Edited 1/2/20

Chapter 8

Soon the fellow ship was standing in front of the wall that held the door. Harry watched while Gandalf unearthed the door. "The doors are seen in only stare light and moonlight." He then looked the sky right when the moon was uncovered by the clouds and the doors started to glow. "It reads 'the doors of Durin lord of Moria, speak friend and enter." Gandalf read off to them.

Merry asked "What do you supposed that means?"

Gandalf was happy to answer "It is simple you just speak the password and the doors will open." Then Gandalf started chanting with his staff to the door. For a while Gandalf kept at it trying different things until he just gave up. Merry was skipping rocks until Aragorn gabbed his hand to stop him Harry close by "Do not disturb the water." Aragorn said

"Yes evil lurks beneath." Harry added.

Frodo stood and looked at what was written on the doors and said "It's a riddle, speak friend and enter, What is the elvish word for friend."

James answered "Melon but why-?" before he could finish his sentence the doors slid open. Gandalf laughed and Gimlie started spouted off about how they all would be getting the hospitably of the dwarves roaring fired, molt beer, ripe meet of the bone. Harry knew that he mines had been plagued with Orcs but he did not know how bad it had gotten until he looked around and he heard Borimire say "This is no mine it's a tomb." Then he saw the tentacle of a squid grab Frodo and rushed into action.

Aragorn and Borimire had jumped into action as well Harry saw when they got Frodo away and yelled "Get into the mines you'll be safer there go!"

Aragorn yelled back "Come with us I'm not leaving you out here?"

Harry's eyes flashed as he yelled "I can take care of myself get to safety."

Aragorn knew they had no choice hoping that Harry would be ok Aragorn took Frodo into the mines and just after everyone but Harry was inside the door caved in. James, Remus, and Sirius all started to try and dig back out to reach Harry and get him back to safety but failed. Just as they stopped and Gandalf got a light on his staff to lead them Harry appirated right in saying "The squid is not\w dead, miss me." He was smiling at everyone James and Aragorn ran over to him and smacked him over the head saying

"Idiot you could have been killed."

"Hey I knew what I was doing stop hitting me." His father hit him one more time upside the head then pulled his son into his embrace whispering "I can't lose you not again, I love you too much."

Harry hugged his dad back "I can't lose you either I got a second chance with you all. If I lost you or mum or Sirius and Remus I would not know what to do anymore. I can't be the cause of you death again."

James heard that and knew his son still blamed himself for the first time he had lost all of them. "Hey it's never been your fault and it never will be. We will always protect you just as you now protect us. We love you and I promised your mother and myself that I will never abandon you. Now let's get on through these mines before everyone else gets annoyed." Harry just nodded and squeezed his dad n a hug which was returned then they released each other looking to Gandalf for what they were supposed to do.

"We all have but one choice we must face the long dark of Moria, be on your guard there are fowler things than just orcs in the deep places in the world. It is five days till the other side let us hope our presence here will go unnoticed."

For about a three and a half days they walked through the mines without being noticed by anything. But then they came across a three way passage and Gandalf could not remember which of the three was the right way and they decided to camp for the night.

Harry sat further from everyone as the weight of what he would soon have to do weighed on him. He did not notice that Aragorn noticed him sitting alone furthest from the fire looking like the weight of middle earth was on his shoulders. He decided he needed to help his friend trying not the let the attraction he had the elf get in his way.

Aragorn sat down by Harry in silence for a few minutes until he could not keep the silence. "What is wrong Harry I can tell you are trying to hide it but you are troubled so tell me what is going so I can help." Harry looked at Aragorn out of the corner of his eyes and then looked back down debating whether or not he should say anything, but then he remembered what Mandose said and started to talk.

"I worried I won't be able to save Gandalf. When I saved Frodo on whether top I did it by pure instinct but I am still knew to my powers I know what I can do but when it comes time to do it I don't know I'd I will be able to. If I fail it will be my fault I know he will not die we will be without him for a while and Frodo will be depressed without him. He looks up to Gandalf I can't fail yet I fear I will."

