Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
Sorry this has taken so long, and sorry that it is movie-verse. I seem to have misplaced my copy of "Fellowship", but I promise a book-verse chapter next. Better movie than nothing, right?
Crazy/evil: Meanie! Just kidding. And thank you
Golden Rose: Thanks! And sorry it's taken so long, I was on vacation and not able to type!!
Tom: Oh. . .k. . .I suppose that's a complement?
Erothwen: Sorry, Legolas, but there is some angst coming up. . .really bad angst. . .don't worry, no matter who says that line you'll get an update!
Karate Elf: Thank you. Moria, coming up. . .
Sugar Addict: Okay!
Crys Ritter: You're welcome!
Soul Searcher Arbariel: Thanks a lot. . .all my Legolas stories get that comment! Oh, wait. . .that's because he's so damn hot! **smacks Legolas for being so attractive** So sorry about your computer, glad it's been fixed.
Cool Girl Chic 16: Well, it is about Legolas's emotions throughout the books, or the fellowship if people want me to stop there. In the previous fic he was cutting his arms and legs for emotional relief, and this is sort of. . .what happens after.
Padfoots Girl: Thanks and okay.
Kaimelieamin: Thanks! And worry not, the angst approaches. . .
Elven Baby Evenstar: No, you certainly were not very coherent. . .thanks!
Lil*bee: Generally one says that on the newest chapter, but all right I will!
Gwyn: Well, growing depression. . .sometimes has growth spurts. Yeah, you basically know exactly what's going to happen. But with a few little twists in there. . .
*****
"The walls. . .of Moria!" Gimli gasped, reverent. It was a great wall indeed, though, Legolas thought, more like a mountain than anything else, a wall of a mountain next to a small, vile lake. He was somewhat afraid of what lay ahead for him, not liking such confinement as mines and caverns. He stood back and observed as Mithrandir found the ithilden door.
"What does it say, Gandalf?" asked Frodo.
"These are the doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter," Mithrandir answered.
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
"Well, it's quite simple. If you are friend you speak the password and the doors will open." Mithrandir said this in a way that suggested he was surely a friend. Then, as if to prove this, he muttered a few words of Dwarfish. Nothing happened.
"What are you going to do now?" Pippin asked.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not break them at least I will spared foolish questions for a few moments, and I may think," Mithrandir replied angrily. Pippin walked off, and Legolas wanted to comfort the little hobbit, tell him that Mithrandir yelled at everyone like that, but instead Legolas stayed where he was.
An hour passed, and the doors remained shut. Mithrandir sat on a large rock, dejected, speaking of what he once knew. Gimli stared at the door in quiet reverence. The hobbits stood about, Samwise saddened because Aragorn had sent Bill the pony off. Out of boredom Pippin began tossing stone into the lake, each landing with a depressing splash. "Do not disturb the water!" Aragorn said, in what Legolas considered his most frightening voice. Pippin obeyed.
"It's a riddle!" Frodo said, jumping to his feet. As he did so Legolas noticed a ripple in the water, and hoped Frodo had solved the riddle as he backed against the wall. "Speak friend and enter. Gandalf, what's the Elvish word for friend?"
"Mellon," Legolas muttered. "Oh, I do hate the thought of entering those caves, but not as much as I hate that vile lake. What resides within?" No one heard his whisper, but there was a great rumbling from within the mountain.
"Mellon," Gandalf said, louder, and the doors opened. The company half- assembled, entering the caves. Legolas felt slightly uncomfortable, but shoved the thought aside.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves!" Gimli boasted. Legolas did not think this was so, it was near to impossible to see in those caves save for Elven eyes. "Roaring fires, ripe meat off the bone, malt beer. . ." Forest fires, bloody bones, Legolas thought, but he was not averse to malt beer, although he preferred ale. When in Gondor, do as the Gondorians do, Legolas reminded himself of the old saying. "This is the home of my cousin Balin and they call it a mine! A mine!" Gimli laughed at this.
"This is no mine," Boromir agreed. "It is a tomb!" The four hobbits noticed a carcass by their feet and stepped back. Gimli gave a cry of anguish and denial, observing the bodies strewn about the floor. Legolas knelt and pulled an arrow from one of the Dwarves. Being an archer, he could tell one kind of arrow from another. These were some he feared.
