Gandalf was reading from a worn and decaying book. "…but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes… Drums… drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark." The Fellowship became tense; the drum beats sounding down below. Ed watched as the Hobbits moved around in fear, Pippin straying to an empty well. The old man continued. "We cannot get out… They are coming."
A resounding crash sounds as Pippin jumps back from the well. The skeleton that sits in the well was sitting there no more. Bones cracked and metal clanked. Pippin twitched with every bump that made noise. The entire room was silent as the barrage ended. Gandalf was the first to react. He slammed the book shut.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity."
"Damn it all to hell. Give us all a fucking heart att-" Scratching and what could only be described as the note of a human heart beating could be heard down the hallway. Boromir recovered and ran to the door to look outside.
"Frodo!" Sam was staring at his friend's side. Frodo drew his sword to reveal a blue blade.
"Orcs!"
"How does that work?" cried Al.
"No time. Ready to fight boys. Do you carry weapons? Concealed?" asked Legolas.
"You could say that, pretty boy." Ed clapped his hands loudly.
Boromir pulled his head back in as arrows hit the door. "Aragorn!" Aragorn ran to help him barricade. "They hay a cave-troll."
"Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn called back to the Hobbits. Legolas tossed weapons to Boromir and Aragorn to help blockade the door. The Fellowship drew out their weapons. Gandalf throws away his hat and pulls forth his sword. The Hobbit's follow and draw their blades.
"Where did that come from?" asked Merry. Ed held a blade out before him, the point glinting sharply. "It looks like…"
"Magic. Al here can take care of himself and twice that." He held a stone spear, deciding to keep his arm blade under wraps. "Speaking of that, help keep tabs on the little people." Before his brother moved Ed took back his red coat and put it on swiftly.
"Little people? Don't insult yourself!" shouted Sam angrily.
"Yes brother." Al positioned himself before them, his metal body ready in a fighting stance. Gimli, full of rage, stood up tall on his relatives' tomb wielding his weapons deftly.
"Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath! Bring the battle to me!" His anger grew, face red.
"Calm down! I don't think any of us really want to fight!" shouted Ed. His spear was pointed, but the boy was in no mind to kill. That would come later… with him first.
The oncoming demons began to break in the doors. Their grunts and cries growing louder and more savage. Legolas and Aragorn stood poised, ready to shoot; the Hobbits were also ready, though fear clouds their eyes. The first clear gap is gashed in the door and Legolas shoots first— a shrill cry rings out. The Elf notches an arrow to his bow as Aragorn shoots another. The volleys are first and the real fighting began.
The monsters broke through and a wave of armor clad Orcs charged the Fellowship. They engage in a fierce fight. Aragorn and Legolas fire at will and Boromir smashed their heads and limbs with his blade or hilt. Gandalf, the Hobbits and the brothers launched themselves into the brawl.
Ed stabbed and thrust with his spear, hoping not to kill. He did not want to be evil and sell his soul as a murderer. Beside him, he could sense more then see Al doing the same thing. Even the Hobbit's seemed not to want to face the condemning fear of killing. In the next moment Ed saw a shocking sight.
Sam paused in the heat of battle, his attention drawn upwards. Aragorn also looks up.
"Mother-" Ed began, but was stopped by a slice at his throat. He retaliated swiftly.
A cave troll smashed through the doorway, chains leading from his wrists to an Orc's hand. Legolas shot at the cave troll, hitting it in the shoulder; the beast growled and clapped the wound. Sam continued to stare, frozen, as the troll swung his mace down at the Hobbit.
"MOVE!" shouted Ed.
He dived under the troll's legs and crawled away as the troll turned, and sighted him again. Cornered, Sam cringed. The beast raised his arm to strike when, suddenly, he fell back. Ed looked to find Sam's saviors were Aragorn and Boromir, both behind the troll, pulling on its chains. A rusty and dull axe came at younger alchemists helmet. It clattered across the floor. Al fell, but picked himself up carefully. No one, as far as they could tell, had seen inside.
