince said.

We joined the group and Elrond fared us well. Valar knows we will need it.

The Fellowship neared the top of the peak, and snow whipped at our faces and the cold lashed at our senses. Everyone was struggling through the snow, except Legolas and me. Elves are lightweight, so to speak and it comes to an advantage. I ran up the path a ways. Suddenly, I heard a rumble. It was as loud as thunder. Looking up, I saw a huge ball of ice and snow falling above me before my vision went black.

I shook my head out of the snow and proceeded to stand up. I looked around as everyone was recovering.

"We need to get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir shouted over the angry mountain's roar.

"That would take us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn contradicted.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria!" Gimli suggested.

I think I liked Boromir's idea better than Gimli's, although both senseless. To give them credit I knew not another way.

Gandalf's face turned grim. He wanted not to make the live or death decision. "Let the ring-bearer decide."

Dear Frodo, he is such a burdened little thing. The hobbit looked around at the group. His shivering friends were what broke him.

"We will go through the mines." He announced.

"So be it," Gandalf said in a lowly voice.

As we walk down deep into the mountains, we get low enough so that there is no snow or cold. Not even wind stirs. We walk around a lake and get to a shore, where the sandy path ends. Gandalf speaks with Frodo. A gasp from Gimli.

"The Walls of Moria!"

A vast cliff face has grown along the path. It rose up into the mist of the mountain.

"Dwarf door are invisible when closed," the dwarf went on to state.

He knocked on a rock with his axe. I approach the large, smooth rock and start running my hand along it, looking for a knob. The rest of the Fellowship knock and try every little nook in the cliff face.

"Yes, Gimli. Their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf said, looking up high for a door, alike the rest of us.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I heard Legolas say next to me.

Gimli grumbled at the comment, and I couldn't hold a smile.

Gandalf walks over to a jagged edge in the cliff.

"Now, let's see… Ithilden…"

Thin, silver lines run across the rock underneath his hand.

"Shines only in starlight and moonlight." He continued.

I looked up at the dark, black sky. The clouds hid all the stars and the moon.

"The clouds move quickly. We must wait for the moon to shine down on us." Gandalf said, sitting down on a rock next to the lines.

The rest of us sit down and do all we can do... wait. Pip and Merry are seeing who can throw their rocks farthest. Frodo is intently watching Gandalf, Sam at his side. Boromir is standing with Gimli. The two dumb ones, together. I sit with Legolas. I am still his guide. I turned towards him.

"What did you mean when you said that I had a good character, and to stay that way?" I asked him.

"Sometimes when people get far from the things they love, they forget that they love them. They change." He replied.

"I would think you know that first hand." I said.

"How so?" He asked.

"Nothing…" I blushed.

Gandalf's voice wavered. Many minutes passed and only few stars have begun to appear.

"Do not disturb the water," I hear Aragorn say.

I looked down at the water that has risen to the tips of my boots when I had my legs stretched. I hugged my legs to my chest.

"It's useless," Gandalf cried. Our faces turned to look at him.

Frodo looked up at the writings on the door.

"It's a riddle," He whispers.

The water ripples ominously. I'm not the only one who has noticed it.

"Back away from the shore," Legolas grabs my shoulder and pulls me back.

"What is the elvish word for friend?" asked Frodo.

Mellon, friend. Why would an elvish word be the password to a Dwarvish door?

"Mellon." Gandalf stands.

Light spreads throughout the shimmering lines and the doors swing open, rumbling loudly with echoes singing in the caverns.

Gandalf lit the end of his staff, and we began the trek into the mines.

"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin." Gimli drawled to Legolas. "And they call it a mine, a mine!"

"This is no mine… it's a tomb!" Boromir exclaimed.

Gandalf showed his light towards the dark corners of the passageway. Corpses were strewn about, as if killed in a hasty and messy way. Gimli sobbed in anguish at the bodies of his kin. Beside me, Legolas bent down and took an arrow from the back of a body lying face-down. He casted it away once he knew what had shot the arrow.

"Goblins!" He announced, knocking an arrow to his own bow, ready to fire.

I did the same, extending my arm with bow in hand, an arrow knocked, ready to shoot anything that came in our path. Aragorn and Boromir pulled out their swords, also alert and wary.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here!" Boromir said.

The hobbits retreat back to the door, frightened.

"Now get out of here, get out!" Boromir yelled to the rest of the fellowship.

