Jessica could barely see two feet in front of her; the only light afforded to them was the dim glow that lit Gandalf's staff.

She was acutely aware of being in a rather large place that, even in sunlight, she doubted she would see the ceiling of and that thought unsettled her. She followed the others dutifully not wanting to get lost, all the while trying not to think how Gandalf's staff cast an eerie glow on their surroundings like the street light scene from The Exorcist.

It was easy to watch horror films when I knew I'd be going, safe, to my own bed at night, now I wish I'd been more of a rom-com kinda girl.

They entered through an archway and suddenly Jessica felt as if she were very high up. The vastness of the space meant that Gandalf's light burned a little brighter and afforded them more sight. And that was when Jessica gasped and almost fell. They were walking over a thin rocky path which must have been hundreds of feet above the ground. They were so far up she couldn't even see the ground.

Without thinking she dropped to her knees and getting as close to the make shift bridge as she could she began to slowly crawl her way across.

"Jessica?" She heard Pippin question from in front of her and glanced up to see the bemused faces of the fellowship. "What are you doing?"

"Taking a nap, what does it look like?" She snapped, more harshly than she had meant to but, fuck, her stomach felt like it was about to fall through her ass.

"What is this commotion? We must keep our pace." She heard Gandalf ask from the front.

"You guys didn't like the idea of escalators?" Jessica muttered to Gimli, feeling foolish but still too terrified to risk standing up.

Unexpectedly it was Boromir who came to her aid. They hadn't spoke since their little altercation involving the ring up on the mountain top but he gently grabbed her underarm and pulled her up. He moved so that he was behind her and placed a calming hand upon her shoulder, guiding her to move forwards.

"I will not let you fall Lady Jessica."

She nodded, not sure how to reply and the fellowship continued their pace.

They had been walking for a while, Jessica trying and failing not to look down, when she heard Boromir speak softly from behind her.

"You fear being so far from the earth?"

She chuckled nervously.

"No, no, heights are great! It's more the falling to my death and breaking my neck part that kinda gets to me."

It's fine, just don't look down. Pretend you're badass like Lara Croft and you're going to make these mines your bitch.

Boromir gave a little laugh and Jessica felt like maybe she should say something more, smooth over their little 'incident' but she wasn't quite sure what to say.

Not sure 'sorry but you were being a dickhead' would go over quite so well… or 'you looked like you were about to stick your dick into the ring and make love to it in front of us all.'

She suddenly shivered, partly due to the temperature but mostly due to the fact she was still soaking wet after her moonlit swim with the Swamp Thing.

The path they were walking thinned out even more and Jessica tried to pay attention to the conversation going on around her to save herself from having a panic attack.

"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels – but mithril." Gandalf commented as he ran a hand across the wall next to them, which Jessica was half clinging to. He moved his staff to shine over the vast mines below them and Jessica had to stop herself from throwing up.

"Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave him." Gandalf spoke on.

"Oh, that was a kingly gift!" Gimli's voice sounded with awe and Jessica noticed how much nicer it sounded when he wasn't complaining.

"Yes. I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire." Gandalf answered as Frodo appeared a little shocked.

Jessica was concentrating so intensely on her footing that she did not notice that the others had slowed and she bumped straight into Gimli who shot her a dirty look.

"My bad." She shrugged as she looked past him to see what the hold up was. She wished she hadn't. "Oh no, no fucking way. You guys were adverse to the idea of handrails as well?"

She watched as Gandalf began to ascend what looked to be steps, but by their steepness they hardly qualified. It was more like rock climbing – but without the harness.

Boromir's hand on her shoulder, which had been resting there lightly, tensed slightly at her words.

"I wish you would concede from such coarse language, it is not befitting of a lady."

"Really? You think now is an appropriate time for etiquette lessons?"

"I was merely commenting that-"

"If this situation doesn't call for swearing then I don't know what does so let me just have my moment, okay dude?"

He nodded removing his hand from her.

