We now go into the mines of Moria! How exciting!...and sad...
Let me go check...nope...I still don't own the rights to SG-1 and/or LOTR...sigh...
The Fellowship slowly made their way through the inky blackness of Moria, their only illumination coming from Gandalf's staff and Sam's flashlight. "Quietly now," Gandalf advised. "It is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence will go unnoticed."
Sam quelled her nerves as they continued on. They passed by a Dwarven cemetery and she saw that the graves had been desecrated. Goblin and Orcish graffiti covered the stones in Dwarf blood. The woman quelled her anger, feeling bad for Gimli. The group continued for a few more days until they came to a part in the path that split off into three separate tunnels. The wizard frowned and looked at the passageways. "I have no memory of this place," he whispered.
Deciding that now would be the best time to take a small rest, they sat down. Sam clicked off her flashlight to save the batteries. Gimli silently sat on a stone, looking lost in thought. Boromir, Aragorn, and Legolas kept a wary eye out.
"Are we lost?" Pippin asked.
"No. I don't think we are," Merry replied. "Shhh! Gandalf's thinking!"
"Merry," Pippin said.
"What?"
"I'm hungry!"
Sam couldn't help but smile. She dug through her pack and pulled out some food. "Here Pip," she said, handing it to him. He gratefully accepted the food and slowly ate it, savoring each bite. Sam stifled her laughter.
"There's something down there," Frodo whispered, looking down the chasm they were close to.
"It's Gollum," Gandalf calmly answered.
"Gollum?" Frodo exclaimed.
"He's been following us for three days," Gandalf replied.
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dur?" the Hobbit inquired.
"Escaped…or set loose. And now the ring has drawn him here. He will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the ring, as he hates and loves himself. Sméagol's life is a sad story." The wizard looked at the shock on the Hobbit's face. "Yes…Sméagol he was once called. Before the ring came to him…before it drove him mad," he explained.
"It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance," Frodo said.
"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many live that deserve death, and many die that deserve life. Can you give it to them Frodo? Do not be too eager to give out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before all this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."
"Um, what exactly is a Gollum?" Sam asked, interrupting.
"He is a sad creature that came into possession of the One Ring many years ago. As time went on, it drove him to madness. One day, he lost it and Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's uncle, found it. Since that day it has been in Bilbo's possession until he passed it on to Frodo," Gandalf explained.
"I wish the ring had never come to me…I wish that none of this has happened!" Frodo declared.
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us." Gandalf smiled slightly at the Hobbit and went on explaining that forces other than evil were at work.
Sam turned away from the conversation and took a few sips of water. Boromir sat down next to her and smiled. "Afraid of the dark?" he asked.
"Hardly," Sam returned. "There are far worse fates than dying in the dark…believe me."
"I'll protect you," he said with his charming smile. "And once the ring is destroyed, perhaps you'd like to accompany me back to Gondor. I can show you the wonders of my land."
"That is a kind offer but I must decline," Sam returned. "And I need no protection. I am more than capable of defending myself."
"I always seem to offend you when I do not mean to," Boromir said.
"It's all right. I do come from a different land, but even there most men don't like the idea of women fighting." Sam took a sip of water.
"I take it you do not put up with it well," he grinned.
Sam laughed slightly. "Not really, but it could be worse I guess. It's been harder here with it though."
"No matter what anyone says, you are a warrior Sam," he told her.
"Thank you Boromir." She rose to her feet.
"Ah!" Gandalf exclaimed. "That's it that way!" he said, pointing to the right hand tunnel. Everyone hurried to their feet.
"He's remembered!" Merry said happily.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down there. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!" Gandalf returned.
"To the great taste of Fruit Loops," Sam giggled under her breath.
"Fruit Loops?" Legolas asked, being the only one who had heard.
"It's a breakfast food from my world. When it's advertised, they always say 'Follow your nose!'." The Elf still looked confused but was glad to see Sam laughing. They walked down through an archway and into large, dark foreboding place.
"Let me risk a little more light," Gandalf murmured. He tapped his staff on the ground and the light increased for several seconds, revealing a grand hall. "Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrodelf!" Hundreds of thick stone pillars held up the roof of the cavern.
"Well there's an eye opener and no mistake!" Samwise exclaimed.
"This puts a Goa'uld palace to shame," Sam murmured quietly.
