I just read all your reviews and can I just say thank you to everyone who has reviewed, read or favourited my story! Oh, and if you like Lizzy then she's going to have a say in the next chapter. Stay tuned to find out how Cat knows Elvish, about Cat and Lizzy's past and also about Sauron.

Call Brandybuck: Ooh, you will find out about all that lot next chapter.

Erik'sAngelOfMusic17: Thank you so much! Well here is the next chapter. Enjoy!


The Mines of Moria: Part 2

Cat's POV

Once Frodo was able to run (the spear had knocked the breath out of him) we ran into a high, ornate hall of pillars with a ray of light breaking through from some high shaft. Orcs scrambled out from the floor or crawl from the ceiling and down the pillars, like spiders. They were disgusting. They surrounded us, and drew our weapons (if we had any *cough* everyone except Lizzy and I *cough*) and stood in a circle. The Orcs snarled and leered at our frightened faces. Just then, a fiery light appeared at the end of a hall followed by a thunderous rumble. The orcs fled, panicking, in all directions.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf. Gandalf did not respond for a moment. He closed his eyes, concentrating. The rumble was heard again. Gandalf opened his eyes, and they looked grim and solemn.

"A Balrog - a demon of the ancient world." The thing growled, still hidden around a corner of the vast hall, throwing fiery light on the pillars. I looked up at Legolas; he looked frightened. He clearly knew what the beast was. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" We ran between the rows of pillars and come to a small doorway in the wall. "Quickly!" Gandalf glanced behind himself, and follows us through the door. We enter a passageway and go down a flight of steps. I had no idea what was going on, but I kept up all the same. The stairs ended in a missing segment. Boromir nearly fell into fires below but I pulled him back. Boromir's torch whirled away into the vast underworld beneath; the hobbits too stop short of falling in. Gandalf joined us wearily, and leant on a wall.

"Gandalf!" Aragorn cried.

"Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!" Aragorn moved towards Gandalf, but Gandalf pushed him roughly away. "Do as I say!" I saw hurt and confusion register on Aragorn's face. "Swords are no more use here!" The Balrog roared again. We descended a flight of stairs twisting into the fiery depths, rising from the ground far below. But we encountered a gap in the stairs. Legolas leapt forward and landed on the other side. I joined him easily.

"Gandalf." Legolas beckoned, and Gandalf jumped over. Arrows whistled into the air from a far ledge, striking the stone steps at our feet, where Gandalf had stood but a moment ago. Legolas shot back.

"Merry! Pippin! Hoo-ahh!" Boromir shouted, and leapt across the gap with Merry and Pippin safely with him.

"Jump Lizzy!" I yelled, and so Lizzy jumped, and I caught her.

"Sam." Aragorn said, and pitched Sam to the other side. Aragorn reached out to pick up Gimli but he held up his hand.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf." He stated and leapt forward but nearly fell back into the chasm. Legolas grabbed his beard and pulled him up. I giggled, despite the moment. "Not the beard!" Some of the stone steps crumbled and fell into the abyss. Aragorn pushed Frodo back up the steps and clambered after him. Frodo climbed to his feet and looked at the widened gap that separated him from the rest of the Fellowship.

"Steady. Hold on!" Aragorn yelled, laying a hand on Frodo's shoulder. I heard the Balrog approaching from the other hall, it's fiery light getting closer. A huge rock fell from the ceiling and smashed through the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap and weakening the stair's foundation. The stairs began to wobble. "Hang on! Lean forward!"

"Come on!" I shouted. Aragorn and Frodo shifted their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming them onto the steps where we were waiting. We pulled them to safety. Turning, we turned to run down the stairs as the stone structures collapsed behind us, crumbling and falling into the abyss. Lizzy looked at me and I waggled my eyebrows at her.

"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf told us. We ran, but Gandalf didn't follow. He turned, looking into the wall of fire. A great form of black shadow leapt through the flames, its eyes of white fire, great ash-black horns curling around a bull-like head. It opened its maw, rippling heat pouring out with a rumble. Gandalf turned, running after us. I saw a narrow bridge of stone appear, and we ran across it. Gandalf turned to face the Balrog. "You cannot pass!"

"Gandalf!" Frodo shouted. Great shadows like wings of ash whirled around the demon, which spread its arms and burst into cracking, bursting, thundering flame. Gandalf stood beneath it, staff and sword raised. I clutched Legolas' arm in fear. But Lizzy, well, being Lizzy, wasn't scared.

"Hey!" She yelled, waving at the Balrog. I turned to her angrily. "What's your name? I think I'll call you... Bob. Hey Bob, want to come to dinner?" Gandalf, thankfully, ignored her.

