Chapter 2
It had been almost two months since the fellowship had begun their journey to destroy the one ring. For Arianna it had been two arduous months of watching the slow and mind-numbingly tedious progress of the fellowship as they trekked eastward across the uninhabited countryside. She followed as closely as she could without being detected, yet knowing danger would not find them for weeks had made her task seem a little like babysitting at times. There were a few bright spots with which she had passed the weeks. She had never eavesdropped on a group of men before, and in doing so now she felt the fellowship was more of a study in the habits of males than an expedition to save the world. She had slowly come to understand the personalities and habits of those she guarded, which ranged from the silent and subdued demeanors of Aragorn and Legolas, to the jovial and often childlike manner of the hobbits. Cloaked by night, she would sit close to camp; listening to the conversations and plans of the fellowship.
From her observations it seemed as though the power struggle between Aragorn and Boromir was more intricate than she had ever imagined. A tense awkwardness radiated between them whenever they spoke to one another which made her cringe inwardly whenever she was near them. Part of her understood why they reacted so defensively around one another. Aragorn was, after all, the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, a seat currently occupied by Boromirs' father, who acted as steward. Another part of her wondered how different things might have turned out with both men if they had let their guards down enough to empathize with the others' situation. Though Arianna could feel sympathetic for Boromir's situation, it became apparent almost immediately that Boromir had been taught to be a selfish overbearing ass by his father, and Aragorn, though very level headed and self-assured, did not carry himself as would an heir to one of the most powerful realms in Middle Earth.
Arianna sympathized a lot less with Boromir now that she understood his true nature, and more with Faramir for having spoiled tyrants as his only family. It was clear that Boromir had been power mad long before his introduction to the one ring, and Arianna was disgusted at his inability to resist the rings' allure. Legolas, however, was a far greater enigma than either the ranger or the Gondorian captain, and she found from time to time that she had to resist the urge to wander nearer to him. She had not forgotten the intimate moment they had shared outside of her chambers, or the weapons that she carried—a silent promise of his affection for her. The memory of it burned through her mind with ever increasing frequency, and she loathed her inability to let the memory of his lips fade from her mind. It was clear that Legolas sensed her presence, but she was unsure whether or not he knew it was she that was following them. He often took watch until the early morning, and every now and again he would stare in her direction, his eyes growing cold and focused with anticipation of attack. She sat as frozen as he was most nights, trying almost to will her own, more docile thoughts into his mind—but to no avail.
The almost anti-climactic monotony she had to endure as the fellowship progressed gave her many opportunities to meditate and train. Air manipulation had come easiest. She found that she could manipulate air to do many different things. It was she who had discovered the element's ability to cloak her from sight, though at first she could only manage short bursts of concealment. When she was not near the camp she took to levitating small objects, which increased gradually in size as she struggled to become stronger in her manipulation of the objects around her. She could already levitate two or three arrows at the same time, though she hadn't quite gotten the hang of forcing the air to launch them as projectiles. Soon after departing Rivendell she realized how much harder learning to master the elements would be without help from a teacher. Many times she toyed with the idea of making herself known to the fellowship in the hopes that Gandalf might instruct her. Without a guide she was left with the age old standby of trial and error, which resulted in many hours spent drenched from her ill-fated first attempts at manipulating water.
In the six weeks since the fellowship had started their journey, Arianna had discovered how to call water to her, which she used to place small sources of it along the path of the fellowship to help them avoid wandering too far from camp. She had also learned how to manipulate its form, shaping it into pillars and spheres. One day she had even frozen a small pond, staring in amazement as the placid surface of the water had frosted over. She had not yet tried to manipulate earth or fire, afraid that it would draw too much attention if she were to lose control of them. A brush fire or earthquake wouldn't do her any favors when it came to concealment, and the elf was already suspicious, so she simply meditated as Lord Elrond commanded, though at times she felt rather ridiculous when she knew she could be doing more to prepare herself.
They were now at the eastern base of the misty mountains and we're enjoying a bit of rest among a crop of boulders and brush before the long trek south. Arianna watched from a high bolder as Boromir spared with Merry and Pippin, tutoring them on sword play. The two fun-loving hobbits were by far her most interesting bit of entertainment thus far on this journey. Ari was a big fan of food, and the meager rations she had been saddled with had left her very discouraged, especially in the first few days of the expedition, when the fellowship had needed to eat the perishable supplies they had brought along. Arianna had sat very near camp those nights, stomach aching as the warm, sultry aroma of eggs and bacon had wafted through the camp, but when the bacon, eggs, and buttered bread had run out the complaints began. She was aware that hobbits loved their meals, but she hadn't expected the ridiculous outrage and indignation from the hobbits at having to survive on dried pork, berries, and whatever could be gathered and trapped in the countryside. On and on they went, torturing themselves with fantasies of feasts, reminiscing about stews and soups, legs of lamb and a variety of other culinary delights they longed for. Arianna had sympathized with them. She had at least found a steady supply of fish that she plucked from nearby streams, though she ate them raw rather than risk a fire. Thank God for her love of sushi. Every so often, if there was little food to be found, she would hang a string or too of fish in a nearby tree or bush for them to find. The men had been wary of these offerings at first, the elf even more so, but she had begun to do it so often that the group had come to accept her gifts of food as a sign that they had an unseen ally watching over them.
Once Gimli had even ventured to call out to her. "Whoever be leaving these gifts, ye need not fear to show yourself". Arianna had almost shown herself then, but she remembered Elrond's words of caution. No one could know she traveled with them, not even the fellowship themselves. Instead she sent a soft breeze through the camp in answer. They had been startled by the sudden gust, but had calmed once no threat materialized. Frodo had asked Gandalf what it could have been, but Gandalf had any suspicious he didn't share them. There was talk of forest spirits or elven enchantments, but Legolas dismissed these flights of fancy, proclaiming that no elves he knew of held sway over nature, and no spirit could fish. They had tentatively accepted her presence, though Legolas' vigilance never wavered. She found herself scowling every now and then as he spoke with Aragorn and Gandalf about laying traps or changing their course, as if her gifts of food were some sort of sinister plot to lull them into a false sense of security. It had hurt her how little he trusted what most would consider to be miracles. She had since toned down the frequency of her offerings, hoping that the lack of outside influence would make him feel more at ease. It didn't, so there she sat, so near, yet isolated in a very disconcerting way. She had never been a very outgoing person, but the lack of human interaction had begun to take its toll on her.
As the hobbits spared with the Gondorian capitan she had watched them—them, and the horizon. Every now and then Aragorn would interject a friendly comment or two and give some encouragement to the hobbits when the occasion arose. Arianna's attention was split, however, between the mock fight, the southern sky, and the elf. It was Legolas who caught site of the dark cloud moving towards them.
