A/N: And another chapter! Thank you all for the follows and reviews! I love reading them and it definitely motivates me to keep writing! Also, I'm going to be starting to shift Boromir's attitude due to the ring, but I'm doing my best to do him justice! Questions, comments, concerns? Review it and I will do very best to address it and reply
Kate groped blindly for the stair in front of her, swearing quietly as her eyes struggled to adjust to the expansive dark in front of her. Gandalf's staff had been lighting the way for them, giving most everyone a small scope of vision to climb up the darkness, but anything outside of the wizard's light was lost. The group had to hurry on to keep inside the field of light, often stumbling and swearing to themselves as they traveled along giving Kate the impression that they could not possibly have been shocked by her swear words as she was led to believe.
To say this was not what she had expected would have been an understatement. To go from the promise of "roaring fires" to a suffocating dark and damp cavern was more than a little jarring for a woman who considered a Motel 6 camping. But they simply carried on, silently through the cave, communicating only when necessary, sometimes using hand signals to communicate a break in the path, or which direction they were going. More than once a cry or unusual scuffling could be heard echoing through the caverns and in those moments Gandalf would douse the light on his staff, plunging them into darkness until the wizard felt it was safe to move on. Kate learned very quickly, after the first time, when this happened to grab on to whoever was next to you. She did not do this at first and quickly became disoriented by the sensory deprivation, so much so that she didn't notice the fellowship shuffling away in the darkness and it was several minutes before Legolas, with his keen eyes, came back to help lead her back. Kate was beginning to feel like Legolas would always be there to help her.
Even now, here he was again, helping her up the stairs, always there to help her if she needed it. She smiled in thanks as he reached to grab her hand and help pull her up and blushed as that smile was returned before he went back to helping the hobbits. Get it together Mackenzie. She chided herself against the warm feeling she got from seeing his smile. Even the possibility of feelings other than strictly professional was out of the question, but that wouldn't stop her from staying close to him for the rest of the journey. It wasn't so much that she was being flirtatious, Kate reasoned, but that the elf simply reminded her of …well, she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was a familiar feeling. His warmth and comforting atmosphere was a much-needed respite from her actual surrounding and she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. The others did too, she noticed. The hobbits, who normally were too exuberant for the aloof elf, could consistently be seen next to him, eagerly accepting his help.
By the fourth day they felt more comfortable talking, and it had been 2 days since anything out of the ordinary was heard and evidently that seemed to satisfy the old wizard who, from that moment on allowed them all a little light and a lot more conversation. Kate now walked easily among the cavernous path, and wondered at the silvery vines that entwined themselves in the rock wall.
"Pretty." She remarked to herself, lightly running her fingers along one silver vein.
"Yes. The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but Mithril." Gandalf replied and casually tipped his staff over the edge. The fellowship peered over, jaws dropping when the saw the entire mine shaft below illuminated, millions and millions of mithril veins reflecting the light from his staff. Kate and Sam both gave a low whistled and simultaneously stepped back to the wall. She cracked a smile at the hobbit, who shrugged in return. Evidently, he didn't like heights either. "Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave him." He remarked casually, making Gimli gasp in surprise.
"Oh! That was a kingly gift!" Gimli exclaimed, the first full sentence he spoke since that first day.
"Yes! I never told him, but it's worth was greater than the value of the whole shire!" He said. Frodo stopped abruptly, sending Kate to bump into him. The hobbit muttered an apology and kept walking.
The walked on for several hours more before reaching a wide junction with three doorways, each leading different direction. They all stood there for a moment longer than anticipated, looking to the wizard for direction.
"I have no memory of this place."
