~ A new update! And just to note, if someone makes a comment in a review that is meaning to insult, whatever find something better to do with your time. Unless you all expect me to be perfect and be a high elf like Legolas ::Smiles at thought:: Yup that's it I'm expected to be perfect, cool! I'm not though, as much as I hate to admit. So yeah, don't care about those kind of comments, I got bigger issue in life than pleasing stupid people. Now for ones who like my story, this is for you.
MaverickGirl: Here's a new chapter for you!
Elen: I know it's short but I just got a great idea for a new update.
Es: Oops, sorry about that. I fixed it, thanks for the point out. And don't worry about pointing out all the errors. I like it so that way I can fix them, thanks so much again.
Sakura: Thanks for the support, and in this case, you're excluded you were only pointing out a fact. I think you know what I mean :o)
Blahblah: The part with the water just came to me. I honestly based it on something I would do, uh did, whoops did I say that out loud? I know I don't get to update as fast as I'd like, but I'm really trying. It's amazing how many people want some of my time, people at home that is.
Aislin: I liked that part too with the rock, I laughed while I wrote it. I'll check your story out as soon as I can.
Disclaimer: Ditto as before
Through out the mines, Shantel had to keep telling herself that nothing was going to jumped out of the dark, nothing was going to grab her, when a hand closed on her arm. Too frightened to even scream she froze, not even able to draw in a breath.
"Shantel?" Boromir's voice asked. Turning Shantel saw that Boromir was holding her arm.
"You scared the heck out of me," Shantel hissed.
"Sorry," Boromir let go of Shantel's arm. "I only wished to make sure you were alright. You didn't answer to my earlier questions."
"Sorry," Shantel whispered, "The dark starts creeping me out, thanks to my overactive imagination." Boromir was now walking next to Shantel.
"I mean it's not like anything is going to really jump out at me," Shantel shrugged.
"Actually I've heard that orcs…"
"Don't tell me that!" Shantel interrupted Boromir and grabbed his arm now looking around. He bent his arm, to give her a better hold. Their footsteps all echoed as they walked, up and down, sliding through narrow spaces, which was especially hard on Gimli then finally arriving at three tunnels.
"Which way, wiz?" Shantel wondered towards the back. Gandalf heard and only glanced back before saying out loud, "I have no memory of this place."
"Best get comfortable, we all remember how long it took to figure out how to get in," Boromir took off his cloak, spreading it on a rock and motioned for Shantel to sit. Not thinking twice, she sat and was joined by Pippin, Sam and Merry. Boromir sat down next to Shantel and they watched Frodo walk up to Gandalf. Talking quietly they couldn't hear, so Shantel thought of a game to pass the time.
"Anyone ever play I spy?" Shantel asked. All looked at her like she grew a third eye.
"What is it?" Merry asked.
"A game that you pick out a detail about an object then the others have to guess," Shantel explained. "The person who does get it gets to chose the next item. If you want I'll go first, okay?" They nodded and Shantel looked around. Not much to choose from. Normally she went by color but in here everything was gray, or black. "Uh, maybe this should wait until we're outside, because if I say, I spy with my little eye something gray, that could be anything." Pippin laughed, joined by Sam while Merry looked around confirming what Shantel said.
"You have strange sayings in your world," Boromir chuckled.
"Do you know of another game?" Pippin asked once he calmed a bit.
"Lemme think," Shantel said and started talking quietly to herself. "Let's see, no spin the bottle wouldn't be appropriate plus where would I get a bottle? Um, nothing to color of draw on, singing would be too loud," Then Shantel snapped her fingers. "I got it, telephone!"
"What's a telephone?" Aragorn asked. He got curious to what the group was doing and wandered over. Legolas and Gimli walked over as well, now listening.
"Well, everyone has to sit in a half circle so we have to
spread out," Shantel explained. Slowly everyone shuffled under Shantel's
instruction, even getting Legolas and Gimli to join in. "Now I'll start and
what I'll do is whisper something, made up funny whatever, at least three words
long, and then Boromir will whisper it to Sam, then he to Merry and so on until
it gets to the end. Then the last person gets to say the phrase out loud and
I'll tell you how close it is to the original." Everyone nodded still not
completely sure but willing to give it a chance.
