I'm Moving to Middle Earth Chapter 15, a lord of the rings fanfic

Chapter Fifteen

Haehithien awoke behind a fallen pillar and was surrounded by noise. She was right in the middle of a battle! Suddenly a goblin fell right in front of her, his sword clattering to the ground. Looking around, she saw that everyone was distracted with the battle. Quietly, so as not to draw any enemy's attention to her, she edged over and picked up the sword, and then crept from behind the pillar.

Legolas and the others were busy fending off a hideous cave troll and a massive swarm of Goblin warriors. No one had noticed that she'd woken and armed herself. She climbed up on to a ledge and watched intently. The troll swung his club and barely missed taking Legolas' head with it. The club smashed threw another pillar causing a domino effect that would pass right by the ledge she was on. She waited, her timing had to be perfect, and there were no second chances. She watched as they came crashing toward her and jumped just in time to swing up onto another ledge before the pillar crashed to the floor. Now she stood on a ledge just below a small window.

By the time she reached the ledge and had caught her breath, the battle was over. She watched from her perch and saw that something was wrong. "Frodo!" Sam screamed and ran over to his fallen friend. It appeared that just before Legolas and Aragorn had slaughtered the troll, it had skewered Frodo with a spear-tipped pole-arm. "Frodo!" Sam cried again and as he rolled his friend onto his back, the Hobbit gasped and opened his eyes.

"It's ok," he said gasping for breath. "I'm not hurt." Haehithien who had been watching the scene nervously sighed in relief.

The others however, looked at him in disbelief and amazement. "You should be dead," Aragorn said in wonder. "That spear would have skewered a wild boar."

Gandalf smiled as he looked down at the Hobbit. "I believe that there's more to this outfit than meets the eye." Everyone on the ground looked curiously from Gandalf to Frodo who then spread open his shirt to reveal another beneath. This one made of closely linked silver rings. Mithril. Everyone, especially Gimli stared at Frodo's shirt in awe for Mithril was very valuable.

"We must go while they're on the defense," Gandalf said as Aragorn helped the Hobbit to his feet.

Legolas went over to the pillar where he'd left Haehithien. "She's gone!" he cried and ran around the room looking for her. She couldn't have been captured; none of the Goblins that had reached that far into the room had escaped. Everyone looked around them in fear.

"Fear not, Legolas," Haehithien's voice rang out from high above them. They all looked up, shielding their eyes from the bright light that poured through the window. There, they saw her holding a sword. Suddenly, she raised it high above her head and hurled it…right at Legolas.

"NO!" he cried in horror at her betrayal as he dove out of the deadly blade's path. There was a moment of silent shock at what she had done, followed by a groan. Everyone turned in surprise and watched as a Goblin assassin fell to the floor with a thud. The sword Haehithien had thrown embedded in his chest. Legolas realized then, what had truly happened. He had let his guard down in his worry for her, as they all had, and had not heard the Goblin sneak up behind him. She had just saved his life…all their lives, really. For it was because she was so high up, she saw what they did not. He chided himself for his brief doubt of her loyalty.

"We must go now!" Gandalf said urgently. Legolas went over to stand below the ledge and held out his arms. Haehithien jumped and he caught her and set her gently on her feet. Then, he quickly went to retrieve his arrows from the fallen enemies while she went and pulled the sword from the Goblin's chest. She didn't see a sheath to fit it anywhere, so after a short debate, she left it behind. Legolas joined her at the door and taking her hand, they ran from the room following close behind the others.

"Are you alright?" he asked, glancing down at her while they ran. He saw her nod and heaved a sigh of relief.

They soon found however, that they hadn't left the room soon enough. Almost immediately, they were surrounded by Goblins. The Goblins however, had inadvertently woken something even more terrible. Soon, the Great Hall of Moria was filled with light like blazing fire. The Goblins had woken the Balrog, a creature the Dwarves had released with their greed when they delved too deep into the earth, a demon of the ancient world. The Balrog roared and the Goblins fled. "RUN!" Gandalf shouted. "To the bridge." With the Goblins gone into hiding, their path was clear. Legolas scooped Haehithien into his arms and ran. Boromir was the first to pass through the doorway that led to the bridge.