"Al? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine bro-" he began. An arrow was fired inside the metal suit and cracked an area in the back. He fell with a resounding crash.
"AL!"
Calls of Frodo distracted the older Elric. He looked to see the Hobbit laying on the ground and being bombarded by the cave troll. He called out for help but the sound was lost on him. Aragorn wearily made his way over. The ranger fought valiantly, but went down soon after appearing. The cave troll lifted the man's heavy fighting shaft.
Ed, in utter confusion, turned from the fray and went back to Al. The battle raged on around him, but he was deaf. His brother was not moving. If the arrow had pierced the blood seal, he would not be able to go on. He would have lost the only thing he had left. Not even Winry could fill the hole.
"Al?" His voice was weak. He watched with horror as the demons came forward to the armor. "No, no… not again. Please, leave him. Let me have my brother you SONS OF BITCHES!"
The creatures looked up to see the raging blonde charging at them with a solid steel spear. He had altered its form with more rock and stronger alchemy.
"LEAVE HIM! GO AWAY OR I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU!" The first creature ran at him, expecting to attack Ed. The spear saved him and the others tried to flee. But it appeared the Fellowship were doubling their efforts and killing them before Ed could compute. Without hesitation, Al became his first priority.
When he reached the armor, he saw the helmet was gone. Lost somewhere. He would need to search for it later.
"Al?" He had not moved since he had been shot. Inside, Ed found a crack running from the small of the back plate to the top of the collar. "No…please no. Not Al too." The seal holding the soul was ruptured ever so slightly, hardly noticeable to a casual observer.
Ed felt a rumble and heard the crunch of metal as the troll was torn down but did not stir. It could have been his own leg, but nothing could have moved him. He had just lost the one person left in his world. His only brother. He was gone now, gone forever.
"DAMMIT! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME, YOU BASTARD! ROT IN HELL!" Shouting made him feel no better. He slumped and felt tears form by his eyes. "Al, I will save you again. I am so sorry I dragged you into this."
"Edward? We must move swiftly. More of the enemy is on the move. They will overtake us. Hurry." Ed did not stir, and Aragorn leaned to observe where his gaze lay. The blood seal, made by- and of- the boy. "Is your brother...?"
"Dead. He's gone now. I can't bring him back." Coming out of his daze, Ed moved swiftly. Gathering as much of the metal he could, his whole body shaking. Aragorn steadied him then helped. The last piece Ed picked up was his brother's helmet. It was dented and tinted with blood. He could not place from whom, but he carried it with pride.
"We have taken all we can. We must hurry now, the other's are far-"
"No. We carry nothing with us. Only this," he said flatly as he clamped his treasure. The man paused, then nodded and put the rest back. Then, they fled. "I will save you again younger brother. I promise."
The
Fellowship ran swiftly out the rear door of the chamber into a high,
ornate hall of pillars with a ray of light breaking through from some
high shaft. An army of Orcs closely pursues the Fellowship. Other
Orcs sprung out from the floor or crawled from the ceiling and down
the pillars, like spiders. They surrounded the Fellowship, who drew
their weapons, all but Ed who abandoned the spear, outward in a
circle. The Orcs snarled and leered at the frightened faces. Just
then, a fiery light appears at the end of a hall followed by a
thunderous rumble. The Orcs, dismayed, fled, panicking, in all
directions.
The Fellowship was left alone. The old wizard stared
down the hall at the flame. Ed kept his eyes on the floor while tears
made them heavy.
"What is this new devilry?" whispered Boromir. Fear was heard through his tones.
Gandalf did not respond for a moment. He closed his eyes instead, concentrating. The rumble came again. Gandalf opened his eyes, and they looked grim and solemn. Ed knew the feeling well.
"A Balrog— a demon of the ancient world." Growling punctuated the statement. Ed lifted his as the light flashed into the shadows. He saw Legolas become afraid, which was a rare sight. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
Frodo glanced at the wizard, but complied. They all did, moving swiftly through a small doorway in the wall, which led to more light the shade of fire. "Quickly! Hurry!" he ushered them. Ed was last through, hesitating not truly wanting to leave Al's body behind. At last he had to decide, and went toward the light.
