The Fellowship began to settle down for a long wait, but Legolas moved to stand with Miriel and Aragorn, the former of which was gazing deep into the darkness below the high platform they rested on. Legolas shifted uneasily on his feet, his eyes darting nervously around the cavern. He did not like such enclosed places in the best of times, but something felt horribly wrong.

"There is something about these halls I do not like. Some wretched thing that will not remove its eyes from watching us. I have felt it before now, but here it grows stronger." Aragorn looked at the elf.

"There is certainly more than one foul thing in this mountain, my friend. And more than likely we shall meet one before passing through to the other side." Miriel shifted slightly, drawing their attention as she spoke.

"In that you are correct, Aragorn. But I believe I have found the source of our friend's unease." She beckoned them to her side, and pointed to something on the rocks below them with a slow hand, so as not to worry the others. There below them, was a pale creature, scuttling about as it attempted to catch something out of the water.

"Gollum!" Aragorn whispered sharply. The thing looked up as though he had heard the quiet exclamation, and the pale orbs darted around for a moment before seeing the small group. He glared at the man he had met before, and then at the elf, for he hated such people and their works. Then, he saw the third figure, and crawled back upwards to get a better look in the light of the wizard's staff.

Nothing seemed very different about this woman to him at first, for she seemed to be simply another of the big people. The various weapons she carried were strange to him, as was the enormous shield that sat on her back, but she seemed as the other man he had seen. Then, he met her eyes, and though the light was still dim, they seemed a bright and piercing blue, as that of the elf witched his grandma had told stories of when he was a child. A screech turned into a strangled gurgle of fear as he scrambled away from them, hiding as best he could from her gaze, and bashing his head against the rocks to remove the blinding color from his memory. Something awoke in Gollum as he ran. A voice and name that was older than he. One that he had not been called for many years.

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The three stood together, watching him go, but the voice of Gandalf pulled them back to the present task.

"Ah! It's that way." Merry looked up excitedly.

"He's remembered!" Miriel chuckled at the hobbit's eagerness, and Aragorn shook his head.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!" Pippin, who was now walking just in front of the two rangers, turned to look at Miriel in confusion.

"Follow your nose?" he asked incredulously. She laughed, shaking her head at the hobbit as Aragorn ruffled Pippin's curly hair.

"Keep moving, Pippin We want to make it through here as soon as possible." Pippin nodded, scampering up towards Merry, stumbling a few times over rocks and old bones.

"And be careful!" Miriel called after him. Aragorn chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be fine, Miriel. Don't worry so much about the boy." She frowned.

"Still, he is so much like a child that I often forget he isn't one." They both laughed quietly, continuing as Legolas followed, laughing silently at the pair. It was obvious to him, and perhaps Aragorn did not see it, but she was clearly as taken with him as he was with her. How they could both be so blind was a mystery to him. Gandalf slowed slightly, and looked around.

"Let me risk a little more light." The room seemed almost to grow as it was illuminated by the light, and they all stared in wonder at the enormous cavern and the beautifully carved pillars. "Behold! The great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf." Sam gasped.

"Well, that's an eye opener and no mistake!" Miriel had to put a hand on the hobbit's shoulder to keep him moving, and responded to his sheepish look with an understanding grin. Then, Gimli broke from the group, sprinting through a broken doorway. When they caught up to him, the dwarf was sobbing on his knees before a white tomb. Miriel placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Gandalf read aloud from the white slab of stone.

"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead, then. It's as I feared." Gimli spoke in his own language under his breath as he mourned the dead dwarf, and even Legolas looked crestfallen and solemn out of respect for him. The elf moved to stand by Aragorn, within earshot of Miriel.

"We must move on. We cannot linger!" he whispered urgently. Miriel bowed her head, and both rangers knew he spoke truly. No matter the cause, they could not remain here long, not with the goblins hidden somewhere in the mountain and other untold evils lurking in the shadows. The sound of moving parchment came from the direction of Gandalf, and their heads turned to him as he began to read from a crumbling book.

""They have taken the Bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long . The ground shakes. Drums. Drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no one save us? They are coming." The old wizard looked up as he finished his last ominous sentence, and met the blue eyes of the shieldmaiden. Her eyes widened in realization when she understood what he feared. She had always been interested in the stories of the old days he told her when he visited Gondor during her childhood, and he knew she would be the one to understand the implication of those drums.

Suddenly, a crashing sound came from the corner, and all heads swiveled to see Pippin as he cringed at the sound of the skeleton and chained bucket falling down deep into the mines. The little hobbit refused to look at Miriel, opting to look at the ground away from her instead. Gandalf turned angrily to the halfling.

"Fool of a Took!" he cried. "Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" There was silence for a moment, during which no one dared to breathe. Then, a booming sound came once from the well. No one moved. Again came the sound, and then faster and faster. Drums, drums began to sound in the deep. Immediately, Miriel reached forward, ignoring the angry wizard, and pulled the young hobbit away from the well and to her side. Sam turned to look at Frodo, and his eyes widened.

"Mr. Frodo!" The eyes of the others followed his as Frodo looked down at his sword, which was glowing a bright blue.

"Orcs!" Legolas cried. Aragorn looked to the hobbits.

"Stay back!" Miriel gathered the four halflings and moved them by Gandalf, as a mother herding her children from danger.

"Stay close to Gandalf." She ordered. They nodded, and she moved back to the other two humans and the elf. Aragorn and Boromir slammed the doors shut and put down the makeshift lock. Boromir looked through the gaping hole, and turned back in disbelief to the other two humans.

"They have a cave troll!" Gimli readied himself, and the worry of the others grew, but Miriel knew this was not their biggest problem if the fears of herself and Gandalf were realized. The three humans and the elf continued to barricade the doors, Miriel and Legolas tossing various items to the two men before they drew back. Boromir and Miriel drew their swords and shields, and Aragorn and Legolas readied their bows as the door was beat upon from the oncoming creatures. Miriel shifted uneasily on her feet, the horn at her side hitting her leg comfortingly. This was not going to be fun.