Chapter 10

It was a dark and fearful journey through the mines. Finally we came to a sight I never thought I would see.

"Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf said.

He raised his staff and I smiled.

"Behold, the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdwelf."

I ran my hand lightly on the beautifully carven wall.

"Well there is an eye opener and no mistake." Sam gasped.

We walked through the hall and I took in everything I saw. Then I heard Gimli give a cry. He ran off and I tore after him with Eruantien. I let out a cry of pain and anger. For in a room was the tomb of Balin, son of Fundin.

"No!" I cried.

Gimli knelt down and wept for the loss of his cousin. I fell to my knees and cried. My brother put his arm around me.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared." said the wizard.

I put my hand on Gimli's shoulder. Gandalf picked up a very old looking book, pages fell from it as he did.

"They have taken the bridge, and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out, a shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out….they are coming."

Who was coming? Before I could voice my question I heard a smashing sound followed by echoes. I turned around and saw Pippin standing near what looked to be a well. He looked scared and guilty. I slowly looked at Gandalf. Saying he was angry was an understatement. He snapped the book shut.

"Fool of a Took!"

He snatched his staff and hat from him.

"Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" snapped the wizard.

As he turned we all heard a drum. Several drums from far below.

"Drums in the deep." Eruantien whispered.

I drew Orcrist and found it glowing blue.

"Frodo!"

I looked over and found his sword was also illuminated.

"Orcs!" Legolas said.

Anger burned within me. Balin would be avenged.

"Get back! Get back to Gandalf!" Aragorn shouted.

I ran forward with Legolas and Aragorn to barricade the entrance as best we could. I then backed up and held Orcrist in front of me.

"Let them come! There are three dwarves yet in Moria who still draw breath!" Gimli growled.

I smiled at his statement and nodded. They began to break through, and Aragorn and Legolas began to shoot at them. Yet they broke down the already weak doors.

"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" I cried.

I ran forward cutting down every goblin I could reach. My brother fought beside me as always. I took his hand and swung him around as he cut down the goblins. I spun around cutting off their heads. Then I heard a roar.

"CAVE TROLL!" Eruantien shouted.

One of the goblins led it inside and it held a large mace. It was heading for Sam.

"Sam no!"

I lunged forward and pushed him down. We began to back up towards the wall. Boromir and Aragorn took hold of the chain and pulled on it. Sam and I got away but I saw Boromir thrown into the wall by the troll.

"Look here!: I shouted.

The toll turned and looked at me. Now that I had its attention I ran forward and dove between its legs. I cut its legs as I slid.

"ERUANTIEN!"

My brother jumped forward and I gave him a push so that he landed on the back of the troll. He swung away at it, but it threw him off. He crashed into Gimli and then its attention fell to Frodo, Merry and Pippin. I tried to go forward to them, but more goblins swarmed me. I fought hard and I heard Frodo calling for Aragorn. As I looked up Aragorn was knocked into the wall and he fell unconscious. I ran forward and climbed up to him, but at that moment Frodo was stabbed by the troll.

"NO!"

He fell to the ground and I looked at the troll. Merry and Pippin jumped on it and I leaped forward and cut at its arm. How was it my mother and father could fight three trolls without losses and yet I could not fight one!? Legolas finally shot the troll and it fell dead. Pippin and I flew off. I jumped up and ran to Frodo. Aragorn crawled to him and turned him over. He was alive!

My jaw dropped and I wondered how.

"He is alive!" Sam said.

"I am alright! I am not hurt." Frodo said.

"You should be dead. That spear would have skewered a wild boar!" Aragorn exclaimed.

"I think there is more to this hobbit then meets the eye." Gandalf said walking forward.

Frodo opened his shirt and I smiled.

"Mithril." Gimli said.

I knew this to be the Mithril coat that my father had given Bilbo.

"You are full of surprises Master Baggins." said my brother.

There was little time to rejoice, for more goblins could be heard.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!" Gandalf said.

We all jumped up and ran. Goblins followed us and the began to come down from the ceiling and up from the ground. We ran until there was nowhere left to run. Gimli, Eruantien and I stood ready to fight. Then there was a deep and terrible growl. The goblins fled in terror and I would have smiled, but I slowly turned to see a glow began to crawl towards us. Legolas was aiming his bow, but I pushed it down with my sword. I shook my head and looked at Gandalf.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir inquired.

There was another growl.

"A Balrog…a demon of the ancient world."

My eyes widened in terror.

"This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!"

We darted in the opposite direction. We came to a gap in the stairway. Legolas leaped across. The Balrog was breaking through the walls.

"Gandalf!"

He leaped across and then goblins began to fire at us. I sheathed Orcrist and took my grandmother's bow. I fired and killed the goblin, but another quickly took its place. I looked at my brother.

"Go! GO NOW!"

He leaped across reluctantly. Boromir took Merry and Pippin in his arms and jumped across. This caused more of the stairway to break away. While I shot at the goblins, Aragorn began to toss the others over. As he looked to Gimli the dwarf held up a hand.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf!"

He leaped across and then started to fall back.

"GIMLI!"

Legolas grabbed his beard and pulled him up.

"Not the beard!"

Gimli was safe but more of the stair broke and I pulled Aragorn up. It was no longer possible to leap across. Aragorn, Frodo and I were trapped and the Balrog was getting closer. A piece of the ceiling gave way and crashed behind us. The piece of stair we stood upon was now unstable.

"Silanna!"

"Lean forward!" Aragorn said.

We did as he said and the stair began to fall towards the others. It crashed and we jumped over. I took my brother's hand and we ran. As we reached the bridge the Balrog revealed itself. I looked at it in fear and then continued to run.

"Over the bridge!" cried the wizard.

We ran across, but Gandalf remained. I turned and tried to go back, but Aragorn held me fast.

"You cannot pass!"

"GANDALF!" Frodo cried.

Gandalf meant to destroy the Balrog. He used magic to shield himself from the flaming sword of the Balrog.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

He brought his staff down upon the bridge and it cracked. As the Balrog took a step forward it broke and it fell. I smiled and turned but then I heard Frodo cry. I turned back and found Gandalf hanging over the edge of the bridge. Frodo tried to run forward but Boromir grabbed him.

"GANDALF!"

"Fly you fools!"

With those words he let go, willingly accepting his death.

Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen.