Author's note ~ I still need some opinions on whether or not I should continue through the other books or stop when the Fellowship breaks. Please let me know!!!!!!!
Sorry it took me so long to get this back up, but I had to go see the movie again to remember some things. :) :) But I did have fun with this chapter. :) :) :) :) :) I hope you have fun reading it. :)
Arwen
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter VIII ~ "Moria, Part 3"
Drums. Every beat slammed into her mind, causing her almost physical pain. After a moment of listening, Teneriel shook her head, all doubt finally leaving her. "Orcs," she whispered. "And they are nearing quickly."
Legolas nodded, silently agreeing with her conclusion. His hands moved quicker than mortal sight could follow, releasing his bow from its straps on his quiver. "Indeed," he said. "Then we will be prepared."
Boromir brushed past them and ran to the doorway, quickly glancing to the right, and then to the left. His eyes widened and he jerked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding two Orc arrows that had been sent toward him with death on their tips. Aragorn ran to the doors and helped Boromir push them closed, Legolas grabbed an axe and a spear from two nearby skeletons and tossed them to Boromir and Aragorn to use in barring the doors.
After this work was completed, Boromir turned to the rest of the group with a look on his face that suggested he thought that things could not possibly get any worse . "They have a cave troll!"
Teneriel closed her eyes momentarily and groaned softly . "Alas , this could not possibly have been simple." She pulled her bow from her shoulder and notched an arrow to the string , joining Aragorn and Legolas in a row of archers. Her mind quickly raced through the layout of the room. This would not be the first battle to be fought here, that much was obvious. In the cold white light shining onto them, mounds of skeletons were clearly seen and broken weapons littered the stone floor.
The hobbits stood together in a tight knot before the well, faces pale but resolute. Their four swords glittered in the light from Balin's tomb, promising to bring trouble if their owners were attacked.
Gimli leapt atop the tomb and faced the door, his teeth bared in a growl of revenge. "Let them come!!!!! I am not afraid, these Orcs will see that there is still one Dwarf in Moria who can yet draw blood!"
The door shook violently and some of the loose boards fell from it. Ugly words came from behind it, belying where the speakers were. As soon as they had a shot , Legolas, Teneriel and Aragorn let loose their arrows, the Elves then reloading their bows faster than eyes could see. From beyond the door came screams and yells from the Orcs, but the assault on the door did not abate in the least.
And finally , the door disintegrated under one blow from the massive cave troll . It filled the doorway and looked around , Orcs pouring into the room behind it . With a roar, it stomped through, wielding not only a club, but a massive chain. The troll itself was nearly ten feet tall, its body thick with muscle, but its large head housed only a tiny brain.
The battle was joined. Orcs screamed and howled as sword and arrow bit at them, felling more than a few. Legolas took aim and let loose an arrow. It lodged itself deep in the throat of the troll, doing no more damage than to further infuriate the massive creature.
Teneriel shot off a few more arrows and became thoroughly distracted. The Orcs had closed in her in such a way that bows and arrows were no longer effective weapons. She slid her bow onto her back again and pulled out Erdoniel, its keen edge flickering wickedly in the light. Seeing this threat, the Orcs charged her, five at a time. Trusting in her finely honed instincts, Teneriel felled the first two Orcs with one sweep of her sword, ducking a sloppy thrust made by another. It paid for its error, for a split second later, Erdoniel's blade sliced across its stomach. Teneriel blocked the fourth Orc's sword, pulling her sword away and bringing it swinging across the Orc's jaw. The last Orc chose to find easier prey, turning tail and running away.
Teneriel's eyes widened as she took in the battle scene. For being such small creatures, the hobbits were fighting with the tenacity and fury of someone twice their size. What experience they lacked was made up by teaming together when necessary. But her real concern was with the troll. Where was it?
When the Orcs pressed in too close for his preference, Legolas jumped onto a shelf of rock that was jutting out from the wall. The troll closed on his movement like a predator and swung the heavy chain. Legolas ducked quickly, and it whistled overhead. Choosing a different tactic, the troll brought the chain hurtling downwards, intent on either smashing the Elf or taking off his head. Legolas stepped away, his eyes locked on the massive beast that was hunting him.
