The silence in the mines made Sayowyn's hair stand on end. She
breathed quietly, listening for a sound. Gandalf walked to Pippin. "Fool of
a Took!" he said, grabbing his hat and staff. "Throw yourself in next time
and rid us of your stupidity!" Pippin looked sorry. Then a noise sounded in
the deep.
At first, a single sound, the banging of a drum. Sayowyn's eyes widened. She had heard this before. Then, more drum beats were heard, until they finally were accompanied by the screams of orcs.
Legolas turned to the others. "Orcs!" he exclaimed.
"Shut the doors!" Sayowyn cried. "We are trapped here!"
Boromir and Aragorn slammed the wooden doors shut, but not before Boromir almost got hit with two orc arrows. "They have a cave troll." Boromir said unhappily.
Legolas threw axes to the two Men, so they could lock the doors, which was made of weak wood.
"Get back,and stay close to Gandalf." Aragorn told the hobbits, who huddled into a small circle behind Gandalf. Sayowyn brought out an arrow, and pulled it back, as the orcs began to cut their way through the door.
"Be quick of feet and mind." Sayowyn said quietly. "Trolls are a force to be reckoned with." They heeded to her warning, never having seen a cave troll before.
"Let them come! There is but one dward yet in Moria who still draws breath!" Gimli shouted, standing on his brothers tombstone.
The orcs cut through the wood, making a small hole. Sayowyn let go of her arrow, hitting one of the monsters on the other side of the door. Legolas' arrow hit just after hers. The goblin screeched. "These are not just orcs!" Sayowyn said to them.
The mass of goblins and orcs pounded through the door and into the cellar. Sayowyn shot them with arrows, until they reached too close. She reached back with both arms and brought forth her two elven daggers. She found that her footwork confused most of the orcs, and she was able to spin around, slashing many in the throat.
Just moments after the fight had begun, a huge monster entered the room. He crashed through the doorway, smashing his way in, through the rock walls. He roared at them as he stepped into the room, led by a goblin with a chain.
Legolas hit the troll with an arrow in the chest, but it did not seem to notice. The fight had become more intense. Not only were the fellowship fighting orcs, but being careful not to get close to the troll, with it's club.
Sayowyn killed at least 13 goblins and orcs, before she stopped to watch Legolas pull a brave stunt. The cave troll swung it's limp chain at the elf, narrowly missing him each time. Sayowyn bit her lip in worry. The chain wrapped around a large pillar, and Legolas took the oppotunity to climb up the chain onto the trolls back and on top of his head.
The troll fought with Legolas, trying to knock him off. But the elf was too cunning for the beast, and shot an arrow into the trolls' skull. It now thrashed and Legolas jumped off, but to his dismay, the troll once again ignored the injury and still went after the fellowship.
Legolas once again joined Sayowyn, and fought off more orcs, which seemed like an endless tide of swords and shields. Just then, everything stopped. Frodo had been stabbed by the trolls spear, and now lay motionless on the ground.
A second later, the fighting began again, when Merry and Pippin, out of anger, jumped onto the troll's back and stabbed it with their swords. Sayowyn just looked at Legolas, and he returned the slight smile. He jumped down to the ground again, facing the troll.
The hobbits had been thrown off, onto the ground. Sayowyn took a mighty leap onto the back of the trolls neck. Legolas pulled back an arrow. Sayowyn smiled again and drove a blade into the troll's skull, causing its head to come up and back. Legolas took this as the perfect time to release the arrow.
It hit the troll square in the throat, and it began to stumble awkwardly, and then fell on the ground dead. The force of the fall sent Sayowyn flying into the air. She would have landed on her feet anyways, but Legolas held out his arms and caught her. They grinned, but then stopped, and turned to the others, which were gathered around Frodo.
Aragorn slowly turned Frodo over. Frodo surprised everyone with a cough. The fellowship breathed a sigh of relief as Frodo showed what had saved him- mithril. Sayowyn was happy that the ringbearer was still alive, but she motioned Legolas over.
