Disclaimer: Belongs to Tolkien not me.
Isabelle: Wow! My first review. Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I'm not much of a writer and was afraid it stunk up the place.
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The group is trudging up the mountain and all give Legolas dirty looks as he passes them with ease. "I wish somebody would trip his arrogant ass" Diana mumbles through chattering teeth and Aragorn chuckles from behind her.
"There is a fell voice on the air" Legolas says from the front of the group. Gandalf joins him on the ledge, "It's Saruman!"
Everyone jumps back when some boulders fall. "He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Diana yells over the wind. "Gandalf we must turn back!" Aragorn adds. "No!" Gandalf starts chanting a counter spell.
"Foolish wizard! Everybody against the wall now!" Diana yells as she pushes Frodo and Sam against the rock wall. The mountain shakes as tons of snow fall down on the Fellowship.
Diana manages to break through to the surface fairly quickly and makes sure all the Hobbits are accounted for while the others argue about what to do.
"Lady Diana, claims to know our fate let her decide" Gandalf says and everyone looks at her expectantly.
"Huh?" she looks up startled. "Wait. No! The quest HAS to follow the correct path. The ring-bearer must decide." She kneels in front of him and takes his hands in hers, "I'm sorry Frodo. I know you already carry a great burden but the decision has to be yours."
Gandalf gives her a look that says she made a wise choice. "Very well then. Frodo?" Frodo straightens himself to his full height, "We will go through the mines." Gandalf sighs, "so be it."
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Diana stops and gazes up in amazement and Gimli urges her to continue walking as he passes. "The walls of Moria. Dwarf doors are invisible when closed."
"Yes Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf calls back from ahead of them.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Gimli just growls angrily, but Diana turns to glare at Legolas.
"I think it's brilliant, Gimli. You don't have to worry about unwanted guests." Diana smiles as Gimli straightens up proudly.
They continue on in silence until Gandalf stops. "Well, lets see. Ithilden. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight. It reads, 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'"
Pippin looks up at Gandalf. "What do you suppose that means?"
"Oh it's quite simple," Gandalf says lightly. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open."
Everyone waits expectantly while he attempts to open the doors with a spell.
"For a Wizard, he's not to bright." Gandalf glares at Diana over his shoulder before trying another spell.
Pippin looks up at Diana, "Nothing's happening."
"Shhh" Diana giggles as she watches Gandalf resort to pushing on the doors.
Diana wanders over to a log and sits down to wait. She's nervously watching the water when Gimli sits down next to her.
"What's wrong lass? You act if though something's going to come out of there and attack you."
"There is something in the water. This place scares me, It isn't like you remember, Gimli."
"Nonsense, Lassie..." Boromir sits next to Gimli and they start talking amongst themselves. Diana's attention turns to Aragorn and Sam. She watches as Aragorn reasures Sam that Bill will be fine as they turn the pony loose.
Merry and Pippin begin skipping rocks in the water. "Merry!" Diana calls and Aragorn stops him from throwing the rock.
"Do not disturb the water." Aragorn notices suspicious ripples in the water and shares a worried glance with Diana.
Some of the others also notice the ripples and cautiously watch the water until they here the stone doors scrape open.
"Uh, it stinks in here." Diana covers her nose and follows Aragorn further into the cave. Gimli is busy telling Legolas about the Dwarvish hospitality as Gandalf lights his staff.
"...And the call it a mine. A mine!" Diana trips over something and Boromir steadies her, catching a glimps of what she tripped on.
"This is no mine. It's a tomb." Diana then sees the corpses and gives a startled scream as she steps back, bumping into Boromir. Unconsiously she turns and buries her head into his chest to avoid the discusting sight. At first he stiffens but then his softer side takes over and he wraps an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
"Goblins," Legolas hisses. Boromir pushes Diana behind him as he draws his sword.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir turns and pushes Diana toward the doors. "Now get out of here. Get out!"
"Frodo!" Sam swings his sword at the tenticle wrapped around Frodo as it drags him out of the mine.
"Frodo!" Diana grabs the dagger out of Boromir's boot and runs to help. Since her hands are tied she has trouble swinging at the creature but she manages to land a couple of good blows before a tenticle knocks her away. She painfully lands in a heap in front of Legolas.
"Into the cave! Run!" Aragorn scoops Diana up and helps her into the cave. The watcher follows them and causes the doors to cave in.
"That was a brave thing you did. Stupid, but brave. Are you hurt?" Aragorn's eyes wander over her for any signs of injury.
"My shoulder hurts but I don't think anythings broken so I'll live." She turns to Boromir and hands him back his dagger.
Gandalf's staff lights up. "We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world. Quietly now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed. Diana, walk with me."
Diana joins Gandalf at the front of the group. "You put yourself in danger to protect Frodo."
"I like Frodo, plus he's Middle Earth's only hope. I can't just stand by and watch it destroyed. What kind of person would I be." Gandalf looks at her thoughtfully for a minute before calling Aragorn to him.
"She has proven herself. Cut her binds." Aragorn takes out a dagger and carefully cuts through the rope.
"Thank you."
