[Legate of Amon Lanc]

After Lobelia left, the Company stood still reluctantly for a moment. But the evening was closing, so they had to move. They climbed up the stony stair eastwards, back to the roots of the mountains. At the top they stopped. Behind them the sinking Sun filled the cool western sky with glimmering gold. Before them stretched a dark still lake. Neither sky nor sunset was reflected on its sullen surface. The Sirannon had been dammed and had filled all the valley. Beyond the ominous water were reared vast cliffs, their stern faces pallid in the fading light: final and impassable.
"There are the Walls of Moria!" cried Dáin. "Is that the path we are going to take now?"
"It is the best choice for us," said Galadriel. "There is no other way we can reach the other side of the mountains unnoticed."
"The name of Moria is black," said Halbarad with a grim face.
"Yet Gandalf would have advised us to take this way," Radagast said. "It is unpleasant to lose the sight of the sky and sun for some time, but this is indeed the fastest way to reach the pleasant and green valleys of Anduin."
"I would like to see them green at this time," said Éomer. "Yet if you insist, I will follow you to the darkness – if there is hope for us to come out again."
"Do not doubt it," Galadriel said. "I have passed through Khazad-Dûm, a long time ago."
Dáin and the Elves looked at her with surprise. She smiled, but the Dwarf frowned under that look, as if he remembered something unpleasant from the past. "But what?" he said. "Are we going to swim this gloomy water? It has an unwholesome look."
"There is a path by the northern edge," Halbarad said. "We might try to find our way around the shore."

He went forward and the others followed him. Only Tom Bombadil stood silently and watched the still lake. "This is ill water," he said.
Éomer turned at him. "We know that," he said. "But we must go around it to reach this gate, wherever it is."
Tom shook his head. "Tom expected at least the Fair Folk to be wiser than crawl into dark holes underground."
"You don't have to go, little man," said Uglúk.
"Don't hinder us," said Elrohir. "Let's go!"

The diminished Fellowship quickly passed around the lake to reach the walls of Moria. As Théodred, the last of the Company, stepped on the dry ground on the far side, there came a soft sound: a swish, followed by a plop, as if a fish had disturbed the still surface of the water. Turning quickly they saw ripples, black-edged with shadow in the waning light: great rings were widening outwards from a point far out in the lake. There was a bubbling noise, and then silence. The dusk deepened, and the last gleams of the sunset were veiled in cloud.

"So, where is this gate?" Théodred asked. "It may be dark inside, but somehow I would prefer it over standing on the shore of this lake after dusk."
"The Dwarven door is always hidden," Dáin explained.
"So can we find it?" Halbarad asked. "I thought you, Lady, said you have passed through before."
"I did," said Galadriel, lifting her white arms and touching the stony wall. "And I know the door does not open by itself."

Galadriel whispered something softly and, to everyone's surprise, where there was just plain wall a few moments ago, a great doorway opened.

"This is our way," Galadriel said, turning back on the others.
Bombadil gazed into the darkness inside. "This is not a good place," he said. "These are no longer Dwarven homes, but cold and dark caves and halls."
Dáin was standing still, clutching his fists, pale in his face. "It has been too long," he muttered to himself. "Balin..."
Radagast shook his head. "Come on! Wake up! This is no time to stay!" He took few steps to the edge of the pool and raising high his staff, he hit the surface of the water with a flash.
Instantly after the staff hit the surface, there was a swish and a bubble from further in the pool. Great rippling rings formed on the surface somewhere in the middle of the lake, and they moved slowly towards the foot of the cliff.
"Why did you do that, Radagast?" said Éomer. "I hate this place, and I am afraid. I don't know of what: not of the traitors among us, not of the dark behind the doors, but of something else. I am afraid of the pool. Don't disturb it!"
"We have been standing and talking here for too long," said Gildor. "Let us go in."
"This is an evil door, and my death lies beyond it. I will dare to pass it nonetheless," said Halbarad. He strode forward, but at that moment several things happened. Éomer felt something seize him by the ankle, and he fell with a cry. The others swung round and saw the waters of the lake seething, as if a host of snakes were swimming up from the southern end.
Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled; it was pale-green and luminous and wet. Its fingered end had hold of Éomer's foot and was dragging him into the water.
"Into the gateway! Up the stairs! Quick!" shouted Radagast leaping back.
Rousing them from the horror that seemed to have rooted all to the ground where they stood, he drove them forward. But then Éomer drew his sword and with one slash he cut the hideous tentacle away. He fell on his face, and twenty other arms came rippling out. The dark water boiled, and there was a hideous stench.
"We cannot help him!" shouted Radagast. "Up the stairs!"
Several tentacles grabbed Éomer's legs and body. He almost could not move. But he was still clutching his sword. He lifted his head, and his eyes met Radagast's. And with shock and horror, the Wizard realised the young Rohir's eyes were shining with anger and hatred.
"Cannot help me?" Éomer shouted with surprising strength. "I see – you are leaving me to die here! This was all your doing – traitor!!!"
Radagast felt as if time had slowed for him. He had enough time to watch Éomer's arm rising, he saw him stretching his hand and then, throwing his sword against him. He had enough time to see the sword of Mark flying through the air towards him and hitting him, while the slimy green tentacles slowly dragged Éomer into the water and the lake closed above him.

Radagast collapsed on the steps. But to the dismay of the remaining Companions, about his body a grey mist gathered, and rising slowly to a great height like smoke from a fire, as a pale shrouded figure it loomed over the pool. For a moment it wavered, looking to the West; but out of the West came a cold wind, and it bent away, and with a sigh dissolved into nothing.

Galadriel was the first to break the silence. "Come!" she cried, although even in her voice the horror was heard. "This is not over yet! Get away from the door!"

They were just in time. Uglúk and Tom were only a few steps up, and Halbarad had just begun to climb, when the groping tentacles writhed across the narrow shore and fingered the cliff-wall and the doors. One came wriggling over the threshold, glistening in the starlight. Galadriel turned and paused. If she was considering what would close the gate again from within, there was no need. Many coiling arms seized the doors on either side, and with horrible strength, swung them round. With a shattering echo they slammed, and all light was lost. A noise of rending and crashing came dully through the ponderous stone. They were now trapped inside Moria, and the only way out was on the other side.

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The Fellowship has entered the Mines of Moria.
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The Fellowship:

Groin Redbeard - Dáin II. Ironfoot
Gwathagor - Halbarad
McCaber - Elrohir
Meneltarmacil - Uglúk
Nogrod - Tom Bombadil
Rune son of Bjarne - Galadriel
Sally - Théodred
Thinlómien - Gildor Inglorion

Gone:

Gil-Galad - Gandalf (left the Fellowship in Eregion) - innocent
Nerwen - Elladan (lost in the Pass of Caradhras) - innocent
Aganzir - Lobelia Sackville-Baggins (departed the Company by the dry streambed of Sirannon) - First Ringbearer & Protector
A Little Green – Éomer (dragged into the pool by the Watcher in the Water) - Avenger
THE Ka – Radagast (killed by Éomer's sword Gúthwinë by the Gates of Moria) - traitor
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The third part of the journey begins. Traitors stop talking. Everyone start posting. And if the former events were too little for you, you can decide who shall be the next Ringbearer.