Finally! Chapter 6 is here for you! I am so sorry for the delay! I had a lot go on with my jobs and home, you know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter 6

They traveled long and far from morning until nightfall. Gandalf walked in front leading the group for Mordor. He filled Ava in on the many things the orcs poison had made screwed up her memory. She was relieved to have her memory coming back. She couldn't wait to get to Lothlorien for Lady Galadriel's help her regain her voice.

"It will return, love." Gandalf said gently noticing her hand massaging her neck once again. She looked behind her, smiling when her gaze met with Boromir's. Gandalf noticed it and frowned. "No. He is too under the influence of the Ring. You don't need to be under that also." He sounded nervous and Ava caught, laughing. Her father looked to her smiling brightly when he actually heard it. She looked behind her again to see a few astonished stares. She smiled seeing Boromir looking awed with a bright smile.

"We'll rest here for the night." Gandalf announced to the group. They gathered in the small clearing and began unrolling their bed rolls. The hobbits made Ava laugh the way the plopped down exhausted.

"I'm starving." Pippin whined once again. Merry nodded in agreement, stretching his aching body. Frodo merely stayed to himself as he always did and Sam began unpacking the pots and pans, preparing to cook for everyone. Aragorn left to hunt. The rest spread their bed rolls out huddled together. Ava decided to keep watch for the first half of the night.

She perched on a ledge that over looked the landscape. She smiled feeling at peace for a moment that would not come again until they were probably safe in Lothlorien, she assumed. She didn't plan on sleeping that night, but for the past weeks she was convinced to go to bed by the steward of Gondor. He had awoke each night she kept watch to make sure she got sleep. She smiled at the thought.

Aragorn returned with a deer and prepared it properly for it to been eaten. Ava kept her eyes on the landscape trying to imagine the world without darkness and doom. She smiled to herself wishing she could stay here looking at this view, unable to figure out this strange peace that settled over her. Shadow blustered in sleep. Ava chuckled looking to her.

A hand rested on her shoulder. She quickly looked to who it belonged to and a bright smile lit up her face. "Hello Ava. I brought you dinner." Boromir said softly holding a plate with cooked meat thanks to Sam. It smelled mouthwatering as she took the plate with a nod. "May I join you?" He asked. She looked up to him and saw hope on his face. She chuckled and nodded again, taking a bite of her food. It was as good as it smelled. She looked to Sam in utter astonishment. She had never tasted veil that good before.

"I take it that it's good." Boromir said laughing at her reaction eating his own. They sat there in silence for the duration of their meal.

They had sat together every night of the journey. She enjoyed his company. Some nights Boromir would talk of good times of his past and other were of his future and what he hoped to do. She found out a lot about the man. One the silent nights she would catch many glances from the steward. Much like tonight. She smiled to herself at each one.

Once Boromir knew her father was sound asleep, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She hummed in continent at the feel leaning against him. She smiled up at him. He met her gaze and what she saw made her blush slightly sending her mind in a whirl. His eyes held an emotion she didn't see except for married couples. She bit her lower lip though she was smiling and looked away to the landscape.

They remained watching on the ledge looking out for danger until very late into the night. Ava had fallen asleep in his arms her head resting on his shoulder. Boromir smiled stroking her hair gently, scanning her face a few times. He enjoyed every second with her wishing tonight did not end. It wasn't long before Aragorn walked up behind them to take the next watch.

Boromir nodded and lifted Ava from the ground and stood bringing her to her bed roll. He laid a blanket over her and lay besides her falling asleep.

XxXxXxX

A few days later, the fellowship was resting on some rocks. Gandalf grumbled under his breath smoking his pipe as Gimli rambled and complained about taking the long way around. Legolas was looking around for danger. The horses ambled around grazing on what little grass they could find. Sam was cooking yet again handing Frodo a plate, who was enjoying watching his cousins.

Ava was sipping from her canteen watching Boromir train Merry and Pippin tactics on how to sword fight. "One. Two. Five. Very good!" Boromir instructed to Pippin. Aragorn said beside her giving advice as well to Pippin to move his feet. Ava was smiling at him when Pippin looked to Merry brightly. "You look good Pippin." He said smiling taking his place to parry with Boromir, who was smiling. He eventually took on both and accidentally nicked Pippins hand.

"Oh I'm sorry!" Boromir said quickly bending to so see if he was hurt. Pippin looked at Merry before both gave a cry tackling the Steward, who fell on his rear bursting into laughter holding onto them. "He's got me arm! He's got me arm!" Ava giggled at the three of them. Boromir leaned back laughing as Merry and Pippin pinned him down.

