As they moved through the various corridors and passages Nia realised that
much had changed over the years since she was last here and she thought if
Gandalf may be having the same trouble remembering the right route through
Moria. Her fears were confirmed when they stopped at a junction and 3
passages led off in different directions. She seated herself next to him
"are we lost Gandalf" she asked. Gandalf smiled "no I just need to remember which passage it was..I was wondering if you could remember the way at all". Nia simply shook her head "it's been nearly 500 years since I was here last much has changed I am afraid I cannot help you". They spent the night at the junction and Nia's sleep was troubled again this time there were no flames just the riders riding at her sweeping their swords at her trying to cut her down. They were trying to frighten her away to make her give up her place in the fellowship although they did not know of her ability to see what Sauron was thinking she was still a threat she could detect their presence and sense what they were planning when they were near enough. Suddenly one caught her off guard and came in sweeping low with its sword. Nia could have easily dodged until she realised it was her sister. The sight of her caught Nia and the sword slashed across her shoulder she screamed in pain and was suddenly aware of someone calling her name.
She suddenly awoke to find Boromir holding her close and a look of concern on his face which she had never seen before. "Nia are you alright was it a nightmare again" she nodded "only the wraiths this time they are trying to scare me away". Suddenly Legolas gasped "Nia...your shoulder" she tried to move to look and a searing pain shot up her arm and she cried out. Boromir laid her back as Gandalf came forward to look. He loosened her shirt and exposed her shoulder. There was a deep slash in the flesh "where did this come from" he asked but he knew the answer "they attacked me in my dreams I did not realise they could actually injure me". "This is Saruman's work once we are on the other side of the mountains we will be out of his reach then and these dreams will stop for a while" said Gandalf. Nia let Legolas bind her wound and then tried to sleep again she managed a few hours until Gandalf suddenly stood and said "this way".
They followed the winding passages until they came down a set of steps and entered a huge space. Gandalf moved forward and risked a little more light. As the light spread outwards Nia was amazed at the huge hall before them. She had seen it before but she had forgotten the enormity of it all. They moved down the great hall and Nia knew they were not far from the opening on the other side of the mountain with any luck they would make it there without being discovered. Suddenly Gimli noticed a set of doors and rushed towards them. Nia followed him she did not want to go in there she just wanted to get out of this place but the others followed and soon there were all inside the room. Gimli was kneeling in front of a huge stone coffin Gandalf picked up a book that was beside it. As he read from the pages Nia wandered the room it reeked of death and she could sense it all around her. She began to shake and jumped when Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder "are you alright you seem troubled". Nia shook her head "it's just this place I can feel it all around me the death that filled this place.." She passed a hand over her eyes as if to wipe it away "I will be fine do not concern yourself with me" her voice sounding harder than she wanted it to but Legolas merely smiled he did not move from her side suddenly there was a loud clattering and Nia spun round to see a very sheepish Pippin standing near the well as a loud noise echoed from its depths. Everyone held their breath but as the noise dimmed there was nothing else. "You fool!" said Gandalf "throw yourself in next time" but as he turned away a deep drumming seemed to come back up the well oh no thought Nia orcs!
Boromir rushed towards the doors and narrowly missed being shot by an orcs arrow. He moved back in to the room and he and Aragorn began barricading the door. Nia took out her bow and stringed an arrow ready for anything that came through the door. She placed herself between the door and the hobbits she could hear them breaking the doors down and something bigger the cave troll.
Suddenly they were in the room Nia let her arrows fly but soon there were too close to use a bow and she was forced to use her sword. She was at a disadvantage though her arm had been injured the night before and severely affected her reflexes. but she fought on she saw Boromir take a severe blow from the cave troll and tried to fight her way over to where he lay but there was just too many of them. The only this that seemed to be helping them was the cave troll in its anger it was taking out many of its own people trying to hit the fellowship. Nia scrambled past the orcs dodging blows and the cave troll to get to Boromir she saw out of the corner of her eye that it was now hunting Frodo out but Aragorn was closer and had seen Frodo. She continued to Boromir and found him slumped against a wall she slashed at the orc that was about to run him through and kneeled next to Boromir.
