Author's Notes: Hello to all of my readers once again. Sorry for the long delay, but my esteemed muses, Grace and Hope, have been acting rather crazy lately, so I haven't been able to update because they gave me the ideas for a new story. *glares at muses*

*muses glare back*

(Shameless plug, I know, I know. If you want to know, it's called My Life. It's a Japanese anime fic. I would also recommend the authoress, Double Double. She has a story out called What I Was Born For that is rather interesting. And yes, I do believe we are talking about the same Reynolds.)

To continue: I now am on the 'favorites' list of four people and nine have me on their 'author's alert' list. I am honored, so I send everyone big glomps!!

Well, let's see…

It's 9:30 AM (EST) and I'm, once again, in the retired Marine's class. Perhaps I should start a 'blog' to keep up with exactly how much I dislike this guy. Please, put your opinion in your review.

Warning(s): There will be a hint of yaoi behavior in this chapter between two of the original characters, so here's some iced tea. You get to squeeze the lemon in.

*passes out tea*

Enjoy!!

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Chapter Six: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm Moria…Khazad-dûm… The Dwarf's mountain where they found mithril and forged it into items of beauty and use. They delved far too deeply, though. Moria…the place of Durin's Bane… She took her mind off that track of thought.

The name of the mountain was in her dreams recently. She didn't know if they were meant to avoid it or to go there. Either way, it was important. Very important.

She had spoken with Mithrandir about it and he promised that, should the worst come, he would suggest it to the Company.

He was also teaching her some of the basics of magic, for some odd reason. It was as if he expected to leave them soon and she would be the only one capable of aiding them during the darkest hours.

Please, don't take Mithrandir. I'm not capable of doing everything he's done! she begged.

Although Mithrandir said that she was doing marvelously well in learning to summon fire and burn some heads.

Like she'd almost burned Pippin and Sam's.

She restrained a chuckle.

The two Halflings had accidentally chosen Mithrandir's target as a place for a tryst. She had discovered more than she had ever wanted to know about male Halfling anatomy. She burst out laughing.

"What is it, Merel?" queried Aragorn and Legolas simultaneously in Elfish.

"Nothing," she replied. "Just a funny memory of something that happened day before yesterday."

"And that was?" Aragorn prodded.

"Sam and Pippin have taken a… liking… to one another, for lack of better wording."

Aragorn choked and Legolas turned blood red.

"You're joking, right?" Aragorn queried.

"Nope! Mithrandir will second my discovery. They accidentally were in the area that Mithrandir chose as a target for me day before yesterday. Male Halfling anatomy cannot be an interesting topic, I'll tell you that!" she said cheerfully.

It was Legolas and Frodo's turns to choke.

"That's rather vulgar, Merel," Frodo said as soon as he could speak.

She grinned. "Only because you're a Halfling."

By that time, Mithrandir had joined them.

"What are all of you discussing?"

"Our discovery the other day," Merel informed. "Legolas, Frodo, and Aragorn don't believe me."

Mithrandir raised one big, bushy eyebrow. "Believe her. I'm traumatized. I don't want to discuss it."

Everyone chuckled. The idea of Mithrandir traumatized was too hilarious to deal with.

"When's my next lesson, Mithrandir?" she queried, knowing that the Istari never just joined the group without purpose.

"Now. Come with me."

She nodded and stood. "Wish me luck, boys."

They smiled as she walked away.

-x-

Legolas stared after Merel until Aragorn tapped his shoulder, grinning.

"Do you really believe what she said about Pippin and Sam?" he queried.

"Yes. I do. Merel would have no reason to lie like that. Plus, it wouldn't make any sense for her to, as it really isn't any of her business. Only the male's business, as this could affect us."

Aragorn laughed.

"Legolas, friend, you are an odd one. I think you like her," Aragorn teased.

Frodo looked up. "Legolas? Care to reply to that one?"

"No," he said sullenly.

"Uh oh! Legolas does like Merel! I'm going to have you for a brother-in-law!!" Aragorn cheered.

"I beg your pardon?!" Frodo and Legolas queried.

"Uh… Arwen and I are engaged. Arwen is Merel's sister. Do I need to clarify further?" he asked.

"No. Not at all." Aragorn was red beneath his tan and looked rather embarrassed. Legolas was still red from Merel's comments, and Frodo…

Well, no one really looked at Frodo, so they didn't notice that he was grinning mischeviously. Boy, did he have a plan to embarrass Pippin that couldn't fail! "Legolas, Aragorn, how about a little bit of fun?" he queried.

The Man and the Elf looked at him. "What do you mean?" they asked.

Frodo leaned over and began whispering in High Elf.

All in all, this prank was highly acceptable to Legolas.

