Hello again everyone!

to those who have been waiting patiently for the next chapter: thanks for sticking with the story, hope you like the next chapter!

to those who have just found the story, and have just finished the first chapter: here's the second chapter, hope you enjoy it!

also before we get on to the story, i'd like to thank all the people who reviewed this, especially DarkeSkye264 for nagging me to post the next chapter.

anyways: ON WARD!

DISCLAIMER: don't own either.

CHAPTER THE SECOND

Líndal and Legolas had both prepared their packs for their journey the night before, taking only what was essential and several trinkets they could not bear to leave behind.

"Líndal, it's time we get going." Legolas said, pulling his quiver over his shoulders. He watched with quiet concern as Líndal stayed quiet and still. "Brother?"

Legolas watched as Líndal pulled his long hair to the side and clasp a thin metal chain around his neck. Legolas's gaze softened.

"I am ready now brother." Líndal said quietly, pulling his own quiver over his shoulder, and tucking his sword into his belt.

Side by side they continued their way towards the rest of the group whom had assembled by the entrance of Rivendell. Three of the four hobbits were already present there, as well as the dwarf, and Boromir of Gondor.

"You're late." The dwarf growled as he watched them approach. "Even the hobbits arrived before you."

"Elves neither come late, nor early. They come and go as they please." Líndal said looking towards the trees, able to make out the faint figure of Aragorn talking to Arwen in the distance.

"Um, excuse me sir." One of the hobbits addressed Legolas hesitantly as they waited for the remainder of their group to asssemble. "But I don't believe that we've met before. My name is Samwise Gamgee, sir. This is Meriadoc, or Merry Brandybuck and Peragrin, or Pippin Took"

"We are all equals here Samwise Gamgee. We need not use formalities. My name is Legolas. That block-head over there is known as Líndal." Legolas said with a smile, gerking his head towards his brother.

"Who's the block head?" Líndal demanded, swiping at Legolas's head, only to have him duck.

The hobbits looked on in curiosity and confusion. Líndal noticed their stares. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I don't behave like a normal elf do I?" he smirked at their embarrassed expressions. "Better get used to it."

"I'll never get used to elves." Gimli grumbled.

"The ring bearer is setting off for the quest of Mount Doom." Elrond said addressing the ten companions as a whole. "On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will." He made a point of looking each of the hobbits in the eye. "Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Men, and Elves and all Free Folk go with you." He said sincerely.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf said, watching as Frodo took a last look at his surroundings as he turned and walked towards the road. Líndal watched as the young hobbit asked a quiet question to the wizard, and the wizard responding.

Líndal turned and took one last look at Rivendell-he knew for a fact that he would not see it again- and saw Aragorn take one last look at Arwen before turning and continuing after the rest of the group.

"Do not fear Onee-sama." Líndal whispered to himself, willing the words continue to Arwen, one of the only other elves aside from Legolas who truly saw him as a sibling. "You will see him again."

For several days the companions walked across the hard terrain. To Líndal surprise, the Hobbits stayed diligent, not complaining once, which raised his respect for them considerably.

They stopped amongst a cluster of rocks, near the base of the Misty Mountains. "Boromir. Aragorn. Come here." Líndal called, gathering Merry and Pippin as well onto an even patch of ground.

"What is it?" Boromir asked, bringing his sword along with him.

"These hobbits are going to go through hell along this journey. Might as well give them a fighting chance." Líndal said shrugging, taking note that Merry had a sword hanging from his side. "Merry…"

"Yes Líndal?" he asked, and Líndal grinned as his hand went instinctively to the hilt of his sword.

"Think fast!" Líndal commanded as he unsheathed his sword, and swung it down-keeping in mind to go slow enough for the hobbit to react. Merry's eyes widened but was able to pull is sword out fast enough and deflect the blow.

"Excellent, there might be hope to make a swordsman out of you yet." Líndal grinned, and him as well as Aragorn and Boromir took turns training the Hobbits in the art of swords.

