Shine-Dusk: Wow, thank you! I'm honored!
Kerla: that's exactly what I meant. Thank you for letting me know.
Alanna Aurdomiel: blushes
Empress Guinevere Sparrow: Don't you worry, I'm not going to stop halfway through the story…Hope this was soon enough. ; )
Alassea2: Thank you very much. I'm so glad you updated! Sorry if I didn't go to see your story sooner, but I updated the last chapter right before leaving for the holidays…
Sweetlittlecherry: I definitely will! Thank you a lot.
CHAPTER XIV: THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM
They sat between the rocks at the top of a staircase. On the landing, a little bit higher, opened three identical doors. In front of them sat Gandalf, trying to remember which way they should take. Frodo, who sat near him, turned to look at the others. The Fellowship had split in two small groups: on one side there were Sam, Merry and Pippin – who had just complained for the nth time about being hungry – on the other, by the fire, there were Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir…and Victoria, who sat between the two Men, smoking a cigarette. Frodo was wondering what she could be thinking about in that moment, when he caught a movement between the rocks out of the corner of his eye.
He opened his eyes wide, trying to make out the different shapes in the dark. His heart started pounding in his chest when he saw that he hadn't been wrong. He went away from the rock he had been leaning on and came up beside Gandalf.
There's something down there, Frodo whispered, scared.
Gandalf kept on watching the doors. It's Gollum,
Gollum? the Hobbit repeated, astonished.
He has been following us for three days, the Wizard added.
Frodo was more astonished and confused than ever. He escaped from the dungeons of Barad-Dur!
Escaped… Gandalf murmured disbelievingly. Or set loose. Now the Ring has brought him here. He will never be rid of his need for it, He shook his head. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself.
Frodo held his breath for a moment. So that creature had been set on their trail like a hound, maybe Sauron was following its movements…It might have had them all killed. It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance, he remarked angrily.
Pity? Gandalf echoed, staring at him sternly. It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?
The Hobbit bowed his head, deeply ashamed. He thought about Torey, about the scar on her arm…How he had felt as he listened to her story, how much he had hated those boys who had hurt her so. Gandalf's severe and calm voice awakened him, Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. What happened to young Victoria should have made you realize this long ago.
I am no better than those boys in the white hoods… Frodo whispered.
Now you are exaggerating…You are like those who judged the Slytherins from their House's fame and their founder's mistakes, that's true. The fact that now you think he deserves death doesn't necessarily means that you would really kill him if you faced him. Frodo was listening to him, but his eyes were fixed on the young witch who sat by the Man of Minas Tirith. Using your dear friend's words, you are not a complete Gryffindor yet. But remember this: even the very wise cannot see all ends. Frodo turned to look at the wizard, whose gaze had become grave. My heart tells me that Gollum still has a part to play yet, for good or ill. Before this is over, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.
Frodo sat down heavily by his side, his head lowered. I wish the Ring had never come to me… He whispered bitterly. I wish none of this had happened.
So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in the world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.
Frodo hesitated for a moment before speaking. Do you think that it was them who brought Vivi here? But why?
Gandalf sighed. I cannot answer these questions.
Anyway… said the Hobbit. I'm glad she's here. Even if sometimes I think that she should have stayed in Rivendell. He raised his gaze on the wizard. She should not be here, Gandalf…She has passed through too many horrible things. At least she should have been spared from this
What have I just told you, Frodo?
Not to be too eager to deal out judgments… he murmured, blushing. Suddenly, he understood why Victoria had nicknamed Gandalf "The Headmaster."
I can understand your worry. The maiden has surely seen a lot of things, but, just like the others, she has embarked on this journey by her own choice and will not change her mind easily…as she won't abandon the ones she loves. Frodo nodded silently. Gandalf straightened himself a bit, smiling softly: Ah! It's that way!
Hearing those words, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Boromir turned around, Sam picked up his backpack, Victoria did the same crying, Hallelujah, as Merry took off his pipe from his mouth and sprang to his feet rejoicing, He has remembered!
No, but the air smells less foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose, Gandalf replied peacefully.
Victoria met Frodo's gaze. She made an exaggerated face and crossed her fingers.
Frodo shook his head, chuckling. Do you have so little faith in him? he whispered to her as they stumbled down the steep stairs.
