They were all silent, save the metal clanking echoing off the walls. Stares turned back to the brothers every now and then, mainly from the three Hobbits. This was partially from last night, and partially due to Frodo trying to get information.

"Frodo, what do you want me to tell you? I can't give much information. It's too personal," repeated Ed once more.

"Okay, I understand. Just… what did you do?"

"Something stupid that I need to fix. I feel like I've said this before…"

"But what? And why?"

The Hobbit was becoming a bother. "What- none of your business. It's personal." A tear came to, but he pushed it back. "Why- I was blinded by hate and I needed the comfort." Al stayed silent, but Ed was sure if armor could cry that is what his brother would be doing. In an attempt at comfort, he placed his metal hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "This was also a result. I'm so sorry." He whispered the last part to Al.

"What about your parents? They never stopped you?" Frodo was far too inquisitive for Ed's taste. He missed the military and now understood how Roy felt when Ed would not stop. It's called hypocrisy, he told himself sternly.

This caused the young alchemist to stop. His eyes shut and his voice died. "Our father left long before we tried this. Our mother… went away as well." Al mumbled slowly. Ed felt the tears ebbing again, but tried so hard not to let them fall. Damn it. Mother… Damn you father. How could you!

"I'm sorry. I lost my parents as well, when I was very young. But I never tried to fix it. How do you do that?"

"A way that doesn't work…" Ed mumbled, his voice wet. He pulled himself together. "It didn't work. We did something wrong. That's it, end of story." The finality cut through Frodo's nagging and he stopped talking. Ed felt bad. "I'm sorry Frodo. It's just… complicated. The alchemy we do doesn't permit messing or dabbling in what we did. We now bare the punishment."

"I can see your punishment, but what about Al? Unless that's too personal...?"

"Al… it's up to you, you know," Ed whispered. "I don't want to say anything unless-"

"I don't mind. Frodo, I'm… empty."

"Emp-ty?" The single word was drawn out into two separate words. "How can you be empty?"

Al took hold of his forearm and pulled at the plating. Lifting it, he revealed to the Hobbit that it was indeed holding nothing inside. He was speechless, mouth agape. "It was part of the alchemy. Equivalent exchange- a li-" Al stopped talking. "Opps."

"A-a life? You took a life? How could you-" He froze in understanding. "Your mother didn't leave- she died. You tried to fix it by bringing her back from the dead. But… equivalent exchange. A life for a life."

"I was taken as punishment for crossing over. Ed lost his leg and arm as you know." Al sounded hollow, making Ed feel a smile pull at his mouth. "We are looking for something that can help-"

"Al. No more. Please. Frodo, we've given you all we can right now. Go back to your friends." Frodo hesitated but decided to go back to Merry, Pippin and Sam. He also knew to keep what he had learned a secret. He could not betray the brothers who had been through so much pain.

The tunnels had grown more intricate in design. The light from Gandalf's staff lit them, shining off of the silver inlay of the crevices. Ed wandered over and removed his coat. He reached out and touched it delicately with his right hand.

"Brother? What are you doing?" Al had moved up beside him.

He clapped carefully and touched the mithril in the stone. The reaction was immediate. When he removed his hand and the glove he always wore, the silver had woven its way through out the automail. It glinted even more in the flickering crystal from the departing wizard. The two scurried to keep up.

"Why did you do that? Did it fix anything? Was your arm broken?"

"No. I just wanted to see if it would work. A hunch, you could say. It looks nice anyway." Wisps shone, like smoke rising from burning wood. It reminded Ed of home. There's no going back. Burning bridges…

They had moved into a wider tunnel of rugged and sharp stone, footsteps close. The light Gandalf held was extended into the near shadow. The new color to Ed's automail became apparent to everyone who was looking. The dwarf grunted in what could be disgust as his "stealing" or curiosity at how he did it. The elf grew wide-eyed and curious, but a small smile creased his lips. Aragorn just laughed silently, Boromir lifted his eyebrow but said nothing, and the wizard glared with disapproval.

"What? It's called a souvenir for when I go home. So people will believe me for a change," Ed explained. Gandalf shook his head and continued on, grunting something about foreigners and children.

