Reviewer Responses

Meekah Greenleaf- Jackie Wow! Thanks for the review, please keep reading.

Iwishchan- Jackie I've said ti before and I'll say it again, you'll just have to wait.

Chapter 7: Caradhras and Moria…Joy

(Jackie's POV)

God! I hate snow. I hate this stupid mountain…

--Chill sis-- I heard Jamie speak in my mind.

I turned glared at her. --CHILL! You are telling me to CHILL! Need I remind you that You were not the person who go buried in a snow drift because somebody decided to trip me!--

I turned back and faced the front as Gandalf led us up the Redhorn Pass to head to Lothlórien. But I heard someone laughing and turned back and saw Jamie kneeling on the top of the snow laughing her butt off.

Oh she is so going t…My thoughts were cut off by Legolas' voice.

"My love, are you well?" he asked.

I turned back to my elf and sighed. "I am fine. But my sister on the other hand…"

At that, Legolas smirked. "Ah Nienna played a prank on you," he guessed.

I nodded. "Got it in one sweetheart. She tripped me and now I am soaked," I grumbled.

Legolas wrapped his arms around my waist and placed a kiss to my temple. "Do not worry. We will get her back…"

Legolas never finished his statement as I realized where we were at. "Valar! How could I be so stupid!" I groaned. "Legolas come with me. I need to speak with Gandalf."

Even as I said those words, the sky grew dark and the snow began to fall heavier than it had before. I knew that only Legolas, Gandalf, Nienna and I would be able to hear the voice.

"Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be bloodstained!"

Legolas and I looked at one another and then ran back to where Gandalf stood.

"Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be bloodstained!"

Legolas looked at Gandalf , worry on his face. "There is a fell voice on the air.

Gandalf paled as the realization hit him. "It's Saruman!"

I rolled my eyes. "No shit!" Legolas and Gandalf looked at me in shock, neither having ever heard me swear before. "What made you think that he did not have a…" I was cut off by a

lightening bolt striking the mountain.

That's when I snapped and yelled, "EVERYBODY MOVE AND PUT YOU BACKS AGAISNT THE MOUNTAIN!"

--Jams! You better move everyone near you to the mountain. The avalanche…-- I tried to send her but at that moment the mountain decided to give way. The first avalanche fells missing us by the width of a hair.

Sighing I turned and looked down the line. My eyes widened as I saw Aragorn walking towards Legolas, Gandalf and I.

As Aragorn came with in human hearing range he yelled, "He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!"

Gandalf turned and looked sharply at Aragorn. "No!"

Gandalf rose up onto the snow, and began to chant out the counter spell. "Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!"

The spell didn't work and another bolt of lightening struck the mountain and just before the snow buried the group Legolas snatched Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the mountain just

before the snow buried us completely.

It is now official…I hate winter and I hate snow, I thought as we emerged from the drift. I am sooo going to kick… My musings were interrupted by Boromir speaking.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"

Aragorn turned and gave an incredulous look at the other man. "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"

Gimli, shaking the snow out of his beard, then spoke up, "If we cannot pass over a mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria."

"No…no…no and how about but hell no," Jamie said as she leaned against Aragorn.

"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the hobbits!" Boromir protested, ignoring Jamie's swearing.

Gandalf sighed and looked at Frodo. "Frodo!" he said, catching the hobbit's attention. "Let the Ring bearer decide. Frodo?"

Frodo glanced at Sam, hoping to get some sort of guidance then said, "We will go through the mines."

Gandalf sighed heavily. Ok so he knows what is in there, and what MIGHT happen "So be it."

Fuck! Fuck! Double Fuck! Now we have to deal with the watcher in the water, the goblins, troll, and the freakin' Balrog. Plus Gandalf leaves to get powered up and we can't tell anyone.

I could feel the tears slid down my cheeks and quickly wiped them off. I didn't need Legolas acting all over protective right now. Sighing I joined the rest of the group and we began making our way down the mountain.

After another half-day's walk found us camped for the night and Legolas, Aragorn, Nienna and I were all seated, all of us keeping watch since we could not sleep. We had been sitting there in companionable silence for thirty minutes before Legolas broke the silence.

"My love, what has you so worried?" he asked, his voice breaking me from my thoughts about Moria.

I looked up sharply at him then over at Nienna who just shrugged her head. DAMN! I knew she didn't tell Aragorn the details of what will happen but still.

"There's nothing wrong Legolas. I am just we…" but Legolas cut me off before I could finish my statement.

"Do not lie to me Alatáriël! I know you are worried. I can feel it," he said sharply. As he calmed he took my hands in his and looked into my eyes. "It is something to deal with what happens on the quest, does it not?"

Damn, oh well, better face the music. "It does, but I can not tell you the details. Please understand that my love," I said quietly so that only Legolas would be able to hear. "Nienna and I are here to make sure that the quest follows the correct path. If we do not then only the Valar and Illúvatar know what will happen." Legolas nodded and I placed a chaste kiss to his cheek. "Thank you my love."

