Title: New Journeys 9?
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail: If you want but it's polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the crossover idea. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and Lord of the Rings.
Spoiler: End of season five of Buffy and other than including Buffy and Dawn LotR follows the book not the films.
Rating: 12A/PG-13
Pairing: Dawn-Amaurëa/Legolas Buffy-Elenwë/Haldir plus book pairings
Summery: The Mines of Moria
Notes: More from the book, including a lot of dialogue, the rest from your twisted author's mind
Thanks so much toSarah for stepping in and betaing this part.
'' Thought.
Feedback: If you wish.
It was early evening by the time they reached the area of the hidden door to Moria, sometime in the recent past a lake had formed in the little vale from the Gate-stream.
"Well, here we are at last," said Gandalf pointing to the two holly trees. "Here the Elven-way from Hollin ended. The west-door was made chiefly for their use in their traffic with the Lords of Moria. Those were happier days, when there was still close friendship at times between folk of different races."
"It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned," said Gimli.
"I have not heard that it was the fault of the Elves," snorted Legolas.
"I have heard both," said Gandalf. "But I beg you two at least to be friends, and to help me. I need you both," he glanced at Buffy, "And you as well Elenwë. The doors are shut and hidden, the sooner we find them the better."
Turning to the rest he said, "While I am searching, will you each make ready to enter the Mines? For here I fear we must say farewell to our good beast of burden. You can lay aside much of that which we brought against bitter weather; you will not need it inside nor when we come through. Instead each of us must take a share of what the pony carried, especially the food and water-skins."
Buffy took off her backpack and handed it to Dawn, "Put as much as you can in there, but try and keep it even so I don't fall side ways."
"Of course," smiled Dawn taking it and glancing sadly at Sam.
"But you can't leave poor Bill behind in this forsaken place, Mr Gandalf!" cried Sam, angry and distressed. "I won't have it, and that's flat. After he has come so far and all!"
"I am sorry Sam," said Gandalf gently. "But when the Door opens I do not think you will be able to drag him inside. You will have to choose between Bill and your master."
"He'd follow Mr. Frodo into a dragon's den, if I led him," protested Sam. "It'd be nothing short of murder to turn him loose with all the wargs about."
"It will be short of murder, I hope," said Gandalf as he laid his hand on the pony's head. "Go with words of guard and guiding on you," he said, "You learned much in Rivendell. Make your way to places where you can find grass, and so in time return there."
Sam stood sullenly next to the pony who seemed to understand well what was going on, nuzzled up to him, putting his nose to Sam's ear. Sam burst into tears.
Dawn gathered the hobbit into her arms. "He will be fine Sam, he will find his way back and I'm sure you will see him again," she said gently.
The rest stood silently around until Sam had regained his composure, Dawn smiled down at him as he pulled away, "Let's get the things off Bill shall we?"
Sam nodded and started fumbling with the straps, unloading the pony's packs and throwing them on the ground, where the others sorted through them.
When this was done they turned to watch Gandalf, who appeared to have done nothing. He stood between the two trees gazing at the blank wall of the cliff, while Gimli was wandering about, tapping the stone here and there with his axe, and Buffy and Legolas were pressed against the rock, as if listening.
"Well, here we are and all ready," said Merry; "But where are the Doors? I can't see any sign of them."
"Dwarf-doors are not made to be seen when shut," explained Gimli. "They are invisible, even to their masters if their secrets are forgotten."
"But this door was not made to be a secret known only to Dwarves," said Gandalf. He walked forward to the wall. Right between the shadow of the trees there was a smooth space, and over this he passed his hands to and fro, muttering words under his breath. Then he stepped back, "Look!" he said. "Can you see anything now?"
The Moon now shone upon the grey face of the rock; but they could see nothing for a while. Then slowly on the surface faint silver lines appeared, steadily they grew broader and clearer, until the design could be seen.
"There are the emblems of Durin!" cried Gimli.
"And there is the Tree of the High Elves, my kin!" said Buffy.
"And the Star of the House of Fëanor," said Gandalf. "They are wrought of ithildin that mirrors only starlight and moonlight."
