Hello my faithful readers. I am so happy to say that for the month of March this story reached over 1,000 visitors! When I saw that number I actually wept with joy. That is the highest number that I have ever reached for any of my stories that I have posted here. So thank you!
Here is the next chapter of Fellowship of the Ring.
Sindarin words. Khuzdul words. Ojibwe words.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or LOTR.
"Quietly now." Gandalf says as he leads the Fellowship up the stairs that will take them deeper into Moria. "It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence goes unnoticed."
They reach a cavern that is open, and it has a lot of cross-bridges, walkways, and paths. The only source of light they have is Gandalf's staff and the torch that Inara has made. She gave the torch to Aragorn, who has decided to be the last person in line. Following the wizard, everyone moves into a single-file line to traverse a pathway next to the wall.
They walk across multiple bridges while moving through the large cavern mines of Moria till Gandalf leads them through a doorway. This doorway leads to a short, closed hallway before the exit takes them out onto a wooden walkway on the other side.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels" Gandalf says softly as he touches a vein of some kind of white ore in the wall. "but mithril."
Gandalf allows the light from his staff to become brighter to show the Fellowship all the pockets and veins of mithril that flows in the large mining cavern.
"It's so bright and sparkling." Kelda whispers in awe.
"Like starlight." Tauriel says as she takes one of Kili's hands in hers. She feels him give her hand a squeeze, and she turns her head to see that he is giving her a large smile.
The light quickly recedes back to how Gandalf had it before, and he continues in leading them all along the walkway. He glances back every so often to make sure that everyone is staying together.
"Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave him." Gandalf says to the group, in hopes that Frodo over-heard the comment.
"Oh that was a kingly gift." Gimli says, from behind Frodo, in amazement.
"Yes. I never told him, but its worth is greater than the value of the Shire." Gandalf states as if that was common knowledge.
The group keeps walking for a few more hours before coming to a steep staircase that Gandalf wanted them to climb up. However, with everyone tired from walking and lack of sleep from the night before, everyone options to climb it after a much needed rest.
As everyone carefully finds a place to rest against the rock wall, Kelda volunteers to take first watch. She climbs up a few steps onto the staircase to find a good position to be able to see as much as possible. Keeping an arrow at the ready and her bow slightly drawn, Kelda watches and listens to the stillness that is Moria. Only an hour into her watch, she is joined by another from the Fellowship.
"The air is still." Legolas says as he comes up two steps to sit near Kelda.
"It is so different here." Kelda replies softly. "Erebor is full of noise and people that sometimes you just need to find somewhere quiet to think. Still, the mountain feels more alive when there is dwarves living in it. But without the noise of dwarves, this place feels like it is dead."
Legolas looks at Kelda as she stares out into the cavern. He sees a lot of Tauriel in Kelda, but he also can see glimpses of Kili in her as well. As Kelda continues to speak, Legolas listens closely to what she is saying.
"When Balin left to reclaim Moria, everyone thought he was going to fail, but he did it. He was able to take back what was once a mighty dwarf stronghold. Only a few months after it was taken back, Erebor received its first shipment of mithril. It was like that for a few years before everything went silent." Kelda looks towards where her parents are resting together against the rock wall. "I don't think Balin would have allowed this to happen to Moria. Not without a fight at least."
"I am sure you will find the answers you seek, Nóruiloth." Legolas whispers so that only Kelda and he can hear his voice.
Yet Tauriel, though looking like she is resting, hears the name that Legolas has called her daughter. Hearing that term being used by her friend, makes her stomach churn uneasily. The two seem to have some kind of connection between them. However, Kelda has yet to speak to Tauriel about it, nor has Legolas.
"They seem close." Kili whispers softly while keeping his eyes closed. He too had heard the Sindarin name, but has no clue as to what it means. "Should I have my sword prepared to defend Kelda's honor?"
Tauriel lets a smile grace her lips before answering Kili. "Legolas would not dishonor Kelda. But I fear what will happen if they continue on this path. Thranduil would not take kindly to having a dwelf marry his son and heir."
"Aye. Best keep an eye on them till this quest is over. It may be nothing, but then again it could be something." Kili grumbles out before snuggling further against Tauriel's side.
For the remainder of the resting period, both Kelda and Legolas stay silent as they keep watch. No sound and no movement is heard throughout the still air of Moria.
After four hours of rest, Gandalf has the group start to climb the staircase up towards a hallway that should lead them to the main living halls of Moria. The stairs are steep, and many of them have a hard time climbing them. Especially when the steps have dead corpses, books, papers, and many other hazards on them.
