Demons Run
Frodo let out a gasp and everyone spun to look at the Hobbit. Rosalie turned, brushing those few leaking tears away furiously, watching the little Hobbit splutter. Frodo was panting and Sam let out a watery choke. "He's alive," He sobbed, and everyone let out a sigh of relief. Rosalie stared in shock at Frodo, as he gasped and started feeling his chest. "I'm alright," The hobbit wheezed and Sam stared at him incredulously. "You're not hurt?" He asked and Frodo shook his head. Aragorn frowned at him, and placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "You should be dead. That spear could've skewered a wild boar." Gandalf looked down at Frodo, "I think there is more to this Hobbit than meets the eye," He said with a knowing look. The hobbit was still breathing heavily, and he tugged on the buttons of his shirt, revealing a glimmering undershirt. Along the hem, silvery thread had been woven into swirls with strange glowing beads strung along as well. The dwarf gasped, eyes widening, whispering the word "Mithril" and behind her, Rosalie felt Legolas let out a breath. She flushed slightly and moved forward. A strange smile toyed at the edges of Gimli's mouth. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins." He said, laughter hidden under his words.
Screams and wails echoed through the ruins, and Rosalie instinctively looked up and around, moving closer to the group. Hundreds upon hundreds of footfalls rang through the caverns and dark, hunched shadows moved across the walls, a grotesque grave about them. Gandalf turned to all of them. "To the bridge of Khazad-Dûm!"
Rosalie was running again, but she didn't focus on that, the adrenaline pumping through her veins pushing her along, blinding her to everything but the danger. Gandalf ran ahead, faster than she thought was possible for a man of his age. Metal glinted sharply and the fellowship jangled with every step they took, their protection echoing in the empty dwarven ruins. Behind them, the wails and chants grew louder and Rosalie shivered slightly. New screeches, just as disgusting as before made the girl look up and her heart clenched.
Goblins swarmed down pillars, snarling, showing pointed yellow teeth. From crevices and cracks, even more monsters appeared, adding to the army chasing them, as if they were prey. They scuttled together in a gross harmony, like bugs, letting out horrible screams. In the weak light, she couldn't make out the numbers, only the masses; the shadow army and around her, the Fellowship slowed, panting though wide-eyed. The orcs spewed from the ground, running forward to meet them, pushing the group into a circle. An invisible barrier of a few metres stretched between them and the monsters. The fellowship stood in a circle, weapons drawn and Rosalie felt herself pushed into the middle, Boromir and Aragorn's backs to her.
The orcs wailed and snarled, waving their swords and stamping their feet, sneering at them. One of them looked straight at her, the light hitting his mottled skin, standing out against the sea of darkness around him and he licked his lips and Rosalie fought the urge to shiver. Even more of the shadow monsters joined the ranks, and they hissed and howled in perfect sync. Suddenly, a deep growl echoed through the cavern, bringing the orcs to a silence. They all turned to the back of the cavern, and Rosalie's eyes darted to where the orcs were looking while the Fellowship stayed focused on the monsters in front of them. An archway glowed orange, bright enough to see though not bright enough to stand out to the Fellowship. Another growl sounded and some of the orcs screamed, and they scattered, scuttling back to their hidey holes. Gimli laughed harshly. The light burned brighter and the ground trembled slightly and Rosalie's eyes shut. "I think we should be very scared," Her murmur was shaky but it seemed to catch the company's attention. They all turned to the archway and Rosalie peeked through one eye. Around her, all of them turned, lowering their weapons, eyes widening. "The orcs were scared of it, so we should be as well," The girl whispered and for a second, Legolas' eyes darted to her. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked and Gandalf sighed, small silver tendrils of his hair moving with it.
The ground quivered slightly, small speckles of dust floating down from the ceiling. The earth shook again. The adrenaline in Rosalie's system doubled. Her other eye shot open. Again, the ground shuddered and she took a step back along with Aragorn, Gimli and Sam. The sound of grate opening rang out and the orange light began to moving, slowly devouring more space. "A Balrog." Gandalf's baritone was solemn. Balrog? Rosalie wondered but beside her, she saw Legolas stiffen. "A demon of the ancient world," He continued, still staring at the light moving towards them. "This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!" He roared the last part, sprinting in a new direction, away from the oncoming light. The ground shook beneath her but Rosalie didn't care, running with the rest of them.
The wizard ushered them through a doorway, and they started to run down stairs. Another growl reverberated and Gandalf paused for a moment before carrying on. The rock around them grew golden as they descended, the temperature rising and Rosalie felt sweat trickle down her neck into her shirt. Boromir was leading them and he turned back, still running before stopping abruptly at a ledge, swaying dangerously. Legolas grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling him away, the pair toppling backwards. The Hobbits almost ran into them, Merry pulling Frodo back as well.
Behind her, Rosalie heard a small thud and she turned to see Gandalf slumped against the wall. Aragorn grew closer to the wizard. "Gandalf?" The wizard just looked at him, his forehead gleaming in the light of the fires below. "Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." The sound of a grate opening echoed again and Rosalie felt her heart drop, realising that it was the Balrog's cry. Aragorn looked at him, shocked and the wizard glared at him. "Do as I say! Swords are no more use here." He shouted and grabbed Rosalie's shoulder, pushing her to follow the men down a smaller set of stairs to the side. While the stairs weaved down the rock face, they soon lead the Fellowship across a chasm and Rosalie felt her stomach churn. She kept her eyes trained on the path a head of them, not daring to look down.