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The screams unnerved her. Kate was grasping blindly, wanting to reach her destinations but struggling to do so! There was a dim light in the distance, her goal, and yet every time she grasped at it something pulled her…yanking her down to be lost with them forever. Her skin burned at their touch and filled her with despair making her want to retch. Just when she thought all was lost they disappeared, but there was no time to feel hopeful before confronted with an image of a burning eye. No! She thought! She didn't want to see that again! Not again. She struggled violently trying to break free, to shake off the anger and malice that was threatening to choke the life out of her. Instantly she was assaulted with images, painful images of her aunt dying, choking out her last words, images of the fellowship, dying one by one, images of her world being attacked, starting with New York, a whole ripped through the sky. A king with striking blue eyes and silver hair standing outside a dungeon. Images of war, thousands of what looked like orcs amassed outside a castle… and worse than all of these horrifying images was the feeling of fear and utter hopelessness. The feeling that they would lose, the would be found and killed and this entire world would die. "Please stop" she sobbed, struggling to break free of this, if she could just get out! But the voice screamed louder and louder." It will only get worse." It whispered, sickeningly sweet, but grating like nails on a chalkboard…a sound so uncharacteristic of this terrifying eye. "Come to me…you will help me…and I will help you get what you need to go home. If you come to me this will all be over…if not…there will be no realm, no world, no crevice hidden in time where we will not find you." Kate jerked violently as the searing pain shot through her temple, burning hot through her body. Heaving, and convulsing she tried to make the pain stop, but she couldn't. She could do nothing but beg and cry like a child. A hand clamped over her mouth to silence her and she struggled more. This is not how it would end!
"Kate!" Legolas called, shaking her to wake her from the nightmare.
"She needs to be silent!" Boromir urged, putting a hand over her mouth as gently as he could in an effort to quiet her. Her eyes opened, widening in fear and then relaxed upon recognition. Boromir yanked his hand with a start. "You really bit me? Not a lady at all but a viper!" He teased, ignoring the disapproving glance from Legolas.
"Did I not tell you that would alarm the woman?" The elf retorted, rolling his eyes.
"It was the only way to silence her!" Boromir argued, still cradling his hand. "I cannot believe that you bit me."
"Of course, I did!" She whispered. "But I am sorry for it, I didn't realize it was you. What the hell were you even doing?"
"I'm sorry, Kate, you were having a nightmare and you were becoming loud. You know you have to be quiet. Are you alright, truly?" Boromir replied. Kate let out a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair in exhaustion. She remembered where she was now and she was mortified that she had caused such a fuss over a bad dream. Heat rose to her cheeks as she mumbled out an apology.
"Yea…yes, I'm fine. No one heard, right? We're not in trouble or anything, are we?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. She realized she must have fallen asleep while they were waiting for Gandalf to decide what way to go.
"Yes, we are being attacked right now. Run for your life, Kate." Boromir wryly retorted. "No, all is well, but who's to say had I not waken you! If we were under siege you would be dead. Was it such a terrible nightmare that you resorted to screaming like a child?" The man teased.
"Yes, I dreamt I was marrying you." She shot back, stretching out her sore limbs. Boromir barked out a laugh.
"My lady, you would be so fortunate to have me. Fear not, my father would never allow it. I need a lady of noble breeding, well behaved, even tempered and refined. None of those attributes you possess."
"You're an ass." Kate replied, but couldn't help laughing at the man. Emboldened by her rebuke he continued teasing her, dodging a swat.
"Don't worry, you're insults will be ignored, for I know you speak from a broken heart! I am sorry but our secret love simply cannot go on. This must end, it cannot be! I must marry a woman befitting my station. Though I would be willing to meet with you in secret." Boromir waggled his eyebrows suggestively while Kate laughed and tossed a rock in his direction, rolling her eyes at his antics.
"You are correct, considering that her station would be higher than yours." Legolas stated coolly. Kate dropped the pebble.
"I beg your pardon, elf?" Boromir asked, jaws clenched.
"What he said." Kate reiterated, blinking at Legolas dumbly. The fellowship stared now and Kate couldn't ignore Boromir's jaw tightening. Aragorn rubbed his neck, letting out a sigh.
"Boromir is the son of the steward of Gondor. You are the niece of the true King to the throne. It would be Boromir who would be lucky to have you. The only one who's station is above yours here, Lady Kate, would be kings, or sons of kings. Do not allow anyone to debase you, even in jest." Legolas explained to her, his voice too leveled compared to what he was saying. Kate cleared her throat awkwardly. She had not thought of that before, and didn't really want to since she didn't feel it was really applicable to her. Truthfully, she had forgotten that Aragorn was supposed to be a king at all, evidently Legolas did not. Kate grappled for something to say to diffuse this increasingly awkward situation. She looked at Boromir who was now seething with anger, nostrils flaring. Something had snapped…how had that happened so quickly?
"Gondor is my city." Boromir rasped through clenched teeth.
"For now." Legolas replied evenly. "You have forgotten your place, my lord."
"My pl- my place?" Boromir sputtered, physical shaking as he struggled to keep his voice low. "My place is in Gondor, at the doorstep of Mordor while your people stay safe and comfortable because of me and my place! If you would have listened to me and taken the path to Rohan, if you had entrusted the ring to me I could be at my place now! With my father who dutifully stewards a city that has been orphaned by its 'true king'!"
