Liviya's POV

The Fellowship were walking along the far shore of a dark lake...directly

below great looming cliffs. "The walls of Moria! Footing is treacherous on the

narrow strip of green and greasy stones." Gimli said in awe as we gazed at our surroundings. I started to see things of the past again, horrible things. Gandalf touched the smooth rock wall between the trees... slowly, faint lines appeared like slender veins of luminous silver running through the stone.

"Itidin...it mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Gandalf said as we stared at it. A large moon rose over the mountains... The lines grew Broader and Clearer, forming a glowing arch of interlacing ancient letters and symbols. Vuki, noticed my distress and blindfolded me.

"Can you still see?" He asked gently, I could, it was as if the blindfold cut out the visions only. "Yes," I whispered softly. "The horrible visions are gone." "The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter." Gandalf continued as he tried to guess how to open the door.

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked aloud. "It's quite simple. If you are a friend,speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf told him as he raised his arms and incanted. "Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!" The cliff towered into the night, the wind blows cold, Frodo shivered... and the door stood fast! Gandalf continued Mumbling spells in his efforts to open the door. Sam packed the pots and pans at his feet...watching sadly as Aragorn un- saddled Bill the pony. "It's for the best Sam," I said gently. "Mines are no place for a Pony, even one so brave as Bill." "Bye, Bill." Sam sad sadly.

"Go on, Bill, go on..don't worry, Sam…Bill knows his way home." Aragorn told him as he slapped the pony gently on the rump… Bill trotted off into the night. "Goodbye, Bill." Sam said one last time. Suddenly we heard a SPLASH! Merry and Pippin were tossing stones into the lake. Black Rippling rings slowly fanned out. Pippin was about to throw another stone, but Aragorn grabbed his arm. "Do not disturb the water." He ordered ominously, my brother nodded. "One never knows in places like this."

Aragorn watched anxiously as the Ripples appeared to grow...he exchanged a look with Boromir. Aragorn's hand creeped towards his sword. Gandalf gave up in despair...he sat down beside Frodo. Frodo peered at the Elvish inscription...his face broke into a smile of comprehension.

"It's a riddle..." Frodo said quietly. Gandalf raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Speak, friend, and enter. What's the Elvish for friend?" "Oh...mellon." With that, the rock face silently divided in the middle and

two great Doors swung outwards... revealing a blackness deeper than the night. As the Fellowship entered the Blackness, something in the water stirred ...

The Fellowship stepped warily into the darkness of Moria...a Dank cavern, with winding steps leading deeper into the mountain. I shivered in fear, Vuki went closer to me. "So, master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin...and they call this a Mine..." I heard Gimli tell Legolas.

A Glow from Gandalf's Staff suddenly

lit the chamber... All recoiled in Horror! Many dwarf Skeletons were strewn about, clearly the dead of some old battle...the rusting armor and shields are peppered with arrows and axes. I gave a cry of fear and pity, Vuki hugged me and tried to shield me. Despite the blindfold I could see the scene just as the others did.

"This is no mine...it's a tomb!" Boromir declared grimly, Gimli was inconsolable. "Oh...no...no..no... !" He cried in distress. Legolas pulled a crude arrow out of a skeleton. "Goblins!" He and my brother growled at once. We drew swords and backed away, towards the Entrance. "We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir said in horror as we surveyed the awful sight.

"No," I gasped in worry. "If we go that way Sauron will find us! I will not go that way, even if the only other route was of flame and darkness!" Frodo was suddenly pulled to the ground. A long sinuous Tentacle was wrapped around Frodo's ankle and was dragging him towards the lake. Frodo cried out in terror, Aragorn and Boromir rushed forward! Aragorn severed the Tentacle holding Frodo, and pulled him to safety...Boromir hacked at the other Writhing Limbs. 20 more tentacles rippled out of the Lake!

The dark water Boiled as the hideous beast lashers out at the Us! Again the creature grabbed Frodo and pulls him to the lake, Frodo was flung in the air as the Fellowship battled the creature. Aragorn hacked at a tentacle...Frodo was released, falling into Boromir's arms. "Into the mines!" Gandalf cried and we rushed inside the passage. "Legolas!" Shouted Boromir to my kin. Legolas shot an Arrow into the creature's head, gaining a few

vital seconds for Aragorn and Boromir as they raced out of the water with Frodo.