Soon, the fellowship halted, a gap stopping them. The elf leaped across gracefully, and turned back to them. The stairs shook violently and rocks fell from the ceiling, crumbling like dust under the demon's power. From the archway they'd come through, orange light burned fiercely and Rosalie turned away from it. The elf held out his arms for someone else to jump. Rosalie saw Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas all look at her expectantly and she sighed and closed her eyes before jumping. Warm arms trapped her, holding onto her tightly before releasing her, setting her down on the steps. "Gandalf!" Legolas cried and the wizard jumped.
An arrow whistled through the air, hitting the step just below Pippin and then several more followed, forcing the hobbits back slightly, looking for the invisible archers firing at them from high up nooks and ledges. Legolas and Aragorn returned the favour and Rosalie tracked one orc fall down, until he went under the level of the stairs and she couldn't follow him. Cracks began to form on the steps and Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin before throwing himself across the gap. Beneath him, the steps crumbled, falling into the fiery void below them and Rosalie felt her heart sink as the gap widened. Boromir stumbled slightly but straightened and turned back, arrows still raining down on them. Aragorn picked up Sam and tossed him to the other man, who caught him and the ranger turned back to Gimli. The dwarf held up a hand. "Nobody tosses a dwarf!" He said, and launched himself at the rest of the Fellowship. Rosalie's eyes widened, realising he wouldn't make it. She let out a gasp and from the corner of her eye, she watched a hand shoot out, snatching the dwarf. "Not the beard!" He cried, and under different circumstances, Rosalie was sure she would've found that funny. The staircase began to crumble again and Aragorn pushed Frodo back.
The cavern shuddered again and huge chunks of rock fell, a horrible roar surrounding them. One fell through the stone behind Frodo and Aragorn and below them; Rosalie could hear the rock groaning, cracking under its own weight. The two swung with it and Aragorn yelled at Frodo to hang on. "Lean forward!" The man shouted and they both did, the rock groaning as it came closer to the rest of the company. The first section crashed into the second, Aragorn being thrown into Legolas while Frodo was thrown into Boromir. The unsupported section swayed and they all ran, Rosalie nearer the back than she wanted to be, as it swayed to the side, colliding with a wall and tumbling into the abyss below.
Finally, the stairs ended and they could run across flatter ground. Fire erupted from pits in the floor and again, pillars lined the room. "Over the bridge! Hurry!" Gandalf yelled, the scarlet light casting shadows across the wizard's aged face. They all ran past him, no one but the girl noticing he stopped. Rosalie yanked his arm, but he wouldn't budge, shoving her in the direction of the bridge. "What are you doing?" She hissed and Gandalf shoved her again and as a bellow echoed, Rosalie ran to the safety of the others.
The floor creaked and deep black smoke billowed from the flames, creating a face and form of darkness, flames growing where hair should be, fire deep within its throat. It roared and Rosalie could feel the heat pouring off its body as she ran. They filed across a narrow bridge and up even more stairs, not noticing the wizard slow down.
"You cannot pass," Gandalf's calm voice made Rosalie freeze in place, twisting her head slowly. "Gandalf?" She whispered quietly, not noticing Frodo doing the same. The demon rose up, standing higher than the cave troll before, fiery waves rolling off its body, dark claws curling into fists and it bellowed. "I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you." Crazy man, move it already! Rosalie wanted to scream at him, watching in desperation as pure white light surrounded Gandalf, sheltering him as a flaming sword materialized in the Balrog's grasp. The demon lunged at Gandalf, swinging his sword down, but was thrown backwards, the light around the wizard shattering like frosted glass. It roared again, bearing the white hot insides of its throat. "Go back to the shadow." The wizard almost sounded like he was growling.
The demon put one foot on the bridge, forming fractures beneath it. It raised its arm, a whip moulding in his fist and brandished it in front of Gandalf. "You shall not pass!" The wizard yelled, and brought his staff down sharply. White light pushed the Balrog back slightly, and it snorted before stepping forward. Underneath, the bridge collapsed, disintegrating, taking the roaring demon with it. The wizard watched it fall and then turned back to them and Rosalie sighed in relief.
Suddenly, Gandalf let out a cry and Rosalie watched him scramble, fingers tearing at the rock and instantly Rosalie moved with Frodo to help him. Strong warm arms wrapped around her, holding her in place. "Gandalf!" Frodo screamed and Rosalie wanted to do the same. Gandalf's eyes were wide. "Fly you fools," He whispered and he slipped, falling into the dark chasm.
The noise stopped; around her, she heard nothing, not even Frodo's screams, not feeling the arms wrapped around her pulling her away, holding her close to his body or the arrows flying close to her head. She did not hear Boromir's shouts or Aragorn's replies, felt nothing, her mind simply replaying those last few seconds over and over.
She was dragged out of those mines, her legs stumbling on auto-pilot, the elf nearby if she tripped. Sam collapsed outside, as did many of the others, reeling from their loss. Rosalie stayed standing, staring at the exit, tears rolling down her cheeks. Boromir restrained Gimli, digging his feet into the ground, trying to stop the dwarf from marching back into Moria. Merry held Pippin as he sobbed, curled up on the ground. Legolas looked forlorn, refusing to look at anyone. Aragorn dipped his head for a few seconds. "Legolas! Get them up." The elf stared at him, as if confused, before walking over to Merry and Pippin. "Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir said almost bitterly. Aragorn looked at him sadly. "By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlórien." Aragorn sheathed his sword before looking up at the other man. "Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. On your feet Sam. Frodo?" He said the Hobbit's name softly, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder but Rosalie could tell from the expression on his face, it wasn't doing that much good.
AN: Another chapter, I'm getting good at this! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, you are really helpful, so remember, do that! Also, follow and favourite the story, especially if you enjoy it.
Another thing, anyone enjoy the Doctor Who reference?