A War To Remember
Chapter 4
By: Hotaru170

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Lord Of The Rings. Nor do I own any of its characters. Thanks for coming back! Now on to the story!

RECAP: Hotaru looked at Gandalf and said, "It is Saruman. He is trying to bring the mountain down upon us." Gandalf held his staff up and tried counteracting Saruman's spell. He tried again but Saruman's power was too much for him. A lightning bolt hit the mountain above their heads and sent a huge pile of snow and rocks towards them. Hotaru grabbed Gandalf out of the way and pushed against the mountainside as much as possible. The snow came down and buried the fellowship.

'Character thoughts' "Character speaking" *Speaking telepathically* ^"Speaking in Elvish"^

It took Hotaru a minute to dig her way out of the snow. Legolas followed a minute or two later. Together they dug the rest of the fellowship out if the snow. Gimli brushed himself off and said, "We can go through the mines of Moria. My cousin would give us a royal welcome. It would be much easier and quicker to take that road." Hotaru looked at Gandalf and said, "That is the only one other way that we can take. And I fear that way as much as you do but it is our only choice." Gandalf sighed and said, "Let the ring bearer decide." The fellowship looked at Frodo and awaited his answer. Frodo looked at Gandalf and said, "We will take the mines." Gandalf nodded and replied, "So be it." The fellowship turned around and made their way towards the entrance of Moria. Once they were in the ravine leading to the gates of Moria, Hotaru got a bad feeling about the lake in which the fellowship was walking next too. 'Something is not right about that lake. Something moves beneath it. I can sense it. Let us hope we do not disturb its slumbering.' As she finished her train of thought, Merry and Pippin decided to throw rocks into the lake for fun. She grabbed Pippin's arm just as he was about to throw another rock and said, "Do not disturb the water. You do not know what lies beneath it." (AN: Ok, I know that was like Aragorn's line but I gave it to Hotaru. Anyway, back to the story.)
When the fellowship came to the gates of Moria, Gandalf tried to read the inscription but was unable too until the moonlight shone down upon the elvish writing. (AN: Just so you all know, I don't remember exactly what the writings say, so I am going to make it up as I go.) Gandalf read, "Here lies the way to Moria and to the Dwarf King Balin. Speak friend and enter." Frodo was confused and asked, "What does it mean, Gandalf?" Gandalf replied, "It simply means if you are a friend, then speak the password and the gates should open." Gandalf tired several different words but none seemed to work.
While this was going on, Hotaru had her attention focused on the lake. Legolas and Aragorn walked up beside her. Legolas asked, "What is it Hotaru?" She glanced towards him and replied in elvish, ^"There is something underneath this lake. I am afraid that two of our little hobbit friends have disturbed it slumbering. We cannot linger here for much longer."^ Aragorn glanced at the lake and said in elvish, ^"Let us hope that whatever lies beneath the surface, doesn't make an appearance before we have a chance to leave."^
Frodo was pacing and thinking about the last line of the inscription on the gates. He stopped suddenly and said, "It's a riddle." He turned around and asked, "What is the elfish word for 'friend', Gandalf?" Gandalf looked at him and said, "bellon." ((AN: Alright everyone, I have no idea if that is right or not. So please bear with me here. I haven't had time to watch the movie or read the book lately because my life has been really hectic. Anyway, if it isn't correct, someone just email me and I'll correct it in the next chapter.)) After Gandalf said that word, the gates to Moria slowly opened to reveal darkness. He put a crystal on top of his staff after he walked inside and it gave off a light for him to see. Gimli was walking behind Boromir. He said, "My cousin Balin, will have a grand feast and plenty of drink to celebrate our arrival. You all will be guests of the dwarves' hall." Boromir walked further inside and saw skeletons littering the ground and said, "This place is not a hall. It is tomb." Gimli was stunned and said, "No, this cannot be. What could have done this?" Legolas pulled an arrow from one of the skeletons and said, "Goblins did this." He threw down the arrow in disgust. Hotaru walked up behind Gimli and put her hand on his shoulder. Just as they were about to continue forward, a scream from Frodo stopped everyone in their tracks. They all turned around to see Frodo being held up in the air by a tentacle of some sort. The tentacle belonged to a huge squid-like creature. The fellowship immediately jumped into action.
Hotaru started firing arrows at the creature, as did Legolas. The arrows weren't getting enough penetration, so Hotaru pulled out her sword and started cutting tentacles out of her way. She trudged further into the water and motioned for Boromir and Aragorn to follow her. Aragorn cut the tentacle that was holding Frodo in the air. Frodo fell towards the water but was caught by Boromir before he hit. Boromir ran back to shore, carrying Frodo with him. Meanwhile Hotaru and Aragorn were still cutting tentacles from the creature and Legolas was shooting arrows. A well-aimed arrow struck the creature in its eye. Aragorn and Hotaru ran back towards the shore and through the gates of Moria. Legolas was right behind them. The creature lashed out and collapsed the gates behind them.
Hotaru looked around to make sure everyone was there. When everyone was accounted for, she said, "It seems we are given only one choice now. Let us not linger and hopefully our passing will go unnoticed." Gandalf nodded in agreement and led the way. He said, "It is a four day journey through the mines to get to the other side." With that statement said the fellowship traveled further into the mines of Moria.

