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Chapter 9

The mines of Moria.

Personally she had never been there, however rumors of its darkness had crossed Fangorn and from what she have heard it's quite high on her list of places to avoid.

However in order to go into the mines of Moria, they first have to open the door that leads into it. And so far they were having no luck. For hours Mithrandir had been shouting chants and spells to open the door but none worked.

And of course Pippin being the hobbit that he was asked, "Have you open the door yet?"

"I will ram your head against the door if you do not be quiet!" Mithrandir growled. Pippin was silenced effectively.

Pippin then retired to the shores of the lake, he soon started throwing stones into the water. On his third throw Boromir stopped him, "Do not disturbed the water."

After another stretch of time Frodo suddenly spoke up, "It's a riddle, speak, friend, and enter! What's the elvish word for 'friend?'"

"Mellon." Mithrandir whispered and the heavy stone walls creaked open to reveal a gaping darkness.

She sighed, this is going to be another long trip. Slowly, and one by one, the Fellowship filed into the black void.

"Welcom to Moria," Gimli said proudly, "heh, they called it a mine! A mine!"

At this point Mithrandir illuminated the cavern with his staff and suddenly all they could see were skeletons lying on the ground.

"This is not a mine, it's a tomb!" Boromir shouted.

She saw Legolas plucking an arrow from a body, "Goblins!" he said spitefully.

However, just as the Fellowship started to back out of the mine, she heard a scream, "FRODO!"

She turned around just in time to see the dark hair hobbit being pulled out of the mine by a long tentacle. Without any hesitance she ran outside; a monstrous sight presented itself. In the murky waters of the lake lies a gigantic Kraken and its tentacles shot out from everywhere.

Gripping her sword tightly, she leaped into the waters and started hacking at the arms, trying to free Frodo.

A victorious yell from Aragorn signaled to her that Frodo was save, "Guardian get back!" she heard an elven voice shouted. Within a few seconds she was out of the water and into the cave, herding the hobbits in front of her. Not a moment too soon, for the Kraken pulled the entrance down right behind her.

"I suppose we will have to cross Moria now." She said to Mithrandir dryly.

Mithrandir nodded, "We will go quietly, for it's a three day's journey to the other side."

The journey through the dark mine was nearly as torturous as fighting off an army of orcs. Everyone was high-strung due to the fear of arousing the goblins. The fact that the mine was pitched black except for Mithrandir's staff did not help the situation either.

On the third day the rested in front of three portals leading down to the unknown; Mithrandir had forgotten which way to go.

She sat off to the side staring into the inky blackness below the plateau where they are resting on. She saw a glimmer of movement beside her and turned around to find Legolas sitting on a boulder beside her.

She raised her eyebrows.

"You've still have not answer my question, Lady Skyler." The elf said nonchalantly.

Upon hearing the last word she shot off the ground so quickly that everyone turned to stare at her. Legolas raised his hand and motioned her to sit down.

(How did you know that name!) she hissed in Sindarin as she sat slowly down.

(So you do not deny it.)

(Deny what?!)

(You're Lady Skyler.)

She calmed herself then said coolly, (Lady Skyler died a long time ago, I am the Guardian of Fangorn)

(Do not try to lie to yourself.)

She sighed and bent her head over her knee in defeat, (how did you know.)

(I've heard of you before, from Lothlorien, the famed mortal who captured the heart of a certain Marchwarden. Why did you not return to Lothlorien, did you not know Haldir nearly faded?)

She raised her head slowly and even in the dim light Legolas could see the tear glistening in her eyes, (I couldn't, due to Iluvatar's intervention I was asleep for hundred of years. Yet, even after I woke up in Fangorn forest fifty years ago, I still could not bring myself to Lothlorien.)

She paused then continued softly, (If you know of me then you must know how I left Celebrian to die in those caves…I…)

(She was alive… )Legolas said softly.

(What?)

(She was alive when her sons and Haldir found her, apparently, you left only moments before, yet they could find no trace of you. Celebrian thought she send you to your death, she was heartbroken. She left for Valinor soon after.)

