ummmm...
i didn't die a horrible terrible death by orcs...?

DISCLAIMER: no i don't own it...

CHAPTER THE THIRD

"We now have but one choice." Gandalf's voice rang out in the dark as he tapped the butt of his staff against the cold ground twice. Light blossomed from his staff, illuminating all of their faces. "We must brave the long, dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older, and fouler things than Orcs, in the deep places of the world." The wizard said darkly, walking forward to take the lead. Legolas followed behind him, followed by Gimli, the four hobbits, Aragorn, Boromir and finally Líndal bringing up the rear. The last three were soaking wet.

" Quietly now." Gandalf continued, lowering his voice to a whisper. But even so, it seemed like he was shouting into the dark. "It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence will go unnoticed…"

The Fellowship trekked through the dark, staying silent. Líndal lingered at the back of the pack, but Boromir lingered as well, and walked beside the elf.

"What was that back there…?" he asked, watching Líndal intently. The elf stiffened and glared at him from the corner of his eye.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I didn't know that elves created swords like that. What was that yellow light? How did you summon it?" Boromir questioned, not letting Líndal off the hook. He was intrigued by the elf's sword, he looked to the elf's waist and his eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't noticed until now, but not one, but two swords hung by his waist. Boromir looked at Líndal and grinned.

"Ah, an elf who prefers the sword over the bow." He said, "You're the first elf that I've known of who does. What are their names?"

"Tenseiga and Tetsusaiga." Líndal said flatly.

"Interesting. I don't recognize those names. What language are they from?" Boromir asked.

"I am not obligated to answer those questions." Líndal snapped. Turning and fully facing Boromir, and although there was anger in Líndal's eyes…but Boromir detected another emotion. An emotion that did not belong there.

Fear.

Boromir raised his hands up in surrender. "You cannot kill a man for being curious can you?" the two men continued to walk onwards-their quiet conversation had left them a ways behind the others, and just as Boromir was about to give up on any other information coming from the elf's mouth he heard a Líndal whisper something quietly.

"Why must you bring up the past? I can no longer change it…" Boromir turned his head towards him in surprise, only to have the elf walk briskly past him, rejoining the rest of the group.

Líndal watched their surroundings warily. He knew that they had to pass through the wretched place, but that didn't mean he had to be optimistic about their time there. Evil things lurked here, and he knew that they'd see their fair share of them by the end of their stay. Líndal kneaded his forehead in frustration as powerful memories attacked his mind. Of another cave, in another mountain. Fighting for his life against countable adversaries…loosing a loved companion… Líndal was so lost in his thoughts he nearly walked into Boromir, who had stopped with the rest of them to peer down the edge. Líndal too gazed over and down into the abyss. He looked back onto the wall behind him and saw tendrils of a silver substance on the wall. Líndal's eyebrows rose in surprise. Mithril. So that's what they mined so greedily…

"Bilbo had a shirt of mirthril rings, that Thorin gave him." Gandalf said as they resumed their walking.

"Oh, that was a kingly gift." Gimli said in awe. Líndal wracked his brains, for the two names sounded very familiar. He finally placed them with the faces of an elderly hobbit that he had met at Rivendell, and a dwarf whom the hobbit went with on a certain quest that involved a large pile of gold and an imfamous dragon…

"Yes." Gandalf continued in a fond tone. "I never told him, but it's worth was greater than the value of the Shire."

"I can't imagine why you wouldn't tell him." Líndal smirked, regaining some of his more laid back attitude. He also made note that Frodo seemed quite surprised at that face, and straightened his cloak absentmindedly.

Once again they kept walking, resting when needed for it was impossible to tell whether or not it was night or day. The group ascended an almost vertical stair. Pippin slipping several times to Merry's annoyance. Líndal himself bit back several choice curses at the dwarves who designed such a precarious stair-he wasn't worried he's fall off and die, (what an insulting way for a elf to go.) but it was the hobbits a head of him he feared of. The ones who might fall off and start a chain reaction until the ones behind him fell to their deaths.

At the top of the stairs, three separate hallways were present, daring the company to go into them. Líndal was about to ask what was to happen next when Gandalf whispered more to himself to the others. "I have no memory of this place…."

:-:-:-:-:-:

Aragorn and the others waited and rested as Gandalf sat and tried to remember which way to go. They had started a small fire-it was a wonder that they actually found some wood here in this accursed place- but it was a welcomed,(or not so welcomed) respite.

