Chapter 4

200! 200 stairs I counted on the way up into Moria. My thighs were on fire from them! When we finally stopped to eat I nearly collapsed from leg cramps. Munching on food I tried my best to stretch and rub my muscles to keep a cramp from happening. But soon we were continuing until we stopped at a hallway with three different doors.

'I have no memory of this place.' Gandalf surmises leading to everyone getting a break and eating a bite of food. I collapsed next to Frodo wishing the cramps to go away.

'Are you okay Samantha?' Frodo asked concerned

'I'm not sure, I have never worked out so much as I have since this journey began.' I huffed trying to relax

'Yes this has been an arduous journey.' Frodo replied before getting lost in his own thoughts

I allowed Gandalf to sit and think for a while in order to let him come to his own decision about what way to take. After everyone had finished eating and were clearing waiting for Gandalf. I walked my way to him and sat down and he gave me a pointed looked.

'Can I help you Samantha, I am busy thinking of everything I know about Moria.' Gandalf states

'I know that's why I'm here. I believe you are over analyzing your decision.' I whisper to him to make sure no one overheard especially Legolas

'You think so.' states Gandalf with an eye brow raised

'Yeah, clear your head and look at these doors; what does your gut say based solely on examining each entrance. I bet you figure it out.' I whisper

He ponders what I said and glances and each entrance, studying them to see what if there are any differences. He turns back to us and exclaims!

'I know what way it is!'

'Ah good.' Merry states relieved

'It's this way, the air doesn't smell as foul, whenever in doubt, follow your nose.' Gandalf states before picking up his staff and hat next to me and sending me a wink.

We all wake up from our new progress and I go back to pick up my bag and we start moving down one of the entrances. It was still hard to see about the place even with Gandalf's staff lit. Like most of the time we have been traveling we kept quiet not wanting to disturb anything and I lost track of what day it was or how many days had passed since getting tramped.

'Welcome to the hall of Dwarrowdelf!' Gandalf exclaimed 'let me risk a little more light.'

The rock on the top of his staff brightened and we found ourselves in a grand hall. It was magnificent I had never seen a ceiling as high as the ones in this room. Black stone pillars polished to shine that reached the ceiling. It reminded me of ancient Greece and Rome; that old style open design policy and the integration of pillars. Off to the side was the dreaded room where sun spilled through to hit the coffin of Balin, Lord of Moria.

A shout from Gimli's mouth confirmed what I was expecting to occur. He ran towards the room much to Gandalf's yelling and soon we were all jogging to the room. Upon entering it was musky and dust was littered in the air. Dwarf and Orc bodies in battler gear was scattered about the room and Gimli was bent over the tomb with grief.

'It is as I had feared.' Gandalf replies solemnly 'here lies Balin son of Hudin Lord of Moria.'

I bent my head down knowing how distraught it can be to lose a loved one, but to lose one and not even know must hurt even worse. I shuffled about the room trying to figure out a strategy of where to try to keep myself from getting killed. I hear Gandalf behind me hand his things to Pippin as he picked up the book detailing the doom of the last stand of the Dwarves of Moria.

'They have taken…' Gandalf began and I knew here was just another moment where interfering was unfortunately not an option as I tuned Gandalf out until the end. 'we cannot get out'

Plunk! I turn around to see Pippin looking like deer in the headlights as the body sitting at a well spills over into the hole and makes a whole lot of noise in what was a very quiet place. I grimaced.

'Fool of a Took!' Gandalf angrily states grabbing his stuff from Pippin's arms 'throw yourself in next time, and then you will be no further nuisance. Now be quiet.'

I watch and wait as everyone tenses to see what and if anything reacts to the noise that just occurred. There was a brief relief and then a faraway a drum sounded and everyone looked nervous about the repercussions of Pippin's actions. Soon the drums got closer and then mingled with it were orc cries as they were heading our way. Boromir went out to look at what is happening outside the door in the great hall.

'They have a cave troll.' Boromir exclaims as Aragorn and him get to work barring the door.

Legolas checks the back door, 'It seems quiet on this side.'

