A/N: As usual, I own nothing.
***Chapter 9***
***Deirdre's POV***
I stood on a beach, the waves crashing against the shore was music to my ears. I looked down and was wearing the same dress and cloak that I had been wearing when I fell asleep. This greatly confused me, as there was no reason I should be wearing my dress in a dream. I think my imagination was just being lazy. But my thoughts of clothing didn't matter for long, as I stripped down to just my corset and undergarments. Then I ran into the waves, the water was cold like it always was. I smiled as the first icy wave struck my body. There was something incredibly exhilarating about the water hitting my skin. I kept walking forward until the waves crashed against my collarbone, even when I was jumping. I looked back at the shore, which didn't seem to awfully far away and saw that there was a man standing on the beach. So as the next wave came near me, I jumped with it and swam along with the wave, body surfing my way back. I didn't make it too far with that wave, so I kept this up until my knees skimmed the sandy bottom of the sea as I swam. Then I stood up and walked onto the beach. The man standing there was an elf, of that I was sure. Not only did he have the pointed ears of an elf, but he held the same presence that all the elves had.
"Hello." I said to the man as I walked from the ocean, I couldn't have cared less about the fact that I was dressed so scantily. This was my dream and that meant I could do what I wanted.
"Hello, Deirdre." The man replied, him knowing my name didn't shock me at all. Again, this was my dream, he should be able to know my name. Though I was mildly perturbed that I didn't know his as well..
"Who are you?" I asked innocently.
"Does it really matter?" he asked, I guess he was a little annoyed that I had asked him.
"No, I guess it really doesn't." My voice showed how happy I was, this was definitely a good dream. Not only was I at the beach, but I wasn't dying in some gruesome fashion as so many of my dreams portrayed.
"What matters instead is why I am here." He said.
"Aren't you here because you are a figment of my imagination." At this he looked disbelieving at me.
"Deirdre. I am as real as you are." He replied, however he must not have known me very well, after all my existence could be entirely fictional. I could be living in some messed up version of the Matrix or something.
"Well, that proves nothing. After all, I'm a figment of my own imagination." I told him, it was one of my favorite sayings.
"Of course you are." He told me, amused by what I had said. He smiled at me. "But for arguments sake, let's say that we both are real and exist outside of the world of dreams."
"I pretend that all the time." I said with a smile. "So why are you here?"
"I wanted to speak with you, and this seemed the simplest method to do so." He told me.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked him, curious as to what he was doing here, if in fact he was anything but my overactive imagination.
"Do you know what you are?" he asked me.
"Well, of course I do." I replied, as though it was obvious. "I'm human."
"But you possess characteristics of elves. You could walk on the snow like Legolas, and your ears are pointed. You can sing. And have an affection for the ocean beyond what is normal." He told me.
"So I'm a human that acts like an elf?" I asked him, confused as to where exactly this was going.
"Something along those lines." He said with a smile. "When you reach Lothlorien, speak with Galadriel. She may give you some knowledge on this matter."
"Alright, we shouldn't be too far from reaching Lothlorien, maybe a few weeks at the most." I said with a smile, although the idea of being that close to Lothlorien made me squirm a little inside.
"I will return to your dreams to speak with you again." He told me. "Once you have found some answers."
Once the elf had left, the rest of my dream was spent playing in the ocean. When I woke in the morning I felt fantastic. I dressed rather quickly and in my bright mood even helped Sam prepare breakfast.
We had been walking for days now, trying to get to the entrance to Moria. Luckily we found a body of water before we reached Moria, which meant that Saffy and I could bathe. However, since that night on the mountain when I dreamt of the elf and the beach, my sleep came harder every night. I would stay up and talk with whoever was on watch that night, and I had even talked my way into getting to keep watch once a week. While it wasn't as often as everyone else, it was something. Staying up at night and talking to Boromir was the most awkward of all my late night conversations. During the day, Saffy and I would tease and flirt with him as a way to mess with his head. But at night, it was awkward between the two of us. Some nights I would stay on the other side of camp, keeping my own watch of sorts before retiring.
Finally, we reached the walls of Moria, the wall itself was rather impressive, it rose so high into the sky that it was eaten by mist. Gimli was of course enthralled at the sight, it meant that he was getting closer and closer to what he thought would be a grand reception.
"The walls of Moria." Gimli stated, looking up at the walls, his voice full of reverence.
Gandalf walked along the wall trying to find the door in.
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli informed us.
We all moved along the wall, tapping and trying to find the doorway into Moria. It was sure to be an amusing sight, 11 travelers tapping against the side of a cliff as though searching for something.
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf said, almost making a dig at Gimli, though probably not entirely meaning to.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas says, causing Gimli to grumble and me to laugh.