We hurriedly backed away from the Creature... retreating into the Moria Chamber as many Coiling arms seized the large doors. With a shattering echo, the creature ripped the doors away, creating a rock slide that crashed down the Cliff Face. Within seconds, tons of rock sealed the doorway... throwing us into Pitch Blackness.

faint light rose from Gandalf's staff, throwing a Creepy Glow across the old wizards face. "We now have but one choice...we must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard...there are older and fouler things than the Orcs in the deep places of the world." Gandalf said ominously. Sam looked at me trustingly. "If orcs do come," he said to me. "You could tell them to go away and they would, I'm sure."

I smiled at him gently. "Only if they were acting without orders… if they had orders they would carry them out despite me telling them not to… they fear Sauron more than they fear his daughter." I told him softly, he still seemed reassured. We were crossing a precarious bridge above deep mine workings. "Quietly, now." Gandalf chided. "It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence will go unnoticed."

We continued up a steep stair, passing through a dwarf cemetery. The graves were despoiled...dwarf skeletons were strewn about and Goblin Graffiti was scrawled on monuments in dried Dwarf blood. The Atmosphere was very sinister. "Bloodthirsty rouges!" I cried in distress. "I wish they would go back to the foul place they came from, rather then destroy beautiful places like this!" Gimli looked at me gently and said. "I too wish that lass. But perhaps we will avenge those that fell before this journey is over."

The path split into three passages...each disappeared into dark tunnels. Gandalf paused , frowning. "I have no memory of this place." He said, Gandalf then sat and stared intently at the three tunnel mouths in front of him. Boromir approached me and said. "May I have a word, my lady?" I nodded and he led me a little ways away from the others.

"What do you want of me?" I asked. "You do not desire the ring." He said as a statement rather then a question. "No." "Why? With it you could destroy the orcs." I took a deep breath. "Yes that is how it would begin, but not end. Even Sauron was not as he is now. He was a Maiar of Aulë named Mairon, the admirable… Morgoth convinced him that he could do so much more if he worked for him. So Mairon left Aulë and went to serve Morgoth. And at first he did as he planed and shaped parts of the world. But little by little, he was corrupted and by the time of Morgoth's defeat, he was Sauron, the abhorred."

Boromir looked at me in shock, I tilted my head. "Yes Boromir, I know my family history… better than you know yours if I don't miss my guess… my brother made a family tree if you're interested in looking sometime… however now you know why I do not desire the ring. I take my leave if you." I finished my story and swept away. Suddenly Gandalf said with sudden brightness. "Ah! That it's that way!" And pointed at the right hand tunnel...we scrambled to our feet.

"He's remembered!" Said Merry in relief.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down there. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!" Gandalf laughed and we passed under an arched doorway into a black and empty space. "Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf said before he tapped his staff...for a brief moment a light blazed... like a silent Flash of. Lightning.Great shadows sprung up and fled...

"Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!" Gandalf declared grandly.Frodo gasped at the brief sight of a vast roof, far above our heads, upheld by many mighty pillars hewn of stone. Before us stretched a huge empty hall, with black walls, polished and smooth as glass. "Well, there's an eye opener and no mistake!" Sam said admiringly. Ahead of us, a wooden door had been smashed. Black arrows were embedded in the timbers. Two goblin skeletons lay in the doorway. Gimli rushed ahead...

"Gimli!!" Gandalf cried out to the dwarf.

Gimli rushed into another vast empty chamber... lit with a narrow shaft of sunlight, beaming in from a small hole near the roof. Dwarf and Goblin skeletons were piled high. In the far corner sat a stone walled Well. A shaft of light fell directly onto a stone table in the middle of the room: a single oblong block,

about 4 feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone. Gimli fell to his knees...

"No...no...oh, no!" Gimli sobbed in grief. Gandalf quietly read an inscription of runes, carved onto the white stone slab. "'Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead, then. It's as I had feared." He said as he carefully lifted the rotting remains of a book from the white stone slab. It had been slashed and stabbed...and appeared to be covered in Dried Blood. The pages cracked and broke a he opened it...

