*Peaks out from behind laptop* Err, Hello! *cough* Sorry its been so long. Things happened, life moved along and all of a sudden its been two years since the last chapter. This was not intentional but I can't guarantee it won't happen again. I can say that I will eventually finish this in some shape or form.

I do encourage you to read some of my other stories if you like Marvel. I am on MCU kick, Star Wars will also be likely to show sometime soon.

I do thank all of you who have stayed with this story, and welcome to those who recently found it!

Here is our Sev pairing poll as of 4/24/2020:

Sev/Haldir- 55

Sev/Twins- 20

Sev/Eomer- 6

Sev/Theodred- 6

Sev/Arwen- 5

Sev/Eomer/Faramir - 4

Sev/Faramir- 2

Sev/Elrohir- 2

Sev/Faramir/Boromir- 1 (This one surprised me. Not sure I like it to be honest)

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing. (Darn)

Direct quotes from the movie are bold. I have changed some minor things. See if you can spot them ;-)

Any direct foreign tongue quotes will have the English translation directly bellow the paragraph in ().

Anyway *claps hands* one with the chapter!

Through the Veil

Chapter 12- The Journey to the Doors of Moria

Flashback

"So be it," Gandalf said heavily. "Let us get off this mountain and get warm and allow our friend time to rest before continuing on."

And at that moment Harry's exhaustion finally won out and he collapsed into the waiting arms of Legolas. Legolas gently picked him up bridal style and began to track back the way they had come. The others followed as quickly as the could through the snow.

The journey back down the mountain was both easier and harder than the journey up. As it was downhill most of the way they moved at a quicker pace, but due to the avalanche caused by the wizards battle there was more snow to clear or climb over. They reached their camp from the previous night just as the sun sank below the horizon.

Legolas handed Harry over to Aragorn before going to collect firewood. Harry hadn't awoken from his exhausted slumber and so after making sure there were no unseen injuries the ranger pulled out the Istari's bed roll and wrapped him up to stave off any chill. The ranger then went around making sure all the other members of the company were in good health and that no one had any frostbite.

The camp was quiet as everyone found a place to settle for the evening and Sam pulled out supplies to warm up a small dinner when Legolas returned. Aragorn finished his checks with Gandalf and sat next to him for a moment.

"Something about that mine bothers you," Aragorn stated softly in elvish. The Grey wizard looked at the ranger for a moment and sighs giving a small nod.

"There is a rumor, a myth, that the dwarves delved too deep in Moria," Gandalf replied just as softly taking a large puff from his pipe. He turned and looked the crownless king in the eye and continued gravely, "I will not speak much of it, for fear of cursing our journey. Though know this, if our path crosses this fear, you must be ready to lead them forward. For I alone must stand against it. Even our young Black Istari must continue by your side."

Aragorn's frown aged him many years as he gazed at his long-time friend. His eyes flickered to the young wizard when he groaned and shifted to his side to face the now burning fire. His eyes flickered again to meet the eyes of the elf prince. Aragorn knew that Legolas had heard their conversation but said nothing as he took the place next to Harry, as if to guard his sleep from nightmares.

"I will do as you say," Aragorn promised heavily, and the grey wizard seemed to relax before his eyes. The promise added more weight to an already heavy load, he knows at the end of this journey he will either: be King of Gondor or dead. The life he knew is over and he isn't sure what lies ahead, Elrond had given him hope but he Is afraid.

"Good," the wizard murmured softly, and they both turned back to the fire just as Sam started handing out their dinner rations. There wasn't much chatter as they ate their food and fell into an exhausted slumber. Legolas took watch that night as he sat between the two dark haired men. He hummed an old elven lullaby, and both seem to fall into a deeper, more restful sleep.

The next morning the sun breaks the horizon just as Harry finally comes out of his magically exhausted sleep. He sits up and runs a hand through his hair with a long yawn. He looks around and notices that they were back in the camp at the base of the mountain. His eye's catch Legolas' who had moved sometime in the night to perch on the large rock at the edge of camp. Seeing the young wizard awake he smiles and leaps nimbly from the rock and makes his way through his sleeping companions to the youth.

"Harry," Legolas whispered, as he squatted down next to him. "How do you feel? Can I get you something?"

"I'm feeling okay," Harry responded as he stretches and cracks different joints. "How long was I out?"