(She…they didn't touch her…)

(No, you saved her.)

She lowered her head again, Legolas could see her shoulders shaking from trying not to cry. Finally after awhile Skyler raised her head again, (Thank you…Thank you for telling me this.)

(Do you mind telling me about yourself now, why have you lived on, for the past fifty years and never aged.)

Skyler replied tiredly, (I do not know either, however it was probably because Fangorn needed me. Or it could be it was not my time yet, I do not know.)

(You did not live these years well, my friend.)

Skyler laughed bitterly, (No, the guilt hunted me, and nearly killed me. Yet it gave me the strength to train myself, to prove I am not weak. It's a two-edge sword, this guilt.)

Suddenly Skyler said, (Why did you say I captured Haldir's heart?)

(Because you did, you were his love.)

Skyler shook her head, (No…it's not possible we've only known each other for four years…)

(Do not deny it, even now he still loves you.)

(No, it's not…no that's not true, he can't. He hasn't seen me for hundreds of years, he must have moved on.)

(Skyler, elves do not move on, they only fall in love once.)

(I can't, no…)

"It's this way!" Mithrandir's voice broke through their conversation.

Legolas sighed and stood up, (Should I call you Skyler now?)

(No, not yet, I need to…to think. Do not tell anyone yet, please.)

(Very well, I won't.)

(Thank you.) Skyler said gratefully. Legolas smiled, "Trust your heart."

They walked down the windy tunnel and at last emerged out into a large hall filled with many columns that rose into the darkness above.

Skyler gasped in wonder as did the hobbits who stood beside her.

A groan broke through the brief second of reverence as Gimli rushed toward a light filled room off to their right.

"Gimli!" Mithrandir shouted to stop him to no avail. The dwarf run into the room followed by the wizard and the rest.

The Fellowship found the dwarf kneeling in front of a stone tomb.

It was the tomb of Balin, Lord of Moria, Gimli's cousin.

Mithrandir stooped and picked up a book from one of the skeletons lying by the tomb and dust it off. He handed his hat and staff to Pippin and commenced to open the book.

"We must leave soon! This place is not safe." Legolas said fiercely however Mithrandir just nodded absentmindedly.

"…yesterday being the tenth of novembre Balin lord of Moria fell in Dimrill Dale. He went alone to look in Mirror mere. An orc shot him from behind a stone. We slew the orc, but many more…up from the east up the Silverlode….we cannot get out. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frár fell there…The watcher in the Water took Óin. We cannot get out. The end comes, drums, drums in the deep…they are coming." Mithrandir paused and stood in silent thought.

A loud clatter shattered that fearful silence.

Skyler turned to see that Pippin, who had been standing by the well, had accidentally pushed a skeleton over the edge.

"Fool of a Took!" Mithrandir said angrily as he snatched his hat and staff back.

Doom, doom…came the drums, the same drums that sounded the death knell of these dwarves.

Boromir, being the nearest to the door, stuck he head out then pulled it back just in time to prevent impalement by arrows.

"And they have a cave troll!" he said sarcastically.

Legolas, Aragorn, and Boromir barred the door with the long handle axes.

Soon they could hear the squealing and grunting outside the door.

Legolas strung up his arrows and just as the axe came through he let loose.

The orc landed with a thud on the other side.

There was a crash on the door, followed by crash after crash. It cracked and staggered back, and the opening grew suddenly wide. Then the orcs flew in like exponentially growing rabbits they never stopped.

Skyler readied her sword and with effortless grace from years of training she fell upon the affray.

A loud thump sounded and Skyler raised her head just in time to see the cave troll lumbered in waving a long chain. She winced then dodged as the troll send the chain her way. Skyler reached toward her back for her crossbow but brought her hand back to block a blow with both of her hands on the sword.

She could not remember how many she killed, but it was many. The orcs came in a flow that overrun everything but soon they started to thin out under the slewing of Fellowship.

