Fallen Chapter Fifteen

A Long Cold Road

Kira hugged her cloak tighter around her as a particularly fierce gust of wind came by. She was walking close to the back, just in front of Legolas and with the two hobbits Pippin and Merry. In front of her was Sam with the pony Bill and Anthony, then Boromir with Nathan, and then Frodo, and then up front were Gandalf and Aragorn, who knew this land even in the dark.

She remembered what Gandalf had told them earlier. "We must hold this course, west from the Misty Mountains for 40 days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor."

Kira pulled the cloak around her tighter again as another gust of icy wind came up and she shuddered. She smiled down at the two hobbits walking at either side of her and they smiled back, but their teeth where chattering slightly.

"It's a bit chilly isn't it?" Merry stated matter-of-factly.

Kira smirked and nodded her head. "Yes, well it is that Merry." Kira brought her hands up to her mouth and warmed her hands with her breath and rubbing them together back and forth quickly.

She had realized for even though the elvish clothing was very well made and helped, it helped only a little and they seldom felt warm. Kira fingered the ring around her neck dreamily; as she often did during the short time they had been gone already.

"What's that you're playing with Lady Kira?" she heard Sam say from up ahead of her.

Kira looked up and saw that he lagged behind and was walking closer to them now and was watching her toy with the piece of jewelry. She held the ring in between her fingers and started at it with a sad smile on her face. "Elladan gave it to me before I left." She said quietly. "He said it was a symbol of his love." She finished.

"He must love you a lot to give you such a beautiful piece of jewelry." Pippin said eyeing the ring curiously.

Kira turned her head to look at the other hobbit with a shy smile. "Yes Pip, I suppose he does." She blushed a little, but she hopped the hobbits would mistake for the cold. She glanced behind her at Legolas who she felt was watching her and was proven right. He was regarding her with one of his unreadable expressions, so she was unable to tell what he was thinking. But he shot her a small smile anyway so she smiled back.

"Kira?" Merry asked quietly tugging gently on the sleeve of her tunic.

"Yes Merry? What is it?" she asked turning back to looked down at him questioning.

"Do you love him back? Elladan I mean." Merry asked.

Kira almost tripped over her own feet when he asked that. If it weren't for Legolas who caught her from behind, she hadn't even realized he had been close enough behind her to do that. She gave him a reassuring look as he let her go and walked close behind. She bit her lip and smiled down at Merry. "Yes Merry, I love Elladan very much. I will miss him a great deal." She said staring off thoughtfully.

He studied her a moment then nodded smiling solemnly. Pippin and Sam smiled sadly at her and they walked for a time in silence. The land always looked the same as it did everywhere else they had been so far. They climbed higher and westwards, about the foot of the main range the land tumbled ever wider with bleak hills, and deep valleys filled with turbulent waters.

Most of the paths they followed. If they followed one at all, were winding and led to a sheer cliff or down into a treacherous swamp. They had been traveling for two weeks when the weather changed. The wind suddenly started to shift to the south. The swift-flowing clouds lifted and floated away, and the sun came out, pale and bright.

The dawn came cold and clear at the end of a long hard night march, in which Kira had nearly, fell asleep on her feet. She had never felt so tired, but she never complained, she simply refused to. Knowing what poor Frodo was going through she refused to be a burden to anyone.

The fellowship soon reached a low ridge topped with ancient holly-trees that had beautiful grey-green trunks. That seemed to be built into the very stone of the hills surrounding them. The leaves sparkled and the berries glowed red in the light of the rising sun.

They decided to take a brake there and they all sat for a long needed rest. Sam lit a fire up and started cooking some sausages while Boromir chose to use this time to teach Merry and Pippin some sword fighting.

Boromir blocked a thrust made by Merry easily. "Two, one, five. Good! Very good." He said teaching them some basic moves.