-x-

"Of course, you realize, Merel, that Moria is going to be our last resort, right?" Mithrandir asked.

"I do," she replied. "Moria is dangerous. I think that my dreams are telling us to go there, though. Mithrandir, I don't know what's going on, but I'm… afraid. I know that you are headed for Mirkwood and King Thranduil's realm, but that takes us far too close to Dol Guldur and Loeg Ningloron for me to feel comfortable. You know that the only people with a real sense of the danger we are going into are Aragorn, you, and myself. Legolas is probably close, but I don't think he's completely there yet. I'm scared, Mithrandir. I'm very scared."

"Anyone with any sense would have refused to come on this mission."

"That doesn't say a lot for you, Mithrandir," she said, eyes gleaming with humor.

"May you never lose your sense of humor, Merel. That is your greatest blessing."

"Thank you, Mithrandir. Now, shall we get on with the lesson?"

He nodded and began.

-x-

Frodo, Legolas thought, is a good prankster. This reminds me of the times Elladan and Elrohir pulled some prank in Mirkwood. Never really hurt anyone, but they were funny as anything.

Slowly, they crept up on a sleeping Sam and Pippin.

"Frodo, are you sure about this?" Aragorn queried.

"Of course!" Frodo replied confidently. "If Merel's telling the truth… well, let's just say that life will be interesting for a while!"

Aragorn shook his head and sighed. "Ready, everyone?"

There were sounds of consent.

"I can't believe I'm doing this to my own cousin," Merry moaned.

"Ready, everyone?" Frodo whispered.

They all nodded.

"NOW!"

-x-

Merel heard the screams and ran to the campsite.

"What is it?" she queried as Legolas and Frodo rolled on the ground, laughin.

"Look… at… Pippin and Sam," Legolas finally choked out.

She did and shook her head. "Men. Will none of you ever grow up?"

"Probably not," Aragorn confided.

She rolled her eyes.

-x-

-AN: I'm going to skip the Caradhras part because we all know what happens and I find it extremely tedious with all of the detail and emphasis needed. Sorry if you wanted to see it. I'm skipping to the part where Frodo sees Gollum-Smeagol for the first time in Moria.-

-x-

She and Legolas were taking watch from Frodo. The poor Halfling looked so tired and worried that she knelt to his height. "What's wrong, Frodo? Does your burden bother you so greatly?"

"No, Merel. Not yet, anyway. It's just that I keep thinking I see eyes in the dark."

She looked at Legolas, who was instantly alert.

"If they are there, Legolas and I will take care of them."

He nodded and lay down.

"Legolas, I'm worried about Frodo and IT."

"So am I, Merel. Something is lurking around us. I don't know what it is, and we can't shoot it because it may be someone stuck in here." He shuddered at the thought of being trapped in Moria.

"I know, however, doesn't that… stench… remind you of something? You remarked on it as we entered this cursed place."

"Yeah. Sort of like the smell that was always around Smeagol."

"That's what I think those globes Frodo commented on are. That Smeagol creature."

He looked thoughtful. "You could be right. We should tell Mithrandir."

"I'd prefer if we were positive it was that thing before we talk to Mithrandir. He's got enough problems of his own with this."

"What are you suggesting?"

"A trap, obviously. I've rode with Elladan and Elrohir and the Dunédain. I have an idea that just might work."

"What's that?"

"Shh! Aragorn's waking up."

She sat quietly near the farthest edge of their 'camp' and went deep into thought.

-x-

He fell and she slipped to where only two fingers kept her from falling into the endless abyss of Moria.

Ah! I never thought my end to be this! she cried as a finger slipped and she struggled to get her limp right hand to do anything to help her current predicament.

It wasn't listening to her mind. Instead, it was like it was pulling her down to Mithrandir's doom.

"Flee! Go away, everyone! The bridge is unstable! RUN!" she yelled in Elfish.

Instead of listening to her, Legolas ran towards her and held out his hand.

"Let go, Merel. I'll catch you. I promise," he said calmly. "Let go of the bridge."

"NO! I'll fall either way! Go! Go with Aragorn and everyone else!"

"Merel, we don't have time for this. Let go of the bridge."

Something in his tone made her listen to him. She allowed her last finger to slip off of the bridge.

His hand caught her wrist and yanked her up.

"Hurry, Legolas!" Aragorn commanded, taking charge of the situation. She was carried by the Elf until they were out of range of the yrch's poisoned arrows. Then, they all looked back.

Of all Darknesses, I never expected this, Merel thought, tears streaming down her face. Of the others, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were flung on the ground, weeping themselves sick. Aragorn, Legolas, and herself were silent with their grief, while Gimli kept that enduring expression of his intact.

What do we do now that Mithrandir is gone? she wondered.