Chapter 6: Through the Fiery Tombs

All turned back and glared at Pippin who had knocked over the skeletal remains down the well which clanked down the sides of the well and echoed throughout the tomb. "Fool of a Took!" boomed the angry voice of the wizard.

All present winced and took a step back at Gandalf who seemed to glow with an ominous black as he stood to his full length with his staff at his side. Poor Pippin swallowed a nervous gulp and shrink further away from the wizard but he was trapped, for any further, he too would have fallen into the well.

However, all was forgotten as the previous banging of drums resumed once more and this time crying closer with each beat. Boom. Boom. Boom. They turned towards the door as Gandalf murmured under his breath and his ocean blue eyes blazed with recognition, "No, it cannot be! Quickly, we must bolt the doors."

Aragorn jumped into action with Boromir at his heels. The Men rushed to bolt the giant wooden doors shut before them. Not a minute sooner for black arrows were being shot fiercely in their direction. Legolas readied his bow with a silver tipped arrow as Aragorn and Boromir unsheathed their swords. Gimli jumped on top of Balin's tomb with his axe gleaming with a thirst for enemies' blood. "No evil shall pass through Balin's tomb alive while I am still standing!" he vowed.

The Hobbits crowded around Gandalf with Frodo in the center, his hand clutching Sting that was emitting bluish glow. "Orcs ..."

Serena flashed a bright light as her sword that she battled Cosmos with reappeared. She closed her eyes and prayed to the heavens hoping her friends would come out alive. The last time she had fought with her sword, she had lost everybody ...

--oo--

She had no more time to reminiscence about the past as Legolas' bow released a series of arrows. Aragorn and Boromir rushed forward with their swords slashing the orcs with raw intensity. The sound of metal clashing metal, the war cries from the brave, the last breath drawn by the dead mixed with the stench of sweat and blood. The warriors were holding their own in their section of the tomb for the enemy numbers were great and relentless. Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath, for a troll, evil of the caves burst in, slamming its club down towards any and all that dares to challenge it.

It sniffed around for its prey and set its prospects on Frodo, the Ring Bearer. Sam seeing that his master was in trouble, jumped on its back and began knocking its head with the hilt of his sword. The troll was more annoyed than hurt for it merely snatched the little Halfling off its back and flung him towards the wall. Sam knocked on the hard surface and fell unconscious. Frodo continued to run, hiding behind one of the great pillars hoping that the troll would not be able to follow him.

Instead the troll had cornered Frodo to the wall, right behind the pillars. The troll leaned forward, so close that Frodo reeked with the foul stench coming from the nostrils of the troll. In his fear, he cried out, "Strider!"

--oo--

Aragorn prayed that Frodo was all right but as he slain the orc with one final stroke. At the sound of the Halfling's desperate cries, Strider went to the source of distress. With the raised Elendil in his hand, he charged forward to battle the great troll. However, even his efforts were in vain for liked Sam, Aragorn was flung across the tomb and hit the hard surface. The great man fell limply onto the floor. Frodo felt his last hopes drained away as not even Strider could save him. He kept edging himself into the corner hoping to delay the inevitable death. He shut his eyes as the troll raised his club and got ready to slam it down on the Hobbit but then ...

--oo--

Serena was battling Orcs with her golden hilted blade in one hand, and in the other, she held the great sword of Uranus, challenging all that dares stands in its path. As she expertly killed the Orc before her with one stroke, clean and fast, no trace of blood on her blade, she rushed towards Frodo. Her speed to rival that of Legolas, an Elf, but her speed was supernatural for it was propelled by her wings that appeared upon her silent will. She fluttered over Frodo and snatched him off before he met his death.

The troll surprised to see the getaway of his prey but the Orcs were already one step ahead as they shot down the winged maiden. One of its razor sharp point pierced her shoulder blade. She let out a scream, surprised at the pain and the unexpectedness of it. She dropped Frodo from her grasp. Frodo hit the ground with a thud, the troll was ready with a broken piece of a spear from a nearby Orc and ran it through the prone body of the Hobbit.

There was a moment of silence, mostly from shock, to bewilderment, then anger and finally revenge. All rushed against the troll and began a fierce counter attack. Until, finally Legolas shot the three arrows in succession which pierced its heart and it fell lifelessly on the Orc-filled ground.

"We must hurry for they might be more of them to come," cried the voice of Gandalf.

Aragorn slowly recovered and tenderly felt his head for blood but finding none, his attention quickly turned to the Ringbearer who was lying unmoving where he was stabbed by the great beast. He and the others rushed forward, his heart yearned for some hope when the Hobbit felt limp in his arms. However, the words of warning from Gandalf must be heeded as he grabbed the body and began to run out of the tomb.

Serena during the entire scene, had pulled the wretched arrow from her shoulder, which quickly disintegrated to a pile of ashes beside her. She bit her tongue so hard that it drew blood but the pain was bearable so long she did not cry out. It was her carelessness, her inability to protect Frodo. She had failed as a guardian to the Ringbearer. Now as Aragorn began to run out of Balin's tomb with others in tow, she had kept the injury to herself and besides, she counted on the magic of the Crystal to heal her.

Aragorn ran hard and eventually Gandalf took up the lead once again. "Hurry, we must make for the bridge of Khazad-dum."

They pressed harder for they could the oncoming for something ... something more foul than the enemies that had just fought. "Stop, I can walk on my own."

A muffled voice of Frodo could be heard from Aragorn's arm. The great man was so surprised that he almost dropped the Hobbit. However, explanations were best made later for Gandalf had led them to the Second Hall which is opposite to the gate that leads out of Moria.

