Sora and Luna flew through the Ocean Between on their way to the next world in their quest. "You know Luna. i think we might be in luck at the next world" said Sora looking at Luna. Luna looked at Sora with her blue eyes.
"Maybe we'll find more Light Furies. Sarah did tell me that Light Furies are near extinction." said Sora petting her head.
Luna spoke though their bond. "Maybe Sora. I hope so too. I haven't seen another of my kind in so long."
Soon they approached a world that was also new to Sora. a smoking mountain with a White City far from it. A Tower and the plains. "Take us in Luna." said Sora. Luna nodded to him as they flew into the world. Sora and Luna appeared right in front of a village on a cliff. A bridge went past a waterfall. "Whoa" Sora said with awe at the beauty of the place. He dismissed his armor and he and Luna crossed the bridge. "I wonder where we are Luna?" asked Sora as the two were then surrounded by Heartless. "Heartless!" said Sora as he held the X-blade ready for a battle. Luna roared as she pounced on a Soldier. Sora instantly blocked a Armored Knights sword with his weapon before he finished it off. "Wind!"He said using an Aero spell to make Heartless go flying. Luna fired her plasma blast at the heartless. Sora then pulled out Wheel of Fate. "Lets go High Lance!" shouted Sora as Wheel of Fate turned into Hight Lance. He took out several heartless with his Lance before a Rock Troll appeared with Satyrs, Rabid Dogs, Assault Riders, Icy Cubes, Fiery Globes and a Morning Star. Sora dodged rolled as he took out the Rabid Dogs, Icy Cube and Fiery Globes with his lance. "Storm Flag!" shouted Sora as he morphed High Lance into Storm Flag. He went into a combo as he sent the Satyrs and the Assault Riders flying. Sora slammed his weapon into the ground as Tentacles made of water appeared. They slammed into the earth taking out the Heartless leaving the Rock Troll. Sora jumped into the air with the X-blade as he stabbed the Rock Troll in the head. The giant fell down as a heart came out.
Sora returned his weapon to his back as he heard. "It has been too long since i last seen a Keyblade wielder in my home."
Sora turned to see a tall human like figure wearing a red robe and white tunic. His ears were pointy and behind him was a man with a grey wizards hat, robe and a brown wooden staff.
"Welcome To Rivendell, Keyblade Master Sora." said the wizard.
"You know who i am?" asked Sora looking at the wizard with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed i do, I happen to be an Acquaintance with your king and he told me all about you." said the wizard.
"You know Mickey?!, is he here!" asked Sora.
"I am afraid i have not seen in since we have traveled to the Lonely Mountain and defeated Smaug." said the wizard.
Sora sighed as he looked down. Luna nuzzled her rider as she let off a gentle pur. "Oh my, A Light Fury. they have not been sighted here in so long." said the being beside the wizard.
"Yeah, i was lucky to run into Luna here and she keeps me company until i can find my friends." Sora said petting Luna. He then looked at the wizard and the mysterious person. "And who are you since you know me."
"I am Gandalf the Grey" said Gandalf.
"An i am Lord Elrond. Lord of Rivendell. Welcome to my home. X-blade Wielder" said Elrond.
"And perhaps your arrival is a blessing to help us with a problem." said Gandalf.
"What kind of problem, is it the Heartless?" asked Sora.
"Come follow and we will tell you everything" said Elrond. Sora followed Gandalf and Elrond though Rivendell. As they walked did the two explain thier problem.
""So let me get this straight… this guy Sauron, is trying to take over all of Middle Earth and the only way to stop him is to destroy this Ring of Power?" asked Sora summing it up.
"Yes, we are summoning a council with representatives of each race here to discuss how to deal with the One Ring" said Gandalf.
"And we want you to be there since you have the X-blade and an expert in dealing with Darkness." said Elrond.
"Yeah but what if the one ring tries to take over me." said Sora a bit afraid of the ring. That's when the mysterious voice returned. "Don't worry Master, i'll protect you"
"Who said that?" asked Elrond as Gandalf had his staff.
