Chapter Twenty-One: Shadows Licked by Flame
A/N: All right then, this is kind of a short chapter, but not short compared to my first chapters, that were like three pages. No, this is four pages on Microsoft Works Word Processor, so you can do the computer translation. It's quite a few words, but I think everybody is going to enjoy this one. And if you don't … then … uh … I don't know, just don't review! Or review if you want, flame me whatever, it doesn't really matter, I guess. I'm just going to keep writing this story!
Disclaimer: Yeah…all that stuff that you already know. And if you're just joining us, why the hell are you starting on the 22nd chapter?! Go to the beginning, you dork! Ha ha, okay.
…
They went along running for several minutes and Aila had a hard time of it, having no use of her arms what-so-ever as both Aragorn and Legolas both had a hold of her hands and were pulling her along. She struggled, trying desperately not to step on their heels as they ran. Finally, she gave up and was sick of it.
"Tampa!" she cried to them. "One of you let go of my hand, I cannot be pulled along by the both of you!" Aragorn consented, releasing her hand and leaving her to Legolas and running ahead to lead the others, who were already becoming confused. At the end of the passageway, a few hundred feet beyond the end of the stairs, they stopped and attempted to catch their breath.
Aila wormed her hand out of Legolas' grasp and turned back towards the stairs, but held her feet firm to the ground, gesturing that she was not about to run back. Soon Gandalf came flying down the steps, halting in the midst of the company.
"Go on! You will have to do without light for a while: I am rather shaken. Go on! Go on! Where are you, Gimli? Come ahead with me! Keep close behind, all of you." They ran again for a long while, Gandalf leading them, and Aila allowed herself to be led by Legolas, knowing that he was able to see better than she in the dark, thanks to his bright elven eyes. He had grasped her hand again and she clung doggedly on, running along slightly behind him.
"I think," said Boromir after a while, Aila only half listening to what they said, like she had through most of the journey through Moria, "that there is a light ahead. But it is not daylight. It is red. What can it be?"
"The lower levels are on fire," cried Gandalf, realization dawning on his face. Frodo ran determinedly on through the passageways behind Gandalf. Suddenly, before Frodo was a black chasm, and the floor to either side of him fell away and before him was a slender bridge of stone, with no rail or curb.
DOOM, DOOM.
"Lead the way, Gimli," said Gandalf. "Pippin and Merry next. Straight on, and up the stair beyond the door!" Arrows fell constantly among them, one hit Frodo, but it sprang backwards. Another struck into Gandalf's hat, but no more hits were made. Legolas began to draw his bow and Aila knew it was much to far for his small Mirkwood bow and she pulled forth her compound bow as well, pulling an arrow and fitting it to her string. Perhaps the combined pounds of thrust behind her shot would be sufficient. Legolas pulled back his string as if to shoot and Aila did the same, but Legolas' arrow was never shot properly and it fell to the ground at his feet.
Slightly confused, Aila shot her arrow towards the orcs, but the distance proved too far and her arrow fell horribly short. Beside her, Legolas fell to his knees, his bow clanging to the ground, she grasped it before it fell over the edge of the bridge and strung it on her shoulder next to her own bow, and then she turned her attentions to Legolas.
"Ai! Ai!" he cried into his hands, only chancing small glances upwards. "A Balrog! A balrog is come!" She clutched his head to her stomach, stroking his long hair to calm him down. He buried his face into her middle, clutching her back with his slender hands in his fear. She watched as the light of the fire was dimmed and brightened in the same instant as she saw the demon advance. It was of man shape, but so inhuman it was disgusting. Fire licked its heels and wrists as shadows enveloped its body. It held a bolas (a/n: whip of many thongs with rocks tied in the thongs, VEERRRYY painful.) and a tongue of fire served as its blade. Aila wretched at the sight, but stayed strong, trying desperately to bring Legolas back to his right mind. As the demon advanced the bridge seemed to shake beneath her, whether it really was the bridge shaking or her own body.
Legolas, at least, was shaking uncontrollably as he clung to her, his tears drenching her traveling tunic.
DOOM, DOOM.
"Durin's Bane!" cried Gimli, allowing his axe to fall to the ground.
"A Balrog," muttered Gandalf. "Now I understand. What an evil fortune! And I am already weary." Aila pulled Legolas into a standing position and he recovered himself, taking his bow form her and again pulling her arm to keep going.
DOOM, DOOM.
"Over the bridge," cried Gandalf, recalling his strength. "Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!" Aragorn and Boromir, head-strong men that they were, did not obey his command, stood fast behind him. Shadows swirled around the balrog and Aila had an immediate thought that his body was made of lava, surrounded by fire and darkness. With each step that the demon took towards Gandalf its flames flared up higher for a moment, but then seemed to be doused by an invisible drought of water.
