Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of the Rings: Stargaze ❯ The Bridge of Khazad-dûm ( Chapter 12 )

The Bridge of Khazad-dûm

"A lord of wisdom throned he sat,

swift in anger, quick to laugh,

an old man in a battered hat

who leaned upon a thorny staff.

He stood upon the bridge alone

and Fire and Shadow both defied;

his staff was broken on the stone,

in Khazad-dûm his wisdom died."

Gandalf turned quickly. "To the bridge of Khazad-dûm!"

The Fellowship fled out the rear door of the chamber. As they ran through the Dwarf city, they were closely pursued by Orcs, who shrieked and yelled at their escaping prey. Other Orcs sprang out from the floor or crawled out through cracks in the ceiling and down the pillars like spiders.

The Company continued to run, but the Orcs were too many, and they were coming from everywhere…in little time, the Fellowship was completely surrounded by hideous, deformed creatures, brandishing their crude weapons and screeching madly. The greater warriors kept the Hobbits in the middle of them, pulling out their respective weapons and preparing for the battle they knew would be their last…

Just then a fiery light appeared at the end of the hall, followed by a thunderous growl. The Orcs instantly flew into a terrible fright, panicking and shrieking and fleeing in all directions. Legolas and Arora aimed their arrows back and forth looking for stragglers, but the Fellowship was soon alone.

Legolas suddenly felt Arora beside him. His eyes were fixed on the shining red glow, but he didn't need to see her face to feel the Dread coursing through her pale body. Whatever that thing was, it was making the Night Elf very eerie.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked softly. Another low and rumbling growl issued forth.

Gandalf's eyes were closed. It was a while before he answered, and the glow was getting stronger. Finally his eyes opened.

"A Balrog. A Demon of the ancient world."

For the first time on the Quest, Legolas felt his blood grow cold with fear. Beside him, Arora was shivering. Legolas's memory vaguely brought forth something she had told him long ago…about what species of creature her father was destined and cursed to war against for all time.

Demons.

He knew the full truth of Gandalf's next words.

"This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!"

Once again the Fellowship took flight. Gandalf's staff shown as they made haste as far away from the rumbling red that steadily followed, but always just far away that they could not see their pursuer.

They entered a passageway and then went down a flight of stairs. Part of the steps suddenly ended into a deep, deep chasm, and Boromir rushed ahead without seeing. At the last moment he stopped himself on the edge, and he swayed and nearly overbalanced until Legolas pulled him back. Merry and Pippin too stopped short of falling in, but Arora grabbed the backs of their collars and pulled them to safety.

They took another flight of stairs down. Aragorn and Gandalf were bringing up the rear, until Aragorn stopped to help Gandalf.

"Lead them on, Aragorn," Gandalf ordered. "The bridge is near."

Aragorn could see the bridge of Khazad-dûm in the distance, but still he tried to go back and fight. To his shock, Gandalf flung him backward with surprising strength.

"Do as I say!" the wizard cried. "Swords are no more use here!"

The Fellowship continued bravely onward. Suddenly, they encountered a gap in the staircase. One slip would send them tumbling into the darkness.

Without even a pause, Arora made a graceful leap and landed on the other side. Legolas quickly followed. The Elves turned to catch the others as they made the perilous jump.

"Gandalf!"

"Master!"

Gandalf tensed, then sprang across the gap. Legolas and Arora caught him between them, and steadied him before turning back again.

Without warning, arrows began to whistle through the air, striking the stone steps at their feet. Orcs had appeared along the distant walls, and were shooting relentlessly at the companions.

Arora left Legolas to assist the rest. She pulled out her bow, and soon a handful of arrows found perfect marks in each of their targets. Five Orcs toppled into the chasm. From the other side of the stairway gap, Aragorn shot back as well.

"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir cried. He pulled the two Halflings to him, one on each side, and leapt forward. Arora left her archery long enough to catch her favored Hobbits, and Legolas grabbed hold of Boromir when he landed.

"Sam," Aragorn directed to the next Hobbit. The Ranger grabbed Sam and pitched him to the other side. Boromir caught him. Aragorn then reached out to pick up Gimli, but the Dwarf stopped him.

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" he growled, holding up his hand.

He leapt forward. His feet touched down on the very edge of the rock and he slipped. He would have fallen back into the chasm if Legolas had not grabbed his beard at the last second.

"NOT THE BEARD!" the Dwarf cried wildly.

Ignoring his protests, Legolas yanked hard on the rough red beard and managed to pull the Dwarf to safety.

Pressurized by Gimli's great leap, some of the stone steps on the opposite side crumbled and fell into the abyss. Aragorn quickly pushed Frodo back up the steps and clambered after him. They struggled to their feet and stared at the widened gap that separated them from the rest of the Fellowship.

Suddenly, the great roar of the Balrog was heard through the walls. It was approaching from the other hall, its fiery light growing as it got closer. Stone structures around the mine began to collapse as its thundering steps drew near. A huge rock fell from the ceiling and smashed down the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them. The foundation was terribly weakened, and the stairs began to wobble.

Suddenly, Aragorn was struck with inspiration. "Lean forward!"

Legolas and Gandalf were both tensed to catch them. They shifted their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the great divide and slamming onto the steps where their companions were. They leapt across to safety. Turning, the Fellowship continued swiftly on down the stairs as the stone structure collapsed to its ruin behind them.

They turned a corner and could see Khazad-dûm just ahead. Violent flames licked the stone in a crevasse behind them.

Gandalf stopped, but spurred them on with his staff. "Over the bridge! Fly!"

