The Lord of the Rings 2: Judgment Day

(Author's note) Well, sorry for the long wait. Combining watching the Olympics with procrastination does not make for speedy writing. In any case, I have a few announcements:

1. I'll make you guys an offer: if you draw some kind of fan art for this story, I'll consider using it as the picture.

2. A minor change has been made to the formatting of the story. The first part of the story (all currently posted chapters and some future ones) is now titled "Part I: An Unexpected Terminator".

3. I have begun making minor revisions to the earliest chapters, mainly just some grammar corrections.

I hope you guys like the changes, and remember to review!

Chapter 9

The rumbling continued for a whole minute before silence joined the darkness. Even then an occasional muffled crash could be heard outside, as an errant stone tumbled down the fresh slide. Frodo's pulse pounded in his head as his lungs pulled in air. Around him the only indication that he wasn't alone was the breaths and coughs of his companions. Suddenly a light appeared in the darkness: Gandalf had lit a stone at the end of his staff, filling the surroundings with a pale glow. Around the hobbit his friends shielded their eyes from the sudden brightness.

"Is everyone here?" the old wizard asked. A quick survey found all the companions present and unharmed. The nine of them clustered around Gandalf, eyeing their surroundings nervously. The entrance hall they stood in was crumbling and decayed, and that was just the intact part. The door they had just passed through was no longer; a pile of rocks spilling into the room was all that was left of it. On the other side of the room an opening led into a dark hallway.

"It seems our path is now set," said Gandalf. "Let us go through the Mines."

"The rock is obstructing my sensors," announced the Terminator. "We must maintain a high level of caution."

Gandalf led them into the dark passageway ahead, followed by Frodo and the Terminator. The others fell in behind them, casting nervous glances all around.

Later, when he looked back on it, Frodo remembered very little of that first day. He remembered walking in darkness, the glow of Gandalf's staff silhouetting the Terminator in front of him. Footsteps echoed through the passageways. Now and then they traversed walkways where empty space spread out to either side. Frodo would gaze into the vast spaces, searching for anything in the darkness. Sometimes he thought he could see flickering points of light deep below him; but he could never be sure that they were actually there, and he didn't bother telling anyone.

After what seemed like a week of a waking dream, Gandalf announced a halt. Somehow they had ended up in a barren guard room off to the side of the main path. Gandalf said something about how long it would take to get to the other side of the Mines, but Frodo was too tired to pay attention. He slumped into a corner, with Sam resting nearby. The Terminator stood by the entrance, joining Gandalf on the first watch. Sam muttered something into Frodo's ear; but the hobbit was already asleep, lost in troubled dreams.

The pool was still again. The slide of rocks didn't move. The wind was calm.

The only movement was a brown-haired figure walking along the wall.

He strode up to the slide; he hadn't expected this. What happened? The target must have gone through here. If he were dead the figure would have sensed his body in the rubble.

He calmly walked off to the side of the jumble. Inserting his hand into a crevice between two boulders, his body began changing. It went colorless, morphing into a smooth, silvery surface. His arm, and in turn the rest of his body, flowed into the crack.

On the other side, the silvery substance flowed around a rock and pooled on the floor. Once all of it was through, it rose up like a cobra and took the shape of a man again. If anyone with a light had been there, they would have seen the surface fade back into regular tones of skin and clothes. Without waiting the figure marched into the hallway ahead. They were very close, now.

Frodo ran along the dark halls, gasping for breath. Eyes studied him from the shadows, creatures on the edge of his vision. He had to get out of there.

Bolting around a corner, he ran straight into a dead end. Picking himself off the floor, he scampered back the way he had been going. Every side path he had tried went nowhere. Sometimes they led to locked doors, other times to collapsed tunnels, and sometimes they just ended in a wall. The eyes snickered as Frodo was forced to continue along the main passage, sweat beading on his face. He wiped his forehead as he shot a glance behind him. Darkness masked the tunnel, but he heard it following him. Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor, getting louder all the time. His sleeve slid across his brow again. Why did it keep getting hotter?

Suddenly, almost as if his surroundings had changed in an instant, Frodo found himself at the ledge of a great chasm. Flames shot up from the depths, surrounding him on all sides as he covered his face and spun back from the ledge. Then he saw it. A shadow was coming towards him. There was nothing to the figure but a black silhouette, pushing the fire to the sides like a wind to make its path. Caught between a hammer and an anvil, Frodo kept between the figure and the ledge as the being closed the distance. He was wondering how long he could avoid them both when he tripped. Plummeting off the edge as the flames licked his body, Frodo screamed.

"Mr. Frodo, wake up!" yelled Sam.

Frodo leapt up, his back against the wall. He was sweating, his skin clammy and cold. Around him in the pale light of Gandalf's staff his companions had been stirring from sleep, but were now up and staring at him. Merry and Pippin came over and asked what was wrong.

