7: Thou shalt pass
The hall was dark and Buffy was not having it. She lit her torch with the material in her pack. She could fight what she couldn't see. She wasn't sure how the others would fair.
Legolas broke off an arrow in one of the unfortunate dwarves. She didn't look at Gimli right now. Sorrow could occur later when they were alive. The blade was telling, "Goblins."
Gandalf looked to Buffy, "Have at it Dagnir."
Buffy smiled, radiant and the chance to unleash some of her frustrations. "Do not let any of the others come in front of Methos and me."
Boromir and Aragorn had their swords raised and Legolas had his bow ready to fire. Boromir could hear the goblins advance towards them. The elven couple looked serene for lack of a better word. The bang of the drums ever louder didn't ruffle them. They were calmly chatting as if they were having a romantic walk.
Methos had unsheathed his two swords, "Now the party is starting."
Buffy smirked, "I'll save you some."
And then the dance started. The two elves were fluid and nimble. You couldn't see their swords for how quick they moved. Goblins continued to charge at them and they continued to die. It wasn't a battle in Boromir's opinion. A battle implied that both sides had an equal chance of winning. It was crazy considering the sheer number of Goblins but the Goblins were losing.
Buffy got an idea that should make them retreat like cowards. "Legolas, flame on."
Yes, she had just said that. It was not like anyone on Middle Earth had ever seen the fantastic four. Sure enough, her friend knew what she was talking about. She held up the one sword and soon enough it was ablaze. It made killing orcs even easier to kill and see.
Methos adored Buffy's sense of style. "Greenleaf."
He got the same treatment for his second sword. This was so much easier. He shouted in Sumerian. "Whirl."
Buffy didn't blink or question it. She just shoved both swords out in front of her and twirled creating a deadly circle of death. It was quite the sight.
Soon the retreat was signalled. Buffy shrugged as the forces retreated. She dipped the sword into the water to douse it. "Well, that was fun."
Legolas chuckled and Aragorn shook his head. Only Buffy could call a minor battle fun. It was Legolas who spoke,
"You are going to give your naneth grey hair."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "She has kept Lothlorien free of orcs. I think she won't blink. I've seen her fight, she is just as vicious as me."
You could see the whole group comprehended what that looked like. Buffy had to laugh, at this rate, they would be able to recuperate in Lothlorien for a few days. She watched as Aragorn took a deep breath. He was approaching the quest in the right way, take each little victory they could.
Aragorn looked at Gandalf and asked, "Which way?"
Gandalf sighed, "We shall have to make our way through the mines ... and hope for the best."
Great. So one was walking into Mordor hoping for the best. That was a fantastic plan. She shared a look with Methos but was wise enough not to give a voice to her opinion. If she started bitching, then she wasn't going to stop.
They trudged through the dark creepy tunnels with only the light of the torches to guide them. Gandalf took the lead. Just like the last time, the elves spread themselves through the group. Time seemed to move with glacial speed or at least that is what it felt like. The group was weakening, they needed food for energy. "Estel, they need food. So do you."
She got a look as if to say I am old enough to decide. Buffy in return sent back an unmoved stare. She was right and he knew it. She had out of kindness said it in Sindarin.
"Let us break for dinner," Aragorn said with some grace.
The Hobbits faces brightened at just the idea of food. They were smart enough not to shout or cheer, not wanting to give their position away. Buffy watched as they brought out food from the packs.
Pippin was curious, "What is that leaf-bread my lady?"
Buffy grinned, "Elves on long journeys eat Lembas. It is not too tasty but sees to our needs for the day. We can carry less and travel faster as a result."
The Hobbit seemed sad, "You mean there is no taste?"
Methos shook his head, "No master hobbit. There is none."
"Well, that is a travesty!" Pippin appeared outraged on their behalf.
Legolas was warming up to the Hobbits too, "You can always try to improve the recipe master Took."
Gimli snorted, "Shouldn't be too hard. When this is all over I will invite you to my hall for a feast that will spoil all your taste buds rotten."
Buffy loved the jovial tone of the conversation despite their surroundings. She hoped they could keep hold of these moments. The quest was going to get a hell of a lot harder the closer they got to Mordor. She hated the stupid eyeball. She couldn't wait to throw a wrench in his plans by throwing his precious jewellery in the fire.
Gandalf was still on edge, so she skirted around the group eating to talk to the old wizard. He was a good man and a friend of Lothlorien. If she could help him, she would. "What is wrong?"
"There is evil here that is not done with Moria."
Buffy nodded because she could feel it too. "Yes, but we will face it together."
"The fellowship must survive," Gandalf said with conviction.
Buffy could see where he was going with this conversation. "And it shall. You will be needed for it."
They said nothing else but the moment held. There was no way that she would let him do anything stupid.