"About 15 hours," Legolas responded. He reached out but hesitated a moment. Harry looked over and saw his hand out like he was going to run it through his hair. He smiled and moved closer, inviting the blond elf to play with his hair. Legolas smiled, letting his hand drop into the ebony locks, gently running his fingers through it. Harry's hair had grown quite a bit from when he arrived, it was now just below the tops of his shoulders.

Feeling his fingers catch on multiple knots, Legolas moved to sit behind the wizard to use both hands to fix his hair. He gently started to braid the hair into the style that was worn the day they first met. Harry leaned back slightly against the elf and just let himself enjoy the quite morning.

A hand on his leg had Harry looking at Aragorn who was just waking. His eyes were worried as he looked over the wizard. Harry smiled softly and reached out his hand for the ranger to take.

"I am fine," Harry assured as he gently squeezed the calloused hand as Legolas finished the braids. "I am still tired, but that's normal. I am fit to travel, I'll just sleep a little harder for the next few days."

"If your sure," Aragorn replied looking a little less worried. There were groans and shuffling as the others started to come awake as the sun came fully over the horizon.

After a quick breakfast, clean up, and assurances from Harry to the rest of the company that he was fine and well enough to travel, Gandalf took the lead as they started towards the mines of Moria.

They moved swiftly over the course of the day, and as dusk approached, they moved along the lower outside wall of the mine.

"Frodo, come and help an old man," Gandalf called from the front of the group. He held out his arm inviting the young hobbit forward. Frodo came up to the front and allowed him to lean on his shoulder. He looked up at his old friend as he asked, "How is your shoulder?"

"Better than it was," Frodo answered quietly and reached up to rub at the still healing wound. Gandalf's eyebrows were drawn down in worry and sadness. He knows how this journey will wear on the young hobbit and wishes that there had been another way. He paused in his steps and allowed the other members of the company to pass them. They glanced at them, worried, but knew when to keep moving. Aragorn takes the lead towards the doors.

"And the ring? You feel its power growing, don't you?" Gandalf asked quietly to Frodo, who moves to place his hand over the Ring. Gandalf once again glances at the members as they pass by and catches the eye of Boromir who has been quite since Harry's story. Boromir's eyes were clearer now then since before they left Rivendell two weeks before. "I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship. And, I fear, from with in."

"Who then do I trust?" Frodo asked Gandalf pleadingly. His blue eyes were wide and lost as he looked at one of his oldest friends. Gandalf sighed heavily and met his eyes before answering.

"You must trust yourself. Trust your own strengths."

"What do you mean?" Frodo questioned softly. He looked towards the others who continued to walk softly towards the lower walls of the same mountain they had tried to go over the day before.

"There are powers in this world for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am." Gandalf glanced towards Harry when he said this. Their magics are different yet similar, he knows that in pure raw strength they are almost matched. Gandalf knows that his own magic is good for large displays power, but Harry's magic can be used in more ways, its more versatile. It was hard to say who would win in a fight of pure magic. His thoughts turned toward the entity that lives in the depths of Moria, knowing that Harry must press on with the company, even if it meant his own death. "And against some I have not yet been tested."

Frodo followed Gandalf's gaze to Harry. The younger wizard was happily chatting with Pippin about something. His emerald green eyes flickered to them and he titled his head slightly, seeing that Frodo was slightly distressed. Gandalf inclined his head slightly but didn't say anything and the younger Istari accepted this silent dismissal for now, turning back to his conversation.

"Can I trust him Gandalf?" Frodo questioned softly as they started to catch up to their friends. The older wizard hummed before answering.

"I do believe he won't fall to the temptations of The Ring due to his own experiences with similar forces," Gandalf answered after a moment in thought. "He will do right by you Frodo, but there will be a moment when you must make a hard decision and that must come from your heart alone."

Frodo looked into the wise old eyes of the Grey wizard and nodded to show he understood. Gandalf patted him on the shoulder before moving back to the front with Aragorn. Sam hung back and gently bumped shoulders with him and they shared a small glance before moving to rejoin the group.

About twenty mins later they made it to the top of a small hill and Gimli let out an awed shout:

"The Walls of Moria!" He gazed around in awe at the high, flat, grey stone walls that reached up to the uncut mountain above. Harry blinks up at the huge wall and stares in awe at the beautiful stone, he then looks down at the path that Aragorn and Gandalf are already trespassing and huffs. It was narrow and covered in a green algae type grass from the humidity that blankets the area.

