Buffy belongs to Whedon and everything else is Tolkien's.

I have been trying to stick to the book rather than the film but this chapter ended up following the movie.

Thanks for the reviews

The Mines Of Moria

Damn," Buffy swore as the last rock tumbled down to block the entrance into Moria.

"I know," muttered Legolas, "I do not care for the dark either."

"Oh no, it isn't the dark. I'm used to the dark. I lost my damn sword. It's stuck in that thing's eye." Buffy turned to look at the elf. His skin was a little paler than usual and his eyes seemed to have lost some of their gleam. "Boy, you really don't like the dark do you?"

"Ha!" chortled Gimli. "Everyone knows elves are afraid of the dark."

"I do not fear the dark! It is simply that elves do not do well when parted from the sky," Legolas answered defensively. He turned to Buffy and pulled something out from behind his back. "Here you may use this until you are able to acquire another weapon."

"But then you will only have your bow," she protested.

"No, I have the dagger's twin." He pulled the other one out and showed it to her. They matched perfectly

Buffy studied the dagger Legolas had given her. It was exquisitely made and very light weight. "Thank you, Legolas."

"I will feel much better knowing you are not defenseless," he smiled at Buffy who felt her cheeks grow a little warm. God, was she actually blushing? "I will show you the use of it if you wish."

Buffy looked at the dagger. It felt right in her hand and now that she thought about it, it kind of reminded her of a long pointy stake. She twirled the weapon around her body in intricate patterns which drew gasps from the others and a quick grin from Legolas. Finishing with a flourish she tucked the dagger in her belt behind her back where she normally hid her stake.

"I think I'll do okay on my own." She winked at the elf. "I am hardly defenseless without a weapon either."

"Perhaps not but you are safer with one and that eases my mind." Buffy's cheeks grew even redder at that and she was thankful for the dark. At least Legolas couldn't see how his words affected her though she refused to consider why they affected her so much. She decided to change the subject and turned to address Gandalf.

"What was that thing?"

"There are older, fouler things than can be imagined in the deep places of the earth." Gandalf answered grimly and Buffy shivered.

Gandalf decided not to bring to attention the fact that of all the people in the Fellowship Frodo and Buffy had been the ones the creature went after.

* * *

The dark was endless. Even Buffy, who was accustomed to long hours in dark spaces, began to grow edgy. This place was giving her the creeps and that meant a lot coming from someone who had literally been to Hell and back. The only light came from the end of Gandalf's staff and the darkness seemed to be growing closer. The company sat before three pathways while Gandalf studied them, trying to decide the safest way. Up and down countless stairways was beginning to take its toll on Buffy and she was glad for a chance to rest. She walked over and leaned against a rock near Gandalf.

"Have you been thinking about my problem?" She asked.

"There is much to consider where you are concerned, Buffy." Gandalf had been trying to puzzle out what Buffy meant to Sauron. What part did she have to play in this quest? His hope was that Galadriel may be of some help. Perhaps she had had a vision about the girl.

"The only the thing I want to consider is how I can get home."

"I know nothing off the top of my head. I am hoping that there will be something of use in Minas-Tirith."

"W hat's a Minas-Tirith?"

"A city of Men," Gandalf chuckled. "There is a great library there that may be of some assistance."

Library, Buffy thought. The wizard reminded her so much of Giles sometimes. She felt a bitter pang of homesickness.

"None of that," Gandalf had been studying her expression and knew what she was thinking. "If there is any way at all to get you home, we will find it. I promise."

Buffy smiled and felt a little reassured. Moving over to where the rest of the group sat she spotted a comfortable looking rock that would make a nice seat.

"Oww!"

Nine faces turned and looked at Buffy in shock. She grinned sheepishly and rubbed her leg. "I forgot to move my dagger out of the way."

"You stabbed yourself with your own dagger?" Boromir asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," Buffy muttered. Way to prove you're capable of handling weapons, she berated herself.

"Are you bleeding?" Aragorn stepped forward to examine her wound.

"No! I just surprised myself, that's all."

Pippin and Merry cackled in the corner and even Frodo cracked a smile. Well, at least someone found it funny.

"This is so embarrassing," she groaned and covered her face with her hands.

"Buffy," Legolas said and pulled her hands away from her face, "you've nothing to be ashamed of."

"I just stabbed myself with my own dagger."

"I have seen things about you the others have not."

Buffy stiffened, she did not want to talk about what he'd seen in her dreams.

"You have been through so much and you are still fighting. Everyone makes mistakes and I promise no one here thinks lesser of you for having accidentally stabbed yourself. I shot myself in the foot once."

"Really?"

Legolas nodded but decided not to mention that he had only been five at the time.

