A/N: Hello, welcome, and thanks to all the followers and reviewers! I'm glad y'all are still out there. :) I hope you enjoy this next chapter ... we all know what they have to face next. I have pulled more from the book in this chapter (and the last if you hadn't noticed lol!) since their journey to Moria from Caradhras was not covered in the movie. As always, Brunuhville was my background music, mainly "The Lost Tale." Enjoy and as always, please consider leaving a review so I know how I'm doing!

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All credit belongs to Tolkien. I can only claim Shae and any other OCs.

The remaining hours of darkness passed quickly but the full light of morning did not bring comfort. There was no sign of the wargs they had killed the night before. In fact, only the burned trees and Legolas's scattered arrows showed that there had been a fight at all. They looked all around the hill top but the bodies had vanished.

"It is as I feared," Gandalf said. "Those were no ordinary wargs. Let us eat quickly and go. We must reach the doors of Moria before sunset or I fear we will not reach them at all."

"How far must we go?" Frodo asked.

"Only a few miles, as I said last night, but the path will be difficult. Aragorn cannot guide us here and I have only been to the west wall of Moria once a long time ago." He pointed towards the southeast. "It lies in that direction. Now hurry, let us go. Haste is needed today."

There was no grumbling from the hobbits about a small, quick breakfast. The attack during the night, along with their experience on Caradhras, seemed to have shown them that some things just did not matter any longer. Shae grieved a bit for their loss of innocence and prayed to Mahal that was all they lost on this journey. As they started down the hill Boromir came to walk beside her.

"I do not know what to hope for," he said in a grim voice. "Do I hope that Gandalf finds what he seeks or that we get there and discover the gates of Moria are lost forever. Both choices seem wrong."

"Moria holds no allure for me and I have no wish to see it but Gandalf is right. All other routes are closed to us now. Caradhras will not allow us to pass." She held up a hand when he opened his mouth the speak. "I know you would say we should go through the Gap of Rohan but it is too dangerous. If Saruman can reach us here then I truly fear what he would do if we were to venture that close to Isengard."

"Do you believe your kin in Moria will welcome us as Gimli has stated?"

Shae bit her lip and shook her head. "I do not know. It has been so long since we last had any word from Balin or Ori. Amad has feared for them. She has not told me the exact cause of her fear but she has knowledge of something that she is unwilling to talk about, at least with me."

"That doesn't sound very encouraging."

"It wasn't meant to be."

In his eagerness, Gimli joined Gandalf at the head of the line, leading the Fellowship towards the mountains. The wizard had said their path lay by a stream, the Sirannon, but there was no sign of any water. Whether he was lost or the land had changed they couldn't say but as they neared noon they were still scrambling through a barren land, bleak and dry. Shae was beginning to look around for anything that would aid in their defense as it was seeming more and more likely that they were going to be caught out here once night fell.

Gimli, who had gotten ahead of them, gave a sudden shout and began pointing to the right. Hurrying to where he stood they looked into a deep, narrow channel. At the bottom there was the barest trickle of water, by its side a broken and decayed path.

"Ah! Here it is at last," Gandalf said and she thought there was the barest hint of relief behind his words. "This is where the Sirannon, the Gate Stream, used to run but what has happened to the water I know not. Come! We must hurry."

Shae was glad they'd apparently found the elusive path but looking around it didn't seem like they were anywhere near the Walls of Moria ... and they were running out of time. She knew that whatever had attacked them the night before would return and despite all her thoughts on the matter she had come up with no good way they would be able to defend themselves in this open, empty space.

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They trudged along, following the winding path for several miles. There wasn't much talking. Even Merry and Pippen were quiet except for Pip's occasional complaint about his feet. Not long after they'd stopped for a quick meal they came to a sharp bend in the road. Rounding the corner they saw the remains of what was once an impressive waterfall. There was some water trickling over the jagged top but the wide cleft it came through was evidence of how strong the flow used to be.

"How things have changed. That was once the Stair Falls," Gandalf told them as he stared at the drip over the falls. "There used to be a flight of steps cut into the rock beside it that would lead to the valley before the Walls of Moria. Come, our path lies this way."

The steps were still there and easily found. Gimli and Shae bounded up them quickly. A growing sense of foreboding had lodged itself in the pit of her stomach and she didn't know if it was because night was quickly approaching or they were nearing their destination. She was now in line with the Gondorian's line of thinking: not knowing which end she wished for. When they got to the top they were halted and could go no further.

