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Chapter 4
And so the Fellowship journeyed steadily on through the mines. Day and night meant nothing while they were underground. To Aica they were nothing spectacular and she felt uneasy as they travelled. As they travelled along a narrow ledge Gandalf ran his hand along the wall. 'The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but mithril.' He shone his staff down into the mine, illuminating it. The entire Fellowship looked down in awe. 'Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave him.' Gandalf continued.
'Oh, that was a kingly gift.' Gimli replied.
'Yes, I never told him, but it's worth was greater than the value of the Shire.' Gandalf led them on and back into the tunnels.
Fortunately the first three days of travelling were uneventful, the hopes of the Fellowship raised, so that most were no longer worried. On the fourth day they reached an intersection with three possible routes. 'I have no memory of this place.' Gandalf muttered.
The Fellowship settled themselves down to wait. Boromir and Aragorn lit a fire and they, Gimli and the Hobbits lit their pipes. Legolas settled himself against a rock while Aica sat on the path, her back against the wall, playing with one of her knives. She was tuned out of the conversations around her, she just wanted to think. She was so different from the assassin who had arrived in Rivendell all those weeks ago. She now realised that her life before had been extremely lonely. She'd never had anyone for company save for Halroch; all she had known was her role as Sauron's assassin. Now she felt that she respected most of the members of the Fellowship, even if they had yet to gain her trust. She would never leave one of them to die if she could help it. She never wanted to go back to what she was before. When this quest was over she would find some place where she could be accepted.
'Oh.' Gandalf's voice interrupted her thoughts. 'It's that way.' He indicated the left hand path.
'He's remembered.' Merry jumped to his feet, as the rest of the Fellowship rose gently to their feet.
'No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose.' Gandalf replied as he began to lead the Fellowship down the passage.
'In the case of those Hobbits, it will always lead them to food.' Aica muttered, more to herself than to anyone else, but Legolas caught the remark and smiled.
They continued down the passage until it opened up into a huge hall-like cavern. 'Let me risk a little more light.' He held up his staff, revealing the full extent of the cavern. 'Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf.'
'Now there's an eye opener, and no mistake.' Sam said, as the Fellowship took in the hall.
Slowly they made their way down the great hall, columns rising far above them. Presently they came across an open doorway, with skeletons littered about the entrance. Gimli gave a gasp and ran into the room. 'Gimli!' Gandalf called after him.
The dwarf ignored him and ran into the chamber, before falling to his knees in front of the tomb and sobbing. The rest of the Fellowship followed quietly behind him. Gandalf stepped past him and read the inscription on the stone. '"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." He is dead, then. It's as I feared.' Boromir placed a hand on the grieving dwarf's shoulder.
Gandalf handed his hat and staff to Pippin, before bending down and taking an old book from the arms of a skeleton.
'We must move on, we cannot linger.' Legolas said to Aragorn and Aica who were stood either side of him.
'There is an evil here that knows friend nor foe.' Aica added. 'It makes me uneasy.'
Gandalf began to read from the book. 'They have taken the bridge, and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming.' He looked up.
'Pippin, no!' Aica saw Pippin reach out his hand to touch the skeleton, but it was too late.
The skeleton tumbled down the well with a loud clang. The Fellowship froze as the echo died away. When no noise was heard after a moment, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Gandalf slammed the book shut. 'Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!' He snatched his hat and staff back from Pippin, who looked very shameful.
That was when they heard the drums. Drums Aica was very familiar with. All turned to look at the well, as the drumming got louder. 'Mister Frodo!' Sam gasped, looking at Frodo's scabbard. Frodo pulled his sword out, the body glowing blue.
'Orcs.' Legolas snapped as the clamouring of the creatures reached their ears.
Boromir ran to the doorway, nearly getting shot in the head. 'Get back, and stay close to Gandalf!' Aragorn ordered the Hobbits. He dropped his torch and ran to help Boromir close the door, as Legolas gathered axes to help hold the doors shut.
'They have a cave troll.' Boromir informed them in a sarcastic voice.
'Wonderful.' Aica muttered, equally sarcastic.
Once the doors were barred Aragorn and Boromir joined Aica and Legolas, as Gimli climbed atop his cousin's tomb. Aragorn and Legolas drew their bows, Boromir drew his sword and Aica drew her long knives, getting into a fighting stance. 'Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!' Gimli growled.
The orcs began to hammer on the doors, intent on breaking them down. As holes began to appear in the wood, Aragorn and Legolas released arrows. Aica twirled her knives in her hands, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Finally the doors broke down and the orcs swarmed into the small room. Aica spun into the battle, her knives cutting through all in her path. Before long her knives and fingers were stained with black orc blood. She danced around cutting down creatures that had once been the only kind of allies she'd ever had, now she fought them for the sake of all Middle Earth.
Aica stabbed an orc behind her, just as a cave troll smashed it's way into the room. She pulled out one of her short knives from the strap across her body, and threw into the think hide of the troll, to no effect. She dodged the sword of another orc, slicing it's head off, before re-joining the battle. As she fought she lost track of time, until she saw Legolas jump down from the troll. She raised her eyebrows at him, before throwing a knife into an orc behind him. 'Thanks.' He said, as darted past him, to watch his back.