"Hey, hey there are no places here! No rankings for anyone! Except Frodo…because that's what our purpose here is right? To protect Frodo?" Kate countered, this was ridiculous! How had they gone from laughing and joking to this? Why would Legolas say such a thing? Boromir bit back a response and stormed passed them, ignoring Kate's protests. Now would be a good time for you to be overprotective Aragorn she thought dejectedly. "What the hell!" Kate hissed, spinning on Legolas. "Why would you say that? What in either world would possess you to say that?!"
"He is too familiar with you. I believe he has ulterior motives." He curtly replied.
"Too familiar? What are you talking about?! We're friends! He has no other intention than being friends! We were just joking Legolas, there was no ulterior motives! You… you made it seem like I'm better than him, which is not what I think! I don't want to 'out station' anyone. In my world, everyone is equal!" Legolas stood up, lightly grabbing her elbow to have her follow him to a more secluded area.
"Kate…you do not hear the things he whispers to himself when he believes he cannot be heard. He is not the same man you believe is your friend! You do not feel what the ring is doing to his mind, there are things at work that you could not possibly understand. He is a torn man, a broken man now. The ring has twisted his anger and disdain and would use that for it's own gain. We are not in your world anymore." The elf admonished. Kate's angered surged in response to his reproach.
"I am more than aware of where I am, but can we not have the same civility here? I just really cannot understand why you said that, why does it matter what station I am, or her is or you are for that matter. I understand you think that there is something wrong with him, it happened to me too but you're wrong. Why does it even matter?"
"It matters because! -" Legolas yelled and then paused to take a breath. He had left his mask slip, that elf mask that carefully concealed all of his emotions, just for a moment he let it slip and before she could even register it, it was back carefully smoothing any trace of emotion. He left out a sigh, and placed his hands lightly on her face. "It matters because he spoke to you as if you were nothing more than a barmaid that pined for him. It matters because he should not have forgotten who you are…despite your less than controlled behavior, he should not have forgotten that." Kate opened her mouth to protested to Legolas shook his head. "It matters because I will not allow any harm to come to you. I am warning you, Kate, please. I know you believe he is a good man, and he was once. I believe at times he still can be a good man, and after the ring is destroyed he will be again…but something his splitting in his mind. A sleepless malice grows in his thoughts and there are times when he has allowed those thoughts to take over. I know you don't see it because you care for him, but I am warning you…do not allow yourself to become too familiar. I feel in my heart that things will not end well for Boromir, son of Denethor if his mind continues to war with itself." Kate was breathing heavily, attempting to calm herself. She wanted to punch him. What happens if you punch an elf? She thought baselessly, she wouldn't punch him, obviously…she couldn't reach his face to punch anyway. She'd be lying if she hadn't seen what Legolas was talking about. One moment Boromir would be his happy self and the next moment, something would anger him or he'd catch sight of the ring and he would lose it. Everyone knew, it had been like that since the first day he held the ring on the mountain, when everyone had wondered if he would give it back. They all knew, Aragorn had even said something along these lines to her before but Kate simply could not accept that it was the ring that had caused this schism between the man she believed she knew and the man that Boromir was becoming.
"No. I'm sorry I don't believe that. I refuse to accept that, there has to be some organic cause for it." She refuted, stubbornly. Legolas sighed, knowing that would be her response, and gently rubbed her thumb across her cheeks, hands still holding her face. She had an answer for everything. "Even if all you say is true and he really is becoming Jekyll and Hyde, there was still a better way to go about that! You said that to goad him Legolas, and you used me to do it. That's not like you! Why?" Legolas raised an eyebrow, his only display of the exasperation he was feeling and dropped his hands. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Gandalf.
"Oh! It's that way!" The wizard replied cheerily.
"He's remembered!" Merry exclaimed.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!" Sage advice Kate thought dryly.
"We are not done with this!" Kate said, finger pointed at the elf, who returned her admonition with an amused expression. He had not been scolded like that in thousands of years, it would have been refreshing if it wasn't also irritating. "I'm not joking, we will come back to this. And you will apologize to Boromir." Legolas couldn't help but let a small laugh bubble out as he gave a mocking bow.
