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"Vedui', Sut naa lle umien sina re?"
Andlainien looked back: "Ringréd, is that you?"
"Indeed, It is me, fair women"
"How was your journey?"
"Fine thank you, but I need to take a rest now, I'm exhausted."
"Well sit down, silly half-elf, I will get some wine for you."
"No please, no wine, would you mind to get me just some water"
"Off course not," and she kissed him on the cheek and she saw how he smiled. "Is Rivendell just as beautiful as they tell in the stories?"
"It is even better," he answered while she move towards him and sat down next to him. "And Elrond is indeed a very wise man."
"And the meeting, are the elves still divided about Sauron?"
"Yes, unfortunately many of the Elven-races are divided, most of them think that Sauron never could become a real threat because he doesn't possess the One Ring anymore. And they think that if there could be a new war, Gondor is most likely the aggressor. I've tried to convince them of the threat that Sauron can become when we let him just carry on. It's very hard to believe, especially for me that they see the men of Gondor more as a possible enemy then the Dark Lord and his legions."
"I don't blame you Ringréd, after all you are part human. But I still wonder about some facts. The Elves are considered wise and honest, but now they seem such a bunch of fools," Andlainien said, "The Ringwraiths have returned, that should be enough to launch an attack on Angband."
"If I was a elven king we would indeed launch an attack on the black gates of Mordor, but I'm just a soldier. But we may not forget that when we launch a full attack on Mordor, we leave our homes unprotected, leaving them to gangs of bandits or maybe else."
"Why don't we go Rivendell so I could talk to Elrond."
"I could ask Almumtrion but I don't think he wants to release me from my duties."
"Ringréd," she said and she slowly pulled his head towards hers, "Do you think you can ask for a few days of.?"
"For you, always my dear," and he gave her a gentle kiss.

The next day Ringréd went to Almumtrion, the captain of the Lothlorien Guard, determined to convince him and get what he wants in the name of his love for Andlainien.
"Almumtrion, could I have a word with you."
"Off course Ringréd, come in. What's on your heart."
"You know Andlainien, don't you?"
"Yes I know her, she's a very sweet and lovely elf, did you come her in her name, What does she wants from the captain of the guard?"
"Well, she wants to talk to Elrond and…"
"Talk to Elrond, the expedition to the meeting returned just yesterday. Why didn't she go along with the other Elves of the forest?"
"I really don't know, but she wants to go to Rivendell to talk to Elrond and I want to go with her, I won't let her go alone."
"For only two Elves the trip isn't easy. And above that, the road is full of danger; think about the Orcs and Goblins in Moria. How do you want to get past them with only two men? You're the only one that can fight. Sorry but I can't let you go. Just for yours and Andlainien's safety."
"I'm prepared to take all the responsibilities and so does she," Ringréd answered.
"Listen Ringréd, I don't want to lose a fine warrior like you to such a useless cost!"
"Is it useless to talk to the most wisest of all Elves to try to come up with a plan to stop the upcoming war."
"war, there is no war! Why don't you stay here were you are save?"
"There will be a war, mark my words", and Ringréd walked out angry.

"And… are you allowed to go along with me to Rivendell?"
"I'm sorry, I'm not."
She sacked down on the floor and she asked: "why?"
"Almumtrion said it is to dangerous."
"I'm willing to take that risk."
"You're not the only one, fair Andlainien."
"You can't go, you have to obey his orders."
"In this case I will follow my heart and just stay on your side, to fight, and when necessary to die."
"Don't do that, I'll just go alone. Why should you risk your career for me, you're one of the best warriors that the Galadhrim have. You could be banished from Lothlorien forever." "I know Andlainien, I know, but I do this because I love you, tomorrow we will both ride by the first light of the sun"
"Please don't do it Ringréd," and after those words she fell crying in his arms.

In the middle of the night Ringréd suddenly waked up. He heard the sound of a horse that fastly ran away. He jumped out of his bed and grabbed his weapons, light armour and the bag that he packed for today the previous evening. He rushed down and saw that his horse was gone. "Andlainien, Tampa!" he screamed but he was too late. In the distance between the trees he saw her on Bradod, his horse. Quickly he rushed to the stables and jumped on the back of a horse and spurred it on. One of the guards tried to stop him, but Ringréd didn't intend to stop. The guard could just jump aside just before Ringréd would run over him. Ringréd urged his horse another time and could now only rely on the speed and agility of the horse in his hot pursuit. Before he even noticed he left Caras Galadhon. In that moment he thought only how and if Andlainien could be rescued.

