It was a couple days after the disaster on the mountain and the fellowship was now making it's way along the base of the mountain in search of Moria. They had been climbing over and around rocks for the whole day, and Alarain's feet were starting to cause her extreme pain. It was a dismal place, with barely a plant in sight and vast rock formations far in every direction. Gimli seemed happy enough among the stones and boulders though. He was going on about the hospitality of the dwarves and great halls and such. Alarain was walking beside him and he was in the middle of telling her about beer when he stopped all of a sudden.
"The walls... of Moria." he breathed, pointing up ahead.
Alarain raised her eyes in wonder at the great cliff in front of them. It stretched far up into the sky and she felt like an insect standing next to it. Glancing at Gimli, she noticed he had a proud look in his eyes when he saw the reaction of the group.
They continued on along the walls after the moment of admiration and soon came to a lake. It was a large lake with dark water and a few twisted trees growing at it's edge. Alarain felt trapped walking in between the cliff on her left and lake on her right, but with Aragorn watching, she didn't show hear fear.
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli informed the group, tapping on the cliff with his axe as if searching for said doors.
Gandalf said something up ahead and Legolas smirked. "Why doesn't that surprise me." he said sarcastically. Gimli growled under his breath beside her and she giggled.
Pausing beside an especially flat part of the wall, Gandalf began muttering to himself. Still muttering, he looked up at the moon and as he did, the clouds shifted and the moonlight shone through. It landed on the wall and it lit up with intricate lines. The glowing grooves formed the shape of a door and the wizard stood back smiling, and admiring his find.
He then stepped forward and spoke. "It reads... The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
"Oh it's quite simple." Gandalf answered. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." He then pressed his staff to the glowing lines and spoke some words in another language.
Nothing happened...
He tried again, this time, standing back and raising his arms to the doors.
Again, nothing happened...
The fellowship exchanged nervous glances with each other. "Nothing is happening." Pippin stated obviously.
Gandalf then took drastic measures... and pushed on the door, grunting with effort. "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of elves, men, and orcs." he grumbled roughly.
"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked innocently.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" the wizard snapped. "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." he sighed, turning his attention back to the doors.
Pippin recoiled in surprise. Walking over to him, she and Merry lead the poor hobbit away from Gandalf. They settled down to wait beside the lake, and Gandalf continued his muttering. Soon everyone had settled in, and Alarain got up to join Sam and Aragorn as they relieved Bill from his packs.
"The mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill." the ranger said to Sam.
The hobbit still looked depressed at parting from Bill, so she tried to cheer him up. "Brave old Bill will be fine Sam. He's the bravest pony I've ever met, and being from Rohan, I've met a lot of ponies." she said from behind him.
He gave a little smile. "I know he will. Bu-bye Bill." he said to the pony as they slipped his halter off.
"Go on Bill." Aragorn said as he turned the pony around, giving him a small pat on the rump as he wandered away. "Go on." Turning back to the hobbit, he comforted him. "Don't worry Sam. He knows the way home."
Alarain watched Bill walk away, but looked around at the sound of a splash just in time to see Aragorn grab a hold of Pippin's shoulder. "Do not disturb the water." he spoke in a low voice, looking out at the lake with suspicion in his eyes.
Alarain cast her gaze across the lake as well only to be left with a horrible feeling in her gut. Boromir stood and walked to her side, also staring out at the body of water. The ripples from the rock Merry had thrown seemed to keep going, almost as if it wasn't the rock that caused them. Most were watching the water and no one noticed when Frodo got up to look at the doors.
"What's the elvish word for friend?" Frodo asked loudly.
Alarain did not turn from the water, but she heard Gandalf's answer. "Mellon."
A large crack sounded and, swinging about, the group saw that the doors had opened. Staring in amazement, Alarain followed the others into the dark inside.
"Soon Master elf." Gimli said to Legolas. "You will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!"
Gandalf blew on his staff and Alarain watched in interest as the tip lit up brightly.
"This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin." Gimli continued.
Alarain glanced around in the minimal light and her eyes widened at what they saw. Brenir let out a low growl and his hackles stood on end.
Not noticing the floor, Gimli kept going. "And they call it a mine! A mine!" he laughed to himself.
"This is no mine." Boromir said darkly at her side. "It's a tomb."
All eyes shot to the ground and the hobbits leaped back from a body. The body of a dwarf. All around them were decaying bodies covered in cobwebs and with arrows protruding from them. Alarain felt sick as she looked upon the exposed skulls, rotting teeth, twisted jaws, and empty eye sockets. Backing up, she felt Boromir's hand on her arm before he pushed her behind him. Gimli cried out in despair at the scene before them, and Legolas bent down and yanked an arrow from a body. Sniffing the arrow, Brenir growled again, but louder this time.
"Goblins." the elf said before throwing it down in disgust.
Boromir unsheathed his sword in front of her as Aragorn did the same. Legolas readied his bow and Boromir spoke. "We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." he said, repulsion in his voice, though she could hear some fear mixed in. "Now get out of here! Get out!" he yelled as they all began to back out of the mine.