"I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor..." Gandalf began to lift his staff. A blazing light radiated from it, illuminating the entire bridge, encircling the wizard in a globe of endless light. "The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!" The Balrog heaved its arm upward, a sword of fire formed in its hand. It struck down on Gandalf, who parried the blow with his blade, shattering the Balrog's sword. Glowing embers ran off the circle of light around the wizard. The enraged monster bellowed at the wizard. Aragorn ran forward. "Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf clenched his teeth. A thread of flames issued forth from the Balrog's maw, and it stepped forward onto the bridge. The beast brandished a flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly. Gandalf summoned the last of his energy, and raised his sword and staff together into the air. "YOU... SHALL NOT... PASS!" Gandalf drove his staff into the bridge. The bridge collapsed from under it as the Balrog moved towards Gandalf, and broke before the wizard's staff. I watched the demon plunge backwards into the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. I remembered this bit from the film, but I was unable to say anything. Gandalf, exhausted, leant of his staff and watched the Balrog fall; and turned away to follow us. At the last second, the flaming whip lashed up from the depths of the abyss and wind around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge.

"Bob, that wasn't very nice!" Lizzy yelled down to the Balrog. Gandalf clung onto the bridge but strains to keep his grip. Frodo rushed forward but Boromir restrained him.

"No, no!" Boromir yelled.

"Gandaaaaalf!" Frodo shouted. The old wizard grasped vainly at the stone, looking into Frodo's eyes. He stopped struggling.

"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf let go of the stone and fell into the chasm, spreading his arms, the light of the Balrog glimmering far below. I was stunned; I couldn't move.

"Nooooooooooooooooo!" Frodo was desperate. Boromir grabbed hold of Frodo and starts to leave up a flight of stairs.

"Aragorn!"

"Nooooooooooooo!" Aragorn was also stunned. Legolas pulled my arm gently, but I still couldn't move. I didn't know Gandalf that well, but he was a fatherly figure to everyone, not just me.

"Cat, come on." Legolas pulled my arm again. I didn't resist. I didn't have it in me. I allowed him to pull me along. Orc arrows started whistling once again, shooting at us. We ran out of Moria, everyone distraught. I sat, in shock. Sam sat on the ground, bowed his head onto his hands, and began to weep. Merry consoled Pippin, who was lying crying. Boromir tried to restrain Gimli as the dwarf vented out his rage and sorrow. I looked up at Legolas, who wore a look of shock and disbelief. He stood next to me. I stood and put an arm around him, attempting to comfort him. He looked down at me. His eyes seemed puzzled and unsure.

"Legolas, get them up." Aragorn commanded.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir said, pleading.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. On your feet Sam." He lifted Sam up. "Frodo? Frodo!" Legolas gently took my arm down, and helped get them up. Frodo, grieving, stood alone upon the stark hillside. Weeping silently, he turned towards us, a single tear running down his chin. Lizzy went over and hugged him.

"It's going to be ok." I told myself over and over again. We started walking to Lothlorien.


Lizzy's POV

We stopped briefly for it was quite a way to Lothlorien. Aragorn asked me to make a fire, but you know, I wasn't really paying attention when Cat and I went to Girl Scouts. But I did know you had to have dry wood to make a fire. I couldn't see any dry wood, but I did spot Legolas' bow. So when Legolas wasn't looking, I nicked his bow and snapped it into little pieces. I made a lovely little fire, and everyone congratulated me. Even Legolas.

But when we got up to go, Legolas couldn't find his bow.

"Does anyone know where my bow is?" No one could answer. Legolas turned slowly to look at me. "Do you know where it is?" I grinned wryly and started to move away. Legolas' eye strayed to the now put-out fire, and he saw the markings on the wood. "You burnt my bow!?" He yelled at me. I ran away like any sensible person. You do not want an angry Elf on your trail.

Well, finally we got to Lothlorien. Nice place, but too many trees for my liking. Yes, I realise it was in a forest, but... yeah. Oh well. I could see Cat and Legolas admiring the trees, but I couldn't be bothered. Really.

"Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell…" I heard Cat snort. "...and are never seen again."

"Mr. Frodo?" I heard Sam asked softly.

"Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" This time I snorted. But then arrows appeared around us. "Oh…" Legolas had his own bow out, pointing it at the other elves, for surely that was the only things they could be. A tall, golden-haired Elf appeared. He wasn't bad looking either.

"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark."


Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR, Lothlorien, the Mines of Moria, Legolas (sadly) or Lizzy.

Be grateful people, this took me ages! Even though it's not very long. And I did it one day after the previous chapter! The next one will take longer, since everything, and I mean everything, will be explained. So please review, no flames. Merry Christmas (again)!