Aragorn sat off to the side smoking a pipe; Anthony sat beside him a smile plastered on his face as he watched Boromir teach the two halflings. Kira sat close to Nathan and they too where watching Boromir attempt to teach the two. Gandalf and Gimli where sitting off arguing about which rout they where going to take or something like that. Frodo sat close to them and Legolas stood off from them looking off in the distance.

"Move your feet." Aragorn stated as he watched them.

"You look good, Pippin." Merry said smiling.

"Thanks." He responded laughingly.

"Faster." Boromir declared firmly.

Kira heard Gimli prattling on about how they should take some rout through a place called Moria and how his cousin would welcome them. But Gandalf told him firmly that he would rather not unless he absolutely had to. Suddenly her attention snapped back towards the sparing as she heard Pippin yelp in surprise.

She saw Boromir lean over slightly and. "Sorry."

Pippin then jumped up and attacked him. "Get him." he yelled.

"Arr, ow.for the shire!" Merry shouted proudly.

Kira laughed out loud and leaned her head on her brother's shoulder trying to get her breath. "This is too good." She said through her chuckling.

Nathan smirked and placed his arm around his sister patting her shoulder and back lightly trying to help her breath a little. "It's okay Kira, breath. Just breath." He said through his own chuckles.

"Hold him. Hold him down, Merry!" Pippin laughed.

"You've got my arm! You've got my arm!" Merry giggled back.

This is when Aragorn decided to step up. "Alright, that's enough." And he bent over and was about to pick them off Boromir.

That's when they turned on him they each turned around slightly and took his feet out from under him. Kira snorted and just shook her head from laughter, until.

"What is that?" Sam said noticing a dark shadow moving over the land rather fast.

Kira stopped laughing and looked at it, everyone was. Legolas it hopped lithely over to a large rock to get a better view.

"Nothing. It's just a wisp of cloud." Gimli stated.

Boromir spoke up. "It's moving fast and against the wind."

Legolas turned and faced the fellowship and shouted. "Crebain from Duneland!"

"HIDE!" Aragorn yelled.

Everyone seemed more than eager to comply. Sam stopped out the fire and gabbed his pack and ran for shelter. Nathan grabbed Kira's arm and pulled her under the crook in the rock they where sitting on. She just had time to grab her bag and the bow Arwen had given her before he pulled her under. Everyone had hid it a nick of time it seemed, for no sooner had everyone found a place to take cover than, what looked like a large group of crows, flew right over, around and straight on through their camp site.

When they flew away everyone cautiously got out from their hiding places, albeit very slowly and making sure they had all gone. Kira looked around and shuddered. 'Boy, those things where creepy.' She thought to herself. For it had seemed to her as they had flow by, they simply radiated hate and cruelty.

She bent down and retrieved her bow and pack from under the rock. She inspected the bow to make sure it hadn't been damaged for it was dear to her. Arwen had given it to her just before she had gone to her room to make sure she had everything. Arwen had said the bow had used to be hers when she was much younger, but she didn't use it anymore and she had wanted Kira to have it.

Kira, of course, had been reluctant to take it but it was a gift of friendship Arwen told her, so after that she had been pretty much unable to refuse taking it. She had also received a gift from Glorfindel. An elvish sword, he said he never used it so she might as well take it. After the Arwen incident she didn't want to offend him or anything, so she took it with only a slight hesitation and a huge thank you.

Kira suddenly snapped back to reality when Gandalf spoke. "Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras."

They all looked over to a rather menacingly huge snowcapped mountain and Kira felt a shiver crawl up her spin.

"Are you all right Lady Kira?" Boromir asked putting his hand on her shoulder and giving her a concerned look.

"Yes Boromir, I am fine. I just got a chill, that is all." was her response.

They all started to moved, rather sluggishly but at least they where moving, towards the intimidating mountain. Kira walked with her brother, Boromir and the two hobbits Merry and Pippin. They stayed like that for some time, until they got to they real climb and they moved more into a single file line.

