I will try to update as best as I can! Since I am finally home and on summer break! Yay!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything its all Tolkien.

Chapter 6 Moria

It would have continued to be a pleasant thought had Gimli's not continued boasting for the next 6 hours. The sun had dipped into the dark and the moon had pulled out the stars one by one and still he continued mercilessly. By the time we had finally reached the gate that Gandalf had spoke of I knew what type of meats we would eat, how they would be cooked, who we would meet, the wars they had fought in, along with Gimli's entire family tree which sounded more like a enormous root system of an entire forest rather then a single tree. I was thankful for having stayed a raven for the entire trek, for I would have worn such a scowl by the end it would have turned milk sour.

I loved to hear Gimli speak about the Dwarves but only for so long and their history had overstayed its welcome in conversation. I was eager for a new topic but had none to contribute for I had felt speechless the entire walk, my mind lost and it seemed that Gimli was the only one who had stamina and excitement to regale tales of old. The fellowship had been strangely quiet except for the hobbits who found that Gimli's renditions of the meals were quite the joy to behold.

I kept my wits about me as we descended down a dark path. I could see the face of the mountain like a curtain made of stone that was cut with the water's edge. I felt less excited at the prospect of going underground.

I flew behind a rock and shifted .My shoulders rested and my arms fell to my sides in earnest. I was dressed and happy that I had finally successfully shifted back with my clothes.

I emerged to see the company sitting beside the water Pippin skipping rocks against its surface while Gandalf smoked his pipe in frustration.

" He's forgotten the password." Said a voice.

I turned around to see Boromir who looked slightly frustrated.

" Gandalf?"

" Indeed, he seems to have misplaced it in his mind I suppose." He scoffed and leaned against the rocks.

" I suppose even wizards can forget." I answered putting my hands on my hips checking to make sure I had my weapons on me.

" Indeed. Though I should think that if he does not remember the password we would take the road through my city. It is the safest way and we've wasted enough time here already. Why bring us here if he did not have a plan to get us through!"

"I do not look forward to going underground yet I understand its purpose. Boromir you must understand. Minas Trith is overrun with weakness and I would hope that ring would not come so close to the hearts of desperate men." I said looking at him gently and hopefully.

Where there was once a hopeful man in search of an ally now stood a man full of resentment. He did not understand and I was not sure he ever would.

" The race of men may be desperate but we are not weak."

" Boromir-" I began but he turned from me and headed back onto the path. I slumped my shoulders, heavy with guilt and watched him disappear into the dark.

"Do not worry Grace for Boromir is troubled by the ring. He is not himself. " Said a voice.

I knew at once it was Legolas, his comforting presence behind me and I felt his hand on my shoulder. I turned back to him.

" The ring plagues us all, none are immune to its pull and it pulls all the time Legolas. How do we bear its weight when all of us are struggling simply being in its presence? Yet Frodo he carries it so closely." I said quietly, careful to make sure no one else heard my words.

Legolas frowned.

" I'm not strong Legolas I never have been. What will I do once the ring offers me something I can not resist and it's not a matter of if but a matter of when."

He was silent and his stare seemed endless but gentle. I felt a mixture of emotions and yet he seemed so at ease.

I shook my head. His silence was enough to cut my voice into a small whimper and so I took off toward Pippin but before I could go Legolas grabbed my hand tightly and entwined his fingers with mine. I looked back at him mid step shocked.

He took my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. His lips were so soft against my worn knuckles, like smooth stones rubbing against the shore of a quiet river. He looked up at me with a soft smile, a warm smile and I couldn't help but sigh.

He came closer to me and kept hold of my hand. My feet shuffled loudly against the gravel path.

" Be at ease Grace. Your worries are well placed and your heart is set. Do not fret I can feel how your mind wanders over all of us and your unease is ours also. You are not alone, so do not fear." Said Legolas with a smile.

But Legolas's smile was not enough this time and I smiled back weakly and as he let go my hands I felt my shoulder droop once again. He walked off back toward Aragorn and I looked back at the two of them, a crownless king and a prince without his forest at the edge of a changing world.

