A/N I may be taking a two or three day break after this chapter because I have some exams that demand all my attention therefore the next chapter will be out on Friday or Saturday most likely. Enjoy ^^

Thank you for your review PixieAlice. I'm glad you liked the story so far.

Disclaimer: *points to lawyers* Think they'd be here if this was mine?

Title: Forgotten Memories

Rating: T

Genre: Romance/ Drama

Summary: An elven child is found wounded on the banks of the river Bruinen by Glorfindel who takes her to Rivendell for healing. Nobody knows who she is or where she comes from; a blow she received to the head made her forget her past. As she comes of age she decides to join the most perilous voyage in her life in order to unlock her memories.

Chapter VII: Walls of Moria

Their journey stopped upon seeing two tall trees; mighty they towered over the Company, their branches still strong and living twisting like hands in the blowing wind, standing like sentinels guarding a forbidden road.

"Here ends the land of Hollin, called Eregion by the elves." Gandalf gained everyone's attention. These holly trees were planted to show the road to the Mines of Moria in happier days when there was still close friendship between the elves and dwarves."

"It was not the Dwarves' fault that this friendship ended." Gimli said in a gruff voice.

"I have not heard it to be the elves' fault." Legolas countered.

"I have heard both," Gandalf interfered "but I beg of you lay your differences aside. I shall need you both for this task." The wizard approached the door and started studying it. At the same time Naerdiel approached Legolas.

"You should try to be kinder to Gimli." She held a hand to shush him upon seeing the revolted look on his face. "We are all on the same side and there are no enemies here. We all share the same purpose; his father did not have the best relations with yours, but that does not prevent you from stopping acting like an elfling when the dwarf is concerned. Bear that in mind…" she ended leaving her friend speechless.

"Ithildin . . .," Gandalf remarked in a low tone. "It mirrors only starlight…and moonlight." The wizard raised his staff, parting the clouds in order to allow the moonlight to shine through; the silver rays revealed a beautiful arcade engraved on the stone. An inscription lay written on the arch: "Ennyn Durin aran Moria. Pedo mellon a mino." ( Doors of Durin Lord of Moria, speak friend and enter. )

"And what does that mean?" Pippin asked in an annoyed tone. "How are you supposed to get inside?"

"Knock your head against the doors Peregrin Took and see if that shatters them, but spare me of your foolish questions and let me think." The wizard once more approached the door and started chanting in the Noble Tongue hoping to force the doors open.

Naerdiel sat down on a rock and glanced sadly around: everything was so dark and forlorn, almost dead, much different from how it had been in her father's old tales. Upon seeing her, Boromir sat next to her and asked:

"What ails you, my lady? You seem disturbed?"

" 'tis nothing… It is just that these lands were once blessed, full of laughter and joy. Then darkness claimed them and they fell under the Shadow, never to be as they were again. " 'tis said that Durin's bane still lies within these walls."

"Then let us hope we do not attract its attention while between these accursed walls. Let us hope that Durin's bane is but a legend… after all haven't Gimli's kinsman returned to Moriaa while ago?"

"Yes, but no news had reached Erebor for a long time." She sighed sadly, just when Frodo said.

"It's a riddle. What's the elvish word for friend?"

"Mellon." Both Gandalf and the elleth said at the same time and the walls opened revealing a dark corridor. The quickly stood up; Naerdiel smiled upon hearing Gimli describe his cousin's halls to Legolas, but her joy soon turned to horror as the stepped inside… skeletons lay covering the floor, most struck by arrows.

"This is no mine, it's a tomb." Boromir said in alarm, while Naerdiel bent to examine an arrow.

"Goblins." Both elves spat at the same time.

"We should have never come here…" Boromir cried out "Now, get out of here, get out." They all turned, but just as they were to flee from the caves, thick slimy tentacles flew from the lake, grabbing Frodo and launching him in the air.

"Aragorn!" the hobbit cried in distress and both men and elves ran to his aid. Naerdiel unsheathed her knives and slashed at the beast, hoping to injure it enough to release Frodo. Finally Aragorn slashed the tentacles that held the hobbit and Boromir managed to retrieve him safely. However, just then the angered beast slashed its vines around hitting the elleth square in the chest and sending her flying into a wall. Grunting in pain she slid down and blacked out…

"Naerdiel." Legolas cried out and picked the wounded elleth up running with her inside the cave. Behind them the walls collapsed and the entranced sealed itself shut.

"Gandalf." Aragorn called "We cannot move yet. Naerdiel is injured… I must tend to her."

"We must leave this place… if my memory serves me well there should be a secret cove further on, big enough for our party to go unnoticed should anything come our way. Be on your guards… there are fouler things than orcs in the deep dungeons of Moria… the keeper of the lake is only one of many."

The nodded as they walked forward in the darkness, guided only by Gandalf whose staff radiated a pale, white light.