Thank you so much again everyone, for the reviews and support. It really helps me keep this story going! I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)
Disclaimer: I own none of LOTR - it is entirely Tolkien's genius. And any dialogue and such from the movies are credit to P. Jackson and Co.
It charged through the stone doorway, breaking the rock with ease, and roared at them all. It had about it's throat a collar of strong iron, and a large chain hung from it, in the hands of small orcs. The creature held a large blunt weapon and swung wildly, roaring furiously all the while. Legolas fired an arrow into it's chest, but the creature merely clutched at the wound and yelled again, before swinging at Sam, who stood before it. Alandria threw herself aside to avoid the sword of an orc, and brought her own weapon across it's arm, then into the stomach. She flicked her knife with deadly ease at one of the monsters that stood but a few feet away, and then blocked an opposing blow, using her fist against the orc's face to deter it. The creature stumbled back slightly, giving her the time to wrench her long knife from the corpse and thrust it into the other orc. She paused for a breath, and turned at the roar of the troll. Her heart seemed to stall when she saw the thick chain of it's leash had tangled around the arm of the Steward's son, and then she cried out when the autumn-haired man was flung against the solid stone wall, before falling to the ground. Savagely now, Alandria sliced and thrust and cut away those who stood in her path, her thick leather tunic immune to any stray knicks or scrapes.
"Boromir!" She forced her way through to the fallen man, and knelt beside him just as he raised himself to his elbows, shaking his head in dizziness. There was a line of blood down the front of his Gondorian wear, but she could not tell if it was from him or an orc.
"I am alright." He reassured her, but let her help him back to his feet. "I'm fine. Go. Fight." He encouraged her once he was stable, and nudged her back towards the chaos still proceeding around them. She watched him in concern for a moment more, but he turned to strike down an orc and she was swept back towards battle again.
Alandria sliced and cut, wary of the roars that still shattered the air but unable to focus on them, when she caught a brief glimpse of a curly hobbit head, and then several dark forms of orcs surrounding it. With a yell, she slashed through an orc in her path and then into the group surrounding the hobbit. It was Pippin, and he was doing well for such a small creature, but Alandria knew he could not hold off his adversaries much longer. She swung her sword through the neck of one orc, and then thrust her knife up into the stomach of another, before spinning and slicing yet another from the shoulder to the leg. She turned and slid the darkened blade of her sword into one's chest, before stopping for a breath, seeing no more creatures attacking the hobbit before her.
"Thank you, milday." Pippin gasped, out of breath as well, green eyes wide.
Alandria nodded briefly in return. "Find Merry and the others, Pippin, they may need your help." He nodded, and slipped easily through the dark crowd. She turned then and came face to face with the back of a large shield, an arm holding it, and then two thuds sounding off it. Boromir lowered the shield he had held in front of her and Alandria saw two arrows lying on the ground, harsh and black. She saw the two marks they had left on the shield of Gondor, and swallowed uneasily, imagining the marks they would have left in her. He had just saved her life. Alandria nodded a shaky thank-you, and he returned it quickly, before fighting off another orc that had approached. Alandria held still for a moment to slow her heart beat, before hearing a shriek from far too nearby and spinning with her knife, slicing open the throat of an approaching orc. She winced slightly at the disgusting warmth of the black blood that spattered across her, then froze in the sudden silence, seeing Aragorn and Sam on the ground, beside a fallen Frodo. The troll lay dead nearby, riddled with arrows and cuts. Alandria rushed over to the seemingly dead hobbit, then slowed when Frodo began to gasp, and sat up. She could see the mark of a stab through his shirt, and a spiked spear lie nearby. He should have been dead, if it had indeed been thrust into him. And then the shine of delicate mithril answered their unspoken questions.
"You are full of surprise, Master Baggins." Complimented Gimli, eyeing the mithril shirt with approval and respect.
More sounds came from behind them then, sounds of rushed feet and jostling armor and weapons. Shadows of still more orcs flashed eerily on the stone walls. Gandalf watched the shadows in fear for a moment, before turning back to them. "To the bridge of Khazad-Dùm!" He instructed, and they quickly followed.
