Chapter Sixteen
Stuck in a Freakin' Abyss

14 days. That's how long we've been down here, under the ground. Let me tell you, I am less than thrilled; more like slowly going insane. True, the earth-fairy-part-of-me is okay down here, but the claustrophobic-mostly-human-me, isn't so happy.

14 feverish, scary days dodging Warg wolf nests, gaping cracks in the floor that lead to certain death, and getting lost in the seemingly never-ending hell-hole that is Moria. Thank you, Frodo for picking to go here, thank you Gimli for putting the idea in his head, and thank you to myself, for going along with this suicidal plan. I'm done ranting now, promise

It's not just me who's uncomfortable. The once giggling and playful hobbits have been reduced to quiet, nuisances. Instead of directly bothering us, they have turned their attentions to the environment; like banging dwarf skulls like bongo drums, or playing 'whoever can annoy Aragorn the most by telling him how un-manly he looks today.' After the first ten times, it got played out.

Boromir is not talking either, but he keeps giving us looks like its us that put a sword to his head and made him join the fellowship. Recently, he's been talking with Mark a lot, which I think is ironic. Isn't it awesome how two people who hate me are now forming secret club handshakes and knitting groups?

Delilah hasn't stopped whining about EVERYTHING since we stopped here, because Gandalf can't remember where he is. I voted to knock her out and ditch her, but nobody was willing to follow my idea. *Pout*.

Colyne and Mark aren't speaking to each other again. Siblings. I mostly talk to Colyne, but sometimes she and Gimli strike up meaningful conversations about the Dwarfs. The short red-bearded Gimli seems to like talking with her the best. I miss Bryan's dry humor, and Aleyna's wit.

Frodo's kinda been slowly separating himself from us, a fact duly noted by Lauren. Sam is the only person he talks to besides Gandalf.

Nick seems to like being down here. At least, he's shown no signs of fear of rock slides, Orcs, or Wargs. On the contrary, Legolas has become detached to everyone else; its like being trapped in the earth depresses him more than even me. He barely talks. Right now he's just sitting down on the edge of the outer rocks, looking at his feet. I walk over, and sit down.

"Hi…how are you?" I say, looking into that somber, beautiful, face. The prince shakes his head and smiles, which comforts me, however fake I know it had to have been.

"Do not worry about me, Lady Vanessa. I am fine, just a bit homesick for the trees and forests I know so well."

I nodded, understanding. The trees were to him as my family was to me. Then it struck me; my family. My eyes blurred instantly. I missed my mom, my annoying little sisters, and dad. I even missed my fuzzball of a dog, my yorkie, Rootie.

I just never thought about it until now. Maybe…we'll never find the way out of this mess, and be stuck here forever. And as much fun as that sounded, I would wish to be back in my own bed at home in a minute.

He saw my tears, and his eyes widened.

"I've upset you, Lady Vanessa!" But I shook my head.

"I just miss my family…" Through blurry vision, I could see his blue eyes; they had a tortured look of pain. I felt his arms holding me.

"I have not seen my kin in over 500 years. Please tell me about yours."He whispered. We were in the shadows against the rock now; my mind giggling about how nobody could see us. Shut up brain, you're not the boss of me! Although technically you are… ahh, whatever.

Slowly, I began to talk about my life. He listened, and didn't say anything until I finished.

"I just, miss them because this is all so new to me, and I don't know if I'll ever see them again…"

"You will. Just as I will see mine."He said softly.

"Yeah, you probably have a beautiful elleth waiting for you to get back." He stiffened. Oh God, I'm in his arms and I just had to mention his probably true-love-princess.

"I have no one waiting for me. It's not that my father didn't want me to marrry, but the balls he threw were so boring, and the elleths so foresee-able. I tired of them long ago. "His voice turned bitter.

"Oh I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry." He went to say something, but then a cursed noise behind us broke us apart.