"We must move on, we cannot linger." she whispered to him. Just then, more drumbeats sounded.
Gandalf stopped talking. "To the bridge of Khaza Dum!" he simply stated.
The fellowship ran, continuing their journey through the dwarf city. Amidst the great pillars, it was Gandalfs' light who showed them the way. Soon, goblins and orcs began to pop out of the ground, and from the ceiling they made their way down, crawling along the pillars.
All too soon, the fellowship were surrounded. They slammed to a halt, and looked around them. Thousands of goblins were on every side. The gap began to close.
"I have seen this before." Sayowyn said to no one in particular. "It has come."
The others looked at her, questioningly. What did she mean. Only Legolas and Gandalf knew. And when that menacing growl was heard, the fellowship tensed.
The goblins screeched and ran away. Gimli laughed, not knowing the reason for their sudden departure.
But Sayowyn did not laugh, she instead looked for an escape route, but the darkness was too much, and there was no way to see a way out without Gandalfs' light.
Boromir spoke quietly to the wizard. "What is this new devilry?"
Gandalf looked to the ground. He paused, then spoke. "A balrog. A demon of the ancient world."
Legolas' eyes widened. Sayowyn held the same gaze. Her heart pounded in her chest. They looked at eachother. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
The elves were off before anyone else, for they, along with Gandalf, were the only ones who really knew of the danger of the Balrog. They continued through the great city, going by the light that Gandalfs' staff emitted.
Finally, they found the doorway which led to the bridges, which would lead them all out onto the mountain side. Sayowyn remembered that the bridge stopped, and anyone who continued to run would fall off. "Boromir!" she called as the man kept going. Boromir slammed to a halt when the saw that the bridge was cut off. Legolas jumped and pulled him back.
Sayowyn was already off and running to the right, where the bridge continued. They made their way down. Legolas jumped off the side, to another stair case, while the others continued around the corner.
He stood and waited for Sayowyn, holding out his arms. She jumped into them and they made their way. Soon they came to where the bridge had a huge gap in it. Legolas leaped to the other side without hesitation.
He caught Gandalf first, then held his arms out for Sayowyn again. "Sayowyn!" he called to her. She gracefully leapt to the other side. Legolas grabbed her in his arms to steady her. She turned to see the others make their way across. Boromir came next, along with Gimli and the hobbits.
But then, the Balrog called out and a huge chunk of rock fell from the roof of the mines. It came crashing down and took out the other side, now leaving Aragorn and Frodo with no way out except to jump to the others.
But the rocks gave way, and now there was a greater distance to cross. The remains of the bridge, which held the two, began to give way. It teetered on the edge, before falling down to the fellowship.
Now that they were all on the other side, they made their way off of the bridges. There was only the bridge of Khaza Dum to reach now, and the Balrog was on their heels. Sayowyn could feel the flames just behind her, and she ran faster, taking up the lead across the bridge.
They began to cross the bridge, which was narrow, and they ran in single file. Sayowyn turned when she was on the other side, and they all watched Gandalf stop halfway across the bridge to face the Balrog, which was a mere 40 feet away from him.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried. Sayowyn watched in silence, her dark eyes piercing the Balrog's heart. Gandalf cursed at the monster, who tried to destroy him, in vain. The wizard threw his staff into the stone of the bridge, causing it to crack.
The balrog took a step forward, and then fell, the bridge collapsing underneath him. Gandalf watched as the balrog began his plunge to the unknown, and then turned away. Sayowyns' eyes flashed silver, an unseen color in elves. Her heart was filled with fear, and she dropped to her knees.
The fellowship looked at her, going to her aid. At that moment, the Balrog lashed his whip of flames once more. The end caught Gandalf on the lower leg, simliar to what had happened to Sayowyn. "No!" she screamed.
Gandalf fell. "Gandalf!" Frodo cried, and tried running to him, before being stopped by Boromir.
Boromir, though horrified, did not want Frodo, and especially the ring, to fall into the darkness.