Soon they where climbing up the considerably steep side of Caradhras. Kira was colder than she had ever been in her entire life. And she had been in some pretty mean blizzards especially back in her native France it used to snow a lot there during the winter months. She had caught pneumonia during one particularly bad storm when her and Nathan had stayed out in the cold building snow people and making snow angels. Their mother had been especially angry when they had finally been found. She had blamed mostly Nathan for it saying he should have known better since he was older and more mature. That had been when she was only 5 years old, the doctor hadn't been sure she would survive. Everyone said it was a miracle of God that she had lived through it to become completely healthy once more. Lot's of rumors started saying she must have been blessed by God, or have an Angel protecting her to have survived it, for no child younger than 16 had ever gotten that badly sick and lived.

Kira trembled slightly at the memory but kept moving, she knew as long as she kept moving and as long as she could feel the cold that she was okay. She felt a weight press on her shoulders suddenly and she turned to see Nathan putting his cloak around her.

"I wouldn't want you to get sick, I don't know how many miracles you have left in you dear sister." He said with a smile.

She smirked and shook her head. "Yes, but at least I have an 'Angel' guarding me," she joked. "You on the other hand do not, that's why you always got in so much trouble back home Nathan, please take your cloak back, I can handle a little cold, remember?" she said with a serious tone.

He smiled at the memory. "I remember many similar situations when we both got hurt and I got blamed, even if it had been your idea. Like climbing that huge old willow out behind the barn back home, back when we had first moved in. remember? You fell and the medics said you should've broken your neck from the way you had landed and the height at which you fell." He shook his head.

"I remember that," Anthony said coming up from behind Nathan and moving to walk with them. "That's when I first met you two, my Pa came to check you both out and make sure you hadn't broken anything." He said smiling; Anthony's father was the doctor back home and had wanted him to follow in his footsteps. That is until they had landed themselves here.

Kira laughed and looked at Nathan again. "Right so we have established that I have a protective guardian angel, so you can take this cloak back please Nathan." She said giving him a pleading look. She didn't want him to catch his own death a cold just because he was trying to protect her.

He just shook his head in response. "No Kira, you are right, you DID have a nice and watchful guardian angel helping you back home, but the part you need to remember is that was back home, we have yet to determine if she or he or it has followed you here." he stated matter-of-factly.

Kira rolled her eyes and pulled the cloak off her. "Well we will never find out if continue to baby me Nathan." She said

Anthony shook his head and chuckled quietly under his breath. "I think you better just give up Nathan, you know as well as I how stubborn she can be."

Nathan sighed and took the cloak back from his sister's grasp. "Alright Kira, but if you get to cold, please do not hesitate to ask."

She looked at him and flashed a complying smile. "Yes brother dear." She said sweetly batting her eyelashes.

They walked like that for a while just the three of them joking and reminiscing about times gone by. But eventually they fell back into a single line one person behind the other. Kira was behind Legolas and she knew Nathan was walking with Boromir, and Anthony was somewhere in the back with Aragorn.

Then Frodo lost his footing and fell back. Thankfully Aragorn caught him and helped him up. Frodo patted at the place where the ring would be on the chain around his neck. He lifted his shirt slightly and noticed the ring wasn't there. That's when Boromir bent down and Kira saw that he picked up the chain with the small gold ring and he gazed at him intently.

Aragorn looked at him carefully and place his hand on the hilt of his sword "Boromir." He said with clear authority. Kira wasn't quite sure what to do; she just stood up ahead a little way with most of the others. She noticed Anthony staring hard at Boromir, he had mentioned something about speaking to the Lord of Gondor, and him saying the ring had been speaking to him, but Kira had thought him strong enough to withstand it.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing." He was holding the chain with the ring in his right hand and was starting to move his left hand towards the ring itself.

Aragorn spoke again. "Boromir! Give the ring to Frodo." He said, his hand was still on the hilt of his sword.

Boromir walked slowly towards where Frodo stood. "As you wish." He said as he held out the ring. And Frodo grabbed it swiftly. "I care not." He laughed a little and ruffled Frodo's hair. He walked off then and Aragorn finally took his hand off the hilt of his sword.

