Chapter 6, yay ! This chapter will introduce a bit of Gimli's POV. Again, thank you so much for the feedback, you're awesome ! Hope you'll enjoy !

"Gandalf, we have to turn back !" Frodo's pleading voice ordered, "I don't want you to die because of me !" he cried in despair.

The Wizard put a hand on the Hobbit's shoulder, kneeling beside him.

"There is no other way, Frodo. We cannot go through the Gap of Rohan nor take the Pass of Caradhras. This is our only chance.

"But you will die !" he shouted at him, bursting into tears.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Foresights show you the most probable future, but there is always a way to prevent them from happening." Gandalf answered, trying to soothe him. The little Hobbit turned his head to the young man still sitting on the floor, supported by the gentle hands of Boromir and Legolas and timidly asked him, in a voice that sounded both desperate and hopeful :

"Is there anything that could be done to avoid it ?"

"NO !" both Legolas' and Gandalf's voices echoed in the same time, before Faramir could answer, which made everyone startle. Frodo backed from the Wizard, afraid. "This is not to be revealed !" the grey cloaked man continued.

"Why not ?" Boromir's misunderstanding voice rose, slightly shaking from the emotions of the past minutes.

"The person granted by a foresight has to be the only master of his actions. If he reveals us too much about it, the fulfillment of the foresight will depend on someone else than him, which will increase the danger. No one can interfere save him. Lord Faramir has already told us too much. He must say nothing more." the blond Elf explained calmly.

'Whew ! That is no doubt the longest conversation we've had so far.' Boromir couldn't help but think. Yet he was quite disturbed by his words. Faramir had to be on his own ? He perfectly knew his brother wasn't keen on having too much responsibilities, for he always feared to be unfitted for it or failing. To have the fate of Gandalf, his mentor, into his hands would be hard. Too hard. He needed help.

As if reading his thoughts, the old Wizard added, addressing his brother :

"It looks like you have to take your own decisions from now on, young man."

Faramir sighed as he was suddenly overtook by a wave of weariness and despair. He was really getting tired of this. Why had he had to inherit the 'gift' of his mother ? This was just too hard. Gandalf's life or death depended on him now ? That was too much. If Gandalf died… It would be his fault… He would never forgive himself. No one would.

"What do you decide, Geliadan ? Shall we go on ?" Gandalf's voice asked, not sounding very much troubled by the announcement of his own possible death, as if he were expecting it.

Faramir took a breath. Things could be done, yes. But would it be enough ? Will he be able to do it ? And yet… This was their best if not only option. At least there was hope…

"We go." he stated after some long seconds of hesitation.

"Are you sure ?" his brother asked, trying to sound not too much doubtful.

"No." Faramir answered flatly, "but do we have a better option ?"

His brother shook his head and immediately after, both he and Legolas grabbed him under his shoulders and helped him up, steadying him as he swayed slightly on his feet, felling a bit light-headed. As soon as he was secured between the Elf and man, he nodded to Gandalf to tell him he was ready to move and the company was led forward.

"Hannon-le," Faramir thanked the Elf after a few meters walk, "I think I can walk by myself." he added, this time addressing both the Elven Prince and Boromir, still supporting him. The Elf nodded and went forward to Aragorn and Gimli, a few steps ahead.

"Still not very talkative, is he ?" Boromir states more than asked, having remained close to the younger man and staring at him as if he would fall apart any minute.

"Indeed no." he simply answered, his lips curving into a small smile.

After a small silence, his brother asked him worriedly and sounding tensed :

"Are you feeling alright ? This foresight seemed almost as intense as the one you had when Mother passed."

Faramir shook at the memory. He was only five at that time. It had all happened so fast. One minute, he had been playing in the palace gardens with Boromir, and the other, he had fell face first onto the ground, feeling as if his heart had stopped and desperately gasping for an air that did not enter his lungs anymore. His eyes had closed before he could notice and he had contemplated helplessly as her mother gave out her last breath before her face had gone completely still, eyes wide open but glaring at nothing but the stone ceiling of the room. He had woken up two days after. The day she had died.

"Yes, I am fine, but it is true it was a powerful one. They seem to become again as strong as they have been in the past. Like if I had regressed and didn't know how to master them anymore." he answered, finally letting himself to share his concern with his brother.

"Or maybe they have grown stronger. You should talk to Mithrandir about that." his brother suggested.

"I will, as soon as I find time." he promised him. 'And I can keep him alive...' he silently added in his mind, feeling desperate. He had no idea if he would succeed, and that scared him. He couldn't lose him. The Wizard was like a second father to him.

The young man was suddenly startled as he felt a small pair of hands grabbing his right leg, a small head buried in it, weeping.

"Pippin ?" he gasped in surprise as he recognised the small figure to be the young Hobbit, "Pippin, is there something wrong ?" the man asked in concern.

"I-I thought y-you were dead…" a sobbing voice answered.

"Oh, Pippin…" was all that could get past his lips as he put a knee on the ground and took the shaking boy in his arms, remembering the crying voice he had held while he had slowly been coming out of unconsciousness. He also remarked Merry and Sam bearing reddened eyes too, and Frodo looking even more pale and troubled, if it was possible, standing a few meters behind. They were still so young, so innocent… They shouldn't be enduring this…

The man had to admit he had grown quite fond of the four little creatures. And especially young Peregrin, for no particular reason, just… They were on the same wavelength, just like Merry was with Boromir. And also because they were quite alike on some things : the Hobbit had loved to try swordfighting, but even more bowshooting on the small bow Faramir had made him with a simple branch and small rope. Also, he cared much about his cousin, just like the man cared about his brother, and was stronger than he looked.

