So this chapter has turned out longer than I expected it to be. Though I will not devide it into two parts, for I think it wouldn't work. I hope you like it since I changed a few things and left out some aspects where I thought it was unnecessary to have Kayleigh involved. Starting with this chapter (not so much in this), I might start changing things throughout the original plot since Kayleigh being there will have consequences and some events wont play out as we are all used to from here on.
As I had feared the path leading onto Caradhras was harsh and dangerous. Snow had started falling and was now covering all landmarks on the slope. At one point Frodo had lost his footing and rolled down a couple of feet. I wasn't fast enough to grab a hold of him but luckily Aragorn was able to catch him. It wasn't until Boromir picked it up that he realized he had lost the ring. Because of the wind I didn't catch what words were exchanged, but I saw Boromir's eyes as he gazed upon the ring. There was a shadow clouding his eyes, a darkness passing through him that made me shiver. We had all stopped and were watching the scene further down the snowy slope. I didn't notice I had involuntarily gripped my sword until I felt Gandalf's hand on mine. When I looked up he softly shook his head, telling me that it was not my place to step in.
When finally Boromir returned the ring to Frodo I relaxed a little. Still what I saw in the Gondorian's face had me worried. Will he turn on us given the chance to save his people? Is it the ring? Gandalf said something about men being easier corrupted by its dark power… He is a good man, but what if that leads to his doom?
"Help an old man walk, Kayleigh?" I looked up ahead where Gandalf had paused and let Legolas pass. I envied the elf for being able to walk on top of the snow whereas the rest of us had to fight our way through the ever growing white mass. I walked up next to the old wizard and locked my arm with his. We both knew he was more than capable of taking on this journey by himself.
"How are you holding up, child?" He kept his voice low, so I assumed he was onto something.
"I am managing. The walking isn't bothering me that much anymore. But that is not what you want to talk about, is it?" He let out a small chuckle.
"No. You are right, it is not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to know how much you actually remember at this point. When you sat with Boromir a few nights back you seemed to remember something for a moment. What was it?" I hesitated to answer him, not sure what to say.
"He was telling me about his family. It was just an image popping into my mind, but I remembered his brother before he told me his name. And I have this dark feeling he won't be seeing Faramir again. I haven't figured out yet what that means. There is just this feeling something is about to happen. Not only to him but in the foreseeable future. In my dreams I see darkness and flames, though I don't know what it means. I can't remember."
"Well. I am sure we will find out soon enough. Once we leave the mountain behind it will get easier. You will see." He squeezed my shoulder reassuringly and quickened his step.
"I am not so sure about that…"
o-0-o
"I hate snow!" I was getting frustrated. The wind blew harshly around us, snow was falling so thick you almost couldn't see through and the snow had reached up to my waist by now. Legolas gave me an apologetic look as he walked by, of course on top of the snow, and up to the front of the line. At this point we were on a narrow path around the mountain that didn't allow us to walk side by side any longer. Aragorn and Boromir were following behind me, both carrying the Hobbits, for they were no longer able to walk through the snow. In front of me Gimli was cursing the snow in lot more colourful words than I had these last days. I instantly regretted grinning at his cussing when my face hurt from the cold of the wind upon moving a muscle.
"There is a foul voice on the air!" Legolas voice barely travelled back to where I was over the raging wind. But as I concentrated I could hear it as well. A dark voice, getting louder every second.
"It's Saruman."
"Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya!" A cold shiver went down my spine and the wind started picking up even more if this was possible. Dark clouds drew together over our heads and there was a loud cracking noise. We barely escaped the rocks cascading down on us.
"Thank you, lass…" Gimli let out the breath he had been holding and squeezed my hand as I let go of his shoulder, by which I had pulled him back.
"He is trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf! We must turn back!" Aragorn shouted from the back up to the front where Gandalf was leaning against the mountainside.
"No. Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" Gandalf stepped out into the open, raising his staff and arms towards the dark clouds and answering the wind with a loud voice. For a second the storm seemed to calm, before the threatening voice of Saruman thundered through the air again. Suddenly a bolt of lightning crashed into the mountainside and snow cascaded down on us like a tsunami. The only thing I could do was to press myself into the rock and shield my face with my hands. I had read about it somewhere that you should do it in order to keep snow out of your airways in case you got drowned by snow.