Kelda helps Merry and Pippin up the stairs in an effort to make sure that neither one falls. Inara does the same for Sam and Frodo. However, Inara herself slips a few times only to have Tauriel or Kili help her keep her footing on the stairs.
Gandalf is the first to reach the top, and is dismayed to see that there are three different hallways.
"I have no memory of this place." Gandalf says in a flat voice.
"Kili?" Inara asks as she finally reaches the top of the stairs. "Do you remember this place?"
Kili looks around for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think I ever got this far in when I was here. Bifur would have known, but he and the others are back in Erebor by now."
"I do not recognize this place either." Tauriel says as she helps Pippin and Merry to the top of the stairs.
"So, should we wait till Gandalf can figure it out or should we send three scouts down each hallway to see where they lead?" Inara offers as a suggestion.
"We do not split up." Gandalf says. "I will figure this out. Till then, we stay together."
"Agreed." Nearly all of the members of the Fellowship say to Gandalf.
For nearly a whole day, the group stays camped out at the top of the stairs waiting for Gandalf to figure out which way they need to go.
"Are we lost?" Pippin asks quietly.
"No." Merry whispers to Pippin.
As the two young hobbits talk quietly to each other, Inara keeps looking back and forth between the group and Gandalf. However, a movement to her right draws her attention towards Frodo. Noticing him leaning over the rocks, Inara moves quietly towards him to see what has captured his attention.
Looking down, Inara makes out a shadow moving far below them, climbing up. Whatever this shadow is, it seems to be heading towards them.
"Looks like we have a follower." Inara whispers to Frodo.
"Who is it?" Frodo asks her.
"I can't be sure. I suggest you go ask Gandalf. I will keep an eye on it." Inara says as she pulls one of her tomahawks out. If she can get a clear shot at it, she will not hesitate to injure it.
Frodo gets up and makes his way over to where Gandalf is seated. "There is something down there."
"It's Gollum." Gandalf answers while still trying to figure out which hallway to take.
"Gollum?"
"He's been following us for three days."
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dúr." Frodo says with a small amount of amazement.
"Escaped or set loose? And now the Ring has drawn him here." Gandalf says as he turns to look at Frodo. "He will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself. Sméagol's life is a sad story. Yes, 'Sméagol' he was once called, before the Ring found him, before it drove him mad."
"It's a pity that Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance." Frodo says as he looks over to where Inara is, still watching for Gollum to reveal himself again.
"Pity? It is pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and many that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be so eager to deal out death and judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over." Gandalf says to Frodo. "The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."
Frodo moves to sit next to Gandalf with a defeated look on his face. "I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened."
"So do many who come into dark times, Frodo." Inara says as she had now moved away from keeping watch for Gollum, to check on the young hobbit. She had overheard some of their talking, and Inara understood what Gandalf was trying to tell Frodo about fate. "But we all must make choices about how we live our lives or what we do in our lives that will define who we are. Bilbo was fated to find that Ring. For if he hadn't, then Sauron would have gotten hold of it and we would all be fighting, right now, for our lives. Fate works in mysterious ways, Frodo, but do not question why it does what it does."
"Oh!" Gandalf says, interrupting Inara and Frodo's discussion. "It is that way."
"You sure about that, Gandalf?" Inara asks teasingly.
"I am sure of it, Inara Spiritwalker." Gandalf growls out in frustration. "Between you and Peregrin Took, I should like to keep from having to deal with your foolish questions."
"Whatever you say, Pops." Inara replies with a cheeky grin on her face.
As the group get themselves ready to leave, Kili pulls Tauriel aside for a moment for a quick chat.
"Is it me, or is Inara more frisky than usual?" Kili asks in hopes of getting some kind of an answer.
"Her moon cycle came three days ago." Tauriel answers as she picks up her pack.
Kili gives Tauriel an astonished look. "But she hasn't had one in almost a year. How can it just show up again? And why now? You don't think that this has anything to do with what Kelda told us? About Saruman's plans?"
"I don't know Kili, but I suggest we stay closer to Inara just in case."
"Agreed."
Kili and Tauriel quickly make their way towards where the last of their group was headed.
They down the stairway till they enter the large halls of Moria. The halls are impressively large, bigger than those in Erebor. The walls have carvings so intricate, that one knows just how old this place is. And yet, it is still eerily quiet.
"Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf says to the crystal on his staff. "Behold the great halls and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."
"There's an eye opener, make no mistake." Sam says in awe of the city.