"What is that?" asked Sam.
"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud." Gimli replied.
"It's moving fast—against the wind." said Boromir gravely, his words trailing off as he studied the strange phenomenon. Arianna saw a flicker of recognition cross Legolas' face.
"Crebain from Dunland!" he yelled. She watched, almost transfixed as the camp erupted into a flurry of activity. Everyone scrambled to collect their things. Sam put out the fire before joining the others, who hid beneath rocky outcroppings and under bushes. No sooner had they hidden themselves, a flock of massive ravens—or maybe crows—Ari never could tell the difference— rushed overhead, cawing loudly. They circled the hill for a few tense moments, then turned and flew back southward. Arianna had the distinct impression that they could see her, even as she sat motionless, cloaked in air, but then again animals had far better senses than humans and maybe even elves. When it was clear that the birds weren't coming back, the fellowship came out of hiding.
"Spies of Saruman!" said Gandalf gravely. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras". He pointed to a mountain that towered over the rest of the range. Arianna followed his gaze to the mountain and for the first time, she realized just how useful her wings really were.
"Great," she muttered to herself. "Snow…,"
Arianna circled lazily as the fellowship made their way up the snowy slopes of Caradhras. She had spent the majority of the first portion of the journey alternating between walking and flying. Now she held herself aloft as much as possible, afraid to disturb the snow and attract attention. The mountain was incomparable to any she had ever seen at home. Even the Rocky's were dwarfed by the sheer size and scope of the leviathan they were attempting to ascend. After only a few days the fellowship was having a hard time maneuvering through the deep drifts of snow that covered the mountainside.
When Frodo lost his footing and fell, rolling down the slope towards Aragorn, Arianna watched as Boromir lifted the chain that held the one ring upon it from a patch of disturbed snow. He stared at it, an unmistakable desire clouding his eyes. Ari could only guess at what promises and lies the ring was tempting him with. Aragorn's hand went to his sword as Boromir contemplated allowed how so much strife could come from something so small. It wasn't long before Arianna realized that something wasn't right. Boromir was hesitating too long in his reverie over the ring. Aragorn's face grew dark as his sword slid further from its sheath, and on the edge of her vision she saw Legolas going for his bow. She didn't hesitate. She closed her eyes in meditation. The winds picked up, howling as snow was swept up, swirling around Boromir. The sudden chill in the wind broke his trance and he blinked as if waking from a dream. Arianna's eyes opened and the wind died, the raised snowflakes falling gracefully back to Earth. Warily he returned the ring to Frodo, whose anxious expression worried Ari. What would have happened if she had not intervened? Would Legolas and Aragorn have killed Boromir? They couldn't! It wasn't his time. Boromir still had a part to play, and a very important part at that. If he did not defect when he was supposed to Frodo would not have set out on his own, and she could not allow the events of the story to change. Aragorn re-sheathed his sword as Frodo and Boromir rejoined the procession, and Arianna soared upward, resuming the lazy circling pattern she had been accustomed to, her heart now laden with fear and trepidation for what other unexpected changes were to come.
The fellowship, with the exception of Legolas, treaded wearily through the immense snow drifts that now threatened to swallow them completely. Legolas, however, with his elfin lightness, paced atop the snow as if it were no deterrent to him in the slightest. Arianna envied his grace—as well as his resistance to the cold. She was able to deflect the worst of the howling winds that buffeted her, but even without the relentless gales the temperature was still frigid, and as someone who had spent the vast majority of her life in a desert, this was an epic test of her own endurance. As the fellowship neared the summit of the mountain the snow fell heavy and fierce. Through the howling wind, Arianna heard what sounded like a powerful voice. Her face paled as she realized just who it was, and much to her shame, the voice cowed her.
"There is a fell voice on the air." Cried Legolas through the storm.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" cried Aragorn hoarsely. Gandalf stepped forward, crying ancient words into the storm, desperately trying to counter the white wizards' spell casting, to no avail. Lightning struck the summit of Caradhras, sending an avalanche bearing down onto the fellowship below. Legolas snatched Gandalf from the edge of the cliff, and Arianna rushed downward to protect Frodo, pulling him with her as she slammed hard against the cliff face,just before the snow buried them. Momentarily stunned, Arianna soon regained her composure before pulling Frodo out of the snow, not realizing that her rough impact had caused her to release the blanket of air which had concealed her. Frodo now gaped at her through the veil of thick snow that fell. "I k-know y-y-you. Y-you're the w-w-woman from the c-council," he stuttered through his shivers and astonishment. Arianna stared back at him, realizing what she had done. She put her finger to his lips.
"No one can know…," she whispered. She called back her concealment and watched as Frodo's eyes grew impossibly larger. She took flight again, cursing as Boromir burst from the snow in front of her. She swerved to avoid him but her wing tips brushed his cheek. He sprung up in alarm drawing his sword. Arianna breathed a sigh of relief as she distanced herself from him. The Fellowship, realizing that the mountain would kill them if they continued further, turned to Gandalf, who in turn looked to Frodo. Frodo made the decision and as a whole, the group turned back down the mountain.
The Fellowship arrived at the Western Gate of Moria days later. Ignoring Arianna's command for him to tell none he had seen her, Frodo had confided to Gandalf about the winged girl that had shielded him when the mountain had turned on them, and Gandalf had in turn told Legolas and Aragorn, who now kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. Arianna sat perched silently atop a gnarled, forlorn looking tree as Gandalf tried to open the doors of Durin.
"Could it truly be the same lass from the council?" Gimli asked, doubt evident on his harsh features. Boromir looked skeptical as well; unconvinced a woman had been their unseen companion all this time.
"Who else could it be?" Legolas reasoned. His tone was tinged with annoyance. It had not occurred to him that the lady Arianna had the skill or power necessary to conceal herself from him, nor did he understand why she felt the need to do so. The thought troubled him and he grew agitated as he replayed the events leading up to their departure. How could he have been so blind? Trusted her so easily? Now she was out there watching them, poised to strike—and he—he had given her his own weapons with which to do the job.
"This changes nothing," said Aragorn, his voice low and firm. "If she had planned to do us harm, she would have had ample opportunity to do so. It must have been her who left the fish for us to discover. Does that seem like the behavior of someone who wishes us ill?"
"Regardless, she has most likely been watching our every move. At any rate, what sort of ally hides in the shadows, and for that matter, what manner of magic is she using to conceal herself? What if she informed Saruman of our location?"
"I just cannot see the lass in league with Saruman. Did you see her? She was but a child! For Mahals' sake she fainted during the council!"
"An act…," said Legolas, shrugging his shoulders.
"No. Say what you like Legolas, but I will not believe she means us ill," said Aragorn, angered by the elf's insinuation. He wasn't the only one. Arianna was livid. After all she had done to help and protect them, there the elf stood, slandering her—painting her as a fiendish tool of Saumans.
