Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, only my two OCs.

A.N: Currently watching news on huge bushfires in Australia. There are over 68 fires in Victoria and 25 fires that could join up together and make a fire over 500,000 hectares wide.

Anyway, "" is someone speaking, '' is someone thinking and italics is another language. Please review and let me know if I have made any mistakes. Now, on with the show!

The Balrog

We were sprinting as fast as we could through the halls. We darted through a narrow doorway, Boromir in the lead. He was so busy looking over his shoulder that he nearly tumbled down the stairs. Legolas, thank goodness Megan wasn't distracting him, grabbed him and stopped him from falling down the stairs to his death. The pair fell onto the stairs and I saw Aragorn speaking to Gandalf. I saw Aragorn's face twist into a mask of confusion as Gandalf shoved him away. We sprinted along the narrow, winding stairs, wobbling slightly and I could have sworn I could have heard something cracking. The structure I could see was unstable and crumbling form the years of disuse. We came to a large gap in the stairs and Legolas slid past Bormir and leapt across the gap with disgusting ease. Megan leapt across the gap and darted past him, firing at the orcs. We all turned when we heard the thundering footsteps of the Balrog. Gandalf jumped across and Megan moved further down to make room for us all. Boromir grabbed Pippin and Merry and leapt across the gap just as part of the structure crumbled beneath us. I grimaced as Aragorn threw Sam to Legolas.

"Nobody throws a dwarf!"

Gimli jumped and Legolas, in order to save him grabbed his beard and tugged, hard.

"Not the beard!"

I knew I could make the gap, so I backed up, sprinted and leapt across the gap. Legolas caught me and I moved further down to make way for the stairs crashing into us. I barely made it as the structure had disappeared under my very feet just before my jump. Aragorn and Frodo were forced to climb further up the stairs. Aragorn wrapped his arms around Frodo and said

"Lean forward."

The piece of staircase wobbled and swayed and started to move forward. Their stairs rammed into our stairs and Legolas caught Aragorn and Boromir caught Frodo. We darted down the rest of the stairs until we reached another large hall.

We were running through a hall again and the flames were now licking at the pillars causing to sweat at the intensity, but we could see the bridge in sight. I heard the Balrog roar and saw a flicker of fear in Gandalf's eyes. We were still sprinting but I could feel the Balrog's steps behind us. I shuddered but concentrated on running and making sure the hobbits were keeping up. We finally came to the bridge, which was nothing more than a narrow strip of carved stone. I stuck my arms out to keep my balance but managed to get across ok. I was near the back of the group when Gandalf turned to face the Balrog. Despite the fear he I could he was determined to not let this monster pass. He glared furiously at it and roared at it

"You cannot pass!"

"Gandalf!" cried Frodo.

Boromir tugged him back and the Balrog drew itself up to its full length and flames burst from its body.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."

During this Gandalf's sword collided with the Balrog's. It was an impressive and terrifying sight.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Roared Gandalf.

He slammed his staff and sword down onto the ground, a wave of power exploding from it and as the Balrog stepped forward the ground crumbled beneath it. Gandalf let out a sigh of relief as the Balrog fell, a mass of flames and black, cracked bones. It was incredible to watch this in real life. Gandalf turned away and made a step towards us just as the Balrog's fire whip flew out and latched itself onto Gandalf's leg dragging him down. Frodo made a dive for him crying out his name. Boromir grabbed him and pulled him back. There as no way we could reach Gandalf. The distance so too far, we wouldn't reach him in time and we would risk the bridge collapsing beneath us. Gandalf stopped struggling, looked at us piercingly and whispered

"Fly you fools!"

And he disappeared out of sight. Frodo howled in shock and Boromir carried him out of the mines. We reached the opening of the mines and collapsed into daylight. Pippin and Merry were on the ground sobbing, Sam had his head in his hands, Frodo walking away while Gimli shook with tears and rage and Boromir was next to him, comforting him. Legolas was staring off into the distance, pale and shocked. Aragorn was finally understanding what Gandalf's words meant, looking shocked as well. Megan and I stood near the mouth of the cave, upset but unsurprised. I turned my head to look at Megan and she stared back. She blinked, scowled at me and moved towards Legolas.

"Legolas, get them up." It was Aragorn.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!"

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up."

I pulled Pippin and Merry to their feet, unsure what to say. There wasn't much I could say. They had just lost someone who was vital to this quest, but who was also a friend. Megan and I knew he would be back, but they didn't know that. I sighed and squeezed their shoulders before turning towards Aragorn, waiting for orders.

We were now jogging across a grassy field and my legs were trembling with the strain. We stopped before the forest and I could see a faint, golden glow surrounding the trees. I heard Gimli talking to the hobbits about Galadriel and saw Frodo's stunned face as he heard Galadriel speak to him. Frodo froze mid-step, causing Sam to nearly run into him and ask him if he was ok. I blinked and there was an arrow, notched in front of my face.

"Oh..." muttered Gimli.

I pulled a face and saw that it was Haldir pointing his arrow in my face. Megan was looking absolutely murderous. And, unfortunately, that look was directed at me.

'I guess I should sleep with one eye open tonight.'

A.N: Reviews are welcomed.