A yell sounded from behind them and as she swung around, Alarain saw Frodo being dragged into the lake by a huge tentacle. Her eyes widened and she froze in fear.
"Strider!" Sam shouted as the hobbits tried to grab a hold of Frodo.
Aragorn's head whipped around and he sprang into action. Sam started hacking at the thing with his sword as Boromir ran past her to help. With a huge slice, Sam managed to get it to let go of Frodo, and Merry and Pippin dragged him back from the water. Aragorn and Boromir paused in relief as the hobbits calmed themselves.
But before Alarain could say 'watch out for the creepy tentacle monster', many more slimy arms burst out of the water. Knocking the other hobbits away, one curled around Frodo and hauled him into the air. He screamed for help as Legolas sprang past her and let an arrow fly. It planted itself deep into the flesh of the creature, but it did not stop it. Aragorn and Boromir jumped into the water and began hacking at the tentacles. Alarain stared at the scene unfolding in front of her, but her legs could not move and her heart was pounding. She was terrified. Gimli waded some ways into the water as well, and sunk his axe into the monster. All of a sudden, Aragorn slashed the tentacle holding the hobbit and he fell through the air and into Boromir's arms.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf yelled from behind her as Brenir turned and ran, yelping, with his half-tail between his legs.
Gimli ran past her, ushering the hobbits inside as Legolas, and Boromir carrying Frodo, ran in as well. Alarain was petrified, but her legs would not respond as she stared in horror at the monster as it dragged itself towards her. Aragorn crashed into her, bringing the woman to her senses and pushed her inside.
The creature hauled itself out of the water by grabbing onto the doorway with it's long slimy appendages, and the rocks started to crumble under it's weight. The fellowship ran as far from the doors as they could before it started to collapse. Aragorn pushed her against a wall and blocked her from the crashing debris with his body as the door disappeared and they were plunged into darkness.
As the dust settled, all was silent except for the heavy breathing of those present.
"We now have but one choice." came Gandalf's voice out of the dark. A tap sounded and his staff blazed to life, lighting up the hall. Aragorn stepped away from her, giving her yet another worried look as Gandalf continued. "We must face the long dark... of Moria..." The wizard started forward and the others followed slowly, peering around them. "Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world." he said darkly.
Brenir slunk up to Alarain and shoved his nose under her hand, looking for comfort. She scratched his muzzle for a brief moment before shakily walking after the wizard. Aragorn watched her as she made her way past him, walking at her shoulder when he saw her trembling.
"Are you hurt?" he whispered.
She shook her head and watched the floor, ashamed that she had not been brave enough to help when the beast in the water had attacked.
"Quietly now. It is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that out presence may go unnoticed." Gandalf whispered loudly to the group.
Making their way up the wide staircase in front of them, Alarain missed a step and fell to her knees. Legolas was just ahead of them, and he turned to see if she was alright, but Aragorn waved him away and helped her to her feet. He took her hand and kept it, steadying her when she was unbalanced and catching her when she fell. They walked this way for some time, and the fellowship was quiet.
Alarain and the ranger were farther from the group, though still within the reach of the light of Gandalf's staff, and the others would occasionally glance back to check that they were still there. She almost forgot where she was as her mind wandered, taking her back to her home.
They walked quickly and quietly over small pathways that led through humongous caves and Alarain's stomach twisted as she glanced over the edge. Aragorn squeezed her hand and she calmed. Glancing up at him, her lips turned up a tiny bit, and she thanked him silently. He gave her a slight nod, and she looked ahead again to see Legolas giving her a knowing smile. She raised an eyebrow at him and her turned his back and continued on.
Gandalf stopped on a small path beside a ledge and spoke. "The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels." he said, touching the stone wall. He then turned to Legolas behind him. "But mithril." He looked down over the edge and his staff shone brighter, reveling the vast ladders and chains that were used in mining the mithril. The light also reveled the great fall that one could experience if they slipped.
As the others looked down in amazement, Alarain pressed herself closer to the wall. Aragorn felt her hand pull away from the edge and he too, stepped back, placing himself in between her and the immense crevice. Her throat tightened when she saw her dog take a step forward to look. He glanced back, sensing her unease before he backed up as well. She relaxed somewhat and the fellowship pressed on. Gandalf kept talking, probably attempting to keep the atmosphere calm. He spoke of a set of mithril armour that Frodo's uncle had been given by a dwarf. Soon, he fell silent again.
What seemed to be lifetimes passed as they journeyed. With each step, Alarain grew more exhausted and it was only the pull of Aragorn's hand that kept her going. Climbing up a steep staircase, she tripped a few times only to be helped up by the ranger and then trip again a few steps later.
When they finally reached the top, Gandalf stopped and stared at three different passageways, confusion in his eyes. "I have no memory of this place." he admitted quietly.
Sighing with relief, Alarain collapsed and lay where she fell. Aragorn crouched at her side, but she pushed him away. "Let me sleep." she grumbled. The others snickered at her as they too sunk to the ground. Brenir plopped down beside her and fell asleep immediately. She soon joined him.