There is a small lake not far from the wall that is almost as long as the carved outer wall and wide enough to be treacherous to attempt to swim. As he started his way down the path, he let his senses stretch out toward the dark, still, water and almost pulled back in revulsion. There was something deadly and evil in that lake. He silently cast a monitoring charm out towards the lake and decided to keep an extra eye on it, just in case.

Gandalf and Gimli were as close to the wall as possible and were gently tapping it and listening closely. Harry and the hobbits were looking at the two as if they were crazy.

"Uhhh?" Harry tried to voice his confusion, but Gimli beat him to any question.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Gimli said happily as he continued to tap on the wall.

"Right," Harry muttered as he reached out to stop Merry from falling after he slipped on the moss. "That always ends well."

Legolas who was a few feet behind him snorted lightly at the comment. Harry peaked over his shoulder and smiled at the blonde elf who was helping Sam and Frodo down the path.

"Yes, Gimli," Gandalf sighed as he shifted slowly along the wall. "Their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten."

"Oh, like Bilbo used to say about the door into Erebor!" Pippin chirped as he made it to the flat area in front of the stone wall. This caught the attention of the rest of the company.

"That's right!" Frodo said perking up. He looked more alert and present than since they came off the mountain. "He said that King Thorin and Balin didn't even know about the door till Gandalf gave them the key! They then didn't know how to find it till Lord Elrond read the map!"

"Master Baggins spoke of his time amongst the company?" Gimli asked turning slightly to look at the four hobbits. He was slightly surprised, given that all that had happened in the quest.

"Oh, all the time Master Gimli," Sam confirmed happily sitting down on a nearby rock. "When we were all fonts, he would tell us different aspects of his journey. As we got older, he would get more specific and tell us things that aren't always good for young ears."

"Uncle has written his adventures with the company into a book with him in Rivendell," Frodo chimed in, he sat next to Sam and leaned against him slightly. "I got to read some of it before our departure. It is the full story; it has things that he never told us, even with us being older now."

"My father often speaks fondly of the Company's burglar," Gimli rumbled fondly. "It was an honor to meet him in Rivendell and nice to see my father and him speak as old friends."

"Bilbo spoke fondly of his time among your people Gimli," Harry spoke up. He approached the dwarf and gently placed his hand on the wall he had been tapping on. He had grown fond of the elderly hobbit during his stay in Imladris. Bilbo would often sit with him after his lessons with the twins and speak of many things. "Though I would like to know the full story."

"We'll share it lad," Gimli said firmly after sharing a glance with Frodo. "It's a tale that will go down in history amongst my people."

Gandalf makes an ah ha noise as he slowly approaches the smooth expanse of rock between two twisted trees. The fellowship's discussion is paused as they follow the wizard to the stretch of wall. There are white gold lines faintly glowing, but not enough to make out, though the wizard knew what they are.

"Isildin," Gandalf informed the others. Before anyone could ask what he meant, the light of the moon broke through the clouds and shone on the wall between the trees. The lines became brighter and more defined, a door appeared in golden lines with ancient lettering. "it mirrors only starlight and moonlight."

"Beautiful," Harry breathed in awe. This is the first view of other magic marvels found in his new home. He jumped slightly as a hand gently took his and he looked to see Legolas gazing at the wall steadily. Harry squeezed his hand but didn't let go.

"It reads, 'The Door or Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, Friend, and enter,'" Gandalf recited as he ran his hands along the edge of the door. Harry cocked his head slightly after he heard the riddle.

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked to the group in general as he gazed at the door with the others. Frodo, Sam, and Pippin all shrugged before Gandalf answered.

"It's simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf said simply before facing the doors fully with a smile.

"I don't think it's that simple…" Harry started to say but was ignored. He huffed and Legolas squeezed his hand again.

"Annon Edhellen, edro hi amen," Gandalf chanted, and there was a rush of wind through the valley. The fellowship all shivered at the power of the words. The doors, however, remained firmly closed.

(Gates of the elves, open now for me)

Gandalf huffs and leans on is staff for a moment. Harry shares a glance with Aragorn who simply hunkers down on the rock he had chosen to rest on. Legolas gently tugs Harry to join the ranger. Gandalf after thinking for a moment raises his arms once again.

"Fennas Nogothrim, losto beth lammen," the words once again are spoken with a sense of power and a cold wing blows through the valley.

(Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue)

"Nothing's Happening," Pippin points out meekly. Gandalf shoot him an annoyed look over his shoulder and proceeds to shove the doors. They didn't budge.

"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs," Gandalf grumped and leaned on his staff once again.

