"Behold, the great realm and city of Dwarrowdelf."

Everyone stared in silent awe at the towering pillars that made up the Halls of Moria.

If it weren't for the skeletons and the fact that it was covered in dust. It would've been beautiful.

Aéd looked up at the pillars and couldn't imagine something like this in their world. His musings were interrupted when Gimli gasped and ran to an open room.

The Fellowship followed after the dwarf and found him on his knees in front of a tomb, weeping.

Gandalf walked over the side and read the Dwarf Runes that was written on top of the tomb.

"Here lies Balin, Son of Fundin. Lord of Moria."

Gimli lay his head on the tomb.

"He is dead then." He looked at the others with a grim exrepession and took off his hat "It's as I feared."

He saw a book in the hands of a dwarf's skeleton and gave Pippin his hat and staff to hold before taking the book.

Aéd put a hand on Gimli's shoulder.

"We must move on." Legolas said to Aragorn "We have nothing here."

"They have taken the bridge." Gandalf read aloud "And the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums. Drums in the deep."

He turned a page and continued "We cannot get out. The shadow moves in the dark."

Everyone's faces grew weary, some looking left and right as if looking for a hidden enemy.

"We cannot get out."

Pippin looked behind him and saw dusty skeleton sitting on a well and reached out.

"They are coming."

Pippin twisted an arrow that was stuck at the skeleton's chest plate. The small movement caused the skull to roll backwards and fall inside the well. The noise it made alerted Gandalf as he turned and looked at Pippin.

The rest of the skeleton followed after, along with the chains and the bucket attached to it. The noise it made was loud enough to echo throughout the mines.

Gandalf glared at Pippin, who looked down in shame.

"Fool of a Took. Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity." He said as he snatched his hat and staff back from Pippin.

Everyone froze as they heard it. The sound of drums. Drums in the deep. Followed by horrifying screeches.

"Frodo." Sam said as he looked at Frodo's sword, Sting.

Frodo pulled Sting out of it's sheathe and saw it glow blue.

"Orcs!" Legolas said in alarm.

Boromir turned around and went for the doors. He looked left then right and leaned back just in time to dodge the two arrows that would've hit his head.

"Stay close to Gandalf." Aragorn ordered the Hobbits.

He joined Boromir as the two of them shut the doors. They heard a loud roar from a distance.

"They have a cave troll." Boromir said.

He, Aragorn and Legolas barricaded the door with weapons on the ground.

Everyone pulled out their weapons and readied themselves. Gimli stood on top of the tomb with his axe in his right hand and another axe in the other.

He growled "Let them come. There is still one dwarf in Moria that still draws breath."

The banging on the doors intensified. Aragorn and Legolas aimed their bows at the doors.

Boromir readied his sword and shield. His body ready for the fight to come.

Aéd's grip tightened around his Claymore as he readied himself for the horde of Orcs.

Rin twirled her Katanas around her and huffed, ready to kill any bastatd that came through those doors.

Titus kept hitting his Gladius against his steel bracers as if taunting his enemies to come at him.

"Come on, come on. Get over here, you rabid bastards." He muttered under his breath.

A sizeable hole was made on the door by the orcs, giving Legolas and Aragorn a clean shot on them.

The doors blew open and orcs flooded through the room.

The first orcs that charged were quickly met with arrows in the neck or head.

The rest had their heads cleaved off by Aéd's Claymore.

Rin swung her Katanas high and low, cutting off heads and limbs of any orc that got close.

Titus punched, stabbed and cut any orcs that were unfortunate enough to get in his way.

If one could hear past the sounds of battle, they could hear Titus' laugh as he gutted an orc and slit another one's neck.

Sam turned around and froze as a cave troll burst from the doors.

The troll raised it's weapon and slammed it down at Sam but he slid under the troll, who missed.

It turned around and prepared to stomp it's foot on the downed hobbit.

Sam was saved when Aragorn and Boromir pulled at the chain that was tied to the collar of the troll.

The troll turned around and swung his weapon. Aragorn let go of the chain and dodged while Boromir ducked and held on the chain.

The troll glared at Boromir, who looked at the chain in his hands before the troll used it to swing Boromir across the room.

Aragorn saw the Gondorian with an orc standing over him, it's weapon raised to strike.

Aragorn threw his blade and hit the orc's neck. He nodded to Boromir who nodded back in thanks.

Gimli threw his other axe at the troll and hit it at the shoulder. Gimli dodged as the troll tried to slam it's club at him and destroyed Balin's tomb.

Legolas fired two arrows at the troll and turned it's attention to him. It used it's chain as a whip to attack him.

Legolas dodged all it's strike and when it managed to have it's chain wrap around a pillar, he took adavantage of it.

He jumped on the troll's back and fired three arrows on top of it's head but it wasn't enough to kill it. He jumped off just as it set it's gaze on Frodo, Merry and Pippin.

The troll roared as it slammed it's club at them. The three hobbits dodged but Frodo was separated from Merry and Pippin.

Titus was grabbed by an orc and punched him hard that it sent his Galea flying.

He grabbed the orc's arm and snarled before slamming his head on the orc's, making it stagger back.

Taking advantage of this, he kicked it and sent it sprawling on the ground. He grabbed dropped his Gladius and lifted the orc up before punching it again and again and again.

"FRODO!"