There was much tension after that; Kira could feel it in the air. She noticed how her brother seemed to stay close to Boromir. And she hopped that he could be of some comfort or help the man with his troubles, her brother was usually good at that sort of thing.

As they snow got deeper there trek became more and more difficult. Kira noticed, however, that Legolas walked slightly ahead of everyone and he walked easily on top of the snow, not buried in it like everyone else. 'Now there's an elvish trait I wish I had at a time like this.' Kira thought with a little annoyance.

Legolas walked closer to the edge and it looked as if he where listening for something. "There is a fell voice on the air." He said after a short time.

"It's Saruman." Gandalf said and just then some boulders fell narrowly missing them.

Aragorn had to shout over the screaming of the wind to make sure everyone heard him. "He's trying bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!"

She felt Anthony put his hand on her shoulder and she turned and gave him and small smile. She was freezing but she absolutely refused to complain, she did not want to trouble anyone.

"No!" Gandalf shouted back. And he then spoke words Kira only half understood; her elvish still wasn't that great. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" he said as he stood at the edge of the thin mountain path they where on, he stood so close Kira thought that if a sudden strong gust of wind came from the right direction he would surly fall.

Then she heard it as well; there was a voice on the air. She assumed it belonged to the other wizard she had heard Gandalf mention a few times, Saruman, she remembered his name was. Again it was also in elvish but she didn't really try to understand it this time. It was magic and beyond her comprehension.

"Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse! Nai yarvaxea rasselya taltuva notto-carinnar!" it said.

That's when a bolt of lightning came down and hit the side of the mountain. It caused a huge amount of snow and rocks to come tumbling down upon them. Kira saw Legolas reach out a pull Gandalf back from the edge just before the felt herself be buried under the load.

Kira then felt the same sensation one would feel if they where drowning. She was quickly running out of air and she struggled against the weight of the snow. The next thing she knew she felt someone reach down for her and pull her up. Kira coughed hard and tried to catch her breath before she thanked whomever it was who had pulled her out.

She looked up as she finally found her breath again and smiled. "Thank you Lord Boromir, it seems I now own you my life." She said chattering her teeth a little from the cold.

He smiled kindly to her held up a hand and shook his head. "Nay Kira, you own me nothing. Nathan is as a brother to me, this makes you my sister as well." he said.

She looked over his should to her brother and smirked. He certainly knew how to make powerful friends. She smiled at Boromir as he clasped her shoulder and helped her out of the snow further and wiped some off her hair and clothes.

Boromir turned his attention to Merry and Pippin making sure they where okay he wiped some snow off of them and looked pleadingly at Gandalf. "We must get off the mountain, it'll be the death off the hobbits!" they certainly did look about to faint from exhaustion and cold. "Make for the Gap of Rohan! Or take the west road to my city!" he yelled over the whistling wind.

Aragorn spoke up then with his hands on the shoulders of Frodo and Sam beside him. "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard." He yelled.

Gimli piped up deciding to put his to cents in. "We cannot pass over the mountain." He said looking at Gandalf intently. "Let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria." He said trying to convince the whole group.

Kira didn't care as long as they got off the mountain, she was freezing. She looked over at Nathan who stood close to Boromir and the to younger hobbits Merry and Pippin. Anthony was close to Aragorn, Frodo and Sam. The pony she saw had somehow manager to survive the avalanche as well. 'That's one lucky pony.' She thought eyeing the animal with appreciation.

Gandalf seemed to think for a moment then spoke. "Let the ring-bearer decide.Frodo?"

Everyone turned to look at the hobbit as he thought for a few seconds. "We will go through the mines." He said.

"So be it." Said Gandalf.

They turned around and stared back down the mountain. Kira noticed that she was now walking with Nathan and Boromir. She smiled and shook her head.

"So it looks like you Angel has indeed followed you here Kira." Nathan said after some minutes passed.

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well you could have died in that avalanche. I mean you where buried longer than anyone else was, and yet here you are relatively unharmed, cold but still alive." He said with a proud smile coming over his lips.

