I do not own Lotr. I only own Ayesha, Haromir, and Rowan.

Please enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 11

"Gimli!" Gandalf shouted, but the Dwarf paid him no heed as he ran into a side room. The group followed, wondering what was wrong with the Dwarf and then they saw it. A great tomb sat in the middle of the room, illuminated by a shaft of light from the outside. The only light from outside the Haromir was sure that they would never see again until they were out of the mines. Skeletons lined the room, scatted about and the very air held something off, but they had no time to wonder about that then.

"No. Oh, no. No." Gimli was weeping at the tomb, bent at the knees before it. Gandalf walked over and wiped the dust off the engraved name as the others piled into the room.

"Here lies Balin son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf read and Gimli wept more for the lost cousin. "He is dead then. It's as I feared." The wizard moved from the tomb and looked down to see a large book in the hands of what was once a royal script keeper. Gandalf handed his things to Pippin who was the closet to him before bending down to retrieve the tome. Dusting off the heavy volume he lifted it from the skeleton arms and opened its cover.

"We must move on. We cannot linger." Legolas whispered and Haromir and Aragorn looked at him.

"They have taken the bridge and the second hall." Gandalf read aloud from the thick book. Haromir moved closer to his brother, a feeling of dread coming upon him. Boromir put a steadying hand on his shoulder when he neared and could feel that his brother was distressed. "We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep." Gandalf flipped a page in the deafening silence. Tension was high in the air and Boromir felt Haromir grip tightly to his sleeve and resisted the urge to do the same. The words, though short was too real for their situation."We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out." Gandalf lifted his eyes towards his companions. "They are coming."

Crash!

Everyone jumped at least five feet in the air as something crashed down the old well that sat in the corner. All eyes turned to Pippin who was standing there looking extremely sorry for himself. To make matters worse, the skeleton that had been propped against the well fell down the long pipe too, taking a bucket with it.

Clang! Boom!

Sounds echoed through the room coming from the old well and the room fell so silent that hardly anyone dared to breathe. Boromir felt Haromir brush against him and gripped his arm in a comforting hold. A unanimous sigh of relief came from everyone when nothing stirred and the wizard turned back around.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf reprimanded, slamming the book closed before marching over and snatching his things back from an unhappy Pippin. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

Boom. Boom.

"They've heard us." Haromir whispered, his voice trembling with a slightly fearful tone. "They are coming."

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The drums were becoming louder and louder and closer and closer. Eerie cries filled the air.

"Frodo." Sam gasped and Frodo pulled his sword out to look at it. It was glowing blue.

"Orcs." Legolas confirmed as the cries drew closer.

"We have to get out." Boromir hissed and he pushed Haromir towards the door. Just as the younger Gondorian stuck his head out an arrow was shot at him and Haromir withdrew, giving his brother an icy glare.

"Thanks for that, I've always wanted to get shot in the face." He said dryly and Boromir sent him a grimace.

"Get back!" Aragorn shouted at the Hobbits before running over to help shut the great doors with the brothers. "Stay with Gandalf!" A loud roar came from the outside as they managed to get the doors shut.

"Please tell me that isn't something horrible." Haromir groaned and Boromir made a face.

"They have a cave-troll." He said cynically and he and Aragorn raced off to find things to help block the door.

"Cave-Troll." Haromir repeated and made sure the door was shut as completely as it could be before drawing back and helping the other two Men and Legolas bar the doors with old battle axes. As soon as that was done they pulled back from the door, backing up to help defend the Hobbits. Legolas and Aragorn both readied their bows, training them on the door while they were flanked by Boromir and Haromir's swords.

"Let them come!" Gimli shouted giving a battle cry. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath." After much pounding by the savage Orcs the door was finally broken. They poured in like ants from an anthill giving wild cries and growls. They were grotesque and deformed, hunching over with small slim bodies that wore thick armor.

"Ah!" Haromir cried in battle rage and attacked the oncoming horde. He sliced and hacked at anything that dared to pass him, but soon he had to draw back there were too many. The others were fairing as he was, even the little Hobbits were clashing weapons with the Orcs.