A scream sounded, it was Frodo. With a savage thrust at her opponent, Skyler slew the orc in front of her and turned to see Frodo impaled by a spear that the troll had somehow gotten hold of.

"Fordo!" she cried as she ran towards him.

When she got to him she wrenched the spear free and lift Frodo up into her lap. Behind her she could hear a loud thud and she knew the troll was taken care of.

"No Frodo, please don't leave us, Frodo." Skyler whispered desperately.

Suddenly Frodo opened his eyes and gasped, "I'm alright, I'm alright."

Skyler nearly dropped him in surprise.

"You should be dead, that spear could have slew a wild boar!" she could hear Aragorn said in surprise behind her.

Frodo sat up and opened his shirt to reveal a coat of Mithril.

"Well well, that's a fine skin to wrap a hobbit in!" Gimli said happily.

"Come there's no time for wonder!" Mithrandir shouted as he ran to the door. With the help of Skyler, Frodo stood up and they followed Mithrandir into the hall.

However before they could even leave they were surrounded by tons of Goblins that came crawling out of every open space there were. The goblins surrounded them into a tight circle and gnashed their teeth at the group.

The earth trembled as did the Goblins.

The earth quaked again, this time the goblins did not hesitate, they left almost as quick as they had came. The Fellowship turned to look at the end of the corridor.

"What new devilry is this?" Boromir half-whispered in fear.

"It's a Balrog." Mithrandir said tiredly.

"Ai! During's bane!" Gimli wailed.

"Run, get to the Bridge of Khazd-Dûm!" Mithrandir shouted and they followed him. Running through tunnels and over small stretches above chasms they could feel a glow of red heat hurrying behind them.

At last they arrived at the bridge, faraway they could see the outer door, connected by this thin stretch of stone without kerb or rail that spanned an unknown depth.

"Quick, fly!" Mithrandir shouted, Aragorn hesitated, "Go, swords are of no more use here." The wizard yelled and pushed Aragorn ahead.

Everyone filed across the bridge, however, Mithrandir stayed behind.

In front of Mithrandir a sheet of fire curtain glowed and out of the black smoke appeared two fiery eyes and than a thin strand of red whip.

It was the Balrog.

The Balrog reached the bridge. Mithrandir stood in the middle of the span, raising the white glowing staff with his left hand and an equally brilliant sword with his right.

"You cannot pass," he said. The Balrog stopped but still flickering his whip. "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. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."

The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Mithrandir could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm.

From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming.

Glamdring glittered white in answer.

There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog fell back and its sword flew up in molten fragments. The wizard swayed on the bridge but stood his place.

"You cannot pass!" he yelled again.

The Balrog leaped forward with a hiss; its whip whirled and snapped.

At that moment Mithrandir lifted his staff and crying aloud he smote the bridge before him. The staff broke asunder and fell from his hand. A blinding sheet of white flame sprang up. The bridge cracked. Right at the Balrog's feet it broke, and the stone upon which it stood crashed into the gulf, while the rest remained, poised, quivering like a tongue of rock thrust out into emptiness.

With a terrible cry the Balrog fell and Mithrandir turned to face the Fellowship wearily.

The Fellowship breathed the sigh of relief a moment too soon, for with the last of its strength the Balrog flicked its whip and the tip of it caught the wizard's foot and dragged him to the grip.

Mithrandir staggered and fell; he hung on to the edge with his hand, "Fly you fools!" he cried, and was gone.

For a moment the group stood in stunned silence, then the orc's arrows started to rain on them and they were forced to fled. They did not halt until they were out of the bowshot from the walls. Dimrill Dale lay about them. The shadow of the Misty Mountains lay upon it. Then the hobbits collapsed in grief. Skyler stood by them with tears coursing down her face.

She could hear Aragorn shouting, "Get them up Legolas!"

"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir cried.

"By midnight these hills will be overrun with orcs, we must get to Lothlorien!" Aragorn said sternly.

Boromir could say nothing. Skyler felt herself numbing and she followed Aragorn's lead towards Lothlorien.