Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. I only claim my OC and other people/things that do not exist in the books/films.

A/N: Sorry for the wait on this one. I've been busy of late. I don't know when 'll be able to update again, as school starts again in a few days. I hope you enjoy this chapter though! Please review to tell me what you think!

Key: Bold text – Speaking telepathically. Italics – Speech in Quenya and Sindarin. Bold and italic – thoughts.

CHAPTER 12

NENTHEL POV

I could feel Legolas' presence very strongly now. I could sense that he was no more than a foot infront of me.

"River, you need to show yourself now."

I made a small wimpering noise as Gandalf used his staff to generate light.

"What was that noise?" Boromir said. I scrambled to my feet and walked up to Gandalf, head hidden by my hood. "Who are you? What purpose do you have here?" Boromir asked rather rudely. I had no intention to reply to him.

"The road here is not safe. I came to visit an old friend of mine, Balin. I fear the worst. I do not know my way around the mines."

"Ah. You may come with us my friend… you won't be getting out this way any soon. Pray, tell me what your destination after the mines was to be." Gandalf replied.

"I intended to travel to Lothlorien."

"Speak that language of which we can understand!" Boromir said. I turned to them, the rage unseen in my eyes.

"You. Be quiet. I am to travel with you as I do not know my way around this place. It would be best not to upset me."

"But you sound like a woman." He accused. Yep, he's definitely a sexist bastard.

"That is because I am one. I can look after myelf." I turned again and spotted Legolas. "Ah Legolas, my friend. It has been a long time." He came and greeted me by placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Yes, indeed." He replied. "She is no enemy of ours. Let us go Gandalf."

Gandalf nodded. "We now have yet but one choice… We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard… There are older and fouler things that the Orcs in the deep places of the world."

We began walking through the mines.

"I think it would be best for me to stay close to you during this expedition."

"That would be wise River. Be wary of Boromir."

"I shall."

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

"Yeah like that's going to happen." I saw Legolas smile slightly from the corner of my eye.

After walking for a few hours, Gandalf decided it would be time to rest. The hobbits set about making food. I pulled out some Lembas bread and went to eat it before Sam stopped me.

"Begging your pardon Miss, but there is enough of my stew here for you to have, if you want any." He smiled up at me slightly.

"Why thank you little master. What is your name?"

"Samwise Gamgee of the Shire. Call me Sam if you wish."

"Thank you Sam." I laid out my sleeping roll beside Legolas', and that's when the other hobbits came up to me.

"Hello young ones. Could you tell me your names, for I do not know them."

"I am Merry. This is Pippin and this is Frodo." Merry said, guesturing to each hobbit.

"You are from the Shire are you not?" They all nodded. I have been there a few times in my long life. It's a lovely quiet place.

"What is your name?" Pippin asked.

"I am sorry Pippin. I cannot tell you my name yet. You will find out in due time." They all nodded in understanding.

"You can tell the ring bearer my friend." Gandalf said to me in ancient dwarvish, a language not even Gimli knew. The other members – excluding Legolas – had puzzled looks on their faces.

"Alright Gandalf." I replied in the same language. "Young Master Frodo, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course." I took him over and sat behind the grey wizard. Slowly, I removed my hood. He gasped quietly.

"Yes it is I. Do not tell the others. Only Gandalf and Legolas know."

"Certainly." Frodo gave me a small hug.

"The stew is cooked." Sam called out. I flicked my hood back up, and we both walked back over to the group. Everyone ate in silence. Until a voice asked rather rudely,

"Why do you hide your faces? You are cowardly to do so." Boromir was refering to Legolas and myself of course.

"Why do you breathe? Are you afraid of death?" I mumbled. Legolas chuckled.

"My friend, it is good to be bck in your presence." I smiled. I could hear the impatient tapping of a certain Gondorians foot.

"Master Dwarf, may I ask your name?" I questioned in Gimlis language.

"Gimli. You seem like a kind person hidden behind that cover. Take no offence in my observation." He relpied in the same language. I never knew dwarves could be so polite.

"Thank you master Gimli." I say nodding my head.

"Why do you keep ignoring me?" Said the one I choose to ignore.

Gandalf decided to respond. "Boromir! Leave her alone. Leave the elf alone to. They have decided to hide their faces from you, and they are entitled to do so! Leave them be, they will show their faces in due time."

Nothing else was said on the matter.

I stayed up to keep watch with Legolas as everyone slept. We chatted about how things were going to go from here. We agreed that I should not join the fellowship for now, especially since the man from Gondor would distract everyone from the main quest. It was best if I followed, or stayed ahead.

LINE BREAK

I couldn't tell you how long we had been underground. The air was tight. The smell was horrendous. The darkness of the caves made me uncomfortable. The sounds of our footfalls reminded me that we were alone with the eyes of Orcs hidden somewhere in the mines. We climbed, we crawelled, we walked, we rested. We got to the top of the stairs that we were currently climbing when Gandalf said,

"I have no memory of this place."