Legolas and Arora had just passed him when suddenly there was a great fireball, and the Balrog burst up from the Shadow below. It landed on the stone before Gandalf the Grey. Its great wings spread, flames licking the ancient Demon as it roared its fury to the halls.

Gandalf turned and ran after the rest of the Fellowship. The Balrog stood up on its cloven hind legs, its great horned head nearly touching the ceiling of rock. The great halls trembled as the horror followed its escaping quarry, each step making the walls quake.

Dread and fear giving them speed, the Fellowship was soon across Khazad-dûm. All save Gandalf he stopped in the middle of the bridge and turned to face the great Balrog. The Demon growled at this diminutive foe who dared oppose it.

"You cannot pass!" Gandalf yelled.

"Gandalf!" Frodo cried in fright.

"Master!" Arora shrieked and tried to go to his side, but Legolas grabbed her and held her back. He knew that her instincts as a Night Elf were telling her not to let any of her loved ones stand alone, but to go down there now would mean certain death. Her powers were but a drop of water compared to the ocean Gandalf harbored inside.

A blazing white light radiated from Gandalf's staff as he raised it into the air, illuminating the entire bridge. A sphere of power surrounded him, and a great sword of flame appeared in the Balrog's hand.

"I am the servant of the Secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udun!"

The Balrog struck down on Gandalf with its flaming sword. Gandalf parried the blow with Glamdring, shattering the Balrog's weapon.

"Go back to the Shadow!"

Suddenly, the Balrog brought forth and brandished a fiery whip, lashing it about menacingly. Gandalf's staff rose to the air.

"YOU…SHALL NOT…PASS!!!"

Gandalf struck his staff on the bridge. The Balrog snorted scornfully.

The Fellowship was frozen. Frodo and the other Hobbits watched in anticipation. Arora had stopped struggling through Legolas's strong grip, and was tensed for what would happen next.

As the Demon stepped forward, the bridge collapsed from under it, breaking at the tip that Gandalf had struck. The Balrog roared with fury and surprise and plunged backward into the chasm. Gandalf, exhausted, leaned on his staff and watched the menace fall, becoming a small red spot in the blackness below. Then he turned to follow the others.

Art the last minute, the flaming whip lashed up from the depths of the abyss. It wound itself tightly around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. The wizard managed to catch himself, clinging to the bridge, but he was straining to keep his grip…Frodo and Arora rushed forward, but Boromir and Legolas restrained them…

"Gandaaaaalf!"

Gandalf's eyes reached theirs…

"…Fly, you fools!"

Then he lost his grip and tumbled into the darkness.

Frodo and Arora immediately burst into a wild fright.

"Nooooooooooooo!!"

"Gaaandaaaalf!!"

Arora began frantically fighting against her friend's restraints…Legolas found it hard to control a Night Elf's raging grief…but he could not let her die and therefore held on…He picked her up, despite her clawing and struggling, and carried her up the stairway and out of sight…

"Aragooorn!"

Aragorn stared at the bridge in disbelief…he didn't even hear the cries of the Ringbearer, or Boromir calling his name as he carried the Hobbit away…For a moment he could not move, but then Orc arrows started whistling by once again…Dodging, he turned and followed the others up the stairs…

The Fellowship came streaming out of the East Gate of Moria into the sunshine and fresh air. But no one noticed. No one cared.

Sam sat on the ground, bowing his head onto his hands and beginning to weep.

Merry consoled Pippin, who lay crying in his lap.

Boromir tried to restrain Gimli as the Dwarf vented his rage and sorrow.

Arora had stopped fighting. Legolas had gently placed her down beside a large rock, where she had collapsed wearily beside it. She was not crying now. Elven tears were rare and not without worth. It was as if the horror and sadness of her heart was so great she could no longer feel it. She closed her eyes.

"Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath," she murmured softly. "May he find peace after death."

Legolas himself wore a look of shock and disbelief.

For the first time, Legolas witnessed death, and what death did to the beings around him. He didn't understand that, it wasn't part of his comprehension; he was an Elf, Elves didn't die, they were immortal. His eyes displayed his utter confusion at Gandalf not being with them…Where could he have gone…? This was what death meant…

Aragorn wiped his sword clean, re-sheathed it and turned to the others.

"Legolas," he called, "get them up."

Legolas turned to Aragorn blankly, barely hearing the order. But he approached Merry and Pippin and leaned down to rouse them.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir cried.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs!" Aragorn replied sharply. "We must reach the Woods of Lothlórien." He motioned. "Come Boromir. Legolas, Arora. Gimli, get them up." He reached down and lifted Sam up. "On your feet, Sam."

Legolas could not help Merry and Pippin; they stubbornly refused to allow themselves to be risen. The more Legolas tried to pull them, the tighter they clung to each other, and Legolas didn't have the emotional strength to insist.

Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and found himself looking into sad, violet-blue eyes. Arora gazed at him for a moment, then passed him and kneeled down beside Merry and Pippin. She touched their hair gently.

They raised their tear-stained faces to her. To Legolas's surprise, they allowed her to pull them to their feet with no resistance at all. Then they buried their faces into her stomach and clung to her. Arora put her arms around them and stroked their hair and shoulders comfortingly. Legolas could do nothing but watch in disbelief.

Aragorn looked around. The Ringbearer was not with them. "Frodo?" he called. "Frodo!"

Frodo was a distance away, grieving alone. Weeping silently, he turned toward Aragorn, a lone tear running down his already streaked cheeks.