"Goblins!"
Boromir drew his sword, but he had had enough. "We make for the Gap of Rohan," he said, backing away, "we should never have come here." Suddenly there was a shout from behind them.
"Strider! Aragorn!" It was the hobbits. Aragorn turned and dashed off, just in time for the Watcher in the water to grab Frodo and swing him into the air. Boromir and Aragorn were at it with their swords at once, Legolas shooting arrows where he saw they would be the most affective. Finally managing to slash off the proper tentacle, Aragorn caught Frodo as he plummeted to the ground.
"Legolas!" Boromir shouted, but Legolas was shooting like mad already. The Watcher made an attempt at regaining the ringbearer, then seemed to decide against and ripped the doors from their holdings on the wall. Stones piled in. The hobbits ran back, grouping together. Legolas put a hand on Aragorn's shoulder, only just managing not to do or say anything that would utterly embarrass Aragorn.
"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria," Mithrandir prophesied gloomily.
*****
"Shh! Gandalf's thinking!"
"Merry?"
"Yes, Pippin?"
"I'm hungry."
Legolas smiled. The young hobbits probably had no idea how cute they actually were. For a moment he forgot how upset he was. . .then it came back to him. The Watcher. It had been his fault. . .if he had only be there, had only been more accurate. . .he could have killed it. He could have gotten rid of it. It was his fault that they had to journey through Moria. He had done something quite awful. . .
"It will not be long, Legolas. Do not worry. This is but a passing step of our journey."
"Hm?" Legolas asked. It was as if Aragorn had known exactly what he had been thinking. Now the Ranger sat beside Legolas, and he seemed to Legolas very old.
"These mines. . .we will not be in them long. I know you hate them."
Aragorn was looking after him. That was quite ironic, Legolas really only came to make sure that Aragorn was all right, yet now Mithrandir and Aragorn were looking out for. Perhaps he should tell Aragorn why he came in the first place, maybe even tell him about what had happened all those years ago. . .Legolas's heart sped up as he opened his mouth to speak.
"It's this way!" Mithrandir said.
"He's remembered!" Pippin said, jumping to his feet.
"No. The air doesn't smell so foul down here. . ."
As the others slowly left, Aragorn let his hand rest on Legolas's shoulder for a moment longer. "What is it?"
"We should go," Legolas said, standing up and shrugging off Aragorn's hand. Aragorn gave him a look of offense. He had only meant to help; then Aragorn stood and together the two followed the others. Legolas was glad when he realized that Aragorn understood the depth of what Legolas had tried to say, and did not judge or begrudge him for his inability to say it.
*****
"No! No!"
"Gimli!"
The Dwarf paid no heed, running off. The others followed, finding Gimli in tears beside a stone tomb. Mithrandir read off the epitath, noting the death of Balin, and commented, "He is dead then." A book of Dwafish ruins lay in the hands of a nearby carcass. Handing his hat and staff to Pippin, Mithrandir picked up the book and began reading.
"We must move on. We cannot linger here!" Legolas whispered to Aragorn, who nodded slightly, but gave him a look as if to say that they should, out of courtesy for the Dwarf, wait a few moments. Boromir did his best to comfort the anguished Gimli.
"The have taken the third hall. . .we cannot get out. . .we cannot get out. . .they are coming."
Pippin had no patience for such things. Noticing something, he turned, twisting an arrowhead from the hand of a skeleton. The skeleton fell down the well on which it sat, drawing after it a long chain. The others fell silent, staring at the hobbit, who turned away, squeezing his eyes shut in apprehension. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
That, Legolas thought, was a bit harsh, but he kept silent. Drums could be heard, and ugly screams. "Yrch!" Legolas muttered. An arrow pierced the door, and Boromir peered out, stating, "the have a cave troll!"
