DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One for full disclaimer. Thank you, Peter Jackson, for everything that allowed me to write this chapter.
A/N: thanks to all my reviewers. DJ, mucho gusto y gracias!
Chapter Three: The Way Out
"Behold the great realm of the Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf," declared Gandalf, raising his staff and increasing the intensity of the magical light.
Gimli stared in awe at the sight before him---all the legends and tales had not prepared him for this! Stone columns bigger than a circle of ten men marched off in rows beyond the reach of the light. Looking up, he could see the columns curving to form buttresses to support the ceiling that still lay in shadow. Unlike most of the rooms they had passed through already, this huge chamber was free of debris and the columns seemed undamaged.
"Now there's an eye-opener," Sam murmured in quiet awe.
Even his soft words echoed in the chamber. Gimli looked around, trying to place this room in what he knew of Moria's rooms. If this were indeed the throne room, then somewhere nearby had to be the Hall of Records, lit by a shaft of light from the surface. He fell to the back of the group, just outside the radius of Gandalf's light so his eyes could better penetrate the light. There---he could now see a brightly lit room far to the left and---
"NO!"
Ignoring a warning cry from Gandalf, Gimli ran toward the lit room. Bright sunlight angled down and came to rest upon a large sarcophagus carved from stone. Small skeletons, bits of armor, shields, and a large number of weapons were scattered about the chamber, and many of the skeletons had black Goblin arrows sticking from them. Gimli fell to his knees before the sarcophagus, sobbing. He didn't hear the rest of the Fellowship enter quietly behind him. A helmet bounced noisily across the floor as a careless foot bumped it. Then Gandalf was standing beside him. Holding his massive beard out of the way, Gandalf blew dust away from the inscriptions on the stone.
"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria.'" Gandalf took off his hat, the age lines in his face deepening in sorrow. "He is dead, then."
Swallowing a last sob, Gimli began rocking back and forth and chanting a prayer in his native tongue. He dimly heard voices behind him---the quiet voice of Legolas and the deeper tones of Gandalf---but paid them no heed. As he finished his prayer, Gandalf's words registered. The old man was reading from a huge, dust-covered tome.
"'A shadow moves in the dark. Drums…drums in the deep. We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They are coming.'"
Before anyone could say any more, a loud crash echoed through the chamber. Spinning toward the sound, they saw Pippin standing near a deep well shaft with a grimace on his face. More items followed whatever he had first knocked into the shaft, creating an echoing avalanche of sound. Finally the last of the noise died away.
Gandalf slammed the book shut. "Fool of a Took! Next time why don't you throw yourself in?"
Gimli sighed and rose to his feet, then froze as a loud BOOM emanated from the depths of the well. More followed, bouncing off the walls of the chamber as they rose from the deepest levels. Then other sounds could be heard---squealing and chittering that somehow seemed to come from everywhere.
"Frodo! Your sword!" cried Sam.
The young Hobbit drew the weapon he wore and stared at the blade, which glowed blue with an unnatural light.
"Orcs!" hissed Legolas.
"That's stating the obvious," grumbled Gimli.
Boromir ran to the entrance and peered out into the large chamber. He jerked back as two black arrows slammed into the door mere inches from his head. He pulled back inside and slammed the door, exclaiming, "They have a cave troll."
Aragorn and Legolas gathered up spears and axes from the fallen Dwarves. Boromir jammed the weapons in the doorway to brace the door. The four Hobbits retreated to the far side of the chamber. Gandalf joined them, shifting his staff to his left hand and drawing his sword.
Something heavy smashed into the doors and they shuddered under the impact. Boromir retreated, raising his shield and holding his own blade at the ready. Aragorn and Legolas took up stances a half-dozen strides from the door and armed themselves with their bows, waiting patiently for a target as the door rocked under a second blow.
"Let them come!" snarled Gimli, climbing on top of the tomb. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"
A small crack appeared in the door and an Orc peered inside. Legolas quickly released an arrow and the Orc fell back, squealing. Aragorn let fly an arrow almost as quickly. Legolas fired a second time through the crack. Aragorn fired another arrow, then quickly drew his sword as the door crashed inward and Orcs swarmed into the chamber.
Fighting filled the chamber as more than a dozen Orcs charged in. From his position on top of the tomb, Gimli had easy targets. He tried to keep an eye on the Hobbits amid the mass of bodies and weapons, heard Frodo cry something about the Shire, but soon had to concentrate on his own problems.
He sank his axe into the head of an Orc, through its helmet and all, but could not easily yank his axe free. A second foul creature, barking in its strange language, reared up before him with a huge hooked sword. Gimli swore and reached for the spare axe at his belt.