"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin questioned, honestly curious. Merry had his arm on his little cousin's shoulder nodding along, also wanting to know what the plan was.

"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" Gandalf thundered at the Took. The young Took shrank back into his cousin; Harry peaked over quickly. "And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try find the opening words."

"Gandalf!" Harry scolded when he saw that the young hobbit was upset by the older man's harsh words. The younger wizard went over to Pippin and gently wrapped him in a hug and brought him to the rock with Legolas and Aragorn. The young hobbit was slightly surprised but readily accepted the affection. He had grown up with lots of siblings and cousins and his parents, there had never been a shortage of affection back in the Shire. But once he had gotten swept up on this adventure with his cousins, he has been lacking the familiar affection and it has been taking its tole on the youngest child of the Thain.

Legolas and Aragorn were also slightly surprised but just accepted Pippin on the rock next to their wizard. Aragorn reached over and gently ruffled Pippin's hair and Legolas reached over Harry's shoulder to squeeze the back of the Hobbits neck. The other three hobbits made their own way over to their rock and settled around the other four, Legolas hesitated for a moment before settling an arm around Merry's shoulder. Frodo and Sam settled on the ground in front of the rock.

The next three quarters of an hour passes in relative silence. At some point Gandalf had moved to sit on a rock that directly faces the door, still mumbling different phrases.

"Ando Eldarinwa…. A lasta quettanya"

(Gate of the Elves… listen to my word…Threshold of Dwarves)

At some point, Harry had dozed off leaning against Legolas. The Hobbits had split back up to entertain themselves. Sam was checking the supplies in the different packs with the help of Aragorn. Frodo had moved to sit next to Gandalf, staring at the door in concentration. The two youngest Hobbits, however, have drifted to the edge of the lake and were starting to skip rocks.

Aragorn looks toward them as the water ripples out towards the middle of the lake. Harry jerks awake as his detection spells go off. The two quickly make their way over to the pair, each grabbing an arm either hobbit to stop the next set of stones from skipping across the water.

"Do not disturb the water," Aragorn whispers sternly. His free hand is gripping the hilt of the blade strongly. He glances over at Boromir who had stood and was also gripping his blade. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Legolas was watching the water with his bow in hand. Finally, he looked over at Harry and saw the wizard was slightly pale and had his wand drawn.

The two hobbits knew that there was something important about the water and allowed themselves to be pulled back from the edge and put behind the warriors.

Towards the door, oblivious of the brewing trouble behind them, Gandalf slumps down on the rock, having exhausted his knowledge and given up for now. Gimli was leaning against a near by rock flipping thought the little knowledge he knew about the mine. Frodo, though, made a surprised noise as he gazed at the wall.

"It's a riddle," he breathed in recognition, he turns to Gandalf who was looking back with a raised eyebrow. There was surprise in his eyes at not having thought of it. Frodo continued his train of thought. "Speak, Friend, and enter. What is the Elvish word for Friend?"

"Oh…" Gandalf paused a moment before answering the question with a small chuckle. "Mellon."

Less than 10 seconds later the rock face almost silently divides to create two huge doors that swing out into the valley. The inside is so black nothing past the doors was distinguishable, the swishing of the doors caught the attention of the rest of the fellowship. The ten companions step warily through the doorway, with their attention turned away the water ripples with movement from below.

As they step gingerly into the mountain a winding staircase and entrance way opens before them in the darkness. Gimli is smiling and turns to the company's elf:

"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 home of my cousin Balin ... And they call this a mine," he snorts incredulously. "A MINE!"

Gandalf pulls a crystal from somewhere in his robes and gently sets it in the top of his staff and lights it with a whispered word. Harry, on the same train of thought, pulls his wand and lights the tip with a silent 'Lumas Maxima'. Everyone froze as the interior of the mine was reviled; Dwarf skeletons are littered everywhere, amongst skeletons of goblins, weapons were broken and scattered or even still in the hands of the masters.

"This is no mine," Boromir uttered grimly, the grip in the hilt of his sword caused his knuckles to whiten. "It's a tomb!"

"Oh…no," Gimli breathed in horror. His face was grief stricken as he took in the corpses of his kin. Many of them me probably knew before their departure to Moria. He had seen Balin, his uncle, and their company off from the gates of Erebor. Harry was closest to the grieving dwarf and placed his free hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him as he continued with a wail. "NO! NO!"

Legolas had quietly glided over to the closest skeleton and pulled an arrow from the skull and examined it with a keen eye.