When they reached the doorway, Legolas lowered Haehithien quickly to her feet when he saw Boromir start to windmill above a large, deep precipice. He rushed up, wrapped his arm around Boromir's chest from over his shoulder, and pulled him back. "This isn't your day to die," he hissed and they ran down the narrow staircase to the right.

Gandalf pulled Aragorn close and sternly, "Lead them on, Aragorn. Swords and weapons are no more use here, and Haehithien's memory of her vision only goes so far, she cannot do it on her own. Hurry, the bridge is near!" Aragorn paused, about to protest, but Gandalf grabbed him by his tunic and forced him away. "Do as I say!"

With Aragorn leading them, they followed the stairs until they reached a point where they broke off again, and a fairly large gap spanned the distance to the other side. Legolas picked up Haehithien, and she clung to his side as he jumped. He lowered her to her feet to stand behind him, and then he turned and beckoned Gandalf. After Gandalf was across, Legolas armed himself with his bow and notched an arrow.

The Goblins were back and arrows were flying. Boromir jumped across next, holding Merry and Pippin under his large, muscular arms. When they were across, he lowered them to the ground, and then turning, caught Sam when Aragorn launched him over the gap. Aragorn turned to grab Gimli but he held his hand up and looked at Aragorn sternly. "Nobody tosses a Dwarf." With that, Gimli took a running jump…and nearly missed. "Not the beard," he cried as he wind milled and Legolas grabbed the long hair on his chin, using it to pull him to safety.

Now, everyone was across, except for Aragorn and Frodo. Aragorn nearly went over the edge as the advance of the Balrog caused a quake and some of the stairs crumbled away. He pulled himself up to the more solid steps and stood. Legolas saw the dismay on his friend's face. The gap was now too wide to jump.

Another quake came, and a large bolder fell from the ceiling, and smashed through the staircase close behind Aragorn and Frodo. The stairs they were standing on started to sway. Aragorn grabbed Frodo's shoulder to steady both of them. As the stairs steadied, Aragorn yelled, "Lean forward!" Leaning as far forward as they dared, the staircase pitched forward, and gathering speed, it smashed into the staircase where the others stood.

Aragorn and Frodo jumped to the other side, and the all ran down to the bridge, their way clear once more. Behind them, the broken section of the staircase fell into the chasm below, which was now filled with fire. As they went, Legolas covered their backs by firing arrows at the Goblins, never missing his mark.

They finally reached the bridge and all ran across, Gandalf coming last, and their hope sprang anew with the thought of the open sky just around the corner up two last flights of stairs. Their hopes were quickly dashed however, when the Balrog suddenly appeared on Gandalf's heels. Gandalf turned quickly when he reached the middle of the bridge, and the other's looked on in fear as they watched him face the giant creature. It was a grotesque creature, with large horns and hind legs like an ox. It was black like ash, yet, beneath the dark color, it burned and smoldered like fire, and it held a long bullwhip, which appeared to be made entirely of flame.

"Go back!" they heard Gandalf yell at the beast and watched as he raised his staff high above his head. "Go back to the shadows." Gandalf shouted again as he brought his other hand in which he held his sword, up and clasped the staff and the sword in both hands.

The Balrog roared loudly at the wizard, but instead of retreating, it advanced once more. "I'm a servant of Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You shall not pass!" Gandalf shouted once more and the others watched in horror when the Balrog was not detoured. A white light was emanating from the crystal on his staff and it began to engulf the wizard as he spoke. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf yelled again, and this time, he brought the staff down to the bridge with both hands. There was a blinding flash, the bridge crumbled beneath the Barlow, and it fell into the blazing chasm below.

Gandalf turned and sighed with relief, but it was too soon. As it fell, the Barlow cracked the whip and wrapped it around the wizard's leg, pulling his feet from under him. Frodo screamed as he watched his friend being pulled over the edge of the bridge. He started to run back across but Aragorn and Boromir held him back. "Run you fools!" Gandalf said as he slipped over the ledge and fell down into the chasm with the Barlow.

"NO!" Frodo screamed and strained against the hold that both Aragorn and Boromir had on him. Boromir took Frodo and pushed him up the last two flights of stairs to the other side of Moria. Aragorn followed last as the Goblins reappeared and began shooting at him. He ducked as he rounded the corner and started up the steps.

