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Diana slips as she climbs a set of steep, crumbling stairs and Legolas grabs her shoulder to keep her from falling.
"Owe," she hisses in pain and he lets go immediatly. "You're hurt."
"It's just a little bruise. I'll be fine."
Legolas stretches the neck of her shirt enough to see her shoulder which is now almost completely dark blue and purple. "Hey! Anyone ever tell you that it's rude to look down a woman's top? Pervert!"
Legolas rolls his eyes. "I was just checking your shoulder. And that is no little bruise. It must be painful."
"Yea, it is so hands off, alright?"
"It matters not to me. I was just trying to be kind," he says angrily.
"Just trying...Just trying to be kind? You've threatened to kill me twice now and you expect me to welcome your kindness?! I'm sorry to inform you that I don't forgive and forget that easy, buddy."
She storms ahead of him to walk with Aragorn and Gandalf.
Gandalf stops and looks around, "I have no memory of this place. We will rest here."
Diana sits down and leans against a wall. She looks up when Aragorn aproaches her. "Legolas told me your shoulder needs to be tended to."
"Legolas needs to mind his own business."
"He is trying to make peace with you. You should do the same. Now let me see your shoulder."
Diana unbuttons her top and slips it off her shoulders reveiling a tank-top underneath. "That's a bad bruise." he winces in sympathy.
"It's tender, but I've had worse. Took a tumble down a mountain and dislocated my shoulder once."
Aragorn carefully spreads a paste he made a few mintues before on her shoulder. "That stinks. What is it?"
"Athelas, it will help the pain." Already feeling the healing effect of the Athelas she watches as he wraps her shoulder.
"Wow, you could market that stuff where I'm from and you'd be a millionaire." His eyebrows knit together in confusion and she giggles. "Nevermind."
When Sam finishes the sausages Diana takes a bowl over to Gandalf and sits next to him. "Gandalf, I feel I should warn you about..."
"Hush. What is to pass will pass. Do not speak or act upon your knowledge."
"Yea, but..."
"Silence! On Caradhras you gave me the impression that the quest is successful. If so you made a wise choice at not changing the course of things. And you must not do so now or in the future no matter what is to come."
"You don't know what you're asking me to do" she whispers and moves away from everyone.
"Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf's staff burns brighter. "Behold the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."
Diana gasps in surprise as she looks around. Not noticing that everyone has stopped she runs into Legolas. He turns and gives her an amused look.
"Sorry." She looks around at the great city in awe. "I never would have expected something like this down here. Gimli, this is amazing."
Gimli beams in pride. "Yes, it's amazing that while so short, Dwarves have a love for things so tall" Legolas claimes, while looking up. Gimli grumbles and Diana swats Legolas on the shoulder while trying to supress a laugh. "That was uncalled for."
What seems like hours later they finally make it to the other side of the city. Gimli takes off through a door.
"Gimli!" Gandalf calls as the rest chase after him.
They find Gimli kneeling in front of a tomb mumbling in grief.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead, then. Its as I feared."
Diana moves closer to Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas while looking around nervously. "We must move on. We cannot linger," Legolas says as he watches Diana.
Gandalf picks up a book and Diana whispers the words to herself as he reads from it.
Curiosity overcomes Pippin and he touches an arrow sticking out of a skeleton sitting on the edge of the well. The skeleton falls, pulling a bucket down the well with it. Diana whips around and glares at him as it clangs down the well.
After a minute everyone except Diana relaxes. Gandalf slams the book shut. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity."
The boom of a drum sounds through the room is heard and everyone freezes. Another boom, Diana backs into Legolas, who is standing behind her and he puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. The drum beat gets faster and blood curdling screaches can be heard.
Sam notices Sting glowing blue. "Frodo!"
"Orcs!" Diana looks up at Legolas in fear.
Boromir runs to the door and looks out. He jumps back just in time for two arrows to hit the door instead of his head. Aragorn rushes to the doors to help Boromir close them.
"Find you a weapon and stay close to Gandalf." Legolas pushes Diana twoard Gandalf before moving to help block the doors.
"They have a cave troll" Boromir says dryly as he takes an axe from Aragorn.
"Let them come!" Gimli growls. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath."
Grabing a crude sword from a sketleton Diana glares at him. "Are you mad!? I would rather they stay out there!"
Wood splinters as the orcs start to break through the door and Diana lets out a startled scream. She looks around for a place to hide.
