Aragorn tightened his grip on the reins and his horse stopped short. Legolas, Gimli and Borin came skidding up behind him. "I'd rather walk you know," said Legolas scowling. Legolas had a light step and his place was not on a horse, but flying across the plains. "Hhhhmmm....." murmured Aragorn, not even listening to Legolas. But Legolas let the matter go and asked, "Why have we stopped, Aragorn?"

The Four had so far passed the Ford and were now about ten miles down the Loudwater River. "A quick pit stop, if you would like to call it that," replied Aragorn brusquely. Legolas nodded and stared around at the emptiness. "If you want to fill your canteens now, gentlemen, the please do. We may have to stray from the River farther down," commanded Aragorn. He jumped down from his horse and bent near the rushing and refreshing water. He let it splash onto his face and drank from it. Everyone else did the same.

"We might as well keep going. It isn't going to be dark for a while," said Gimli.

"Yes. Let us keep going," said Aragorn. Legolas frowned as everyone else got back onto their horses; that meant he had to too. They decided that they would go at a slow pace; they were in no hurry yet.

Night came fast though "Ok! So I was wrong!" Gimli had said, and it seemed at they had made great progress! They all made small tents and draped only few blankets over themselves. It was early Spring, but the weather was still cold at nights. They fell asleep instantly, despite that fact that none of them were actually beat or tired, so they woke up at dawn the next day refreshed and ready for a long day.

"We are going to have to leave the River," announced Aragorn a few hours after they had eaten breakfast and had started off again. "If we keep going then we will lead further and further from the mountains in which the Glanduin River pass through. We don't want to make journey longer than it already has to be." He turned slightly, away from the River, and headed for the misty, distant, and dark mountains which could be barely seen.

"But we mustn't stray too close to Moria Gate!" cried Legolas. "I have ventured into Moria's deep mountain once, and I went against my will! The evil and darkness is still haunting my dreams." He bowed his head in silence and Borin nodded his head, his face chalk white. The talk diluted, and soon there was silence. The only sound was the breeze and the very seldom screech of a vulture overhead. Many a times one would almost speak up and break the silence, but decided not to. The Four stopped to eat lunch at one point, but only a small one. They started again, and they moved fast. As they moved along the plains, Borin asked, "What are the servants of Suaruman this time?" he asked quietly.

"That we do not know," said Aragorn.

Gimli shrugged and suggested in his deep voice, "He'll probably use the same old. Wargs, Orcs, and maybe some new."

Aragorn nodded and said, "We cannot expect the same. But we have to be ready."

The Four traveled until nightfall, and by then the mountains were closer than ever. Since they were closer to the Moria Gate, they all decided on having someone keep watch, and every two hours they would switch. Borin was to keep watch first, but no one could sleep that night. Everyone sensed evil in the air.

Gimli eyelids were about to close over his eyes when a howl was heard off in the distance. "Wh-wh-whAT! What was that?" shouted Gimli. He took out his ax and brandished it in the air. Legolas had gotten up silently and had sniffed the air. "Wargs," he said softly. Aragorn took out Anduil and held it by his side. "They're coming."

"No," said Gimli, his eyes grew wide. Aragorn sensed the sarcasm and shot Gimli a reproachful look. "We know they're coming," said Gimli flatly.

Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Borin all stood wide awake, weapons out and ready. Another howl rang out in the night, and the ground shook beneath them.

"The sound is coming from Moria. I wonder if the Elves of Lorien knew....." came from Borin. "There is no way of telling," said Aragorn. "But they must have not known, for if they did they would've told Lord Elrond, who would have warned us." There was more silence, except for the occasional howl and growl. The ground had stopped shaking. Gimli looked around and slowly lowered his ax.

"Do not lower your weapons, Gimli. We will all have to keep watch all night." Gimli grumbled and opened his eyes wider. Aragorn suddenly walked over to his pack and opened it. He went to the very bottom and pulled out a heavy item. The other three looked over at him and wondered what he had, and suddenly realized that he had more than one object in his arms. Legolas rushed forward to help Aragorn; his arms were overloaded. When he reached Aragorn, Legolas gasped. In his arms was mithril. Four pairs.

"Where, Aragorn, did you get these?"

