Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or places related to LOTR. Wish I did but I don't. Do own original characters; Endarine and Sulei'alueo, their thought speech and mindsets. Also credit the story line plot to the movie "Lady Hawk" (A/N: It's a great movie).This story is co-written by Arienwen author of 'Elven Journey'.
A/N: Endarine is my writing name as well as the name all main female characters, in any of my stories, carry, she is not a way of myself getting put in the story, therefore her faults and any Mary Sue's are her own!. Thanks also for the great reviews, I hope you like this chapter.
Hawk's Flight
Chapter1-Frozen Fears Run Free
Endarine whistled, high and shrill like chimes struck by water. Sulei'alueo broke away from the group of horses in the hall, trotting lightly towards her. With an intake of breath she pulled herself into his saddle. An attendant quickly rushed up beside her, handing up her fletch and bow, along with her blade which she attached to her waist with a leather strap. She glanced toward the door as it continued to violently vibrate from the Uruk-hai smashing against it from the outer side. She led her white stallion towards it where more riders were mounting up, including Aragorn, Théoden, and some of his men. Behind them, dressing and mounting his own white gelding, was Legolas. One quick glance they gave each other betrayed their fear that each felt about the other.
Théoden turned his own mount to face the assemblage. "Now we ride!! Ride for Rohan!!" With that he unsheathed his sword, pirouetted his mount, and burst through the huge, now broken doors of the Keep. The rest quickly drove heels into flanks and followed.
They ran through the stone archway and down the cobbled bridge, knocking Uruk-hai off and gutting any that were left standing. They reached the end of the ramp and plunged into the sea of Uruks, driving their blades into any that came too close.
Endarine thrust her way through the angry mass, beheading and running any orc through that dared to approach her. She managed to clear a small circle around her, and then coaxed Sulei'alueo to keep going, plunging once again into the seething black throng. A glance towards Aragorn showed to her the Dunedain looking east, towards the great hill rising above the now broken Deeping wall. She drew her gaze to follow his, to see a white mounted figure atop the earthen rise. Gandalf!! He had returned!
A figure rode in behind the white Istari. Endarine recognized him as Eomer, Théoden's nephew. He raised his weapon and motioned for the entire Rohirric cavalry to plummet their horses down the steep slope. Uruk's on the periphery noticed and began moving to the edge, bracing the backs of their foul spears in the ground yet raising the lanced tips up to meet the charge head on. 'Oh Gods!!!' Endarine thought. Their Calvary would be run through. Luckily, to her relief, the sun burst over the horizon at the last instant, blinding the Uruk's, who dropped their lances and turned to run.
She grinned. They were going to make it! She turned in her saddle to look at those around her, only to have her mouth turn down from her grin to a frown of anguish.
Legolas looked to the east, seeing Eomer and his men now stampeding towards the now blind orcs. He let his guard drop naught but for a moment, but it was enough. A wide-sweeping Uruk's blade caught him in the ribs, tearing the flesh in a deep gash. Legolas winced and turned, gutting through the foul creature who had appraised him, yet flinching at the stretching of the fresh cut.
He wearily examined it. The blood was flowing free, staining his tunic and making the leather armor slippery. The wound burned. A normal injury should not. Burning could only mean one thing…….a poisoned blade. 'Oh Valar,' he had no idea how he was going to get himself out of this one.
Heedless of his injury, the Uruk's kept coming. He resumed slashing through them. A short spasm of pain made him halt for a moment, and before he could swing another blow he heard a whispering phht!! and two thunks behind him that announced that arrows had come to his aid. He saw the two Uruk's fallen, one with an arrow in its neck and the other with an arrow through its head. Looking in the direction they had come from, he saw Endarine. She sat atop her mount, with another arrow notched and ready. Her face was a mixture of emotion; fear, anxiety, fright, worry, concern and………… love. He smiled and tried to lift his arm in acknowledgement of her, but jerked it back almost instantly as a ripple of febrile pain shot through his side. He leaned forward, trying to ease it, only to have an even greater wave of pain engulf him.
