They adventure continues :) So just a heads up - there isn't a lot of Tauriel/Legolas moments in this chapter - apart from largely being written form the two elves point of view. Because there was so much action happening in the mines there wasn't really a lot of time for romance or even a lot of socialising. It's not like I could have just left the mines out so I tried to include some nice moments between out two elves when I could but yea, just letting you know that this won't be the most romancy (my new word) chapter.

Mines of Moria

The Mines weren't pleasant. Legolas doubted he would have liked the huge underground complex even if it wasn't littered with dead bodies, and with them, the elf found himself longing to burst out into the fresh air. Looking at the other members of the fellowship he gathered they felt the same. Even Gimli, who would normally be most at home here, seemed also wanting to get out of here. To add to their discomfort, both elves began noticing the creature Gollum following their path. Not wanting to cause unease, they decided to say nothing of the matter until they could speak to Gandalf alone, but they often caught glimpses of the small creature darting from behind rocks or climbing up after them.

After the first day, in which everyone walked in relative silence, Gimli started speaking of the dwarves he remembered here. Legolas was unsure of why he was telling these tales to begin with but he soon realised it was Gimli's way of coping and maybe even paying his respects, making sure somebody knew of these people and their deeds in life. He respected that and began listening to Gimli's stories. He spoke of battles that these dwarves participated in and people they encountered. Then he began speaking of a quest the two elves knew all too well "Of course Balin was one of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield 60 years ago," Gimli said, completely missing the look Legolas and Tauriel shared behind him. "Yes, that it a glorious and lengthy tale, one that I shall not explain all on this day, but Balin, Ori and my uncle Oin all of whom journeyed here all also went on that adventure. Oh I wish I was old enough to join them, I was just a wee lad when my father set off, but he told me all about it when he returned. They were attacked by elves you know," Gimli said, turning to directly adress the two Mirkwood elves. "Yes, my father had with him a pendant with a portrait of my dear mother and I with him and he told me one of the blasted elves dared call me a goblin mutant! Can you imagine?" he said, voicing raising slightly. Legolas almost burst out laughing at the irony of it. He had never thought to ever meet that young dwarf, let alone journey across Middle Earth with him. Tauriel noticed his smile. "Surely you cannot enjoy these conditions?" she asked, not knowing the true reason for his smile.

"Far from it," he replied. "But I find myself recalling something I had forgotten and let's just say I find it quite ironic." She looked at him quizically but he merely smiled and looked away. "I mean, I was one of the better looking dwarf children if I do say so myself," Gimli continued on, and Legolas and Tauriel smiled, not bothering to interrupt as Gimli got distracted by and explanation of his dwarvish childhood.

Thankfully, Gimli spoke the truth when he said he would not tell all that story on that day, for although that part had bought Legolas' mood up, he knew there were parts of the story he that would send his mood plumetting downwards. They continued moving, mostly walking in single file and keeping their voices low with the exception sometimes, of Gimli.

It was on the fourth day, just when they were thinking they were going to make it through with no major mishaps, that it all fell apart. The first event was Gandalf forgetting the way. They stopped before three different corridors. They all looked to Gandalf but the wizard looked puzzled. "I have no memory of this place." he announced.

"Are we lost?" Pippin asked. Merry replied that they weren't and then Sam shushed them both, telling them Gandalf is thinking.

Gandalf sat on a rock staring at the doors, while everyone else sat around on the floor or on some fallen rock. Everyone else bought out pipes and began puffing away. Legolas and Tauriel instead stood, leaning against a rock, for elves never smoked and it puzzled them why the others found it so relaxing. Time passed slowly, everyone waiting for Gandalf to remember the wah forward. At one point Frodo rose and went and talked to Gandalf. Legolas and Tauriel both heard it was about Gollum and were pleased to note Frodo's eyes too were keen enough to spot the creature. "That is a sad fate to befall a person," Tauriel murmered. Legolas nodded thoughtfully, "The ring can bring nothing but pain to a person's life." he said, lowering his voice so the Hobbits couldn't hear him.