Cutting loose a bellow of frustration at this nimble-footed thing that wouldn't simply stand still to be killed, the troll whipped the chain in a horizontal arc, intending to catch Legolas by the chest. Sensing this, the Elf dropped flat, hearing the chain wrap around a nearby pillar. Seizing his chance, Legolas flipped upright and planted his right foot firmly onto the chain. A reckless idea formed in his head, and he scampered up the captured chain onto the beast's head. Pulling an arrow from his quiver and loading it onto his bowstring, Legolas kept his footing as the troll tried desperately to shake him off. When it finally stood somewhat still, Legolas let fly his arrow, and it slammed through the top of the troll's head. He leaped lightly off its shoulders, landing in a crouch.
"Have you completely lost your mind?" Teneriel snapped, dispatching an Orc who had been barreling towards her.
The bright smile that he flashed her was answer enough before Legolas yanked out his knives and jumped again into the fray.
The troll itself was only slightly phased by the arrow, it had seen Frodo duck behind some pillars on the other side of the room. Lumbering over, the troll thrust its ugly head between two pillars, spotting Frodo. It seemed, even for only a moment, that time stopped. Plucking a spear from the ground, the troll hurled it at the hobbit with all the strength possessed inside its body.
Frodo was hurled against the wall, slumping onto the floor with the spear sticking hideously out of his chest. When Aragorn rolled him over a few minutes later, believing him to be dead, Frodo groaned and opened his eyes. The mithril shirt given him by Bilbo had saved his life.
The Fellowship fled, but sadly, they did not make it far. Upon entering a great hall held up by hundreds of massive pillars, they found themselves surrounded by Orcs. The fell beasts poured down the pillars from the ceiling and climbed up from holes in the floor.
Teneriel felt the hobbits shaking at her back as she aimed her bow at various Orcs. Oddly enough, the Orcs weren't attacking , they weren't even moving . They just stood there, jeering at the Fellowship, mocking them in their own language.
Suddenly , the floor shook beneath their feet . The Orcs scattered screaming as the farthest wall was illuminated by ... fire .
"What is this new devil?" Boromir whispered, fear creeping into his eyes. His fear was well deserved.
"A Balrog," Gandalf said quietly, knowing that this would mean something to only two of his companions.
Teneriel relaxed her bow, her blood running cold. Her eyes locked with those of Legolas, and each saw fear in the eyes of the other. "A Balrog," she muttered, trying ineffectively to shake the feeling of foreboding that had been steadily growing in her mind. "Why must it be a Balrog?" Thankfully, she had no more time to ponder such thoughts, for Gandalf stood tall.
"Run!" he ordered. And run they did, with Boromir in the lead. He was first to find the gap, by nearly falling into it himself. He would have, if Legolas had not caught up with him and yanked him back from the edge of the chasm.
The Fellowship flew down the stairs until Legolas leaped over a hole in the staircase. Teneriel followed, landing lightly on the other side. Gandalf came next, then Boromir holding Merry and Pippin. Aragorn flung Sam over, whom Legolas caught gently and lowered to the ground.
Gimli straightened himself to his full stature and stated firmly, "Dwarves are not tossed, Master Aragorn." Taking a deep breath, Gimli jumped. His footing slipped on the other side, and he would've fallen had Legolas not taken hold of his beard and pulled him up.
The entire chasm shook. Aragorn and Frodo fell back onto the stairs, which broke away from the rest of the long staircase. "Lean forward!" Aragorn snapped. Frodo did so, and slowly, their weight, combined with the quaking stone, moved the chunk of stair closer to the others.
"Come on!" Legolas yelled, his arms open. He caught Aragorn in his arms, and Teneriel grabbed Frodo.
By that time, the flames of the Balrog were getting steadily nearer. Teneriel shuddered as she followed the Company, every story her father had ever told her of Balrogs was now swimming through her head. A Balrog was the greatest natural enemy of the Elves, and it had long believed that none remained on Middle Earth. Obviously, that assumption had been proven wrong.
The Bridge of Khazad-Dum loomed darkly before them. Without prior thought, they all crossed, save Gandalf. He was halfway across when flames wreathed the air. The Balrog had come.
