Chapter 5 - Just Breathe

The fellowship followed Gandalf back down the mountain. Aragorn stayed close to Rei, holding his hand as they walked down the mountain. The two hadn't spoken since the decision was made to go into Moria. Aragorn refused to look at Rei in the eye and every so often he would squeeze Rei's hand in what seemed support rather than anything else.

As they neared, what Rei assumed, was the entrance to Moria, Aragorn let go of his hand, not before giving Rei a soft smile, and headed towards Sam who was struggling with their only horse in the group. Rei smiled dreamily as he watched Aragorns back. He shook his head hearing Merry and Pippin giggle and whisper to one another as they looked over at Rei's direction. The nek-jinn blushed deeply as he headed towards Gandalf hoping to avoid the two hobbits laughter. Rei's eyes glanced over at Gimli, who was in complete awe as he stared at where Gandalf made an outline of the entrance into Moria

"The walls of Moria" the dwarf whispered out as if it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Gandalf ignored Gimli as he looked up into the sky

"Now, let's see. Ithildin - it mirrors only starlight and moonlight" the clouds quickly disappeared from the moons light, making the doors of Moria illuminate. Rei's eyes widened in delight as he saw the sight, stepping closer to inspect it. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the writing upon the door "Its elvish" Gandalf spoken the silent question. "It reads 'The doors of Durin - Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter."

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry spoken with great interest, finally pulling away from Pippin

Gandalf looked down at the hobbit and smiled "Oh it's quite simple my dear boy. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf turned back to the door and pushed his staff into the centre of it, stating the words "Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen! (Gate of the Elves open now for me!)" The doors remaind closed and Gandalf begins to push it with his staff harder. Rei sighed heavily, this did not seem like a good sign, biting his lower lip he sat upon one of the larger rocks, watching Gandalf

Time passed by for the Fellowship. The whole group separated, Legolas, Gandalf and Gimli where seated around the doors, still waiting for Gandalf to open it, who had tried several different passwords. "Ando Eldarinwa a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa! (Gate of Elves listen to my word, Threshold of Dwarves!)"

Meanwhile Rei was still sitting on top of one of the boulders looking around at the Fellowship smiling as his eyes rested upon Aragorn who was talking to Sam, most likely about releasing the pony. Rei knew his heart was beating wildly as he saw the look Aragorn was giving Sam, he obviously cared deeply about the hobbit and it warmed Rei's heart. Rei took a look at the whole group, Frodo was sitting next to him looking down timidly at the ring as if trying to discover its secrets. Boromir was talking to the remainder of the hobbits, it seemed as though he was telling them off. Rei frowned with concern that was until he saw something move in the water.

The neko-jinn slowly moved off the boulder, sliding down onto the ground before walking towards the lake. Merry and Pippin had put their attention elsewhere once he had arrived and they where arguing among themselves, something to do with a certain farmer "What is it Boromir?" Rei asked gently, his hand rested upon the mans arm. All though Rei knew something bad was within Boromir he could not deny how the male cared for the hobbits and Rei knew the evil within him was to do with the ring.

Boromir didn't face Rei "There is something in the water" he mumbled quietly to Rei, Aragorn had soon walked over to join them. The two men and neko-jinn was so engrossed in the water they didn't hear Frodo speak until the doors of Moira opened. Aragorn and Boromir's heads quickly turned to the entrance, smiles upon both there lips as they headed towards the doors. Rei however did not move, his eyes fixed upon the water, listening to its un timing waves.

Gimli walked along side Legolas speaking to him with his loud booming voice of excitement "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..." Gimli snorted and loudly stated "A mine!"

Legolas rolled his eyes at the dwarf but said nothing, he knew the hobbits and Rei disliked it when they fight. Gandalf though started to mutter words into his staff, letting it light up the entrance into Moria. The fellowship, excluding Rei who was still at the river, recoil in horror at the sight of many skeletons of dwarfs. Legolas stepped forward as the others pulled out their weapons. The elf pulled a narrow arrow from one of the many bodies, he examined it before throwing it to the ground in discuss

"Goblins" the word was a snarl upon his lips causing the group to gasp in horror

Rei knelt down as he watched the water still, something felt wrong, it wasn't such a big lake yet the water was retracting further away each time it retreated. Rei didn't even glanced behind him when he heard the raised voices. The neko-jinn's eye where fixed upon the water, a great fiery eye formed into the water, drawing Rei closer. His eyes where wide and bright as he leant in closer to the water. Rei missed a tactical slowly coming to the surface and make its way to the shore, slowly wrapping around Rei, it was too late for him to scream before it had covered his mouth and pulled him into the water.

Rei struggled as he was under the water. His eyes widened seeing the large creature which was surfacing. Rei felt his lungs inhaling the water, his vision going groggy. Rei could hear the muffled voices above the water, his eyes slowly closing as he started to lose his consciousness . Suddenly a blinding green light came from Rei's pants pockets and the next thing he knew he was upon the surface coughing up the water he had just swallowed

"Rei!" The sound of Legolas's voice ws all he could her before he was picked up by said elf

"Hurry into the mines!" Gandalf's voice was heard. Rei's eyes slowly opened and all he could see was worried grey/blue eyes that belonged to Aragorn before he slowly passed out.

Boromir had Frodo in his arms as the hobbit had also been assaulted by the sea creature, he was running back when he cried for Legolas. Legolas readied his bow and shot an Arrow into the creature's head, gaining a few vital seconds for Aragorn and Boromir to race out of the water with Frodo and Rei. The fellowship hurriedly back away from the Creature, retreating into the Moria Chamber as many tentacle arms seize the large doors.

With a shattering echo, the creature rips the doors away, creating a rock slide that crashes down the Cliff Face. Within seconds, tons of rock seal the doorway throwing the Fellowship further into Pitch Blackness that was of Moria.

A faint light rises from Gandalf's staff, throwing a Creepy Glow across the old wizards face, but this gave enough light for Aragorn to examine Rei over. Aragorn couldn't believe what he had witnessed just moments before, when the creature pulled on Frodo Aragorn could not see Rei that was until a large white tiger with green strips pulled Rei from the water before disappearing into nothing but thin air.

"T-the tiger..." Frodo gasped out once catching his breath "The tiger was the same one I saw on Rei's beyblade yesterday" Aragorn frowned at Frodo befor looking down at his unconscious beauty, just glad he was safe.

Gandalf huffed lightly looking down the dark airy halls before looking down at Rei and Aragorn "Aragorn, pick him up and carry him we now have but one choice, we must fact the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard,there are older and fouler things than the Orcs and goblins in the deep places of the world" Without another word the Fellowship got up and followed the Wizard, Aragorn keeping Rei close both Boromir and Legolas looking with worry