Chapter 3 – The Mines of Moria

Disclaimer – I own nothing but my OC.

Rate and review as always!

"Quietly now." Gandalf cautioned as they began their trek through the expansive mines. "It is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence goes unnoticed…"

It didn't take long for them to make it to the main bulk of the mines and Glyndwr gasped as he saw them. He had seen the vast halls of Erebor but even those seemed to pale in comparison with how expansive they were. Fili and Kili were just as amazed as they gazed upon the work of the ancestors and how much they had delved into the earth.

"My god…" The Welshman said softly as they walked across one of many bridges.

"They dug deep…" Fili said and Gandalf nodded as he came upon silvery linings. "Could it be?..."

"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels…but Mithril."

"I remember Thorin telling me that Moria was responsible for most of our Mithril armour…" Kili said as they all looked in amazement at how far down the mines went.

"He'd also given Bilbo a shirt of Mithril rings…" Gandalf added.

"That was a kingly gift…" Gimli said with awe in his voice as they continued to move.

"Yes. I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of The Shire!" Gandalf added and all of them looked a bit amazed at that fact.

"Exactly how strong is Mithril?" Glyn asked.

"Had Bolg struck your chest if you were wearing armour made of it, it would never have broken." Fili said.

"The reason we Dwarves were so successful as a fighting force was because of Mithril armour as well as weapons." Gimli said to the Welshman. "And superior training of course, Master Elf."

"Of course. One of your own trained me." He smiled slightly at Fili.

"Was he good?" Kili said with a grin.

"He was a brilliant teacher." He said, earning a smile from the fair-haired prince as they made it to a set of very steep steps. "Oh well this is bloody brilliant…" He muttered.

"Remember…we set the bar pretty low last time. So long as we don't have to deal with any giants, it will be a brilliant climb." Kili said with a small smile. "Now…up you get, Elf."

"No rest for the wicked…"

The climb was long and arduous, but eventually the entire Fellowship made it to the top to see they were at a three door junction. Gandalf stopped and took a look at each of the three doors, looking a little bit puzzled to say the least.

"I have no memory of this place…" He said, before turning to the others. "Give me time to collect my thoughts…we rest here for a short while."

"Oh thank Eru…I thought you'd never say it…" Kili said, finding a rock and sitting.

"I second that sentiment." Glyn said, sitting nearby with Fili. "I told you that you had jinxed us Kili…"

"How was I to know that Saruman would find us?" Kili said, slightly offended and earning a chuckle from both his brother and the Elf.

"Well aside from nearly being buried by an avalanche by a mountain that is actually alive and a fight with a creature that would put my natural world to shame…" Glyn said before taking a breath. "…It's but a slightly long diversion…so long as we are heading in the right direction that is all that matters."

Soon, Frodo began to speak with Gandalf then, and try as they might, they were unable to ignore the conversation taking place, Glyn in particular what with his advanced hearing.

"Escaped or was set loose and now the Ring has drawn him here. He won't ever be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself. Smeagol's life is a sad story. Yes, he was once called, before the Ring found him. Before it drove him mad." Gandalf said.

"It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance."

"Bilbo's mercy is courageous…that creature cannot have reacted well to having the Ring taken from him…" Glyn said softly.

"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death and many that die, deserve life. Can you give it to them Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. 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 this is over. The pity of Bilbo, may rule the fate of many."

"If it tries to take the Ring or harm Frodo…" Kili began and Glyn nodded.

"We will do what must be done…"

"I wish the Ring have never come to me…" He said and Glyn sighed sadly. "I wish none of this had happened…"

"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 that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you also were meant to have it and that is an encouraging thought."

"He's much like me…" Glyn said softly. "Brought into something by fate…only whilst I was lucky to be able to have a good outcome, he has seen the worst of his own fate…"

"He has…" Fili took the Welshman's hands as Gandalf seemed to recognise something.

"Ahh! It's that way…" He gestured in the direction.

"He's remembered!" Merry stood up.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

At Gandalf's instruction, they all stood up and followed the Wizard into the doorway, emerging from a passageway into a great cavern with columns rising from the floor to the ceiling. Though they were weathered by time, there was no mistaken the obvious Dwarven architecture.

"Let me risk a little more light…" Gandalf said softly and the Dwarves of the group looked in awe at the sight before them, the others similarly dumbstruck. "Behold the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf…"

Ahead of them was one of the largest halls that Glyn had seen since he had arrived in Middle-Earth line with columns for as far as the eye could see. For the most part, they were all intact with some of them having collapsed. Whether it was due to damage just the passage of time, the Welshman could not tell, but it was a beautiful sight.