Gimli suddenly rushed to a broken wooden door, arrows imbedded in the wood. Skeletons of goblins were strewn in front of the door. "Gimli!" Gandalf hissed. They followed the Dwarf into a smaller, but still large, chamber. A narrow beam of sunlight from the wall illuminated the room. Skeletons of Dwarves and goblins were piled high and a well was back in the corner. In the center of the room was a white block about four feet long. The Dwarf fell to his knees.
"No…no…no…oh no…" Gimli sobbed.
"'Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria'. He is dead then. It is as I feared," the wizard said gravely. He carefully picked up a book near the stone.
Legolas looked at Aragorn. "We must move on. We cannot linger!"
"I agree," Sam said, growing more nervous by the minute.
"'They have taken the Bridge and the second hall; we have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long…the ground shakes…drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no one save us? They are coming…'," Gandalf read from the book. Pippin, unnerved by what Gandalf had read, backed into a skeleton that was sitting on the edge of the well. It tipped and fell, clattering loudly on the stones finally coming to a stop. Everyone turned to him. "Fool of a Took!" Gandalf snapped. "Throw yourself in next time and rid of us your stupidity!"
Sam smiled reassuringly to Pippin as he looked at her. Her smiled slowly faded as a faint sound reached her ears. "Legolas, do you hear that?" she asked very softly. The Elf nodded.
"Hear what?" Boromir inquired.
"Drums," Aragorn answered as they grew louder. Trumpets began sounding and soon they heard running feet and cruel, harsh cries.
"Mr. Frodo!" Samwise exclaimed, pointing at Frodo's belt. He pulled the sword free, revealing the blue glow.
"Orcs!" Legolas shouted, knocking an arrow to his bow.
"Stay close to Gandalf!" Sam ordered the Hobbits, grabbing an arrow from the quiver and knocking it.
Aragorn and Boromir ran to the doors. Boromir poked his head out and immediately jerked it back inside as they slammed and wedged the doors shut. He looked at Aragorn. "They have a cave troll," he said.
Gimli grabbed a rusty axe and leapt onto the tomb. "Let them come! There is but one Dwarf in Moria who still draws breath!" he shouted. The wooden door began to splinter as the orcs and goblins pounded against it. Sam and Legolas began rapidly firing arrows through the cracks. Shrieks and screams of pain met their ears in reward for each arrow they let loose. The door began disintegrating with each pounding and Sam holstered her bow on her back. She pulled her sword free and moved over to Gandalf to help protect the Hobbits.
The door shattered and a score of goblins stampeded into the room followed by a large cave troll. Gimli ducked a blow from the troll and buried his axes in two goblins. Aragorn, Boromir, and Sam wove through the sea of goblins, their swords flashing in the stream of sunlight. Legolas was firing arrow after arrow into the melee, expertly hitting only the goblins and the cave troll. Gandalf had pulled his sword free and was fighting with both his staff and the blade.
Samwise was fighting off goblins with his sword and a saucepan, dropping each one he hit with the pan. "I think I'm getting the hang of this," he grinned.
Frodo backed away from the cave troll, crying out for help. Sam and the others looked over as the cave troll rammed the spear in its hand into Frodo. The Hobbit fell to the ground and lay unmoving. The other three Hobbits began wildly attacking the troll. Legolas leapt onto the troll and fired an arrow at point blank range into its head. The creature fell to the ground and for good measure, Sam rammed her sword into the troll's head. She pulled the blade out and wiped the green blood off on a dead goblin.
Frodo suddenly sucked in a breath, shocking everyone. "He's alive!" Samwise exclaimed happily.
"I'm all right. I'm not hurt," Frodo said.
"You should be dead. That spear would've skewered a wild boar!" Aragorn exclaimed in a stunned voice.
"I think there's more to this little Hobbit than meets the eye," Gandalf said. Frodo pulled back his shirt revealing a mythril shirt.
Sam grinned. "Mythril."
"You are full of surprises Master Baggins!" Gimli laughed.
Sam turned towards the door and her smile faded. She looked back at Aragorn and Legolas, who still had their backs turned. "Look out!" she shouted. As the words left her mouth she jumped in front of the two men. She grunted in pain as an arrow pierced her abdomen. She blocked a second arrow as Legolas shot the orc archer dead.
Sam fell to her knees and the Elf caught her. "Why didn't the mythril you wear protect you?" he asked, noticing the growing darkening stain on her shirt.
"Must've…moved when…I jumped," Sam grimaced. She broke off the shaft of the arrow as Legolas ripped off several strips of cloth from his spare blanket. He wrapped it around Sam's waist and helped her up.
"Why do you insist on getting shot in the stomach every time we encounter orcs?" the Elf teased, giving her a small bit of herbs that would help dull the pain.