She watched as up ahead Pippin slipped and fell slightly and Jessica gasped, her heart feeling like it was in her throat.

It was finally her turn to tackle the steps and she swore with each step, the hobbits and Boromir blushing unattractive shades of red at her colourful vocabulary.

When they finally all reached the top Gandalf decided that they should bed down for the night and declared he would take the first watch. Jessica was thankful as that meant his staff would stay glowing a little while longer.


Sam started to hand out food that didn't require a fire to cook and Jessica ate it miserably, all the while thinking about chicken fried rice and curry sauce.

Gandalf sat no too far away from her and lit up his pipe, smoking merrily and blowing rings as if he were on a summer holiday and not sealed in some underground mine.

Without the night's air to take the smoke away Jessica was treated to a strong stream of smoke which made her eyes widen. She turned to Gandalf, a mischievous smile upon her face.

"Dude, you're getting high!"

His eyebrows drew together in confusion at her words.

"The stuff you're smoking." She clarified and Sam spoke up at her words.

"Tis the finest tobacco and plant mix in the shire, that there is Longbottom Leaf."

"Plant mix?" Jessica laughed. "Also known as marijuana. No wonder you hobbits are always fucking hungry, you're getting blazed. This is so surreal."

"You wish to try some?" Gandalf queried, not quite understanding her surprise and misinterpreting it for curiosity at the taste.

"When in Rome." She gave a shrug.

Boromir gasped in offence, it was simply not done for a young lady to be seen smoking in polite company. Legolas sat watching with a small frown.

No doubt he doesn't like that plants are being harvested for people to smoke. The way he talks about plants as if they have feelings, I'd say he's the one that's high as fuck.

The wizard passed his pipe to her and Jessica bought it to her lips, inhaling deeply… and promptly choked in a fit of smoke.

"Wow." She rasped. "That is strong."

Pippin passed her some water which she drank gratefully.

"Tis home-grown in the Shire." Sam commented proudly. "Only the finest."

Jessica passed the pipe back to Gandalf and shook her head.

It's just perfectly normal for them to be getting stoned before bed time. I really hope I don't get injured and they inject me with some lethal dose of Heroin which serves as medication here.

Jessica was bought out of her musings as a strong hand was placed on her shoulder, making her jump.

"Fuck Legolas, I don't care if you are an elf, boots should make some noise on the ground."

"My apologies." He gave her a small smile. "Now we are to rest, I felt I should inquire as to whether you wish me to hang your wet clothes out over the mine ledge for you so that they may dry by the morn."

"Oh." She looked down at herself, feeling the dampness of her clothes but noticing Legolas' cloak had almost completely dried. She smiled at his thoughtfulness. "You could have least bought me dinner first before you asked me to strip off."

"I believe that you have already eaten, my lady?" he made it sound like a question as he gave her a confused face, his nose twitching slightly.

"It… it was a joke. I'm wasted on you people."

She stood up and began to take off her clothes, carefully keeping Legolas' cloak positioned around her so as not to give anyone a free show. This however didn't stop Gimli from spluttering indignantly and muttering something that sounded suspiciously close to the word harlot.

She gave him a glare, resisting the urge to flash him and turned to hand Legolas her clothes. She watched as he scaled the side of the wall with ease and then began to hang them securely to some large rocks so that what little air there was inside the mines would be able to dry them out over the next few hours.

"They won't fall right?" She asked peering over the ledge.

"Nay they are secure." Legolas replied as he nimbly jumped back down.

"Good, I don't want to have to walk the rest of this quest in just my underwear." She watched as the tips of Legolas' ears turned a faint pink colour. She was about to comment on it when she heard Gimli mutter her name along with the words 'lady of the night.'

She turned to face him, hands on her hips and forgetting that she should be holding Legolas' cloak securely around her to cover her modesty.

"Did you just call me a hooker?"

The dwarf stared at her in shock and spluttered.

"What? Don't give me that look, like I just proposed we start celebrating national elf appreciation week. You called me a prostitute, where's your manners?"

"You lass are entirely inappropriate."

