OMG! I am sooooo sorry about the wait, guys! My computer got a virus, so I couldn't update more frequently, and I was in a play, so I just haven't had the time. I know my excuses are falling on deaf ears, so I'll shut up now, and get on with the story! Enjoy!

Ten

When we got back down from the mountain, I removed my hat and mittens. My hands were red and the snow melted in my hair, causing it to lie flat against my head. I was still bleeding profusely, and when we took a break, Legolas produced another bandage and herbs. I saw now that he carried a small pouch at his side. "Here. Let me help you."

I sat down on a rock, and he washed the cut with some snow, and then patted some herbs on it. They stung and burned for a moment, and then a pleasant cooling sensation spread across my head. As the feeling intensified, he started to wrap bandages around my head. As he tightened them, I flinched.

"Apologies," he murmured, still focused on his work. "There. That is the best I can do for now."

I smiled my thanks, and he dropped his hand. As he brought it down, his fingers lightly brushed against my cheek, sending tingles up my spine.

"The Walls of Moria!" Gimli breathed, and Legolas and I quickly stepped away from one another. The Elf rushed to pack up his things and resume his place at the front of the group with Gandalf.

I watched him go, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I took up the rear of our group, going down a cliff's over pass to a large rock wall—the Walls of Moria. They rose up farther than I could see, and I craned my neck to see them disappear into the mist.

When we reached the bottom, we faced a dilemma—there was no way in. I ran my hands down the smooth rock, looking for some sort of imperfection. I couldn't find one, and I frowned.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Gimli informed, as he knocked his axe against the stone. When nothing happened, he moved on to the next area of rock.

"Yes Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf chuckled, tapping his staff here and there, trying to find an opening.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas muttered, and Gimli grumbled under his breath, but said nothing else.

I smiled, keeping my head down.

A sudden splash made me jump, and I turned to see Frodo pulling his foot out of a great pool by the Walls of Moria. There were dead branches and moss hanging over the surface of the water. I went closer to the lake to examine it. I knew how to swim, and before he died, Father would take Mother and I down to the lake near Bree for swimming and a picnic.

I blinked multiple times to hold back tears, and I heard Gandalf muttering and the rustling of rock under skin. I turned, still keeping close to the pond, and clouds over the moon moved, and silvery lines appeared in the rocks of Moria.

My eyes widened at the beauty. The picture of two columns with a door between them formed an archway. In the arch, writing in an unfamiliar language shone brightly overtop of a star.

Gandalf wasted no time in translating the writing. "It reads 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry inquired, not taking his eyes off of the magical door.

"Oh, it's quite simple," Gandalf said, as if everyone should know. "If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." He placed the top of the staff in the centre of the star and said a chant rather majestically in a language I did not know.

Nothing happened.

We all looked at each other, and Gandalf's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He raised his hand and spoke a different chant.

Nothing happened, and Pippin pointed this out.

I exhaled sharply as Gandalf glared at him. Then he started to push on the doors, as if this would open them. They remained tightly closed, and he slumped against them. "I once knew every spell in all the tongues, of Elves…Men…and Orcs."

"What are you goin' to do, then?" Pippin asked, and I threw my hands up in frustration.

"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" Gandalf bellowed. "And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words."

My shoulders shook with silent laughter, but I respected Gandalf's wishes and wandered away as he tried to figure out the opening words.

I found myself by the little pony Bill, and the animal snorted when he saw me approaching. He started to back away, but when I took out an apple from my pocket, he started to come forward.

"Ho, boy," I whispered, holding out the apple, making sure not to make any sudden movements. I didn't want to frighten him.

Bill got closer and sniffed at the apple in my hand. He suddenly crunched into the apple, the sudden snap making me flinch a little. He chewed slowly, looking up at me with his big brown eyes.

"Ella?"

I turned around quickly to see Aragorn and Sam standing there, remorseful looks on their faces. "Y—yes?"

"We have to let Bill go. The mines are no place for a pony," Aragorn said gently, slipping the bridle off Bill's long face. "Not even for a pony so brave as Bill."

"Bye-bye, Bill," Sam whispered to the animal.

