A/N: Chapter extended, edited and reposted.

Chapter 17: In Which The Fellowship Enters Moria

Caradhras had defeated them. It was decided that their only path was to turn back down the mountain. Luna should have been disappointed that the path now led them in reverse for a time. This was just distance that the party had lost, but the relief that she felt toward leaving the snow she could not deny. Their journey back was slow, for the snowfall that occurred during their rest had increased the amount exponentially. For a time, Boromir and Aragorn led the way, digging through the snow so that the rest could make as easy a trek as possible, but soon, it became too much. Legolas, who seemed the only one of the Fellowship of lightened heart at this time, took the lead, scouting ahead and helping determine their distance left. Aragron and Boromir carried the Hobbits forward while Luna, Gandalf, and Gimli took the rear. It took nearly all day, but eventually they reached the base of the mountain yet again.

"We must go on, if there is a way," Frodo said that night. "For how could I return to Rivendell without shame if we were to turn back."

"Indeed," Gandalf agreed. "For if we were to return, the enemy would sooner or later lay siege to the land in retrieving the Ring. Onward is the only way."

"But which road will we take?" Legolas asked.

Gandalf gave a brief glance between Aragorn and Luna. Luna's stomach churned with nerves. The three of them had discussed alternative routes should their paths become blocked to the Redhorn Gate. There was only one the three could fathom through the mountain rather than trek south and around them. "There is a way," Gandalf said. "And we had considered it, but it is not a pleasant way. Aragorn was against it, as was Luna. The road I speak leads into the Mines of Moria."

Boromir's eyes grew dark. "That is a land of ill omen. Surely if we make south for the Gap of Rohan and if that way be closed to us, through the western lands down the mountains. Luna and I fared well on that road in our journey to Rivendell."

"That was months ago," Luna said. "And even then Orcs traveled the lands. No doubt we would be noticed by the Wildmen if we were to travel through Dunland again. Surely with Saruman's assistance, the Orcs have grown in number. We also traveled as two with the aid of horses. Ten on foot would move exponentially slower and discernable."

"I will go through the mines," Gimli said. "I will go and look on the Halls of Durin."

"Good, Gimli," Gandalf said. "You encourage me. What say the rest of you?"

"I will go," Aragorn said. "You followed my judgment through Caradhras and have not uttered a word of fault since we escaped her torment."

"I will not go," Boromir said. "Not unless the rest of the party deems to."

"I do not wish to go through Moria," Legolas said, simply.

"And I do not wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf," Frodo said. "I would not go through the mines if there were another choice, but it seems this is the path that is laid before us."

"I agree with Frodo," Luna said. "If we are to face the Black Gates of Mordor, we cannot be afraid of Moria. If Gandalf knows a safe path through, we must trust his judgment. I will brave and unknown land."

"I would expect nothing less from you in particular, my dear." Gandalf said.

Boromir gave Gandalf a glance before staring into Luna. He knew not what the Wizard meant nor could not help but feel astonished by her vote. The Mines of Moria were all but extinct of the Dwarves that once dwelt there. How much more dangerous could the common roads be than the demons that supposedly haunted the long-abandoned mines? But it was clear he and Legolas had been outvoted for each of the Hobbits stood by Frodo's decision as well. He let out a deep sigh. "How far is Moria?"


The party spent the better part of the day on their way to the door of the mines. Gandalf was adamant that they reach it before sundown, for whatever fell voice spoke upon Carathadas as they had attempted to climb was surely continuing its pursuit of them as they moved about the base of the mountains. They stopped only once to eat and Luna could not sit still. Though she feared the mines, as she rightly believed they all should, there was something comforting about the prospect of descending below the mountains, where none of the outside world could see them. She knew not what would await them in Moria, for all she knew was the speculation of the Dwarves, for they themselves feared the depths they once ruled and whatever fell creatures now dwelt there. Surely nothing, however, was worse than what she felt was currently chasing the Fellowship's tails through the wilds and alongside the rocky walls of the Misty Mountains.

It was decided not long after they began to approach the Mines that Bill would not be able to continue with them. The trek was too rocky and too steep. And they would not be able to provide for him in the Mines, especially if something were to go wrong. With great sadness, Sam bid farewell to his pony and the supplies he carried were divided up amongst the party or decidedly left behind and they sent Bill into the wilds.

They soon after reached the door just before sunset. Gandalf let out a small cry as he approached the gray stone of the mountain's edge. "Indeed, things have changed," the Wizard said. "But there is no mistaking this place. There are the Walls of Moria. And there the Gate stood once upon a time, the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin by which we have come. But this way is blocked. None of the Company, I guess, will wish to swim this gloomy water at the end of the day. It has an unwholesome look. Come, all of you. Night is at hand."