"Aragorn, nif mil an i iell fain nif baudh (your affection for the girl clouds your judgment),"
"…a nif del ned I iell fain nif (…and your loathing for the girl clouds yours)". Legolas grimaced.
"It's a riddle!" Frodo cried, realizing that the inscription on the great stone door was a riddle. "Gandalf! What's the elven word for friend?"
"Me-lon," Gandalf uttered hesitantly. The doors slowly crept apart, welcoming their newest guests. Arianna rose from her perch, distracted by the conversation of the men. A series of splashes alerted her to the fact that Merry and Pippin had begun to skip stones across the surface of the lake that sat opposite the entrance to the mines. The water sat deceptively still. She waited. After her blunder on the mountain, Arianna was wary of interfering, and Legolas' unabashed defamation of her character wasn't exactly warming her to the idea of rushing in to save them. She stood nearby, trying to establish whether or not to help them escape the wrath of the Wotcher which lurked just out of sight beneath the murky depths of the lake before them. They had overcome the obstacle on their own, she knew, but something about Boromirs' hesitation on Caradhras had made her uneasy. She was reminded of that scene in the Matrix where Keanu Reeves got deja vu, seconds before everything went to shit. No matter how hard she tried she could not shake the feeling that something was off. Before she had a chance to work out what might be causing that feeling, something slithered out of the water, creeping towards the entrance of the mine. Before she had a chance to call out, the creature's slimy appendage had encircled Frodos' ankle, dragging him out over the water and into the air with its cephalopod-like tentacle.
Legolas reacted first, notching an arrow in his bow. He shot the tentacle that held Frodo. Boromir and Aragorn rushed to the water, swords ready, and attacked the slimy beast. It flung Frodo wildly in the air as it attempted to fend off attacks from the fellowship. Aragorn sliced the tentacle that held Frodo aloft and the hobbit dropped from the air like a stone, only to be caught by Boromir. Aragorn and Boromir retreated towards the shore. Arianna had no sooner risen in fight to cover them as they retreated into the mine, when the beast let out a terrifying shriek of fury and agony, as if it were being torn apart—and then, in some bizarre form of mitosis, the creature divided into two separate entities, both now closing in on the fellowship. Arianna was left momentarily shocked as the first Wotcher drew near to Frodo and Boromir, the second attempting to pull itself out of the lake to cut off any retreat. Arianna recovered. She dived down with unimaginable speed, landing hard at the edge of the water. The shock of hitting the ground so hard momentarily stunned her, and she looked back over her shoulder to see every member of the fellowship clearly focused on her, a mixture of shock and disbelief etched on every face. By protecting them she would give herself away, but she had no choice. This was life or death. No pressure or anything, she thought sarcastically to herself. She closed her eyes, knelt down, letting her hand come into contact with the surface of the lake, concentrating with all of her will. The surface of the lake at her fingertips froze solid and fanned out to encompass the entire lake, a loud series of cracks resounding against the canyon walls, the ice groaning under its own weight. All was silence. She opened her eyes to a miracle of her own making. Both Wotchers stood frozen in their tracks. A high pitched whistle briefly sounded in her right ear as an arrow flew past her head, shattering the wotchers as if they were glass.
"Legolas! Stop!" screamed Frodo. A split second later Arianna felt a sharp explosion of pain in the back of her head. She cried out and dropped to her knees. Agony bloomed within her skull and her vision blurred and began to darken around the edges. The last voice she heard before falling unconscious, was calm, frigid, and filled with distain.
"Lle wethrine amin (You deceived me),"
Arianna stood atop a mountain—no—not a mountain. She stood atop a battered outcropping of stone. She looked below her and could only just make out the tiered city of Minas Tirith. She raised her head, scanning over the vast plain that existed between the white city and the mountainous fortress of Mordor. Above her head menacing black clouds loomed, and an evil, foul smelling wind blew about her—then she heard his voice on the wind—as if he were whispering in her ear. She cringed as his voice splintered her thoughts "Arianna—join me."
"No!" Arianna screamed into the wind. Darkness swept around her, coalescing into human form before her. Her scream caught in her throat. It was him. It was Aiden. The man who she had cared for—who had stalked her—attacked her—raped her—and held a gun to her head. Here he was, dressed in black robes befitting those of a noble, his dark brown hair obscuring his piercing hazel eyes. He smiled wickedly as he strode forward, reaching out a hand to touch her and she found herself unable to move away. It didn't matter. Within inches of her his outstretched hand burst into white hot flames. He cried out in pain, and quickly retracted his hand, the flames subsiding. He studied his seared hand before glancing back at her, eyes narrowed.
"Interesting—it seems you've got some protection. It doesn't matter. Soon I will have you again. It's only a matter of time—".
Arianna bolted upright, her eyes flying open, her breaths harsh and labored. She sensed movement and turned her head just in time to see Merry release her wings, scrambling backward, terror plain on his face. She realized what had happened. The hobbit had been examining her wings when she had sprung up without warning, startling him. At first all she could see was the dim, scarcely illuminated silhouettes of figures standing about her, but as her eyes focused and grew used to the all-encompassing darkness that permeated the space, she was able to make out the nine members of the fellowship, all of which were watching her intently. Apprehension clouded some faces, distrust clouded others. A dull ache throbbed in the back of her head. She rubbed it gingerly, looking from face to face.
"You're welcome," she groaned hoarsely, the sarcasm evident in her tone.
"She's awake!" cried Pippin, who immediately received irritated looks from the other hobbits for being so loud. Gandalf strode over to her, shinning the light of his staff in her direction. Arianna squinted into the blinding light before speaking.
"Hello, Gandalf," she said, nodding her head in respect. She though she saw a slight twitch in his lips, as if he were forcing himself not to smile. Reaching forward he turned her head to the side, his fingers gently pulling back her hair to examine the wound on the back of her head. Gandalf made what sounded like an amused sort of grunt and stood back.
"That wound is completely healed. Not even a scar remains, only a thin crust of blood matted in your hair shows you were ever injured". He ran his hand through his beard thoughtfully. "Why have you been following us young lady?" asked Gandalf, suspicious, yet not overly aggressive. Arianna opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by another's voice.
"Isn't it obvious? She is a spy," said Legolas taciturnly. "She has been following us since we departed from Rivendell," he finished, glancing over her form. Arianna narrowed her eyes at him defiantly. She had had enough of this character assassination. By the self-satisfied look on his face, it appeared that Legolas seemed to enjoy antagonizing her. Wasn't it only a few months ago he had declared his friendship and trust—not to mention the kiss, and now he stood there condemning her? She had saved them all and her thanks was getting bashed in the back of the head by this conspiracy mongering, bi-polar, bow-happy maniac. Arianna jack-knifed to her feet and spread her enormous white wings, falling into one of the many defensive stances Aragorn had shown her. This silenced Legolas. Weapons were drawn, and she assumed it was the imposing image of her wings that drew gasps from the hobbits. She took a deep, shuddering breath and then began to speak.
