Cold Metal

Chapter 1

"We must leave now, we cannot linger" Legolas said, Aragorn nodded in response. Pippin began to fiddle with and arrow that protruded from the dwarf skeleton that rested upon the well. He twisted it until the skeleton fell, crashing down the well noisily.

"Fool of a Took, throw your self in next time" said Gandalf snatching his hat and staff from Pippin's arms.

Legolas' heart leaped in his chest, not because of the sudden noise but because he new that they were going to have visitors soon. For along while there was silence, Legolas' heart began to slow as he thought that maybe they had got away with it. But then there was a BANG BANG of drums. Legolas' heart began to rase, his ears ringing with the sound of the drums. Squeals sounded.

"Orcs" said Legolas, his voice nervous and shaky. Aragorn looked at Legolas with concern but Legolas shook his head. Boromir ran to the gate to inspect their foes. Out of nowhere two arrows hit the wood of the gate, missing Boromir's head by centimetres.

"They have a cave troll," said Boromir. Aragorn and Legolas began to help Boromir barricade the door. The Hobbits stood close to Gandalf but none of them were happy with Pippin, The Took had doomed them all.

Their foe began to bang on the door, Legolas shot an Orc through a gap in the wood, it's squeals made Legolas flinch as he notched in another arrow at lightning speed. Pieces of wood flew all over the room as they destroyed what was left of the old door, one piece of wood cut Legolas' face. Legolas winced at the pain for a second and then readied himself for the fight, warm blood slipping down his face. Aragorn caught of Legolas but knew that he was not seriously injured, yet. Aragorn estimated the number around two hundred, against nine.

Aragorn began to cut through the Orcs. Not all the Orcs were very good fighters so it was quite easy to kill them. The good fighters were harder, Aragorn blocked theirs blows and slashed at them. Legolas killed the harder ones with great ease; they were no mach for his elvish speed. A band of strong fighters charged at Legolas, determined to beat this elf. One of the Orcs was different to the rest. He still seemed quite elf like. Almost like his transformation was half finished. The elfish Orc walked up to the distracted elf. Aragorn looked up to see the Orc pulling a dagger from its sheath on his belt.

"Legolas" Aragorn shouted trying to dodge the blood thirsty Orcs, viciously throwing blows with there rusty swords. "Look Out"

Legolas looked to Aragorn, confusion on his face. It was to late the Elfish Orc was right next to him and with one liquid motion stabbed Legolas. The cold metal pierced his flesh and for a moment no pain came. Legolas gasped as the Orc pulled the dagger from his torso. Aragorn ran to Legolas and stabbed the Orc in the back and killed off all the Orcs that dared to challenge him.

************

The fight was over. Orc bodies lay strewn across the floor. The fellowship stood panting for they had killed 200 hundred Orcs and there was only nine of them.

Aragorn cradled Legolas in his arms; the elf was struggling to breath, Aragorn kept pressure on the wound tears forming in his eyes. None of the fellowship new what had happened, they all stood looking at each other, proud of their achievement. Legolas' eyes began to close; his breathing was even more laboured.

"NO LEGOLAS, YOU GOTTA STAY WITH ME" Aragorn shouted, tears began to fall down his face. The fellowship looked up in confusion. Boromir ran to Aragorn to find the ranger cradling Legolas in his arms and Legolas tunic blood soaked.

"Oh god" said Boromir under his breath as he ran to Aragorn's side "Legolas, oh god. No"

"Put pressure on his wound please" said Aragorn, removing his hand from Legolas' wound so that Boromir can take over. Aragorn slowly made his way to Gandalf.

"What happened?" said Gandalf, as he looked at the blood that stained Aragorn's hands.

"Legolas was stabbed by an Orc like no other I have ever seen. It was still half elf"

"I have heard of this. Sauron create a fleet of these elves but they were all killed off. One must still remain"

Aragorn looked to Legolas, he was laid on the floor with Boromir's cloak under his head. Boromir was keeping pressure on his wound. Squealing sounded from the deep of the dwarfish city.

"You must leave now," said Legolas in his weak voice "Leave me here, go"

"No, we shall not leave you here" said Boromir, his voice matching Legolas' volume.

Aragorn removed a bandage from his pack and walked back towards the elf. He rapped the bandage tightly around the wound, Legolas let out a low moan: he was on the edge of consciousness now.

"Legolas, stay with me. Come on, you have to hold on" Aragorn lifted Legolas into his arms, careful not case any more discomfort. The fellowship ran as fast as they could, only to get blocked by Orcs on all sides. Aragorn's heart beat faster and faster, he saw no way out of this one.