The Fellowship ran as fast as their legs would carry them out of the tomb, and back into the vast stone halls. Shrieks and cries of orcs and goblins echoed around them, chasing them it seemed. Alandria brought up the rear of the group with Aragorn, staying close to the hobbits in hope they might be able to protect them. She glanced behind as they ran, and her heart beat faster as she saw the hundreds of creatures following. They came from the floors, and then shrieks were heard from above as they leaked out of the ceilings, the numbers never seeming to cease. Still they followed the light of Gandalf's staff, and the golden glow of the torch Boromir now held, until Gandalf came to a stop. The company stumbled to a halt around him, and they realized they were surrounded by the hundreds of foul creatures. They circled together, backs facing each other and weapons held outward, but they knew there was no hope. Then a grating growl bore over the shrill cries of goblins.
Alandria thought she had imagined it for a moment, until the sound came again. She did not recognize such a thunderous, dark growl, but the creatures of Moria did, and quickly disappeared with shrieks of fear. Gimli seemed pleased at the goblins' retreat, as if they had something to do with it. But the ominous growl sounded again, and chilled the blood of them all. It was a sound that sunk straight through a person, shaking every nerve they had. She then noticed a fiery glow leaking from the edges on the dark hall, and it flickered like a giant unseen flame. Legolas had his bow and arrow at the ready, although something informed Alandria that the Elf's arrows would not protect them. The hobbits were clearly frightened, shifting uneasily and their breathing irregular. She herself was nervous, reflecting the appearance of the rest of the company; sword in hand, muscles tense.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir murmured to the Wizard, his voice weak.
Gandalf closed his eyes as if in thought, remaining silent. The flaming glow that shined across the grand stone pillars spread, growing larger and closer, and Alandria fought for enough self control not to step away, or flee entirely. "A Balrog." The Grey Wizard finally answered quietly. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of us..Run!" He then yelled, and urged them further down the now empty mines.
They ran with a speed the threat of goblins had not given them, terrified of this unknown foe. Through hallways and a stone corridor, the company ran. Red-gold light lit the walls as Alandria followed and she turned the corner just in time to see Legolas grab ahold of Boromir, who stood teetering on the edge of short stairs, before they fell back towards the company. The hobbits stumbled to a quick stop, staring down into the abyss in terror, and then followed by the rest of the group. Alandria froze, gazing into the vast cavern they were now in, littered with crumbling half-stairways and sharp drop-offs. They paused, waiting for Gandalf to lead them on, but Alandria turned, hearing the Wizard yell.
"Do as I say!" He cried, and she saw him push the dark Ranger away. "Swords are no more use here!"
The rust-haired Captain of Gondor led them on down steep stone stairs, moving quickly and carefully. He paused then, approaching a large gap in their path. Legolas easily leaped across, landing smoothly on his light feet, and then waited as Gandalf hesitated to follow. The weathered old man glanced behind them, until Legolas called his name and gestured encouragement. The Wizard jumped across, and was stabled by the Elf. Alandria readied herself to follow, but was stopped in surprise when strong hands grabbed ahold of her. She turned to look at who grasped her, but only caught a glimpse of red cloth and chain mail before she was powerfully thrust across the stair's void. Her landing was hard, and she stumbled into the light, strong hold of the Elf. She turned then, and spotted the Gondorian nearest to the edge. He was surely the one to have tossed her, and was about to get ahold of Merry and Pippin to leap when an arrow whistled at his feet. More wooden darts followed, and Aragorn and Legolas quickly drew their own bows, returning the shots. As they worked to fell goblin archers, Boromir grasped the two small hobbits in his care and leapt, landing heavily and caught by Alandria and Gandalf. Aragorn then tossed Sam, and Alandria caught him easily. Gimli made a sign to Aragorn not to be tossed, and jumped himself across the gap. His feet hit the edge of the stairs and in desperation, Legolas grabbed ahold of the Dwarf's beard to stable him.
