TW: The Doctor has never believed in magic, it's not something I made up for this story; it's something that's true for every incarnation. Ten and Eleven have both had entire episodes where they scoff at the very idea of the supernatural.
The group continued making their way through the mines, the only light coming from Gandalf's staff. After a while, the group walked down a narrow path, Gandalf stopping to examine a wall.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but Mithril," Gandalf declared.
"Let's pretend we know what that is," Rory said dryly.
"Mithril is the most prized metal in all of Middle-earth. It can be polished like glass and its beauty does not tarnish like common silver. It can also be beaten like copper and crafted into armor that can withstand any blow," Gimli said, regaining a shadow of his former enthusiasm.
"Fascinating," The Doctor said, looking like a kid at Christmas. "I'd like to get my hands on some."
"Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings that the dwarf king Thorin gave him," Gandalf mentioned as they continued walking.
"That was a kingly gift!" Gimli said in awe.
"Who's Bilbo?" Amy asked curiously.
"My uncle. He was the last one to bear the ring before I," Frodo said, seeming to grow sad at the mention of his uncle and a beat passed.
"I never told Bilbo that its worth was greater than the value of the Shire," Gandalf said with a slight laugh.
"It would make for an interesting lesson on Archelogy," River noted.
"I'm sure, Professor Song," The Doctor muttered absently, his mind still on the Mithril.
"I become a professor one day! How exciting," River said happily as The Doctor cringed at his mistake.
"How can you mess up the same way twice Raggedy Man?" Amy asked with a laugh.
"Spoilers," River said cheerfully.
"Are they always like this?" Boromir inquired to Rory, who sighed.
"You have no idea," Rory said with long suffering.
They reached a stairwell, which was littered with bodies.
"Great, more climbing. I think I preferred when we were doing the running thing," Amy said sarcastically.
"Don't jinx us," Rory warned as they began climbing the stairs.
They climbed the stairs with no issue, minus Pippin nearly falling only to be saved by Merry. However, as they reached the top, aside from a few boulders, they saw there were three doorways. Gandalf looked at the doorways with a startled look.
"I have no memory of this place," Gandalf muttered to himself.
"So more waiting then," Amy muttered and The Doctor and Rory shot her matching warning looks. "Okay then."
"Amy is right. Until I can figure out which path to take…we must wait," Gandalf said.
Some time passed, and they were still waiting. Gandalf was sitting in front of the doorways, deep in thought as, further down on the steps, the others all waited. Aragorn and Boromir were talking quietly among themselves as the Hobbits sat quietly. The Doctor was twirling his screwdriver in the air, glancing at Gimli in concern, knowing what it felt like to see your race wiped out.
A few feet away, Rory clutched his axe as his eyes moved across every shadow he could see, like he was expecting a monster to come out and attack. Behind him, Amy looked at him worriedly, something River noticed.
"Are you alright Amy?" River inquired.
"He's just…I've never seen him so tense before. I know we're worried but…" Amy trailed off and River was silent for a moment.
"He's a warrior, he's doing what warriors do: preparing for the next fight," River explained and Amy looked at her oddly.
"He's not a warrior, he's a nurse," Amy said and River smiled tightly.
"He's the Last Centurion Amy; he spent almost two-thousand years waiting for you. It will have undoubtedly changed him," River told her.
Amy frowned, glancing at her fiancé as she considered River's words. But, before she could dwell too much on it, Gandalf suddenly spoke.
"Ah, it's that way!" Gandalf said, pointing at one of the doorways.
"He's remembered," Merry said in relief as they all got to their feet.
"No. But the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose," Gandalf explained.
"Sound advice. I'll call that rule number 75," The Doctor said as they all reached the doorway.
The group walked down stairs, into a narrow pathway. After a few minutes of walking down the corridor, they came out into a darkened room.
"Let me risk a little more light," Gandalf muttered, raising his staff as the crystal glowed brighter. "Behold. The great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf."
Gimli let out a shallow breath as the other members of the Fellowship looked around in awe. It was indeed a city, stretching as far as the eye could see with columns that towered over them all.
"Oi," Amy muttered.
"There's an eye opener, and no mistake," Sam noted softly.
"You were right Doctor, it is worth teaching a class over," River told The Doctor, who merely nodded, taking it all in as they resumed walking.
"It puts Rome to shame," The Doctor muttered.