Teneriel felt raw fingers of terror close around her. It was awful, a true horror. Something that was spawned from one's darkest nightmares, and should stay only in one's dreams. Only three things were truly discernible on this creature: its head was reminiscent of a devil's, its sword was sheathed in flame, and the whip it carried was made of pure fire.
Gandalf turned to face it and no fear was seen on his weathered face. "I carry the flame of Anor," he shouted, bringing his staff to bear against the Balrog. "You shall not pass!"
The Fellowship stood frozen on the stairs, unable to move either to flee or to aid Gandalf, even though no aid could be given him.
The Balrog roared, bringing its flaming sword crashing down onto Gandalf's. Both shattered. Gandalf clasped both hands firmly onto his staff and brought it slamming down onto the stone bridge. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The bridge before the Istari crumbled, and the Balrog fell, screaming wildly. Its whip cracked and snaked around Gandalf's feet, pulling him into the chasm. He managed to hold on long enough to yell, "Fly, you fools!" Then he fell. And all the hopes of the Fellowship fell with him.
"NO! Gandalf!!!!" Frodo wailed, running forward with tears streaming down his cheeks. Boromir lunged toward him and caught him around the waist, heaving the sobbing hobbit into his arms.
Aragorn did not allow them time to ponder the death of Gandalf ; quite the contrary, he pushed them forward. Orc arrows whistled down around them, nearly spelling death for every member of the Fellowship at some time.
Teneriel fought back the wail of agony that welled up within her and pulled out her bow. Orc archers fell, many dying not knowing the fell demon that slew them. But one did the impossible before it died.
Teneriel nearly dropped her bow as fire spread through her upper arm. She had been shot. Two Orc darts had ripped through her skin and embedded themselves deep just beneath her left shoulder. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clamped a hand over the wound and ran, leaving the darkness and death of Khazad-Dum far behind. Or so she had hoped. Her foot landed on a spear shaft, and it rolled under her, betraying her. Teneriel lost her balance and fell, her head cracking hard against a nearby stone. Darkness fell across her vision, and she knew no more.
Now this, my faithful readers, is a cliffhanger. :) :) :) :) :)
Sorry it took me so long to get this back up, but I had to go see the movie again to remember some things. :) :) But I did have fun with this chapter. :) :) :) :) :) I hope you have fun reading it. :)
Arwen
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter VIII ~ "Moria, Part 3"
Drums. Every beat slammed into her mind, causing her almost physical pain. After a moment of listening, Teneriel shook her head, all doubt finally leaving her. "Orcs," she whispered. "And they are nearing quickly."
Legolas nodded, silently agreeing with her conclusion. His hands moved quicker than mortal sight could follow, releasing his bow from its straps on his quiver. "Indeed," he said. "Then we will be prepared."
Boromir brushed past them and ran to the doorway, quickly glancing to the right, and then to the left. His eyes widened and he jerked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding two Orc arrows that had been sent toward him with death on their tips. Aragorn ran to the doors and helped Boromir push them closed, Legolas grabbed an axe and a spear from two nearby skeletons and tossed them to Boromir and Aragorn to use in barring the doors.
After this work was completed, Boromir turned to the rest of the group with a look on his face that suggested he thought that things could not possibly get any worse . "They have a cave troll!"
Teneriel closed her eyes momentarily and groaned softly . "Alas , this could not possibly have been simple." She pulled her bow from her shoulder and notched an arrow to the string , joining Aragorn and Legolas in a row of archers. Her mind quickly raced through the layout of the room. This would not be the first battle to be fought here, that much was obvious. In the cold white light shining onto them, mounds of skeletons were clearly seen and broken weapons littered the stone floor.
The hobbits stood together in a tight knot before the well, faces pale but resolute. Their four swords glittered in the light from Balin's tomb, promising to bring trouble if their owners were attacked.
Gimli leapt atop the tomb and faced the door, his teeth bared in a growl of revenge. "Let them come!!!!! I am not afraid, these Orcs will see that there is still one Dwarf in Moria who can yet draw blood!"