Ringréd still rode very fast while the forest around him slowly turned into grassland, when suddenly his horse seem to break trough it's legs. Ringréd fell of the horse and he hit the ground very hard. He looked up and saw an Orc. Quickly he drawed his sword and drove it into the soft belly. The creature's black blood fled all over him. Another little Orc came rushing with great speed. Agile as he was he jumped up and the spear of the Orc missed his chest on a hair. Ringréd jumped on the Orc's back and pulled him back against a tree, his sword flashed and the Orc's head rolled over the ground. Another Orc appeared, two times bigger then Ringréd. Ringréd tried to drive his sword in the soft spot between his breastplate and his helmet, but the sword broke in several pieces on the shield that the warlord carried . The Orc smashed Ringréd against a tree and all became black in front of Ringréd's eyes while the large Orc raised in front of him. The Orc put off his helmet, grabbed Ringréd and was ready to bite his head of and eat it as an appetizer.

Suddenly a scream and with the last strength he had he opened his eyes and saw how the Orc was struck with a large branch and fell down to the ground. After that the world around him became black again.

He heard a voice from the distance, "Ringréd, please tell me you're all right. Come on wake-up, the Orc is still breathing, what do I have to do? I can't kill him, can I?" This words seems to work like magic, he opened his eyes and dragged himself to the Orc while it still lay there. He drew his knife and wanted to cut the throat of this vaul creature while suddenly he opened his large eyes and a large hand grabbed Ringréd's neck. With his last strength Ringréd threw the knife into one of the Orc's baleful eyes and he was released and fell to the ground. He just reached a piece of his sword when the Orc grabbed him again and brought him to his mouth. Ringréd regained his strength and with great power he struck the Orc in his palate. The Orc fell dead backwards and Ringréd tumbled along with the Orc on the ground. He saw how Andlainien rushed to get to him and knew that she was save for the moment, and he faded into a deep darkness.

"Hey, how do you feel now"?
"Not very well, I feel like I'm hit by an Mûmakil, and I'm starving"
She smiled and for a moment al his pain seems to fade away: "That's not very surprising, you've been out for two days."
"Is it already two days ago that you saved my life and I've not thanked you yet, why didn't I wake up earlier to thank you. How rude of me" and he kissed her on her cheek. "And how about the horse I was riding while I was chasing you."
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it died so we have to get a new horse or we could share my horse."
"Your horse, you 'borrowed' it from me."
"You know why."
"Yes I know, and you could have been in a lot of trouble."
"I've rescued you Ringréd, so who's the one who gets into trouble"
Only silence remained.
"But I would have returned it, you know me", Andlainien said.
"But it was still a very irresponsible action."
"Is it?" and she crawled closer to him and sat down in front of him looking with her beautiful blue eyes.
"Don't look at me that way, you know that I can't resist you on that way"
"What a pity for you", and she pushed him backwards. She kissed him and crawled on the top of him. She gave him another kiss, this time on his mouth and on a very intense way and she pulled the blanket over both of them.


Ringréd and Andlainien sat on the back of Bradod and they rode in the direction of the Hithaiglin. Lothlorien was now behind them and here the terrain existed out of only rocks and grass and sometimes a lonely bush or tree. They both missed the forest already, but they tried not to think of Caras Galadhon and just looked sadly at the mountains in the direction that they travelled.
"Do you still want to go along, you know we have to travel trough the dark mines of Moria." She whispered yes in his ear.
"Well, all right then."
"Do you want to go along with me?" she whispered again.
"What's that for a silly question?"
"Well you don't have to risk your live for me."
He turned his head and just wanted to give her a smile, when he saw a cloud of dust a few miles back, "What is that?" and he let the horse stop and pointed in the direction of the dust cloud.
Andlainien also looked back:" It is someone on a horse, I think he's following us."
"Well then we give him a warm welcome", and Ringréd grabbed his bow and put an arrow on it. "Andlainien, just ride along with the same slow speed we were travelling before we noticed this guy and look for a good place to hide. I'll just stay here and try to find out who he is, and when he's up to no good, I will take him down."
"Be careful"
"I will"
She rode along but after a few steps she turned around.
"No Ringréd, I will not let you alone," and she stepped of Bradod's back.
"Please go."
"No", she answered.
"Then you have to were this," he snarled, and put of his mail shirt and gave it to her," for your own safety. Here, take are my shield and dagger, I can't train you in the time we have left but I suppose you are strong enough to carry them so do so."
She didn't know what to say and she just putted on the mail shirt and looked at him with a lack of understanding. "But Ringréd…"
"What now," he answered shortly.
"You're unarmed and unprotected now."
"I've got my bow, and I am trained. You are not, so please be silence and just hide and only come forward when I'm in trouble."
"Wait a minute," said Andlainien, "Are you sure that that rider is a foe."
Ringréd looked carefully." I'll be damned. That isn't a foe, that's Ainantincoion…Well we wait for him here." And Ringréd helped Andlainien out of the mail shirt and he sat down on the ground. "Just take a pause Andlainien."