Gandalf begins to lead them through the big hall, past many of the tall, large pillars that support the ceilings of the city. They keep walking for a while, before everyone is need of rest. So the group hunkers down for the night at the base of one of the pillars as Gandalf chooses to keep watch. Kelda has her sleeping roll near her parents. Gimli places his roll on the other side of Kelda's. The four hobbits lay next to each other, while Legolas, Aragorn, and Boromir place their bedrolls at strategic places around the others. Inara, however, places hers at the base of the pillar that is across from the others. She can't explain it, but she is craving a quiet place, away from the others for her rest.
Six hours later, Gandalf rouses the others from their rest, and they continue on their journey through the large halls.
After several hours of walking, Gimli notices large group of bodies near a slightly open door. This catches his attention and he begins to hurry over to it.
"Gimli!" Gandalf shouts, noticing where the dwarf is headed.
Hearing Gandalf call for Gimli, Kili rushes towards where Gimli was headed. "Gimli!"
Following Gimli into the room, Kili comes to a quick stop at the sight of all the dead bodies. However, it is Gimli's voice, which has Kili look towards the stone tomb.
"No... no." Gimli says over and over as he falls to his knees before the tomb.
Kili takes in a harsh breath, and moves slowly towards Gimli. He isn't sure who is buried in the stone tomb, but he isn't sure if he wants to know. From behind him, he can hear the others make their way into the room.
As Gandalf walks past Kili and Gimli, he looks at the writing on the top of the stone tomb.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." The wizard says solemnly.
Kili falls to his knees next to Gimli in shock. Memories of his childhood with Balin in them flash in his mind. He doesn't hear Tauriel speaking to him, nor does he feel her arms pull him into an embrace. The shock of it has caused Kili to enter into a daze.
Inara, who had heard what Gandalf had said, moves towards the tomb with tears flowing down her cheeks. She moves to the right side of the stone tomb, places a kiss to her palm, and then places her palm onto the tomb. With her lips moving, but no sound escaping them, she gives Balin the last rites in her peoples language.
The four hobbits watch as the relatives of Balin mourn, not sure of what to say or do to help their comrades.
"He is dead then." Gandalf says as he takes off his hat in a show of respect. "It's as I feared."
Looking down to his left, Gandalf sees a dwarf body holding a large book in its lap. He gently bends down to retrieve the book.
Inara, who saw Gandalf move, makes her way around the tomb to see Gandalf pull the book out of the dead hands of the dwarf. She bends down to inspect the dwarf, and she gently places a hand onto the skeleton hand. She gasps in shock and horror at the images flashing in her minds eyes.
"No." Inara whispers out loud.
By this time, Gandalf is already looking through the pages in the book.
"We must move on. We cannot linger here." Legolas whispers to Aragorn as they watch Gandalf, Inara, and the two mourning dwarves.
Gandalf begins to read out loud from the book in his hands. "They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep."
By this point during Gandalf's reading from the book, Kelda has made her way to a now silently crying Inara. She kneels down and places a hand upon her queen's shoulder in comfort.
"Inara?" Kelda asks cautiously.
"It's Ori." Inara says in her sorrow to Kelda.
Kelda's eyes open wide in surprise. "Master Ori? No, it can't be."
"It's him, Kelda." Inara laments. "It's him. His spirit showed me the last few days of his life."
Kili, from his spot near Gimli, heard Inara mention Ori's name. With Tauriel's help, he rises up from the ground and makes his way over to see his dead friend.
"Oh Ori." Kili says while letting tears stream down his face. "Why didn't you send for aid, my friend? Thorin would have sent it. Hell, Fili and I would have come to help. Why didn't you send for us?"
Tauriel held onto Kili tightly as he tries to take hold of Ori's decomposed body. She could hear the anger and frustration in his voice, and she knows that Kili is taking these deaths hard. "Kili there is no way of knowing if they could have sent for help." She whispers against his ear to bring comfort to him.
"We will have to send word to Nori and Dori of their nadadith's death." Inara says softly after whispering last rites of her people for Ori. "It is up to them now to take charge of Yuri."
Gandalf waits till this moment to continue on reading from the book. As if hoping that the last words of Ori will help bring comfort and peace to Kili and the others from Erebor.
"We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming." Gandalf says seriously, as if he knows what is about to happen next.
However a certain hobbit, who has been startled by Gandalf's reading, had backed himself towards what looks like a well. Taking an interest in the arrow that is protruding from the dead dwarf body, which is seated on the edge of it, he starts to fiddle with it. Turning the arrow, Pippin is curious as to whose arrow it is.
Kelda, who just so happens to glance his way, sees this and calls out to him. "Pippin!" she hisses at the hobbit.
This startles Pippin and causes him to jump, which knocks the body and causes the head to fall off into the well. Followed by its body not a moment later. Pippin turns to see that everyone is now staring at him as the body noisily falls down.