The door shook violently and some of the loose boards fell from it. Ugly words came from behind it, belying where the speakers were. As soon as they had a shot , Legolas, Teneriel and Aragorn let loose their arrows, the Elves then reloading their bows faster than eyes could see. From beyond the door came screams and yells from the Orcs, but the assault on the door did not abate in the least.
And finally , the door disintegrated under one blow from the massive cave troll . It filled the doorway and looked around , Orcs pouring into the room behind it . With a roar, it stomped through, wielding not only a club, but a massive chain. The troll itself was nearly ten feet tall, its body thick with muscle, but its large head housed only a tiny brain.
The battle was joined. Orcs screamed and howled as sword and arrow bit at them, felling more than a few. Legolas took aim and let loose an arrow. It lodged itself deep in the throat of the troll, doing no more damage than to further infuriate the massive creature.
Teneriel shot off a few more arrows and became thoroughly distracted. The Orcs had closed in her in such a way that bows and arrows were no longer effective weapons. She slid her bow onto her back again and pulled out Erdoniel, its keen edge flickering wickedly in the light. Seeing this threat, the Orcs charged her, five at a time. Trusting in her finely honed instincts, Teneriel felled the first two Orcs with one sweep of her sword, ducking a sloppy thrust made by another. It paid for its error, for a split second later, Erdoniel's blade sliced across its stomach. Teneriel blocked the fourth Orc's sword, pulling her sword away and bringing it swinging across the Orc's jaw. The last Orc chose to find easier prey, turning tail and running away.
Teneriel's eyes widened as she took in the battle scene. For being such small creatures, the hobbits were fighting with the tenacity and fury of someone twice their size. What experience they lacked was made up by teaming together when necessary. But her real concern was with the troll. Where was it?
When the Orcs pressed in too close for his preference, Legolas jumped onto a shelf of rock that was jutting out from the wall. The troll closed on his movement like a predator and swung the heavy chain. Legolas ducked quickly, and it whistled overhead. Choosing a different tactic, the troll brought the chain hurtling downwards, intent on either smashing the Elf or taking off his head. Legolas stepped away, his eyes locked on the massive beast that was hunting him.
Cutting loose a bellow of frustration at this nimble-footed thing that wouldn't simply stand still to be killed, the troll whipped the chain in a horizontal arc, intending to catch Legolas by the chest. Sensing this, the Elf dropped flat, hearing the chain wrap around a nearby pillar. Seizing his chance, Legolas flipped upright and planted his right foot firmly onto the chain. A reckless idea formed in his head, and he scampered up the captured chain onto the beast's head. Pulling an arrow from his quiver and loading it onto his bowstring, Legolas kept his footing as the troll tried desperately to shake him off. When it finally stood somewhat still, Legolas let fly his arrow, and it slammed through the top of the troll's head. He leaped lightly off its shoulders, landing in a crouch.
"Have you completely lost your mind?" Teneriel snapped, dispatching an Orc who had been barreling towards her.
The bright smile that he flashed her was answer enough before Legolas yanked out his knives and jumped again into the fray.
The troll itself was only slightly phased by the arrow, it had seen Frodo duck behind some pillars on the other side of the room. Lumbering over, the troll thrust its ugly head between two pillars, spotting Frodo. It seemed, even for only a moment, that time stopped. Plucking a spear from the ground, the troll hurled it at the hobbit with all the strength possessed inside its body.
Frodo was hurled against the wall, slumping onto the floor with the spear sticking hideously out of his chest. When Aragorn rolled him over a few minutes later, believing him to be dead, Frodo groaned and opened his eyes. The mithril shirt given him by Bilbo had saved his life.
The Fellowship fled, but sadly, they did not make it far. Upon entering a great hall held up by hundreds of massive pillars, they found themselves surrounded by Orcs. The fell beasts poured down the pillars from the ceiling and climbed up from holes in the floor.
Teneriel felt the hobbits shaking at her back as she aimed her bow at various Orcs. Oddly enough, the Orcs weren't attacking , they weren't even moving . They just stood there, jeering at the Fellowship, mocking them in their own language.
Suddenly , the floor shook beneath their feet . The Orcs scattered screaming as the farthest wall was illuminated by ... fire .
"What is this new devil?" Boromir whispered, fear creeping into his eyes. His fear was well deserved.
