Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material written by Tolkien or Peter Jackson.

A:N/ Yet another chapter is up! Whoop! Whoop! And I would like to apologize— I realized this morning that I have been spelling Boromir's name wrong the entire time. It is fixed in this chapter, but the others have not been repaired yet.

Many thanks to...

Immac (Me too! What is your favorite thing about her so far?)

Amy (Thanks for telling me what you think! Here's your update!)

Aqua Lilly (Aww! Thank you!)

Remember to leave a review! :D

When a girl is silent, she is dangerous. She could be over thinking, tired of waiting, about to blow up, needing a hug, falling apart, crying inside, or all of the above.

—Unknown Author

They never really tell you how far the fellowship actually walks, the movies show them walking, and the books say that they traveled to that certain place, but it doesn't tell you how far they traveled every day.

If I say 'are we there yet' one more time, I just know Boromir will blow a gasket and turn into some sort of serial killer.

"Gandalf." I walked at the front of the fellowship with the wizard. "If we go through Moria, I cannot... I cannot change any of the events that happen.', I whispered softly.

"I understand, Riley.', he replied quietly, and I looked into his eyes. What mirrored back startled me.

He knows. Gandalf knows what is to befall him. He has probably known this whole time.

I slow my pace and let the others trudge ahead of me before becoming the caboose. Aragorn also dropped back and walked beside me.

"Your silence worries me, Rielásse. Is everything alright?"

I nod, but he lays a hand on my shoulder and looks me in the eye.

"You are not yourself. Are you quite sure you are alright?" His face is scrunched with concern.

"Aragorn, you know what troubles me. You know that I know of certain events that are supposed to happen... Events that affect the outcome of this war."

He nodded.

"Something horrible is going to happen in Moria, but I cannot change it. I wish I could, but doing so could ruin the fate of many."

"If you are worried that I will turn against you if you do not prevent something terrible from befalling this fellowship then you are wrong. I understand your position.', he said, his brow lined with graveness.

"Thank you." I whispered.

We marched on for several hours before we reached our destination.

"The Walls of Moria.', Gimli said in awe.

Skirting around the water, we slowly made our way to the gate. Frodo's foot slipped into the slimy water, and he quickly shook his leg to rid himself of the water. I also slipped, and quickly shied away from the water as soon as I could do so without falling into it. Not only was I able to feel its evil, but I knew that the Watcher dwelled under its inky surface.

"I don't see any gates.', Sam stated.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when shut, young hobbit."

"You are right, Gimli. Even their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf studied the rock wall.

"Why does that not surprise me?" Legolas muttered.

"Ithildin." The wizard muttered. "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Everyone turned to see the moon become unveiled, and the clouds that had covered it dissipated. "It reads 'Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."

"What do you suppose that means?', Merry asked as he stared in wonder at the glowing door.

"Simple.', stated Gandalf. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open."

"Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen!" He cried as he pressed the end of his staff against the rock. Nothing happened.

"Do you know the password, Gandalf?" Pippin asked.

"There was once a time when I knew every spell in Middle Earth. But no, Peregrin Took. I do not know the password."

Boromir was getting leery of the place, and his eyes drifted around the open space.

"How could you pass through Moria before and not know the password?" He stated.

"I entered through the east gate, and these doors are able to be pushed outward from the inside. You should not be so quick to doubt something unless you have viewed from every point imaginable, son of Denethor."

Knowing that he would not figure out the password until the wee hours of the morning, I climbed one of the holly trees that stood on either side of the gate. They had been planted to mark the other border of Hollin where the elvish realm ended at the gates of Moria. In my world the leaves of a holly tree were pointy and brittle, but here they were delicate and soft.

The tree shivered as I slowly climbed into it. It was ancient; it could recall the days that the elves walked these lands. Sitting in between its boughs, I listened in amazement as the tree told it's story. It was full of joy, but filled also with woe. As the whispers seemed to surround me, Gandalf continued to chant in every spell he could think of to open the gates while the rest of the company set up camp.

"What if you can't open the gates?" Pippin asked curiously.

Gandalf glared at him from under bushy eyebrows, and the hobbit shrank back.