It felt like forever until I managed to break through the surface with my hands. I still couldn't move and I had to will myself to breathe slowly, against the feeling of being suffocated by the snow. I felt someone taking a hold of my hand and I took a hold in return. Seconds later I was pulled from the snow and took a deep breath of cold air. I looked to the left and nodded at Legolas who had reached over the dwarf's head to help me get out. I let out a relieved sigh as I looked around and saw that everyone was still with us and alive.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the western road to my city." Boromir was the first to speak up, still cradling Merry and Pippin against him.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard…"
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." I had an ill feeling at Gimli's words. I was sure there was a better way than the Caradhras but the mines scared me even more. I remembered my dream. We were in some kind of dark underground hall, flames and heat heading our way like living fire. Gandalf seemed to be thinking as well, his face an unreadable mask.
"Let the Ringbearer decide." He finally stated, looking at a confused and freezing Frodo.
"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromir's words hang between us and I looked at the Halflings. Their lips were blue and at this point even Pippin refrained from giving us his usual nonsense.
"We will go through the Mines." My stomach dropped at his statement and from the look on Gandalf's face he was having objections as well.
o-0-o
A bit further down the mountainside we were able to make our camp for the night in a little secluded dent that was shielded from the biting wind. Tomorrow we would continue our way back down. I didn't take long for me to fall asleep against Legolas, though my dreams were anything but relaxing.
The night had brought heavy rain, trickling down on the men all over the wall. Heavy raindrops on the mostly few pieces of actual armour creating a constant metallic clatter. Lightning was striking, illuminating the ground in front of the old stronghold. Bulky masses of flesh clad in poorly forged armour stretching out as far as I could see. My heart dropped and with frightened eyes I looked left. The elf had put his hand on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring smile.
"Don't let the fear consume you. We shall see another sunrise my friend." He had spoken in Sindarin, which I understood pretty well by now.
"I hope you are right, Haldir. I found so much I want to live for…" A loud blast disrupted the night and the ground beneath us gave way…
With a loud gasp I shot up into a sitting position, panting heavily.
"What is it?" Legolas soothingly stroked my hair and took a hold of my shaking hands.
"A bad dream…" I replied in Sindarin, indicating to him that there was more to it. I didn't want to talk in the common tongue and for that matter was glad Legolas had started teaching me the elven language. It wasn't that I didn't trust our companions but I didn't want to disturb them more than today's events already had.
"It was more of a vision than a dream, wasn't it?" He spoke slower than he would with Aragorn to make it easier on me to follow his words for I wasn't fluent enough yet. Aragorn looked over but didn't make any attempt of joining in the conversation.
"I think it was. Parts of what I once knew about the coming events sometimes come back to me. But it felt different this time. I think what I saw was a mixture between what I knew and what my presence has changed." A shiver went down my spine and I leaned back into my friend.
"We won't know what to make of it until it happens. You were right before when you said you had a bad feeling about taking the Pass of Caradhras. It seems your memory tends to come back whenever your life is threatened…" I let out a hum, as this one had seemed to be set much more in the future than the previous ones.
"You surprise me once more, little girl. I wasn't aware you were speaking the language of the elves." I turned my head to look at Boromir who had seemed asleep up until now. He was pushing a log into the small fire he had built to keep the Hobbits from freezing.
"I decided it was a matter of respect to learn their language when it was clear I would be staying in Rivendell for quite some time. I am still learning so Aragorn and Legolas speak much slower than they normally would when talking to me." He nodded his head upon my answer.
"I see. Once more I have to admit there is more to you than meets the eye." After some moments of silence I slowly drifted back to sleep while staring into the dancing flames.
When we finally arrived the valley where we were supposed to find the entrance to Moria, night had already fallen upon us. The valley before us was vast, the rocky outskirts almost forming a cauldron. In the middle was a large lake, the water so black it seemed to swallow all light the stars were casting down on it. We were following along the stony shore to the far end of the valley.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Aragorn looked down at me and put a reassuring hand against the small of my back.
"For what it's worth, I don't like how dark the water is either." I nodded, glad that I wasn't the only one feeling uneasy.
"Ah. The walls of Moria!", Gimli exclaimed when we finally reached an area where the rock was forming an almost smooth surface. He explained further that dwarf doors were invisible as long as they remained closed and tapped the rock with his axe.