She held his head as he came round "you alright" she said he nodded and she helped him to his feet. Suddenly she heard Sam cry out when she looked up she saw that Frodo had been hit with a spear. She and Boromir ran forward with the others but as she arrived Frodo was coming to she saw the shirt of mithril he was wearing and sighed with relief. Gandalf grabbed her by the shoulder and yelled at her to follow them. He led them through the doors and onwards along the hall as they ran Nia could see orcs and goblins emerging from every dark shadow. They ran on and on but it was soon obvious that they were heavily outnumbered by the orcs and soon they were surrounded. Nia drew her sword and readied herself for a fight but it was not to be. I deep rumble sounded from the other end of the hall and she turned to see a deep glow of red approaching them. The orcs were obviously scared by this as they retreated almost instantly she looked to Gandalf as he watched the glow getting closer. "Gandalf is that..." "It is..run!!" They turned and made for the doors at the end of the hall she followed Boromir and Legolas down the stairs and heard a yell before her as Boromir nearly ran straight off a ledge only to be pulled back by Legolas at the last minute. They moved down the staircase and she could hear it following them she sensed it pure evil a demon of the old world. She was not easily frightened but this thing was like nothing she ever sensed before and it did frighten her. As they reached a gap in the stairs she did not even stop but made the jump in one to join Legolas on the other side. Pippin and Merry were carried over by Boromir, Sam was thrown by Aragorn and Gimli made the jump himself being saved from falling back by Legolas grabbing his long beard. Just as Aragorn and Frodo were about to jump part of the stairs gave way and widened the gap even more. There was no way they could jump it and as she watched a piece of falling masonry took out the stairs behind them completely cutting them off. The base of the stairs began to give way and luckily it fell forward colliding with the main part and Aragorn and Frodo jumped to safety before it fell in to the dark depths. Nia grabbed Frodo and pushed him onwards they had not far to go until the bridge but that thing was still after them and she was determined to get out of Moria alive. Finally the bridge came in to view and they began to run across orc arrows flew at them from every direction which made the crossing difficult for there was not much room to dodge on the bridge. Gandalf was the last to cross but as she looked back she saw the Balrog behind Gandalf instead of crossing Gandalf stopped in the middle and turned back to face the Balrog. "You shall not pass" he cried out "I am a servant of the secret fire you shall not pass!!" He brought down his staff on the bridge causing it to crumble beneath the Balrog and the demon disappeared from view in to the deep chasm beneath. Nia's cry of joy died on her lips as she saw the whip of the Balrog suddenly appear and wrap around the wizards legs pulling from the edge of the bridge. "Gandalf!" she screamed and tried to run back across the bridge but she was stopped by Legolas, his strong arms holding her tightly as she struggled against him. She looked up to see Gandalf clinging to the edge of the bridge, his last words reaching her ears before he fell in to the depths. "Fly you fools" "Gandalf nooooo!" Nia struggled against Legolas but he would not let her go instead he forced her onwards towards the exit.
They burst in to the light beyond the exit where the orcs would not follow and stopped for a chance to catch their breath. They each were shocked at the loss of Gandalf and Nia could not believe one of her oldest and dearest friends was gone. Legolas finally loosened his hold on her and she slumped to the floor sobbing she had not cried in a very long time the last time was when she had lost her sister. As she looked around she could see the others were also grief stricken suddenly she felt Legolas's arms around her not restricting this time merely holding her close as she cried. They stayed that way for a short while until she heard Aragorn's voice telling them they must move on before nightfall. She got to her feet and wiping the last of her tears she turned to Aragorn "where will we go from here". "We will make for the woods of Lothlorien" Nia nodded she had not been there in a long time since she last travelled through Moria and she wondered if much had changed. They travelled for most of the day only reaching the woods edge near twilight as they entered Nia was amazed at how quiet it was usually there was bird song or the sound of smaller creatures in the undergrowth but there was nothing.
Suddenly she sensed then watching from the undergrowth they were all uneasy in these times it was harder to tell friend from foe. Unsure of how certain people would react she pulled up her hood and covered her face. Aragorn was caught by surprise of the appearance of the elves but he did not show it the elf before him was tall and proud if slightly arrogant. "Haldir of lorien" he said "we come here for help and protection". The elf nodded "you have entered the realm of the lady of the wood and cannot go back" He looked at the rest of the group his eyes coming to rest on each member before moving on. Nia thought she saw a look of disdain as his eyes fell on the dwarf. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable she should not have come back she should have known that Haldir as marchwarden would have met them. Finally his eyes came to rest on her and she noticed the change of expression as he tried to feel her thoughts and was turned away. A look of confusion flashed across Haldir's face "who are you who can shield your mind from us..you are not an elf". Nia took a deep breath and pulled back her hood she had been dreading this moment since entering the woods. "Why should I not be able to was it not you who taught me"? For a moment Haldir looked shocked "Nia.." "Haldir..you are well" Haldir did not answer instead he said "follow me" and turned in to the forest. As they followed the elves through the wood Legolas caught Nia's arm "how do you know Haldir" "I was here many years ago and we met then I had been injured badly and the elves of Lothlorien nursed me back to health. Haldir was one of them". "What happened if you do not mind me asking?" "He and I became rather close and when the time came for me to leave we decided that his place was here and mine was not back then I thought I could destroy the ring myself..I was foolish it was only later I realised the ring would turn up when the time was right but I never returned until now."