"I… I intensely dislike you right now."

The dwarf made an angry sound before turning over on his bedroll and presenting her with his back.

She narrowed her eyes but didn't comment further. She took out her bedroll and blanket and placed it a moderate distance from Legolas' before she curled up on it, pulling his cloak and her scratchy blanket tight around her.

"Worry not." She heard Legolas' quiet voice from beside her as soft snores began to rise from around them. "The dwarf is obnoxious to even his own kin."

Jessica laughed softly; glad someone else could see the dwarf was being unreasonably rude to her, even if the elf was a little prejudiced.

"I could take him."

"That I would like to see, the dwarf and his axe against a young human with no knowledge of how to wield a weapon." He seemed to think on it momentarily and then shook his head slightly. "Upon thinking I do not believe I would wish to see that. You would be slaughtered."

"It's so strange that you guys rely upon weapons and literally have to fight to save your lives. How do people live without the police?"

"We live by learning to defend ourselves." Legolas shrugged as if it was the most normal thing in the world, which she supposed to him it was.

"I know I said I wouldn't get involved in any of the fighting but I'm thinking maybe it would be stupid not to learn how to at least defend myself. I think I'll need to learn the basics if I'm going to be living in this world now."

Legolas reached behind him and pulled out a long knife and began to inspect it.

"If it would please you my lady, I could teach you some skill with the blade."

She looked at the sharp weapon in his hand and fought the urge to shiver at how dangerous it looked. She knew, however, that she needed to learn a little self defence. Especially since she knew what they were coming up against in only a few days time.

"I'd like that, thank you."

He nodded and put away his blade before lying down and crossing his arms behind his head.

"This is the strangest birthday." Jessica whispered quietly.

This is so surreal. Smoking legal weed, getting called a sex trade worker by a dwarf and going for a swim with the Mine of Moria monster. What if I'm not actually even here? What if that night I took Legolas for a walk I was hit by a car and I'm just in a really intense coma, imagining all of this?

She shook her head; realising now was a strange time to start doubting the validity of this world.

A long moment passed before she heard Legolas' soft voice echo in the large space.

"What is your usual ritual of practice upon your day of birth?"

"Normally I go to work, I meet up with my dad and Paige, they give me some presents, then my mom comes to see me with a shop bought cake that she pretends she baked and I pretend not to see the box in the bin which she bought it in. Then we sing happy birthday to me and light a candle in the middle of the cake. I blow it out and make a wish, and then I get drunk and finish the night by watching Lord of the Rings in a wine induced coma."

Best to leave out the part about masturbating to Orlando Bloom dressed as Legolas.

"My apologies for not being able to afford you any of those things, but perhaps I could gift you a song?"

"Oh." And for only the third time in her life she felt herself blush. "It's not really necessary, when I said we sing happy birthday it's kind of only done with a cake and in a room full of people. Generally humans don't particularly serenade one another or break out into spontaneous song like in High School Musical. It makes us uncomfortable."

"Elves love to sing. It is how we greet, how we love, how we wish well, how we morn. I meant not to offend with my offer. The ways of men and elves differ vastly."

"What? No, you… you didn't offend me. I just don't want to appear ungrateful if I get uncomfortable. It's just not the way humans do things. I mean some humans, like me, can't sing for shit so it would be awkward if we all went around singing and thinking everyone would appreciate our attempts at trying to sound like Mariah Carey. But I suppose all elves can sing well so you don't really have that problem…" she trailed off awkwardly. She sucked in a large breath and then let it out loudly. "Can I… can I just take that all back? Legolas, I would love it if you would sing to me… please?"

She saw him nod slightly and she closed her eyes as he began to sing. His voice was quiet and intimate and her whole body tingled.

"Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together!

The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather; the stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower, and bright are the windows of Night in her tower.

Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together! Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!

The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting; Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.

Sing we now softly, and dreams let us weave him! Wind him is slumber and there let us leave him! The wanderer sleepeth.

Now soft be his pillow! Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow!

