Chapter Forty-Eight: The Bridge to Khazad-dûm
"He's alive," Samwise whispered, but he was keenly aware of how shallow his friend's breathing was. Slowly, he and the now-recovered Strider sat Frodo up and pulled back the bloodied spearhead. Peter offered the strip of cloth that he had intended to make into a torch.
"We'll have to bind the wound quickly," Aragorn stated, accepting the cloth. "We can't do a proper job until we are out of here."
"Come," urged Gandalf as the Ranger hoisted the wounded companion into his arms. "We haven't a moment to lose!" For emphasis to Gandalf's comment, an Orc screech filled the chamber from the outer halls. Gandalf began motioning for everyone to follow him out the door. "To the Bridge to Khazad-dum!"
The company took off at a mad dash. Edmund looked back at one point to note that they were being closely followed by an entire horde of Orcs. "We'll never make it," he gasped to Susan, who was running beside him.
Susan did not look back, but a noise above her head caused her to glance up. "They're coming down the columns!"
Within seconds Orcs and Goblins had completely cut off the fellowship from every direction – up, down, left, right, back, front. The company gathered in a group with everyone facing out while Aragorn, still carrying Frodo, was protected at the group's center. Edmund shook his head as he stared out over the thousands of fell creatures, knowing they would not make it out alive. Susan nocked an arrow to her bow, prepared to go down with a fight, but judging by the way her heart felt like it was in her stomach, Susan knew she would most definitely die. Peter was on the other side of the circle away from his siblings, standing betwixt Gandalf and Legolas. As he viewed the masses, his battle training abandoned him for a second; all he could think about was wanting to be standing beside his siblings.
The fell creatures around the fellowship tightened, and all braced themselves for the first bitter onslaught. Then – Sam was never sure he knew just what happened – a horn-like sound blared, and the Orcs and Goblins suddenly got a huge case of the jitters, turned tail and ran. Sam slowly lowered his frying pan and gave his companions a confused look.
"Was that some kind of growl?" asked Caspian, referring to the strange noise. It did not sound like an animal or creature – too big for that. Yet, it was something very real and very terrifying.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir gave Gandalf a nervous glance.
"A Balrog," the Wizard answered, turning in the direction of the sound. A high doorway filled the end of the passage, glowing red, as though the chamber beyond were on fire. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you." All at once, Gandalf was galvanized into motion in the opposite direction of the orange doorway. "Run!"
The band hurried through a darkened doorway, with Caspian taking the lead, while Gandalf remained at the back to make sure there were no stranglers. Caspian shot a glance back at Edmund. "Quick, to the front with that torch!" he ordered, though he did not decrease his pace. He suddenly lost his footing on the top step of a staircase. His head whipped back to the front in time to see that the stairs broke off. He was about to plummet into a seemingly bottomless gorge when, at the last possible moment, Legolas, next in line, yanked back the Telmarine. "Halt up!" Edmund roared as his electric torch revealed the broken steps.
Peter, desperate for instruction, looked back at Gandalf. The Wizard leaned against the wall, appearing winded. Before Peter could say anything, Gandalf grabbed him by the shoulder. "Lead them on. The bridge is near." Peter paused a second too long to register the meaning of this than was to Gandalf's liking. "Do as I say!" ordered the Wizard.
Following Peter, the company sought an alternate route on another staircase, that too was missing a section of steps part way down. The steps continued a short distance beyond, to which Legolas easily jumped.
"Gandalf!" The Elf urged the Wizard to jump. Once Gandalf was on the other side with Legolas, they turned back to assist the others, only to witness an upper portion of the staircase crumbling. The inhuman growl of the Balrog sounded at their backs, and arrow shafts suddenly hailed down on them from above. Orcs were reloading their bows on the balconies above them, but before one could take aim on them again, Susan had struck the Orc through the head with her own arrow.
"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir shouted as he grabbed the two little creatures into his arms and jumped across the gorge. No sooner had they made it safely to the other side than part of the steps collapsed. Peter and Edmund made a wild jump to safety while Susan, Caspian, Sam, Gimli and Aragorn holding Frodo retreated up the stairs. Arrows only missed them by mere inches.
"Catch Sam!" Caspian ordered to Boromir and Gandalf while Legolas sent a volley of arrows back to the Orc archers. Quickly, Boromir set the other two Hobbits down, and reached out for Sam whom Caspian tossed over the ravine. "Now Gimli!" Caspian announced turning toward the short figure.
The red-bearded creature bristled. "No one tosses a Dwarf!" And he flung himself across the chasm. His feet struck the top step, but then he lost balance and tipped backward. All at once, Edmund's hand shot forth, catching the Dwarf by his facial hair. "Do not touch the beard!" Gimli bellowed.
"Do you want me to let go?" Edmund chucked the Dwarf down the stairs behind him where the Hobbits were gathering. Then Edmund played his light over the upper portion of steps, spying the deepening cracks. "It's about to break!"