I looked back at the hobbits. Behind them, something rises from the water. I screamed, not trying to say anything but just giving a warning. Snaking tentacles rise from the murky water. I pushed three of the hobbits out of the tentacle's reach before the monster could get them. Frodo was pulled off his feet, and dragged to the water. I scramble to my feet and the hobbits try to get the ring-bearer free. I knocked an arrow to my bow, screaming for the others to come.

As I was about to shoot, and arrow flew past my head, digging itself into the beast of the depths. Legolas ran in front of me, knocking arrows without seconds to lose. Aragorn and Boromir get the hobbits back into the mines, yelling for Legolas to come with them. The prince started to retreat, still shooting arrows at the beast.

"Come, into the mines!" Gandalf yelled.

"Legolas!" I screamed, grabbing his arm and running towards the caves.

I hear his footsteps behind mine. The beast roars with fury and sinks back into the water, leaving everything unsettled and eerie. We run into the caves as a tentacle reached out and shut the doors. Rocks crumbled from the ceilings from the harsh impact. Legolas and I dodged the falling rocks, barely joining the fellowship at the end of the corridor. The light from Gandalf's staff had ceased, and we were left in pitch darkness. All was silent, as if every sound had been crushed under the rocks and few survived. Water dripped from the cave's ceiling. Deep breathing from catching our breaths echoed in the tall caverns.

"We have now but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs, in the deep places of the world. Quietly now. It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

We walked through the halls, which might have been at one time a royal hall, walked but kings. Our light footsteps are almost unheard. The fellowship climbed a stone staircase, and we came to a crossroads of the mine. Three tall thresholds loomed before us. A draft spread over the mines, and the realize being trapped soon set in.

"I have no memory of this place," Gandalf whispers, shining the light at the end of his staff at the portals.

I looked around at the eerie, silent darkness. The thought lingered in the back of my mind, a sense of danger erupted in my mind. Anything could lurk in the shadows. The rest of the company slung their bags from their backs and sat down against a clammy, cold peak of stone. I rested against the cold wall, surprised that it may have been for assurance that nothing that I couldn't see was behind me. The hobbits whispered among themselves. Their bravery amazes me to no end. Surely the smallest of this group holds the most courage in their hearts.

Something scurries in the gloom. A faint clawing sound etched itself into my hearing. I wasn't the only one who noticed it. Whispers between Frodo and Gandalf I can also hear.

"There's something down there!" An alarmed pitch filled Frodo's voice.

"It's Gollum," Gandalf said, with no surprise.

"Gollum?" Frodo asked.

"He's been following us for three days. Now the Ring has drawn him here. He will never be rid of his need for it. Gollum hates and loves the Ring, hates and loves himself." Gandalf said.

I looked down at my knees, not interested anymore in their conversing. I closed my eyes to listen. Listen to the little hope that maybe the star's songs will reach my ears even in this darkness. There is no hope.

"Oh! It's this way," A voice came from above.

"He's remembered!" One of the hobbits exclaimed, gleefully.

We all got up and followed Gandalf.

"No, but the air doesn't smell as foul down this hall. When in doubt, Meriadoc, follow your nose." The old wizard replied.

After after the path, it led to a more open space. Broken ornate columns lie in pieces on the floor. Gandalf raised his staff.

"Let me risk a little more light," He said.

The staff illuminated tall hallways of stone, lined with grand pillars rising to the rooftops, and arched ceiling that glimmered with pieces of jade and silver.

"Behold; in front of you is the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."

It surely was a sight to see. Gems of all sizes lie shimmering in the corners. A ray of sunlight shone down into the room. Maybe we are close to the end? Gimli ran ahead the rest towards the room, awestruck by the foyers of his ancestors. The fellowship followed. I would expect he knew the mapping of the mines of Moria. Stepping into the room, we immediately realized it as the downfall of the last of the dwarves. Weapons and mutilated corpses lie about. The attackers smeared blood on the walls. A single shaft, a tomb sits in the middle of the destruction. Gandalf approaches Gimli, who is wailing over the deaths of his cousins.

"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead then. It's as I feared." Gandalf said, despondently.

The wizard bent down and picked up a large and battered book from the cold hands of a corpse.

"We must move on, we cannot linger. A darkness looms here." Legolas whispered to Aragorn.

I turned to look at his face. It is a troubled expression, worried even. What sorts of evil crawls at the pit of this despair?

"'They have taken the bridge, and the second hall,'" Gandalf read from the middle of the book. "'We have barred the gates, but it cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes.'"

