Disclaimer: Previously stated disclaimers apply.

Author's Note: Okay, I'm skipping the part about the Wargs after Caradhras. This chapter is going to go be following the movie version.
01/17/06 - Once again, there aren't many major changes; just grammatical corrections and what have you.

The Imperfect One
By: JDArc

Chapter Thirteen: The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm

Gimli was by Gandalf's side with wide, eager eyes as they approached the looming mountainsides, dark with shadows.

"The walls of Moria!" he stammered in awe, and with quick feet, he rushed ahead while the others felt their hearts sinking. It was a desolate place; there were no signs of life, no sounds of running water as Gandalf had expected. Elenmírë shuddered, not from the cold, but from the growing sense of unease that was eating at her instinct. She wanted to flee from the horrible place. Gimli looked back to the company from far ahead as he pointed to their right; there was a narrow channel of nothing save a few brown- and red-colored rocks and stones, and beside it lay a ruined path that curved around with the mountain wall.

"Finally," Gandalf sighed with a nod of his head, "this is where the Sirannon, the Gate Stream, had run. This place has indeed changed, for I know not where the water may now be." They found the reason soon enough when a dull, lusterless lake greeted them, blocking their path to the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin, and knew they had to find a way around it. They continued on the main path, though it was dark under the mountain's shadow, and it grew steep and narrow.

The company traveled ever farther, following Gimli as the path grew slimy from the water, and their footing was unstable. A foot would slip now and then, and everyone, especially the Hobbits, hated the feel of the unclean water touching their weary feet. Two large holly trees that loomed over them as they drew nearer, pressed against the mountain walls and stretching its roots into the dark water, and Gandalf turned around to inform the rest of the company.

"We are here at last!" he said. "This is the Elven-way from Hollin. Those were happier days, when there was still close friendship at times between folk of different race, even between Dwarves and Elves."

"It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned," Gimli immediately replied, placing his hands on his hips arrogantly. "Humph."

"I have not heard it was the fault of the Elves," scoffed Legolas, his eyes flashing, and Elenmírë bit back a smile, not wanting to irritate the Dwarf. Despite the war of words that always battled between the two, Legolas and Gimli were slowly growing closer, and the bond of friendship already had a stable foundation to build upon.

"Ithildin," Gandalf muttered carefully, wiping away dirt from the wall to uncover a bit of the door's pattern. "It mirrors only moonlight and starlight." Elenmírë looked up into the night sky, her eyes glowing as the moon shyly peaked through the dark grey clouds. Oh, how she hated the thought of leaving the moonlight behind once inside the mines! She shuddered and looked away to the wall, which now had the shimmering outline of a door plastered on its surface. Her jaw dropped slightly. It was beyond beautiful. There, emblazoned within the pattern was an arch of interlacing Elvish characters, and below it were an anvil and a hammer surmounted by a crown and seven stars. Beneath these were two trees, each bearing crescent moons, but the most dominant feature was the star in the center of the door that shone with many rays.

"The emblems of Durin!" Gimli uttered, flabbergasted.

"There is the Tree of the High Elves!" Legolas exclaimed.

"And the Star of the House of Fëanor," Gandalf informed. "The lettering reads, 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'"

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry inquired, his eyes still wide at the sight of the ithildin entrance.

"It's quite simple," Gandalf explained. "If you are a friend, you speak the password of it, and the doors will open." Pressing his staff to the star in the center, he muttered in a clear voice, "Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!" Gate of the Elves, open now for me!

They waited.

Silence.

Gimli looked impatiently at the Wizard as he repeated the words, but nothing happened, and sighing, Elenmírë made herself comfortable as she leaned lazily against one of the trees. If Gandalf did not know how to get in, how would they? It would be a long night…

Boromir approached her, and she grew uneasy once more. She loved him, and she did not want to hurt him, but she was dying inside to be deceiving him the way she was. Legolas caught her eye and nodded in encouragement, giving her a lopsided smile which instantly melted the anxiety in her heart, and she recalled the words that he had said to her when they had been buried underneath snow, the words that had so much passion and love behind them:

"I love you, I love you, oh Holy Valar, how I love you…You are mine, Elenmírë…"

How was she supposed to face Boromir now? As he gently took her hand in his before bestowing a loving kiss on her palm, she debated whether or not this was the time to do such a thing…to tell him the truth. But there never was going to be a perfect time to do it, she realized, because no matter where or when she would tell him, the result would be the same: Boromir was bound to be heart broken.

"Boromir-" she started, but he shushed her with a kiss. She grew stiff and immobile, and he pulled away again, the hurt that had before crossed his features now on display once more.

