Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.
LadyAlariel: Thank you for your review! I'm glad you like it. As for the angst, don't worry, there will be plenty. However, I am really sorry that I can't use your suggestion. I've seen that in too many other stories that have that same thing. Thanks again!Lil-sis4556: Thank you for your review! Sorry I didn't update sooner.
Gandalf-dumbledore-obi-wan: Thank you for your reviews! Congrats on registering! I agree. It would be hard to stand by and just watch him fall. Thanks again!
Forleaswyn- Shield Maiden of Rohan: Thank you for your reviews! I'm glad you like it! Also, there will be plenty of Tammy's dreams in this story… so many, in fact, that I probably won't go into detail about every single one. Thanks again!
Chapter 8 – Saving Gandalf
"Ah!" Gandalf exclaimed, startling Tammy out of her deep reverie. "This way," he said as he pointed to one of the many doors.
"He's remembered," Merry stated.
"No," Gandalf replied. "It just does not smell so foul here. When in doubt, Master Meriadoc, just follow your nose."
With that, everyone followed Gandalf through the door.
"Well, that's an eye-opener and no mistake," Sam commented.
Looking around, Tammy had to agree with Sam. This great hallway wasn't beautiful in the same way that Rivendell was, but it held it's own kind of beauty. Everything was carved out of stone. All of the structures had a distinct look to them. The ceiling was so high that she didn't even think she could see the top.
The short while of peace everyone experienced quickly disappeared.
"NO!" Gimli shouted as he sprinted into the next room.
Everyone else then walked into the room.
As soon as Tammy entered the room, she went on alert. Her second dream took place here. There would be a battle.
Gimli was by the large stone structure in the center of the room grieving.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. It is as I feared then," Gandalf said, reading what was written on the tomb.
After handing his hat and staff to Pippin, he slowly walked over to a corpse and grabbed the book it held in its grasp. Gandalf opened the time worn book and began to read aloud.
Tammy shuddered at the horrifying image it provoked. All of the dwarves that had lived here in Moria were trapped as they heard the much-dreaded drums. They only thing that kept her from feeling the same helplessness that the dwarves felt was the simple fact that she knew the upcoming battle would not be the end of the fellowship. They had yet to reach that bridge…
"We cannot get out… They are coming," Gandalf finished.
CRASH!
Everyone turned and looked over at Pippin who, out of curiosity, touched one of the corpses causing it to fall into the well. He winced each and every time another crash sounded out.
After it was once again silent, everyone stood there waiting for what seemed to be inevitable with all the racket – the drums sounding.
When nothing more happened, Gandalf walked over to Pippin. "Fool of a Took," he yelled, grabbing back his hat and staff. "Next time throw yourself in to rid us of your stupidity."
That's when it happened.
The drums…
Once the initial horror wore off, Aragorn and Boromir rushed over to the door in order to bar it shut. It wouldn't hold forever, but it would buy them some time.
"They have a cave troll," said Boromir as they finished securing the door.
The creatures on the other side of the door kept pounding against it.
'This is it…' Tammy thought.
"There is yet one dwarf remaining that still draws breath," said Gimli, his grief fueling his rage against the orcs.
The orcs had managed to break a hole in the door. With that, Legolas shot an arrow killing an orc.
The mob of orcs came crashing through the door and into the room.
Tammy pulled out the sword she had been given, saying a little prayer as she did so. Dealing with the wolves was one thing. A battle was different.
Tammy stood her ground, not moving in to attack until absolutely necessarily.
'Well,' she began as the orcs drew closer, 'here goes nothing.' Taking a deep calming breath, she raised her sword to block the orc's blow.
Using the little bit of skill she had picked up from her brief training in Rivendell, she managed to hang in there. She had a few close calls, but managed to pull through.
After what felt like years, the cave troll burst in, causing even more chaos.
Tammy filled with dread as she realized that the time would soon come that she needed to save Gandalf.
The dread didn't last too long, however, for she had begun to act purely on instinct.
The troll swung its chain around one of the many pillars and kept pulling until it broke.
Slashing her way through the orcs, she speedily made her way over to Gandalf.
Taking mammoth steps, the troll swiftly advanced on Gandalf.
Realizing she was running out of time and had to do something quick, she did the only thing she could do and still survive to see another day. Picking up momentum, she leapt across the short distance that remained and knocked Gandalf out of the way.
Almost as if it had another destination in mind the whole time, the troll passed right by them.
Tammy got up once the immediate danger had passed. She held out her hand to help Gandalf get up and muttered an apology for tackling him as she did so.
He just gave her a grateful look almost immediately followed by a questioning look.
Understanding the unspoken question had been if this was what their little talk had been about, Tammy shook her head.
It was then that they heard someone cry out in pain.
The troll had pinned Frodo to the wall with its spear. Frodo fell a few moments later.
In a matter of moments, the troll was slain, as were the orcs.
The drums kept sounding throughout Moria.
Knowing they could not linger, Gandalf urged the company to move onward.
Before quickly leaving the room, Aragorn picked up Frodo so that, even in death, the orcs could not have him.
A/N: Well, that's it for chapter 8. Hope you liked it! I promise that I will try to get the next chapter up fairly soon.