While they were waiting Ringréd eye suddenly fell on the sad face of Andlainien.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"I don't believe you."
"Why were you so nasty to me."
"Sorry dear, but I'm also under a lot of tension," and he gentle laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Do I interrupt?" Both Ringréd as Andlainien looked up.
"Not at all," Ringréd answered, "well sit down you have got a lot to explain to us. First of all why did you chase us?"
"To warn you and to help you, Almumtrion has sent out a dozen of well-armed glade runners to hunt you down and to capture you. His opinion is that you have betrayed him and now he wants you to be punished."
"Also any good news?" Ringréd asked.
"Well, to be honest, no! There is a lot of strife among the elves. No one knows what to expect. Some of them think there is going to be a war."
"Well I thank you for your news, what are your plans from now on?"
"I'll stay with you if you don't mind, you could use all the help you can get."
"I thank you for that, my friend."
"Me too," said Andlainien and she gave him a hug.
"You're welcome, but I have told you before that my sword is your sword."
"I know, Ainantincoion, I know."
"Are we travelling further today?" Andlainien asked.
"Well I think that Ainantincoion's horse could use a rest. He has chased us with great speed."
"But what about the runners that are following us?" Andlainien asked again.
"That's a risk that we need to take." Ringréd replied.

After a cold night in which Ainantincoion and Ringréd instantly took turns for staying on guard they awoke in the morning with the dawn. It was a bright but cold day but al least the sun was shining. They decided to take their breakfast, which existed out of lembas and some dried fruits. They took their meal at the same place were they also spend the night, and after breakfast they would try to reach the gates of Moria in one day.
"Is it far to Moria?" Andlainien asked
"Hmm, I don't think so," Ringréd replied, "with the previous expedition we were travelling about three days from Lothlorien to Moria."
"And what about Moria, was it save to travel through?"
"We didn't run into trouble, but then we were with many. But I think it is pretty deserted. I only just can't forget the words that I heard in Rivendell. I don't know what caused the downfall of this great dwarven kingdom, but in Rivendell they talked about Durin's bane. That doesn't sound very nice, does it?"
Meanwhile Ainantincoion was preparing the two horses. "It is a pity that we have to send them back as soon as we reach Moria, the steps are to steep for our friends."
"We'll make it also without the horses." Ringréd said and he took a large bite of the lembas. "Stupid dwarves, why create a city were you couldn't use horses. You just need a cavalry." "Well they fought many battles without cavalry, and not without results."
"But in my eyes they are still a stubborn and harsh folk," Ainantincoion replied," And why do they have to go so deep into mountains. They just don't always seem to know what they are doing."
"But you can't deny they make the best armour and weaponry in the world. If I ever get the opportunity to get one of those Mithril armour I take it. Light as a feather and stronger then the skin of a dragon."
"Well that won't help you much when facing hundreds of Orcs."
"I told you, Ainantincoion, there are no Orcs, we haven't seen a single thing during our expedition last time."
"You were just lucky."
"Don't argue about that," Andlainien came in," Why don't you just forget this whole argue and shake hands?"
"I hate it when she is right," Ringréd smiled and he reached out his hand.
"After all she is a woman." Ainantincoion answered and he shaked Ringréd's hand. "Well why don't we just hit the long road that lies in front of us. I have already prepared the horses so we could leave in a minute." Ainantincoion jumped on the back of his horse.
Ringréd followed Ainantincoion's example and jumped on the back of Bradod. "Need a hand?" and he looked to Andlainien. She took it and Ringréd pulled her up and she sat down behind him on the horse." Ainantincoion could you please take my shield, quiver and my bow, we don't have a lot of space here and I don't want her to fall of because my arrows need to much room."
"That isn't necessary." Andlainien answered," I'm fine."
"I will just take them," Ainantincoion took the quiver and bow and he threw the weapons over his shoulder. "We have waited long enough." And he spurred on his horse and soon the two horses were heading in the direction of the dark mines of Moria.