It's not that I don't trust him, quite the contrary truth to be told…But do you think I can really miss a chance to make fun of him?
Frodo shook his head again. You are impossible.
Thanks.
The staircase ended in a vast room, bigger than those they had passed previously.
Let me risk a little more light… Gandalf commented.
The light grew, lighting a big part of the cave. Gimli took a deep breath at that sight and also the others could not help but looking around, amazed. They had never thought that the rough, avid Dwarves could have created something so wonderful. Rows and rows of mighty columns stood proudly, disappearing in the dark for the ceiling was so high that even now the light did not reach it.
Behold! the wizard said. The great realm of the dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf.
Well, there's an eye-opener and no mistake, Sam murmured reverently.
Boja faus!1 Victoria remarked, staring at her surrounding with her mouth open. The whole Mole Antonelliana2 could fit here horizontally and there would still be a lot of space left!
They started walking between the rows of columns.
Impressive, isn't it? Frodo murmured to the young witch walking by his side.
The girl nodded, staring at the huge arches, I haven't felt so small since I visited St Peter's Dome in Rome…
Don't tell me… the Hobbit murmured.
Victoria smiled evilly. Well…All of this confirms my theory.
What theory? Pippin asked, curious.
The one that says that Dwarves suffer of a terrible complex of inferiority. Why did they build columns so high if it wasn't to compensate for their, ehm, height? On her face, lit by her wand's flame, shone a wicked light.
The Hobbits had to do their best not to laugh out loud as they imagined how Gimli would have reacted to that theory.
Don't let Gimli hear you or he'll cut off your head! Frodo warned her immediately.
Probably, but first he'd have to find a chair and get on it, Victoria replied and this time it was harder for them to contain their laughter.
However, as soon as they smelled the air, they lost all their will to laugh. The smelled a nauseating stench, the same that had met them in the hall.
Between two columns there was a big door and in front of it lay several Dwarf skeletons pierced by black arrows. From the ajar door came a ray of light that also lit up something else… Gimli started running toward that lateral room and not even Gandalf's commanding voice managed to stop him. They couldn't help but follow him.
In that room, a battle had been fought and it wasn't difficult to understand who had lost: other Dwarf skeletons filled the room, lying in the dust. Right in the middle of the floor, lit by that ray of light – the first they could see in days – a sarcophagus of stone stood out. Gimli fell on his knees and leaned his brows against it, lamenting loudly.
At that sight, Victoria shuddered and stared at the pale light, not to let the images from her past get the better of her present. She was not ready to face them, not in that moment and not there, God-only-knows how many meters below the surface.
Gandalf came near the tomb and read the words carved on the slab that covered it. Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead, then…It is as I feared.
The Dwarf let out a louder lament. He and Victoria had never got along well, quite the contrary, and yet the girl pitied him. She knew perfectly well how he felt. Victoria approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder wordlessly. She knew how useless words could be in that kind of situation. She knew it even too well. It was strange to see the two "sworn enemies" side by side, the witch trying to comfort the Dwarf. Victoria might think Gimli arrogant, disagreeable and "Gryffindor", Gimli might think that Victoria was just an annoying and mad girl, but in that moment they were united by the pain that one was feeling and that the other had already felt.
We must move on, we cannot linger, Legolas whispered to Aragorn.
But Gandalf didn't look like he wanted to leave. A skeleton attracted his attention. The Dwarf had died clutching to his chest a big book, whose cover had been ruined by the stroke of a sword or of an axe. The wizard entrusted his hat and his staff to Pippin and bent down to get the book. As he picked it up, some dusty and yellowish pages fell on the ground. Without as much as a second glance, he opened and started reading after blowing the dust off, They have taken the bridge, and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. They were all paying attention to him and to the words he was reading. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming.
That had been the end of the Dwarves of Moria.
Victoria bit her lip and let out a long sigh, thinking about her Housemates from Slytherin. Boromir laid a hand on her shoulder for a moment an wished that Gandalf hadn't read those lines.