"I—am not a spy! Stop calling me that. Lord Elrond sent me to make sure that the ring and the fellowship were kept safe," she huffed.
"And why would Lord Elrond send anyone, let alone a young, inexperienced girl to keep us safe? Did he not think nine people enough? Why would he send you?" asked Boromir condescendingly. It seemed as though while she was out, Boromir had hopped on the Legolas Greenleaf hate wagon.
"Listen, I know it sounds strange, but I mean, you saw what I did out there right? You all would have been dinner if I hadn't stepped in and helped. You are just going to have to trust me," she said. Boromirs' brows rose. She hated when they did that.
"You can see how suspicious it looks that you have been following us for months, and only now decide to show yourself. Convenient that Lord Elrond isn't here to make your story true. We're going to have to take you as our prisoner until we know more about you and your intentions," said Legolas as he moved towards her, Arianna caught a glimpse of a rope in his hand. Legolas reached out to take hold of her wrists, but she used her wings to propel herself backwards out of his reach. Legolas stumbled forward with an uncharacteristic lack of grace.
"Don't touch me again. I am sick and tired of men thinking they have a right to touch me!" she growled defensively. "Sauron has help from someone I know, and like it or not this heroic little quest you are on will fail without me. I was asked to help and I agreed. I have not harmed you or put you in peril in all the time I have followed you. I gave you food, I helped defeat those things that came after Frodo. I kept Frodo safe when the mountain came down on your heads. What more can I do to prove my loyalty?" She said, slowly lowering her wings.
"Let us restrain you until we feel assured that you won't try to harm us or disrupt our mission," Legolas replied, his voice even. He had a strange expression on his face that Arianna could not place. Arianna looked from Legolas to Aragorn, who was looking at her with a mixture of indecision and distrust. That alone was enough to make her want to tear up. She had liked Aragorn, and she had thought he trusted her, yet to see him now you might never have guessed it. Slowly she let her head fall.
"Fine". She lifted her wrists and Legolas stepped forward again, twisting the twine rope around her wrists, tying it securely before taking her by her upper arm, though not with the roughness she would have expected. His grip was firm, but not uncomfortable. She remembered a distant night months ago when that had not been the case and shuttered. He must have felt her reaction because his grip loosened a bit more. The rest of the fellowship gathered up their things and as one they pushed deeper into the darkness of Moria.
They rested little as they made their way through the darkened corridors of the ancient dwarf city. Arianna understood why. The less they rested the faster they could breathe the open air again. Ari already missed the sunshine, and the damp, moldy smell of this place made her feel like she was being buried alive. Just when she began to worry about collapsing from exhaustion Gandalf gave word that they would camp here for the night. Legolas forced Arianna to sit against a wall, instructing her not to move before going to help the others unpack. She sat there, head down and silent as the grave, aware that Frodo and the other hobbits were watching her with interest. Pippin, of course, was the first to muster the courage to venture over to her. He strode up to her, cocking his head sideways like a puppy trying to puzzle out what he was seeing.
"What are you?" He asked curiously. Gandalf and Aragorn stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him, then expectantly at her. She didn't look at him.
"I'm human,"
"I've never seen a human with wings before," he commented.
"Neither have I," she responded. "I haven't always had wings. It's actually a fairly recent development,"
"How did ya get em"? This time she had everyone's full attention. She was silent for a long time. She had thought about this often. She hadn't understood how she had been brought here, but the slow and painful realization had sunken in one night as she lay out beneath the stars as the others slept.
"I—I think I died". The silence that persisted after her response was almost tangible as everyone took in what she had said. Pippin frowned.
"You died? How"? She didn't answer. Her eyes flitted to Legolas, who was gazing back at her, face drawn. Legolas knew. In that one glance she knew that he had pieced together what had happened to her. He looked away and her gaze fell back to her lap.
"I wasn't born in this world. I came here from another place and time. I was dating a guy-,"
"Dating? What does that mean?" Pippin cut in. Arianna looked up at him. He stood there, radiating innocence, and the earnestness in his eyes betrayed his casual demeanor. He was fascinated by her. She took a deep breath.
"I suppose it's like courting. Where I come from it means that a man and a woman are seeing each other exclusively,"
"So it's like being betrothed?"
"Sort of, only not that serious—," she finished, trailing off in thought. Pippin looked over her, seeming to decide something in his mind.
"Well, I can see why he'd want ta court ya. You're beautiful—I mean—well, ya are," he stumbled over his own words. Arianna blushed.
"Alright Pip, don't scare the girl," said Merry as he came up behind Pippin, clasping his cousin on the back.
"I was only tellin the truth Merry. Look at her. Even a blind man could tell she was pretty as an Elanor blossom in spring time". Merry met Arianna's eyes and she immediately felt uncomfortable.
"She is quite pretty. Those eyes—," he trailed off. "So what happened to your betrothed?'
"He wasn't my betrothed. He was my boyfriend—think of it as being less than betrothed but more than just friends," she clarified when she saw confusion mare their expressions. "—and I—I left him. He had a bad temper and I didn't want to deal with his jealous fits anymore. He was angry. He stalked me—attacked me—,"she choked on her words. The two hobbits faces were a mask of shock as they put the pieces together. No one said anything for a long moment, and then Gandalf stepped over to her. She could almost see his wheels turning.
"My lady—you spoke of a man helping Sauron. You said you knew him. Who is he"? Tears welled in her eyes as she realized what Gandalf had deduced.
"He's—he's the one who hurt me—who killed me," she whispered.
"Enough of this. Can't you see the girl is distraught? Let her rest in peace," said Aragorn. Gandalf raised his head, nodding in agreement.
"Aragorn is right. Off with you hobbits," he chastised, waiving the hobbits away. With small sad smiles they left her, and Arianna closed her eyes—only to jump in surprise as she felt someone kneel down beside her. Her sage eyes met his blazing azure ones and her breath caught. It was Legolas. Tentatively he reached out, his finger wiping away a stray tear that had found its way onto her cheek. He removed one of his long thin daggers from the sheath on his back. Arianna's eyes went wide as she saw it, its gleam reminding her of that night in the Sky Bar parking lot. She began to struggle, but Legolas put a comforting had on her shoulder.
"Be still lirimaer (lovely one)," he said softly. His tone caught her off guard and she stilled. With one swift movement he cut away her bonds, returning his blade to its sheath. Arianna stared at her freed hands for moment before looking up at him.
