Chapter Twelve

The next day, they rejoined them for the trek to the gates of Moria, and Gandalf sensed that the bond between them had grown and in fact, they had become inseparable. When they reached the gate, they stood around waiting for Gandalf to remember the password. While they waited, Legolas noticed Haehithien became agitated. He had spoken with her about her blocked memories after they rejoined the group and discovered that her agitation was the key to knowing if they were headed the right way, although he had yet to discover how it exactly worked and use it to their advantage.

"What is it?" he asked. "Are we on the wrong path?"

"No," she said quietly. "This is the way we have to go. I'm not sure what it is. I just feel as though we're being watched." She looked around nervously, but saw nothing.

He closed his eyes for a long moment but sensed nothing. "Maybe it's Saruman," he said as he opened is eyes once more. "Gandalf did say that he'd had a palantir when he held him captive at Saruman. We should go tell him."

"No," she whispered. "It's not Saruman; it's much closer than Saruman. Don't you sense it?" He closed his eyes for a moment and then shook his head.

"Maybe you're remembering something that's supposed to happen soon."

"That could be," she said thoughtfully.

They continued to stand around the dark lake. Gandalf was having trouble at the gate. Legolas stood stroking Nieninque and spoke to him in Elvish. "Amin hirætha amin Mellon. Lle lol khil lye no' sina tarna; lye omenta e' kinta ri' lempe re neva Lothlorien. Maa ten' lye neva i' ra ando, san'. Namaarie, amin mellon." Which translated to 'I'm sorry, my friend. You cannot follow us on this passage; we meet in four or five days near Lothlorien. Look for us near the great gate. Farewell, my friend.' Then, he sent Nieninque on his way. "Come on," Legolas said as he turned to Haehithien and reached for her hand. "Let's go see Gandalf."

As they did so, Aragorn and Sam were removing the supplies from Bill. "The mines are no place for a pony, Sam. Don't worry, he knows the way home," Aragorn said as he removed Bill's bridle and lead rope. Sam told Bill good-bye and watched as he turned and followed Nieninque.

As they passed through the gate, Gimli was telling them all about his cousin, Balin, and the welcome they would soon receive.

"This isn't a mine," Boromir said suddenly as he looked around. "This is a tomb." He was right; the floor was littered with Dwarf skeletons.

"No!" Gimli shouted as he looked around at his lost friends and relatives.

Legolas went to one of the skeletons and pulled an arrow from it to examine. "Goblins!" he said, and quickly armed himself with his bow and notched an arrow.

"Get out," Boromir shouted. "Get out! We should never have come here. We make for the Gap of Rohan."

It was then they discovered they had made too much noise, for suddenly they were in an ambush. "Aragorn!" Frodo yelled in terror, and as Aragorn hurried inside, Gandalf grabbed Haehithien about the waist and pulled her out of harms way to stand close behind him as he and the others fended off a swarm of Goblins.

There were too many for Aragorn alone, and Boromir and Gimli were busy defending themselves and the other Hobbits. "Legolas!" Aragorn shouted and Legolas answered the call with an arrow in the eye of the Goblin closest to his friend.

Suddenly, a fierce roar sounded from outside, and they turned to see a grotesque squid-like creature rise out of the lake and extend countless tentacles suddenly from the water. Frantic cries issued forth from the goblins that hadn't yet met their death and they scurried quickly into hiding. "Into the mine!" Gandalf cried as he ushered Haehithien into the darkness and the others rushed inside as the guardian smashed the gateway behind them, and they were left alone in the dark.
Gandalf took a crystal out of the pocket of cloak and fit it into a tangle of roots at the top of his staff. He rubbed it gently and it glowed to life. "We now have but one choice," he said matter-of-factly and watched as Legolas and Haehithien looked at each other before moving closer. "We must face the long dark of Moria. It's a five-day journey to the other side. Let's hope we go unnoticed and the Goblins think that we've died at the hands of that creature."

Later that day, Gandalf approached Legolas and Haehithien. "Legolas," Gandalf asked. "Might I have a word with your lady for a moment?"
"Of course," Legolas said though he was clearly puzzled.

Haehithien and Gandalf walked away from the group while they made camp for the night. When they were out of earshot, even for Legolas, Gandalf lowered his staff in front of her and she paused and looked at him curiously. "You are on the edge of a precipice," he said calmly. "Legolas would not forgive me if I allowed you to fall." Quickly, and with wide eyes, Haehithien stepped back. "Milady, are you alright?" Gandalf asked after a moment as he sat down on the edge, his feet dangling over the dark pit.

"Yes," Haehithien answered softly and sat next to the wizard. "Why do you ask?"

"You have not been ill?" he asked, and curiously arched his brow at her.

"My stomach has hurt these past two days, but otherwise I feel fine."

Gandalf was silent for a few moments, deep in thought. "Milady, I believe I know why you have felt thus, but I must ask that you keep it secret, even from Legolas."

"But, why?"

"I do not want him to get his hopes up, especially if I'm wrong. Will you do this for me?"

"Yes, of course," she said softly and nodded as she gazed over her shoulder to her beloved Elven Prince.

"Milady," Gandalf said drawing her attention back to their conversation. "I have seen it among the Elves. When an Elven maiden is expecting, there is no illness of any kind, it only occurs when one of the parents is mortal that the illness arises."

"What?" Haehithien asked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I am saying," Gandalf said gently. "That you are with child. Now, in case I am wrong, I want to keep it secret. With all the unpleasantness Legolas has awaiting him in the near future, as well as the current situation with protecting Frodo, I think you will agree that at the moment, he has enough to worry about without extra worry for you and his possible child."

"Yes," Haehithien answered quietly. "I have been meaning to talk to him about that."

"Really?"

"Yes, I feel quite the invalid not even having a way to protect myself."

Sometime later, Gandalf saw Haehithien back to Legolas' side where they camped for the night. "I'm sorry, my love," Legolas said quietly. "We cannot have our privacy tonight, nor whilst we are in Moria. There is naught but evil in the air here, and I fear for Frodo's safety."

"It's ok," Haehithien said with a smile, and wrapping her arms around his neck, stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him as he placed his hands around her waist. "I fear that you, as well as the travel, have worn me thin."

"Then tonight," he whispered. "We will sleep."

When they camped on the fourth day, Legolas spoke with Haehithien urgently as they made up their palette of blankets to sleep on, a short distance away from the others. "My love, thus far, all has gone well, and we have gone unnoticed. If we are discovered, I want you to hide, if possible. I don't know if Ilúvatar has granted you immortality for guiding us. We cannot loose you; I cannot loose you," he whispered as he enveloped her in his arms in an embrace and kissed her softly.

They lay down, and as she curled up in his arms, she was tempted to tell him of her condition, but as she felt him sigh against her, she knew Gandalf was right. He didn't need the addition to his burden. Still, she wanted to say something, but she was soon fast asleep. Legolas stared off into the darkness as he held her, and a sense of foreboding came over him. Will I ever see the sky again, he wondered. That night, as the group lay resting for the next day's journey, Haehithien slipped from consciousness for the first time since leaving Rivendell.