A/N: I apologize for grammatical errors, but English is not my native language, if you see errors, please tell me. And please don't hate, English is not my language!
Somehow Legolas had managed to calm his daughter, now she sat on his lap, wrapped by his protective arms and together they were examining an object between their fingers, Aragorn couldn't make up what it was but he could hear Legolas quietly whispering something in her ear, probably a story.
She hasn't made a noise since the cry she had earlier, the ranger couldn't tell if it was because of the shock she had with the contact, or because Legolas simply told her to be silent in those mines.
Legolas had always been overprotective of her, and it was reasonable, he had lost his wife and his daughter was the only thing he had of her.
He remembered the first time he met the baby, she was a week old and Legolas never left her side, he remembered him being dependent on her, he was slowly losing himself, he was creating his own world around his bedroom where he had isolated them, forgetting of the outside world.
He used to sleep as humans do and that was an uncommon thing for an elf, Nìniel was sucking everything from him.
Slowly he learned to separate from her and balancing his prince role and father role, but and now fate has brought him back to the beginning.
Nìniel needed him more than ever and once again Legolas never left her side, things turned the way that was at the beginning, he lived in the constant fear of losing her.
Aragorn bypassed them and walked to Gandalf, the wizard smiled lightly at him but his smile faded when he saw the ranger's expression.
He sat next to the old man, trying to disguise to the other his worries, Gandalf frowned and quickly realized what was the matter with him.
"He knows where we are," Aragorn said quietly with worry in his voice "we must hurry from here".
"I feared this would happen" the wizard confessed, "but I didn't anticipate it would be in these circumstance" pointing the fact that they were indeed trapped.
Aragorn eyed the child, it wasn't her fault, he couldn't imagine the pain she was struggling, she was brave and strong to resist this long to Sauron, but he was more powerful than her, in fact, more powerful than anyone.
"we must only hope we flee these mines before Sauron's army find us" The wizard spoke "then we must seek protection in Lórien"
Aragorn nodded in agreement understanding there wasn't more they could plan, they were ignorant of what was happening in the outside at the moment, they needed the help of the Lothlórien elves to update them of the safety of their path.
They stood quietly for a moment before Aragorn asked what he most hated, "will he bring her more pain?"
"He can." Gandalf said simply, not taking his eyes off the doors in front of him "but he won't" he said frowning a little "Her body is too precious to him, he would do anything to protect her."
Aragorn ran her hand over his forehead for a moment, trying to get to grips with the situation. He was finding it disturbing that Sauron wanted her to be safe, that he was harvesting her body for himself and that he spoke to a little child, so he couldn't imagine how Legolas was feeling.
"very soon the second phase will accord and the contacts will be reducing, it will be harder for him to reach her"
Aragorn bit his lips, scared to know the answer to his next question "What is the second phase?." He asked cautiously.
"The knowledge." he muttered with fear in his voice "their minds will join, slowly they will know everything each other know"
Aragorn gasped "there are more phases..." nervously said searching in the wizard's eyes for an answer.
Frodo gave a sudden glimpse of a creature darting in the darkness and nervous he approached Gandalf. "There's something down there," he whispered.
"It's Gollum." the wizard replied.
"Gollum!" Frodo said surprised.
"He's been following us for three days."
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dur?" the boy asked.
"Escaped..." Gandalf faced Frodo "or was 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. Smeagol's life is a sad story" he shook his head "Yes...Smeagol he was once called...Before the ring came to him before it drove him mad."
"It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance" said Frodo with disdain.
"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand? Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" he looked him in his eyes "Do not be too eager to deal 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 this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."
"I wish the ring had never come to me...I wish none of this had happened."
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide." Gandalf looked sadly at Legolas and Nìniel "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 had a sudden brightness "Ah! That it's that way! Gandalf pointed at the right a tunnel, the Fellowship scrambled to their feet.
"He's remembered!" said Merry happily.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here." The wizard laid a reassuring hand on Merry's shoulder. "If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." He said, eyes twinkling.
The Fellowship passed under an arched doorway into a black and empty space.
They followed Gandalf into the tunnel, it was close and narrow, Nìniel felt incredibly unsettled, Legolas felt it and held her close to his chest.
