Chapter 7: Drums in the deep... Losing a loved one

*Very long chapter ahead*

The fellowship pass under an arched doorway in to a black and empty space. Asteria felt herself get weaker as Legolas held onto her arm as they walked together. Aragorn once in a while would look back at the two; with a gentle smile but a concerned look as he could see Asteria was struggling as they go deeper. Legolas would always give him a reassuring smile; showing he has her. "Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf said as he tapped his staff on the ground; as for a brief moment a light blazes like a silent flash of lighting, great shadows spring up and flee "Behold! The great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!" they all gasp as the brief sighting of a vast roof, far above their heads, upheld by many mighty pillars hewn of stone. Before them stretch a grand and mighty hall that was empty, with black walls, polished and smooth as glass.

Asteria stared in awe as she stood next to Legolas who was in awe as well as Sam broke the silence "Well, there's an eye opener no mistake." Ahead of them, a wooden door has been smashed. Black arrows are embedded in the timers. Two goblin skeletons lie in the doorway as Gimli rushed ahead of them "GIMLI!" shouted Gandalf. Gimli rushed into another vast empty chamber with others in tow. It was lit with a narrow shaft of sunlight, beaming in from a small hole near the roof. Dwarf and goblin skeletons are piled high. IN the far corner sits a stone wall well. A shaft of light falls directly onto a stone that was in the middle of the room; Asteria moved over to be close to the light which helped her regain her strength which Legolas and Gandalf noticed.

In the middle of the room; a single oblong block, about 4 feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone. Gimli falls to his knees in shock "No.... oh, no!" He sobs holding his face. Asteria moves over to Gimli kneeling next to him to comfort him. She met Balin when she was visiting Rivendell. She did not care of the feud between the Elves and Dwarves which was something he enjoyed about her even as a young elf. Gandalf quietly reads an inscription on the runes, carved into the white stone slab "Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria." He is dead then. It's as I had feared"

"We must move on, we cannot linger" Legolas whispered to Aragorn as Asteria turned her head to look at him as her eyes filled with dread, as if something hides deep in the mines. She sensed his worry, his panic. Gandalf hands his staff and hat as he carefully lifts the rotting remains of a book from a skeleton of a dwarf. It had been slashed and stabbed and appears to be covered in dried blood. The pages crack and break as he opens it to read "They have taken the bridge and the second hall: we have barred the gates..." Asteria moves to stand up as her eyes widened as her and the others listen to Gandalf continued "but cannot hold them for long... we cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no one save us? They are coming."

Unnerved, Pippin backs away nervously... He sees a corpse sitting on the stone well. Curiously, he reaches out and carefully touches the arrow that was sticking out. The arrowhead breaks off from the rest, cause first the skull to fall. Drawing attention from the others, Asteria quickly drew her sword looking around realizing it was Pippin. Gandalf turned as well to see as the body, the chain and bucket go over the side of the well fall down, it's noise echoes from hall to hall. Pippin winces at each new wave of noise. Then there was silence. The fellowship began to relax but Asteria and Legolas still stayed on guard. All that was heard after was Gandalf slamming the book shut "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself next time and rid of your stupidity!" he says as he grabs his staff and hat from him.

Asteria went to move to comfort Pippin who looked heartbroken almost as a low rolling boom stopped her in her tracks, the sound rose from the depths below, growing louder. BOOM. BOOM. As if the caverns of Moria turned into a vast drum. A great horn blasts nearby, running feet and harsh cries. Asteria gripped her sword tightly as Sam broke the silence "Mr. Frodo!" he said with a worried look as the rest look at Frodo; he pulled his sword out and a blue glow surrounded the blade. Asteria turned hearing the sounds as her and Legolas spoke at the same time "Orcs"

Asteria moved up front with Boromir, Legolas and Aragorn as the ranger called out to the hobbits "Get back and stay close to Gandalf" he turned looked at Asteria "My lady, you would be safer with them." He urged as she looked at him; sword in hand, ready for a fight "I will not hide from filthy orcs. I can fight too. I do not need protection." He nodded at her. Aragorn and Boromir began to slam and wedge the doors as Boromir caught sight of something as he was jerked back by Legolas; arrows missing Boromir's head "They have a cave troll.." He said.

Legolas and Asteria started tossing spears and axes to Boromir and Aragorn to help blockade the door. The fellowship draws out their weapons and Gimli leaps on top of Balin's grave and brandishes his axe "Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!"