"What does the writing say?" asked Frodo, "I thought I knew the elf-letters, but I cannot read these."
"They are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-Earth in the Elder Days," answered Gandalf absently. "They do not say anything of importance to us. They say, The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. And underneath is, I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs."
"What does it mean by speak, friend, and enter?" asked Merry.
"That is plain enough," explained Gimli. "If you are a friend, speak the password, and the doors will open."
"Yes," agreed Gandalf. "In the days of Durin they were not secret. They usually stood open and doorwards sat here. But if they were shut, any who knew the opening word could speak it and pass in."
"But what the word was is not remembered. Narvi and his craft have vanished from the Earth," said Gimli.
"But do not you know the word, Gandalf?" asked Boromir in surprise.
"No!" replied the wizard.
The Company looked dismayed; only Elenwë who wore a wily smile and Aragorn, who knew Gandalf well, remained silent and unmoved.
"Then what was the use of bringing us to this accursed place?" cried Boromir. "You told us that you had once passed through the Mines."
"The answer to your first question, Boromir," said Gandalf calmly, "Is that I do not know the word... yet. As for your other question, do you doubt my tale? I did not enter this way. I came from the East, the door will open easily from inside."
"What are you going to do then?" asked Pippin, undaunted by the wizard's bristling brows.
"Knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin Took," growled Gandalf, Buffy and Dawn laughed quietly at the lightly blushing hobbit. "But if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will seek for the opening words."
The others withdrew a little and sat talking quietly among themselves while they listened to the wizard speaking different words and phrases in different languages and tones. They could all hear his building frustration. Buffy had been sat with the others, not really listening to them, as she studied the writing on the wall, suddenly her face broke into a wide grin as she stood and approached the frustrated wizard.
"Do you mind if I try?" asked Buffy.
Gandalf turned to her an eyebrow rising at the broad smile on her face, "If you wish Elenwë."
Buffy moved to stand between the trees and in a clear voice, "Mellon!" she said.
The star shone out briefly and faded again. Then silently a great doorway was outlined and slowly divided in the middle and swung outwards. A shadowy stairway could be seen climbing steeply up into darkness deeper than the night.
"It seems I was wrong after all," said Gandalf smiling a little at Buffy. "Merry, of all people, was on the right track."
"Yes," said Buffy glancing at the others, "The opening word was inscribed on the archway, my people love word games. The translation should have been, say 'friend' and enter. I just spoke the Quenya word for friend and walla the door opened."
"Walla?" asked Pippin.
"Oh it just means, there you are, as in there is the door," explained Buffy as she went to collect her backpack.
Boromir grabbed his pack and looking sullenly at the still lake kicked a stone far out into the still waters, where they heard a dull plop.
"Why did you do that?" asked Frodo looking over at the man. "I hate this place too, and I am afraid. I don't know of what, not of the wargs, or the dark beyond the doors, but of something else. I am afraid of the pool."
As Gandalf strode forward and set his foot on the lowest step, several things happened. Frodo cried out as he felt something seize him by the ankle, Bill the pony gave a wild neigh, and turned tail and dashed away around the lake edge. Sam made a desperate leap after him but stopped when he heard Frodo cry out, and ran back towards his master.
The others swung round and saw the waters of the lake seething, as if a host of snakes were swimming up from the southern end. One of the pale-green luminous tentacles had hold of Frodo's leg pulling him towards the water.
Buffy, Aragorn and Boromir drew their swords and ran back to aid Sam, who knelt stabbing the tentacle with a knife. Legolas and Dawn began notching arrows and firing at the other tentacles that drew near their friends.
"Into the gateway! Up the stairs! Quick!" shouted Gandalf as Sam and Merry helped Frodo away from the lake as Buffy and the two Men slowly backed towards the doors, slashing, and blocking the tentacles from the others, as they went.
"Go Amaurëa," said Legolas as he gently pushed her towards the doorway and following quickly behind. Once inside they again began peppering the creature with arrows.
Buffy and Aragorn were the last through the doors and followed the rest of the Company up the stairs. Just behind them, many tentacles grabbed hold of the doors and with horrible strength, slammed them closed cutting off all light.
