Many thanks to –

Catherine Maria – You're not the only one surprised by the updates. It's coming right now, and fast, which is why I'm writing at three AM. Sorry about the Balrog – I think I know where the 'ladies of questionable breeding' are gonna end up.

Sylvia Viridian – I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I tried, but it's ending up a Legomance anyway. BUT will she end up with my favorite Elf? I don't know that yet, at least.

ADC – Thanks!

Babies-stole-my-dingo – Thanks! I'm glad you didn't have long to wait (unlike most OTHER people who wait for my updates, unfortunately).

Reader poll – Will seriously be taking votes. Should she save Boromir? And should she end up with Legolas? Should we see the sons of Elrond again? Shall the Evil Ones bite the dust? Should she throw over our favorite Elf for some hot Dwarf lovin'? Let me know! ~

So here we are, just, y'know, running for our lives out of sheer terror. And, oh, look, more orcs! Yay!

I really, really need my head examined.

Seeing as how I'm going to die in a few minutes, I really don't see how my insanity is going to cause me many more problems.

And the orcs snarl at us for awhile.

And now they're running away. Now here comes the badness.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asks, eyeing the creepy red light.

Gandalf squeezes his eyes shut, so either his trying to sense it out or he has an incredible migraine. "A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you! Run!"

And we're running!

~

Have I mentioned that I really, really hate heights? Well, I do. When Boromir just about toppled over the ledge, I thought I was going to throw up. I really, really did.

Thank the Valar I haven't eaten all day. That helped me to not throw up, anyway.

Gandalf grabs Aragorn's arm. "Lead them on, Aragorn!"

Mitanna muttered under her breath. "Aragorn leads everybody on."

Oh, orc-shit. Argh, too much time with Elladan.

Yes, that is an actual phrase I heard the son of Elrond use. Not in polite company, but while sparring. When Glorfindel put him on his ass in the dust. He just hadn't been in top form, that day.

And we're running. Running. It actually takes a lot longer to get there than you see in the movie. And then there's the opposite side, way the holy hell over there. I glance at that edge, and then I do something really stupid.

I look down.

I think I'm gonna faint. I actually black out for about a second, then Boromir grabs me around the waist and hauls me back up. "Watch you step, Kayli."

Leilanni mutters something sarcastic about how it would be such a pity if I plummeted to my death. Legolas gives her a LOOK. One of those scary, piercing looks. Eru knows I would hate to be on the receiving end, but I don't think Ditz-Girl noticed.

"Vile women," Boromir mutters.

I giggle. He glances at me. I wave it off and follow everybody else down the stairs. And more stairs...and more stairs...and oh, look, a great big HOLE in the stairs.

I stare at it. Then I shake my head. "Oh, no. No way in hell. I'll take my chances with the Orcs. And the Balrog."

Suddenly, I am grasped very firmly by the waist, and then I'm sailing through the air, and then I hit the ground on the other side. I stumble, I fall, I land on my ass, and only Legolas grabbing me by the collar of my cloak keeps me from falling off the edge. "I did not carry you over only to see you fall now."

"Then you should have fucking well left me over there!"

My gorgeous, soon-to-be-deceased Elven studmuffin starts helping the rest of the Fellowship across. Boromir helps me to my feet, considering the fact that I don't actually think I can stand. At least I don't feel like I'm gonna ralph.

At the moment, anyway.

I giggle when Legolas grabs Gimli by his beard and hauls him back up. And then I watch, in fear, with everybody else as Aragorn and Frodo attempt to ride the staircase. And when they're safe with all of us (including the Twits, unfortunately) I start to run with everybody else. And we FINALLY get across that damn bridge.

I'm very proud of myself. I only looked down the once. Luckily Boromir was right behind me, and prevented me from falling.

I am such a wimp. And a failure. And all sorts of other things.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

"Gandalf!" Frodo suddenly yells, an expression of terror on his face.

I look back, even though I really, really don't want to. Mitanna leans over to whisper to me. "Here's one you CAN'T save, goody-two-shoes."

"Boy, are you gonna be surprised when he comes BACK, dumbass," I hissed back. She hit me in the shoulder.

Boromir caught her wrist and hauled her back. "If you lay a hand on her again, you will not live to tell the tale," he snaps, then grabs my arm and hauls me over to stand by Aragorn.

"You'll both get yours," Leilanni hisses after us.

Frodo lets out another desperate cry, and both Boromir and I look towards the bridge.

Where the bridge used to be, with Gandalf barely clinging to the ledge. "Fly, you fools!"

And then he was gone.

~

The rest of the trip to the surface is quick, dark, and silent. I can feel the tears rolling down my face. I don't think I'm crying for Gandalf. I think I'm crying for Frodo, for Merry & Pippin, for Sam. For Boromir. Maybe even for me.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.

"Get them up," Aragorn says softly, and his voice sounds a bit dead.

Boromir wipes away his own tears and jumps to his feet. "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!"

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien." There's a long pause. "Legolas. Boromir. Gimli. Get them up."

Behold, once more the Sues are left out of the equation. Legolas glances back, and for once I can read the expression on his face. It's pain. I don't think the Hobbits are the only ones who need a moment for their grief.

Boromir lightly touches my shoulder. "Come, Kayli, we must go."

I sigh and slowly pull myself to my feet. Legolas hooks a hand under my elbow to help me. I smile at him.

An odd look crosses his face, and he brushes a hand over my cheek. Then he's gone, walking up by Aragorn.

I don't grin at Leilanni. I'll be the mature one in this situation.

But is it ever hard.

TBC...