"ME!" said none other than the X-blade as it went to Sora's hand. That made Sora, Elrond and Gandalf jump back."The X-blade can Talk!" Sora shouted careful not to drop the ancient weapon.
"I've always been able to talk! I've just never had the chance before since i was being used by the one who wasn;t my true master!" said the X-blade.
Well, this is certainly unexpected," commented Elrond.
"Wait a second, X-blade, was that your voice that i have been hearing this entire time?" Sora asked looking at the legendary blade.
"Yep. Since you never fought any other monsters besides the heartless. I was just telling you what you needed to know." said the X-blade.
"Well thanks. I appreciate it." Sora said looking at the weapon. The weapon glowed as Sora placed it back on his back. "So Master Sora, can we trust you will be able to help us out?" Elrond asked.
"No worries, i'm more than glad to help" said Sora. Elrond and Gandalf nodded with a smile as Elrond said. "The Delegates will arrive soon."
Sora nodded as he followed Elrond and Gandalf to the meeting. A few hours later Sora found himself sitting with a bunch of others who Sora assumed were the delegates. Luna was napping beside his leg. The X-blade in front of him as Sora got a good look at the Delegates. Sitting beside Gandalf was a small man who he heard was named Frodo. A hobbit from a land called the Shire.. The one who currently held the Ring. The Elves have sent three with the one with the blonde hair as their leader and Sora caught the name Legolas. The Dwarves were small folks with very big beards and Sora made a mental note to not make these guys mad especially Gimli. The last people to arrive were the men delegates. One man named Boromir made Sora feel very untrustworthy. His hands tighten on the X-blade.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate–this one doom." Elrond said and then gestured for Frodo to put the ring on the stone pedestal in the middle of them. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo"
Frodo slowly got up and placed the ring on the pedestal, and then returned to his seat with a sigh. Sora saw that it was just a plain gold ring but he can feel the Darkness coming from it. The X-blade glowed with light as it formed into a barrier around Sora. Boromir slowly stood up and with each word he spoke he stepped closer to the Ring. "In a dream, I saw the Eastern side grow dark but in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found." He then reached for the Ring.
Sora stood up and the blade of his weapon pointed at Boromir's chest. "If you know what is good for you. Take a seat." Sora said as his Aura flared. Boromir backed off away from Sora. Sora took his seat and Elrond nodded to him.
Boromir ignored the warning and proceeded to talk " It is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring?" He starts to pace. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
Aragorn looked about to argue but Sora beat him to it "You cannot wield it! None of us can."
"The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Aragorn added.
Boromir looked at each of them and replied "And what would a mysterious warrior and a ranger know of this matter?"
Legolas became angry with this and stood up, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance. And the man before you is the one that guards Kingdom Hearts!"
The elves and the Dwarves began a silent chatter as Frodo looked at Sora with confusion. /what on earth is Kingdom Hearts?"/ thought the hobbit.
"Aragorn?" Boromir asked with disbelief in his eyes "This… is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas replied.
Frodo looks at Aragon with wide-eyes.
Aragorn looks at Legolas and says, "Havo dad Legolas" which means 'sit down' in Elvish. Legolas sat down non-the-less though.
Though Boromir continues to talk, "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king" and then sat down with a sigh.
"Aragorn and Sora are right," Gandalf said.
"We cannot use it." Elrond continued this and said, "You only have one choice. The ring must be destroyed."
"What are we waiting for?" Gimli replied as he grabbed his axe and approached the pedestal that held the ring. And with an "ARGH!" He strikes the Ring as hard as he can, but is thrown back, falling to the ground. Concurrently, Frodo sees the Eye of Sauron in his mind and winces in pain. The Ring remains intact on the pedestal with the shards of the axe around it, and whispers in the Black tongue is heard. "Poor hobbit, he still has some residue of that Morgul blade in him" whispered the X-blade.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin by any craft that we here possess. Nor the ancient magic of the Keyblade or X-blade. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Elrond explained to Gimli and everyone else.
"Ash Nazg…" The Ring whispers out.