Legolas placed an arm around my shoulders and leaned into his embrace, laying my head on his broad shoulder. Looking over at my sister and Aragorn I noticed they were doing the same. Suddenly out in the dark of the night we all heard the howling of wargs.

Gandalf, Boromir, Gimli and the hobbits all woke up and everyone crowded around the fire, behind Gandalf, circling Frodo, our weapons drawn. Gandalf stood menacingly and walked towards the shadows, "Listen, hound of Sauron! Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come with in this ring."

The wargs paid Gandalf no heed, snarled and sprang forward towards them in a great leap. Then quicker than the blink of an eye there was a loud 'twang!' and everyone knew that Legolas had loosed his bow.

The warg fell dead just outside the circle, Legolas' arrow in his throat. For the next few moments the tension rose in the air as everyone waited with baited breath to see what would happen next

when suddenly the warg pack let out a bone-chilling howl and attacked.

As one, Jamie and I turned towards the four hobbits and yelled, "Stay behind us!"

Gandalf nodded agreement and added his own orders. "Fling more fuel on the fire and stand back to back."

Everyone rushed to follow his orders as the hobbits did exactly as Jamie and I said and stayed by the fire as the others circled around them ready to fight the wargs. Aragorn, Boromir, and Jamie fought the wargs with their swords cutting, slicing and killing the foul beasts Gimli took them down with his axe while the bows Legolas and I carried sang, firing shot after shot. I was no where near as good as Legolas, but I was able to take some of the wolves down.

Gandalf, tired of having to fight, began chanting one of his spells, "Fire be for the saving of us! Fire against the werewolf-host!"

At that moment, all the trees and bushes surrounding our encampment were set on fire. As the fire burned, Legolas' last arrow hit its mark killing the warg chieftain. Once their leader was dead all the other wargs left the fellowship alone and fled.

As the fire died, everyone calmed down and took seats surrounding the campfire as dawn came.

Sam looked over at Pippin, "What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin? Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!"

Jamie and I grinned slightly at the comment and took our seats next to our honeys and the camp remained quiet for a few more moments before Frodo spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Lady Nienna, Lady Alatár…" but we cut him off saying, "We told you to call us by our names."

Smiling slightly, Frodo began again. "Nienna, Alatáriël, would you tell us of the world that you grew up in," he asked.

Jamie threw me a worried glance, which I returned. We still hadn't told Gimli, Boromir, Sam, Merry and Pippin that we had been sent to another world for our protection and only returned fifty-one years ago.

The only one's not in shock at Frodo's request were Legolas, Aragorn and Gandalf. But the first one to come out of his shock was Boromir.

"What's this?" he asked a little angrily and curiously as he glanced at Nienna. "You and your sister were not raised in Rivendell?"

--Do you wanna tell him, or should I?-- I sent telepathically to Jamie.

-- You should tell them, but I'll help when I can-- Jamie replied.

I nodded my assent and began, "As you know Nienna and I are the youngest children and daughters of Lord Elrond and the Lady Celebrían of Rivendell. However, what most of you do not know is that soon after we were born it was discovered that Nienna and I were in danger. So our father, grandmother and Gandalf, in their infinite wisdom, decided it was for the best if we were sent to another world in another dimension to grow up. But not before placing a glamour spell over us so that we looked human..."

Jamie continued where I trailed off. "Time runs differently there. For where we were sent every year there equals one hundred and twenty nine years here. Which explains why Alatáriël and I only look like we are about twenty-one in mortal years," she explained.

"When Nienna and I arrived on Earth, the name of the world we were sent to, we were found and taken to an orphanage where were adopted by this couple, Lauren and Ben Silverson. Lauren and Ben re-named us Jacklyn," I said pointing to myself and then at Jamie, "Jamie. We grew up and were each other's best friend. But about fifty-one years ago, Middle Earth time, Jamie and I went camping and found ourselves in the woods of Lothlórien, where we met our grandparents."

"And where we met Legolas and Aragorn," Jamie butted in. "But you all wanted to know about the pace where we were raised, right?"

Everyone nodded and the rest of the night was spent with Jamie and I telling them stories about

our lives growing up. Before long, the sun was rising over the Eastern slope of the Mountains and we set off on a half days walk to where the Western Entrance to Moria lay.

(Jamie's POV)

Finally, I thought as we arrived at the lake near the doors to Moria. I sat on a rock near where Aragorn and Sam were standing next to Bill the pony. I leaned back on my elbows and fell into Elven reverie (elvish version of sleeping) while listening to everyone speaking.

"The walls of Moria!" I heard Gimli exclaim in excitement as he tapped on the wall. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," he said proudly.

"Yes Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf replied.

And I swear Legolas rolled his eyes as he said, "Why does that not surprise me?"