"Yes, Gimli. Even the dwarves themselves cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf had his hand on the stone while his eyes searched for any slight difference in the surface.
"Why doesn't that surprise me…" I gently nudged Legolas's side and shook my head in disapproval. He gave me an apologetic smile. He knew well I wasn't content with the constant verbal confrontations between him and Gimli since we were all on the same side here.
A bit further up Gandalf had his hand against the stone and was mumbling something. Suddenly the clouds withdrew a little and the moonlight lit up the scenery. As soon as the moonlight touched the stone, a pattern appeared and formed an ornate door with elvish letters above. I gasped in surprise. It was beautiful beyond words.
"It reads: The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter." Gandalf was pointing at the letters and translated it for us.
"What does it mean?" I looked over at Pippin who was scratching his head in confusion. I rolled my eyes a little at the very obvious answer that if you were a friend you only needed to speak the password.
"Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" Gandalf had pressed the tip of his staff against the star in the door's centre as he spoke the words. He looked as confused as the rest of us when nothing happened. He tried a few more words with the same outcome. Instead of listening to Pippin giving his usual nonsense and Gandalf's harsh answer I walked over to a small boulder close to the water and sat down with the feeling that this would take a while.
Aragorn helped Sam taking our belongings off Bill, explaining to him that the Mines were no place for the brave pony. Next to me Merry started throwing rocks into the water and was quickly joined by Pippin. I wanted to tell them to stop it, since the nagging feeling of an unseen threat was constantly growing, but Aragorn beat me to it.
"Do not disturb the water." He hissed at the Hobbits. Boromir came up next to me and watched the small ripples on the water with equal concern as the ranger and the elf at my side.
"Usually dwarven fortresses are heavily guarded…" Legolas muttered in Sindarin as the ripples grew a little larger.
"I didn't really need to know that now. And I certainly don't want to know what is in that lake." Even Pippin was now looking a little scared as the four of us kept watching the dark water with suspicion.
"It's a riddle!" I looked over to the door where Frodo had suddenly jumped to his feet. "Speak friend… and enter! What is the elven word for friend?"
"Mellon." As soon as the words left Gandalf there was a crack and the stone doors started to open. We all got back to our feet and one by one followed Gandalf through the entrance. The wizard placed a crystal in the top of his staff.
"Soon master elf you will enjoy the hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone! This my friend is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!" Gimli was getting overly excited as Gandalf brought the crystal to light up and softly illuminated the entrance hall. I stopped dead in my tracks as the light revealed corpses and skeletons strewn all over the staircase, causing Boromir to walk right into me.
"This is no mine… It's a tomb!" The Gondorian exclaimed. I was able to see arrows piercing the dead bodies now that my eyes adjusted to the dim light and flinched when Gimli let out a pained cry.
"Goblins!" Legolas threw the arrow he had inspected away and gripped his bow the same second Boromir gripped his sword next to me. I followed suit and drew my sword as well, not sure what to expect.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should have never come here. Get out of here, now!" As we slowly retreated, Frodo suddenly fell to the ground and was hurled back by something that had grabbed him. I opened my mouth and let out a panicked shriek instead as something now grabbed my ankle and pulled my legs out from under me. With a loud thud I fell down and lost my grip on my sword.
"Kayleigh!" Faster than I could take a hold of Boromir's outstretched hand I was hurled outside as well. I panicked when I saw I was being dragged towards the pitch black water. I reached for my belt and produced a dagger, lashing out at whatever had taken a bruising hold of me. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Merry and Pippin had managed to get Frodo free. A second later dozens of tentacles shot out of the water towards both of us. One hit me against my cheek and I felt the skin break. I tried hitting anything with my dagger. I must have managed to get the tentacle trying to grab my wrist as it suddenly retreated, ripping the dagger from my hand in the process. More tentacles were now grabbing at me and I struggled to get free. I barely noticed my companions shooting and hacking at the beast hidden in the water until it suddenly let go of me.
I screamed when I started falling and felt the air pressed out of my lungs when someone caught me.
"Into the Mines!" I heard Gandalf shout and felt myself being carried away from the water and back into the entrance. The creature was following us, its tentacles tearing at the doorway until it finally gave way and collapsed mere inches behind us.