"Why?" was all she could manage to say. The corners of his mouth turned up into a small smile.
"Elves do not cage birds," was all he said. From beside him he brought forth a bed roll and blanket. Arianna thought she might start crying again, but he reached upward, stroking her hair in the same paternal manner that Elrond once had. Tentatively she let her hand move to his outstretched arm, her fingers lightly brushing against it. Legolas froze, his eyes locked on hers. She knew what he was remembering. She bit her bottom lip, her hand pulling away from his arm.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, so low only he could hear. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you". He shook his head.
"No. Amin hiraetha. Amin canlle mellonamin (I named you my friend), then I turned my back on you. This is the second time I have hurt you. I will not do so again," he said, his face so near that his breath caressed her face with every word. Her body hummed at him being so close. Her lips parted to say something in return but her breath caught as Legolas leaned in, pressing his lips to her forehead before pulling away. "I shall wake you when it is time to move. Sleep now". He stood and walked back over to his companions. Aragorn smiled at him and clasped him on the shoulder. He approved. She met Gimlis' eyes and he nodded graciously at her, as did Boromir, though his earlier suspicion had not fully ebbed. Regardless she stood, laying out her bed roll. At first she wondered why they had an extra, then as she snuggled beneath the blanket Legolas had given her she realized that they didn't have an extra. The smell emanating from the bedroll and blanket were unmistakable. Earth and moss, and something else she could not place but which smelled positively amazing. This was Legolas' bedroll and blanket. He had given up his bed so that she could rest comfortably. She turned to look at him and found him sitting against the far wall of the chamber. He was watching her. She held up the blanket, a silent question in her eyes. Wasn't he going to need this later? He gave another small smile and shook his head. Guess not she thought, snuggling up in the blanket. She held his gaze until her eyes began to grow heavy. She closed her eyes, and moments later she was lost in dreams.
She was jolted awake what seemed like minutes later by a gentle shake of her arm. It was Aragorn. "I'm sorry I frightened you. It's time to move on". She smiled apologetically at him.
"It's fine. I'm just not used to being woken up by anyone". He nodded in understanding.
"It must have been hard for you, with us all that time but never really with us. It must have been lonely for you". Arianna shrugged.
"It wasn't that bad. It was a little boring because I had no one to talk to, but I was watching you practically all of the time so—," she trailed off in her statement, seeing the expression of horror on Aragorn's face. She replayed what she had just said and paled. "I didn't mean all of the time. Obviously I wasn't watching when you um—relieved yourselves or anything. That would just be gross," she said hastily. Aragorn gave a quiet chuckle.
"Glad to know our modesty wasn't compromised," he joked. Arianna blushed. He was joking with her. Had she really gone from public enemy number one to member of the club overnight? She didn't have time to question it. She quickly rolled up her bed roll and blanket before carrying it over to Legolas. He was readjusting his bow strap, his back to her. When she tugged on the sleeve of his tunic he turned towards her. She scowled inwardly. No one should look that good first thing in the morning. It was positively unnatural. She held out the bed roll.
"Thanks for letting me use it," she muttered softly.
"Keep it,"
"Then where will you sleep"? It was a legitimate question. She hardly expected the Prince of Mirkwood asleep on the cold, damp stone floor.
"I sleep sitting up, but you already know that," he said with a sly smile. Her eyes widened. He had heard her conversation with Aragorn. Of course he had. He probably heard everything. She shouldered her bed roll and turned away from him before she could make an even bigger fool of herself.
"Mornin milady," chirped Pippin as he bounded up to her.
"My name is Arianna.,"
"Well then, good mornin Arianna,"
"Good morning Pippin". Pippin's eyes widened.
"How did you know my name?"
"I know all of your names". She pointed around the room as the named off each member of the fellowship. "That's your cousin Merry, your other cousin Frodo, Frodo's neighbor's son Sam, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Gimli son of Gloin, Boromir, Capitan of Gondor, and Prince Legolas of Mirkwood". It wasn't until she was done naming them off that she realized she had given away too much. It was natural that she would know a couple of them, but she had included their titles and family titles, something they had definitely not talked about around the fire, and something she wouldn't have picked up haphazardly. That bit about Sam being Frodo's neighbors son was particularly damning. Each member of the fellowship was gazing at her speculatively.
"Sure she's not a spy?" Asked Boromir under his breath. Gandalf stepped over to her, illuminating her with his staff.
"It seems you no far more than anyone should about our origins". Arianna tried not to look nervous. She failed. "How have you come by all of this information. I doubt even Lord Elrond knows Mr. Gamgees' relationship to Mr. Baggins". There was a long silence.
"Um—so there is a reason Lord Elrond sent me with you. I'm not just here to protect the ring—". She took a deep breath before continuing. "Remember last night when I told you I wasn't from here? Well, to be honest—where I'm from— this place doesn't exist—". The collective confusion on everyone's face made her feel she needed to clarify her explanation. "—Where I'm from Middle Earth—it never existed. Where I am from this world and everyone in it is part of a story". There was another silence.
"Well that's just ridiculous!" said Gimli. "Of course we're real. You're looking at us, aren't you?"
"This story. Is it the one my uncle is writing right now"? Arianna turned. Frodo was looking up at her expectantly. It was the first time he had spoken to her since she had shielded him on Caradhras.
"Um—no. That's a different story—also written by the same man who wrote—um—the story of this quest". She let the words sink in for a moment.
"Wait—," interjected Merry. "So you're saying that this quest we are on right now—to destroy the ring—it's already been written where you're from"? Arianna nodded. Merry's eyes went as wide as saucers. "That means—that means you know what's going to happen"! Arianna looked down at her feet, suddenly engrossed with a crack in the stone floor. "Well, tell us then! What happens?"
"This is ludicrous. Of course she can't tell you what's going to happen," scoffed Boromir. "She's making up stories to cover up how she got her information. Come on girl, out with it. How did you learn so much about us?"
"You know—," said Legolas. "There is an easy way to figure out if what she claims is true". Everyone turned to him, Arianna included. He locked eyes with her. "Tell us something about ourselves that had happened in the past. Something few people know". Arianna, looked from face to face. There seemed to be an unspoken consensus that if she could do this she was telling the truth, so she shrugged her shoulders and searched for the best target.
"Frodo, the night you found out about the ring Gandalf came rushing into your house. He told you to put the ring in the fire. He also refused to take it when you tried to give it to him. He told you to keep it a secret, then he left, and you didn't see him again until you got to Rivindell. Gandalf went to Saruman for answers and found out Saruman was working for Sauron. He imprisoned Gandalf on top of Isengard, but Gandalf called to the eagles and they rescued him". The next silence was one of shock.
