Gandalf looking weary and yet fearful said, "To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!" We ran 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. We were closely pursued by an army of Orcs. Other Orcs sprung out from the floor and some crawled from the ceiling and down the pillars, like spiders. They surrounded us, and we have drawn our weapons outward in a circle. The Orcs snarled and leered at the frightened faces of my companions. Just then, a fiery light appeared at the end of a hall followed by a thunderous rumble. The Orcs, dismayed, fled, panicking, in all directions. I felt my heart drop to the floor. We were left alone. The old wizard stared down the hall.

Boromir asked, "What is this new devilry?" Gandalf did not respond for a moment. He closed his eyes, concentrating. The rumble was heard again.

"Nothing that we can fight with our weapons," I said in response to Boromir's question. Gandalf opened his eyes, and they looked grim and solemn. I started chanting in the same language I had used to try to control the kraken, this time to low for anyone but Legolas to hear.

Gandalf finally answering replied, "A Balrog— a demon of the ancient world." The thing growled, still hidden around a corner of the vast hall, throwing fiery light on the pillars. My chanting became more furious in an attempt to get the creature to return into the abyss it came from. Legolas's eyes displayed only fear— he clearly knew what the beast was. Gandalf continued, "This foe is beyond any of you," he turned, "Run!" We ran between the rows of pillars and came to a small doorway in the wall. Gandalf directed us through. Gandalf trying to get us to hurry said, "Quickly!" He took a last glance behind him, and followed. I was still chanting while trying to run on a possibly broken leg. My friends couldn't help me now.

We entered a passageway and went down a flight of steps. The stairs ended in a missing segment, and Boromir nearly fell into fires below but Legolas pulled him back. His torch whirled away into the vast underworld beneath; the Hobbits too stop short of falling in. I stopped short of the stairs. I was barely able to run so I wasn't going to try to do stairs unless I had too. Last of all came weary Gandalf, who leaned upon a wall.

Aragorn worried about his friend asked, "Gandalf!"

Gandalf putting his hand on Aragorn's shoulder said, "Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!" They looked across a wide space to a long bridge spanning the gap between a hall and a cliff face. Away behind us, the Balrog roared again. Aragorn moved towards Gandalf, but Gandalf pushed Aragorn roughly away from him. Gandalf yelled, "Do as I say!" Hurt and confusion registered on Aragorn's face. Gandalf continuing in a loud voice said, "Swords are no more use here!" He turned to look at me, "You too Allie, get them out of here!"

The Balrog roared again. We descended a flight of stairs twisting into the fiery depths, rising from the ground far below. We encountered a gap in the stairs. "Shit!" I thought. Legolas leapt forward and landed on the other side. The Balrog's rumbles tore through the fiery light. Parts of the foundations splintered and crumbled, sending huge rocks tumbling into the depths. Legolas beckoning said, "Gandalf." Gandalf leapt after him. Legolas caught him. Arrows whistled into the air from a far ledge, striking the stone steps at our 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. He then turned to me, "Allie, come on!" I tried to jump but couldn't do it.

"Aragorn, toss me," I said. He looked at me confused. "I can't jump on this injured leg. Help me!" He came over and helped me over the gaping hole and I landed in Legolas's arms.

Boromir said grabbing Merry and Pippin, "Merry! Pippin! Hoo-aah!" He leapt across the gap. There was a fierce exchange of arrows from the stairs to the ledge.

"I'll handle the orcs Legolas, help the others across," I said loading my bow and taking aim. The pain in my leg was starting to get really bad. I hoped I would be able to finish the journey out of the mines. The gap between the two pieces of bridge widened.

Aragorn grabbing hold of Sam said, "Sam." He tossed Sam to the other side where the he was caught by Boromir. Aragorn reached to pick up Gimli. The dwarf raised his hand.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf," he said. He leapt forward but nearly fell back into the chasm. Legolas grabbed his beard and pulled him up. Gimli yelled, "Not the beard!"