"Bar the door!" someone called, and Aragorn and Boromir did. They were quite a pair, those two, Legolas noted that there was hardly a task they could not accomplish. In seconds the orcs and their troll had arrived. The doors provided no obstacle to them, but in the perhaps sixty seconds that they took to break in an eternity reigned. Aragorn and Legolas had arrows nocked and were ready to shoot, Boromir beside then twirled his sword. Finally, as if mercifully, the orcs broke the doors and streamed in. Legolas fired arrow after arrow, watching orcs fall. Gimli shouted with rage as he tore down orc after orc with his axe. The hobbits had begun by hiding behind Mithrandir, who no longer seemed at all mad at Pippin, but now were fending for themselves.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this," Sam said, and Legolas glanced at him for half a second and smiled. Sam had decided that a frying pan would be his weapon, and was hitting the orcs about the head. A cave troll, however, is not a foe to face with a frying pan, and knocked Sam to the ground. As the troll was about to crush the hobbit beneath his foot, Boromir and Aragorn grabbed the chain about its neck and pulled back on it, distracting the troll. When it realized what was happening the troll jerk the chain, flinging Boromir against a wall. Boromir sat up shaking his head.
As the troll noticed Gimli, who had flung an axe into its chest, it set after him, swinging its great mace at anything, even orcs. Legolas had just run an arrow through some orcs with his bare hands, and was unoccupied for the moment. He placed two arrows in his bow and fired them. The enraged cave troll howled and turned to Legolas, who mouthed a curse as he ducked the flying mace.
Frodo hid from the cave troll behind a pillar, where his cousins had placed him. The troll tried hard to find him, and finally did, sticking a spear beneath his ribs. Merry and Pippin gave a great cry as they jumped at the troll. Legolas noticed the chain around the troll's neck and with Elven grace dashed up it, firing an arrow between the troll's eyes. Somewhere along the way the troll fell, crushing the few orcs left. Legolas jumped down from its head, slowly approaching Frodo, but keeping his distance.
Suddenly their dead ringbearer coughed and sat up. "It's all right. I'm not hurt," he said, to everyone's amazement.
"You should be dead," Aragorn informed him. "That spear could have skewered a wild boar." (author's note: try saying that ten times fast! It's impossible!) Frodo drew back his shirt, and beneath it was wearing--
"Mithril," Gimli breathed. But there was little time for anything more, as there were orcs coming. Their calls echoed throughout the chamber of death, and the company had to head on.
Orcs and goblins surrounded them on all sides, coming from the ground and the ceiling. Only the light from Mithrandir's staff held them at bay. All nine were nearing exhaustion, but they forgot that, brushed sweaty clumps of hair from their eyes, and wielded their weapons with proud fear. And then. . .they fled. Something evil approached, something worse. . .
Light poured in. Legolas frantically searched for something to aim at, moving his bow this way and that, then finally lowering it. "What is this new devilry?" asked Boromir, almost rhetorically, in a low voice.
"A balrog. A demon of the ancient world." At Mithrandir's words comprehension sparked in Legolas's mind, and he was afraid, the kind of fear that makes you want to cry. The same fear was mirror in Aragorn's eyes, though he steadied his breathing and hid it far better. Even the hobbits, who knew nothing of balrogs, knew from Mithrandir's tone how evil they were. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
Boromir did not realize where the floor ended, and nearly fell off, into the giant pit only inches before him. Legolas ran up to him and pulled him back, a move which succeeded; both men landed in a heap on the stairs. As they picked themselves up Mithrandir leaned on Aragorn in exhaustion, then turned to him. "Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near," he instructed. Aragorn stepped forward, as if to help Mithrandir and protest that they would not leave him there. Mithrandir shoved him away, commanding, "Do as I say!"
Aragorn simply ran on, not knowing which words to protest with. The others followed him. The stairway twisted and turned, and they were careful not to fall. Mithrandir was still with them, but no long leading. At a gap in the stairs they paused. Legolas hopped lightly across, and Mithrandir followed, though not as effortlessly. Boromir grabbed Merry and together they jumped, landing safely. The stairs behind them broke, enlarging the jump. Orcs fired at them mercilessly. Legolas returned their fire, but being only one Elf could hardly keep up.
"Pippin!" Aragorn called, then he grabbed the hobbit and threw him. Pippin was caught off guard, but landed all right. "Gimli!"
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" he protested, then jumped across himself. His landing was precarious, and Legolas grabbed his beard to steady him. "Not the beard! Not the beard!" Finally Gimli was safe. Now only Aragorn and Frodo remained across the gap. Legolas was sweating with nerves. If Aragorn didn't make it, he would be an utter failure. Aragorn and Frodo jumped, and for a second Legolas was sure that they would not make it, but then, with a crash they did. Aragorn slammed into Legolas, who hugged him, unable to help himself, then spun around and ran on.
