I've been trying to update since Monday but I couldn't log on! Anyway, here is the next chapter! Thank you all very much for the reviews. Oh and Fabienne, you'll find out if your right in chapter 11! Thanks for your review and thank you to everyone for reading! Please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.

Chapter 10

They ran into the hall and stopped in the middle when they were surrounded by goblins and orcs eagerly waiting to get a chance to slice the ten travelers that looked on ready to battle them. It was then that Aria realized that she had left her long knives behind in the tomb, so, he just held out her hands ready to draw on her powers when needed. All of a sudden, a thunder like noise filled the hall and the orcs and goblins flinched in fear. Aria furrowed her brow and looked around only to see the end of the hall an orange glow as it slowly made its way down the corridor. Aria's eyes widened as the goblins and orcs quickly disbursed screeching in fear.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf and the others waited patiently for the wizards answer.

"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" Gandalf said. At Aria's hesitation Legolas grabbed her wrist and pulled her along with them. They ran and Legolas had ran ahead of Aria only to save Boromir from falling hundreds of feet. Aria ran ahead and she heard Gandalf yell at Aragorn and that funny feeling she had earlier came back as they ran down the stairs. Aria came to a halt behind Gandalf as they reached a break in the stairs. Legolas jumped over and motioned for Gandalf who jumped right into Legolas' arms. He motioned to Aria.

"Aria! Jump! Quickly now!" Legolas yelled at her. Aria swallowed hard and closed her eyes as she launched herself over the gap and right into Legolas' arms. He squeezed her to let her know she was safe and she opened her eyes and nodded at him and moved to stand near Gandalf. Next it was Boromir with Pippin and Merry. Once they were safely over there Aria pulled Merry and Pippin close to her because arrows began to fly at them. Aragorn tossed Sam over and went to toss Gimli when Gimli stopped him.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf," Gimli said before he jumped over the gap only to have Legolas save him by grabbing his beard. "Not the beard!" Gimli yelled at Legolas pulled him up. Just as Frodo and Aragorn were about to jump the stairs began to break away. Aria held her breath as she watched Aragorn and Frodo manipulate the direction the wobbling moved.

"Steady. Hold on!" Aragorn told Frodo. Aria looked at the small hobbit whose eyes were locked with Sam's as they swayed. "Hang on! Lean forward. Steady." They leaned forward and the broken stone began to fall right towards the others waiting from them.

"Come on! Now!" Legolas said and they jumped onto the stairs, Frodo into Boromir and Aragorn into Legolas. Aria smiled and was thankful that they made it safely. They all turned and made their way down the stairs as quickly as they could. They were nearly at the bridge when Aria turned and looked behind them only to see one of the most frightening things she had ever seen. She stopped and the others went passed her. Gandalf gently pushed on her shoulder and she looked at him.

"Aria, you must move," he said. Aria nodded and began to run. "Over the bridge! Fly!" he yelled to the others. They all did as they were told and ran quickly across the bridge. Once on the other side they all stopped and watched as Gandalf stopped in the middle of the bridge and came face to face with the Balrog. Aria gasped and went to make after him, only to have Legolas hold her back.

"Gandalf!" Aria yelled and Frodo soon followed suit.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf said to the Balrog. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor! The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun! Arrghh! Go back to the Shadow! YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf exclaimed as he slammed his staff on the bridge causing it to break and the Balrog to fall into the dark cavern below. Gandalf slowly turned around and took a step when the whip of Balrog was heard being snapped and Gandalf was dragged to the edge of the bridge, only hanging on by his hands.

"GANDALF!" Frodo yelled again and went to go after him, only to have Boromir hold him back. "Gandalf!" he yelled again. Aria felt the tears fall from her eyes as she looked at the wizard. Gandalf met her gaze and Aria took a sharp breath and shook her head.

"No! Gandalf!" she yelled as she tried to break free from Legolas but his grip only tightened.

"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf said before he let go and followed the Balrog and fell into the cavern. Aria went numb and shook her head.

"No! No!" Frodo cried and Boromir picked him up and began to carry him from the mines. Orcs began to fire arrows on the group and they made their way. Legolas pulled on Aria to get her to move and she did, but her face was blank. Aragorn was the last to leave the mines.

Sam sat down on a stone and rested his head in his hands with tears streaming down his cheeks as he shook his head. Boromir held Gimli back from going back inside the mines; Merry comforted a weeping Pippin with sadness and loss clear on his face. Legolas had a lost look on his face and Aria stood next to him, the tracks of her previously shed tears clear on her pain filled face. Aria touched Legolas' arm and he looked at her. The look he gave her caused her tears to once again fall from her eyes and for her to fall into his arms. Legolas closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, seeking the same comfort that she was. After a moment Aragorn spoke up.

"Legolas, get them up," Aragorn called as he sheathed his sword. Legolas slowly pulled away from Aria and wiped the tears from her cheeks before he turned from her and stepped over to Merry and Pippin.

