Chapter 32

KILI POV

"We must go now, my lady."

Bifur coos as lightly as he can but Thia flinches as harshly as if he had struck her. Her eyes never leave the form of my Uncle's, and her own now, enemy. I looked carefully but she does not bleed from any wound that should have come from the troll and I frown at the strangeness of it. A new gift perhaps? Turning to me, my long time friend looks for guidance. Bifur knows not to touch her, and he has held true so far but it will not last, especially now that she touched him. Less than a week with her and the years we spent are unraveling before our eyes. Even his words are traitorous. True or not, calling the King a liar is a grave offense. Yet I cannot correct him. I know that as one of the banished I am not to speak to her but I have ignored that order since she arrived. It could cost me my life but how could I not. As the years went by, I understood Bifur's plight more and more. He loved someone he could not have and it cost him dearly. Thankfully though... Bifur does not touch her, instead looking to me when she does not move

"My lord?"

"Bifur, come away from her highness." my father offers for me. Once Bifur complies, he and Gimli move themselves between her and the sight of the coming enemy "You will speak no more of the King."

"It is true. He failed and should have told her-"

"What concern is that of yours? It was clearly for her own good!" Gimli adds with a frown "It is not your place to tell our King what he must and mustn't tell his Queen."

"I told HIM nothing..."

"You are not helping her. I may have been but a lad when Erebor was retaken but the unnatural orc's obsession with Durin's line is well documented. Even I can tell that the orc scum is toying with her by showing himself and your words do not aid in righting that."

"..."

"He knows she is here, knew since the moment she arrived." cutting off the argument, my father sighs "I do not know what has kept him away but his appearance now proves his patience is thinning. He will come for her if we do not go now."

"... I told you it was not safe." my words do not reach the girl, confirming that her mind has left her physical being from the shock. I was never told what the defiler explicitly did when alone with her and I dare not imagine. His name speaks volumes in her silence. I am forced to physically lift her into my arms to get us moving. The mace she carries clatters to the floor and I shake my head at Bifur when he goes to lift it. We do not need the extra weight to slow us down and once reunited with Uncle, he will not allow her near Mordor. This venture is over for her, and that weapon. There are many like it and aside from sentimental value it serves no purpose. My Queen's arms curl loosely around my neck as we rejoin the group but still she says nothing, meekly peering over my shoulder at he who she thought was dead "We need to get out of here."

Goblins crawl along the walls like the creatures of the dark that they are but I pay little attention. I have not been this far into Moria since the attacks started and I hope it leads us to freedom. Too long have we been trapped within these halls; surviving on filthy water, rats, and bugs. I crave fresh air, real meat, and ale.

Even as she shivers in anguish, I am joyed that my aunt has brought such a blessing to us. Having a wizard and seer by mine and my kin's side has worked out many times before. I am broken from my thoughts by a deafening roar unlike any I have heard before. Our pursuers flee at the sound of it, proving just how much of a danger it is. Azog, never having followed us to begin with, has long since disappeared from our sights.

"What is this devilry?" Gimli shouts as a creature steps from it's hiding to greet us

"I know not, cousin." It's like shaped fire; reaching 40 feet into the air, holding a blade and a whip as it's weapons of choice. They are unneeded, as simply being within close proximity of the creature is enough to boil blood "Do not get too close!"

"Durin's Bane." the whisper is so low that I suspect no one but the four of us hear it. I look up the woman in my arms but her face remains clouded over and she says nothing more "..."

"A Balrog... a demon of the ancient!" Confirming the girl's word, Gandalf steels himself against the foe. Ever the warrior, Gimli steps forward to face the being but is quickly halted by Gandalf. Quickly blocking the dwarf's path, the wizard directs us away "This foe is beyond any of you! Run! Quickly!"

With Gandalf pointing the way, we are left to follow the one called Aragorn. I have not met many from the race of men that I would willingly follow, but I would accept this one over the more annoying one on any given day. With an ancient beast on our tail, there is no time to fight as to who leads us to the top of the dizzying stairway. Once there, we stop at a great divide. Chunks of the floor are missing and we will have some difficulty crossing. Gandalf slowly catches up to us but he is out of breath and I can see that Aragorn is concerned.

"Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." the man hesitates and I shift Thia within my arms as she begins to come back to her right mind "Do as I say; swords are no more use here."

"Kili... p...put me down." Tightening my arms around her, I jump the gap and follow the others across the gaping cavern "I'm... ok..."

