The air was still and silent as 21 people walked in the never-ending darkness.
All senses alert as they followed a fading light from the end of Gandalf’s
staff. Finally they stopped in a dank area.

They had midday and kept going. Soon they reached the Mirrormere, where Durin’s
Crown was said to be resting there until Durin walks again among the living.
When they reached the record room, they bowed their heads in respect for Balin,
son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.

They left and kept walking until they noticed that they were 20. After looking
for the girls for a few hours, Legolas heard a strange noise and smelled a foul
stench. Everyone started to find a trail immediately.

Meanwhile, Kyra was tied up and being watched by orcs. A cloaked figure ordered
them to leave. It threw its hood back and Kyra looked back in horror. It was
Kahil.

He grinned and seized her face. Unable to do anything, he forced her to kiss
him. While he did this, he started taking her shirt off.

An arrow interrupted the process. He looked back to see Rowan, arrow at the
ready, with a blue fire blazing in his eyes. With a cry, he whipped out a
dagger, and started to lash it at Rowan.

Rowan dodging the blows, took out his dagger and clanged with Kahil’s.
Meanwhile, Andrea and Cale cut Kyra’s bonds and carried her outside. However, a
shaking from the ground interrupted them.

Kahil and the orcs disappeared swiftly. “Durin’s Bane! It has awaken!” Cried
Gimli. “Run!!!!!!!!!” cried Rowan and everyone followed him until they reached
the Moria Stair, where the Balrog stopped them.

Kyra, Anubis, Sage, and Cye jumped out, weapons at the ready. Sage, Cye, and
Anubis served as a Rearguard for Kyra. Kyra tackled the Balrog, making it go a
few miles back.

They started to run faster than a cheetah. They reached the gates in 2 seconds
before the Balrog got them. They burst into the woods, and fell on each other.

Chapter Forty-Three: In The Golden Wood

They walked a fair 2 miles before Legolas stopped them. He was exited for some
reason, because he kept jumping and skipping, dragging Gimli along with him in
his own little hyperactive way.

(Legolas appears on the page, mad. “I have a complaint—” *gets interrupted by me
hugging him.* “Oh Leggy-woo, you’ve come for me!” “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you know, We Wuv each other!”

“Wait a minute, that wasn’t in the contract—” “Yes it was, dearest. Look!”
*Shows a movie contract with Legolas is AUTHORES’S LOVER stamped in red.

*He screams. * “Ahhhhhhh, you are a Lunatic!” *tries to run but can’t as he is
stuck in a batch of super-duper-duct-tape-fly-paper-onion-cement-mix. “Save
yourselves!” he screams as the page folds over him*.)

When they reached a grove of mallorn trees, Legolas went to climb a tree and
swung himself up. “Who goes there?” A voice cried out. Legolas let go in
surprise of the branch and fell on his butt. A face popped up from the platform.
It was Haldir.

“We were expecting you, mellon. Come right up.” A rope ladder fell from above.
They bickered for quite some time about who would climb up first. It was decided
that the hobbits would go first.

Then Kyra, Andrea, and Mia, then Kento, Ryo, Cye, Sage, Rowan, Anubis, Dais,
Cale, Sekhmet, followed by Legolas, Boromir, Aragorn, and Gandalf. When they all
climbed up, Haldir blew a horn that was answered by more blowing in the
treetops. “Follow me. The Lord and Lady of The Wood are waiting.”

Chapter Forty-Four: An Audience with Galadriel

Rowan’s heart was in his throat the whole time they climbed the stairs. When
they approached the thrones, Celebrion and Galadriel stood up to greet them.
Everyone even Kyra and Anubis, who had more power than Galadriel or Elrond,
kneeled before the Elves. “Arise.”

Galadriel commanded softly. They all rose. “I know 11 of your group. I know not
of the others. But if the tidings of Rivendell are true, then we welcome you to
our city. We know of your cause, but let’s not speak of it! For it is dreary and
full of grief. Silly me, talking you to your deaths! Follow my handmaidens. They
will lead you to your rooms.”

Several handmaidens appeared. All took each of the fellowship’s cloaks, hoods,
packs, weapons, and waterskins. They also took Kento, Rowan and Kyra’s headbands
with them.

They led them to their rooms. Rowan was bunking with Legolas; Sage with Aragorn;
Kento with Gimli; Cye with Boromir; Dais with Pippin; Cale with Sam; Anubis with
Frodo; Ryo with Merry and Sekhmet.

The girls were bunking together. As they bathed and got ready for dinner, all of
them thought of the Golden Wood, its mystical air, and the Lady who ruled it.