A/N: So how is everyone liking the story so far? Acceptable? Kinda funny that as I put these first couple of chapters together, Pirates Of The Caribbean is on the screen, not Lord of the Rings. I know, I know. Lol. So I hope everyone is enjoying it and more will be revealed about Valo soon enough! This chapter: Moria!

Disclaimer: Back off. I own nothing.

~~~Chapter Four~~~ Sound In The Deep

He slumped against a pillar nearby, trying desperately to regain some of his senses. The ground was littered with the desiccated remains of dwarves and yet he could only focus on that alluring scent. His mind was so scattered that he barely realized the danger until poor Frodo was sliding across the ground screaming, a tentacle wrapped around his ankle. The Fellowship jumped into action immediately, every warrior ready to stand and defend. It was brave Sam who freed his friend only to have the one tentacle replaced by many more. Valo was rooted in fear. What was happening?! There was an energy building in his belly as he tried to find a way to help. They had forbidden him a weapon like the others but was there another way? He racked his brain for answers. He had spent over three thousand years in Mordor and he couldn't come up with a single thing to protect his friends?! There was a word at the tip of his tongue in a language he didn't understand though he surely did in another time. His eyes flashed with anger at the disgusting thing in the water. How dare it try to hurt his friends! Without even thinking about it or understanding what was happening, Valo stretched out his hand and said the word that seemed to beg to be spoken.

"Reducto!" A red burst of light spilled forth from his hand like a missile taking some of that stifling, itching energy with it.

It slammed into the squid-creature with an audible ''bang''! The thing's shrieks of pain were enough to make him want to clamp his hands over his ears.

"Into the mines!" Gandalf ordered, ushering everyone back into the tomb as the thing geared up for another round, pulling itself from the water in it's fury to try and get to them.

The doors were opened still and it's tentacles reaching. Panting, Valo did the only thing he could think of. He reached towards the ceiling above the creature and said that strange word again. The Reducto careened into the stone, shattering it. He had to duck as shards of stone burst out in every direction. The ceiling above the entrance collapsed, completely sealing off the way out. Silence fell upon the Fellowship as they no doubt all stared at him in disbelief. He hated being stared at! He bit his lip, not daring to look and see what his comrades thought. Probably not his best thought out plan. He mustered the courage to glance over at Gandalf only to find the man giving him a strange look, like he were trying to piece together the strange puzzle Valo had become and whether or not that puzzle would kill him in his sleep. Aragorn was staring between the two of them as if he had just made a connection that he hadn't seen before. Valo just wished someone would share the big secret with him.

"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria."

Why did he feel as if he should apologize for that? He received no answer.

The dark of Moria did not phase me. Dark I did not fear. It was the oppressive silence and the whispers that put me on my guard. The deeper into the mines we traveled, the more that feeling from before crept along my senses. The more that the dark whispered to me, almost stroking along my skin as we passed crumbling stairs and once great halls of kings. The others had not made mention of the feat I had performed at the doors and for that I was grateful. What answers could I give them if I had no answers myself? We were resting at a crossroads while Gandalf tried to remember which way we were to go. I gave the old Istari a smile. Even when he had us lost in the depths of an orc filled mine, he always managed to bring us hope. I had claimed a small hollow in the wall for my resting place. It was away from the others and probably not the brightest idea but I wasn't sure if I could handle their questions and nervous glances. With the battle at the doors adrenaline had chased away my fatigue but now it was returning in full swing causing the room to swing with it.

"You should rest, little one. I will watch over you." Aragorn's voice came from the darkness.

I turned my head to find the Ranger climbing up to my little nook. I had to admit that I admired Aragorn. If it weren't for him and Lady Arwen, I would have been killed in Rivendale. I owed him my allegiance and he would have it for as long as I was able to give it. The threat of my Master hung over my head like a shadow.

"Why do you fear to sleep, Valo? What troubles you so?"

My lip trembled slightly. If I told him about my dreams, then he may send me away for fear that I would give up their location. I did not want to leave his side. It was selfish of me but true.

"I have nightmares..." Was all I could say.