"What is it that ails you?" he asked softly, not attempting to hide the pain from his voice. "When I reach for you now, you freeze, as if you no longer want this…as if you no longer want me." She bit her lip and felt the words come up her throat, but she was choking them back. His fair face was contorted with denial, and yet…there was a slight tremble on his lips that almost gave the impression that he knew was about to happen.

'Oh, gods, I cannot do this!' Elenmírë thought frantically, her eyes quickly shooting to Legolas for support, but he was not paying attention. In fact, he was rather occupied at the moment with a certain human girl who had managed to lean against him. He looked rather uncomfortable, but why, in Elbereth's name, did he not just push her away? 'Has he taken to the Halflings' weed!' her heart cried out. 'What does he think he is he doing?'

She turned back to Boromir and looked deeply into his eyes. The poor man was confused, torn, and completely at a loss as to what to say or what to do to show his love for her. All this she could see on his face, and she lifted her hand to smooth away the lines of worry that troubled him. His eyes closed at her touch, and she felt a sob rising in her throat but suppressed it. She could not hurt this man, this man who had given his love to her without question, without pause. He had loved her and had shown it, while it took Legolas a near-death experience to confess his heart…and how did she know he did not say those things out of pity or out of guilt at what had passed between them that night under the gazebo? She glanced back over to Legolas who still remained in his spot by Mary Sue, who in turn was delighted at his attention. Legolas really had nothing to lose while Elenmírë did. Not only would she lose Boromir's love, she would also be at the receiving end of Mary Sue's anger, and although she would not admit this to anyone, Elenmírë did not want to deal with her again for Mary Sue was beginning to show signs of a truly strong warrior, and Elenmírë was not sure she could even defeat the girl in battle. The Prophecy was beginning to take root…

Boromir's eyes opened to study her face, and she softened almost immediately. She loved Boromir, and would not dare to think of hurting him. Legolas had his chance, and she was not going to let him be the reason for throwing away the love that she and Boromir shared. If they were to break apart from each other, it would not be because she wanted another. She was not about to give Legolas that much credit. Still, she spoke not one word, and the worry returned to Boromir's face.

"Please, love, what is it that troubles you?" he asked softly but urgently, and she smiled softly, touched with his concern for her. She swept a strand of hair away from his face and tucked it behind his ear, loving the silkiness of his hair between her fingertips.

"The same thing that troubles the rest of the company," she answered softly. "Never did I imagine that this journey would be as terrifying as it has been, and lately, I've been wondering about how horrible it will grow to be. It unnerves me." She settled in his arms, and he accepted her answer without question.

"I had nearly lost my heart when I had thought you had gone over the cliff," he whispered, shuddering. "And, I realized that I cannot live my life without you, so I must make this official, before another word is spoken." Her head snapped up, and she stared at him, her heart thumping madly. She felt her face drain itself of color, and her ability to breathe had somehow become more laborious than normal.

"W-what do you mean, exactly?" she questioned, her voice barely audible. He took both of her hands in his and placed them near his heart, and she could instantly feel the crazy aerobics it was performing.

"This may not be the most romantic spot to do such a thing," he started nervously, "but, Elenmírë, I love you, and I know I do not have the gift of sweet words, but I-I ask you to bless me with the joy of calling you my wife. Please, say you will marry me." Her jaw dropped further than she thought possible; why hadn't she seen this coming? The signs were so obvious, especially after he had 'rescued' her from the snow. She could not speak, she could not indicate her answer with a nod or a shake of her head for she was frozen stiff. Boromir started to shift on his feet, and his hands gripped tightly on hers. His voice shook when he spoke, insecurity grabbing a hold of him. "Elenmírë?"

"Yes?" she blabbered, and then shook her head before closing her eyes and breathing deeply. This is what she wanted, was it not? All those lonely nights, all those years of solitude were now being swept away with his promise of marriage; she had found someone who loved her and actually wanted to marry her, and she had prayed to the Valar for so long, and she was not one to throw away a gift that They had so generously provided her with...She reopened her eyes and smiled softly at him. "What I mean to say is…yes. Yes, I will." Boromir broke out into a wide smile as he engulfed her in his arms, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, whispering how much he loved her. Tears were on his face as well as on hers, and from afar, Legolas watched the scene, nodding, noticing only the tears at first.