"Then I shall knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin Took. And if that does not shatter them, and I have a little peace from foolish questions, I will search my mind for the opening words."

Meanwhile Aragorn and Sam were unloading the company's pack animal.

"The mines are no place for a pony, Sam.', murmured Strider. "Even one so brave as Bill. He'll be all right; he knows the way home."

Sam sniffled and rubbed the tears from his eyes.

"Buh-bye, Bill!"

Deciding that being in a tree for three hours is the best way to get cramps, I slid down the holly tree.

"Thank you for keeping me company." I whispered as I rubbed its bark.

I sat next to Aragorn and stared into the stagnant water.

"Is there something that causes your concern in the water?', he asked. I did not answer him. "Your silence betrays you, mellon nin."

Strider stood and made his way towards Merry and Pippin. He gently wrenched a rock from the younger hobbit's hand.

"Do not disturb the water."

But it was too late; they had already thrown several rocks in, and the disturbance had awakened the Watcher.

"It's a riddle.', Frodo said as he stood and came closer to look at the doors.

Finally! How long did it take you to get that thought through that curly haired head of yours?

The water rippled and Boromir leaned closer to Aragorn.

"Aragorn, I have a bad feeling about this place."

Frodo turned to the wizard. "Gandalf, what's the elvish word for friend?"

"Mellon.', he answered. The doors swung upon, and I may or may not have pushed Sam and Pippin away to bolt into the caves.

Better to be in here with crisp and crunchy dwarf skeletons than to be out there with that kraken-thingamabob.

As we walked through the gateway Gimli went on and on about what to expect.

"Soon, Master Elf," he said to Legolas. "You will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, fresh meat ripe off of the bone."

Gandalf blew onto his staff to light the weird rock that was on the end. As the light spread throughout the room the wizard grimaced.

"This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a "mine". A mine!" Gimli said in disbelief.

I prefer to call it a deathtrap, but to each his own.

"This is no mine." Boromir said quietly. "It's a tomb.

"No! No! NOOOOOOOO!', Gimli wailed as he looked upon the ruin. Frodo gasped when he realized that he had been standing on the shriveled hand of one of Gimli's kin.

Legolas yanked an arrow out of a dwarfs skull with a sickening crunch. "Goblins!" He said in disgust as he threw away the weapon. His eyes flickered to the doorways and exits in anticipation of an attack.

I just lived someones favorite part of the movie. Let's hope I live for this next part.

Aragorn, Gandalf, and Boromir drew their swords, Legolas drew out his bow, and I just stood there like an idiot.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan.', the steward's son growled out. "We should never have come here. Now, get out. Get out of here!" Everyone rushed back out of the gates.

Knowing what was coming, I ran to Frodo's side and drew Glandúr out to hack at the tentacle that had already started to wrap itself around his leg. "Strider!', panicked Sam. "Get off of him!', cried Merry and Pippin as they also drew their blades. What was left of the slimy limb was drawn back into the water.

Then suddenly the water began to foam as twenty more of the Watcher's foul arms shot out of the water, three of them latching onto Frodo and pulling him into the air. Legolas' bow twanged as an arrow was released towards the Watcher. I followed Aragorn and Boromir through the waters as they sliced and spun around the tentacles.

I came to the part of the Watcher's body that held Frodo suspended and cut deep into those limbs. The kraken-like creature used another slimy member of his form to grab me by the waist. I squirmed as it hoisted me high into the air. Boromir and Strider quickly finished what I had started and Frodo fell into Boromir's ready arms.

"Into the mines!" Gandalf bellowed.

Well, gee. I wish I could obey you, old Dumbledoor, but I am kind of dangling like a pinata!

"Legolas!" I hollered at the top of my lungs. "Aim at its eye!" He quickly did as I asked. The Watcher's arms flailed around in pain, and it flung me against the hard grey wall of rock. Light exploded behind my temples, and everything suddenly went dark.

(End of Riley's Point of View)

Legolas quickly scooped Elrond's daughter into his arms and ran through the mines as the Watcher crawled onto the rocky bank that separated the water from the gate. The angered creature pulled down the holly trees and the gate, causing the rock mass above the gate to give way, too. The way out had been sealed off.

Everyone was short of breath as Gandalf once more relit his staff.