A soft whisper of air just past Gimli's ear caused him to duck even as the Orc staggered and fell. A slender arrow protruded from the creature's left eye. Glancing over his shoulder, Gimli saw Legolas parry an Orc sword with his bow even as he drew one of his twin long knives.
"That one was mine!" Gimli shouted, levering his axe free.
His attention was pulled back to the entrance by a loud crash as an enormous creature with mottled gray skin smashed through the doorway. He stared for a moment in disbelief and horror, then hastily dove off the tomb and rolled to the side as the cave troll smashed its crude club onto the tomb. Rock splintered and shattered at the impact.
The troll followed the rolling Dwarf, wildly swinging its club in an effort to hit him. Orcs squealed in alarm and desperately tried to get out of the way as the weapon indiscriminately struck them as well. One Orc tugged futilely at a thick chain running a manacle around the beast's wrists. With an enraged bellow, the troll grabbed the chain and used it to throw the Orc into the wall with a sickening crunch.
Saved by the distraction, Gimli staggered to his feet. There were still far too many Orcs to fight as well. The Hobbits were using pillars in the room to hide behind as they ambushed Orcs. Wielding sword and staff with equal skill, Gandalf tried to keep any Orcs from getting too near the Hobbits. Boromir and Aragorn were trying to fight the troll but had more Orcs to contend with as well. The Elf was fighting his way through Orcs to get to high ground. But the troll had seen him and was swinging his chain that direction.
Taking advantage of the troll's distraction, Gimli laid hand on his second axe and rushed in, using both weapons in tandem. Most of his blows bounced off the thick hide with little effect. Suddenly the troll howled in pain and Legolas dropped lightly from its back to the ground as it swung its arms about wildly. Then one of its huge feet caught the Dwarf and sent him tumbling head over heels.
Gimli struggled to get up. He could hear Frodo screaming Aragorn's name and knew he needed to help the others but his legs and arms didn't want to work any more. He managed to roll over just in time to see the troll thrust a long spear into the Ring-bearer's chest. Frodo gave a strange little whimper and collapsed.
The two younger Hobbits, Merry and Pippin, charged the troll and leaped upon its back. They stabbed at its skull and back with their short swords, trying to kill the beast. The troll grabbed one---Gimli couldn't immediately tell which---and threw him to the ground.
The Orcs were gone, dead or fled, as Gimli staggered to his feet. All attacks were being focussed on the troll. Gandalf moved with a speed one wouldn't expect from a man his age, darting in to strike and moving out again. Gimli coordinated his attacks with the wizard, trusting his short height and armor to make up for his lack of speed.
Suddenly the troll reared up with a bellow of pain. Legolas immediately unleashed an arrow, firing directly into the area exposed beneath the troll's throat. The troll's arms fell limply to its sides and it staggered, moaning. The surrounding Fellowship moved back, weapons ready but staying clear. The creature took two awkward steps and collapsed. Pippin gave a startled cry and rolled across the floor as he lost his perch.
"He's alive!"
Sam's startled exclamation brought everyone back to their immediate situation. Aragorn had propped a dazed-looking Frodo into a sitting position. Gimli wasn't sure who looked more battered for the beating they had taken in the fight, but he was amazed to see no blood on Frodo.
"You should be dead!" Aragorn said. "That spear would have skewered a wild boar!"
Gandalf leaned heavily on his staff and looked down his long nose at Frodo. "I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye."
Frodo looked down at the tear in his shirt, then pulled his shirt open at the collar. Metal shone brightly in the dim light. Gimli's eyes widened in surprise and he knelt beside the Hobbit for a closer look.
"Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins," he said respectfully.
Faint screeches reached their ears. Aragorn helped Frodo to his feet as Gandalf said, "To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!"
The Fellowship fled the chamber through a door opposite the one leading to the great hall into a room nearly as big. At the flickering edge of Gandalf's light, they could see Orcs climbing down pillars like spiders on webs. More crawled through cracks in the floor. The massive army of Orcs surrounded the Fellowship and began closing in, snarling and chittering. The taller folks pushed the Hobbits into the center of a protective circle and held weapons ready.
A deep, ominous growl rumbled through the chamber.
The Orcs cringed and looked around nervously, no longer interested in the Fellowship. A fiery glow illuminated a side passageway and most of the dark creatures stared toward it. A second growl came and seemed to shake the very chamber. Immediately the Orcs began running. They climbed pillars as quickly as they had come down them and vanished once more into dark crevasses and holes. In moments, the Fellowship was alone.
Boromir leaned closer to Gandalf and asked, "What new devilry is this?"
"A Balrog."
To Be Continued