"So she has told him then," he said softly to himself, but…what was that? A smile on his face? 'Boromir is taking this better than I had thought he would,' he mused silently, but when Elenmírë locked eyes with Legolas and shook her head in his direction, he felt a foreboding sense of dread. He took another look at Boromir and distinguished the wide smile on his face as one drawn from happiness. 'What is going on?' he mused in a panic, and he looked down at Mary Sue, who had started to babble about something called 'movies.' "Excuse me, Mary Sue," he said, keeping his voice steady, "but I am going to see what their celebration is all about." He gestured to Elenmírë and Boromir, and Mary Sue scowled.

"But this is important-" she started, but he had turned without saying another word, giving her his back. She quickly chased after him, though with his Elven speed, he had already reached the couple. Mary Sue arrived in time to hear a single word escape Legolas's surprised lips.

"Betrothed?" he uttered in complete disbelief, his hurt blatantly displayed on his face, which went unnoticed by all save Elenmírë. His heart was still denying the words that Boromir had stammered in elation. Mary Sue was jumping up and down.

"Oh, how wonderful!" she squealed, clapping her hands. Her eyes immediately went to Legolas and she wrapped an arm around his waist, leaning her head against his chest. He made no move to push her away, but instead, he was filled with an unspeakable anger and urge to hurt Elenmírë any way he could, and his arm found its way around Mary Sue's shoulders to hold her closer. He smiled at Elenmírë, but his blue eyes were ice-cold like glaciers, and his gaze burned her far worse than the hottest of fires.

"That it is," he said calmly, reaching out his other hand to Boromir. "Congratulations." Elenmírë's tears rolled down her face at his reaction, wanting to be back in Imladris, away from the two males who had such an impact on her life. Wondering about what love was was far more endurable than experiencing the pain that had started to throb in heart at the ache she was causing Legolas at that moment. 'Oh, Elbereth, please let him forgive me!' she silently prayed, hoping her apology was visible in her eyes as they locked with his. He turned away from her, a sneer on his lips, refusing to look into her eyes again.

All the while, Gandalf was still futilely trying all the passwords that had come to mind (he had now resorted to yelling, "Edro, edro!" or Open, open!), and Aragorn looked dismally at Sam as he began to unload their packs from Bill's back.

"The mines are no place for a pony," Aragorn said softly, "not even one so brave as Bill." Sam bit his lip to prevent from crying out, though tears stung beneath his eyelids. His hand trembled has he gave Bill one last pat.

"Bye, bye, Bill," he stammered unevenly, his chest heaving with sadness. He turned away as Bill continued back down the path that they had taken. Aragorn clasped Sam's shoulder in reassurance.

"Don't worry, Sam," he soothed. "He knows the way home."

Being the active Hobbits they were, Merry and Pippin had started to throw rocks into the eerily placid lake, and Aragorn rushed to them, stopping their motions. "Do not disturb the water!" he warned urgently. The ripples that had been caused by the thrown stones were now growing suspiciously larger, and Pippin's eyes filled with silent fear as he stumbled away from the water's edge.

"It's a riddle!" Frodo suddenly cried out excitedly. "What's the Elvish word for friend?" He looked at Gandalf expectedly, whose eyebrows went up in realization.

"Mellon," he replied, and the walls began to crack open. In stunned amazement, the Fellowship turned at the sound, and gazed in disbelief into the darkness that lay just beyond the door. Gandalf led the way, a light emitting from his staff, and Gimli eagerly followed him.

"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves!" Gimli cried out to Legolas who had followed just behind him, though with more hesitation than the Dwarf. "Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone! This my friend is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine!" He chuckled heavily. "A mine!" Legolas, however, hardly acknowledged his words, his gaze only on Elenmírë and Boromir, unable to stop the crying of his heart.

Elenmírë gripped Boromir's hand in trepidation as she stepped into the darkness, and she let out a gasp when she came face to face with a skeleton clad in mail and hung on a wall by a well place arrow through the heart.

"This is no mine!" Boromir exclaimed, his foot crunching on bone. "It's a tomb!" Gandalf's light spread across the entrance hall, and Gimli's eyes widened at the sight before him. Strewn across the floor were mutilated skeletons of his kin, and arrows and axes were scattered across and through their bodies. The dust and cobwebs indicated that they had been in this condition for quite some time.

"No!" Gimli groaned in horror. "Nooooo!" Legolas reached over to one of the bodies and pulled an arrow out of it to study its tip.

"Goblins," he sneered angrily, throwing the object to the floor before reaching for his own bow and arrow. Elenmírë unsheathed her sword and gripped its hilt, and the faint moonlight that shone through the doorway reflected off her blade, giving her some comfort, but the idea of goblins gave her the chills. She edged toward the door.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan!" Boromir urged. "We never should have come here! Now get out of here, get out!" Elenmírë did a complete about face, but was horrified to see that tentacles reached out to the Hobbits.