"Thanks," Buffy gave the elf's hands a squeeze. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Frodo staring off into the darkness. His body was stiff and Buffy immediately knew something was wrong. She nudged Legolas who turned in Frodo's direction and they watched as the hobbit hurried over to where Gandalf sat. Buffy and Legolas looked at each other and then joined Frodo.

"There is something out there." Frodo said.

"I know," replied Gandalf calmly. "It is Gollum. He has been following us for some time."

"Gollum!" Legolas said. It still burned him that the creature had managed to escape Mirkwood.

"You mean the thing that had the ring before Bilbo?" Buffy asked and Gandalf nodded.

"It is a pity Bilbo did not kill him when he had the chance," Frodo muttered.

"Pity?" queried the wizard softly. "It was pity that stayed his hand. There are those who die who deserve life and those who live who deserve death. It is not for you or I to decide such matters. Taking a life is nothing to consider so lightly."

"He is right Frodo. Believe me." Buffy put her hand on his shoulder.

"Ah!" Gandalf exclaimed abruptly, startling the others. "It is this way."

"Gandalf has remembered!" Merry said.

"No, but the air does not smell as foul this way. When in doubt Meriadoc, always follow your nose." With that the wizard led the company down the middle pathway.

Aragorn stepped up beside Buffy as they waited for the company to move single file down the narrow passage. "Legolas must think a great deal of you to part with one of his daggers. They are very dear to him."

"He is kind -"

"It is more than kindness though I doubt even he realizes that yet." Aragorn looked down at Buffy with serious eyes. "Tread carefully Buffy I would not see either of you hurt."

"There is nothing to tread carefully about. We're friends, that's all."

Buffy paused before the path's entrance and look down with frown. "Great."

"Is something the matter?" Aragorn asked.

"More stairs."

* * *

The company reached the end of passageway and stepped into a wide, cavernous room. They did not know this by sight for very little could be seen in the darkness but the air suddenly moved more freely and was not as stale as it had been in the passageway. Buffy took a deep grateful breath of the cleaner air as the light on Gandalf's staff grew brighter illuminating a vast open chamber with intricately constructed pillars throughout. Her mouth dropped open at the sheer size of the room and she continued gawk as the Fellowship made its way across. Though the air was nicer here the sense of dread Buffy had felt since first entering Moria increased. She scanned around and caught a glimpse of a chamber off to the side up ahead. Gimli must have seen it at about the same time because he suddenly broke from the group and ran off in the direction of the room despite protests from Aragorn.

Following behind Gimli Buffy found herself in a room with a tomb in the middle. A bright beam of light shone down onto the stone sarcophagus illuminating the space around it. Gimli collapsed at the foot of the tomb and sobbed uncontrolabally muttering about Balin. That was Gimli's relative that he had been going on about. This must be his tomb. She felt sorry for the dwarf but her sorrow was eclipsed by her growing sense of unease. She heard Legolas warn Aragorn that they should keep moving and she heartily agreed with him. Something was very wrong about this place.

Gandalf swept through the room and picked up a large tome that a particularly gruesome skeleton had been clutching. With a clear voice he read from the book and revealed to all present the horrible story of the last days of this room's occupants. He finished with, "We cannot get out. We cannot get out. . . . The end comes. . . drums, drums in the deep - I wonder what he meant by that. There is one more line scrawled in elf letters, it says simply: they are coming.

Suddenly a loud crash sounded throughout the room as a fully armored skeleton went tumbling down a stone well. Pippin stood by with his eyes squeezed shut and a very guilty look on his face.

"This is very bad." Buffy muttered.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf towered over the hobbit. "Throw yourself in next time and save us all the trouble!"

Pippin looked properly chastised and Buffy felt for him. He hadn't meant to knock the skeleton over and he obviously felt bad about it.

From deep within the bowels of the earth a thrum sounded. The beat of drums could suddenly be heard by all and Buffy felt real fear at the noise. Many feet were heard hurrying about outside as horns sounded in the distance. It was getting closer and closer and the beats were coming faster and faster. Her slayer sense was going off the charts.

"They are coming." Gandalf said.

She saw Aragorn draw his sword and heard the slight creak of Legolas's bow as he aimed at the door. Frodo's sword glowed blue in his hand.

"Orcs!" he exclaimed.

Boromir being either brave or just stupid poked his head around the door. An arrow flew past and nearly took his head off. He quickly proceeded to slam the doors shut and barricade them with the help of Aragorn.

"They have a cave troll." He said rather nonchalantly.

Buffy pulled her dagger out and hustled the hobbits back behind her and the other members of the Fellowship. They all had their weapons out and Buffy prayed they could use them. She had a feeling this would get very bad before long. She joined the front line between Boromir and Aragorn as the first thump sounded against the door. Her breathing was ragged and she had broken out in a cold sweat. But she was ready for a good fight.

"You haven't a suitable weapon," Boromir said to her looking at her small dagger. "You should stay back with the hobbits."

