Sorry for the wait, everyone. I only got 8 reviews for the last chapter; I thought I would get more, but...
Yes, I still have writers block a bit, but I'm really working hard.
Enjoy, and please REVIEW!
DISCLAIMER: See Prologue.
Fight, Flight, and Fall
The tomb of Balín was filled with dwarf skeletons, dust, dirt, and rusted weapons.
The very air she breathed had the lingering scent of death; and she had to repress a shudder. Her hand rested firmly upon the hilt of her sword as she gazed around the room, taking in all the small nooks that creatures could hide in and behind.
As Gandalf read from the scripts, she walked around on light feet, looking at the tomb, pillars, and even glancing once at a dwarvish skeleton. This place was choking her every second she remained. The separation from light, earth, sky, and moon had a profound effect on the elleth.
She whirled around as she heard a resounding CRASH echo around the room. Pippin stood innocently by the well, the remains of a dwarf falling backwards into it. The clatter of the chain and bucket reverberated to the depths of who knows where. And she realized with a stab of horror, that this was the beginning...
Screeches, shrieks, stomping, and clanging reached her elven ears.
"Yrch!"(orcs) shouted Legolas, making for the doors after Arodwen. As they reached them, a loud roaring and grunting could be heard.
Slamming the doors shut, Boromir and Aragorn were at their side, beginning to bar the wooden doors with axes and spears.
"Stay behind Gandalf!" Aragorn shouted to the hobbits, drawing his bow and one of the few arrows from his make-shift quiver. Legolas had already taken a poised still stance, Boromir beside him with his sword and shield.
Gimli had leapt upon the tomb, brandishing two axes yelling, "Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!"
Arodwen stood in front of the hobbits, sword drawn and gleaming despite the dim light. Her first battle... Would she survive it? She did not know her own fate, but she knew the fates of those around her.
The orcs finally broke through, streaming inside like overlarge spiders, scrimtars swinging in every direction. Aragorn had unsheathed his sword instead of a bow, slicing apart the orcs that dared come within his reach. Legolas had merely whirled aside, taking better aim from atop a dais-like structure. The hobbits gave a war cry, and rushed forward to meet the enemies.
Keeping her eyes on Frodo, she dashed after them, remembering all of the footwork and strikes Legolas, Elrohir, Elladan, and even Arwen had shown her. Black blood soon stained her grey clothes as her sharp blade continued to pierce the flesh of the disgusting creatures.
There was an almighty crash, and she turned to look in horror at the enormous troll smashing through the doorway with a menacing anvil raised high. It's elephantine skin was not easily pierced by Legolas's arrows. And Gimli's axe wounds seemed to be nothing more than paper-cuts.
Frodo was being protected and hidden by Merry and Pippin now.
She slashed, dodged, and cut at the troll, carefully ducking everytime it swung the mighty anvil around. Boromir was flung halfway across the room, and she went to go and aid him. Before she knew it, she was facing the ceiling, and three orcs were peering down at her. The troll had swept her off her feet when she had turned to help Boromir.
Her sword lay inches away from her fingers, but not close enough. As they leered at her, two of them fell dead with an arrow piercing each of their skulls. The other looked to what had wounded his fellows, giving her the chance to grab her sword and plunge it into it's chest. It gave an awful screech, falling to the ground. As she stood up, she heard a guttural groan. Legolas fired one of his last arrows into the troll's throat, ending it's life.
No one moved after the troll had fallen to the ground, making the ground quake.
She looked around, and saw Aragorn crawling over to a familiar fallen figure.
"Aí!" she cried, sprinting toward where Frodo lay face down, a spear protruding from his chest. Legolas attempted to catch her by the shoulder and hold her back, but to no avail. She dropped down beside the immobile hobbit, just as Aragorn picked him up. Relief flooded her as he gasped for breath, the spear falling away from him.
The mithril vest glittered beneath the hobbit's cream tunic, almost glowing. This hobbit would scare her to death with all of his own near death experiences.
"Hurry! Asca! To the Bridge! Fly!" Gandalf hissed at them, sprinting to the opposite door. Everyone was on their feet at once, racing from the room as they heard more goblins and orcs pursuing them.
The Dwarrowdelf halls would have pleased her, if they hadn't been chased by millions of evil creatures. The hobbits were panting, trying to keep up. But despite it, they were soon surrounded.