"'Drums, drums in the deep…'" He continued.

The page in bloodstained, and the words in rough longhand was wrote in haste. What are they running from? What are they afraid of? What creatures had caused the ruin of the great mines of Moria?

"'We cannot get out…" Gandalf reads, his voice low. I don't want to breathe. The writing of the last black line was never finished. "'They are coming.'"

A crash. Gandalf whips around at the mindless hobbit. Pip had accidentally pushed a corpse's head down a well. A guilty blush fills Pip's face. A ricocheted noise fills every corner, a loud sound and then silence. I look around, knowing something awoke. Could this be our death, too?

Gandalf slammed the book shut in anger. "Fool of a Took!" He exclaimed, taking his hat and staff from the clumsy hobbit. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your folly!"

A deep grumbling emits from the dark and unknown depths. What lurks in the shadows? A pause. Then it starts up again, faster, like a heartbeat. Terror creeps up to the other's faces. Fright has been stalking us, and now it can take its leap. I'd dislike to think we all imagined what would be the death of us, in this once grand cavern.

"Frodo!" His friend yells. The sword glows blue.

The answers to my questions arise. Orcs.

Boromir rushes to the heavy wooden doors to see what the enemy awaits. Black, twisted arrows hiss into the wood, near his face. Why couldn't they have hit him? Aragorn drops the torch, another light source put out. He runs to the doors. I usher the hobbits toward Gandalf.

"Stay with the wizard," I whispered, quickly getting back to the others.

Legolas throw the others axes from the floors to blockade the doors.

"They've brought a cave troll!" Boromir yelled.

We all draw our weapons, ready to fight whomever the winner. The hobbits draw their tiny swords, following in Gandalf's footsteps. Frodo's sword quivers, a vibrant azure pulsing through the metal. Gimli leaps atop the tomb of his ancestor, brandishing his ax.

"There is still one dwarf left in Moria who still draws breath!" He yelled his battle cry.

The orcs start to break the doors down, with uncouth screeches and unhuman cries. Warped, black weapons crash through splintering spaces. An arrow from behind me flies into the door, a shrill cry rang out from the sharp shooter's victim. The disgusting beasts break through the doors. Legolas, Aragorn and I constantly shoot arrows at the orcs. The others fight hard, also, and the wave of armor-clad orcs fill the room.

An orc wraps his arm around my neck, and pulls me down to the ground. Boromir stabs the orc in the head, just above mine. I stand and press my back against a wall, panting, trying to catch my breath. I look around and see all the fighting, and world spins a little slower. Aragorn swings his sword, beheading an orc. The head rolls to the ground to my feet, and blood pools on the floor. The dismembered body sinks to the ground as Aragorn whips around to stab another orc. A roar fills the air, and I squint while looking up. Sam and Aragorn follow my stare. Two large, spotted gray hands smash through the doors.

A cave troll crashes into the room, chains binding its wrist. Legolas shoots an arrow at its shoulder. I knock an arrow to my bow and shoot the cave troll, engaging into battle again. Frodo's little friend dives under its legs before it can pound its mace down on the hobbit. The troll turns to find the hobbit again, and sights him. I shoot it again in the leg, and between Legolas and I, there are arrows all over the cave troll's back, arms and legs. The troll corners the hobbit.

"Aragorn!" I screamed, pointing at Sam, trapped by the troll.

Aragorn and Boromir pulls on the chains that binds the troll. It lurches back, and turns again, pounding it's mace on the ground. The troll pushes Boromir aside, causing him to bang into a wall. He falls to the ground, obviously dazed. Aragorn stabs the troll in the neck, and Legolas shoots it in the head. Gimli swings his ax into the troll's leg, and it growls, turning around in a circle to clamp a hand on its wound.

On the other side of the room, Meriadoc and Pip pushes Frodo behind a pillar to protect him. I rush over to them, slaying orcs as I go. I shield the tiny hobbits from the orcs, and shoot the foul creatures as much as I can. The troll swings its chains over its head, trying to hit Legolas. The prince dodges all the attempts, and the troll gets its chains to wrap around a pillar. Legolas runs up the chains, shooting the mountain monster in the head as he goes, and jumps off on the ground.

