Hey guys! It's update time again, so here's Chapter 10. You guys rock so much and keep me going; I just want to thank you. You all make me proud and happy. By the way, just for a preview, there will be a chapter soon dedicated to LOTR book fans and Tolkien. That was just a sneak preview. On we go.

I have a goal for the number of reviews this story gets: 100. I would be so happy if you guys made that happen, so keep reviewing!

I forgot! You all get cookies and ice cream for the awesome reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. Pity, oh well, at least I own Laura in this story who can be with Leggy. Better than nothing.

Chapter 10: Falling

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!" Gandalf yelled as the Fellowship ran out into the hall.

Orcswere climbing down the walls of the great hall and up from cracks in the smashed floor, seeming like spiders because of how nimbly and quickly they moved. The Fellowship ran on as long as they could until theywere surrounded on all sides by hundreds and hundreds of Orcs. The Fellowship quicklyformed a circle around the hobbits; they were to protect them at any costs. Legolasswiftly drew his bow and notched an arrow, preparing to fire, as the remaining membersprepared to draw their own weapons. Gimli growled in determination, as an evil, red glow appeared at the entrance to the hall. A large crashwas heard,causing theOrcs toscreech and scatter in fear. Legolas stared at the oncoming terror, as fear clenched Laura's heart; a fear so great and terrible. Legolas noticed and looked to her in concern. Her eyes were glazed and unseeing, her breath quickened, and her heart pounded in her chest. He dare not touch her, for now was not the time, and because they were now not on the best of terms.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked, breaking the silence, yet still seeming to not want the answer.

"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world," Gandalf said as though recalling something horrible from his past. "This foe is beyond any of you," he warned. "Run!"

They ran continued running through the hall until they reached a large room with many crumbling stairways. There was a sharp turn to the right just after the doorway, and Boromir ran so quickly to the stairs that he would have fallen to his death had not Legolas grabbed him and pulled him back to safety. They ran swiftly down the many staircases until they came to a large gap in one. Legolas jumped over it with ease and turned to the others.

"Gandalf!" he called. The elderly wizard prepared for the jump and finally leaped across the gap and was caught by Legolas. Arrows whizzed past the Fellowship members as they stood waiting to jump. Legolas was quick to draw his bow and shot down an Orc.

"Laura!" Gandalf called up to her. She was to jump next, but for what reason, she knew not. As soon as her name was uttered, Legolas gazed up at her. He put his bow back in his quiver, along with the arrow he was ready to shoot.

"Come," he said, ready to catch her. She gulped and closed her eyes before jumping. For a moment she felt nothing, only fear, until she felt arms wrapped around her. She opened her eyes to the crystal blue ones of Legolas. He looked at her, his face expressionless, as Laura moved to the side to allow the others to jump. If Laura had had the time to look deep into Legolas' eyes, she might have seen something, but with the urgency of the moment, not a second was to be wasted. He was now primarily the Warrior, not the Prince.

"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir yelled to the hobbits, grabbing them and jumping across the gap, but not without having some of the staircase they had been standing on only seconds before crumble. Legolas assisted Boromir in landing and awaited the next to jump.

"Sam," Aragorn said, tossing the hobbit over to the others. He turned, ready to toss Gimli, who raised his hand in protest and clearly stated,

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf." He tried to jump the gap, but he just missed the edge. Legolas lunged forward, gripping the Dwarf's beard.

"Not the beard!" Gimli shouted, as Legolas pulled him up to safety. The red glow of the Balrog could now be seen at the entrance to the stairs, and there were still two remaining Fellowship members to jump the gap: Aragorn and Frodo. More crashing was heard coming from the entrance, causing rock to fall from the ceiling and crash onto the stairway directly behind Aragorn and Frodo.

"Steady! Hold on," Aragorn said to Frodo, hoping he would not lose his balance because of the impact of the crash. The staircase began swaying; no one knew if they would be able to make it.