A sudden noise echoed in the air, startling everybody. They turned toward the corner from where it had come and saw Pippin, with Gandalf's staff and hat in his hands, walking away from a well on which there was the skeleton of a Dwarf covered with cobwebs. Its head was missing. The skeleton fell down the well, dragging with him a bucket and a chain. The grave silence that had reigned until that very moment was completely broken. Instead of diminishing, the noise seemed to grow louder and louder, amplified by the huge halls and echoing in every corner of the mountain.
The ten companions stood still as statues, tense as arch-strings. In the silence that sudden clang had seemed like the flourish of trumpets announcing Doom's Day. After eternal seconds the noise died down and the silence came back again.
Christ… Victoria breathed, bringing a hand to her own chest and feeling her heart pounding.
Fool of a Took! Gandalf reproached him acidly, snatching the staff and the hat from his hands. Throw yourself in, next time, rid us of your stupidity!
Pippin lowered his gaze and Gandalf moved as to turn around again when another noise, this time fainter and more choked, froze him on the spot. He slowly turned toward the well, for that was its source. The noise repeated more loudly a second time, then again and again. It was the classical, unmistakable sound of a drum repeatedly hit. Another series of beats answered, then a third. Hellish shrieks started echoing in the hall.
Frodo unsheathed Sting: in the dark the blade shone with a blue light.
Oh my God… Victoria murmured, fear evident in her voice.
Orcs! Legolas shouted.
Boromir ran to the great door, looked out and immediately drew back: two black arrows, alike to those that had pierced the bodies of the Dwarves, planted themselves in the wood exactly in the same spot where his head had been. The shrieks were getting nearer and nearer.
Get back! Aragorn shouted, pushing away the Hobbits and the girl. Stay close to Gandalf! He threw away the torch and helped Boromir close the door.
They have a cave troll, the Man of Minas Tirith warned them.
Legolas passed him and Aragorn some axes to block the door, but they all knew that it would just give them a few moments, nothing more.
Victoria unsheathed her sword and pulled out her wand, calling the Twenty-Nine Slytherins. Immediately, her eyes rolled back and lit up with green and the silvery aura wrapped her.
Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir stood in the first line, their weapons ready. The door was attacked.
Let them come! Gimli bellowed, standing on his cousin's grave. There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!
The door started giving under the assaulters' blows, some pieces of wood falling on the ground. One of Legolas' arrows slipped through the small hole and immediately a cry of pain was heard. The arrow had hit its target. The Elf and Isildur's heir shot some arrows, but soon the door flew open under the pressure of that screaming mass.
For half a second, Victoria and the Hobbits were petrified. They had never thought that something so foul could exist…The last Slytherin pulled herself together and cast a Lightning against one of those beasts, who dropped on the ground, fulminated. That was like the sound of the charge: the Halflings threw themselves in the fight, firmly gripping their swords.
But the Orcs had barely started. One of them came in leading by a chain something that smashed the door and looked like a gray and moving mountain. A cave troll. Legolas hit it with an arrow as soon as it stepped into the room, but it seemed useless. Sam Gamgee, who was right on its path, stood paralyzed, staring at the horrible beast. With a roar, the troll raised its weapon – a huge hammer – and was about to strike him. The Hobbit threw himself forward and slipped between the giant's legs, crawling away and getting away unscathed. Roaring, the beast turned to Gimli but the Dwarf managed to avoid the blow jumping down from Balin's tomb. The sarcophagus was made of massive stone, yet it shattered like glass. More furious, the troll tried to hit the Dwarf when an Orc threw him on the ground, but two Elvish arrows pierced its flesh.
Frodo, Merry and Pippin took cover in a corner.
Victoria and Duke were on the other side of the room. For the hawk, it was more difficult than it had been against the Wolves of Mordor. On the other hand, the witch was doing discretely well: she parried the blows with her sword and returned with her wand, throwing Lightings and Fireballs at all the Orcs who came near her.
The troll tried to hit Legolas with his chain, but the Elf, after dodging it twice, managed at the third round to block the chain around a pillar with his foot and to climb on it. He jumped on the troll's back and shot an arrow in its skull point blank, then got down with a nimble jump. Unfortunately, the quick action didn't end as he had hoped. Blinded with pain and anger, the troll launched at the three Hobbits huddled in the corner. He lowered his hammer upon them without hitting anyone, but the Ring Bearer was separated from his cousins.