"Ah!" Frodo was suddenly airborne, held upside down by a slithery arm, and Sam ran after him, calling out.

"Strider!" Sam's voice brought all the attention to the Hobbits, and the two Men, two Elves, and Dwarf rushed out, attacking and slicing at the dark creature's tentacles, but Frodo was suddenly free falling in the air. Aragorn had sliced the arm that had held him up, and Frodo fell directly into Boromir's awaiting arms, and they rushed back into the mine. The dark creature was not one to give up as it reached out to the doors, but the rock crumbled underneath its weight, and smashed the creature in place, trapping the Fellowship inside.

There was no light. Elenmírë stood shivering in the darkness, close to breaking down. All she could hear was the hard breathing of those around her, and she tried to calm her own heart from the adrenaline that had consumed her body, but the darkness was deafening; she could not control her shaking. A warm body moved to her, and she clung to it, not caring who it was, but the familiar smell of wood and spice made her want to retract from Legolas. She pulled away slightly, but his arm held her to him, so severely that she nearly cried out in pain.

"Legolas," she whimpered, "you're hurting me." He relaxed but never let her go.

"And you do the same to me, my love," he replied, and he was suddenly gone, leaving her to tremble alone in the darkness, the coldness of the mine contrasting sharply with the lingering warmth of his body pressed to hers.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, a lone tear trekking its way down her cheek, and was not at all aware that Legolas had heard her. Immediately, he felt himself constrict with guilt and moved toward her to take her back into his arms and apologize for his stupid pride, but Gandalf's staff suddenly came back to life with light, and Elenmírë ran toward the old wizard, determined to stay as close to him as possible.

"Quiet now," he warned. "It is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

'Four days!' she wanted to scream. 'Four bloody days!' She felt faint, unable to continue, but a reassuring hand grabbed hers, and she looked down to see Merry and Pippin look up at her with concern reflecting in their soft brown eyes. She smiled and allowed them to drag her with them, but she could not seep the panic out of her system. Her eyes were wide and wild as she looked this way and that, jumping at every sound her sensitive ears picked up. They carried on in silence, pausing every now and then to rest.

Legolas was not having an easier time than Elenmírë, but he was much better at hiding his fears than she was. Mary Sue's unbelievably soft hand had wheedled its way into his, and he was too frightened to pull away from her. He was grateful for the physical contact; it assured him that he was not alone in the darkness, but he could not help but wish it was Elenmírë he was holding on to. He thought back to the night of the ball when they had first danced, and he could not help but wonder at the strength he felt vibrate from within her very essence. He knew that was the kind of strength he longed to feel again, especially now when there was no natural light to comfort him, but all he got was a soft, feminine hand that had a mighty grip upon his fingers.

Elenmírë…the only one who had totally captured his heart was the same one to have broken it. He shook his head. His father had been right; one day, he had said, Legolas would meet his match. Legolas had just laughed it off as if it were nothing of importance, but now he knew how it felt for the ones he had rejected in the past. He finally understood the emotion behind the tears that many females before had cried when he had easily dismissed them for he had now fallen madly in love, but Elenmírë was not his to have.

He was angry and felt betrayed, but he had a nagging feeling that he was somehow to blame for all this, and yet, she was the one who apologized, even when it was not absolutely necessary for he knew in his heart, the anger he had felt was not with her but with himself. And this only made him love her even more and despise himself. He was a fool…such a fool.

The tug on his hand shook him out of his thoughts, and he looked down at Mary Sue in question. She merely nodded in Gandalf's direction, who said as if on cue, "I have no memory of this place." They had climbed up a labyrinth of stairwells only to have reached a platform of three doorways, and not one looked incredibly friendly. Gandalf perched himself on the top step while others made refuge under a part of the stairwell that opened into a small balcony.

Elenmírë sat next to Boromir who protectively put an arm around her, and she rested her head in the crook where his shoulders met his neck, and he played with her fingers, which she somehow managed to keep impeccably clean throughout their journey. 'The perks of being Half-Elven,' she thought idly, studying the dirt that covered his hands.

Boromir took this opportune moment to quietly inform the rest of the Fellowship of their engagement, which brought smiles across the half circle that they had formed, taking their minds off of their journey for a while, and Merry and Pippin were the first to jump up and squeal quietly that Boromir had better take good care of their Elven friend for he would have to answer to them if he didn't. This brought a round of light chuckles, and Legolas smirked at the idea. 'He'd have to deal with me first,' he thought viciously, wanting to rip Boromir's arm away from her shoulders, and he suppressed his inner assassin from taking control and killing the Man of Gondor.