"Well, that explains why the stream disappeared," she murmured. Before them stretched a dark, still lake. Even the setting sun, which was filling the sky with gold, wasn't reflecting on its surface.

Gandalf came up behind them. "There are the Walls of Moria," he said, pointing across the water.

"We'll have to find a way around on the northern edge," Gimli stated as he surveyed the land beyond the lake.

With a glance at the sky the wizard turned to head back down the steps. "We must hurry. We are almost out of time."

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Cold stars were glinting in the sky when they finally made their way to the far shore. A foul stench emanated from the water and Shae had noticed that the hobbits had cringed if their feet got near it. Two tall holly tress stood against the cliff, their large roots spreading to the water. To her it looked as if they were guarding something. Gandalf finally paused, contemplating the wall.

"Here the road from Hollin ended. Holly was the token of the people of that land and they planted these trees to mark the end of their domain. This door was made chiefly for their use in their traffic with the Lords of Moria." He looked back at them. "Those were happier times when there was still close friendship between different races, even between dwarves and elves."

"It wasn't the fault of the dwarves that the friendship waned," Gimli retorted. Shae smacked him on the back of the head. He gave her an indignant stare but she merely cocked an eyebrow, daring him to say anything.

"I have not heard that it was the fault of the elves," Legolas shot back. She reached out to smack him as well but he managed to duck away just in time. She then settled for glaring at the both of them.

"I've heard both," Gandalf huffed. "Not that it matters now. I need both of you to help me. Night is at hand."

While the three of them stepped up to the wall, the rest of the group began separating out the remaining supplies Bill the pony was carrying; they could not take it all.

"The mines are no place for a pony, even one as brave as Bill," Aragorn told Sam gently. The fellow didn't say anything as he helped remove the straps from the pony's back. Bill had been like his pet and it was clear he didn't like the idea of abandoning him. Once the food and water skins had been divided between them they all turned to watch Gandalf. He was still inspecting the rock wall. Gimli was tapping it in various places with his ax and Legolas had his ear pressed against it.

A flapping of wings startled her where she stood between the two men and they all jumped, reaching for swords.

"Oh, Maec," she admonished. "A little warning next time if you please." He squawked at her a few times and she nodded grimly. "Thank you. Travel to the other side of Moria and wait for us there. If we aren't there in a week ..." She didn't finish her thought. The raven dipped its head to her then soared into the sky.

"Can you truly understand the bird?" The Gondorian's voice was laced with skepticism.

"All those from the royal line of Durin can speak to the ravens of Erebor."

"What did it tell you?"

She met Aragorn's gaze. "We don't have much time."

"Why did you tell it to wait a week?" Merry asked.

"Khazad-dûm was the greatest of all dwarf cities and it could take days to walk from one side to the other," she told him. His face fell.

"I don't see a door," Pippen stated.

"Dwarf doors are invisible on the outside, even to those that made them. They can only be opened by those that know the password or have a key, like my adad had when they returned to Erebor. And even then they had to be in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time." With those words she gave the wizard a concerned glance. If the doors of Moria could only be found at a certain time of the year then they were in a whole lot of trouble.

They all watched as Gandalf stepped up to the wall and began wiping at the face of it, murmuring as he ran his fingers over different sections. He paused, turning to look up into the sky, then stepped back as the moon appeared from behind the clouds. As moonlight hit the stone he had wiped lines began to appear, glowing brightly as they wound throughout the rock. They were as thin as thread to begin with, gradually broadening the longer the light shone on them. The pattern slowly materialized, a large arch full of interlacing letters and symbols, and they all looked at it in amazement. It was beautiful. However, once it was completely illuminated, their attention returned to Gandalf.

"It reads: 'The door of Durin. Speak, friend, and enter," he told them, placing his hands on his hips as he mulled over the words.

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.

"It's quite simple. If you are a friend, speak the password and the doors will open." The wizard raised his staff and touched it to a star in the middle of the glowing lines. "Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!" A cool wind rushed by them ... but there was no change in the door. Shae looked at Gandalf with a raised eyebrow but felt it would be wise to hold her tongue. He frowned then tried another combination of the words. There was still no movement that would tell them where the door was hidden.

As the wizard mumbled different words and phrases the Fellowship waited uneasily. Pippen ambled down near the water and threw a rock out as far out as he could. Shae watched as black ripples slowly made their way outward from where the stone had landed.