Buffy looked at him with steel in her eyes. "I don't need weapon to kick ass. Watch and learn."

Before he could respond the door burst open and orcs poured in. Legolas's bow sang as arrow after arrow found its home in the body of an orc. Aragorn and Boromir cut their swords into orc after orc. From behind her Buffy heard a cry go up from the hobbits.

"The Shire!"

Suddenly they joined the fight. Their swords flashing and biting into orcs left and right. Buffy was very impressed but she didn't have time to be for long. Ganging up around her were about five of the foul creatures. They were all hissing and slobber seeped out the sides of their mouths.

"Ewwwww. . ." She made a face of disgust. That was just gross.

Backing her into a corner they began to snarl and Buffy began to wonder why they didn't attack already.

"Buffy!" Legolas had spotted her across the room and his heart seized when he saw that she was surrounded. He aimed his bow and shot off an arrow before being tackled from behind.

Buffy who had seen everything yelled back, "Don't worry about me!"

One of the orcs to her left reached out to grab her and Buffy sprang into action. She spun and kicked the creature so hard he flew across the room slammed into the wall. Her dagger flashed as the other orcs attempted to attack but they all met the same deadly end. Seeing that more approached Buffy flipped over to the tomb and leaped on top. From here she had a much better vantage point to fight the orcs. Pulling herself into a fighting stance she waited for the first one to attack.

Aragorn sliced his sword decapitating an orc while smashing another with his elbow. He turned to find his next victim when the sight before him made him pause. Buffy stood on top of Balin's tomb, her dagger lowered at her waist and her other hand poised to throw a punch. The light streamed in behind her setting her golden hair on fire. Power rolled off the small girl in waves and her eyes flashed with danger. Aragorn had never seen anything such as this. Suddenly six or seven orcs attacked Buffy at one time and the girl was a blur. She moved faster than he could follow as orc after orc fell at her hand. And to think he was going to teach her how to fight.

Buffy killed orc after orc and her blood pumped with the activity. It felt so good to let all her built up energy out and the orcs were paying a heavy price for her previous slaying inactivity. She showed no mercy with her dagger which now dripped with orc blood. She paused as she kicked the last one away. Breathing heavily she resumed her fight stance. This wasn't over yet.

She wasn't wrong. With a huge crash the entrance exploded as an enormous creature came barreling through the door.

Buffy sighed and muttered, "Cave troll."

A massive arm swung forward as Sam dived between the monster's legs and scrambled out the other side. It smashed into the pillars in an attempt to get to Frodo. Buffy heard the hobbit cry out Aragorn's name then watched as the ranger was flung into the wall. An orc held a long heavy chain that was fastened around the troll's neck and it was pulling the creature further into the room. If they could get a hold of the chain they might be able to choke the thing somehow. Buffy took aim with her dagger then let it fly. It flashed in the light then buried itself between the eyes of a very surprised orc. The chain was now left dangling and Buffy was pondering how to use it to their advantage when she was knocked to the ground.

Legolas slit the throat of an orc with his dagger and then spun and fired an arrow at another. Like Aragorn, he had seen and been mesmerized by Buffy's fighting ability. He had not doubted that she must be skilled but to see her in full action was shocking. She moved with inhuman speed and grace while her enemies fell before her in waves. He saw her look at the chain around the troll and then at the orc holding the chain. He drew the same conclusions as Buffy and as soon as her dagger found its target the elf was up grabbing at the chain. He jumped up and wrapped one end around a huge stone pillar then with a deep breath he jumped onto the creature's head and fired an arrow directly into its skull. The troll swatted at him and he leaped back to the ground only to find himself having to fight off four orcs at once.

Buffy kicked an orc off of her and flipped herself up off the ground in time to see Legolas fire an arrow into the troll's head. The thing wasn't even phased. Then she punched and kicked her way over to where her borrowed dagger was buried in the skull of the dead orc. It wouldn't do to lose Legolas's weapon as she had lost her sword. At a cry from Sam Buffy looked up to see the troll smashing its fist into the area around the hobbits. She picked up a piece of stone from one of the crushed pillars and threw it at the beast's head. It only hit the troll's shoulder but its attention was drawn away from Frodo and Sam to where Buffy stood.

"HEY UGLY!" Buffy yelled and the troll roared loudly.

It swung a huge fist at her but she managed to jump and roll to the side, narrowly avoiding being pummeled. She found herself lying next to a beheaded orc that gripped a massive fighting axe in its arms. Buffy ripped the axe away and as the troll tried to pound her once again she buried the weapon deep into the beast's fist. It snatched its hand back roared furiously. Unfortunately the troll's attention from Frodo could not be diverted for long. Buffy watched helplessly from across the room as the monster suddenly stabbed Frodo with a long iron rod. Everything was happening so fast. Sam cried out and Merry and Pippin let up yell. They turned from their seemingly slain friend and jumped onto the troll stabbing it over and over again with their swords. The beast wavered and groaned. Buffy saw Legolas stand and take careful aim. With one well placed arrow the death blow was delivered and the troll collapsed to the ground causing the very earth to shake.

