DISCLAIMER: OTHER THAN LORIEN, I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY, THEY ALL BELONG TO THE FANTASTICALLY TALENTED J.R.R. TOLKIEN AND I HAVE MERELY BORROWED THEM FOR THE SAKE OF A STORY. I, MYSELF, COULD NOT COME UP WITH A STORY SUCH AS LORD OF THE RINGS OR CREATE ANY OF THE CHARACTERS WITHIN THESE STORIES, SO I DO NOT PRETEND TO OWN ANY OF THEM. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE STORY AND AGAIN, ONLY LORIEN IS MY CHARACTER.

In Rivendale

Lorien woke with a start, cold sweat pouring down her face and body. Her breathing was heavy and her heart thumped in her chest. Her dream had taken an unexpected twist. She thought she could hear the evil laughter of the traitor Saruman and the cries of help from the company. Her mind's eye had fallen to Legolas and the falling of rock and stone. Lorien walked to the window of her room and shut her eyes.

'Show me where my love may be!' Her mind took her to the company and she saw the doors of Moria opening up. Her eyes flew open as dread filled her heart. She had heard many tales from Gandalf concerning Moria and no tale he told was a happy one. Lorien felt tears rolling down her face. Suddenly she grabbed hold of the sword her father has instructed her to carry as well as a quiver full of arrows and a bow similar to the one she had given Legolas. She tied a cloak around her body and flew down the stairs of the palace like a soft breeze through the treetops. She called her horse from its safety in the hills and began to mount him. Suddenly Arwen appeared in front of Lorien's horse.

'Where are you going? The night is dark and full of terror.'

'I am going to find my Legolas and I am going to help the company through what they are about to face.'

'What is so terrible that you must leave the safety of Rivendale? Tell me Lorien, what is it you saw?'

'I saw the mines of Moria. The dark, cold, ruthless mines and it filled me with fear.'

'But you cannot go! You are alone! What use are you alone when a thousand orcs have surrounded you?'

'I must do what I can! I shall not lose Legolas, not again, not ever! You must understand my conflict, save myself, or save the one I love?'

'I do, but Legolas would prefer you to be safe.'

' I do not care. Things have changed since Legolas left, he does not understand that I will need him more than ever.'

'What is it you speak of?' Lorien took Arwen's hand and placed it on her heart. Arwen understood and stood back.

'Now you understand! I will not let Legolas be lost for all of time in those mines. If he must die, he should die with grace and where he can be honoured! Everyone will forget him if he perishes in those mines. I also know that you would not allow Aragorn to come to the same end. I love Legolas and I will be by his side no matter what, and if that means dying by his side, then so be it! Now forgive me and thank your father for me.' Arwen stood back and let Lorien ride away. Soon Lorien and Shadow were flying through the country quicker than the sound of a beating drum reaches the keenest of ears. Lorien reached the opening of the mines and dismounted Shadow.

'Meet me on the other side my dearest friend.' Lorien whispered in elfish. The horse reared and galloped away, leaving Lorien all alone. Although she was frightened, her legs and head carried her forwards. She could hear nothing as she moved through the mines and wondered what terror had come to her lover and his friends. Lorien reached a place where three separate pathways lead to three different ending, whether they be good or bad. At first she was unsure of which one to take, then she heard…

'Frodo!' Lorien was sure her body moved even before the word hit her ears. She ran down the stairs and saw orcs flooding into a single room. Her heart was racing and her hand reached for an arrow. She fired it at the first orc she saw but they ignored her, more intent on the occupants of the room. She fired arrow after arrow and made her way to the doors. An orc came at her from the side and she cut it with a swift flick of her sword. Then she saw him, Legolas her elven lover. His blond hair glimmered in the tiny stream of light flowing in from the small slit in the wall. He was firing his arrows at a cave troll and Lorien shuddered at the sight of it. More orcs came and she slayed them either using her sword or her arrows. Then, she saw Legolas had his back turned and an orc was approaching him from behind. Lorien aimed the arrow and shot the orc straight through the head before turning to the orcs still continuing to pour in from behind her.