Endarine saw the two orcs behind him and without a second thought had grabbed her bow, strung two arrows and let them fly. They hit their marks. She had notched another just in case, but it was not needed as Legolas turned to look at her with a smile of thanks etched on his face. He was safe. She could tell in the way he looked up at her. Then he raised his arm and a great look of agony hit his fair face. Endarine froze, looking down to where his arm had gone in an attempt to cover something.
His side!! She saw a huge crimson stain running down his side, making a small river of bright red that flowed down to cover his tunic, trousers and down Arod's ribs toward his belly. Such a loss of blood!! His eyes went blank and she knew he was fainting. She quickly moved Sulei'alueo towards him, knowing she would need help.
"Aragorn!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, regardless if others heard or heeded her. Aragorn turned, snapping his body around in his saddle, too quick for comfort, and when he saw where she was attempting to ride and why, turned his Brego to follow her lead.
Legolas leaned forward in the saddle, clutching at his side trying to ease the pain that cursed through him. It was to no avail. His vision swam in and out, penetrated by bright spots of light and an all encompassing blackness that blocked out all other sight. One flash of clearness showed Endarine, digging her heels into her mount's ribs, trying to reach him, and he heard his name being called. The sound of her voice brought him momentarily out of his lapse. She was nearly to him holding out her hand when a great wave of pain overcame him, and at last he gave in to the darkness that had welled up to claim him.
Endarine drove into Sulei'alueo's flanks, urging him forward. She was a few feet away, her hand outstretched to help the young prince balance, when she saw his eyes roll up and his body slump forward. "N'uma!!!" she thought. She drove her heels in as hard as she could, causing her horse to jolt forward from the sudden pressure. He stopped just to the side of Arod, and Endarine caught Legolas before he could hit the ground. Draping him gently over the saddle in front of her, turning to make her way back to the Keep. She was completely oblivious to the battle and it's ending around her with the celebrated cries of the men.
She was urging Sulei'alueo as fast as she could with only one arm open. She couldn't fight and lead her horse with one arm keeping the elfling in front of her from falling off. Try as she might, she only got her mount a few steps forward before he was enclosed in a ring of still seething Uruk's brandishing blades and teeth. Sulei'alueo reared, kicking out with his front hooves. Endarine grabbed Legolas and the steed's neck and clamped her legs around his middle in one swift movement. Holding on for dear life, she let the horse continue. In a few short jumps, he eliminated more than half the circle, leaving open a path. He halted, allowing his rider to once again grab his reigns. They vaulted forward again. Looking down, Endarine noticed fresh blood coming from the wound.
Aragorn had seen the actions, and knew they were far too violent for the injured prince to handle. One more set of jumps like that and he could lose what blood he had left. Urging Brego forward, he sped to meet her. With one arm occupied and twice the normal weight of riders, it was relatively easy. He came up alongside, putting out a hand to stop her. They were along the tall stone wall, but still far from the bridge and the Deeping Wall's entrance.
" Endarine, you must slow down." He said.
" But we've got to get him to the Keep!!" she protested, trying to urge her horse forward again.
Aragorn reached out and grabbed the reigns, halting the steed before he could go on. " If you continue doing it this way, Endarine, he will not last 'til the Keep."
Endarine looked up, a mixture of emotions playing across her face; the most obvious was fear. But there was also a defiant look of anger. " I need no help!!! He's losing blood fast…." Her voice ended in a slight quavering.
Aragorn knew her inner anguish, and forgave it. " You are moving the horse too quickly. The jolting will only cause more blood to flow. The easier your actions, the less blood he will lose."
Endarine thought, realizing what he said was true. She was letting herself become too foolish. She sighed and bowed her head. " I know. But what can we do? He is still losing blood, and he's already lost so much. He won't make it to the Keep if we move so slow!"
