Hi!

First things first...I'm really sorry about this being sooo late! Since my last update I've gained a job, passed my driving test and am studying, so a lots been happening : )

I hope you enjoy this longish chapter, thanks so much for reading so far!

Please review, I'd really love to know what you all think!

Enjoy!

Onwards...

'It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be' whispered Merry as they walked up to the mossy stone entrance.

'Especially as the Dwarves live in there' Pippin replied in a hushed voice, looking over the Gimli. 'You wouldn't think they'd need so much head-room.'

Merry stifled a laugh, which turned into a yawn as they gathered around an overhanging tree, about the same distance from the stone door and the boggy-looking river running opposite the entrance.

Gandalf brandished his staff and looked at the ageing black stone, eyes set. Frodo stood next to the door, looking up. It went all the way up to the top of the mountain and Frodo could see the stars that twinkled above. Normally, he would have stopped and watched them, entranced by their beauty; he had been known to lay in a barely field for hours in the Shire, just watching the stars, as they seemed to look right into his soul. But now he didn't have the time. He didn't have the will nor thought to stargaze tonight. They had lost all their importance, all their meaning; no one was looking out for him.

'Mr. Frodo?' The Ring-bearer jumped as Sam caught he shoulder; he hadn't even heard him approach. He supposed it was the wet leaves they were standing on; it must muffle the sounds.

'Are you alright, Mr. Frodo?' Sam asked, eyes kind and worried together.

Frodo nodded, smiling thinly. 'I'm just tired, Sam.'

'No need to fret, young Hobbit!' growled Gimli, pushing forwards, clanging his axe against the stone making Gandalf tut. 'In a few moments you shall enter the realm of the Dwarves and a might feast awaits us all!'

Sam seemed delighted by this, but all Frodo could muster up was a tight smile; he hadn't felt his appetite in a long time.

'We must gain entrance first, Gimli.' Gandalf told him lowly, looking down his nose at the Dwarf. 'It would be wise not to get ahead of ourselves.'

Gimli growled in response, moving to sit on a tree limb sticking out the ground.

Legolas danced across the small rocks littering the side of the river, his light tread not allowing him to trip of the slime covered ones nearer the water. He watched as Boromir sank to his knees next to Gimli, sighing as he heaved his heavy shield off his shoulders, wincing as he rolled his sore muscles through his armour. It had been a long day for them all, and the snow-fight they had enjoyed had taken its toll.

The Elf looked sideways and stuck out his arm just in time for Aragorn to grab it, the Man's feet slipping into the water, a look of split-second panic flooding his dark features.

'Hannon le' smiled Aragorn, pulling himself up by the Elf, who slowed his pace to trudge beside the man.

'It has been many days since we have seen civilisation. I admit to be looking forward to the company.' Aragorn muttered lowly, as they approached the group.

Legolas looked up at the stars and rolled his neck, smiling gently as they twinkled. He had always been captivated by their beauty. 'Even if it is to be with Dwarves' he murmured, just low enough so Aragorn could still hear.

The Man laughed, clapping his Elven friend on the shoulder.

The night was dark and cold, ripples of water blown into shore from the harsh wind, tickling Pippin's neck, making him pull his cloak higher over his ears. The Hobbits sat huddled together

Gandalf was still stood erect as the foot of the mountain, eyes narrowed as the stone wall in front of him.

'What now?' Boromir barked, looking at the wizard. 'Are we not to enter?'

'Yes, Son of Gondor, we are to enter.' Smiled Gandalf, placing his staff on the cold stone. The surface seemed to twist under the point of the staff, moulding itself into a new shape.

Gimli looked upon the doorway with an open mouth, a patriotic feeling bubbling inside him. This is what he Dwarven forefathers had created, something so majestic, so mysterious it took a wizard to open it. He glanced sideways at the Elf, winking at him with a grin on his face; Legolas looked away, his blond hair swishing in the wind.

Once the transformation was complete, lines of text appeared, as though carved by the stars themselves, glistening within the stone. Frodo looked up at them, transfixed. It was Elvish, he could tell, but he didn't trust himself to translate it fully; Bilbo had only taught him so much of the ways of Elves.

Gandalf rested a hand on his chin, pondering.