The levity of dinner was long forgotten as they kept moving through the dark mines. The goblins had retreated but they had not left Moria. The drums still banged. The sound still carried and they were left under no illusion that they were not alone.
"Do they have to bang so loud?"
Methos snorted, "Sure they do Master Meriadoc. How else will they talk to us?"
The Hobbit couldn't believe how calm the elf was. It was not like it was a characteristic of all elves. Prince Legolas was looking tense. It was just Adam and Lady Eliza, they still looked like this was a work through an idyllic shire. Then again, he'd watched them decimate an entire goblin horde. He would imagine there wasn't too much they would fear.
A loud rumble and a flash of flame so that was something new. This was no Goblin unless that had got a hell of a lot bigger. The ground shook with the force. The Hobbits struggled to stay on their feet, even the men were struggling to stay graceful. Whatever was coming at them was big.
"To the drawbridge!" Gandalf shouted.
Buffy knew this would be a race. They had to get the group across the rickety old bridge. It didn't look like it could hold their weight but they were not going to have much a choice. Thank the Valar that the Hobbits were not the full weight of a man. They would almost be struggling if they were that heavy.
Buffy watched the wizard drop to the back of the pack. He was going to play a suicide run. She could tell. She was never a fan of them unless they were the last resort. The group needed Gandalf more than they needed the Balrog dead.
Gandalf helped the members onto the bridge. Sure enough. He stops. Buffy could see the resigned look on his face. Aragorn saw it too,
"What are you doing old friend?"
Gandalf was weary, "You need to protect the fellowship."
Aragorn was not amused, "You are needed for that."
Buffy agreed, so she did the right thing. "Hey, old man."
He turned around and got a punch to the face. The wizard was a great magician but physically he never saw it coming. She caught the crumpled figure and handed him to Aragorn. "Go quickly."
"We cannot afford to lose you either ..."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Please I already know living is harder than dying. I have no intention of dying."
Aragorn had to trust that Adam and Eliza knew what they were doing. He did. It was just they were skilled fighters and then there was Balrog.
The fellowship waited on the other side as they watched the scene unfold. The Balrog came ever closer. It was a terrifying creature. It was far scarier than even the ring wraith. It walked in flames. All that stood between them and it was the two elves. They still didn't look ruffled.
They were just waiting!
For what, they were not sure. They saw it descend. Eliza wasn't done, "Hey fugly, come on. I want to sleep in my own bed!"
It was a good notion. A thought that would warm even the hardest soul. Adam snorted, "And I have to see the In-Laws."
Buffy waited for it. They had one shot at this. She wouldn't fail, she hated dying by fire. The drawstring bridge would be perfect. The Balrog had some intelligence. It was reluctant to come onto the bridge. They backed up slowly. They were now three-quarters of the way across The bridge.
She could bait an enemy it was like one of her superpowers. "Hey, you call that a flame. I couldn't cook meat on it."
The roar suggested it knew exactly what Buffy had said. She didn't care. She had a throwing knife that she was willing to lose. She could see Methos do the same with his sword. Good, they both recognised their roles. This would just be like that time in Egypt.
The Balrog stomped forward, right into their trap.
Perfect.
They both let loose their knives. The bridge collapsed with the Balrog plummeting into its depth. The sword lodged in its eye meaning it couldn't see enough to escape.
Trap complete, they were now racing to get off what remained of the bridge. Buffy waited just long enough to see Methos off the bridge before jumping. She was glad for the gymnastic lessons she'd managed to fit in.
He was a good husband, as he softened her landing. They landed in a heap surrounded by the others in the Fellowship. They looked at them as if they were the mad ones. Buffy thought that it a great injustice. She had just killed a Balrog, what more did they want?
They were still laughing, "Legolas target the stalactites."
It was a sound reasoning. He was good enough with a bow to knock out all that was just needed. If the Balrog had survived the fall, it would struggle to deal with the rocks above it.
Aragorn pulled her to her feet, "I am glad you are okay. I would hate to have to tell your Naneth that you were killed picking a fight with a Balrog."
Buffy smirked, "Well, you should find respite in Lothlorien but Adam and I will need to ride ahead."
Aragorn nodded understanding that Buffy would. have different duties in Lothlorien. "Of course, you just don't want to be around Gandalf when he awakens."
Buffy pouted but she could get her own back. "For that, you will have to secure your own passage into Lothlorien."
Adam smirked as he revelled holding his wife's hand once again. "Bye, for now, good friends."
Aragorn called to the retreating figures, "Eliza, I'm sorry."
Damn it. He should think before he teased Eliza she was always for more creative in how she got her own back.
Frodo didn't understand, "Why is that a punishment?"
Aragorn sighed, "You will soon find out."
He hoped they could wake Gandalf before they reached the borders. He would make their passage easier if he wasn't too sore about being knocked out.