Gandalf sat and lit his pipe, staring down at the tunnels in front of us. The hobbits sat huddled against one another. Boromr, Aragorn and Gimli sat near the hobbits, smoking their pipe. Legolas stood with his arms folded, and blank expression on his face. I stood beside him, in the same stance. I heard the creature Gollum snooping around below.

"Are we lost?" Pippin whispered loudly.

"No. I don't think we are. Shhh, Gandalf's thinking." Merry replied quietly. There were a few minutes of silence before,

"Merry!" Pippin whispered, quieter this time.

"What?"

"I'm hungry." I chuckled quietly and saw Merry roll his eyes.

After a while, Frodo got up and spoke to Gandalf. I heard most of their conversation, although one thing that Gandalf said stuck to my mind.

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

Something else was said and then Gandald proclaimed, "Ah! It's that way!" He pointed towards the right hand tunnel.

"He's remembered!" Merry says relieved. Everyone got up and began o move again.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down there. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

"I think that would only lead you to food if you tell that to a hobbit." I said, earning a laugh from everyone – except Boromir of course, who just rolled his eyes.

LINE BREAK

We pass under an arched door way, into a black and empty space. Gandalf whispered something, and his staff brigthened. "Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Darrowdelf!"

Now, being an elf, I am not fond of being underground. But this Dwarf city, blew my mind.

"Well, there's an eye opener and no mistake!" Sam said.

Gimli rushed ahead. I saw a wooden door that was smashed with black arrows embedded in the timber.

"Gimli!" We followed after the dwarf into another vast empty chamber. There was a narrow shaft which flooed the room with sunlight. The light falls on a single oblong block, may be four feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone. Gimli had fallen to his knees.

"No… no… Oh, no! He mumbled.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf read. "He is dead then. It's as I had feared." Gandalf bent over and picked up an old book.

"We must move on, we cannot linger," Legolas whispered to Aragorn.

"Mellonnin, could you read this." Gandalf asked. I walked over and began to read out loud.

"They have taken the Bridge and the second hall: we have barred the gates… but cannot hold them for long… The ground shakes… Drums in the deep… We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no one save us? … They are coming."

A loud crash startled me and I dropped the book onto the floor. Everyone froze in complete silence as the clashing echoed through the halls, loudly.

Gandalf looks at Pippin. "Fook of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" He says rather harshly.

A low rolling boom rises from the depths below. It grew louder, as if the caverns of Moria were a drum. I hear a horn blast nearby, feet hitting the ground, harsh cries. My eyes were drawn to Frodos belt.

"Mr Frodo!" Sam cries. Frodo draws his sword, and finds that is going blue.

"Orcs!" Legolas stated.

"Way to state the obvious brother."

"Oh shut up would ya?" I could see he was smiling slighly though

"Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn yelled to the hobbits. He and Boromir slam and wedge the doors.

"They have a cave troll." Boromir says. Not a time to state the obvious!

Gimli leapt onto the tomb yelling, "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"

I drew my bow and nocked an arrow. "Get back with the hobbits, woman." Boromir yelled to me.

"You would do best if you did not antagonize her Boromir. She is the best fighter there is, I trained with her for many centuries." Legolas snapped. He also had his identical bow and arrow drawn.

The door started to cave in. I shot arrow after arrow, in syncronisation with Legolas as the orcs came in. I quickly swap my bow for my twin blades. I slice orc after orc, ducking, blocking, killing. My assassin mind has switched on, and I use my skills to their maximum limit, as does Legolas. Gandalf joined the battle, and after a few seconds so did the hobbits, who were originally behind the wizard. Boromir and Legolas worked on trying to protect the hobbits, while I just killed, killed and killed. We all sliced and shot at the cave troll, but because of its thick skin, it did not affect it.

I saw from the corner of my eye that Sam had his sword in one hand and his saucepan in the other. After killing a few orcs he said, "I think I'm getting the hang of this." I couldn't help but laugh quietly.

The cave troll lifted Aragorn with the tip of its spear and threw him to the side of the room. "Aragorn! Aragorn!" Frodo yelled. I began to fight my way over the the ring bearer, as he did not have anyone helping him.

The troll then began towards Frodo, and stabbed him in the chest. "Frodo!" Aragorn yelled, now conscious. Sam slashed and the trolls legs, and merry and pippin jumped onto it's back. Legolas and I looked at each other, nodded and then let our arrows fly into the back of the trolls throat. Finally, the cave troll toppled to the ground, dead.

"Frodo!" Aragorn called again. The hobbit was slumped on the ground, not moving. When the ranger pulled him up, the hobbit breathed deeply and coughing, startling a few people in the room.

"He's alive." Sam said, relieved.

"It's alright, I'm not hurt," Frodo said.

"You should be dead, the would have skewed a wild boar!"

"I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye..." Gandalf said.

Frodo pulled down his ripped tunic a little, and there was a coat of Mithril.

"Ah! Mithril! You are full of surprises Master Baggins." Gimli commented.

Boom. Boom. Boom... The drums started again. Gandalf turned to us.

"TO THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM!"