Titus stopped punching and saw Frodo with a pike stabbed in his chest.

Time seemed to slow around him. He saw Frodo fall face first to the ground, still as a rock.

Titus' expression turned from shock to rage. He dropped the orc and retrieve his Gladius. He slashed, stabbed, cut and punched his way to the troll. He saw Merry and Pippin on the troll's back and driving their swords on it's head.

Gandalf and Gimli were focusing on the orc, their desire to avenge their fallen friend fueling their resolve.

Sam was running to Frodo, cutting down any orc in his path.

Boromir, Aéd and Rin were busy fighting multiple orcs while Legolas was trying to aim at the troll without hitting the two hobbits on it's back.

The troll managed to shake off Pippin and grabbed Merry by the leg. He lifted him up and roared.

Titus saw a spear on a skeleton's back and took it.

With eyes burning with fury, he threw the spear with all his might.

The spear hit the troll's forehead with enough force to that it managed to throw it's head back.

Legolas saw his opportunity and fired his arrow at the beast's throat, piercing it.

The beast's hands limped and it fell to it's knees before falling dead on the ground.

No one cared about the dead troll and everyone ran their way to Frodo.

"Oh no."

Aragorn turned Frodo over and everyone was shocked when they saw him gasp.

"He's alive." Sam said. His voice filled relief.

"I'm alright. I'm not hurt."

Aragorn help him sit up against the wall and looked over to where the troll stabbed him.

"You should be dead." He said "That spear would have skewered a wild boar."

"I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye."

Frodo opened his shirt and reveal a shiny chain mail.

"Mithril." Gimli said with awe "You are full of surprises Master Baggins."

After the intial shock had subsided, the Fellowship quickly left the room and returned to the Halls. They didn't get far before goblins came crawling out of the walls and ceiling. They were quickly surrounded and was at the mercy of the vile beasts.

Before the orcs could attack, something caused them great alarm. They looked around the room before scrambling back from where they came from. Soon, only the Fellowship was left standing in the halls. They saw a light from the far side of the halls.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf, who closed his eyes.

"A Balrog." His eyes opened as they heard the massive footsteps heading their way "A demon from the ancient world. This foe is beyond of any of you. Run!"

The Fellowship ran as the demon grew closer.

Gandalf grabbed Aragorn by the shoulder "Lead them on, Aragorn." His eyes went to the bridge "The bridge is near. Do as I say! Swords are no more of use here."

The Fellowship made their way to the bridge of Khazad-dûm.

"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf ordered before he heard a roar behind him.

There stands a monster of shadow and flame. It's body was ever burning and it's eyes seem to peer into your soul.

It roared as it chased the Fellowship to the bridge.

Gandalf stopped and turned around to face the demon "You cannot pass!"

The Balrog stood in it's full height and looked down at the wizard.

"I am a Servant of the Secret Fire, Wielder of the Flame of Anor. You cannot pass! The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn." He raised his staff as a barrier of light protected him from the Balrog's flaming sword.

The Balrog roared as it's sword was destroyed.

"Go back to the shadow!"

The Balrog took a step forward and produced a flaming whip.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

Gandalf raised his staff and slammed it on the bridge.

At first, nothing seemed to happen but when the Balrog charged at him. The sextion of the bridge where the Balrog stood collapsed and sent the beast falling into the abyss.

Exhausted, Gandalf turned around only for his foot to be wrapped by the demon's whip and tried to pull him off the bridge. The wizard held on but knew he couldn't hold it for much longer.

"Gandalf!"

Boromir saw Frodo about to run to the bridge but held him in place.

"No! No!"

Gandalf struggled to hold on and gave one last look at the Fellowship.

"Fly, you fools!" The wizard let go and they watched as he was swallowed by the abyss.

"NO!"

Boromir, with the help of Titus, pulled the hobbit back all the way to their exit.

Outside of Moria

Everyone stopped and processed everything that just happened.

Gandalf, the old wizard, a dear friend. Just died.

The Hobbits couldn't believe that old Gandalf was gone. But the one who was hit the most was Frodo. He remembered the times when Gandalf came to the Shire. Those happy moments of seeing the wizard and his fireworks display.

"We have to move, now." Aragorn said as he looked over the Fellowship.

Boromir stared at the man incredulously "Give them a moment to mourn for pity's sake!"

"By nightfall, these fields will be covered by orcs!" The Ranger retorted.

Titus decided to stopped listening to the two in favor of running a hand through his short black hair.

"Hey."

He turned to the speaker and saw Rin holding out his Galea. He thought it was left in Balin's tomb.

He took the helmet and nodded his thanks. Rin sat down next to him and stared at her blood stained Katanas. She didn't have time to wipe away the blood. The exhaustion of fighting and seeing a friend die had finally taken it's toll on her and she leaned her body on Titus.

The Centurion looked like he didn't even felt her. He just stared at the helmet in his hands.

Titus stared at the expressionless mask that stared back at him. How he wished he could've done something. But he knew he couldn't stand a chance against a demon that looked like it came from Tartarus itself.

Aéd went over to the two and motioned his head to move.

"Come on, we have to move."

The Centurion merely nodded and picked up his pack. He decided to keep the helmet off for now as he ran with the rest of the Fellowship.

'Another day, another name in the long list of dead friends. When will it be enough?'