The troll pulls on his chains, freeing his arms and knocking the pillar to the ground. As it goes down, it crumbles on top of a large group of orcs. Gimli runs from the pillar, Frodo's friend right after him. The hobbit hits an orc with a skillet as he goes. The troll raises his mace over our heads. I push Meriadoc and Pip out-of-the-way, all of us crashing to the ground as the mace hits the ground. Frodo stands safe behind the pillar, his unsheathed sword in hand, glowing blue. The troll looks for Frodo, who ducks behind the pillar to dodge its eyesight.

Aragorn sees the danger and runs to the ring-bearer. Frodo carefully looks behind the pillar, to see where the cave troll had gone. The troll roared in his face, knocking the hobbit to the ground. He crawled back to a corner.

An orc runs under the cave troll's arm and runs into me, knocking me to the ground once again. My head took all the impact to the fall, and as I opened my eyes the edges of my vision darkened. I fought the orc with my fists, my vision disappearing quickly. I felt hot blood seeping from the wound on my head.

I hear Frodo scream for Aragorn. The orc was pushed from me by the two small hobbits, Pip and Merry. I sit up against the wall and use it to stand, closing my eyes and feeling the wound at the back of my head. It stings at my touch, though tender. My vision slowly returned to normal as the troll stabbed Frodo with a spear. My eyes grew wide. Gandalf turned instinctively, rushing towards the ring-bearer. Frodo groaned in pain. Meriadoc and Pip rush towards the troll and attack with no mercy for hurting their friend. Boromir runs to get to the hobbit.

Legolas rushes over, shooting the troll in all the places the two hobbits have stuck him. As the troll roars, the Elf shoots it in its mouth, into the brain. Blood flows from the troll's mouth, and it moans in agony as it falls to the floor, dead.

I look around. All the orcs are either dead or have fled. I sigh deeply. At the moment we are out of danger. Frodo gasps.

"He's alive!" One of the hobbits exclaim.

"I'm alright! I'm not hurt," Frodo sputters.

"You shou've been dead!" Aragorn exclaimed, surprised.

"I think there's more to this hobbit than what meets the eye." Gandalf says, with the same old twinkle in his eye.

Frodo unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt to show a Mithril shirt. It glimmers with jewels and gem.

"Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins." Gimli announced.

I smiled, but didn't say anything. I was glad everyone was alive.

Screeches come from down the halls. More orcs.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!" Gandalf yells, also hearing the sounds.

"Come on," Aragorn shouts, pulling Frodo to his feet.

Everyone runs out, and Boromir pushes me ahead of him. A swarm of orcs are right behind us, shrill cries fill the air of their fury. Other black deformed creatures crawl on the ceiling and down pillars, dragging themselves along the floor. The fellowship formed in a circle, and the orcs surround us. I knock an arrow to my bow. All the rest have their arms drawn. The ugly creatures sneer at us, and jump at us.

A fiery light appears at the end of the hall, and a loud roar, louder than the orcs or the troll fills the air. The orcs flee from the higher evil, dismayed and afraid. We are left alone, with only the red, angry fire.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir whispered to himself.

Gandalf's eyes are grim and solemn.

"That, is a Balrog… a demon of the ancient world." The wizard replies, his voice low.

The demon growls, concealed behind a corner. It throws balls of fire at the pillars and roars. I turn towards Legolas. There is a new gleam in his eyes, and it is none but what I can name as fear.

"You know the power of this demon?" I whisper to him.

A nod is my answer.

"This foe is beyond any of you! Run!" Gandalf yelled.

Legolas grabbed my hand and ran. He pulled me behind him. My brow curled in confusion, but I had not the time to think about his actions. Gandalf shepherded us through a small door in the wall. We scramble down a flight of stairs, watching our step while going as quickly as possible. The stairs stop abruptly, and Legolas grabs Boromir's arm before he plunged into the fires below.

"Lead them on, Aragorn! The Bridge is near!" Gandalf yells somewhere behind me.

I look back. Aragorn runs towards Gandalf, but the wizard pushes him away.

"Do as I say! Swords are of no more use here!" Gandalf orders.

The Balrog roars again, searching for us.

"Amarea!" Legolas yelled, still holding on to my hand tightly.

He takes a step running start, and jumps across, pulling me with him. My feet lands safely on the other side, and I lean into Legolas, barely on the ledge. A blush flushes through my face and I step away from him, embarrassed. His hand lost grip on mine. Stone foundation rumble, and huge rocks and boulders fall into the lava below us.

"Gandalf!" Legolas yelled, beckoning for the wizard to jump across.

Gandalf jumps across, landing safely next to me, and catches his balance on the prince.