'Don't bar that door! We are in the same mess Balin made his last stands, that door might be a way for us to escape. We need to make to the Bridge of Khazad-dum.' Gandalf exclaims throwing his cloak off and getting his sword read

'Stay close to Gandalf.' Aragorn tells the Hobbits, 'you too Samantha.' He also unsheathes his sword

I make my stand up on the highest point in the room and set up my first arrow. From here I am stalled from getting into battle and the column next to me will help protect me. My hope is I can get a few arrows out before I have to try and use the sword I was given. Glancing down I see nervous Hobbits huddled behind Gandalf. Frodo pulls Sting out and it's tinted blue because Orcs were nearby. They glance up at me worry and uncertainty in their eyes. I nod my head in what I hope is a brave face.

I was in every sense scared out of my mind about if I was really capable of defending myself. But I had to try and keep it together, I take a deep breath and try to keep my shaking hands from making my target go off course. The orcs are screaming war cries and its over powered by the cave troll. Legolas fired his arrow through the holes that were opening up in the door and as soon as the door busted open I let my first arrow fly. It wounded an orc and him falling to the ground.

I was not able to use my bow as much as I hoped. I couldn't say how many I unleashed but it felt like seconds. I was using the column still to fight off an attack from an orc and the column helped keep fatal strikes from killing me. I could hear the Hobbits yelling trying to also protect themselves. I slashed and I hacked my way not paying attention to stop when they would swipe and hit me.

'Aragorn, Frodo!' I yell when I see the cave troll going for Frodo

When the battle settled down I followed everyone to check to see what had occurred involving Frodo. Surprisingly everything so far has been what I remember on how the movies and the books went. Of course it had been so long I can only remember only the main points.

'I am all right.' Frodo gasped when Aragorn touched him

'I thought you were dead!' Aragorn gasped looked like Frodo grew two heads. 'That spear would have speared a wild boar!'

Frodo lifted up his shirt to reveal mithril that Bilbo had given to him; sending gasps throughout the Fellowship in surprise. After the initial shock wore off we gathered our gear and ran towards the back entrance. It took us back into the main hall and as we ran to the path that would take us to the bridge; we were swarmed from all sides by Orcs and other creatures.

It was the most terrifying experience in my life; to be surrounded with no chance of survival and a painful death. It didn't matter that my mind was telling me I would survive because they survived, yet all I could think was I was going to die. A grumble from the depth of Moria echoed across the hall, making even the orcs terrified. A second grumble came and fire and smoke illuminated from a back wall.

'What is that?'

'A Balrog. A Demon from the ancient world.' Gandalf slowly replied with his eyes shut. When another grumble came, even the orcs began to scatter before Gandalf opened his eyes and shouted, 'run!'

We took off once again I was running next Legolas when we walked through a door and he lurched and caught Boromir before he tumbled into a hole in the ground. We all took off down the stairs and I followed. I knew that Gandalf was meant to be tested and I had no power to help defeat a Balrog. We halted at the edge of the stairs when there was a huge gap in front of us. I could only stare as I watch Legolas be the first to jump the gap.

'Samantha! Jump!' Legolas urged showing that he would catch me.

Gulping I wasn't so sure I could make it but I went up a few more stairs and took a running jump. When I was falling in the air; arms and feet were moving uncontrollably and even my heart jumped into my mouth when at the last moment I thought I wouldn't make it. Legolas reached and grabbed me pulling me to him as he moved back to keep both of us from falling forward.

He brought me to the ground and I was shaking so bad that all I could do was nod my thanks before moving father back to make room as Boromir bravely grabbed both Merry and Pippin and leaped. Insane he had to be, yet he made the jump and Legolas steady them. Aragorn picked Sam up and threw him in the air which Legolas caught. I could hear Gimli stopping Aragorn from picking him up in what sounded like 'nobody tosses a dwarf'.

He leaped and almost didn't make it if it wasn't for Legolas' Elvish reflexes which took a hold of Gimli's beard and pulled him up. Gandalf joined soon after and before Aragorn and Frodo could jump the stairs began to break. It was more nerve racking to watch them teeter on the staircase until finally they both made the leap and we were racing once again with the Balrog behind us.

