Gandalf carefully lead us across a narrow ledge, below was a drop too deep to think about. He paused and ran his hand along a silvery vein on the cave wall.

“The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but Mithril.” He murmured, casting the light from his staff downwards illuminating the mine below. I leant a little over the edge, hoping to see how deep it was, but Aragorn grabbed the back of my cloak and pulled me back. He probably thought that I was too accident-prone to even go near the edge.

“Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings that Thorin gave him.” Gandalf continued as he began to walk on.

“Oh, that was a Kingly gift!” Gimli exclaimed.

“Yes. I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire.” Gandalf commented. I let out a low whistle, wondering if the old Hobbit had any idea how much the shirt was worth, somehow, I felt that he did.

Gandalf lead us on, until we reached a steep flight of stairs. They were so steep, that we almost had to climb on our hands and knees. The steps were cluttered with debris, rusted mining tools and weapons, rubble, and skeletons. I flinched away from a pile of bones as I climbed, and Aragorn laid a comforting hand on my shoulder. He seemed to have no trouble with the steps. Up ahead, I saw Pippin slip and almost fall, but he recovered himself and kept climbing.

“Pippin!” Merry hissed, clearly worried about his friend. After some time, we reached the top of the stairs, and were faced with three separate doorways.

“I have no memory of this place.” Murmured Gandalf. He slowly made his way up to a boulder that lay in front of the three doorways and sat on it. “Take some rest,” He called back to us, “I will try to remember the way.”

I walked towards a small hollow beneath Gandalf’s boulder and sat down against a rock with a heavy sigh. I used my pack as a pillow and pulled my cloak around me, trying to catch some precious sleep. I heard everyone else settle down around me. By the sounds of things, someone had gone up to join Gandalf, I assumed it was Frodo.

As things settled down, I started to drift off to sleep, but a sound caught my attention. It came from somewhere below us, around the same level as the bottom of the stairs. I rolled over and found Aragon sitting beside me.

“Did you hear that?” I whispered. He nodded, staring off into space. Whatever it was, he didn’t seem to think it was dangerous, so I tried to get some rest.

“Are we lost?” Hissed Pippin, interrupting my attempts to sleep.

“No.” Replied Merry.

“I think we’re lost.” Pippin continued.

“Ssh, Gandalf’s thinking.” Merry muttered. There was silence for a few seconds.

“Merry?” Whispered Pippin again.

“What?” Came the exasperated reply.

“I’m hungry.”

I groaned and sat up. I wouldn’t get any peace until those two fell asleep, and that didn’t seem to be happening any time soon. My head jerked up when I heard the sound again. It sounded like footsteps.

I crawled over to the edge of the level we were on and looked down. There was a creature there. I could barely see it in the dim light, but I could tell it wasn’t an orc. I crawled back to Aragorn’s side.

“There’s a creature down there.” I said in a hushed whisper, not wanting to alarm anyone else.

“I know.” He murmured softly. “It’s Gollum. I noticed his presence some time ago.”

My hand crept to the hilt of my sword as I listened for the footsteps. Aragorn laid his hand on my arm.

“He is not dangerous right now. And we want to go unnoticed here.” He reminded me. I nodded, leaning back against my rock.

“What is he?” I mumbled.

“He was one of the River-Folk, not much different from a Hobbit, but the Ring corrupted him. He is well over five hundred years old.”

I pulled a face at the thought of the disgusting creature, then rolled towards Aragorn and rested my head on his shoulder, before drifting off to sleep.

“Ah! It’s that way!” Cried Gandalf, jerking me awake. I had no idea how long I’d slept for, but long enough for my shoulders to become stiff. I stood and stretched as the rest of the Fellowship sat up.

“He’s remembered!” Merry cried happily as we all made our way towards Gandalf.

“No, but the air smells less foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose.” Gandalf chuckled, as he began to lead us down a passageway. Using my hands, I felt my way along the narrow walls, until the walls disappeared and I became aware that we were standing in a large, open space.

“Let me risk a little more light…” Murmured Gandalf, and suddenly, the light on the tip of his staff brightened, and I saw that we were standing in some sort of massive hall, lined with tall pillars and arched ceilings that stretched as far as the eye could see. It took me a moment to realise that my mouth was hanging open in awe, so I snapped it closed.

“Behold! The great realm of the dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf.” Announced Gandalf.

“Well, there's an eye-opener and no mistake.” Mumbled Sam.

We walked on for a short while, until it seemed that Gimli had spotted something. He made a noise of horror and rushed away from the group.

“Gimli!” Called Gandalf as I turned to see the dwarf rushing towards a room that was lit by sunlight. I automatically walked towards the light of the sun, it seemed like it had been so long since I saw it last. The others rushed to follow Gimli and I pursued them as they reached the chamber. It was scattered with the skeletons of Dwarves, and in the centre stood a massive white stone block. It was a tomb. Gandalf approached it as Gimli stood before it, sobbing.

“Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It's as I feared.” Gandalf murmured. He stepped back, and found a large book that was being held by a dead Dwarf. He prised it from his hands and began to read.

“We must move on. We cannot linger.” Legolas whispered to Aragorn who stood beside me. I cast a nervous glance around the room as Gandalf started to read.

“They have taken the bridge, and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long.” Gandalf read in a slow, rhythmic voice. “The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming.”