"Child? Why you rude old-"

"Ed!" shouted Al, grabbing his brother before an attack could commence.

They moved up a steep set of stone steps, the Hobbits and Ed slipping on the loose rocks scattered about. They all helped each other, Ed relying mainly on his brother behind him. Aragorn and Boromir kept the end, Al moving forward to help everyone with a particularly high step. Ed moved cautiously, but ended up slipping and sliding his left foot into the person behind him.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" cried Boromir, the pain growing with each thought. Ed turned sheepishly and pulled both limbs in. Al and the others all looked back to watch the commotion. "Ho-how did you do that?"

"Let me look at that Boromir, it may be broken," Aragorn said as he helped Boromir to sit on the next step.

"How did I do what? I slipped. I am stronger then I look." Ed mumbled.

"It felt like the flat of a blade. Cold and hard as steel." The man watched Ed impassive face. "Is your leg metal as well?"

"No." It was not a lie, for his whole leg was not automail. He had only asked about the leg in general.

Aragorn stood and offered a hand to his brethren. "It is not broken, merely bruised and will hurt for a time. Come, we must move. We cannot linger too long. The enemy is everywhere."

The Fellowship climbs another flight of stairs.

"Why are we going up if we're in a mine? Shouldn't we just be going straight?" asked Pippin in a moment of silent thought. No one answered, but a few pondered.

They made it to a crossroads in the mine: three portals loomed before them. Gandalf held out his staff. He glanced from one to the other and back. His eyes slowly turned towards the left hand passage.

"I have no memory of this place," he whispered.

"What the hell are you talking about? I though you said you knew your way through here!" exclaimed Ed. He grew cold inside, fearing to stay in the tunnels longer then necessary.

"Calm yourself, miniature master Elric. He will-"

"DON"T CALL ME MINIATURE, DWARF! I CAN THINK OF A FEW HEIGHT COMMENTS FOR YOU!" should Ed.

"Brother, chill out. He was joking. I think…"

"All of us need to 'chill' as Alphonse says. Just let us rest as I gather my bearings.

"Whatever." Ed sat heavily onto a rock facing away from the others. He lifted his pant leg to examine the damage of sliding into Boromir.

The rest of the Fellowship rested beneath a peak of rough stone, while Gandalf tried to decide their course, sitting alone at the top. Aragorn sat beside Boromir. The entire group was in silence. After a while though, the Hobbits became restless.

"Are we lost?" asked Pippin in a whisper.

"No," snapped Merry.

"I think we are."

"Shhh! Gandalf's thinking," complained Sam sternly. Pippin started again before long.

"Merry?"
"What?"
"I'm hungry."

"Brother?"

"I'm fine Al. My leg's all in one piece and I can move the parts. I think it'll survive."

"How often do you think about dying?"

"Don't start that now Al. If you haven't noticed, we do have more important things to deal-"

"Ah, it's that way!" exclaimed the wizened wizard as he stood and gathered his staff and hat.

"He's remember!" called Merry. Everyone followed suit and stood to leave.

"No. But the air doesn't smell so foul down here. When in doubt Meriaodc, always follow your nose."

The Fellowship wound their way through endless tunnels and open doorways. They came to a large entrance hall, their footsteps echoing.

"Let me risk a little more light." The staff was raised and light expanded. It revealed broken columns and uprooted stone flooring. Cracks ran through everything and anything wherever you looked. They all still found it captivating. "Behold: the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."

"Now there's an eye opener and no mistake," said Sam. Ed had to smile and he was sure Al would have to.

Without warning, Gimli ran across the hall to an open door leading to a room with a skylight.

"How in the hell-?"

"Gimli!"

They all walk in to find the dwarf crying over a tomb. Gandalf steps forward and Ed into memory.

"Brother, I'm hungry. And cold. How care we going to do this by ourselves?" asked a younger and still human Al. Tears ran along his cheeks.

"We're not. We're going to bring her back," said Ed. He held firm, his mother's little man.

Damn memories. I need- A pounding sound of drums and snarling monsters in the distance in reality stirred his thoughts. "What the hell was that?"