Boromir looked from one sibling to the other and arched an eyebrow. "What are you talking about Lord Nathan?"

Nathan and Kira both spent the next few minutes explaining her history of how she was accident-prone and yet never got seriously hurt. They told him of the time she had gotten sick in the blizzard. And the time she had fallen from a tree. And then of a time she had nearly drowned in a lake when her and Anthony had tried to see who could hold their breath the longest.

And how her mother had almost forbade her from ever seeing Anthony again because of it. Kira smirked at the memory of Anthony falling on his hands and knees begging forgiveness from her mother. It had been quite a site to see. Of course her and Anthony had always been close, they teased one another mercilessly but they where still best friends.

They told Boromir all of this, and he in return told them of his home. His own life growing up. He told them of his brother and some of the trouble they themselves used to get into all the time, of his father and how much he had changed after their mother had died. Boromir told them how strict his father was, especially with his brother, Faramir, for he most resembled their mother.

Kira sighed and fell back a bit to walk with Merry and Pippin. She decided that they where always able to keep her spirits up, as well as their own, and even if they couldn't they where happier company than most of the others anyway. Right now they where talking of what they missed most about home the most. That got them into telling them more about the Shire, things she had not already been told by Bilbo or the others.

***

They set up camp at the base of Caradhras for Gandalf said that they would need their rest. She put her pack down on the ground and sat down slowly, she was sitting near the four hobbits and she decided that she might as well just stay there. It's not like she would get much sleep anyway. She laid her bow down next to her smiled over to her brother tiredly.

Kira drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them, resting her head on her knees she shut her eyes and sighed. She could hear the wind howling, it was chilling and a bit creepy.

"How the wind howls." She heard Sam say more to himself than to anyone else.

She opened her eyes and looked around the camp. 'How dejected everyone looks.' She thought to herself sadly.

Suddenly Legolas jumped up. "How the wind howls!" he cried. "It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the mountains."

"How far is Moria?" asked Boromir.

"There is a door south-west of Caradhras, some fifteen miles as the crow flies, and maybe twenty as the wolf runs." answered Gandalf bleakly.

"Then we should start at first light tomorrow, if we can," Said Boromir. "The Wolf that one hears is worse then the Orc that one fears."

"True!" Aragorn said loosening his sword in its sheath. "But where the warg howls, the orc prowls."

"I think you may have been right Merry," muttered Pippin near by. "I am no good after all, those howls freeze my blood."

Kira turned around and narrowed her eyes at the youngest hobbit. "You shouldn't say that Pip, you have yet to prove your worth. I am sure you will find your courage." She said.

He gave her a halfhearted smile. "I don't know Kira, I mean, listen to those howls. They are certainly enough to make me re-think this whole thing."

Kira got up and moved to sit with her friend. "Try to stay strong Pippin. I am sure you will find your place on this quest. Just take my word for it okay, I believe in you."

He grinned and clasped her hand. "You truly believe in me?" he asked searching her eyes.

She nodded and smiled placing a hand over her heart. "I swear Peregrin Took, on my word I do believe in you, I know you can do this if you believe in yourself as well."

"Kira is right Pip, you will be okay, and I am frightened as well. But I know we will make it. We have to." Merry said.

That's when Gandalf told everyone to get up they where going to move up a hill and take cover there. It was capped with a knot of twisted old trees, on which lay a smashed circle of boulders and stones. In the center of this they lit a fire, for there was no hope that darkness and quiet would keep their trial from being discovered by the hunting packs.

They sat around the fire, those who where not on watch slept apprehensively. Poor Bill the pony seemed the most terrified for he just quaked and sweated where he was. Kira sat between Boromir and Nathan her head leaning on her brother's shoulder and she just stared off into the fire.

