A/N: Are you still with me guys? I love to hear from you. Also, I take requests if it fits the story; so leave a review with what you want to see in upcoming chapters, or send me a PM. Enjoy chapter 5!

It's a bit slow, bit chapter six will have an epic fight, so stay tuned!

Ps: Did you notice that I write from Aragorn's POV, then Legolas's, and then Aragorn's, etc.? Or should I add the name at the beginning of the chapters?

Chapter 5: Road through Moria

For a moment, all was quiet. The only sound to be heard was the sound they were making: uneven breaths, echoing a little in the small room they were in. Aragorn was relieved no one was panicking. Though the way back was blocked, and they literally had no choice but to go forward, he wasn't completely sure they were safe. There must have been a reason why Gandalf had been so reluctant to take this path, and it gnawed at him.

The Wizard made light for a second time, to reveal everyone huddling together. Aragorn smiled mildly at the thought that they were all scared, but the corners of his mouth went down immediately when he saw Legolas. The natural Elven glow was duller than it should be, and even from where he was standing, he could see the beads of sweat shimmer.
Oh no! His heart sank, yet before he could get to his friend, Gandalf spoke.

"We have now but one choice. 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."

Like the one they had just witnessed, or were there more to come? Aragorn liked being prepared, but after that monster, he wasn't sure if he wanted an answer to his own question.

While they walked through the hallway, the man in grey continued: "Quiet now. It's a four day's journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
At the end of the hallway, there was a platform, from which two roads led further into the dark. It was a good thing that Gandalf was leading the way, since Aragorn had never been here before and both paths looked long. If you picked the wrong one, it would take quite a while to get back to the fork.

It was a mystery to him how the Dwarves had built it and how they remembered every road, since they already had trouble with remembering the entrance doors!

They travelled in silence, recalling the Watcher and Gandalf's words. Since it had been dark when they got to the Doors, it didn't surprise Aragorn that they only travelled for about two hours before deciding to stop for the night.

Finally, he had time to take Legolas aside. He made him sit down and gently pulled the tunic up to his side, uncovering the wound that had started bleeding again.
"I thought you were going to tell me when it got worse, so I could help."
"You know I never do", Legolas answered softly, but this time Aragorn didn't get pushed out of the way. The Man shook his head, mumbling almost inaudible words about the stubbornness of Elves, and their pride, while working. He crushed some dry athelas leaves, mixed them in a bowl with some water and used that to wash the wound. It should take away some of the pain, and make Legolas feel at ease; something the Greenwood Elf could use, since they were underground.

He made sure the Elf ate something, glancing up several times to check if he was still chewing, while he dressed the wound. He had to stitch it again, and after that he cleansed it once more. With his fingers he smeared some of the used athelas leaves over the wound and then covered it with clean gauze. Binding it tightly, Aragorn let out a sigh. If nothing happened these couple of days, and they would only be travelling, Legolas would be healed before they got out of Moria.
"Legolas... you know.. about..." Aragorn started hesitantly, and looked up frowning when there came no reaction. Only Legolas's arm fell down, his hand rested on his lap with a piece of half-eaten bread in it. Worried, his eyes skimmed the elegant face...
His features softened and he wrapped his own cloak around him. "Ollo vae, mellon nîn,"*Aragorn whispered. Yes, the Elf could use a good night's sleep.

More paths followed the next day, turning right or left whenever they had to make a choice. It was a maze of hundreds of paths, and Aragorn wondered how Gandalf remembered it all so well. While he had lived among rangers many years, and had become quite an expert on tracking things and remembering roads, even he was lost here. He had no doubt that he would have great difficulty finding the way back –supposing they could still use the Doors to get out. There was no other choice than to trust in the Wizards abilities.

He was quite content to see that Legolas looked better; the Elf stood taller and his step was more solid than it had be yesterday. What hadn't changed was that Legolas was right behind Gandalf, as a moth drawn to the light coming out of the stone on the Wizard's staff. Aragorn couldn't blame him for that, though. He himself was fairly pleased with his torch; the darkness of the Mine gave him the chills, though he was accustomed to loneliness and cold places. This was different. They had found no bodies since the entrance, but that was just a matter of time. The remaining Dwarves had to be somewhere, right?

It was on a broad ledge that Gandalf paused for a moment and explained that the riches of the Mine were not found in jewels or gold, but in Mithril. He made a tad more light, so they were able to look down. To Aragorn, although he was deeply impressed, it seemed like the Dwarves had been greedy. It was impossible to determine how deep they had mined.

For a short moment everyone was in awe, and the stifling feeling was far away from them. But the moment passed and they had to move on. More carved paths and stairs and then.. a crossing. Three openings, none of them looking to welcoming.

*= 'Ollo vae, mellon nîn' is Sindarin, the Elfish language they speak in the films. It means: sleep well, my friend.