Isn't anyone curious about Leya's identity, and the identities of those she was dreaming of in the last chapter?
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Being an elf, Legolas needed little sleep, and had risen early to search for the path that led towards the Mines of Moria. He was sure that it lay in the direction of the stream, and as he walked, he indeed saw signs of a trail leading to the water. He followed it, but when he neared the bank of the stream he was startled to find the strange maiden climbing out of the water, naked and dripping. Her back was towards him, so for a moment she remained unaware of his presence. His sharp eyes were drawn by her smooth elf-like movements, and by the scars visible on her shoulders and hips, which seemed to bespeak some unknown trial in the girl's past. Legolas had begun to wonder afresh what sort of creature she really was when Leya, who had swiftly dressed herself, casually turned towards him.

Leya's eyes widened for a moment, but she did not shriek as most maidens would have. She seemed merely startled by Legolas' presence, not concerned for her modesty. She wrung out her hair, then sat down on the bank of the stream and began removing the stopper from a small jar she held in her hand.
What are you doing up so early? she asked casually. I decided to have my bath now because I thought everyone was asleep.
I was searching for the trail that leads us out of this place was the reply, and I believe we must cross this stream to find it. He knew there was something important she hadn't told him, but was unsure how to politely ask a maiden about her secrets. Perhaps she would reveal them over time.

While he pondered, the maiden in question tipped a small quantity of a pale liquid from her jar onto the long tail of hair hanging over her shoulder. She began to work a large carved comb through the hair as she spoke.
What is this Moria place we are going to?
It is an ancient dwarvish stronghold, answered Legolas, and therefore probably quite unfit for elves and for the likes of you. It consists of a series of underground caverns and tunnels, which should lead us under the mountain range and out on the other side.

Leya was unsure what the elf had meant by the likes of you, but suspected he was curious about her identity and wanted her to complain and reveal her heritage somehow. I wonder what he would say if I did reveal myself, she thought. I daresay he'd be greatly surprised. A small smile played about her lips as she continued combing her hair.

By now the girl's strange toilette, as well as her secrets, had aroused Legolas' curiosity. Unable to avoid noticing the faint, strangely fishy odour of her hair ointment, he politely inquired as to its nature. Her small smile broke into a broad grin. It is oil extracted from the fish of my homeland she explained and keeps my hair shiny and free of tangles. Surely you must use a similar oil yourself. The elf looked taken aback. Elven hair needs no tonics or oils! he retorted, somewhat too vehemently. It's good that you need none she blurted out, laughing, for I have only this small jar, and you shouldn't try to make it out of... uh, out of any other fish, because... this kind has less odour.

I almost slipped that time, she thought, weaving her oiled hair into a braid. I was about to tell him that Tryllvan fish have less odour than those of other planets, and then I'd have had a lot of explaining to do.
Legolas seemed about to ask another question, but Leya politely cut him off by pointing out the rising sun, and reminding him that the others were surely stirring back at the campsite.

Leya and Legolas breakfasted with the others, explaining their long absence half-truthfully as an attempt to find the path. After they had eaten, the Fellowship packed their gear and moved on, following the trail that crossed the stream. They journeyed all day, keeping the formidable mountain range in sight, and by evening had come to the shores of a lake. Here they stopped, and Gandalf announced that they had arrived.

Leya was not the only one who looked askance at Gandalf now, for there was no cave or mine to be seen, only a sheer cliff that rose from the narrow shore of the lake and seemed to merge with the side of the mountain.

The wizard was saying something about a door, but Leya wondered if he had mistaken the place, for no door could be seen anywhere. Just at that moment the rising moon slipped out from behind a cloud, and a shimmering tracery of silvery lines became visible on the black face of the cliff. Leya was astounded. What did Gandalf say? Oh yes, she remembered, something about a precious material that reflects only starlight and moonlight. How amazing. The glowing lines clearly outlined a door, and Gandalf set himself to work figuring out the password that would open it. In the meantime, the pack-pony was unloaded and driven off, for he would be of little use in the cave.

Gandalf stood deep in thought for some time, and the bored hobbits began to throw stones into the lake to amuse themselves. Leya made no move to stop them in their seemingly harmless game, but Aragorn soon reprimanded them for disturbing the water, in tones that frightened her with their seriousness.

At last someone managed to figure out the password, and the huge stone door creaked open as though pushed by some invisible hand. Beyond it was nothing but blackness; there was no way of knowing how deep the tunnel went. The group had begun to move through the door when a strange sound came from the water. A ripple slid across the surface of the pool, and Leya, growing curious, moved a step closer to the shore. Before anyone had time to think, a slimy tentacle shot out of the water and wrapped itself around Frodo.

It seemed as though everyone was screaming at once. Leya was shocked; she had not suspected such creatures could exist! Aragorn and Legolas moved to rescue the hobbit, and she wondered if she should assist them. I could ...change, she thought, and then I'd be a better match for that awful thing. She took another step towards the water, and was about to leap to Frodo's rescue when the monster was put into retreat by a few well-aimed blows of Aragorn's sword. It seems they can handle it all right; and I wouldn't want to scare them anyway, was her final decision. The tentacled creature released its captive, and everyone fled into the dark doorway, which was sealed behind them by a rockslide caused by the monster's flailing. In the panic, no-one noticed the strange bluish tint of Leya's skin, the fierce light in her eyes, or the stiff claw-like curve of her fingers, all of which faded rapidly until she looked the same as she always had.

In the pitch-darkness of the tunnel, Gandalf used magic to strike a light. The pale glow illuminated broad steps carved out of the rock, leading upwards. To Leya's horror, it also revealed armour-clad skeletons sprawled in every corner.