Aragorn shouted his name, Victoria turned around swiftly. Her heart, that already hammered in her chest, doubled its pace when she found out that he was no where to be seen.
Frodo had tried to hide behind a great column, moving around it so as not to be found by the troll that was trying to smell him. The Hobbit had barely let out the faintest sigh of relief when the giant appeared suddenly on his right with a horrible roar. Instinctively, he threw himself on the left, falling on the ground. The beast seized him as the octopus-like had done days before, dragging him on the stone floor. As he desperately searched for a hook, Frodo shouted Aragorn's name. The Ranger was desperately fighting against the Orcs that blocked his way, trying to reach him. The troll raised its hammer to strike him and Frodo scratched its hand with his sword. He fell on the ground in a corner and was about to be seized but, right in that moment, Aragorn jumped in front of Frodo, shielding him. The Ranger furiously sank a robust spear in the monster's ribcage that seemed to suffer from the blow and the two stones thrown by Merry and Pippin… But with a sudden blow, the beast swept the Man aside, throwing him against the wall. Aragorn collapsed on the floor, unconscious, and Frodo threw himself by his side, barely managing to dodge the spear that the troll had pulled away from its wound. The Hobbit cut him again with his sword and tried to escape by running in the opposite direction, but the spear stuck in the wall and barred his way. He could only withdraw, until his back hit the unyielding wall. With a noise that seemed a grotesque mocking laughter, the troll stabbed him.
The blow was terrible. He felt as he was breaking in two. Before the black veil fell on his eyes and swallowed everything, on the other side of the room, beyond the beast's body, Frodo saw Victoria's face, painted with horror, shock and anger. A voice full of pain and desperation cried his name, then he could not hear anymore.
She had barely followed the fight, busy with the Orcs in front of her. She had only glimpsed a dark shadow flying against the wall out of the corner of her eye and then… Duke had flown down upon the Orc in front of her that was already seriously wounded, and she had turned toward the other Fellows. Just in time to hear that kind of laughter. Just in time to see Frodo stabbed by that spear. In that moment, she had felt as if an Orc had driven its claws in her flesh and ripped her heart out of her chest, as if an incandescent sword had pierced her. She thought she had screamed his name at the top of her lungs, but she wasn't sure…The only thing Victoria remembered clearly was Frodo's face deformed by an immense pain and those blue eyes full of suffering. She remembered the way he had lifelessly dropped on the floor. Her eyes had watched many people die and seen many corpses, but in that moment she felt as if the whole mountain had crumbled over her.
She never knew exactly what had made her react so. Maybe it had been because of Draco and the other Twenty-Nine Slytherins, because of what had happened to them – or maybe not. However, something went off inside of her in that moment. Her silvery aura, faint as the moonlight, increased, grew stronger, became a silver flame. Her eyes became green again, but she was seeing red, she was burning.
The troll had its back turned on her, but, even if she couldn't see him, she knew that it and the other monsters were rejoicing. Victoria growled: there's no other way to describe the sound that came from her throat, through the teeth bared like snake fangs. She raised her wand and aimed at the giants's back, Verbero!
A yellow lightning hit it and wrapped itself around its gray body. The troll stood, shrieking with pain, waving its arms trying to seize the invisible enemy that was striking it.
The battle started again, wilder than ever. As soon as the spell was broken, Merry and Pippin jumped on the beast's shoulders with drawn swords. This time, the giant knew well where its attackers were: it tried to shake them off, but was hit by a green ray of light. Horrified, he felt its own heartbeat slowing down and reacted by shaking brusquely. Merry was thrown on the floor, but the giant did not have time to hurt him. The troll felt the blade of a sword ripping its stomach.
A shout echoed above the other sounds. It was different from the battle cries that filled the busty air: it was a name. Torey! Boromir shouted when he saw her raising her arm again, gathering her strength. Too late, the strike was off. The blade sank in the flesh of the monster's thigh.
The girl drew back as fast as she had come. The monster launched at her, but its arm suddenly caught fire. Right in that moment, Pippin managed to get up enough to run his sword through its head, down to the handle. The Hobbit made it open its mouth and Legolas shot an arrow that pierced its palate. The troll let out a sort of bellow, stumbled and fell on the ground, dead.
