Chapter 12

Perci had been nearly helpless in the fight against the sea creature that had been warped by whatever fouled the mines of Moira. And now they were all trapped inside the mine turned tomb as the creature had barricaded them in.

"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria." Perci placed her hand in shared sorrow on Thorin's shoulder as he looked at the dead bodies of his kin that none had known were dead for ten years. They had just assumed they had been busy with cleaning up the mine and had no time to corespond. "Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."

They stopped three days through the mine, having come to a split path. They had waited for Gandalf to remember the way out as the four dwarves, even Thorin, had never been in the mines of Moria and didn't know the way out either. "It's that way." Gandalf said suddenly, pointing in one direction.

"He's remembered!" Merry said happily.

Gandalf immediately shook his head as they began to walk in the direction he had pointed. "No. But the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

Perci smiled. Although she was still weakened from the days without rest and with the snow in the pass, she had regained some strength and didn't have to lean on any of the company to keep her from falling off the roads in the mines and into the depths below now.

They entered a large dark cavern. "Let me risk a little more light. Behold the great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf."

"Do you think they were overcompensating for something?" Perci asked innocently, causing the dwarves to grumble.

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Perci held her side as Legolas and Haldir placed her between them as they faced the orcs and goblins surrounding them. They had found the tomb of the lord of Moria, but had drawn attention to themselves by the creatures that lived in the ex-dwarven city when a helmet had fallen down a deep hole. They had then been attacked by goblins and a mountain troll. Perci had been stabbed by a goblin when she had been protecting Merry and Pippin and was now a little more worse off then most of the fellowship. They had begun to run through the dwarven city to the Bridge of Khazad-dm.

But then they had been surrounded by orcs and goblins, the hordes only being kept at bay by the light emanating from Gandalf's staff.

Then drums began to sound. At the sounds of the drums and what looked like fire coming from a large doorway on the other side of the cavern, the goblins and orcs scattered.

"Gandalf, is that what I think it is?" Perci asked, having removed herself from between the elves to come to stand beside one of her best friends in Middle Earth. Gandalf didn't answer.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked.

"A Balrog." Perci said, dread beginning to fill her.

"A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you." Gandalf finished for her before turning and beginning to usher them all towards the exit. "Run! Quickly!"

A long dash through the mines with a Balrog chasing them and the occasional attack from the sides from goblins and orcs made it difficult. Finally they came to a set of stairs that had begun to crumble. Boromir and Eomer grabbed Merry and Pippin and jumped across, Legolas and Haldir following with Sam before they began to fire at the orcs and goblins coming from side tunnels. Kili, Fili, and Thorin, as well as Gandalf were able to make it across before the gap widened again. That left Gimli, Aragorn, Frodo, and Perci left. Aragorn tossed Frodo across the gap, Eomer catching him easily.

Aragorn reached for Gimli but Gimli batted his hands away. "Nobody tosses a dwarf!"

Gimli jumped, just barely reaching the other side, Legolas quickly grabbing Gimli by his beard to stop his backwards fall.

"Not the beard!" Gimli protested lightly.

And now only Aragorn and Perci were left.

A glance was all it took for the two to come up with a plan.

"Steady." Perci commanded.

"Hold on!" Gandalf called out, the fellowship watching in horror as the Balrog swiped at the stone that Perci and Aragorn were on. They watched in horror as the stone started to fall but luckily the two were able to jump to where the others were standing as the stone steps fell into the depths below.

"Come on!" Gandalf shouted, waving them all to continue to follow him. "Over the bridge!" The hobbits, then elves, dwarves, and then men were over the bridge. But then they paused. Looking back they all saw something that filled them all with horror and awe at the same time.

Standing beside Gandalf, glowing with an inner light it seemed with her remaining power was Perci.

"Perci!" Legolas screamed out, not wanting his One to go beyond his reach.

Perci and Gandalf ignored the calls from the fellowship.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf stabbed his staff down causing a blast of light to come between himself, Perci, and the Balrog.

"Gandalf!" Frodo cried out.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udn! Go back to the Shadow."

"I am the Champion of the Valar, Princess of the Sea, defeator of foes."

The two shouted in unison, using their remaining power together and directing it towards the Balrog. "You shall not pass!"

The Balrog fell towards the dark depths of the mine. The two turned back to the fellowship, Perci smiling slightly at her One as he stared at her wide eyed.

"No! No!" They all watched in horror as the Balrog's whip came back up and caught the ankles of Perci and Gandalf, dragging them towards the edge.

"Gandalf! Perci!"

"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf choked out, using all of his strength to hold onto the edge of the crumbled bridge.

"Legolas! I love you!"

"No!" They could only watch in horror and despair as their two most powerful and cherished members were dragged down into the depths by the Balrog.

Gandalf the Gray and Queen Persephone of Atlantis were dead.