Some things I could only do myself. We each had our own battle ahead of us, one we could only face alone. I looked to Frodo who had been sitting not to far from Gandalf eyeing the mountainside.

He looked around warily in the dark, quiet and with a reserved sadness. This place was not the Shire. It was a dark place, left only with the old haunts of luxuries past. When his eyes fell onto me he smiled lightly for only a minute. But in that brief moment I smiled back and I felt a small root hope bud inside of me. Perhaps there was hope and if not then at least we died with the thought at the forefront of our minds.

My thoughts were so heavy but I kept them to myself. They were just thoughts and it made no use for them to take for my energies. They felt at times as if they were placed there by someone else and so I resolved to let them think by themselves, I did not need to bother unless they had some real merit to them. I would let the present consume me and leave the past where it was.

Boromir threw a stone into the lake and I shuddered at the ripple that reached out into the dark. Frodo was still, seized by fear of the unknown and threw Boromir a harsh look. We sat quietly, but Pippin and Merry continued to be uneasy and were beyond eager for us to move into safer place. I too felt hardly at home beside the dark lake and the closed stone doors.

" It's a riddle!" Said Frodo standing up in excitement." Speak friend and enter. Gandalf what's the Elvish word for friend?"

" Mellon."

With a great rumble the mountain gave way to silver doors, grinding at the earth with their weight.

" Soon Master Elf you a get feel for the hospitality of the dwarves and a grand feast! Malt Beer and ripe meat off the bone! Balin will give us a royal welcome! And they call this a mine! A Mine!" Shouted Gimli as he began to walk up the steps into the mine.

We trudged into the dark hole and the smell rendered me speechless. As Gandalf lit his staff the scene before us was bleak. Dwarf bodies littered along the walls and floor, crushed blades and shields lay sewn across the path. Arrows felted with black tips, all the signs of a war with Goblins.

" This isn't a mine- it's a tomb." Said Boromir grasping at his sword his voice reeking of sweat and hot fear.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should have never come here." said Aragorn fumbling in the dark.

" Get out of here! Get Out!"

But all at once I felt behind me a presence missing and the clear and frantic shouting Frodo. I whipped around and saw it. The Watcher in the Water its arms swinging Frodo lividly. Boromir rushed at its arm but somehow I had reached it first. I swung my blade against its thick tentacle and it dropped Frodo into my arms but as I rushed through the water I flung Frodo to Boromir feeling suddenly stuck.

" Legolas!" Shouted Boromir.

I was pulled under and felt water begin to flood my lungs. I tore at the dark muscle and blood erupted around me. I swam to the surface and flung myself toward the entrance, the rocks crumbling with a swarm of gray smoke and the sounds of the beast behind me.

I pushed myself even farther forward in the hope that I was deep enough in the mine. I felt the blood rush into my ears as silence slowly settled around me.

I opened my eyes and found that I was laying in a heap of bones. Unimpressed I stood up, as blazing pain sprouted in my leg. Gandalf relit his staff and I looked down to see a thick black barb plunged in my calf. Red watery blood poured from the wound. I would need to get it out and quickly. I grimaced at the thought and I sat down without remorse on the heap of dwarf bones in an attempt to analyze the wound further.

Gandalf made his way toward me with a look of distain.

" Its not like I was trying to get this unbelievably large sharp barb in my leg Gandalf so don't go giving me that look."

" We don't have time for petty arguments. The path through Moria is a two day journey and we must hope our presence here goes unnoticed. Aragorn pull it out."

Aragorn rushed over to me and I looked at him wary. He kneeled down next to me and touched the wound gingerly.

"Its bad." I muttered. " I know because it burns like hell and at the rate the blood is spewing I'd rather a guess to say it's poisoned."

As soon as the words left my mouth I regretted it.

In a hurry Gandalf pushed Aragorn out of the way and ripped the barb from my calf with one hand.

I tore a scream from the very pit of my lungs but Legolas covered my mouth with his hand. I felt dizzy but pain was certainly less and getting lesser and lesser.

" Grace." Legolas whispered in my ear. " shift into an animal I can carry."

I leaned back against him with a half glazed smile, I felt so faint and so I fell asleep with the lingering want of warmth.