Sigh no more Pine, till the wind of the morn! Fall Moon! Dark be the land! Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash and Thorn! Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand!"

She was surprised that she didn't feel the slightest bit awkward as he sang. She had hoped his voice would lull her to sleep but she felt as if she had to stay awake to hear every word.

"That… that was beautiful." She almost rolled her eyes at herself, describing a song as beautiful but there was no other word for it. "When you sing… it's just, otherworldly."

She cringed in the darkness and smacked her hands to her mouth in an effort to stop from gushing on more about how much she enjoyed it.

"Sorry, I'm not as good at critiquing as Simon Cowell. It was a really happy song and well, you know you have an amazing voice so thank you, I definitely won't be forgetting this birthday in a hurry! I wish I could hire you to sing at all my birthdays, I've never heard anyone sing like an elf does."

Engage brain to mouth: shut up, you're making yourself look like a complete fool. Stop talking. Take a moment to realise you just said all those things out loud… to an elven prince.

"A merry song indeed." He commented, still laying on his back and gazing up into the darkness. "Do not be alarmed that you enjoyed it so, elves are naturally alluring to the race of men."

"You're like a siren. Singing and drawing the sailors to their deaths."

"Nay!" He laughed in good humour. "Elves do not use their charms for such crimes."

She shivered from the heat that built low in her stomach caused by his laughing.

He mistook the action for her being cold and reached over to tuck the blanket more securely around her.

"Rest now my lady."

"I know my lady is supposed to be the formal and polite way of addressing someone…" She yawned softly. "But calling me your lady is a little bit weird and slightly possessive sounding, so how about we drop it and you just call me Jessica?"

"As you wish neth min."

"Did you just call me a meth bin? That's even worse!" She muttered as she let her eyes close tiredly.

"Nay, neth min translates to young one in the common tongue."

"Oh… well that's not completely patronising." She opened one eye and gave him a lazy smile.

"Losto vae Jessica."

"I… I don't understand a word you say."

"Then we are even." The words were lost on Jessica as she had already began to snore softly. He gave her one last smile before turning back to face skywards, his eyes glazing over in rest.


During the night Jessica awoke in the darkness, shivering from her lack of clothing. She could hear someone singing softly and recognised the voice as Boromir's so she knew he must be on watch but with Gandalf resting his staff gave them no light to see.

Don't know why Boromir's on watch, I can't see shit. The only person that would stand a chance of seeing an enemy approach is Legolas.

She turned in the direction she knew him to be and listened to his slow even breathing. As surreptitiously as she could she moved her bedroll closer to him so that she could leach some of his warmth. Plus she wanted to curl up next to him and maybe have him touch her inappropriately but knew that was never going to happen so she closed her eyes and tried to sleep once more knowing that if anything attacked, she was in the safest place she could be, next to Legolas.


The next time Jessica woke she was considerably warmer and a soft voice was speaking into her ear, warm breath tickling her neck.

"- baw presta he Aragorn, adaneth taew tithen hodo."

"Be iest lín mellon nin, but she will need to wake soon for Gandalf bids us to continue on." She heard Aragorn reply before hearing his foot steps as he walked away.

It was then she realised that in the night not only had she moved her bedroll closer to Legolas but she had also curled up at his side, her head almost resting on his shoulder in a way that Gimli and Boromir would definitely not consider proper.

Is Legolas mad? Was he telling Aragorn to remove the disgusting human from him? Can he smell my morning breath? What do I do?

She felt him shift next to her and she squeezed her eyes shut in panic.

Just fake sleep, he can't yell at you if you're asleep.

She felt him leisurely detangle himself from her hair and sit up slowly, stretching out his limbs as she lay there feigning sleep.

"Jessica?" She heard his voice close to her, his fresh scented breath blowing over her cheeks, and resisted the urge to look up at him. "Jessica, I know that you have awoken."

Her heart beat faster in her chest and that was when she realised he might be able to hear it, or maybe he had heard her breathing change. Peering open one eye she squinted up at him realising how unattractive she must look.