I was still trembling when Gandalf reignited the crystal in his staff and Aragorn set me back on my feet.
"I told you, I didn't want to know what was in that lake…" I looked at Legolas and took my sword back from him. He didn't answer, instead he gently grabbed me and pulled me briefly into him.
"We now have no other choice but face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard, there are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world. Quiet now, it's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence here may go unnoticed." Turning around the wizard started his way up the stairs ahead of us. I followed somewhat reluctantly though I knew there was no other way since the way back was destroyed.
The way seemed to go on forever, it brought us through great caverns, abandoned mines with ladders and chains hanging everywhere, over narrow bridges and sometimes gaps that would promise an endless fall into the black abyss. I let out a sigh and felt a hand on my shoulder.
"What is it?" I looked at Aragorn and hesitated to answer.
"It is just the dreams I had lately. Endless darkness and scorching flames… I had a bad feeling about this even before the creature in the lake. I don't know. Maybe I am overreacting, I just hope we make it out of here alive."
"Don't think about it too much. You may have been right with your feelings before, but that doesn't mean it has to be this time." Though I heard his words I didn't miss the worried expression on his face.
"I hope you are right." I looked ahead as Gandalf was putting his hand against some silver lines in the rocky walls.
"The wealth of Moria was not only in gold or jewels, but Mithril." He cast a brighter light from his staff down into the caverns and mines below us. The light was reflected by thousands of those silvery lines. We all leaned forward and looked in silent admiration at this otherworldly beauty. I gasped when a small rock gave way under my foot and I lost my balance. With a harsh pull I was yanked back and away from the abyss. Both Gimli and Boromir had grabbed and saved me from falling down.
"Careful, lass. Some of those chasms go down for miles. Wouldn't want to lose you like that. Who else would I be talking to? The elf?" Gimli spat the last part and I rolled my eyes.
"You know… You would be surprised what you could learn if you just forgot about that stupid hatred between dwarves and elves…" He gave me a look one would cast a child asking stupid questions.
"You could as well ask him to hold his breath." Boromir pulled me back to my feet and gave me a once over, just to make sure I didn't get hurt any more.
"You let me take a look at your ankle once we take some rest. That monster almost tore through your boot with its claws…" I nodded at the Gondorian, appreciating him looking out for me. Though I would have been pretty capable of tending to minor injuries myself.
After some time of walking through the mines we reached a junction with three new hallways leading away. Gandalf stood there and looked at the doorways.
"I have no memory of this place…" He scratched his head and took off his hat in the process. It was obvious that we would rest here for a while, so we all tried to get as comfortable as it was possible on the rocks and broken pillars. Frodo sat with Gandalf, what they talked about I didn't understand from where I took a seat. Gimli had started a conversation with the remaining Hobbits. Where Aragorn and Legolas had gone off to I couldn't say. Probably they were searching for clues which way to take.
I sat a little to the side and was soon joined by Boromir. He motioned for me to get the boot off so he could take a look at my ankle. It was bruised but apart from that nothing more had happened.
"You do realise I can look after myself, do you?"
"I know that you can. It doesn't mean you have to. Old habits die hard, but where I come from it is highly unusual for a woman to pick up a sword. Let alone best some trained warriors without having seen an actual battle. Sooner or later we will put your skills to the test. And as long as there is any spark of life in me, I will make sure you survive this journey." I didn't look at Boromir, focusing on my foot in his hands. But I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every reaction.
"I don't want you to put your life on the line for me. If I am to die, then so be it. Your life is more valuable than mine could ever be. Call it chance or whatever you will, but I doubt my importance in all of this and if I will even be of any help when it comes to it. Out of all of you, I have the smallest amount of knowledge of this land, its people and customs…" I flinched when he grabbed my arm with more force than necessary.
"You let me be the judge of who is worth my protection. I swore an oath, same as you did. And if I can save a life, on my honour, I will do so. What you make of it afterwards is your decision. You being here is no coincidence. I saw what happened at the council, I saw you fight and I saw that fire in your eyes when you tried knocking me off my feet. Something tells me you have a bigger part in all this than you know yourself. And I will make sure you get to play that part." I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. I had known before from what I remembered of the books and the movies that Boromir was a man of honour. But hearing him talk like this, I realised the movies didn't do him justice in the slightest. Yes he was driven in some ways, but right in this moment I could see him for who he was. A leader and a man who would always put his people and those he considered close first. Even if it meant giving his own life for what he believed in. There was a sudden feeling of dread and I suddenly knew that he would never see his home and family again.