"It will be a long engagement of course," Boromir whispered quietly, smiling sadly as he kissed Elenmírë's cheek. The others nodded in understanding, their thoughts returning to the journey at hand. Time passed slowly as they waited for Gandalf to make a decision, but he was still perched upon his step with his pipe in hand, and the area was soon covered with smoke, which Elenmírë crinkled her nose at.

"Are we lost?" Pippin whispered, his voice sound much louder with no noise about them.

"No!" Merry scolded impatiently, taking a puff from his pipe.

"I think we are."

"Shh, Gandalf's thinking!"

"Merry?"

"What?"

"I'm hungry," Pippin whined softly, his stomach grumbling in agreement, and Elenmírë wished she had something to feed the poor hungry Hobbit. She was quite relieved once again that although she was Half-Elven, she could endure long hours, even days, without food, but she gave the Took a small smile, praying that they find a way out of the dank mines and return to the blessed realms of sunlight.

"Ah, it is that way!" Gandalf's voice called out to them, and he pointed excitedly to the one on the right.

"He's remembered!" Merry cried out, getting up enthusiastically.

"No, but the air does not smell so foul down here," Gandalf chuckled as they gathered their belongings and joined the Wizard at the door. "If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." They followed the staircase steadily upward for hours upon hours, and when Elenmírë thought they would never stop, it open into a large, wide cavern with high columns and pillars holding a vast roof over their heads. It was great hall, and its black walls glimmered and shone like long-forgotten jewels when Gandalf whispered, "Let me risk a little more light."

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell completely open. Never before had she deemed Dwarves artistic enough to create a place of such beauty that it could rival the dwellings of the Elves. She shot a look of appreciation toward the Dwarf of the Fellowship, and he as well was overcome with awe.

"Behold!" the Wizard exclaimed. "The great realm of the Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!"

"There's an eye-opener, make no mistake!" Sam gasped, as wide-eyed as the rest of the company. They continued walking quietly through, twisting their heads this way and that to take in as much of their surroundings as they could. Suddenly, Gimli broke into a full run, letting out a cry of surprise as he darted into an open doorway, and visible from where they had stood, a ray of light shone on…a tomb. The company rushed to catch up with the Dwarf, but as they entered the eerily lit room, Gimli was at the foot of the tomb, his head bowed as he sobbed.

"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria,'" Gandalf carefully read the inscription on its surface. "He is dead then." Boromir moved to Gimli's side, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder which Gimli acknowledged with a slight nod, but he could not cease his tears. Gandalf removed his hat and handed it along with his staff to Pippin, who stood closest to him, as he picked up a thick book from the arms of a skeleton which lay resting on the tomb's side.

"We must move on," Legolas whispered urgently to Aragorn. "We cannot linger." His hands twitched slightly as he gripped onto his bow, and he looked over at Elenmírë who bit her lip in fear and anxiety. He had to do something, to wipe that expression away, and moved to her, ignoring the look of disbelief on Mary Sue's face as he gently squeezed Elenmírë's hand in reassurance. He whispered to her in Elvish, "I am sorry."

A look of confusion covered her face as she also responded in their language. "Why?" But he could not answer for Gandalf had begun to speak, finding the final entry in the large volume.

"'They have taken the bridge, and the second hall,'" he read from it. "'We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark.

"We cannot get out. They are coming."

Elenmírë shuddered at the words for they chilled her down to her bones, but Legolas moved away from her as Boromir turned to look for her. However, everyone froze, for there, by a well, was Pippin, who had accidentally knocked a fully clad skeleton down it, and the sound reverberated throughout the room and seemed to echo throughout the entire mine itself. With each loud bang, the tension in the room increased, and then silence. Frozen to their spots, they waited for any signs that they were heard, but as the silence sustained for a few more seconds, they all let out a slow, collective breath.

Exhaling, everyone save Elenmírë glared at the shaken Took, and Gandalf snatched his hat and staff from the poor hobbit. "Fool of a Took!" he growled. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" They turned to leave, but another sound greeted them, and this time they knew they would not leave without a fight.

Doom, boom, doom, boom.

Mary Sue gasped loudly at the sound and all eyes fled to Frodo's now shining sword, Sting.

Boom, doom, boom, doom.

"Orcs!" Legolas hissed, and Boromir rushed to the door but was thrust back as two arrows nearly sliced through his head.