The mines of Moria "Well, at last we are here," Ainantincoion said. "It took a while and the night will surely come quickly, but we managed it, we reached Moria in a day. And there is still no sign of the glade runners that are following us. I think we could better build up a little campsite under those rocks there on the left of the gate so we are not easily spotted. And we better enter Moria, or Khazad-Dum, the name that the dwarves gave to this evil place, tomorrow. I'm sure that in daylight it looks less hostile then now." And he stepped of his horse and took the travelling bags of the horse's back.
Andlainien jumped of the back of Bradod and a few moments' later Ringréd stepped on the ground just a few inches next to her. "But inside is inside, dark is the place, both by day and by night."
"What you want to do against that?" Ainantincoion asked.
"I have a few torches in one of my bags, but I think we could rather not use them. If there is something the light could attract it."
"So you admit that there is something." Ainantincoion answered shortly on Ringréd's words. "You first said that there was nothing to be afraid of."
"That's because I'm not afraid of anything," said Ringréd on a jeering tone.
"Don't start again!" said Andlainien annoyed. She was clearly not in the mood for the childish behaviour of the man of Rohan and the half-elf." Just set up a campsite and we go to sleep, all of us, none of us will keep guard. If there are inhabitants in Moria they don't know we are here and the glade runners couldn't be close to us. So we all have to take the rest while we still can." She took her bag and walked to the place that Ainantincoion mentioned. She crawled in a corner under one of the rocks and pulled the blanket out of the bag. She made herself a bed and laid herself down with her back to her two stunned companions.
"I think we really pissed her of this time," Said Ringréd and he looked Ainantincoion straight in the face.
"Couldn't agree with you more. Well then, we better also get some sleep, but I look up another rock to lie under. I hope that tomorrow she isn't so grumpy anymore."
"We just mustn't give her a reason to be grumpy, it's not her fault, she wanted to take this trip on her own en first I joined her and now you also came along. I think that on the one hand she likes it that we want to help her, but on the other hand she would rather do it alone. So from now on no more argues, just for her….deal?"
"Deal!" Ainantincoion replied. "Well let us now make our own beds, sleep well Ringréd." "Sleep well."

Next day Ringréd was the first that was awake. The previous evening he laid himself down at a spot very close to Andlainien, on the opposite side of the small inlet. "My back became as hard as the ground I laid on", he said to himself. He looked at Andlainien and saw that she still laid on exactly the same way as when she went to sleep yesterday. "I hope she slept better then me." Ringréd sighted. He took some lembas out of his bag and began to nibble on it. The pain in his back disappeared and he crawled out of the rock formation. He saw how Ainantincoion slept in the next inlet and heard him snarl softly. The moment he entered the open air he felt the sun on his face. It was almost the same weather as yesterday, still it was slightly cold, only now there were some little white clouds in the air. Still nibbling on his lembas he started to wander between the place they slept and the gate of Moria. He went to the horses. "Well Bradod, you know the way back I hope, I know you do have travelled this road several times with me. I just found you back and now I have to say goodbye to you already. But you also understand that you would only slow us down in the mines." He untied both horses. "Well I guess this is goodbye again," he whispered in Bradod's ear. The horse looked at him with sad eyes. "I promise you your master will return as quickly as he can, but please go back to Caras Galadhon. There you have a warm stable and you don't have to look for your own food." The horse looked for a moment straight in Ringréd's face, turned around and ran with the other horse back to the place they left five days ago.

It was about an hour ago that Ringréd got up and now one of his fellow travellers also came out of his sleep. Ainantincoion looked with musty expression to Ringréd. While he yawned he suddenly screamed. "The horses, were are the horses, are they stolen!"
"Keep your mouth shut, Andlainien is still asleep. The horses ain't stolen, I released them." "But my bags…"
"… Are standing over there." And Ringréd pointed to the bags.
"For a moment I thought al my stuff was gone."
"For the second time, Ainantincoion don't speak so loud, she is still asleep."
"Not anymore", Andlainien answered, "but it doesn't matter cause it is really time to go now. I just want to go through the mines as fast as possible. The place give me the creeps already and we havened even entered it."