"I was just about to say the same thing," Rory said in awe.
As they continued walking, Gimli let out a yell and unexpectedly raced towards a room.
"Gimli!" Gandalf called out but the dwarf ignored him, racing into a room.
They quickly followed him, finding Gimli kneeling in front of a coffin, crying softly as a light shone down on it from an opening in the wall. They could all feel his pain. Gandalf approached the coffin, seeing writing carved into it.
"Here lies Balin...son of Fundin...Lord of Moria," Gandalf said lowly removing his hat. "He is dead then. It is as I feared."
Gimli continued to wail as The Doctor walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. To lose a loved one was a pain he was all too familiar with.
Spotting a book gripped in a skeleton's hands, Gandalf handed his hat and staff to Pippin and walked over, prying the book from the hands. Gandalf opened the book, some of the pages falling out as he did.
"We must move on. We cannot linger," Legolas whispered to Aragorn.
"You have to let Gimli grieve first," River, who had overheard, told him.
"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," Gandalf paused, turning the page as they all listened, horrified. "We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming."
There was then a loud bang that startled everyone. They turned towards the source, finding Pippin standing there sheepishly before a headless skeleton behind him fell into a hole, dragging a chain that knocked a bucket in after it. They all listened at the bang, which echoeed throughout the mine. Pippin grimaced as they all looked at him in exasperation before Gandalf slammed the book shut.
"Fool off a Took!" Gandalf snapped as he grabbed his hat and staff back. "Throw yourself in next time to ride us of your stupidity."
Barely had the words left Gandalf's mouth when they heard it. Softly at first, then it got louder: a drumming sound that seemed to echo from the well, and from the entrance to the chamber.
"Frodo," Sam said and they all looked down to see Frodo's sword glowing.
"I don't suppose that's good news," Amy said, knowing it probably wasn't.
"Orcs," Legolas said grimly.
Boromir tried to lead everyone out only for two arrows to hit the wall, mere inches from his face.
"Get back!" Aragorn shouted as they horded the Hobbits and Amy towards the back of the room. "Stay close to Gandalf!"
Boromir shut the door as River drew her gun and The Doctor picked up a nearby axe, prying it from one of the skeletons.
"They have a Cave Troll," Boromir asked dryly.
"Brilliant," Rory said, he and Legolas grabbing some axe on the floor and tossing them to Aragorn and Boromir.
They tried to use them to lock the door before backing away, everyone drawing their weapons. Something banged on the door, as they all prepared.
"Let them come!" Gimli roared as he stepped onto the coffin. "There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath."
Rory stood next to Aragorn, gripping his axe tightly as River and The Doctor stepped between Legolas and Boromir, waiting as Amy stood behind with Gandalf and the Hobbits, wishing she had a weapon of some kind.
Swords and axes began to burst through the door and Legolas released his draw string. The arrow sailed through the air, going through one of the holes in the door and a shriek was heard from the creature on the other side. The door then burst down as a hoard of Goblin burst into the room.
Aragorn and Legolas immediately began firing arrows at them and Gimli roared as the Goblin rushed them. River began firing her gun, getting a few while Boromir, Gimli, Rory and The Doctor began using sword and axes respectively, cutting some Goblins down.
Gandalf roared as well as he and the Hobbits joined the flight. As a Goblin broke through and rushed towards Amy, she saw an arrow on the ground and quickly picked it up as she backed away fearfully. As it reached her, she pointed the arrow toward it and it impaled itself on the arrow as it rushed her, the arrow lodging into it chest. It shrieked in pain as Amy kicked it away, the goblin falling on its side before it died.
River and Legolas shot down two more Goblins as the Doctor pushed over back before Rory jumped behind it, swinging is axe and taking off its head while Aragorn and Boromir roared, taking out as many goblins as they could.
Then, the ground shook before the door was busted down. The Fellowship looked up; staring in horror at the massive creature was led in by a Goblin, who was pulling it by the chains. It roared at them.
"Oi," The Doctor muttered.
Legolas fired first, getting the troll in the chest. But the troll merely yanked the arrow out, snarling at them angrily. It lunged at Sam, attempting to bring down its hammer on him but Sam jumped between its legs, sliding away from it. It attempted to step on Sam but River fired, killing the Goblin holding the chain before grabbing the chain, yanking on it with strength that surprised all of them, managing to pull it back.