"There's an eye-opener and no mistake…" Sam said in amazement.

"The Elves may have the mastery of the forests…but the Dwarves have mastery over the stone…" Fili said to Glyn.

"It's incredible, Fili…your ancestors accomplished something my own people could only dream of…"

"What achievements did your people create?" Kili asked curiously.

"One day, I will draw some for you…"

The Fellowship continued to walk through the columns before Gimli spotted a room in front of them. He suddenly broke off, despite Gandalf urging him to stay with the group and the others joined him, finding it to be littered with more corpses. The Dwarf was knelt before the tomb in front of him and both Princes looked at it before kneeling themselves. Glyn noticed that although they were silent, they were likewise shedding tears.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria…" Gandalf said softly. "He is dead then…It is as I feared…"

"Balin…no…" Glyn put his hand on the tomb, a tear sliding down his cheek. Fili noticed one of the corpses leant against the tomb clutching a book and he took a look at it.

"This handwriting…Ori…" The fair-haired prince whispered in sadness, Kili kneeling beside him.

"They're gone…" The raven-haired Dwarf said as Glyn stood by them, hands on their shoulders.

"May I?" Gandalf asked softly and Fili handed over the book, some of the pages falling out.

"We must move on…we cannot linger…" Aragorn whispered in concern, constantly looking around as though expecting danger.

"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." Gandalf read from the book.

A loud clang startled the gathered members and they all turned towards Pippin who had disturbed a corpse by a well. The rest of the body fell, dragging down a bucket with it as it clanged and made the loudest of rackets. Glyn cringed whilst the others seemed to hold their breaths, waiting for any kind of response. Thankfully, they were met by a silence and they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Gandalf said as Fili and Kili stood by the tomb, hands on the top of it.

They were then startled by the sound of a drum. A single beat at first, it eventually became louder as well as faster. The Wizard turned to look in the direction of the well as it became more intense just as Fili looked at Glyn's sword.

"Frodo!" Sam said and the Hobbit drew his sword, which was glowing blue.

"Glyn…" Fili sounded concerned and he drew his own, finding it to be glowing blue as well.

"Orcs!" Legolas said when they heard the screeching.

Boromir went to the doors as Aragorn urged the Hobbits to get behind Gandalf. Two arrows nearly hit the Gondorian, imbedding in the door just as a very loud roar accompanied the shrieks. Aragorn helped Boromir to close the doors off.

"They have a Cave Troll!" Boromir said sarcastically before Legolas threw axes to them so that they could bar the door.

Glyn, Kili, Legolas and Aragorn stood in the centre of the group with Boromir and Fili on either side. All four in between the two warriors had their bows drawn with arrows ready to go whilst Gandalf and the Hobbits had their swords drawn. Gimli climbed up onto the tomb with his axes drawn, giving something of a war cry.

"Let them come! There are three Dwarves yet in Moria that still draw breath!"

"They'll feel pain for what they have done…" Kili said darkly as the doors were battered.

Eventually the Orcs began to force their weapons through the doors, leaving holes. The four archers of the group loosed an arrow each into the holes, scoring hits on their enemies. The howls of pain could be heard shortly before both doors gave in. Glyn shouldered the bow before drawing both of his swords and following the others into the fight with a shout.

Kili and Legolas picked them off one by one before they too were forced to engage in a melee with the small but numerous Orcs. Even the Hobbits joined in the fight, proving to be surprising able in combat with them.

The fight continued for a minute before it went a bit quiet and the sound of a roar broke through the din of clashing metal. Glyn managed to get some breathing space in time to see a colossal Troll burst through the doorway. Unlike the ones they'd encountered in the Ettenmoors, this one functioned on pure instinct.

"My god…" He said as Legolas fired an arrow, hitting it in the chest.

Angered, the Troll brought up its club and went to bring it down on Sam only for Sam to dodge by jumping between his legs. Although confused for only a moment, it quickly found Sam on the floor and went to bring its foot down on him but Aragorn and Boromir managed to pull it away.

Two Orcs lunged towards Glyn with their twisted blades. Dodging them with ease, he drove both of his swords through their backs, killing them instantly. Fili threw a knife at one that was about to hit him from the platform behind the Elf. Kili and his brother were fighting back to back effectively, killing Orc after Orc.