Gandalf held on, but tired quickly. "Fly, you fools." he said as he let go, falling into the dark abyss. The fellowship felt shock, denial and helplessness. There was no way to bring Gandalf back.
At first, a single sound, the banging of a drum. Sayowyn's eyes widened. She had heard this before. Then, more drum beats were heard, until they finally were accompanied by the screams of orcs.
Legolas turned to the others. "Orcs!" he exclaimed.
"Shut the doors!" Sayowyn cried. "We are trapped here!"
Boromir and Aragorn slammed the wooden doors shut, but not before Boromir almost got hit with two orc arrows. "They have a cave troll." Boromir said unhappily.
Legolas threw axes to the two Men, so they could lock the doors, which was made of weak wood.
"Get back,and stay close to Gandalf." Aragorn told the hobbits, who huddled into a small circle behind Gandalf. Sayowyn brought out an arrow, and pulled it back, as the orcs began to cut their way through the door.
"Be quick of feet and mind." Sayowyn said quietly. "Trolls are a force to be reckoned with." They heeded to her warning, never having seen a cave troll before.
"Let them come! There is but one dward yet in Moria who still draws breath!" Gimli shouted, standing on his brothers tombstone.
The orcs cut through the wood, making a small hole. Sayowyn let go of her arrow, hitting one of the monsters on the other side of the door. Legolas' arrow hit just after hers. The goblin screeched. "These are not just orcs!" Sayowyn said to them.
The mass of goblins and orcs pounded through the door and into the cellar. Sayowyn shot them with arrows, until they reached too close. She reached back with both arms and brought forth her two elven daggers. She found that her footwork confused most of the orcs, and she was able to spin around, slashing many in the throat.
Just moments after the fight had begun, a huge monster entered the room. He crashed through the doorway, smashing his way in, through the rock walls. He roared at them as he stepped into the room, led by a goblin with a chain.
Legolas hit the troll with an arrow in the chest, but it did not seem to notice. The fight had become more intense. Not only were the fellowship fighting orcs, but being careful not to get close to the troll, with it's club.
Sayowyn killed at least 13 goblins and orcs, before she stopped to watch Legolas pull a brave stunt. The cave troll swung it's limp chain at the elf, narrowly missing him each time. Sayowyn bit her lip in worry. The chain wrapped around a large pillar, and Legolas took the oppotunity to climb up the chain onto the trolls back and on top of his head.
The troll fought with Legolas, trying to knock him off. But the elf was too cunning for the beast, and shot an arrow into the trolls' skull. It now thrashed and Legolas jumped off, but to his dismay, the troll once again ignored the injury and still went after the fellowship.
Legolas once again joined Sayowyn, and fought off more orcs, which seemed like an endless tide of swords and shields. Just then, everything stopped. Frodo had been stabbed by the trolls spear, and now lay motionless on the ground.
A second later, the fighting began again, when Merry and Pippin, out of anger, jumped onto the troll's back and stabbed it with their swords. Sayowyn just looked at Legolas, and he returned the slight smile. He jumped down to the ground again, facing the troll.
The hobbits had been thrown off, onto the ground. Sayowyn took a mighty leap onto the back of the trolls neck. Legolas pulled back an arrow. Sayowyn smiled again and drove a blade into the troll's skull, causing its head to come up and back. Legolas took this as the perfect time to release the arrow.
It hit the troll square in the throat, and it began to stumble awkwardly, and then fell on the ground dead. The force of the fall sent Sayowyn flying into the air. She would have landed on her feet anyways, but Legolas held out his arms and caught her. They grinned, but then stopped, and turned to the others, which were gathered around Frodo.
Aragorn slowly turned Frodo over. Frodo surprised everyone with a cough. The fellowship breathed a sigh of relief as Frodo showed what had saved him- mithril. Sayowyn was happy that the ringbearer was still alive, but she motioned Legolas over.
"We must move on, we cannot linger." she whispered to him. Just then, more drumbeats sounded.
Gandalf stopped talking. "To the bridge of Khaza Dum!" he simply stated.