The Fellowship entered a passageway and traveled down a flight of steps. The flight ended in a missing segment, and Boromir nearly fell into the waiting fires below but Legolas pulled him back with his Elven grace. His torch whirled away into the vast underworld beneath; the Hobbits too stopped short of falling in. Last of all came a weary Gandalf, who leaned upon a wall.
Gandalf! Come! We will make it through to the other side!"
"Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!" he cried back, pointing. Across a wide gap spanned a bridge connected a hall and cliff face. The bridge grew smaller in the middle but was wide enough for them to pass over.
"Where's Al? Did we leave him behind?" asked Legolas grimly. The hate of even the idea of going back was evident on his face, as though Al was unworthy of his help. At that, Ed lunged at him, only to be held back by Gimli.
"Come now lad! We must hurry!" He dragged Ed in the direction of the bridge.
The Balrog roared once more. The Fellowship descended a flight of stairs twisting into the fiery depths, rising from the ground far below. The Fellowship encountered a gap in the stairs. Legolas leaped forward and landed on the other side. "Gandalf," he beckoned. Gandalf leaped after him.
The Balrog's rumble tore through the fiery light. Foundations splintered and crumbled, sending huge rocks tumbling into the depths below. Arrows whistled into the air from a far ledge, striking the stone steps at their feet, where Gandalf had stood but a moment ago. Legolas shot back. His arrow rose through the air and pierced the skull of an Orc. The Orc tumbled down from his ledge.
Boromir was next, taking both Merry and Pippin with him under his arms. Ed watched as they almost didn't make it, but at the last minute were saved by the man's strength. Aragorn threw Sam across the gap and the other man caught him. He tried next with the dwarf, but his pride stopped the extension of help.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" he grumbled and launched himself over. The fine law of gravity almost pulled him down, but the Elf saved him. He shouted something but it was unintelligible from Ed's side.
Some of the stone steps crumbled and fell into the abyss. Aragorn pushed both Ed and Frodo back up the steps and clambered after them, struggling up. They climbed to their feet and looked at the widened gap that separated them from the rest of the Fellowship. Aragornlaid a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Steady. Hold on! Ed!" The alchemist had slipped on the lose steps but had pushed off at the right moment and made his way across safely.
The Balrog was gaining on them, now more then ever. The stairs fell away faster and Aragorn barely in control.
"Hang on! Lean forward!" he encouraged the Hobbit. Ed watched in dreaded anticipation as they made their precarious way over the chasm. Boromir caught the last Hobbit and Legolas helped his dear friend steady.
Turning, they all run down the stairs as the stone structure collapses behind them, crumbling and falling into the abyss. Around a great pillar in a fiery hall Gandalf led the Fellowship. A wall of flame whirled behind them.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" he called.
The Fellowship fled. Gandalf did not follow, but turned, looking into the wall of fire. Ed kept his ground between the wizard and the rest, not following. A great form of black shadow leapt through the flames, its eyes of white fire, great ash-black horns curling around a bull-like head.
"The devil himself, it seems, has come to take me," said Ed. "I pay my price now."
It opened its maw, rippling heat pouring out with a rumble. Gandalf turned, grabbing Ed and running after the Fellowship. A great, black, cloven foot stomped down into the hall, bursting into flame. A narrow bridge of stone appeared in the fiery light, and the Fellowship crossed the bridge. Gandalf turned to face the Balrog. Ed stayed as well, ignoring the calls and nudging from the elder.
"You cannot pass!" he called angrily, brandishing his staff.
"A mass of hydrogen. Get too close, and you burn. You burn…" his mind repeated over and over. "Maybe Rose was right. Maybe there is a god out there. But I do not place my hope in him. Not now. It's too late."