By the time Harry was finished tears were streaming down his face. Aragorn saw this and knew what he had to do. He pulled Harry into his arms and said "Harry no one will blame you if you fail. No one is infallible not even you. Whatever happens I will be here with you, all of us will. I know you will do what you can but we won't blame you if fail as long as you tried. I won't abandon you none of us will, we need to stick together no matter what. I promise."

Harry smiles lightly knowing he would do what he could all he could do was hope he did not fail he dried his tears then looked up at Aragorn "Thank you, you have given me the hope that I can do it but I won't lose everyone if I fail. I guess it just old fears from before coming back. But thank you." With that Harry kissed Aragorn's cheek then realized what he had done "I'm am so-."

Harry was silenced by Aragorn putting a finger over Harry's mouth saying "Don't say you're sorry for I'm not just know I am glad you're able be yourself around me."

After that Aragorn pulled Harry to his feet and lead him to the fire and sat him down so he could warm up. James came over to them and asked "Aragorn could I speak to you for a minute?" Aragorn nodded and went to the same place Harry had just been and James asked "What is your intention for my son?"

Aragorn was stunned but he thought about it then said "Right now I just want to get to know him better I feel a strong pull to him that I felt since before we left Rivendell. But I don't know what I feel yet but I know I will never hurt him, I just want to protect him but I know more I will let you know." James just nodded then they went back to the fire and waited for Gandalf to remember the way.

On the fourth day Gandalf was talking with Frodo Harry as the only one awake and listened as well. "I wish the ring had never come to me, I wish none of this had happened." Frodo said Gandalf looked at the young hobbit and said "So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide all you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you." Gandalf looked over at Harry as well when he said this and Harry knew that Gandalf was not just talking to Frodo but him as well "And that is an encouraging thought." Harry just smiled and Frodo was comforted.

"Ah it's that one." Gandalf then said waking everyone up

"He's remembered." Merry exclaimed

"No but the air does not smell so foul down here, when in doubt always follow your nose."

Harry could not help but laugh at that saying Jokingly "You really are nuts aren't you old man." Gandalf just laughed and shook his head then they carried on.

About a half a day later they came to a let out at the end of the tunnel and Gandalf brightend his light and said "Behold the great dwarf city of Dwelendelf."

Harry was shaking as he saw the whole room without Gandalf's light and he saw even the children had been killed no was left "A city no more but a grave yard even the children have been killed." Gimlie then yelled out and ran for a cavern Harry followed and saw a tomb that Gimlie was crying over he walked over and put a hand on Gimlie's shoulder "I am sorry my friend I did not know they were all gone. I am so sorry."

He the listened as Gandalf picked up a book from the scribe who lay dead "They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gated but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes a shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out, they are coming!" then Merry accidently pushed a skeleton into the well right next to them. Gandalf turned and was angry "Fool of a Took through yourself in next time a rid us of you stupidity."

That pissed Harry off "Never say that in front of me again he is young and never tell an ally to kill themselves in war they just might. Never tell anyone in this fellowship to kill themselves again or you will not like what happens." Gandalf just nodded a little shaken.

Then they heard the drums. Harry saw what was coming and yelled "Bar the doors now!" Harry yelled the other jumped into action barring the doors with any weapons but right before the finished Borimire said "They have a cave troll."

All Harry did was say "Shit another troll." Under his breath. Harry grabbed his bow and knocked an arrow it glowed the green of the killing curse. Aragorn and Legolas had also knocked arrows. There they waited.

The orcs started breaking through and when a hole was made and arrow was fired any that Harry fired killed the one it hit as well and anywhere from three orcs around it. But soon it was not enough the door was almost broke through so they all switched to their chosen weapons Harry had a hand and half sword so he could use one or both hands Aragorn had the same Legolas pulled out his hand to hand combat daggers.

