Author's Notes: Hello, once again. Just finishedwatching the Hobbit for the third time. It's still my favourite film. Hope you like this chapter though it is sad. Please leave reviews even if they are good or constructive criticism.
The Grey Smoke Falls
We began to run, it was only time till we would be found. Around us dark shadows crawled and scuttled down the pillars like giant bugs. Soon we would be surrounded and overwhelmed.
The Fellowship suddenly froze, unable to move in any direction. We were surrounded in every direction. Our exits were blocked by the swords, bows and faces of foul Goblins.
Hand black with dirt reached out from the crowd of Goblins and went to touch my hair, muttering dark words of its language. I stumbled back, knocking into Legolas, who already was pointing his arrow in the Goblin's direction. I tucked my hair back into my cloak and got ready to take out an arrow.
The Goblin's all turned to the northern entrance into the wall and trembled. There came from their lips, screeches of terror. They became to scatter and run off into the darkness, disappearing from our sight.
A deafening roar filled the air and fiery lights danced across the walls near the northern entrance. Something was coming our way.
"What is this new devilry?" Questioned the voice of Boromir. No one answered. Shadow of red flames crept around the corner.
Gandalf stepped back then quietly whispered being sure not to attract any unwanted attention. "A Balrog. A demon of the ancient foe is beyond any of you."
Another bellowing roaring light filled the hall creating menacing shadows on the ground. All stood still in silence unsure on what to do. I put away my bow, knowing that would be a pest if we had to run. Legolas did the same.
The faces of the Fellowship reflected our fears and worries. "Run! Quickly, now! This not a foe we wish to meet!" Gandalf called.
The Fellowship hurried across the floor of the hall, none us dared to look back on ourselves. I lagged behind on purpose making sure that Gandalf kept up. Horus sat on my shoulders, keeping close almost like he was trying to protect me from something I knew nothing of.
I heard a clatter from ahead. Legolas had just pulled back Boromir, stopping him falling in to the abyss. Aragorn called out to Gandalf alerting him of the dangers of this route. Gandalf hurried onwards to meet Aragorn.
"Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!" He urged him as he moved onwards leaning on his staff more than he had before. Was age finally catching up with Gandalf, the Grey Wizard?
Aragorn tried to get past him it Gandalf pushed him towards the bride takes. Hurt and confused Aragorn looked at Gandalf in the eyes. "Do as I say. Swords are no more use here!"
Another cry of the Bolrog was heard. The Fellowship then began to descend the thick stairs of stone. I kept to the middle not wanting to look down or fall off the edge. Deeper and deeper we went, still followed by the Bolrog of Moria. The descent came to a sudden halt when we found a gap in the stairs.
"Elves, first" Gimli said looking up at Legolas.
A slight gleeful laugh came from Legolas who leapt across with ease and without a sound. "Gandalf." He called, beckoning the old man to follow him across. Gandalf hurled himself across the gap and landed with a thud.
At the stones near Gandalf's feet hit an arrow. In strife he kicked it off the stairs. Quickly Legolas drew an arrow and fired it into the archer's skull. The Goblin archer tumbled off his ledge into the fiery pits bellow.
Boromir took both Merry and Pippin under his arms. "Merry! Pippin! Hold on!" He bounded across the gap baring two very terrified Hobbits. He put down the Hobbits at the other side and ruffled their heads of curly locks. Pippin scowled at him and put his hair back into its normal position. A short laugh came from Boromir who then muttered the word "Sorry".
Another exchange of arrows happen from both sides, but still the arrows of the Goblin's never made their marks on us.
"Sam!" Aragorn shouted as he picked the Hobbit up in his arms. A look of utter fear was written on Sam's small chubby face. In one movement Aragorn pitched Sam across the gap. The Hobbit flew the air and landed with a loud thud on the steps.
Another roar filled the air. The mountain seemed to tremble. I looked back at our path as saw the shadow of the fiery Balrog, still gaining on our footsteps. More trembles came rattling through the mine.
Aragorn went to pick up Gimli only to be denied. "Nobody tosses a Dwarf." Gimli said proudly holding up his hand which prevented Aragorn from throwing him to the other side.
He leapt into the air only to fall short at the last meter. I stared in horror as I thought it was the end of his life line and that his string of life had been cut by Mandos.
A pale, fait hand shot out and grabbed Gimli by his brown fury beard. It was Legolas. He carefully pulled Gimli back onto the ledge by his beard. During in this action Gimli whimpered "Not the beard" in his voice was pain and a loss of pride. Once on the ledge his swore his vulgar dwarfish language out loud for all to hear, weather it was by choice of chance of hearing him say disgusting crude words.
An arrow struck into a crack on the opposite ledge on which everyone but myself, Frodo and Aragorn stood on. The crack got bigger and more of the rock tumbled away making the gap even bigger. "You're up next." Aragorn said signaling for me to jump.
I looked at the gap then at the shadow of the Balrog. It was gaining on us and would soon be upon us if we did not get of this stair case soon.