Aragorn watched with curiosity as Frodo turned and peered into the darkness, fear and surprise etched on his face. He watched the young hobbit run to Gandalf and began a hushed conversation.

"There's something down there." Frodo whispered, worry easy to hear in his voice.

"It's Gollum." The wizard answered, his gaze not leaving the three passage ways.

"Gollum?"

"He's been following us for three days." The wizard elaborated.

Ararorn too peered into the darkness, and saw a spindly figure farther down the rocks. He narrowed his eyes, taking note of the creature that was so fully corrupted by the one ring.

"O hisashiburi…Onigumo." Aragorn turned to Líndal in surprise. The elf had a sour look on his face-like he had eaten something that didn't agree with him. and yet he sneered with twisted glee.

"What language is that?" Aragorn found himself asking.

Líndal flinched and stared at him in surprise. "Sorry, what?" Aragorn stared at him, masking his confusion at his friend's puzzling reaction. Perhaps…he didn't know as much about his friend as he thought.

"Ah! It's that way!" the two were interrupted by Gandalf's declaration as he got up and made is way to the hallway on the far left.

"He's remembered!" Merry said happily, grabbing his packs from the ground and going to follow the wizard down the path.

"No. But the air doesn't smell so foul down here." Gandalf said peering down into the passage way. "If in doubt Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

"Kami, I should've been able to figure that out by now." Líndal muttered to himself.

After the company descended the dark stairs, the Fellowship found themselves amongst a large pile of rubble, in what seemed to be a larger part of the mines.

Gandalf raised his staff high and more the light from his staff became brighter, illuminating great pillars, intricately carved out of stone that stretched down the hall for miles and miles.

"Behold. The great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf." Gandalf said, pausing to let the others stare at awe at the once great city.

As they continued walking, Gimli's eyes lighted upon an open door, where a single ray of light shone on a pale slab of rock. Dread knotted in his gut and he sprinted off towards the room, not heeding Gandalf's shout.

"No…" he breathed, reading the words etched upon the grave. "No!" Gimli fell to his knees. "No!" sobs wracked his body as the rest of the Fellowship continued cautiously into the room.

Gandalf walked up the grave slowly, and read the words forever engraved onto it. "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria." Gandalf sighed sadly, remembering the brave dwarf that had journeyed with Bilbo and Thorin all those many years ago. "He is dead then…it's as I feared." He turned to look at the rest of them, uninterrupted aside from the noises of Gimli's despair.

Gandalf scanned the room, and noticed that a skeleton still held an old and dusty book. Giving his staff and hat to Pippin, he picked up the book and dusted it off.

"We must move on." Legolas hissed urgently to Aragorn, a cold chill running down his back. "We cannot linger."

"They have taken the bridge…and the second hall." Legolas and the others turned slowly to Gandalf who was reading the last pages of the ancient looking book.

"We have barred the gates…but cannot hold them for long." He continued, looking up at them warily. "The ground shakes. Drums. Drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out." He looked at them and read the last foreboding words. "They are coming."

Just as the words left his mouth a cracking noise was heard and a great bang as the head of a skeleton that Pippin was examining fell down the water shaft, making all sorts of loud noises. The Fellowship whipped around and turned to Pippin who was looking at them sheepishly…just a s the body fell along with it, dragging a chain that was attached to it as well, clanging and banging down the well. Loud enough for anyone within the mines to hear that there was someone there…that shouldn't.

There was a moment of silence…then: "Fool of a Took!" Gandalf growled, snatching his belonging from the hobbit. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" just as he finished talking, a deep sound was heard. Low and rhythmic. Like a heartbeat. A heartbeat of a great large monster. One that had woken from a long sleep. One that was hungry…for flesh.

"Frodo!" Sam stared in horror at the blue glow of Sting's blade. They exchanged fearful looks.

"Orcs!" Líndal spat, hearing the familiar cries of the disgusting creatures.

Boromir ran to the door, taking a glance out side. A whizzing sound met his ears and he jerked his head back just in time as two arrows lodged themselves into the door. Pulling the doors shut behind him, he and Aragorn leaned against the doors for a moment. "They have a cave-troll." He said, sarcasm evident in his voice.

"Fun." Líndal grinned, throwing an axe in their direction for them to bar the doors with.

The ringing of swords was hear throughout the room as the hobbits, Gandalf and Boromir drew their swords as the elves plus Aragorn readied their bows and aimed them at the door.

"Let them come!" Gimli snarled, standing atop of his beloved cousin's tomb, "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath."

