I don't own Lord of the Rings. I only own Edleneth, as well as the twists I put into the story. Please review and tell me what you think.
When Edleneth awoke later, she was alone. Her side had completely healed, and when she tentatively touched where the spear had stabbed her, there wasn't a bruise. How odd, Edleneth thought. She stood up, brushed herself off, and looked around. Edleneth saw many dead orcs on the ground, along with the troll that had killed her. She saw her sword still stuck in its leg, and walked over to attempt to pull it out. Finding herself unsuccessful again, and wanting to get out of the mine before it collapsed, Edleneth took one of the orcs' scimitars and walked through the doorway she thought was the next step out of the mine.
Edleneth was surprised to find an empty hall. Wasn't the area crawling with orcs? she wondered. Deciding caution was the best option, Edleneth quietly snuck through the room. She had gone halfway down the staircases before coming upon their end. Glancing over the new edge, Edleneth sighed when she saw the staircases that were supposed to help her to the exit lying on the ground far below her.
Suddenly, an arrow landed in front of her face. Edleneth looked up and saw the swarms of orcs she had expected earlier crawling out of the walls. Taking out her bow, Edleneth shot a couple orcs down, but she soon gave up because of their numbers. How am I going to get out of here? Edleneth thought, Maybe it'd be better to die here.
Before her thoughts could get much farther, a group of greenish figures appeared. They were all shorter than Edleneth, and as she realized they were ghosts, she also realized they were dwarves. Most of them flew towards the orcs and killed them with their battleaxes. A bald dwarf with a long beard approached her.
"What do you want?" Edleneth asked, cautiously grabbing for her sword.
"We wish to help," the dwarf told her, "I am Balin son of Fundin."
"Why would you help me?" she inquired, "I'm an elf."
"You carry the weight of the world," Balin answered, "We will help you get through Moria so that you can do what you must."
Edleneth nodded, though she still didn't understand. They were offering to help, and she didn't have any other options. "What did you have in mind?" she asked.
"We will create a bridge across the chasm," Balin explained, "You will have to move quickly. You can't stand on us for very long."
The ghosts laid themselves in rows to make a bridge. Edleneth swallowed and ran across them as quickly as she could. There were a couple places where she felt as though she were slipping through the bodies, and she sighed in relief when she reached the other side.
"We will come along with you the rest of the way," Balin told Edleneth, "Follow me, and do not look back."
Edleneth obeyed his instructions, and kept her bow at the ready, just in case more orcs came. Balin led her down many hallways, until they came to another, deeper chasm.
"Gandalf," Balin murmured, looking down into the fiery pit, "I hope you return."
Edleneth was filled with dread by his words. "What happened to Gandalf?" she asked Balin.
"He fell," Balin explained, "A Balrog was in these mines, and he prevented it from harming the Fellowship."
Edleneth looked over the edge. "I wish I had been there," she said, "I could have stopped that monster."
"You wouldn't have been able to do what he did," Balin replied, "You don't have the power."
Edleneth sighed, "I could have distracted it while the others escaped. A world without Mithrandir is a dark one."
"The world will be dark if you don't succeed," Balin told her, "Let's get you to the other side."
Edleneth hesitated as the ghosts formed another bridge. All she could hear was the roaring fire in the chasm. She shook herself and began to cross the bridge, but as her ears became more accustomed to the noise, she softly heard a sword clanging and heavy breathing. "He's still alive!" she gasped to Balin, "Mithrandir is still fighting that monster down there! I can help him!" She paused on the ghostly bridge and began to sink through.
"That is not for you to do," Balin informed her, "Keep moving."
"I can't leave him to face it alone," Edleneth argued.
"You must make it to Mordor!" Balin cried, "It is the only way to save Middle-Earth from Sauron!"
"I'm sorry!" Edleneth exclaimed, "I have to help him!" She completely sank through the bridge and fell down into the pit.
"Edleneth, no!" Balin shouted after her.
As she was falling, Edleneth readied her sword and her confidence. She knew a Balrog was a monster, but she didn't know its powers or its appearance. However, if she could help Gandalf, she would.