He was not wrong. The lake that sat throughout the clearing was still as the stone it guarded and it showed no reflection, not even that of the setting sun or rising moon. The Wizard moved to stand between two trees gazing at the blank wall of the cliff. Gimli made to tap at the stone here and there with his ax. Legolas pressed himself against the rock, as if listening through to the other side.

"I thought there was to be a door," said Merry. "But I can't see any sign of one."

"Dwarf doors are not made to be seen when shut," Gimli said. "They are invisible and their own masters cannot find them or open them, if their secret is forgotten."

"But this door was made for the Elves of Hollin, not the Dwarves. Eyes that know what to look for might discover its signs." Gandalf bowed his head towards the rock and began to mutter before stepping away. "Look, can you see anything now?"

The rest of the party looked on as the moon rose higher in the sky and shone on the stone. Faint lines began to appear, forming letters of Elvish character. Symbols formed too, that of an anvil and a hammer with a crown and seven stars above it. In the center of the door there was a single, larger star with many rays.

"These are the emblems of the Durin," Gimli cried.

"And there is the Tree of the High Elves," said Legolas.

"And the start of the House of Feanor," said Gandalf. "The door mirrors only starlight and moonlight and sleeps until it is touched by one who speaks words now long forgotten in Middle-earth. It is long since I heard them, and I thought deeply before I could recall them to my mind."

"What does the writing say?" Frodo asked. But Luna did not register Gandalf's response. Her gaze fell then to Boromir, as it always did in moments of rest. She had expected his eyes to be on Frodo, as she usually found them, but he was gazing instead at the sullen lake, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, where it rested when he sensed danger or fear brewing.

"What is it?" she whispered to him, sidestepping around Pippin to reach his side.

"The water is so still," he said. "Too still. Does it not seem foul to you?"

"Yes, but there are too many foul things we have encountered on this journey so far that I cannot focus on just a still pool of water." His eyes didn't budge as he continued to stare. "Is something else amiss?"

"I just cannot believe you agreed with this path," he said. "I would have thought you, of anyone in the Fellowship, would have jumped at the road to Rohan."

She shook her head. "You think that any curiosity I have toward the horse kingdom is considered by me more important than destroying the Ring? I know not how many times I must tell you, Boromir, but the Ring and its destruction are the only goal. You must believe me when I say that."

"I do believe you."

"Then you must listen, for I fear you are not retaining it. Please remember this goal, Boromir. Please never suggest again that my intentions are swaying."

He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "I apologize. You are right in that I should not have suggested your desire to reach Rohan, but I do not see how you all could think this a better path than the Gap."

"I cannot fathom passing that close to Isengard. We know the certain danger that path has for us. Moria's danger may only be rumor and speculation."

"Sometimes certainly is better than speculation, even if the certainly is danger. At least we know what Saruman is capable of. What these Mines might be capable of is a mystery entirely." He paused before speaking again. "Back at the base of the mountain; what did Gandalf mean by you in particular being brave to face an unknown world?"

She was spared having to answer as Gandalf began to chant loudly in Elvish at the mountainside. When he finished, the group watched the door, but nothing changed. Again, Gandalf chanted. And again and again. The door did not budge. "Edro, edro!" he cried to the stone, but the stone did not listen. He continued as members of the Company all slowly took seats around the door, silently deciding that rest should be gained while they were made idle. Eventually, after multiple languages and commands, Gandalf dropped his staff and sat upon a rock in what Luna hoped was not defeat.

She sat beside Boromir, who continued to stare at the water. He had picked up a small stone and tossed it gently between his hands. "You're not usually so distracted," she said.

"I cannot help it," he said, raising his hand and throwing the stone. "I hate this pool!"

The stone landed in the lake with a soft splash that sent ripples from its landing point.

"Why did you do that, Boromir?" Frodo asked. "I hate the pool too, but more than that, I am afraid of it. Do not disturb it further!"

"I wish we could leave," Merry said, scooting a few inches further from the edge of the water.

"Why doesn't Gandalf do something?" Pippin asked.

Luna glanced Gandalf's way, but he paid them no mind. His head was bowed and he muttered to himself, deep in thought. Her eyes moved back to the water. The ripples Boromir's stone had caused now grew in size and as they reached the shoreline, they began to lap at the edge. Luna stood and walked closer to the edge, trying to get a better look into the depths, but Aragron grabbed her arm. "Stay back," he warned. "Boromir should not have disturbed the water."

"I have it!" Gandalf cried, grabbing everyone's attention. "Of course, it is absurdly simple once you know the answer, as all riddles are!" He stood and raised his staff once more. "Mellon!"

