Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR, or POTC, or Harry Potter, or Kel or Neal.

A/N: I've just finished editing this chapter as well, and now it's LONGER! Yay! It's described in more detail, though I'm still not sure if there's enough interaction between characters, as I have received 2 reviews about lack of interaction. Anyway, review and tell me if this is an improvement!

The Fellowship traveled in silence until they reached a shelter. Since Itarilde and Emily had nothing to do, they decided to polish their already spotless bows, given to them by Elrond when they had started practicing archery in Rivendell. They had also been given elven swords - shortened, of course. As with all elven swords, half of the sword was blade and the other half handgrip.

Kel, upon leaving, was presented with an elven spear of the second age, greatly resembling her Yamani glaive. At the moment, she was practicing pattern dances with it.

Harry had been given an elven bow, as well as an ancient Numenorean sword.

And lastly, Elrond had presented Neal with a beautiful elven shield, for deflecting any blows he might receive for his big mouth.

Now, the Company was hiding under bushes, anywhere that they wouldn't be seen. They rested for a few hours, until Aragorn decided it was safe to journey on.

For 2 weeks their days proceeded in that way. They would journey through the night, rest from noon till sunset, and continue on. On the 14th night, they stopped on a hilltop and lit a fire. This was the first fire they'd had since they left Rivendell, and it was welcomed gladly.

Suddenly, Harry looked up at the sky. Something up there was making him uneasy. Then, he saw it: A dark, dense cloud was drawing ever closer to the Fellowship.

"Aragorn!" he shouted. "Over there!"

Aragorn's reaction was immediate. "Hide!" he ordered, and started gathering up the objects they had left lying around. Boromir stomped out the fire and everyone literally dove into the hedges. As the cloud passed overhead, Itarilde heard Aragorn mutter, "Crebain of Fangorn and Dunland!"

"They're spies of Saruman." Gandalf whispered.

Emily peered curiously from a spot between 2 branches. The cloud consisted of bird-like creatures, resembling crows, but greater in size.

They waited until the crebain had passed, they cautiously crept out of the hedge to continue on their way.

"The passage to the south is being watched. We must go through the passage of Redhorn," announced Gandalf.

The Pass of Caradhras. . .

Itarilde shivered, her numb feet plodding through the knee-high snow. She gritted her teeth and silently cursed the mountain. A snowstorm had started up the moment the 14 of them had set food in the snow. Well, except for Legolas. He on the other hand, was walking on top of the snow lightly. Elves, thought Emily, It's not fair.

Suddenly, Frodo tripped and fell, somersaulting a few feet down. Boromir picked up the

Ring, which Frodo had dropped, and held it up to get a good look. "It is a strange fate. . . that we should suffer so much, for so small a thing."

Emily stared at him. Boromir had a glazed look in his eyes. He didn't seem to be aware of the Fellowship, waiting for him to return the Ring to Frodo. He certainly didn't seem inclined to do the latter.

Aragorn gripped the hilt of his sword. "Boromir, give the Ring to Frodo."

With a great effort, Boromir managed to tear his eyes from the object in his hand. He handed it to Frodo, after a moment's hesitation, ruffling the hobbit's hair. Slowly and discreetly, Aragorn released his sword.

They soon came up onto a ledge. The wind suddenly picked up, whipping the snow harshly into their faces. Soon they would be in the danger of falling into the crevice to their right.

"There's a fell voice in the air!" announced Legolas.

Straining her ears, Kel could hear it too. A deep voice, chanting words that she could not understand.

"Cuiva nwalca Carnirassë! Nai yarvaxëa rasselya taltuva ñotto-carinnar!" (Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your blood-stained horn fall upon the enemies!)

"It's Saruman!" shouted Gandalf.

Now that's stupid, thought Emily, Gandalf, of all people, should know never to shout on a snow mountain! He'll bring the entire thing down on us!

Gandalf then started to chant as well.

"Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" (Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)

A roar was heard from above them. Kel glanced up, only to see what she had been afraid of. The snow that was piled on the ledged above them collapsed on them with tremendous force, burying the Fellowship and knocking the wind out of everybody.

Legolas was the first to emerge from the thick blanket of snow above him. He scanned the ground, wondering if anyone had fallen over the ledge. Aragorn and Boromir appeared soon afterward, and helped the elf uncover the rest of the Fellowship. Legolas counted silently the number of people uncovered. Twelve. . .

"Where's Neal?" he asked Aragorn. The ranger didn't know. The two searched frantically for the missing man while the others debated about their route.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir had to shout to be heard over the roar of the wind.

"No!" Gandalf replied, "The gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"

"If we cannot go over a mountain, let us pass under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria," Gimli suggested.