"Well," said Gandalf, "The passage is blocked behind us and there is only one way out... on the other side of the mountain."
"I felt that something horrible was near from the moment that my foot first touched the water," said Frodo.
"My slayer senses were telling me some danger was near but I thought it was the wargs," said Buffy. "What was that thing, or were there many of them?"
"I do not know," replied Gandalf, "But there are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."
"It looked like the Kraken," mused Dawn, "There was one on the other Earth, I read about it in one of Giles books, it killed ten slayers and hundreds of other warriors before it was finally killed."
"I fear we will never know!" said Gandalf. "We should continue," he said tapping the end of this staff on the steps and muttered some words under his breath, and the staff started to emit a pale light.
He led them up to the top of the stairs where he turned to them, "Let us sit and rest, and have something to eat, here on the landing." They readily agreed and he once more handed the flask of miruvor around, "It will not last much longer I am afraid," he said, "But I think we need it after that horror at the gate. Go carefully with the water, there are many streams and wells in the Mines, but they should not be touched."
"How long is that going to take us?" asked Frodo.
"I cannot say," answered Gandalf. "It depends on many chances. But going straight, without mishap or losing our way, we shall take three or four marches, I expect. It cannot be less than forty miles from West-door to East-gate in a direct line, and the road may wind much."
After finishing their hurried meal, they set off into the dark. All were eager to get out as quickly as possible, even Gimli, so were willing to go on marching for several hours. Gandalf walked in front as before, with Gimli and Buffy just behind, all three held their weapons ready, Buffy relying on her slayer senses to warn them of danger. Behind her came Frodo and Sam, then Dawn and Merry and Pippin with Legolas behind them, and bringing up the rear were Boromir and lastly Aragorn grim and silent.
The passage twisted and turned a few times before it began to descend a long way before levelling off. The air grew hot and stifling; at times they felt currents of cooler air issuing from half guessed openings in the walls. In the pale ray of the wizard's staff they glimpsed stairs and arches as well as other passages and tunnels, sloping up or down.
The Mines of Moria were vast and intricate beyond imagination but Gandalf very rarely faltered as he led the Company ever onwards. They spoke seldom, and then only in hurried whispers, there was no sound but the sound of their own feet; the dull stump of Gimli's boots; the heavy tread of Boromir; the light step of the Elves; the soft patter of hobbit-feet and at the rear the slow firm footfalls of Aragorn.
Over all this Buffy could hear the faint trickle and drip of unseen water. And she began to hear, or imagine that she heard the faint fall of soft bare-feet. It was never loud enough, or near enough, for her to feel certain that she heard it.
It was after nightfall when they had entered the Mines. They had been going for several hours with only brief halts when Gandalf came to his first serious check. Before him stood a wide dark arch opening into three passages; all led in the same general direction, but the left-hand passage plunged down, while the right-hand climbed up, and the middle way seemed to run on.
"I have no memory of this place at all!" said Gandalf. "I am too weary to decide. And I expect that you are all weary as I am."
To the left of the great arch they found a stone door; it was half closed, but swung back easily to a gentle thrust. "Steady! Steady!" cried Gandalf as Merry and Pippin pushed forward. "You do not know what is inside yet."
"There are no creatures inside," said Buffy, "But there is danger of some kind!"
Gandalf looked intensely at Buffy before cautiously stepping into the room. "There!" he said pointing with his staff to the middle of the floor. Before his feet they saw a large round hole like the mouth of a well. Broken and rusty chains lay at the edge. Fragments of stone lay near.
"One of you might have fallen in and still be wondering when you were going to strike the bottom," said Aragorn to Merry.
"This seems to have been a guardroom, made for the watching of the three passages," said Gimli.
Pippin felt curiously attracted by the wall. While the others were unrolling blankets and making beds against the walls of the chamber, as far as possible from the hole in the floor; he crept to the edge and peered over. A chill air seemed to strike his face, rising from invisible depths.