"It's alright, young one, I'm alright. There is nothing to worry about. I wasn't dead." he tried to soothe him again, rubbing circles on his shaking back.

"B-But you fell… All of a sudden… A-And you didn't move or answer when we called you…" the Hobbit burst out into tears in the Ranger's arms.

"Shh… It's alright, Pippin. I am here now. I passed out, nothing bad. It happens sometimes."

He felt the small head nod against his chest and slowly released him from his embrace.

"Besides, I still need to teach you how to bowshoot properly, remember ?" he added, curving his lips into a smile. Pippin weakly smiled back at him, met by his cousin and the two other Hobbits.

"It is good to see you safe and sound, sir. We were worried about you." Sam told him as he approached, following Frodo Who was walking to him.

"Thank you Master Samwise." he answered.

"True," young Frodo added, "You gave us quite a scare. Are you sure you are feeling better ?" he asked, sounding quite shaken by what had happened.

"Yes, I am. My thanks."

The Hobbit looked at him hesitantly for some seconds before adding worriedly :

"Do you think you will be able to save Gandalf ?"

Faramir Fell silent for some seconds. Truly, he did not know, and that scared him more than he would never admit. If he failed, everything would be his fault… This was so hard. Strangely, future had never seemed so unclear to him.

"Yes," he lied, placing a grin on his face, "I think I will."

Lying was a bad thing, but right now, these Hobbits needed hope.

Gimli still couldn't believe it as he cried next to his dear cousin's tomb. This couldn't be true, couldn't be real. It was just a nightmare. Except that it wasn't. He could easily sense that the fine and light hand resting on his right shoulder was very real.

"We have had many disagreements, Master Dwarf. But believe me, I know what it like is to lose the ones you care about, and I truly am very sorry for your loss."

The dwarf had to admit he was very much surprised to hear the elf's voice and to realise that the hand on his shoulder was his. He wanted to say something, to at least thank him, just for good measure and politeness because everyone was watching, but no words could get past his shaking lips, so he just nodded, at least showing he had heard him.

Dwarves didn't cry, or at least they didn't show they were. But this was just too hard to bear and he couldn't get any control over his body, at the moment. 'Why you, Balin ? Why ? It is not fair.' he kept thinking, uselessly, as it wouldn't bring him back to keep trying to find a reason why it had to be him.

Gandalf was talking. Reading something, maybe, but the words didn't make any sense in his mind anymore. Or didn't want to make sense. He had forgotten how hard it was. To grieve, to mourn. Last time, it had been for an entire family, the uncle and his nephews : Thorin Oakenshield, Fili and Kili. But he hadn't been as close to them as he was to Balin.

He was gotten out of his dark thoughts as the hand on his shoulder squeezed tightly and, apparently, involuntarily as the elf looked apologetically at him.

"Drums in the deep. They are here…" the Wizard's words finally broke through the mist of his mind.

"Yrch !" the elf let out in a breath.

It took him some time to find the corresponding word in common language. Orcs ? There were Orcs in Moria ? As if a Balrog wasn't enough ! What kind curse had befallen on these mines ?

"We will have to be careful. They may hide anywhere in this darkness." Boromir pointed out.

"Indeed." Aragorn agreed, having had too many encounters with those monsters.

"Pippin, no !" a voice shouted from behind them. They all turned their head, just in time to see Faramir preventing the young Hobbit to collide with an armed dwarven skeleton and to provoke its fall.

Faramir let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he realised the skeleton hadn't fallen. That was a close one. At least maybe they wouldn't have to deal with the Orcs and the cave troll in this room as he had seen it.

"Be careful, young one. These mines are tricky." he told him, gently. Pippin hastily nodded, still shaking from the suddenness of the action.

"I think it would be wise to leave this room while we can, don't you think ?" Sam asked in a slightly pressing tone, sounding rather scared by the place, which was highly understandable.

"It would be wise, indeed." came Gandalf's reply, "We will head to the bridge of Khazâd-Dûm, it should be the safest and shortest way."

"Should ? Well that's encouraging." the humourous voice of Boromir echoed, in a futile attempt to enlighten the dark mood of the Fellowship. His brother rewarded him with a thin smile for the attempt.

Everything had happened so fast, too fast. They were walking on the path, at the edge of a Stone pit when the rock he had put his foot onto suddenly gave in. It was only thanks to his brother and Legolas' quick reflexes that Boromir had been saved from a deadly fall. But the rock was big and heavy, and the stone pit was still full of the tools and mechanisms the dwarves had used. It had hit another rock, which had hit the mechanism, which had broken under the weight, which had fell… And soon enough, it had seemed to the Fellowship that the sound was echoing in the entire mountain.

Gandalf turned around to face them, his eyes filled with obvious panic.

"Run."

I really hope you liked this one. I think I will slowly begin to introduce other POVs in the next chapters. Also, apologies upon apologies for the little cliffhanger... Action will really begin next chapter, I swear !