When Boromir cleaned the cut on my cheek, Aragorn and Legolas came back. Apparently not one step closer to finding out where we needed to go by the looks on their faces.
"How is she?" I bet the Gondorian to the answer.
"I am right here. It is just a small cut and only a few bruises. I had worse." Aragorn crouched down next to me, taking my right hand in his.
"And how is your arm?" I let out a sigh. Somehow I had hoped he wouldn't ask.
"It's fine, I guess. It stings from time to time. But it hasn't been so bad since those crows came down on us. I think Frodo feels it too. I saw him touching his shoulder, but I think it is not as bad." The ranger squeezed my hand and gently pulled my sleeve out of the way. The mark looked as bad as the first day, though the crusts were gone and the skin didn't look as irritated anymore.
"It makes sense. Though you were both on the brink of death, your wound was worse. It was deeper and it took us longer to extract the remaining shard. One thing I can tell you for sure, there is nothing of that blade left. Otherwise you would have been long gone…" His words did nothing to set my mind at ease. I couldn't shake the feeling something was about to happen. I couldn't get rid of the fear of the battles, I knew would come nonetheless.
"Oh, it's that way!" I looked up when Gandalf suddenly rose back to his feet, pointing at one of the doorways.
"He remembered." Merry joyfully exclaimed, only to be shushed by the others.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose. The wizard winked at the Hobbit and walked past him. I was a little relieved that we continued our journey through the mines. This way I could escape my thoughts because I needed to pay attention to where I was stepping. When we came out on the other side, all I could see was the bottom of some columns rising up into the darkness.
"Let me risk a little more light…" The crystal on his staff started glowing stronger, sending more light into the vast hall around us. The columns were stretching out as far as I could see, ornate and disappearing up into the black of the huge cavern.
"Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf." Gimli had told me a lot about Moria on our descend from Caradhras, but standing here and actually seeing it was something different. I felt small and irrelevant. I could almost see the vast hall lit with fires, dwarves running about and doing business. Looking back the doorway through which we had entered was soon lost from sight as we made for the other side.
Suddenly Gimli took off towards a room from which a soft light shone. I could hear him wail as we made haste to follow him. I entered after Gandalf, seeing the dwarf kneeling in front of something that looked like a tomb.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then..." I laid my hand on Gimli's shoulder, trying to comfort the grieving dwarf. Even Legolas was trying to show some compassion. While Aragorn and Boromir were staying close do the door, Gandalf walked over to a skeleton, pulling a dust covered book from the corpse. It seemed old, some pages falling out already.
"They have taken the Bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums. Drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming." I felt an ice cold shiver running down my spine as Gandalf read the last entry in the book. The ill feeling I had since entering the valley in front of Moria's entrance, was now reaching a new level. I thought back to my dream a few nights back and I knew something terrible was about to happen. A sudden clattering noise had us all whirling around to where Pippin was standing next to an old well. The skeleton he had just touched now falling back, following its head and pulling the chain and bucket attached to it down the well with it. The sound of it bouncing off the walls resonating loudly in the silence. We all held our breath as the echo slowly died down. I let out a relieved sigh when nothing happened. Except for Gandalf loudly closing the book in front of the Hobbit's face.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" He put down the book and picked up his staff and hat. Pippin looked at the ground sheepishly and I almost felt sorry for him. He would lose his own head if it wasn't attached to him… Curiosity killed the cat or in this case the Hobbit if he doesn't start thinking more before acting.
My heart stopped when the soft echo of a distant drum was heard. First I hoped I had been imagining things but soon the sound of drums was getting louder and faster.
"Frodo…" Sam gasped and I looked at the Halfling, who had drawn the sword gifted to him by Bilbo. The blade was shimmering in a light blue.
"Kayleigh." I looked up at Legolas. He pointed to where the necklace Glorfindel had given to me was disappearing into my blouse. Through the white fabric I could see an equally soft blue glow and pulled it out to confirm the stone was in fact pulsing with light. A scream disrupted the beating drums and I turned towards the door.
