Chapter 15: The Passing of Fire and Shadow
As the drums continued to beat we could hear goblins getting closer as they began barricading the door while I went by the hobbits. I got my daggers out watching them unsheathe their weapons seeing them shake with worry so I tried to give them a comforting smile.
Hearing a roar in the distance Boromir looked towards us saying, "They have a cave troll…"
I gulped never facing off against one before as the goblins began banging on the door so we all stepped back ready for the ambush. The wood began to break through as Legolas used his arrows to kill some goblins trying to break through. Once they started getting into the room Aragorn, Gimli, and Boromir were the first line of defense as Gandalf stayed in front of us shielding us from any danger.
One of the goblins came towards me but I easily took it down with my daggers following suit for the few that tried to get anywhere near the hobbits. For the most part, we had the advantage until with a loud roar the cave troll came barreling through the door charging into the room at full force.
The hobbits spread out trying to not get cornered as I did my best to fight off the goblins and pay attention to where they were at. Merry and Pippin were holding their own against some goblins while Sam was using his frying pan to keep them away. My eyes searched for Frodo seeing the cave troll zone in on him making me glare. I sliced my way through the goblins sliding on my knees under the cave troll slicing at his legs in the process hearing it roar out in pain.
"Frodo run!" I said just in time to feel my body get thrown into a pillar hearing it break as I slid down onto the ground.
I started seeing black spots in my vision as the outline of the cave troll stocked towards me snarling trying my best to pull myself up before it got to close. Suddenly a figure stepped in front of me as my eyes focused slightly seeing them hold a sword out staring down the cave troll.
"Leave her alone!" I heard him yell as I said lightly, "Pippin don't."
Thankfully the others stepped in as the cave troll was finally taken down hearing the cry of goblins die down until we were met with silence once again. Gandalf was quickly at my side as the others circled me hearing him chant something feeling the pain die down slightly getting my breathing back to normal. Aragorn offered me his hand as I stood up seeing that everyone was unharmed turning my attention to Pippin.
"Are you crazy that cave troll could have killed you." I said walking towards him seeing his eyes avert away from me hearing him say, "It was going to kill you, I had to do something."
I wanted to be angry but I also knew I couldn't because under the same circumstances I would have done the same thing letting out a small sigh putting my hand on his shoulder.
"I know Pipsqueak… thank you… just don't do something so foolish next time." I said keeping my voice calm as he nodded quickly.
The calmness was broken hearing goblin cries in the distance as Gandalf ordered all of us to run quickly leaving the tomb making our way into the great hall again. Despite all the running swarms of goblins came out of nowhere crawling down from the walls and pillars as we were suddenly surrounded. I looked around seeing thousands of them looking towards the others fearfully, how were we going to make it out of this alive?
Suddenly a giant roaring noise came from far down the cavern causing the hall to light up seeing the goblins look towards the direction of the noise before scurrying away in fear. Once they all disappeared another roar could be heard shaking the ground beneath us as I almost lost my balance.
"What is that?" I said softly hearing Gandalf say, "The dwarves unearthed something not of this world... an ancient demon of fire and shadow, the Balrog."
I felt my body shake feeling the evil power that emitted from this creature just in its roar as we saw the fire far in the distance, I felt a comforting hand touch my own trying to calm me as Gandalf told us to run.
Breathing heavily from the fight and the pain in my ribs we made it down some stairs going through a small crack in the large door descending a flight of stairs. The rocks above us began to fall from the shake of the demon's roar but I didn't dare look back. It began to crumble as I quickly jumped over turning around as everyone else began to jump staring at the large door seeing it begin to push out as the large creature tried to break through.
I watched an arrow fly by my face seeing the goblins perched up high trying to take us down but Legolas used his skill with the bow to make sure they were taken care of. Once we made it all safely across we went through another doorway as Gandalf ushered us all over a bridge.
I turned back seeing Gandalf still standing there saying, "Uncle Gandalf?"
"You must keep going!" he yelled when a huge creature cascaded in shadow and fire appeared pushing open the door as I went to go to Gandalf but an arm grabbed me before I could.
I turned around seeing it was Aragorn saying sternly, "We have to help him."
He gave me a somber look as Frodo came to our side wanting to go to him as well hearing Gandalf say, "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!"
The creature roared flapping out its wings in anger as Gandalf yelled, "You shall not pass!"
He hit his staff into the ground as it went quiet for a moment seeing the bridge begin to crumble where the Balrog stood watching it begin to fall into the darkness below. I breathed a small sigh of relief until a sound of a whip could be heard seeing Gandalf get pulled only able to hold onto the edge.
Frodo made the first move to run to him seeing Aragorn grab him while he did the same to me when I tried to get to him.
"Gandalf…" I whispered feeling tears fill my eyes as he looked towards us all saying sternly, "Fly you fools."
He let go of the edge falling into the abyss as I yelled out his name crumbling to the ground feeling tears spill from my eyes causing my vision to blur. I felt another arm grab me pulling me away as I tried desperately to run to where Gandalf fell. I was pulled along till we made it out of the mines feeling my body fall staring at the ground in defeat.
I felt a few reassuring hands on my back trying to soothe me but I barely felt it feeling only pain and despair consume me.
"We need to keep moving." I heard Aragorn say sternly while Boromir at my side said, "Give them a moment for pity sake!"
"By nightfall these mountains will be swarming with orcs." Aragorn said as I looked wiping away the tears seeing we were on the edge of the Lothlórien standing up saying, "He's right, follow me."
"Marina you don't have to." Pippin said softly while I shook my head saying, "I'll mourn when everyone is safe."
They all watched me quietly as I made my way into the forest burying my sadness for a better time until we could do it in true peace.
