Title: Despair (1/16)
Author: Niphrandl
Rating: PG13

Characters: Gandalf, Frodo, Boromir, Aragorn, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Legolas, Gimli
Summary: This story takes place after Gandalf confronts the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and before the fellowship reaches Lothlorien. It is told from Frodo's POV initially.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I make no money nor do I receive any public recognition for writing this. This is just my bit of fan fiction. Thanks Easterlily!

Author's Note: This is a story that I had written some time ago. I am just reformatting and updating. I'm sure you will all enjoy it again as you did the first time around.

Despair Chapter 1 I couldn't believe what I was seeing!

He had turned to face it. He stood on that bridge and confronted that evil creature! We could feel the heat emanating off it. The smoke was billowing up and around it like waves crashing against a cliff.

"Gandalf!" I screamed. I don't think he could hear me. The roar of the flames from that evil thing was deafening.

We all stood there starring; frozen in disbelief and fear.

"You...shall not...pass!!"

I heard him yell as he brought his staff down hard on the bridge. The creature advanced on him with a huff of superheated air. The bridge gave way underneath it with a loud crack. With a scream of rage the creature fell into the dark abyss below.

Gandalf breathed a sigh of relief and turned to join us. Our eyes locked momentarily, a small smile crossed his face. Suddenly he lurched forward, dropping both his staff and sword as he fell upon the bridge. He was being dragged backward toward the abyss, a look of shocked disbelief on his face.

I couldn't breathe; my heart was beating so hard in my chest that I thought it would crash through my ribs with every beat!

Then he too was falling.

"Nnnnnooooo!!!!!" A blood curdling scream filled the mine.

I realized it was coming from me! I started to run toward the bridge but was stopped by a strong arm.

Boromir's.

I struggled against him. I had to get to Gandalf! I could not let him fall with that creature!

I felt myself being lifted off the ground. Boromir placed me on his hip as easily as he would have done with a human child.

"Nnnnoooo!!!" I screamed again still struggling with Boromir.

"Aragorn" he yelled as he turned to run up the stairs; Orc arrows hitting the walls around us.

I was vaguely aware that the others were following us. I couldn't believe it! We were leaving! Leaving Gandalf behind! I struggled even harder against Boromir but he was too strong for me. I stopped struggling and let myself be carried away.

We turned a corner and I was momentarily blinded by bright sunshine. We were outside. The cold wintry air a sharp contrast to the heated furnace we had just escaped. We had made it out of the mine.

All except Gandalf.

Despair hit me then.

Boromir put me down. I started walking slowly over the snow covered rock. I did not know where I was going and I did not care.

Gandalf was gone.

As if from a great distance I heard Merry, Pippin and Sam sobbing. I could offer them no comfort, my heart was broken. I simply kept walking.

Gandalf was gone.

My teacher.

My mentor.

My friend.

Gone.

I felt the cliff in front of me rather than saw it. I was drawn to it. Gandalf fell, I would too. No more fear. No more heartache; just blissful, forgetful darkness.

"Frodo?", I heard Aragorn call me though the fog in my brain but I ignored him. I kept walking toward the open cliff.

"Frodo!" he called again closer this time. I stopped walking then. I slowly turned toward Aragorn. Then and only then did a tear escape my eye and slide down my soot covered cheek.

Gandalf was gone, what could Aragorn possibly want from me?!

TBC......