Three Days Later. (AN: I don't remember if that time table is right but bear with me and hopefully you all will enjoy my story.)
The fellowship came to a staircase that was partially collapsed and had to climb their way up. On their way up Hotaru seemed a little more alert than the rest. For the past three days, she had sensed someone following them. Only in the past day, did she finally figure out who was following them. She didn't say anything to the others because Gandalf knew already that Gollum would play a certain role in the quest. What that role was, nobody knew for sure. The time gates didn't allow her to know certain things, just incase she tried to change events that were meant to happen. Hotaru continued to make her way up the fallen staircase while keeping her senses tuned on Gollum, incase he tried anything.
Gandalf reached the top of the staircase to find a forked path. He stared confusedly at the two passages. He looked back and said, "I have no memory of this place." Frodo and the other hobbits let out a disappointed sigh. So while Gandalf sat down to remember the way, everyone else decided to take a break. Merry, Pippin, and Sam sat in a circle to talk amongst themselves. Boromir sat down by the hobbits and closed his eyes to relax. Hotaru, Aragorn, and Legolas stood in a circle at the far side of the camp to talk.
Aragon crossed his arms and said, "I feel like we are being followed. Yet every time I glance behind us, I see nothing." Hotaru raised an eyebrow and replied, "We are being followed. He has been on our trail since we entered the mines." Legolas nodded in agreement and said, "I also figured the same thing. I sensed him trying to keep his distance, so we could not detect his presence." He turned to Hotaru and asked, "Do you know who it is?" She nodded grimly and said, "Yes, it is a gangly creature called Gollum. He once had the ring of power in his possession for five hundred years but lost it to a hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins sixty years ago. Bilbo is Frodo's uncle and is currently staying with the elves at Rivendell. The ring corrupted Gollum and gave him unnatural long life. He will follow anyone who has the ring in his or her possession. He can never be rid of his need for it." Legolas and Aragorn shook their heads in pity for the creature called Gollum. Legolas clenched his fist in anger and said, "I look forward to the time when we rid Middle Earth of the ring's evil and Sauron's existence." Aragorn put his arm on Legolas's shoulder and said, "We all look forward to that day, Legolas." Hotaru turned round to face the staircase in which they had just climbed and said, "You two get some rest and I will take the first watch." She walked to the edge of the staircase and took a watch position. Legolas and Aragorn looked at each other in amusement and laughed. Aragorn smiled and said, "Well she left no room for question. Let us not bother her further." Legolas nodded and said, "Alright. But you know I don't believe I have ever met someone as mysterious as she. She continues to puzzle me. She must be of an ancient race of elves. I have never seen eye color such as hers." Aragorn nodded in agreement and said, "I know what you mean. I have never seen an elf with purple eyes. She has an aura of mystery, power, and wisdom beyond any of which I have ever seen. Perhaps she even knows more than Gandalf does. Even though she is mysterious and powerful, I still have a strange feeling that we can trust her with our very lives." Legolas looked at Aragorn and said, "I have that same feeling. And yet there is something else that does not meet the eye about her. It is like she is hiding her true identity, but perhaps I could be wrong." Aragorn raised an eyebrow and said, "Perhaps we have dwelled on this too long. It isn't right that we try to judge her. She has only shown us kindness and respect." Legolas said, "I know. I wasn't trying to judge her. I am just wondering what I am over-looking. I am missing something and I cannot figure out what it is." Aragorn smiled and said, "If she wants us to know she will tell us, when the time comes. Now lets get some rest." Legolas nodded and said, "You are right Aragorn." They both sat down and closed their eyes to rest before they continued their journey. Unbeknownst to them, Hotaru overheard their conversation and was silently thinking to about their words. 'I can't help but wonder how Legolas knows I am hiding something. He is more perceptive than I have given him credit for. I wish to wait before revealing my true identity to them. I just hope he doesn't notice to many things. Then he would have more questions than I care to answer right now. At least they know that I am trustworthy and that I would protect them at all costs. That is something that will never change.' Hotaru was startled out of her thoughts when she caught a glimpse of Gollum below. He was observing the camp from a crouching position about 20 feet below her. If it weren't for her enhanced vision then she might have mistaken him for a shadow. She didn't make any sudden movements but continued to observe him from the corner of her eyesight. Once she decided that he wasn't coming any closer to the camp, she relaxed a little but still kept her senses tuned on him.
Meanwhile Gandalf had finished telling a similar tale of Gollum's story to Frodo. He still sat pondering which direction to take. About an hour later, He said, "Ah ha." Merry stood up and said, "He has finally remembered." Gandalf turned to him and replied, "No Meridoc, when in doubt always follow your nose." He pointed to the left and said, "The air is not as foul down here.' Then he walked towards the staircase leading down with the rest of the fellowship behind him.
Once they reached the bottom of the staircase, most of the fellowship was struck speechless. Before them lay a vast hall, that was impossibly long and extremely high. The hall was carved out in the heart of the mountain and it had great pillars, carved with elaborate details. Once they recovered from their awe, they continued their journey through the mines. Quietly they traveled, hoping their passing would go unnoticed by the goblins lurking about.

To Be Continued.

Ok, I know it took me a little longer than I would have liked to get this chapter out. I have had an extremely busy month and I am exhausted. I hope you all will enjoy this next installment in my story. I also would like to thank all of the wonderful reviews and encouragements for the continuation of this story. My loyal reviewers are my biggest inspiration and I love you all!!! Well, I will leave you with that and I'll try to have the next chapter out very soon.