***The fire and the fall***
The fellowship made it to the stairs and Frodo shouted to Aragorn: "I'm all right, you can put me down now!" Aragorn nearly dropped the hobbit in amazement and all heads that could turn his way.
"You should be dead, that spear would have skewered a wild boar!" Aragorn said.
"O, hobbits are made of stronger stuff then you know, but we cannot stop! Fly!" Gandalf shouted, taking off again. Aragorn put Frodo down and they all rushed forward. "Wait a few minutes for ma at the bottom of the steps and if I do not return quickly then go on! Go with haste and follow paths leading right and down."
"We cannot leave you Gandalf! You cannot hold the door alone!" Aragorn said.
"Do as I say! Swords are of no more use here." Gandalf retorted, pushing his way past to the door and fused it shut.
Aragorn led them down the stairs looking back and only seeing the light of Gandalf's staff. The drumbeats could still be heard, though somewhat distantly. Still the fellowship continued on to the bottom and waited. They had hardly to wait long when Gandalf came down the steps with such great speed; any one would have thought he was flying. "Come now, we are still not safe yet. I only pray that it is still light when we reach the outside world." The wizard said, pulling Gimli to the front of the line with him.
The fellowship followed close behind the wizard. The drumbeats started loudly again but they could not hear anyone follow. They kept going straight ahead, descending a flight of steps of 50 or more every now and then. It was getting very hot now and Gandalf proclaimed that they were nearly level with the gates. There they stopped for a moment, Gandalf collapsing to the steps, sitting and pondering. Boromir let Demi down and swept her hair out of her fair. She was very pale, but colour still lingered in her cheeks.
Rhia stood above her, tears still flowing down her cheeks. Aragorn came swiftly over. "There is little we can do yet until we reach the outside. Just pray to the valar that she makes it that far." Aragorn said, his face grave.
"What happened at the door?" Frodo asked Gandalf.
"I'm not sure but I faced something I have never seen before." Said Gandalf, his face grave. "I put a shutting spell on the door which can be broken by force unfortunately. The orcs beyond the door spoke in their own foul tongue, but I caught one word. Ghash, or fire. They then fled as something entered the chamber. It began to open the door and nearly broke me. The door left my control; I have never felt such a challenge.
"I spoke a word of command but the door burst into pieces and I was thrown down the stairs. I have never felt so weak, but now how about you Frodo? I feared the worst but had no time to question it."
"I am fine, bruised and in pain but alive." Frodo said, rubbing his wound. "But Vaira is barely, if alive. Ask not of me but her!"
"Vaira? Still alive? Then we must make haste." Gandalf said standing up.
They continued on, but before long saw a red light ahead. Ghash. It glowed bright and flickered on the walls before them. Their path now clearly sloped down, but there was a gap. Legolas ran and jumped it swiftly, bearing a screaming Rhia on his back. Next came Gandalf, holding Demi in his arms. Sam, Merry and Pippin were tossed over and Boromir leapt after them.
Aragorn turned and faced Gimli. "Nobody tosses a dwarf." Gimli grunted and jumped for all his life was worth. He almost made it but fell and Legolas caught him by the beard. "Not the beard!" hollered Gimli.
"Oh be silent and glad you are alive!" snapped Legolas pulling him to safety.
Aragorn and Frodo were left now. They made to jump but part of the stairs in front gave way and fell. They clambered up to safety and part of the roof fell, smashing up the stairs behind them. They were now stranded in the middle, but the stairs behind them bumped them forward and sent them toppling into the safe arms of Gandalf and Legolas.
The fellowship rushed down the stairs, Demi now carried by Boromir. "Look ahead!" shouted Gandalf. "The bridge is near. Lead them on Gimli! Pippin and Merry next. Straight on and up the stair beyond the door!" Gimli nodded and took off, Merry and Pippin close behind. They were followed by Frodo, Sam, Legolas, Rhia, Boromir with Demi, Aragorn and Gandalf.