I didn't know when the voices had started but from a distance I began to hear them. Small quiet voices, muffled and far away.

" I have no memory of this place." Followed by a great rumble.

" Did I not say she would be a burden?" said one voice and then another.

" All great warriors can be wounded!"

" She is weak- a woman!"

" Don't you want strength?" said a louder voice, one that sounded so much closer then the rest.

"Life is given freely what if you could give it to those who deserve it. Rid the world- purge it of - I would see it done and he would see you fit to be born of royal blood. To be made of –"

and then a new voice, louder then the others, someone singing in elvish.

I smiled I felt warm just how I wanted and safely tucked someplace and when I opened my eyes I realized I was in shell.

"I suppose a snail was the way to go." I thought to myself and nearly laughed out loud. I eased my way out of the shell to find myself face to face with the interior of green fabric.

I snuck my one eye out of the breast pocket I was lounging in to find that I was not with Legolas but Sam. He looked down at me startled.

" Oh- Lady Grace I didn't mean you no harm I was just humming some, I hope you're rested I tried not to tussle you around too much but its been a long walk and its hard when you be needing to keep still but your legs leave you no room for mistakes." Mumbled Sam.

He might has well have been shouting at me from where I was. His voice was practically booming. I shrunk back into the pocket from the sound. But a big hand came around me softly and I was surprised because I had not expected Sam to be so gentle and yet he lifted me and settled his hand on his lap.

" I'm sorry Lady Grace, I just never had a snail be able to understand me before- or rather maybe they all do but I talk to loud and so they don't stick around but I'll whisper now how is this?" He whispered smiling at me.

I looked up at him and nodded, it was certainly much better. I looked around our small huddle. Gimli was smoking as was Gandalf who looked as frustrated as ever.

I counted each member but found that Legolas was nowhere to be found, as was Aragorn. Without delay however they both sauntered back into camp. I wanted to call out to them but I felt slightly ashamed that I had caused more problems. I began to retreat back into my shell. But before I could I saw Aragorn walking toward Sam.

" I did just as you asked Aragorn." Said Sam in slight apprehension.

"You've done well Sam." He answered with a smile and put a strong heavy hand on his shoulder.

Aragorn picked me up and carried me over to where Gimli and Gandalf were sitting.

" How are you feeling?" He whispered.

I looked at him trying hard to project my feelings.

" Mmm I think you are feeling tired but far better then you were."

" Good enough." I wanted to say but being a snail I found it hard to make any sound at all except to shuffle my way slowly over to the center of his hand.

I looked longingly over to Legolas who seemed to be toying with his twin blades. If I had been an orc I would have found it pretty menacing and he was not wearing his usual look of calm but one of remoteness. Thankfully Orc I am not and despite his stern face he looked dangerously handsome.

" He's alright." Whispered Aragorn.

I looked up at him to see that he was wearing a small smile. I looked back to Legolas who had disappeared into the dark of the mine.

" He was worried, though he would not admit it to us not even me but he took your injury onto himself. He cares for you deeply." Aragorn continued.

I tried to give him a look that said we were simply friends but only succeeded in saying –

" You want to go talk to him? Of course let me put you down a ways." Said Aragorn quickly.

He settled me behind a wall and I felt more tired when I left his hand.

" I'll just be right on the other side of this outcrop should you need my help." He said as he disappeared.

I dreaded the thought of shifting, I was tired and I did not know what was in store for me once I became my elf maiden self. I braced myself for the change. The shell got tight and loose and soon I felt the cold stale air of the mine shift over my skin.

I was nude, again. I gingerly bent down, feeling hardly steady on my feet and unpacked a tunic as quickly as I could. My limbs felt sore but looking at the wound it seemed well healed except for a nasty scar and a deeply purple vein around it I would live. I pressed my hand to it and felt the skin try to pull over the scab but to no avail. This wound was beyond my skill to heal, it would take time.

I sighed and pulled up my pants and wrapped my belt tightly around my waist. I mentally checked off my supplies. Daggers, sword, and my sanity good I'll make it in this place after all.