Gandalf suddenly spoke up, "Ah! It's that way." he announced.

"He's remembered." Merry commented, looking pleased to be moving on.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." advised Gandalf, before moving on, taking the left hand passage.

It was not long before they came into a wide open space. Gandalf let out a little more light out from his staff and a huge hall was revealed. It had tall pillars and arched ceilings and the two elves had to strain their eyes to see the back of it, they doubted the other would be able to spot its end at all. "Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Darrowdelf," Gandalf said. Although it was a great sight to behold, Legolas couldn't quite figure how it was magnificent. It was devoid of all life, and although the stone itself could be counted as somewhat natural, there was no green, no nature. He smiled, none the less, willing to accept that for dwarves, this would be a great hall.

They began travelling through the hall, when suddenly Gimli gave a cry, and ran into a side chamber. As they ran to follow him, they could hear his cries coming from the room. They entered and they eyes were immeadiatly drawn to the dead bodies around the floor, and then to Gimli, who knelt beside a crypt. Boromir moved forward and placed a hand on Gimli's shoulder in comfort. Gandalf translated the runes that had been carved into the tomb. "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It's as I feared." he announced. Gandalf noticed a book, clutched by one of the skeltons besides the tomb. Legolas suddenly had an uneasy feeling. "We must move on." he urgered. Tauriel agreed.

"We cannot linger." she added. Gandalf seemed not to hear, and began reading from the book, which seemed to recount the dwarve's final moments, it was a sorrowful moment and the elves pitied the dwarves who died here, and Gimli, who had lost family this day. Suddenly, everyone jumped as they heard the clanging and realised Pippin had accidently knocked something down the shaft of a well. With each thump everyone winced a little, and it was only when it finished falling that everyone released the breath they had been holding. "Fool of a took!" Gandalf scolded. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity." They were about to move on, Legolas and Tauriel itching to go, they had been in the mines for too long, when they heard it. The beat of a drum, coming from deep beneath their feet. "Frodo!" Sam said, looking pointedly at his sword. Legolas spun, seeing it's change in colour. "Orcs," Tauriel said, and Boromir raced to the door, lurching back as two arrows narrowly missed his face. "Get back, stay close to Gandalf," Legolas heard Aragorn instruct the hobbits.

The rest of them sprung into action, Aragorn and Boromir heaving the door shut, and creating a small blocade, Legolas and Tauriel tossing them weapons to use to hold the door shut. "They have a cave troll," Boromir warned. Aragorn, Legolas and Tauriel readied their bows, while everyone else but Gimli who wieleded his axe, drew their swords. The orcs burst through, and Tauriel shot first, as soon as a small hole was created in the door, the frontmost orc was dead. Legolas shot next, his arrow also finding it's mark. Aragorn too added to their kills, killing one more before the doors were gone and orcs flooded in to the tomb. Aragorn switched to his sword quickly, but both elves stuck with their bows. Their fighting style was so similar and with years of fighting together and practice they could easily prediict each others moves. Tauriel went right and Legolas took left, both elves bringing down orcs with their bows, and every now and then pulling out their daggers to slice the throat of an orc that got too close.

They had already defeated a lot of the orcs when the cave troll Boromir spoke of arrived, smashing through the door. Legolas and Tauriel both shot an arrow into it's chest but it's hide was far too thick and the arrow just stuck in its chest. The troll turned to where Legolas had moved to gain the higher ground and Tauriel watched as the stupid creature tried to use its chain to knock Legolas down, instead getting it caught around the pillar. Tauriel adjusted her fighting, and she covered his position, shooting down orcs that were nearing him, as Legolas scrambled up the chain and shot the cave troll in the back of the head, she groaned as the arrow didn't appear to do much, remembering just how thick cave trolls skin could be. More orcs were coming into the tomb, and Tauriel and Legolas stood, either side of the tomb, shooting them down as they entered. They were both aware of the cave troll's position but didn't realise it was with Frodo until they head him cry out in pain. They both turned, so see the hobbits jump on the cave troll, doing their best to hang on and inflict any pain they could. Tauriel and Legolas both took aim, searching for the weakest point. Suddenly, Pippin managed to stab the troll with his sword and the troll opened its mouth, their arrows both left their bows, sailing through the air and up through the troll's mouth into its head. Finally the troll was bought down, and it slumped to the ground. "Nice shot," Legolas said, turning to her. She smiled "You too."

