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You sighed heavily, rubbing your shoulders for much needed friction. You were glad your comrades and yourself had gotten off the snow covered mountain and were now seeking a much safer path. But your eyes met with Gandalf’s many of times, and the look of concern and fear plagued his eyes. It was at those moments you realized something wasn’t right.

Pippin and Merry were behind you, chatting up a storm about The Shire. You quirked your eyebrows, stopping your rapid movement to fall in line beside them. “Is The Shire where you use to retire?” They both looked up at you, nodding in unison. “Tell me about it.” A smile crept on your lips as their excitement grew.

“Well, the grass was as green as any pasture you may lay your eyes upon! Rivers as clear as the night sky, fruit as mouthwatering as the most expensive meat.” Pippin sighed a heavenly sigh. You smiled in amusement, raising your eyebrows. Merry smashed his elbow into Pippin’s side, hissing lowly. “Why would an elf be interested in The Shire?”

You looked down at him in interest, huffing. “Do you doubt Elvish curiosity? For I am just curious about your home land, is all.” Merry’s eyes were downcast, unsure of how to respond. “Sorry about him, my lady. He misses our home just as much as I.” Pippin spoke up. You looked deep into his eyes, cocking your head. “I understand.” And with that, you dismissed yourself to walk ahead of them.

For you missed your homeland as much as they must theirs; but where does your heart call home? You furrowed your brows, keeping your emotions at bay. Aragorn and Legolas glanced at you, catching sight of your clumsiness. Your foot kicked up a rock, and your body swayed forward. You yelped in surprise, feeling the warm and hard chest of somebody catching you.

“I believe Elves are graceful… You do not hold up to that, (Y/n).” Aragorn joked. Your face flushed as you looked up at Legolas. His lips were curled into a soft smile. After a few heartbeats his face changed to concern as to why you haven’t moved. You quickly recoiled, clearing your throat as you flattened your shirt. “I apologize.” You whispered.

You skidded past Legolas, making sure not to trip as you fell into place in front of Boromir. Your eyes cast upon gloomy looking rocks… Nothing but rocks. You sighed in frustration as you heard Gimli speak. “The walls of Moria.” He whispered. Large walls of rocks gloomed over the group, casting shadows in the light fog. The sight was breath taking, if not the smallest hint of inferiority that laid woven in the seams shown.

Everyone walked along the path ridden with rocks towards the entrance. Your eyes glazed upon Gimli, his clumsy movement distracting. So that is what it must feel like to come back to somewhere you belong? If only you knew.

You hummed lowly as you ignored the conversation going on behind you, walking up behind Gandalf. “Well, let’s see.” The older man muttered under his breath. His calloused hands grazed over the granite wall of rock. “Ithildin… It mirrors only starlight and moonlight.” Gandalf looked up at the moon, as if he was searching for something.

In a matter of seconds the writings on the wall, and the outline of the door, illuminated to a bright white. “It reads “The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.” “What do you suppose that means?” Merry asked. You glanced around, meeting the eyes of several of the group.

Gandalf shifted his weight back, looking at the door once more. “Oh, it’s simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open.” He readied his staff. He started to speak words you never quite caught. Nothing happened.

You watched in slight amusement, but mostly absent disappointment. Did Gandalf not know how to go about this? He placed his hands on it again, concentration contorting on his face as if he were in pain. He even attempted to push it in with his own body. You simply stayed silent, cupping your (s/c) hands together as you awaited the next transition in your journey. Would the door even open? If not, what then?

A few heart beats passed until Gandalf backed off, a deep sigh rumbling in his chest. “You all may as well sit back and rest. It may be awhile before I remember.” He spoke. You nodded and sat down on a root that stuck out and up from the ground. You hunched over, leaning your elbows on your knees- Not a very proper position for an elf, but you care not.

As Gandalf continued to mutter words at the wall, Frodo beside him, you watched as Aragorn pushed the pony away, leaving a distraught Sam. You breathed out through your nose as you stretched backwards, glancing at the elf against the tree. Legolas’ eyes were intent on the wall.

The sound of a rock being thrown into the lake beside everyone caused your eyes to glance over at the source. Merry was throwing large pebbles into the water. Aragorn grabbed him, pulling him back as he hissed. “Do not disturb the water.” He warned. Interest pricked you like a steel blade, but you stayed silent.

“Oh, it’s useless.” Gandalf spat, throwing his staff on the Earthy floor. You looked up at him from your position behind Frodo. He sat down on a rock, taking his pointed hat off. “What now?” You grumbled lowly. Waiting had become quite the bore to you.

Everyone had seemed to stand up, a sudden change in the air. You felt it as well. You raised to your feet, your boots crunching the leaves underneath as you moved from the roots. “It’s a riddle.” Frodo’s voice pulled you away from your suspicions. “A riddle… That does make sense.” You offered.