"One of you must do this." Elrond states, and suddenly dead silence reigns over every one
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland. Riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!" Boromir says with vigor.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas says angrily as he stands up
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli replies just as angrily while leaping to his feet.
"And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!" Boromir questions in rage.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli fires back.
This got the other Elves to rise and shout at Gimli and the other Dwarves. Legolas then holds out his hand to stop the Elves from starting a fight.
"Never trust an elf!" Gimli shouts in rage.
"Do you not understand that while we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it!" Gandalf says rising from his seat.
From the race of Man there was a shout, "You'll all be destroyed!"
Sora and Elrond just stayed silent. Sora knew this wasn't his debate and just observed the three races argue. Frodo watches the Ring, the angry figures of the council reflected on its surface. Suddenly, flames flare up, engulfing the surface of the ring. Frodo seems to be the only ones who see it since Gandalf is busy arguing with the delegates.
"Ash Nazg Durbatuluk! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul!" The Ring says with much more vigor than before.
The intensity of the arguments increase. Slowly, Frodo understands what he must do. He rises and takes a step toward the arguing council, trying to make his voice heard above theirs. "I will take it!" he began. Sora looked at Frodo as did Elrond.
As everyone stops arguing, Gandalf closes his eyes as he hears Frodo's statement. Everyone slowly turns toward Frodo, surprised. "I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though... I do not know the way." Frodo continued to say.
Gandalf waked up to Frodo and put his hand on Frodo's shoulder, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear."
Aragorn rises from his seat, "If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Aragon then kneels in front of Frodo, "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow." Legolas says as he walks over and stands beside Frodo.
"And my axe!" Gimli states as he and Legolas exchange dark looks.
Boromir slowly approaches, "You carry the fates of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
Sora stood up and he approached Frodo as he knelt. "And you can rely on the Keyblade."
"And me!" said the X-blade. Luna warbled as she gave Frodo a lick with her tongue.
Sora stood beside Aragorn as Luna was beside Gimli. Suddenly Sora saw another Hobbit with sandy hair emerges from behind some bushes and stands beside Frodo, "Mr. Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!" Sora assumed that this was Samwise. Another of Frodo's friends from the Shire.
Elrond looked at all of them slightly amused and said, "No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.
Two more Hobbits soon join them as well and Sora remembered from Gandalf their names was Merry and Pippin. Also from the Shire." Wait! We are coming too!" They shout together.
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Marry says.
"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing." Pippin includes.
"Well that rules you out Pip." Merry replied. Pippin looked at Marry offended.
Elrond looked at those who volunteered to go on the quest. "Ten Companions. So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond says amusedly.
"Great! Where are we going?" Pippin questions enthusiastically. Merry and Frodo just look at each other. Sora silently laughed as Luna tilted her head confused with what Pippin said.
That night did the fellowship got plenty of rest for their quest will begin at dawn. At the crack of dawn. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and Boromir were all ready to go with plenty of supplies. The hobbits were all garbed in traveling clothes. Frodo came down with a new sword he got from his uncle and the Ring was on a chain around his neck. Sora was awake leaning on a wall with his hands behind his head. Luna was sitting beside him. They were just waiting on Gandalf before they were setting off. "Master Sora." spoke Elrond as he approached Sora with two Elves.
"Yes lord Elrond?" asked Sora looking at Elrond.
"As a token of my appreciation for stopping the Heartless from attacking my home. I give you this gift." said Elrond as the elves revealed a Black Bow with gold trimmings. The quiver was full of arrows and it was painted black with gold. A crown symbol on the quiver was silver. Sora asked. "Is that for me?"