"Hang on!" Aragorn called again. The stairs lurched forward, toward where the rest of the Fellowship stood. Closer and closer they loomed. "Lean forward," Aragorn commanded, hoping to direct the rock towards their companions.

"Come on!" Legolas shouted, ready for them, just seconds before Aragorn was thrown into his arms and Frodo into Boromir's. Aragorn gave a quick nod of thanks before running on. The stairway he and Frodo had been standing on crashed into the dark abyss below. Finally, they approached the Bridge and ran forward onto it. Laura's fear grew with every passing second.

"Over the Bridge! Fly!" Gandalf demanded to the Fellowship, forcing them to run ahead of him. He followed lastly, but stopped midway, and turned to face the demon. The others had reached the other side and turned to see Gandalf facing the Balrog.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf shouted, firmly.

"Gandalf!" Frodo yelled urgently, seeming to beg him to run away with them and not to face such a beast, yet, he remained.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Arnor! The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!" The Balrog snarled menacingly, and raised its flaming sword, preparing to strike. "Arrrghh!" Gandalf yelled as the blade made contact with the magical shield he had put around himself.

"Go back to the Shadow!" he snarled determinedly. The Balrog instead, brandished its flaming whip. He cracked it once in the air, hoping to intimidate the wizard. Instead, Gandalf yelled with all the power and strength he could muster,

"You shall not pass!" He slammed his staff onto the Bridge, causing it to crack somewhat. All watched the incidents in fear of their friend's life, yet none moved. The Balrog stepped forward onto the Bridge, hoping to finally slay its foe; instead, the rock underneath it fell beneath its feet, bringing it down as well into the black darkness below.

I can save him, Laura thought. If I run forward now, I can save him. But her legs did not move and Gandalf was now turning away from the Bridge. He sighed in relief as the whip flew up into the air, grabbing him by the ankles and dragging him down. He clung onto the edge of the rock for mere moments. Frodo tried to run forward, wanting to save his friend, but Boromir grabbed him yelling,

"No! No!"

"Gandalf!" Frodo screamed. Laura had finally gained control of her legs and began running towards Gandalf, only to be held back by a pair of two strong arms.

"Fly, you fools," Gandalf commanded one last time before he let go, dropping into the black oblivion.

"No!" Frodo yelled as Boromir dragged him up the stairs, trying to get him to safety.

"Aragorn!" he yelled. Aragorn, stunned and grieved that his long time friend, Gandalf, had fallen turned to follow him.

They reached the outside and it was incredibly bright. They all would have been rejoicing to see the light of day had not Gandalf fallen. Laura was dragged out, but by whom? His arms were still holding her, but she could not see his face, for she was facing away from him. She was in shock at what had just happened, but was curious as to whom it was that dragged her out. She turned and looked into Legolas' ice blue eyes. Reality hit her and she let the tears roll freely down her cheeks; she clutched onto Legolas as he gazed out at nothing, but stood confused and lost.

Merry and Pippin lay a little way away, crying and grieving, Sam sat, his head lying in his hand, as Boromir was trying to stop Gimli from entering the Mines again, wanting to save his friend. Aragorn stood, he was indeed grieved, but they first had to leave to a place of safety. He sheathed his sword, taking command of the others as Gandalf had told him to.

"Legolas, get them up," he called to the Elf. Legolas did not react right away; he only looked at Aragorn, his eyes still holding confusion. Boromir turned to Aragorn.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake," he cried out.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir. Legolas, Gimli, get them up." Legolas finally moved away from Laura and proceeded in getting the others. Once again, he was the Prince, grieving a loved one.

"On your feet, Sam," Aragorn said to the little hobbit, helping him up. He turned; Frodo was standing away from the others.

"Frodo," Aragorn called. Frodo turned and you could see in his eyes that all desire for finishing the Quest was now gone. He did not wish to cause anymore suffering. He wished to just leave on the Quest alone. He would not cause anymore suffering, the Ring was his burden.