*****
"You cannot pass! I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. Go back to the shadow, flame of Udun!" Mithrandir could be a commanding figure when he wanted to be. Now he surely was, standing without fear before the balrog. The balrog opposed him, but still he stood. It seemed as if so long as his courage held out, the balrog could do nothing. The balrog seemed not to know this, and there was a great crash as two great powers met. The bridge crumbled and fell, taking the creature with it.
Mithrandir turned, and from the look on his face the others could see how much of a drain his tangle with the balrog had been. The balrog fell now, but it flicked its whip of flame and, catching Mithrandir around the ankles, pulled him down into the depths. "Gandalf!" Frodo cried trying to run to him. Boromir caught him, knowing that losing one member of the company was terrible, but the ringbearer could not be compromised.
"Fly you fools!" And he fell.
Painful was the last instruction of their leader, but the eight remaining members of the company followed this direction, running for their lives. In the sunlight once more there was no strength left in them. Sam crumpled to the ground. Not to far from him Pippin was lying, Merry beside him offering what little comfort he could. Boromir restrained Gimli, who pulled towards the mines. All had tears in their eyes. Legolas felt the pain too nearly to comprehend it, let alone act upon it. Aragorn stood before them, dry-eyed, cleaning his sword. He was their leader now.
"Legolas, Boromir. Get them up."
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir protested. Aragorn shook his head.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Legolas, Boromir. Gimli, get them up."
Legolas heard his words but could not follow them. He could hardly keep on his own feet. What had he done? He could have killed the Watcher, or fired a shot at the balrog to distract him. Instead he had stood by, helplessly, and done nothing. It was all his fault.
Oh my. . .poor Legolas. . .I just want everyone to know how much fun I had writing the cave troll sequence. I would watch about thirty seconds in my sister's room, pause it, run into my room to type it up, then go back and so on and so forth. It was cool. Hope you liked reading as much as I liked writing this.
Sorry this has taken so long, and sorry that it is movie-verse. I seem to have misplaced my copy of "Fellowship", but I promise a book-verse chapter next. Better movie than nothing, right?
Crazy/evil: Meanie! Just kidding. And thank you
Golden Rose: Thanks! And sorry it's taken so long, I was on vacation and not able to type!!
Tom: Oh. . .k. . .I suppose that's a complement?
Erothwen: Sorry, Legolas, but there is some angst coming up. . .really bad angst. . .don't worry, no matter who says that line you'll get an update!
Karate Elf: Thank you. Moria, coming up. . .
Sugar Addict: Okay!
Crys Ritter: You're welcome!
Soul Searcher Arbariel: Thanks a lot. . .all my Legolas stories get that comment! Oh, wait. . .that's because he's so damn hot! **smacks Legolas for being so attractive** So sorry about your computer, glad it's been fixed.
Cool Girl Chic 16: Well, it is about Legolas's emotions throughout the books, or the fellowship if people want me to stop there. In the previous fic he was cutting his arms and legs for emotional relief, and this is sort of. . .what happens after.
Padfoots Girl: Thanks and okay.
Kaimelieamin: Thanks! And worry not, the angst approaches. . .
Elven Baby Evenstar: No, you certainly were not very coherent. . .thanks!
Lil*bee: Generally one says that on the newest chapter, but all right I will!
Gwyn: Well, growing depression. . .sometimes has growth spurts. Yeah, you basically know exactly what's going to happen. But with a few little twists in there. . .
*****
"The walls. . .of Moria!" Gimli gasped, reverent. It was a great wall indeed, though, Legolas thought, more like a mountain than anything else, a wall of a mountain next to a small, vile lake. He was somewhat afraid of what lay ahead for him, not liking such confinement as mines and caverns. He stood back and observed as Mithrandir found the ithilden door.
"What does it say, Gandalf?" asked Frodo.
"These are the doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter," Mithrandir answered.
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
"Well, it's quite simple. If you are friend you speak the password and the doors will open." Mithrandir said this in a way that suggested he was surely a friend. Then, as if to prove this, he muttered a few words of Dwarfish. Nothing happened.