As he ran, Legolas set arrow after arrow into his bow and fired. On his final shot, his hand slipped and his arrow fell. Legolas gave a cry of anger and fear. The orcs scurried away as something large came up behind them. It was black and resembled a large man almost with bat wings. The power and terror of it was far more than the fellowship ever knew.
"Ai! Ai! A Balrog!" cried Legolas.
"Now I understand! Run!" Gandalf shouted.
The fellowship ran as fast as they could. The Balrog followed close behind, hits heat making them feel as though they were roasting. The orcs followed again and Boromir blew his horn as a challenge. It echoed through a melodic sound. They made it to the bridge and the Balrog stopped.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" shouted Gandalf as one by one each of the fellowship mustered the courage and ran across the bridge in the same order. Aragorn lingered behind, standing his ground on the other side of the bridge. Boromir, feeling bold, gave Legolas, Demi to hold and stood with Aragorn. Legolas ran on past the two men and looked back.
Gandalf stood in the middle of the bridge, the Balrog before him. Gandalf's sword Glamdring in his right hand, his staff in his left. The Balrog raised its whip and brought it down in a warning crack. Fire surrounded the beast but Gandalf did not move and he shouted:
"You cannot pass! I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor. You cannot pass! The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Undun. Go back to the shadow. You cannot pass!"
The Balrog growled and its fire faded. It took one step forward and stood tall, wings spread. Still Gandalf stood firm. The Balrog's whip still in its left hand and a red sword now appeared in its right. Galmdring seemed to shine like a white star against it. The red sword fell against the white with a might clang and the red sword vanished.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf shouted again. He then lifted his staff and cracked the bridge beneath it. The staff broke and fell into the depths. The bridge fell from beneath the Balrog's feet and it too fell. But at that moment it's whip cracked and fastened itself around Gandalf's ankles, bringing him over the edge. Aragorn and Boromir rushed to help, but Gandalf cried "Fly you fools!" and fell, never to be seen again.
Darkness fell. Aragorn stood shocked but Boromir hauled him off the bridge, which fell like Gandalf after their feet. The fellowship ran up the stairs and down a passage. Ahead they spotted light. The gates were open. Swifter they ran until…they came out into the day light almost blinding.
Aragorn led them down a flight of stairs carved into the mountain side and they did not stop until they reached the Dimrill Dale. The sun shone. The clouds were high. The grass was soft. Looking back, grief took them. Legolas placed Demi on the grass and looked at her pale face. How unfair it would be to lose two friends in the one day.
***
"We cannot linger too long. Farewell Gandalf! I did speak true of Moria and for the path we lost you and hope!" Aragorn said. He roused them all to their feet. "Come now. We must do without hope. We may yet be avenged."
He strode forward down the road from the gate, rough and broken. Long grass and flowers rose beside it. Rhia took a flower for each Gandalf and Demi, taking them with her.
The road ran south and steep between the arms of the dale. Water clear ran below the mere from a deep well, fresh and cool.
"Here is the spring from which the Silverlode rises, but do not drink. Its bite is icy!" Gimli said shuddering.
"But soon it becomes a swift river and we shall follow it as our paths run together. With luck we shall meet the wood and safety by nightfall." Said Aragorn, pointing ahead to a great forest.
"There be the woods of Lothlórien! Ah! I wish I would have been able to walk beneath its trees in spring instead." Legolas cried.
"I shall be happy even if it be winter. Come now and let us make haste!" Aragorn said. They walked on at a great pace and Frodo and Sam fell behind. Aragorn and Boromir then carried them forth until three o'clock whence they took their first break since that morning. Aragorn surveyed Demi's condition full of concern.
"I am afraid that with her lack of sleep her condition has worsened." He said gravely. "She needs a good rest." Aragorn pulled the boiling water off the fire and poured some into a small bowl. He then took a few athelas leaves and placed them in the steaming water. He put the water infusion by Demi, letting its fumes surround the unconscious elf witch. Rhia and Legolas stood close by watching her with fear. A few minutes later as Aragorn was bathing Sam's head wound, Demi's eyes flickered open.