Arrows whistle past us and land in the fire. Legolas raises his bow and fires back, killing the offender. The orc tumbles from the ledge.

"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir yelled, taking the two hobbits I formally knew as Meriadoc and Pip in his arms and jumped across with a grunt as he landed.

"Sam!" Aragorn yelled, picking up Frodo's little friend and threw him across. So now I've found a name for him. Boromir catches the hobbit.

The ranger reaches to throw Gimli across, but the dwarf stops him.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf," He protested.

Gimli leans forward and jumps with all his might. His toes land at the edge of the other side, but almost falls into the chasm. Legolas grabs his beard and pulls him back up.

"Not the beard!" Gimli cried, brushing himself off.

Now the only ones left on the other side was Aragorn and Frodo.

"Hold on!" Aragorn yelled.

"Come on!" Legolas yelled back.

Aragorn leaned forward, causing the staircase to fall towards where we were standing. The ranger kept a tight grip on Frodo as they jumped onto the stable surface.

"Over the Bridge! Fly!" Gandalf yelled.

He started to run, with everyone close behind him. Exhausted, we all pushed on. We run passed Gandalf, to the end of the Bridge. He stays behind to face the ancient demon. A great black shadow rises from the lava, crashing through the stone. It eyes ablaze, furious. Huge black horns rise and twist over its bull-like head. Heat rippled from its immense body. Gandalf faced the beast, with little fear in his voice.

"You shall not pass!" He yelled, his voice bouncing off the walls.

Great wings of ash whirl around the monster, who spreads out its arms and burst into crackling flame. Gandalf stood below it, staff and sword raised.

"I am a servant the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame Anor!" Gandalf yelled.

A blazing light shone from the end of his staff as he raised it.

"The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!" He exclaimed.

A sword of flame formed in the Balrog's hand. It attempted to strike down on Gandalf, who protects himself with his own blade. The force from the wizard shattered the creature's weapon.

"Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf strained.

The Balrog carried a new weapon. A leering whip of embers.

The wizard raised both sword and staff, and brought it down on the ground with all his might.

"You shall not pass!" He chanted with grand force.

A bright flash of white light appeared from the staff. The bridge collapsed under the Balrog, sending it plunging into the fiery nadir. Gandalf turns to follow us, leaning on his staff with exhaustion. Suddenly, the flaming whip rises from the lava and latches on Gandalf's ankle. The wizard fell down to the ground and over the edge. He held on with all his might, struggling to get back up.

"Gandalf!" Frodo screamed.

With Frodo's scream he stops struggling.

"Fly you fools," He says, voice straining.

Gandalf let go of the edge, sending him falling with the Balrog.

"No! Gandalf!" Frodo screamed, fraught against Boromir's restraint.

Everything is silent except for the young ring-bearer's screams. Disbelief fills the anxious air. The orcs must have seen their chance to attack. The same dark arrows flew passed us.

"Get out!" Aragorn yelled, pushing Legolas and me up the steps and to the exit.

When out, the sunlight was like a breath of life. I fell to the ground and pulled myself up to a sitting position, exhausted. Somehow I knew we wouldn't have much time to rest. I had more wounds than I thought. My thigh had a deep gash and was gushing blood, soaking the leggings I wore. Many more scrapes lined my body. I touched my hand to the back of my head, and the injury still hurt at the touch.

Everyone was bloody and dirty, fatigued from battle and exhausted from constant rush. Hearts pounded, and shock dispersed. The fellowship is distraught. Sam buries his head in his hands and weeps. Merry consoles Pippin, who is crying. Boromir attempts to restrain Gimli, who out of all of us was probably hurt the most from the traumas in the mines. I look towards Legolas, who is standing next to me. His eyes are unsure, and his face shows disbelief. He knew Mithrandir longer than all of us had. Aragorn seemed to be the only one who had not been hurt, least he hides it well. He wiped the sticky blood from his sword, and sheathed it.

"Legolas, get them up." He said.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir said, putting a strong hand on Aragorn's shoulder.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up." He reasoned.

Aragorn lifted Sam up. "On your feet," He said. "Where is Frodo?"

Legolas helped me up, looking at the wound on my leg and the scratches on my face. "Are you okay?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yes, but are you?"

He turned away, not answering. I'd hate to say that he is afraid of saying no.

After trekking across the rocks and fields, we approached the start of a forest. I knew this forest, but had never been. The woods of Lothlórien.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope you enjoyed! Make sure to leave a review, thank you!