Everyone ran to where Frodo lay, and it seemed everyone had expected the worst because when the hobbit groaned, everyone seemed shocked, the elves included. Frodo peeled back his shirt revealing a chain mail shirt made of Mithril. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins," Gimli told him, and Legolas nodded in agreement, half wondering where Frodo had come into possesion of that.

There was no time to rest, as soon the drums started up again and Gandalf urged them on. "To the Bridge of Khazad-dum" he said. They set off at full pace, pursued by orcs and as they ran they saw more and more crawl down from the ceiling and tall pillars. Soon they were surrounded, trapped in a small circle. Tauriel's eyes searched for Legolas. If this was how they were going to die, she wanted to see him once more before they were killed. Her eyes met his and he seemed to undersand, saw the same fear in his eyes, they knew they were too far outnumbered to come out of this unscathed. This only lasted a moment they heard a new sound, and saw a glow coming from the hallway, the orcs suddenly seemed to change their minds, and they all either scrambled back up towards the ceiling or run back through the hall. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked, and when Gandalf answered they heard fear in his voice. "A balrog, a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you." Gandalf replied. "Run!" he shouted.

They ran into another passage, Boromir taking the lead. As they turned the corner Boromir didn't bother to look and almost fell over the edge. Tauriel darted forward and pulled him back, and he looked up at her, before looking quickly away, "Thankyou" he mumbled, and she could tell he felt ashamed at his comment when first meeting her. She nodded at him in understanding. They all ran down another flight of stairs, Legolas hearing Gandalf instruct Aragorn to lead them on. They came to a gap in the stair case and Legolas and Tauriel didn't even think before leaping easily across it. Gandalf jumped next and no sooner had he landed, arrows begun flying through the air. Legolas and Tauriel returned fire, while out of the corner of their eyes they watched Boromir take Merry and Pippin across, then Aragorn toss Sam, before Gimli jumped across. He just made the jump but was off balance and Legolas reached out a hand and caught his beard, pulling him back to safety. The dwarf seemed disgruntled but grateful. "What would father think?" Legolas couldn't help but wonder, as he and Tauriel finished off the last of the orc archers. Bits of the stair case were breaking off and he suddenly realised it was now too far for Aragorn and Frodo to jump. The bridge behind them started breaking and Aragorn told Frodo to lean forward. The elves suddenly realised his plan. They jumped at the exact moment the stairs collasped into the bottom half, Legolas catching aragorn and Boromir catching Frodo.

They set off again, racing over the bridge. Gandalf was last and they all stopped and turned when they crossed, to see Gandalf standing on the bridge taking on the Balrog. They couldn't hear a lot of what he was saying over the Balrog's roars but they heard when he shouted "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" banging his staff on the bridge, and they watched as the balrog moved forwards, and the bridge collapsed underneath it. There was a collective sigh of relief before they saw a flick of red fire, and Gandalf was being pulled over the side. "GANDALF" Frodo yelled. Gandalf looked at them, "Fly you fools," he said, before losing his grip and falling into the abyss below. They heard Frodo let out another scream and watched as he went to run to the bridge, but Boromir caught him and yelled for Aragorn to follow as they exited the mines at last.

Reviews/criticism/comments please? Also just a little note for those who are interested - I watched the Moria scenes very closely while writing this chapter and at the moment when Gandalf is trying to remember the way, it shows the fellowship all sitting around smoking and when I first watched it, it looks like Legolas too is smoking - there is smoke curling up near him. But I didn't think elves smoked so I had to do some research so if anyone looks at my google search history you will find the random question 'does legolas smoke?'

oh - it seems it was actually Gimli's smoke who I hadn't noticed was standing besides and slightly behind Legolas - so I was right elves don't smoke :)