Chapter Eight, The Halls of Moria

…The air rushed from my mouth and I could feel the cold arms of infinity wrap around my shoulders; I was dying, as I was lost in a world of cold, wet hurt. I looked up to the surface one last time for any sign of help and saw a hand reach down into the water. I fought against death's embrace to reach for it, and at long last I grabbed it. It pulled me through the water; I was traveling closer and closer to the surface of the water and then I came to it.

First my hand, then my arm, then my elbow and finally my face. The sunshine shone warm on my face as I was pulled into the boat; my frozen skin was revived by the compassionate and forgiving sun. The gentle rocking of the boat soothed me, and I felt as if a great hope had shone back into my life. I heard a mumbling sound in my ears then, I couldn't understand what it said. I opened my eyes, but squinted since the sun shone directly into them and I saw a hazy figure above me. "Who are you?" I asked wearily, and the figure kneeled beside me.

"Laura, Laura, it is time to move on now." A voice said as small hands shook me gently. I opened my eyes a little and saw nothing but darkness.

"Be quiet, it is still night time! Let me sleep, I am so tired." I said back and rolled on my side.

"It may be dark but it is indeed morning Laura," said another voice, "do not be fooled, we must move now for it will take days to pass through Moria." I groaned as I sat up and rubbed my eyes, they were right; I looked to the man who had just spoken, and after I rubbed my eyes, I saw that it was Legolas, sheathing his knifes and tightening his belts. Walking away from him was Boromir, so I surmised that he was the one who woke me up. When we had started our walking, I realized how strange it was to be in the dark for such a long period of time; in all honesty, I was frightened by the dark. Not to the point where I needed a nightlight or anything, it simply made me feel uncomfortable. I became very jumpy in the dark, so as I walked, I walked beside Aragorn, knowing that he would keep me safe. As we traveled, Gandalf told us all that the trip would be at least forty miles, but he wasn't quite sure since it had been a long time since he was in Moria.

Aragorn proved to be wonderful company as we walked, I was so used to him being my own personal gym teacher that seeing him in a more relaxed, and less critical manner was very unusual yet comforting. We talked about much, and when we were able I told him of what it was like back home, and how I left my mom, dad, and little sister back in my world.

"She's only sixteen," I told him, "and since I left, I don't know how the situation is in my world, is my body still there? Am I not there at all? She needs someone there." Aragorn nodded and said,

"It must be difficult to think about what you left behind." I looked down at the cracked and dirty stone floor of Moria and replied,

"Sometimes, I mean, sometimes I feel really emotional because I miss it all, but then at other times I say to myself, 'Hey, what am I missing back in my world? College, arguments with my mom, arguments with my sister, arguments with anyone, I would be doing nothing worthwhile.' Then I see myself here and think of how I am making a difference. Here I feel as if I'm actually accomplishing something."

Aragorn looked at me and replied, "Perhaps, but you are missing a great leisure." I looked at him in confusion and he answered. "Laura, though you may be traveling with us and taking up something so great, you are still young. As much as you dislike hearing it, it is the truth; and now that you have come here, you have lost the blessing of growing up slowly and being a carefree adolescent." It comforted me that he called me an "adolescent" instead of a 'child' or a 'girl'. "Being here is forcing you to grow up much. In the end though, perhaps, it is all for the best, or perhaps not, so while you are here be sure to make good with what is given to you. With everything you do you gain wisdom and that, my daughter, is what deciphers a girl from a woman; not gowns or long hair. It is what's in here." With that he knocked gently on my forehead. We laughed quietly and I swatted at his hand.

"Stop it." I said playfully but he continued.

"No, I do not jest. I have seen what you have in your head and it is much more than any dignified woman should have." With that he brushed the hair out of his face in a vagrant fashion and I laughed.