Aragorn's hand dropped with surprise. Where had the arrow come from that slain the orc that had so nearly been upon Legolas? Legolas shot the troll in the mouth and it fell to the floor, it's eyes rolled to the back of it's head and with a final grunt it lay dead in front of the company. Aragorn still look surprised and Legolas saw his look.

'What is wrong Aragorn?'

'An orc was behind you, inches from killing you with its spear, I was about to fire an arrow at it, when one came from the doors and killed it instead.'

'Probably one of its fellows misfired.'

'No, it was to well aimed for that, and tell me, why are no more orcs entering the room?'

'They are scared, we have killed their troll.'

'No, I don't believe it! And where is Gandalf?' Aragorn walked towards the door and stood open mouthed at what he saw. There was Lorien and Gandalf fighting the orcs with the greatest of ease. Legolas had followed him and nearly fell over with what he saw.

'Lorien, what?'

'I'll tell you soon enough, but now, we must go!'

'But!'

'Are you not listening? She speaks with wise words, we must go, now!' Gandalf boomed and they all ran down the stairs and through the mighty halls that the dwarves of ancient times had built. As they ran through, Lorien stopped dead, cold dread filling her body.

'Lorien, what is it?' Legolas called.

'The Balrog.' Gandalf whispered. The company did not need to ask what was so terrifying, because soon enough there came a crashing from behind and a great bull like animal stood with fire pouring from it's sides.

'Run!' Gandalf shouted and the company fled through the remainder of the mines until they came to the bridge. Everyone crossed it, except for Gandalf; he stopped and faced the Balrog. Lorien stopped at the end but Legolas caught hold of her before she could run back.

'I must help him!'

'If Gandalf cannot defeat it, neither can you!' As Legolas held her, they watched as the bridge collapsed and Gandalf fell with it.

'No!' Lorien shouted in unison with Frodo. Legolas and Boromir pulled Lorien and Frodo with them to the safety of the light outside. They continued to run until they reached some hills and there waiting for her, stood Shadow. Legolas let Lorien to her feet but she fell down tears rolling down her face. Legolas cradled her as she cried.

'There was nothing you could do, surely you know your powers aren't strong enough!'

'I know, but without Gandalf what hope do we have?'

There is always hope as long as someone believes in hope. We sill have Aragorn and we have you, although I should like to know what you are doing here?'

'A dream came to me whilst I was asleep. I dreamt of you on Caradhas and then you entering the mines. I could not bare to wait to see what my dreams brought me, I had to come.'

'The road is dangerous and it was even more perilous in there.'

'I had to come Legolas! I couldn't bare to think of you being killed in there, being left there for the orcs to feed on, for you to be forgotten like so many of those who had entered Moria. I am sorry for caring!'

'There is no need to shout. I was not telling you off! But why are you so scared of losing me?'

'One because I love you Legolas, the other reason I shall tell you when we are alone. There are things you need to know about me.'

'I know that you are an elf, Gandalf told me on leaving Rivendale. I also know you have the powers of a wizard.

'I can also see things, without the use of the ring or of any material that had been forged on middle earth. Sights come to me if I chose them to or when I am asleep, that's how I knew that you had entered Moria.'

'We must be on our way. By nightfall these hills will be covered with orcs.' Aragorn sounded proud and majestic and like the king he rightly was.

'But where are we to go?' Boromir asked.

'That I am not sure of.'

'I know of a place, Lothlorien. We shall be safe there, the lady Galadriel has kept that sacred country safe for many years and I, for one, should like to see the country in which I was born.'

'To Lothlorien we go then.' Aragorn instructed. The company got to their feet and with one last look at the mines and a thought to Gandalf; they headed on their way. Lorien gathered the reins of Shadow and lead him gently with them.

'Frodo, would you like to take comfort of Shadow for a while.'

'No, gentle lady, I would prefer it if you used your horse for the purpose in which you brought him. I here this horse was born to carry you and only those you permit, you ride him, for if it is needed, you are lighter and therefore swifter than I am on any horse.'

'Very well Frodo, I thank you. Now, Legolas, can I expect your company on my horse.'

'That you can, my dearest and bravest lady.' Legolas mounted Shadow and Lorien then mounted and sat in front of Legolas. Legolas wrapped his arms around Lorien and held on to the reins. The company moved swiftly and soon they reached the borders of Lothlorien.