Hiya everyone! Here's your next chapter, I hope you enjoy it!
I curl up against the wall of the Mines, careful to avoid the bodies of the dead scattered about.
"Lady Hermione," Legolas asks coming to kneel next to me. "Lady Hermione, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," I reply. "I just need some time to think." My sense of foreboding still hasn't left. Legolas sighs and sits down.
"We will find them," he assures me.
"I know. That's not what I'm worried about."
"Then what exactly are you worried about Mil'lady?"
"It's not important," I reply. "And my name is Hermione, Legolas. Just Hermione." His lips twitch upwards.
"Very well 'Just Hermione,'" he says. I see the mirth twinkling in his eyes.
"You know how to joke? I never knew!" I exclaim smiling at him. But then a sigh escapes my lips.
"What is wrong La- Hermione?"
"Nothing," I reply. "I'm just worried about Harry."
"I am sure that he worries about you as well."
"Thank you Legolas," I reply with a smile.
"Of course."
We sit in silence and I find my self bringing my hand up to my neck, fingering the gift from the elf sitting next to me. My breath creates mist in the cold air of the Mines.
"You're cold," he says.
"Only a little. If we start moving, I should be fine."
Legolas helps me to my feet and we begin to head deeper into the Mines of Moria, my wand lighting the way.
We walk into the darkness, side by side. I'm afraid to be any distance from him because if he's attacked, I'll wind up alone in the dark, cold Mines because even with a wand, one can only last so long.
We are entirely silent, not wanting to wake anything that dwells here, good or bad.
"We stop here," Legolas says suddenly. "You need rest."
"I need no more rest than you do," I argue. "If you can keep going, then so can I." He archs an eyebrow.
"Very well Hermione," he replies. The temporary pause in the steady beats of our feet agaist the cold ground begins again as we make our way towards our destination...out.
Hours, or maybe minutes, or maybe days, pass as we walk and fatigue is finally starting to get to me. I stumble over something and Legolas catches me.
"Thank you," I say pushing down a yawn. He hasn't stopped yet so neither will I.
"Of course Hermione."
I stiffle another yawn and keep moving, but Legolas takes my wrist in his hand gently and turns me around to face him.
"You're tired," He says.
"Aren't you?" I reply.
"Yes," he replies. I am too tired to see if he's lying or not, so I decide to trust his answer.
"Alright. I suppose we can stop then."
He nods, and claims first watch.
I spread out the bedding that I have and lay down. The moment my head hits stone, I'm asleep.
I'm squished right between Gandalf and the hobbits. Suddenly Gimili runs forth, flying past us.
"No...no...oh, no!" I hear from the room he disapeared into. The rest of us file in, Gimili weeping.
Gandalf moves towards a slab of white stone carved with runes of what must be dwarvish. There is a large, old book sitting on top of it.
""Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria." He is dead, then. It's as I had feared," he says softly. He carefully lifts the book from the slab of stone. A few pages fall out as he opens it, some crack and there is dried blood all over the book.
"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."
After a moments pause, there is a loud clattering and we all turn to look at where it came from.
Pipin!
" Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Gandalf shouts.
Pipin looks chastened.
All noise falls silent as a booming sound like drums or thousands upon thousands of feet fill the air. A horn blasts, many horns answer and there are shouts and the sounds of running.
I look to Frodo's sword just as Sam shouts, "Mr. Frodo!"
Frodo pulls out his sword and sees that it's glowing blue. There must be orcs or goblins near.
Aragorn and Boromir force the doors closed and wedge them shut, making them as secure as possible.
"They have a cave troll!" Boromir cries out in shock.
"Let them come!" Gimili exclaims. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!" I turn to see that he hold two axes now in his hands.
The door crashes open and I lose track of my companions in the fray of battle. Many goblins run straight through me, my body dissapating and reforming around them.
Then I hear a scream. I look up and Frodo is pinned against the wall, blood weeping from his stomach. It doesn't take a genius to know that he isn't waking up.
"Frodo!" I form his name, but no sound comes out. "Frodo!" I try again and again, but it doesn't work. I fear for him.
I wake in a cold sweat.
"Hemione," Legolas says looking at me concernedly.
"I'm fine," I say. "Just a bad dream." I find myself almost compelled to tell him about it. So when he asks, I don't hesitiate to tell him exactly what happend in my dream. I tell him about Frodo being skewerd, bleeding profusely from his stomach, though I don't go into detail. I'd like to spare one person at least.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asks questioning me.
"I've had worse dreams." I reply softly. "I'll take watch now. Sleep Legolas."
Chapter done. Took me a little while to plan this chapter... oh who am I kidding. This is all from scratch people. Anything you recognize is not mine. Anyhow, R&R, write you soon! Love you all!
~In the Land of Morodor.~