"Soon, your highness." landing beside me, my father guides us away from the edge so the others may jump safely. The woman nods slowly, still appearing lost in daze but slowly coming around. The bridge is narrow and leaves excess opportunities for failure. One misstep... Tightening my hold on her, I continue on with my father close by "I can feel the rocks becoming thin. We are almost out."

As we all make it across, the Balrog roars again, but this time in outrage. Spreading it's flaming wings, the room heats up quickly. The stones become almost unbearable to stand on, while the dirt in the crevices turn into embers.

"Go!" Gandalf points to a bridge without railings and we all race to it. It is thin and promises death to any who fall from it but we must cross, forcing me to put the young woman down. One by one, we move in a single file line to disperse the wieght. Not fast enough as Gandalf continues to yell "Over the bridge. Fly!"

With so many of us, it is impossible to move quickly; especially with so many dwarves. We are heavier than the rest and I can hear the cracks forming in the bridge with each step I take. One minute my charge is infront of me and the next she is gone. I panic, thinking she has fallen before finding her once more. Thia waits at the other side already, eyes sharp once more and trained behind us but it is not until I reach her side that I understand. Gandalf stands in the middle of the bridge, facing the Balrog head on.

"Gandalf!" I shout along with the others "Get out of there!"

He ignores us all, instead focusing on the terrible monster before him "You cannot pass!"

"Thia!" turning to the woman, I know not what I am asking her but perhaps she can help in some way. I know her gifts have been failing her lately but maybe they could work just this once "Can you not-"

"This needs to happen Kili."

"But..." the way she speaks, I know she has already seen the outcome of this battle. From the pure torture on her face, I know it will not end well "If we don't help, he's going to-"

"I know!" she shouts at me while shutting her eyes as though it will make the scene go away. Her fists clench so tightly that I know the nails dig into her palms. My companions look on helplessly as her voice cracks from the strain. If this was not evidence enough, the mark I know that rests on her chest glows harshly through the material of her tunic. 'Heartache and courage.' I remember that's what it stands for, and I dread that she needs either now "I know..."

"I am a servant of the secret fire wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun." The Balrog moves closer and closer even as Gandalf curses at it. The weight on the bridge is too much and I know it will fall soon. Their weapons clash but immediately the enemy's sword shatters into countless ember stars "Go back to the shadow! You shall not pass!"

Securing the hobbits, the two men dart forward as Gandalf summons strength. Striking his staff on the bridge is all it takes for brilliant white flames to erupt. Shielding my eyes, I watch in relief as the demon falls through the collapsed bridge but I quickly retake my breath. The whip lashes forward, catching Gandalf's ankle, and drags him over the edge to hang by his fingertips. The smallest hobbit cries out his name and I know we will not make it in time to save him. I helplessly watch it unfold as the wizard's eyes widen in surprise as he meets Thia's gaze. He blinks slowly before returning her sad smile with a nod.

"Fly you fools." Gandalf whispers

"No!" The halfling must be carried away by one of the men as he almost goes over the edge of the cavern after the wizard "No! No, Gandalf!"

Even as we all scream denials, we find our way to the Eastern gate exit. The sunny sky and cool grassy hillside mock our loss with it's beauty. Bifur, my father, and I have lost so many already that another is just added pain. Yet the hobbits take Gandalf's loss much worse; collapsing onto the ground in a fit of wet sobs.

Thia watches it all with a sad look on her face. Tears collect in the corners of her eyes but she never lets them fall; brushing them away almost angrily before muttering to herself in the foreign language she brought from her home.

Aragorn has proven himself a capable warrior and aims to take control of the group with Gandalf's loss. Pointing to the huddled hobbits, he directs a few of the original group members to aid them.

"We mustn't stay here. Get them up!"

"Give them a moment... for pity's sake!" Boromir huffs out, clearly affected by the events "Gandalf just... You can not expect them to-"

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien." though cruel, there is logic within his words. A quick gesture has my own kin ready to move. Seeing that he is getting nowhere, Aragorn softens his voice to let just a touch of despair light it with compassion "Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. Mister Dwarves, is the young queen ready?"

"We will not slow you down." Even as my father speaks, Frodo blindly walks around the group in a daze before standing before the Queen. Blinking down at him, she does not move, waiting. Reaching forward, he wraps his arms around her middle, buries his face in her belly, and weeps. She stands immobile for a moment before wrapping her arms around his shoulders and smoothing his hair gently. Had he been anyone else or it'd been any other time, he'd have been slayed for touching her so. As it is not, we ignore the impropriety "... Let us go."