"Aragorn?" Caspian asked, turning toward the Ranger, who needed no second bidding. With Frodo in his arms, the Ranger made the jump, being caught by Peter, Boromir and Gandalf.
"Get back!" shouted Edmund as the steps gave way under Susan's and Caspian's feet. The two retreated further up the stairs. "Behind you!" Edmund gave another warning.
The bellow of the Balrog sounded again, and flames could be seen through the door at the top of the stairs. The approaching monster – or whatever it was – was bringing the ceiling down, a section of which took out the portion of stairs directly behind the lone two Humans. Susan and Caspian struggled to maintain their balance as the steps swayed on its weakened foundation. Soon they were tipped back toward the upper steps.
"Lean forward!" shouted Susan. Situating their weight to the front, the steps went in that direction, slamming into the stairs where the rest of the fellowship waited with baited breath. Edmund and Peter grabbed Susan as she toppled into him, while Boromir and Gimli caught Caspian.
With a hasty sign of relief, Gandalf showed the way down the stairs with the glowing stone on the end of his staff. "The bridge is near! Fly!"
In the lower chambers, Peter was once again in the lead, with the Hobbits close behind and being watched over by the rest. Edmund had wound up in the back, but there was no need for him to be at the front with his flashlight now. The halls were filled with fire, lighting the way for the travelers to the narrow stone expanse that bridged the gap between Moria and the outside world. They had to cross it single file, which cost them a few seconds, as they had to slow their pace slightly. Edmund glanced back to see that Gandalf was still behind with a horrid being in close pursuit. The monster was wreathed in the flames it was emitting, and it would have towered over Narnian Giants in height. Edmund did not have time to study the thing further. He turned to join the others in crossing the bridge, but before he could take one step, Gandalf caught his attention.
"Edmund, take this!" And Glamdring changed hands from Wizard to Human.
Edmund took the sword, not understanding why, but knew now was not the time for questions. He would ask Gandalf about this once they were clear of the caves. Once on the other side of the bridge, Edmund glanced back to make sure the Wizard was still behind, but instead he saw Gandalf in the middle of the bridge, facing the Balrog.
"You cannot pass!" the Wizard declared, taking his staff in both hands. The smoldering mass of evil crept further onto the bridge to defy the Wizard. Gandalf continued, "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun! Go back to the Shadow!"
The Balrog hissed and screeched, swinging a fearsome fire whip. Gandalf stayed the weapon with his staff. Then he lifted his staff above his head.
"You shall not pass!"
The end of the staff crashed onto the bridge. The Balrog took a fatal step forward and the stone crumbled beneath it. The monster dropped into the chasm, and everyone took an uneasy sigh of relief.
The small company had not gotten far, having halted at Gandalf's shouts to look back. Now, as Gandalf began to walk toward them, Peter mounted the short staircase. As he rounded the bend, a new scent reached his nostrils. Clean, fresh, water, wind, grass, stone – mountain air. They were finally leaving the filthy caverns of the Orcs, Trolls and Goblins behind.
"Gandalf!"
Peter stiffened at Frodo's cry and he rushed back. Those who had followed Peter were doing likewise, gasping when they saw the Wizard barely hanging onto the end of the bridge. Aragorn had deposited Frodo into Caspian's arms and was running back to help the Wizard. Edmund was already on the bridge. Boromir held back the Hobbits from hurrying to help, for fear they would only get in the way.
"What happened?" Peter demanded of Legolas.
"The Balrog's whip caught his ankle and yanked him down," the Elf explained.
An arrow hissed past Edmund's ear. Goblin and Orc archers had arrived at the end of the broken bridge and were sending their missiles toward the escaping fellowship.
"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf bellowed before losing his hold on the stone.
Edmund's mouth dropped as the Wizard disappeared from view. With arrows coming straight for him, Edmund retreated, passing Aragorn who was staring with disbelieving eyes. "We have to go," Edmund said, though he could not believe the words had come out of his mouth. His throat felt so dry; his body was energized and ready to flee while his mind just wanted to stay and mourn. Everyone else had already gone; somehow they all had found the strength to move. But one look at their faces once they were outside showed that flight had been the furthest thing from any of their minds.
Once out of sight of the exit of Moria, Boromir begged for a break. Everyone needed it. They all sat down and cried. Through their tears, Susan and Legolas tended to Frodo, cleaning the wound with a fresh strip of cloth and binding him up with yet another. Poor Frodo, although in pain, shed tears only for the loss of his great friend. Finally, Aragorn announced that they must make a move on.
"These hills will be crawling with Orcs soon, and we need must get Frodo to Lothlorien, if there is to be any hope to his survival."
It was sound reasoning, and the companions did not want to see another friend die, but this time when they prepared to leave, they felt as though their legs were like putty – not strong enough to carry them. A part of them had died along with the Istari.