" Let me remedy that. Put him down, but be gentle."
Endarine carefully pulled the injured elf from Sulei'alueo, who immediately placed himself between his rider and the battle. As Endarine leaned Legolas on the stone wall, Aragorn eased the leather armor off, a feat since it was tightly tied and slippery with blood. Raising the tunic, he sniffed at the wound; it was a bitter, almost sour smell, the telltale scent of some type of venomous toxin. Aragorn reached into the small bag he always had tied around his middle. Withdrawing a leather pouch, he sniffed it, then nodded. He pulled out two more and confirmed them as well. Opening them, he pulled out the dried blooms and roots of athelas and marigold, and the powder of geranium. The marigold was antiseptic, and would help to clean the wound, and the athelas would serve the same purpose as it had to Frodo on Weathertop. Hopefully, if it was not already too late, it would slow the effects of the poison. The geranium powder was immediately strewn on, to help the blood ease its flow.
He took a handful of the other two, chewing them until they were a nice pulp. Lifting the tunic once again, he applied the mash along the length of the sliced flesh. The elf, even in his delirious faint, jerked and writhed, a look and cry of pain issued forth. Endarine was instantly behind him, supporting his head upon her shoulder and holding him still. Aragorn finished applying the paste to the wound, then replaced the bloodstained shirt. The herbs could not be held in place without a poultice, but would last until they could get more proper dressing inside the Keep. Standing up, he helped Endarine to mount, and eased the prince back on. As he mounted his own steed, Gimli hacked his way in.
" What's happening? Where do you two think your going?" his speech was interrupted when he caught sight of Legolas draped in front of Endarine, as well as the dark bloody tunic. " What happened to the laddy?" his voice sounded normal, but the look on his face betrayed what he really meant.
" I believe it is quite obvious, Gimli." Aragorn replied. "We could use some help."
Gimli looked revolted for a moment, then steadily took his place behind Sulei'alueo. "Anything to help the lovely lady elf. What did the lad do to get himself injured? Likely trying to show off for his lady."
"Spare us the humor, master dwarf. Unless we get him to the Keep soon, he won't have chance to show that skill again, though its obvious it did him little good." She was trying to cover her grief with anger.
Gimli got a look of determination and fear. He steadily stomped forward, taking place behind her. "Well then, lead on lassy!! We can't let that pointy-eared elf have no chance to better his score!!" he laughed, but it was obviously a forced one.
Endarine positioned herself so that her charge was well wedged, pulling on the reigns to turn her mount. Aragorn pulled Brego to the front, and Gimli took up the rear. With the two of them in front and back, and the high stone wall to her left, Endarine did not have much to fight against as they made their way to the bridge.
As they neared the bomb-blown breach in the wall, Endarine called in front of her, "Aragorn!!! Go through the break, it will be faster than going all the way to the end of the bridge." Aragorn nodded, turning Brego as he did so. He led the horse just pass the hole, and held its ground as Endarine made her way in a quickly and gently as she could. When she was through, Aragorn grabbed Gimli up into the saddle and raced through the gap.
"Open the doors!!!! Open the doors!!!" Endarine shouted as she led Sulei'alueo forward. The guards recognized her and the huge oaken doors were creaked open. She rode into the hall, Aragorn and Gimli not far behind. As they entered, the doors were groaned shut again.
"Endarine! Bring him here." Aragorn said as he dismounted and pulled Gimli off. A guard came and took Brego for the stables. Aragorn made his way over to the still mounted elleth. She eased off slowly, and with Aragorn's help, slid Legolas off the horse. Endarine held him for a moment, but even with her elven strength, the elf was too heavy.
"Let me carry him, Endarine. Yu can go ahead and make sure a bed is prepared.
