Just as Gandalf said, at the end of the next day we reached the gates of Moria, but there was just on problem, there was no gate, no door, no even a keyhole!

"I think that wizard's gone off his rocker," I heard Brom scoff as I slipped off the pony. Bill gave a nicker and shook himself. I'm sure he was as glad for me to be off him as I was.

"What'll happen to Bill?" I asked Sam as he and Aragorn started unpacking the pony. Sam tried to hold in a sniffle but it didn't work quiet right making the hobbit give a wet snort.

"We're just going to live him here, for wolves and all." He said bitterly. Aragorn clapped Samwise on the back.

"Don't worry, Sam, Bill's a smart pony, one of the brightest I've seen. He'll be alright,"

Sam muttered something I didn't catch and petted Bill's nose. I gave up and walked over to where Tay stood at the edge of the pond. Well, it was more a of a lake. A large, grimy, black lake. It smelled of dead fish and muck.

"Ugh, what are we doing over here!?" Rash gagged, but I ignored him. He was still very weak and I only heard when it was night.

"What are you doing over here, Tay?" I asked holding my nose. "Don't tell me your gonna go skinny dipping or swimming,"

"No, there's something in the water, I feel it!" He shook his, "If I only knew this world's song. I shouldn't have come, Bremen would of been more help then me!" Tay's clear eyes became bright with tears and I knew how he felt. I touched the elf's shoulder and said, " Tay, you'll figure it out, but your not the only one, remember, everyone's magic doesn't work quiet right here, even Allanon's" I said the last part loud enough for the druid to look back at me. In the world of the four lands, Allanon would have felt a shadowen attack a day in advance, and he knew it, but was too proud to admit it.

" I know, but-" Tay was cut off as the stars came out and along the face of the great wall a silver gate appeared, like someone had spilled a bucket of glowing paint down the side of the rock face.

"What is it?" Frodo asked as everyone gathered close.

"Moon runes," Gandalf smiled, " Runes that only show when the moon and starlight shine on them,"

"Uncle Bilbo talked about them," Frodo breathed running his hand down the gate, tracing the patterns with his finger tips, "But Gandalf, how do we get n? There's no handle or key hole,"

I walked up, shielding my eyes slightly against the shine. Unfortunately, Rash's sensitivities were my own at times and he did not like this glowing elf ink at all.

"There's an inscription at the top, but I can't read it," Allanon drew up beside me, looking very wraith like in the light of the moon runes.

"It looks elvish, but no form I've seen, and several other languages that are unknown to me as well,"

"Perhaps our people are not so different," Gandalf smile, "There is a form of elvish, also a form of dwarf and a form of man. It says speak friend and enter,"

"What does that mean?" Merry asked, shouldering his pack as Pippin skipped pebbles across the surface of the pond. Brom grabbed his hand.

"Don't!" He frowned staring at the water. I forgot sometimes that if anyone could help us with magic it was him. Not only did he wield the sword of Shannara, but his parents were both very magical. Walker Boh, the druid and would have been Allanon's successor and Quickening, a creature of magic and the daughter of the King of Silver River. I wondered when his powers would come into play.

"Well, the riddle is very simple," Gandalf said shaking me out of my thoughts, "All we have to do is speak the password and the doors will open,"

With that the grey man placed the butt of his staff to a shining star rune and spoke in a language that I did not know. Nothing happened.

"Impressive," Rash snorted into my ear.

"Will you be quiet!" I growled, getting a sharp look from Allanon. I gave him an even sharper look and a look of realization came over his face.

So went nearly twenty minutes as Gandalf stood speaking passages of friendship and none worked. Even Allanon, Tay, and Risca gave it a try. Brom was content to sit with Boromir. Finally Gandalf looked up at the inscription and looked like someone had hit him.

"Of course!" He said like it was so simple. He again placed the butt of his staff to the star and spoke one musical word. With a rumble a seam appeared in the rock and the gates of Moria yawned wide. "It was the elvish word for friend!" He laughed and we all began inside.

"LOOK OUT!" Pippin cried running into the cave bumping into Gandalf and behind us loomed a great monster from the lake, tentacles waving from the stagnant water. One grabbed Frodo by the leg and began to pull him away into the lake. Sam and Aragorn leaped forth and began to hack at the limbs and Legolas shot a round of arrows but the monster would not quit.

Suddenly, like a sliver bolt, Brom raced out of the mouth of the cave. "Brom! Get back here!" Boromir cried frozen in shock as the pixie-boy unsheathed the Sword of Shannara. The blade glowed a fierce blue and the boy seemed to be surrounded by the same light. Nimbly as any elf, he jumped up onto one of the great tentacles and stabbed into the rotting flash of the creature. The creature cried out as blue flame burned where the blade had been. It quickly released the hobbit and sank back into the stinking waters to lick its wounds.

Boromir rushed out of the cave and to the surprise of most caught the pixie boy in a crushing hug, scolding him vehemently. Aragorn and Sam assisted Frodo to the gates edge.

"Master Brom, that was amazing," Merry smiled as the boy and Boromir came into the gates last. Brom was drenched in cold water, and had Boromir's enormous cloak draped over his small frame. He shivered and gave a small thank you when there came a third rumble. The monster was attacking again!

"CLOSE THE GATE!!" Gandalf cried and everyone rushed to the great stone slabs and pushed them shut just in time. Great thick arms could be heard pounding on the walls as we were doused in complete blackness.

"Ouch, that's my foot!" came Gimli's voice in the darkness. There came a sorry and the sound of someone tripping. I blinked several times and found that I could see very well in the darkness.

"You can thank me later," came Rash's voice. I began forward, mainly out of curiosity and wanting to test my new found sight. Suddenly a bright light fared up and I bit my lip to keep from crying out as I shielded my eyes. Gandalf had put a stone on the end of his wand and it glowed with a bright light. When I had blinked the tears and spots out of my eyes, I looked around the room again.

There were stairs in front of us, littered with skeletons. There had been a battle here. I hoped who ever had fought here was gone by now.