Calls to Gandalf came from the other side. No one seemed to notice Ed's presence. "I must be too short for them to see." The familiar hate for his size came back with memories galore. All featuring Al.
"I'm not Full Metal. He is." He repeated many a time, even to other military officials. Oh how it irked Ed. He lost his cool and yelled at the offender, even if it was the Colonel himself. "The Full Metal Alchemist." Al had deserved it, not him.
The Balrog heaved its arm upward, a sword of fire forming in its hand. He struck Gandalf, who parried the blow. The force was enough to drive Ed off his feet. The sword of Fire was shattered. "Go back to the Shadow!" he called through clenched teeth.
A thread of flame issued from the Balrog's maw, and it stepped forward onto the bridge. The beast brandished a flaming whip, lashing it menacingly. Gandalf summoned the last of his energy, and raised his sword and staff together into the air. "YOU...SHALL NOT...PASS!"
Gandalf drove his staff into the bridge, causing a bright flash of blue light to appear. Flaring its nostrils, the Balrog stepped forward onto the bridge. The bridge collapsed from under it as it moves toward Gandalf, and broke before the wizard's staff. Ed felt the stone shudder and he moved forward to pull the wizard away from the hole he had made.
The demon plunged backward into the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. Gandalf, exhausted, leaned on his staff and watched the Balrog fall. Ed grasps his forearm and began to lead him to the others. At the last second, the flaming whip lashed up from the depths of the abyss and wound about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clung onto the bridge but strained to keep his grip. Ed did the same, leaning over the side.
Behind them, Boromir could be heard restraining someone. Frodo could also be heard calling to his mentor and father figure.
"Let me go Edward. My time here is over."
"No. I refuse to lose someone else today." Gandalf let go and he slipped in the boy's grasp. "DON'T YOU DARE LET GO!" He made a move for the stone and Ed pulled back. Just as he let go and was about to help the wizard up, he spoke his last words.
"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf plunged into the deep. Ed lunged, but Aragorn held him back. Frodo was screaming in the background but it was fading as Boromir escaped. Aragorn followed suit, dragging Ed by his coat and braid. The alchemist did not resist.
Outside, the light shone brightly. The others were crying on the slopes of rock. Ed stood still when Aragorn let go. His thoughts covered all areas of death. He had just lost another person. Two in one day, and even though he barely knew the other they were both painful.
"Legolas, get them up." The Elf was confused, but began to comply. Merry and Pippin were closest, both holding each the other for comfort. Sam further on in tears alone.
"No one should cry alone," Ed thought. He did nothing about it, but walked past Sam to a group of rocks.
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" growled Boromir while restraining Gimli.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien." He sheathed his blade. "Come Boromir. Legolas, Gimli, get them up." He made a move for Sam. "On your feet Sam." The Hobbit nodded. Ed clapped and slammed into the stone. It transmuted into a small tomb, engraved on top the names of Alphonse Elric and Gandalf the Gray. "That's all I can do for now brother."
"Frodo? Frodo!" Ed looked up and saw the brunette Hobbit stop moving. He was far ahead of everyone else. When he turned, Ed recognized the look. It was one he wore many years ago. One of revenge, sorrows, and regret. He had worn the same one when mother had died.
Without a word, they all moved for the woods, following Aragorn.
Ed examined himself lightly, feeling woozy and unbalanced. Reaching behind him, his drew back his gloved hand to find the white tarnished by deep crimson.
Merry, who was beside him, saw the color. "Ed! You're bleeding!"
"It's not bad, really… I've had worse…" his sentence fell out of hearing as the ground came to meet him. Faintly, calls for help echoed. "Aragorn! Aragorn! Help! Ed collapsed!"
Darkness overtook him.
Yes, I know- I'm totally evil for killing off Al. But have no fear! By (or at) the end he will return to Edward. They are blood after all. And blood is thickest.
The next update may take a while, since my report card has a C on it and heaven forbid I'm an average student in one class (where average is freaking amazing mind you. Like no one has an A). But I will try and send it through someone else. Have no fear!