"What gave me away?"

"You ceased snoring."

Her eyes widened as he stood and made his way over to Aragorn and Gandalf, without so much as a backwards glance at her, for which she was glad as once again she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

"I do not snore!" She yelled as they all turned to face her in alarm, only Legolas smiled at her in amusement as she quickly turned away from them, busying herself with the task of folding up her bedroll and blanket.


They continued on with their walking, Gandalf's staff lighting the way as the group talked in quiet tones. Everyone seemed to be in a considerably lighter mood, except Gimli, which came as no surprise, and Jessica was glad that they had at least three more days of peace before the whole fighting monsters and trying not to die thing began.

They came across a small passage way that had part of its roof missing and bought in a little sunlight along with some rain. The way it ran down the walls made it almost a shower and they all agreed they should take the rare opportunity to clean up. Jessica seemed to be the most relieved, not only for herself but also for the others. They were starting to smell pretty bad after days of not showering and it was getting unbearable to be close to anyone but Legolas. She only smelt relatively nice due to her excessive use of the Dior perfume she carried and Legolas due to his elvish genes.

She made her way round a slight bend so that she was out of sight from the men but could still hear them and pulled off her now dry clothes and Legolas' cloak and positioned herself under the gently running water. She didn't waste much time as she felt vulnerable standing in the middle of the mines naked and so as soon as her hair was wet she quickly shook herself free of any excess water and redressed.

She waited until Gandalf called to tell her that they were all decent and then they were once again on their way.


She walked behind the group, sticking close to the wall, even though the path was considerably wider. She failed to notice Boromir slowing down until he was beside her and she looked up with wide eyes. She wasn't sure how he felt about her after her behaving decidedly unladylike last night.

"Hey." She greeted him, aiming for a casual tone.

"How are you faring this morn?" his voice gave nothing away and he didn't remove his eyes from the group ahead.

"Still alive and finally rid of that 'packed public transport on a hot summer's day' smell, so can't complain… and you?"

"You are utterly bewildering."

She wasn't sure if he meant it as an insult or a compliment and still he didn't look at her so she just smiled at him.

"I must ask a question of you my lady."

He had slowed his pace considerably as if not to be overheard so she did the same to match his stride.

"Okay… what?" she unconsciously lowered her voice as if he were about to share a secret with her.

"That… that day upon the mountain top, why did you take the ring from my hand? I did not wish to keep it."

"I know." And he gave her a doubtful look. "Really, I knew you would hand it over, I was just cold and irritable and wanted to hurry you along. It was rather rude of me and I kinda meant to apologise but I'm not really good at admitting when I'm wrong." She gave him a small smile.

"I take it your speech is to be offered as an apology for doubting my honour."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you or doubt your honour."

"But you are a seer of what is to come…" he trailed off with uncertainty.

"I guess, of sorts. I'm not exactly mystic Meg, able to read your palms but so far everything that's happened has been true to what I've read or seen before."

He slowed even further and cast a furtive glance around.

"Then you will know what ails me at this hour."

She looked up at him in confusion.

"Um… no, not really, sorry."

"Do not play coy, you must know of the thoughts that plague my mind. The darkness within my head that begins to take root there, whispering sweet promises." He muttered with some embarrassment, as if confessing to loving One Direction.

Her eyes widened wondering why he was so openly admitting his beginning corruption from the one ring and why, even more so, that he was telling her. It wasn't that she was afraid of Boromir but she knew that the voice in his head would eventually drive him to madness and with that thought in mind she suddenly wished they were a lot closer to the group.

"I… I suppose it's tempting you, but you just have to be strong."

She cringed as she said it.

I sound like the leader of an AA meeting offering up worthless amounts of cliché's.

"I'm sorry; I'm not really good at all this comforting and confiding stuff."

"I care not for comfort, only to know what is to be my fate."

"You know I can't tell you that." She said quickly.

