"Am man? (Why) " Maith demanded to no one in particular.
"Amarth faeg. (Evil fate)" Legolas sighed.
Aragorn, had knelt next to Frodo, gave a surprised exclamation. Maith rushed to his side.
"What is it?"
Frodo's hand seemed to twitch. Everyone held their breath. A small sigh escaped the hobbit's mouth, and the company crowded to his side, helping him sit up.
"He's alive," Sam said in wonder.
"I'm alright," Frodo answered, "I'm not hurt." His voice was faint, but it seemed he indeed was not in any great pain.
"You should be dead," Aragorn exclaimed, "that spear would have skewered a wild boar."
"I think there is more to this hobbit that meets the eye, Gandalf added.
Frodo reached out and pulled away a corner of his shirt, revealing a shirt of silver chain mail, closely netted and with intricate patterns.
"Mithril," Gimli whispered, "you are full of surprises, Master Baggins," he concluded.
Legolas' joyous smile faded as he again heard the patter of feet drawing nearer. "Orc and goblins…" He murmured to Gandalf.
"There is no time," the wizard ordered, "to the bridge of Khazad-Dum!"
As if awakened, the group helped Frodo up and ran across a passage into a large hall, but they were too late. Goblins emerged, crawling and cackling above them, emerging from cracks and holes in the ceiling and pillars, circling them. Maith and Legolas drew out their bows, and everyone else drew out swords and knives for their last fight.
Suddenly, the halls trembled with a rumble from deep below the ground and goblins scattered, screeching and muttering. Maith did not know whether to feel relieved or doomed. The entrance to the hall was no longer dark, but glowed with flames.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir muttered.
Gandalf shook his head hopelessly. "A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you." He paused, eyes holding each of the fellowship, "Run!"
Again they fled through the halls, only stopping when they came to a gap in the path.
"Lead them on, Aragorn, the bridge is near," Gandalf advised.
They were lead down a safer stairwell, but too came to a gap. Legolas leapt across first and turned, just in time to catch Gimli's beard and pull him up. The dwarf had refused to be tossed. Maith then threw Merry and Pippin across and then leapt herself, followed by Aragorn (carrying Frodo) and Boromir (carrying Sam). Gandalf crossed last, pushing them on.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" he shouted.
They crossed, one at a time, through the narrow bridge. Maith was just about to follow, when she heard the air stir behind her. Quickly, she turned and leapt back as the Balrog's whip lashed at her. Nevertheless, the tip struck her stomach, and Maith felt searing pain through her body.
Tears blurring her vision, Maith turned and stumbled across the bridge, feeling as if her legs were filled with lead. Reaching the safety of the others, she turned to see Gandalf stood tall in the middle, facing the demon.
"You cannot pass!" he yelled, voice ringing with authority, and raised his staff above his head. "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!"
The Balrog just snarled, and the heat in the hall grew almost unbearable.
"Go back to the Shadow," Gandalf said.
The Balrog began to advance, looming over the wizard.
"You shall not pass!" Gandalf cried, and his staff made contact with the bridge. White light erupted from the spot and the ground beneath the demon collapsed, sending it tumbling down, down…
Gandalf turned proudly, but at the last moment a flaming whip shot from below, curling around his ankle and dragging him down. Maith watched, hopeless, as the wizard clung onto the ledge with a last burst of strength.
"Fly, you fools!" He shouted. And then was dragged down into the depths of the mountain.
Forgetting her pain, Maith made sure to fulfill the wizard's last instruction. "Quickly, we must hurry," she commanded the company firmly, and they stumbled the last bit of the journey through the Mines stricken with grief and blinded by sadness.
As they finally emerged from under the mountain, gulping fresh air and light, Maith felt like her wound was tearing her up. She allowed a little moan to escape her lips, and Legolas turned to see her clothing stained red.
Immediately, he was by her side, gently supporting her by the elbows as he led her over to sit on a rock. But Maith was already unconscious.
Occasionally she broke from her agonizing dreams and heard fragments of conversation of her friends. First was something about eyes of hawks and foxes, then the curse of a dwarf reached her ears.
She wanted to tell him that it wasn't good manners to do so, but found that no words came out, and her lips only trembled slightly before she fell into that deep slumber again…