The fellowship ran, continuing their journey through the dwarf city. Amidst the great pillars, it was Gandalfs' light who showed them the way. Soon, goblins and orcs began to pop out of the ground, and from the ceiling they made their way down, crawling along the pillars.
All too soon, the fellowship were surrounded. They slammed to a halt, and looked around them. Thousands of goblins were on every side. The gap began to close.
"I have seen this before." Sayowyn said to no one in particular. "It has come."
The others looked at her, questioningly. What did she mean. Only Legolas and Gandalf knew. And when that menacing growl was heard, the fellowship tensed.
The goblins screeched and ran away. Gimli laughed, not knowing the reason for their sudden departure.
But Sayowyn did not laugh, she instead looked for an escape route, but the darkness was too much, and there was no way to see a way out without Gandalfs' light.
Boromir spoke quietly to the wizard. "What is this new devilry?"
Gandalf looked to the ground. He paused, then spoke. "A balrog. A demon of the ancient world."
Legolas' eyes widened. Sayowyn held the same gaze. Her heart pounded in her chest. They looked at eachother. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
The elves were off before anyone else, for they, along with Gandalf, were the only ones who really knew of the danger of the Balrog. They continued through the great city, going by the light that Gandalfs' staff emitted.
Finally, they found the doorway which led to the bridges, which would lead them all out onto the mountain side. Sayowyn remembered that the bridge stopped, and anyone who continued to run would fall off. "Boromir!" she called as the man kept going. Boromir slammed to a halt when the saw that the bridge was cut off. Legolas jumped and pulled him back.
Sayowyn was already off and running to the right, where the bridge continued. They made their way down. Legolas jumped off the side, to another stair case, while the others continued around the corner.
He stood and waited for Sayowyn, holding out his arms. She jumped into them and they made their way. Soon they came to where the bridge had a huge gap in it. Legolas leaped to the other side without hesitation.
He caught Gandalf first, then held his arms out for Sayowyn again. "Sayowyn!" he called to her. She gracefully leapt to the other side. Legolas grabbed her in his arms to steady her. She turned to see the others make their way across. Boromir came next, along with Gimli and the hobbits.
But then, the Balrog called out and a huge chunk of rock fell from the roof of the mines. It came crashing down and took out the other side, now leaving Aragorn and Frodo with no way out except to jump to the others.
But the rocks gave way, and now there was a greater distance to cross. The remains of the bridge, which held the two, began to give way. It teetered on the edge, before falling down to the fellowship.
Now that they were all on the other side, they made their way off of the bridges. There was only the bridge of Khaza Dum to reach now, and the Balrog was on their heels. Sayowyn could feel the flames just behind her, and she ran faster, taking up the lead across the bridge.
They began to cross the bridge, which was narrow, and they ran in single file. Sayowyn turned when she was on the other side, and they all watched Gandalf stop halfway across the bridge to face the Balrog, which was a mere 40 feet away from him.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried. Sayowyn watched in silence, her dark eyes piercing the Balrog's heart. Gandalf cursed at the monster, who tried to destroy him, in vain. The wizard threw his staff into the stone of the bridge, causing it to crack.
The balrog took a step forward, and then fell, the bridge collapsing underneath him. Gandalf watched as the balrog began his plunge to the unknown, and then turned away. Sayowyns' eyes flashed silver, an unseen color in elves. Her heart was filled with fear, and she dropped to her knees.
The fellowship looked at her, going to her aid. At that moment, the Balrog lashed his whip of flames once more. The end caught Gandalf on the lower leg, simliar to what had happened to Sayowyn. "No!" she screamed.
Gandalf fell. "Gandalf!" Frodo cried, and tried running to him, before being stopped by Boromir.
Boromir, though horrified, did not want Frodo, and especially the ring, to fall into the darkness.
Gandalf held on, but tired quickly. "Fly, you fools." he said as he let go, falling into the dark abyss. The fellowship felt shock, denial and helplessness. There was no way to bring Gandalf back.