"are we lost Gandalf" she asked. Gandalf smiled "no I just need to remember which passage it was..I was wondering if you could remember the way at all". Nia simply shook her head "it's been nearly 500 years since I was here last much has changed I am afraid I cannot help you". They spent the night at the junction and Nia's sleep was troubled again this time there were no flames just the riders riding at her sweeping their swords at her trying to cut her down. They were trying to frighten her away to make her give up her place in the fellowship although they did not know of her ability to see what Sauron was thinking she was still a threat she could detect their presence and sense what they were planning when they were near enough. Suddenly one caught her off guard and came in sweeping low with its sword. Nia could have easily dodged until she realised it was her sister. The sight of her caught Nia and the sword slashed across her shoulder she screamed in pain and was suddenly aware of someone calling her name.
She suddenly awoke to find Boromir holding her close and a look of concern on his face which she had never seen before. "Nia are you alright was it a nightmare again" she nodded "only the wraiths this time they are trying to scare me away". Suddenly Legolas gasped "Nia...your shoulder" she tried to move to look and a searing pain shot up her arm and she cried out. Boromir laid her back as Gandalf came forward to look. He loosened her shirt and exposed her shoulder. There was a deep slash in the flesh "where did this come from" he asked but he knew the answer "they attacked me in my dreams I did not realise they could actually injure me". "This is Saruman's work once we are on the other side of the mountains we will be out of his reach then and these dreams will stop for a while" said Gandalf. Nia let Legolas bind her wound and then tried to sleep again she managed a few hours until Gandalf suddenly stood and said "this way".
They followed the winding passages until they came down a set of steps and entered a huge space. Gandalf moved forward and risked a little more light. As the light spread outwards Nia was amazed at the huge hall before them. She had seen it before but she had forgotten the enormity of it all. They moved down the great hall and Nia knew they were not far from the opening on the other side of the mountain with any luck they would make it there without being discovered. Suddenly Gimli noticed a set of doors and rushed towards them. Nia followed him she did not want to go in there she just wanted to get out of this place but the others followed and soon there were all inside the room. Gimli was kneeling in front of a huge stone coffin Gandalf picked up a book that was beside it. As he read from the pages Nia wandered the room it reeked of death and she could sense it all around her. She began to shake and jumped when Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder "are you alright you seem troubled". Nia shook her head "it's just this place I can feel it all around me the death that filled this place.." She passed a hand over her eyes as if to wipe it away "I will be fine do not concern yourself with me" her voice sounding harder than she wanted it to but Legolas merely smiled he did not move from her side suddenly there was a loud clattering and Nia spun round to see a very sheepish Pippin standing near the well as a loud noise echoed from its depths. Everyone held their breath but as the noise dimmed there was nothing else. "You fool!" said Gandalf "throw yourself in next time" but as he turned away a deep drumming seemed to come back up the well oh no thought Nia orcs!
Boromir rushed towards the doors and narrowly missed being shot by an orcs arrow. He moved back in to the room and he and Aragorn began barricading the door. Nia took out her bow and stringed an arrow ready for anything that came through the door. She placed herself between the door and the hobbits she could hear them breaking the doors down and something bigger the cave troll.
Suddenly they were in the room Nia let her arrows fly but soon there were too close to use a bow and she was forced to use her sword. She was at a disadvantage though her arm had been injured the night before and severely affected her reflexes. but she fought on she saw Boromir take a severe blow from the cave troll and tried to fight her way over to where he lay but there was just too many of them. The only this that seemed to be helping them was the cave troll in its anger it was taking out many of its own people trying to hit the fellowship. Nia scrambled past the orcs dodging blows and the cave troll to get to Boromir she saw out of the corner of her eye that it was now hunting Frodo out but Aragorn was closer and had seen Frodo. She continued to Boromir and found him slumped against a wall she slashed at the orc that was about to run him through and kneeled next to Boromir.
