Guess what people! BUNNIES!! Ok, now that my random animal of the day has been proclaimed, please read and review. Don't forget about my other story, The Heart Lives. I need reviews, even if they are flames to warm my frigid fingers. No happy fluffy bunnies or humor. *Elerian's POV*

12. Darker and Deeper

If trudging up the peak of Caradhras had been difficult, making our way down to Moria was even worse. Slipping on rocks and falling into snow banks hindered even we elves, despite our ability to walk on snow. The entrance to the mine did not provide any ease, with its shifting rocks, treacherous crevasses, and slippery puddles. Bill the pony was a hard worker and kept steady footing, so I held onto him to keep from falling. When we reached Moria, I decided to take a quick breath, because although we had walked for weeks, I had not grown any fonder of or better at it.

As I sat with my head bent, I heard Gandalf muttering and realized that he was trying to remember the password to the door. I rose to assist him, for I still remembered much of the books and movie, but immediately fell, tripping on a largish rock. Feet appeared in front of me, and I looked up to see Legolas watching me. When he realized that I saw him, he turned away, and I glared at his back. A sudden splash interrupted my wholehearted scowl, and I turned as Pippin wound up like a pitcher and heaved another rock into the water. I was not the only person running to stop him, for I knew what would arrive if he did not; The Watcher. Aragorn grabbed his arm and whispered to him, "Do not disturb the water."

Finally Gandalf laughed as he realized the password, and I saw Aniron mouth, "Mellon," just as Gandalf proclaimed it, opening the gates. As we stepped inside, I was hit full force with the fact that we weren't playing a game. The skeletons strewn everywhere reinforced the sneaking suspicion I'd been having that I might not escape this dream-turned-nightmare alive. Then the screams started.

I came to a few moments later, with Aniron staring at me nervously. When I sat up, I saw the large chunk of ceiling that had fallen on me when the horrific monster ripped the walls out. Aniron helped me to my feet and we continued in silence. As the fellowship began to converse again, I tried to remember what was supposed to have happened just a moment ago. To my horror, I could not recall a single detail of the books other than what I had already lived.

I have never been fond of funerals, so living in this tomb was extremely difficult. When we stumbled upon the last stronghold of the dwarves, I was overcome with desperation, and the need to get out of this miserable place. The sadness on my heart was worsened by the thought of these steadfast people having been murdered in their home. I was close to weeping when Pippin knocked a skeleton down the well, and started the drums in the deep.

I moved toward the back of the room. Although I might have been good at hitting a standing target, my battle skills remained untested. As goblins began to pile in, I shot into the crowd, knowing that although moving targets are easy to miss, groups are not. Unfortunately, these groups moved rapidly, and soon I found myself passing each member of the fellowship in my retreat. As I backed into a wall, I raised my bow, hoping to make the shot.

Out of nowhere, arrows began speeding into the hordes. Legolas leaped forward, still sending arrows furiously. When the group had been removed from my "to kill" list, we turned, sharing a brief moment of glory. Then a strange darkness entered his eyes. He glared, and turned back to finish the battle. I entered in with a heavy heart, just as we finished off the cave troll.

I had always wondered why some people ran for enjoyment, and as we rushed away from our scene of minute, short-lived victory, I pondered again the sense of it. Running from goblins does not create amiable feeling towards those who can run steadily without asthma attacks or falling, but suddenly being surrounded by foes took this from my mind. Just as I feared I would be killed, our nemeses turned and fled, up columns and down passageways away from the light that approached us. Fear registered in Gandalf's eyes, and he shouted, "Run!" We obeyed without question.

We made quickly for the stairs that would lead us to the Bridge of Khazad-dum. The crumbling structure looked dubious, but I knew it was the only way we could save ourselves. I took a short start and leaped over a gap, landing carefully on the stairs, and turned to catch the next comer. when we were all safely thrown or had leapt across, we hurried forward, ever closer to our goal and only chance of escape.

In the movie, the Balrog was cute, but standing before me, the several-hundred foot fire-demon was anything but cute. Terrifying, awe-inspiring, bloodcurdling, yes, but cute was a bit extreme. Running across a bridge to escape it seemed wise, but when said bridge is only a few feet wide, this becomes difficult. Halfway across, I stumbled, and a strong pair of arms caught me before I had a chance to fall. Again, Legolas had saved me, but he still looked so angry. Well, two could play that game. I stood, glared, and continued running.

When I reached the opposite end of the bridge, I turned to check that all had made it across safely. To my horror, Gandalf was standing on the bridge, battling with pure willpower against the monster before him. As they fought, a thought not my own entered my mind and I began to weep. I turned to Aniron, who watched fearfully beside me, and whispered, "He's going to die." She turned to face me, tears welling up in her eyes as she whispered, "I know."

Author's Note: Hope you liked my chapter. It was hard to cram all that in. Your turn Aniron. Thanks to Dark Mage Raistlin for beta reading. You're the best!