"Bring him to my room. I'll be there, waiting." And with that, she turned and sprinted down the hallway. She got to her room, and with quick, darting moves soon had the bed smoothed and ready, water heating over the hearth, and a pile of clean rags to use as bandages. Aragorn sure was taking a while!! She began to wring her hands, worry overcoming her. Damnit it was taking too long! She jumped up and hurried for the door. She opened it and ran out, nearly colliding with Aragorn himself. She stopped her feet and spun sideways, missing him and his precious cargo by mere inches.
"Whoa!! Oh, Aragorn, I'm sorry!!" she said as her speed turned into little, backwards hopping steps.
" It's alright, now get in here and help me with him."
She did as he commanded, going in and turning the covers so Legolas could be gently laid in them. with expert care, they untied his boots, and took off the bloody shirt. Endarine grabbed one of the rags and pressed it to the wound. Legolas made a cry of pain, and she dropped it. Aragorn noticed this, also seeing that her hands, which were usually sure of themselves, were trembling. He reached over and touched her shoulder. She looked up, eyes wet and lips trembling.
" I believe it best if I stay here to tend to him. You need to be calm. Go and find Gandalf and tell him to come immediately. He may have a spell that can cure this poison."
With a small nod, Endarine got up and made her way out of the room. She was barely through the doorway before she was running down it, looking at every passing face in hopes that it was the Istari she sought. She could find him nowhere. Her heart began to beat heavily with worry and frustration. Where was he? He was nowhere within the Keep.
Exhaustingly, she halted the next guard that passed her. " Where is the Wizard Gandalf?"
"Greyhem?" the guard asked, and at her nod of agreement, gestured behind him. " He is still outside the wall. He is making sure the Uruk-hai are well taken care of by the forest."
Forest? Endarine though for a moment. There was no forest anywhere near Helm's Deep. Oh well, what did it matter? She was looking for Gandalf. She thanked the guard, then once again began to race pell-mell through the halls until she was outside. Once there, she saw the white wizard on top of the hill, mounted on Shadowfax and accompanied by several others. He was too far away for her to run. Whipping around, she spotted a still saddled horse wandering about, legs caked in black Uruk blood. She sprinted to him, vaulting herself at last moment to land perfectly on his back. She dug her heels in and the horse, too startled to do anything else, shot forward like an arrow, through the wall and up the hill, leaving the rider shouting behind her. When she was halfway there, she shouted "Gandalf!!!"
The wizard turned in his saddle, and when he saw who it was quickly turned Shadowfax round and galloped to meet her. "What is it, Endarine?"
" It's Legolas!! He was wounded in the battle. The wound is poisoned and we don't know what to do……"she didn't realize she was rambling until Gandalf put out a hand to stop her.
"I will not be able to help him unless I can see him, Endarine."
She blinked through tear filled vision. "Wha-? Oh!! Oh, I'm sorry, Gandalf! I'm just worried….."
" Then turn round and take me to him, little one, before he cannot be helped."
Her horse was off and galloping so quickly that it was lathered by the time they got to the doors of the Keep. Shadowfax came in a moment later. Endarine hopped off, giving the reigns back to the bewildered rider. She ran into the hall, and Gandalf ran to keep up, but all the same he was puffing by the time he reached her room where the young prince was. Pausing a moment to collect himself, he entered.
Legolas was on the bed, blankets up to his waist, but bare from there up. Rags were underneath his left side, the arm held out at a right angle to keep it from rubbing against the wound that was brought into far too sharp relief in the firelight. Gandalf gasped a breath of surprise when he saw it.
The injury began halfway down on his ribs. By the looks of it, none of them were broken. It continued down the side, getting slightly deeper at the edge of the ribcage. It halted about five inches from the waistline of his trousers. The flesh had been ripped away, so that with every breath he took the wound gaped. Gandalf blanched.