"Oh really?" I replied, in a very nasal, very fake British accent. I then put my hands out to my sides and strutted as I walked, walking in front of Aragorn. I then turned around and said, "Is that better?" Then, with an imaginary powder puff, I powdered my cheeks then drank from and imaginary glass of wine as I added randomly. "There must be something in the wine, because I feel fabulous!" Aragorn laughed and Gimli shouted back to me.

"My lady, if ever I saw you behave in that manner, I should think you under some wicked spell! I am much contented with the Laura I have known."

"I dunno," Pippin said innocently, "I think that's sort of attractive!" we all laughed at this and I said,

"Peregrin Took, you should take a picture, it'll last longer!" I laughed at this and watched everyone else as they stared at me in confusion. I could feel my cheeks blush as I remembered; they don't have cameras so they don't know what it is to take a picture…besides maybe stealing one. "Never mind." I added quickly. I heard a small chuckle from Gandalf as we walked on.

After a few hours of walking and only a few short breaks we came to a wide, dark arch that held three different directions; all of them seemed to lead eastwards, but the left passage plunged downwards, the far right led up, and the middle contained a smooth path. I looked at the three arches and thought, 'Wow, good thing Gandalf knows what he's doing because I totally forgot which passage it is!' I looked to Gandalf with a trusting smile and when I saw the concern in his eyes I remembered, 'Wait, he doesn't know which way to go either… Well crap, I guess we are going to be here for a while.'

"I have no memory of this place at all!" Gandalf said slowly, he then shook his head and continued "But I am too weary to decide, I expect that you are all as weary as I am. We had better halt here for what is left of the night." With a great sigh of relief I let down my sack, as did Sam and the others. We descended the small flight of stairs where we found a flat stone area; it was perhaps used for guards who watched the three passages. We camped there for the night and I laid my mat. Many of us did not sleep until later, and before we talked. I didn't participate in the conversations for once and I mostly kept to myself as I mulled things over. 'You know, this would be a good time to thank Legolas. I mean, it wouldn't hurt.' I thought to myself; I looked over and saw him standing on a ledge, looking out over Moria. A part of me didn't want to thank him, but that would be stupid and childish of me. 'Besides, maybe it will encourage him to break the ice…or, something…' So I stood and walked slowly to where Legolas stood.

"Legolas?" I asked him, but he did not reply. "Hey, I know we aren't…on the best of terms right now, but I still wanted to come and tell you this." He still did not look at me. "I…I want to…thank you, I guess, for saving me a few nights ago…when we were attacked." He still did not look at me as I continued slowly, "I know you shot a lot of Wargs that night, and that Warg was just one of who knows how many, but it was going to attack me and it would have if you didn't stop it. I thank you for that. So, thank you very much." I waited in silence for a while for him to reply but he said nothing. I bit my tongue before managing to say calmly, "Well, I'm going to bed, good night." As I turned to walk away, I heard him say something.

"I heard you saying something, the night of the attack." I turned back around and saw him looking at me from his ledge. I was confused. "You asked Aragorn if your guilt for killing the wolves was validated." He paused and I wondered what he was getting at. "It was…charming." He paused again as if he had more to say then continued, "You're welcome." I looked at him in a confused manner and he said again, "You're welcome for my help. We must work together…if we are to be successful." I nodded and replied,

"Yeah, I guess. I'm going to bed, good night." And with that I walked off thinking, 'What a hypocrite…or is that a change of heart? Boy, for being perfect Elves are seriously emotional. As I walked back to my mat, Gandalf intercepted me.

"I saw what you did back there." He said to me with a raised eyebrow and an amused tone of voice. I began to open my mouth to explain my self but Gandalf stopped me. "He's known since we left Rivendell, Elrond told him." I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Give it time."

"Wait, time? He's an elf Gandalf, he has all the time in the world." I paused as I laughed and said, "It's me who doesn't have a lot of time." Gandalf chuckled and and said quietly,

"Well try…" I smiled and laughed at Gandalf as I said,

"Okay Gandalf. I am going to bed, goodnight." He patted my shoulder as I went to my mat where I fell asleep immediately.