Her own breathing was sharp in her chest. Being thrown across the room did not help her to heal her already damaged ribs. But it came short also because she was scared... The goblins were shrieking at her in the black speech; words she knew she did not want translated. Legolas knew, and his hand gripped his bow tighter, the string going as taut as it could.
An almighty roar echoed through the halls; so loud, that she almost felt the need to cover her ears. But she kept her sword raised, her eyes darting around, and landing upon the glowing red light that was slowly filling the hall...
"What is this new devilry..."
Legolas stared on with fear clearly written on his face. Fear! She had never seen such a thing in him; she had begun to think it had not existed. Arodwen tentatively gripped his hand, and he turned his head to her, trying to comfort her with a smile. She returned it, but only because she did not want to see that look of terror on his face anymore.
"A Balrog."
She could actually feel Legolas shudder.
"A demon, of the ancient world... This foe is beyond any of you... RUN!"
And they did. There were no orcs in sight, but they ran even harder and faster than before. Long narrow-stepped stairs were soon before them, and they had to be careful of their steps; lest they fall into the molten rocks below.
The crashing grew louder, as did the roaring and screeches. Her feet registered tremors in the ground. The Balrog had to be enormous...
Soon they could see the Bridge of Khaza-Dûm. She felt her fear alleviate slightly, but it was soon extinguished as the great fire demon sprang up from the flames behind them.
She gaped at the fell creature, it's enormous coal black body with broad wings and cruel horns freezing her heart.
Legolas grabbed her hand, pulling her along, shouting, "Quickly! You cannot face such a thing!"
He pushed her ahead of him, and she ran across the bridge, not daring to look back. But once she had reached the other side, her eyes were glued to the heart-wrenching sight before her.
Gandalf, alone before the mighty Balrog of Morgoth, his glowing staff held aloft as he challenged the great foe.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried to the wizard, his blue eyes filled with horror.
The whip of the beast cracked through the air with a menacing sound.
"Go back to the Shadow!" Mithrandir shouted at it. The creature paid no heed, and took one step forward upon the bridge, it's great clawed foot cracking the ancient stone. "You shall not pass!" Gandalf roared, slamming his staff into the bridge with an almighty burst of power.
The Balrog began to fall, but not before catching the wizard around theknees with the fiery whip. As he started to slip, she impulsively ran forward. Legolas wrapped his arms firmly around her waist, holding her back. Boromir was having a very difficult time trying to restrain Frodo. "Gandalf! Gandalf!" the hobbit screamed, fighting tooth and nail to reach the wizard.
Legolas held Arodwen back, but it took strength to do so. She was trying so hard to get free of his grasp, a few tears begin to make their tracks down her cheeks as she yelled at him to let her go. She even went so far as to try and kick his legs out from under him. But still, he would not release her.
Her own cry of anguish was drowned out by Frodo's when Gandalf let go of the bridge, falling into the darkness. Boromir picked up the hobbit, running up the steps after Gimli and the other halflings.
Legolas had to practically drag Arodwen away, calling back to Aragorn who stood stark still in the same spot. The ranger slowly turned, and then followed; dodging arrows as they went.
When they reached the blinding light of the outside world, he let her go. She simply slumped to her knees, while the tears continued to pour from her eyes. Small whimpers reached his ears, and he felt his heart clench at the sound.
He had just knelt beside her to comfort her, when Aragorn called, "Legolas! Get them up."
Legolas slowly turned his head to look at the man; his gaze that of one in disbelief. Nevertheless, he forced himself over to where Merry and Pippin were sobbing, and reached down to help the poor hobbits to their feet.
"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir yelled at Aragorn, his own face twisted in sadness.
"By nightfall this place will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien before we can rest. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli; get them up!" Aragorn said with firmness. They may think him cold, but on the inside the ranger was grieving just as much as any. He would not let it show until he had his own privacy. Aragorn picked Sam up, setting the brave hobbit on his feet. Noticing the gash above the hobbit's brow, he said, "Your cut will need to be tend-"
"I will aid him, Aragorn, go help Frodo." Arodwen whispered, her voice sounding very distant. She had gotten up from where Legolas had left her, and come to help Sam.
Aragorn noticed the far-away look in her eyes, and knew that she felt guilty, despite it was not her fault. He would have to speak to her later... But now he had to fetch the Ringbearer, and get the remainder of the fellowship to Lorien before they were faced with more problems...