The wound was already filled with herbs, from Aragorn's pouch, no less. Taking a deep breath, he made his way over. Leaning his staff against the wall, he sat himself in a chair beside the bed and examined the wound. He probed at it, which drew more blood but also gave him what he wanted. A quick sniff told him, as it had told Aragorn, that poison had been on the wounding blade. He also smelled the herbs that Aragorn had used earlier; telling him that the wound's risk of festering was almost nonexistent. It was the venom's smell that disturbed him most. He was familiar with most poisons, but this one had a smell that was unknown to him. No doubt it was another abominate thing dreamed up by Saruman, much like the exploding black powder used to destroy the Deeping Wall.
"Aragorn?" the wizard asked quietly, "Hot water is ready, yes?" At the Dunedain's nod, " Bring me a bowl of it and some of those clean rags."
Aragorn brought the requested items, and for the next three quarters of an hour, Gandalf cleaned the wound. By the time he was through, all of the rags were bloodied, and the water in the bowl was deep crimson. The loss of even more blood was not preferable, but neither was allowing the wound to sit there untreated. Gandalf had Aragorn make up an infusion of the same three herbs he had used earlier. When they were through steeping, he soaked a clean rag, wringing it dry and tying it onto the cut underneath thick bandages. He got Endarine to make him drink the rest with a spoon, dribbling it down his throat every few minutes.
By the time the sun had dipped below the horizon, they were done. Legolas was as comfortable as they could make him, propped up slightly with a small mountain of pillows behind him. He was still unconscious; he hadn't woken since Endarine had drawn him from his horse but for the one instance by the wall when Aragorn had applied the herbs.
Gandalf and Aragorn were seated around a table beside the hearth, looking exhausted. Gimli, who had come in unnoticed during the course of treatment, sat slumped in one corner against the wall, his helmet off and upside down on the cobbled floor and a half drunk mug of ale gripped loosely in one hand. Endarine occupied the chair alongside Legolas' bed, her hand intertwined with his. She leaned against one arm on the pillows, her eyes half shut and drowsy. Her eyes were red from trying not to cry.
The moon rose higher in the one window of the room, bright and cheerful when no one wanted to be. Endarine sat up and glared at it, then resumed her post by the side of the bed. She found she could no longer hold back. The tears flowed heavily but silently down her fair cheeks.
She must have made some noise, for Aragorn looked up from his place at the table, glancing in her direction. She had to get some rest, for even elves could go only so long before it was needed. Groaning slightly as his stiff joints protested his standing, he rose from his chair and made his way over to the sickbed. He tapped Endarine's shoulder. She immediately whirled up, her bright blue eyes now dull and brimming. One hand was intertwined with Legolas', gripping so tightly that Aragorn was surprised it wasn't blue yet.
"I think you should go and rest, Endarine. There is little more you can do for him, and you've done so much already. You need your rest as well."
Endarine was too exhausted and lamentous to argue. She got up, slowly letting go of the young prince's hand. She gently dropped it onto the sheets. Turning round, she made her way to the huge oaken door. She was almost there when she nearly jumped out of her skin from Aragorn's sudden yell.
"Gimli!!!"
The dwarf jerked awake, his helmet rolling and the mug spilling all down his front. He jumped up, a fine mist of ale flinging from his dripping beard. "What is it? Have the Uruk-hai returned? Lemme at em' I'll gut every last one o'…."
"Gimli!!" Aragorn shouted once more. " Be silent!!! There is no attack."
"Then what in Valar's name did ye wake me for? Ale is for drinking, not bathing!!!"
Aragorn chuckled before continuing. "I simply wanted you to escort Endarine to a room. Her chambers and bed are both occupied at the moment and she must get some rest. If you would see to it please?"
Gimli's face lit up the same way it had when he'd set eyes upon Galadriel in Lothlorien; a mixture of both joy and apprehension. He fidgeted for a moment with his helmet, not getting it right and eventually giving up with a vile Dwarven curse and thudding it onto his head. Under normal circumstances, his actions would have been amusing, but Endarine barely saw or heard. Her head swam with memories, remembrances, and the tragedy that today's battle had wrought. She turned and once again resumed her walk to the door.
