Chapter 4

The Bridge of Khazad-dum

Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own LOTR, or Harry Potter, or Kel or Neal, (sighs) but you already know that. Anyway, this chapter continues from when the last chapter ends, because I couldn't find another place to break the chapter.

"Run!" shouted Gandalf.

Everyone ran. Eventually they came to a long hall. Orcs came down from the ceiling and walls. Soon they were surrounded. Everyone just kind of stood there, waiting for the other to attack. Then, without warning, the orcs ran back up the walls and pillars.

Legolas frowned. This wasn't right. . .

From the hall behind them, a great red light was emerging.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dun!"

They continued running, down a lot of stairs. Itarilde's wound had stopped bleeding, though it continued to throb and protest. Soon they reached a gap in the stairs. Legolas jumped first, followed by Kel and Neal. The gap steadily grew as Gandalf and Boromir made it over. Aragorn threw all the hobbits over and attempted to assist Gimli in getting over.

"Nobody touches a dwarf." He grunted, and jumped. Legolas grabbed his beard and pulled him onto the other side.

Emily and Itarilde looked at each other.

"Remember how you made the school team for long jump?" Emily asked.

"Yes, but I didn't win anything." Said Itarilde, staring at the gap.

"Well, either way, it's a good thing you did!"

They both jumped. Emily closed her eyes. Then, the next thing she knew, she was on the other side, feet planted firmly on the rock. Legolas had caught them both. As he took his hand away, he noticed it was covered in blood. Itarilde's blood. He also noticed Emily's face, where a purple-blue bruise the size of a grapefruit was beginning to form under her eye. Before he could say anything, though, Aragorn and Harry crashed into him (both having just landed) and only his natural balance saved him from falling off the stairs.

They kept running. Eventually, they reached a bridge. The width was only wide enough for them to cross in a single file line.

And so they did. Everyone did their best not to look down. Just as Gandalf was about to cross, a big red creature (which had pursued them) appeared behind him with a whip. Immediately, everyone froze.

They all looked at Gandalf, who shouted, "It is a Balrog of Morgoth! Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. Swords cannot be of use here!"

The rest of the Fellowship reached the other side safely. Gandalf was halfway across the bridge when the Balrog decided to stomp on the ground right before the bridge. It shook, but Gandalf remained unperturbed.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. Go back to the Shadow!" he took his sword and staff on the bridge. The rock crumbled at before him, and the Balrog fell. Gandalf turned around and faced the Fellowship with a victorious look on his face.

Then, suddenly, the Balrog's whip wrapped around Gandalf's ankle. It pulled him down after it.

"Noooooooo!" cried Frodo.

"Fly, you fools!" That was the last thing the Company heard from Gandalf before he disappeared into the dark chasm.

End of chapter

A/N: I should be studying right now. I have a unit test in Science in a few days and I have to memorize the stuff! I get pretty paranoid about tests. I do all sorts of things to help me memorize and yet I still don't remember what I've studied! Anyway, a few days ago we watched this really graphic movie in science (miracle of life cringe) where it shows the birth of a child. . . It was gross. And I have to study this stuff! Well, I suppose it could be worse, especially if I go to University and take a major in biology. But I don't plan to do that. Anyway, please review!