Pippin stumbled to his feet, almost tripping over Merry's legs, who scowled at him. 'Are we going in?' he asked.

'If you can walk through solid stone, young Hobbit, I will gladly move from your way' Gandalf told him drily, not looking around. Pippin muttered something inaudible and sat back down, Merry patting him on the back.

Aragorn looked at the stone as Gandalf brandished his staff again, smiling as the wizard released a barrage of Elvish to the wall.

Nothing happened.

Boromir breathed out heavily, causing Legolas to turn to him. The Gondorian scowled at the Elf, looking away. Though Legolas had saved his life earlier in the quest, friend or not, Boromir still had a deep distrust of the Elves; that was not about to change now.

'What now?'

Frodo looked at Sam, who unusually, had spoken up.

'I once knew every charm and incantation the tongues of Man, Elves and Orc. But it seems my memory has deserted me' Gandalf admitted, sitting heavily next to the Ringbearer. 'I will think on it a while; the answer will come.'

The group settled themselves around, Boromir and Gimli on the left side of the bright entrance, the Hobbits and Gandalf in front of it and Legolas and Aragorn off the right.

Merry looked at the stones beneath his feet, pondering how far he could throw them into the water. It seemed so tranquil, the water. So black and mysterious, it just invited to be looked at.

'Remember what Bilbo said about Enchanted Lakes?' Pippin whispered. 'That its the quiet ones that are always the most dangerous? He said folk used to never go into the fast currents, that they always would look for a length of still water. The water demons would never take to quick water, no one would swim in them. So all the demons made the quiet lakes their home'

'And when people dove into the quiet patch of water, the demons would be waiting, ready to pull them to their deaths.' Finished Sam, looking over at the cousins. 'Which is why, if need be, you wash in quick water with a fast undercurrent; that way, no demon would be able to hold to it.'

Pippin nodded, looking back over the expanse of water. 'This looks like one of those lakes; who knows what lurks beneath the surface?'

Legolas smiled, his keen hearing catching the Hobbit's tale with ease. Sensible Hobbits, finding ways to teach their young important lessons of life.

Suddenly, his ears caught a new sound. Twisting on the tree limb he was perched on, the Elf narrowed his eyes. Aragorn, who had been smoking his pipe and leaning back with his eyes closed, twitched as Legolas moved, eyes snapping open.

'Man cenich?' he asked, wanting to know what it was that startled Legolas so.

Legolas didn't move, stayed as still as a preying wolf when it had spotted its prey. The darkness cast shadows across his face, the wind blowing a strand of hair behind his ears.

'We are not alone.' Whispered the Elf, still staring into the darkness of the forest behind them, just left of the lakeside.

'What haunts us now?' Aragorn murmured, his hand going to his sword.

'I'm not sure.' Admitted Legolas, turning back. 'It had not caught our scent, the wind is in our favour.' He turned and looked at Gandalf, who had not stood back up. 'We must move soon, before the wind changes or else it will be upon us.'

Aragorn nodded, standing gently and making his way over the Wizard, who was murmuring to himself with his eyes closed. Passing the Hobbits, he took pity on them; the snowball fight, along with the fatigue of travelling over the mountain, the stress of being stalked by the wraiths had taken its toll; he hoped they could reach the hospitality of the dwarves soon.

'Gandalf' he started, the aged Wizard opening his eyes. 'We must move on; something is in the forest, we are not safe here.'

'Speak 'friend' and enter.' Gandalf told him. Aragorn blinked.

'The riddle' Gandalf motioned to the door. 'Speak 'friend' and enter.'

Aragorn looked at the door and studied it, hands on his hips. Boromir, too, who had been listening, stood up and looked at the door.

'Friend?' he mused, looking at the carvings he could not decipher.

Legolas, who had not moved from his spot on the tree limb, had also heard this. Speak friend? In which language? Whose friend? A name?

A crack sounded behind him and he twisted around, eyes wide, fingers hurtling straight to their stations on his bow.

And looked straight into several sets of vile yellow eyes.

A little cliffy...

Hope you enjoyed that, Moria will be so different than in the film/book, I have it all planned :D

Thank you all for reading, please review! And I'm sorry for the lateness :/

Back soon!

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