Gimli plodded loudly to catch up with her, nearly flattening his face as the door closed behind her. He quickly regained his balance, going through the door and pattering after her. "Wait a moment, my lady; my shorter legs do not walk as briskly as do yours." He called with a laugh, but the guffaw did little to improve her mood. She doubted whether anything could better it at the moment.
They made their way through the now quiet halls, Gimli's heavy boots echoing hollow plunks down the long empty corridors. They rounded a corner and found an empty but serviceable room.
"I will be fine here, Gimli. I can manage." She said automatically, though her heart and mind were not in it. Gimli took one look into the room, seemingly to make sure it was of proper make for her, then nodded and made his way back down the hall.
When he was gone around the corner, Endarine's self control broke in two. With a noiseless sob, she sank to a bench outside her door, tears falling silently to form small puddles in the creases of the cobbled stone floor beneath her. Never before had she let go so completely with her emotions. Sobs racked her, though she issued forth no sound. Her mind confused and bewildered more than it had ever been, sought out a memory and let it play before her eyes…….
-----------------------------------------------flashback-----------------------------------------------
"Gandalf!!!!" Endarine yelled as the flaming Balrog stepped once more onto the thin stone bridge of Kazhad-Dhum. She ran from the protected arroyo of stone and vaulted for the edge of the two separated faces. She knew there was naught that she could do, but she couldn't just stand there….
"Endarine!!" yelled both Aragorn and Legolas simultaneously. Legolas, as regardless for his safety as she'd been for her own, leapt from his own protective overhang and tried to pull her aside. Arrows from the Moria orcs rained down around them, but none struck. Tugging at her, he shouted, "We must find cover. We can do nothing!!" he tried to pull her, but her feet were as stone, unmoving. Looking up, and avoiding an arrow that passed a hair's breadth too close for his comfort, he gasped.
Endarine stood stark still, her feet planted firmly to the ground, both hands at her sides. Her eyes, usually the bright shade of ice blue, had begun to glow. The pupils and everything else had turned bright white, glowing like entrapped lightning. Her mouth was moving, and words unrecognizable were pouring out. And as the words came, so did more glowing light.
The other members of the fellowship stared agog in wonder. Aragorn could only watch on, as did Boromir. Gimli was shouting something vile that was lost in the tumultuous sound in the cavern. All four of the hobbits were staring wide eyed, Frodo on all fours staring at the bridge, Merry and Pippin hugging one another and screaming in terror, and Samwise standing there like the village idiot.
The pieces began to weave together, forming twisting braids of glowing luminescence. Every few moments they would break apart, with new strands forming new twinings. When several had been made, the individual weavings began to fold together into a spherical knot of woven light. Endarine's hands slowly went up from her sides until they were encircling the glowing orb; it continued to grow. It began to rotate slowly.
Legolas, still uncaring for his own safety, tried once more to reach her. She stood stark still, hands still outstretched, encircling the orb which was rotating faster and faster until it was a solid mass of spinning light. As it spun, wisps of light were flung from it, some reaching all the way across the chasm. They hit the orc swarm on the other side, and those that were struck shrieked in pain as they were enveloped by it, glowing until they disappeared in a quick puff of light. A few puffs went towards the bridge, striking the Balrog as it continued it's decent upon the hapless wizard. It roared in annoyance as they hit.
Legolas continued towards her, reaching for her, fearful for her and what could become of her. Her hands were now up fully, spread wide to encompass the entire orb as it spun. Then, all of a sudden, it halted; the wisps coming from it disappeared. Instead of the tangle of interwoven twining it had been before, it was now a smooth-surfaced globe, glowing like diamonds in moonlight. Legolas was nearly to her when he found he could go no further. He was still several feet away from her, but try as he might, his feet would go no more. He could only stand and observe as she did Valar-knew-what.