The banging on the door became louder, and several holes were cut through revealing eyes of the damned creatures.

There were several twanging noises as the three bowmen released their arrows and three screeches of dying Orcs. Suddenly the doors burst apart and several Orcs bound forward shrieking and brandishing their swords. Líndal let loose a battle cry as he unsheathed one of his two swords, slicing an Orc's head off and his cry was followed by several more.

Sam had fought his way and killed several Orcs just as a great shadow fell over his head. Looking up as part of the ceiling was demolished a loud roar was heard as the cave troll fought his way inside.

Yelling, Sam dove between his legs, narrowly avoiding being crushed, only to be cornered as the troll lifted a foot to crush him. just as Sam thought it was about to be his end, the troll was jerked backwards. Aragorn and Boromir had managed to grab its chain and were trying to drag the creature back. Roaring it span back around, grabbing the chain in its fist. Aragorn let go as an orc swiped his blade at his head, but Boromir still held on.

The troll leered at him, and Boromir looked from the chain in his hand and the end that was in the troll's fist. Oh, sh-! The troll whipped the chain and Boromir went flying into a wall, the impact dazing him for a second. Shaking his head to clear it, he looked up to see an orc swinging his sword down onto him.

"Sankontessho!" three claw marks appeared on the Orcs body-each of them glowing yellow before blood erupted from the wounds, revealing bloody, but grinning Líndal. He winked at Boromir before dashing off to fight another.

"How did you do that?" demanded Aragorn as he hacked away at the Orcs.

"If we live through this," Líndal dodged out of the way of an Orc's sword before chopping its head off. "I'll make sure I'll tell you the story."

The sounds of rocks smashing rang through out the room as the troll swung his mace madly around, harming his allies more than his foes.

Legolas sent two arrows flying at the troll's head, only succeeding in annoying it.

"I see that you're head's too thick for that ya ugly bastard!" Líndal roared, swinging his sword, dealing death in every direction.

Ringing noises distracted Líndal for a moment and he turned to see Sam knocking the Orcs senseless with nothing but the pots and pans that he had hanging from his bag. Two were currently in his hands, dented slightly to what looked like an Orc's face. "I think I'm getting the hang of this." He said as he knocked yet another orc unconscious.

Líndal howled with laughter at the young hobbit's choice of weapon.

"Frodo!" Aragorn yelled as he watched the hobbit as well as Merry and Pippin try to run from the troll who had backed them into a corner.

"Aragorn! Aragorn!" the hobbit yelled in panic as the troll caught his leg and tried to pull him off the ledge.

Aragorn snarled in frustration as several Orcs rushed at him. he wouldn't get to Frodo in time.

"Move your ass bastard!" Aragorn whipped around to see Líndal hacking off the Orc's heads. "Didn't you hear me? MOVE YOUR ASS!" Aragorn nodded once and sprinted away.

"Líndal!" Boromir yelled from across the room. "Summon that light again! Kill them all already!"

Líndal looked at him in disbelief. "Baka! What would you think would happen to us? Do you want me to kill us all with that move?" Líndal snarled, annoyed at the other man's stupidity.

Whipping around he saw the troll stab a spear into Frodo's body. Líndal roared angrily, and with renewed strength he and the others killed the remaining Orcs and troll.

He walked towards Frodo, everyone staring at the hobbit in awe. What should've killed him had hardly made a scratch.

"I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf said fondly and with great relief.

Frodo hesitantly undid the top button of his shirt revealing the silver shirt that Bilbo had given him, back at Rivendell.

"Mithril." Gimli gasped. Then he grinned at the hobbit. "You are full of surprises Master Baggins."

Then there was a sound of more Orcs, running towards them.

"To the Bridge of Kazad-Dum!" Gandalf said, and sprinted off, closely followed by the others. Running out of the room, they sprinted as fast as they could, only to be surrounded by a countless amount of Orcs.

"How about now?" Boromir asked sarcastically as the Fellowship was forced back to back. Líndal sneered at the Orcs surrounding them. "why the hell not?"

But just as Líndal unsheathed his sword, a low rumbling growl echoed through the halls as a red light came to life, far down the hall. Shrieking in panic, the Orcs and goblins fled quickly, leaving the Fellowship behind.

"What is this new devilry." Boromir asked quietly as the growling became louder. All of them could feel dread pressing down on them, wanting to crush their will into dust.

"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world." Gandalf said quietly after a moment of tense silence. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"

he turned and lead them away, each of them sprinting as fast as they could in the other direction.

