Title: Chapter 2

Author: Reber

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"Who goes there?" Gandalf called into the shadows.

"You are on my territory," the voice came. "Tell me, who are you?"

"We are looking for someone," Gandalf informed. "Perhaps you know of him, Gimli, son of Gloin?"

"What business is it of yours if I do?" the voice still would not reveal himself.

"We are good friends of his," Aragorn stated. "He was kidnaped, and he might be staying here."

"Please," Legolas begged. "We need to see him, to make sure that he's okay, to say..."

"All right," the voice finally came into the light. Everyone stared in amazement at the sight before them. Instead of a Dwarf, a large Warg stood before them, his black coat glistening in the mountain sun.

"You're... You're..." Pippen stammered, staring wide-eyed.

"My name is Stonehelm," the Warg glared. "And I am an ally of the Dwarves who live here. In exchange for a safe place to raise my pack, I guard these gates."

The Warg that stood before them was by no means ugly. In fact, he looked like a normal beautiful wolf, but ten times the size. He could look Shadowfax in the eye, easily. Steely yellow eyes glanced at the odd Fellowship.

"Wait here," Stonehelm turned and walked into the entryway, toenails clicking upon the polished marble floor.

"Can we be of service?" a voice came from behind them.

The Fellowship turned and looked at a Dwarf riding a Warg, an axe clutched tightly in one hand, the other hand gripping the Warg's thick silver mane. The Dwarf jumped down and the Warg shook himself off.

"We are looking for Gimli," Gandalf informed. "Master Stonehelm has already went inside to do something."

The Warg and the Dwarf exchanged dark looks. "I'm afraid Gimli doesn't talk much nowadays. When we found him..."

"Was he okay?" Legolas interrupted. "What happened?"

"I don't exactly know what happened to him, but I was out on patrol when I found him." the Dwarf grimaced. "He was barely alive, chained in an Orc cave, beaten and starved. Quicksilver and I had to kill many Orcs to rescue him. When we did, it was quite the ordeal to get him back to a safe haven."

"It was hard," the Warg known as Quicksilver agreed. "Trying to run away Orcs, that is something that just isn't natural for a purebred Warg."

"Aren't Wargs usually... Uglier?" Sam just couldn't keep quiet any longer. "No offense, Mister Quicksilver."

"You're talking about those shaggy brown inbred things that the Orcs ride?" Quicksilver rolled his eyes. "We are the last of the purebred Wargs, and as long as we continue to be allies with the Dwarves, we might just make it."

A short silence passed between the groups when the Dwarf spoke again.

"Forgive me, I am Marin, son of Balin," the Dwarf bowed low.

Gandalf slid off Shadowfax, returning the bow. "I am Mithrindir," Gandalf looked at the young Dwarf curiously. "I was not aware that Balin had any children, forgive me."

"He had three: Marin, Furi, and Miri. I am the eldest." Marin stated. "I was not aware that the legend of Mithrindir was true, forgive me."

"I was not aware that the Dwarves were so polite," Aragorn murmured to Elrond. "From what I've seen, Dwarves are..."

"You will not see that in Moria," Quicksilver interrupted. "This is an entirely different breed of everything, and we all do things quite different around here."

"Then I will be excited to see what you have done inside," Gandalf looked around the beautiful gardens. "I was not aware that Dwarves had such gardening skills."

"Yes, well the womenfolk certainly have their ways," Marin blushed. "They have done wonders with the designs, yet it's the menfolk that do all the labor."

The rest of the Fellowship had dismounted and took their gear off of their horses. It had been a long ride, and the horses were glad to rest. Some of them wandered over to the pond, drinking deeply from the cool, clear water.

"At least there's no monsters in there," Pippin remarked.

"So, I guess the question now is, why did you rebuild Moria?" Gandalf leaned upon his white staff.

"Simple really," Marin shrugged. "We Dwarves needed a safe haven, and also a base of operations in the War against the darkness. When we lost King Dain and King Brand... We declared that no more losses would be put upon the Dwarves.

We have done wonders with the mine, yet there is much to be done. Darkness still dwells in its depths, and we still wage battles every day against it."

"All this..." Marin opened his arms. "Is not just a safe haven for Dwarves. It is a safe place for anyone and everyone to go, but Orc and Darkness are not welcome here."

"What kind of Darkness do you mean?" Gandalf's curiosity had been piqued.

"There are monsters in the depths," Marin explained. "I do not mean Orc or Troll or even Balrog. No, this is something much more dangerous. Something even the Ring could not destroy."

"Then I shall have to take a look," Gandalf declared.

"Indeed you will," Stonehelm had returned. "Master Gimli, although weak, is very excited to see you. He is staying in the healing rooms of the Mine.

"Please... Follow me."

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What new and interesting things await them in the new Mines of Moria?

Reber