Whereupon the company fell into a line of order, Mallenheneth went to the back to be with Aragorn where he brought up the rear, where her ears and senses were sharpest and could protect him best from any sudden danger, though she sensed nothing other than they were stirring in the dark. She kept her glowing tail curled about his neck to grip onto him as she laid across his shoulder, glad to be carried for a change and listening to the sounds of the deep void around them. Occasionally she would take off in flight where the caverns opened, owl eyes best adjusted to the darkness so that she might see clearly, but still she saw and felt nothing amiss, and would calmly return to the others and return to Aragorn's shoulder a gleaming lizard. "Say, Mally, could you not perhaps turn into that firebird creature of yours? Only, a little more light would be a great comfort." Merry whispered back to where Mallenheneth turned to look upon him and shook her head. "Why not? Even only for a little while?"
"Mallenheneth is right to refuse you, Master Meriadoc." Gandalf's voice rumbled from ahead, barely visible in the long line between save for the light at the end of his staff. "Too much brightness might attract attention, and Mallenheneth is not one for being subtle. The quieter we may go, the better for us, for we do not yet know what else dwells here. Hush now, and let me concentrate on which path we should take next." Up and down many paths the fellowship trod, always following the guidance of the wizard in whom they placed their entire faith. Upon occasion they would come across gaping gaps in their path which they would have to leap across with deep chasms beneath from which none would return should they fall. The hobbits feared these moments the most when they were required to jump, however often Mallenheneth would appear by their side and murmur to them.
"Fear not, for if you fall I shall catch you, and if I miss, I shall dive after you and bring you back to try again. Take heart, breathe deep, and jump!" Cheerfully spoken, it was always enough to encourage the hobbits to take the leap, and thus far Mallenheneth was not required to catch or dive after any of them, for they were always caught on the other side even when the gap was at its widest. All continued with barely a word spoken between them, though Mallenheneth soon became aware that they were being followed. She recognised the sound of the footfalls, light yet long and flat, scuttling over stone some distance behind them. For a long while she did not say anything, though noted that Frodo continually began looking over his shoulder when the footfalls began to be heard. She changed shape, becoming a sparrow to fly to Gandalf's shoulder and peck lightly at his ear to signal that there was something she wished to commune. Although Gandalf was not as adept at conversing with creatures as his friend Radagast the Brown, he could well enough understand Mallenheneth as she allowed him to read her mind which usually was protected by her own magic. "I see…thank you Mallenheneth. That is most helpful."
She fluttered from him then, returning to Aragorn and changing shape again to glow, whereupon Aragorn gave her a questioning look but she revealed nothing, merely closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Their trudging trek only halted when their path was met by three passageways, each leading either up, down or directly ahead. "I have no memory of this place at all!" Hesitating before his options, Gandalf attempted to decipher any code or text upon the stone to give hint of what lay beyond them, but none were to be had, deflating his spirits further. "I am too weary to decide, 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." Sensing the looks that he was receiving, Gandalf turned and spoke curtly to his companions. "You know what I mean! In here it is ever dark; but outside the late Moon is riding westward and the middle-night has passed." At this Sam sighed and grieved for Bill, though no other shared his sentiments.
They veered to the left archway for there appeared to be a door which Merry and Pippin almost rushed through as it was opened, and were kept from falling into a gaping hole in the middle of the floor by Gandalf, who held them back before their folly could be their downfall. As others entered, Mallenheneth offered to go and scout the three passageways to see if they led anywhere, and though Gandalf was loath to send Mallenheneth alone into the dark, she did not fear it, and went anyway. Down the passages she went a little ways, seeing where the end of the tunnels and stairways might lead, however whereupon the sound of a clattering stone filled the void of silence, Mallenheneth froze and became something unnoticeably small in order to hide as the echoes continued to ring about the barren stone kingdom left to ruin.
The echoes faded but still Mallenheneth did not move, for now she was on guard and would not reveal herself until she was certain all was still. Eventually there followed more sounds from what disturbance had befallen the emptiness of Moria, but they too dwindled into silence, and after some time Mallenheneth deemed it safe to continue her scouting. The air was fouler in the left passage, and she sensed danger lurked down there and thus turned back. The middle way led nowhere for a long time before it suddenly veered downwards once again, and here Mallenheneth again smelled foul air and danger, so decided against it. The right had passage was the cleanest, and rose upwards. She followed it as long as she dared, silent as the void for her feathers made no sound in the night, like a ghost or a shadow unseen.