"Yes, my lady." Kate rolled her eyes and watched the elf saunter past, followed by the rest of the fellowship. Her eyes rested on Boromir, face contorted with pent up rage. Yes, something must be done about this. She loved this merry band despite their oddities, she realized suddenly. How could she not? They were so far, the closest thing to family she had ever really known, if anything were to happen to them…She shook her head, ridding herself of the nonsensical thought. These were all highly skilled warriors, save herself and the hobbits, it would take a formidable force to take these people down. As she followed through the caverns dutifully she mentally went through a list of possible reasons for Boromir growing…disturbances. I should probably get a complete family history, who knows what kind of illness he's a risk for. Lead poisoning? Is that a thing? I wonder if any of the herbs I packed deal with calming the mind, I had to have packed some lavender! She mused to herself, pleased that the effects of lavender and the plant itself existed in both worlds. On they walked, and with the added bonus of additional light, Kate was able to marvel at the architecture around them. Happily noting that Legolas and Boromir were talking amicably she listened to Gimli's stories about the images carved in the wall, the ornate hallways and what each room was used for, enthralled. It seemed to help the dwarf to talk about it and Kate was more than happy to oblige him and listen. It was simply amazing to her that such enormous caverns were made by such stout creatures, though she would never repeat that out loud.
"Let me risk a little more light" Gandalf whispered and Kate gasped in surprise, gripping Gimli's hand comfortingly. "Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrodelf."
"Well there's an eye opener and no mistake." Sam commented and Kate nodded in agreement. They all walked much slower, taking in the magnificent hall before them. It was unlike anything Kate had ever seen, and likely something she would ever see again. They walked and admired the sight for quite some time before Kate heard Gimli gasp beside her and take off toward a small room.
"Gimli!" Gandalf called uselessly. They had no choice but to follow the dwarf, hearing his mournful cries before she saw him. When she entered the room, she bit back a gasp at the scenes. Bodies upon bodies of Dwarves rested there, in various states. A small stream of light hallowed the area where Gimli kneeled in front of what appeared to be a coffin.
"No, no!" He mourned and a lump began forming in her throat as she looked around wordlessly. How many of his people had died here? What happened?
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf read the description engraved on the tom and removed his hat soberly. "He is dead then. It is as I feared." The wizard moved to a skeleton that held a book, and lifted it gingerly, blowing some of the dust of before opening to read it. Dust covered everything though, nothing had moved in this place for a long time, Kate thought, shivering. She heard Legolas whisper to Aragorn about not staying here before Gandalf began reading from the dust covered book. "They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes." He read and the hair on the back of Kate's neck began to rise. Fear started to churn in her stomach, irrationally she knew, but she could not shake the panic rising in her, warning her to leave. "Drums. Drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming." The wizard read and then suddenly a loud clash could be heard, causing Kate to yelp in fear. She whipped around and watched in horror as Pippin guilty stood by the well as the skeleton began to fall, torturously slow. A bucket, a chain, then the entire skeleton hitting everything it possible could, the sound amplified and echoing in the quiet of the mines. Pippin winced at every sound, seeming to shrink in size from shame. They wanted a moment longer, each one holding their breaths in horror before feeling it was safe enough to exhale. Evidently the passage Gandalf read had more than a few of them on edge.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf roared, slamming the book shut and snatching back his hat and staff. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Kate moved toward the ostracized hobbit when her ear picked up a slow beating. Everyone stiffened. The wind. Kate reasoned, trying to keep her panic at bay. And then other, undeniably the beating of drums getting louder and louder, faster now, excited shrieking joining the percussion.
"Frodo!" Sam exclaimed, and the ring bearer unsheathed his sword, which was glowing an eerie blue. Louder still the drumming grew, the cackling shrieks grew in number, echoing through the caverns.
"Orcs!" Legolas spit and Boromir ran to the doors, peering out and narrowly missing two arrows as the whizzed by his head and sunk into the door. How many were there?! Kate was panicking now at the thought of facing anymore of those creatures that she had faced in the woods, looking to Aragorn for direction. What would they do? We cannot get out. They are coming. The words played through her throats and sending a chill up her spine.
"Get back. Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn ordered to the Hobbits and gave a confident nod to Kate. "Stay back. Do not allowed yourself to be backed into a corner. Do not show fear and do not hesitate to strike! Do you understand? Do not hesitate because they will not!" Kate nodded in response, shaking her head to steady herself. Do what you need to do Kate. Focus. She told herself. She had a task, protect Frodo! It was hardly possible for her to vomit from fear when she knew Frodo was probably just as scared if not more. Kate relaxed slightly when she realized the task ahead of her.