"We must move on, we cannot

linger." Legolas said to Aragorn urgently. "They have taken the Bridge and the second hall: we have barred the gates...but cannot hold them for long...the ground shakes...drums in the deep...we cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no- one save us? They are coming." Gandalf read, this made all uneasy.

Unnerved, Pippin backed away nervously...He stumbled against the well, sending a precariously balanced Armored skeleton tumbling in! Merry reached out and managed to grab hold of Pippin before he fell. We froze in stunned silence as the armored skeleton clattered down the deep well...echoing loudly! Gandalf turned angrily on Pippin. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Gandalf said to him angrily. Pippin hung his head in shame.

We all fell silent. A low rolling boom rose from the depths below... and continued growing louder as if the caverns of Moria were turned into a vast drum. A great horn blasted nearby...Answering horns ... running feet...harsh cries... "Mr. Frodo!" Sam cried, a way of asking Frodo to check for orcs. Frodo looked down. A cold blue glow was emanating from Sting's Scabbard! Frodo drew the Sword...and stared at its glowing blade!

"Orcs !" Legolas said and made ready for battle. "Get back! Stay close to Gandalf." Ordered the hobbits. Aragorn and Boromir slammed and wedged the doors. Boromir caught sight of something; he turned to Aragorn with shock in his eyes. "They have a cave troll!" He said, Gimli snatched up two rusty dwarf axes and jumped onto the tomb. "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"

He yelled in anger, his loss made him fearless.

"Leave us alone!" I shrieked, using my Maia voice and speaking in the orcs' tongue. "I am the daughter of Sauron, and if you come any closer you shall rue it!" The orcs on the other side seemed a bit taken aback and frightened, but one responded, saying. 'Dear princess, we have orders from your Father to catch you all… but we will not harm a hair of your heads once we do… those are our orders."

The Door burst open in a shower of wood fragments, and 20 Goblins charged into the tomb, followed by a huge cave troll! Gimli ducked a blow and immediately buried his Axes in 2 Goblin helmets. Aragorn and Boromir waded into the mass of Goblins with their swords. Legolas fired deadly arrows into Goblin throats, desperately trying to Shield the Hobbits! Gandalf was clutching his sword and joins in the battle! Vuki used the shadows to tear apart some orcs. I shoved fire down ones throat.

The cave troll was sweeping his club at Aragorn...who stumbled backwards...the huge club descended for the killing blow...suddenly, in a flash of steel, Boromir's long sword sliced into the Scaly arm of the troll; it reared back, spewing green blood! Sam was backing up against a wall...a sword in one hand, a saucepan in the other. In desperation

he swung wildly at a Goblin with a saucepan! It keeled over...Sam looks surprised. He walloped another Goblin and it too, dropped .

"I think I'm getting the hang of this." He cried to me, I laughed and said. "I name your saucepan, Bonk- cuncusser of Orcs" The Cave Troll lunged forward, thrusting

at Frodo's chest with his spear. "Aragorn! Aragorn!" Frodo shrieked. Sam screamed as Frodo was lifted off his feet by the spear tip and slammed against the wall. I gave a cry of pain. "Frodo!!" Aragorn cried in despair. The hobbits went crazy.

Sam slashed at the cave troll's knee, bringing him down...Merry and Pippin jumped on him...Legolas fired an arrow...and the cave troll toppled, dead. Aragorn rushed to Frodo's side as he slumps to the floor...Frodo appeared to be dead. All of us were filled with horror... Suddenly Frodo coughed and took a huge breath.

"He's alive!" Sam said in delight, I gave a laugh of relief. "I'm alright. I'm not hurt." Frodo said, Aragorn shook his head in disbelief. "You should be dead. That spear would've skewered a wild boar!" "I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf said, Frodo

opened his shirt to reveal a Mithril Vest. The Troll Spear did not pierce the mithril.

"Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins." Gimli exclaimed excitedly. the sound of the drums rang out again Gandalf turned to the others. "To the bridge of Khazad-dum!" He ordered, and we ran for it.