"Not the beard!" Cried the hairy little man, but Legolas paid no other heed than to pull the Dwarf further onto the stairs. Then with a sharp crack, followed by a rumbling crumble, pieces of the stairway Aragorn and Frodo now stood on broke away. They scrambled to escape the chunks of stone disappearing beneath their feet, and managed to stand shakily when another terrifying sound echoed throughout the cavern. It was no longer an ominous growl but a hoarse roar, and it was nearer, the fiery light appearing in doorways. The sound and creature caused more pieces of the grand Dwarf work to fall and crumble, until a large weight of stone crushed through Aragorn and Frodo's stairs, leaving them stranded on a small island of steps. The piece of ground began to waver, and then lean back and forth, causing it's two riders to stumble. Aragorn held tight to the Ring Bearer, and after a moment of careful balancing, they leaned forward delicately. The piece of stairs rushed forward, until it collided with the path the rest of the Fellowship waited upon. Legolas caught his Ranger friend, and Boromir held tight to the hobbit. They were quickly released, and the company turned swiftly, fleeing the deadly stairs and grinding roar of the creature that had awoken.
They fled through another immense hall, past large flames of nearly unbearable heat. Still they ran, but paused when a deep roar of mixed thunder and flame sounded just behind them. Alandria stared in horror as a monstrous creature formed from the wall of fire - tall, broad, mixed of shadows and flame. Gandalf stared back at it for a moment, until the creature, the Balrog, leaned down and roared yet again. Finally finding control over the heated horror that flooded each of their bodies, the company began to run again. Soon they were upon the narrow bridge of Khazad-Dùm, an intimidatingly thin stretch of stone that crossed an endless black void below it. There was no time to hesitate, no time to grow nervous at the deep, deep black beneath the frail-looking bridge. Onward they rushed, Aragorn leading them across, followed by Boromir, and Alandria followed him closely, refusing to look down. The Gondorian reached the far side and when she drew near, he reached out to pull her to him, to safety. The hobbits were close behind and the men helped them to stability. One by one the Fellowship crossed, until they realized one lagged behind.
Gandalf stood still on the bridge, facing the dark creature of fire. "You cannot pass!" He yelled, deep voice carrying to each of the company.
"Gandalf!" Cried Frodo, and Alandria felt weak in hearing the despair in the little man's voice and knowing what was likely to Balrog stood taller before the Wizard, and flames of gold leapt up across it's body, glowing ever brighter.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun!" In the creature's claw-like hand a great fiery blade appeared, and struck down upon the Wizard, who wielded his sword and glowing staff. The great blade shattered into sparks upon collision with the Wizard's white power, and the creature roared in fury. Alandria and the rest of the company could only watch in awed horror. "Go back to the shadow!" Gandalf ordered, but the monster took a powerful step of smoky shadow onto the bridge, towards the old Wizard, and a blazing whip emerged in it's grasp, snapping like lightening in the air. "You shall not pass!" Cried the Wizard, and with a thrust of his wooden staff upon the stone of the bridge, a wave of white light struck out. The Balrog was not moved and lunged towards his opponent, roaring in heated fury. Then with a crunch, the bridge gave way under the fiery creature's foot, and he plunged down quicker than any expected. His flaming cry screamed at them all, but still he fell to the darkness in which he so belonged. Gandalf stood for a moment at the bridge's edge, weary and worn. He watched his adversary fall, and then turned back to join those who watched so helplessly. But with unforseen swiftness, the whip of fire snapped up towards the Wizard and grasped his foot, pulling him sharply back to the bridge. The man fell forward and grasped at the edge of the bridge, fighting to hold on as the better weight of his body dangled into thick black death.
Frodo rushed forward to his dear friend, but was caught in the strong arms of Boromir before he could go far. "Gandalf!" The hobbit cried, his voice painful to bear as the Gondorian yelled at him to stay. Gandalf struggled to pull himself up for a moment more, before ceasing his movements and staring at them all.
"Fly, you fools." He breathed, before releasing the edge of the bridge and disappearing from their lives, into darkness.
"Nooo!!"Screamed the Ring Bearer, his cry piercing the horrified silence that now surrounded them. He struggled against the bonds of the man's arms, and screamed for his fallen comrade unceasingly. Alandria stood beside Aragorn and mirrored his expression, staring at the darkness with disbelieving horror and pain. An arrow whistling near her head caught her attention, and she became vaguely aware that she needed to leave, and follow the rest of the company out to the safety of daylight. She turned as if in a dream, and followed closely behind Merry and Pippin, hurrying them forward. She heard the yell of Boromir behind her as he urged the numbed Ranger to flee as well, and then she was out of the mines. The light of day offered no comfort as she had expected, however. For now the Fellowship was one less.