A/N: Thanks once again to all my reviewers and their fabulous comments. I like getting your feedback, even if it is to say that the story doesn't flow properly. Thanks once again and enjoy this next chapter.



Disclaimer: All references to Lord of the Rings Characters and places are the property of J.R.R Tolkien, I have just tried to use them for my own story. Also this Chapter mainly covers things straight out of the book, so anything that appears in the book and this chapter is copyright of J.R.R Tolkien as well as the characters and places.

Chapter 11: The Fall Of Gandalf

They ran for a long time and not long after they started running they heard the sound of the drums again, ever pursuing and chasing as though they never tired.

"The bridge is near!" Gandalf announced suddenly when it seemed as though the hobbits could go no further, though news of the end to Moria brought hope to their hearts and they were given a new burst of energy and were able to run on for a while longer yet.

They made it to the little platform that lay before the narrow bridge, and they stood waiting for Gandalf to catch up. Arrows were flying towards them from somewhere, and Legolas shot back at them, never missing his target, but there were too many and his arrow supply was diminishing fast.

"Cross the bridge, swords and weapons are no longer of use here." Gandalf announced when he came, hoping that they would do as he asked.

Gimli crossed first, easily running and making it to the other side, then turning to watch the others. The hobbits went next and then came Boromir. When Boromir was halfway over, Legolas told Celebfaer to go, in between trying to shoot another Orc that was attacking with their arrows.

"I may be of use to Gandalf Legolas, you go." She replied.

"Celebfaer, you will be of no use to anyone, if you are dead and I am sure that the Lady of the Wood would not rejoice in the news that you fell into Shadow."

"Legolas, you are more important than I for you are an heir to the throne!" She said back and then Aragorn spoke up, having had enough of their arguing particularly when there was no time for it.

"The pair of you go, there is no time for arguing." Aragorn said, pushing Legolas first, but before he could push Celebfaer after him, Gandalf spoke up.

"She is right. She may be of some use Aragorn. You follow Legolas, and if we do not make it you must lead them on." Gandalf said and Celebfaer looked at him then nodded.

So, Aragorn followed Legolas and Celebfaer followed Aragorn.

They were halfway over when arrows started to come from near the doors again, so Legolas stopped and turned to make a shot but before he could he gave a cry of horror, the notched arrow, falling from the bow and into the darkness below the bridge. The look of horror that was on his face, Celebfaer had never seen on any Elf before. So, she turned to look back to see what had caused the cry for if it could scare Legolas then it truly must be something one must fear. When she saw what it was, fear filled her also and she wished she had not looked.

"A Balrog!" Legolas wailed.

"Durin's Bane." Gimli cried from the other side of the bridge, and Celebfaer turned and prodded Aragorn to make him continue on. She did not want them to be caught on the bridge when that thing got there because she knew that she and Gandalf had to fight it alone.

Stories had been told of Balrog's in Lothlorien, and that Balrog that was in Moria was one she wished most not to encounter. It was said that it was the deadliest of all beings that walked Middle Earth and that it could consume your soul if you looked into its eyes. So, not looking to the other side of the bridge, as she was halfway across and knew if she saw the others she would run back there. So, she turned to face the Balrog, hoping she looked braver than she felt. Gandalf was just coming onto the bridge now, his eyes focused on the bridge below him, and Celebfaer waited for him.

When all save Celebfaer and Gandalf had made it to the other side of the bridge, they turned around to watch, hoping that Gandalf and Celebfaer would be able to tackle this new devilry.

Gandalf stopped halfway across the bridge, then called out to them. "I must hold the way." He said, then his gaze fell upon Celebfaer as she stood only a meter away from him, a terrified look on her face. "Celebfaer stand a little back and if it looks as though it will break through you must do something to stop it!" He added to her and she nodded, trying to look braver and the Wizard felt sorry for her, but he knew that if he could not stop the Balrog, she would be able to. Her power was becoming quite strong and he knew she would do what needed to be done, no matter how much it scared her.

"Mirthrandir, you are very brave indeed. I shall try my best, my friend." She said him, and he nodded to her, a smile on his face.

"You are stronger than you let on fair one. And I wish I had more time to see what you truly are capable of, but we shall see what happens in the next few minutes. You must stop it if I fail." He said and she nodded, she knew why.

"The rest of you get out. This is not a battle any can win, save with magic." Gandalf replied, though Aragorn and Borormir stepped forward to the top of the bridge.

"You do not stand alone Gandalf. Isildur's heir stands with you." Aragorn said.

"As does Gondor!" Boromir called.

But before Gandalf could reply, the Balrog entered and it took all of Gandalf's attention. Celebfaer watched it closely trying not to give any indication that she was as scared as she felt.

But looking at it properly made her realise that it was the ugliest beast she had ever seen though she knew she would never see a beast more fearful than that one. Its eyes were the flames of fires and flames licked its legs and arms, making it appear as though it were a devil sent from hell. The Balrog held a deadly whip that was red hot and though it hung loosely by the beast's side, Celebfaer knew that it would be the most deadly weapon anyone could possess.

"You cannot pass." Gandalf said, then the Balrog tried to attack but Gandalf stood his ground. "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow. You cannot pass." He said once more though in a firm and commanding voice this time.

The Balrog then jumped onto the Bridge and Celebfaer, felt the shock of all it's weight underneath her feet, so she quickly started to call the earth spirit, hoping to hold the bridge together so that they would not all fall off.

Aragorn and Boromir had started to head in the aid of both of them, hoping that they could do something.