We walk along the side of the cliff, as Frodo accidently takes a step into the pool beside us. He gasps as he pulls his foot out of the water, shocked that he had walked into the water. I glanced back up at Gandalf as he laid his hand on a segment of cliff between two of the trees.
"Now… let's see… Ithildin." Gandalf said, causing the faint blue lines to begin appearing beneath his hands. "It mirrors only starlight…and moonlight."
The moon began to appear from beneath the dark clouds that had previously blocked the silvery rays of the moon. But once the moonlight hit the stone, the blue lines became brighter and showed the outline of a doorway.
Gandalf's lips moved as he read the words on the door and translated them in his mind. He stared at the door for a moment longer.
"It reads, 'The Doors of Durin- Lord of Moria. Speak friend, and enter." Gandalf told the fellowship, translating the words for us.
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked, thinking about how to get into Moria.
"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." Gandalf explained.
I glanced over to Saffy who stood next to me. I could hardly contain the laugh that was rising inside me. Gandalf was definitely overcomplicating things.
"Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen." Gandalf told the wall, asking the elf door to open to him.
The door did nothing. At which point I clasped a hand over my mouth to prevent any sound from coming out. Gandalf just looked frustrated, but put his staff back against the door.
"Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen."Gandalf tried again, giving his plea this time to the dwarves.
"Nothing's happening." Pippin observed, which finally broke me. I let out a rather quiet giggle.
Gandalf gave Pippin an annoyed look. Then turned back to the doors and pushed against them, as though that would open the doors.
"I once knew every spell in the tongues of Elf, Men, and Orcs." Gandalf states annoyed that the door won't open for him.
"But you forgot them after a test?" I asked. "Yeah, that happens to me all the time. I used to be able to name every President of the US in order, the years that they served in office, and what party they belonged to. But after the test, Poof, the knowledge up and left."
This earned me an annoyed look from Gandalf, who was probably just redirecting his annoyance from himself.
"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked Gandalf, not noticing just how foul of a mood Gandalf was in at that moment.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took. And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words." Gandalf replied angrily, causing Pippin to quickly fall quiet.
"Ando Eldarinwa…a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa…" Gandalf continues to try, at this point it was just getting to be a little sad.
I glanced over at Aragorn from the spot where I was sitting between Saffy and Frodo. He was unhitching Bill, the ponies, bridle and readying the pony to be sent home.
"The mines are no place for a pony. Even one so brave as Bill." Aragorn explains to the saddened Sam.
"Buh-bye, Bill." Sam says sadly to the pony.
"Go on, Bill, go on. Don't worry Sam, he knows the way home." Aragorn reassured Sam, as Bill began walking back the way that we had come and left us with the sound of his trotting over the stone.
"Do you think we should tell him?" Saffy asked me.
"I am getting awfully bored just sitting here. But the rest is nice after a long day of walking." I replied, Saffy nodded her head in agreement. "Maybe we should let Gandalf decide if we tell him or not."
"Sounds good." She answered.
"Gandalf. Saffy and I were wondering. Do you want us to tell you how to get into the Mines? Or would you prefer to continue thinking about it?" I asked him.
"You two know how to get into the Mines and haven't said anything before?" I heard Boromir's incredulous voice asking.
"No one asked." Was my simple response. "If you like we could just give clues." I suggested turning back to Gandalf.
Just then Aragorn's voice cut through as well as the sound of rocks being thrown into the pond. Shit. Was the main thought running through my head, how long has he been doing that?
"Do not disturb the water." Aragorn told Merry and Pippin firmly, causing both of them to drop the stones that they were holding.
"This is hopeless." Gandalf groaned. "What are your clues?"
"It's a word in the elvish language." I started.
"And you are overthinking it with the password thing." Saffy chirped in.
"And to find the answer you need to have a talent like Bilbo did when he stole the Ring away from Gollum." I said, thinking of the story I had read so many times.
Frodo was the first to catch on. His face lit up a little as he figured out what we were implying.
"It's a riddle." He declared, causing a smile to appear on both Saffy and I's faces. "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?"
"Mellon…" Gandalf and I answered at the same time.
The doors slowly opened to us as the word was uttered, causing the fellowship to move forward into the dark chamber that was the entry hall of Moria. Gandalf pulled a crystal out of his robes and placed it on the top of his staff, it lit up and light pooled around us. My heart began to race a little, I made sure to stay toward the back of the group, leaving Saffy more toward the front.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, and ripe meat off the bone. This my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin." Gimli announced, excited to be back in what he thought of as civilization.
The fear of what lie waiting in Moria for us began to rise. But the more immediate fear was of what was waiting right outside of the entrance of Moria. The light from Gandalf's staff revealing dark forms on the ground around the room.
