For Disclaimer, see Chapter 1.
Chapter 12 - The Bridge of Khazad-dûm
We runs out the chamber into a hall of pillars. We are closely pursued by an army of Orcs. Other Orcs spring out from the floor or crawl, like spiders, from the ceiling and down the pillars. They surround us, who have drawn their weapons outward in a circle. The Orcs snarl and leer. Gimli lets out a yell. A fiery light appears at the end of a hall followed by a thunderous rumble. The Orcs flee in all directions. Gimli laughs, thinking he has scared off the Orcs. We are left alone as Gandalf stares down the hall. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked, Gandalf does not respond for a moment. He closes his eyes, concentrating. The rumble is heard again, and he opens his eyes. "A Balrog — a demon of the ancient world." The thing growls, still hidden around a corner of the vast hall, throwing fiery light on the pillars. Legolas' eyes show fear as he holds my hand, "What's wrong, Legolas?" Then he turned to me and said. "I'll just fear in my own eyes." He holds it tightly, "Don't be afraid and you have with me, right?" "Yes, Le hannon, Cynthia." He looks at me lustfully in his eyes, "Seasamin, Legolas." I said to him with a smile, as Gandalf continues, "This foe is beyond any of you… Run!" As we run to a small doorway. Gandalf shepherds them through. "Quickly!" Gandalf said as he takes a last glance behind him, and follows. We enter a passageway and goes down a flight of steps. The flight ends in a missing segment, and Boromir nearly falls but Legolas pulls him back. His torch whirls away into the vast underworld beneath. "Gandalf!" Aragorn said at him, "Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!"
They look across a wide space to a long bridge spanning the gap between a hall and a cliff face. Away behind them, the Balrog roars again. Aragorn moves towards Gandalf, but he pushes roughly away from him. "Do as I say!" Gandalf said as he hurts and confusions register on Aragorn's face. "Swords are no more use here!" The Balrog roars again. We descend a flight of massive stairs and encounter a gap in the stairs. Legolas leaps and lands on the other side. Then he look at me and said, "Cynthia!" I jump to the other side as I fall into his arms, "Le hannon again, Legolas." "Seasamin, arwenamin." He said to me as he sets me down, and then Gandalf turns and jumps as we guide him. Arrows whistle into the air from a far ledge, striking the stone steps. Legolas shoots back. His arrow rises through the air and pierces the skull of an Orc. The Orc tumbles down from his ledge. Then Boromir turns as he holds with the two hobbits, "Merry! Pippin! Hoo-aah!" He leaps across the gap. An exchange of arrows follow from the stairs to the ledge. "Sam." Aragorn pitches him to the other side and he is caught by Boromir. Aragorn reaches to pick up Gimli but he refused, "Nobody tosses a dwarf." He leaps forward but nearly falls back into the chasm. Legolas grabs his beard and pulls him up. "Not the beard!" Some of the stone steps crumble and fall. Aragorn pushes Frodo to safety. They climb to their feet and look at the now widened gap that separates them from the rest of us. "Steady. Hold on!" The Balrog can be heard approaching from the other hall. Stone structures around the mine collapse as it draws near. A huge rock falls from the ceiling and smashes through the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them. The stairs begin to wobble. "Hang on! Lean forward!" Aragorn said, "Come on!" Legolas said, "You two can make it!" I said to them, They shift their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming them onto the steps where their companions are. They leap across to safety. We run down the stairs as the stone structures collapse behind us. Around a great pillar in a fiery hall comes Gandalf, leading us. A wall of flame whirls behind us. "Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf commands as we flee but Gandalf does not follow and he turns, looking into the wall of fire. A great form of black shadow leaps through the flames, its eyes of white fire, great ash-black horns curling around a bull-like head. It opens its maw, rippling heat pouring out with a rumble. Gandalf turns, running after us. A great, black, cloven foot stomps down into the hall, bursting into flame. A narrow bridge of stone appears in the fiery light, and we crosses the bridge. Gandalf turns to face the Balrog. "You cannot pass!" Gandalf said to the demon, "Gandalf!" Frodo said as he worried at him, "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 Balrog strikes down on Gandalf, who parries the blow with his blade, shattering the Balrog's sword. Glowing embers run off the circle of light around the wizard. The monster bellows at the wizard. Frodo gasps, Aragorn runs forward. "Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf said as he is clenching his teeth. The Balrog steps onto the bridge, it brandishes a flaming whip. Gandalf raises his sword and staff together into the air. "You — shall not — pass!" Gandalf drives his staff into the bridge, causing a bright flash of blue light to appear. Flaring its nostrils, the Balrog steps forward onto the bridge. The bridge collapses from under it as it moves towards Gandalf, and breaks before the wizard's staff. The demon plunges backward into the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. Gandalf, exhausted, leans on his staff and watches the Balrog fall. He turns to follow us. The flaming whip lashes up from the depths of the abyss and winds about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but strains to keep his grip. Frodo rushes forward but Boromir restrains him. "No, no!" "Gandalf!" Gandalf grasps the bridge, looking into Frodo's eyes, he stops struggling. "Fly, you fools!" Gandalf lets go of the stone and falls into the chasm, spreading his arms, the light of the Balrog glimmering far below. "No!" Frodo yelled, Boromir grabs hold of Frodo and starts to leave up a flight of stairs. "Aragorn!" "No!" Frodo yelled, For a moment Aragorn does not move, but then Orc arrows start whistling by once again, shooting at the companions. Dodging them, he turns and follows us up the stairs.
Translations:
Seasamin - My Pleasure
Arwenamin - My Lady