The battle was over, but there was no joy as their eyes fell on the fallen Ring Bearer.
Aragorn slowly approached him and turned him on his side. Suddenly, the "corpse" coughed and took a deep breath. He's alive! Sam cried out, kneeling down beside him.
I'm all right… Frodo reassured him. I'm not hurt…
You should be dead… Aragorn murmured, astonished and incredulous. That spear would have skewered a wild boar!
I think there is more to this Hobbit than meets the eye, Gandalf said, relief clear in his eyes.
Frodo met his gaze and lifted aside the hem of his shirt, shoving the bright chain mail.
Mithril… Gimli murmured, impressed. You are full of surprises, master Baggins!
Victoria Cross approached the Hobbit wordlessly. When he raised his head, she slapped him so hard that they all heard a sharp smack, like a gunshot. Then she fell to her knees and hugged him so tightly that she knocked the air out of his lungs, as if she had been afraid that he could disappear. Don't you dare scare me like that again! Victoria cried, burying her head against his shoulder.
Frodo, caught off guard, didn't even have the time to hug her back. They had to leave that place as fast as they could. They could already hear the shrieks of the other approaching Orcs.
To the bridge of Khazad-Dum! Gandalf said.
They threw themselves out of the room and started running in the high-columned hall. The Orcs were everywhere, behind their backs and over their heads. They jumped out from crack in the floor like Hellish demons, climbed down the pillars like spiders, shrieking with all their might…The Fellowship was suddenly surrounded by that black, compact mass, spiked with spears, axes, swords and sharp shields. The ten companions got ready to sell their lives dearly, but suddenly the Orcs fell silent and in the dark echoed a terrible roar. A light appeared in the far archway at the other end of the hall.
Usually, the light is associated with Good, but Victoria had the feeling that this time it would be other way around. The Orcs looked at each other, unsure. The howl was repeated, this time more angrily. Crying with fear, the other fiends ran away terrorized, climbing on columns and throwing themselves into the crack from which they had sprung.
"Bad sign. Very bad sign," the girl thought gripping her sword and her wand. She raised her gaze toward the ceiling. Duke wanted to fly away as well, but the affection he bore to his mistress held him in place.
What is this new devilry? Boromir asked.
Gandalf didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, concentrating deeply, as if he had been trying to hear a soft, far voice. A Balrog, he said at last. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!
The race began again, more troubled and desperate than before.
Boromir ran through a door and Victoria followed him, but she stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she had passed through it. As he glanced backwards to check that his daughter and the little ones had not fallen back, the warrior of Minas Tirith hadn't realized that the rest of the stairs was on the left and now was teetering on the edge of a dark abyss, about to fall. An icy terror crept over the girl, paralyzing her. She was completely blocked, her mind was screaming, part for the memories, part to push her to act, but it was all vain, it was as if her nerves had been cut, she couldn't move… A breath of air grazed her as Legolas passed her by running. The Elf grabbed the Man around the waist and pulled him back. They both fell on the ground, safe and sound. In a second, they were on their feet again, ready to run down the stairs. Victoria was right behind them and she was feeling bad. She hated herself for not having been able to move, she had almost stood back watching as someone – not a simple someone, her own father – fell in the shadow again. She had sworn that she would have not let it happen again and then she had allowed her memory to take over her. She raised her gaze on Boromir, who was running in front of her. "Never again. Never again."
There were a couple of things she had to do. Apologize to Boromir. Thank Legolas. But first of all, they had to get out. All of them. All in a whole. She kept on running down the steps until Boromir stopped everybody. The road was interrupted, part of the staircase in front of them had collapsed. Legolas turned around, launched Victoria over his shoulder and before the girl could fully realize what had happen, she found herself back to her feet on the other side of the gap.
Gandalf! Legolas called, holding out a hand toward the wizard, who jumped with unexpected agility.
Spears and arrows started raining down from above. The Elf turned around, slinging on his bow, and his arrow pierced the Orc that fell in the abyss. In the same moment, Boromir landed on the other side of the gap, carrying Merry and Pippin in his arms. You okay? Victoria said, coming near them, but they had no time to answer her. Part of the stairs crumbled loudly, driving them further apart. Aragorn threw Sam, who was caught by Boromir, over the crack and turned around to do the same with Gimli, who stopped him with an imperious wave, Nobody tosses a Dwarf!