"Surely you must know that we are fools to embark upon this quest! Sauron will sooner see us all dead than allow the one ring to be destroyed. If we could but convince Gandalf to take the ring to my-"

"-You said yourself that the ring is trying to tempt you, can't you see that this is just one of its tricks? Offering you false visions of hope? No one can control that ring but Sauron, we need to destroy it. Take it from me, I know what happens remember?"

"The words I speak are of no false trick! These thoughts are my own, I will-"

"-You don't know that. You can't really trust yourself right now-"

"-You take liberties in your speech! You will do well to remember that I am a noble man, I do what is right for my-"

"-I'm not doubting you!" by now their voices had risen considerably and they had both stopped walking and were facing each other, the rest of the fellowship had stopped to observe the argument. "I know you're a good man and you're doing what you think is best but you have to see the bigger picture here…" she trailed off as he frowned at her, realising she was going to get nowhere with him as the ring still whispered its seductions in his ear.

"I will take my leave of you." He muttered before turning and striding towards the fellowship, moving past them without a word as he continued on with their path.

"Well." Gandalf spoke. "Well, if that is all, let us be on."

The others slowly began to walk again looking between Boromir in front and Jessica behind them. She moved at a considerably more leisurely place, not really sure what had just happened. She wasn't angry or upset with Boromir, she knew he wasn't really in control of his own actions or thoughts but she still felt a little sad. She hated confrontation and arguing with people, her social awkwardness saw to it that she felt ridiculously uncomfortable during and after arguments.

Aragorn slowed so that he could walk beside her and Jessica resisted the urge to yell at him to go away, she wasn't in the mood for another fight.

He gave her a small smile which she supposed was to offer her comfort and felt like a total bitch for her thoughts, she didn't even know why he wanted to walk with her and already she was getting ready to jump down his throat.

"I apologise for Boromir, he is not usually of such ill character. No doubt he will offer you an apology of his own when he has had a chance to think, he will be deeply ashamed of his actions towards a lady."

She smiled at him, realising that they hadn't really spoken much and she was kind of intimidated by him.

"It's cool." She gave him a shrug and tried not to cringe at her attempt at nonchalance. She couldn't help the awkwardness he instilled in her, he was a king! The closest she'd ever got to royalty was when she'd had her picture taken outside Buckingham Palace on a trip to London one summer. Now here she was, on an adventure with a future king, an elven prince and a noble man of Gondor.

"May I enquire as to what you were quarrelling over?"

She frowned at his choice of words, quarrelling sounded like something a group of eight years old did.

"Boromir said he hears voices in his head. I said stay off ketamine Boromir."

Aragorn chose to ignore her sarcastic reply and frowned as he mulled over her words.

"I shall stay close to Frodo." He was talking to himself more than to Jessica but she didn't mind, it was nice to see how protective he was of the hobbit. He started to walk away before pausing and turning to face her. "I had my doubts about you but I should have learnt by now to never doubt Gandalf. I think the fellowship shall have great need of your wisdom."

"Wisdom?" She snorted, but was secretly pleased by his words.

"You do not give yourself enough credit my lady."

"Jessica." She muttered, feeling awkward before clearing her throat loudly. "It's just Jessica, if you don't mind… I mean unless you want to say my lady, it's up to you, I was definitely not giving you orders your highness, I mean your grace, sire, your holiness?" she grimaced as she heard him give a small laugh.

"My birth name is Aragorn, Jessica, please use it rather than those ridiculous titles."


TRANSLATIONS:

Neth min – Young one.

Losto vae – Sleep well.

Baw presta he Aragorn, adaneth taew tithen hodo – Do not disturb her Aragorn, she has had little rest.

Be iest lín mellon nin – As you wish my friend.


Sorry if it seems like it ended in a really awkward place but this chapter was just getting too long, I had to stop somewhere.

Thank you to everyone who has kindly reviewed, hopefully I have replied to all of them by now. If you reviewed as guest then thank you, I appreciate you taking the time and I'm sorry I couldn't reply to you personally.

As always, please review and let me know what you think!