Gandalf led us into the huge Dwarrowdelf

Chamber. "This way!" Gandalf cried as we tried to get out. We hurried towards a distant door...as Goblins started scuttling down the Pillars behind us, like cockroaches! Frodo looked with horror at the overwhelming Goblin army that was rushing toward us. A deafening roar suddenly filled the air! A fiery light danced down the hallway... the pillars were casting eerie shadows. The Goblins froze. They backed fearfully away from the approaching beast...melting into the darkness.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf. A huge shadow, surrounded by flame, fell across the hall..the ground shook...an unearthly sound rumbled... "Alas, alas," my brother cried in anger and fear. "It is one of MY Father's servants! A balrog! A balrog is come!" "This foe is beyond any of you! Run! Quickly!" Gandalf ordered urgently, we had no trouble obeying. The balrog, a massive creature rose from a chasm, a great 40 foot man-beast, with a mane of flames! In one hand it held a blade...like a stabbing tongue of fire; in the other, a whip of many thongs. Aragorn led us to the top of a dizzying stairway...Gandalf followed, leaning heavily on his staff.

"Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." Gandalf ordered Aragorn. Aragorn hesitated Gandalf looked at him sternly. "Do as I say; swords are no more use here." Came the order and we raced down the stairway. Aragorn picked up Frodo..and gave a leap across a gaping chasm. A narrow bridge ,spanning a bottomless pit...Gandalf yelled to us: Aragorn made to throw Gimli across the Chasm. "Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Gimli said and he jumped. His feet made it but he tipped backwards. Legolas managed to grab him by the beard and this caused Gimli to cry out. "Not the beard!"

The balrog smashed through the wall and

spread its vast wings. It swooped down past us, disappearing into a flaming pit! We ran into a hall...the floor was

split with fissures that spat flame. "Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf yelled to us. We raced towards the slender bridge of stone...without kerb or rail...at the far end of the hall. We recklessly hurried over the dizzying bridge..but Gandalf... the last..paused in the middle of the span...he faced the Balrog...staff in one hand...Sword in the other! Frodo and I looked back in horror.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf yelled at the balrog. "Gandalf!" Frodo and I cried out at the same time, but he paid us no heed. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun." Gandalf yelled at the beast. We watched helplessly as the Balrog put one foot on the bridge and drew up to its Full Height, wings spread from wall-to-wall. Gandalf was a tiny figure, balanced precariously on the narrow bridge. "Go back to the shadow!" Gandalf ordered the horrible creature.

The balrog slashed at Gandalf with its Sword of flame...Gandalf blocked with his sword...a ringing clash and the Balrog's sword shattered into molten fragments! "You shall not pass!!" Gandalf boomed, The Balrog placed one foot onto the bridge. Aragorn and Boromir raced forward, swords drawn. Gandalf cried out as he summoned his last reserve of strength. He thumped the bridge with his staff...a blinding sheet of white flame sprung up... the staff shattered...the bridge broke... right at Balrog's feet.

The stone bridge dropped away into the gulf out from under the Balrog. For a moment, the great Beast remained poised in the air...then it plunged down. Relief flooded my veins, but Gandalf

remained trembling on the lip of the broken bridge. As the balrog falls, he lashed out with his whip of fire...The thongs of the whip lashed and curled around Gandalf's knees, dragging him over the brink! Gandalf just managed to hang on by his fingertips. "Gandalf!" Frodo and I cried out again.

"Fly, you fools!" He ordered fiercely, before he let go of his grip and fell away... following the Balrog into the bottomless Abyss! "NOOO!!" Frodo and I shrieked Boromir scooped Frodo up and carried him away. Vuki grabbed me and pulled me away. We rushed towards an archway. We tumbled out of the Great Eastern Gate on

to a grassy sunlit hillside. Sam, Merry, Pippin, and I fell slowly to the ground, Sobbing...Aragorn turned to Legolas and Gimli. "Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn ordered urgently. "Give them a moment...for pity's sake!" Boromir told him harshly. "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. On your feet, Sam." Aragorn said, Legolas tried to get me up.

"No, no!" I shrieked and pushed him away. "He was my father! No! I cannot bear to leave him!" Vuki gently lifted me up. "If you stay, Sauron will get you, and he will torment you, daughter or not. Come my poor one." He told me as he led me to follow the others.