"I'm fine," Frodo whispered. "It was just a dream."

Sam nodded, as if he knew exactly what his master was talking about. "I thought so. I haven't been sleeping too well myself." He rubbed his shoulders as he looked around the room. "This place is so cold. Can't we get a fire going?"

"No. We are about to start off again," Gandalf told him. "It may be safe to light some torches to have more light along the way. Most of the path ahead is tunnels, not open spaces."

"We should go soon," said the Terminator. "Staying in one place decreases Frodo Baggins' probability of survival."

"Yes, yes, but we must sleep sometime," said Gimli, rolling up from his reclined position. "I don't suppose you ever sleep?"

"I have a standby power setting which you may consider analogous to sleep; but no, I do not sleep."

Gimli mulled the comment over as Gandalf discussed the path ahead with Aragorn. The hobbits collected their few things as the others picked up blankets and prepared to move out. Their second day in the mines began in much the same way as the first, with Gandalf and the Terminator leading the way. It was different because before long the companions began ascending. The winding halls gave way to stairs that began climbing upwards and ever eastward. Many times the fellowship would come to a divide in the path, with dark, reeking tunnels twisting deep into the earth. They usually chose the upward passages, though a few times Gandalf would order a stop while he tried to recall which was the right way.

In one rather long and straight tunnel, Frodo happened to be looking backwards, beyond the edge of the torchlight where shadows danced on the walls, when he saw two points of light in the distance. They were much closer than the ones he thought he had seen yesterday. They glowed like the eyes of a cat, round mirrors reflecting the flames of the torches. Frodo nudged the Terminator and pointed behind, but the lights were gone.

"I was aware of an organism following us," said the Terminator when Frodo asked if he had seen anything. "I was able to detect its heat signature before it retreated."

"But what was it?"

"Its temperature wasn't consistent with human or hobbit body temperatures. It is possibly an enemy reconnaissance operative."

"It's Gollum," Gandalf cut in. "He's been following us ever since we entered the Mines."

Frodo stared in disbelief at the wizard. "Gollum? The creature Bilbo got the Ring from? I thought he was dead!"

"No, he escaped the dark tower. Or was let out, most likely."

"Barad-dûr is a maximum-security compound," the Terminator said, "he could not have escaped."

"Exactly. Gollum wants to find the ring as much as Sauron, and the dark lord probably hopes that Gollum will lead him to it."

Frodo looked frightened at the thought, but the Terminator told him, "Don't worry. My mission directive is to protect you, and I am physically superior to him."

Frodo took as much comfort as he could from that statement as the companions entered into a long hall. Two rows of pillars supported a ceiling far above, stretching into the darkness where their tops hid from the companions' lights. The fellowship's footsteps echoed against the bare stone walls. On the far side they entered an antechamber filled with bits of rubble and discarded weapons, but no other features, save an exit on the far side. As they walked through the aged door, Gandalf spoke, telling them that they were nearing the eastern gate.

"In front of us we will soon find the bridge of Khazad-dûm. From there it is only a mile to the exit hall. We will rest here for a moment."

"Negative, relaxation will leave us unprepared for the attack."

"What attack?"

"I am detecting low-level noises consistent with a large group of humanoids, probably orcs."

"Orcs!" everyone shouted at once.

"Affirmative. Their drums will likely be within audible range soon." His eyes calmly scanned the chamber. "This room would be a strategic place to defend. If we had long-range assault weapons we could kill most of them before they get here. Are any of you familiar with artillery ballistics?" The others just stared at him. "I thought it unlikely."

With a huff Aragorn began shouting orders as the companions scrambled to get ready. The Hobbits drew their swords and stayed back as the Terminator grabbed some of the abandoned weapons to prop closed the door. Those who had them whipped out their bows as Boromir put the hasty finishing touches on their barricade. He was about to step back and join the others when the Terminator strode up to the door and punched a hole in it. There were yells of "what are you doing?" before he aimed his bow through the new opening and began firing into the darkness. Amidst the now-audible yells of the orcs there arose a shriek after each arrow pierced its target. The Terminator shot off a good ten arrows before rejoining the fellowship in the center of the room.

Crashes rang through the hall as the door shivered with blows. Howls raged on the other side as it slowly splintered. Soon axe heads sprouted from the wood as the fellowship's archers began firing through the holes, killing a few of the creatures before more took their place. In thirty seconds the splintered remnant of the left door broke off its hinges and crashed to the floor. Orcs poured into the room, shoving the other door aside. The vanguard fell as the fellowship's arrows sank into their heads. The Terminator fired like the machine he was, downing orc after orc in rapid succession. The monsters scrambled like ants over their fallen comrades, forcing the companions to engage them hand-to-hand. Aragorn sliced into the first one foolish enough to near him. Legolas and Boromir found equal success, cutting down their enemies with ease. Towards the back, Gandalf charged forward with the hobbits following, Glamdring flying around the wizard in a whir, striking down orcs left and right. The hobbits did as best as they could, scurrying around and trying not to get themselves killed.