"Yes, you cannot rely on your magic against Orcs and Goblins Keyblade Master." said Elrond presenting him the Bow. Sora took the bow and the quiver as he placed the quiver around his waist. The bow also in the quiver. "Thank you. I will take great care of it." said Sora. Elrond bowed to him as Sora returned the gesture. Gandalf was ready at last. Elrond then spoke "The Ring-bearer is setting out on a quest for Mt. Doom. you who travel with him. No oath no bond will make you go farther than you will. Farwell and may the blessings of Elves, Men, Freemen and the great light of Kingdom Hearts." spoke Elrond. Legolas did his bow to the elven king as the others just nodded. "The Fellowship awaits the Ringbearer" Gandalf spoke. Frodo turned to them and moved first as everyone followed. Sora was behind Gandalf and he heard Frodo ask "Is it left or right Gandalf?"
"Left" said Gandalf with a whisper. Sora chuckled to himself as the fellowship went past the bridge of Rivendell and soon were on their way. They went past many places before stopping at a small rocky place for breakfast. Sora sat beside Sam and Frodo as they ate their breakfast. Luna was happily eating some Fish she caught from a river.
"Two, one, five!" Boromir half-shouted. He was drilling Merry and Pippin in the proper usage of the swords Aragorn had given them. "Good! Very good." He turned to the other hobbit. "Two, one, five!"
"Move your feet!" Aragorn, smoking comfortably on a rock, advised.
"Got good Pippin," Merry told him.
"Thanks," Pippin replied brightly.
"Faster! Two, one, five!"
Gimli growled in the back of his throat. "If anyone was asking my opinion, which I know they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round! Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
"No, Gimli," the wizard replied. "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."
Sora wondered why did Gandalf was against going to Moria. Maybe something bad had happened there. Legolas was on the lookout as he spotted a strange cloud with yellow eyes. Gandalf and Sora were alarmed as well.
Boromir's sword slid down Merry's, cutting the halfling's thumb. "Ow!" he cried.
"Sorry!" Boromir tried to apologize. Merry kicked him in the shins.
Soon the warrior of Gondor found himself mobbed by two angry hobbits. Aragorn laughed at him before he went to help Boromir. "Gentleman thats enough." Aragorn was soon thrown on his back when the two hobbits moved his legs from underneath him.
"He's got my arm" laughed Pippin.
"What is that?" Sam asked, meaning the cloud with yellow eyes.
"Nothing," Gimli said gruffly. "It's just a wisp of cloud."
"It's moving fast," Boromir observed, standing up. "And against the wind."
Sora's eyes widen as he saw it was a Demon Tide following the black cloud. "HEARTLESS!" shouted Sora. normally he would fight them but this was a Demon Tide. A class five heartless and stronger than any other heartless.
""Crebaín, from Dunland!" he cried.
"Hide!" Aragorn yelled.
"Merry! Pippin! Go!" Boromir pushed the hobbits under some bushes. Sora slid under some rocks as Luna concealed herself next to him. Aragorn scooped up his sword, shouting at Frodo to "take cover!" The Ranger himself dove under some sheltering rocks. Gandalf ducked behind several towering stones, and most of the Fellowship hid amongst the underbrush.
The rocks were as quiet as if the Company had never been there for a moment—and then the crebaín came.
Large black crows, setting up a fearful ruckus, they flew swiftly over the rocky outcropping. The Demon Tide swarmed around looking for them too. As quick as they were. They were soon gone and the ten friends came out of hiding.
"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf muttered. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the path of Caradhras."
The Company looked up towards the huge, snow-covered mountain. No one complained, but they all knew what everyone else was thinking. They followed Gandalf to the mountain. "Sora?" Frodo asked looking at the keyblade master.
"Yes Frodo?" Sora said with a raised eyebrow.
"What did you call those things?" asked Frodo. The fellowship looked at Sora wanting an answer about the black monsters. Sora said "There called Heartless"
"Heartless?" asked Sam.
"Monsters from the Realm of Darkness. They were born from the darkness inside the hearts of men."
"What do they want?" asked Aragorn.
"They collect Hearts from their victims and only the Keyblade can kill the heartless." said Sora looking at the Ranger.
"Is that why you are with us? In case those demons show up?" asked Boromir.
"Yes but don't worry, since you all in my presence. My magic will affect your weapons and you guys should be good to take out the Heartless. " said Sora.