Deciding to file that away for later, The Doctor used his axe to disarm the Goblin before picking up its weapon, throwing it at the troll. His struck true but it only seemed to make the troll angry.
The Goblin then tried to rush The Doctor from behind but Rory was there, using his axe to behead the creature.
"Doctor, I know you're against killing, but maybe you can make an exception just this once," Rory said before he whirled around, taking out another goblin.
The Doctor was prevented from answering when the troll got back up, taking River by surprise and striking her with its hand, sending her flying into the wall. A nearby Goblin moved to strike her but Aragorn threw a dagger at it, impaling it in the chest. It fell to the ground, dead as Aragorn and River nodded at each other before River got to her feet.
Gimli threw his axe, which struck the Troll. It roared in pain and anger before it moved towards Gimli, using its club to smash the coffin and sending Gimli flying. He landed on his back, getting up as the troll swung its club, begins to take out its own allies as it turned its attention to Gimli.
Amy and the Hobbits save Sam had taken cover, watching as the others continued fighting the goblins and the troll. Legolas fired an arrow at the troll, getting it as it attempted to strike Gimli, whose back was turned as he fought the Goblins. Legolas ran up along the walls, taking out some Goblins with his arrows when the troll turned back to him, trying to strike him with its chain.
Legolas dodge its strikes before stepping on the chain and, to the disbelief of Amy and the Hobbits, using it to get onto the troll and firing an arrow into its head. It wailed in pain before throwing Legolas off.
The Troll then turned its attention towards Amy and the Hobbits, bringing down its club on them only for the four of them to scatter, barely making it out of the way. But Amy, being bigger than the Hobbits, couldn't make it through the smaller spaces and fell. She looked up fearfully as the troll raised its club again.
"Doctor!" Amy called out.
At the sound of her voice, The Doctor, Rory and River turned towards her and saw the Troll. River immediately fired her gun, getting the troll in the back and it wailed in pain, stopping its club's descent. Rory then, to the disbelief of everyone, jumped onto the troll's back, attempting to cut into its neck with his axe. But the troll's skin was very thick and it growled in pain before reaching up, throwing Rory to the ground a few feet away from Amy. Rory looked up as the creature stalked towards him.
Before it could get far, Aragorn suddenly jumped between it and Rory, driving a spear into the troll's chest. It dropped its club, wailing in pain as it stepped back before swatting Aragorn, sending him flying. Aragorn landed a few feet away and Rory got to his feet, picking up his axe. But before he could do anything, The Doctor suddenly jumped between Aragorn and the troll, holding something in his hand.
"You want something to chew on? Try this!" The Doctor shouted.
He then threw his sonic screwdriver, which was blinking, into the troll's mouth, to the disbelief of his companions. The troll seemed to gag on it as they all heard beeping before there was a loud bang in the room followed b smoke.
When the smoke cleared, they heard a thud that caused the room to tremble. The Troll's body was seen lying on the floor, without a head near piece of smelly, burnt flesh.
"Did you just…" Amy trailed off as they looked at The Doctor in disbelief.
"The sonic has a self-destruct sequence. Never thought I'd have to use it," The Doctor said with a sigh.
"When I said you could make an exception, that wasn't what I had in mind," Rory noted as he helped Amy to her feet.
"The battery only had enough for a few more hours anyway. I thought I should make use of it while I can," The Doctor said wearily.
As the Fellowship gathered around, they saw that the other Goblins were all dead.
"I guess that means we win, yeah?" Amy asked.
As if in answer, the Fellowship heard more screeching noises and saw shadows moving in the dark.
"You just had to ask," Rory grumbled.
"To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" Gandalf ordered.
At his urging, the Fellowship immediately fled the chamber, following Gandalf. As they did, Goblins seemed to emerge from every direction, beginning to pursue the group. Looking up, Amy saw that numerous Goblins were climbing from the ceiling and using the columns to climb onto the ground.
"We've got company!" Amy warned.
"Tell us something we don't know!" Rory snapped.
"Less arguing, more running!" The Doctor shouted.
Within seconds, the Fellowship found themselves surrounded by the Goblins, the group standing back to back, wondering how they could get out of this.