Doom, boom, doom, boom.

"Boromir!" Elenmírë cried out, wanting to rush to his side, but seeing that he was uninjured, she stayed close to the Hobbits, especially Pippin, who could not stop the trembling that had overtaken his body.

"They have a cave troll!" Boromir groaned as he and Aragorn barraged the door shut with the extra axes lying on the floor near the dead bodies, and everyone took their positions, weapons in hand.

"Let them come!" Gimli growled angrily, his eyes flashing red with anger. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws blood!"

Elenmírë, too, uncovered her sword, and whispered a soft prayer to the Valar to give her strength. The loud banging had now reached the door, and she smiled slightly. With all the anger and frustration building within herself for the past several weeks, she was itching to get back to fighting, and her smile grew ever wider, knowing that these Orcs had no idea who they were about to deal with. The familiar warrior spirit within her soul came alive as an ax sliced through the door, and almost instantly, Legolas released an arrow through the narrow slit with such precision that the intruder fell dead before it had another chance to break down the door.

Mary Sue had found her way to Elenmírë's side, and she was holding her sword the way Elenmírë had taught her, and she looked to her teacher with fear written plainly across her face.

"Just remember what I had taught you," the She-Elf instructed before the door had come crashing down from all the pressure of the gathering band of orcs. "Trust in yourself, Mary Sue, but do not underestimate your enemy! Do not be afraid!" The girl nodded as the orcs swarmed through the room, and Elenmírë ran charging, her sword swinging, and with one attack, she cleanly sliced through three black backs, and they fell down behind her with a satisfying thump. Another charged at her, with his arms raised high carrying an ax, but she quickly sliced across its neck. Its head fell off and black ooze splattered across her tunic, and she frowned slightly.

"Stupid, idiotic creature," she muttered, twirling out of the way as one aimed an arrow in her direction, narrowly missing her heart. She was about to do a vertical chop to cut the thing in half, but an arrow suddenly protruded through its back to its chest and it fell down, revealing a grim-faced Legolas standing behind him. He nodded in her direction, mouthing, 'Amin mela lle' to her before he quickly began attacking more of the villains that had come streaming through to door.

The company as a whole was staying alive while successfully killing the orcs that continued on harassing them, and the numbers of the enemy were dwindling, but a huge grunt and the sound of crushed rock forced Elenmírë to gaze at the huge, grey, ugly cave troll that had now entered the room. Never in her life had she seen a creature so hideous, but she felt her eyes grow wide with fear when she saw it swing its angry arms one way and then the other, killing multiple orcs in an attempt to grab Gimli. Though stout and a bit heavy, the Dwarf managed to dodge the troll's attacks, and Elenmírë moved to help him, slicing at the troll's arm with her blade. It growled as it focused its attention on the She-Elf, forgetting about the Dwarf, but she was quick and easily moved away when it tried desperately to grab her.

Arrows were shot at the back of its head, and it swerved around, finding Legolas standing on a ledge, and it began to swing its chain at its new target, but Legolas easily avoided being hit. The chain caught around a pillar, and the Elf used this to his advantage, running up the chain and balancing himself on the beast's shoulders as he shot another arrow directly at the troll's head. He leapt off before it could grab him, and the troll focused on creatures who seemed more vulnerable than the warrior Elves and Dwarf. He had found the Hobbits.

Merry, Pippin and Frodo had managed to stick together while Sam was on the main floor knocking orcs unconscious with his kitchenware, but now they stood immobile at the sight of the troll and did not know what to do. The troll rammed his weapon between Merry, Pippin, and Frodo, isolating the latter into a tiny corner, and Elenmírë fought her way through five more orcs in an attempt to keep the troll away from the Fellowship's most important member, but the more she killed, the more attacked her, and she was unable to reach the hobbit in time.

Aragorn had found his way to Frodo's side and, grabbing a spear, he trust it deep into the troll's chest, and it groaned in agony before sweeping Aragorn away, flinging him against the wall, where he lay motionless.

"Aragorn!" Elenmírë cried out, her heart beating wildly with fury. "No! You demon!" Without another thought, she sliced her way through ten more orcs. 'I made a promise to Arwen,' she thought angrily, 'and I do not intend to see it broken by an ugly troll!' There were no more orcs for her to attack, and she crossed the room to reach Frodo, but it was too late. The troll had taken the spear that Aragorn had used and stabbed the tiny hobbit in his side.