Aragorn stood walking to them. "Gentlemen that is enough!" He said pulling on the hobbits shoulders gently. They exchanged mischievous glances before quickly grabbing Aragorn's feet and pulling them out from under him. He fell with a thud and all four men burst into laughter. They sobered and all stood, dusting off. "Nothing it's a wisp of cloud." Gimli said gruffly. "Its moving fast. Against the wind." Boromir stated.

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas cried. "Hide!" Aragorn shouted. They quickly gathered their supplies and hid among the rocks. Ava hid with Boromir, crouching under a rocks ledge and jumped in surprise when birds swept past them quickly, cawing and squawking. Flashes of her attackers paralyzed her with fear as the sudden pain in her old wounds returned. The crows disappeared and Ava was breathing heavily from the pain, curled up covering her head.

They all emerged, some shaken others pondering what was next. "Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." Gandalf spoke as Boromir found Ava still hiding. "Ava, it's alright. You can come out now." He said gently, rubbing her arm. She jumped gasping, looking to him in absolute fear, her eyes dilated as if stuck in a dream. "Gandalf!" He called worriedly.

The old wizard quickly made his way over to them. "Ava?" He asked kneeling caressing her cheek and resting a hand on her forehead, muttering something. Ava stilled for a moment before quickly grasping his wrist with a sharp gasp. Gandalf smiled at her sympathetically. Tears welled in her eyes before quickly hugging her father's neck. "It's alright. I'm here." He soothed hugging her in return. Boromir watched in relief but also sadness wishing her nightmares would come to an end.

As they made their way up, Frodo had slipped rolling down to Aragorn who caught him quickly and picked him up to his feet. Frodo looks relieved before frantically looking to the Ring finding it gone. Ava tensed sensing that Boromir was being drawn to the ring picking it up and staring at it. Aragorn watched him cautiously. "Boromir." He said gently.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer much fear and doubt over so small thing. Such a little thing." Boromir said in a trance raising a hand to hold it. "Boromir!" Aragorn shouted sternly, glaring at him. Boromir jumped looking confused at what just happened. "Give the Ring to Frodo." Aragorn said watching him carefully.

Boromir looked to the hobbit going to him holding it out to Frodo. "As you wish." He said. Frodo snatched it from his hand, putting it in his pocket. "I care not." He said smiling at the dark glare that was cast to him from Aragorn. He continued smiling ruffling Frodo's hair before walking toward the rest of the group. Ava smiled at him as he ascended. They locked gazes smiling at each other.

Gandalf made a path through the snow. Slowly but surely they walked through the frigid snow. Boromir helped the hobbits, Merry and Pippin, behind Aragorn who did the same with Frodo and Sam. Ava was behind her father and frequently looked back to make sure they were all there. Gimli was so short that she couldn't see him so she listened for his thudding boots and griping.

Since Legolas was an elf, he was so light that he simply walked on top of the snow along side them. She snickered at him as he walked past her. He seemed to be looking for something, she noticed until dread settled in her at his words. "There is a fell voice in the air."

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled over the howling wind. A few rocks fell. "He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn shouted. "No!" he said looking worried. He got up on the snow bank with Legolas and started chanting against Saruman for the mountain to remain dormant and not fall. Lightning struck the mountain. Ava screamed as snow and rocks tumbled down the mountain side. Legolas quickly pulled Gandalf to safety before snow buried them.

Ava began to start digging through the snow and rock breaking the surface. The others had emerged. Her lips were blue from the cold. She saw that the hobbits too had the same problem. Her father, Aragorn, Gimli and even Boromir began arguing about what path would be safest for the ring bearer.

"This will be the death of the hobbits!" Boromir said holding a shaking Pippin closer into his cloak for warmth. "Let the ring bearer decide." The gray wizard said. All eyes turned to Frodo for his decision.

"We will go through the mines." Frodo declared.

XxXxXxX

They camped at the base of the Misty Mountains making a fire to warm up. Ava was shivering huddled in her thin cloak. Her black hair fell over her face when she bowed her head to her knees rubbing the top of her chest to help the circulation. It wasn't long until she felt an arm on her shoulders and a warm body seated next to her. She peered through her hair to see Boromir smiling at her.

"You look like you need this more than I do." He said smiling at her glancing at the fur coat covering her. She smiled at him and leaned on him grateful he was there with her. Her head rested on his chest with his arm encircling her with the cloak. Her violent shivers slowed to tiny trembles.

Ava didn't care that her father was watching from a few feet away. She only cared about warming up. She considered it a bonus to be resting her head on his chest listening to his heart beating and breathing with his arms around her.

