We ran for hours chased by the deafening roars of the belrog. The ominous orange glow from the beast casted our shadows upon the walls of the mines. The hobbits, through fear, were able to keep up with the fast pace we had set. We ran until running was no longer permitted. We reached a gap in the stairs we were running down.
Legolas jumped across followed shortly by Gandalf. Before I was able to say anything, an arrow flew by Merry and Pippin's feet. Legolas, Estel, and I pulled out our bows and shot at the orc on the ledge. Legolas managed to put an arrow through its brain. While we distracted the orcs, Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin and jumped across with them to join Gandalf and Legolas.
Estel left me to fend off the orcs with Legolas while he tossed Sam to Boromir, but Gimli stopped him before he could touch the dwarf. "No one tosses a dwarf," Gimli stated offended by Estel's attempts to toss him. He jumped over with as much power as he could muster. I vaguely heard Gimli call out something about his beard as I sensed something behind us.
The ground beneath our feet began to crumble. Frodo and I were able to jump back, but Estel wasn't as quick as we were. He slipped and was barely hanging onto the edge of the stair. His arms began to shake with the force it took to keep his grip on the ledge.
"Take my hand," I called to him as he continued to struggle. He reached up and took it as I pulled him onto where we were. But I sensed more danger coming. Behind us, a large boulder fell and split the stairs we were on from the ones we had come from. The stones beneath our feet faltered and began to fall backwards.
"Lean forward," Estel called to us. I did not know his intentions, but I trusted him and leaned as he had commanded. The stairs began to fall forward as our weight had led it and we held our ground as it fell forward. Soon, the stairs crashed into the ones the rest of the fellowship stood upon. Legolas had caught Estel while Boromir had caught Frodo. I, on the other hand, who had stood behind both the man and hobbit, Faltered and almost fell to the ground. Estel had turned just in time to catch me.
"My debt is repaid, you Lúthien," Estel smirked as I nodded my thanks. We did not wait to watch the stairs fall as we ran away from the scene. It was not long before we reached our destination, the Bridge Of Khazad Dum. We all ran across quickly, but Gandlaf paused in the middle of it.
"Keep going," he called to us as He turned to face the approaching belrog. I could briefly make out a few phrases of what he was saying before he shouted. "You shall not pass," and brought his staff down onto the stone before him. The bridge that stood before him crumbled into the abyss below taking the flaming belrog with him. Gandalf had turned around for a moment with a content look crossing his features when the flaming whip of the belrog flew around his ankle and pulled him down. He was dragged to the edge of the bridge fighting to keep his grip.
"Father," I called out in an ancient tongue that I knew only he could understand. I tried to run towards him but he called out.
"Stay, my daughter," He shouted in the same language. "It will be alright. I will see you again. I love you!" I nodded my understanding. Gandalf had change back to the common tongue and called out "fly you fools," before he let his grip go on the ledge and fell into the abyss. Frodo called out to him as he fell and tried to release Estel's grip on him to no avail. Estel, Boromir, Legolas, and I had to drag the hobbits out of the mines with Gimli trailing close behind. When we exited the tombs we allowed the hobbits to pity the falling of the Gandalf as Estel stood and decided what to do next.
"Get them up," Estel ordered after a few moments.
"Can't you give them a moment for pity's sake," Boromir responded as he watched the younglings weep as the rest of us did.
"Aragorn is right," I defended as I walked back towards the group. "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach Lothlórien." I reached out towards Merry and Pippin who sat next to eachother. "Come now, mellonea, we must move on," I helped them to their feet as they wiped away tears. "It is alright, you will see him again," I laid a hand on both of their shoulders giving them the same reassurance that Gandalf had givien me. The two hobbits nodded as they began to move again wanting to leave this place as badly as the rest of us.
We walked for many hours in an ominous silence. Legolas and I resumed our scouting leads while the others satyed a few yards behind us. After almost half a day of silence, Legolas asked, "what did you say to him?"
"I am sorry, but I do not follow you thoughts, Legolas," I responded with my ming in a partial fog of memories.
"To Gandalf, before he," Legolas trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence. "You were talking in a language I did not understand. I was just curious as to what you said to him."
"We were just," unable to phrase our conversation correctly, I paused for a moment before answering, "only saying goodbye."
"Ah," Legolas seemed perplexed by the situation at hand. "Why could you have not spoken in the common tounge, if you do not mind my asking?"
"It was, personal," I answered truthfully as I still covered the real truth. We ran on in silence for a while before Estel called us back to join the rest of the fellowship. It was then that I truly saw all of their faces for the first time. The Hobbits still had tears streaming down their faces although they tried to hide it. Gimli and Boromir both had freshly laid tear tracks etched into their faces. It seemed as though Legolas, Estel, and I were the only three who had been able to hold our emotions in for a more private setting.
We stayed together as we entered the Golden woods. I was briefly listening to Gimli's talk of a sort of enchantress within the wood and his warnings to the Hobbits to be watchful. I smirked lightly to myself before a spear was thrust in my face causing me to stop. We had been surrounded by elves.
"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark," A elf stated who looked to be the leader of the ring who had surrounded us. He paused for a moment and looked at me as if recognizing me. It took me a moment but I recognized him as well. This was Haldir, a good friend of Lord Elrond. I have met him many times while in Imladris. "Lady Lúthien," He bowed to me and I paid him the same respect in return. "What brings you and this traveling party to Lothlórien and with both Lord Estel and Prince Legolas?"
"We, Haldir," Estel took over the answer as he bowed to the tall blonde elf, "seek refuge in your fair city for the night. I will explain everything to you then if you allow us to stay."
"Aye," Haldir agreed as he told his troops to lower their spears. "I welcome you all to the fair city of Lothlórien." He turned and had us follow him as we entered the city. He led us to a pair of elves whom I recognized as Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, the two rulers of the land who held the rings of power. I bowed to them immediately.
"There is no need for that, child," Galadriel said as I rose. "Welcome to our fair city, Fellowship of the ring. But tell me," she mused as she looked at are small and worn out group, "ten of you embarked on this journey from Imladris. Where is Gandalf the Grey?"
"He fell," I stated blatantly, "in the Mines of Moria from where we have just come."
"Ah I see," she continued to talk to the rest of the fellowship, but I heard a different voice within my head. "Welcome, Raina, daughter of Gandalf."
"How do you know who I am?" I answered in my head.
"I can see all that truly is and what shall come," her voice sounded bemused in my head. "Do not fret, Raina, you will see your father in the flesh again. And you will embrace your destiny soon enough." Before I could ask her what she meant, her voice left my head as swiftly as it had entered.
"You all seem tired," Galadriel decided now addressing all of the fellowship. "Go and rest. You may stay until your strength has fully returned."
"Thank you, My Lady," Estel answered as Haldir lead us away toward guest houses.