"Should we invite Frodo and Gandalf?" Merry asked.
"I think they're busy," Legolas looked up to the two, still in conversation. Shantel thought for a moment then whispered something to Boromir. He made a face but leaned over and whispered it to Sam. It then went from Sam, to Merry, to Pippin, to Aragorn, to Legolas, to Gimli.
"Do I have to say it out loud?" Gimli asked. Everyone nodded and Gimli sighed. "Hoppy ways." Everyone laughed quietly and looked to Shantel.
"I said 'Happy days' to Boromir," Shantel snickered. "Want to keep going?" The hobbits were really eager and the rest were interested so they continued. Phrases from Gondor the White City, changing to Londor the tight pity, and Shire's full of fun changing to sires full of sun, went around until it was Legolas turn. He had thought of a really good one and was about to start when Gandalf stood up.
"It's that way."
"He's remembered," Merry said scampering over forgetting the game. Legolas and the other reluctantly got up but were eager to get out, no matter how much fun the game was.
"We'll have to continue this once we are out of here," Legolas said to Shantel.
"I'm glad you like it so much," Shantel laughed. "Maybe we should get Frodo involved, forget about that burden he has, only to lighten his load for a bit." Legolas nodded understanding what Shantel meant. Walking they could tell that the cavern opened up a bit and Gandalf stopped.
"Let me risk a little more light," Gandalf said. Tall columns came into view, the work of the past was so amazing even Gimli was in awe of his ancestors. It went on, rows and rows of columns for miles and miles. Slowly walking and looking around all were startled when Gimli let out a grump hruff and went running towards a room sunlight was streaming into. Everyone followed Gimli to find him kneeling in front of a tomb, crying and saying no, over and over again. Gandalf leaned over reading the tome.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf sighed. "He is dead then it is as I feared. Legolas was standing by Aragorn and Boromir, ready with his bow. Pippin wandered over taking Gandalf's hat when it was handed to him, as Frodo, Sam, and Merry were on the opposite side of Gandalf. Shantel slowly walked over to Gimli and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to her with tear stained eyes and Shantel reacted on impulse, she knelt down and hugged him. Gimli hugged Shantel back then patted her back standing up.
"Thanks lass," he whispered. "I'll be fine." Shantel stayed by him and kept a hand on his shoulder as Gandalf started reading from the book. No one noticed Pippins curiosity about the skeleton by the well until a loud crash was heard. Everyone jumped, ready for attack then looked at Pippin. The poor hobbit stood there, probably wishing to shrink into the floor, Shantel thought. She knew that feeling.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf shouted. "Throw yourself in next time and ride us of your stupidity." The harsh tone made Shantel wince. Everyone turned ready to leave when one sound stopped them. Drums.
"Drums in the deep," Shantel repeated from Gandalf's reading her blood going cold.
"Frodo!" Sam shouted pointing to Frodo's sword. He pulled it out and Shantel recognized it as it glowed blue. Sting.
"Orcs!," Legolas said. Boromir rushed to the door and narrowly missed getting hit by arrows. He pulled back in and sighed.
"They have a cave troll," Boromir stated. Shantel thought if this wasn't so frightening, she would have found that line funny. Aragorn rushed over with Legolas to start barricading the door. Gimli got up on top of the coffin.
"Let them come, there's still one dwarf in Moria that still draws breath!" Gimli challenged. Shantel pulled out her short sword, not trusting using the bow and arrows. She didn't want to accidentally hit any one beside the bad guys. The three guys by the door back off as pounding sounds. A hole was cut through, and Legolas shot through it hitting an orc. Shantel thought that wasn't too bad an idea and was about to try it, when the door broke down and orcs stormed in. They were hopelessy outnumbered and quickly separated. Shantel got hit a few times when ever she tried to deliver a killing blow and decided to concentrate on blocking. Slowly she was backed up to the wall, where she was grateful that she didn't have to watch her back, but was getting tired.