"Orcs!" Legolas notched an arrow in place and I hesitantly drew my sword. Boromir was stepping back towards the door, pulling back his head when an arrow hit the wooden surface, missing him by mere inches. Aragorn was pushing the Hobbits back, telling them to stay close to Gandalf.
"They have a cave troll…" Boromir gasped as he threw the door shut with Aragorn's help. Behind me Gimli had jumped up on the tomb of his cousin.
"Let them come! There is one dwarf left in Moria who still draws breath!" The Orcs were now hammering against the doors, trying to bring them down. Legolas shot an arrow through a small hole, killing the creature trying to make it larger. A few moments later the wood finally gave way and Orcs started running into the room. Legolas was shooting arrow after arrow, as Boromir and Aragorn started fending off the enemy with their swords. I still stood there, like I was frozen in time. I saw the Orc coming at me, still I couldn't move. I knew I could fight but my fear was overpowering any reason. The creature raised its shattered blade and my only thought was that I needed to do something. That I couldn't die here, not now. An arrow stopped the Orc and I gasped as it fell down at my feet.
"You better start moving, lass. Use that damned elven sword of yours and fight back!" Gimli jumped over my head, sending three Orcs flying in the process. I shook my head. I needed to snap out of it. I needed to fight or all I had done until now had been for nothing. Hell I might cause someone to die if I didn't act now.
Another Orc was coming at me, this time I refused my body to freeze. I willed myself to let instinct take over, I knew what to do. I dodged the attack, kicked the legs out under the creature and drove my sword through its chest without thinking. I pulled my sword free, turned and in the process nearly decapitated another enemy. I lost any feel of time, I just acted, didn't think.
"Watch out, Kayleigh!" I kicked the Orc coming at me in the chest and turned, seeing the cave troll coming at me. The second I needed to realise I had no idea how to fight him off was one second too long. Another Orc came at me and I barely dodged his attack. I gasped when I was suddenly pushed aside and hit the stone pillar to my left. I looked up only to watch as the troll sent Boromir flying across the room. The Gondorian had pushed my out of the way or I would have been far worse of than he was now. I jumped to the side, cut down another Orc and fought my way over to Boromir. He pushed himself up on his hands and knees, shaking his head.
"Are you hurt?" He got back up when I reached his side.
"I should be the one to ask you that." I gave him a warry smirk. I was panting, my muscles starting to feel sore. We had managed to somehow fight off most of the enemies by now, but I was sure this was not the end. On the other side of the room I could see the others had brought down the troll and were now gathering around Frodo. From where I was standing I wasn't sure if he was still alive until I heard Gimli let out a relieved laugh.
"To the Bridge of Khazad-Dum!" Gandalf turned and ushered us to leave the room. There were only a few Orcs blocking our way out and we soon broke through. I ran as fast as I could, trying to keep up with the rest of my companions who had a little head start on Boromir and me. We ran through the vast cavern we had passed before entering the tomb room, only now heading for the other side. Even if we were running fast, we were soon forced to stop, surrounded by thousands of enemies, closing in on us, crawling through cracks in the floor and the ceiling. We formed a circle, trying not to give them any opportunity to get into our backs. Boromir had his free arm in front of me, ass if ready to push in front of me at any time.
A roar suddenly has everyone halt their movement. A soft red glow pulsated in an archway close by. My stomach dropped. This wasn't good. Another roar had the Orcs screeching in panich and they started scattering, making haste to get away from us. Or more the light nearing the doorway.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir seemed to have the same ill feeling ass I did and Gimli's grin at our enemy's retreat slowly faltered. Gandalf paused and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again he looked way too concerned and I was getting anxious.
"A balrog. A demon of the ancient world. An enemy far beyond any of you… Run!" We all turned away from the red glow and started running again, the roar constantly getting louder behind us. Boromir was the first to make his way through the archway in front of us, He stopped dead in his tracks on top of the stairs, as they just stopped above the black abyss, and fought to keep his balance. Legolas came up behind him and grabbed him to keep him from falling.I stopped next to them and looked down.
"Good thing you stopped in time…"
"Who would look out for you if I hadn't?" Boromir gave me a nervous smile and straightened himself.
