It was a harsh path up the mountain. Soon they were walking in snow which steadily became

deeper and deeper. "It is not right," said Gandalf, shaking his head. "This far south and this far

down, the passes are usually free of snow all the winter."

The going got rougher as they went higher. Only Legolas was unaffected, as he could walk on

top of the snow. He walked ahead of the rest, turning around suddenly. "There is a foul voice

on the air!"

"Saruman!" said Gandalf.

There was a sharp sound like a bolt of lightning striking something, and then a rumble. An

avalanche of snow tumbled down on the Fellowship. With loud yells they shook the snow off

of them.

"We must get off the mountain!" said Boromir. "Make for the Gap of Rohan."

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" countered Aragorn.

"If there are Orcs, we can better deal with them than we can deal with this!" urged Eowyn.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it!" said Gimli. "Let us go through the

mines of Moria."

Gandalf's eyes narrowed with worry. Finally he said, "Let the Ring-bearer decide."

Frodo looked around at his companions' faces, and at the endless snow. "We will go through

the mines," he said in a small voice.

"So be it," said Gandalf, letting out a sigh.

They made their way down the mountain as best they could. When they reached the bottom

a great avalanche of snow and rock tumbled down behind them, blocking the mountain pass.

A few days later, the Fellowship approached a great stone wall. A narrow path ran parallel to

it, and on the other side of the path was a dark, foul-looking pool of water. "These are the

walls of Moria," proclaimed Gandalf.

The wall appeared at first to be a blank face of stone, but the Moon soon shone upon it,

revealing the glowing outline of the ancient dwarf-doors. Elvish lettering glittered on the door.

Gandalf read the message aloud. "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and

enter."

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

"Oh, it's quite simple," answered Gandalf. "If you are a friend, speak the password, and the

doors will open." He raised his staff and pointed it at the door, at the same time speaking a

loud chant in ancient Elvish.

Nothing happened.

Gandalf tried another chant. Still nothing.

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

"Knock your head against these doors, and if that does not shatter them, I will be allowed a

little peace from foolish questions!" shouted Gandalf. Pippin hung his head. "I will try to find

the right password," continued the wizard in a softer voice.

The remainder of the Fellowship sat down by the water's edge as Gandalf tried phrase after

phrase, none of which worked. Frodo, Legolas, and Gimli watched Gandalf intently.

Eowyn, suddenly feeling tired, leaned her head against Boromir's, who was sitting next to her.

Sam and Aragorn removed the last of the surplus gear from the back of Bill the pony. "The

mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill," said Aragorn. Sam watched the

animal go regretfully. "Don't worry," Aragorn assured him. "He knows the way out."

SPLASH! Merry impatiently chucked a stone into the pool of water. Pippin, stone in hand,

prepared to throw a stone of his own when Aragorn suddenly grabbed his arm. "Do not

disturb the water."

Frodo stood up suddenly. "It's a riddle!" he said. "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the

Elvish word for 'friend'?"

"Mellon," said Gandalf. As he spoke, there was a loud rumble and the doors of Moria

opened wide. The Fellowship cautiously entered, one by one.

"Soon, Master Elf," said Gimli to Legolas, "you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the

Dwarves. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!"

Eowyn stepped on something crunchy and let out a grunt. As they stepped in a little further

and the moonlight faded, Gandalf lit his staff, revealing that the place was filled with the

corpses of dwarves and orcs. Eowyn looked down and saw that she had stepped on the

remnants of a skeleton.

"This is no mine," said Boromir. "It's a tomb!"

Gimli bent over one of the corpses. "Nooooo!" he shouted.

Legolas examined an arrow that had embedded itself in a skull. "Goblins!"

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

The hobbits, who had been in the back of the group going in, were the first to stumble for the

exit. Suddenly, Frodo was yanked down. A long, slimy tentacle had grasped him by the

ankle. "Strider!" yelled Sam, whipping out his short sword. He slashed at the tentacle and it

released Frodo.

Twenty other tentacles came rippling out. Sam was hit and knocked to the ground, his

sword falling out of his hand. A tentacle seized Frodo and raised him high into the air. The

water raged and boiled as the giant, savage head of the monster, with many sharp teeth,

raised itself.

Eowyn, trying to control her fear, leaped forward and drew her sword. With a high-pitched

shriek, she hacked off one of the monster's tentacles. Out of the corner of her eye she saw

Aragorn and Boromir also slicing the beast's arms off. A zing and a thunk were heard as

Legolas shot the creature with his bow.

Aragorn hacked off the tentacle that had seized Frodo. As the hobbit fell, Boromir caught

him. "Into the mines!" shouted Gandalf.

Legolas fired an arrow into the monster's face, slowing it briefly as it pursued the Fellowship.

The writhing tentacles of the creature brought down great piles of stone behind them,

blocking the door and trapping them in the mines.

"We now have but one choice," said Gandalf finally, as calmly as he could. "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. It is a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our

presence may go unnoticed."