Disclaimer : The usual. I own nothing except for Gabriell and Evelyn.
Author's note: Reviews would be much appreciated.
Chapter 7: The tomb of Moria
In a second, the fellowship jumped to action. Boromir ran to the doors and an arrow whizzed past his head. Aragon jumped to help him and together they closed the door. But not before we heard a shrilling bellow.
"They have a mountain troll!" Boromir spat.
Legolas passed them weapons as they made to barricade the doors. I turned around and saw that the hobbits were ready, with their small swords drawn. Gabriell had also drawn her sword and I noticed that her hands shook. She would not show it, but she was afraid, and righteously so. This was her first real fight, one of life and death. I ran to her and hugged her briefly.
"You will survive Gab. I promise. Have faith" I said and separated myself from her. She gave me a nod and I left to join Aragon and Legolas with my bow. The doors were closed , but they would not hold for long. I notched my arrow, taking the position next to Aragon. The doors shook as the attack started. A small gap was formed soon and Legolas used it to fire an arrow that shot an orc, signaling the beginning of the battle. I made use of another hole and shot an arrow, killing, or wounding an orc that gave a shriek of pain. The doors were broken immediately after that and a few more arrows were shot by us, before we had to separate. The first orc laughed maniacally as he ran towards me and I launched myself at him, therefore surprising him . I brandished two of my knives and cut his throat open with my left arm. Black blood burst from the wound and his eyes lost their ferocious light. The second orc was more careful. I faked a cut towards his throat, and using his movement to defend himself swung my dagger straight at his heart. I sensed a presence behind me and I turned with my arm extended, cutting open a stomach of one of the orcs, who doubeled over immediately. I noticed another orc running at me and threw my knife at him, hitting him between the eyes.
The battle continued on for several moments and I earned only a few scratches before I noticed a sight that made my stomach turn. A few feet away from me stood an orc, his hand extended as he held Gab by the throat, choking her and laughing in merriment. My blood boiled and my dagger was flung at him with speed greater than ever before. It embrioned itself in his skull, joined by an arrow. I looked up, only to meet Legolas' eyes as he gave me a grim nod. I fought my way over to Gabriell, who seemed to have shaken herself from her shock and was now fighting bravely. Her neck had the orc's finger marks on it. Half the way to her, I was caught in a fight next to Gimli. The orcs had brought the cave troll in and the dwarf was trying to injure it, barely avoiding getting killed himself. I danced at the orc's feet, throwing my knives in his chest, but they seemed to be nothing more than a hindrance to him. I turned to see its club falling down on the unsuspecting dwarf and I threw myself at him, pushing him out of the way. Alas, I was not quick enough and the club hit me instead.
All I knew was pain, blinding pain in my side, and I briefly noticed flying through the air. I landed in a heap on the floor, met by another blinding pain in my upper left leg. My hair had come out of it's holder and now lay like a curtain around me. I took a few shallow breaths, and each brought excruciating pain. I dimly saw the expression of pure rage on Legolas' face and heard people calling my name. A figure stood before me and I made to retrieve my knife, any knife. But I had none, I was defenceless.
The figure bent to my level and I breathed a, very painful, sigh of relief.
"The lass lives" boomed Gimli's voice as he once again turned to meet the orcs' swords. I could now only watch as my friends fought for their lives. I noticed the troll brandishing a spear, and watched with horror as he impaled a small figure, one of the hobbits.
"No," I rasped. Suddenly, two arrows found themselves in the creatures windpipe as it staggered forward, chocking. It fell to the floor, pulling several of the orcs to their death. The rest ran, seeing as they have lost their most important advantage.
The fellowship separated , the orcs forgotten, to run to either me or the wounded hobbit. Gimli gave me one long look, and after estimating that I would live if he left my side to check on the hobbit, and assuring that Gab and Legolas were on their way to me, ran from my side.
I tried to sit up and almost screamed in pain. I couldn't even bring my torso up, let alone sit hands suddenly pulled me down again, removing my hair from my face. I noticed it was Legolas, and that another set of hands, probably Gab, tore my tunic open. She let out a gasp and covered her mouth. She than moved on to my leg, tearing the fabric and pulling something out of my leg. A glimmer caught my eye and I noticed that one of my own knives had pierced my leg. She tried to clean the wound gently, but stopped after I hissed in pain.
"He's alive, " I heard Sam exclaim. So the hobbit survived, good for him.
I felt cool fingers probe around my waist and so that Legolas was carefully examining it.
"Aragon!" he called, urgency in his voice. "she needs help!"
Gab had in the mean time composed herself and had torn a piece of cloth, tying it around my leg.
Aragon, with the rest of the fellowship, quickly made their way towards us.