Aragon turned to the wizard who had fallen to the back of the pack, making sure that everyone else when ahead.

"Lead them on Aragorn." The wizard commanded, as the ranger tried to help him down. "The bridge is near." He said nodding to the bridge in the distance. Aragorn stood there frozen for a moment.

"Do as I say!" the wizard pushed him onward. "Swords are no more use here." Nodding, Aragorn sprinted away, urging the others onward.

Then they came across a break in the stairs, Legolas easily jumping the distance first.

"Gandalf!" urging the wizard to follow. Just as Gandalf made it over, a loud roar was heard behind him, and Boromir felt the rock underneath him shake and give way from underneath him.

"Merry, Pippin!" He shouted, grabbing them and jumping just as the stairs underneath them crumbled away.

"Sam!" Aragorn turned and threw the hobbit across. He turned to Gimli who held up his hand to stop him.

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf." He said, then roared and jumped across the chasm, only to slip closer to the edge, his arms spinning to right him self. Legolas lunged forward, grabbing his beard and pulling him forward despite his howls of protest.

"Frodo, Aragorn, move!" Líndal commanded as the rock underneath them tumbled to the abyss. Backing up, the stared at the rest of the company, too far away to jump to.

"Hang on!" a great boulder fell from the ceiling, destroying the part of the bridge where they were standing.

Pulling Frodo close, Aragorn and Líndal desperately tried to balance out their weight perfectly so they wouldn't fall to their deaths.

"Lean forward!" Aragorn commanded as the rock slid and shook. Gravity took over and the three fell forward, jumping to safety, and they continued to run together. No one left behind.

They sprinted as fast as they could, coming to a room where flames were licking the walls around them.

"Over the bridge!" Gandalf commanded, urging them onward. "Fly!" the Fellowship excluding Líndal ran forward, crossing the bridge as Gandalf turned and faced the dark flames.

"Jii-sama!" Líndal shouted, as Gandalf stared at the flames as a creature that seemed to be made of smoke, darkness and flame it self stepped out of the shadows. "Jii-sama!"

"Fly you fool!" Gandalf commanded, finally turning and running after the others, Líndal following close behind.

"I can fight it!" Líndal insisted as he caught up to Gandalf, a hand on Tetsaugai. "You know I can fight it!"

"This is not your time!" Gandalf roared, pushing him forward. Líndal stared at him in confusion, but ran across the bridge all the same.

Gandalf whipped around to see the Balrog step towards him. "You cannot pass!" he bellowed, raising his staff menacingly.

Up ahead Frodo turned to see his dear friend facing off with the terrible demon. "Gandalf!" he shouted frantically as he watched the flames that made the Balrog's body flared.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor." Gandalf growled, raising his staff as a bright light that came from his staff enveloped him. "The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn!" and just as the light finished encasing him, the Balrog swung down it's fiery sword upon him, only to have it deflected. The Fellowship could only watch in horror. "Go back to the Shadow." Gandalf commanded, but the Balrog took no heed, stepping onto the bridge, revealing a whip that glowed with the light of flames, cracking it menacingly.

"You shall not pass!" Gandalf slammed the but of his staff onto the bridge, a bright light and thin smoke passing over it. The Balrog's nostrils flared unimpressed. But as it took another step, the bridge below it's feet collapsed, the Balrog screaming as it fell into the dark abyss below the bridge.

Gandalf remained there panting heavily. He turned to rejoin the group, but as he did, the tail of the whip wrapped around his leg, causing him to stumble, only hanging on off the edge of what was left of the bridge.

"No! No!" Boromir yelled, grabbing Frodo as the hobbit rushed towards the wizard, but his protest were drowned out by Frodo's screams.

"Gandalf!"

Gandalf visibly struggled to climb back up to safety, but could not. Líndal looked on in horror as he and Gandalf made eye contact one last time. Líndal's eyes widened. He knew!

"Fly you fools." The wizard commanded and let go…falling into the abyss.

sorry about dissapearing off the face of the earth...^^"

school's starting again, so i've been pretty busy, and i think that i'll be getting even busier when school starts. (geo, math, french and science in one semester TT_TT and the only one i'm actually really good at is Math... )

but i promise to make it up to you guys who are reading this and i'll make it up to you and post nice long chapters :)

as always reviews are appreciated, and i'll answer any questsions regarding the story-as long as you don't get the answers later on.
so, i'll see you soon, and once again, kindly press that button just at the bottom of the story. it's convieniently labled 'review'. :)

-moony