FRODO POV

I am struck dumb with shock. I do not understand how such a thing could have happened. Gandalf has always been there, no matter what. Yes, he would leave for years on end but I always knew he would return. To think he will never sit in Bag End again for afternoon tea is just too much to bear.

I was young when my parents passed on but not young enough to forget the sadness. It is not nearly the same as watching someone die however. I wipe my tears away on my sleeve, feeling my face heat again from embarrassment. 'Touching her, a queen, in such a way was most unbecoming.' Even in the dim light I can still see the wet stains on her tunic from where my face was. She was not angry but as we walk on, I feel my own ire rise from my sorrow.

"You knew." I cannot keep the bite out of my voice but focus my glare on the forest floor. The ring has given the woman and I a sort of connection; I find it unnecessary as well as impossible to hide my emotions from her or she from me. There is not enough guilt coming from her that would be acceptable if I were in her position. It makes me want to lash out but I know that that is wrong "You... You ALWAYS know."

"...I did."

"So..." her simple answer is not good enough. Our friend is dead and she knew it would happen. Yet she didn't save him and she offers such a vague answer?! Taking a calming breath, I again acknowledge that this anger is not my own; I know it is the bloodlust of the ring but I am forced to carry both. I do not fight the tears this time "Why?"

"The same reason I didn't warn Bilbo away from falling into Gollum's cave." Her own eyes fill with tears as I feel a wave of helplessness rush over her. My disappointment at her is quickly replaced with pity. To know and still be unable to change the circumstance is a terrible burden "Sometimes knowing isn't enough because you still can't stop what is to come but worse... worse is it when things NEED to happen for this all to end well enough."

"..." surrounded by friends I have never seen a more lonely person than she but then we pass a small pond and I see myself. We are both alone; together, but alone "... I do not want to do this anymore."

"Frodo..."

"I do not... I cannot..." whispering the words so no one else can hear, I admit what I have known for a long while now "I'm not made for this. I do not want to make impossible choices like that."

"But you have to." her words are heavy even with her sharing the burden "And you will."

"Stay close, young hobbits... they say a sorceress lives in these woods." I am thankful for Gimli's loud voice. It ends the conversation with as much finality as an axe "An elf witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell."

Frodo

A voice echoes in my head and for a moment I think it is Miss Queen speaking again but she is silent. I know immediately that the gentle sounds cannot be coming from the ring either. A name glides through my mind like warm milk: 'Galadriel.' I'm both frightened and calmed by the experience; a mixture of the soothing sounds and Gimli's words.

"And are never seen again!"

Your coming to us is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, ringbearer.

"Just for the record, as we are being expected I would like to warn all against directing any weapons at my person." Miss Queen's sudden declaration is met with bewildered looks but she simply walks on "If I find a point pointed at me, it shall find itself swiftly inserted into the wielder's behind."

"You tell 'er, majesty! And here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily." Gimli encourages and continues to chatter on "I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"

The moment the words exit his mouth we are surrounded by armored elves. I do not blame him for not noticing, as even Boromir and Aragorn seem surprised by it. The three new dwarves appear to be on guard but Miss Queen looks calm and I know this is what she was referring to in her earlier outburst. The elves must have taken her threat seriously, as not a single weapon is pointed at her. A flawless elf steps forward while eyeing the dwarves with disdain though he directs most of it towards Gimli.

"The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark."

"Nice introduction, Haldir." the woman says and I wonder if she knows him. Though the slight widening of his eyes proves the thought false. She regards him coldly, much like she does with Boromir. It's almost as if she made a decision not to like him already and with her foretelling, I fear as to what the reason could be "Do you make a habit of insulting all your guests, or just the dwarves?"

"... We've heard much of you, Queen Thia of Erebor."

"Good." Boromir attempts to sidestep a spear but the guards are not as lenient with him as they are with her "What is this about?"

"~Haldir o Lórien. Henio, aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn.~"* Aragorn speaks fluidly in elvish

"Aragorn! These woods are perilous." puffing his chest at one of the soldiers, Gimli angrily shakes his fist at him "We should go back."

"We can't."

"The young Queen is correct." Nodding to the woman, Haldir glares coldly at Gimli "You have entered the realm of the lady of the wood. You cannot go back without her leave."

"Do not think we will just follow your orders mindlessly, elf."

"... Come, she is waiting." I know he is speaking to me and if as an afterthought, he turns to the queen "And your husband awaits you."

*Haldir of Lorien, we come here for your help. We need your protection.