It was after a few moments that they all got warmed up and set to the trail once more this time to the mines. Ava felt very uneasy about going through the mines feeling her father sensed the same thing.

About another week later, they finally reached the entrance to the mines. "The entrance is invisible, you know. Many Dwarves themselves cannot find it." Gimli said sounding proud about it, tapping the wall with his ax.

Ava giggled watching him. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas muttered under his breath. Ava heard him and smiled, feeling the same way. Dwarves were not particularly her favorite race, but like Legolas, she had to endure his presence for the sake of Frodo. Gandalf found the door clearing the clouds away from the moon so the door illuminated brilliantly.

He then read what was written along the top of the door. "Its reads, 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."

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

"Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf stated smiling at them, shaking his arms slightly before raising them to the door. He spoke the words along the top in another language. All watched curiously when they did not open. Ava saw pippin nudge Legolas' thigh.

The elf looked down at him curious. "Nothing's happening." He said glancing to the door. Legolas chuckled and nodded. Ava watched her father push against the door with a grunt. "So what do we do now?" Pippin asked him.

"Use your head and ram you through the door if you do not give me a moments peace, Perigin Took! I am trying to figure out the password." Gandalf said the last more calmly. Pippin looked away. The group settled down to wait it out. Ava and Aragorn looked to the horses. Sam saw Aragorn unloading Bill and went over to hold his head, petting his cheek gently.

"The mines are no place for a pony. Even one so brave as Bill." Aragorn explained to Sam, knowing he loved the horse. Ava smiled to herself, though sadness filled her as she unloaded Shadow.

She felt tears well when she sensed the confusion in him. She touched his forehead. 'You cannot come in the mines, my dear Shadow. Go to Lorien and I shall meet you there, dear one.' She spoke in his mind. Shadow snorted nervously pressing his head against her. Ava quickly hugged his face, kissing his forehead before hugging his neck burying her face in his soft flowing mane. 'I will miss you my friend.' Tears feel down her face, pulling away.

"Bye-bye Bill." Sam said sadly "Go on, Bill. Go on." Aragorn gently pushed his neck to the right for Bill to turn around, who did so walking back the way he came. "Don't worry Sam. He knows the way home." He said reassuringly.

'Go, love.' Ava kissing Shadows muzzle backing away. He stared at her for a moment before slowly turning and walking away. Ava fought back burning tears trying to keeping in mind she may see him again in Lorien.

"Do not disturb the water." Aragorn said holding Pippin's arm before the hobbit could throw another rock in the lake. The water rippled on its own with a muffled noise. Ava looked to it walking over to the two men of Gondor. "It's a riddle! 'Speak friend and enter.' What's the elvish word for friend?" Frodo asked looking at the door.

Gandalf looked up to him from where he sat. "Mellon." He stated. A loud crack sounded and the doors finally opened. Everyone stood and entered the dark mines. Gandalf placed a crystal on his staff, uttering a spell. The crystal lit up the mine, revealing bones and skeletons of dwarves littered everywhere. Ava shuddered in horror and disgust at the sight.

"Goblins!" Legolas growled after examining an arrow that he pulled from a corpse eye. "This is no mine. It's a tomb." Boromir said. "We should never have come here. We make for the Gap of Rohan." He said backing away with the hobbits. A piercing scream rang throughout the mine and faded outside. "Strider!" Sam cried running outside.

The rest ran outside again to find a Kraken holding the hobbit dangling over his mouth. Aragorn and Boromir ran in the water cutting tentacles off trying to reach the one holding Frodo, who was screaming in terror. Ava ran out with them as Legolas shot an arrow in the one hold Frodo causing the Kraken to move him away from his mouth. Boromir sliced the one holding him and quickly held his arms out for him.

Ava, Aragorn and Boromir with Frodo in his arms ran back. "Legolas!" The men shouted. The elf readied and arrow and shot an arrow past Aragorn's head in the krakens eye. The creature roared in pain allowing the fellowship to race in the mines once more before the creature caused the entrance to collapse, trapping them in the darkness of Moria.

~TBC~

I am so sorry about the long delay of this one. But I practically wrote this in two days. Had nothing to do. Anyway! Please tell me how this one was. I hope you enjoyed it and I will try not to make you wait so long on chapter 7. Thanks! Oh and please let me know if there are any mistakes, please. Or if you have ideas on what should happen fill me in. Any thing is welcome. And to the one that mentioned to me about drawing scenes of the story, I am trying to do that, im just horrible at drawing people :D