Chance Encounter

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize. I'm just borrowing them without permission but with every intention of putting them back where they belong after I'm through with them.

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY TO ORLANDO BLOOM!!!!

Chapter 9: Choices

When Balian woke, he did not know where he was. What he did know was that he was relatively safe. The sun was peeking out from behind grey clouds and the air was crisp and cool, tainted by only the faintest scent of strange smoke. Gingerly, he sat up; his sides were stiff and sore but at least he felt alive and more hale than he had been in a long time.

Gimli sat with his back to the sleeping members of the Fellowship, puffing on a pipe with a broad bowl. Silently, the blacksmith tried to stand but he immediately regretted his decision. Dizziness overtook him. His head swam and his vision became hazy. A loud roaring noise filled his ears. He sat down with a gasp, causing the robust dwarf to drop his pipe and whip around in alarm. Legolas had sprung to his feet at the sound holding one of his white elven knives and Aragorn's hand was on the hilt of his sword. Undisturbed by this sudden flurry of movement, the four hobbits slept on.

Everyone relaxed slightly when they learnt that the source of this commotion was Balian. Aragorn frowned at the stubborn blacksmith and severely reprimanded him for risking more damage to his already battered body. The speech sounded strangely rehearsed to all who heard it and Legolas could remember hearing it from someone else. He sniggered behind his hand but when the ranger glowered at him, he quickly turned the snigger into a cough. Gimli took this opportunity to thump the elf hard on his back, causing Legolas to give the dwarf a scathing glare.

Gandalf watched this display of frivolity with amusement. 'Young ones,' he thought fondly, shaking his head. 'They recover so quickly.' However, he made no move to stop them, knowing that they needed some entertainment to lighten their mood.

After a light meal of hard cheese and dried fruit —of which the hobbits highly disapproved­— the Fellowship all sat down to discuss the next step that they were going to take.

"We should make for the Gap of Rohan," suggested Boromir "then take the road to my city."

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard," said Aragorn.

"We must not get close to Isengard at any stage of our journey," said Legolas. "Saruman is watching the Gap of Rohan, Boromir. We should not take that path."

"But there is no other way!" protested Boromir. He was becoming impatient. "We have failed to pass through the mountains. The Gap of Rohan is our only hope!"

"There is one other way," said Gandalf slowly. Everyone turned to look at the old wizard.

"The Mines of Moria," breathed Gimli in awe. Legolas choked back a cry of dismay. It occurred to Balian that there was much dissension between the elf and the dwarf although he could not guess why. They were actually rather similar, despite appearances. Both were stubborn and compassionate people who also possessed a sense of humour. The blacksmith could not understand why they were always at each others' throats.

"I have passed through the mines before," said Aragorn quietly "and I do not wish to do so again."

The hobbits said nothing. Even they had heard of Moria and they feared its name. Many terrible stories had been told about that place. Only Balian, who knew next to nothing about Middle Earth, was confused as to why a mere mine could strike fear into courageous people such as Aragorn and Legolas.

"I will not go to Moria," said Boromir vehemently. "What do Legolas and the little folk say? Surely the Ringbearer's voice must be heard." It did not go unnoticed by the rest of the Fellowship that he had conveniently omitted Balian.

"I do not wish to go to Moria," said Legolas quietly. "However, this choice is not mine to make. I will go wherever the Ringbearer goes."

Merry, Pippin and Sam nodded in agreement. "We'll go where Frodo goes," said Merry with determination.

All eyes turned to Frodo, who looked around for advice and opinions. The hobbit's gaze settled on Balian, who now wished that he was invisible so that he would not have to comment on something he knew nothing about.

"What do you say, Balian?" asked Frodo. Boromir snorted in disgust as if to say 'what does he know? He's not one of us.' Everyone ignored him and focused on the blacksmith in question.

"I know nothing about these mines," said Balian. "This is your decision, Frodo. Whatever you ask, I will serve."

Frodo remained silent for a long time. He did not want to go to Moria but common sense told him that it was the only way. "We will go through the Mines," he said at last.

"So be it," said Gandalf. "We will go through the mines, but only when our companions have recovered from their ordeal."

The Fellowship set off for Moria after a delay of two weeks. Balian was still stiff but he had recovered enough to walk on his own and fight if he needed to. The path they took to Moria was relatively easy compared to the Pass of Caradhras, although the Company seemed more gloomy than usual, except for Gimli. The dwarf was as excited as a child with a new toy. His excitement, however, was not contagious. The usually lighthearted elf looked depressed and he did not even argue with the dwarf. Balian did not ask why they were all so downhearted. It was none of his business after all. After three days' journey, they finally saw the walls of Moria or rather, Gimli saw them and pointed them out to the rest of the Fellowship.

"Moria, the pride of the dwarves," announced Gandalf. "It was built in the elder days, when there was friendship between all races, even between the elves and the dwarves."

"It was not the dwarves' fault that the friendship waned," said Gimli.

"I have not heard that it was the fault of the elves," retorted Legolas. His eyes glittered dangerously and more than once, Balian thought that he was going to hit Gimli. Fortunately, Gandalf intervened. "I have heard both," said the wizard "and I will not voice my conclusion now. Please, Legolas and Gimli, at least be friends. I need you both to find the doors."

"Dwarf doors are hidden from those who do not know where they are," announced Gimli proudly.

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

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" muttered Legolas rather loudly. Gimli glowered at him but said nothing.

Balian took no notice of the debate between the elf and the dwarf. Rather, he was focusing on the foul pool in front of the wall. It was dark and stagnant. The water was probably undrinkable.

"He's found it!" cried Pippin. Balian whipped around. Sure enough, there was a shape of an arched gateway on the wall, made by glowing lines. The blacksmith looked at the doors in confusion. Why were they glowing, and why did they have no handle?

"It reads here 'The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria,'" said Gandalf, pointing to the runes engraved at the top of the arch with his staff. "—'speak, friend, and enter'."

"What do you suppose that means?" asked Merry.

"It's very simple," replied Gandalf. "Just speak the password and the doors will open."

'This is a mad world,' thought Balian, watching Gandalf as the wizard tried out many strange words on the door. 'Maybe it would've been better if I had stayed in the Holy Land…' His thoughts were disturbed by Aragorn, who was reprimanding the younger hobbits for throwing stones into the pool. Balian fancied that he saw a ripple that was not caused by the falling stones. "Aragorn…" he whispered "there's something in there—" He did not get to finish his sentence for at that moment, Frodo had helped Gandalf to figure out the password and the doors of Moria had sprung open.

A/N: They've finally reached Moria. Yay! Please review! Reviews are my fuel and nothing works without fuel. Thanks to all the people who let me know what they think. As for the others, review or I'll send out the warg riders.