'Horus, go across first. I will follow behind you' I said as I looked doubtfully at Aragorn. No way could he and Frodo jump to the other side. It was impossible. I even doubted I could even make it across.
Horus opened his wings and swooped across the gap with his wings open wide. He landed on Gandalf's shoulder and stayed perched there. 'Come on, it's just like jumping over the steams and brooks with the twins.' I said as I took a step backwards.
I gulped then took two large strides. At the last moment I jumped, bringing my arms forward which propelled my body over the gap. I landed on the other side on my tiptoes.
My feet were unsteady and I started losing my sense of balance. The eyes of the Hobbit's widened with horror. An unknown force began pulling me backwards. Then I felt the jerk of falling. The breath in my lungs slammed against my chest. My hands frantically tried to grab on to something though there was only air. My feet still stood on the ledge but I was slowly falling backwards. A pair of hands quickly held on tightly to my reaching arms and pulled me back into safely. I stumbled forwards, slamming into who the arms belonged to. I looked up to see the slightly amused and relived face of the Elf Prince. I quickly moved away from him looking at the ground.
Why did my checks feel like they were aflame? Why I was so embarrassed and daren't not speak or even say , Thank you?
"Once again saved by the Elf, my lady. I am beginning to wonder if you are anything other than clumsy woman who is more than a burden than an advantage" The voice of Boromir mocked.
I kept my anger at bay and looked at the floor murmuring insults that he would not understand. I heard him mutter something to the Dwarf that made a jest about my kin. I looked up and clenched my fists. Oh how I wished to land a searing slap across his face or a swift knee to his gut.
A disapproving look came from Aragorn just before a loud groan came from the Balrog. A vibration ran through the mine. A rock behind Aragorn and Frodo came lose then crashed down from the heavens, smashing the stairs behind them. The rock and which they stood on was now stranded, a lone island. It began to wobble in a back and forth motion due to its uneven structure
."Hang on! Lean forward" Aragorn ordered Frodo.
They both took a step forward; shifting their wait, this tipped the platform forwards. The platform slammed into the stairs on which the majority of the Fellowship stood on. The two of them jumped to safely just in time as the platform skips away into the abyss.
All of us turned on our feet and ran down the steps as we heard the sound of crashing rock.
After the rock we came to thin bridge with neither railing nor sides to hold on to at each side. Gandalf stood and ushered us all across.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" He said as we ran across with careful footing.
Once everyone was across I looked back and saw what I feared to the most in world. Gandalf had stopped and was now facing the Balrog's wall of fire.
Out of the flames stepped a shadow of darkness with white blazing eyes and a pair of great ash-black horns curling around its bull-like head. In the Balrog's hands was a large sword with a black blade with edges that glowed like ember and a whip with fiery and burning thongs of orange light.
Still with a brave face, Gandalf stood on the bridge alone. "You cannot pass!" He bellowed out. "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!" The pride in his voice was that of the pride of a Lord or a King showing off his horde of riches or stables of fast horses.
The Balrog stroked down on Gandalf, who parried the blow with his blade. The Balrog's sword shattered into small pieces and landed at its feet. A loud rumble came out its mouth along with a wave of immense heat.
But, this scorching heat did not affect Gandalf. From his staff came a shield of blinding white light. Then he called to the beast of Moria with a strong and loud voice. "Go back to the shadow."
The Balrog took another step forward. Gandalf raised both his sword and staff with a grim face. His gritted his teeth. "You...shall not...pass!" He shouted as he drove his staff into the bridge.
For a split second the room was lit up by blue light. The Balrog moved closer only for the bridge to collapse. Down it fell with ashy screams and roars.
Slowly Gandalf turned away to face us all. He was exhausted and was putting most of his weight on his staff. His wrinkles were more defined and his face had gone paler. Sweat dripped from his brow.
But, his troubles had not yet ended. There came the terrible sound of someone slashing a whip. Then up from the abyss came the Balrog's flaming whip. Its orange thongs wrapped tightly around the Wizard's ankle. Dragged now over the ledge, Gandalf held on for dear life. His fingers were white.
I moved forward only to be held back by the hand of Aragorn. Frodo was shouting Gandalf's name as he was restrained by a whimpering Boromir.
We all looked in fear as a man most of us had known dearly, hung onto a ledge waiting for his strength to go. His face suddenly turned peaceful and was in a phase of bliss. "Fly, you fools!" He called before allowing himself to fall.
I covered my mouth holding in what cries wished to be set free. It could not be. Please let this just be a nightmare from the wretched witch
Please let this be imgainary and not reality. The man I had known for thousands of years was dead. The Wizard I could trust with everything was gone, fallen into the shadow of Mandos. His life line was now broken and cut apart by the Fates. And so the life of the Grey Wizard was ended in the depths of Moria.
What hope was there now? Only Aragorn could lead us now but he doubts his decisions so much and lacks confidence in himself.
Arrows began raining down on us. There was no time to recover his body. Aragorn pulled me away from where I stood and guided me up the steps. He too was greatly upset by the loss of our trusted comrade.