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Chapter 7

"Manwathiel!" Legolas saw her dive beneath the murky waters and out of sight. "Aragorn, Manwathiel went in there…I'm going to get her."

Legolas started towards the water but Aragorn yanked him back. "No! You can't do this Legolas." He continued to swing his sword, hacking at tentacles, "Manwathiel made her choice."

"Aragorn, she's underwater with that…that thing. She's lost it or-or something!"

"You have to let her go, Legolas. She will never forgive you if you don't."

Even through his panic, Legolas saw truth in Aragorn's words. Suddenly, the best went limp, throwing Frodo through the air. Boromir broke the hobbit's fall and started rushing back towards the cave. "We need to get out of here, it's not dead!" he shouted.

"Go." Legolas turned back towards the lake. "I'm going to find her." He caught a flash of something pale and white, and dove straight in, swimming fervently, ignoring the warnings of his companions.

She was floating face up, motionless. Her pale eyelids were closed, her skin almost glowing in the ivory light. Legolas felt his heart sink, for her heartbeat was faint and fading quickly. It was at that moment, when the creature came back to life.

"Legolas, hurry!" Aragorn cried from the shore.

The elf swam as fast as he could, dragging Manwathiel's body. Even if she was dead, even if the worst was true, he still would not bear to see her rotting in the belly of a beast.

The tentacles started flailing again, slapping him in the face. It wrapped around his legs in a last attempt to secure a meal for itself, yanking angrily at the intruders who had disturbed its pond. Legolas kept swimming, feeling scales scrape his legs as he tore himself free.

Finally he reached the shore, gasping for breath. Aragorn and Boromir dragged them inside the cave, trying to escape the furious monster that was climbing out of the water to get them.

The heavy tentacles were too much for the cavern's entrance, and it collapsed, trapping the Fellowship inside.

Gandalf illuminated his staff, and an unearthly light filled the cave. Legolas held the body of Manwathiel across his lap, holding her icy cold hand. Everyone gathered around them, anxiously waiting to see if she would wake up.

"She saved us." Legolas whispered. "She saved all of us. I didn't know what she was trying to do but…now I do. I should have been able to do the same for her." His face was contorted in pain at the loss of his elvish companion. He couldn't explain why he felt so strongly for her in such a short amount of time together, but he felt as if a piece of his heart was being ripped out of his chest.

Manwathiel gasped, jerking into an upright position and coughing up water. "Oh goodness…what happened…it was dark…and cold…where are we? Why are you all looking at me like that?" She cast a glance at all of the shocked and bewildered faces surrounding her.

"My dear lady." Gandalf knelt beside her. "We had feared the worst when you did not wake up from your ordeal. You gave us quite a scare."

"That was a foolhardy thing you did, my Lady. A brave one at that, though." Gimli wiped at his eyes and attempted to disguise any emotion from his voice.

"To answer your question, we are in the Mines of Moria, having the entrance cut off by our little friend outside. Legolas went back to rescue you, and I fear that didn't make it very pleased with us." Gandalf grumbled.

"You should have left me." Manwathiel gazed intently at Legolas, "You shouldn't have put yourself in danger for me."

"Why shouldn't I, when you did the same for all of us? I wasn't going to leave you behind." The elves glared at each other.

"Aren't you both freezing?" Pippin asked. "It's bloody cold in here!"

Manwathiel laughed, removing herself from Legolas' lap. "It is a bit uncomfortable. I left my pack with all of my extra clothing outside though."

She felt something soft and dry land in her arms. "I have an extra one."

"I'll be fine Legolas." She started to hand his tunic and leggings back but he pushed them away.

"Why is it so hard for you to let anyone be kind to you?" he shook his head and retreated to a dark corner to change.

"He did just save your life." Aragorn murmured.

"Aragorn…don't make me feel worse than I already do please." She sighed and went to change in an opposite corner.

"We now have but one choice." Gandalf said ominously. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard; there are older and more fouler things than orcs in the dark places."

"I do love it when he's cheerful." Merry quipped to Pippin.

Manwathiel felt a shiver go down her spine, and it wasn't due to the coldness of the water.