"Goblins." He spits the word out like poison, standing quickly with his bow in hand. He quickly discards the arrow and draws one of his own from his quiver ready to fire if needed.

The other members of the company drew their own weapons just as quickly. Harry used his hand on Gimli to draw him back towards the door as the others started to back away from the Mine.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir suggested to Aragorn hurriedly. His eyes were wide, ready for the goblins to jump from the darkness. No one noticed a large slithering tentacle slipping through the entrance towards the company, drawn by the dark presence of the ring. "We should never have come here."

Frodo let out a sudden shout as he tentacle found its prey and yanked him to the ground and pulled him out of the mind towards the lake. Aragorn and Boromir are the first to react, they rush forward with their swords drawn, wading into the water. Aragorn managed to sever the tentacle holding Frodo, who falls into his waiting arms. Boromir was hacking and stabbing at the other tentacles, trying to keep them from grabbing someone else. Harry was on the bank wand pointed at the head of the monster.

"Immobulus!" he shouted, and a bright blue flash races towards the monster. As soon as it strikes the monster freezes in place. Though it doesn't hold completely and the tentacles twitch, then the spell breaks. A tentacle races forward and grabs the wizard before he can cast again and is dragged into the air by his ankle with a shout of, "Help!"

Aragorn is on the shore with Frodo and turns towards the monster to see Harry being waved about. His wand unfortunately flies from his hand towards the darkness of the mine. Aragorn makes to go back into the water when Boromir aims true and severs the limb holding Harry and he falls into Boromir's arms.

"Into the mines!" Gandalf shouted ushering the other hobbits and Gimli back through the door.

"Legolas!" Boromir shouts urgently as he turns to make for the shore. The elf understands and lets an arrow fly toward the head of the monster, as always striking true. The monster wails in pain and retreats long enough for Boromir with Harry, Aragorn with Frodo, and Legolas to get through the door with the rest of the fellowship.

This is not a moment too soon as the creature swings out and grabs the still open door of the mines and with a shattering echo rips the doors away. Rocks rain down on from the inside and outside, sealing the entrance to the with the fellowship inside. There is nothing but pitch darkness as the rocks stop moving and the dust settles. After a moment Gandalf's staff lights again casting a dim light around him and the others.

Boromir gently sets Harry back on his feet as Aragorn does the same with Frodo. They steady their charges as the sway on their feet, still dizzy from being held upside down and waved through the air like ragdolls.

"Thank you," Harry said quietly to the Gondorian when he was able to stand on his own. He looked around for a moment before holding out his hand for a moment and concentrating.

"Uh," Merry mutters looking at the others from where his was wrapped around Pippin and vice versa. "What's Harry doing?"

"Shh," Sam shushed him gently from where he was helping straighten out Frodo. Aragorn and taken to watching the younger wizard with a slightly concerned look, Legolas with him.

"Accio Wand!" Harry said strongly after a moment of concentration. What the others didn't realize was he was trying to sense the location of his wand. He found it quickly enough, his bond to it stronger having bonded to Fawkes whose tail feather made its core. It had fallen quite a way down into the mine, farther than he was able to summon silently or was willing to divert their path to search. He knew that eventually it would reappear in his holster but didn't want to take the chance of being attacked in the time it took.

The others traded slightly confused looks while Gandalf smiled slightly. He had felt the spell leave his friend and knew its intention. After a moment there was a whooshing sound as the wand sailed up from the dark depths and slapped into Harry's still outstretched hand. The others let out surprised sounds but accepted the occurrence without question as they turned to Gandalf for what their next step was.

"Now we have but one choice," Mithrandir spoke softly to the others, he gestured to the winding staircase behind. "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."

"How far is it Gandalf?" Harry questioned after he finished inspecting his wand for damage. Finding none he cast 'pila luminis' and a small, floating, ball of light appeared. He waved his hand weaving the spell amongst them, allowing it to settle just above their heads. The hobbits made awed sounds as Gandalf put out the crystal in his staff with a nod of thanks to the younger wizard.

"Quietly now," Gandalf hushed the chattering hobbits, who were whispering about the light. They hushed as he answered Harry's question. "It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence will go unnoticed."

With those ominous words they began their journey through some of the deepest parts of Middle Earth….

As always, reviews, thoughts, feelings, anything really is appreciated. Poll is still open!

And in this uncertain time I encourage everyone to stay safe! *wags finger at audience* WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS!

BYE! *Mad cackling is heard as laptop powers down*