They came to the great halls, their eyes widening in wonder. The large stone pillars that ran up and down for a seemingly endless distance were breathtaking.
"Let me risk a little more light" Gandalf tapped his staff into the air and the light shone brightly and showed massive columns that were thousands of feet high.
"Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!" everyone gasped at the brief sight of a vast roof, far above their heads, upheld by many mighty pillars hewn of stone.
Before they stretched a huge empty hall, with black walls, polished and smooth as glass.
"Now there's an eye-opener and no mistake." Sam murmured in wonder.
"En!" *Look!* Legolas nudged his daughter from his shoulder to have a look at the tall columns around them.
Nìniel raised her gaze and admired the ceiling of the mines with awe.
Never in her life she saw such tall place, it was endless, she couldn't see the end of it, it was too dark to see and her elven sight wasn't yet developed, all she could see were the columns fading into darkness.
Legolas smiled at her face, he knew that she had never seen such place and he was excited to show her first and see her reaction.
Aragorn and Boromir were keeping their guards up. Everything about this place screamed danger.
Ahead of them, black arrows were embedded in the timbers. Dwarves and goblins skeletons lied in the doorway. Gimli ran towards a door that had been forced open.
"Gimli!" Gandalf shouted his name, calling him back to the group.
A shaft of light fell directly onto a stone table in the middle of the room a single oblong block, about 4 feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone. Gimli's eyes filled with tears as he sobbed "No...no...oh, no!"
The fellowship quietly followed the dwarf in that chamber.
Legolas paused in surprise as he came upon long dead, Dwarven bodies and weapons scattered upon the chamber floor.
He instantly covered his daughter head on his shoulder, protecting her from the sight of death, she was still much young for it and he did not wish her to see sorrow and grief in such a young age, she was already going through enough.
Gimli had fallen to his knees before the great stone crypt in the center of the large chamber.
Gandalf quietly read an inscription of runes, carved onto the white stone slab."'Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead, then. It's as I had feared."
Gandalf carefully lifted the rotting remains of a book from the tomb. It has been slashed and stabbed and appeared to be covered in Dried Blood. The pages cracked and broke as he opened it.
Legolas was there, holding his daughter, worry evident in his eyes. "We must move on. We cannot linger." He spoke nervously.
Aragorn gave a quick look at the child and nodded, he knew Legolas didn't wish her to see the bodies and he too hoped she saw less as possible.
Gandalf started reading the diary "'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.'"
Unnerved, Pippin backed away, he stumbled against something, he turned to see a corpse sitting on a stone well. Curiously, he reached out and carefully touched the arrow. The arrowhead broke off from the rest, causing first the skull to fall.
Nìniel jumped at the sudden loud noise, she didn't know what was happening around her, she wasn't allowed to turn her head to see the room because Legolas had a firm hand behind her head holding her in place, everybody turned to see what had happened, The rest of the corpse fell backward, into the well, taking a chain and attached bucket with it, its noise echo from hall to hall. He winces at each new wave of noise. Then everything was silent. It seemed an eternity, they waited for any other sound hoping they were unheard.
Nothing happened and everyone breathed out, they were still safe.
Gandalf slammed the book shut "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
"Ada..." Nìniel whispered only to be paused by the sound of a drumbeat.
Legolas looked immediately Nìniel as the beat increased, the thing he most feared was realizing, the others shifted nervously as the drums sounded again, this time louder.
"Frodo!" Sam cried, pointing to the smaller Hobbit's side. Frodo drew the small blade and Legolas caught the glimmer of its blue hue just as the sound of cackling and cries reached his ears.
They fall silent. A low rolling boom rose from the depths below growing louder. as if the caverns of Moria were turned into a vast drum. A great horn blasted nearby, Answering horns, running feet, harsh cries.
"Orcs!" Legolas warned putting Nìniel on her feet as Boromir ran towards the door to look it to see where the enemy was or how close they were.
"Nay" she cried once in her feet, she raised her arms to Legolas to pick her up again, begging for the warm secure touch of her father to protect her, but he had already drawn his bow and was facing the door.
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf." Aragorn yelled at the Hobbits to stay behind the wizard "na Mithrandir" *To Gandalf* he ordered Nìniel.