They all quickly gathered their stuff and putted it in their backs, and within five minutes they were on the edge of the darkness of Moria. "Well here we go," en Ringréd entered the dark first. "Just stick together." Slowly and careful they entered the former Dwarven Kingdom. Ringréd led the way, shortly followed by Andlainien and Ainantincoion closed the line. "Hard to imagine that this once was a mighty kingdom." Ringréd said.
"Would you please be silent, Ringréd. I have a feeling that someone or something is watching us. I think it is smarter to light up a torch, they can see in darkness, we can't."
Ringréd took a torch and put it on fire. The light let them view the great stairs of the Khazad-Dum. It was a huge hall made of marble. The perfectly polished walls reflected the light of the torch. They entered the stairs and slowly they began their way upwards. They heard really nothing, only their own footsteps.

They walked for half an hour when they finally came at the end of the stairs. "Did anyone count how many stairs it were?" Ringréd asked.
"Are you joking?" Ainantincoion replied.
"No I want to know it seriously."
"I didn't count them."
"Don't be so seriously, Ainantincoion," Andlainien smiled. "Come on we quickly move on I still don't trust this place.

They were in the doorway between the second and third hall when Ainantincoion suddenly stopped. "Did you also hear that?"
"I heard nothing, did you hear anything Andlainien?"
"No."
"Everybody quiet now, and put out the torch." Ainantincoion said. "When we put out of the torch we don't see a thing anymore and are very vulnerable." Ringréd said and slowly he looked around. "Andlainien, please hold this for a minute." And he gave the torch to her. He grabbed his bow and took an arrow from his quiver. "Do you also see that shadow?" Ringréd whispered. Ainantincoion nodded yes. Ringréd tightened the tendon of his bow and aimed at the large shadow in the opposite corner of the hall. He released his tendon and an arrow went with great speed in the direction of the shadow. Then the scream and a small shadow dropped from the sealing. Quickly Ringréd took the torch back from Andlainien and rushed to the place were the shadow hit the ground. "We were afraid of nothing." Ringréd said. "It's just a large bat. Not some kind of Orc or another evil creature."
"Just a bat?" answered Ainantincoion suspicious, and slowly he went to the corps of this flying mammal. "We were afraid of just a bat?" and he laughed loudly. "I can't believe it," and he took the arrow out of the beast. "A bat, what kind of wimps are we to be afraid of a bat."
"Please stop talking so loud," Andlainien begged.
But Ainantincoion didn't seem to care. He screamed: "Just a bat, stupid companions of me, well we can be proud on ourselves, we killed a very dangerous, bloodthirsty bat." And he kicked down the corps of the bat down the stairs they came from.
"Ainantincoion!" screamed Andlainien.
Ainantincoion looked up surprised. "What is your problem, why do you scream so loud, do you want to attract more evil…bats." And again he began to laugh very loud. Andlainien grabbed the arm of Ainantincoion, angry he looked to her and he pushed on the ground. "Don't go berserk there is nothing here, foolish woman." With a hard punch Ringréd smashed Ainantincoion against the ground. He kneeled next to him and pulled up his head by grabbing his hairs. "Your choice Ainantincoion. Or you act normal, or we go along without you." But suddenly Ainantincoion seemed to collapse.
"Don't leave me here in the dark, it's making me nuts, we have to get out of this cursed place and very quickly before I lose myself."
"Don't worry." Ringréd said with a grimy face and he helped him up, "we will be out of this place very soon." Ringréd picked up both the stuff of himself and Ainantincoion. "Well come on guys, let us find a way out of this evil place."

The three travellers walked through dark passages and great halls and finally they saw daylight in the far distance. Their hope was renowned and they walked faster then they did in the total darkness in which they walked so long before they saw the light. But it lasted at least an hour before they reached the place were the sunlight came from. It wasn't a way out of Moria, but another very large hall, only this one had four large windows in the roof from where the sun came into the dark place. They looked up and noticed that the sundown wouldn't wait long anymore and they decided that they would stay here during the night. They set up a little camp in a corner of the hall, created a small fire and decided who should keep guard. They agreed that Ainantincoion should be able to sleep the entire night because the repose would be good for him. Andlainien and Ringréd would change guard every two hours. Ringréd started to sharpen his arrows while Ainantincoion and Andlainien went to sleep.