"What are you going to do now?" Pippin asked.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not break them at least I will spared foolish questions for a few moments, and I may think," Mithrandir replied angrily. Pippin walked off, and Legolas wanted to comfort the little hobbit, tell him that Mithrandir yelled at everyone like that, but instead Legolas stayed where he was.
An hour passed, and the doors remained shut. Mithrandir sat on a large rock, dejected, speaking of what he once knew. Gimli stared at the door in quiet reverence. The hobbits stood about, Samwise saddened because Aragorn had sent Bill the pony off. Out of boredom Pippin began tossing stone into the lake, each landing with a depressing splash. "Do not disturb the water!" Aragorn said, in what Legolas considered his most frightening voice. Pippin obeyed.
"It's a riddle!" Frodo said, jumping to his feet. As he did so Legolas noticed a ripple in the water, and hoped Frodo had solved the riddle as he backed against the wall. "Speak friend and enter. Gandalf, what's the Elvish word for friend?"
"Mellon," Legolas muttered. "Oh, I do hate the thought of entering those caves, but not as much as I hate that vile lake. What resides within?" No one heard his whisper, but there was a great rumbling from within the mountain.
"Mellon," Gandalf said, louder, and the doors opened. The company half- assembled, entering the caves. Legolas felt slightly uncomfortable, but shoved the thought aside.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves!" Gimli boasted. Legolas did not think this was so, it was near to impossible to see in those caves save for Elven eyes. "Roaring fires, ripe meat off the bone, malt beer. . ." Forest fires, bloody bones, Legolas thought, but he was not averse to malt beer, although he preferred ale. When in Gondor, do as the Gondorians do, Legolas reminded himself of the old saying. "This is the home of my cousin Balin and they call it a mine! A mine!" Gimli laughed at this.
"This is no mine," Boromir agreed. "It is a tomb!" The four hobbits noticed a carcass by their feet and stepped back. Gimli gave a cry of anguish and denial, observing the bodies strewn about the floor. Legolas knelt and pulled an arrow from one of the Dwarves. Being an archer, he could tell one kind of arrow from another. These were some he feared.
"Goblins!"
Boromir drew his sword, but he had had enough. "We make for the Gap of Rohan," he said, backing away, "we should never have come here." Suddenly there was a shout from behind them.
"Strider! Aragorn!" It was the hobbits. Aragorn turned and dashed off, just in time for the Watcher in the water to grab Frodo and swing him into the air. Boromir and Aragorn were at it with their swords at once, Legolas shooting arrows where he saw they would be the most affective. Finally managing to slash off the proper tentacle, Aragorn caught Frodo as he plummeted to the ground.
"Legolas!" Boromir shouted, but Legolas was shooting like mad already. The Watcher made an attempt at regaining the ringbearer, then seemed to decide against and ripped the doors from their holdings on the wall. Stones piled in. The hobbits ran back, grouping together. Legolas put a hand on Aragorn's shoulder, only just managing not to do or say anything that would utterly embarrass Aragorn.
"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria," Mithrandir prophesied gloomily.
*****
"Shh! Gandalf's thinking!"
"Merry?"
"Yes, Pippin?"
"I'm hungry."
Legolas smiled. The young hobbits probably had no idea how cute they actually were. For a moment he forgot how upset he was. . .then it came back to him. The Watcher. It had been his fault. . .if he had only be there, had only been more accurate. . .he could have killed it. He could have gotten rid of it. It was his fault that they had to journey through Moria. He had done something quite awful. . .
"It will not be long, Legolas. Do not worry. This is but a passing step of our journey."
"Hm?" Legolas asked. It was as if Aragorn had known exactly what he had been thinking. Now the Ranger sat beside Legolas, and he seemed to Legolas very old.
"These mines. . .we will not be in them long. I know you hate them."
Aragorn was looking after him. That was quite ironic, Legolas really only came to make sure that Aragorn was all right, yet now Mithrandir and Aragorn were looking out for. Perhaps he should tell Aragorn why he came in the first place, maybe even tell him about what had happened all those years ago. . .Legolas's heart sped up as he opened his mouth to speak.
"It's this way!" Mithrandir said.