Gimli is forced to dive out of the way as the Troll destroys Balin's Tomb before swinging it at Glyn. Deftly moving out of the way, he slashed at the Troll's hand, his blade lightly cutting its thick skin but from the sound of the roar it gave, he managed to hurt it. Not even Orcs were safe from its rampage as they are caught by its wild swings.

The Welshman noticed that the Troll had now turned its attention to Merry, Pippin and Frodo. They were separated when the creature destroyed a section of the platform they were stood on and then it seemed to focus on Frodo alone. Immediately, he moved to assist but found his way blocked by a new wave of Orcs determined to kill him. For everyone he successfully seemed to put down, another two more seemed to take their place. It seemed that some other members of the Fellowship were having a similar problem. Fili and Kili were almost completely surrounded whilst the other members were occupied.

Aragorn fought his way, moving forward with every kill. Both the Ranger and Hobbit called to one another, before the former finally made it, driving a spear into the Troll's stomach. Angered and in pain, it struck Aragorn, sending him flying and knocking him unconscious.

Glyn managed to finally break away as did some of the others just in time to see the Troll corner the Hobbit. Using the spear Aragorn had used on it, it drove it into Frodo's stomach and those who could stopped in horror.

"No…" Glyn said softly.

"Frodo!"

Angered, they all renew the fight, making quick work of the Orcs as Frodo fell to the floor. Gimli and Gandalf began slashing at that Troll. Glyn soon arrived, stabbing at its sensitive belly whilst Fili threw a knife which stuck in the back of the Troll's knee. Kili and Legolas were stood with arrows ready as Pippin, who had been hanging on with his sword embedded in the creatures head managed to force it to look upwards. They loosed their arrows and they embedded in the roof of it's mouth.

It looked momentarily confused, bringing its hand to its mouth before beginning to stumble. It fell forward, the momentum causing Pippin to fall off of it and the tomb went eerily quiet before they all turned their attention to the fallen Hobbit.

Aragorn looked distraught as he turned the other before they heard him gasp and they all let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm alright…I'm not hurt…" He said.

"You should be dead…that spear would have skewered a wild boar…" Aragorn said in amazement.

"I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye…" Gandalf said as Frodo pulled back his shirt to reveal another shirt of white metal. Fili and Kili looked on in awe as did Gimli.

"Mithril…" He said before smiling slightly. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."

"Just like his uncle…" Kili smiled.

"Seems that Thorin is still protecting the Baggins clan." Glyn smiled just as a clamour could be heard outside.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!"

They wasted no time in running back through the doorway, following the glowing staff of Gandalf as hordes of Orcs began to follow them. Glyn noticed that they seemed to be crawling from the ceiling and up from cracks in the floor. It wasn't long before they were all surrounded and despite the odds being stacked against them, they all drew their weapons.

"It's not the first time we faced this situation…" Kili said as he aimed his bow.

"No…but it is the first time we've faced so many in one go." Glyn pointed out. "It'll be a bit of a fight to say the least."

"Always with the understatement…" Fili grumbled good-naturedly just before a deep growl could be heard echoing through the hallways.

Turning, they saw a warm orange glow slowly making its way towards them and the Orcs seemed to panic at the very sight of it. A low roar was let out and they finally panicked, leaving the Fellowship alone and climbing back up the columns. The creature let out another one as Boromir leant close to Gandalf.

"What is this new devilry?" There was a long pause as the creature growled again.

"A Balrog…a demon of the ancient world." The Wizard said. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"

Following Gandalf's lead, they wasted no time in continuing their flight from the cavern. Gandalf had fallen behind whilst Boromir nearly fell off the ledge of some broken steps before being pulled back from the ledge by Legolas. They all stopped to look down the ledge.

"This place is a maze…" Glyn muttered.

"Its ruined state is going to hinder us…" Fili muttered as well.

"Swords are no more use here!" Gandalf said loud enough for them to hear.

Turning to the right, the Fellowship slowly made their way down the many steps. Glyn looked up to see the Bridge in the distance and felt a sense of relief knowing that it was so close. Eventually, they all reached a large gap in the stairs and Legolas was the first to jump over before looking at them in expectation.

"Gandalf…" He beckoned.

They looked back with the Wizard when they heard the growls of the Balrog and the cracking of the ceiling as it seemed to get closer. Gandalf jumped over just as Glyn heard a whistling on the air and they were nearly hit by crude arrows.