"They have a cave troll." Boromir reported dryly.
Slightly.
Legolas began tossing axes to Boromir so he and Aragorn could bar the door and the fellowship was on high alert now! Gandalf drew his sword with a grunt and the rest of the hobbits followed suit. Kate drew her sword as well, knuckles white as her hand gripped the sword.
"Agh! Let them come!" Gimli yelled as the orcs began banging on the door. "There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"
"No, I'm sorry the answer we were looking for is 'No one is home, go somewhere else.'" Kate quipped, more to herself really. She was visibly shaking despite her best intentions to remain calm. It was the anticipation that was the worst of it! The fear of knowing these things were coming but not knowing how many or with what. Would they all get out? Or would their fates be the same as the rest of the dwarves in Moria.
No. Kate thought stubbornly. I am not dying here! WE are not dying here!
The orcs had managed to puncture a whole through the door and Legolas let loose an arrow, another whole and Aragorn shot one. This did nothing to deter whatever was out there, as they slammed and beat and screamed on the other. Finally, the broke through and the door came splintering open letting a tidal wave of orcs through. Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas were the group's first line of defense but after only a few seconds even they couldn't handle the onslaught themselves and with a battle cry Gandalf ran forward, sword raised followed by the brave hobbits and one fool hardy Kate. Before she even had time to think an orc had made eye contact with her, smiling maliciously as it set its sights on her, thinking that she would be easy prey. Adrenaline coursed through her and she ran to meet it head on, just barely matching it strike for strike. These things fought differently than Boromir and Aragorn had taught her, less mannered moments of a skilled warrior and more chaotic slashes. Narrowly missing a slash to the stomach and used the opportunity to swing her sword up and over, slashing through its neck. The reverberation of the sword meeting bone sent a unnerving wave to her elbow, almost making her drop her sword. The creature dropped and Kate stabbed it through the stomach, remembering Boromir's advice about making sure your opponent is truly dead before turning your back on it. 1 down, 100 more to go! She mused, brining her sword up to face her new attacker. Hack, parry, slash, stab, Kate had lost herself in the ministrations of the battle, focusing on the task at hand. It was almost methodical in its approach, a bit like surgery, but Kate knew from past surgical experience that the second you stopped remembering the graveness of the situation was the second the situation would remind you.
Kate did a quick assessment of the room, checking on the status of the rest of the fellowship. They all seemed to be alright, she noted, breathing out a little in relief.
"Get down!" Aragorn yelled and Kate ducked, spinning around driving her sword up through an orc just barely missing getting hit.
"Thanks!" She called back, voice a little shaky and Aragorn gave a nod. At that moment, a massive grey horrifying creature bust through the doors. "That must be the cave troll." She mused as it smashed its way through the room. Legolas shot an arrow at him, and the cave troll screamed, moving forward and flinging itself around the room, Kate didn't have time to watch the troll as a new wave of orc ran in, taking advantage of the troll's distraction. Kate swore loudly as she blocked a blade, the force of her swing knocking it out of it out of the goblins hand and she swung again for the kill swing before watching Boromir fly through the air. The man bounced off the top of the wall like a rag doll, becoming easy pray for a nearby orc. "Boromir!" She yelled, getting Aragorn's attention who threw his sword through the air at the orc. Good. God, he's cool! She thought in amazement. Ok, hobbits. Find hobbits!
Kate slashed and cut her way over to Sam, who was successfully beating back orcs with a frying pan. She couldn't help but smile, but was quickly brought back to attention as a blade slice through her hip bone. She was instantly thankful for the thick elven leather, knowing the cut could have been much worse. Still it was enough to bleed, and more than enough to gather her attention. She swore, lunging toward the particularly grisly orc, blocking every blow. Kate wasn't sure if it was because she was tired or her lack of skill but she was having a lot more difficulty fighting this one that the others. Sweat poured down her face as she fought to keep control over the situation. She was vaguely aware of something happening with Frodo and the troll but she didn't dare look their way and could only pray they would be alright. Kate swung her sword angrily, abandoning any of the skill she had learned in favor of slashing out of sheer desperation. This orc was stronger than her and Kate knew she could not win if this kept up, she had not kill this thing! Out of fear she swung high, meaning to strike its throat but the instant she had done that she knew what a foolish mistake that was. Boromir taught her day one to never fight that way, it was a useless ploy for someone of her stature, especially considering the height this orc had on her, it also left her entire thoracic region open just begging for an attack. The orcs fist connected with her right rib, sending her to her knees, cases for breath. Oh, yup, that's a fractured rib for sure. She thought, wincing in pain. MOVE, NOW instinct screamed at her, urging her to move before it was too late. She lifted her head up, breathing shallowly and hoping she could move out of the way …and then the orc dropped suddenly, its jaw slackening as two arrows protruded from its head.