"Do not disturb the water," Aragorn ordered, grabbing his arm as he'd made ready to throw another. The ripples on the surface were still growing. She placed a hand on one of her swords; something didn't seem right. At a huff from Gandalf she looked over her shoulder to see him throw his hands up in the air and flop down on a rock, staring in frustration at the glowing lines. She glanced back at the water. There were still ripples.

"It's a riddle." Frodo stood up with an amazed smile on his face. "'Speak, friend, and enter' ... what's the elvish word for friend?"

"Mellon," Gandalf told him, hope dawning in his eyes. As soon as the word had passed his lips there was a faint grinding noise and the doors swung outward before them ... revealing a deep blackness. They stood there in surprise for a moment before stepping warily into the darkness. Shae hesitated before passing through the door. Her mother had told her about her fears for Balin and those he had taken to Moria. Now that the way was clear she suddenly had no wish to step inside.

"Are you alright?" Aragorn was by her side.

"Aye, just uneasy I suppose. I ... have not heard good things about this place. Amad warned me." He nodded in understanding then took her arm gently, keeping her by his side as they stepped through the door. The smell that hit them when they entered was not pleasant and a sick feeling began to grow in her stomach.

"So, master elf, you will soon enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves: roaring fires, malt beer, red meat of the bones!" Gimli began prattling off but the feeling of sickness began to overtake her. "This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin ... and they call it a mine! A mine!"

"Gimli! Hush!" she admonished, her voice cracking. What she could make out in the little bit of light streaming in from the moon had her heart pounding.

There was some movement in the front and then light sprang from the top of Gandalf's staff. What met her eyes caused her to recoil and Aragorn's arm went around her protectively before she could lose her footing. Skeletal bodies of dwarves were scattered across the ground and up the stone steps, all with arrows or spears embedded in their remains. She felt herself begin shaking.

"Oh, Mahal, no!" she breathed, gripping at Aragorn's arm. These were some of the dwarves that had marched away so confidently all those years ago. They had families waiting in Erebor for word from them ...

"This is no mine, its a tomb," Boromir uttered. He turned in their direction and in the dim glow she saw anger flash across his face though it was gone almost as quickly and she wondered if she'd just been seeing things. Gimli, finally noticing what was all around them, began moaning in disbelief while Legolas pulled something from one of the corpses.

"Goblins," he said, holding an arrow in his hand. At his words she, Aragorn, and Boromir pulled out their swords, eying the dark space at the top of the stairs. Legolas trained an arrow in the same direction. The hobbits edged backwards, trying to get away from the bodies that were just beyond their toes.

"We make for the gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." She agreed with the Gondorian this time, wanting nothing more than to be away from this place. "Get out of here! Get out!"

There was a sudden commotion behind them and she whipped around in time to see Merry, Pippen, and Sam knocked to the ground by huge, black tentacles while Frodo was yanked up into the air.

"Strider!" Sam screamed.

Before she could act Aragorn and Boromir plunged into the water. Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight. As the two men hacked at the flailing tentacles she had to hold Sam back - which proved to be a bit more difficult than she expected. She wrapped her arms around him to keep him from dashing after his friend. The creature slowly appeared out of the water, its mouth opening as it brought Frodo to dangle over it. Aragorn swung again and this time he was successful, slicing through one of the larger tentacles. Boromir caught the hobbit as he fell and they scrambled back towards the cave opening. Shae pushed the other hobbits ahead of her, taking a glance over her shoulder. She wished she hadn't. The creature was surging forward, following them, its remaining tentacles reaching forward like something come to life out of a nightmare. As they rushed into the cave there was the cracking and rumbling as the opening behind them was covered by a rock slide. Something slammed into her arm, knocking her to the ground. Thankfully the sound of the gate's collapse hid her sharp cry of pain and she remained still, breathing deeply until the stinging passed. Within a few seconds they were plunged into complete darkness. Gandalf's staff glowed to life and she could see the uncertainty and fear on her companions' faces when she looked up. She was sure it matched what was on her own.

"Shae!" Aragorn exclaimed, having noticed her crouched on the floor. "What is wrong?"

"Its nothing." She grimaced as he helped her to her feet and clutched at her upper arm. He just tilted his head a bit and she knew he didn't believe her. "A rock or something caught me as that thing was trapping us in here. I'll be fine. Nothing is broken."

"What are we going to do now?" Pippen asked.

"We now have 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." They began to make their way cautiously up the steps, single file, and into the suffocating darkness with only the light from the wizard's staff to guide them. "Quietly. It is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence goes unnoticed."