This road was sturdy and broad, leading continually upwards, and so Mallenheneth flew back to where the others slept and Gandalf kept watch, awaiting her return. He did not flinch as she flew into the guardroom they squatted in, keeping his eyes trained on the dark as she melded back into her human form so that she might speak quietly. "The left and middle passages lead nowhere kind, the air is thick with the stench of…" Here Mallenheneth glanced to the others and read their essences to ensure that they were all sound asleep, but lowered her voice regardless. "…goblins. Their stench practically paints the walls. The right hand passage continues to lead upwards, I think it perhaps once had been a main road. By my opinion, this is the passage we should take."
"Hm…well done. I am grateful for your courage, Mallenheneth. Now tell me, are you certain that we are being followed?"
"Indeed. I would recognise the sound of that creature's footfalls anywhere. It is Gollum. He must have fled here after escaping Mirkwood and become trapped. Now he follows us, and you know what he must desire." Simultaneously both looked upon Frodo who slept none the wiser of their words and the creature that stalked him in the night. "He keeps a fair distance, not to be seen or heard, but he underestimates my tracking abilities. What would you have me do, Mithrandir? If you wish it, I shall go and hunt him now and end his life. He shall trouble us no longer that way."
"No, my dear." Shaking his head, Gandalf immediately decided against it. "Leave him be for now, but keep an eye on him if you can. You should rest now. We need your eyes to stay sharp in the dark, for when all else fails, you are like to be the only one who can lead us safely out of this place." To this end Mallenheneth frowned as she looked upon the smiling features of Gandalf the Grey, the expression showering her with warmth and affection that relished in. "Your senses will lead us true if my memory fails, or mayhap something becomes of me and I can no longer lead this fellowship." At this Mallenheneth began to speak, but felt his hand place itself upon her shoulder and naturally fell silent. "You will be needed, long before this war is ended, to guide those of this fellowship ere they should stray. I do not think, however, it is Frodo who needs your eyes and nose, but rather, someone else with as equally an important task before him. One who has an entire bloodline of destiny placed upon him."
"Aragorn?"
"Indeed. It was fortune that your paths should cross, and I believe that they were meant to, and it is a great comfort to know that you are counted amongst our allies and friends, Mallenheneth Ranhaedôreth the Untamed, King of all Birds and Beasts." A deep unsettled feeling came over Mallenheneth as she gazed upon Gandalf, sensing through his essence that he felt something was going to happen, and there was not a thing either of them could do to halt it, except continue on and accept the fate that was about to befall them. So deep was his gaze, and so weary, Mallenheneth knew that Gandalf was far older than she, having walked this earth many lifetimes. So long in fact, that had he journeyed east beyond the borders of the map, he might have known her kin when they were in their prime and strongest in numbers. Mallenheneth felt the stirrings of his thoughts and the fluctuation of his essence, and so leaned her head towards his and felt the wrinkled brow against hers, opening her mouth to taste his scent and keep it firmly in her memory.
She sensed that his time was ending, that fate was now upon him and he knew it too, though he hid it well from the company, Mallenheneth could sense things yet unknown to others and thus, began to lament in her heart but did not weep. She could not weep. Tears would serve neither of them, and in her mind would only insult Gandalf's strength. His eyes had closed as Mallenheneth leaned her brow against his, feeling her warmth flood through him even to the tips of his fingers and toes, even soothing the slight ache of his bones from where he had been sat so long. A low rumbling purr sounded from her, and Gandalf understood that this was her way of saying goodbye. Yes. He was glad that he could entrust the fellowship to the hands of Aragorn who would lead them should he fall in some manner as he sensed, and further comforted still knowing that Mallenheneth would never allow them to wander astray. He almost chuckled to himself, imagining Mallenheneth standing alone against the Dark Lord himself, baring her fangs and daring him to challenge her to do battle.
But now was not the time for such things, and time was waning before them and so he grasped her arm lightly and drew her away, the pleasant sound of her purrs halting abruptly and returning the word to silence. "There now. Go and rest. I shall wake everyone when it is time to leave." Nodding her head, Mallenheneth nuzzled at Gandalf one last time before dropping into the form of a cat and wandering over to Frodo to nestle against him and begin to purr quietly, softening his dreams and letting her warmth seep into him. Frodo naturally drew closer, and even threw his blanket over Mallenheneth so that he could curl his arm around her, but even then did not awaken, but rather dream sweeter things, and not of the endless darkness around him.