“Speak ‘friend’ and enter. What’s the Elvish word for friend?” Frodo asked. “Mellon.” You and Gandalf both said in unison. The door started to move, opening up for you and your companions. You followed Frodo and Gandalf, biting the inside of your lip at the eerie surroundings. The darkness made your skin crawl.

Granted with the ability to see better than a mere human, your eyes could make out clefts and jagged rocks; courtesy of the moonlight pouring in behind you as well. “Soon, Master Elves, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves.” Gimli piped up. You glanced at him; the unnerving feeling of being enclosed in this mine stopped you from making a smug retort.

“Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!” Your eyes averted to a light. The tip of Gandalf’s staff lit up and cast fragile light. “This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!” Your eyes widened at what the light now shown.

Bodies. They were many skeletons painting the floor with their dusty and decaying bones. Had the Dwarf not notice yet? “This is no mine. It’s a tomb.” Boromir whispered. You looked back at the warrior, then back down at the dead bodies. You could hear Gimli’s rough whimpers and cries as he panicked. “Goblins.” Legolas hissed, holding an arrow from one of the bodies in his hand.

You drew your sword in unison with Boromir and Aragorn, scanning the inside with narrowed eyes. “We make for the Gap of Rohan.” Bormoir started. “We should never have come here.” You nodded in agreement. “Now, get out of here. Get out!” You hesitantly started to back up, gesturing for Gandalf and Gimli to leave before you. “Frodo!” “Help!”

You turned wildly at the yelps, forgetting all rational thinking as you ran towards the entrance. “Strider!” Sam called. Just before you made out of the entrance, Aragorn and Boromir were already out. You skidded to a stop, staring at a tentacle that was dragging Frodo into the lake.

The frenzy screams of terror continued as Sam used his sword to slice the tentacle, watching it retreat back into the water. As soon as it had disappeared, many more had submerged and were thrown towards the hobbits. Merry, Pippin, and Samwise were thrown backwards as the tentacles grabbed Frodo again.

Your eyes met with Boromir, and you both nodded as the three sword-holders ran forward. Before any of you could have your blade meet flesh, Legolas shot an arrow. One of the tentacles went down. You pounced into the water, mentally cursing yourself. Elves were supposed to be diligent but here you were, getting yourself wet and dirty.

As the phalanges twisted and smacked at the water, you threw your sword into one as hard as you could muster. It pierced into half of the tentacle before it unhinged itself from your blade, falling into the water. You continued to slash and pierce the monster, jumping back from the possibility of getting hurt.

You heard Frodo scream as waves violently tugged at your waist. Your eyes widened as the head of the monster appeared, opening its beak to show sharpened teeth. It continued to throw Frodo around as Aragorn, Boromir and you cut appendages off.

Boromir and Aragorn’s blades sliced off another tentacle, causing it to screech and let go of Frodo. It quickly dropped him, its wild movements causing the rapids to intensify. “Into the mines!” Gandalf screeched as Aragorn caught the young hobbit. “Legolas!” Boromir called. Legolas quickly shot an arrow at the creature as it gave chase.

“Hurry, quickly!” You hissed, urging the hobbits into the cave. As you all entered, you heard the tentacle creature following; but you knew it was too big to enter. Your mind immediately registered it was going to bring the entrance down with its mass.

The rocks from the opening started to crash as you ran, stopping to a halt to whip around. There was no sight of light; just darkness. You felt your back up against the other elf, and your shoulder skimming against Aragorn’s. You felt a reassuring hand on your side.

You listened to the panting of your friends, silence overtaking the cavern. “We now have but one choice.” Gandalf spoke as his staff lit up, offering everyone light to see. Everyone had slowly started to disembark away from each other, following in slow pursuit behind the wizard. “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.” Gandalf spoke. You followed behind Gimli, admiring the wisdom of the old wizard. You stayed silent as you carefully made your way in the line of bodies.

You heard a small tink of a helmet, glancing around to see who disturbed the silence. “Quietly now. It’s a four-day journey to the other side.” You had to repress a groan of distaste. It definitely wasn’t a happy thought; to be trapped inside a mine of dead bodies for four days.

“Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed.” Gandalf sighed. You nodded silently in agreement, as you always did. Your eyes wandered, catching glimpse of what the wizard’s light showed through- Beautiful carvings of rocks, but disastrous clefts that could lead you to your doom. You shuddered.

Legolas placed a soft hand on your shoulder, looking down at you. His eyes asked what his lips wanted to say. A small smile tugged at the corners of your lips, nodding. You felt something in your chest you hadn’t before. Yet you quickly dismissed it as a feeling of comfort and security.