"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 orcs in the deep places of the world." He glanced at Riley who still hadn't woken. She was pale and a gash on her forehead dripped with blood.

Gandalf drew out a leather flask and handed it carefully to Legolas.

"Give her a small amount of this, and rub a bit on the wound also. It is the miruvor Elrond gave me at our parting. Use it sparingly, Legolas."

The wood elf opened Riley's mouth and carefully poured the precious cordial down her throat. She coughed and spluttered on the liquid before slowly opening her eyes.

"How are you feeling, my lady?" Legolas asked softly.

She gripped her forehead and scowled at the pain. "Like I've slept on the ground, been screeched at by birds, had my butt froze off in the mountains, been through an avalanche, and been thrown against the rock walls of Moria by an angry slime bag."

He laughed. "That's the tinwë we all know."

"How come no one will tell me what that means?', she said as her scowl deepened. This time Aragorn joined Legolas in his laughter and the company began to walk.

"Quietly, now.', said Gandalf. "It is a four-day journey to the other side; let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

She wiggled to let Legolas know that he could put her down, but he held her tighter to still her squirming.

"Nay, little one. I do not think it wise for you to be walking just yet. The way shall be steep and dangerous to someone who has taken a blow to the head like you have. Your balance is still off."

Riley finally stopped her movement and sighed. Legolas wasn't going to let her walk on her own no matter how much she protested, so she laid her head against the elf's tunic and fell asleep.

(Back to Riley's Point of View...)

If I were a man Legolas would not have insisted on carrying me. How come everybody thinks I'll break? I'm not made out of glass.

It's our third day in Moria, and we have come to the three-way fork in the road.

"I have no memory of this place.', Gandalf stated as he looked at three tunnels. He sat on a rock and stared at the paths, trying to figure out which one we should take as he blew smoke rings from his long-stem pipe. An hour or two later we have started a fire and everyone gathered around it except for Gandalf.

"Merry?"

"Yes, Pippin?"

"Where are we?"

"I don't know."

"Merry?"

"Yes?"

"Are we lost?"

"No, Pippin. Now, hush. Gandalf is thinking."

"I think we are lost. Merry?"

"What is it now, Pip?"

"I'm hungry."

Merry sighed.

Boromir held his chin in his hands and gazed out into the darkness. The ranger was puffing on his own pipe, and the hobbits talked quietly among themselves as they too inhaled the pipe weeds vapor. Legolas stood with his arms across his chest, his bow always in arms reach. And I was in my own little corner, curled up in a ball, with my head laying against the cobweb covered stones.

I had been trying to get some sleep but Gimli had had the same idea and his snoring was obnoxiously loud to my ears.

"You sound like a dinosaur with asthma." I muttered, even though the sleeping dwarf could not hear me.

"What's a dino...?' Pippin asked.

"Dinosaur. It's a ginormous reptile from the place I come from. They're extinct." I don't thing he understood a word I said, but I didn't really care at the moment.

I stood slowly, using the wall behind me for support.

"Legolas.', I whispered as I came to stand at his side. "There's something down there. I can hear the patter of feet."

He glanced at me with a small smile. "Your hearing is getting better."

"Don't you dare try to change the subject." I reprimanded as I wagged a finger in his face.

"I was not trying to, mellon nin.', he chuckled. "It is he."

"He who?"

"He who is named for the sound which comes from his throat." Legolas said in a low voice.

"Ehem?"

I know who it really is, but it is so much fun to give Legolas a hard time.

"Ehem, what? I assume that meant you have something to say?', he asked.

"No, silly. Is that his name? Ehem?"

"No, his name is Gollum. Why did you suppose it would be Ehem?"

"Because a sound that can come from the throat is Ehem. Duh!" I flick his forehead in a playful gesture.

"Did you just flick me?" His left eyebrow rose in surprise.

"What does it look like to you, Barbie?"

"What does 'Barbie' mean?" Legolas asked.

"I don't know. What does tinwë mean?" I retorted.

He chuckled again and was about to speak when Gandalf stood.

"Eh. It is that way."

Aww man. Now I'll never know what he was going to say.

