The entirety of the fellowship gathered around the fallen Frodo, with the exception of the droids. Threepio had made his intentions clear with a 'We'll just stay here... You wade through the bodies' comment. Aragorn was the first to reach Frodo, and flip him over. The hobbit, to everyone's surprise, sputtered and coughed. Gandalf tottered up and prodded him.
"You're alive!" Aragorn gasped out. Frodo sputtered some more.
"It's ok... I'm not hurt, much." The hobbit clutched at his chest. Gandalf, being the master of medicine he is, tore off the poor lad's shirt, to see what was bothering him. Obviously, Gandy had stolen into the flask again. Underneath Frodo's homespun hobbit vest and shirt, a metallic gleam was seen. Gimli, pushing his way through, stared in wonder.
"A Mithril shirt! There's more to this hobbit than meets the eye..." Then Aragorn patted Frodo and put him on his feet. At that moment, drums again could be heard. Threepio, from his corner, groaned. Gandalf, swaying only slightly, held up his staff.
"To the bridge of Khazad-dum! Hurry!" And with that, the fellowship fled out the door, Sam running along with Frodo lest he need support.
Orcs teemed in through the ceiling, and out from hall doors on either side. The group pushed on, pressed by the need for escape. Everyone had weapons at the ready, even a still-sore-from-the-troll-fight Tenel Ka. At last, they could run no longer. Hemmed in by orcs from all sides, they stood in a tight huddle, weapons out, dwarf growling. And then... Silence. The orcs squeaked, and a great boom could be heard from the hall behind. Another boom. The orcs, spurred by a power no one knew of, skittered back up the columns and into hidden holes. Gimli growled louder, sure thatit was his furiousness that had scared them off. Chewie laid a quieting paw on his shoulder and the dwarf fell silent, transfixed like the rest by the sudden glowing red light and resounding booms from the far hall.
Gandalf alone knew this terror. He bowed his head and looked suddenly much older.
"What is this... New devilry?" asked Boromir from the rear.
"A Balrog-- a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" Gandalf answered, turning and running for a hallway off the right. The fellowship followed, running down curving tunnels and over stairs, all to the beat of the deepening booms of the approaching fear. At full tilt, they ran into yet another tunnel, this one leading to a great cavern. However, Zekk did not see that the steps down stopped, and almost ran off them, only saved by the quickgrab of Leia.
Finally, they came into sight of a great bridge. To get to it, however, they had to cross a gap in the stairs, made by falling stone. Legolas leapt across first, followed closely by Han and Leia, Gandalf, Chewie holding the droids, and Lowie. Jaina and Zekk, Boromir with Merry and Pippin, Anakin throwing Tahiri to Lowie, then jumping himself. Sam was thrown, and greatly complaining Gimli, well...
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" Aragorn grinned and stepped back. Gimli steeled himself, then jumped, landing on the lip of the other rock. Legolas reached forward to grab him. "Not the beard!" Han laughed out loud to see Gimli pulled back to safety by his facial appendage. One the other side, Jacen wrapped his arm around an only slightly struggling Tenel Ka, and jumped.
Only Frodo and Aragorn remained. Another rock fell from overhead, smashing the ledge further.
"Lean forward!" Aragorn yelled, as he felt the rock they were standing on begin to tilt. Frodo leaned. The rock slid forward, and smashed into the landing, throwing the two final people into the waiting arms of Lowie and Chewbacca. Together again, the fellowship pressed on to the bridge. With everyone safely running ahead, Aragorn hung back with Gandalf, brandishing his sword. Gandalf glared, and gestured ahead.
"Swords are no more use here! Go, save yourself! Go!" The old Wizard pushed Aragorn ahead, and turned to face the Balrog.
Made of fire and brimstone, the Balrog stood like a tower of hell above Gandalf. He backed the wizard onto the bridge, brandishing a fiery whip and sword. Gandalf likewise flashed his sword, and staff, which glowed madly.
"You shall not pass!" The Balrog continued forward. "I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor.. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udun!" The Balrog tried to smash Gandalf with his sword, but Gandy parried with Glamdring, shattering the demon's sword.
"Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf tried again to gather enough power about him to repel the fire.
Frodo, from the other side of the bridge, yelled. "Gandalf!" To keep him safe, Tenel Ka wrapped her one arm about him, and tried to drag him away.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" A last ditch effort by Gandalf, he smashed the butt of his staff on the bridge, doing, to the naked eye, no damage. Then, for some reason, the Balrog roared and stepped forward, which crumbled the bridge. For a split second, the droids were seen, with Artoo's zapping arm extended, behind the demon's falling body. Then, the bridge collapsed on that side, and the droids, Threepio yelling in twelve languages, fell with it. Gandalf, with a great sigh, turned to continue on. Then, with a great snap, the Balrog's whip flew out from its falling master and coiled around Gandalf's legs. He fell, clinging to the rock lip.
"Fly, you Fools!" And before Jacen could run forward to levitate the wizard out, Gandalf fell.