Líndal and Aragorn watched as Boromir worked with the two hobbits, who were progressing well. "Very good." Boromir praised them as he switched between the two.

"Move your feet." Aragorn commented, watching them intently.

Líndal nodded thoughtfully, the turned to see Gimli and Gandalf locked in a quiet conversation. He did not hear much from them, but he could tell that whatever Gimli was suggesting, Gandalf was apposed to it.

Glancing around, he noticed Legolas staring intently into the sky. Líndal stood and went to him. "What is that…?" he asked, noticing what seemed to be a dark patch in the clouds -almost like concentrated fog.

"Nothing, just a whisp of cloud." Gimli said dismissively.

"It's moving fast…against the wind…"Boromir said, slightly out of breath, coming towards the group, noticing their uneasiness.

"Crebain from Dunland!"

"Hide!" Aragorn yelled, running to warn the other, grabbing what was laying around and tossing it under the thick bushes. "Hurry take cover!" he yelled at Frodo and Sam, as the others gathered their things as quickly as possible.

"Hurry Sam!" Líndal hissed, kicking the little fire apart, destroying the evidence of it ever existing and diving under one of the bushes.

Saying that they hid in the nick of time was an understatement. Just as they all found their hiding spots, the group birds swept through their camp cawing loudly. Just as quickly as they arrived they disappeared. When they flew far enough away, they all clambered out from where ever they were hiding.

"Spies of Saruman." Gandalf said with contempt. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradras." He said turning to the great mountain that loomed overhead.

As the group trekked through the snow, Líndal watched as Frodo struggled through the snow, stumbling backwards, and rolling a ways down.

"Frodo!" Aragorn called, also concerned for the hobbit's welfare. He picked him up as Frodo brushed himself off. He rubbed his neck, then looked down at his shirt in panic. Líndal tensed as he watched Boromir pick up the ring and hold it up to his face.

"Boromir." Aragorn said warningly.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing." He whispered, staring at the ring intently, as if in a trance. "Such a little thing…."

"Boromir." Líndal growled. Boromir looked up, somewhat in confusion, then down at Frodo.

"Give the ring to Frodo."

Boromir looked from Líndal to Aragorn to Frodo as he made his way down. "As you wish." He said in a light tone, holding the ring out to Frodo. "I care not." He ruffled the hobbit's hair and continued the walk up the mountain.

Líndal expected for them to get snowed on at least once on their journey-they were on a mountain for crying out loud-but he didn't expect to be caught in a full blown blizzard. He gingerly walked along the top of the snow as the others struggeled through it. Legolas walked ahead, and stared intently into the distance.

"There's a fell voice on the air…"

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted over the wind, just as lightning struck the top and great boulders of snow fell down upon them. They all pressed up against the rock wall, as the snow tumbled down.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn yelled, the icy wind biting at his face.

"No!" Gandalf shook his head and climbed onto a pile of snow to stand, chanting words to try and counter Saruman.

Líndal sensed the danger before it came, "Everyone get back!" he roared, pulling Gandalf and Legolas back, just as lighting struck the top of the cliff, sending an avalance of snow down upon them.

Fighting against the snow, Líndal managed to get his head out and shake the snow out of his face, watching as the others did so as well.

"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir shouted, helping Merry and Pippin out of the snow, "Make for the Gap of Rohan, and take the west road to my city!"

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"

"We cannot pass over a mountain. Let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli said, and Líndal knew that his words were true.

"Let the Ring-bearer decide…" Gandalf finally said, letting Frodo make the decision. The hobbit glanced around uncertainly, not used to taking charge for a whole group.

"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the hobbits!" Boromir truly felt concern, for Merry and Pippin's lips were already a dark shade of purple.

"W-we will go through the mines."

"Dwarves doors are invisible when closed." Gimli tapped the rock wall as they journeyed towards the gates of Moria.