"He's remembered!', Merry cried as he put out the embers in his pipe and tucked that item away in a pouch.

"No.', Gandalf replied. "But the air does not feel or smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meridoc, always follow your nose." He pat the hobbit on the shoulder before continuing down the stairs. I had finally convinced Legolas and Aragorn that I would be just fine walking by myself, and they finally agreed as long as I promised to stay close.

We came into a chamber that was so dark we could not see anything, but the air was not thick, making me think that we were in a large hall of some kind.

"Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf's staff glowed even brighter, and we stared at the sight that met our eyes. Stone pillars were engraved with the language of the dwarves and reached the ceiling, which was probably a good hundred feet above our heads.

"Behold the great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf."

"Now there's an eyeopener, ain't no mistake.', Sam said. Merry and Pippin's jaws went slack.

Gimli took in a gasp of breath and his eyes glazed over as he saw and stood in the halls of his forefathers. He gazed around in wonder, but suddenly his eyes fell on a room that had the natural light of the sun streaming through it.

"Agh!', he gasped before running towards the light.

"Gimli!', Gandalf cried from behind him.

"No. It can't be." The dwarf's voice broke as he knelt at the stone coffin that was the final resting place of Balin. "No. No... Noooo."

"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared." The wizard stated as he bowed his head and took of his pointed hat, which he handed to Pippin along with his staff as he bent to pick up the Book of Mazarbul.

"We must move on. We cannot linger here; it is unsafe." Legolas said in a low voice to Aragorn.

"They have taken the bridge, then the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming." Gandalf reads from the account Ori had written in the thick book.

Pippin, who had been gawking at the room, suddenly backed into the old well. I heard the unmistakeable noise of rattling chains and armor falling down into the depths of the darkness. I winced at the loud clanging; my shoulders hunched with tension. The troublemaker winced at every bang and clatter that was heard.

Gandalf's eyebrows lowered and he glared at the culprit as he shut the book with a bang. Everyone listened for any noise that might follow the silence that now reigned. Boom. Boom. Boom. Aragorn closed his eyes and swallowed in frustration, Legolas tilted his head slightly to catch the noise that was forthcoming, and I panicked.

"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" The wizard snatched his hat and staff back.

Oh crap, crap, crap! It's the drums. You know what comes after the drums!

Shrieks and howls started to echo off of walls that were deeper in Moria.

"Mr. Frodo!', Sam says as he points to Sting, who is glowing a chill blue. I draw my own sword to find that it is also glowing, and the color grows brighter by the minute.

Hey look! I have a glow stick!

"Orcs." Legolas growled, and Boromir quickly ran to the entrance we had come through. An arrow missed him by mere inches and he jerked his head back in. As Aragorn instructed the hobbits to stay back and remain with Gandalf, he dropped the torch he held and ran to help Boromir.

The ranger and the steward's son quickly shut the door and held it in place while Legolas and Gimli hand them old axes and swords. Boromir pants as he leans against the door.

"They have a cave troll.', he remarks dryly.

The fellowship got in their battle positions and I drew the string of my bow back in preparation.

As long as that stupid troll is actually aiming at us we should be ok.

Several pairs of eyes are cast in my direction.

Dang it! I have got to figure out how to keep my mouth closed!

The rotted wood shook as the orcs battered and clawed at it to gain entry to the room. Gimli stood on his cousin's tomb with his legs in a defiant position.

"Let them come. Let them see that there is one dwarf in Moria who still draws breath!" He got his wish sooner than I would have liked. An orc axe splintered part of the door and Legolas shot an arrow through the jagged hole. An orc squealed as the weapon was dropped, only to be replaced by another one in mere seconds.

I released the arrow I had been holding with my fingertips; it hit one of those maggoty faces dead-on.

"Whoop!" I hollered. The door burst down and I got my first glimpse of an orc.

Eeeewww, gross! Some of them have so many piercings it looks like they fell face-first into a tackle box.

The men let out their war cries and began to cut down the charging orcs. The Silvan elf beside me used his bow for as long as possible before swapping to his twin knives. I followed his example. I may be good with a sword, but I tire quickly and I'm still uncomfortable using it.

"For Narnia!" I yell as I stab an orc that came near me. Yes, I am getting my battle cries mixed up, but a battle will do that to you.

