Chapter 14 Fallen
The further they went into Moria, the worse Mariell felt. Her head hurt, as well as her back and her chest. Every breath she took hurt

more. She knew that her companions were beginning to notice. She saw the guilt in Frodo's eyes and it only made her more determined

to stay strong. Her foot caught against a rock and she stumbled. A strong hand caught her arm before she fell.

"Careful," Legolas said to her. She tried to stand upright but a horrible pain hit her in the abdomen, and she doubled over. Legolas

grabbed her shoulders and guided her over to stand against a wall.

"It will pass in a moment," his voice said in her ear.

"How are you not feeling this?" she asked him.

"I am," he said. "More than you most likely for I am full elf and you are only half elven. But I've learned to control pain. You are very

young by elven standards and have not learned to control your emotions as I have"

"Legolas," Aragorn's voice was heard. "Is she all right"

"We've got to get out of this darkness. It's killing her." Mariell felt horrible. She was trying so hard not to be a burden to them and here

she was unable to stand upright. She raised her head a bit and was relieved that Frodo could not see her.

"We have perhaps a days journey ahead of us before we're out. Can you hold out that long?" Aragorn asked. Mariell took a deep

breath and nodded. "I can hold on." She pulled herself up and willed herself not to feel the pain in her abdomen. Legolas put an arm

around her as they walked. She began to feel better after a moment.

"Are you using some kind of elvish healing trick on me?" she asked him. "Just passing on some of the control over my own pain," Legolas
answered. "Is it working"

"Yes, very much. Thank you." Legolas rubbed her back in a comforting manner. The feeling reminded her of when Frodo or Bilbo used

to rub her back when she was upset. It was funny, Mariell thought, that when Aragorn rubbed her back she felt hot and feverish, but with
Legolas she felt only the comfort of a friend. The pain in her stomach subsided a bit as Gandalf's staff lit up the mine. Her eyes widened

as she took in the great hall. Suddenly Gimli took off running into a nearby room. The fellowship followed him. In the middle of the room

was a casket surrounded by the skeletons of dead dwarves. Gimli let out a great cry of anguish. Mariell's heart went out to the dwarf.

Gandalf read the writing on the casket.

"Here lies Balim, son of Hondim. He is dead then." One of the skeletons held a book in his hands. Gandalf picked it up.

"We have sealed ourselves in but cannot hold them for long. We hear the drums. We cannot get out. They are coming." A cold chill was

crawling down Mariell's spine. "We must leave. We cannot linger," she heard Legolas say to Aragorn. She nearly jumped out of her skin

as she heard a loud clang. All eyes turned to see Pippin looking sheepish. The clanging continued to echo through the hall as the armor

Pippin had knocked over banged its way down the well. At last the noise stopped. Mariell's heart was jumping in her throat. She could

sense that danger was quickly approaching.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf snapped at Pippin. "Next time throw yourself in and rid us of your stupidity." Mariell was about to suggest

that they move on when a great rumbling was heard from behind them. Frodo pulled his sword Sting, given to him by Bilbo in Rivendell.

The blade was glowing blue. That meant orcs were near.

"Get back!" Aragorn yelled at the hobbits. "Stay close to Gandalf." Boromir and Aragorn quickly barred the door.

"Let them come!" Gimli growled. "There is one dwarf in Moria who still draws breath." Aragorn and Legolas drew their bows and stood

ready to fire. Mariell drew her sword and took her place beside Aragorn. Her hand shook as she stood waiting for the orcs to break

through the door. Legolas released an arrow and they heard a shriek. The door burst open and the orcs swarmed in. Mariell wasted no

time hacking and stabbing the orcs that attacked her. She saw that the hobbits were managing to hold their own against the orcs. Her

heart stopped as a massive beast as big as the room was brought forward by a chain. Legolas shot it with an arrow but the creature just

ignored it. Mariell's was so distracted with the creature that she nearly missed the orc that crept up behind her with its blade raised. As

the orc was just about to stab her she whipped around and stabbed it through the belly. The orc fell forward its hand scrabbling at her

neck. She pulled away as the orc fell tearing her pendant from her throat. Mariell knelt down and pried her pendant from the orc's dead

hand and stuck it in her pocket. She glanced up and saw that Frodo was backed against the wall by an orc. Without thinking she grabbed
her dagger from her belt and let it fly. Just as she had wished the dagger stuck in the orc's back and it fell dead. She saw Frodo thank her
with his eyes before the hobbits attention was taken up with another orc. Mariell moved to go help him but before she could take one

step she felt a great pain in her side and the wind knocked out of her. She felt something wet and hot soak her tunic. She looked down

and was horrified to see an arrow sticking out of her flesh. The wet substance was her blood. It hurt badly as though her skin were being

torn apart. She looked over at her companions and saw them deep in battle with the huge beast. Gritting her teeth she took hold of the

arrow and yanked it from her flesh. She cried out as she felt her skin tear. She was bleeding badly but she could not give into the pain.

Not now. She had to keep going. "Mariell," she heard Aragorn call her. They had managed to take the beast down and now they were

leaving. Mariell pushed back the pain and hurried after them. They ran down a long hall, fire spreading through her entire body. It wasn't

long before they were surrounded by orcs once more. Mariell groaned. There was no way she could fight them. Fear closed around her

throat as she realized she was about to die. Then all of a sudden the orcs scattered. They turned as a rumble was heard in the distance.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked.

"A Balrog of Morgoth," Gandalf said. "To the bridge of Kazad Dum. This is beyond any of your skills. Run!" All thoughts of pain left

Mariell's mind as they ran. They made their way down the stone steps of Kazad Dum and across the bridge. They stopped short as a

gap appeared. Without a word Legolas jumped across. He then turned and offered his hand to Gandalf. The wizard leaped across the

gap. They ducked as arrows flew around them. Legolas fired at the orc above them and struck it in the chest. "Mariell!" Legolas shouted

at her. Mariell jumped across the gap, and into Legolas's arms, wincing as her wound tore. The pain had her almost in tears as she

watched Boromir pick up Merry and Pippin and leap across. She saw Aragorn pick up Sam and toss him to Boromir. Gimli leaped

across and nearly didn't make it but for Legolas grabbing him by the beard. The bridge that Aragorn and Frodo were standing on began

to crack and Aragorn picked Frodo up and leaped across the gap with him a second before the bridge collapsed. Mariell's side was

killing her as she continued to run. Her vision had begun to blur as they made their way out of the mine. She was only dimly aware of

Frodo's anguished cry as he watched Gandalf battle the Balrog.