He took a short run and jumped, landing exactly on the edge of the step. He lost his footing and his balance, but Legolas turned around and grabbed his beard.
Not the beard! The Dwarf complained as the Elf dragged him to safety.
On the other side of the gap there were only Frodo and Aragorn, but before they could jump, the stairs started crumbling under their feet. The Ranger barely had time to push the Ring Bearer back when it crumpled up under his feet. He almost fell, but he managed to pull himself up on the stair again. The distance that separated them from the others was now impossible to cross. The floor and the walls shook under the weight and the strength of the approaching Balrog. Some big rocks fell from the ceiling right on the ten companions. It was just a miracle if no one was hurt, but one of those rocks shattered the stair behind Aragorn and Frodo, cutting off a retreat that – truth to be told – would have been impossible anyway. The column that held the island where they stood gave in and the rock started waving like a treetop shaken by the wind. Aragorn pulled the Hobbit near. On the other side of the gap, Victoria held her breath but refused to close her eyes. The two men tried to balance themselves, but it was very hard. Frodo was about to lose his balance but managed to straighten himself at the last second.
They stood still, unmoving, for a couple of seconds. Lean forward, Aragorn suggested to him as he did so, bending toward the rest of the staircase. At the last moment, Frodo and Aragorn jumped and were caught by Boromir and Legolas. For the whole time, the Halfling hadn't kept his eyes away from the young witch standing behind Boromir. The girl was clutching her wand, ready to catch them with a spell if Aragorn's plan hadn't worked. They started running down again as behind their backs the staircase fell down with a crash. They passed into a corridor full of fire and flames, Gandalf was leading them.
Over the bridge, fly! he shouted to exceed the roars of the beast, showing them the way and following after gazing for long seconds into the flames and into the eyes of the monster that had come from them. They passed through archways and doors and finally the bridge appeared in front of them.
Victoria stopped dead in her tracks, unable to take a step. When Boromir realized this, he made as to go back to get her, but Aragorn motioned to him not to stop. He would have taken care of her.
Barely slowing down, the Ranger launched the girl over his shoulder and carried her to the other side. Victoria didn't close her eyes, so she found herself gazing down the black pit. She shook from head to toe and she would have probably fainted if it hadn't been for the reassuring cry of her hawk that was flying over them. As soon as they were safe, Aragorn put her down and she dropped against the rocky wall, unable to stand. She was panting and shaking all over. Victoria closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get back some self-control. When she opened them again, the others were on the stairs that led outside and were staring at the bridge.
"Haven't we all crossed it?" she wondered and turned to look at it.
Gandalf the Gray stood in the middle of the arch, firmly decide to face the enemy. You cannot pass!
Gandalf! Frodo shouted.
Victoria didn't even have the strength to do so. She grasped the cross she wore around her neck, keeping her gaze fixed on the wizard. "No stupid things…Gandalf don't do anything stupid…Everything but that…For God's sake, don't do anything stupid and go away immediately…Oh, pleasepleaseplease…"
I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor! the wizard said in front of the blazing demon, that stood high and menacingly. Dark fire shall not avail you, Flame of Udun!
The flaming blade of the Balrog clashed against Gandalf's staff that shone with a white light. Sparks and high flames flew and the monster stepped back, maybe surprised by his resistance.
Again the voice of the Istari was heard: Go back into shadow! The Balrog stepped on the bridge, whirling his whip of flame. Gandalf raised his staff between his hands. YOU SHALL NOT PASS! he shouted, slamming the staff against the rock forcefully. The Balrog took another step and the bridge collapsed under it, breaking exactly where it had been hit by the wizard's staff.
The beast fell. Gandalf turned around to come up with the others, but with a sudden darting the monster's whip wrapped around his ankle, pulling him down. He barely managed to grasp the edge of the bridge.
GANDALF! Frodo shouted as he threw himself forward, but Boromir held him back.
The wizard tried to climb up again, but in vain. His eyes met the Ring Bearer's. Fly, you fools! The Istari lost his grip, falling in the dark.
Frodo's desperate scream filled the air. NOOOO! The Hobbit fought against the warrior, who was holding him back, but uselessly. The Man lifted him up bodily, taking him up in his arms. He was still screaming when Boromir carried him outside.