"Fool of a Took." Gandalf says while looking at Pippin before turning to look down at Kelda. "And you too are a fool for startling him. Throw yourselves in next time and rid us of your foolishness."
Gandalf takes back his hat and staff from Pippin just as the heavy beating of drums is heard from somewhere in the deep.
Everyone begins looking around for the oncoming storm of enemies. Each member looking around nervously for any sign as to where the enemy will come in.
"Shit." Inara growls out as she stands up and pulls her bat'leth from it holder on her back. "We're about to have company."
"Tell me something I don't know." Kili growls out as he pulls his sword out from its sheath at his waist.
"Mr. Frodo." Sam says as he looks down at Frodo's sword, Sting, for it has started to glow blue.
"Orcs." Legolas says as he quickly draws his bow and notches an arrow. He turns his body to face the doorway.
"And possibly Goblins." Tauriel says as she too draws her bow and notches an arrow.
Boromir, who had heard the two elves, rushes over towards the door to see which way might be clear for them to escape. However, just as he looks to the right, an arrow flies past his head and embeds itself into the door. Followed by another arrow.
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn shouts to the hobbits.
Gandalf begins herding the hobbits away from Balin's tomb, as Kelda rises to place herself between Gandalf and the doors. She draws her two short swords from at their places at her waist. Both Inara and Kili place themselves with Kelda to help if necessary. Tauriel stays where she is near Ori's dead body. Gimli however, climbs up onto Balin's tomb with his axe in hand.
A loud bellowing is heard as Aragorn and Boromir shut the doors. They use their bodies to try to bar the doors and give each other a look.
"They have a cave troll." Boromir says sarcastically to Aragorn.
Legolas quickly starts tossing axes, and any other weaponry that is lying around, to Boromir and Aragorn to help shore up the doors. However, all those weapons will not hold back a cave troll and he knows it.
Gandalf and the hobbits draw their weapons to meet the coming tide of Orcs and Goblins.
"Arghh. Let them come." Gimli says in anger as Boromir and Aragorn move away from the doors. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath."
"What am I? A dead fish?" Kili shouts at Gimli.
"Okay, two Dwarves who still draw breath." Gimli corrects his earlier statement.
Tauriel moves up closer to where Aragorn and Legolas are standing with their bows at the ready and arrows notched. Boromir stands off to the side with his shield and sword at the ready.
The doors are now being ripped open by the weapons of the Orcs and Goblins. Yet they still haven't been able to fully get into the room. Their grunts and shrieks can be heard inside the room though, and that causes Kelda to shake slightly.
"Don't let their sounds get to you." Inara growls to Kelda as they watch Legolas let loose an arrow towards one of the small openings.
Both Aragorn and Tauriel let loose their arrows and in a matter of seconds, the door bursts open to reveal their enemies. As the Goblins and Orcs rush into the room all three let loose even more arrows in an attempt to slow their enemies down. However there is too many, and the three draw their blades. Boromir steps up as well, trying to slice into any enemy that comes his way.
Gimli, who is still standing upon Balin's tomb, attacks as the enemy charge towards him.
Kili charges into the fray as well, slicing and hacking away with anger flowing through his veins. Inara follows Kili into battle as she lets out a loud war cry in her native tongue. She is thrilled, for a moment, that the combination of the war cry and the sight of her bat'leth confuses a few charging Goblins before they are killed by her weapon.
Kelda stays close to Gandalf and the hobbits as all of them are rushed by a few goblins that have gotten past Kili and Inara.
Only a few minutes of battling the wave of Orcs and Goblins, stone above the doors is blown apart by the entering cave troll. It lets out a loud bellow as it enters the room.
Legolas fires an arrow at it, which causes the troll to charge further into the room in search of the one who shot it.
"Woah, ugly!" Inara shouts as she and Kili dive out of the way of the mace that the troll has.
Out of everyone in the Fellowship, the cave troll focuses in Inara and goes after her. Inara twists out of the way of the approaching hand, but receives a back-handed blow that sends her flying into the wall. The impact is felt against her left-side, and she slides down the wall from three feet above the ground. The troll goes for her again, but is stopped when Aragorn and Boromir take hold of the chain that hangs from around the trolls' neck. They pull with all their might in an attempt to divert the trolls' attention away from Inara.
"Inara!" Kili shouts before running over to where she is lying motionless on the ground. As he makes it to her side, Kili gently checks for a pulse as Tauriel swiftly moves to give him cover. There is a long but shallow cut on the side of Inara's head, and as Kili presses gently at Inara's ribs he can feel that there may be a few that are broken.