Haromir felt the earth beneath him tremble before he saw what was coming. He and Samwise were in the way when the Cave-Troll finally burst through the doors. The Man quickly made the Hobbit duck and pushed him towards the Troll's legs. Sam went under the Troll and kept going to safety. Haromir only had time to look fast before slamming against the ground to avoid getting swatted by the Cave-Troll's club.

"Gimli!" Haromir shouted as the Dwarf leapt off the tomb to avoid getting smashed to bits. The tomb lid broke instead and the young man had to dodge the Troll to get to the Dwarf who was still on his back. Putting his blade back into its sheath he pulled out his bow and quickly took a shot at the Troll at the same time that Legolas did. The arrows hit their mark, making the Troll stumble back from the pain.

"I owe you one, laddie." Gimli gasped for air as Haromir pulled him up.

"I'll hold you to it." Haromir teased, before running off to find anyone else that needed help. Haromir swallowed as more Orcs poured in and suddenly he felt numb. With a wild cry the young man dove into the fray of foul creatures, wielding his sword like a machete through thick grass. Orc blood soared through the air, staining the floor.

"Boromir." Aragorn murmured when they were close enough to speak. The Gondorian turned to look at him once to see who was addressing him.

"What?"

"Harry…has he always been like that?" Boromir whipped his head around to see Haromir's wild swings in the middle of the screaming Orcs.

"Yes, I'd better snap him out of it." Boromir murmured more to himself than to Aragorn. The Ranger frowned in concern, but could not ask more as the Cave-Troll stomped over to where he was standing.

"Harry." Boromir hissed when the young man took a swing at him. "It's me now stop that." Haromir frowned and moved away. "No you don't." Boromir gripped his arm and swung him around to face him. "Haromir." He said sharply and Harry finally stopped struggling.

"I did it again, didn't I?" He said quietly, looking shamefully around at the unnecessary hacking of the already dead bodies. Red color filled his cheeks and Boromir sighed.

"Yes, and we'll about it later. Now please, be careful." Haromir nodded as Boromir went back into the battle. Haromir stood alone for several seconds, his mind whirling. Had he really just….

"Harry!" Pippin cried and Haromir practically leapt towards the sound. The Cave-Troll had managed to shake Legolas off from where the Elf had jumped onto its back and was now attempting to crush the Hobbits, Frodo included. He knew that he had no time to use a weapon, so he ran to at least move the Hobbits out of harm's way. Harry tackled the Hobbits pushing Merry and Pippin towards one way and Frodo the other. Suddenly he was slammed into the wall and tossed towards Merry and Pippin.

"Harry!" They shouted as the young man lay motionless on the ground. Haromir heard their cries, but his world turned black, his side throbbing.

"Frodo!" Aragorn yelled having seen the Hobbit was alone. He raced towards him as the Troll searched for the Hobbit.

Haromir opened his eyes again and coughed vision still swimming. He noticed that Merry and Pippin were staring open-mouthed at something ahead and the young man lifted his dizzy head to see.

"Frodo." Haromir sputtered, blood running down his chin. The Hobbits didn't hear him though and they both gave fierce cries of their own, getting up and running towards the Troll. Still feeling dizzy, Haromir slid up the wall slowly, moving cautiously towards the fallen Hobbit. His already injured arm dripped blood and he winced every time he applied pressure to it. The wound he realized had been re-cut open. All was silent and Haromir looked around to see that the Cave-Troll was indeed dead as were the rest of their enemies.

"Frodo." Haromir whispered again, shaking him slightly and ignoring the pain in his back and right side. Haromir felt a hand on him and he looked over to see Aragorn crouched beside him. The young man fell back against the wall without much strength left as the Ranger held onto Frodo.

"Oh, no." He murmured and flipped him over. Frodo let in a big gasp of air and opened his eyes.

"He's alive." Sam murmured and Haromir smiled in relief.

"I'm all right. I'm not hurt." Frodo murmured.

"You should be dead. That spear would have skewered a wild boar." Aragorn stated, shock and happiness in his eyes.

"I think there is more to this Hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf gave Frodo a knowing look and the Hobbit showed them what was underneath his shift.

"Mithril." Gimli murmured in awe. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."

"Beautiful." Haromir choked, wiping blood off his mouth again. He had a cut on his cheek that was likely from flying rocks. Frodo looked at him in concern, but Haromir only smiled a little.