"And they call it a Mine! A Mine!" Gimli proclaims, proud of this.
"This is no mine, it's a tomb." Boromir remarks, looking at the bodies around us.
Gandalf's light shows to us all the dark, destroyed form of the bodies with arrows protruding from them. The scent of the dead, rotting corpses pervades the air and fills it with the scent of decay. Revulsion fills me, but I know that soon enough I will be forced to get used to the odor.
Gimli's cries of despair are heart-wrenching as he takes in the sight of the massacre of his people. I take another step back, ensuring that I am the closest to the lake. As Legolas pulls an arrow from one of the lifeless Dwarf bodies, and he quickly examines the blood-stained weapon.
"Orcs!" he spits out, disgusted at his findings and throws the arrow away from himself and the fellowship.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We never should have come here! Now get out! Get out!" Boromir shouts, making everyone start to retreat to the door.
I am in the lead as I begin my hasty retreat from the Mines, Frodo is very near to me. I try and move so that he isn't grabbed by the creature and instead I will be its target. He will be so damaged by the end of his journey, what little I can do to alleviate the pain I am more than willing to do.
Something slimy wraps around my ankle and as I begin to look down I feel the pull, as I am yanked away from my friends. A cry of shock escapes my mouth. Suddenly, the world is not as it should be. Everything is upside down and changing perspective rapidly, I scream to avoid the nausea. A trick I learned when I rode a big roller coaster with a loop for the first time, keep your eyes open and scream your head off. It makes you feel so much better. So I kept my eyes open as screams issued forth from my mouth. A flash of another person being lifted into the air upset me. Frodo was not supposed to get grabbed, I was trying to protect him from this. As my anger grew I pulled one of my swords from its scabbard. The first tentacle that came into reach I sliced at. Causing the octopus/squid/thing to fling me around even more sporadically, the dizziness factor was getting very high at this point. There was a moment when the tentacle stopped thrashing and stilled, but it was only for a moment. I began falling as apparently, the tentacle was no longer attached to the creature. I crashed into the water and my mouth, having been open from screaming, began filling with water. Hands grabbed at me and pulled me out from under the water. As soon as air was available I began coughing out the water that had begun to fill my lungs. This caused me to be picked up and carried back into Moria, my hand still desperately clinging to my blade as I coughed and sputtered.
We managed to get inside Moria, just as the Wotcher, as I believe it is called, smashed the entrance causing it to crumble and lock us in. I was placed down on the ground and began spitting out the remainder of the water that I had coughed up. When I looked up, I saw Legolas leaning down next to me, his hand on my shoulder as I had coughed. I smiled to show my gratitude as Gandalf began speaking.
"We now have but one choice." Gandalf spoke, almost sad and a little worried. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs, in the deep places of the world. Quietly now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence go unnoticed.
Boy, did he say it. The thought of our upcoming encounter with the Balrog was not something I was looking forward to. Sure, fire was cool and it was definitely easy for me to be a pyro, but it would take a morbid and sadistic person to be looking forward to the Balrog.
We trekked through Moria, it was a long quiet walk. No one dared to speak too much, for fear that the orcs or 'fouler things' as Gandalf had put it would find us. For me, I was highly concerned with climbing the stairs, in a dress, without railings. This did not bode well at all.
On the second or third day that we were in Moria, there was little to no way to tell time, I only knew it was a four day walk. I gazed in wonder at the silvery-veins streaking through the stone on the sides of the cavern, it was a beautiful sight to look upon. Gandalf rested his hand upon a rock nearby that had the same silvery-veins running through.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels…" Gandalf stated. "but in mithril."
Gandalf moved his staff so that the light fell upon the sides of the cavern and below us. There was abandoned mining equipment strewn about the cavern below us, it was obvious that the equipment hadn't been used in a long time. But the mass amount of tools and scaffoldings showed just how important mining was to the Dwarves, especially those of Moria.
"Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril that Thorin gave him." Gandalf stated, remembering the journey from those years ago.
"Oh, that was a kingly gift." Gimli exclaimed.
"Yes! I never told him, but it's worth is greater than the value of the shire." Gandalf informed us, amused at this.
"Sometimes it's good to be the burglar." I said, changing the line that its 'good to be the king' for my own use.
After a few minor mishaps of lost footing, we arrived on another platform which veers in three different directions. At this point we stop.
"I have no memory of this place." Gandalf states, trying to remember which way was correct.
We all took our various seats, Saffy and I moved to sit by Merry and Pippin who began whispering amongst themselves.
"Are we lost?" Pippin asks.
"No." Merry automatically responds.