Then, there was a loud rumble. The Fellowship looked in bewilderment and a bit of fear as the Goblins seemed to panic before running away, leaving the group standing in the center of the city, alone. Then, they heard the rumble again and Legolas aimed his bow at the orange-red glow that was at the end of the corridor while Gimli let out a triumphant laugh.
"I don't think we should be celebrating yet Gimli," River whispered gripping her gun tightly.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked softly.
"If it scares the Goblins, I'm not sure I want to know," Rory muttered, gripping his axe tightly.
For a moment, it was silent as Gandalf closed his eyes, everyone turning to him. His eyes then snapped open as they heard a growl.
"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you," Gandalf said grimly. "Run!"
Not needing to be told twice, the Fellowship turned and fled, Gandalf taking up the rear as the rest fled through a doorway. On the other side was a stairwell leading to a deep cavern.
Boromir reached the bottom of the steps before losing his balancing, dropping his torch and nearly falling over before Legolas and The Doctor grabbed him, pulling him back. The others came upon them, staring at the cavern.
"Gandalf," Aragorn said, noticing the wizard seemed worn.
"Lead them on Aragorn," Gandalf said as he placed a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "The bridge is near."
Following Gandalf's gaze, the group saw that there was a bridge a few feet away, their only chance of escape.
"Do as I say!" Gandalf shouted, pushing Aragorn forward. "Swords are of no more use here."
The group began heading down the stairs as quickly as they could without falling off the stairs. However, they came across a gap between.
"Oi," Amy groaned.
Legolas jumped over the gap easily, as did The Doctor after him. The two landed on the other side of the steps before turning back to the rest of the group.
"Come along Ponds, no time to waste," The Doctor said as he gestured them forward.
"Says the man with a time machine," Rory muttered.
The stone above them began to crack and Gandalf looked back, hearing the roars of the Balrog. It was getting closer.
"Gandalf!" Legolas called, gesturing forward.
With a jump that seemed surprising for his frail body, Gandalf made it across the gap, Legolas helping him when arrows began to hit the other side of the steps. They all looked up to see Goblins firing at them from above. Legolas fired, getting one of the Goblin's in the temple and it fell below. Legolas continued firing as Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin under each arm and jumped across the gap. Seeing the steps were starting to fall apart, River grabbed the surprised Amy and threw her over the gap, Amy yelping before part of the steps fell off. The Doctor easily caught Amy and set her on the steps as Aragorn, liking the idea, tossed Sam across as well, who was caught by The Doctor.
"Hello my friend, I believe you may be the first flying Hobbit," The Doctor joked as he set Sam down.
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf," Gimli snapped when Aragorn moved to do the same to him.
"They do this time!" River shouted before grabbing the surprised dwarf and tossing him over the gap.
Gimli yelped before being caught by Legolas and Boromir, each who helped him down. Another part of the steps then fell away and Aragorn quickly shoved Frodo back as Rory and River moved as quickly as they, Rory caught in the falling section and beginning to fall.
"RORY!" Amy screamed horrified when River quickly reached out.
She grabbed Rory by his shirt and before jumping. The pair landed on the steps, Boromir and Doctor helping steady them.
"Thanks," Rory told River, who nodded.
They looked back at Aragorn and Fordo as Aragorn pulled himself over the ledge, getting back to his feet. They looked back at the gap, seeing it was now far too wide for either man or Hobbit to jump.
The piece of stairs was beginning to crumble and, as Aragorn placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder to steady him, a plan formed in his mind. Watching as the stairs tilted from side to side, Aragorn knew how to get them out of this.
"Lean forward!" Aragorn ordered.
Fordo did so and the piece of stairs tilted, meeting the piece that the rest of the Fellowship was on. It stopped clean and Aragorn was helped over by Legolas as Frodo was grabbed by The Doctor.
Now reunited, the group fled down the stairs as the broken piece fell below. Within moments, they had reached the bottom and saw the bridge in sight.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf barked as they ran for it.
Gandalf lingered and flames burst out behind him. The Doctor glanced back and saw the Balrog emerged from the flames, roaring at Gandalf.
The Doctor's first thought was that the Balrog reminded him of the beast he'd encountered in his previous incarnation. Except this was far more terrifying. A weaker man would have frozen at the sight of it. But The Doctor had been around too long and seen too much to do so.
"Gandalf!" The Doctor called.