Endarine moved her hands, and the sphere followed, moving left, right, up, down, backwards, forwards as her hands also shifted their place. Her eyes were still enfolded in white light, though they only glowed now, instead of giving off lightning flashes.
Then, with an enormous heave, Endarine flung her hand forward, as would one with a heavy spear, in the direction of the gigantic, flaming beast before them. The ball followed suit, flinging itself with great speed in the direction of the bridge. It struck the Balrog full on in its chest. The area that it smashed into turned a blinding white, and the Balrog reared with a shriek of pain. The whip lashed out, hitting nothing.
The rest of the group could only watch on in horror. Gandalf stepped back, obviously trying to get as far away from the beast while it was occupied. The Balrog continued to scream in protest, the white spot on its chest spreading further, down its limbs and up its neck. It spread to encompass its entire body, and the areas it touched ceased movement as if frozen. At last the only thing left untouched was the whip, still flinging about the statued body. Then the white spread still farther, reaching the end of the whip and freezing it in mid-strike, leaving it a curving, unmoving curl of white.
All sound ceased. The orcs had apparently chosen to get as far away from the strange invaders as possible, for not one was visible across the gap. Gandalf stared before him in wonder, as did the others.
Legolas, too stared at the giant creature before him. Whatever Endarine had used, it had caused the creature to go opposite of itself, for the air around them no longer singed with burning heat, but was near frozen with frigid air coming from the giant, crystalline figure. Breath began to freeze as the haggard breathing from their escape slowed.
Shaking his head, Legolas looked back to where Endarine had stood during her…, well whatever in hells it had been, and his eyes widened in sudden fear. She lay as one would in death upon the cold stone floor.
"Aragorn!!" he shouted, and as the ranger, too, pulled himself from his stupor, pointed at Endarine as he ran to her. His friend took the hint and sprinted right behind the young prince.
Legolas reached her, dropping down beside her and lifting her up into his arms. Aragorn arrived just behind, dropping to his knees. He laid a hand upon her brow. "Ringwe vee'khelek!! cold as ice!!" He took off his cloak and wrapped it around her. Her life was visible only by the cloud of vapor that froze as she breathed. The obvious observation was lost to the blonde elf as he held her. He looked up at his friend, and Aragorn was surprised to see the prince's eyes brimming. His question was asked plain as day by the way he looked at him. Is she gone from us?
"N'uma, Legolas. Ele'he suula? Nay, Legolas. See her breath?"
Legolas looked where the Dunedain gestured, beholding the small amount of mist as it was expelled from Endarine's lungs. He nodded, still obviously fighting not to weep.
"Re coi'ea, melloneamin. Del'il. She lives, my friend. Don't worry
Legolas' look of relief was immediately obvious. He let out a breath that neither of them knew he'd been holding. His grip on her tightened, pulling her into an embrace. It was then, when his cheek brushed hers, that he noticed how cold she was.
"Aragorn! Lye cael'a'tiu he ette. Aragorn! We must get her outside."
"Weera, melloneamin. Tul'no'. Agreed, my friend. Come on. And the two of them stood up, Legolas easily carrying the slight elleth by himself. They made their way over to where the rest of the group was still staring agog with wonder. So concentrated with Endarine were they, that they did not notice the bridge.
" You may want to hurry with that my friend." Boromir said lightly as they passed him, looking towards the bridge. Aragorn whirled around to follow the Gondorian's gaze.
" Oh no….."
For back upon the bridge, the Balrog "statue" was moving, teetering back and forth. Pieces of it's frozen flames, now heavy ice, cracked and fell from it into the great chasm beneath them. The open wounds left behind were beginning to once again glow red. Droplets of water came off the limbs, and with an almighty crack, the whip threw off its frozen shell to once again thrash around. It passed by their ledge, and a wave of heat overcame them.