Bill looked at him with intelligent eyes, and Aragorn started to push him off towards the way we came. "Go on, Bill. Go on."

As Bill clip-clopped away, Sam and I stood there, both watching him fade into darkness. Sam's face had anxiety written all over it, and Aragorn just patted him on the shoulder. "It's all right Sam. He knows the way home."

A loud splash made us turn, and Merry and Pippin were throwing small pebbles into the large pond. Aragorn hissed and moved quickly over to them, grabbing Pippin's arm as he made to throw another rock. "Do not disturb the water!" he cautioned.

I walked over hesitantly, watching the ripples from the rocks spread out. My toes were almost at the edge of the water. Suddenly, I gasped. "D—did y—you see that?"

Another ripple had spread out unnaturally from the center of the pond, and I backed away, almost knocking over Pippin. More ripples continued to form, and I gulped.

A loud rumble from behind us made me turn, and I realized Gandalf had found the opening words to the mines of Moria. We immediately gathered our things and followed the wizard into the hall.

"Soon, Master Elf, you enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves!" Gimli declared, as we walked into the darkness.

Why would it be dark? If people lived here, shouldn't it be lit?

"Roaring fires…malt beer….ripe meat off the bone…" Gimli was still talking about his race's legendary food. "This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine! A mine!"

There was a sudden crunching sound, and I pulled my foot back. That didn't sound too good at all.

"This isn't a mine," Boromir murmured, looking around. "It's a tomb!"

Gandalf cast a light around, and I gave a low whimper when I realized that I had stepped on a skull. They were spread out all over the floor, their mouths stretched into grotesque screams of horror. Arrows and axes stuck out from corpses, dead and rotting.

The smell was horrible. I clapped my hands over my mouth, stifling a scream. I spun around on the spot, tears starting to bead in the corners of my eyes. I felt like I was going to be sick. "W—what happened?"

Legolas knelt down beside one of the corpses and pulled out an arrow from its heart. He examined it quickly, then threw it away in disgust. "Goblins!"

Aragorn and Boromir drew their swords, and Legolas fitted an arrow. I knew I would have to defend myself, so I unsheathed my sword as well, holding it in both of my trembling hands.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We never should have come here!" Boromir lamented. "Now get out of here, get out!"

We turned and ran for the door. I saw the Hobbits a few feet ahead of us, and Frodo's face was scared and pale. Suddenly, the Ring-bearer was pulled to the floor and dragged away from us. "Help!"

"Aragorn!" I yelled, and the ranger turned and sprinted to the Hobbit's aid. Frodo was dragged up into the air, and he seemed to be held by a large tentacle of sorts—a tentacle that came from the depths of the lake.

"Frodo!"

Legolas quickly strung an arrow into his bow and shot, with uncanny precision, into the tentacle that held Frodo. The creature bellowed in pain, and shot many more tentacles out from the lake, trying to hit us all.

Boromir and I rushed out into the lake, and I started to hack at the tentacle, caution thrown to the winds. I had made a promise to Frodo, and I wasn't going let him get eaten!

I separated the tentacle, and trudged through the dark, cold water, my feet going numb. "Frodo!"

Aragorn sliced through the tentacle holding Frodo, and the Hobbit fell into Boromir's arms. The beast roared again, flailing its tentacles. One clipped me in the chest, and I fell into the water, soaking myself thoroughly. But it didn't matter because, bloody hell, it was giving chase.

"Ella!" Aragorn screamed, pulling me up and dragging me into the mines of Moria. I could feel the beast's hot breath on me as we sprinted to the hall. The tentacles that were coming after us knocked in the doors of Moria, sending us into darkness.

For a moment, I could only hear our heavy breathing, and then two loud thuds echoed through the hall. Pale white light filled the hall, illuminating Gandalf's face. He looked tired and defeated. "We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria." He turned and shone the light into the hall. "Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."

The light gave us about ten feet of sight in each direction. I looked around, making sure not to step on any corpses or armour and keeping close to the wizard, near the front of our group.

"Quietly now," Gandalf murmured. "It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."