All the orcs paused as the cave troll burst in and Shantel's eyes grew wide. She saw her attack of opportunity. Swinging as hard as she could, she was able to hit three of the orcs by her, one possibly dead, and was able to get the bearing on the others. Slowly, filled with adrenaline, Shantel dodged and made her was over to where Boromir was and leaned her back on his. He knew this from practicing with Aragorn, and seemed to fight even harder and faster, and Shantel noticed, the stream of orcs seemed to be lessening. Everything paused again hearing the troll groan, and Shantel turned in time to see the troll fall, Pippin thrown off from a top it's head. The few remaining orcs ran out, and Shantel ran over to Pippin.
"Pippin, are you okay?" Gently she helped him sit up.
"Frodo," Pippin gasped. "He hit Frodo." Shantel looked up to see Sam leaning to push Frodo over then saw him take breath.
"He's breathing, Pip," Shantel said. She helped him as Pippin struggled to get to his feet and saw that Frodo was okay.
"You should be dead," Aragorn breathed, amazed. "That spear would have skewered a wild boar."
"I think there's more to this outfit than meets the eye," Gandalf said. Slowly Frodo lifted his shirt, showing a beautiful shirt seemingly made of silver.
"Mithril," Gimli said. "You're full of surprises Mr. Baggins." All stood up straight hearing the sound of orcs in the distance.
"To the bridge of Khazad-dum!" Gandalf shouted and all followed. Running out past the pillars, they paused as they heard scuttling of orcs. They were crawling on the walls on the ceiling and quickly had them circled. The sneered and hissed, as the fellowship stood with swords ready, then a sound stopped everything. A deep hallow thud. It followed again and sent the orcs scurrying back up the walls back into the ceiling. Shantel swallowed thinking she didn't want to meet whatever scared them away.
"What is this new devilry?" Aragorn leaned over to Gandalf.
"A Balrog- a demon of the ancient world." Gandalf sighed and lowered his sword. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" The next thing that Shantel knew was that she was running wildly, pulled by Pippin and Merry in front of her. Boromir was at the head of the group. The rest was a blur until they crossed the bridge, and Shantel was watching waiting for Gandalf. There's were they saw the demon, made of fire.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf screamed. The Balrog growled and Shantel had to shake herself. I will not faint, she thought, we will get through this alive. The pounding of Gandalf's staff brought back Shantel's attention in time to see the bridge break and the Balrog fall through. She sighed with Gandalf and stepped out on the bridge holding out her hand for him when the whip of the Balrog came into view. As if it played in slow motion, Shantel saw the whip grab Gandalfs ankle, felt the brush of his fingers as he fell, and saw him slide to the edge, barely holding on. Shantel was frozen, didn't know what to do.
"Fly you fools!" Gandalf said. Then Shantel saw him let go. What happened after that, Shantel couldn't tell you. The next thing she knew was that she was outside, laying on her back staring at the sky. Gandalf the gray was gone. Sitting up, Shantel felt no tears, didn't feel anything as she looked around. Merry was holding Pippin as Sam cried alone. Boromir was distraught, like Gimli and Legolas looked around warily. Where was Aragorn, and Frodo, Shantel wondered. The feel of being lifted up to her feet surprised her and Shantel struck out until she saw Aragorn.
"Be strong, Shantel," Aragorn said. She numbly looked at him and saw him lift Sam to his feet.
"Give them a moment," Boromir yelled. Shantel tuned out the reply not being able to take the fact that they were fighting after what happened. Seeing Boromir ready to retort Shantel blew up at them.
"Just stop it both of you," Shantel screamed. Everyone turned and now the tears started to fall. "The last thing Gandalf would want is us to fight and, and.." Shantel felt herself run down, and sank to her knee's. "Please don't fight," She sobbed. Boromir walked over and helped Shantel stand, grabbing her in a hug.
"I'm sorry Shantel," Boromir was crying to, she could tell. A hand on her shoulder had her look up.
"We should go," Aragorn said. Shantel nodded, and with the help of Boromir got the hobbits up while Aragorn got Frodo. Taking off at a run, for once it felt good to Shantel to run. Like Shantel was running away from all the horror that happened, like it would make it not real.
