The Balrog of Moria, though a spirit of fire. was not a bright spark. These are his words:

The Master said 'Save yourselves, hide, and wait for me. I shall call to you when I return.' I hid myself alone deep below the mountains. I slept. The Master has not come back. When he does I shall return to him. I am his loyal servant.

His servant Sauron summoned me. I said 'No!' for Melkor the Great is my only master.

I slept again. The creatures of Äule, the dwarves, woke me. They hammered and dug. Äule is an enemy, they are enemies. I fed on their fear as I killed them.

Sauron sent his creature to me and I listened. He said 'Help the Dark Lord, mighty spirit, and He shall reward you. What reward would you ask?'

I told him, 'I seek only the return of Melkor, the Great Master.'

He said 'Even that we may accomplish, once He rules this land of Middle Earth.'

I told him: "You lie. Sauron cares only for Sauron.' He talked more and we made a pact. The caverns and halls are my domain and the trolls mine to command. The petty servants of Sauron, the orcs, I leave alone.

They came in their un-counted hundreds. How they feared me! I let them live, growing strong upon their fear. Trolls are stupid, they did not fear me as they should.

Dwarves came again and the orcs and trolls killed them. A power entered and walked the halls. He was an enemy, and I could not let him pass. He laid a charm to close a door between us, and felt the strength of my counter-spell!

Fire was set in the depths to trap him and his followers. I showed my glory to them and they fled before me. They fled across the narrow bridge and I was close behind them. I felt their fear and was glad. My enemy faced me on the bridge and defied me. We clashed and my sword broke. Still I came on, and he struck the bridge a blow and it broke beneath me. I fell into the chasm. But victory was not his, for I caught him with my whip. We fell together 'til we hit the dark waters.

My fires were put out and my whip of fire lost. We wrestled, but I was weakened and could not throw him. I fled and he chased me. He held a terrible weapon: a sword forged in Gondolin, which we sacked long ago. I was fearful and strove to escape him. I took the old stair which runs from the lowest levels to the great peaks. My enemy followed me. I reached the very top and saw over the land for the first time since I hid. My fires re-lit and the enemy and I fought. I struck at him with fire and great blows, but I lost the fight. He tumbled me from our high place and my body was broken by the fall. I hoped I had killed him, but I know he still lives.

Alas, I have no body, I am left as a powerless spirit. How can I serve my master when he returns?