The star in the center of the door grew brighter before fading again. Then silently, the door's outline began to glow where none had been visible before. Slowly, it began to swing open, laying gently against the wall, exposing a deep darkness behind that led to its depths. Gandalf took one step inside before Frodo let out a great cry.

Luna jolted her attention to the Ringbearer, who was now suspended above their heads. Luna saw Legolas's arrows fly and imbed themselves in the tentacle that now held Frodo hostage. Sam let out a cry himself and began to slash at the tentacles that now made their way from the water's edge to the Company. Gimli and Aragorn both drew their weapons and slashed at the creature along with Sam. Boromir grabbed Luna and pulled her into the darkness of the cave door. "Let go! I must draw my bow," she protested, but Boromir did not stop. "Boromir, let me go!"

"There is no fighting that..that thing!" he said. "Everyone, into the Mines!"

"But Frodo!" Luna protested.

"Aragorn will get him. Stop fighting me, woman, and get inside!"

He pulled her up a set of stairs and once she saw Merry and Pippin on their tail, she turned and gave into Boromir's tugs and climbed the stairs, going deeper and deeper into the darkness. Behind her, she heard a loud thud. The doors had sealed themselves. Or the creature had decided to trap them all inside. That was that, then. There would be no turning back. But for the scuffling of the party, there was no noise, no light. When the flood was no longer ascending, Boromir let go of her arm and she heard his body thud against the wall of the cave. She heard loud, sharp taps against stone and finally, Gandalf spoke. "Well, well. The passage is blocked behind us now and there is only one way out. On the other side of the mountains."

"I felt that something horrible was near from the moment that my foot first touched the water," Frodo said. "What was that thing?"

"I do not know," answered Gandalf. "But the arms were all gilded by one purpose. Something has crept under the mountains. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."

"In the deep places of the world," Boromir muttered. Luna could not mistake the anger that pierced his words. "And thither we are going against my wish. Who will lead us now in the deadly dark?"

"I will," Gandalf said. "And Gimli shall walk with me. Follow my staff."

A faint radiance began to emit from the spot where Gandalf's voice stood. Luna and Boromir were the furthest into the cave and Gandalf and Gimli took their spots up yet another flight of stairs. For what seemed well over an hour, they all climbed and spoke very little. That is, until Frodo broke the silence of a proposal for a rest and meal, to which the entire party was grateful.

Luna sat with Merry and Sam and helped hand out the food. She made to start rationing what they had left, for she doubted there would be anything to hunt or gather in these walls of stone. When everyone had begun eating and chatting amongst themselves, Gandalf sat down beside her. "I know this was not the path you and Aragorn wished to take," he said. "But you have strayed down many paths in your time you did not intend to, I daresay. Perhaps you will find yourself best equipped of the Fellowship to handle this detour."

"I doubt that, Gandalf. I know this road was the smartest choice, but I cannot shake the feeling that it was not meant to be."

"Meant to be. You and I have had this discussion already, my dear. One does not simply find themselves in places they were not meant to be, or should you assume that you were not meant to be found in the waves of Dol Amroth? We made the decision to come here together and we still live. We still work towards our common goal. We do not yet know if we are meant to be here, but we must assume as much or there is little point in continuing on, don't you agree?"

"I suppose. That is, if one believes I was meant to be found in the waves of Dol Amroth."

"As I said to you back in Rivendell, our fates are tied to the decisions we make. Your father made the decision to rescue you from the waters and succeeded. To me, that must mean you were meant to stay here. You were meant to serve Gondor. You were meant to come on this quest. Do not doubt yourself, Luna. Keep a stout heart through the darkness. The others will look to you to find their confidence. Now, take another swallow of this," he said, handing her the miruvor vile. "There is not much left, but another swallow for each of us will do some good after that business at the gate."

She took her drink and handed it back with a small smile. The miruvor warmed her and brought a peacefulness to her mind that Gandalf's comments certainly had failed to do. She gathered up the contents of food she had been inventorying as Gandalf passed the vial amongst the rest of the party.

It was many more hours of walking until they reached the actual Mines. Gandalf had led them to a wide dark arch opening into three passages. One plunged down, further into the depths. The middle led eastward and was narrower than the other two. The third climbed upward.

"I have no memory of this place at all," Gandalf said, inspecting each path with his staff. "I am too weary to decide now. And I expect that you are all as weary as I am, or wearier. We had better halt here for what is left of the night."

There was protest from no one, for each member of the party was growing more and more exhausted. Even Legolas, whose spirit never seemed to falter, was slowly succumbing to the caves. A few in the party began to inspect a stone door to the left of the passages, but Luna did not care for investigation. She knew sleep would be rare in these mountain caverns and the fact that even Gandalf was feeling the wear meant she needed to take advantage of the break.