"Lord Elrond said that he was saving them for the right time. You know him," he Aragorn said chuckling, "he can see what will happen." Aragorn reached the other and spoke.

"Here are some special gifts from Lord Elrond," he began. "Mithril. He can see, and he said that they will come in handy in our future." He spread the mithril out on the ground and instructed the right person to the right size.

"Gimli, a kingly gift for you." Gimli staggered over to the mithril and fell to his knees. "Where.....how.....yes.....Yes!" He regained himself and cried, "Yes! A kingly gift is this, from a kingly lord!" He picked up the smallest pair of mithril and held it in his arms, as though he wouldn't hold it again. He pulled off jacket and shirt, which left his undershirt, and shoved the armor over his head. It fit him perfect, which made him laugh and jump with glee.

Suddenly, there came another howl. The ground began to shake again and Aragorn looked up. "Quick. Take your pair and put it on." They all put the mithril on and took their weapons up again. Borin breathed in and closed his eyes. The air was soon filled with the booming sound of Warg's and the pounding of their gigantic paws on the ground. The sun was coming up, and the faint outline of an army of Wargs was to be seen on the horizon.

"Get ready," breathed Aragorn. As he said this, loud shouts and war cries were heard from far off, near the Glanduin River. "Elves!" shouted Legolas. "Elves and men!" shouted Aragorn in return. Their horn blared and they came closer. But the Wargs were closest. You could see clearly the hairs on their noses and backs.

"Legolas," rushed Aragorn in a whisper, "let your arrows fly." Legolas nodded and shot arrow after arrow, and they flew the distance, piercing Wargs in the head and making them fall dead. The Wargs were close enough to pounce, so they did. Aragorn swung just as a Warg pounced and sliced it's head off. Borin was also shooting his arrows and his aim was proud. Gimli was so short that he was easily hid by his fellow friends, so his attack was always unexpected.

But the Wargs fought hard. Aragorn was sliced across the cheek by one of the Wargs three-inch talons. The deep gash bled freely and soon his beard and neck was covered in red blood. "Aaauuuugggghhh!" But he didn't stop. Wargs were all around them, dead, alive, twitching and still coming strong. Thankfully, the Elves and Men were also in fighting range, and the Elves were happily flinging their arrows and knocking down Wargs left and right. The Men brought stones and rocks, which crushed the enemies heads. Their squeals brought joy to the fighters ears.

"How...many...Wargs...are there?!" Gimli shouted to Legolas, who had been knocked over by a Warg, which he had shot mercilessly in the heart. "Thousands for all we know!" At that moment, Borin fell to the ground at Legolas' feet, clutching his right arm. His shooting arm. His bow had been flung out of his hand. "Borin!" Legolas picked him up and ducked as an oncoming Warg jumped at him. Gimli cut its foot off.

If it hadn't been for the other Men and Elves from Lorien, then the Four wouldn't have been able to keep up. They would all have been dead.

And then, after a long hour of fighting, the Wargs moans could be heard every few moments, for they were all suffering. Dead. They were dying. Aragorn wiped sweat off his forehead, took a clothe to his neck, wiping off the blood.

Meanwhile, Legolas was leaning over Borin, and Gimli was standing over his shoulder. About one hundred Men and Elves were breathing and catching their breath, only a few were dead or injured. Borin moaned and his face was full of pain. His leather sleeve was ripped open and a talon of a Warg was stuck in his deep wound. Legolas took some leaves out of his pack and crushed them up.

"Borin, inhale the smell. The smell soothes the pain, amazingly." Borin shook his head and curled up into a ball. But Legolas wasn't going to give up. He shoved the crushed substance in Borin's face, and he reluctantly took a breathe. Borin's face relaxed, and he was able to sit up slightly. He squeezed his arm and it turned white.

"How are you going to get that.....thing out, Legolas?" asked Gimli. "I'm going to pull it out." And with that, he put a firm grasp on the Warg's talon and gently pulled it out, though the pain was excruciating. Borin's eyes opened wide, and they rolled up into his eyes. He fainted.

(( If anyone thinks that this chapter is too long, then just tell me because I don't like long chapters and I don't want to be a hypocrite. Just tell me in a REVIEW!Thanks! Ms. Orlando Bloom ))