As the wave washed over them, Endarine jerked into awareness from Legolas' arms. So surprised was he that he nearly dropped her to the hard stone floor beneath them. Heedless of how she had wound up in his arms, she jumped down and once again ran at the thin carved bridge.
"Gandalf!" she shouted again, for the Istari had not moved from his place. He had turned back around to face his again flaming enemy. The whip was once again flailing about. The Balrog was taking advantage of its heat by flipping around to hit itself, and huge pieces of ice melted off it as the whip snapped into them. With another earsplitting crack, its wings broke free, flinging shards of ice in all directions. Legolas and the two Men flung their cloaks about them and the hobbits to protect from the knife-edged pieces, several pieces tearing holes into the heavy cloth.
Endarine had made it to the edge of the bridge, only to be halted by a harsh command from the wizard upon it, a harsh, " Stay back!!" She did as he bid her, but still fidgeting at the edge. She seemed to have no idea what she had just done.
She was suddenly seized from behind and drug. Turning, she saw Aragorn, arm around her waist. She shrugged him off and went back for the bridge.
" N'uma, Endarine!! No, Endarine!! There is no more we can do!! He wanted us to get through; we must do as he wished." Nodding, she followed him back away from the abyss, but turning round once again to watch the scene unfolding in front of her. Gandalf had plunged his staff into the rock beneath him, roaring as he did so, releasing a wave that nearly knocked them all to their knees. The stone beneath him gave out, cracking with a tremendous roar, the Balrog following the chunks of rock deep into the blackened rift.
A smile had begun to grace her lips when, in a last second attempt at survival, the whip came up once more, snapping around the wizard's ankle. As the Balrog continued to fall, it yanked, and Gandalf was dragged to the edge of the abyss where he hung on for dear life.
Both Endarine and Frodo broke away from the group, running for the half-remaining causeway. Boromir ran after the hobbit, and both Aragorn and Legolas went after Endarine. Boromir reached Frodo and bodily lifted him from the ground, ignoring the screaming protests and kicking hairy feet. Legolas reached and grabbed around Endarine's waist, and Aragorn gripped both of her arms vicely, and still they were having trouble dragging her back.
"Gandalf!!" she screamed, as did Frodo from twenty feet behind them.
Gandalf had tried to drag himself up from the cracked overhang, and looked up at the call of his name. Seeing the struggle, his grip slackened, and looking directly at Frodo, said, " Fly, you fools!!!" At the command, Endarine went loose in he arms holding her, and they too loosened their grip. She stood there, looking at the defeated Istari with tears in her eyes. Frodo was deaf to it all, still kicking and screaming for Boromir to release him.
Gandalf, with a last look of worry, released his grip on the broken stone and fell deep into the cavern valley.
"NOOOO!!" Frodo protested, and struggled still to remove himself from Boromir's tight grasp. But the halfling was no match for the Gondorian man's strength, and was drug from the cave towards the lit exit of the mines.
And Endarine, while Frodo was still struggling, had turned and begun running as soon as the wizard's hands had let go. Legolas turned and followed her, encouraging the other three hobbits who had paused at the doorway to look back in. Aragorn stared for a moment longer, and then arrows began to pour as the Moria orcs returned and resumed fire. They continued running until they were in full daylight outside the cavern's door.
-----------------------------------------end flashback------------------------------------------------
With sobs that tore through her, Endarine lay in her grief. All the while, a saner part of her mind was yelling at her. Oh, gods be damned!!!! Why did those of the Eldar have emotions that ran so deep? Through her tears, she berated herself for losing control and allowing the feelings to run over, for Gandalf, for Legolas, for everyone and everything. She wished she could dry up like a puddle in the sun.
Soon, the sobs subsided, but she didn't feel like moving. Instead, she lay down on the short, carved bench, pulling her legs up and wrapping her skirt around them. Soon, her eyes drooped in weariness, from their constant travel, the battle, and everything else. Her breathing evened and she was soon deep in slumber.