Moved by a sudden impulse he groped for a loose stone, and let it drop. He felt his heart beat many times before there was any sound. Far below, as if the stone had fallen into deep water in some cavernous place, there came a plunk, very distant, but magnified and repeated in the hollow shaft.
"What's that?" cried Gandalf.
"I-I d-dropped a-a stone in-in the welll," stammered Pippin.
"Fool of a Took!" growled Gandalf. "This is a serious journey, not a hobbit walking-party. Throw yourself in next time, and then you will be no further nuisance. Now be quiet!"
Nothing more was heard for several minutes; but then there came out of the depths a tom-tap, tap-tom. They stopped, and when the echoes had died away, they were repeated. They sounded disquietingly like signals of some sort.
"That was the sound of a hammer, or I have never heard one," said Gimli.
"Yes," said Gandalf, "And I do not like it. Let us hope it has nothing to do with Peregrin's foolish stone."
"I'll take first watch," said Buffy.
Gandalf nodded, turning to Pippin, "Get some sleep, and stay away from the well," he said.
Buffy sat near the door watching as the rest slowly slipped into sleep. When she was sure all were asleep she moved quietly to Dawn and shook her gently, placing her finger to her lips as her sister went to ask what was wrong, nodding towards the door.
Dawn nodded and silently followed Buffy to the door, "What is it Buffy?" she asked quietly.
"I'm going to have a look around. Will you keep watch over the others?" said Buffy.
Dawn looked worried, "Are you sure Buffy?"
"Yeah after Pippin's stone I wanna check out that we aren't going to run into any surprises," explained Buffy moving out the door.
"Alright, but don't be to long and be careful," said Dawn.
"Of course," smiled Buffy before vanishing into the dark. She first moved down the middle way but after a couple of miles it became apparent that the ceiling was unsafe and had already partially collapsed. So she made her way back. As she approached the archway again, she distantly heard something muttering, she stood still listening, trying to get a fix on it.
The minutes passed and still she could not pinpoint its location, it seemed to be talking to, or about, something called precious. The echoes were just too great, unlike the tunnels under Sunnydale; the Mines of Moria were huge.
Buffy cautiously moved forward listening intensely as she neared the door to their camp Aragorn stepped out of the doorway. Buffy stayed her fist just before it would have connected with his jaw, "Don't do that again if you value your health," she growled.
Aragorn ignored the comment, "What do you think you are doing Elenwë?" he asked quietly, "It is too dangerous to go anywhere in here alone."
"I'm the slayer, I go where I need to, there is no danger within a mile of here except..." Buffy closed her eyes letting the slayer take over for a moment, she pointed in the direction they had come, "A creature of some kind about a quarter of a mile that way."
Aragorn looked at her for a moment, "Are you certain?" he asked.
"Yes, he mumbles continually about, or too, something he calls precious! I was about to go after him... What is it?" she asked seeing the dark look that appeared on his face.
"Gollum," replied Aragorn, "It would be useless to try and catch him in here, let us tell Gandalf," said Aragorn pushing the door open and stepping aside to let her enter.
"Alright, we will wait until we get out," she said entering the guardroom to see most of the Company still slept.
Gandalf, Dawn and Legolas joined them at the door. "Leaving without telling me was very dangerous Elenwë. What if we had been attacked or you had been injured!" said the wizard.
"There no creature within one mile of here, save one... Gollum," said Buffy. "And let's get one thing clear shall we I am THE slayer I was in no danger. And I thought to use my abilities to aid in your choice of paths. The central passage is almost certainly blocked, about a mile along it the ceiling seems to have started to collapse."
Gandalf looked intensely at her as if debating if he should say more of her going off alone, but decided to let it go, "Gollum you say, how can you be sure?"
"I can't but I could only sense one creature near and it keeps talking of precious," explained Buffy. "It is Aragorn who says it is Gollum."
"Yes. It would be futile to try and escape him, he can sense the Ring is near, we will just have to be a little more vigilant," said Gandalf. "Get some rest Elenwë, I will watch the door."