"Archers in the alcoves…" He drew his bow with Legolas and both began to fire arrows at the Orcs.

"Fili! Kili!" Gandalf called and the Dwarf princes jumped across, the latter drawing his bow.

"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir called, grabbing a hold of them and jumping with them just as the stairs began to crumble, forcing Glyn further up.

"Sam!" Aragorn threw him over.

"Magnus!" Boromir called. "Jump over!"

Firing a final arrow into the archers, he jumped across, just barely making it and being pulled close by both of the Dwarven princes. By now Aragorn had joined in with firing arrows up at the archers above before turning to Gimli.

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" Gimli said, before jumping with a loud shout, almost falling before Legolas grabbed a hold of him. "Not the beard!"

The stairs collapsed even more, forcing both Aragorn and Frodo even further up. The archers had been dealt with now and the rest of the Fellowship looked up at their trapped members. That same low growl could be heard before the ceiling began to collapse. A large piece of rock suddenly fell through the stairs and the section they were trapped on began to wobble.

"Dear God…" Glyn muttered as it continued to wobble precariously.

"Lean forward!" Aragorn urged and they both did, forcing the section of stairs to move forward.

"Come on!"

The section of the stairs crashes into their own, Legolas catching Aragorn and Boromir catching their Ringbearer. As they continued down the many stairs, they heard the section behind them collapse into the chasm below before they reached a large chamber, which was burning. At Gandalf's urging, they made their way towards the very thin Bridge across vast chasm.

A loud roar was heard behind them and they all stopped to see a gigantic beast emerge from the fire with white hot eyes, a flaming back and shadow billowing from it. It roared at Gandalf, before it surged forward and they continued their flight. Very carefully, the Fellowship made their way across the Bridge but they were all horrified to see that Gandalf had stopped at the midway point to turn and face the Balrog.

"You cannot pass!" The Wizard said defiantly.

"Gandalf!" Frodo called in concern as the creature reared back, flames bursting forth from it to show its true size.

"I am the Servant of the Secret Fire. Wielder of the Flame of Anor!" Gandalf began to speak, his staff surrounding him in bright light. The Balrog had formed a sword of pure flame and brought it above his head. "The dark fire will not avail you Flame of Udûn!" He shouted as the Balrog brought it down, impacting against his protective spell and breaking it. "Go back to the shadow!" He practically snarled as it put a large foot forward before forming a large whip and cracking it. "You shall not pass!" He rose his sword and staff above his head and slammed it down on the bridge.

The creature backed off in shock for a moment before putting more weight on the Bridge. Gandalf's spell took effect and it collapsed, the Balrog falling deep into the chasm below. They all breathed a sigh of relief before they saw the fiery whip wrap around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him to the broken edge. Frodo moved to try and help him but was restrained by Boromir.

"No!"

"Gandalf!"

Fili, Kili and Glyn all looked on in disbelief as they watched Gandalf struggle for grip before he sank to the edge, looking up at them.

"Fly, you fools!"

With those words, he slipped from the ledge and fell into the chasm. Frodo's heart wrenching cry had broken the silence and they began to run from the chamber. Through his tears, Glyn saw Orcs making their way towards the edge of the broken bridge, bows drawn and eventually, he forced himself to move, followed closely by Fili and Kili.

Upon seeing the sunlight, they all collapsed into various areas to catch their breath. The Hobbits had broken down into tears of mourning and Glyn could only look back at the doorway with both princes as tears streamed down their cheeks.

"Legolas! Get them up!" Aragorn commanded.

"Let them mourn…" Glyn turned to him.

"Give them at least a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir seconded.

"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli…get them up. Fili, Kili…we need to move…" He walked over to them and patted them on the shoulder. "Glyndwr…"

"I know…" The Welshman sighed softly as Aragorn looked for Frodo. They noticed him turn around, tears streaming down his face.

Making their way to a stream nearby, Aragorn stopped with Glyndwr and the two Princes where they saw the woods below, the Ranger smiling ever so slightly.

"Lothlórien…" He said to them.

"Realm of the Lady of Light…"

"And our sanctuary…" Fili said softly.

"Come…we can rest, recover…and mourn our losses…" He said, putting his hand on Fili's shoulder.

With their destination in mind, they made their way to the woods. Tired, weary and heartbroken, they were in dire need of a rest. After such a harrowing time in the halls of Moria, they were due a chance to rest in the comfort of the forest.