"How—"? It was all Frodo could manage. The rest of the fellowship looked back and forth between Frodo and Gandalf, waiting for some sort of conformation on Arianna's story.
"It is true then," said Gandalf. "You have seen much indeed, but for now all of this must wait. We have much ground to cover and we must cautious, for there is evil hidden within the depths of this place."
Hours later they stopped to rest when Gandalf came to a series of corridors veering off in multiple directions from the chamber they had entered. Gandalf claimed to have no memory of which corridor led out of Moria, which made Arianna question why it was not Gimil giving the directions, since this place was ruled by his cousin. Arianna sat quietly against a broken stone pillar, watching as Gandalf stared at the two arched entrance ways, lighting his pipe absently.
"You could tell us which way to go, couldn't you lass?" asked Gimli. She shook her head at him. "Why on Earth not?" he asked, his exasperation evident.
"Two very good reasons. Reason one, I can't interfere. I've seen what happens when I get involved. Things—change. There was only supposed to be one Wotcher in the lake, but when I resolved to help it split into two beings. I can't help you because my helping might get you all into more trouble. Reason two, Reading a book is one thing, but it never occurred to me to keep such insignificant details such as which path you guys take in the mines. Gimil seemed to mull my reasoning over in his head, then with a grudging head nod he moved back over to his spot. There was quite for a long time before Sam came over to sit with her. He said nothing at first, but soon his curiosity got the better of him.
"Will I ever get married"? Everyone in the room glanced at him in disbelief, then at her, apparently curious as to what she might say. This seemed like a safe topic, considering it took place outside of the scope of the quest.
"Yes". Sam's grin was a sight to behold.
"Who? Who will I marry?"
"Now what fun would it be if I told you that?" she said with a smile. Aragorn chuckled and Legolas' lips twitched slightly. Sam sighed.
"Just tell me this—what's she like"?
"She's perfect for you Sam. You will love her". He beamed at the news.
"So you know how all of us turn out?" he asked. Silence fell. She looked at the faces. Each face had an identical question on it—every face but Sam's and Legolas. Do I live they asked. She forced a small laugh.
"Trying to make it a double wedding Sam?" she joked, forcing a smile to stay on her face. The tension broke.
"Is Aragorn going to get married?" Pippin asked.
"Pippin! It's rude to ask about other people's futures!" scolded Merry.
Arianna's smile became genuine once again and she met eyes with Aragorn, whose face was a mixture of curious and—regretful. "I think Aragorn knows his own heart enough to know who he belongs with," she said. His eyes grew wide for only a moment as he registered the meaning in her words, his features softening slightly. She had given him something to look forward to, she thought.
"Ah! It's that way," said Gandalf suddenly as he rose swiftly to his feet.
"He's remembered!" exclaimed Merry.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." Gandalf replied. The Fellowship began to file down the left-hand passage, until only Legolas and Arianna were left standing near the entrance to the stair.
"Will I—"Legolas began, then stopped as Ari stepped closer to him.
"Do you really think I would have kissed you if I knew you were going to marry?" She asked, her eyebrow raising. Legolas opened his mouth to respond, and then closed it. Then opened it again.
"I would think not, but that does leave me rather confused. You see, before my departure from my father's realm he declared that—," Legolas' words were cut off by the sound of loose rocks. He looked towards the other tunnel entrance, seeing nothing through the gloom. "What was that?" he said to himself.
"Most likely it's Smegol. Poor crazed thing," Arianna sighed, thinking of the creature she knew lurked just out of sight. Legolas gave her a look and she decided to change the subject.
"Did you really think I was a spy?" she asked.
"I always had my suspicions that you were not being truthful with me. It seems as though I was right," he said, his lip turning up slightly in a smirk.
"So was seducing me part of your master plan to discover the truth?" she asked, the corner of her mouth threatening a smile. Legolas' smirk fell and moved past her towards the tunnel entrance the fellowship had taken. "That was wrong of me. I let my—urges – overwhelm my common sense," he said in a matter of fact tone. Arianna stifled a giggle. "Apparently,"
"Are you coming?" asked Legolas, something almost imperceptible flickered across Legolas' face, too fast for Arianna to make sense of it.
"I will—if you promise to stop falsely accusing me. It's rather hurtful, since you are the only person in this world, other than the maid, Aragorn, and Elrond, who I have gotten close to."
Legolas' face hardened into a mask as he seemed to consider her request, then without a word he gave a short nod. Arianna, leaned in, giving him a friendly peck on the cheek. Legolas stared at her.
"What was that?" he asked.
"I believe it's called a kiss," she responded sarcastically. He sighed.
"I am fully aware of what it was. I wished to know what inspired it," he clarified.
"My weapons—err—well—your weapons. Speaking of which, can I have those back? I feel sort of naked without them now". Arianna blushed sharply as Legolas' eyes flicked over her form. Legolas considered for a moment before unshouldering her bow and quiver, handing them to her before pulling out the daggers, sliding them into their sheaths on either side of her hips. His fingers brushed the exposed skin just above the rim of her leggings as he brought his hands back. Arianna's breath hitched audibly as she felt his touch once more. Before he could comment or apologize she gave him quick thanks, and disappeared into the dark corridor. Legolas followed close behind, his fingertips tickling with the memory of her skin on his.
After what seemed hours, the Fellowship came to a more open space.
"Let me risk a little more light," said Gandalf, illuminating his staff. The staff's pale glow illuminated a grandiose hall of stone, dotted with massive stone pillars and arched ceilings that repeated throughout the vast cavernous expanse. The Fellowship looked on in awe of their surroundings.
"Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf," Gandalf continued.
"Now there's an eye opener and make no mistake," said Sam. Arianna smiled at the comment, but her smile faltered as she realized that this place heralded iminant danger. She caught Legolas' eye, and he must have seen to unease in her features, because he moved over to her.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She begged him with her eyes to understand that there was indeed something wrong, but that she couldn't tell him exactly what.
"Trouble is coming," was all she said. Legolas glanced around, wary, but all was silent.
"You're sure?"
"I wouldn't be much use on this journey if I wasn't," she responded. He nodded and fell back into place, one hand firmly on his bow.
The Fellowship had only made it a few hundred paces when Gimli noticed a ray of sunlight shining through the Chamber of Mazarbul and against Gandalf's warning, ran into the chamber. He stopped and knelt beside his cousin's tomb just as the rest of the fellowship reached the room's entrance. Boromir placed a comforting hand on Gimli's shoulder as he sobbed uncontrollably. Arianna bowed her head in respect for the slain dwarf lord. The dwarves were a proud and fierce people. To have them die like this—trapped in the dark—knowing their life was at an end—it wasn't a fate she wished on anyone—least of all one of Gimlis' kin.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared." Said Gandalf after translating the writing on the tomb. Gandalf gave his staff and hat to Pippin, bent down, and took from the grasp of a nearby corpse a large and battered book. He opened it and cleared the dirt from its pages. Legolas cast a glance at Arianna and she shot him with another warning look.