"A Balrog," Gandalf said quietly, knowing that this would mean something to only two of his companions.
Teneriel relaxed her bow, her blood running cold. Her eyes locked with those of Legolas, and each saw fear in the eyes of the other. "A Balrog," she muttered, trying ineffectively to shake the feeling of foreboding that had been steadily growing in her mind. "Why must it be a Balrog?" Thankfully, she had no more time to ponder such thoughts, for Gandalf stood tall.
"Run!" he ordered. And run they did, with Boromir in the lead. He was first to find the gap, by nearly falling into it himself. He would have, if Legolas had not caught up with him and yanked him back from the edge of the chasm.
The Fellowship flew down the stairs until Legolas leaped over a hole in the staircase. Teneriel followed, landing lightly on the other side. Gandalf came next, then Boromir holding Merry and Pippin. Aragorn flung Sam over, whom Legolas caught gently and lowered to the ground.
Gimli straightened himself to his full stature and stated firmly, "Dwarves are not tossed, Master Aragorn." Taking a deep breath, Gimli jumped. His footing slipped on the other side, and he would've fallen had Legolas not taken hold of his beard and pulled him up.
The entire chasm shook. Aragorn and Frodo fell back onto the stairs, which broke away from the rest of the long staircase. "Lean forward!" Aragorn snapped. Frodo did so, and slowly, their weight, combined with the quaking stone, moved the chunk of stair closer to the others.
"Come on!" Legolas yelled, his arms open. He caught Aragorn in his arms, and Teneriel grabbed Frodo.
By that time, the flames of the Balrog were getting steadily nearer. Teneriel shuddered as she followed the Company, every story her father had ever told her of Balrogs was now swimming through her head. A Balrog was the greatest natural enemy of the Elves, and it had long believed that none remained on Middle Earth. Obviously, that assumption had been proven wrong.
The Bridge of Khazad-Dum loomed darkly before them. Without prior thought, they all crossed, save Gandalf. He was halfway across when flames wreathed the air. The Balrog had come.
Teneriel felt raw fingers of terror close around her. It was awful, a true horror. Something that was spawned from one's darkest nightmares, and should stay only in one's dreams. Only three things were truly discernible on this creature: its head was reminiscent of a devil's, its sword was sheathed in flame, and the whip it carried was made of pure fire.
Gandalf turned to face it and no fear was seen on his weathered face. "I carry the flame of Anor," he shouted, bringing his staff to bear against the Balrog. "You shall not pass!"
The Fellowship stood frozen on the stairs, unable to move either to flee or to aid Gandalf, even though no aid could be given him.
The Balrog roared, bringing its flaming sword crashing down onto Gandalf's. Both shattered. Gandalf clasped both hands firmly onto his staff and brought it slamming down onto the stone bridge. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The bridge before the Istari crumbled, and the Balrog fell, screaming wildly. Its whip cracked and snaked around Gandalf's feet, pulling him into the chasm. He managed to hold on long enough to yell, "Fly, you fools!" Then he fell. And all the hopes of the Fellowship fell with him.
"NO! Gandalf!!!!" Frodo wailed, running forward with tears streaming down his cheeks. Boromir lunged toward him and caught him around the waist, heaving the sobbing hobbit into his arms.
Aragorn did not allow them time to ponder the death of Gandalf ; quite the contrary, he pushed them forward. Orc arrows whistled down around them, nearly spelling death for every member of the Fellowship at some time.
Teneriel fought back the wail of agony that welled up within her and pulled out her bow. Orc archers fell, many dying not knowing the fell demon that slew them. But one did the impossible before it died.
Teneriel nearly dropped her bow as fire spread through her upper arm. She had been shot. Two Orc darts had ripped through her skin and embedded themselves deep just beneath her left shoulder. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clamped a hand over the wound and ran, leaving the darkness and death of Khazad-Dum far behind. Or so she had hoped. Her foot landed on a spear shaft, and it rolled under her, betraying her. Teneriel lost her balance and fell, her head cracking hard against a nearby stone. Darkness fell across her vision, and she knew no more.
Now this, my faithful readers, is a cliffhanger. :) :) :) :) :)