"Well just leave those Heartless to you Master Sora." Gimli said as their walk up the mountain continued. The air was cold and Sora was shivering from the cold. He was besides Aragorn as they saw Frodo trip and he stumbled back. "Frodo" said Aragorn helping him up. Frodo noticed the Ring was missing. He looked and it was in the snow. Boromir picked it up and he looked at the ring. Everyone in the fellowship looked at Boromir. "Boromir" Aragorn said.
"It is a strange thing that you suffer for your in doubt of a smaller thing" he mutters as his other hand reach for the ring.
"Boromir!" shouted Sora making Boromir lose his trance.
"Give the Ring back to Frodo" said Aragorn as he noticed that Luna was glaring daggers at Boromir. Boromir hesitated but he returned the Ring to Frodo who placed it back on his neck. Aragorn and Sora moved their hands away from their weapons. Boromir ruffled his hair before trotting back up to the others. They all resumed walking the mountain.
/Isengard/
The Demon Tide and the Crebaín returned to the once peaceful Isengard which was now turned into a war facility for Sauron. Orcs worked on weapons and machines of war as the Crebain swarmed around Saruman. "So Gandalf, you try to lead them over Caradhras. If that fails then where will you go, If the Mountain defeats you? Will you risk a more dangerous road."
/with the Fellowship./
The Fellowship trudged through the snow, up to their shoulders, if they were human, and if not...well, Aragorn carried Frodo and Sam, as Boromir held Merry and Pippin. Gimli's helmet could barely be seen over the drifts. Gandalf and Sora took turns leading the way, the wizard blazing a trail with his staff and with Sora using his Fire magic to create a path. Now it was Gandalf's turn to lead with Luna beside him. Legolas walked calmly beside them all, on top of the drift, as if the snow were rock.
The elf trotted ahead of Gandalf, ignoring Gimli's glare. He cocked his head, leaning into the wind. "There is a fell voice on the air!"
Now that he mentioned it, they could all hear it.
"It's Saruman!" cried Gandalf.
A lightning bolt shot out of the sky, sending rocks showering down on them. "He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Aragorn shouted. "Gandalf, we must turn back!"
"No!" Gandalf pulled himself up beside Legolas on top of the snow. He began to shout in a foreign language, but Saruman's voice persisted. Another bolt came down, this time bringing with it an avalanche of snow. Legolas grabbed Gandalf's arm, tugging him away from the edge, before they were all buried.
Everything was still.
Then Legolas' head popped out of the snow, looking decidedly annoyed. Luna thrust her nose out, pawing her way up. Soon everyone was unearthed, or rather, unsnowed.
"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir insisted. "Make for the Gap of Rohan—or take the west rode to my city!"
"The Gap of Rohan takes us to close to Isengard!" Aragorn protested.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain," Gimli growled, "let us go under go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria."
Moria, a voice seemed to whisper to Gandalf. You fear to go into those Mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dûm—shadow and flame.
"Let the Ringbearer decide," he said hoarsely. "Frodo?"
The fellowship looked at Frodo since he was the Ringbearer. The hobbit looked to Sam, then back to Gandalf. "We will go through the Mines."
"So be it." said Gandalf. After going back down the mountain they made their way to Moria. When they got there Sora was more than glad to off the mountain. But he noticed that Moria was more like a swamp. "Frodo, come help me" spoke Gandalf as Frodo stood beside the wizard. "How's your shoulder."
"Better than it was" said Frodo.
"And the Ring?" asked Gandalf. Frodo looked at the wizard a bit worried. "You feel its power growing don't you." said Gandalf. Frodo nodded as Sora did too.
"I feel it too. We must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship or from within " said Gandalf as Boromir went past them.
"Well then who do i trust?" asked Frodo.
"You must trust in your own strenght" said Gandalf.
"What do you mean?" asked Frodo.
"There are many powers in this world for good or are greater than i am and some against." said Gandalf. Sora was listening in to their conversation as Gimli pointed to Moria.
"The walls of Moria," breathed an awestruck Gimli. They were all standing besides a lake near the wall.
