A/N: OMG! I so thought I had updated this beyond this point! Please forgive me! I do not own LOTR and never will. Flashbacks 33333. 99999 Scene changes. - Naur

Determined Guardian

Chapter 5

The Falling Star

"We cannot linger any longer! Gandalf they are coming!" Legolas exclaimed once again hearing the orcs and goblins. Gandalf nodded and looked down at the hobbits before looking up again.

"To the bridge of Khazad-Dûm!" He yelled. The fellowship ran out of the chamber following Gandalf and Legolas as they ran. Sounds of laughter and cries echoed through the halls, glancing up they saw goblins crawling through the cracks in the ceiling like spiders and orcs climbing up through the floor. Soon they were surrounded, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf all stood around the hobbits in hopes of protecting them. A goblin hissed at Legolas and he was just about to shoot it when a thunderous roar filled the hill. Legolas's eyes widened as he realized what had caused that roar.

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"It made a sound that no other creature could ever make. The sound of a balrog is something like a rough stone being pulled over another rough stone. It tortures your senses, especially those of an elf since they are sharper," Glorfindel told the small elflings sitting at his feet. The two dark haired twins looked amused but a bit bored since they had heard this story before but the other…the little prince from Mirkwood sat staring at him complete wonder in his eyes.

"What did it look like my lord?" Legolas asked. Glorfindel smiled and then thought about how to explain it.

"A balrog is both shadow and flame…it has the head of a ox, a body of some demented creature and the wings of a dragon. It's whole body is covered in blackened firey rock. The very breath it breathes is flame," He answered.

"I bet my brother could defeat one!" Legolas smiled, the pride in his brother showed in that smile.

"I do not doubt your brother dear Legolas but I almost didn't make it out alive from my battle with one. I went to the house of Mandos and was returned for some purpose," Glorfindel answered. Legolas stood and climbed into the golden warrior's lap.

"And we are glad you were," Legolas sighed wrapping his arms around his neck. Glorfindel was surprised by this act as well as touched. Soon two other pairs of arms wrapped around him and he smiled at all the little elflings that clung to him…all his children, he wrapped his arms around all of them hugging them back.

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Legolas opened his eyes and the connected with Gandalf's. The wizard knew what he was thinking.

"Yes Legolas it is the creature in Glorfindel's stories," Gandalf whispered.

"What creature?" Aragorn questioned.

"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. It is the one that slayed Glorfindel and in return he destroyed it. None of us can defeat this foe. We must run! Now!" Legolas exclaimed.

The Fellowship ran through the Hall entering a passageway. Then down a flight of steps. They are all running almost falling into the deep chasms on either side of the stairs they run on. Gandalf and Aragorn are in the rear.

"Gandalf," Aragorn started.

"Lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near." Aragorn looked and indeed there was the bridge. But he didn't want to leave without Gandalf and resisted. Gandalf pushed him away. "Do as I say! Swords are no more use here!" Gandalf cried. Legolas looked back and saw them fighting, he ran back and took Aragorn's arm in his pulling him towards the others.

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Legolas the elfling had asked, "Elves will live forever in the Undying Land. But what about a maia like you, Gandalf? Where will you go?"

Gandalf had gone quiet before replying. "I do not know, dear Legolas, for I foresee myself perished in the hands of Balrog."

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"No! Gandalf! Legolas release me!" Aragorn yelled fighting him but Legolas only held tighter. Legolas looked back at Gandalf as he ran, their eyes connected.

Gandalf gazed sadly at the elf prince. "He remembers," the wizard thought. "But I will not give in to my fate this easily. The ring needs to be safe first." Arrows started rain down on them, Legolas pulled out his bow and fired arrows back at the goblins killing each he aimed at.

"Over the bridge! Everyone!" Gandalf yelled. Just then the towering dark figure streaming with fire finally emerged from around the corner and raced towards them. The Balrog roared mightily, holding a burning whip in his hand. Terrified they all ran across the bridge, Gandalf being the last. Reaching the middle he stopped.

He spun and faced the balrog. From the other side they all stopped and watched. The balrog stopped at the edge of the bridge on the other side and roared. Slowly it started to walk forward on the narrow path, it was moving right for Gandalf.

"What is he doing?" Sam asked in bewilderment. They all watched as Gandalf lifted his staff and yelled at the Balrog not allowing it to pass and get to them. The Balrog raised it's whip again and again trying to scare him, all the while hot fumes blowing out of it's nostrils.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf shouted again, he forced his staff down onto the rock of the bridge. The Balrog leapt and the bridge cracked under it's weight. The bridge crumbled under it's feet causing it to fall into the deep chasm below. Gandalf watched it fall slowly standing straight up and turning around. Just as he turned around the Balrog cracked it's whip upward and caught Gandalf's ankle trying to pull him down with it. He fell clinging to the bridge.

"No!!!" Frodo screamed. He ran back towards the bridge but Boromir caught him just in time. "Let me go! No! Gandalf! GANDALF!"

Legolas pushed Aragorn towards the others then turned and ran back across the bridge dropping to his knees, he pulled out his dagger and reached down trying to cut it from Gandalf's ankle at the same time while trying to keep his balance, to do this he held onto Gandalf's hands. Gandalf was slipping making his efforts harder but Legolas kept trying.