"I think we are." Pippin argues.
"Shhh! Gandalf is thinking." Sam shushes them, hoping that maybe Gandalf will be able to think better without Pippin and Merry talking.
"Merry?" Pippin asks, full of questions today.
"What?" Merry asks exasperated.
"I'm hungry." He replies, causing me to roll my eyes and give a soft laugh.
Frodo who had been gazing out at the cavern below must have seen Gollum, as his eyes widened a little and he moved over to Gandalf. I rose and moved likewise over to them, taking a peek at the poor creature who was tempted by the Ring. Sure he was a good reason to despise the ring and it kept me from truly desiring the ring, but he was such a sad story. One of the prime examples of the Ring making good people do bad things.
"There's something down there." Frodo said, looking down once more, frightened that something was moving in so desolate a place.
"It's Gollum." Gandalf says, unsurprised that Gollum is following us.
"Gollum?" Frodo asked amazed at what Gandalf was saying.
"He's been following us for three days." Was Gandalf's response.
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-Dur." Frodo said, sounding shocked once more.
"Escaped?" Gandalf said, turning from Gollum to look at Frodo. "Or was set loose? And now the Ring has drawn him here. He will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself."
"Smeagols life is a sad story." Gandalf said, then noticing the confusion on Frodo's face explained. "Yes, Smeagol he was once called. Before the Ring found him… before it drove him mad."
"It's a pity that Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance." Frodo said, his harsh words drew a sharp look from Gandalf.
I observed Gollum as he regarded the fellowship. I felt truly awful for him, there was something about Gollum that was just so relatable. That he had been good before his fall into madness, the power of the evil causing him to murder his best friend.
"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve to die, and many that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" Gandalf asked.
"Gollum is a prime example of corruption." I said putting in my two cents. "Falling from a happy life to murder because of one seemingly irrelevant thing. His life is indeed a sad story, as are many others whose lives are corrupted by evil."
Frodo and Gandalf look at me, remembering that I had sat down at their feet and observed Gollum.
"Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum will have some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over." Gandalf said.
Gollum coughed out his name once more as he ducked back down into the darkness to hide.
"The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many." Gandalf finished.
"I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." Frodo said his voice filled with sorrow.
"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 this 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 seemed visibly comforted by this thought, that Gandalf had faith in him and that there was something other than just evil affecting the outcome of the world. That we weren't alone in our battle.
"Oh, it's that way." Gandalf said suddenly, looking at one of the doorways.
"He's remembered." Merry said as he rose from his seat on the stairs beside his friends.
"No, but the air does not smell so foul down here." Gandalf stated. "If in doubt, Master Meriadoc, always follow your nose."
"Knowing a hobbit, that means Merry is going to find the kitchens." I said with a smile as I thought about Merry sniffing out where the nearest food was.
We reached a more open chamber, where Gandalf began fidgeting with his staff. The light brightened a little, as he fidgeted with it more and more.
"Let me risk a little more light." As he said this, the light showed the beauty around us and the great chamber we stood in. "Behold: the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."
"Now that's an eye opener make no mistake." Sam's awed voice spoke what was going through the minds of most of the fellowship.
There was great awe in the great city that we stood in, it showed the beautiful architecture that the dwarves were best at. The way that the columns were carved and how the cavern was hollowed out beautifully. The great cavern that we were in was the essence of dwarven beauty, the only rival it may find would be in the crafts that the dwarves adored.
At the end of one side of the cavern was a doorway, through which a shaft of light was visible. Gimli begins running toward the sunlight streaming in, my eyes fill with tears that will not be shed. The grief now is but a taste of what will come. Gandalf calls out to Gimli in warning that he should remain with the fellowship, but the dwarf pays no attention to the call of the Wizard. We catch up to Gimli rather quickly, and in the center of the ray of light. There is a crypt, belonging to the dwarf lord. Gimli drops down onto his knees before the crypt of his cousin.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria."Gandalf reads from the crypt. "He is dead then. It's as I feared."
Gimli cries out in his grief, and begins chanting in dwarvish. I rest my hand on his shoulder as the dwarf cries for his family and the loss of his kin. His hand reaches up and holds mine in place as he grieves, needing the little comfort that I am providing.
"We must move on. We cannot linger." I hear Legolas say to Aragorn.
No one listens to Legolas, as Gandalf pulls a tome from the hands of a skeletal corpse. He opens the tome and begins reading.
"They have taken the bridge… and the second hall." Gandalf begins, Gimli stops shaking with sobs as he listens to the fate of his kin. "We have barred the gates… but cannot hold them for long. 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."