"Harry!" Boromir moved through the crowd and pulled his brother towards him. "You are injured."

"Not badly I think." Haromir winced. "I am still able to walk." He winced as Boromir ran his fingers along his side.

"Then we must make haste." Gandalf warned and suddenly the air filled with more cries of Orcs. "To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" The group got to their feet, hurrying towards the open passage. Haromir winced as Boromir helped him up, the movement jarring his bruised side and back. The older brother was reluctant to let go lest his Haromir fall over, but the young man only swayed slightly before pushing forward. Boromir was not letting his brother out of sight anytime soon though and followed him closely as they fled the tomb room. Out into the grand hall they went, passing the tall pillars again. Orcs followed them, cutting off all means of escape and finally trapping them in a circle. Orcs poured from the ceiling as well moving down the pillars like squirrels and Haromir gritted his teeth as everything fell silent for a moment. Eyes flashed in the light of Gandalf's staff, reflecting bloodlust and triumph that made Haromir on edge.

A noise that sounded like a fierce grinding came from far ahead of them at that moment. The group looked at the suddenly flame colored light that discharged from the far off place. The sound came again and the Orcs took off, fleeing up the pillars and disappearing all from view. That did not set well with the Fellowship. Something had made them run. Growling noises came from the lighted archway, making everyone nervous even those who swore they had no fear.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked and Gandalf shut his eyes concentrating hard. Suddenly his eyes flew open.

"A Balrog." He whispered and Haromir sucked in a breath. He had heard of those in old stories that used to scare him as a child. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you…Run!" He shouted and no one needed telling twice. They ran as fast as they could, Gandalf stopping near the back to usher them down a flight of almost hidden stairs. Boromir was so intent on getting to the steps that he almost fell off into the abyss below a hanging drop where a flight of steps had broken off.

"Boromir!" Harry cried out as his brother teetered on the very edge of the drop. Luckily Legolas caught him and pulled him back upright.

"Thank you, Legolas." Haromir breathed and the Elf nodded once.

"Do as I say! Swords are of no more use here!" Gandalf shouted suddenly, making the young man turn as Aragorn was pushed in front by the wizard.

"Keep going, Harry." Aragorn murmured, clapping a hand to his shoulder. They turned and followed the others to another flight of stairs to their left. The soon came across a smaller bridge that had a large gap in the middle. Boromir and Legolas both came to a stop at the edge of the gap and looked at one another. The Elf jumped first, landing nimbly on the other side. It wasn't a far jump, but it was a still a huge drop down that no one wanted to take. Before anyone else could follow, they heard a boom from the steps behind them. The Balrog was coming.

"Gandalf!" Legolas beckoned and the wizard jumped the gap. The Elf Prince caught him and then he turned to catch another. An arrow shot where Gandalf had been seconds before and Haromir whipped his bow out to help protect the group that needed to jump, since Legolas was busy, and stood behind them firing away.

"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir called and holding onto the two Hobbits closely he leapt for the other side. Legolas steadied them.

"Sam." Aragorn called and the Hobbit came over to him. The Man tossed him over to Legolas, both grateful that Haromir was not a bad shot as arrows flew around them. Gimli watched Haromir's concentration on the Orcs a moment longer, seeing something there that he had never seen before. Aragorn turned to him hands ready and the Dwarf scowled.

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" Gimli said indignantly and made to jump himself. His foot barely touched the other side before he started to fall back. Legolas leapt forward and grabbed the Dwarf by the only thing he could grab first. "Not the beard!" Gimli shouted, but there was no room for adjustment as the Elf hauled him up and into the crowd behind him.

"Harry." Aragorn called, but the young Gondorian didn't move. He kept firing at the Orcs. Aragorn frowned worriedly. Haromir had the same determined expression that he had had when he attacked the Orcs earlier. Suddenly part of the bridge that he and Frodo were standing on began to collapse and he pulled them up and out of the way. Aragorn was slightly glad that Haromir hadn't come forward. It might have been too late to save him. Haromir was jarred from his task and fell back on his underside as the bridge piece shifted. The movement drew him from his numbed sensation and he blinked at his companions.