The howling was constantly around them and was very distressing, they sounded like they where all around them now. Sometimes nearer, sometimes further off. In the darkest of night many shinning eyes where seen glaring over the brow of the hill. Kira even saw a few advance almost as far as the ring of stones. At a gap in the circle a great wolf-shape halted, gazing at them. A shuddering howl broke from him, as if he where a captain summoning his pack to the assault. He stopped and stared at them again. Kira let out a shudder and bit her lip hard. She could feel it's piercing gaze on her. It's eyes where boring into her like it was about to pounce.

That's when Gandalf stood up and strode forward, holding is staff aloft. "Listen, hound of Sauron!" he cried loudly. "Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring."

The wolf just snarled and turned its attention back to Kira; it sprang towards her in a great leap. At that moment a distinct twang was heard. Legolas had loosed his bow. There was a hideous yell, and the leaping shape thudded to the ground; the elvish arrow had pierced its throat. The eyes surrounding them suddenly vanished. Aragorn and Gandalf both went forward to inspect the night, but they hill was deserted; it seemed the hunting packs had fled. All around them the darkness became silent, and no howl came on the wind.

Boromir clasped Kira shoulder and shook her hard to wake her from her trauma. "Lady Kira, are you alright?" he asked looking into her eyes which where just beginning to focus.

Kira blinked a couple of times and turned to look at Boromir. "Yes My Lord. I am fine." She responded dryly.

She felt Nathan place his hand on her shoulder and she smiled at him feebly. She then faced the rest of the group, all of whom where now looking at her with varying degrees of concern. "I am fine, truly. You need not worry over me." She said slightly.

Frodo woke suddenly from sleep as, without warning a storm of howls broke out fierce and feral all about the camp. A great number of Wargs had gathered noiselessly and was now going to attack them from all sides at once.

"Fuel the Fire!" shouted Gandalf over the untamed howling. "Draw your blades, and stand back to back!"

In the blazing light, as the freshly added wood lit up, Kira could see many shadowed shapes leap over the ring of stones. She drew an arrow and notched it letting it fly almost the instant she took aim. She heard a whimpering bark and saw one fall an arrow through its eye.

The fight went quickly for Kira, who just loosed arrow after arrow as they came at the group. It was all a survival instinct for her. She just kept taking aim and letting her arrows go. Soon though she snapped back into reality as she noticed her quiver was now empty. Kira drew the blade Glorfindel had given her and stood ready.

She noticed that Gandalf seemed to grow in the now wavering light, into a menacing shape like a testament of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill. Stooping down he lifted a burning branch and advanced to meet the wolves. They yielded before him. He threw the burning branch high into the air. It flared then in a sudden white brilliance like lightning; and to Kira is voice rolled like thunder.

He said something in elvish, that Kira was sure was some sort of spell. And there was a roaring and crackle, the tree above him burst into flame. The fire leapt from tree to tree. The hill was now crowned with a dazzling light. The swords and knives of the company shone and flickered. Kira saw Legolas' last arrow kindle in the air as it flew, and it hit, burning, into the heart of one of the biggest wolves. All the others fled then.

The fire died slowly till there was nothing left but falling sparks and ash. The wolves did not return. And a wave of smoke curled above the burned trees and it blew darkly as the first light of dawn came slowly to the sky.

Finally when the full light of morning came, no signs of the wargs could be found, they looked in unsuccessfully for the bodies of the dead. Nothing of the fight remained; no evidence that one had taken place was left except for the charred trees and the arrows of Legolas and Kira scattered along the hill. All where undamaged save one, which had only the point, left lying on the ground.

"It is as I feared," said Gandalf gravely. "These were no ordinary wolves hunting for food in the wilderness. Come, let us eat quickly and go!"

***

It was only a short walk to the walls of Moria from where they where once they had eaten. They where now motivated to walk at a slightly quicker pace than usual so to Kira it really didn't seem like it took that long at all.

"The walls of Moria." Said Gimli in aw.

They came upon the door with a minute of first coming upon the walls.

"Well, lets see.Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Gandalf mumbled and he turned and looked up at the sky as the clouds parted to reveal the moon. And the door was then also exposed. "It reads: 'The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter'."

