Chapter 4- Speak Friend and Enter

Chapter 4- Speak Friend and Enter

Right about the time my freezing hands regained their warmth, we reached the bottom of a steep slope where there seemed to be a great mass of stone surrounded by a murky, dark lake. There were several pillars inside the entrance, supporting the Mountain and stopping it from caving in. We followed the narrow path along the water's edge as we neared the mouth of the cave.

I gave a nervous glance at Aragorn, over my shoulder. "I can't go on," I muttered to him.

"You're going to be fine, Rayel. I won't leave your side; I promise," he smiled reassuringly. "Nothing will happen to you, while I still draw breath."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Legolas murmured, following our Companions into the large cavern.

There was a wall beside the path that I trailed with my fingertips, I was afraid the walls would inch forward and push me into the lake. I didn't mind water in general, but there was something rank and mysterious about this place. "Watch your step," Legolas warned, grabbing my wrist and warning me about the obstacle in my way. A small pillar had become buried beneath the soil, but if I had tripped, I would've hurt myself.

"Thank you," I nodded at my friend. "You have saved me once again."

"It's become a force of habit," he chuckled, following Gimli.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," the Dwarf informed Gandalf as the path widened and lead to large area, surrounded by the enormous lake. Gimli rapped his small throwing axe on the wall and listened for an echo.

"Then how do their masters manage to find them, if their secrets were forgotten?" Gandalf replied, searching the stone walls.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas muttered. He hated going into the Dwarven territory as much as the next Elf.

Frodo followed behind Aragorn and accidentally sloshing into the murky water. A look of panic engulfed his face and he stepped backward and into the wall. "Be careful, Mister Frodo," Sam said worryingly.

We all stood before the walls watching and looking for whatever an invisible door might look like. "Yes," Gandalf said, wiping the dust from a small rectangular shape. "Yes," he studied the strange markings and shapes on the stone before finally saying: "Itidin, only revealed in starlight and moonlight." He turned to face the sky, which surprisingly was fully in view and I realized that there was no cave ceiling here. The moon was hidden behind thick cloud cover, but as we waited patiently, the clouds dispersed and the light shone down onto the Door.

Suddenly, glowing blue outlines appeared, tracing the shapes, and revealing the hidden door. Along the top of the door were a series of runes that I could not understand.

"It reads," Gandalf said, pointing his staff at the glowing symbols. "The Door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter."

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked, looking about as surprised as I did.

"It's quite simple," Gandalf muttered. "If you're a friend, you speak the password and the doors open." Gandalf raised his hands confidentially and pressed the center of his staff to the star in the middle of door and chanted: "Edhellen, edro hi amen!"

But nothing happened.

Gandalf tried again, raising both arms and his staff above his head. "Fendis gofide, losto boriden!" he waited expectedly, but the door did not budge.

Gimli and the Hobbits exchanged a look and I glanced at Legolas who merely shrugged. Finally Pippin announced what we were all thinking: "Nothing's happened."

Frustrated, Gandalf pushed his weight against the door, trying desperately to open Durin's Door. "I once knew all the spells in the tongues of Elves," he grumbled, "Of men and orcs..." his voice drifted off.

"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked.

"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrine Took!" he yelled. "And if that doesn't work, at least I will be released from more of your foolish questions!" he sighed apologetically. "I am trying to find the opening words," he said softly.

Eventually, the rest of us took a seat next to walls as Gandalf rambled through more of his spells. I didn't doubt Mithrandir, but after his thirty-eighth spell, I was beginning to question him.

"The Mines are no place for a pony," Aragorn told Sam, taking the satchels from the Pony's saddle. "Even a brave one, such as Bill."

Sam stroked Bills nose one last time and murmured, "Bye, bye, Bill."

"Go on, Bill," Aragorn patted the pony. "Go on." The two watched remorse as the pony cantered out of view and into the moonlight. "Don't worry, Sam," Aragorn comforted the Hobbit. "He knows his way home."

Sam frowned and I believe I saw a tear stream quietly down his face.

Suddenly there was a splash and my attention shifted to the corner of the path where Merry and Pippin stood, tossing small rocks into the lake. Their attention was on a small floating branch near the center of the lagoon. Pippin leaned down and picked up a stone and pulled back his arm, ready to throw before Aragorn reached forward and grabbed his arm. "Do not disturb the water," he warned.

"Oh it's useless," Gandalf muttered, throwing his staff down and sauntering away from the door. He took a seat beside Frodo and removed his hat, distraught that he couldn't open the Door.