Meanwhile, the troll turns about and swings its mace at Aragorn Boromir. Aragorn dives out of the way, while Boromir side-steps while still holding the chain in his hands. Before he can come to the realization that holding on to the chain isn't such a good idea, Boromir finds himself being tossed about in the air till he lands on an upper landing along the side of the wall. He falls to the ground in a daze and doesn't see a Goblin about to stab him with a knife.
"Boromir!" Kelda shouts before sending one of her short swords flying through the air. It makes a direct hit into the Goblin's neck, and it falls dead.
Boromir is startled by the both Kelda's shout and the Goblin falling dead near him. Looking up, he gives her a nod of thanks with his head, which she returns before going back to fighting again.
Gimli throws his axe at the troll, which makes the troll come after him. As the Gimli dives out the way of the trolls' swinging mace, Legolas sends two arrows flying at the troll. This enrages the troll even more and it attempts, again, to go after Gimli.
As the others fight the Orcs and Goblins, Inara is just starting to come to and fights to hold in a groan of pain as she tries to move.
"Easy, Inara." Kili says to Inara from where he is fighting with Tauriel against a few Goblins. "You need to take. It. Easy!" The last three words are more pronounced since he is stabbing a Goblin multiple times as he says it.
"That was not a fun ride." Inara growls out as she finally stands up, though her legs are a bit wobbly at first. "Is there any left for me?"
"We saved you plenty." Tauriel quips as she uses both of her daggers to make quick work of an Orc.
"What hit me? It felt like a bus." Inara asks as she bends down to pick up her bat'leth, only to discover that it is broken into two pieces. "Well that fucking sucks."
Kili turns his head to see what Inara is talking about, and sees the broken weapon in her hands. "Can you use it still, even if it is broken?"
"I can try." Inara says as she now holds the two large pieces like she would her tomahawks.
A loud shout from Pippin causes Tauriel, Kili, and Inara to look around with worry for where the hobbit might be.
"Oh god." Inara whispers as she sees the troll go after Merry, Pippin, and Frodo. She watches as the troll swings its mace down at them, and the three scatter. "I don't think so, asshole."
Charging towards where Frodo is hiding from the troll, Inara is cut off by Kelda who charges in to retrieve Merry and Pippin from where they are hiding. Yet, Inara charges forwards once Kelda has gone past her. Her eyes lock in on her target, and Inara hopes that she isn't too late to protect Frodo.
As the troll moves to the other side of the pillar that Frodo is hiding behind, Inara jumps up to join Frodo behind the pillar.
"Move." Inara shouts as she pushes Frodo back into the corner just before the troll comes around again to the other side.
The troll lets out a terrifying roar at both Inara and Frodo before coming 'round again. It grabs hold of Inara first, then reaches down for Frodo. As the troll tries to pull Frodo free of the hobbits' hold on the stone pillar, Inara uses this to her advantage. She plummets both pieces of her broken bat'leth into the trolls' wrist. It lets out a pain-filled bellow.
With the troll distracted by Inara's attack on its wrist, Aragorn is able to use a javelin to attack the troll as it lets go of Frodo, but not Inara. The hand holding Inara squeezes so hard that Inara lets out an agony filled scream from the pain.
Merry and Pippin hear Inara's scream and begin to pelt stones at the troll. The troll uses the same hand that holds Inara, to knock Aragorn away as the rocks are thrown at its head. However, the troll lets Inara go and she lands with Aragorn onto a pile of rocks. Aragorn is knocked out from the hit, but Inara is still conscious enough to see Frodo defend them from the trolls' attacks. She tries to get up but her body is feeling weak at the moment, and she falls back against Aragorn. As Inara attempts to rise again, she looks up just in time to see Frodo get hit by the same javelin that Aragorn used on the troll earlier.
"No!" Inara screams as she hears Frodo's gasping breaths. She starts to crawl her way to where Frodo is, and ignores everything else that is going around her. Inara reaches him just as he hits the floor. Being careful, Inara turns him onto his back and checks him over for where the wound would be.
While Inara is checking over Frodo, the others are now focusing their efforts into bringing down the troll. Merry and Pippin had both jumped onto the troll's upper back and were stabbing into the back of its neck. Kelda, only a few seconds later, also jumps onto the trolls back and proceeds to stab between the trolls' ribs.
The troll reaches behind its head and is able to get a hold of Merry. Bringing the young hobbit down, the troll tries to attack Merry, but is stopped when Gimli and Gandalf attack. The troll tosses Merry aside and tries to reach for Kelda next. However, Kili is quick to draw his bow and notch an arrow. He rushes past the troll before turning around to face it.
"Eat this!" Kili shouts as he lets his arrow fly.