"At least I'm consistent," she pointed out.
"Can you heal her?" Legolas asked Gandalf.
"It is too risky to do here," the wizard said. "Let us leave this place and get to safety first. Until then, leave the arrow in for it will help stop the bleeding. "To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" They ran out of the room and into the large chamber hall. "This way!" Gandalf called.
Sam ran with them, ignoring the pain in her gut. They were suddenly surrounded by the goblins and orcs. The Fellowship grimly held their weapons, knowing they could not defeat a force so vast. A fiery roar sounded from down the far end of the hall and the dark creatures froze. Another roar sounded and the Fellowship stared in bewilderment as the goblins and orcs fled in terror.
"When scary things get scared, that's not good," Sam murmured.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir demanded.
The ground shook as an unearthly sound rumbled through Moria. "A Balrog…a demon from the ancient world," Gandalf said quietly. "This foe is beyond any of you! Run! Quickly!" They ran for all they were worth. Sam risked a quick glance back and saw a huge flame beast lumbering towards them. They reached the top of a dizzying stairway and Legolas grabbed Boromir as the man nearly ran over the edge without realizing it.
Sam held onto Aragorn, her abdomen burning in pain in spite of the herbs. "I'll be fine," she whispered.
"Lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near," Gandalf said. Aragorn looked uncertain. "Do as I say! Swords are of no more use here." He nodded and led them down a stairway towards the bridge. Legolas easily leapt over the gap. Gandalf followed and the Elf steadied him. Sam jumped next, grunting in pain as she landed. She turned and helped catch Samwise, Merry, and Pippin as Aragorn and Boromir threw them across. The Gondor man jumped next and went down to the three Hobbits.
Aragorn reached out to pick up Gimli but the Dwarf stopped him. "Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" He jumped the gap and landed on the edge of the stair and began wind milling his arms as he began falling back. Legolas grabbed onto the Dwarf's beard and pulled him back. The stairs began breaking apart, increasing the distance Aragorn and Frodo had to jump. The two teetered on the section of stair as it broke from the base. They leaned forward and jumped to the others before the stone steps crumbled.
"It's coming!" Sam shouted, pointing at the Balrog.
"To the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf shouted.
They ran over the slender stone bridge Merry, Pippin, and Gimli ran up the steps towards the exit. Sam glanced back and saw Gandalf standing in the middle of the bridge, his staff in one hand and the sword in the other. "Gandalf!" she cried, causing the others to stop and turn.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf yelled as the Balrog loomed closer.
"Gandalf!" Frodo yelled.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!" The rest of the Fellowship watched as the Balrog drew itself to its full height, fiery wings spreading out on its back. "Go back to the shadow!" the wizard shouted. The Balrog swung its fiery sword and the wizard blocked it. The Balrog's sword shattered. "You shall not pass!" Gandalf shouted. Aragorn and Sam started to run forward as the Balrog placed a foot on the bridge. With a fierce yell Gandalf slammed his staff into the stone bridge, causing the stone to crumble under the Balrog. It hung in the air for a moment before plunging into the abyss below.
Relief spread over everyone's faces as Gandalf slowly turned and smiled in reassurance to them. He started to walk towards them when the Balrog's whip wrapped around his ankle and pulled him down. The wizard grabbed the broken edge of the bridge and hung on.
"Gandalf!" Frodo screamed, Boromir pulling the Hobbit away.
Sam started to run to Gandalf when Legolas grabbed her and yanked her away. "I can get to him!" she yelled. He ignored her yells and picked her up in his arms.
Gandalf looked at them, a resolved look appearing on his weathered face. "Fly you fools!" Gandalf ordered and let go of the edge.
Frodo screamed as Boromir pulled him away towards the exit, Gimli urging the other three Hobbits out. Aragorn ducked as several arrows flew by him. He turned and ran after the others out of the cavern. They emerged in bright daylight, the sun blaring down at them. The Hobbits fell to the ground and sat in stunned silence.
Legolas carried Sam as she sobbed against his chest. Why does everyone I care for leave me or die? Sam sobbed silently. Why didn't Legolas let me save him? I could have, I know it!
"Legolas, Gimli, get them up," Aragorn ordered.
"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir said in a thick voice.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. On your feet Samwise."
Legolas eased Sam down to her feet and they got the Hobbits up. They made their way down the hill and headed towards a forest in the distance.
Poor Gandalf...oh well. Was it satisfactory? I hope so. I liked it.