Aragorn moved to pick up the body of Frodo but to everyone's surprise the hobbit's eyes popped open and he gave loud gasp.

"We thought you dead!" Sam cried.

"You should be. That was enough to skewer a wild boar." Aragorn looked stunned.

Frodo rubbed his side where the rod had hit him and as he did his shirt was pulled back to reveal a bright silver coat of mail.

"Mithril!" Gimli said astounded.

"There is more to this hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf smiled in relief.

"What is mithril?" Buffy asked.

"The dearest of metals," Gimli explained. "It is impenetrable and very light weight. Perfect for armor but it is also very rare. A suit of mail such as Frodo's is fit for a king. I have never seen its like."

"Come," Gandalf said urgently. "We must make for the Bridge of Khazad-dum!"

The Fellowship fled. They ran as quickly as possible through the giant chamber. But soon they were surrounded on all sides by thousands of orcs. Buffy didn't see how they could get out of this alive.

Then she heard the roar.

The orcs froze for a moment then began screaming. As quickly as they had surrounded the group they disappeared. The company stood, stunned by the turn of events.

The roar sounded again. Only this time it was louder, closer. A flicker of red could be seen at a distance bouncing of the huge stone walls. Buffy felt a fear as she had never known in all her time as a slayer seep into her bones. She took a deep breath trying to keep panic from setting in.

"Gandalf what is going on?" She asked but was afraid to hear the answer.

"A Balrog." The wizard pronounced softly.

"Ai!" Legolas cried.

"What is a -"

"One of the first demons to walk Middle-Earth. I cannot fight this." Gandalf said.

"What do we do?" Frodo asked.

"Run."

With that Gandalf led the Fellowship through a maze of corridors and passageways. Sam slipped and Buffy grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind her. The group came to a large narrow stairway that hung suspended over a great chasm. The glowing red light was getting closer. Buffy was jerked to a stop because the stairway before was missing a huge portion. Legolas jumped over the hole with ease followed by Boromir. Buffy helped toss the hobbits over and watched as Gandalf made it safely to the other side. Gimli refused any help and ended up hanging by his beard over the side. Arrows were flying at them from orc archers hidden above and Legolas loosed his own arrows which found their targets high above in the darkness. It was now Buffy's turn to jump. She took a running start and just made it to the other side. Her heels dangled off the edge and Boromir's grip on her shoulders was the only thing that kept her from falling back. Aragorn and Frodo were left and they had much more difficulty. Before they could jump the stairway behind them collapsed leaving the two to balance precariously on the remaining portion. Leaning forward on Aragorn's command they rode the piece of the stairs forward until it hit against the side where the rest of the company was looking on in horror. They jumped to safety and the Fellowship flew to the Bridge of Khazad-dum.

The bridge was narrow and they could only pass over it one by one. Behind them the red light grew brighter and the sound of drums continued to echo. Buffy reached the other side followed by Aragorn and Gandalf. Suddenly the wall on the opposite side of the bridge exploded and in its place was a creature that would haunt Buffy's dreams. It was made of fire and it was huge. Thick horns curled on either side of its head and a long whip was gripped in a clawed hand. This was a Balrog. The demon roared, it's whip lashing out. Behind her Buffy heard Gandalf tell Aragorn to lead the Fellowship out of Moria while the wizard protected the rear. Aragorn tried to protest but it was no use.

Buffy grabbed the wizard as he ran past her. She knew what he was going to do.

"Don't do this Gandalf, please!"

"You of all people should know why I must do this." Gandalf pulled away and met the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dum.

He was going to die trying to protect them.

She watched with a sort of sick fascination as the wizard raised his sword and staff. A bright light encased him and acted as a shield against the whip of the Balrog. He spoke with force and power emanated from him. The fire in the Balrog faded under Gandalf's attack leaving behind a monster made of pure darkness. Aragorn and Boromir started forward intending to help him. Before they could get there the Balrog stepped out onto the bridge and Gandalf saw his chance. He raised his staff high and with a burst of energy the bridge crumbled under the demon. It fell with a roar into the deep depths of Moria. All looked well for a moment and Buffy began to sigh in relief. Then the whip lashed out from the darkness and caught Gandalf around his knees.

"Fly you fools!" He cried before being pulled to the same fate as the Balrog.

Buffy heard the cries of the Fellowship as the wizard disappeared off the bridge. She felt a wetness on her cheeks as she stood motionless and numb. For a moment she had thought everything would be fine, making the outcome all the more cruel.

Someone was pulling on her arm.

"We must go Buffy!" Legolas tugged harder and Buffy let him lead her out into the light.