"He's remembered!" Pippin said, jumping to his feet.
"No. The air doesn't smell so foul down here. . ."
As the others slowly left, Aragorn let his hand rest on Legolas's shoulder for a moment longer. "What is it?"
"We should go," Legolas said, standing up and shrugging off Aragorn's hand. Aragorn gave him a look of offense. He had only meant to help; then Aragorn stood and together the two followed the others. Legolas was glad when he realized that Aragorn understood the depth of what Legolas had tried to say, and did not judge or begrudge him for his inability to say it.
*****
"No! No!"
"Gimli!"
The Dwarf paid no heed, running off. The others followed, finding Gimli in tears beside a stone tomb. Mithrandir read off the epitath, noting the death of Balin, and commented, "He is dead then." A book of Dwafish ruins lay in the hands of a nearby carcass. Handing his hat and staff to Pippin, Mithrandir picked up the book and began reading.
"We must move on. We cannot linger here!" Legolas whispered to Aragorn, who nodded slightly, but gave him a look as if to say that they should, out of courtesy for the Dwarf, wait a few moments. Boromir did his best to comfort the anguished Gimli.
"The have taken the third hall. . .we cannot get out. . .we cannot get out. . .they are coming."
Pippin had no patience for such things. Noticing something, he turned, twisting an arrowhead from the hand of a skeleton. The skeleton fell down the well on which it sat, drawing after it a long chain. The others fell silent, staring at the hobbit, who turned away, squeezing his eyes shut in apprehension. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
That, Legolas thought, was a bit harsh, but he kept silent. Drums could be heard, and ugly screams. "Yrch!" Legolas muttered. An arrow pierced the door, and Boromir peered out, stating, "the have a cave troll!"
"Bar the door!" someone called, and Aragorn and Boromir did. They were quite a pair, those two, Legolas noted that there was hardly a task they could not accomplish. In seconds the orcs and their troll had arrived. The doors provided no obstacle to them, but in the perhaps sixty seconds that they took to break in an eternity reigned. Aragorn and Legolas had arrows nocked and were ready to shoot, Boromir beside then twirled his sword. Finally, as if mercifully, the orcs broke the doors and streamed in. Legolas fired arrow after arrow, watching orcs fall. Gimli shouted with rage as he tore down orc after orc with his axe. The hobbits had begun by hiding behind Mithrandir, who no longer seemed at all mad at Pippin, but now were fending for themselves.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this," Sam said, and Legolas glanced at him for half a second and smiled. Sam had decided that a frying pan would be his weapon, and was hitting the orcs about the head. A cave troll, however, is not a foe to face with a frying pan, and knocked Sam to the ground. As the troll was about to crush the hobbit beneath his foot, Boromir and Aragorn grabbed the chain about its neck and pulled back on it, distracting the troll. When it realized what was happening the troll jerk the chain, flinging Boromir against a wall. Boromir sat up shaking his head.
As the troll noticed Gimli, who had flung an axe into its chest, it set after him, swinging its great mace at anything, even orcs. Legolas had just run an arrow through some orcs with his bare hands, and was unoccupied for the moment. He placed two arrows in his bow and fired them. The enraged cave troll howled and turned to Legolas, who mouthed a curse as he ducked the flying mace.
Frodo hid from the cave troll behind a pillar, where his cousins had placed him. The troll tried hard to find him, and finally did, sticking a spear beneath his ribs. Merry and Pippin gave a great cry as they jumped at the troll. Legolas noticed the chain around the troll's neck and with Elven grace dashed up it, firing an arrow between the troll's eyes. Somewhere along the way the troll fell, crushing the few orcs left. Legolas jumped down from its head, slowly approaching Frodo, but keeping his distance.
Suddenly their dead ringbearer coughed and sat up. "It's all right. I'm not hurt," he said, to everyone's amazement.
"You should be dead," Aragorn informed him. "That spear could have skewered a wild boar." (author's note: try saying that ten times fast! It's impossible!) Frodo drew back his shirt, and beneath it was wearing--
"Mithril," Gimli breathed. But there was little time for anything more, as there were orcs coming. Their calls echoed throughout the chamber of death, and the company had to head on.