It was Gandalf that roused them all from sleep. "While I watched I have made up my mind. I may have chosen the middle way but Elenwë informs me that the ceiling is unsafe," most of the Company looked at Buffy intrigued. "I do not like the smell of the left-hand way, there is foul air down there, or I am no guide. I shall take the right-hand passage. It is time we began to climb up again."
They ate a quick, cold, breakfast before continuing on into the dark. For eight hours their way steadily climbed, the trek was much easier as the passage seemed to be a main road, which continued, in a steady curve.
They had marched as far as the hobbits could endure, and all were thinking of a place to stop, when suddenly the walls vanished and they stood in a black and empty space. A great draught of warmer air behind them, while before them the darkness was cold on their faces.
"I chose the right way," said Gandalf, "At last we are coming to the Habitable parts, and I guess that we are not far from the eastern side, but are high up, a good deal higher than the Dimrill Gate. From the feeling of the air, we must be in a wide hall. I will risk a little real light."
He raised his staff, for an instant it blazed. For a second they saw a vast roof far above upheld by many pillars of stone, then the light was gone and darkness enveloped them again.
"There used to be great windows on the mountain-side, and shafts leading out to the light in the upper reaches. But it is night outside again, and we cannot tell until morning..." said Gandalf.
"I don't need morning," interrupted Buffy. "The starlight shins brightly to me," she pointed in several directions, "There, there and there."
Dawn smirked at the look on Gandalf's face, "You bring three Elves on a journey, take them underground and don't think they can see the difference in the light when they enter a chamber exposed to the outside, even at night," she laughed lightly.
Gandalf look ruefully at the three smiling Elves, "I suppose you are right," he conceded, "Let us rest here and await the light that others here would appreciate."
The Company moved to a corner away from the draft and those that could tried to get some sleep. Frodo was on guard. As if it were a breath that came in through unseen doors dread came over him. He listened, for two hours he listened but heard no sound. His watch was nearly over, when, far off where he guessed that the western archway stood, he fancied that he could see two pale points of light, almost like luminous eyes.
Suddenly Buffy was next to him sword in hand, "Do not be afraid Frodo, it is Gollum, he will be dead long before he could reach you and the Ring," she said quietly.
"How do you know it is Gollum, Elenwë?" he asked, just as quietly, even though his heart told him it was true.
"I sensed him yesterday while I explored, I heard him speak of his precious Aragorn and I plan on trying to catch him when we leave here and leave him in Lórien," Buffy told him. "I know it will be hard but try and rest I will watch over you, do not be afraid."
Although Frodo did not think he would be able to sleep after Buffy had revealed that Gollum was on their trail, but he did for after what seemed like moments Gandalf was waking him, "Good morning!" said the wizard, "For morning it is again at last. We are high up on the east side of Moria. Before today is over we should find the Great Gates and see the waters of Mirrormere in Dimrill Dale."
"I shall be glad," said Gimli looking around, "I have looked on Moria, and it is very great, but it has become dark and dreadful; and we have found no sign of my kindred."
After they had breakfasted Gandalf decided to go on again, "We are tired, but we shall rest better when we are outside," he said.
"Which way shall we take? Yonder eastward arch?" asked Boromir.
"No," cried Buffy, everyone looked at her, "Sorry, but I sense great danger that way... I get the sense of being trapped if we go through the eastern archway."
Gandalf studied her face for sometime, "Very well we had best look about us for an alternative route!" he said, "Let us go towards that light in the north door."
They passed through the archway into a wide corridor; a little way up on the eastern side was a half-open door. As Gandalf moved to the door ready to open it he looked at Buffy, she nodded, "There is no danger inside..." she hesitated considering her next statement, "But I do sense danger coming."
"What kind of danger?" asked Aragorn.
"I don't know! I'm using my slayer senses and there are many creatures in Middle-Earth that were not on Earth, until I have confronted it for the first time I will not know," Buffy explained.
"Very well we will check this room then be on our way," said Gandalf as he pushed open the door.
Their feet disturbed deep dust upon the floor, many things lay in the doorway, Buffy having been in many tombs recognised them immediately, "Skeletons," she said solemnly crouching before one, "Mostly Dwarf and some Orc."
