Where are all my reviewers? Who's still reading this? Did I scare everyone away?
Solatiri sat next to Pippin comforting him as Gandalf muttered more phrases growing weary by the minute.
"Are you sure you are alright?" she asked. "You know Gandalf wasn't mad at you. He's just frustrated at himself for not knowing the password. It is not your doing."
Boromir watched her. Solatiri was practically made to be a mother. She was so kind and knew just how to treat people with kindness and respect.
"Solatiri", Aragorn said. "We are setting your horse free now."
Solatiri nodded as she got up to say goodbye. She wrapped her arms around the horse's neck as she fought back tears. She watched as Aragorn and Sam were setting Bill the pony free.
"Mines are no place for a pony", Aragorn said. "Even one so brave as Bill."
"Bye-bye, Bill", Sam said as he patted Bill's neck.
"Alandu", Solatiri said. "You must leave this time. Escort Bill home and keep him safe."
She hugged the horse tight one last time.
"Goodbye, my friend."
Aragorn gently patted Bill as he turned around.
"Go on, Bill. Go on. Don't worry, Sam. He knows the way home."
"And with Alandu, he'll be kept safe", Solatiri added as she patted Sam's shoulder comforting him.
She gasped as she heard splashing water. Merry and Pippin were throwing rocks into the water until Aragorn stopped them.
"Do not disturb the water."
Boromir stood as he saw small waves forming in the water.
"Solatiri…"
He gently pulled her away from the water close to him. She wrapped her arms around him feeling safer than a moment ago. They, along with Aragorn watched the water.
"What is it?" Solatiri asked.
"I do not know", Boromir said. "But you cannot swim. Stay away from the water."
Solatiri nodded as she looked away to Gandalf and Frodo hoping they could figure out the password soon. Frodo stood as he looked at the door.
"It's a riddle", he realized. "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?"
Slightly bigger waves appeared over the water. Boromir held onto Solatiri tighter. She looked at the waves starting to feel frightened.
"Mellon", Gandalf said.
Suddenly, the doors began to open. Everyone stood and turned as the doors opened for them.
"How clever!" Solatiri said. "How did you know?"
"Hobbits are very unique creatures", Gandalf said. "They can surprise you even if you know them."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crystal which he put on the top of his staff. It was awfully dark inside as everyone entered.
"Soon, Master Elf you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves", Gimli said. "Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!"
The crystal on Gandalf's staff began to glow, giving light to the mine. Right away everyone knew something was wrong. It was completely quiet and bodies littered the area. Gimli completely oblivious to their surroundings continued.
"This, my friend is the home of my cousin, Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!"
"This is no mine", Boromir said looking at the bodies. "It's a tomb."
The Hobbits looked at the bodies frightened. Gimli looked at all the bodies of the Dwarves in horror. Legolas pulled out an arrow from one of the bodies inspecting it.
"Goblins", he told the Fellowship.
Aragorn and Boromir pulled out their swords. Legolas and Solatiri got their bows and arrows ready just in case.
"Stay close behind us, little ones", Solatiri said to the frightened Hobbits.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan", Boromir said stating the last option they now had. "We should never have come here."
"Boromir, Crebain were watching over our path", Solatiri said. "We could not go there."
"It doesn't matter. Now get out of here! Get out!"
"Frodo!" the Hobbits started yelling.
Everyone turned to see a long tentacle coming out of the water, dragging Frodo toward it.
"Strider!" Sam called out to Aragorn.
The Hobbits grabbed onto Frodo's hands trying to pull him away.
"Get off him!" Sam yelled as he used his sword to cut the tentacle.
The tentacle let go of Frodo and slithered back into the water where suddenly a dozen tentacles came out of the water, pushing all the Hobbits away from Frodo as another grabbed him.
"Frodo, hang on!" Solatiri yelled as she grabbed his hands.
"Solatiri!" Boromir yelled.
The tentacle picked them up and held them in the air over the lake. Solatiri dangled in the air holding on tightly to Frodo's hands.
"Frodo, hold onto me!" Solatiri said. "Don't let go!"
She screamed as another tentacle reached up and grabbed her, pulling her away from him. Aragorn and Boromir waded into the water and started cutting all the tentacles trying to get to Frodo and Solatiri. Legolas shot arrows at the tentacles trying to get them to release Frodo and Solatiri.
"Boromir, watch out!" Solatiri yelled as a giant squid creature surfaced, making its presence known.
She screamed as the creature lowered her to its opened mouth.
"No!" Boromir said cutting off a tentacle, making the creature bellow in pain.
Aragorn cut the tentacle that held her, making the creature drop her.
"Boromir!"
Boromir sheathed his sword and held out his arms to catch her.
"Quick!" he said. "Go with the others!"
Solatiri waded back to the mine as she watched Aragorn cut Frodo free with Boromir catching him.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf said.
"Legolas!" Boromir yelled as he carried Frodo through the water.
"Into the cave!" Aragorn said.
Legolas pulled out one more arrow and shot the beast in the eye. It bellowed in pain as it followed the Fellowship to the mine.
"Run!"
The creature wrapped its tentacles around the doors trying to pull itself out of the water and onto land, only succeeding in causing the stone structure to collapse on top of it, trapping the Fellowship in complete darkness.
"We now have but one choice", Gandalf said as he used his crystal to light the way. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."