A/N: I am sorry for all the errors in my writing. I guess I need to take more time editing. I have gone back to do some repairs. But on with the story. Merry goes to Moria to find his horses. He is horrified at what he sees. However, all is not lost, when he is pleasantly surprised.

Chapter 16

Remembering Moria

Berilac sat by the small pool of water to soak his feet and watched his horse gulping the water next to him. The heat of this god forsaking land was making his mood fall farther into his own despair. He barely noticed the activity of the hobbits he traveled with as they led their horses to the pool to drink. They grabbed their water jar and began filling them. Merry pressed everyone to rush because he was beginning to worry that he would not catch up to the ruffians who stolen his horses. This delay was going to cost them the precious time that he needed.

Berilac's mind began to wander to thoughts of his wife and especially his older son. He remembered the day he was born and the feelings of being over joy with happiness. How proud he felt in his heart of having his first born son. He remembered how it felt holding the tiny child in his arms for the first time and all the plans he made for him, dreamed for him. Time flashed through his thoughts of helping his son walk for the first time, the first words he said, "Da-da". From the three children he had with Ester, this one child was special. He loved all of his children equally, but the first born child was a little different, a little extra special. Berilac's heart ached so much that the pain of knowing his son was not his. Knowing this torn at the fibers of his soul. Killing Erling was the easiest thing he had ever done, but it did not take away the pain that existed in his heart.

. "Berilac!" Merry shouted, "Fill your jar or you will go without!"

This shook Berilac from his thoughts and he rushed to get his jar. He filled it from the pool and while the others were already mounted on their horses and ready to head out. Berilac tied his jar to this saddle and climbed on his horse.

Merry was becoming frustrated with so many delays and his own impatience grew rapidly within him. His mind went back to Aragorn, when he led the fellowship to Lothlórien to see Galadriel. He understood now the frustration that Aragorn felt, trying to keep them all together and keep moving. For he was now dealing with the same emotions. Having Estella with them only increased his frustrations. Where they were going, Merry knew would be very dangerous. Trying to lead his hobbits to Moria, and then keeping them all safe, was going to be hard enough, but having Estella with them would kill him if she was harmed.

Merry pushed them all the harder to keep up with his pace. Time was running short and he feared he would be too late.

When the group finally got to the base of Moria, just before the mountains. Merry could see that the faded horse tracks going into the paths of Moria, but no tracks going out. He heart lifted in thinking he was not too late. There was only one way in and one way out. He felt he had them. He would soon have his horses back. Taking out his sword from its sheath and the other doing likewise, they entered Moria.

Merry lowered his sword as his mouth dropped open and his eyes widen at the scene that lay before him. Blood was everywhere on the ground, rocks and plants. Horse carcasses lay all about and bones thrown in all directions. The sight shook Merry as he could only imagine the hell happened on these grounds. Estella closed her eyes and turned her horse about. Her stomach felt sick and she wanted to vomit.

Merry backed his horse up in fear that want ever ate the horses, could still be about. He gave a signal to his hobbit to head out. It was over it with, there was nothing left.

"Well, it is about time you have shown up, my fine hobbit friend." A very familiar voice from Merry's past echoed in his ears. He turned sharply in awe, seeing Gimili who just landed on a large rock. A smile broke the corners of his lips as he raced over on his horse to greet the Dwarf Gimili.

The other hobbits sat in shock seeing Merry getting off his horse and throwing his arms around the rough looking dwarf that stood before them.

"It seems that you have forgotten something that you may have been looking for, little hobbit." Gimili said jokingly as he chuckled in his gruff manner.

"What would that be Gimili?" Merry smiled in such a smirk towards his long time friend.

"While hobbits of course." Gimili pointed up toward the higher caves of the mountain.

Wilcome and Tom waved down at Merry as they rushed towards the group.

"Come Merry, bring your friends and join us, we have much to talk about." Gimili invited them and turned again to say, "Bring your horses up the ramp way, they will be safer in the mouth of the cave."

"Yes, I would not trust them to stay here." Merry looking about the ground in which he stood.

"Orc's feed on the horses that wander here, they consider them a great delicacy." Gimili pointed out in a gruff tone.

"Seeing you here makes me feel like I have not wasted this trip for nothing." Merry told him.

"These hobbits have been tell'n me that those horse carcasses where your horses that someone stolen from you."

Wilcome and Tom rushed over to Merry grabbing him being so thankful of being found and felling safe again.

Merry said over their heads to Gimili, "Yes, these were all my horses, but it looks like I have lost them all, even the stallion that was given to me by Éomer."

"Not so, Merry. Wilcome and I followed the stallion to get away from the ruffians, until we lost him. He is now running free somewhere." Tom said.

Merry was amazed at hearing his stallion was not dead after all. It rekindled his determination to find him.

"Come Merry, let me finally show you the hospitality of the dwarves that I have promised you long ago, when we first came into these mines. We now have the finest malt beer that you have ever tasted." Gimili's gruff voice invited, as he placed his arm around Merry to guide the way.

When Merry entered the mines, glowing torches that hung on the walls met him. A couple of Dwarves took the reins of the their horses and led them away. A grand staircase stood at the entrance of the Mines of Moria.

When they reached the top steps, the mines opened in a grand splendor that any king would envy. Great pillars of rock adorn the craved halls. Woven rugs lay on the floor in bright colors of red, gold and dark blues. There were great hearths with roaring fires that gave a welcome to its visitors. Fine crafts lay on large tables in many different designs and talents. There were statues and great vases large enough for a hobbit to hide in. Dwarves traveled in and out of the rooms and filled the great halls.