Gandalf's words are haunting as he turns the blood stained pages of the tome and the faces of the fellowship grow dark listening to the fear-riddled writing of the dead dwarves. There is a silence over the group, no one daring to break it as the words sink in, fear takes the group. The dwarves had died and there was no hope remaining for those who waited for their death to come as the orcs filled the caverns.
But, Pippin, ever curious Pippin, in his curiosity twists the arrow that is embedded in one of the dwarven corpses. As he does this the skeletal remains begin to fall backwards, into the well that is set behind it. First the head lolls back and drops down into the darkness as the body slowly follows behind.
Everyone turns to face Pippin and the source of the slight noise as we watch the corpse fall into the well. Crashing loudly against the sides of the well, the body makes loud noises as it falls down. We all cringe at each ear-splitting sound shatters the previous silence. When the last of the crashes sounds and everything falls silent, there is a moment of relief from everyone in the fellowship. Everyone but Saffy and I, who know what is coming for us.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity." Gandalf growls at Pippin.
Drum beats begin. Pounding out a war beat, signaling that the orcs are coming for us. That they know we are here. Immediately, we spring into action. Frodo draws his blade just slightly, the elf made weapon turning blue as it senses the approach of orcs.
"Frodo!" Sam cries, when he sees the blade.
"Orcs!" Legolas spits out.
Boromir rushes to the door of the chamber and glances out. He pulls back just in time to avoid twin arrows to the face from the orc archers. Aragorn quickly helps him in shutting the door. Saffy and I rush forward grabbing axes from the fallen dwarves to help barricade the door against the attack coming for us. Aragorn looks at the hobbits and begins motioning them with his hands.
"Get back! You stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn tells the hobbits who comply with his order and move closer to the wizard.
We pass the weapons to Boromir and Aragorn as Legolas joins us in gathering weapons to barricade the door. As the door is shut, Boromir turns with disbelief and worry on his face.
"They have a cavetroll." He says, obviously unhappy with this new development.
The door being decently barricaded, we move back and draw our weapons. Both Aragorn and I draw bows along with Legolas, in hopes that we can pick off some of the orcs from a distance before it comes to hand to hand combat. With a glance behind me, I see Gandalf toss his hat aside and draw his sword out to fight. Following this cue, the hobbits all pull out their blades.
"Saffy, if it comes down to it. Go and protect the hobbits. Please don't get hurt." I plead with her, knowing how she hates it when I mother her.
But I can't help the worry for my best friend. While I know that she is able to fight, there is so much in me hating the idea of her having to. She catches what I am trying to say to her and nods her head. I have always been protective of my friends, not wanting them to hurt and when they do I will console them and then go and have a conversation with whoever is the cause of the pain. I protect my friends, and while I am here in Middle Earth the chances of being hurt is ever higher than it was back home.
"Argh! Let them come, there is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath." Gimli cries as he stands atop the tomb of his cousin readying for battle.
The door begins to shake with the pounding it receives from the orcs on the other side trying to get in. I make sure that my arrow is steady in my hands, even after all the training that I received from Legolas I was still more comfortable with a sword in my hands than with a bow. Weapons began protruding from the gaps made in the door. As soon as a sizable gap is made an arrow is loosed to it from Legolas' bow. Quickly followed by an arrow from Aragorn, my own arrow swiftly chasing after. This only happens once more as we all get one last shot in, before the doors break open. Hastily I put my bow back in its place and draw out my twin blades. The orcs rush into the room as Boromir, Saffy and myself begin moving into the swarm of orcs coming through. My first strike beheads an orc, the head falling to the ground unnoticed as more orcs begin to come toward me. The sounds of battle are all around me, my blades working as extensions from my arms. One sword blocking a blow, while the other slices into the orc attacking me. A mass of orc corpses join the previous dwarves, as I learn why Gimli calls orcs mindless.
The orcs are less important as the cave troll becomes the main opponent, most of the orcs who rushed in lay strewn about the floor. But the great bulk of a beast having freed its chain from the orc who held it, wields it as a weapon. The chain lashes around the room, causing me to duck. I slash one of my blades across the back of the troll's knee causing it to groan. I see Legolas running across the caught chain on one side and firing arrows as he goes. I slice my way through the throat of another orc and stab my sword into one of the trolls feet. It is now crying in pain with every blow. The troll grabs Frodo and throws him across the room. I cringe at the sound that the hobbit's landing makes. Aragorn jumps in to block the troll from killing Frodo. As Aragorn gets thrown across the room, I jump onto the back of the troll and drive my swords into either side of its neck. The troll reaches up and grabs me as I withdraw my blades from its' flesh. As it pulls me over its head, I slice down into the wrists of the troll causing it to release me prior to its' intention. I soar over to the wall and make a lovely smack sound as pain shoots through my body. Then as though I was a bird flying into a window, I slide down the wall and smash my head and shoulders on the ground.