The arrow hits true and enters the trolls' mouth. It penetrates the back of the trolls' throat, which causes the troll to bleed out from its mouth. The troll stumbles a few steps before another arrow hits true. This arrow comes from not Kili but from Legolas. With both arrows penetrating the back of the trolls' throat, it falls dead onto the floor.
"Come on, Frodo, wake up." Inara says as she gently smacks her hands against the sides of Frodo's face. "Time to wake up."
A shuffling from behind her causes Inara to do a quick look over her shoulder to see Aragorn crawling towards them. However, a groan from Frodo has Inara turning back to the hobbit lying on the ground.
"He's alive." Sam says as he rushes towards Frodo and Inara. He is happy to see that his friend is alive.
"I'm alright. I'm not hurt." Frodo says as Inara helps him into a seated position.
"You should be dead. That spear would have skewered a wild boar." Aragorn says astonished that the hobbit survived such a fatal hit.
"I think there is more to this hobbit than what meets the eye." Gandalf gives Frodo a pointed look.
"Of course there is, when he is wearing a kingly gift." Inara chuckles out. 'I owe Thorin a big show of thanks when I see him next.' She thinks to herself as she gives Frodo a smile. This mithril shirt helped Inara keep her promise to Bilbo, so far.
Frodo parts some of his shirt to show everyone what he is wearing underneath it.
"Mithril." Gimli says as he eyes the mithril shirt with abandon.
"I thought Thorin gave that to Bilbo?" Kili says curiously as he too wonders how Frodo got a hold of it.
Before anyone can answer Kili's question, the screeching sounds of approaching Orcs and Goblins echoes into the room from somewhere in the vast halls of Moria.
"We need to go. Now." Inara says as she attempts to stand, only to fall to her knees. She places one of her hands against her rids that were injured earlier by the troll. "Ahhh."
"Gandalf." Aragorn says as he sees Inara holding her ribs.
The wizard looks down at Inara with worry. Knowing that without help Inara will be too slow to escape the coming hoards, he places a hand against her ribs. He chants softly for a few seconds before removing his hand.
"That should suffice for now, Inara. To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Quickly!" Gandalf tells the Fellowship with a hurried voice.
Aragorn and Sam help Inara to stand quickly so that they can leave this room. Seeing that Inara is able to stand on her own, without assistance, Aragorn and Sam let go of Inara's arms. Kili steps towards Inara, but she shakes her head at him. She doesn't want to be seen as a liability to the Fellowship, so she hurries after Gandalf.
The Fellowship run through the halls in an effort to escape the ever growing numbers of their pursuers. Gandalf is out in front, leading them to where they need to go. At the back of the group is Aragorn, who is keeping tabs on the hobbits and Kelda.
As they run from one giant hall to another, more and more Orcs and Goblins give chase. Everyone is breathing hard from their pace of running as they flee. A few even feel their leg muscles burn from all the running.
"I hate running." Inara growls out between heavy breaths.
"I thought Thorin promised you that you would never have to run again once you were queen." Kili teases as he too is breathing heavily.
"He lied." Inara replies back to Kili. "Remind me to lodge a complaint with Fili about Thorin breaking his promise."
Kili chuckles between breaths before focusing on his running. Even though he isn't as young as he used to be, Kili feels like he is old thanks to the burning muscles in his legs. 'I hope I don't get a leg cramp any time soon.' He thinks to himself.
It isn't long until the Fellowship is surrounded by their enemies, and they have to stop running. All of them look about and hope that by some miracle that they will survive this. Just as everyone prepares for the worse, a loud gurgling growl echoes from somewhere in Moria. This sound startles the Goblins and Orcs into leaving, and has the Fellowship looking to where a menacing red light shines from a large doorway.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asks Gandalf.
A soft, pale pink glow starts to shin from Inara's necklace and everyone takes notice of it. Especially since it hasn't done that before.
"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world." Gandalf answers. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
Everyone begins to run again, following Gandalf, in an attempt to flee from this new danger that they are now in. They reach a smaller doorway, and Gandalf allows the others to pass him as he stands just outside of the doorway. As everyone files through, another gurgling roar is heard before a word is spoken by this new danger.
"Spiritwalker." The gurgling voice yells out.
Inara, who has yet to enter through the doorway, looks at Gandalf in shock. "Gandalf?"
"Run Inara." Gandalf says as he pushes her through the doorway. He keeps pushing her as he follows closely behind her.
As Inara and Gandalf go down the stairs of the hallway, they go around the corner at the bottom. That is where Aragorn approaches them with a worried look upon his face.
"Gandalf?" Aragorn asks with fear in his voice.