Gandalf turned and raced after them all, the Balrog pursuing them quickly. They reached the bridge, running across it one by one. But as The Doctor reached the other side, they all realized Gandalf was not with them. He had stopped on the bridge, turning around to face the Balrog as it neared the bridge.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf declared.
"Gandalf!" Frodo called out worriedly.
The Balrog snarled at Gandalf before rising to its full height, surrounded by flames.
"I am a servant of the secret fire," Gandalf said as he raised his staff. "Wielder of the flame of Anor."
A bright light emitted from Gandalf's staff as the Balrog drew a long, enormous sword.
"The dark fire shall not avail you, flame of Udun!" Gandalf declared.
With a snarl, the Balrog tried to strike Gandalf with its sword, but the light from Gandalf's staff seemed to block it and the sword disappeared into thin air as the glow faded.
"Oi," Amy muttered as they all watched, completely mesmerized by the battle taking place in front of them.
"Go back to the shadow," Gandalf sneered as the Balrog snarled at him.
The Balrog summoned a long, fiery whip, trying to strike Gandalf with it. Gandalf was unfazed, wielding his sword and staff together.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"
Gandalf slammed his staff onto the bridge and there was a bright flash of light followed by a cracking sound. The Balrog moved towards Gandalf but its weight was too much for the bridge and part of it fell, seeming to take the Balrog with it.
"Yeah!" Amy cheered as they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Gandalf turned his back, about to head over to them when the Balrog's whip suddenly wrapped itself around his ankle and pulled. Gandalf dropped his staff and sward as he was pulled down, grabbing onto the ledge by his fingertips.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried, trying to rush over but stopped by Boromir. "NO!"
"There's nothing you can, any more weight on the bridge might cause it to collapse," The Doctor shouted, realizing before they did there was nothing they could do for Gandalf.
"Fly you fools!" Gandalf told them before he was dragged down.
"NOOOOO!"
Frodo wailed as Boromir picked him up, carrying the trashing Hobbit away.
For a moment, they all stared, simply stunned before River placed hand on The Doctor's shoulder.
"Doctor," River said gently and The Doctor came back to himself.
"Right. Come on, we need to go," The Doctor said before the Fellowship began to leave.
"Aragorn!" Boromir called out when Aragorn lingered, staring at the spot where Gandalf had fallen.
Brought back to his senses, Aragorn followed after the others as Goblins began firing after them once more. The remaining members of the Fellowship fled the mines.
Outside, the group all collapsed, shaken and exhausted by what had just happened.
Gimli roared, trying to rush back inside to face the Goblins, wanting to avenge Gandalf and his kin but Boromir and The Doctor stopped him.
"It will not help my friend, I know," The Doctor said gently, his voice thick with emotion as they restrained the dwarf.
Sam sat down and covered his face with his hands, his shoulder shaking with sobs.
A few feet away, Merry laid on his side, sobbing as Merry held him, trying to comfort himself and Pippin.
River stood next to Legolas, both trying to process everything that had happened as Rory held Amy, who was crying.
Aragorn observed all this as he cleaned his sword with his cloak before speaking.
"Legolas, Rory," Aragorn called out and the two in question looked over at him. "Get them up."
For a moment, neither moved, Legolas looking at Aragorn in disbelief. Then, Rory nodded, releasing Amy before moving towards Sam. This seemed to spur Legolas into action and he moved over to Merry and Pippin.
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir snapped angrily.
"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien," Aragorn said firmly.
"If we don't move now, Gandalf died for nothing," Rory agreed with Aragorn.
"We don't have time to mourn now. It's time to go," The Doctor with a heavy sigh, feeling his age and Boromir sighed, his anger fading as he nodded.
"Come on Sam, on your feet," Rory said gently as he pulled Sam to his feet. "We can cry later. We have to move now."
Sam looked at Rory sadly before nodding, his eyes still filled with tears.
"Up, my friends," Legolas said gently as he helped Merry and Pippin to their feet.
"Frodo," Aragorn called out as he saw the Hobbit standing several feet away, gazing at the horizon. "Frodo!"
Frodo looked back at him, a devastated look on his face as a tear fell from his eyes.
"Come along everyone. We have much running to do," The Doctor said, his face hardening, all of them feeling the weight of Gandalf's loss. "It's what he would want."
And done. An insanely difficult chapter to write trying to include everyone, but I hope you all enjoyed it.