Everything is spinning. I can't tell what direction is what, an orc approaches my broken form and grins down at me. The adrenaline makes me swing both blades in at the orc, who just so happens to be triplets. He shrieks as my swords hacks through his look alikes and into his flesh and falls over dead. Having sat up to dispatch the orc I nearly fall back down again. But move to get up anyways. The troll has just speared Frodo, who cries out in agony at the force the spear was driven into him at. I take a step toward him only to be confronted by three more orcs, or maybe it was only one orc. Either way there was at least one sword pointed in my direction. I moved one blade to fight and the orc automatically blocked with his sword. Then I brought the other blade and decapitated the orc. There is obviously something wrong with my head as I stumbled over to the two Frodo's lying against the wall in pain. They both fall over and the spear is dislodge from the point it was pinned to. I take a quick look around the room and ensure that there are no more orcs coming to get me or the Frodos and reach out to turn him over. Only to grab thin air instead of a shoulder, trying again I get the real Frodo this time and turn him over. His face shows agony in it, there was going to be one wicked bruise from the strike, but he was breathing. I moved him so that he was sitting against the wall and I checked over his injuries. There were calls of 'Frodo' still coming, they must have thought that I was merely moving his dead body. My swords lay at my side as I leaned against the wall next to Frodo and tried to consciously make the world behave.
"He's alive." Comes Sam's voice, I look over and Sam is standing nearby.
Aragorn and Gandalf had also rushed over and began checking Frodo to make sure that he was indeed alive and that he had not truly been skewered as they had thought.
"I'm all right. I'm not hurt." Frodo said to reassure them.
"You should be dead. That spear would have skewered a wild boar." Aragorn stated in disbelief.
"I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf said amused.
Frodo began to unbutton his shirt, and I was happy to say that there was only one Frodo at this point. Though the world did have a tendency to tilt slightly every few seconds.
"Mithril!" Gimli said immediately recognizing it. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."
There was the sound of orcs once again filling the hallway that was our only escape and the likelihood of surviving another battle in here was not that great. So Gandalf quickly stood back from where he was leaning in.
"To the bridge of Khazad-Dum!" Gandalf ordered, I moved to stand up only to find that the room still didn't want to stay in one spot.
Saffy noticed my wavering ability to stand and how I stumbled with the first step that I took.
"DiDi! What happened?" She asked concern flooding her tone.
"You know those poor birds that fly into glass windows and slide down hitting the ground?" I asked, to which she nodded. "I just found out that it's not that fun."
It took me a second but I picked up my swords and began running along with the fellowship who was taking a moment before running. We quickly made our way through the hallway toward the bridge that Gandalf had told us we were running toward. But we wouldn't make it. The orcs were too many and surrounded us in the middle of the hallway.
The hobbits are pushed into the center of the circle that we form, ready to fight the overwhelming orcs that have surrounded us. I waited, thinking that the orcs would be smart enough to begin their assault on us, but like I knew would happen the look of fire emerging from one of the passageways scared off the orcs who scurried for safety from the demon coming for us now. We were quickly left standing alone in the middle of the hallway with no orcs anywhere in sight, and the steps of the fire beast coming closer and closer to us.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir's voice asked.
"Time to go!" I said immediately heading in the direction that we were heading in before. But noticing the lack of people following me, other than Saffy. "When the evil things run away scared it's never a good sign. So we should go now."
"A Balrog- a demon of the ancient world." Gandalf declared, the look of terror only appearing in his and Legolas' eyes. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run."
At this the rest of the fellowship took off after Saffy and I who were a little ahead of the others. But we were quickly passed by Legolas, who with his elfy strength and stamina passed us and took the lead.
"Quickly!" Gandalf cheers as we rush through a doorway and begin down a flight of stairs.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn calls worriedly, at the wizard who insists upon running behind.
"Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." He says.
A look of disbelief crosses Aragorn's face as he motioned for Gandalf to lead the way across the bridge that was so near at hand.
"Do as I say!" Gandalf said sharply, but noticing the hurt look on Aragorn's face he explained. "Swords are of no more use here."
Indeed the bridge was near, as we raced across the bridge lead by Aragorn with Gandalf trailing behind in the back. We fly down the steps, which may I say is not safe, the dwarves really should have thought to put guard rails up because this was just ridiculous. And to make this even worse, there was a massive gap in the stairs. Which Legolas easily jumped across.
"Gandalf." Legolas said as he beckoned for the wizard to jump across the gap, which he did and landed straight in the arms of the elf.