Not even an hour past before Andlainien got out of her bed and went to Ringréd.
"You go to bed, I can't sleep so I'll keep guard."
"Why can't you sleep, is their something wrong?"
"Not really."
"Try to sound a little bit more convincing, I don't believe you." And he put his hand out, "Come sit next to me under my blanket if you want so. This is a very cold place."
"No I'll just stand", she replied," Go to bed Ringréd, you could use the rest."
"So could you."
"I told you I am not tired."
"We walked the entire day through this cursed mines and you say you are not tired," he smiled.
"Indeed."
"Please come and sit next to me for a moment, there is a problem I know it. I'm not one of the most wisest by I can read the sadness in your eyes. Ainantincoion is in a deep sleep so you can easily tell it to me."
"It is just…." And she stood breathless.
"You can tell me, you know that." And he stood up and gave her his blanket. "If it is this place that bothers you then I can say that this place also freaks me out. It is just to dark and to deep into the mountain."
"That's not it," and she sat down on the ground, "could you please come to sit next to me, I could really need a chest to lay on."
"I already asked you to sit next to me." and he smiled again, "just empty your heart."
"I'm so afraid that something would happen to us, I don't want to lose you. I blame myself that you came after me now both our lives are at stake. And even your friend came along. If we are surprised by Orcs or goblins we will all die and I don't want you to die," she cried. "I don't want to have the death of two people on my account. My own live isn't valuable but you could play such an important role in the world."
"Andlainien, don't be afraid for the death. It would not come for us, not today and not tomorrow," and with the palm of his hand he wiped away the tears of her face. "And I think we could reach the front gates of Moria tomorrow, then we are able to walk in the daylight again. Well now try to sleep for a moment, you're save with me."
"Do you mind if I sleep with you instead of in my bed?"
"Off course not, but I get some of your own blankets so you won't get cold." And he walked to her bed, picked the blankets up and walked back. "Here you go."
She took the blankets from Ringréd and laid her head on his chest. In a few moments she was in a deep, deep sleep. "I wonder what she's dreaming", Ringréd said to himself.

It was estimated about an hour before sunrise when Andlainien easily waked up. She saw the dark coloured guardful eyes of Ringréd and knew she was save as long as she was with him, although Ringréd was not known as one of the most trustful people of the half-Elven race due to his background. But she felt comfortable even in the dark mines of Moria in which they still were. His warm body and the still glowing fire even warmed her heart in dreadful place. She pretended that she still was asleep so she could lay with Ringréd until the sun would come up and shine through the large windows in the roof. She closed her eyes and listened how his heart beat and she slowly fell back into sleep. But what she didn't notice was that Ringréd saw that she was awake for a moment and smiled gentle to her but when he did she had already closed her eyes.

But the dawn didn't come that dreadful morning. Not that the sun didn't come up that day but her light was blocked by dark thunder clouds who made the day look like the night. Ringréd looked up and said to himself: "I hope it's dry when we come out of this damned mines." He tried to get up but noticed that Andlainien still laid against him. He made a pillow of his cloak and laid her head gentle on it. The blanket that he used to stay warm in the long night he laid on her body so she would stay warm while he made a little breakfast for himself. He noticed that they almost ran out of water and decided to drink nothing this morning. He took some lembas and took a large bite while he watched that Ainantincoion and Andlainien were still in a deep sleep. After his breakfast he got up and he just walked around in the large hall not knowing anything else to do then wait until his companions would wake up. He just checked the sharpness of both his arrows and his knife. He regretted the fact that he lost his sword in the fight because it was the sword he learned to fight with and still carried any value. He said to himself that he should ask for a new sword in Rivendell when they would arrive their. But until then he has to travel without one or have the luck that he finds one. So Ringréd starts to wander around the in mines. He checked the hall but didn't find anything. He knew he could expect that and returned to the sleeping place and took place next to the travel bags.