Which caused Gimli to roll his eyes and growl back in anger and annoyance. I lost track of time cause I blinked to clear my vision and found it was already dusk. Everyone was walking by the lake when Gandalf moved to stand in front of the cliff face.

Suddenly, out of thin air Gandalf made out an outline of the doors. He turned to everyone and said, "Now, let's see. Ithildin -- it mirrors only starlight and moonlight." He turned back to the visible door and translated the words for those of us who couldn't read Elvish and he said, "It reads 'The doors of Durin - Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter.'"

Merry looked thoughtful as he asked, "What do you suppose that means?"

Gandalf threw the hobbit a look and said, "Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open."

Gandalf then turned to the doors and began chanting spells, hoping that one would open the doors. But one after another failed.

Pippin, grew bored and began picking up rocks, and commented that, "Nothing's happening."

Gandalf threw an angry look to Pippin and looked back at the doors. "I once knew every spell in the all tongues of Elves, Men and Orcs," he muttered

"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked.

"Knock your head against these doors Peregrin Took. And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words," Gandalf replied.

I shook my head and found Jacklyn standing between Gimli and Legolas keeping them from ripping each other apart, while Gandalf continued to chant spells. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Aragorn and Sam saying goodbye to Bill and rationing the food and water in our packs. Stretching I got up and joined my sister, brother-in-law and Gimli.

"Hello everyone," I greeted. Jacklyn threw me a dirty look and I just grinned. "So what's been happening?"

Jacklyn rolled her eyes. "Nothing. Gandalf still hasn't figured out the password, and I've been trying to keep these two," motioning to her husband and Gimli, "from killing each other."

I was about to respond when we both noticed, along with Aragorn and Legolas that Merry had begun to throw stones into the water. Pippin went to follow suit but Aragorn stopped him before either Jackie or I could.

Aragorn held onto both hobbits shoulders and said, "Do not disturb the water."

I was about to comment when we all heard Gandalf say, "Mellon!"

Everyone but Jackie and I watched in awe as the stone doors slowly swung open.

As we walked into the depths of Moria, we could hear Gimli boast to Legolas, "Soon master elf you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!

Suddenly there was crunching heard beneath our feet and Boromir looked down and then around the entrance room to Moria.

"This is no mine, it's a tomb!" Boromir exclaimed as we noticed the Dwarf corpses that littered the floor.

"Oh! No! Noooo!" Gimli cried in anger, and grief.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Legolas pick up an arrow from the body of a fallen dwarf. He examined it and then cast it away in disgust.

"Goblins!" He said spitting the word out in disgust.

"Shit!" I muttered; I looked over at my sister. "Now we have to deal with the watcher in the water."

Jackie nodded grimly and the two of us prepared our weapons as Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir drew out their swords as well.

Backing out of the cave, Boromir said, "We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here."

Jackie noticed the four hobbits were backing towards the door; she looked past them and noticed

the watcher in the water was stirring to life.

"Now get out of here, get out!" Boromir yelled. Everyone started for the door.

"NO!" Jackie and I both yelled at the same time. "Don…" but it was too late and Frodo was grabbed from behind and pulled off his feet by the Watcher in the water.

"DAMMIT!" I yelled out just as Sam, Merry and Pippin yelled, "Frodo!"

Sam ran towards his friend and yelled, "Strider!" while he hacked at a tentacle and yelled at the huge squid, "Get off him!"

The watcher released Frodo for a split-second, and feigned a disappearance under the water. But neither Jackie or I believed it and we watched as many tentacles came boiling out of the water. The watcher slapped the other hobbits aside and grabbed Frodo around the leg pulling him through the air so he was hanging over the water.

Merry watched in horror as he cried out, "Aragorn!"

Legolas and Jackie shot one of the tentacles holding Frodo while Boromir and Aragorn and I rushed to the water with our swords, and attacked the Watcher.

While I helped attack the Watcher, I heard Jackie say to Legolas that they need to "Shoot it in the eye. It's the weakest spot on the damned thing's body."

The watcher flung Frodo wildly in the air for a few moments before Aragorn was able to slice the main tentacle holding Frodo's leg. Frodo fell into Boromir's waiting arms, Boromir set Frodo down and the three begin the retreat towards the caves.

"Into the Mines!" Gandalf ordered.

Boromir looks at Legolas and yelled, "Legolas! Aim for his eye! Come on!"

Jackie began retreating to the cave as Legolas shot an arrow straight into the Watcher's eye. It pulled back in pain and then in one last attempt to get at us it's tentacles reach out blindly, grabbing the doors and slamming them shut, causing slabs of rocks drop and the roof of the passageway to collapse.

Gandalf silently uttered a spell and beam of light emitted from his staff. He turned towards us and said, "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 then turned and began leading the long trek through the halls of the Darrowdelf. As we walked, he said, "Quietly now. It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

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Jackie: Now they're inside Moria :tags Jamie: You're turn

Jamie::looks confused: What?

Jackie::rolls eyes: It's you're turn to write the next part.