As two orcs rushed him, the Terminator swung his mace into one, sending it to the floor. The other one he kicked back as he swung his weapon up and then down onto the creature's head. Another howling goblin charged the Terminator, swinging its sword at his chest. The cyber took a step to the left as the crude weapon missed. Grabbing the orc's blade, he wrenched it free, punching the orc off its feet. Spinning around, the Terminator threw the knife just in time to slay an orc Gimli was fighting. "That one was mine!" the dwarf objected. The Terminator ignored him, turning to face more attackers. Suddenly a deep growl sounded from the hall outside. The Terminator (and even a few of the orcs) looked up just in time to see a massive cave troll smash its way into the room.

Shaking of the ensuing spray of dust and grit, the Terminator nonchalantly raised his mace, ready to face the troll. Behind the beast, the cries of the orcs in the hall rose to a screeching yowl. The cave troll raised its club, ready to smash its opponent into the floor.

And then it stopped. The look of blind rage on the creature's face was replaced with something akin to surprise. With a gurgling moan the brute teetered and then toppled, its club falling to the side as the monster fell on its face. The Terminator had jumped back just in time, and when he looked up he saw the cause of the troll's demise. Out in the hall, the orcs who didn't lie slain were fleeing in disarray. And just inside the doorway, standing over its massive kill, was the T-1000, its blade-for-an-arm still covered in the troll's blood.

Frodo slashed at an orc, keeping it at arm's length. The creature's rough arm and jagged sword were both longer than his own, and he dashed around as fast as he could, avoiding its reach. As he had hoped, the orc was distracted enough that it didn't notice Sam sneaking up from behind. Frodo jumped out of the way as Sam's barrow sword ended the orc's life. Frodo looked around. There weren't many orcs left in the hall. He had heard a lot outside just a moment ago, but why weren't they-

"It's here, run!"

The Terminator's words drew the hobbit's gaze to the entrance, where his protector faced the doorway. At his feet was the troll, dead. Had the Terminator killed it? Frodo's eyes traveled up from the corpse, and he saw the figure standing in the doorway. As he looked at the newcomer, its eyes met his. Frodo didn't need to see the blade arm to know what it was. Already Gandalf and the others had noticed and were hurrying out the rear exit, and Sam began dragging Frodo by his arm. He saw the thing begin to charge at him, and ran without looking back.

The T-1000 sprinted forward, right into the Terminator's mace. The swinging implement knocked the figure onto its back; and the Terminator dove for his enemy, ready to fight. But the T-1000 was quicker, kicking the Terminator across the room. He smashed into the rear wall, falling to the ground with a good chunk of stone on top of him. The T-1000, now with a normal arm, strode towards the slab of rock, but wasn't ready when the slab was hurled towards it. The figure tried to jump to the side, but too late. The mass struck its left side, and the T-1000 went spinning into the wall. Dust and rock fell to the floor as the Terminator rose and dashed over.

This time the T-1000 was ready for him. Its fist slammed into his head, but he managed to grab his opponent by the arm and swing it into one of the pillars by the entrance. The T-1000 in turn shoved him into the door's other pillar. As their fight spilled into the hall, a massive piece of masonry the columns had previously supported crashed through the floor, plummeting into some deep cavern below.

The Terminator struggled to stay on his feet, deflecting some punches but absorbing most. Ducking around the T-1000, he landed a blow on the back of its head. As his enemy's fist flew towards him, the Terminator dodged; but as he jumped back he tripped over a fallen orc, and fell towards the massive hole in the floor. Bracing himself on impact, he just barely managed to stop himself from falling. The Terminator turned over just in time to find the T-1000 in top of him.

As it kneeled on top of him, the T-1000's free arm changed into a blade, ready to drive into the Terminator's metallic skull and kill him. As the figure struggled to hold him down, the Terminator suddenly punched it in the side of the head, knocking it onto the floor to his left. The T-1000 moved to jump back on him, but then the Terminator shoved it to his right. The robot's own momentum combined with the push from the Terminator sent it over the edge of the hole. The Terminator was nearly dragged in with the T-1000, but he managed to wrench himself free just in time. Deep below, the T-1000 thudded into some distant bottom.

With his enemy out of the way (at least for the moment), the Terminator rose to his feet. His face had a few bruises and cuts that weren't there before, but he wasn't programmed to care. Backing up to give himself a running start, the cyborg jumped over the hole, back into the antechamber. He grabbed his mace from the floor and hurried out the exit, running through the dark halls to catch up with the rest of the fellowship.