She looked around at the amazed faces of Rhia and Legolas now staring at her. "Mani?" what? She asked. Rhia gasped and Legolas' jaw dropped, then the remaining fellowship's eyes moved to her.
"Mani?" she asked again in frustration.
"You…you have not spoken elvish before." Legolas stuttered.
"Amin n'quena I'lembe tel' eldalie!" she said. I can't speak elvish!
"Yeah, well, you just did." Rhia said still in awe. Demi gasped. She could really speak elvish? But she was speaking…or at least trying to speak English.
"Well I am glad you are well my friend, though it seemed you cannot now speak westron!" laughed Aragorn. Demi frowned at him. "I am sorry my friend, but you are in quite a predicament. I thin we shall leave this for the Lady to solve." He then turned to Frodo. "Now let me see your wound master hobbit."
"I am all right. All I need is some food for my tummy and a pillow for my head." Frodo replied, backing up slightly.
"No! I must see if you are truly in good health, for you could be in poor health and not realise it before it is too late!" Aragorn said.
Frodo complied with Aragorn's wish, though hesitantly. He slipped off his jacket and was about to pull off his tunic when a sparkle was seen from around his neck. All stood in awe, but Demi. Now was the time Frodo would reveal his secret. He had no choice.
"What is…Can it be?" Gimli asked. "Well, here is a sight indeed."
"The hobbit wears a skin suit for an elvan princeling. If all the hunters in the world knew that all the shire-lings wore such garments, they would be racing off there now." Aragorn chuckled.
"And all the arrows of all the hunters would be in vain." Legolas said in awe.
Aragorn tended to Frodo while the fellowship took some much-needed rest and ate. Then when all was in order, they set off again.
It was growing dark now with the stars beginning to appear. The wind blew soft. It was the only noise. The fellowship filled along in silence, listening for any sign of the orcs. They took it as a good sign that sting was dull. They walked on in darkness now and ahead Demi heard the rustle of leaves. Legolas too heard them and said:
"Lothlórien! We are almost upon the wood."
"I will be glad to walk under its trees again." Demi said softly in elvish. She missed lórien deeply. It was her home. She wanted to see Rúmil, Orophin and Haldir again. She also wanted to Galadriel about her journey and how well she is coming to grips with her power.
The fellowship walked under the trees now. For half and hour at least they marched on until they came across a swift and merry river.
"Here is Nimrodel! It is what the Silvan Elves have made many songs. Follow me and we may wade across." Legolas said, climbing down the bank of the river and into the water, barely reaching half way up his shins. Demi followed Rhis into the river. It was cool against her skin, washing away tiredness from her feet.
When they had all reached the other side, they sat down as Legolas sung them the tale of Nimrodel. Rhia leaned on Demi he sang and after each verse, Rhia sighed softly listening to the elf's sweet voice. She no longer had a major crush on the elf but came to respect him as a friend, although she felt a pang of jealousy every time he talked or came too close with Demi.
***
Author's note: Yeah, another chapter done, another one to write, but is that not the life of an author? Why can Demi only speak in elvish?
Andreah: Who's Captain Clifton, wait, forget I asked. Thanks, I'm glad you still like it, tell me if it sux.
dulaithlossword: Well I can say now that Demi is ok, well kinda at least. Just that she can't speak westron! Just a lil something for a bit of humour. Yeah, it does sux that they left heaps out, but considering, they aren't bad are they? Cliffhangers rock!
Levanna: Yes, a little drama. I don't want to much coz it will take so much drama away from the book's story line. Too much confusion otherwise.
The stern mystic: You have not been bad. I don't have Tom in here coz he doesn't fall into this part. He was with Frodo before he got to Rivendell and I didn't cover Frodo's part. Sorry. He is very cool though, I agree. What can I say though; I am faithful, or stubborn. One of the two, take your pick.
I'm very proud to say that I am updating two chapters here today, so you'll read this then the next as a bonus. Chow!