The ground was hard and I moved my head to stop it from throbbing. Gab made her way to my head and put it in her lap. I was much more comfortable and exhaled, grimacing slightly. I looked up , to meet Legolas' eyes as Aragon made to inspect my wound. I found recognition in his eyes. I was in no condition to fight.
A decision had formed in my mind even before Aragon said the words that would seal my fate.
"This is beyond my ability to heal. She needs elvish healers."
"We can not spare to carry her with us" Boromir spat. "She would be but a burden."
Before I could blink Legolas had his bow notched and an arrow aimed at Boromir's heart.
"Repeat those words, and let them be the last you breath" he said, his voice low and deadly.
This could not go on like this, I thought as Gimli lowered Legolas' bow.
"We can tie her hand to her side, to ease the pain" Gab suggested and emerged in a discussion with Aragon over the course of my healing. Only I would not let them lose anymore time.
"Leave me" I rasped out and all heads turned towards me. I would not meet their eyes, none but the eyes of the only man that could help me now.
"Gandalf.. " I spoke " you.. promised.. " I could see the torment behind the wizards' eyes. He had indeed given me his word, he could not back down.
"If the lassie stays so do I" Gimli said, surprising us all.
"I will not leave her to a fate worse then death," spoke Legolas as he moved to kneel beside me.
"We do not have the time for the elf's fancy or the dwarve's misplaced sense of gratitude. The orcs will be upon us in any moment. We must leave the she-elf. " Boromir tried to reason. For once I agreed with the man of Gondor.
"What do you mean misplaced gratitude!?" Gabriell exclaimed "She saved Gimli's life! Don't give me that shit. Ev is twice the warrior you'll ever be!"
"No. She is a valuable warrior, we can not afford to lose her" finally spoke Gandalf.
"There is only the small matter of carrying her. Who will do it? Who will risk being defenceless for her?" argued Boromir.
"I will " spoke Legolas without a moment's hesitation.
"We can not afford to lose an archer" Boromir shot back. Wasting time.
"Boromir is right." said Gandalf and silence ruled in the room "We can not bare to lose an archer. "
"If she stays I will move not a single foot away from her " hissed Legolas.
"I never suggested leaving her " Gandalf said, winking "I merely stated that she will have to walk on her own. My healing abilities are not that great, but I can lessen her pain, enabling her to move on her own. But the bleeding will have to be stopped without magic. I can also offer no help for her ribs, she will have to endure."
"We can help her in that prospect" said Aragon , referring to himself and Gabriell. "We leave no one behind."
The decision has been made and Gabriell made to stand up, I lifted my head, to enable her to stand up, and lowered it softly, expecting to meet hard ground. Instead I was met with a strong, yet warm pillow. It was comfortable enough and I glanced up to notice that Legolas took her place. He looked murderous and I realized with a start how mad he was at Boromir. I reached out my hand and took his.
He looked down at me and I whispered softly:"Calm down, my friend, I am worth not the anger you hold in your heart"
He grasped my hand tightly, his angered eyes coming to rest on mine.
"You are worth more" was his response.
"Ev, this is gonna hurt, but you have to endure it" Gabriell said as she prepared a sword of sorts for Aragon.
I nodded weakly in response, mentally preparing myself and shutting my eyes.
The pain was unbearable but my face remained impassive, as I have endured worse. The only outer sign of my pain was my tight grasp on Legolas' arm. It must have been painful, but he said nothing.
The pain lessened and I felt a cloth being wrapped around the irate skin.
They then proceeded to tie my left arm to my side, which lessened the pain and enabled me to breathe somewhat normally. Gandalf had put a spell on me but the pain was still great. I was helped to my feet by Aragon and Gabriell, as they gave me worried glances. I swayed a little but soon caught a grasp on my balance.
"The orcs will be here any moment. We must move with haste." spoke Gandalf as we ran throughout the door "To the bridge of Khazad-dum!"
If I thought standing was painful, running was hell like. Every inch of my body hurt from the fall, my left leg held me back , and I could not run fast due to my hardships with breathing. But I forced my body to move nevertheless. I would not fall behind. I would not be a burden.
I noticed orcs coming out of the holes in the rock , row after row, filling the back of the room to the brim. A miniature army, all gathered to see our blood spilled. I took out my knives and threw them at the orcs closest to us, but most of them failed to do much more than force them to scatter. My aim was off and I felt frustrated with myself- my arms were in good condition, only sore, so I had no excuse for my aim to be so off. Besides, I was the only one to have suffered such great injury, even the hobbits fared better in a fight.
