"I have no memory of this place," Gandalf muttered as he tried to remember which path they had to take.

"I know it has been a long time since you came here Gandalf but is there no way to determine the correct route to take?," Elizabeth asked coming to stand by his side.

"I just need time to go through my memories dear, last I visited Durin was alive and this place was more...lively," he quietly said the last word considering what they had seen so far.

She nodded as she made her way back to her family taking a seat on the left of Thorin. He could tell she was tired the dark was no place for elves it was why Erebor was better for her they had many open balconies and areas for those who needed fresh air and a break from the mines.

He wrapped his arm around her back pulling her close as she laid her head on his shoulder taking advantage of the moment to rest in the arms of her mate.

Their boys could tell she wasn't doing good in the dark either and so Kili and Fili sat at her feet close enough to give her comfort without making her feel smothered. Her hobbits sat in front of them keep together in a small group so that they could lean on each other for strength.

Legolas was worried about his cousin he knew this final fight against the darkness would be her final fight. She had told him so already that when the war was over she was to take the last ship with her parents to the undying lands for peace. Now that her family was back he knew her mate would join her so she wouldn't be alone.

Pulling a small packet from his waist his broke off a piece of lembas bread from what little he had left and walked over handing it to Thorin for her.

He nodded in appreciation for his thinking of Elizabeth and coaxed her to wake up long enough to eat the bread so she had a small recharge of energy from it.

"Are we lost?," Pippin asked as he saw Gandalf in some sort of trance as he continued to try to find the way out.

"No I don't think we are. Now shh Gandalf is thinking and Elizabeth is trying to rest,"

"Merry!,"

"What?,"

"I'm hungry," Merry nodded admitting he was too but he knew they had to get somewhere safe before they could actually rest safely and eat in peace.

Frodo in the mean time glimpsed a creature in the darkness darting around so he stood approaching Gandalf to ask him of it.

"There's something down there,"

"It's Gollum,"

"Gollum!," Frodo exclaimed surprised since he last heard he was a prisoner of the dark side.

"He's been following us for three days,"

"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dur?,"

"Escaped or was set loose. And now the ring has drawn him here, he will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the ring, as he hates and loves 's life is a sad story," Frodo was surprised at the fact he had a hobbit name.

"Yes, Smeagol he was once called. Before the ring came to him, before it drove him mad,"

"It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance,"

"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many lives deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment, even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or for ill, before this over. The pity of Bilbo may may rule the fate of many,"

"I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened,"

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you were also meant to have it, and that is a encouraging thought," it was then there was a light causing Gandalf to finally remember.

"Ah! That's it that way!," Gandalf points to the right hand tunnel causing everyone to rise to start making their way from the platform.

"He's remembered," Merry said happy that they were moving on.

"No but the air doesn't smell so foul down there. If in doubt Meriadoc always follow your nose!," Gandalf told him as he began leading them down the tunnel.

As they pass under the archway they find it's darker so Gandalf paused to try to find a solution.

"Let me risk a little more light," he said tapping his staff causing a silent flash of lightning from his staff causing great shadows to spring up and flee.

"Behold! The great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf," behind him everyone gasped and looked wide eyed at the vast roof, far above them were mighty pillars hewn from stone, with black walls polished and smooth as glass.

"Well there's a eye opener no mistake," Sam spoke as the awe showed on his face.

Thorin looked around in stunned silence he was where his forefathers wanted to return so long ago.

Elizabeth held Thorin's hand squeezing it in comfort as she knew this was a emotional moment for him.

Ahead of them she noticed was a wooden door that had been destroyed. Black arrows embedded in the timbers, and two goblin skeletons lie dead in the doorway.

Gimli noticed it too and rushed forward ahead of everyone despite Thorin's shout for him to stop.

As Gimli rushed into the vast empty chamber lit only by a narrow shaft of sunlight beaming in from a small hole in the roof, the rest of the fellowship followed him in to see what had caused him to break away from the group.

Dwarf and goblin skeletons are piled high around the room including by a stone walled well in the corner of the room.

The light from the roof landed atop the stone table in the middle of the room, a single oblong block, four feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone.

Gimli fell to his knees in front of it causing Thorin, Kili, and Fili to make their way over to see whose tomb it was.

Elizabeth and the hobbits stayed back at a distance out of respect but she too became distraught as she saw a familiar body resting against the tomb.

"No!," she knelt beside the body and wept for she could tell without a doubt it was her beloved best friend Ori.

Thorin's jaw clenched in anger at the fact four of his companions, his friends, his family were taken in the depths of the mine. He would have to take care of this when he returned to Erebor after the war before he left with Elizabeth and her family on the ship.

"Here lies Balin son of Fundin Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared," he said as bent down near Elizabeth gently taking the book from the hands of Ori.

"We must move on we can not linger," Legolas urged with caution.

"I know, but they need a moment to pay their respects they won't be able to return for them," Aragorn explained knowing he would be the same if he was in the same situation.

"They have taken the Bridge and the second hall: we have barred the gates...but cannot hold them for long...the ground shakes...drums in the deep...we cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no one save us? They are coming."

Scared Pippin backed away unknowing that he was headed towards the well. Stumbling he fell into a precariously balanced armored skeleton sending it tumbling in.

Merry reached out grabbing him before he too fell but that one accident caused everyone to freeze.

Elizabeth stood quickly gathering her boys to her as Thorin took out his sword and stood in front of them.

Gandalf on the other hand turned angrily towards Pippin.

"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!,"

"Back off! It was an accident you have no right to speak to him like that," Elizabeth growled at Gandalf causing his eyes to widen not realizing she would carry the same power as her mother when protecting those she loved.

They all fall silent as a low rolling boom began to rise from the depths below slowly growing louder.

Boom..boom, it was as if the caverns of Moria were turned into a vast drum. A great horn blasts nearby, answering horns, running feet, harsh cries.

Sam's eyes darted to Frodo's belt and it was then they noticed the blue shine coming from the sword.

Quickly everyone armed themselves. Elizabeth chose to go with her sword not risking the close proximity with her bow and arrows. She had her boys all draw their swords too as they prepared to fight.