The Lost Princess: [Legolas Fanfiction]

5. The Mines of Moria

Anira...

We walked along a narrow path against a wall, there were ladders and other mining equipment against parts of stone. But they looked as if they haven't been used in years. The emptiness and darkness of the Mines sent chills down my spine. The sooner we get out of these Mines, the better. Gandalf ran his hands across the rocks as we walked against them and he began to move slower. The path was so narrow it caused all of us to slow down.

"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels," Gandalf said, he gazed at the chasm beneath us. "But Mithril."

He shines his staff into the cavern below and I look down in awe at the intense abandoned Mines. I look at the mining equipment that was in the chasm. It was quite impressive, I wonder how long dwarves have been mining.

"Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings that Thorin gave him."

"Oh!" Gimli exclaimed. "That was a kingly gift!"

"Yes. I never told him, but it's worth was greater than the value of the Shire." I gasped silently as I heard Gandalf. One shirt is worth more than the entire Shire and the Shire was no small place. Yes Mithril was very valuable.

We had walked for several more hours, then we approached a set of stairs. I grew tired of walking nonstop, I used my hands to lean onto the wall as Gandalf led us. I stayed close to Frodo and Sam as we trudged up each step. Sometimes I would trip and I would meet the empty eye sockets of a skeleton. We found ourselves stopping at the sight of tunnels. Gandalf stared at each tunnel, he switched his gaze between the three different tunnels.

"I have no memory of this place."

"Well, do we choose randomly and hope for the best?" I said hoping we would find a better path.

"No, Anira. I would not take such a risk."

"So what now?" Pippin asked.

"We make camp and rest," Aragorn declared. "It may take a while for Gandalf to remember."

I was more then happy to rest, I sat on a rock playing with my hair. Gandalf sat on the highest rock between the pathways. Aragorn and Boromir got a fire going good thing too, I began to grow cold. I hugged my knees to my chest I didn't know what to do, the Mines were small and enclosed. I couldn't see any trees, no animals, nothing but darkness.

I felt someone sit down next to me, it made me snap out of my tired gaze. "Who- oh." A small smile grew upon my face. "Hello, Legolas."

"I apologize if I woke you, did you want to sleep?"

"No. I just wanted to shut my eyes, hoping I would be back in the forest."

"I miss the forest as well." My cheeks grew red as he smirked at me.

Small movement caught my eye, I look over to see Frodo peer into something, before he ran to Gandalf. I waited for a warning from Gandalf, for whatever was down there, but he didn't react.

"It's Gollum." Legolas whispered to me.

"Gollum? Bilbo used to tell me about him, though it was brief. He had the ring before Bilbo. What is he doing here?"

Legolas' face grew grim."The enemy captured Gollum, and tortured him for the whereabouts of the Ring. He has been set free and is following Frodo."

I shivered. From how Legolas sounded and how Bilbo told me Gollum sounded unpleasant. "Can we talk about something else? Gollum unsettles me."

"What do wish to talk about?"

"Yourself, since you seem to know everything about me. Tell me about Mirkwood, it sounds interesting."