"Glenn-quenle" *Get back!* Gandalf cried and gently pushed the child further into the chamber. "Dorth- adel nin !" *stay behind me*
Nìniel cried in fear, she wanted her father, she called for him but he didn't come back for her, he was grabbing weapons, spears, and axes from the fallen Dwarves and raced to the heavy doors to help Aragorn close them before running again to the many spears and axes and bolt again to secure the doors.
She didn't understand what was happening, everything was going too fast for her, all she could see was panic and rush, she had been once again pushed further into the chamber.
The Hobbits each drew their weapons and stood in fear. Gimli raised his ax and growled "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"
The Door burst open in a shower of wood fragments, and twenty Goblins charged into the tomb, Aragorn and Legolas shoot them with arrows, but then, when they got too close they took out their swords and attack them, followed by the others, including the Hobbits.
Nìniel was terrified, it was her first time seeing a battle, she didn't even know what it was, she was only a child, she didn't have any weapon or experience for defending herself, the only thing she could do at the moment was to run to a corner and pulling her knees on her chest, she started to cry.
She didn't want to be alone, her father was somewhere in the fight and she was too frightened to go find him, she didn't understand why they were fighting and hurting themselves, she closed her eyes in fear and called the only person she could "Mairon" she whispered hoping that the goblins couldn't hear her "Mairon"
*･゜ﾟ･✿･゜ﾟ･*
Suddenly she found herself in the familiar black place with the white light and the elven shadow.
"cin auth" *you are distress* The worried voice of Sauron pointed out "Mani marte?" *what is happening?* he asked.
She raised her head from her knees and sprinted on Sauron's legs holding them for protection, She was still scared of him from her previous contact but that moment she forgot about it, He was the only person she knew and he came when she most needed help, even tho he was often mean to her, she thought of him as a friend, she wasn't capable of having hatred. "Foeg núr negr-ammen " *bad people are hurting us* she said between her sobs.
"sii?" *now?* he asked stunned, he looked down at the child's head nodding "Sut nuuta-o cin "*how fool of you!* he shouted "cin tur- turme negr-!" *you can get hurt!*
Níniel started to cry louder, but she still didn't let go of his legs.
Sauron was always aware of what was hiding inside Moria, he honestly had feared for the child since she had told him their location, he had hoped that she would come out from there but now he doubts it.
"Yrch" *Goblins* he whispered "Hi im hyar cin, but cin baur na dorth- in i galad" *Now I will leave you, but you need to stay in the light* he explained.
"eri- ú- hyar nin!" *do not leave me!* eh buried herself closed to him, begging him to not leave.
"Rad- naur a eri- ú- hyar ha " *find fire and do not leave it" he demanded once again "Im trui na dár ha" *I will try to stop it*
*･゜ﾟ･✿･゜ﾟ･*
Once again she found herself back to the fight but this time there was a cave troll, she saw as Gimli ducked a blow and immediately buried his Axe in two goblin helmets and Aragorn and Boromir waded into the mass of Goblins with their swords.
Nìniel looked around to search for the light, luckily she found the torch Aragorn had left earlier.
Legolas ran to two goblins and he cut their throats with his knives, he had enough time to turn and realize that the cave troll was aiming him, he bent and missed the hit in time, suddenly his eyes were fixed on his daughter, who was in the middle of the room reaching for the fire, panic overwhelmed him, he had to kill the troll faster than he could, he needed to keep Nìniel safe.
He jumped on the troll's head and fired two arrows, then jumped down to reach his daughter, but other goblins attack him, leaving him busy for a while.
Boromir's longsword sliced into the scaly arm of the troll spewing green blood, Sam was backing up against a wall a sword in one hand, a saucepan in the other, he swung wildly at a Goblin with it and looked surprised, he walloped another Goblin and it too drops.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this." he expressed.
Nìniel took the fire and pointed to the goblins, who surprisingly ran away from it, she could hear people shouting Frodo's name, she searched for her father but she couldn't find him, she looked around to find a few goblins and some members of the fellowship left in the battle.