"Lead them on, Aragorn." Gandalf says to him. "And keep Inara safe at all costs." Gandalf pushes Inara towards Aragorn. "No one, but Thorin, is to take possession of her. The bridge is near. Do as I say! Swords are no more use here."
As another roar echoes from behind them, Gandalf begins to herd the Fellowship down the stairs that run along the sides of the deep cavern trench. As they reach a free standing staircase, they come upon a broken part of it. Legolas is the first to jump across it to see if the other side is safe.
"Gandalf." Legolas calls out while holding out a hand to the wizard.
Gandalf jumps across and lands safely next to Legolas. Suddenly an arrow just misses Boromir and hits the stone stair just below his feet. This has Kili, Tauriel, Aragorn, and Legolas drawing their bows and firing arrows towards where the goblin archers are placed across from the stairs.
"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir shouts as he takes hold of the two hobbits before jumping across to where Gandalf and Legolas are.
This causes a section, of about four steps, to fall free; making the gap even larger.
"Sam!" Kelda shouts as she kneels down so that he can get upon her back. Once he is on her back, Kelda steps back a few steps to get a running start. She runs down a few steps and leaps for the other side where Boromir is quick to catch her and Sam.
"Kili!" Tauriel says before grabbing hold of him around his waist. She waits for him to place an arm around her shoulders before getting a running start to jump across. Tauriel sticks her landing without any help, and quickly sets Kili down so that they can provide cover fire for the others.
Gimli, however, refuses to be tossed.
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf." He shouts at Aragorn before attempting a giant leap by himself. He barely makes it to the other side, and Legolas has to take hold of his beard to help stabilize his landing.
This leaves just Inara, Frodo and Aragorn on the other side. However, six more steps decide to crumble away after so many jumps. This has Frodo and Inara scrambling up more stairs, as Aragorn barely makes it away from the crumbling steps.
The growling of the Balrog and its beating against the stone wall, causes everyone to glance towards where they all entered from. More and more stones are crumbling away from the wall. A large piece flies free and lands several stairs up from where Frodo, Inara, and Aragorn are standing. It breaks the stairs, and causes the part that the three are one to rock perilously.
"Hang on!" Aragorn shouts as he takes hold of Frodo's shirt to keep the hobbit from falling.
"We need momentum!" Inara shouts to Aragorn.
"Lean forwards!" Aragorn shouts to Frodo and Inara.
All three lean forwards, which causes the precariously unstable stairs to move forwards. As the rock stairs hits the other part of the stairs below, all three jump to safety. Legolas catches Aragorn, Boromir catches Frodo, and Inara is caught by Gandalf. With everyone safe, they all start running again down the stairs till they reach where they need to be going.
"Over the Bridge!" Gandalf yells as he watches each member of the Fellowship run past him. "Inara!"
Inara runs to him instead of past him when she hears him call to her. She comes to a stop in front of him, wondering what the wizard wants.
"Fly!" Gandalf yells to her before pushing her past him. He keeps pushing her towards where the others are when something breaks through the rocks behind them.
The Balrog has caught up to them and makes its presence known. The smoke clears slightly to reveal a red and black, horned monster with wings. It roars at Gandalf before looking past him to where Inara is standing.
"Spiritwalker." The Balrog roars out as it begins to move forwards.
Everyone continues to run for the Bridge now that they can actually see the Balrog. Aragorn is the first to cross, followed by: Boromir, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Kelda, Sam, Kili, Tauriel, Gimli, Legolas, and Inara. Gandalf, however, stops one-fourth of the way across the bridge before turning to face the Balrog.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf yells at the Balrog as he tries to block the path.
"Spiritwalker." The Balrog roars at Gandalf as it stands up and fire covers its form.
"Gandalf!" Frodo shouts from where he is standing on the steps near the exit.
"No." Inara whispers softly as she stands at the other end of the bridge.
This causes the Balrog to look past Gandalf and at Inara. It points one of its flaming fingers at her and Inara's rose quartz stone begins to shine even brighter than before. She winces, not because of the light but because of a presence trying to break down her mental and spiritual barriers. Yet Inara will not show an ounce of fear or pain from the assault.
Gandalf looks back at Inara and sees the light coming from her stone. He knows now what the Balrog is up to, and he refuses to allow it to consume her. 'Inara has to be protected at all costs.' He hears multi-toned voices say in his mind. So Gandalf realizes that he must get the Balrog's attention off of Inara.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Undûn!" Gandalf yells out as the Balrog brings forth a flaming fire sword.
The light from Gandalf's staff protects him as the Balrog brings down the flaming sword at him. The light destroys the Balrog's sword, and this causes the Balrog to become angry.