Legolas managed to shoot a couple of the orcs down but it was not nearly enough. We were soon surrounded by a tight circle of orcs and I was pushed back by Legolas who assumed a protective stance in front of me, angering me all the more. I was not helpless. I drew my knives from my boots and received an odd glance from Gabriell.
"How many of those do you have " she asked.
"By far too little." was my answer. I was running low on my knives, and had only four left, from both sets.
The orcs jeered and laughed at us but none made a move to attack . I heard a distant bellow as shivers ran down my spine. It sounded old, so very old, and so very mad. I noticed that I wasn't the only one to have heard as Legolas' and Aragon's postures became rigid. Even Gabriell seemed to have heard something as she looked around in fright.
And fright was exactly the thing shown on the features of orcs. They scattered quickly leaving an uneasy feeling in their wake.
Gimli was the only one to have laughed , and I could not decide if the laugh was one of nervousness or of merriment, most likely both. Another bellow was heard as a light appeared on the end of the hall we just came through.
"What is this new devilry?" asked Boromir.
"Balrog, a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" yelled Gandalf as we tore down the hall. My legs seemed to have taken to a new force, by hearing the name of the demon alone. I knew of Balrog, and I wished not to meet him. He was referred to as the demon of the fire in our tales, with horns of an ox and a face so fierce, that even the fire itself would cover in fear. Arrows and swords were said to have no effect on him and that notion alone had me running faster than I could reasonably afford to run. The spell Gandalf put on me was working, and the adrenaline seemed to put the pain in the farthest corner of my mind. My anger only rose as I received worried glaces from most of the fellowship, mainly Legolas and Gabriell. I was not so weak for Valar's sake!
We ran down numerous flights of stairs, with Boromir in the lead. He ran so hard that he could not stop himself in time to prevent falling down a gap between the two part's of a bridge. He would have fallen, were it not for Legolas. He pulled him back and jumped swiftly across. I ran past the man of Gondor and jumped, falling in Legolas' outstretched arms. He put me down and helped Boromir to land safely. Just as he did, arrows landed where he was standing and right next to the hobbits' feet.
Legolas took out his bow and shot an orc, but I refrained him from shooting another saying :"Do not worry about the orcs. I will handle them, catch the hobbits. "
The other orcs were taken down by my knives, leaving me to only one , which I kept as a last resort.
Sam was caught by Boromir and Legolas, but Gimli refused to be thrown.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf" he exclaimed indignantly and took a few steps back. He ran forward and made a long jump. He almost made it, but lost his balance and began to fall backwards. Legolas was quick though, and caught him by the beard.
"Not the beard " exclaimed Gimli in shock as he was pulled back to safety.
Gandalf jumped next and Gabriell followed soon after. The bridge gave way to our weight and crumbeled as she jumped, widening the spasm. Aragon and Frodo were left on the other side, with little chance to reach us. The way back was destroyed too as a fissure appeared, breaking them off from their retreat. The rock they were on swayed and my chest tightened. This was not good, not good at all.
"Lean forward!" Aragon exclaimed as he did the same. Frodo obeyed instantly and they brought the end of the bridge down to our side. They joined us and we continued out race. We crossed the bridge and only then did we realize that someone was left behind.
Gandalf stood tall at the middle of the bridge holding up his staff and sword. He faced the creature one could meet only in the most dreadful of nightmares, so terrifying that my knees threatened to give out on me. I sincerely admired the bravery of the wizard, but also considered it foolishness. He could not win.
"You cannot pass!" he yelled.
"Gandalf !" Frodo screamed and made to run to the wizard's side. He was fortunately caught by Boromir.
"Why are we not helping him?!" screamed Gabriell, drawing her sword.
Legolas caught her hands and gently lowered them.
"There is nothing we could do lady Gabriell. We must hope for the best" he murmured gently.
A ray of light shone from Gandalf's staff as he addressed the creature. "I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you Flame of Udun!"
The Balrog brought his sword down, only to be met by Gandalf's, which shattered the sword to bits.
"Go back to the shadow!" The Balrog seemed enraged and he brandished a whip of fire.
"YOU. SHALL . NOT .PASS" bellowed Gandalf, as he brought his staff down, destroying the part of the bridge the beast was standing on. The creature fell and as Gandalf turned towards us, it's whip came back and caught his ankle. The old wizard fell backwards, losing his sword and staff and holding on to the edge.
Frodo and Gabrielle moved to help him but were held back by the others who knew the bitter truth. There was nothing we could do.
"Fly you fools" said Gandalf and the old wizard was no more. I swayed on my feet as I was released from his spell and as the full pain, both emotional and physical, hit me. Gabriell and Legolas noticed and turned their attention to me. Legolas gathered me in his arms and carried me as we ran out the dark tomb of Moria.
