The group had been swift in their departure from Balin's tomb. Kitra clung to Aragorn, his arm around her waist to steady her as they ran through the dark corridors. The eerie sound of orc cries and footsteps had echoed behind them, driving them forward with a sense of urgency and fear.
But amidst the chaos, Kitra's eyes had caught glimpses of thousands of orcs pouring out from every crevice and corner - climbing out of cracks in the stone floor, descending from the ceiling, and emerging from between the towering columns. Her heart raced as she stumbled over her feet, forcing Aragorn to hold her steady as they fell behind the others.
At last, they were forced to come to a halt, surrounded by snarling faces and bared weapons. Kitra could barely find the strength to cling onto Aragorn's cloak as he stood protectively before her. She could feel the hot breath of the orcs on her skin, their jaws dripping with saliva at the scent of her blood.
She looked down to see that her bandaged wound had started to bleed again, but what truly frightened her were the dark tendrils spreading from the edges of the gash on her arm. They seemed to pulse and writhe with a sinister energy, threatening to consume her flesh. Fear gripped her tightly as she realized the severity of her injury and the looming danger that surrounded them all.
Kit's voice is barely audible as she whispers, "Poison..." Alana's heart drops at the word, her eyes flickering down to Kit's arm in worry.
"Aragorn," Alana hissed urgently to the other ranger beside her. "We have to do something. She's been poisoned." Aragorn's brow furrows as he looked back at Kit, who was swaying unsteadily on her feet.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through an archway not too far from where they stood. The orcs around them fall silent, their heads whipping around in fear as they search for the source of the sound. The roar reverberates off the stone walls once more, causing the orcs to shriek and retreat in terror from the place where they had emerged. The air was thick with panic and unease as the trio stands in stunned silence, unsure of what will happen next.
Boromir's voice was laced with disbelief and fear as he looked to Gandalf for answers. But the wizard's eyes were closed, his brow furrowed in deep concentration.
"What is it?" Alana asked, her eyes searching the dark cavern for any sign of danger.
"A Balrog." Kitra whimpered, pressing her head into Aragorn's sturdy back. "Can this get any worse?"
"A what?" Alana repeated, still confused about the situation.
"A Balrog. A demon from ancient times. Its foe is beyond our comprehension." Gandalf's eyes snapped open, filled with terror. "RUN!" The fellowship wasted no time in fleeing the cavern of columns, their feet pounding against the hard ground.
Kitra could feel Sauron's presence creeping up on her in her weakened state, his malevolent thoughts prodding at her mind. She whimpered as her head throbbed with intense pain, as if a knife were being driven into her skull. Black spots clouded her vision as she struggled to stay conscious. In a moment of strength, Aragorn scooped her up into his arms and carried her along with the group, their only chance at survival.
Kitra's voice shakes as she whispers, "Aragorn...I can feel him..."
Aragorn's heart clenches at the fear in her tone. "Fight it, Kitra," he pleads, his hand gripping hers tightly. "Stay with me. Stay awake." He can see the color draining from her skin, and her eyes losing their spark.
Panicked, Aragorn calls out for Gandalf as they exit the dark cavern. The old man's name echoes through the tunnel, carried by the urgency in Aragorn's voice. Every step feels heavy, like he is carrying both of them on his shoulders. But he refuses to let go of Kitra's hand, determined to keep her with him until they reach safety.
"Hurry, Aragorn. The Bridge is near!" Gandalf's voice commanded as he placed a comforting hand on her forehead. The pain began to subside, and the glassiness in her eyes slowly faded. She blinked a few times, the fog lifting from her mind.
Aragorn's worried eyes met Gandalf's uncertain gaze. "Will she make it?" he asked.
Gandalf's expression grew stern. "Do as I say! Swords will be of no use here." He pushed Aragorn towards the stairs, urging them to move quickly. They hurried down the steps, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. As they reached a break in the staircase, Legolas gracefully leapt across the gap and turned back to look expectantly at the others. Gandalf furrowed his brow in confusion. Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the corridor behind them, causing them all to freeze in fear. The roof above rumbled dangerously, threatening to collapse at any moment.
With a sharp cry of "Gandalf!" Legolas beckoned to the old man, who effortlessly leapt across the gap. But as they crossed, arrows suddenly rained down from nowhere, causing Boromir to seize the opportunity to scoop up the hobbits and make the jump with them in his arms. The weight of their combined leap caused the already crumbling stairs to give way even more, forcing them all to quickly retreat.
"Sam!" Aragorn called out urgently, sweeping the hobbit up into his arms and tossing him over the widening gap into Boromir's waiting embrace. Then, turning to Gimli, Aragorn motioned for him to make the leap next, but the stubborn dwarf refused.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Aragorn couldn't help but chuckle at Gimli's determined words, despite the perilous situation they were in. With what little strength she had left, Alana joined in on the laughter beside him. Finally, with a mighty leap, Gimli launched himself forward and managed to just barely land on the other side. But as he teetered precariously on the edge, Legolas quickly reached out and grabbed onto his beard in a desperate attempt to keep him from falling. "NOT THE BEARD!"