"You cannot pass," she heard Gandalf say to the Balrog and unearthly wings spread forth from the shadows of its body, its wings feathered with flames and boned with shadow, sparks flying from its body and alighting in the fires below.
Legolas and Gimli brought Aila and the hobbits to the end of the bridge and they waited within the doorway of the hall's edge, not willing to leave their leader behind in the mines. Legolas let go of Aila's hand, having led her to relative safety, he began to run back towards Gandalf to stand beside the two strong men.
"No!" Aila cried. "Legolas, stay here!" She thrust herself forward into his back and wrapped her arms chokingly around his neck, but loosened her arms immediately as she didn't want to hurt him. Immediately, he began to resist, reeling about, his arms swinging wildly. "Legolas, stay here and help me with the hobbits. Legolas! Gimli, help me, please!" The dwarf obediently came to her aid, but just as he laid his restraining hand upon Legolas' shoulder the elf landed a blow upon Aila jaw, near her ear. She fell backwards with pain from the force of the blow and Legolas ran forward towards Aragorn. Gimli turned aside to make sure Aila was all right and Legolas sprinted to aid the men.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow! YOU CANNOT PASS!" Suddenly there was a ringing flash and Aila watched as white fire sprang forth from Glamdring, Gandalf's sword and struck through the Balrog's chest, straight through his heart, if he even had one. Black flame erupted from where it had been pierced with Gandalf's flame and the Balrog gave a shuddering cry just as Legolas reached Boromir's side. It fell forward into the abyss but as its last evil-doing, it swung its bolas, which wrapped around the ankles of Gandalf, pulling him into the flames.
"Fly, you fools!" he cried, and was gone.
DOOM, DOOM.
…
"Come! I will lead you now," shouted Aragorn, pushing Boromir and Legolas back over the bridge. "We must obey his last command, follow me!" They ran through the First Hall and met a guard at the eastern door of Moria. Aragorn quickly smote down the captain and the rest fled from them. Thrusting open the doors, they ran into the golden light of the day they ran until they were out of bowshot.
Following swiftly behind Boromir and Aragorn, who were leading, with Legolas sprinting further ahead of them, taking full advantage of his elven swiftness. Alongside her ran Gimli and on her other side labored the hobbits. The drumbeats faded as they ran and stood out of bow-range, grief overtaking them, tears falling freely and some unshed.
Doom, doom!
Doom.
A/N: All right then, this is kind of a short chapter, but not short compared to my first chapters, that were like three pages. No, this is four pages on Microsoft Works Word Processor, so you can do the computer translation. It's quite a few words, but I think everybody is going to enjoy this one. And if you don't … then … uh … I don't know, just don't review! Or review if you want, flame me whatever, it doesn't really matter, I guess. I'm just going to keep writing this story!
Disclaimer: Yeah…all that stuff that you already know. And if you're just joining us, why the hell are you starting on the 22nd chapter?! Go to the beginning, you dork! Ha ha, okay.
…
They went along running for several minutes and Aila had a hard time of it, having no use of her arms what-so-ever as both Aragorn and Legolas both had a hold of her hands and were pulling her along. She struggled, trying desperately not to step on their heels as they ran. Finally, she gave up and was sick of it.
"Tampa!" she cried to them. "One of you let go of my hand, I cannot be pulled along by the both of you!" Aragorn consented, releasing her hand and leaving her to Legolas and running ahead to lead the others, who were already becoming confused. At the end of the passageway, a few hundred feet beyond the end of the stairs, they stopped and attempted to catch their breath.
Aila wormed her hand out of Legolas' grasp and turned back towards the stairs, but held her feet firm to the ground, gesturing that she was not about to run back. Soon Gandalf came flying down the steps, halting in the midst of the company.
"Go on! You will have to do without light for a while: I am rather shaken. Go on! Go on! Where are you, Gimli? Come ahead with me! Keep close behind, all of you." They ran again for a long while, Gandalf leading them, and Aila allowed herself to be led by Legolas, knowing that he was able to see better than she in the dark, thanks to his bright elven eyes. He had grasped her hand again and she clung doggedly on, running along slightly behind him.
"I think," said Boromir after a while, Aila only half listening to what they said, like she had through most of the journey through Moria, "that there is a light ahead. But it is not daylight. It is red. What can it be?"
"The lower levels are on fire," cried Gandalf, realization dawning on his face. Frodo ran determinedly on through the passageways behind Gandalf. Suddenly, before Frodo was a black chasm, and the floor to either side of him fell away and before him was a slender bridge of stone, with no rail or curb.
DOOM, DOOM.