************

A deep rumble sounded from the deep. The Orcs squealed and ran back to their hiding places.

"What is this new devilry?" asked Boromir, his voice shaky with fear.

"The Balrog, demon of the ancient world" Gandalf replied.

Legolas shook in Aragorn's arms, he new of this beast.

"This foe is beyond any of you. RUN" said Gandalf.

The fellowship ran as fast as they could, Legolas was no burden as he weighed very little. The bridge of Khazadum was in sight; Gandalf began to tire of running.

"Lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near," said Gandalf as he led on a wall to catch his breath. Aragorn looked at Gandalf, his face sombre and confused. Gandalf tried to give him a reassuring look. Legolas shook in Aragorn's arms, blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth. Aragorn handed Legolas to Boromir and then helped Gandalf. Ahead of them the staircase began to fall through. Boromir looked at Legolas, the elf's eyes barley able to stay open. He new he needed to get across first. He jumped across the breach in the stairs and once he was sure he had landed safely on the other side he gently placed Legolas on the ground and readied himself to help the others. Gandalf jumped next and then Merry, Pippin and Sam followed. Gimli looked at the gap, could he jump it or not? Aragorn began to lift Gimli by Gimli stopped him.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf," he said as he jumped across landing on the other side, just. Aragorn and Frodo had yet to jump across the breach in the bridge. A great rock broke the stairs behind them causing the section they were standing on to give way.

"Lean forward" said Aragorn as he leant forward, Frodo imitated him and leant forward

The stairs moved them forward, toward the rest of the fellowship. Once they safely reached the rest of the group they ran again. Determined to beat the beast to the Bridge of Khazadum. The deep rumbles of the Balrog got loader as it got closer to them, the rumbles vibrated through the elf's body. He shivered, he was barely conscious but he could still sense what was going on around him and he new it wasn't looking good for the fellowship. The fellowship made it quickly across the bridge with Boromir upfront with Legolas and Gandalf at the back. They had beaten the Balrog this far but their win was short lived as the giant fiery beast emerged from the under the bridge. Its skin burned red hot and it welded a fiery sword in its right hand.

"You shall not pass," said the wizard as he raised his staff and sword in front of him.

"GANDALF" shouted Frodo as he tried to run after the wizard. Boromir who had handed the wounded elf back to Aragorn grabbed Frodo and held him for he new that the wizard knew what he was doing.

"I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor" The sword turned into a whip as the Balrog attempted to kill the wizard, but a bright light flashed as the whip of flame banged against the invisible shield around the wizard "Go back to the shadow, the dark fire will not avail you flame of Udun"

The wizard raised his sword in front of him perfectly straight "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" he shouted as he slammed his staff against the ground. The bridge gave way beneath the fiery monster. As it plunged into the depths the end of its whip caught on Gandalf's ankle.

"Run you fools," he said as he lost his grip and fell into the dark hole into which the Balrog had also fallen.

"GANDALF" shouted Frodo as he tried to release himself from Boromir's embrace, tears streaming down his face.

************

The fellowship had made it out of Moria, but one hadn't. Frodo walked on across the grey rocks, his face drenched in tears. He had never imagined the world without Gandalf. The wizard had always been there, and now he was gone. Forever.

Aragorn laid Legolas on the ground. The elf's tunic had been dyed red with blood. The bandage had not staunched the blood. The elf shook violently and his moans of agony began to get louder. But he had not yet shut his eyes and given up, he had kept on fighting.

"Your going to be ok, I promise you. I won't let you die" Boromir stood watching Aragorn as he tried to stop the bleeding the best he could. The elf's eyes began to close and his breathing slow. Frodo stood in the distance; he made sure he was in earshot of the rest of the fellowship in the hope that Gandalf may reappear.

"LEGOLAS, NO. STAY WITH ME" shouted Aragorn, tears escaped from his tired eyes. Frodo began to walk back to the fellowship, his mind clouded by despair and sorrow.

"Please Legolas, fight. Don't leave now" said Aragorn as he put pressure on the wound. Frodo stood and watched in disbelief. Could they lose another one of the fellowship? Legolas opened his eyes again and smiled weakly at Aragorn. Aragorn sighed in relief as he put more pressure on the wound. Legolas winced, as more pain shot through his body. He cried in agony, the sound was enough to make the hobbits shiver. His body shook violently. He new he wasn't going to survive this time.

Please Review. Next Part will be up soon.