The two elves re-joined the fray, Aica wielding her knives and Legolas with his bow and one long knife. Aica ducked the weapon of an orc, and kicked it away, before driving her knife into its neck. She looked around just in time to see Frodo get stabbed by the troll. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Frodo gasped and crumpled to the floor. Merry and Pippin broke the spell, by jumping onto the troll's back, stabbing at it with their swords. The rest of the Fellowship flung themselves back into the fight, finishing of the remaining orcs.
The troll wrenched Merry off it's back, dangling him upside down in the air. Aica aimed carefully, throwing one of her knives at the troll's hand, causing it to drop Merry. Gandalf and Gimli began to hack at the troll. It threw its head back and Legolas shot an arrow into its neck, finally killing it. The troll stumbled about for a moment, before falling to the floor, throwing Pippin of its back.
Immediately everyone hurried to Frodo's side. Aragorn was the first to reach his side. 'Oh, no.' He whispered, rolling the small Hobbit over.
To everyone's surprise Frodo took a gasping breath and sat up. Sam ran to his side. 'He's alive.' He sighed in relief.
'I'm alright. I'm not hurt.' Frodo reassured them breathlessly.
'You should be dead.' Aragorn gasped. 'That spear would've skewered a wild boar.'
Gandalf smiled slightly. 'I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye.' Frodo undid the top buttons of his shirt to reveal a mithril shirt.
'Mithril.' Gimli gasped. 'You are full of surprises Master Baggins.'
They all looked around at the sound of more orc cries. 'To the bridge of Khazad-Dûm.' Gandalf ordered.
The Fellowship fled from the chamber through a back entrance, a host of orcs pursuing them. Other orcs emerged from the ceiling, climbing down the pillars. As they ran the Fellowship drew their weapons. Before they reached the end of the hall they were surrounded. The Fellowship gathered together back-to-back. Gimli let out a roar. Suddenly a fire-like light appeared at the end of hall that the Fellowship had just come from, followed by a thunderous growl. The orcs squealed in panic, before fleeing. Gimli laughed as another growl rumbled through the hall, causing the Fellowship to turn to face the light.
'What is this new devilry?' Boromir asked.
Gandalf paused before answering. 'A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!'
At Gandalf's word the Fellowship took off down the hall, away from the Balrog. At the end of the hall they darted into a passageway, Boromir and Legolas in the lead.
Boromir started to run down a set of stairs, before realising that they ended abruptly. Legolas looped an arm around the man's torso, pulling him back, saving him from tumbling to his death. The Fellowship quickly turned to head down another staircase, Gandalf and Aragorn brought up the rear of the group. Gandalf paused in the doorway. 'Gandalf.'
'Lead them on Aragorn, the bridge is near.' Gandalf ordered, but Aragorn resisted. Gandalf pushed him back. 'Do as I say! Swords are no more use here!'
The Fellowship hurried down the stone stairs, suddenly encountering a gap in the stairs. Legolas was first to jump across the gap. 'Gandalf.' He waved the wizard across. The roof began to collapse as another growl was heard.
Gandalf leapt across the gap as orcs began to fire arrows down upon the group. Legolas, Aragorn and Aica drew their own bows and returned fire. 'Merry! Pippin!' Boromir grabbed the two Hobbits and leapt, just as the part of the stairs they were standing on collapsed.
Aica was the next to jump over the gap, grabbing Sam and taking him with her. Aragorn turned to throw Gimli, but the dwarf stopped him. 'Nobody tosses a dwarf!' Gimli leapt, but fell short; Legolas reached out and grabbed his beard. 'Not the beard!' There was a struggle for a moment, before Legolas pulled Gimli up.
More of the steps broke off, forcing Aragorn and Frodo to retreat further up the stairs. The Balrog's fire appeared behind them.
The stairs Aragorn and Frodo were on began to wobble. 'Lean forward.' Aragorn told Frodo.
'Come on!' Legolas called. The two leant forward and the stairs shifted that way. Aragorn and Frodo fell into their companion's arms, before they continued to flee down the stairs.
They ran into another hall, surrounded by fire. 'Over the bridge! Fly!' Gandalf ordered. The Fellowship paused as Gandalf turned to face the Balrog. They continued to run when Gandalf turned to follow them. Boromir was the first over the bridge, closely followed by the rest of the Fellowship. Halfway over the bridge Gandalf, who was bringing up the rear, stopped to face the Balrog. 'You cannot pass!'
'Gandalf!' Frodo yelled in shock.
The Balrog roared at Gandalf, before drawing a fiery sword, Gandalf formed a shining bubble around himself. 'I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!' The Balrog struck at Gandalf, but it's sword shattered. 'Go back to the shadow!' The Balrog now lashed a whip through the air. 'You shall not pass!' Gandalf drove his staff into the bridge, with a great cracking sound.
The Balrog stepped forward and the bridge collapsed under it. The Balrog tumbled into the great chasm below. Gandalf turned slowly, ready to follow the Fellowship. Suddenly the Balrog's whip wrapped around Gandalf's ankle and pulled him backwards. He grabbed onto the edge. 'No! No!' Boromir lunged to grab Frodo.
'Gandalf!' Frodo yelled.
Gandalf locked eyes with each of them in turn. 'Fly, you fools!' He said, before losing his gripping and tumbling into the darkness.
'No!' Frodo yelled, struggling against Boromir's grip.
One-by-one the Fellowship fled the mine, Boromir shouting at Aragorn to follow them.
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