But as I slowly tested my legs I found myself gripped in the outcrop of stone. Once again I was rendered weak. I mentally kicked myself at my state. Perhaps I would just need to shift into an animal again. But for some reason the thought plagued me with unease. Shifting again would be too much energy and in the current state I was in I doubted that even as a bear I would be strong enough to hold myself.

I looked behind me down into the darkness, nothing. I felt my heart shake at the thought of how deep we were. How if I continued into the dark I would eventually reach places undiscovered by anyone.

" Are you alright?" asked Aragorn from behind the rock.

" Fine. Just a little on the weak side." I answered. My voice was so quiet, it betrayed me and showed just how much the wound had taken out of me.

Aragorn appeared swiftly and held onto my forearms, helping to steady my steps.

" I just need to eat something." I said finally as we made our way to Gandalf and the rest of our company.

Merry and Pippin rushed over to me and sat down embracing me.

" Are you Alright? " Asked Merry gently taking my hand and petting it.

"Do you need a massage?" Asked Pippin with a smile.

"A foot rub? "

"A bath?" asked Pippin with a wink.

"Pippin!" Shouted Merry scolding the hobbit.

I laughed and felt how dry my throat was, I drank from my water skin greedily.

" Food is what I need." I answered and Aragorn held out a some type of hardy bread for me. I took it without question.

" Let the woman breath young hobbits." Said Gimli smiling over to me. " Its good to see you're well lassie."

" Its good to be well Gimli." I rubbed my hand over the wound on my calf unconsciously.

Gandalf turned to me with a smile.

" Indeed. I am sorry I was so rash with you." Said Gandalf.

" Not to worry Gandalf, if not for you the company would be in a right mess. You have guided us this far. I trust your judgments and so you did what had to be done." I answered with smile and added. " Perhaps next time I'll pull a barb out of your calf without warning"

" Perhaps!" Laughed Gandalf. He looked over at the lot of us and declared. "We are weary and I think it best we rest here for the night. I can not make a decision on which path to take when my mind is so tired."

Pippin and Merry lit up and began to unfurl their bedrolls in haste. We all respectively reached a comfortable place in the dark . Though Gimli seemed the most unfazed, understandably so. The mines were his home but they were not mine and though I welcomed the thought of sleep, I was not sure it would come.

I looked to my right to see Legolas beginning to unfurled his sleeping mat beside me as I let myself lean against the cold stone.

" You should get some rest." He said tucking his twin blades beside him and rifling through his small pack.

" You should too." I replied.

He looked up at me and smiled.

I did not a know a smile could hold so much promise until Legolas. It brought my heart to swell in my throat.

" You've been injured." He tried.

" Legolas"

"Grace."

" There's no use in arguing all night about it, neither of us will sleep so why don't we both rest since Gandalf is taking watch anyway." I answered with triumph.

Legolas sighed but sat beside me as close as he could. He looked out across the company. Everyone was fast asleep, it had been a long trek in the dark and whether or not it was day outside or not sleep had been a welcomed visitor. Though I doubted it would be completely restful. I saw Sam twisting in his sleep and I felt desperate to comfort him in someway.

I began to sing quietly. I knew only Legolas could hear me, perhaps Gandalf. I sang as quietly as I could for fear that the echo of the tunnels would bring something from the dark.

I was surprised when Legolas sang with me. I looked at him, his lips were barely moving at all, they were wet tinged a slight pink barely open as the elvish words slipped between them. We sang like the wind and we sang of the Shire in the hope that it would bring the hobbits some type of peace in the dark. After an hour Sam had stopped rustling his breathing even and even Boromir, who had been groaning in his sleep had quieted. Frodo seemed at ease as well.

I eased myself down under my blanket and looked up at the craved out ceiling. How far under the mountain were we I wondered?

I turned on my side to look at Legolas who was looking up as well.

" How far under the mountain do you think we are?" I asked quietly.

Legolas turned to his side and let his hand rest on near mine.

" Very far."

He looked into my eyes and I felt as if my all my fears were on display. I wanted to look away from him but I couldn't. He took my hand without warning and gently squeezed it.

" I do not like it either." He added with a long pause. " but it is easier to bear when you are near."