Legolas took his place next to Asteria as she was in between him and Aragorn; she drew her bow ready to shoot "Be careful my love" he whispered low enough for her to hear as she nodded. Orc began to beat down the door, Legolas, Aragorn and Asteria started shooting arrows in the holes of the door, hitting orcs each time. The door breached as Aragorn and Asteria quickly drew their swords abandoning the bows and began fighting. She slit the neck of one orc and then plunged her blade into another, simultaneously pulling her dagger from her boot and using it to stab another orc coming at her.

Just then the cave troll burst in the room, set its sights on Sam as the troll raised it mace to ready itself to swing at Sam; before it could Asteria ran and tackled Sam out of the way, barely missing them both. The troll then set its sights on Asteria as she was battling against the orcs and running from the troll itself. The troll then sees Legolas as it made its way to him "LEGOLAS!" Asteria screamed for him as she slit the throat of another orc. Luckily, he turned in time and saw the troll as it swung its chain at him a few times before it got stuck on the pillar beside him. He took advantage of this and crossed the chain, climbing onto the back of the troll's shoulders; shooting arrow after arrow before jumping off. He looked around for Asteria as he could see she was by Gandalf now; trying to make her way to the hobbits.

The troll had then cornered Merry, Pippin and Frodo as they attempted to hide behind a pillar. However, it did not work, the troll found them and grabbed a hold of Frodo; picking him up and then dropping him. "Aragorn! Asteria!" he shouted in fear! Aragorn and Asteria ran over and jumped in front of him as they swung their swords at him with Merry and Pippin throwing rocks at it. The troll first hits Asteria, knocking her into a wall; passing out and then Aragorn which he landed closer to Frodo as he tried to wake Aragorn up. In a quick motion; as Asteria opened her eyes in pain, blood falling from the wound on her heart she sees the troll take a spear and stab Frodo "NO!" she screamed as she moved to get up grabbing her bow off her back notching an arrow shooting at it. The rest of the fellowship was using their own weapons in attempt to take the troll down. Both Asteria and Legolas finished the troll with arrows to the throat.

She made her way over to Frodo as Sam got him up; Frodo clenching his chest gasping for air "He's alive" A sense of relief flooded her emotions as Legolas could feel it, he moved over to her to help her steady herself. She was wounded and seemed to be unsteady. "You should be dead" Aragorn told him in shock "That spear would have skewered a wild boar!"

"I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye" Gandalf chimed in as Frodo lifted his shirt revealing what Bilbo was given by Thorin years ago; mithril. "You are full of surprises Master Baggins" Gimli said. The light of the moment was broken as orcs were heard once again down the hall. "To the bridge of Khazad-Dûm!" The fellowship runs back out the door of the chamber, pursued by a large army of orcs. Other orcs spring out from the floor or crawl down from the ceiling down the pillars like spiders. Legolas had his arm wrapped around Asteria's waist helping her, her head was bleeding a bit as she was still light headed. The fellowship was then surrounded, all have drawn their weapons as well as Asteria, holding her bow and arrow like Legolas.

Just then a fiery light appears at the end of the hall followed by a thunderous growl. The orcs, scared, flee panicking in all directions. The fellowship stares at the light "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf. The wizard had his eyes closed; listening to the unearthly sound that rumbled deep. "A Balrog... a demon of the ancient world" Legolas and Asteria's eyes widened as he reached for her hand holding it tight. Balrog in the elves language means death, destruction, darkness and fire combined. They heard stories as children about Balrogs. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run! Quickly!" Gandalf continued as they all started down the hall; running through an open doorway. The stairs directly descending in the front of the room's entrance; halfway down the stairs as parts of the steps end into a chasm and Boromir nearly falls into it. Legolas pulls him back just before he is about to fall in. The Hobbits too stop short of falling in. They take another flight of stairs down. Aragorn and Gandalf bring up the rear along with Asteria.

"Gandalf" Aragorn said as Gandalf placed a hand on his shoulder "Lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near." Aragorn resisted, but Gandalf pushed him away which shocked Asteria. What does Gandalf know? "Do as I say! Swords are no more use here." The Fellowship runs down the steep staircase. Half way down, they encounter a gap on the stairs. Legolas and Asteria leaps forward and lands on the other side. They wave to Gandalf "Gandalf!"