Haromir got to his feet as the Balrog let out roars, hitting the entrance to the stairs behind them. The blast from the outside caused parts of the foundation around the archway to fall and heavy chunks of rock slammed into part of the bridge behind them, effectively cutting off any escape. Now Aragorn, Frodo, and Harry were trapped between two large gaps and that piece they were on was moving. Boromir moved so that he was next to Legolas, ready to catch his brother if he could.

"Harry." Aragorn called Haromir took the offered hand coming to stand closer to them. Harry put a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "We have to balance this."

"Ride it." Haromir murmured. "We'll need to lean forward when it's shaken enough." Aragorn half-smiled at Haromir's thinking. He was glad to see that he was not still in his 'battle mode'.

"Hang on!" The Ranger shouted and the three of them had to maintain a balance on the swaying rock. Finally it broke enough. "Lean forward!" They did and the bridge piece hit moved them forward. Haromir sucked in a breath knowing that Aragorn and Frodo were going to have to be caught first and he moved behind them, readying to leap when he had too.

"Come on." Legolas urged and held out his arms for Aragorn. The Ranger leapt to him and Boromir caught Frodo. The four of them turned instantly to Haromir who ran and jumped forward without hesitation as the rock finally broke all the way off, falling to the ground below. Boromir set down Frodo and hugged his brother to him.

"Don't do that again." Boromir reprimanded. "For a moment I wasn't sure you were going to jump off."

"For a moment, I wasn't sure of that either." Haromir murmured and though Boromir felt disturbed by that, he steered Haromir around and the Fellowship took off for the last bridge.

"Over the bridge!" Gandalf hurried them, stopping to urge them again. "Fly!" Boromir took off leading the way towards the exit and behind him came, Frodo, Aragorn, Merry, Pippin, Haromir, and Legolas. Haromir and Legolas paused to see what the commotion behind them was and they froze. There was the Balrog. Large, grotesque and wreathed in flame it stood as tall as a good pine tree, not including the long horns that jutted from its head like a bull.

"Harry, come on!" Haromir turned at the sound of his name and ran after the group as did Legolas. They raced across the bridge, hearts racing and blood pumping; running like they had never ran before. Suddenly they realized that Gandalf had not followed them all the way across the bridge. He stood near the middle, facing the towering Balrog.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf shouted and the Balrog roared in response.

"Gandalf!" Frodo cried in terror.

"I am the servant of the Secret Fire wielder of the flame of Anor." Gandalf said, his voice barely being heard to those behind him. "The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!" The Balrog struck at Gandalf with a blade of its own and the wizard blocked it with the light of his staff.

"Go back to the Shadow!" He commanded and the Balrog used a flame covered whip to smack at the bridge defiantly as it dared to take a step. "You shall not pass!" Gandalf cried out, lifting his staff and slamming it against the bridge. The Balrog did not heed the warning and took the step. The bridge cracked beneath its feet and with a roar the beast fell through, falling to its doom. The Fellowship sighed with relief and Haromir stepped forward to assist the tired wizard. Gandalf took a solitary step forward and suddenly something wrapped around his ankle, jerking him towards the edge of the newly made gap. Gandalf hung heavily, his strength to hold himself up leaving him quickly.

"No, no!" Boromir shouted, stopping Frodo from moving closer.

"Gandalf!" Harry and Frodo shouted at the same time. Haromir didn't run forward, like the Hobbit had, but he did take a step. Legolas watched him in case he did try to run. The pure agony in the Man's eyes was enough for Legolas to look away.

"Fly you fools!" Gandalf warned them and dropped from sight.

"No!" Frodo screamed heartbreakingly and Boromir had to tote him towards the steps, his own eyes stinging. Everyone else stood frozen for a moment, incredulous as to what had just happened.

"Aragorn!" Boromir called as the Orcs returned peppering them with arrows. They almost left Haromir who was staring at the spot where the wizard once stood. Legolas was the first to see him and he ran back down the steps.

"No." The young man murmured, ignoring the arrows that were narrowly missing their still target.

"Haromir." Legolas toned softly, though his words were urgent. "We cannot linger. Come." The Elf took hold of the young man's arm and pulled him gently towards the steps to their freedom. Haromir allowed himself to be tugged, his eyes stinging and blurring his vision. Gandalf who had been their wise leader, their wizard, and their friend was gone forever.

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