The others ignored him, making straight for the door. Gandalf stepped up to it, running his hands over the carvings. "Ithildin," he murmured. "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight."
As if on cue, the clouds slipped away, revealing a full, round moon. Before their eyes, the carvings were illuminated with a pale star-like substance. Gandalf smiled. "It reads, 'The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter'."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
"It's quite simple," Gandalf replied confidently. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." He set his staff at the center and cried out in yet another tongue. Nothing happened. Gimli sighed.
"Wait a second, you don;t know the password?" asked Sora.
"You never asked," the wizard retorted, and began trying password after password.
The Company seated themselves comfortably, preparing for a long wait. They were not disappointed. Finally, Aragorn moved to unburden Bill the pony. "The Mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill," he told Sam, who was petting the animal's nose fondly.
"Bye-bye, Bill," Sam muttered mournfully.
"Go on, Bill. Go on," Aragorn told the pony. "Don't worry, Sam. He knows the way home."
Merry and Pippin began throwing rocks into the huge pool in front of the doors. They had thrown at least three before Aragorn grasped Merry's arm and hissed, "Do not disturb the water."
Gandalf threw his staff to the ground, sat heavily on a rock, and pulled his hat off, glaring at the doors.
The ripples from Merry and Pippin's rock throwing began to come back, and with them, came an impending sense of dread. Luna growled sensing danger from the water as she wrapped her tail around Sora. "Easy girl. It might be some fish." said Sora calming down his dragon. Frodo stood up and he looked at the glowing door. ""It's a riddle," Frodo said suddenly. "Speak friend and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?"
"Mellon," Gandalf replied.
The doors swung open.
Gimli pulled the pipe out of his mouth and hopped up. Legolas stepped down from the roots of the tree he'd been standing at,As all the Fellowship walked cautiously into the Mines, Gandalf produced a crystal from somewhere and set it in the top of his staff.
"Soon, Master Elf," Gimli told Legolas, "you shall enjoy the hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, molt beer, red meat off the bone. This, my friend,is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!"
Sora then noticed that there was something wrong. Where were the dwarves that live here and why they haven't greeted them yet. . ""This is no mine," Boromir said softly. "It's a tomb."
And then they all noticed: rotting dwarven bodies, filled with arrows and grasping axes, lay about the chamber. Discarded weapons sat where their owners had dropped them, never to lift cold steel again.
"No," Gimli cried. "No! Noooo!" He began to cry, still shouting protests.
Legolas knelt beside one body and pulled out an arrow, glancing at the tip. "Goblins," he informed the rest, whipping out an arrow of his own and setting it to the string of his bow. Sora quickly pulled out the X-blade as Aragorn and Boromir drew their swords. "We make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir said firmly. "We should never have come here. Now get out of here, get out!"
Frodo gave a cry and fell to the ground, dragged toward the pool by a tentacle wrapped around his ankle. "Strider!" cried Sam, at the same time as Pippin shouted, "Sora!"
Both turned and ran for the hobbits, who managed to get the thing off Frodo's ankle. It disappeared into the water, but then many more emerged, knocking the other three away as one twinned around Frodo's waist and lifted him high into the air. Legolas fired off an arrow, striking the writhing tentacle head-on. It appeared not to notice. The head of the monster emerged, opening wide its gaping mouth to swallow Frodo whole.
Sora, Boromir and Aragorn, stood knee-deep in water and hacking at tentacles. Aragorn sliced clean through the one holding Frodo captive. Boromir caught the halfling as he fell.
"Into the Mines!" Gandalf cried.
"Legolas!" Boromir shouted as he and Aragorn emerged from the water, Sora close behind.
The elf took aim and shot again, striking the creature in the face. It roared in pain, falling backwards. Legolas hurried forward to help Sora up before all ten raced into the caves, the monster in the water bringing the entrance down behind them. They stood in silence, breathing heavily, for a moment. Then Gandalf spoke. "We now have but one choice." He rapped the end of his staff on the ground, and the crystal lit up. "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"