"Frodo!" Sam cried beside the She-Elf; she had not been aware of his presence, but now, she could feel his body shaking with sobs. Tears sprang to her own eyes, but she kept them at bay, breathing heavily. She felt her insides begin to constrict then expand, and she was suddenly aware of a light that began to glow from inside of her. Her eyes flashed dangerously, and she let out a tortured cry, raising her sword high above her head as she began to swing in one fluid motion at the trolls arms and legs, and she became a golden blur at its feet, too fast for it to detect where its attacker was coming from.

Merry and Pippin had jumped onto its shoulders and were stabbing madly into its back, and Gandalf and Gimli were each taking turns in stabbing the creature from the front. Mary Sue was at Frodo's side, unable to move from the spot as she studied his still figure, and tears were streaming down her face. Boromir was with Sam as they fought off the last of the orcs, and Aragorn was slowly coming to. Legolas finally joined the fray against the troll, aiming his arrow for its high forehead, and with one snap, he had hit his target.

The troll slowed its movements, swaying unsteadily from left to right until it fell face first to the ground. They all glared hatefully at the creature before rushing to Frodo's side. Aragorn was the first to reach him, and he gently pushed Mary Sue away as he turned the hobbit over off the spear.

He was…breathing! Frodo was alive, but how was that possible!

"I'm alright," Frodo managed to say as he sat up. "I'm not hurt."

"You should be dead!" Aragorn gasped, unable to keep the surprise from his voice. "That spear would have skewered a wild boar!"

"I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye," Gandalf said, his eyes twinkling with mischief as Frodo unbuttoned the top of his shirt, revealing a silvery mail of metal.

"Mithril!" Gimli exclaimed. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins!" Shrieks and screams drifted into the room, and Gandalf groaned. Shadows were growing closer and closer and they followed the wizard out of the room.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm!" he ordered. They fled out into the large hall that they had first walked into, and black creatures were crawling everywhere from out of the crevices in the ceiling and from the cracks in the floor. There were so many goblins and orcs that they began to blend together in one black wave that was threatening to consume their tiny party of eleven. Gandalf paused ahead of them, seeing that their way was blocked, and they each turned around in all directions but they were completely surrounded. Ugly, mutilated faces glared and sneered at them, and they drew closer, as if closing in on their prey…

A large growl echoed through the hall, growing louder and louder and more tangible. The motley crew of goblins and orcs trembled and cowered at the sound, slowly easing away from the Fellowship, and Elenmírë wondered what in the world could scare a huge army like the one that had congregated around them. She looked to Gandalf who had his head bowed, as if trying to deny what he knew. The menacing presence drew closer, and she studied the flashes of red and orange light dancing on the walls…as if it were engulfed in flame…

"What is this new devilry?" she heard Boromir utter.

"A Balrog," Gandalf sighed heavily, leaning on his staff for support. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" She gasped at the information but she fled along beside the wizard, running through the doorway that stood at the end of the hallway. It led down a stairwell which had a huge piece missing in its middle. Legolas jumped across the fissure first and cried for Gandalf to follow him, which he did with ease. The gap was not huge, but what lay beneath was a far drop to what seemed like a molten lava pit, and that made the seemingly easy jump all the more terrifying. Elenmírë grabbed a hold of Pippin as Boromir grabbed a hold of Merry, and they jumped together. The combined weight off all them caused about three more stairs to fall down into the abyss below, widening the gap. Elenmírë's heart was pounding. How were the rest going to get across?

An arrow whizzed by her head, and she turned sharply to her right and groaned. Orcs were gathering high above and shooting down at them, but not with the greatest accuracy, and for this, she was thankful. Legolas had begun to fire back as Aragorn tossed Sam across the opening, and she easily caught him. Aragorn reached for Gimli, but he held up a hand in protest.

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" he scoffed, and he took a leap, his feet just barely making contact, and Legolas reached out and grabbed the only thing that he could to pull his friend to safety: his beard. "Not the beard!" he protested, but Legolas ignored him, and grabbed him, catching the Dwarf in his arms until he could regain his balance. Now all that remained were Aragorn, Frodo and Mary Sue.

Several more stairs had fallen from the stairwell, and the Balrog was slowly at their heels. Its loud snarl echoed to them, and its heavy approach could be felt as if an earthquake had ensued each of its steps. There was a loud crack, and a part of an arch of the ceiling came tumbling down just behind where the remaining members of the company stood, and it broke their section free from the stairwell. If they leaned to either side, they would lose the three of them in a heartbeat, and they could not let that happen for they were the three of the most important ones: The Ringbearer, The Rightful King of Gondor, and The Prophesized One.