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.

"Oh, its quite simple." Gandalf said turning to him before turning back to the door. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the, and the doors will open." He placed the end of his staff against the doors and chanted. "Annon Edhellen edro hi amen!"

"Nothings happening." Kira saw Pippin whisper to Legolas.

Gandalf paused briefly and tried another one. "Ando Eldarinwa a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa!" he said with an authoritative voice.

Kira sat down on a large rock and sighed crossing her arms in front of her chest and fingering her bow. Boromir sat beside her and Nathan sat on the other side.

She saw Anthony and Aragorn gently letting Sam know that they had to let Bill go. "Mines are no place for a pony. Even one so brave as Bill." Aragorn said.

"I am sure he knows his way back home Sam, no need to worry." Anthony added.

They both took the baggage off of the brave little pony and gave him a last pat.

"Bye, bye Bill." Sam said as he waved good-bye to his animal friend.

She heard some splashes then and turned to see Merry and Pippin throwing some small stones into the water. She started to finger the ring at her neck and she sighed sadly. Boromir seemed to notice this and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Do not be sad Lady Kira, I am sure you will see him again." He said with a small half smile.

She returned it unenthusiastically and bit her lip. "I hope you are right." Was all she said to that.

Aragorn caught Pippin arm before he had the chance to throw another rock. "Do not disturb the water." He said looking out over the murky black liquid.

"Oh, it's useless." Said Gandalf going to sit down and setting his hat beside him.

Suddenly Frodo jumped up and looked at the wall excitedly. "It's a riddle! Speak 'friend', and enter." He turned and looked at Gandalf. "What's the elvish word for friend?"

"Mellon." He answered.

The doors started to open slowly and everyone got up and made their way inside. Gimli walked up ahead of the rest, with Gandalf. "Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!" he started off trying to make sound enticing. Kira just curled her lip and shuddered. 'Ripe meat off the bone? Ew?' she thought to herself. Apparently Legolas shared her thoughts for they looked at each other and arched a collective eyebrow. "This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And the call is a mine. A MINE!" he said emphasizing the last part rather loudly.

"This is no mine." Boromir said from beside her. "It's a tomb."

She looked around and saw what he meant by that. All around them where bodies and skeletons of Dwarves and other creatures. There where cobwebs everywhere and they covered the bodies of the beings around them.

Gimli ran over to one of the bodies of a dwarf and wailed. "No! Nooo! NOOOO!"

Legolas went to one of the other bodies and pulled an arrow free from it. "Goblins!" he said in disgust and pulled out on of his own arrows and notching it.

"We should make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here! Now get out of here! Get out!" Boromir yelled and everyone complied and backed out of the mine slowly.

Suddenly Frodo was taken from Kira's side and lifter into the air by a giant tentacle. She went forward and unsheathed her sword and slashed at another one that was making its way towards her.

"Frodo!" Merry shouted.

"Frodo! Help" Pippin yelled pulling loose his own knife and running forward.

Kira felt something wrap itself around her ankle and calf and fling her into the air. She kept a firm hold on the sword in her hand and tried her best to slash at it in mid air.

"Lady Kira! Not to worry, I'll help you." She felt the tentacle give way and go slack. She felt her self-falling and then she was in water.

***

Okay that's chapter fifteen all done. I am sorry I cut off there but I didn't want to make the chapter too long and I seem to have run out of inspiration. *Pokes her muse, who is tied to a chair, with a stick*. I am almost done the next chapter; unfortunately I have not finished it because my muse is holding out on the inspiration. I am interviewing like 30 people over the next couple of days, for work, so this is taking up a lot of time. Not to worry though I will not abandon the story, I enjoy writing it too much. Plus I am not the type to just leave something without finishing it.

Disclaimer: none of it's mine. Just Kira, Nathan and Anthony, nothing else.

I took a lot from the books in this chapter, so I am not going to provide a page reference, sorry. Just know that I did borrow from the books, though I changed it a little. Oh, I borrowed from the movies as well (DUH!).

