This chapter is sad. Despite this, I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I own only my OC's.

Chapter 11: Fire and Ash

Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Frodo gasped, falling onto the floor in a crumpled heap. Everyone wore a look of complete shock on their faces.

Then everything sped up again. Kayden sprang from Aragorn's side, slaughtering orcs furiously. Peyton tightened her grip on her bow and shot down any foe that came within her vision. Merry, Robin, and Pippin launched themselves onto the troll's back, stabbing it mercilessly. Boromir, Sam, and Gandalf all fought with renewed strength, trying to reach the fallen hobbit. Legolas notched an arrow in his bow and fired it straight into the troll's throat. The beast swayed, then toppled over, dead.

Everyone rushed to Frodo. Aragorn, who had regained consciousness, reached him first. "Oh no," he breathed, gently turning the hobbit onto his back.

Frodo coughed.

"WHAT THE HEY-HEY!" Peyton gasped.

"He's alive," Sam sighed, relieved.

"I'm alright. I'm not hurt," Frodo panted.

Kayden couldn't believe it. "You should be dead," she whispered.

"That spear would have skewered a wild boar," Aragorn added.

Gandalf chuckled. "I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye." Frodo slowly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a sparkling silver mail coat underneath. Everyone's eyes went wider than they already were.

"Mithril!" Gimli gasped, smiling. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."

Suddenly, more screeches were heard behind them. "To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm," Gandalf ordered. The Fellowship raced through the mines, looking over their shoulder every once in a while as the shrieks got louder. Orcs began swarming the cavern from every direction, even from the ceiling. The Fellowship was soon surrounded.

ROAR!

A bright orange light flared at the end of the hall. Another roar was heard, causing the orcs to scatter. The light began to grow brighter and nearer. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir questioned.

Gandalf paused, closing his eyes in dread. "A Balrog, a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!" No one hesitated to follow his command.

They dashed down the hall, the fiery light growing ever nearer. Kayden rushed forward upon seeing some stairs, only to discover that the ended above a great chasm. Unbalanced, she nearly fell over, but thankfully, Legolas caught her. They continued charging down the winding set of stairs until they reached a break in the staircase. Legolas nimbly leapt over. "Gandalf!" he beckoned. After a moment's hesitation, Gandalf jumped over as well.

Suddenly, arrows whizzed past them. Legolas aimed an arrow and shot an orc directly in the head. "Peyton, cover us!" Kayden shouted as she leapt across carrying Robin and Boromir leaped across holding Merry and Pippin. Peyton drew her bow and began firing.

"Sam!" Aragorn called, tossing over the hobbit. He then turned to Gimli, prepared to throw him over as well.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf," Gimli retorted, attempting to make the jump. He almost missed, if Legolas had not grabbed his beard. "Mind the beard!" the dwarf shouted as he was pulled to safety.

A boulder fell on the stairs, widening the gap. It was now too far to jump. The staircase that Aragorn and Peyton were on began to teeter as the great fiery shadow gained on them. "Hang on!" Peyton shouted, seizing the back of Frodo's cloak to prevent him from falling.

"Lean forward!" Aragorn commanded. The stairs began to sway towards the rest of the Fellowship.

"Come on!" Kayden urged. Finally, the threesome was close enough and jumped. Boromir caught Peyton, Legolas caught Frodo, and Kayden caught Aragorn. Quickly, they continued their sprint out of the mines as the piece of staircase Aragorn, Frodo, and Peyton were just on crumbled into the deep chasm.

~o*o*o*o~

The whole area was in flames. Searing heat pierced the bodies of the Fellowship as they raced through the room. "Over the Bridge!" Gandalf ordered. "Fly!" Robin glanced back to see a huge black horned beast chasing them. The Balrog was engulfed in fire and smoke, its flaming eyes flashing with malevolence.

Hurriedly, the Fellowship crossed the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Once they were across, however, Kayden noticed that they were one member short. She whipped around to see Gandalf standing in the middle of the bridge, facing the Balrog.

"You cannot pass!" he shouted.

"GANDALF!" Frodo screamed.

The wizard paid no heed. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor," he chanted. The Balrog drew a fiery sword as Gandalf's staff began to glow, surrounding the wizard in a globe of white light. "The dark fire will not prevail you, flame of Udûn!" he continued.

Aragorn and Kayden rushed to the edge of the pit as the Balrog swung its sword at Gandalf. The wizard blocked the monster's blow with his staff, causing the beast to roar in anger. Everyone anxiously watched the two dueling forces.

"Go back to the shadow!" Gandalf ordered. The Balrog stepped onto the bridge, cracking a great fiery whip above its head.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf shouted, slamming his staff into the bridge. The stone walkway crumbled, causing the Balrog to fall into the abyss. Peyton smiled at Gandalf's victory, but the grin was soon wiped off her face as the whip lashed out of the darkness, coiling around Gandalf's ankle. The wizard was yanked off the edge of the crumbled bridge, barely holding on with his arms. "Fly, you fools!" he ordered, before slipping into the darkness below.

"GANDALF!" Frodo wailed, trying to run over to where the wizard had last stood. Boromir and Peyton held the poor hobbit back, dragging him to the exit. Almost all of the Fellowship had fled, but Aragorn and Kayden remained staring blankly at the crumbled bridge.

"Aragorn!" Boromir cried, carrying Frodo out of Moria.

"KAYDEN!" Peyton called, before following Boromir.

The sound of arrows striking the ground finally brought Aragorn and Kayden out of their daze. The two dashed out of the mines, swiftly dodging arrows as they ran. Finally, the Fellowship emerged into the sunlight. Robin crumpled in grief onto a rock, Merry hugging her and doing his best to comfort her. Peyton sat down in disbelief, tearing prickling her normally dry eyes. Legolas and Kayden stood together, both staring grimly into the distance. How could this have happened? Kayden asked herself. Gandalf was so powerful. He was our leader. He-

Aragorn's voice interrupted her bleak thoughts. "Legolas, Kayden, get them up!"

Boromir looked shocked. "Give them a moment, for pities' sake!"

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs," Aragorn argued. "We must reach the woods of Lothlórien by nightfall. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Kayden, get them up."

Kayden gently placed her hand on Peyton's shoulder. "It'll be alright," the elleth reassured her, but she could hear the grief in her friend's voice. Peyton nodded glumly and stood up, looking around for the one hobbit who needed comfort the most.

"Frodo," she called. "Frodo!" Peyton found the hobbit a few yards away, tears trickling down his normally happy face.

Only then did the reality of it hit her. Gandalf was gone.

Robin: How could you…

Peyton: Why did you have to do that?

Kayden: *silent*

Me: Dude, it's part of the storyline.

Peyton: Well, I DON'T LIKE IT!

Robin:*sob*

Kayden:*silent with depressed look on face*

Me: They are really upset about this. Please review. It might make them feel better.