In the Shadows I Stay

Chapter Five - The Watcher

Legolas's P.O.V

'Loyalty', what did that mean, she wasn't loyal. She was a traitor. Her mother was the reason my mother was dead, or so Father told me, what if he was wrong?

I saw the pain that flickered through her eyes when she said that single word, her eyes, they held no lie, only pain and regret, I sighed and shook my head, turning to follow the others.

"The walls of Moria" Gimli stated making me snap out of my thoughts, I walked towards the door watching Gandalf, I saw everyone in front of the door when the moonlight hit it, all except Elbereth, she was nowhere to be seen, I heard a low growl waver across the lake and somehow that sound put my worries to rest, if only for a few seconds.

The realization that she was watching over us soon was replaced by fear for her own safety, I pushed it aside, I had received a letter from my father while Elbereth was catching up to us he had told me to bring her back to the kingdom once the ring was destroyed. I was going to fulfil his wishes.

Elbereth's P.O.V

I watched over the group, scouting around the lake, something put me on edge about this place, I wasn't sure whether it was the overwhelming smell or death of the fact I could feel eyes on me. I was looking forward to seeing Balin again, but the edge that this place brought quickly vanquished those visions.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and returned to my charges.

While Gandalf tried to open the door I helped Aragorn and Sam release Bill and Laer.

"The mines are no place for a pony, not even one as brave as Bill" Aragorn comforted Sam.

"Bye, bye Bill" Sam said as Aragorn took of Bill's bridle and turned him loose, I stopped the pony and Laer.

"Dar an nin can" (Wait for my call) I told them before letting them gallop back the way we had come.

"Don't worry Sam we shall see them again, I can feel it" I said patting his shoulder, shoving Laer's rope bridle into my pack.

It had been a while and Mithrandir had still not found the passing words.

Pippin and Merry were throwing stones into the water to curve their boredom. Merry was about to throw another one when Aragorn caught his arm.

"Do not disturb the water" I watched the water rippling and subtly pushed Pippin, Merry, Aragorn and Boromir back from the water's edge.

At that moment the doors opened, I guided everyone into the cave, watching the water as the ripples came closer.

"Soon Master elf you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves, roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone. This my friend is the hall of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine" Gimli said joyously.

"This is no mine it's a tomb" Boromir said horror-struck.

There were dead Dwarven carcasses scattered around to floor, the light from Gandalf's staff only illuminated those bodies close to us, giving off eerie shadows, Gimli began to wail and I stood back to let him handle his grief, I knew Dwarves liked to be independent and I would embarrass him by comforting him.

Legolas pulled an arrow out of a nearby carcass, "Goblins" I heard him say faintly over the wails coming from Gimli. I heard thumps in the distance.

"We make for the gap of Rohan, we should never have come here, now get out, get out" Boromir commanded, I turned and ran out, noticing the now choppy surface of the lake I skidded to a stop. A tentacle slithered up and wrapped itself around Frodo's ankle.

"Strider" Sam called, I bounded forward, shifting in mid-air in attempt to grab the tentacle, and the Hobbits began to hack at the one tentacle holding their friend. I however had dealt with such a creature before and was watching for the rest of the slimy arms that had yet to appear. The one visible arm returned into the murky depths.

I could hear everyone relax, but I still stood on guard for the few seconds of silence before the rest of the beasts arms shot out of the water, knocking over Merry, Sam and Pippin, Legolas drew his bow, aiming for the creature and hitting it's arm causing it to drop Frodo before catching it with another uninjured tentacle, I leapt forward, teeth tearing into the wretched flesh, It grabbed my hind leg and began waving me around like a banner, smacking me into a wall.

I lay there, suspended in mid-air, stunned, I saw Frodo get carried to safety and sighed, Legolas aimed for the beast's eye, trying to get it to drop me, it just dragged me underwater for a few seconds before throwing me at the company. As soon as I landed I struggled to my feet and attacked the tentacles that were reaching for us, I heard cracking and bolted just in time to miss the heavy downpour of rocks.

I stood snarling facing the door just in case the creature decided to magically enter through a good few meters of rock.

"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" I limped after them, having no energy to turn back I shook out my coat, I knew I was injured pretty badly and didn't want to burden the company with my wounds, they would heal fast. Or so I thought.

After climbing some steep stairs Gandalf stopped and glanced at three separate corridors "I have no memory of this place, I flopped down yelping as the rest set up a temporary camp, I was weakening and I could feel my body on the verge of transforming.

I lay on the ground as I slowly shrunk back into my broken human body Aragorn watched me as I lay there, I could feel his eyes on me and heard his footsteps and he drew nearer.

"Are you alright?" He asked, I tried to answer but only a groan exited my mouth, the whole left side of my body was covered in blood and there was a bruise that ran around my ankle, I trembled as Aragorn lifted me and brought me closer to the fire.

"I'm fine" I grumbled pushing away his hands and tried to stand.

"You are not fine" Aragorn stated, "Look at you"