I turned and watched as the Balrog stepped onto the bridge and faced off with Gandalf. It had massive body that was surrounded by smoke and flame, distorting its image. I just stood there dumbfounded at just how insane I felt watching. Knowing what would happen but to see this other worldly creature fighting Gandalf that I just balled my eyes out.

'You Shall Not Pass!' shouted Gandalf as he raised his staff and slammed it into the ground.

When the Balrog took another step the bridge broke in front of Gandalf's staff and he fell but not before he grabbed Gandalf's ankle at the last minute and uttered, 'fly you fools!' before letting go the edge and falling. I watched as Aragorn dragged Frodo screaming out the door and I helped Boromir get Merry and Pippin moving out and into the light.

Sunlight hit me and I stumbled as I held my hand up as my eyes adjusted to it. I heard Frodo run off and everyone either crying or stunned into silence. I collapsed onto a rock, exhausted, emotionally drained and just stared out into the landscape. A hand touched my shoulder.

'Samantha.'

Looking up I squinted in the sunlight to find Legolas was the one to spoke to me. I raised up my other hand and winced.

'Wha-?' I state out loud confused to why my arm was hurting

Legolas was two steps faster and bent down to looked at my arm. 'you're wounded.'

I frown and look at my arm and, there it was. I was wounded. There was a long slash up the side of my arm and I was bleeding. 'oh.' I look back at him as my mind is still trying to catch up and remember when I was hit.

'Legolas, Gimli, Samantha we must get up.' Aragorn stated wearily 'Boromir get them up we must move, by nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs.'

'Give them a moment.' Boromir stated torn at how upset Merry and Pippin were

I stood up and shushed Legolas who wanted to treat my wound. 'it must wait.'

Legolas only nodded his head but his eyes showed the he disagreed with me. I watched as Aragorn called after Frodo. Our hearts were weary but none more than Frodo who Gandalf was very dear too. We were on the run and from what I could get out of Aragorn was that we would detour into Lothlorien because we were near its borders and I was already expected to show. I nodded and started to run along with everyone else. I couldn't even say how long we were running before I started to feel light headed.

'Aragorn.' I called out 'We must stop or I will faint.'

I don't even wait for his permission as I started to see black spots in my vision and I instantly drop to the ground and laid on my back to get the blood from continuing to rush to my head. I heard a shout from Boromir when he saw my lay down and soon a shadow formed above me looking just like Boromir.

'What is wrong?' He asked glancing over me and spotting the cut on my arm. 'she is wounded Aragorn and even so the Hobbits are about follow her. We must rest.'

Aragorn came over to me and looked at the wound, concern written on his face. He began to work and cleaning the wound. 'You are lucky that the blade was not poisonous but you have bled a lot.' He looks at all our weary faces and sees that everyone beside Legolas is in need of a break.

Aragorn cleans up my wound and bandages it up and orders me to drink water while he goes and looks at Frodo who needs medical aid as well.

'Aragorn.' I call out before he completely walks away

'What is it Samantha?' He replies with slight irritation

'My bag, the front pouch, - there's kingsoil in there.' I state not even opening my eyes to see him

'That is good news indeed. I have only some left and Frodo will need what he can get.' Aragorn states to me as I hear him find the pouch and walking away

'Here lassie, drink some water.' Gimli states

I nodded and sit up and sip on water and try to get my heart beat back down. After tending to Frodo everyone eats fast and we are on the move once again. Time passes on and I began zoning out until Legolas woke me by speaking.

'There lie the woods of Lothlorien!'

I watch in fascination as Legolas has this far off look on his face and began talking about trees and the leaves. Boromir and I glance at each other and smirk at the expression on Legolas' face. Behind me Gimli is talking to the Hobbits about how to be wary of the lady of the woods. Welcome to Lothlorien Lady Samantha, from another world. I have been anxious upon your arrival. I stumbled when she spoke into my head not used to such a strange situation and received a weird look from Boromir but we both faltered when we were met with arrows as our face.