Aerlinniel POV

On our way to Moria, I walk besides Gandalf. We have done so much walking today, I hope we are able to rest soon.

"Frodo, come and help an old man." Gandalf calls to Frodo. "How's your shoulder?"

"Better than it was." Frodo replies.

"And the Ring?" Gandalf questions. "You feel its power growing don't you. I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship and I fear from within."

"Who then do I trust?"

"You must trust to yourself. Trust your own strength."

"What do you mean?" Frodo asks, sounding confused.

Gandalf explains, "There are many powers in this world for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am and against some I have not yet been tested."

"Ah! The walls of Moria!" Gimli exclaims. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed."

"Yes, Gimli! Their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten!" Gandalf adds.

"Why doesn't that surprise me!" Legolas states and I give a small chuckle.

"Ach!" Gimli grunts.

After a few more minutes of walking, we stop and Gandalf begins to speak again.

"Ah... now let me see.... Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Gandalf explains. "It reads 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria, Speak Friend and Enter'"

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asks.

"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open. Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen! (Gate of the Elves, open now for me!)" Nothing seems to happen and then Gandalf continues. "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen. (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.)"

Still nothing happens.

"Nothing's happening." Pippin states.

Ignoring him, Gandalf says, "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of elves, men and orcs."

"What're you going to do then?" Pippin questions.

"Knock your head against these doors Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them and I'm allowed a little peace from foolish questions I will try to find the opening words." Gandalf shouts aft him.

"Gandalf!"

"What, Aerlinniel?"

"That wasn't a very nice thing to say to Pippin. You know he doesn't know much about this, he is just a curious hobbit. Now, if you could please apologise to him." I tell him.

He gives a sigh and is silent for a moment before finally apologising, "Sorry for shouting at you, Pippin."

"It's alright, Gandalf. I understand." Pippin accepts his apology.

~~~

We are all resting while Gandalf keeps trying to figure out the password.

I hear plops in the water and am about to ask what's going on when Aragorn speaks.

"Do not disturb the water."

"Oh, it's useless." Gandalf mutters.

After a while longer just sitting here, Frodo exclaims, "It's a riddle! Speak friend, and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?"

"Mellon." Both Gandalf and I day at the same time.

I then hear a loud crack and hear the doors swing open. Gandalf chuckles. We all enter into the underground.

"Soon, both of you Elves, will enjoy the fabelled hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires! Malt Beer! Red Meat off the bone!" Gimli explains to us. "This, my friends, is the home of my cousin Balin and they call it a Mine! A Mine!"

I smile at the mention of Balin's name. I wonder if I will get the chance to talk to him.

"This isn't a mine, it's a tomb." Boromir tells us.

"What?" I question. What does he mean 'tomb'?

"Noooo! NOOOOOOOOO!" Gimli shouts.

"Goblins!" Legolas tells us.

"We make for the gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir suggests to us as we all start to leave. "Now get out of here! Get out!"

I hear a loud splashing noise and then Merry and Pippin shouting for Frodo.

"Strider!" Sam yells. "Get off him!"

"Aragorn!"

Gandalf pulls me behind him and tells me, "Stay behind me."

"Strider!" Frodo shouts.

Gandlaf commands everyone, "Into the Mines!

"Legolas!" Boromir calls to him.

I hear a loud crashing noise. Did we just get trapped down here?

Gandalf answers my question for me, "We now have but one choice, we must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard, there are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world. Quietly now, its a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

We have been walking for a while and so far no one has said anything. I have been walking next to Legolas and every time we accidentally bump hands, my heart races.

Gandalf begins to speak, "The wealth of Moria is not in gold, or jewels, but Mithril. Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave him."

The mention of Thorin makes me sad. I miss him so much.

"Aww, that was a Kingly gift." Gimli states.

"Yes. I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of The Shire!" Gandalf admits. We walk a ways longer when we come to a stop. "I've no memory of this place."

Gandalf can't remember which way to go, so we are all sitting down and resting.

"Are we lost?" I hear Pippin question.

"No." Merry tells him.

"I think we are." Pippin decides.

"Shh! Gandalf's thinking!"

"Merry!"

"What?!"

"I'm hungry."

I am about to say something to them when something that Frodo says turns my attention to him.

"There's something down there."

"It's Gollum." Gandalf tells him.

Gollum?!

"Gollum?!" Frodo voices my thoughts.

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

How come Gandalf didn't tell me this? How did I not notice?

"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-Dûr?"

"Escaped...or was set loose and now the Ring has drawn him here. He won't ever be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself. Smeagol's life is a sad story. Yes, he was once called, before the Ring found him. Before it drove him mad." Gandalf explains.

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

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

"I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." Frodo admits.

"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 also were meant to have it and that is an encouraging thought." He finishes and then realizes, "Oh! It's that way!"

"He's remembered!" Merry exclaims happily.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." We all get up and follow Gandalf. "Let me risk a little more light. Behold the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."

"There's an eye-opener and no mistake." Sam states.

Wishing that I was able to see it, I give a sigh. Will I ever be able to see?

~~~~~~

Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! I am so excited to work on the next couple of chapters! I got some cute Leginniel parts coming up! ;) Updates are every Sunday and Thursday!

Love you my elves from the realm of llamas,

~Ellethwen <3