"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir yelled his own grief clear in his voice. Aria wiped her face off and helped Legolas with Merry and Pippin as she heard Aragorn walk over to the group.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir. Legolas, Gimli, get them up." Aragorn walked over to Sam and pulled Sam up. "On your feet, Sam." Sam nodded his head sadly and Aragorn quickly searched for Frodo, when he didn't seem him, Aragorn became alarmed. "Frodo! Frodo!" He turned around and saw Frodo staring over the cliffs and Aragorn sighed quietly before they began to make their way to Lothlorien.

To Aria it felt like she had ran forever by the time they reached a forest with very tall and mystical looking trees. As they walked inside, she took in the beautiful sight around her, but her heart was heavy with the loss of yet another person she cared deeply for. "Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell," Gimli whispered to Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo before he paused and glanced around the forest. Aria raised an eyebrow at Legolas who just shook his head and Aria swore he rolled his eyes. "And are never seen again. Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." Gimli said but soon held up his hands as the party was surrounding by many elves pointing the arrows at each of them. Legolas had pulled Aria behind him and drew his arrow pointing it at the various elves.

An elf stepped behind Legolas and pointed an arrow at Aria, but lowered it slightly when she looked him in the eye, but raised it quickly when a new voice was heard. "The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark," the voice said and Aria looked over Legolas' shoulder to see another tall blonde elf looking the group over.

"Haldir o Lórien. Henio aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn (Haldir of Lorien. We come here for help. We need your protection)," Aragorn said quickly and Aria raised an eyebrow wondering what he said to the elf.

"Aragorn! These woods are perilous. We should go back," Gimli huffed as he looked at the tip of the arrow pointed at his face. The tall elf looked at Gimli and then scanned the group once more only to stop when his eyes spotted Aria standing behind Legolas.

"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. Come. She is waiting," the elf said and Aria swallowed hard. Legolas lowered his bow and returned the arrow to his quiver and strapped his bow on his back. He turned to Aria and she quickly took his hand as the group of elves led them deeper into the majestic forest.

"Legolas, where are they taking us?" Aria asked as quietly as she could as they walked.

"They are taking us deeper into the woods and to Calas Caladhon to stand before Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel," he said just as quietly. She nodded her head and they continued through the forest in silence, although her hand held onto his tightly.

As they stepped into the great city Aria looked around in amazement. Once again, another place in this beautiful world had taken her breakaway. The city seemed to glow under the moonlight and Aria felt as if she was transported. Her fear had melted away enough that she had let go of Legolas' hand and followed behind him up the thousands of stairs they had to climb in order to meet with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. As Haldir, the elf from earlier, led them in front of another stair case Aria felt as if someone was in her mind with her, but she just mentally shook her head. Soon, two elves made their way down the stairs and both eliminated such a light that Aria and all the others, minus Legolas and Aragorn, looked on them in amazement.

"Nine that there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him," Lord Celeborn said as he glanced around the group. Galadriel looked at Aragorn and her eyes widened slightly.

"He has fallen into Shadow. The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail to the ruin of all," Galadriel said. Suddenly, her attention was turned to Boromir, then after a moment to Sam. "Yet hope remains while the Company is true." Then her eyes turned to Aria. "I never thought I would see you, child," Galadriel said to Aria in her mind and Aria's eyes widened. "There is much for you to learn." Aria was about to question her when she felt the lady leave her mind and she turned to the rest of the group. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep in peace." With that the pair left the group on the talan and Aria with many unanswered questions.

Legolas put his hand on Aria's shoulder seeing the distress in her eyes and she looked up at him. "Aria?" he questioned but she did not answer she just turned away from him and followed the others down the stairs as quickly as she could. Legolas frowned but followed her.

They were shown to their campsites and Aria took off her knife harness, she had no use for it anymore as she had left her knives back in the mines, and she undid her outer tunic. Aria untied her braid and let her now mid back length hair fall down her back. She turned around to join the others only to bump into Legolas. He reached out and steadied her. "Thank you Legolas," she said as she put her hands on his forearms. It was then that she noticed that he had removed his outer tunic and washed up from traveling. She smiled up at him, but kept her arms on him and he kept his arms around her. "You look nice. When did you clean up?" Legolas chuckled.

"Not long ago," he said. Aria smiled at him, and it was then that she noticed she was still in his arms. A breeze flowed through the trees and blew Aria's hair in her face slightly and Legolas raised his hand to tuck it behind her ear. Aria felt her body tremble slightly because of his touch. "Le bain," Legolas whispered to her once more and began to lean into her. Aria felt her breath hitch, but she found herself leaning into him as well. There lips were centimeters apart when suddenly . . .

"Aria!" called Aragorn and the two broke apart quickly. Aria refused to look at Legolas and Legolas just stared at Aria. Aragorn looked between the two of them and at the blush that graced both of their cheeks; Aragorn realized that he had interrupted something. "Forgive me, but Aria, Lady Galadriel wished for me to take to meet Ellewen so she may show you where to bathe." Aria looked at Aragorn and nodded her head before quickly rushing over to him. Aria walked ahead and Aragorn glanced at Legolas who gave his friend a small smile before turning around and going in the opposite direction. Aragorn sighed and caught up with Aria to take her to Ellewen.