The cave troll walked towards the child but she got saved by the hobbits, Merry and Pippin who jumped on him and stabbed him in the neck, everyone did their best to save them, Gimly hit his knee, Gandalf his stomach and Boromir his arm, but they all had been thrown away, the troll walked aggressively to Nìniel, who fell on the floor scared, just as he raised his arm to hit her Legolas jumped in front of her and fired an arrow on his head, and killed him.
As everyone rushed to the fallen hobbit Legolas ran to his daughter, as much that he wanted to know how Frodo was he would never put Nìniel in second place.
He rushed to throw himself on his knees and embracing his daughter in his arms, he felt tears spring back into his eyes thanking the Valar she was alive. her eyes were red and wet from the crying "Ada..." *daddy...* she wined.
"cin gar- a ylf im tuiw-o cin*" *you have been brave, I am proud of you* he said between his breaths, closing his eyes, acknowledging she was there in his arms.
She snuggled against him "Tur- mín glenn- bar? " *can we go home?* she whispered.
Legolas lifted his head from her shoulder, still in the embrace but able to look up at her eyes.
Whilst Aragorn approached them. "is she fine?" he asked worried looking at them.
"Yeah" Legolas sighed under his breath examination Nìniel once again.
Soon after the whole fellowship reached the couple, each of them making sure with their eyes that the child was indeed unharmed, and with surprise, she didn't have even a scar.
Nìniel let out another cry, Legolas didn't reply to her question, she really wanted to return home to her grandfather and sleep on her big bed with her father.
She didn't want any more creatures fighting, she hated the cave and she missed the sunlight.
Suddenly loud drums and screeching orcs were heard in the distance and their moment of solace was abruptly at an end.
They were coming.
"To the bridge of Khazad-dum!" they heard Gandalf order.
Without hesitation they ran into the huge Dwarrowdelf Chamber, They hurried towards a distant door as Goblins started scuttling down the Pillars behind them, Nìniel looked with horror from Legolas' arms at the overwhelming Goblin army that was rushing toward them, she cried in her father's ears hoping that everything will end soon.
Gandalf stopped suddenly when he realized that they were surrounded. The fellowship knew they could not escape this. Boromir drew his sword while Gimli held his ax, Legolas rested the child on her feet and he too loaded an arrow onto his bow.
The fellowship instinctively surrounded Nìniel to protect her with their life, they were ready to battle, her eyes widened as she saw the foul creatures, Their eyes were large and yellow and seemed to glow; they were disgusting.
A roar filled the large room and the goblins looked around squealing. They ran away back up the columns and into the cracks in the were obviously frightened to death by something and wasted no time in escaping.
Dead silence filled the room, only the cry of the child and the faint breathing of a creature could be heard.
A fiery light danced down the hallway, the pillars casting eerie shadows.
Boromir glanced at Gandalf "What is this new devilry?"
But the Wizard simply closed his eyes, as if he accepted some fate.
"A Balrog," the wizard said at length with revulsion. "A demon of the ancient world," Gandalf said in a low voice. "This is a foe beyond any of you! Run!"
Legolas was the first to react, he quickly grabbed his daughter and ran, soon after he was followed by the fellowship, they ran towards a small opening in the wall.
"Quickly!" Aragorn shouted as he shoved the Hobbits through it, Soon, he too, ran through the doorway and failed to notice Gandalf stop to take a look back at the growing flame of the Balrog that was slowly approaching them, the Wizard looked like he had decided upon something and there was sorrow in his eyes.
"Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." the old man told him.
Aragorn hesitated. He was about to ask what the wizard meant but the low rumbling growl of the balrog shook the floor beneath them.
"Do as I say; swords are no more use here."
They hurried forward together. Further down the stairs, there was a large gap in between steps were the foundation had crumbled.
Legolas quickly jumped, making it safe with Nìniel, soon after came Gandalf, They heard a roar again behind them as the roof above started to crumble.
Orcs started firing arrows out of the air, narrowly missing Boromir and the hobbits. Legolas turned, aimed one arrow and shot the orc firing directly in the head.
Nìniel screamed in fear, the verses of those creatures echoed in her mind, at her feet arrow were thrown, hitting the steps causing them to split and chip.
She obviously never been hit by an arrow but she understand by its collision that they were painful, and she feared for everyone.
Brormir picked up the two cousins and jumped to the other side.