It was then the Company realized that they were not alone. Emerged from the shadows came a band of Orcs and surrounded them in all directions. However, they had no intention to battle as a shriek rang through to shake the entire foundation of the mine. The Company looked behind only to be meet with a creature entwined with ringlets of fire. No part of its body was tangible but its features reminded Serena so much of the eye of the One. Gimli shielded his eyes from ... Balrog.

Gandalf stood his ground and said, "Fly you fools, no mortal means shall save you here! Make for the bridge."

They ran across the narrow bridge, careful not to fall beneath its endless depths. Gandalf stood at the center of the bridge with his staff held firmly in his place. It was the only time that the Company had a glimpse of the power that wizard holds. Serena knew the strain of concealing the amount of power and she also could relate to the weariness of magic and battles. The wizard no doubt, had his fair share of battles back in the tomb but here he must use his magic and powers as the guardian of the fire to keep safe the bridge of Khazad-dum.

A glowing dome encircled the wizard and as it began to resist the powers of Balrog and ward it off. However, as the Balrog tumbles, it wrapped one of its flaming swords around Gandalf's ankles and pulled him into the deep. Seeing that, Serena rushed onto the bridge, spreading her feathery wings which were a deep contrast to the dark halls of the mines. She wanted to attempt to dive in and save the wizard. Legolas seeing her true intentions wrapped his arms and held on tight. "No Lady Serena, there is no bottom to the deep. Gandalf is lost to us."

She put up a struggle trying to free herself from Legolas' grasp and all the while holding back tears, "No, no, no! I can save him. Let me go!"

Despite her desperate attempts, Legolas' hold proved strong. From there, Aragorn resumed command, "Come, we must hurry. I shall lead you out of the mines of Moria."

Legolas painstakingly dragged Lady Serena away as her eyes remained gazed upon the bridge of Khazad-dum. Eventually, she broke her line of vision when her attention was caught to something else. Legolas' arm still had his firm hold on her. 'Oh Legolas, you have not let me down ...'

--oo--

Finally, the Company of nine emerged once more into the daylight. As they starred upon the sunlit sky, did they come into realization of the events in the mines. The Hobbits immediately broke down and cry for they lost not just a mere friend but a symbol of magnificence and invincibility. Now, before their young eyes, Gandalf was lost to them. The others had not openly shared their grief but had retreated for a private of moment of thought and remembrance. Serena had berated herself to entire time and she knew that it was her fault. She had the power to save him, if only ...

Aragorn who was in deep thought, took over control for Gandalf and he said, "Come, we shall make for the forest of Lorien where we may rest."

"But Aragorn, surely, a time to gather ..."

"I understand Legolas, but prolonged stay shall hinder us and put ourselves in danger. Gather everybody, we shall set off immediately."

With the help of Legolas and Boromir, the Hobbits with tears filled eyes followed wearily after Aragorn. Gimli lagged behind a bit for he was mourning his own loss. Serena was following Frodo and Sam who was closer to the back of the group.

Then she realized that the source of their falling behind were the injuries they had sustained during the battle within the tomb. "Aragorn, we must stop for Frodo and Sam are hurt."

Aragorn finally slowed his pace and retraced his steps to where the three were. His eyes softened and once again returned to Strider, the Ranger that the Hobbits had first known.

"My apologies, little ones. We shall make camp here tonight where the trees will be our covers tonight."

With that the nine set up camp, Aragorn began to heal Sam's head wound liked he did before at Weathertop. Serena looked at Frodo and remembered that after her flight in the air, Frodo was stabbed by the troll. The spear should have killed him but yet here he was.

"Come Frodo, lets take a look at your wound."

"No, I am fine." Frodo began to clutch his shirt close while shaking his head.

"No, young sir, let the lady take a look. I am rather curious at how you have come out alive and well."

Frodo saw that he was trapped and even Strider was peering his way. Slowly, he unclasped his shirt and instead of a wound, eight pairs of eyes befell upon a coat of Mithril.

Gimli the dwarf being the expert in the art was spellbound and he uttered simply one word, "Mithril..."and that was enough.

"Uncle Bilbo gave it to me as his parting gift."

"I must certainly thank him when we return to Rivendell. I like him all the more," Merry added cheerfully. Pippin who was building a fire nodded in agreement.

Gimli began to tell the story of Mithril and its origin as the others set up a camp. Frodo took off his Mithril coat such that Serena could heal him of any bruising and some minor injuries that he might have sustained.

Serena moved in closer as her hand hovered over Frodo's wound. She used Saturn's healing powers to close off some old wounds. Her blond hair that had been previously tied back in an intricate braid and wrapped several times behind her had fallen out such that wisp of hair had tumbled out. Frodo felt the urge to brush it back when he was drawn to something else.

Lady Serena's tunic was ripped slightly down one side and since her hair was pulled back, her shoulder revealed a huge bruising similar to the one that he had when stabbed by the Morgul blade. He had only seen it once but he recognized its faint markings immediately. He remembered that Lady Serena was shot by an Orc's arrow. "Lady Serena, you yourself is hurt. The arrow that you took was one of Morguls and could be poisonous."

Serena pulled her shirt to cover the wound but it was already too late, both Legolas and Strider had seen it. Legolas gently pulled her hand aside, his face creased with worries.

"Lady Serena ..."

"No, my Crystal can ..." It was then as she spoke the words when she realized that one of best kept secret had just slipped.

End of Chapter 6