Gandalf moves back so that Legolas can continue ensuring the safety of those who cross the gap. Arrows fly across and strike the ground where moments ago Gandalf's feet were. Legolas pulls out his bow and shoot across the gap at the orc, causing the orc to fall to the dark depths of the cavern.
"Merry, Pippin." Boromir says as he grabs them, once they are holding onto him he jumps across the distance as well.
"Sam." Aragorn says causing the hobbit to move within reach, Aragorn then tosses the hobbit across the gap and into the awaiting arms of Legolas.
"Saffron?" Aragorn asks, she moves so that he can toss her across the gap as well. She flies across easily and lands safely, as the others, in the arms of the elf.
"Deirdre?" Aragorn asks, as his way of asking to toss me over the gap.
"Uh-uh." I said, barely breathing the words. The gap looked really big to me right now. It didn't help that I was still dizzy from hitting my head. "I can't do it, Aragorn."
Frustrated Aragorn turned to Gimli and reaches to toss him across the gap. But the dwarf waves him off, only his response was full of confidence, while mine had been filled with fear.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Gimli declared as he jumped over the gap only to start falling backwards, to which Legolas saved him by pulling him up by the beard. "Not the beard."
"Come on, DiDi! It's time to come across." Saffy encouraged, which really wasn't helping me that much.
"I didn't put any ranks in jump!" I scream at her, letting my Dungeons and Dragons geeky nature show.
"Your nerdiness is showing." She said. "There is a reason that skill can be used untrained. Now jump."
I nodded my head and looked to Aragorn. He picked me up and I closed my eyes. I flew through the air and was trying not to freak out. With my eyes shut I wouldn't be able to tell if I was flying on course or if the toss had not been hard enough and I was falling to my death. But I didn't have the courage to open my eyes and find out, it would be better not knowing.
Of course, those thoughts quickly ended as I was caught by something warm that smelled amazing. Like fall with the scent of trees and cinnamon. I opened my eyes and looking up, sure enough holding me in his arms was the elf prince. I quickly began moving out of the way, knowing that he would want to be prepared to catch Frodo and Aragorn.
But his plans were cut short when the front of the stairs crumbled and they had to scurry back in order to remain on the stairs that still stood. Unfortunately, the gap was now impossible to jump across. And while there would be a chance that if he tossed Frodo across the gap he would land safely, there was also a high enough chance that Frodo would fall to his doom if they tried that.
What I wouldn't give for rope right now. If we had rope we could tie it around their waists and have them jump so that if they did fall we could pull them back up. Unfortunately, not only did we not have the supplies but we didn't have the time as the Balrog was still coming after us. Luckily, another stone fell down from the ceiling and smashed the part of the stairs behind them, making the part they stood on teeter back and forth.
"Hang on!" Aragorn said as he steadied Frodo on the teetering stairs. "Lean forward!"
And with both of them leaning forward as Aragorn had instructed the section of stairs which they stood on leaned forward, they shifted forward and the two sections of stairs collided. Sending Aragorn and Frodo straight into the awaiting arms of Legolas and Boromir.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf instructed, urging us onward away from the Balrog.
While we fled from the Balrog and as our guide had ordered, flew over the bridge to escape death, I glanced back and saw the wizard halt in his crossing. He halted and drew his sword, holding it in one hand as the other held his staff.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf ordered the Balrog, which only enraged the demon more.
"Gandalf!" Came Frodo's cry, begging for his friend to come and run away with him.
The full appearance of the Balrog came into view, and it was hideous. Great and terrible in its' fiery appearance. With cloven feet and great horns upon its' head. It reminded me of what the devil may look like, actually it kind of looked like Diablo in the computer game, as great ashen wings spread out from the back of the demon. It looked as though it was so evil that hell itself spat it back out, denying a place in the hole of evil for so terrible a monster.
"I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor…" Gandalf began, stating his station and right to deny the passage to the demon.
Gandalf raised his staff, illuminating the entire area around him in light that the crystal, which had been our main source of light for the past four days, bathed upon as though signifying he was a force of good.
"The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!" Gandalf stated, his voice full of power.
The Balrog, not taking kindly to what Gandalf was saying, raised his arm high in the air and a sword of flames formed in its' clawlike hand. The monster brought the blade down to strike Gandalf, who parried the blade with his own, shattering the flame sword.
"Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf commands the monster.
As the Balrog opens its' mouth in response a flame is issued forth, and it raised its' hand brandishing a fiery whip. The monster snaps the whip menacingly in the air. As much as I want to say that my mind was currently full of all sorts of snarky comments about how kinky it was that the demon used a whip, I could not bring them to the forefront of my mind. Admittedly, I had the seen the movie more times than I could count, which really shouldn't be astonishing as I was a dancer when I was younger and being such can't truly count past 8. But that is beside the point. This was more horrific than any movie, the demon more menacing than the special effects in a film. This was real.