She began to pull off her pack along with her bow and quiver. Losing Bill to the wilds was a sure regret now, as they had disbursed the weight he carried between them all and this endless walking through stone made the extra weight all the more apparent.

"Why do I feel a secret is being kept between us?" Boromir said, removing his own pack and sword belt.

"What do you mean?"

"You trade such strange words with Gandalf. You are best equipped to explore an unknown world, yet you have only left Gondor once in your life before beginning this journey with me. I overheard the two of you taking at the last meal. You said to him that your father found you in the ocean waters. You talk of a land you hail from, yet it cannot be Gondor, for why would you just not say her name if that were true? Are you not Gondorian, Luna?"

"I have lived all of this life in Gondor," she said, choosing her words carefully, avoiding his gaze.

"And yet, you do not look like your mother. I know that children do not always resemble their mother's but I have met your father as well. You take after neither one."

"I lost my birth parents when I was very young. Melyanna and Callum took me in."

"So, your true parents did not hail from Gondor, then. But then why would you need rescuing from the waters?"

"How dare you," Luna said, turning to him. "Callum and Melyanna are my true parents."

"I am no fool. I overheard Gandalf and Aragorn speaking of you."

"When?"

"Yesterday, while Gandalf worked to solve the riddle on the door."

"Please cease this, Boromir. You will not like the answers it brings you."

"Why would you not trust me with this? I thought all secrets between us had ceased."

"This is not a secret I want to keep," Luna said. "You don't even know what you are asking me. We have walked for miles today. Can't we just rest, Boromir, please?"

He grabbed her gently at the chin and pulled her face to his. "Whatever this is, it frightens you."

"And now that you know that, will you just let it be?"

"Never," he said. "If you are frightened, I need you to tell me why. Share this burden with me, let me help you."

Luna shook her head, pulling away from his grasp. "I can't, Boromir. If you were to tell your father-"

"My father is thousands of leagues away. He cannot harm you here. I would never let him harm you."

She looked into his gray eyes and kept her tears at bay. She would not let him see her cry. "I just…I can't, Boromir."

"Leave it, Boromir," Aragorn said, walking over to them. "She is right. This is not something you need to know."

"And that is your decision to make?" Boromir demanded.

"No," Aragorn said, simply. "It is Luna's. And she has chosen not to tell you."

"But she has told you?"

"I didn't," she said. "I didn't know that he knew."

"This seems less and less a secret the more I question you of it. How many people know this, exactly?"

"I know not what your secret is, Luna, but I know you are a trustworthy sort and whatever it is, you deserve to tell of it on your own terms. Boromir, enough," Aragorn said, moving between the two. Boromir reached for his sword hilt, but he had already removed his belt for the rest. "You would draw your sword on me?"

"No," Boromir said, stepping away. "No, I just…I would have never drawn it."

"Why does this consume you so?" Luna asked him. "You know me and that is what matters."

"It matters that you do not trust me."

"It's not a matter of trust-"

"She hails from a land far from Middle-earth," Gandalf said, bringing them all back to a whisper. "If this is something you feel you need to know, Boromir, there it is, but do not force her to tell the lot until she is ready."

"Is this true?" Boromir asked. "If not Middle-earth, then where?"

"I was six," she said, looking to the ground. "Try to remember yourself at six years old. I hardly can. My father says I called it 'Indiana', the place I came from, but what I remember of there is faint and distant. So distant it may no longer be memory, but a story made up in my own mind." She paused to look back up at him. "But it doesn't matter. Gondor is my home. I know only Gondor. I serve only Gondor. And for you to think otherwise means that you do not know me."

Boromir opened his mouth to respond, but was silenced by a deafening crash at the door to the left of the passages.

"What's that?" Gandalf cried, heading to the door and pulling Pippin out by his ear. "Fool of a Took! This is serious journey, not a Hobbit-walking party. Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity. Now, be quiet!"

The party stayed silent for a few minutes. Just when Luna felt like taking a breath of relief, in the distance, she heard something akin to faint knocking. The knocking paused, then repeated itself like a response. This too, went away within minutes.

"That's a hammer, if I've ever heard one," Gimli said.

"Yes," Gandalf replied. "And I do not like it. I can only hope it had nothing to do with Peregrin's foolishness. Let us hope we can get some rest without further trouble. You, Pippin, will take the first watch, as a reward."

Luna reached for her pack and resumed setting up her cot. She felt a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it away, not looking to see if it was Aragorn or Boromir. She climbed into her blanket and pulled it over her head, letting her tears fall silently and freely.