I felt lightheaded and I wanted to laugh with excitement and joy. Though I was not sure what to say next. I kept jumping back and forth do I come clean about how I am feeling? What do I say? Do I tell him I love him? Do I love him? I love him?

As I felt this eternal battle raging and felt the blush creeping up my cheeks. I felt Legolas's hand gently putting my hair behind my ear. His hand touch at my neck and I looked down as he lifted my chin and we stared at one another.

" Death all but disappears from this world when I look upon you. It is as if the darkness of this land is ripped from its bones and all matter of human, elf and creature alike are warmed and comforted by an ever glowing sun. By the Valar may only may such a place exist but I did not think in all my long years that such a place could exist beside me, a place that I could carry within me. A place that beneath the very whole of the world, where things are only lost and never found I would find a star still glowing in the dark. "

I felt small tears building at the edges of my eyes, they pooled but I found my throat raw. I had no words, my heart was aching and enflamed. He lifted my chin closer to him and I felt my body yearn for his lips, his touch along my skin. I wanted nothing more then to smother him in my arms. To hold onto him until all the world would fall away at our feet.

Legolas closed the distance between us swiftly as I felt my heart give way in the dark. Though this was not the place, or time for such a display I could not help but feel the rush of heat flood under my skin. His lips touched mine just barely, so quick was the kiss I barely had time to feel how soft his lips were before they were gone. How fleeting the moment was I ached for him and so I embraced him and let my head sink into his shoulder. I wanted so desperately to rest my head on his chest to feel his heartbeat match with mine.

" I am sorry." I said quietly. Feeling my eyes getting slightly hot again.

We released each other from our tight embrace.

" I am sorry I do not have the words Legolas. For you mean more to me then my own voice and my words could not do justice to what yours have done. But through you I have found life in me again."

Legolas was beaming and I felt filled with happiness, I could hardly contain my smile. We sat in a comfortable silence, our whispered declarations filling us with contentment.

I heard a small cough and looked up the see Gandalf with a gentle smile. He turned away and looked back into the darkness.

I let myself relax and felt Legolas's hand intertwined with mine. His fingers like blades of grass bending at my hands. I let sleep take me and I did not fight the feeling of drifting.

I dreamed of the dwarves and of creatures that dwelled at the heart of the world that drank a silvery water that glowed like heartbeats strung up in the night sky. As I walked the tunnels, a worm like being with translucent skin swam beside me. He had only one large eye and large green mouth. His hands were like hardy paws wrapped in strange scales. I kept walking in the dark and so deep were the tunnels I felt the air get thinner and thinner. Finally I could no longer take the dark air and plunged into the water to swim beside the worm. He looked at me but continued to swim and he plunged down into a deeper tunnel I could see a what looked like look light shimmering on the top of water. I swam for it and burst through into a cave filled with mithril. The walls and ground were coated in the shinning silver surrounding the small island was a thin, filmy layer of silvery water. I climbed out on the island and dipped my hands into the film. It was like slick oil on top of water and I watched it move with surprised ease on my hand.

I heard a loud splash behind me and I whipped around to see that the worm I had swam with was now walking toward me. Though he looked less human he walked fluidly and easily over to me. He fell to his knees and plunged his head into the silvery film, when he lifted his head out of the water I felt my heart stop. A mildly translucent man with a sharp mouth was frowning at me. I let the silvery film drop from my hands and it crawled back into the pool.

He opened his mouth but no sound came out and so his large paws grabbed me by the shoulders and thrust my head into the pool. I wanted to yell but I couldn't and I felt some the film fall down my throat when he pulled me back out. I found myself fighting for breath but he was smiling.

He took his paw and let the film collect between his hands and put it to my mouth. He gripped my shoulder tightly which I took to mean drink and so I did. I drank the silvery liquid and felt it grow heavy in my stomach.

I fell onto my back as I looked up at the stranger who seemed happy with himself. I did not know if he meant me harm or what he even was only that I began to hear whistling and then whistling with speech.

" Ilthildin." It said sang.

I could do nothing by lay on the ground, I felt so heavy.

" Starmoon?" I answered in the common tongue but he frowned. He could not understand the common tongue. He was older then the tongues of men. He was a nameless thing.