Gimli and Gandalf went to the centre of the room where a slab of stone lay on top of the tomb, Gimli's face turned grim, "He is dead then," he said, "I feared it was so."
Dawn walked over to look at what they were looking at, "What does it say?" she asked quietly.
Gandalf looked at her, "Here is written in the tongue of Moria. BALIN SON OF FUNDIN, LORD OF MORIA."
The Company of the Ring stood silently beside the tomb, Frodo thinking of having to tell Bilbo of Balin's death. At length they stirred and began quickly searching for anything that would give them a clue as to the fate of the many Dwarves that had followed Balin to Moria.
There was another door opposite the one they had entered by, most of the skeletons were around the two doors, among them were many broken swords and axes as well as cloven shields and helms. "I'd say the Dwarves made a last stand here," surmised Buffy.
"Why think you that?" asked Aragorn.
"Because if the Dwarves had survived this battle they at least would have seen to their kin," pointed out Buffy. "And had the Dwarf skeletons been here before Balin's death they would have not placed his remains in this room."
"Yes Elenwë, I think you are right," agreed Gandalf, he suddenly stop his search of the room as he spotted something, bending he picked it up, they all saw that he was holding a large book, "This appears to be a record of the fortunes of Balin's folk," he said as he scanned the contents.
"I don't think we have time for you to read it all now," said Buffy a little worried, the danger she had been sensing was drawing nearer, "Skip to the end."
Gandalf sensing Buffy's growing anxiety nodded and turned to the last page, "It is grim reading," he said. "I fear their end was cruel. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frár and Lóni and Náli fell there. Then there are four smudged lines so that I can only read went 5 days ago. The last lines run the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Óin. We cannot get out. The end comes, and then drums, drums in the deep. I wonder what that means. The last thing written is they are coming," he closed the book a grim look on his face, "There is nothing more."
"It was well for us that the pool had sunk a little, and that the Watcher was sleeping down at the southern end," said Gimli.
"You should take the book Gimli," said Gandalf, "And take it back to Dáin, if you get the chance, though it will grieve him deeply. Come we must be on our way."
Gandalf had hardly spoken, when there came a great boom that seemed to come from the depths far below, the vibration travelling through their bodies from the floor, "We lingered to long, the danger is here!" said Buffy as she moved towards the door they had come through.
There came the sound of a great horn blowing in the hall, and answered by other horns and harsh cries further off. There was the sound of many booted feet.
"They are coming!" cried Legolas.
"We cannot get out," added Gimli.
"Here we are, caught, just as they were before. But I was not here then," said Gandalf.
"Slam the door and wedge them!" shouted Aragorn. "And keep your packs on as long as you can; we may get a chance to cut our way out yet."
"No!" cried Gandalf, "We must not get shut in. Keep the east door ajar! We will go that way, if we get a chance."
"We must make them fear this room so we may have the chance," said Buffy a savage glint coming to her eyes.
They all drew their weapons, Legolas stood next to Dawn as they both notched an arrow. Gandalf and Frodo's swords shone with a pale light, "Goblins," hissed Aragorn.
"Wait," said Gandalf as Boromir put his shoulder against the western door. The wizard, with a quick movement, stepped before the narrow opening and thrust his staff forward. It blazed into light and Gandalf looked out before jumping back as arrows flew past him down the corridor. "There are Orcs, very many of them," he said, "There is something else there, a cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way."
"There are no sounds of anything coming this way," said Aragorn from his position next to the eastern door.
Boromir pushed the door shut and wedged it closed with some broken swords and pieces of wood. He backed away slowly never taking his eyes from the door.
Suddenly the door shuddered as something heavy struck it, it came again and slowly the wood splintered and the swords bent as the door began to give way. A huge hand and then a large toeless foot forced their way in. Boromir ran to the door delivering a mighty blow to the hand, he looked stunned as his blow made no difference and had just notched his sword.
To every ones surprise, including himself, Frodo cried, "The Shire," and charged forward and stabbed the foot with Sting. A great bellow came from the other side of the door as the foot and hand were withdrawn almost wrenching Sting out of the hobbit's hand.