"... Do as I say! Swords are of no use here." Gandalf shoved a confused Aragorn forward, pointing towards the narrow bridge spanning over the abyss. We start making our way down the staircase, the roars and fiery glow getting closer by the minute. We made it down almost halfway when we came across a gap in the stairs, too wide to just step over. Without hesitation Legolas jumped to the other side, turning and motioning for us to follow. The roars were getting louder again and the rooftop started to crumble, rocks of various sizes falling down around us.
"Gandalf!" Legolas was beckoning the wizard to jump. The moment his feet touched the other side, black arrows started flying our way, missing us only by inches. Legolas turned and shot an arrow at the archer. Next to me Boromir tucked Merry and Pippin against him and jumped over as well. As he jumped a bigger chunk of the staircase loosened and fell down. Next thing I know Aragorn picks up Sam and throws him into Boromir's arms, while Legolas continued taking out the Orcs shooting arrows our way. I wanted to help, though I knew I would never be able to see the Orcs in the dim light.
"Not on the beard!" I turned my head back in time to see that Legolas had prevented Gimli from falling by grabbing the dwarf's beard.
"Your turn Kayleigh." I looked at Aragorn with worry. I wasn't sure if I could jump that far. Aware of my hesitation, the ranger grabbed me and picked me up as easily as Sam a few moments ago.
"Wait! Stop! What are you doing?" I was panicking. I hated highs. Always have. And him picking me up like a child, ready to toss me over the gap didn't help the rising panic. A second later I collided with Legolas's chest as the elf broke my fall. Behind us more of the stairs were falling off now and Aragorn pushed Frodo back up further and to safety. Another heavy chunk from the roof fell down, crashing the staircase between the two of them, effectively trapping them on a small part of the staircase, which now started crumbling at its base under the pressure. Both tried to keep their balance and Aragorn told the Hobbit to lean forward, the remains of the staircase rushing towards us in the process. Upon the impact both jumped. Legolas caught Aragorn and since I was still nearest to the gap, I let Frodo fall into my arms. For a second I lost my footing upon the impact and fell back against Gimli.
We continued further down, the stairs collapsing behind us. We finally reached another room, leading straight to the bridge, flames now growing all around us.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf stayed back as we all passed by him. I took a second to look back at him, only to almost fall. There was a dark shadow emerging from the flames. A black beast with burned wings, horns on its head and sharp fangs. A beast born from the fire. Gandalf grabbed my arm, pulling me from my stupor and shoving me towards the bridge.
"Go! You are still needed, girl. Go and don't look back!" He gave me another push and I stumbled to follow the others over the narrow bridge. I looked up ahead, not down on where I was stepping. I knew I would freeze if I looked down. On the other side I stopped and looked back if Gandalf was following. He had made it halfway across the bridge when he stopped and turned around.
"You cannot pass!" The balrog stopped in front of the bridge. It spread its wing and stood up to full height.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, Wielder of the Flame of Anor!" The balrog was now drawing his sword, lifting it high above his head.
"The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!" Gandalf was holding his staff out in front of him, the tip casting a bright white light. The light made some sort of protective globe around the wizard when the demon brought his sword down with no effect.
"Go back to the shadow!" The beast pulled out a flaming whip, now that it had lost its sword and made a step onto the bridge.
"You! Shall! Not! Pass!" Gandalf rose his staff above his head and brought it down hard on the bridge in front of his feet. The balrog snorted and took another step towards the old man. With a crunching noise the bridge started to collapse underneath the demon, right up to the spot where Gandalf stood and watched the balrog fall into the dark abyss. I let go of the breath I didn't realise I was holding when Gandalf turned to follow us onto the other side of the bridge. Suddenly the fiery whip shot up from the dark, wrapping itself around the wizard's ankle and bringing him down.
"No!" I screamed when he fell and barely held onto the bridge, already dangling above the abyss. "No, let me go!" I struggled against Boromir like a wild animal, who had gripped me hard and was holding me against him with all his strength as. Next to us Aragorn was holding back Frodo.
"Fly you fools." I watched in horror as Gandalf simply let go and vanished into the dark. I couldn't breath, I couldn't think. I barely registered that Boromir dragged me up the stairs, nor did I see the arrows still being fired at us as we made our way out of the Mines.
Gandalf is gone! How are we supposed to make it now?!
