The balrog took no notice and with another step onto the bridge, fell.

Gandalf turned to us and started to follow, but not fast enough. Cracking its whip, the balrog pulled Gandalf down with him. I knew what was happening. And it suddenly dawned on me that I would not see him for a very long time. "Fly you fools!" were his last words before he slipped off the edge and into the black abyss.

Frodo cried out in dismay: "NO!"

Boromir grabbed him before he could follow Gandalf. "Aragorn!" He picked Frodo up and ran back up the steps. He looked like someone kidnapping someone.

I stood there, frozen. I thought I had been prepared for this, but I had been wrong. I didn't eve notice the pain in my leg anymore. Aragorn ran past me. "Elevain, we must go!" Arrows were raining down on us. Legolas had taken my hand and was pulling at me. I looked up at him and fought back the tears that pricked my eyes. This was even more painful than the arrow had been. I tried to run but fell, and immediately started to cuss at myself in my head. Legolas picked me up again and ran us out of the mines.

The sun blinded me and gave me a reason to let the tears loose. Legolas set me down carefully, but I still held on to him. I just didn't want to let him go. Sam, Merry and Pippin fell to the ground crying, Boromir held Gimli as he wailed and Frodo started walking off; Aragorn showed nothing as he cleaned his sword. I looked up at Legolas who was still holding my hand. His blue eyes were full of puzzlement as he looked down at me. Again my eyes filled with tears. Not being able to stand it any longer, I hid my face, trying to contain my loss. I shouldn't be crying, I'm supposed to be the strong one. It never occurred to me why, but he hugged me back as I cried. Just like when I had woken up after dreaming he was dead, but with tears. I felt a bit better. I saw Boromir look at us with…envy was it?

"Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn called.

Legolas reluctantly let me go and began to walk over to Merry and Pippin

Boromir contradicted him: "Give them a moment for pity's sake!"

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. On your feet, Sam. Frodo? Frodo!"

I looked at Frodo as he turned to face us. His face tore at my heart. He had suffered this loss more than any of us. When everyone got up, Aragorn started to run, and I was once again carried.

We ran over more fields and streams, Aragorn always leading. Legolas and Boromir took turns carrying me and I usually felt better with Legolas. But by the time we reached the river, I had had enough.

"All right. This is ridiculous. Put me down. Someone needs to get this arrow out of me before I go crazy." Even more than I already am anyway.

Everyone stopped to look at me, while Legolas set me down.

"I'm an elf so I should heal quickly."

Their faces gave me doubt.

"Shouldn't I?"

Aragorn looked like he would regret this, Pippin looked down right terrified, and Legolas looked flat out guilty. "Elevain, what do you know about goblins?"

"I know some but not much. Why?"

"Goblin weapons are poisoned, and all I can do is slow the poison."

"So do it! I'm dying more every second-"

"You won't die Elevain. You'll just become more like them."

"What?" my eyes filled with fear. "Take it out now! Why didn't you earlier? Take it out!" I started crying and Legolas hugged me.

Aragorn started barking orders. "Sam! Fill two pots with water! Gimli! Start a fire and boil one of the pots!" once that was all done, Aragorn tossed some athelas leaves into the boiling water.

Legolas helped me sit down and just held me, which was all I wanted. I'm pretty sure Boromir was giving us jealous glares the whole time.

"Elevain, this may hurt a little. Sam, pour the cold water on Elevain's knee to numb the pain. Merry! Pippin! Hold her legs down. Legolas hold her so she won't move. Elevain, hold very still." He waited for me to nod before he poured half of the athelas water on the arrow.

I bit back a squeal of pain and clenched my eyes shut as Legolas held me tighter. I was just glad he was the one holding me. I felt a pull and more pain as Aragorn pulled the arrow from my leg. A small cry escaped my lips when the rest of the water was put onto the wound. He tore a long strip off the bottom of my skirt, rinsed it in the river, and wrapped my leg in it.

"It's over now. You can get up."

Legolas helped me up and I was fine. That is until Aragorn tossed the arrow into the fire. I felt light headed and dizzy. Then I was gone.