"Lead the way, Gimli," said Gandalf. "Pippin and Merry next. Straight on, and up the stair beyond the door!" Arrows fell constantly among them, one hit Frodo, but it sprang backwards. Another struck into Gandalf's hat, but no more hits were made. Legolas began to draw his bow and Aila knew it was much to far for his small Mirkwood bow and she pulled forth her compound bow as well, pulling an arrow and fitting it to her string. Perhaps the combined pounds of thrust behind her shot would be sufficient. Legolas pulled back his string as if to shoot and Aila did the same, but Legolas' arrow was never shot properly and it fell to the ground at his feet.
Slightly confused, Aila shot her arrow towards the orcs, but the distance proved too far and her arrow fell horribly short. Beside her, Legolas fell to his knees, his bow clanging to the ground, she grasped it before it fell over the edge of the bridge and strung it on her shoulder next to her own bow, and then she turned her attentions to Legolas.
"Ai! Ai!" he cried into his hands, only chancing small glances upwards. "A Balrog! A balrog is come!" She clutched his head to her stomach, stroking his long hair to calm him down. He buried his face into her middle, clutching her back with his slender hands in his fear. She watched as the light of the fire was dimmed and brightened in the same instant as she saw the demon advance. It was of man shape, but so inhuman it was disgusting. Fire licked its heels and wrists as shadows enveloped its body. It held a bolas (a/n: whip of many thongs with rocks tied in the thongs, VEERRRYY painful.) and a tongue of fire served as its blade. Aila wretched at the sight, but stayed strong, trying desperately to bring Legolas back to his right mind. As the demon advanced the bridge seemed to shake beneath her, whether it really was the bridge shaking or her own body.
Legolas, at least, was shaking uncontrollably as he clung to her, his tears drenching her traveling tunic.
DOOM, DOOM.
"Durin's Bane!" cried Gimli, allowing his axe to fall to the ground.
"A Balrog," muttered Gandalf. "Now I understand. What an evil fortune! And I am already weary." Aila pulled Legolas into a standing position and he recovered himself, taking his bow form her and again pulling her arm to keep going.
DOOM, DOOM.
"Over the bridge," cried Gandalf, recalling his strength. "Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!" Aragorn and Boromir, head-strong men that they were, did not obey his command, stood fast behind him. Shadows swirled around the balrog and Aila had an immediate thought that his body was made of lava, surrounded by fire and darkness. With each step that the demon took towards Gandalf its flames flared up higher for a moment, but then seemed to be doused by an invisible drought of water.
"You cannot pass," she heard Gandalf say to the Balrog and unearthly wings spread forth from the shadows of its body, its wings feathered with flames and boned with shadow, sparks flying from its body and alighting in the fires below.
Legolas and Gimli brought Aila and the hobbits to the end of the bridge and they waited within the doorway of the hall's edge, not willing to leave their leader behind in the mines. Legolas let go of Aila's hand, having led her to relative safety, he began to run back towards Gandalf to stand beside the two strong men.
"No!" Aila cried. "Legolas, stay here!" She thrust herself forward into his back and wrapped her arms chokingly around his neck, but loosened her arms immediately as she didn't want to hurt him. Immediately, he began to resist, reeling about, his arms swinging wildly. "Legolas, stay here and help me with the hobbits. Legolas! Gimli, help me, please!" The dwarf obediently came to her aid, but just as he laid his restraining hand upon Legolas' shoulder the elf landed a blow upon Aila jaw, near her ear. She fell backwards with pain from the force of the blow and Legolas ran forward towards Aragorn. Gimli turned aside to make sure Aila was all right and Legolas sprinted to aid the men.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow! YOU CANNOT PASS!" Suddenly there was a ringing flash and Aila watched as white fire sprang forth from Glamdring, Gandalf's sword and struck through the Balrog's chest, straight through his heart, if he even had one. Black flame erupted from where it had been pierced with Gandalf's flame and the Balrog gave a shuddering cry just as Legolas reached Boromir's side. It fell forward into the abyss but as its last evil-doing, it swung its bolas, which wrapped around the ankles of Gandalf, pulling him into the flames.
"Fly, you fools!" he cried, and was gone.
DOOM, DOOM.
…
"Come! I will lead you now," shouted Aragorn, pushing Boromir and Legolas back over the bridge. "We must obey his last command, follow me!" They ran through the First Hall and met a guard at the eastern door of Moria. Aragorn quickly smote down the captain and the rest fled from them. Thrusting open the doors, they ran into the golden light of the day they ran until they were out of bowshot.
Following swiftly behind Boromir and Aragorn, who were leading, with Legolas sprinting further ahead of them, taking full advantage of his elven swiftness. Alongside her ran Gimli and on her other side labored the hobbits. The drumbeats faded as they ran and stood out of bow-range, grief overtaking them, tears falling freely and some unshed.
Doom, doom!
Doom.