"We must move on, we cannot linger." said Legolas, looking to Aragorn.
"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." Read Gandalf from the book. He quickly turned the page, trying to read the rest. "We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out—they are coming." he finished, looking to the others. Arianna's head turned as if in slow motion towards Pippin as the hobbit noticed a corpse sitting on a stone well with an arrow in its chest. Curiously, he reached out and lightly touched the arrow. The arrowhead broke off from the rest of the corpse, causing first the skull, then the body, then the chain and bucket to go over the side of the well and drop far below, its noise echoed from hall to hall, a thunderous clatter in the hush of the city. He winced at each new crash of noise. Then— silence. Every member of the Fellowship looked at him, frozen and tense.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" said Gandalf angrily as he shut the book in his hands. Then he heard it. They all did—the slow, distant rumble—of drums. The sound echoed up from deep below, becoming louder and faster in cadence with each passing second. Anxiety and terror crept onto each of their faces as the drumming came ever closer, as well as another sound—the croaks and screeches of orcs.
"Frodo!" yelled Sam, pointing to sting, Frodo's elven sword, which now glowed blue from the presence of the encroaching creatures.
"Orcs!" Cried Legolas. Readying his bow. Boromir went to the door to have a look and arrows were shot in his direction, hitting the door mere inches from his face.
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" Said Aragorn to the hobbits. Aragorn, dropping his torch, ran to help Boromir close the doors. The grim sounds of a troll were heard just outside.
"They have a cave troll," Said Boromir, exasperatedly.
Arianna moved up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Legolas. Legolas looked over at her and paled instantly. "Get back Arianna"! Arianna flinched slightly at his unexpected tone, but narrowed her eyes at him none the less.
"I am going to fight with you!" cried.
"You don't have enough experience yet. We can't risk you getting hurt. Please, go protect the hobbits with Gandalf"! Arianna nearly growled as she snapped out her wings in defiance, rising up from the floor. The air in the room grew into a fierce gale that closed in around her companions.
"Do not treat me like a child. I was sent here to protect you," she said menacingly.
Legolas watched her in wide-eyed astonishment for a moment before giving her a grudging nod. He pried some axes from nearby corpses and tossed them to Boromir and Aragorn to help blockade the door. The Fellowship drew out their weapons and Gimli leapt atop his cousin's tomb, brandishing his axe. "Aarrgghhh! Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!" cried Gimli, a mixture of rage and excitement filling his voice. Dwarves, Arianna thought sarcastically to herself before flying forward to hover just in front of the others.
"I'll take care of the first wave. When they're down, concentrate on the others. Legolas and I will take care of the troll." Said Arianna determinedly. This was her chance to really try out her powers on the enemy. She had been training for months with her weapons and her powers just for this occasion, but would her skills be enough to keep her alive? Keep them alive? Yes, she thought fiercely, willing herself to believe. The fellowship watched in awe as she summoned the arrows from their quiver and into midair, where she aimed them for the door. Fifteen disembodied arrows hovered in place, patiently awaiting their victims. Arianna had never tried this trick with so many of them before, having stopped at seven, and the concentration it took to control all fifteen individually was almost too much for her, but she managed. As orcs began breaking down the door, Legolas and Aragorn shot at them through the splintered holes in the wood. After only a few tense moments the orcs broke through the door and all hell broke loose.
The Fellowship watched on in utter astonishment as Arianna sent her arrows straight for the encroaching orcs. Not one arrow missed its target. In the blink of an eye fifteen orcs hit the ground, dead or dying, and Arianna beamed with pride at her accomplishment. Her happiness was short lived as seconds later the cave troll smashed through the doorway, taking the rest of the battered doors from their hinges and reducing them to splintered hunks of kindling. The snarling beast was followed by another surge of orcs. Legolas shot an arrow at the troll; only bring forth a low growl from the angry creature. Sam looked up just in time to see the troll swinging it's mace down at him, and ran under the troll's legs. The troll swung twice at Gimli, but hit first the tomb, then an Orc instead.
"Concentrate on the orcs!" yelled Arianna from above them. As Legolas killed orcs on a ledge that protruded from the far wall, the troll swung his chain at Legolas, who avoided it. Arianna, seeing two large axes on the ground, summoned them from the ground, their unexpected weight adding to her mental strain as she flung them in the direction of the troll. She missed it with the first pass, but reversed the trajectory of the axes in a boomerang effect and managed to slash its neck twice on the back swing. The troll opened his mouth, screaming in pain. Legolas saw his opening and took swift action, leaping onto the creature to deliver an arrow into the troll's soft palate. The troll moaned before collapsing to the ground. There was a lull of sound in the room as the last of the orcs were slain. The rest had fled for reinforcements. The hobbits looked from the troll to Legolas, to Arianna.
"Wow—she's dangerous," said Pippin with a kind of adoring admiration that made her raise an eyebrow at him.
"That she is," said Aragorn, beaming proudly. Arianna gave a slight blush.
"We should really move—like now," she replied.
"The girl is right. This isn't over yet. To the bridge of Khazad-dum!" yelled Gandalf.
The companions ran from the room into the great cavernous chamber, soon picking up the sound of the mass of perusing orcs. Orcs sprang out from cracks and gaps in the floor and crawled, spider like, from holes in the ceiling and down the pillars. The fellowship was soon surrounded. Each member of the fellow ship drew their weapons—all accept Arianna, who stepped forward with a smirk on her face.
"Arianna!" Cried Legolas, his tone almost anguished as he watched her stray from them. Arianna looked at the nearest orc, who grinned menacingly at her.
"I'd start running if I were you. The big boys are coming to play," she said calmly. The orc tilted its head at her words, probably wondering if this human had lost its mind—then pandemonium. An earth-shattering rumble sounded from the bowels of the city and an ominous fiery light illuminated the corridor at the far end of the chamber, trailed by a thunderous growl. The look of pure terror and panic radiated out from the orc she had taunted and the mass of orcs scrambled desperately from the hall. The fellowship looked from one to another before they turned to face the light.
" What is this new devilry?" asked Boromir.
"A Balrog—a demon of the ancient world—this foe is beyond any of you. Run!" yelled Gandalf.
Arianna half flew, half sprinted alongside the fellowship as they closed the distance between themselves and the entryway leading from the great hall. Bolting through a passageway, they fled down a series of stairs. Portions of the steps were damaged, or in some cases completely gone, and Boromir nearly fell into the abyss but was pulled back by Legolas at the last second. The Hobbits too stopped just short of falling in. They changed course, taking another flight of stairs down, Aragorn and Gandalf bringing up the rear. The Fellowship halted when they reached a small chasm, where part of the stairway had collapsed. Legolas leapt forward and landed on the other side.