"One for the Shire," smiled Aragorn from the other side of the room as Boromir put his shoulder to the door again.
Many blows were heard from the other side of the door and many harsh voices. The Company slowly backed away until they were all on the other side of the room. Slowly, at first, the door began to crumble under the intense assault then holes began to appear, Legolas and Dawn put a couple of arrows through and for several minutes, the attack on the door stopped, before continuing.
The Company braced themselves as the door finally crumbled and there was a moment's pause before the orcs charged in. The rest of the Fellowship moved forward to meet them as Legolas and Dawn took three of the orcs out with arrows in their throats.
The only time Dawn had been scared as much as she was now was when Doc was cutting her on the tower. But she now had the means to protect herself and could appreciate Legolas' archery lessons, especially those that taught her to hit targets that were sometimes partly obscured by her friends.
Although the rest of the Company were doing quite well, Buffy was like a tornado, slicing and hacking at the orcs, it did not seem to matter how many she faced all met the same end. Within a couple of minutes, the room had been cleared of orcs and Buffy had reached the door cutting down a large Uruk chieftain. The remaining orcs in the corridor turned and ran, Buffy chanced to look down the corridor to the hall, there she could see many times the number of orcs they had already faced.
She stiffened as she sense something drawing near, saw the orcs cower back from whatever it was. Buffy turned and ran back into the room, "We have to leave NOW," she cried.
"What is it Buffy?" asked Dawn worried, realising that whatever her sister was phased by must be bad.
"I don't know but it's big and it is totally evil, if we don't go now we will not get out of this room alive," stated Buffy moving towards the other door.
"Very well," nodded Gandalf after a moment studying the slayer, "Quickly everyone we must leave," he declared.
They all ran out and started down the stairs, Boromir pulled the two heavy rings on the doors, closing them, but there was no way of securing them.
Gandalf turned to them, "Off you go, all of you, down the stairs! Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom, but if I do not come soon, go on! Go quickly and choose paths leading right and downwards."
"We cannot leave you to hold the door alone!" said Aragorn.
"Do as I say!" said Gandalf sternly. "Swords are no more use here. Go!"
They groped their way down the long flight of stairs coming to a landing. The only light was from Gandalf's staff high above.
"You know we aren't going to leave without him, right!" said Buffy looking at Aragorn.
"I know. But you do realise that anything that can get past Gandalf is likely to be more than a match for us," replied the Ranger.
"Who wants to live forever," laughed Buffy.
"Elves do apparently," giggled Dawn.
By the little light coming from far above both sisters could just make out the confused faces of their friends; "Sorry, it's from a song from Earth. We and our friends would usually use humour to hide our fears and to help encourage the others. If we die this day, I can think of no others in this world I would rather be with," said Buffy.
Gimli gripped his axe a little more firmly, "We either leave here together or we do not leave this place at all."
Legolas turned to Dawn, "Will you teach me this song, Amaurëa!"
"Of course, I'll also tell you the story associated with it, called a movie."
They stood peering up the stairs into the darkness. Dawn could hear Gandalf's voice she did not understand the words he spoke but to her Elven ears, they were very clear. The walls seemed to be trembling; the drum-beats came louder.
Suddenly they saw a stab of white light, there was a dull rumble and a heavy thud. The drum-beats broke out wildly and the abruptly stopped and Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground just in front of Buffy, who helped him to his feet.
"Well, well! That's over!" said the wizard, "I have done all that I could. But I have met my match, and nearly been destroyed. Let us go on but you will have to do without light for a while. Buffy, Gimli will you two walk with me ahead of the Company," he asked.
As they pressed on, they heard the drum-beats start again but now they sounded muffled and distant. Gandalf took no turns, as the passage seemed to be going in the right direction. They descended the seventh flight of steps of fifty or more. There was no sound of pursuit, their chief danger in their flight would have been a sudden descent they could not see, but Buffy's slayer senses helped here, she was able to warn them before any mishap.
At the end of an hour, they had gone maybe a mile and Gandalf called a halt. "It is getting hot!" he gasped. "We ought to be down at least to the level of the Gates now. I hope it is not far, for I am very weary. I must rest here a moment."