Gandalf sighed. He wanted with all his heart to refuse Gimli. Moria was a dangerous place. There was no telling whether they would come out of the mountain alive. But then, standing on top of Caradhras, with the winds battering ice and snow on them, ready to sweep them off the mountain with the barest push, it was hardly safer.

"Let the Ringbearer decide," Gandalf came to the conclusion that, even though he couldn't decide where to take them, somebody had to.

"We will go through the mines," Frodo told them, in a high, unsteady voice.

Gandalf lowered his eyes. "So be it."

Legolas and Aragorn were still looking for Neal.

"This doesn't look good. He should have come up by now. . . unless he was pushed over the ledge, or unconscious, or. . ." Aragorn didn't want to think about the possibilities.

"We have to find him soon, or he will freeze to death!"

With that thought in mind, the elf and man quickened their search. Before long Aragorn stumbled upon a figure lying under the snow. He dragged it out. It was Neal.

When Neal finally got his head above the snow, he was sure he must have been half-dead. If he had been cold before, then surely he now must have been frozen into the ground. He surfaced just in time to hear Frodo say that they would go through the mines of Moria. He felt a sense of relief wash over him. Kel made her way over.

"Are you okay?" Kel eyed him with concern. He had been buried for so long. . .

Neal nodded. He was a bit frozen, but he would survive, or so he hoped. As they descended, however, he was stricken with a pleasant, warm feeling which jolted through his body. He wanted just to lie down and fall asleep. Kel walked over to him, sensing that something was not right. Something about the way Neal dragged his feet, and moved with such lethargy, his eyes awash with exhaustion . . . it occurred to her that he might be suffering hypothermia that very instant. She watched, horrified, as Neal continued to stagger on, and wondered how much longer he could keep up.

Eventually, they reached the entrance of the Mines, just as Neal was beginning to give in to the drowsiness. As Gandalf tried to open the door, Kel wrapped Neal in his bedroll and hope fervently that he would get better soon. Unfortunetly, she possessed no magical Gift and could not do anything except keep her friend warm.

"So, where are these doors?" Itarilde asked.

"Ah, Dwarf-doors. . ." Gimli relished every word. "They cannot be seen when they are shut, and sometimes even their own masters cannot find them."

Legolas made a distinct noise that sounded much like a snort and muttered something along the lines of, "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

Gimli glared at him. "You didn't let me finish. Only if the secret is forgotten will they not be found by anyone."

"And the secret?" Legolas still looked highly skeptical.

"Their secret lies where moonlight shines."

Everyone was still trying to guess what he meant when the moon shone on a smooth but dusty wall. On the wall, lines of light formed and spread to make a figure outlining the doors of Moria. A number of elvish words were also illuminated. Itarilde attempted to read the words.

"The doors of Durin, something of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, something something. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew something something."

Aragorn shook his head and laughed. "Your elvish is getting rusty. Have you forgotten everything Legolas and I taught you?" He smiled slightly at Itarilde's chagrined face. She was rather sensitive about critism, especially when it came to her education. "Don't worry, I'll teach you more elvish sometime. The words say, 'The doors of Durin, lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.'"

"Speak, friend, and enter. . . but what does that mean?" Merry asked.

"Well, that's very simple," Gandalf told him. "If you're a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open. Annon adhellen, edro hi ammen! (Gate of the elves, open for me now)" Nothing happened. "Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!" (doorway of the dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue). Still nothing.

"They don't seem to be opening." Itarilde commented, as if it were really necessary.

"What are you going to do then?" Pippin gathered the courage to ask.

"Go knock your head against them, Peregrin Took. At least that may allow me a bit of peace!"

At first Pippin really looked like he was going to bang his head on the doors. He approached them, staring at the words.

"It's a riddle! Gandalf! I've figured it out! You need to speak the elvish word for 'friend!'"

Gandalf looked up in amazement, as if stunned that a simple-minded hobbit could have possibly figured out the solution.

"Well, Peregrin Took, it appears you have some use after all, though I wouldn't be surprised if you woke the dead with all the racket you are making. Quiet down, for goodness sake," to the doors he said in a commanding tone, "Mellon."

Kel was still watching Neal's sleeping form. He appeared to be getting better, though once in a while a shiver seemed to pass through his body. He awoke just as the great stone doors creaked open.

"Are you still cold?" Kel asked her friend worriedly. Neal shook his head, feeling much better than he had a few hours ago. Kel sighed with relief and made him put on a thick coat before they followed the rest of the Fellowship into the Mines. Everyone rushed inside, grateful to be away from the dark pool behind them, and in doing so, neglected to notice the water stir and ripple.