"You…Shall Not… Pass!" Gandalf yelled his command at the demon as he slammed his staff down against the ground to emphasize his command.
With that the ground beneath the demon gives out, between the combination of the Balrog's weight and Gandalf striking the ground. Gandalf turned to follow us from the cavern as I heard the sound of the whip crack one more time and saw the panic in Gandalf's eyes as the whip caught around his ankle and pulled him backwards. There was a moment of shock that nothing happened in, followed by the screams of every member of the fellowship except our wizard, who now clung for his life on the edge of the broken bridge.
"Noooo!" was the unanimous cry from our throats, even though I knew it was pointless I couldn't keep myself from trying to rush forward to aid Gandalf. Watching his face as he prepared to face death was heartbreaking. Arms wrapped around me, holding me against their owner's body. A sob broke out from my chest as I saw Boromir struggling to keep Frodo from rushing to the edge of the bridge to save Gandalf.
"Gandalf!" Is the shattered cry that erupts from Frodo, as he watches the man who was like family to him so near to death.
Gandalf stops struggling to hold on when he locks eyes with Frodo. He becomes resigned, he looks directly at Frodo as he says the last words he would say to his companions as Gandalf the Grey.
"Fly, you fools." He said, as he let go of the edge of the bridge he had been trying in vain to hold onto.
I wish I could have smiled that his last words were insulting to the people who had traveled with him and he had guided. But although, I knew that Gandalf would return to us one day, the grief of seeing him fall to the darkness and death, the look on his face brought tears to my eyes. I was dragged out of the Mines of Moria by Legolas, his scent filling my nose as I turned away from the memory of what I had seen and buried my face in his chest.
Daylight was unbearable, the darkness would be more apropos to the grief that plagued the fellowship in those moments. The sound of sobs permeate the group, no comfort will be reached yet. Even when I know that Gandalf has not yet served his entire purpose and would return to us, I could not stop the guilt at knowing what would happen when we entered Moria. I could not halt the sorrow that marched its way across my heart. And I could not end the pain in my chest at the loss of a friend.
"Legolas, get them up." Aragorn ordered, taking leadership immediately, as Gandalf had intended him to do.
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake." Boromir pleaded, his own eyes wet with tears.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up." Aragorn ordered once more.
Legolas held me close to him for one last second, rubbing my back soothingly, before pulling away and following Aragorn's orders.
"On your feet, Sam." Aragorn said, lifting Sam up so that he could walk. He looked around for Frodo. "Frodo? Frodo?"
Frodo looks back over at the group, from his place standing alone, a tear running down his face as he deals with the loss of his friend. Frodo nods his head as he walks back and rejoins the fellowship silently. No one speaks. We are quietly taking in the death of our guide as Aragorn leads us in the direction of Lothlorien.
After walking for a good deal of time, with my hand firmly grasped in Saffy's, needing the comfort right now, Sam looks up at me hopefully.
"Miss Deirdre, would you sing us a song as we walk? Anything to remember Gandalf?" Sam asks, his voice sad but there was hope that things would get better.
"I know a song. About sorrow and loss. Would you like that?" I asked, unable to smile as I asked Sam.
"Yes, please." Sam said, almost as though my agreement to sing would make things the slightest bit better.
Never look back 'cause it hurts.
My heart is so cold
I feel the frost,
Never look back.
I feel the darkness on my shoulder,
The frost is in my heart.
So cold my hair is frozen,
Touching my skin, my flesh.
Sometimes I regret I had to do,
'Cause our love was somehow true.
But I had to leave you,
For the sake of the moods.
Frozen tears turn into my skin.
Frozen memories of you.
Sometimes I see your face,
As pure as you are mine.
I feel the darkness on my shoulder,
The frost is in my heart.
So cold my hair is frozen,
Touching my skin, my flesh.
Never look back because it hurts.
My heart is so cold
I feel the frost,
Never look back.
Tears rolled down my face as the words issued out. By the end of the song as we walked there were tears once again in most everyone's eyes. When the edges of the woods of Lorien came into sight, we all began running to get into the safety of the trees as soon as possible. We ran until covered in the shadows cast by the great trees above us. Standing on the edge of the forest, we waited until our fellowship was whole, or as whole as possible, and continued walking in the darkened wood of Lothlorien.
***End Chapter 9***
Alright, there is chapter 9. For those curious, the song is Frozen by Within Temptation from the album The Heart of everything. There may be a slight delay before the next chapter can go up, I will be going out of town early tomorrow morning and only have a possibility of getting internet before late at night. Read and Review.