She held his head as he came round "you alright" she said he nodded and she helped him to his feet. Suddenly she heard Sam cry out when she looked up she saw that Frodo had been hit with a spear. She and Boromir ran forward with the others but as she arrived Frodo was coming to she saw the shirt of mithril he was wearing and sighed with relief. Gandalf grabbed her by the shoulder and yelled at her to follow them. He led them through the doors and onwards along the hall as they ran Nia could see orcs and goblins emerging from every dark shadow. They ran on and on but it was soon obvious that they were heavily outnumbered by the orcs and soon they were surrounded. Nia drew her sword and readied herself for a fight but it was not to be. I deep rumble sounded from the other end of the hall and she turned to see a deep glow of red approaching them. The orcs were obviously scared by this as they retreated almost instantly she looked to Gandalf as he watched the glow getting closer. "Gandalf is that..." "It is..run!!" They turned and made for the doors at the end of the hall she followed Boromir and Legolas down the stairs and heard a yell before her as Boromir nearly ran straight off a ledge only to be pulled back by Legolas at the last minute. They moved down the staircase and she could hear it following them she sensed it pure evil a demon of the old world. She was not easily frightened but this thing was like nothing she ever sensed before and it did frighten her. As they reached a gap in the stairs she did not even stop but made the jump in one to join Legolas on the other side. Pippin and Merry were carried over by Boromir, Sam was thrown by Aragorn and Gimli made the jump himself being saved from falling back by Legolas grabbing his long beard. Just as Aragorn and Frodo were about to jump part of the stairs gave way and widened the gap even more. There was no way they could jump it and as she watched a piece of falling masonry took out the stairs behind them completely cutting them off. The base of the stairs began to give way and luckily it fell forward colliding with the main part and Aragorn and Frodo jumped to safety before it fell in to the dark depths. Nia grabbed Frodo and pushed him onwards they had not far to go until the bridge but that thing was still after them and she was determined to get out of Moria alive. Finally the bridge came in to view and they began to run across orc arrows flew at them from every direction which made the crossing difficult for there was not much room to dodge on the bridge. Gandalf was the last to cross but as she looked back she saw the Balrog behind Gandalf instead of crossing Gandalf stopped in the middle and turned back to face the Balrog. "You shall not pass" he cried out "I am a servant of the secret fire you shall not pass!!" He brought down his staff on the bridge causing it to crumble beneath the Balrog and the demon disappeared from view in to the deep chasm beneath. Nia's cry of joy died on her lips as she saw the whip of the Balrog suddenly appear and wrap around the wizards legs pulling from the edge of the bridge. "Gandalf!" she screamed and tried to run back across the bridge but she was stopped by Legolas, his strong arms holding her tightly as she struggled against him. She looked up to see Gandalf clinging to the edge of the bridge, his last words reaching her ears before he fell in to the depths. "Fly you fools" "Gandalf nooooo!" Nia struggled against Legolas but he would not let her go instead he forced her onwards towards the exit.
They burst in to the light beyond the exit where the orcs would not follow and stopped for a chance to catch their breath. They each were shocked at the loss of Gandalf and Nia could not believe one of her oldest and dearest friends was gone. Legolas finally loosened his hold on her and she slumped to the floor sobbing she had not cried in a very long time the last time was when she had lost her sister. As she looked around she could see the others were also grief stricken suddenly she felt Legolas's arms around her not restricting this time merely holding her close as she cried. They stayed that way for a short while until she heard Aragorn's voice telling them they must move on before nightfall. She got to her feet and wiping the last of her tears she turned to Aragorn "where will we go from here". "We will make for the woods of Lothlorien" Nia nodded she had not been there in a long time since she last travelled through Moria and she wondered if much had changed. They travelled for most of the day only reaching the woods edge near twilight as they entered Nia was amazed at how quiet it was usually there was bird song or the sound of smaller creatures in the undergrowth but there was nothing.
Suddenly she sensed then watching from the undergrowth they were all uneasy in these times it was harder to tell friend from foe. Unsure of how certain people would react she pulled up her hood and covered her face. Aragorn was caught by surprise of the appearance of the elves but he did not show it the elf before him was tall and proud if slightly arrogant. "Haldir of lorien" he said "we come here for help and protection". The elf nodded "you have entered the realm of the lady of the wood and cannot go back" He looked at the rest of the group his eyes coming to rest on each member before moving on. Nia thought she saw a look of disdain as his eyes fell on the dwarf. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable she should not have come back she should have known that Haldir as marchwarden would have met them. Finally his eyes came to rest on her and she noticed the change of expression as he tried to feel her thoughts and was turned away. A look of confusion flashed across Haldir's face "who are you who can shield your mind from us..you are not an elf". Nia took a deep breath and pulled back her hood she had been dreading this moment since entering the woods. "Why should I not be able to was it not you who taught me"? For a moment Haldir looked shocked "Nia.." "Haldir..you are well" Haldir did not answer instead he said "follow me" and turned in to the forest. As they followed the elves through the wood Legolas caught Nia's arm "how do you know Haldir" "I was here many years ago and we met then I had been injured badly and the elves of Lothlorien nursed me back to health. Haldir was one of them". "What happened if you do not mind me asking?" "He and I became rather close and when the time came for me to leave we decided that his place was here and mine was not back then I thought I could destroy the ring myself..I was foolish it was only later I realised the ring would turn up when the time was right but I never returned until now."
