A/N I apologize for the repetition of ch 15, I don't know how it happened but it id so here's the real number 16! And thank you very much Skie for your opinion!

"They're in Moria," Dal said softly to the night wind. He stood on the top of Isengaurd watching the clouds blot out the stars. He felt his shadowen, Hex, sleeping soundly, curled up in the back of his mind like a cat.

When she(a/n I believe that shadowen don't so much have gender as they do gender traits) had reported that Rash and Meia were deep in the mines of Moria Dal had nearly let Putrid suck the life from the old man's bones, but in the end decided against it.

From what Dal had learned from Putrid, the mines had been taken over by Sauron's orcs. Of course, Sauron's orcs were Saruman's and Saruman's orcs were now Dal's. Even more favorable was the creature of immense fire and smoke that lived in the bowls of Moria. Even a top his perch on Isengaurd, Rimmer Dal could feel his brethren's power. So long as Meia had Rash in her the creature would let her pass and then it would destroy the others. She didn't need to know that though. She could think she got out by luck and she would eventually try to go either Minas Titith or Rivendell. Either way he would have her and her powers!

"Now to reward Saruman," Rimmer Dal smirked and turned to go into Isengaurd.

"Rock, wall, pebble, pebble, wall, you know I think some weeds, heck even some moss would be a nice change of scenery," Rash whined in the back of my head. This was the fourth day of travel and everything was becoming monotonous. I couldn't argue with him.

"Gandalf, is it much further?" Brom asked, his silver hair glittering in the wizard's wand light.

"Not much longer, halfling, after our next rest it should only be another few hours walk,"

"Tis a shame war came to these tunnels," Risca sighed, "These mines must have been glorious."

We finally stopped in a large empty room with a well in the center. As we entered the room I felt hot. Rash riggled happily under my skin.

My knees buckled and Tay grabbed my arm.

"Meia, are you okay? Meia?"

I gripped his shoulders and felt like I was being submerged in water.

"Let me in Meia," Rash coaxed,"There's something coming, something you can't handle!"

"Gandalf! I can't reach her!" Tay cried. Meia had gone stiff in his arms, her eyes were wide and her pupils constricted, leaving her eyes looking like empty pools of grey-blue water. Her pink mouth was slightly open and her breathing fast and empty.

The grey wizard swept over to the frantic elf.

"Lay her down!" Gandalf ordered making everyone stand away. Her skin was becoming cold to the touch. " Another attack so soon? I never dreamed her parasite would recover so quickly,"

"Shadowen are evil things," Tay spat as the wizard began to undo the buttons on Meia's green vest. When the vest was open he grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled on it, ripping down far to reveal her small breasts.

"What are you doing?" Allanon demanded.

Gandalf did not reply but laid his hands, splayed-fingered, on her collar bone and closed his eyes.

A/N this scene takes place in Meia's subconscious

"What's coming!?" I demanded. The Shadowen laughed at me.

"Something older than your sweet Sliver King. A brethren of the shadowen."

"How do you know this!?"

"I can feel him. He is the master of this delapatated hole. If you don't let me guide you, then your company will die,"

"MIND-TWISTER!!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the darkness, "What do you care if they live or die!?"

A sudden light filled the void and an image of grey appeared.

"Gandalf!" Rash hissed. Gandalf ignored the shadowen and offered his hand. I was so close to grasping it, but just when I would of grasped it his image dissolved.