As the steps crumble beneath their feet, Aragorn desperately throws Frodo to safety further up. Kitra loses her balance and teeters on the edge, but Frodo's strong grip pulls her back from the brink. Her vision goes black, and suddenly all she can see is the piercing red eye of Sauron, its unrelenting gaze boring into her very soul.
From the center of the eye emerges an elf, his silvery-white hair billowing behind him as he strides towards her with a crown of jagged metal atop his head. His ethereal presence captivates her, making it hard to look away. Kitra finds herself crumpled on the ground before him, but when he reaches out to touch her, she instinctively recoils in fear.
"You cannot hide from me, Kitra. I will have you," he sneers, his face inches from hers. But just as she feels his fingertips about to make contact, Frodo's sudden release of her hand snapped her back to reality. She stumbled backwards, bumping into Aragorn who steadied her with a strong arm around her waist. Her heart racing and mind reeling from the encounter, she looks at her cousin across the gap and wonders if Sauron has truly touched her soul even for a moment. The staircase continues to wobble dangerously under their feet, but in that moment, Kitra's thoughts are consumed by the powerful being that nearly had control over her entire being.
Aragorn's voice cuts through the chaos, calling out her name as she struggles to maintain her balance on the narrow, crumbling stairs. Her mind races with fear and confusion, but she manages to turn and meet his gaze. In an instant, a vision flashes before her eyes - Aragorn tumbling off the stairs and into certain danger. A dark whisper in her mind urging her to push him.
"KITRA!" His desperate cry snapped her out of her stupor and she shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Finally locking eyes with him, she choked out the words: "Aragorn...he touched me. I can hear him in my head." The weight of what she revealed settles heavily on them both, but there was no time for a response as the Balrog broke through the doorway, causing the staircase to crumble and separate from the main structure. Acting quickly, Aragorn pulled Kitra close and steadies Frodo, determined to guide them all to safety.
"Stay strong, Kit. We're almost there," Aragorn's voice echoes through the narrow stone staircase. He tightens his grip on her waist, supporting her as they climb higher and higher towards their destination. Her eyes grow heavy again, the effects of Gandalf's spell slowly wearing off. Alana, walking ahead of them, turns back to check on Kit and gives her a reassuring smile.
But then suddenly, the stairs give way and start falling forward, threatening to send them tumbling into the dark chasm below. With all her strength, Kit fights against the urge to crumple forward and instead clings onto Aragorn for dear life. She can feel her heart racing and her breaths coming in short gasps as they navigate the chaotic staircase.
Despite the danger, Alana and Aragorn continue to pull Kit along in her dazed state. As they finally reach the end of the crumbling staircase, they come upon a rickety bridge that leads to safety. The sound of rushing water echoes below them as they make their way across the swaying bridge.
With a cry of urgency, Gandalf's booming voice echoed across the narrow bridge, spurring everyone on to hurry and cross. Aragorn guided her to safety, leaning her against the cold stone wall before drawing his bow with fluid movements. His fingers expertly picked arrows from his quiver and let them fly, each one finding its mark in the charging orcs.
Gandalf bellowed, standing tall and resolute as the fierce Balrog appeared from the flames. Its massive form towered over them, black wings beating furiously as it snarled and breathed fire. The ground trembled beneath their feet as it dared to take a step forward, daring Gandalf to face it.
In a moment of panic, Frodo turned back towards the danger, but she could only reach up and grasp at the end of his cloak, unable to bring herself to touch him. With a shared look of understanding, they both knew that there was nothing they could do. The Balrog spread its arms wide, revealing a blazing whip in one hand and a colossal sword in the other, ready to strike.
"I am the Servant of the Secret Fire. Wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you. Flame of Udûn!" With a roar that shook the very foundations of the cavern, the Balrog brought its fiery sword down upon Gandalf, who stood unwavering in its path. But just as the blade was about to make contact, a white sphere of light enveloped the wizard, shielding him from harm.
A deafening crack echoed through the cavern as the impact of Gandalf's blow met the Balrog's sword. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and she could only imagine that the bridge they stood on was beginning to crumble. The Balrog staggered back, dropping its sword in shock and anger as it snarled at Gandalf. It took another menacing step forward.
But Gandalf stood firm, his voice booming with power and determination. "You shall not pass!" he bellowed, raising his sword and staff high above his head before slamming them down on the bridge. For a moment, nothing happened, and the Balrog scoffed in defiance. But then, with a mighty crack, the bridge collapsed under their feet.
As the Balrog plummeted into the darkness below, Gandalf let out a grunt of satisfaction and turned to walk away. However, his victory was short-lived as the creature's whip suddenly lashed out and coiled around his ankle, yanking him down to cling to the edge of the crumbling bridge. Frodo was torn from her grasp and Boromir rushed to grab him around the waist, but he too was pulled towards the edge by Gandalf's weight.
"Fly, you fools!" Gandalf cried out desperately as he struggled to hold on.
She watched with wide eyes, her heart pounding in her chest as she witnessed the man she considered a grandfather meet his untimely end. In that moment, all her strength left her body and her vision began to blur. She vaguely registered Aragorn scooping her up onto his shoulder before everything went dark.