"Is there another preference that you have Gimli, there isn't that much to grab ahold of on you," I said shooting another two orcs. Some of the stone steps crumbled and fell into the abyss. Aragorn pushed Frodo back up the steps and clambered after him, struggling up. They found their feet and looked at the widened gap that separated them from the rest of their companions.

Aragorn laying a hand on Frodo's shoulder said, "Steady." Then yelling said, "Hold on!" The Balrog could be heard approaching from the other hall, its fiery light getting closer. I started to panic for my friends. Stone structures around the mine collapsed as it drew near. A huge rock fell from the ceiling and smashed through the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them and weakening the stairs' foundation. The stairs began to wobble.

"Lean!" I shouted to the ranger and young hobbit. Aragorn nodded.

Aragorn encouraged Frodo, holding fast to his arm. Aragorn said, "Hang on! Lean forward!" They were using their weight to move the stairs toward us. They were coming close fast.

Legolas said, "Come on!" They shifted their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming them onto the steps where their companions were. They leapt across to safety, and many arms reached out to pull them over. Turning, we ran down the stairs as the stone structures collapsed behind us, crumbling and falling into the abyss. We came around a great pillar in a fiery hall Gandalf in the lead for just a moment, leading us. A wall of flame whirled behind us.

Gandalf herding us said, "Over the bridge! Fly!" Legolas was in the lead and I was falling behind, now limping quite severely. We fled to the narrow bridge and I wasn't sure that I would be able to on it. I did, but Gandalf did not follow, but turned, looking into the wall of fire. 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. It opened its mouth, rippling heat pouring out with a rumble. Gandalf turned, running after his companions. A great, black, cloven foot stomped down into the hall, bursting into flame. Gandalf turned to face the Balrog. Gandalf said, "You cannot pass!"

Frodo watching from the other side yelled for his friend, "Gandalf!" Great shadows like wings of ash whirled around the demon, which spread its arms and burst into thundering flame. Gandalf stood beneath it, staff and sword raised. I again tried to control the creature using the language that controlled all such beings. I tried and was failing.

Gandalf raising his staff said, "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor…" A blazing light radiated from the staff, illuminating the entire bridge, encircling the wizard in a globe of endless light. "The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!" The Balrog heaved its arm upward, a sword of fire forming in its hand. The Balrog struck down on Gandalf, who parried the blow with his blade, shattering the Balrog's sword. Glowing embers ran off the circle of light around the wizard. The enraged monster bellowed at the wizard. Frodo gasped. Aragorn ran forward and I put my hand on his arm. Gandalf clenching his teeth said, "Go back to the Shadow!"

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 about menacingly. Gandalf summoned the last of his energy, and raised his sword and staff together into the air. Our guide yelled, "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 moved towards Gandalf, and broke before the wizard's staff. The demon plunged backward into the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. Gandalf, exhausted, leaned on his staff and watched the Balrog fall; he turned to follow us. At the last second, the flaming whip lashed up from the depths of the abyss and coiled about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clung onto the bridge but strained to keep his grip. Frodo rushed forward but Boromir restrained him.

Boromir said, "No, no!" catching the young hobbit.

Frodo fought to get to his friend. He yelled for him, "Gandaaaaalf!" The wizard grasped vainly at the stone, looking into Frodo's eyes. Both of them stopped struggling for a moment.

Gandalf said, "Fly, you fools!" Gandalf let go of the stone and fell into the chasm, spreading his arms, the light of the Balrog glimmering far below.

Frodo yelled, "Noooooooooooooooo!" He tried to break free of Boromir's grasp. Boromir grabbed hold of Frodo and started to leave up a flight of stairs. I pulled an Aragorn's arm to get him to come, then I started limping towards the stairs.

Boromir called, "Aragorn!"

Frodo was still yelling, "Noooooooooooo!" Aragorn was stunned. He stared at the distant bridge in disbelief. For a moment he did not move, but then Orc arrows started whistling by once again, shooting at us. Dodging them, he turned and followed us up the stairs. He grabbed my arm and helped me the rest of the way out.