Aragorn did not ask me to explain them as Legolas had. He did not expect an answer that I did not possess. He did not laugh at me as others would nor did he chide me for being childish. He gave me a soft smile and sat down, settling at my side. He pulled me in against him and allowed me to use him as a sort of living pillow. He was warm and the steady beat of his heart was enough to begin to comfort my frayed senses. Then his voice broke through the haze my mind had found itself in, melodic and beautiful. He was singing to me. A lullaby about an elvish woman and her human love. Words couldn't express how grateful I felt. How could a kind, strong man like him ever come to care for a twisted, dark, weak thing like me? I couldn't imagine why but like the greedy thing I was, I allowed myself to bask in the warmth that he made me feel. Within moments, I was drifting off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

We were walking down the long dark hall of the Dwarrowdelf, sidestepping dwarf bodies though they were less in this large place, more scattered. Pippin and Merry were at my side, occasionally releasing a gasp at some great discovery they made concerning a pillar or marking on the wall. It was amusing to say the least. They were so full of childish wonder that I was slightly envious. I wished I could have that again. I must have had it at one point, right? The black gaping space in my mind where my memories of my childhood should be was a vast empty thing. It taunted me. Was I created already older so I didn't have a childhood? Why was I created at all? What was the purpose for my Master making me? Surely if he had just needed a Consort, there were easier ways to secure one. I bit my lip, sparing glance up at Aragorn. Would he hate me if he ever found out that I was Sauron's Consort? Probably. I tugged my cloak around me tighter, unable to shield from the sudden chill that grew in my heart. The silence seemed to wear on the rambunctious hobbits within the hour. Sam turned to me with a timid glance.

"Mister Valo, what was that glowing thing you did with that squid monster, if you don't mind me asking?" The gardener asked shyly as if he were afraid the question would offend.

I turned to staring at the ground, suddenly aware of everyone's attention focused solely on me. It was a disconcerting feeling to say the least. I hated being the center of attention. I always had.

"Well, I don't really know...it just kind of happened. The word just wanted to be said, I guess." I gave a sheepish smile at them all even though the only two that didn't look at me like I had just spouted vulgarities were Aragorn and Gandalf.

My two defenders.

Gimli suddenly released a sharp cry of despair. There was an open room ahead with a soft glow emitting in the darkness. The dwarf ran towards the room as quickly as his short legs could carry him. The room was littered with bodies as the rest of the mines had been but the large square room that we found ourselves rushing after our friend into was illuminated by a shaft of light from a window cut into the mountainside. In the center of the room was a stone tomb illuminated by the sliver of light. Gimli collapsed to his knees before it, crying out for his loss and pulling his hood over his head in a sign of mourning. Gandalf's wizened face looked grim and sorrowful.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared." The wizard whispered.

I watched Gimli and couldn't help but be overrun by sadness coiling in my chest. The poor dwarf. To loose someone you love so dearly…I had a flash of overwhelming despair and a vision of smiling grey eyes before the image dispersed. I shook it off quickly. This was no time for those things right now. I padded softly over to the kneeling dwarf anxiously. I didn't know if my presence would be accepted by the mourning man but there was no hurt in trying. I set a timid hand on Gimli's shoulder in comfort, crouching down beside him.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered in quiet condolences, my emerald eyes full of empathy for his loss.

Gimli looked up at me with a beard soaked in tears. His muddy brown eyes said it all. He didn't know why I was risky his rejection to comfort him but he was grateful. Gandalf had picked up a book though I hadn't caught what he had read from the passage. There was a squeak of fear from the corner before the deafening crashing sound of something heavy and metal falling into an open well resounded through Moria. We all turned as a whole to a shell-shocked Pippin standing in the corner by said well. Gandalf's eyes reflected his anger at the hobbit's carelessness.

"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" He chided harshly.

Sam gave the hobbit a chastising look. We were about to proceed out of the room when there was a deep, sharp sound from the depths. Then another. A rolling boom like from the belly of a beast echoed faster and faster as it continued. Drums…Legolas turned around furiously.

"Orcs!"

I felt a sudden wash of cold dread wash over me. Sam pushed Frodo behind him protectively, all drawing their swords in a rush. Sting glowed blue in the dim cavern. The two Men hurried to bar the door. Boromir turned back to them with a wince and an exasperated voice.

"They have a cave troll!"

Before I knew what was happening, I was tugged backwards and found myself staring at the back of one elf prince, his slender form standing in front of me protectively, bow drawn.

A/N: Woohoo! Time for the epic battle! Hope I do okay...oo;;