Translations (Elvish): Mellon-Friend, Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho I 'ruith!-Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!, Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse! Nai yarvaxea taltuva notto-carinnar!- Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your blood-stained horn shall fall upon the enemy-heads. (Last one doesn't seem grammatically correct to me, but that's what the transcript says it translates to, and I don't have the time to check up on it).

Think that's it for translations.. If I missed something please just tell me and I'll fix attempt to fix it.

Thank yous to my wonderful reviewers:

Chibi_Chingo: here's the update.

MaverickGirl: glad you liked that chapter.it was annoying to write because I had a hard time writing the goodbye scene between Kira and Elladan. Hope you like this chapter as well, sorry for the wait.

Corrina: well I wasn't really thinking that their life back home would be so much of an Illusion as irrelevant. Like non of them wanted to go home any more or something. not sure how exactly I am going to end this story. still sort of confused about that part. I am glad that you like Kira an Elladan together, not sure what id do if no one liked the romantic leads. I would have to re-think the whole story wouldn't I? Here's the update, hope it wasn't too long of a wait.

Tara: I am glad the whole beta thing isn't a big issue with you. Though I was a little disappointed my e-mail wouldn't let me because I needed the help, especially with chapters thirteen and fourteen, chapter fifteen was annoying as well (This one I mean), but I got along okay I guess. No need to feel guilty or ashamed about missing a chapter, I've done it to you (Right?), I think. I am going to be really very busy this week with work so I know how you feel, trust me.

Dragonlady: here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy it. I am happy you like the Elladan romance and don't worry; Elladan and Kira will meet again, eventually. Could explain what you mean by (HET)? I don't understand. Here's more.

Spellbound: happy you liked it. Pleased you liked the confrontation scene of Elladan asking Kira about her wanting to stay. It was hard to write. The ring scene was difficult as well; I didn't want the romance to go to far between them, yet I wanted it to be as romantic as possible. She'll get to Lothlorien soon, just breath. I still have no idea what I'm going to do with her once they get there though. As too her and Haldir, I hope none of you people expect a romance between the two, her heart belongs to Elladan. This is an Elladan/Oc. It will remain that way till the story ends. Breath, just breath, you'll be okay.

Fly_Without_Wings: glad I still have your attention. What do you think of this chapter? Still like it?

Dancingfae: yes, I know, I have reviewed it. *Smirk* yes 'duh to you' is right. Tolkien was a genius after all. Too bad your page is gone? *Pout* yeah, go ahead and e-mail me or something when you get it back I wouldn't mind taking a look at some of the pics. Like I said before, I still have absolutely no idea on whether or not I make her go home, or stay in ME *Shrug*, glad you can feel for her though, at least I'm doing something right. right?

PyroPixie: Happy you like the chapter, what about this one? You like this too? Looks like you liked a lot about that chapter, every scene you mentioned was hard to write. But then again the whole chapter was hard to write. Glad you like the story, otherwise I would have to wonder why you keep coming back to read and review if you didn't.

Nox: happy. That part was 'probably' the most difficult to write, just because (Good explanation I know). Here's the update.

Seadew: pleased you liked it. Here's the update.

Asfaloth: glad you like the romance. I usually am quite bad at writing that sort of thing.

All right, thank you to everyone who reviewed. *Points over to a very long table with various snacks and deserts and drinks on it*. That goes to everybody who reviewed, only those who reviewed. I love hearing the feedback of my readers so please, please review. Oh, and I feel I should warn you that the wait for my next update might be a bit long, because I am going to be really busy with work, so I apologize ahead of time. I am absolutely clueless as to what I am going to do with them once they reach Lothlorien. I do have some idea, but nothing truly specific *Mutter* stupid imagination *Mutter* stupid Muse *Mutter*. Thank you again to all the people who reviewed.

Namarie Aislin

P.S. hey I know I have lots of spelling errors, especially in earlier chapters. But considering I have only been speaking and writing in English for three years, it's not that bad, is it?