Disclaimer: See chapter one

Foreword: Welcome to the second chapter, ya'll. Remember if this it totally weird its because it was a dream I had. So without further ado: The second chapter:

These bonds that bind us

Chapter two: Gone?

"THEY WENT WHERE?!" Aragorn's voice could be heard all around the city. "TO DO WHAT?!" He was outraged, nearly snatching the note from a servant's hand. He read the elvish handwriting and nearly fell out of his chair.

"THAT RECKLESS ELF!!!"

Arwen entered then, a shawl draped over her shoulders, "Estel? What is it?" She hurried to his side, dismissing the scared servant. He ran off and shut the room's doors. "Meleth?" She inquired, taking the note from his slack hand.

"Moria?" She read, her voice laced with horror, "Why in Elbereth's name would he-"

"A promise." He muttered, cutting her off. "A promise to restore Moria to its former glory. Legolas had promised Gimli that when they last visited together here. In return Gimli would help Thranduil rebuild Eryn Lasgalen."

"I had heard that, but I thought it was only a joke, a boast." She collapsed next to her husband. "But to actually...It is a death wish, Moria is overrun with orcs and trolls. They would never make it out."

Aragorn stood and called for paper. When they arrived he began scribbling frantically. Peering over his shoulder, Arwen saw one was addressed to her father, the other to Thranduil. "What good will-"

"To send help." The king muttered, "before it is too late."

"Do you think Aragorn's noticed we're gone?" Gimli asked, turning around in the saddle to see Legolas a few steps behind, repairing some broken arrow shafts. The dwarf would never admit it, but he liked to ride and when Legolas had asked him a year ago if he had wanted to learn how, well...There was a reason why he was on his own horse this time.

"That adan?" Legolas snorted, "I'm surprised he hasn't sent out his entire army to come and 'rescue' us." He returned the arrows to his quiver and caught up to his dwarf-friend. "I'm also surprised you haven't fallen off yet."

Gimli scowled, "I can handle myself, thank you."

"I never said you couldn't. I just made an observation."

"WAS THAT HONESTY FROM AN ELF?!" Gimli grabbed his chest, "OH DEAR! I THINK IM GOING TO FAINT!"

Legolas swatted at him as they continued on. Unbeknownst to the dwarf he had taken them a back way. They would be at Moria at the end of the day if not the morning.

Aragorn paced the room for what had to be the fiftieth time. "They're adults, I shouldn't have to mother them. I'm not mothering them, am I?" He turned to look at Arwen, who was regarding him with a thoughtful expression.

"No, meleth. You're being too overprotective. Both of them are older than you, Legolas by nearly five hundred years! You don't need to worry about them, they can take care of themselves."

"Which is exactly why I am worried! They're BOTH hardheaded and stubborn, they'll need my help by nightfall!"

"Well they're going to have to survive this one on their own. The letters should be at Rivendell and Eryn Lasgalen in two weeks. Do not give up hope, meleth. They will be fine." She leaned over and wrapped her husband in her arms, muttering to him sweetly in elvish. She talked about their love, their unborn child, and the hope that would get them through anything life could throw at them. Together.

Gimli saw where they were and gasped. "Legolas! How did you get us here so fast?!"

"I can handle myself." The elf chuckled, "Besides I want to get everything done before Estel himself comes to haul us back to Minas Tirith."

"But we are nearly there!"

"Aye." The elf looked up, "But we should hurry and get over the mountains before dark."

"Over?" The dwarf blinked.

"The back entrance is blocked." Legolas explained, squinting his eyes against the sun, "We would have no hope of getting through it. We need to loop around and head in the front."

"That was blocked too." Gimli pointed out.

"Then how have the orcs been getting in, mellon-nin?"

The dwarf grumbled to himself, "Fine, fine. Just how long will it take us?"

The silvan elf sighed as his horse hit the first snow pile. "Tomorrow." He reported as the two plowed on through the snow. "No later."

"What about getting over the mountain?"

"Without four hobbits to hinder us? Not too long."

"I thought it wasn't going to take long?" Gimli grumbled as they pressed on against the wind. Suddenly he was pushed off of his horse and into the snow.

"It wouldn't if I was alone." The elf retorted, helping the dwarf up and stopping any attempt at retaliation. "Anyway, we are nearly there."

"You said that an hour ago."

Legolas pointed and Gimli could faintly make out the jumbled entrance to Moria. Boulders still blocked the entrance, but nothing they couldn't climb over. The silvan elf had been right. Chuckling the dwarf rode ahead, stopping when he reached the edge of the mountains and the beginning of the lake.

"Legolas."

"I know." The elven prince muttered, stringing his bow quickly, "You go first. If he surfaces I'll blind him in his other eye for old times sake."

Gimli snorted and urged his horse on, making it halfway before the stallion slipped and a few rocks tumbled into the water. Holding his breath he waited. When nothing happened the dwarf turned and smiled apologetically at Legolas, he motioned him forward.

Happier now that he knew nothing was going to jump out at him, Gimli rode forward, stopping at the ruined gates. Dismounting he called back to the elf, only realizing his mistake when the water began to ripple.

Legolas gasped, riding over the thin span of dirt quickly, "GIMLI!"

The dwarf backed up, unable to do anything as the watchman in the water raised its ugly head and regarded his next meal with beady eyes.

Afterword: End of chapter two. So whatcha think? RR!! Oh and if I don't update in a while don't shoot me, I am in the state of hurricanes. And Im lucky I even have my house! So I'm trying to catch up with everything...and FF might be a little low on the list. Just a warning!

Deana: Ask and ye shall receive!