Gimli and Buffy helped him down to the bottom steps. "What happened up there?" asked the slayer.
"I am unsure," replied Gandalf. "But I found myself suddenly faced by something that I have not met before. Its counter-spell to the shutting-spell I placed on the door was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. It was too much and all the wall gave way, and the roof also I think."
Going on a little later, it was not long before Gimli spoke up, "I think that there is a light ahead. But not daylight. It is red."
"Ghâsh!" muttered Gandalf.
"What?" asked Dawn from just behind Frodo.
"Before the evil entered the room above many of the orcs were talking about ghâsh it is the Orc word for fire," explained Gandalf. "I wonder if they meant that the lower levels are on fire."
As they drew closer, the glow became unmistakeable and the air began to get hotter. They past through the archway the red glow came from. The Hall was far larger than the one they had slept in.
"There is some devilry here," said Gandalf, "Devised for our welcome no doubt, it was well that we listened to Elenwë. Had we gone through the eastern arch and not north we would have been trapped. I now know where we are, we have reached the First Deep, the level below the Gates. They are near, not more than a quarter of a mile. Across the Bridge, up a broad stair, through the First Hall and out! Come there is no time to lose."
Even as they set out they again heard the drums, many garish shapes could be made out across the fire as horns took up the call. "Now for the last race!" said the wizard.
As they ran cries went up behind them, Boromir laughed, "They did not expect this. The fire has cut them off."
Suddenly they saw before them a black chasm, the way to the outer door could only be reached by a slender bridge of stone, "Lead the way, Gimli!" said Gandalf. "Pippin and Merry next. Straight on, and up the stair beyond the door!"
Arrows began to fall among them, one struck Frodo and sprang back, Buffy frowned but said nothing. Another pierced Gandalf's hat and stuck there like a black feather. Beyond the fire, Frodo could see swarming black figures.
Legolas watched as Dawn followed Merry onto the Bridge, he turned and set an arrow to string. He drew, but his hand fell, and the arrow slipped to the ground. He gave a cry of dismay and fear.
Buffy turned to see what had caused her fellow Elf to cry out, her eyes narrowed as she realised that she was feeling the same sensation as she had after the battle above. "Balrog!" she said in awe.
Gimli stared with wide eyes, "Durin's Bane!" he cried.
"A Balrog," sighed Gandalf, "Now I understand. What an evil fortune! And I am already weary."
"You will not stand alone Mithrandir," said Buffy moving to his side were she was joined by Aragorn and Boromir.
Gandalf turned quickly to them, "Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you, even you Slayer," he said sternly at Buffy. "I must hold the narrow way. Fly! While you can." All four quickly followed the rest of the Company over but Gandalf stopped in the centre and turned to face the evil that was quickly advancing on him.
At the end of the Bridge Buffy and the others stopped to watch the wizard and demon confront each other.
"You cannot pass," said Gandalf in a firm commanding voice. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
The Balrog moved purposefully onto the Bridge, it drew itself up to a great height, its wings were spreading out, but still Gandalf could be seen glimmering in the shadow that seemed to ooze from it. From out of the shadow, a red sword came leaping into flames.
The red sword was met by Glamdring, which flashed in white light, as they clashed. The Balrog fell back and its sword flew up in molten fragments. "You cannot pass!" he said again having taken a step back.
The Balrog leapt forward onto the Bridge again, the many thongs of its whip hissed as if they were snakes. As Buffy put an arrow into the thing's shoulder, Gandalf lifted his staff, and crying aloud he smote the bridge before him. A blinding sheet of white flame sprang from it. The bridge cracked and with a terrible cry, the Balrog fell. But even as it did so its whip lashed out and captured the wizard's knees, dragging him over the side.
Buffy and the two Men ran back onto the bridge watching in horror as the chasm engulfed their friend, from far below they heard him cry; "Fly, you fools!" and was gone.
Aragorn looked at Buffy and Boromir, "Come! I will lead you now! We must obey his last command," he said leading them back to the others just as the rest of the bridge collapsed.