Orcs and goblins surrounded them on all sides, coming from the ground and the ceiling. Only the light from Mithrandir's staff held them at bay. All nine were nearing exhaustion, but they forgot that, brushed sweaty clumps of hair from their eyes, and wielded their weapons with proud fear. And then. . .they fled. Something evil approached, something worse. . .
Light poured in. Legolas frantically searched for something to aim at, moving his bow this way and that, then finally lowering it. "What is this new devilry?" asked Boromir, almost rhetorically, in a low voice.
"A balrog. A demon of the ancient world." At Mithrandir's words comprehension sparked in Legolas's mind, and he was afraid, the kind of fear that makes you want to cry. The same fear was mirror in Aragorn's eyes, though he steadied his breathing and hid it far better. Even the hobbits, who knew nothing of balrogs, knew from Mithrandir's tone how evil they were. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
Boromir did not realize where the floor ended, and nearly fell off, into the giant pit only inches before him. Legolas ran up to him and pulled him back, a move which succeeded; both men landed in a heap on the stairs. As they picked themselves up Mithrandir leaned on Aragorn in exhaustion, then turned to him. "Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near," he instructed. Aragorn stepped forward, as if to help Mithrandir and protest that they would not leave him there. Mithrandir shoved him away, commanding, "Do as I say!"
Aragorn simply ran on, not knowing which words to protest with. The others followed him. The stairway twisted and turned, and they were careful not to fall. Mithrandir was still with them, but no long leading. At a gap in the stairs they paused. Legolas hopped lightly across, and Mithrandir followed, though not as effortlessly. Boromir grabbed Merry and together they jumped, landing safely. The stairs behind them broke, enlarging the jump. Orcs fired at them mercilessly. Legolas returned their fire, but being only one Elf could hardly keep up.
"Pippin!" Aragorn called, then he grabbed the hobbit and threw him. Pippin was caught off guard, but landed all right. "Gimli!"
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" he protested, then jumped across himself. His landing was precarious, and Legolas grabbed his beard to steady him. "Not the beard! Not the beard!" Finally Gimli was safe. Now only Aragorn and Frodo remained across the gap. Legolas was sweating with nerves. If Aragorn didn't make it, he would be an utter failure. Aragorn and Frodo jumped, and for a second Legolas was sure that they would not make it, but then, with a crash they did. Aragorn slammed into Legolas, who hugged him, unable to help himself, then spun around and ran on.
*****
"You cannot pass! I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. Go back to the shadow, flame of Udun!" Mithrandir could be a commanding figure when he wanted to be. Now he surely was, standing without fear before the balrog. The balrog opposed him, but still he stood. It seemed as if so long as his courage held out, the balrog could do nothing. The balrog seemed not to know this, and there was a great crash as two great powers met. The bridge crumbled and fell, taking the creature with it.
Mithrandir turned, and from the look on his face the others could see how much of a drain his tangle with the balrog had been. The balrog fell now, but it flicked its whip of flame and, catching Mithrandir around the ankles, pulled him down into the depths. "Gandalf!" Frodo cried trying to run to him. Boromir caught him, knowing that losing one member of the company was terrible, but the ringbearer could not be compromised.
"Fly you fools!" And he fell.
Painful was the last instruction of their leader, but the eight remaining members of the company followed this direction, running for their lives. In the sunlight once more there was no strength left in them. Sam crumpled to the ground. Not to far from him Pippin was lying, Merry beside him offering what little comfort he could. Boromir restrained Gimli, who pulled towards the mines. All had tears in their eyes. Legolas felt the pain too nearly to comprehend it, let alone act upon it. Aragorn stood before them, dry-eyed, cleaning his sword. He was their leader now.
"Legolas, Boromir. Get them up."
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir protested. Aragorn shook his head.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Legolas, Boromir. Gimli, get them up."
Legolas heard his words but could not follow them. He could hardly keep on his own feet. What had he done? He could have killed the Watcher, or fired a shot at the balrog to distract him. Instead he had stood by, helplessly, and done nothing. It was all his fault.
Oh my. . .poor Legolas. . .I just want everyone to know how much fun I had writing the cave troll sequence. I would watch about thirty seconds in my sister's room, pause it, run into my room to type it up, then go back and so on and so forth. It was cool. Hope you liked reading as much as I liked writing this.