"Legolas! Let go!" Gandalf shouted. Legolas froze, he couldn't believe Gandalf's words. "Legolas! Let me go! Do not give the Balrog more of a chance to return and haunt your steps!"

The rest of the fellowship watched in anticipation and horror as Legolas…with trembling hands slowly let go of Gandalf's arm.

"No! Grab him! Don't let him go!" The hobbits cried out. Boromir and Gimli had their hands full with trying to keep them from running back across the bridge as Legolas had.

Aragorn shot at the goblins that were still shooting at them. He saw Legolas let Gandalf go and how Legolas lashed out at the last second trying to once again catch the wizard but he was already to far gone.

The balrog screamed in outrage as it plummeted taking Gandalf with it. Gandalf never stopped looking at Legolas as he fell until he could no longer see him. Legolas would never forget that. Never.

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"Legolas!" As if from afar, he heard Aragorn call to him. Looking up he saw that arrows were still raining down on them. Seeing that the elf was not moving Aragorn ran back across the bridge to him before he got hit with an arrow and pulled him to his feet. "Come Legolas! The door is not far!" Without saying a word Legolas let Aragorn drag him away from that bridge of death. They followed the others through the door and entered the living world that was starting with a beautiful early morning. The sun had just come over the horizon and the sky was so blue.

Slowly each fell to the ground tears running down their faces. They only two not shedding tears were Legolas and Aragorn. As an elf Legolas had not seen much death…he didn't know what this breaking feeling in his chest was. Still the darkness of Moria plagued him and he could feel the dangers of the orcs from the caves getting closer.

"We need to move on," Legolas said after a few moments. "Orcs will be coming after us soon, Lothlorien is not far from here. Let us retreat to the safeness of those woods. Hopefully my kin will welcome us," He told them. Aragorn nodded and helped Sam to his feet and Legolas started to lead the way.

Frodo stared at him tears running down his face. "How could he just walk away from what he had done?" He thought. Finally he could not hold his anger in any longer.

"How can you be so unfeeling? Can't you see what you have done? You let Gandalf fall to his death! How could you?!" Frodo demanded.

Legolas paused in mid step as those words were spoken. He looked up keeping his face impassive and his eyes connected with Aragorn's, he stared at him in dismay but he gave him a small smile before turning away and walking on…slowly but on.

Having known Legolas all his life he knew that Legolas's true feelings were safely locked inside just waiting for the moment to be freed but the truth lay in his eyes. Legolas could never keep the emotion from his eyes, his eyes spoke the truth. Aragorn could tell that he was actually dying inside.

"Go ahead then! Run! Your kin always runs! In battle! To the Undying Lands! Your kin are all cowards! And you are no different! You are a coward!" Frodo yelled.

"Enough! Can't you see how he is hurting!?" Aragorn exclaimed. Frodo went still for a moment and he stared with wide eyes at Legolas's retreating back, more tears spilled from his eyes.

"Oh no! I'm sorry! I don't know why I said that! I…I couldn't help it! I'm so sorry!" He cried looking at Aragorn with pleading eyes.

"I know Frodo…I know. It is the ring's doing. It is trying to break our fellowship apart. And you heart is heavy in your grief small one," He thought.

Kneeling down beside the little hobbit and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know you didn't mean it Frodo. It is the ring's doing, it is trying to take advantage of you while you are distracted. You must fight it and not let it win you over," Aragorn told him.

"But Legolas…I need to…" He started looking toward the elf.

"He understand. I will speak with him if that would make you feel better," Aragorn said. Frodo thought a moment wanting to speak with Legolas himself but he remembered how the words and feelings between the two had been on the rocks so he nodded.

"Please tell him…that I am very sorry and that I hope he forgives me…" He whispered.

"He will, trust me," Aragorn replied standing up. He stared at Legolas tall form.

"Legolas will forgive anyone…except himself," He thought.

AN: And that is the end of the fifth chapter. How was it? The whole concept came from Adromir's Trust but I tried to add myself in there as well. Thanks for all the support so far! Hope you will stick with me! – Naur

Review Thanks

Cherryfaerie – It's ok! Just glad to hear from ya. The next chapter will reveal who finds out first and what happens.

Webber – Hope this was soon enough. I was on vacation and had no access to a computer. But here it is!

Gemini969 – I am going to make him feel guilty as hell you just wait.

Celebrean – That's funny. I figured I would update before I left on vacation. And now that I'm back here's this one!

Andie – I have said that in each chapter so far. I have emailed Adromir and asked her permission which she has so kindly given me. Things will be changing soon.

ice-queen1318 – I hope this was quicker!

astalder27 – Indeed. I couldn't let them go through without getting help. Especially with the scary chicks powers.

A Sly Fan – Well if it is then it is cleared up.

Deana – I hope this was soon enough! Love ya chick!

Lady Lenna – I tried to alter this a bit there wasn't really much I could do with how short it was. The next chapter is altered quite a bit and I am proud of it. Thanks so much for the review.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Ok as I said in the first chapter of this, the story is gonna be about 23 chapters long. I have never written anything that long before so I need some help with ideas. If you would please give me some things that you would like to see happen I will be very grateful. I have a plan for Fangorn that I can't wait to share but that is a little ways off. Please help me!