All were grief stricken at the loss of Gandalf when they reached the outside. Frodo wandered off alone, Sam sat by himself, Boromir grabbed Gimli to prevent him from returning to Moria, Merry and Pippin fell to the ground and cried with each other for comfort, while Legolas and Haehithien stood with Nieninque, his stallion, who had come to meet them.

Legolas spoke to the horse in Elvish, "A're lye wanwa naa-ra Mellon. Gandalf's lanta e'a dae." Which, translated into Man's common tongue, meant, 'Today we lost a great friend. Gandalf's fallen into shadow,' and even Nienique felt sorrow at the loss of the wizard.

Aragorn hid his feelings well though. "Legolas," he called and he turned to see his friend walking around the group. "Get them up." Legolas turned to gather everyone together, he knew they could not linger, they were out of Moria, but they weren't safe yet. He knew Gandalf had passed on full leadership to Aragorn, even though it was Haehithien, who was their real guide. He understood Aragorn's wishes entirely.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake," Boromir cried in anguish. Sure, the old wizard had irritated him to no end by watching him like a hawk in Rivendell, but he never wished for him to die. He suddenly heard the replay of the council meeting in his mind. 'One will meet his death before reaching the Black Gates.' He was relieved that he was not the one the girl had spoken of.

"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orc," Aragorn said as he rearranged his weaponry. "If we're lucky, that is all that will be pursuing us. We must reach the woods on Lothlorien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli. Get them up. On your feet Sam," he said as he pulled Sam to his feet. "Frodo," he called looking around. "Frodo!" he yelled louder when he saw the Hobbit walking away. Frodo stopped and returned to the others, tears trickling down his cheeks as Legolas helped Haehithien mount Nienique, and then they continued on to Lothlorien.

When they reached the outskirts of Lothlorien, they were met by a band of Elven archers standing guard at the boarder. Their leader, Haldir, led them to Caras Galadhon, where Lady Galadriel was waiting. As they passed through Lothlorien, they beheld the beauty of the mallorn, trees that towered above them with a canopy of gold. It was in these trees that the Lothlorien Elves had built their homes.

As they entered Caras Galadhon, home of Lady Galadriel, and Lord Celeborn, the Hobbits and Gimli could not believe the beauty of the Lady of the wood. Aragorn and Legolas bowed while Boromir and Haehithien stood reverently to the side.

Celeborn was the first to speak. "Where is Gandalf? We have heard that he was leading you. I must speak with him on a matter of urgency." No one answered in reply. Galadriel looked over at Aragorn as he gazed up at her, but still, he said nothing.

"He didn't cross the borders of Lothlorien," Galadriel said softly. Haldir confirmed her statement with a nod. "He's fallen into shadow."

"He was taken by both shadow and flame," Legolas said solemnly. "A Balrog of Morgoth."

Looking at their faces, she knew this was true. "Your quest stand upon the edge of a knife, stray even a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Go now and rest, you are safe here, our borders secure.

Later that evening, when the group was alone, Aragorn saw Boromir was nervous and did not take comfort in their safety. They sat and spoke in hushed tones as Boromir told him that Galadriel had spoken to him in his mind that he could not rid himself of what she told him, and he couldn't rest.

Legolas watched them from afar then turned and went to the stream to gather water for the night, so that he and Haehithien could ease their hot, tired bodies in its coolness. He looked up at the mellryn when he heard a song filled with sorrow. "A lament to Gandalf," he said softly.

"What are they saying?" the Hobbits asked curiously.

"I don't have the heart to tell you," Legolas said as he gazed over at them. "The grief is still to near for me." With that, he turned and left them to return to Haehithien. He lay down next to her, and laid his head upon her lap as tears trickled down his cheeks. He couldn't bring himself to believe that his old friend was one of the four that she had spoken of at the council meeting in Rivendell. He closed his eyes and she stroked his hair in an attempt to comfort him as he listened to the lament while he cried.

A Olórin i yáresse

Mentaner i Númeherui

Tírien i Rómenóri

Maiaron i Oiosaila

Manan elye etevanne

Nórie i melanelye?

Mithrandir, Mithrandir, A Randir Vithren

Ú-reniathach i amar galen

I reniad lín ne mór nuithannen

In gwidh ristennin, i fae narchannen

I lach Anor ed ardhon gwannen