"Frodo," Aragorn called again, approaching the sorrowful hobbit and looking to the realm of Lothlorien.

The Fellowship had finally started walking again, despite Gandalf's death, after Aragorn had convinced Frodo that they would not leave him. They were a Fellowship and would remain so. As they walked on, Laura's guilt and grievance grew. She grieved for Gandalf and felt worse because she could have stopped his falling. She would have to tell the others soon.

They walked for a few more hours, until Aragorn consented into giving them a break. They had all had a trying day, and they needed the rest; they were all both physically and emotionally tired. A quick camp was made for the night, even though it was still the afternoon. They would begin walking again early in the morning. Laura thought it best to tell them then. She had been sitting on her mat, but stood and looked to them all.

"I have not been entirely truthful with all of you," she began. Everyone turned to look at her, wondering what it was she was about to say. She continued.

"You see, I am not of this world. I come from a different world entirely where many people know of the Fellowship of the Ring. This entire Quest is written down where I come from," she finished lamely. All looked surprised, that is, except for Aragorn and Legolas. Boromir looked perplexed.

"Do you have any proof?" he asked, suspiciously.

"Frodo," she said turning to the little hobbit, "many months ago at your Uncle Bilbo's 111th birthday, he made a speech, but then disappeared into thin air afterwards; he left for Rivendell that night. Correct?" The hobbit nodded in shock, not understanding how she could know this. Boromir became angry.

"So that is why you have forbidden to tell us where you hail from," he said, menacingly. "Tell me, did you know of Gandalf's fall?" Laura dropped her head in shame. Boromir was furious now.

"You knew he was to fall, yet stood by and did nothing," he yelled.

"Boromir," Aragorn said sternly, "Laura did not join the Fellowship to tell us what is to happen, only to be sure that everything happens correctly." Boromir did not respond to Aragorn, he only began advancing on Laura in his anger. Laura did not notice, her guilt was overbearing.

"You shall not touch her," Legolas said firmly, bow drawn and arrow notched, pointing at the Man. He stood in front of Laura, shielding her from Boromir's wrath. No one had the right to harm her. The Man stopped before Legolas because of the arrow, yet his eyes were still ablaze.

"Legolas is right," Aragorn said. "Laura is not to blame of Gandalf's fall, and therefore no harm shall come to her."

Boromir turned around, controlling his anger somewhat, and stomped off. Aragorn followed closely, and Legolas, whose hard, cold eyes followed the Man's form, turned to Laura. He was the Warrior for but a moment, but blinked and his eyes immediately softened to the clear blue they usually were. He placed his bow and arrow back in his quiver before asking,

"Le mae, Laura?" She nodded in response and broke into tears. Legolas again felt the desire to comfort her, but she took off before he was able to do so. He saw it best to leave her be. (Are you well, Laura?)

As soon as she left, he felt a fierce rage flare inside him at Boromir; why did he have to upset Laura when she was having a hard enough time as it was? Legolas thought of going to him, but believed that Aragorn was most likely talking to him, so he decided not to. He worried for Laura the rest of that day and night.

Review Responses:

IwishChan- I'm glad you liked chapter 9, and you dislike Boromir? Why? lol Just joking. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Review!

Myri78- Glad I'll hear from you often. Did you know you were my first good review? So, thanks for that. Don't go spreading the 'waiting' thing, even if it might be obvious. Glad you like this. Continue reading and reviewing!

Tanja- Glad you understand about the Boromir thing. Here's the next chapter. Keep reviewing.

faeriekittie306 animelover- Yes, Legolas made a mistake, but it'll be fixed, eventually. Keep reading and reviewing!

Candy Quackenbush- First, good luck on your fic, and yes Leggy and Boromir are fighting. I like it. Review!

angel13- Thanks for the nice review. Continue reading and reviewing.

Crecy- Yes, isn't Gandalf's fall sad. Review please.

Thanks for all the awesome reviews, see you next week! lol