At that moment, the wizard raised his staff then brought it back down on the bridge, and tje bridge broke at the Balrog's feet. As the Balrog fell its whip took hold of Gandalf's ankles and he fell to the edge, holding onto it by his fingertips.

"Mirthrandir!" Celebfaer called, abandoning her spell as she started to run forward, but Aragorn was suddenly behind her and caught her before she could travel any further than a step.

"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf said one last time and then his grip gave way and he was gone. Those last three words however, would echo in their minds for as long as they lived for they knew that they were the words of a man that was in his final moments of life and that there had been nothing they could do to help him.

"He is right, we must go." Aragorn cried and he and Boromir started to run back down the bridge as it started to collapse.

Celebfaer stood for a few seconds in shock, not knowing what to do barely hearing Legolas call her name as she became numb, not believing that the great wizard known as Mirthrandir had fallen. She had never thought that a thing like that was possible and it pained her heart to see it, for Gandalf was a great wizard and a very dear friend to Celebfaer.

"Celebfaer, run!" Legolas called, trying to run forward, but Aragorn heard him and turned then ran back down the bridge to where she stood, staring into the chasm that Gandalf had fallen into.

"Celebfaer we must go before this bridge collapses. You are almost home in the woods of Lothlorien!" He said putting a hand on her shoulder and bringing her back to life and out of her numb world where nothing existed. Reluctantly, she tore her eyes away from the spot where she had last seen Gandalf and then ran after Aragorn, the pain in her heart not leaving her.

Aragorn took the lead and they ran until they burst out into the bright sunshine of the day and once out of bow-shot of the gate, Aragorn halted and allowed them a short time to grieve.

Celebfaer fell to her knees, too shocked to weep, she was numb and felt as though she would never feel pain again. She only felt like that for a few seconds before the mental barrier that she had created to block the pain in her wings, crumbled and she allowed herself to feel the damage the troll had done to her wings. Her back was throbbing as though it were on fire and she wondered if she would ever be able to cleanse them this time as she knew that there was more damage done. Then the numbness disappeared and she felt the loss of a friend. The loss of Gandalf hit her and it was as if she had lost part of herself and the pain of that feeling over beared the pain in her back and for a few seconds she could not breathe from the intensity of the pain.

But Aragorn would only allow them a few minutes to grieve for Gandalf, for he knew that when the night fell the Orcs would come out in search of them and they needed to be far away by then. He had blocked out the pain, so that he would be able to delay it for a few more days. He needed to get the rest to safety before he could let himself grieve.

"We must continue though we have lost a dear friend and companion we must continue on. At nightfall the Orcs shall come out and terrorize the land and we shall need to be long gone before then." He said and Celebfaer knew he was right, so she stood up and rebuilt the barrier to block out her own pain. "Legolas, help them up." He added and Legolas' face that had looked as though it were on the verge of tears, hardened once more. "Boromir, Gimli, Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn said again.

So, they were brought back to life again and Legolas headed for Sam, to help him to his feet. Boromir roused Merry and Pippin, while Gimli tried to help them to their feet as well. Aragorn was about to tend to Frodo when he saw Celebfaer walk over to him, so he stood and waited for them to be up and ready to move, fighting to prolong the grief that he knew he would feel once in the woods of Lothlorien.

"Come Frodo, the loss is great but we must put it to the back of our minds for a moment. Aragorn is right, we need to get to safety before we can allow ourselves to grieve." Celebfaer told Frodo, putting a hand on the hobbit's shoulder trying to reassure him.

Frodo didn't seem to feel anything, not even her hand on his shoulder. He just nodded, then willingly walked to where the rest of the group were and they all followed where Aragorn led with heavy hearts and unimaginable sorrow.

Aragorn led them at a great pace and eventually after some miles Frodo and Sam started to lag behind, their sorrow, mixed with the injuries that had gotten in Moria finally taking its toll. So, Aragorn and Boromir carried the two hobbits for a while before Aragorn allowed the Company to rest.

Then, Aragorn tended to the wounds.

It was revealed that Frodo was indeed all right because he had a mail of mithril and the most damage that had been done were bruises.

"So that explains one thing." Boromir said, then he looked at Celebfaer as if he was ready to kill her if she tried to do anything to anyone of the company. "Now I believe it is your turn to explain. What are you?" He demanded and she stared at him for a few minutes, debating whether or not to lie, before she decided to tell the truth.

"It is simple." She replied. "I am no Elf, that you saw clearly enough, though I have dwelt with Elves for over 2000 years."

"Celebfaer, what did you do to that troll?" Legolas asked amazement and disbelief in his voice.

"I killed it, though I had thought too late." She said, looking at Frodo. "How I killed it, shall not be told for it is forbidden and only used in times of great need."

"That still does not explain it all." Gimli said his hand on his axe, as though he were ready to draw it if she said something that he did not like. At that point in her life, she would have welcomed the axe to free her from the pain that she was feeling.

"It is alright. I am a friend and mean no harm. My people have never joined wars, though we come to cleanse the land afterwards. I am of a folk called Fairies." She answered.

"Fairies are a myth!" Boromir said angrily. "And you have no wings!"

Celebfaer looked at Boromir, knowing now that he would never trust her, even if she saved his life, never would he trust her. She debated whether or not to show him her terribly torn wings to make him believe her, but Aragorn stood up and interrupted before she could, giving her a look that told her no.

"We must go for we have some miles to travel before we are truly safe and we could only allow a small amount of time for rest." He said and before Boromir could demand more of an explanation, or Celebfaer could reveal her wings Aragorn turned and led the Company off to continue at the same pace, once more, hoping that they would follow.