Gandalf looks back up towards the Hall as they hear a loud growl and stones fall around them. Then he leaps after Legolas. Suddenly, arrows whistle in the air, striking the steps they stand on. Legolas, Asteria and Aragorn shoot back, killing many orcs. An orcs arrow hit the back of Asteria's shoulder which knocked her bow out of her hand; she watched it fall down into the chasm of the mines. Legolas shot an arrow that hit the orc that shot the arrow. Boromir got Merry and Pippin safely across as Aragorn threw Sam who was caught by Boromir. Aragorn reaches to pick up Gimli but he holds up his hand "Nobody touches a dwarf" Before Aragorn manages to do anything, Gimli leaps forward but nearly falls back into the chasm. Legolas grabs his beard "Not the beard!"

Some of the stone steps crumble and fall into the fires below. Aragorn pushes Frodo back up the steps and climbs after him. "Aragorn! Frodo!" Asteria yelled as the fellowship watched their two companions as they struggle to their feet and look at the widened gap that separates them from the rest of the Fellowship. The Balrog is heard from the other hall, its fiery light is seen. Stone structures around the mine collapse as it draws near. A huge rock falls from the ceiling and smashes down the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them and weakening the stairs' foundation. The stairs begin to wobble. "Steady! Lean forward!" Aragorn shouted.

Frodo and Aragorn shift their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming onto the steps where their companions are. They leap across to safety, caught by Legolas and Asteria; despite the painful wound on her arm. They continue to run down the stairs as the stone structures collapse behind them. "Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf shouted as Asteria stopped looking at Gandalf "Do not be foolish Mithrandir... You cannot fight it alone..." She said as her voice was laced with concern. Gandalf smiled at the young elf maiden placing a hand on her cheek "You must go my dear." Legolas grabs her by her arm as she slightly fought him wanting to help Gandalf. The rest of Fellowship crosses the bridge. Gandalf stops halfway over and turns to face the Balrog, who appears out of the fires, growling.

"You cannot pass!" He shouted at the Balrog; sword and staff in hand. "Gandalf!" Both Frodo and Asteria shout. A blazing light radiated from his staff, illuminating the entire bridge and it's surroundings "I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!" The Balrog strikes down on Gandalf with a flaming sword. Gandalf parries the blow with Glamdring, shattering the Balrog's sword. "Go back to the shadows!" Gandalf yelled as the Balrog brandishes a flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly "YOU.... SHALL NOT...PASS!!" Gandalf strikes his staff and sword onto the bridge. The Balrog stops, not knowing what to do. As it steps forward, the bridge collapses under it and the demon falls backward into the chasm, growling. Asteria felt a sense of relief as she was still being restrained by Legolas's arms as she watched Gandalf, exhausted, leans on his staff and watches the Balrog fall then turns to follow the others.

At the last minute, the flaming whip lashes up from the depths and wounds about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but is straining to keep his grip. Frodo rushes forward, but Boromir restrains him. Aragorn is shocked. He stares at the bridge in disbelief, unable to move for a few moments. But then Orc arrows start whistling by once again. Dodging, he turns and follows the others up the stairs and out in the light. The Fellowship comes running out of the East Gate of Moria. Everyone is distraught. Sam sits on the ground, bows his head onto his hands and begins to weep. Merry consoles Pippin, who lies crying. Boromir tries to restrain Gimli as the dwarf vents out his rage and sorrow. Legolas wears a look of shock and disbelief.

Aragorn stands on a distance from the others, cleaning his sword and re-sheathes it. Then he turns to the others. Asteria was carried out by Legolas as he laid her on the ground to a sitting position facing him "Listen to me Asteria... if you go out there, you may suffer the same fate as him. My heart would not take it." He tried to reason with her as her tears were falling as she looked pale and collapsed into Legolas. He noticed the wound on her arm darken. The arrow was poisoned; Legolas felt tired as he could sense her weakening. "Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn shouted not realizing Asteria being wounded.

"Aragorn! Asteria is wounded! The arrow was poisoned" Legolas shouted as he held onto Asteria who looked pale even in the moonlight. Aragorn's eyes widened as he ran to Legolas "Can you carry her?" he questioned as Legolas nodded; rising picking her up in his arms carrying her bridal style. "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the Woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir, Gimli, get them up."

Aragorn reaches down to pick up Sam "On your feet Sam." Aragorn looks around for Frodo "Frodo? Frodo!" The hobbit, a few paces away, grieves alone. Weeping silently, he turns towards Aragorn. His face full of pain and he was heartbroken. Now they hope to reach Lothlorien in time; not just for themselves but for Asteria.

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