Another hour passed by and Ringréd decided that his companions slept long enough and it was time to wake them up. He gave Andlainien a gentle kiss on her cheek and gently whispered in her ear to wake up. Slowly she opened her eyes but she fell back again to sleep so Ringréd whispered again and said to her that it was time to get up and helped her on her feet. Ringréd was less nice to Ainantincoion. He pulled his blanket away and said to wake up and hit with his hand on a pan to make clear that it was time to get up. While Andlainien and Ainantincoion ate their breakfast Ringréd packed all the stuff together and threw them over the shoulder and said: "Come on it's time to go, you can eat while we walk!" "Ringréd," Andlainien said, "You were on guard the entire night and now you carry all the stuff don't we have to do anything."
"Listen you're a woman and Ainantincoion is still weak of mind so the least I can do is carry your stuff and now shut your mouth because we have to hurry!"
"Okay Okay, calm down we'll just follow", and Andlainien and Ainantincoion followed Ringréd carefully.

Step by step the doorways become more darker when they were heading to the narrow doorway that should lead to the exit of the damned mines. The moment they opened the gates and stepped on the path in the open air their hope was renewed by the bright light of the sun. The clouds were vanished and they sat down that noon at the front gate of Moria by the lake and used breakfast after they closed the famous gates of Moria. Andlainien said to the rest of the group: "why don't we stay here and spend the night, that way we have another day of rest and I'm sure this is a pretty save place. Not many living creatures come near the gates and in the mines self there was no sign of any hostility."
"You're right" Ainantincoion replied, "it is save and were covered by the rocks for bad weather"
"Well okay we set up camp here." Ringréd said, "but tomorrow we will leave early".
Ringréd divided the tasks. Andlainien would gather something like vegetables in the area while Ainantincoion would try to kill some beasts for dinner. Ringréd stayed at the campsite and would create a place to sleep and would build a little fire. He also filled their bottles with some fresh water from the lake and he was ready with his tasks long before it was time for their evening meal. Andlainien and Ainantincoion didn't even return so he decided to take a look around and would create a dry sleeping place because he didn't trust the few dark clouds that still were in the air and were left from the morning when the sun didn't shine yet. He made a shelter from some branches onto the steep sidewall of the gates.

Ringréd was a little bit annoyed when after he waited another hour Andlainien and Ainantincoion still didn't return so he started to look for them. He found Andlainien very quickly. She slept in a didge, probably the journey through the mines made her so tired that se didn't had the strength anymore to go on anymore but Ringréd also knew that she didn't want to show to the other companions that she was exhausted. He carried here back to the camp and laid here in the shelter. He gave her a kiss again just like in the morning and crawled back out of the shelter. He now couldn't do anything else the wait until Ainantincoion would return.

"Hey Ringréd look what I've got!"
Ringréd looked up and saw Ainantincoion: "What ? A deer ?"
"Better. It's a boar, and I also got some birds that we can take with us so we have something to eat the following days."
"Nice work Ainantincoion."
"I know, eh, didn't Andlainien return yet ?"
"She was tired and sleeps already in the shelter I made."
"Should we wake her up for dinner?"
"We could also try to eat the entire boar ourselves."
"Ringréd I like it when you just want to eat as much as possible, it gives me the opportunity to also eat as much as I can."

The sun already has gone down for an hour when the boar was finally well cooked. Both warriors enjoyed the meal but even when they were with 5 times more man the entire would not be eaten completely. They cutted the large pieces of meat of the corps and prepared them to take them with them on their journey. "Well it is time we also go to bed." Ringréd said. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Ainantincoion sleep well."
"You too. Ringréd, you too."

It was deep in the night when Ringréd waked up because he felt something that touched him. He opened his eyes and saw the reflection of the moon on his own knife and the cold eyes of Andlainien. "What are you going to do!", "I love you Ringréd, I always do but we are not ment to be." and she gave him a kiss. And before he really knew what happened she struck the him down and he saw how the knife disappeared into his belly. He looked and saw the red blood on his blanket and his hands and Andlainien's shadow that disappeared into the darkness. He touched Ainantincoion with his hand and hoped he would wake up and fortunately he indeed waked up. He tried to talk but only blood came from his mouth and Ainantincoion feared for the life of his good friend. He knew that Ringréd almost kissed death before and quickly he tried to stop the bleeding. He made a barrier and as he could. He left almost all the stuff they carried and only took some lembas and some water. "Come on friend, please hold on," he whispered, "I know you have the strength to survive you're hurt very badly in the past and that time you also survived so don't die on me know."