He looked up; everyone appeared to be frightened by the contents of the book. There was a sickening silence, which was interrupted by a slow creak and a rattle I looked up just in time to see a skeleton that sat beside Pippin fall down a well, dragging the chain and bucket along with it. I winched at every single sound it made as it fell to the bottom of Moria. Then there was silence. Would anyone else have heard the racket? Of course they would have, there was enough noise made to wake the dead. I half-expected the skeletons to sit up and complain about the racket.

“Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in, next time, and rid us of your stupidity!” Gandalf hissed at Pippin, snatching his hat and staff off the Hobbit. We all stood and listened. For a moment, it seemed like we hadn’t been heard. Then the drums started.

Doom, doom, doom, doom.

The steady, menacing beat continued as Frodo drew his sword. It glowed blue.

“Mister Frodo!” Sam cried.

“Orcs!” Legolas half-snarled, running to barricade the door. I followed him along with Aragorn and Boromir. Boromir began to push the heavy door shut, and was almost hit by two arrows.

“Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!” Aragorn instructed the Hobbits, rushing to help us.

“They have a cave troll.” Boromir sighed with sarcastic relief. We grabbed the heavy, rusted weaponry that lay on the ground and laid it against the door.

“Argh! Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!” Gimli cried. I turned to see that he had leapt onto Balin’s Tomb and was brandishing his axe. I jumped when I heard the sound of breaking wood coming from the door. Pulling my bow off my back, I set an arrow to the string and aimed it at one of the openings. Legolas released his arrows first, and I heard a shriek on the other side of the door. I released my bowstring and my arrow sailed through one of the holes, I could tell I had hit something by the wail that followed. They hammered at the door ferociously.

“They’re breaking through!” I cried, stowing away my bow and drawing my sword. Suddenly, the doors broke and Orcs flooded in. With a yell I leapt into the battle, decapitating an Orc with a clean blow to the neck. Ducking to avoid a rusty blade, I plunged my sword into he stomach of the creature, and then stumbled backwards in shock. A cave troll burst through the door, roaring angrily and taking part of the wall with it. It lunged at the Hobbits and Sam slid through its legs. I turned away and dispatched a few Orcs quickly, before fighting my way towards the troll. I lopped off the arm of an Orc just as the troll tried to attack Gimli, but he leapt out of harms way. Balin’s Tomb was destroyed. In its attempts to catch the Dwarf, the troll killed several of the surrounding Orcs. I ducked as it swung the chain that was attached to its neck, as it now pursued Legolas. I made my way over towards the Hobbits, just as Sam smashed an Orc in the face with his frying pan.

“I think I’m getting the hang of this!” He huffed.

“Nice hit Sam!” I yelled, grabbing a spear off the ground and using it to impale two Orcs at once. Then something hit the side of my head and I fell to the ground, feeling warm blood trickle down my cheek. I rolled over to see an Orc standing over me. Realising that I was still holding the spear, I stabbed it through the neck and scrambled to my feet, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my head.
“Aragorn! Aragorn!” I turned at the sound of Frodo’s cry for help. He was dangling upside down from the troll’s gigantic hand and was trying to cut it with his sword. The troll dropped him and he tumbled to safety, just as I threw the spear to Aragorn, who caught it and used it to stab the creature. The troll growled in anger and swiped at Aragorn, smashing him into a wall.

“Aragorn!” I screamed, trying to fight through the sea of Orcs so I could reach him. I wildly swung my sword from side to side, clearing a path. I saw Frodo kneel over Aragorn and shake him. He didn’t get up. I felt like I was going to be sick when I saw the troll lunge at him again. I knelt down and picked up the first thing I could find, a helmet. I through it with all my force at the troll. It bounced off its thick hide, but distracted it long enough for it to forget Aragorn, and start pursuing Frodo again.

‘Idiot creature! I wanted you to come after me!’ I screamed in my head. Then the world seemed to slow down.

The troll was holding the spear. It stabbed at Frodo. Frodo dodged, but was thrown against the wall. Before he could recover, the troll plunged the spear into his chest.

“No!” I yelled, fighting the orcs with new ferocity.

“Frodo? Frodo!” Sam yelled from across the battle as Frodo fell.

I saw Merry and Pippin leap onto the troll’s back and begin to stab at it. It grabbed Merry and threw him off. I rushed forward and caught the Hobbit in my arms, before setting him down and looking up. Legolas had joined Pippin on the troll’s back, and was aiming an arrow at its head. It roared as Pippin stabbed it, giving Legolas the chance the fire an arrow into its mouth. It staggered around in confusion for a moment then, with a groan, it crashed to the ground, sending Pippin tumbling across the floor. At the sight of the fallen troll, the few remaining orcs fled.

I turned to where I had last seen Aragorn lying, but he wasn’t there. Franticly, I searched for him, until I saw him crawling over to Frodo’s limp form. I rushed up to him and crouched by the Hobbit’s side. He wasn’t moving.

“Oh no…” Aragorn whispered, rolling Frodo over. To my surprise, he sat up and gasped.

“Frodo!” I breathed.

“Frodo! He’s alive!” Cried Sam.

“I’m all right, I’m not hurt.” Frodo gasped.

“You should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar!” Aragorn murmured in awe.

“I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye.” Gandalf said in a relived tone. Frodo pulled open his shirt to reveal a glistening shirt of Mithril.

“ Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins!” Gimli chuckled. I breathed a sigh of relief, everyone was unharmed. My head snapped up when I heard the shrieks of more orcs outside.

“They won’t be gone for long…” I muttered.

“To the bridge of Khazad-Dûm!” Gandalf commanded the Fellowship.