Legolas beckoned as Arianna grabbed hold of Gandalf, lending him her wings as he leapt over the gap to the other side. Arrows began to whistle through the air as they rained down on the companions, striking the stone steps all around them. Legolas and Aragorn shot back as Arianna quickly helped Boromir and the other hobbits over the gap. Gimli refused to be carried over and instead leapt forward, his feet finding the other side of the steps, but nearly fell back into the chasm from his loss of balance. Legolas reached out and grabbed him by the beard.
"Not the beard!" yelled Gimli, tears pricking in his eyes at the pain. Some of the stone steps began to crumble and fall into the abyss widening the gap. Aragorn pushed Frodo back up the steps and clambered after him. They struggled to their feet and looked at the widened gap that separated them from the rest of the fellowship. The Balrog was heard approaching from the other hall, it's the fiery light seen getting closer. Stone structures around the mine collapsed as it drew near. A huge rock fell from the ceiling and smashed down the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them and weakening the stairs' foundation. Arianna spread her wings once more and flew to Frodo and Aragorn, grabbing them both tightly around the waist.
"I can't lift you both, but I can help you jump," she said swiftly. Aragorn nodded and Frodo followed suit. They leapt, and Arianna used her wings and what little strength she had left to control the air around her to hold her aloft. They touched down safely on the other side of the chasm just as the weakened stairs fell into the abyss. Without a moment of hesitation they all continued their flight down the stone steps stairs as the stone structures they had used to escape collapsed behind them.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" Yelled Gandalf as they fled through a large archway and onto a small long stone bridge that spanned a crevasse so enormous that it gave Arianna a second or two of vertigo.
At that moment a tremendous explosion ripped the stone floor open where they had been standing only moments ago. The thing that leapt from within was beyond description and Arianna actually felt a trickle of fear roll down her spine. It was fire—fire and brimstone—as if the flaming heart of the earth had amalgamated into a living creature and sprung up to reap it's vengeance on them all. Arianna almost screamed as Gandalf turned to face the Balrog.
"You cannot pass!" Yelled Gandalf at the creature, as an intense light radiated from Gandalf's staff, illuminating both the bridge, as well as the entirety of the black crevasse. "I am the servant of the Secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udun!" Gandalf continued. Arianna and the Fellowship looked on as the Balrog attacked Gandalf, first with a flaming sword, then with a whip. "Go back to the shadow!" said Gandalf. The Balrog brandished the flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly as he roared in hatred. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" cried Gandalf, striking his staff onto the bridge. The Balrog stepped forward, and as it did the bridge collapsed from under it and the demon plunged backward into the chasm.
"GANDALF! RUN!" Arianna screamed. She spread her winds to take flight—to go to him, but as Gandalf, exhausted, leaned on his staff watching the Balrog turned to follow the others the creatures' flaming whip lashed up from the depths of the abyss and wound itself around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clung onto the bridge but strained to keep his grip. Frodo rushed forward but Boromir restrained him. Arianna stood frozen in horror as she watched the scene unfold, knowing that she could not change this moment without risking the fate of the mission. Still tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She had seen this happen so many times in the movie, but this was no longer a story. This was real—and she couldn't bear it.
"Gandaaaaalf! Arianna help him!" Cried Frodo as he pleaded with her to save him. Arianna locked eyes with the old wizard and begged him with her eyes to understand, just as she had with Legolas. She thought she saw understanding in is tired eyes, and that look broke her. She screamed.
"Fly you fools!" whispered Gandalf before releasing his grip on the bridge, descending into the darkness of the abyss.
"Noooooooooooooooo!" cried Frodo. Boromir grabbed hold of Frodo's waist and turned, fleeing from the place with the rest of the hobbits as he called for Aragorn. "Noooooooooooo!" Frodo cried again. Aragorn stared at the bridge in disbelief, paralyzed with shock until arrows again began whistling by, shooting at the companions and he was forced to retreat as well. Dodging, he turned and followed the others out.
The Fellowship came streaming out of the East Gate of Moria. Everyone was distraught beyond words. Sam dropped to the ground, his head in his hands as he wept. Merry, tears streaming from his eyes, embraced a dazed Pippin. Boromir tried to restrain Gimli as the dwarf vented out his rage and sorrow, ruining the blade of his ax on the stone outcroppings that surrounded them. Legolas had a look of stunned shock etched on his fine features…yet none were as distraught as Frodo. Aragorn wiped his sword clean, re-sheathed it, and turned to the others. "Legolas, get them up," he said, trying to conceal his pain.
"Give them a moment for pity's sake," yelled Boromir.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the Woods of Lothlórien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up".
Arianna had been the last to leave the mountain. Amidst the pain and confusion no one had thought to account for her. She stumbled out of the mountains' entrance, her soot covered face stained with the tracks of her tears. She couldn't do this. What had ever made her think she was strong enough to watch them die? Arianna fell to her knees, her wings sagging to the ground as she sobbed. A noise alerted her to someone's presence and she glanced up in time to see Frodo of all people coming at her fast and brandishing his sword. She stumbled backwards, the unexpectedness of the situation stunning her past all thoughts of evasion. Boromir tried to restrain him, but he broke loose and rounded on her again.
"You! You knew, didn't you! You could have saved him but you didn't! Why?!," Frodo screamed. Arianna looked down as her lap.
"Frodo—you don't understand—I had to let him fall—,"
"Why?! You said you were here to protect us! Why would you do that?! I thought we could trust you!" Frodo continued.
"Frodo, stop!" yelled Aragorn, rushing up to help Boromir restrain the hobbit.
"You're a traitor Arianna! You killed him! You let Gandalf die!" he spat. The fellowship all looked at Arianna, all eerily quiet. Arianna looked from Frodo's face, filled with pain and anger, to that of Aragorn and Boromir, then to the other hobbits, who averted their gaze from her, then to Gimli, and finally Legolas, who looked at her with a mixture of trepidation and disappointment. A fresh wave of tears welled in her eyes and she rose to her feet, then into the sky, soaring swiftly away from them. Legolas heard her anguished cries as she departed for the tree line of Lothlorien.
It took only minutes to reach the forest's edge, but it felt like an eternity. She was weak. She had never felt so exhausted in her entire life. She sped up as she endured the forest, plunging deep into the canopy.
"Galadriel! Help me-". Her vision began to blur and fade as she swerved to narrowly avoid a tree branch. She didn't notice the other until it was too late. The thick branch collided with her head, stopping her in her tracks as she fell to the forest floor. She lay there, broken and in pain, the dim outline of a person standing over her. It was the last thing she saw before her world went dark.