The orcs break through the door and Diana freezes in terror as they pour into the room. An orc spots her and charges with it's sword raised. Survival instincts kick in and knowing she doesn't have a chance if it strikes at her, she runs toward it and swings the sword as hard as she can. This catches the orc off guard and the sword connects with his neck, the force of the blow sending it's head flying across the room.
Aragorn calls Frodo's name and Diana turn just in time to see the troll throw Aragorn against the wall not far from where she's standing. She rushes to his side to find him unconcious. "Aragorn. Aragorn, wake up." He stirs and opens his eyes. He looks up at her and then his attention focuses on something behind her. "Oh no."
Diana turns and sees Frodo laying in a heap on the floor. "Frodo." She crawls over to him, Aragorn right beside her.
Aragorn carefully turns him over and Frodo winces in pain.
Sam gasps in relief, "he's alive."
Frodo sits up and grasps his side. "I'm alright, I'm not hurt." Diana hugs him, "If you ever scare me like that again, Frodo Baggins, I'll kill you myself." Frodo chuckles and hugs her back.
"You should be dead. That spear would have skewared a wild boar" Aragorn says.
Gandalf grins. "I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye." Diana pulls away from Frodo and he unfastens his shirt revealing the mithril shirt underneath.
Gimli raises his eyebrows. "Mithril. You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."
The screaches of more orcs can be heard and Diana looks up. "Can we get out of here?"
Gandalf nods. "To the bridge of Khazad-Dum!"
The run back through the city but halfway across they are surounded by hundreds of orcs. Diana hides behind Aragorn, griping the back of his shirt in fear.
A low growl vibrates around the city and an orange glow appears. The orcs scream and shake in fear and run away in terror at the next growl. Diana lets go of Aragorn and moves in between him and Legolas.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asks over her shoulder.
"A Balrog," Diana answers quietly. "Yes," Gandalf nods. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
Not having to be told a second time everyone turns and runs for dear life.
Boromir almost falls when the stairs make a sharp turn but Legolas grabs him and pulls him back. Diana quickly helps them up before continuing down the stairs.
A section of the stairs is missing and Boromir gives Legolas a look that says what now. Legolas leaps over the gap easily and motions for Diana to jump. "I've got to be insane," she mumbles and takes a few steps back. Taking a deap breath she gets a running start and jumps across the gap. Legolas steadies her and then turns and calls to Gandalf.
Gimli refuses Aragorn's help across and barely makes it. Legolas reaches out and grabs his beard to keep him from falling backwards. "Not the beard!" Diana can't help but grin even with the orc arrows bouncing off the stone around them.
Stone crumbles and falls due to the Balrog and the section of stairs Aragorn and Frodo are still on starts to sway. They lean forward causing it to crash into the stairs everyone else is on. Once they're safe everyone begins running yet again.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf yells and then follows behind once everyone passes. Once across Diana turns and sees the Balrog for the first time. "Oh. my God."
Gandalf stops and turns to face the demon. They stand and watch as Gandalf faces the Balrog, unable to hear what he's saying.
The demon takes a step onto the bridge and it collapses taking the Balrog with it. Gandalf turns but before he can move a whip wraps around his ankle and pulls him off the bridge.
Gandalf!" Diana screams and runs toward him. Legolas catches her and holds her against him. "We have to help him. Let me go!" She struggles against the Elf but he holds her back.
"Fly you fools!" Gandalf loses his grip on the bridge and falls.
"No!" Diana and Frodo scream in unison. Legolas drags her out of the mines behind Boromir and Gimli.
Once outside the Hobbits collapse from grief and Boromir struggles to keep Gimli from going back in. Diana looks up at Legolas. "He wouldn't listen to me" she chokes out between sobs. Without looking at her, he reaches out and hugs Diana to him.
"You!" Boromir accusess. "You knew." He pulls out his sword and stalks toward her. "You knew this would happen and you said nothing."
Legolas pushes Diana behind him. "I tried to warn him," she says.
"You lie!"
"She tells the truth. I heard it with my own ears," Legolas defends her.
"You, of all people, protect her?"
"I will let no one be falsely accused so put your sword away," Legolas says reaching for his knives.
"Boromir! Enough." Aragorn finishes cleaning his sword and watches as Boromir sheathes his. "Legolas, get them up."
Boromir looks at him in disbelief. "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!"
Aragorn sheathes his sword. "By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up."
"Aragorn's right. It's not safe here. Come on Pippin, we have to go." Diana helps the Hobbit to his feet and smiles sadly as he reaches up and wipes a tear off her cheek. "If it means anything, I don't blame you."
"It means a lot to me, Pip. Thank you."