"Yes, Gimli, their own master cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf said as they continued on their way.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas asked sarcastically, ignoring Gimli's sounds of protest.

The wizard stepped up to the rock wall, murmering to himself. Stepping aside, he let the light of the full moon fall upon the rock, revealing an intreacately carved. Usuing his staff as a pointer, he read to them the words etched onto the doors. "It reads. 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter."

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

"It's simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf said impatiently, then turned and spoke something in elvish. The company waitied in anticipation. Nothing happened. Gandalf glared at the door, his annoyance showing. He raised his hands and recited another incantation.

"Nothing's happening." Pippen said, stating the obvious. Líndal caught Gandalf's glare as he grumbled to himself. Using his shoulder, he pushed against the door to no avail. Muttering to himself angrily.

"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked. Oh, you've done it now. Líndal thought.

"Knock your head against these doors Peregrin Took!" He said angrily, turning to the hobbit. "And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed some peace from foolish questions. I will try to find the opening words." Gandalf finished tiredly.

The others went to do their various things, Aragorn, Sam and Líndal went and set Bill the pony loose.

"Mines are no place for a pony." Líndal said, taking off the Bill's bridle. "Even one so brave as Bill."

"Bye-bye Bill." Sam said sadly, watching as Aragorn pushed him on.

"Go on Bill, go on." He looked down and noticed Sam worried expression. "Don't worry Sam. He knows the way home."

As the tree of them made their way back to the others, Líndal noticed that Merry and Pippin were throwing rocks in to the little lake.

"Do not disturb the water." He hissed, grabbing Merry's arm in warning. Líndal glared across the water, and watched warily as ripples moved over the top of the water.

"Mellon."

They all turned to see the great stone doors open, and they all stepped into the Mines.

"Soon, Master Elf, You will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves." Gimli said to Legolas quite smugly. "Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!" Gandalf held his staff up, illuminating the front stairs.

"This is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a Mine. A Mine!"

Boromir's eyes ran across the floors. "This is no mine." He spat, "This is a tomb."

The hobbits gasped and stepped back from the skeleton lying at their feet.

"No!" Gimli, ran towards a body of a fallen comerade. "NO!" he howled in despair and rage.

"Goblins!" Legolas, threw the arrow he found on the ground. Líndal, Boromir and Aragorn whipped out their weapons, staring warily into the darkness.

"We make for the gap of Roahn. We should never have come here." Boromir growled. "Now, get out of here, get out!"

The hobbits stared around wildly, not seeing the danger before it was upon them. Frodo grunted as a tentacle wrapped around his leg, dragging him to the floor.

"Frodo!"

"Help!"

"Strider!" Sam yelled as Merry and Pippen tried hacking off the tentacle from his leg.

They cut it off, and it retreated back into the water, only for them to see a several explode out of the water, and that's when all hell broke loose.

The great creature smacked them all away, holding Frodo above its mouth by his leg. Aragorn, Boromir and Líndal hacked at it wildly, severing its tentacles.

Aragorn swung his sword, cutting the tentacle that was holding Frodo. Boromir caught the hobbit before he could hit the ground.

"Into the cave!" Líndal pushed Aragorn ahead of him, slicing through a tentacle like a hot knife through butter.

"Legolas!" Boromir roared

"Kaze no Kizu!" a different voice yelled, and there was a burst of yellow light, as the rays exploded forward, raking over the creature's body and leaving deep, claw-like gashes. It shrieked in pain, but the attack had bought them enough time to enter the cave. It bellowed angrily, not wanting its prey to get away and wanting revenge. With the last of its strength, it pulled at the doors with its remaining tentacles, and the Fellowship could only watch in horror as the rocks caved, and came crashing down. Blocking the light. Trapping them in the dark.

and now they're in the mines...
i've already started the next chapter, just need to go through some things...

reviews are appreciated, (you can send them by clicking that little button below XP)

see you soon!
-moony