"Easy pickings.' snarled one orc as it came close to me.

"For me, yes. But for you—" I slice his head off. "—not a chance."

Rocks began to crumble around us, and I looked up just in time to see the cave troll enter... and swing his mace at me. I ducked and shot an arrow into it's heavily lidded eye. Deciding that I was not worth the pain, the ugly blue troll focused on Sam. Upon missing the hobbit too, he turned to Gimli.

The dwarf threw his axe and it wedged itself in the beast's thick hide. The troll slung his mace towards Gimli, but hit two orcs instead. As Gimli dodged the assault he tripped over some of the rubble. With a perfect shot at making a pancake out of the dwarf, the troll raised his weapon only to drop it and rear back in pain as Legolas shot two more arrows into its chest.

The hideous creature was searching for the one who had fired the arrows, and it soon found the Silvan elf on a ledge he had climbed in order to battle two orcs.

Having lost its mace, the montser threw the chain that had been used to drag him into the room. He swung at Legolas, who ducked quickly. When he swung once more the iron links wrapped around a stone pillar, and the son of Thranduil stomped on the chain to make sure it was secure before scurrying across and firing an arrow into the trolls head, leaping off of its back when his task was finished.

Sam had discarded his sword and replaced it with a frying pan. "I think I'm getting the hang of this!" He said as he bashed some orcs with it new tool.

Another orc ran towards me and I quickly hacked it to bits. The troll stomped his way towards the three hobbits that hid behind a set of columns. It had found its weapon again and Merry and Pippin jumped in one direction to avoid it as Frodo jumped in a different direction, splitting them up. "Frodo!' Strider yelled.

I fought my way through another group of orcs, increasingly aware of Frodo slicing the troll's hand— causing him to drop the hobbit. Aragorn leapt in between the monster and the halfling to shove a lance into the beast's hide. Pippin and Merry threw apples at the troll— though I am not sure what they meant to accomplish by that. Perhaps they wished to fill his stomach so he didn't have an appetite for hobbits. Aragorn was thrown aside, and he landed face down on a pile of rocks.

Whoa. That's going to leave a mark.

Frodo ran to his side and tried to shake him out of unconsciousness. The troll pulled the metal lance out of his chest and used it to spear the ring-bearer's side. The hobbits face went pale and his eyes rolled back into his sockets. His two young cousins leapt onto the trolls back, stabbing him multiple times while Gimli and Galdalf used their sword and axe against the creature. Merry was slung off, but Pippin remained and punctured the enemy's head one last time.

The cave troll flung his head up and roared in anger. "Valar, forgive me. I'm about to steal Legolas' bragging right to slaying the troll." I thought as I pulled my bowstring taut one last time. My arrow sped through the air and hit it's mark. The beast felt his throat and fell dead as Pippin jumped to the ground. We had slaughtered the rest of the orcs that had shown their faces in Balin's tomb, and the room fell quiet.

"You just got owned, sucker!" I said as I placed my foot on the troll and posed like I was some African hunter who had brought down a elephant.

"Your aim was perfect, tinwë, but your victory cry definitely needs some work."

I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at Legolas, who smiles and shakes his head like I'm some immature preschooler. I suppose that I kinda am in his eyes. I mean, he's lived for like what? A couple thousand years?

"Oh no." Aragorn mutters as he rolls Frodo over. The fellowship gathers around him, most likely expecting that they will have to pay their respects.

"Ugh.', Frodo said as he stirred and slowly sat up. "I'm alright. I'm not hurt.', he gasped out.

"I do not understand. You should be dead; that spear would have skewered a wild boar.', Aragorn said.

"I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf stated.

Yeah. He's got some serious bling under that cotton shirt.

Frodo blinked at me, and revealed his mithril rings to the rest of the company.

"Riley, do you always have so much trouble keeping your thoughts inside your head?', Gandalf asked and I gulped.

More shrieks and howls echoed into the room and Gandalf leaped into action.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm."

Just great. My least favorite part.

A:N/ Wowie! That chapter was a doozy! And a long one at that! Anyway, please review and tell me what your favorite part is so far!

-SweetDixie