"Oh shit." She breathed, shocked and thankful that the dead body wasn't hers. She looked around, hoping to thank him but Legolas had already moved on to finish off the troll. Pippin hung on for dear life as Legolas shot arrow after arrow at the troll, bringing it down with a triumphant thud and sending Pippin flipping off. It was then that Kate realized that the room was cleared and the entire fellowship was moving to huddle around the unmoving body of Frodo. "Oh no, no way. Frodo!" She moved as fast as she could, shoving past the members of the fellowship and gingerly lowering herself to the ground to check for a pulse.
"Oh…no." Aragorn breathed, turning Frodo over. Suddenly the Hobbit gasped, breathing and wincing in pain.
"He's alive." Sam exhaled in relief.
"I'm all right, I'm not hurt." The hobbit coughed out and Kate shook her head in amazement.
"You should be dead." Aragorn whispered, echoing Kate's thoughts exactly. "That spear would have skewered a wild boar."
"I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf answered, his eyes twinkling and Frodo began unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt to reveal a seemingly delicate chain mail shirt of white silver.
"Mithril!" Gimli explained, awestruck. "You are full of surprises Master Baggins!" Boromir shook his head, laughing with relief but the fellowship's short respite was over just as quickly as it began. More orcs were coming, their screeching and clanking alerting them to their presence long before the reinforcements were seen. Gandalf whipped his head up in alarm before issuing his verdict.
"To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!" He warned. Aragorn carefully helped Kate to her feet, taking note of her injuries with concern.
"I'm fine." She deflected, mentally preparing herself for another round of battle. "I can fight, adrenaline and all that. I've heard pain doesn't really register when you're hoped up on adrenaline." They lied, she thought sardonically, shifting her weight so she could better lift her sword.
"No. Now we run." Aragorn told her, traces of sympathy in his eyes. Kate nodded curtly, pursing her lips and following the rest of the fellowship who were running full tilt through the hallway. She picked up the pass, staying at Aragorn's heels, ignoring the blinding pain every time she tried to breath. It was still better than being dead she thought, as she stupidly turned her head over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of just how many orcs there really were down here.
"This way!" Gandalf shouted, lighting the way, though no one really needed any urging to continue following the wizard. Orcs poured out of the ceilings, climbing down the massive pillars, emerging from every dark space until they were completely and utterly surrounding. She backed up into Aragorn, every nerve in her body screaming at her to run as fast as she could but it was hopeless, how could they escape? Thousands of orcs encircled the fellowship, hissing and jeering at them, more than confident in their victory. Just as the moved to strike a low rumble could be heard in the distance, a deep and guttural roar that send waves of fear through her body. A light glowed, bouncing off the walls in the distant doorway, and she wasn't the only one who noticed. The orcs began screaming, squealing in fear, back into one another in an effort to escape and then suddenly they were gone. The entire hall emptied, like they hadn't just been close to annihilation seconds ago. Gimli whooped in delight, waving his axe in triumph, another threatening rumble echoing through the halls.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf, panic starting to rise. Whatever it was had started to move, the light it emanated, light fire had shifted, moving closer and closer to them. After a moment Gandalf answered solemnly.
"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world." Kate swallowed loudly, looking to the rest of the fellowship for any idea of the kind of threat this Balrog presented, but was only met with similar expressions of fear. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" He yelled, allowing whatever fear he felt to seep through his voice, and run they did, spurred on by their own imaginings of what horror this would be. Kate was even more terrified by the idea that Gandalf himself seemed scared. Kate ran, heart pounding and lungs burning. Would she die here today?
A/N: OK! Please don't hate me for ending here, but I understand if you do, haha. I just felt it was better to split this chapter up but I will update as soon as I can! Also, in this chapter, I have begun weaving in some themes that will tie in with a sequel, little Easter eggs. Have you found them? Review and let me know what you think!