"Sam!" Aragorn called him and quickly grabbed him up and thrown him across the stair gap to Boromir, then looked at Gimli.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Gimli said holding up his hand, with that he let out a war cry and performed an impressive standing jump and landed teetering on the other side.
With lightning reflexes, Legolas' hand shot out to grabbed his prized beard.
"MIND THE BEARD!" Gimli bellowed as Legolas pulled him to safety.
Then the Balrog roared again, causing rocks to fall from the roof to crash to the stairway. Aragorn threw Frodo to safety further up the stairs and clings to the steps as a great portion of them fell into the chasm. The gap was too wide to jump. The rest of the Fellowship watched in helpless horror as Frodo wobbled on his feet.
"Steady! Hold on!"Aragorn said standing up and holding Frodo's back.
The doorway entrance behind them glowed red. A great roar came from just behind it. The doorway and roof above crumbled, and a great chunk of rock fell from the roof, into the staircase behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another great gap. They were isolated on the staircase. The column on which was that part of the staircase began to crack and the staircase swayed.
"Hang on!" Aragorn said holding Frodo's clothing from behind.
The staircase on which they were standing continued to sway from side to side.
"Lean forward!" He shouted to the petrified hobbit.
The staircase swayed then fell forward towards the rest of the Fellowship.
Legolas and Boromir stood ready to catch them they held their arms wide for grabbing them when the impact occurs.
Aragorn and Frodo jumped. Legolas grabbed hold of Aragorn and Boromir of Frodo.
As they ran down the remaining staircase, the part of the staircase they were standing on collapsed completely, falling into the chasm.
They raced away through a passage and out towards the bridge and found that they were now in the open and massive wall of fire lay behind them.
"Over the Bridge! Fly!" Gandalf commanded as the flames grow higher.
They run past Gandalf, who turned towards the growing flames. From out of the midst of the flames a great black, winged creature with a horned head appeared. He roared at Gandalf, breathing fire from his mouth. It walked after them with great strides, as one by one, the Fellowship crossed the narrow bridge, Gandalf taking up the rear. Halfway across the bridge, he stopped and turned to face the monstrous being.
"You cannot pass!" The wizard bellowed.
"Gandalf!" Frodo called him in horror.
The balrog stretched its wings and drew itself up to full height in front of Gandalf.
"I am the Servant of the Secret Fire. Wielder of the Flame of Anor." He raised his staff even higher and spoke.
The Balrog reached down and draws its sword in front of Gandalf.
"The dark fire will not avail you." he held out his staff in front of him, glowing white "Flame of Udûn!"
The balrog brought its sword down upon Gandalf who protected himself with his staff, bringing a crash and flash of great light. It dropped its sword and roar at him.
"Go back to the shadow!" Gandalf commanded his voice echoing off the mighty cavern walls.
The balrog put out a cloven foot onto the bridge. He wielded a great firey whip above its head.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" he raised his sword and staff above his head and brought his staff down hard upon the Bridge.
The balrog snorted at him, raised his whip and took another step forward. As he does so, the Bridge collapsed and the Balrog fell into the chasm. Gandalf grunted and turned away, when the Balrog's whip snapped up from below, catching Gandalf by the ankle, causing him to collapse at the edge with a cry, dragging him down.
He clung to the edge of the bridge. Frodo dashed towards him, but Boromir held him back through his main strength.
"Gandalf!" Frodo screamed.
Gandalf tried to hold on by his fingertips, he looked into each of their eyes The Istari blinked away the tears that now fell from his eyes. "Fly you fools!" he then let go of his grip and fell into the chasm.
"NOOoooooooooooooo!" there was a horrible scream from Frodo, he struggled against Boromir who was holding him.
Frodo cried, his wailing echoed in the cavernous space such was their volume and their grief, as Boromir hauled him out, calling for Aragorn.
Arrows started whizzing through the air once again.
Legolas looked on in disbelief, Gandalf was his only chance to save his daughter, he could feel his heartbreaking, Nìniel was going to die.
"Legolas!" Boromir called him as dragged Frodo away.
The elf quickly came to his senses, and took the screaming child out, dodging the following arrows, rushing with her outside Moria safe.
NEXT CHAPTER: There Is Still Hope