'Aragorn and Frodo, oh Holy Valar, save them!' Elenmírë silently prayed, her heart fluttering with alarm. She held her breath as their section teetered, and she could hear Aragorn call out, "Lean forward!" To her amazement, they were suddenly coming towards them, and she opened her arms, as it made contact with their part of the stairwell, and Aragorn fell to her, as Frodo did to Boromir and Mary Sue to Legolas. A smile spread across her face as the top section slipped away, and they continued down to the stairwell to level ground without anymore trouble, though they could feel the heat of the Balrog just behind them. When she turned her head for a moment, she was struck down with horror at the enormity of the evil creature. It was huge and completely engulfed in flames, and she forced her legs to carry her as far as they could, just as long as she never had to face the horrible creature ever again. They spotted the bridge just in front of them, and she ushered the hobbits and Mary Sue ahead of her before she slipped across the narrow path of the bridge herself, and as she turned around, Aragorn, Boromir, and Legolas followed respectively. They reached the other side safely, but Gandalf stood still in the middle of the Bridge, his staff and Glamdring in his hand.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf screamed, his rage building a strange light around him. The Balrog lifted out a sword of fire and chopped it down against the wizard, and Elenmírë's jaw dropped in amazement as the wizard remained unscathed.

"Gandalf!" Frodo cried and ran forward, but Elenmírë grabbed him and held him back. There was no way he would be of any help if he interfered, and she herself had to stifle her own urge to run down there and grab the wizard to safety. She held her breath, unable to tear her gaze away from the sight before her, despite the fact that it frightened her to no end.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor!" the Wizard growled. "The Dark Fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun!" The Balrog cracked his whip threateningly and took a step forward. "Go back to the shadow! You shall not pass!" Gandalf slammed his staff to the ground, sending a force of white light in the direction of the dark creature, and it flinchingly stepped away. It growled again before venturing forward, but the bridge gave away under its feet, taking it into the bleak chasm below.

Elation rose in Elenmírë's chest, and she also felt a relaxation in the Frodo's body as she held onto him. Gandalf was still alive, and the Balrog had fallen! The wizard breathed a sigh of relief and turned to join the company, but suddenly, there was another loud crack of a whip, and its fiery fingers wound its way around the wizards feet, dragging him along. His arms caught the edge of the remaining bridge, and Frodo struggled against Elenmírë's hold to come to his dearest friend's aid.

"Gandalf!" he half-shouted, half-cried, kicking his feet into the air as Elenmírë picked him up and moved to the exit.

"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf muttered, his eyes wide but determined, and he relinquished his hold, falling into the obscurity of the chasm. It took another second before they all reacted again, and in her shock, Elenmírë lost her grip on the Ringbearer, but he ran directly into Boromir's arms who picked him up.

"No!" the hobbit sputtered, desperately trying to free himself. "Gandalf! No! Gandalf!" Boromir ran past Elenmírë as she stood frozen, her eyes never leaving the dark abyss, but Boromir caught hold of her hand, practically dragging her out through the door that brought them out into the world of light.

Aragorn had slowly come out after them, his eyes closed as he tried to steady his breathing. Boromir, struggling with his tears of grief, held Gimli tight; the Dwarf was ready to go back and fight all of the demons of Moria if the Man of Gondor had not had his hold on him. The hobbits lay huddled on the floor with Mary Sue, their sobs full of misery, and Elenmírë…she fell to the ground, tears dripping down her cheeks as she curled into a ball. She was brought back again to the time in her childhood when she had first heard the news of her mother's capture; the same hurt and confusion were raging in a storm deep inside her soul, and her heart felt weak, as if it were growing fainter. She rocked back and forth, trying to deny what she had seen, but she knew he was gone. Gandalf, her long-time friend and advisor had fallen into the shadow, and the raw pain gnawed at her insides, and she gasped for air. This was the worst she had ever felt, and she looked down at her hands…they were losing their color, and she felt herself growing pale. She was cold, so cold…She closed her eyes, wishing everything to be the way it used to be, but she knew that when she opened her eyes, Gandalf would not be there to greet her with his knowing smile. She knew when she opened her eyes, she would be alone in her tightly curled ball trying to fight off the misery she was feeling, and she shook her head violently. 'This is not happening this is not happening this is not happening this is not happening…' The mantra repeated itself over and over in her head, and in an instant she stopped moving, but not on her own account. Warmth wrapped around her, and she opened her tear-filled eyes in surprise, and she whispered one word before she collapsed, falling into the arms of the one who loved her.

"Legolas…"

Little did they all know how close she was to dying at that very moment.

TBC..