"Go back to the Shadow." Gandalf growls out at the Balrog as it brings forth a flaming whip instead. This has Gandalf backing up on the Bridge.
However, Inara is still at the end of the Bridge and hasn't moved. She is concentrating on keeping herself from being over taken again.
Legolas, who has noticed that Inara had not followed him, rushes back to Inara's side. When he takes hold of her hand to pull her, he flinches at how cold it is. However, this doesn't stop him as he pulls her from her spot and to the stairs.
The Balrog notices this movement, and sends his whip cracking towards Legolas and Inara. Since neither one was paying attention, the whip makes contact with Inara's back and causes her traveling clothes on her back to catch fire.
Inara screams out in agony at not only the flames but at the heavy hit from the whip cutting through to touch her skin. Her knees buckle, and she screams in agony before falling to the ground. Inara blacks out from the pain.
"Inara!" Kili, Aragorn, and Tauriel shout in horror at what has happened to her.
Legolas turns and quickly douses the flames on Inara's back with his water canteen. Seeing that Inara is no longer conscious, he tries to gently pick her up minding her injured back. Once he has a decent hold of her, in a front piggy-back style, Legolas quickly makes his way towards the others.
Gandalf, after witnessing what has happened, knows what the Balrog has done to Inara. She has been mark by the Balrog. And Gandalf isn't happy about this new development.
"You shall not pass!" Gandalf yells as he slams his staff onto the Bridge, causing it to break apart underneath the Balrog. He can only hope that this is enough to end the Balrog, and to give the others enough time to escape.
As the Balrog falls with the Bridge, its whip knocks Gandalf off of his feet. This causes Gandalf to stumble and the part of the bridge he was standing on gives way. As Gandalf hangs off of the rest of the Bridge, Frodo and the other hobbits start to call out to him. This causes Gandalf to look for Frodo among the others. Meeting Frodo's stare, Gandalf looks into Frodo's eyes.
"Fly! You fools!" the wizard says before falling off the remains of the Bridge.
As Frodo yells in anguish, Boromir pick up the hobbit and begins to carry him up towards the exit.
"Aragorn!" Boromir shouts as he stops up a few stairs above from where the others are.
The others follow Boromir as Aragorn and Legolas, who is still carrying an unconscious Inara, bring up the rear. They follow Kili, who leads them out of the main gates of Moria, where the great battle of Azanulbizar took place a long time ago.
A good distance away from the gates, nearly everyone stops to mourn the passing of Gandalf. Pippin lays on the ground as Merry tries to comfort him. Gimli just stares out into the distance, while Kili holds Kelda as she cries. Tauriel is waiting for Legolas to set Inara down, while tears build in her eyes.
Legolas sets Inara down gently as Tauriel approaches to get a better look at the injured queen. Kili releases Kelda as he rushes to join Tauriel in checking on Inara. Kili brushes away a few tears from his cheeks as he watches Tauriel gently cut away the burnt fabric away from Inara's red and blistered skin. The whip mark nearly runs the length of her whole back. From her left shoulder blade down to the top of her right hip.
"I need medicine. Kelda!" Tauriel says as she looks for her daughter.
Both Legolas and Kili watch as the two females work on trying to heal Inara's back. But the medicine that Kelda has isn't working on the burn mark. Normally the medicine of the elves can heal most injuries; so this injury is not normal.
Aragorn calls to Legolas from where he stands a few feet away from the others. He plans on following Gandalf's advice and keep the quest going.
"Legolas. Get them up." Aragorn says with no emotion in his voice as he approaches the blonde elf.
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir shouts at Aragorn with empathy and sympathy in his voice.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs." Aragorn shouts in response to Boromir's display.
"Inara needs a skilled healer!" Kili shouts at both Boromir and Aragorn.
"Then we must reach the woods of Lothlorien." Aragorn says to Kili. "Come Boromir. Legolas, Gimli, get them up." Aragorn begins walking away as the others begin to slowly move.
"I will carry Inara for now." Tauriel says to Kili. She and Kelda gently move Inara so that Kili can help secure Inara over Tauriel's shoulder. Kelda places her own traveling cloak gently over the burn mark on Inara's back so that the elements won't cause infection.
"Frodo!" Aragorn calls out when he realizes that Frodo isn't with the others. He moves quickly over the rocks till he finally sees Frodo moving in the opposite direction from everyone else. "Frodo!"
Hearing his name being called, Frodo turns to look towards Aragorn and a tear rolls down the hobbit's cheek.
A not so big chapter, but it will suffice for now. Two more to go till the end the Fellowship movie. Then it will be onwards to the Two Towers.
Reviews are loved and cherished. So if you have a question or a comment, please leave one.
Selene