Gimili brought Merry into a room where a table was being set up with trays stacked with all types of foods and delicacies. Gimili grabbed a large mug and turned a tap to pour malt beer from a large keg that sat in this dining room. All the hobbits could barely speak from seeing such grander and beauty.

Merry took a huge gulp of the malt beer while Gimili watched him intently. Merry paused for a while in knowing Gimili was seeking a compliment worthy of the beer he drank, just to tease the dwarf a bit.

"Well!" Gimili said in his impatience, "Master hobbit, you do not have a word for such a splendid beer?"

Merry wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve, and paused a moment longer, then said, "That is a good beer!"

Gimili grumbled, as he looked very disappointed at such a weak compliment. "Good! All you can say is Good!" he paused a moment glaring as his friend, "Have your senses left you, my good hobbit! Why that is the finest beer that has ever been created by any dwarf or any creature in all of Middle Earth."

Merry flashed a grand smile at Gimili in letting him know that he only teased him, and said, "Gimili, there is no finer a beer that I have ever tasted than what I hold in my hand. The dwarves are the finest beer makers there are."

Gimili smiled and roared loudly, "Come hobbits, fill your mugs and drink and eat to your hearts content."

A stout dwarf with a thick, long, bright, red beard entered the dining room carrying a plate that was stacked high with cuts of beef. The dwarf wore a long, green, robe that draped to the floor and tied at the waist with a delicate belt. He placed the plate of beef on the table and smiled at the hobbits.

"Master Dwarf, please may I have some of that beef?" Nibs smiled back at the dwarf holding his fork and licking his lips.

"You mean, Madame Dwarf, my fine hobbit." She winked to Nibs and walked over to him, serving him a hefty helping. Nibs stifled a laugh as he gazed at everyone siting at the table. The hobbits looked at each other in shock from never seeing a female dwarf, let alone a female with a beard.

"Khazâdia is a raving beauty hobbits, among us dwarves." Gimili slapped her across the butt as she gave him a high squeal of delight. From her retreating form, she wiggled her hips as she walked out of the room and stroked her long beard at Gimili. Gimili chuckled to himself as he watched her leave.

Gimili turned to his guests and watched them eat and drink. He was proud to show off the mines of Moria and all the hard work that they put into rebuilding the grand caves. He was also proud to restore them to the beauty his cousin Balin once created that he remembered from his youth.

Merry sat back in his chair and pushed his plate aside. His stomach was hard as a rock from eating the finest meal he had ever tasted, gorging himself. Khazâdia entered the dinning room to begin clearing away the empty plates and she was delighted to see the many empty plates and the good appetites that the hobbits had. Merry could not control the loud burp that had escaped from his lips when he pulled himself away from the table. Merry's face turned a shade red from being embarrassed in not being able to control himself and waiting for a more appropriate time to belch. He only hoped he did not offend his host with his rude gesture.

Gimili looked at Khazâdia with such pride in her efforts in making such a great meal. Unknown to Merry was the custom of belching after a meal to demonstrate to the host how much he enjoyed it. It was also the custom that the guest belch first before the host. Gimili was so relieved as he fought to contain his gesture until Merry went first. In holding his belch for so long, Gimili let out a belch so loud it echoed in the halls. Khazâdia was greatly honored.

The hobbits giggled and Nibs belched a tiny little squeak and this made everyone at the table roar with laughter. Estella looked at the hobbits disapprovingly, thinking that they have lost all their table manners that there mother has taught them.

Gimili stood and gestured to his friends to join him in a tour of the mines. "Come hobbits, I have much to show you of the mines of Moria." Gimili said as he led them out of the dining room. "Merry, this will mean more to you than anyone else here as you remember seeing these mines after the destruction when the orc's killed my cousin Balin. I will show you how I remember these mines when I used to visit them in my youth." He led them up flights of stairs and down corridors, but what Merry remembered about the mines were dead bodies, dirt and broke rocks that lay everywhere. Now stood perfectly sculptured staircases and well lit hallways. There were cravings of Gimili's cousin the Lord of Moria that adorn these halls of his many triumphs and great deeds. Gimili would tell the stories of the dwarves as they continued on their tour. Hobbits loved hearing a great story and they listen to everything Gimili told them.

"This room is the very pride of the dwarves." Gimili swung open the doors and the hobbits entered. They froze in awe and became speechless as their eyes widen taking in all that lay before them. The great halls of Moria. When Merry and the fellowship stood in these halls of splendor many years ago, it struck them all in the same way as what the hobbits saw being here for the first time. Tears swelled in Merry's eyes as he remembered walking with Gandalf and the others through these great halls. Gimili looked into Merry's eyes, seeing the wonderment and tears that over shadowed his face. Gimili beamed with pride.

There stood the great pillars, taller than any living tree in middle earth. The vastness of this room was immense to where the hobbits were unable to see across the other end of this hall, as if it would be a day journey to reach it. The hobbits felt like ants as they began to walk across the floor. Memories flooded Merry's mind when he looked up at the center of the delicate craved designs of the ceiling, were the orcs poured out in great numbers as they ran for their lives across this very same floor. Merry could see the opening in the ceiling that let the sunshine through casing sunbeams across the glistening floor.

The group continued to walk through the great hall, until Merry spied the doorway that was etched into his memory forever. The Bridge of Khazad-dûm. This same room where Gandalph fell into the shadow world. His eyes locked on this doorway as if it was pulling him towards it, in a trance like state.

Gimili stood in front of Merry, blocking him from traveling any further. Merry stared at Gimili not understanding why he would not move. He should have understood how much he needed to see this again.

"No, Merry. We can not enter this doorway. We have sealed this off to prevent the orcs from entering Moria. They lye just on the other side of this door."