Now the doors were broken though and they were all fighting for their lives even the hobbits were fighting. For a few hours they fought until the troll came in to play and started killing anything it could reach including orcs. Soon not many orcs remained but the troll was still going after everyone then it spotted Frodo and Merry and Pippin. Merry and Pippin were fine but Frodo was in the Troll's sights Harry saw when the troll knocked out Aragorn and then stabbed Frodo. Harry yelled and bounded up the chain now caught on the wall and pulled three arrows and shot them into the trolls skull he then ran to Frodo just as Aragorn got to him turning him over. Frodo was still breathing "Your full of surprises aren't you young one." Harry laughed

Aragorn said "That spear would have skewered a wild boar."

Gandalf then said with hint a amusement in his voice "I think there is more to this young hobbit then meets the eye."

Then Frodo showed that he wore Meathril under his shirt. "You're full of surprises master Baggain's." Then they heard more orcs coming they were only a few hours from the exit of the mines and Gandalf orders "To the bridge of Kazadum." Then they ran.

A half hour from the bridge they were surrounded by orcs Harry thought they were not going to make it then he felt the one thing that he knew was what he would try to save Gandalf from.

Then he heard it. The orcs fled running and climbing to other floors through the holes in the ceiling. "What is this knew devilry?" Borimire asked.

Gandalf closed his eyes for a second then opened them saying "A Belrog a demon of the ancient world this foe is beyond any of you. Run!" They then ran until the bridge was near the stair way was broken so they all started to jump but when it was only Frodo, Aragorn, and Harry left then the piece they were on started to fall. Aragorn held both Harry and Frodo close to him and when the time came he said "Lean forward!" then the stair piece leaned forward and they were all caught by the others.

They kept going soon they were at the bridge and the Belrog right behind them and Harry turned as Gandalf stopped and turned yelling "You shall not pass!" Harry turned remembering this and he ran to Gandalf "Go Gandalf I can handle it." Harry yelled throwing up a shield "Harry, you need to guide them when I can't I will be back but this is my battle!"

Harry shook his head yelling "They need you more than me. Please let me help." Harry had tears streaming down his face Gandalf then pushed Harry back then turned yelling "You, shall not pass!" then he slammed his staff down breaking the bridge the Belrog fell into the chasm but just a Gandalf turned it's whip wrapped around Gandalf's ankle.

Harry grabbed Gandalf's hand trying to pull him back "I am not letting this happen."

Gandalf looked at Harry and said "Harry let me go they need you, I will return to you soon enough lead them with Aragorn this is what was meant to happen now let me go."

Harry cried out saying "I won't let you go, I can't do this."

"Then I will let go of you."

Then Gandalf released his grip of Harry's wrist and let his hand slide through "No, no don't do this!" Then Gandalf fell and Harry started to cry out "No Gandalf." Then a pain in his ankle brought him back to what was happening around him. He hid that he had been hit as Aragorn pulled him up and dragged him up out of the exit from the mines. Then Harry collapsed into Aragorn crying "I fail him, I failed him!" Aragorn held Harry as he cried Harry then noticed that someone was hugging his waist he looked down and saw Frodo. Harry knelt down and with tears in his eyes saying "I'm so sorry Frodo, I tried but I failed him. All I know is he is not gone, he will come back I don't know when but he will and he will be stronger for it."

"I don't blame you Harry, you did all you could and it is good to know he is not gone. None of us blame you. You tired that is all we could ask."

Harry pulled Frodo into his embrace and whispered "Thank you."

As the separated Aragorn said "Legolas, Gimlie, Borimire, Harry get them up." Borimire said "Give them a moment for pities sake."

Harry then took lead "By night fall these hill will be swarming with orcs we must make for the woods of Lothlorian" Then they started their journey Harry knew he would barely make it to Lothlorian The arrow that has stuck him was poisoned but they did not have time they had to keep going.

And now they were on their way to Lothlorian hopefully they could rest in peace there.