The Man turned to the last two companions. Torey! Aragorn! he shouted, trying to awake them.
Gearing his voice, Aragorn pulled himself together. He seized the girl by the arm and ran upstairs, dragging her. She looked like a rag doll. It was just a miracle that they weren't hit by the arrows of the Orcs.
They came out from Moria in the bitter sunlight and collapsed on the rocks.
Victoria could barely breathe and move. She felt as though she had been walking underwater, even the things around looked like they were immersed in the water…But maybe it was just her tears that didn't let her see. The scene she had just witnessed, so similar to Draco's death…past and present mixed, memories threatened to overpower her again.
"No," she thought firmly. "I can't break again. They need me, I must not allow it…" She managed to drive back those images. She raised her face, narrowing her eyes and trying to focus on the people around her. She got to her feet, stumbling a little and hating herself because of it.
They all needed comfort, the blow had been heavy…but to one of them, it had been even heavier. She looked for Frodo with her eyes and found him beyond some rocks, far away from the others…There he stood, staring at the infinite horizon. Completely lost.
Victoria slowly approached him, her movements still unsure, and stopped a couple of steps away from him. She whispered his name, Frodo…
Hearing his own name, the Hobbit tried to choke down his tears and turned to drive away the person who had called him. He thought that nobody could understand his pain, he didn't want to hear empty words of comfort that nobody believed. But when he turned around and looked in those eyes full of tears and sorrow, of a new pain and an old one, that showed a wound that had never closed…then he understood that he was wrong. There was somebody who understood perfectly his own pain, for she had felt one similar – maybe even greater – herself. He stumbled toward her and next moment he was in her arms, held in a desperate and sorrowful embrace. He held her tightly, clinging to her and hiding his face against her neck. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't. He just felt a terrible ache in his heart and Victoria's body against his own. Pain and Victoria. The only two things that were real. Just his pain. And Victoria, who understood him perfectly and now held him without speaking, because she knew that any word would have been worse than useless.
For how long they embraced, they couldn't tell. Maybe a few seconds, maybe many hours…Pain knows no time. It was Aragorn's voice calling Frodo's name that brought them back to Earth, if we may say so. Though unwillingly, the Hobbit and the witch let go of each other but didn't go too far. They caught up with the others, walking side by side slowly.
They had to keep on going.
As they came near, Victoria studied the others' faces. Sam, Merry and Pippin were broken, Gimli looked upset as well but she wasn't sure if he would have accepted the comfort she meant to offer him. Legolas looked lost and confused, he couldn't understand death. Somebody ought to explain him a thing or two, before he learned to know it in the hard way. Aragorn and Boromir hid their feelings very well, but she was sure that their souls were bleeding too.
"And how could it be otherwise?"
The three warriors could fool the Hobbits and the Elf and maybe even themselves, but not Victoria, not who had already been through that. Memories pressed against the barriers behind which she had locked them, fighting to surface, but she couldn't allow it. "I can't break down now that they need me!"
Watching their faces marked with tears and pain, she decided to take care of them.
Torey… Boromir called her, approaching her and laying his hands on her shoulders. The question his voice couldn't express was clear in his eyes.
I'm fine, édnie3… she reassured him in a low voice. I'm still on my own two feet… She looked for his eyes and held them. I'm fine,
Boromir knew she was lying, but he didn't get angry because he also knew that she was lying essentially to herself…just like all of them were, after all. He quickly hugged her, hoping that that brief contact would give her some comfort. Unfortunately, right in that moment there was nothing else he could do for her.
Victoria clung to him, allowing herself for those brief seconds to be comforted and not to comfort. They parted. Their embrace had lasted only a handful of seconds, but it had been more than enough to give her back her strength.
They started walking toward the woods of Lothlorien with Duke flying high above them.
1Boja faus: Piedmontese dialect, untranslatable. That's an interjection that can express anger, disappointment, frustration, astonishment or, like in this case, wonder and awe.
2 Mole Antonelliana: You remember the author's note at the beginning of chapter IX, don't you?
For all the people who don't remember: it's a kind of tower, symbol of Turin.
3 édnie: "dad, daddy" in Gondor's local speech.