Meanwhile, Boromir and Aragorn seemed entranced by the lake, and the ripples beneath the surface. "What is it?" I whispered.

"I'm not sure," my brother confessed.

"It's a riddle 'Speak friend and enter'," Frodo said pointedly. "What's the Elvish word for 'friend'?" he asked, studying the door.

"Mellon," Gandalf muttered, standing before the Door. To our relief, the door swung open and the tension melted away.

"If he needed to know Elvish, he could've just asked us," I winked at Legolas and he smiled.

We all entered the mines and I swear I heard a disturbance in the water. My heart was racing but I kept it to myself; I hated going underground. I stepped nervously into the Mines of Moria- a dank, dark cavern with no light, a shapeless void.

"Soon Master Elf and dear Maiden," Gimli said, embracing the realm of his people. "You will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone. This is the home of my cousin Balin, and they call it a Mine!" he chuckled. "A Mine!"

I heard Gandalf attach the crystal to his staff and mutter something softly as a bright light illuminated the cave. Suddenly I recoiled in horror; there was an over-abundance of skeletons littering the ground.

"This isn't a Mine!" Boromir exclaimed. "It's tomb!"

"No!" objected Gimli. "No! No! No!"

Legolas squatted down beside the bodies and pulled an arrow from the chest of one of the corpses; "Goblins!" he hissed, drawing an arrow of his own and notching it to his bow. Aragorn, Boromir and I followed the suit, drawing our weapons and preparing for the unseen attack.

"We make for the gap of Rohan!" Boromir said.

"Everyone out!" Aragorn ordered.

"We should never have come here!" I shouted.

The Hobbits backed out of the Mine and I followed, a step ahead of them, ready to protect them from the front if something should befall us But no goblins came; instead, we had a bigger problem at hand.

A far bigger problem.

Suddenly Frodo let out a small cry as he was jerked to the ground, a tentacle encircled itself around his small body, dragging him toward the lagoon. "Frodo!" the Hobbits yelled.

"Strider!" Sam exclaimed, swinging his sword at the tentacle that had held his friend.

The tentacle retreated into the water, only six more shot out, grabbing the Ring Bearer. "Aragorn!" I yelled, but then I realized something; I had a tentacle around my ankle too. The creature jerked me backward and onto the ground and I felt myself being dragged toward the water. "Legolas!" I cried, my sword fell from my hand as I groped the stones frantically, trying to get a grip.

A massive creature, reared itself out of the water, dangling the small Hobbit before its jaws.

In a flash, Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas had come to our aid. Aragorn sliced the tentacle that held Frodo and caught the Hobbit in midair. "Hurry!" he shouted, pushing the Hobbits toward Gandalf. Boromir chopped another tentacle to pieces as it lashed out at him. Legolas fired an arrow at the giant cephalopod, and reached out for my hand. I gripped onto his hand with all the strength I had. "Don't let go!" I begged, but the creature jerked back and suddenly I was thrown into the water and away from my Companions. The first thing I realized was how cold the lake really was, and then I remembered that the lake contained constantly melting ice and the temperature was probably always cold.

I surfaced, coughing and sputtering, making a desperate attempt to make it back to the shore. But I wasn't fast enough, I was jerked under the surface of the water and the pressure around my ankle increased greatly. I screamed into the water, exhaling my oxygen and flailing about. Suddenly, the tentacle released me and I came to the surface of the water once again, frantically swimming toward the Mine.

Aragorn rushed out into the water with Legolas and they both caught hold of my arms; dragging me up the slope and onto the shore. Aragorn grabbed my fallen blade, somehow managing to sheath it for me as both of my friends pulled me toward the Walls.

"Into the Mines!" Gandalf yelled.

"Legolas!" Boromir called, gesturing to the angry creature that was still pursuing us.

Legolas dropped my arm, gesturing for Aragorn and I to go on without him. Before I could object, Legolas turned and fired one last arrow at the creature, striking it in its great eye, and buying us several vital seconds. Boromir darted into the Mine, pulling one of the Hobbits with him and Aragorn pulled me in after them. Legolas dove in to the void after us, right as the creature's appendages lashed out and sent the walls caving in; thus sealing us into the Mines of Moria.

Darkness blanketed me and my heart rate spiked.

"We now have but one choice," Gandalf muttered, lighting his staff once again. "We must face the dark of Moria. Be on your guard, there are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."

I sighed deeply; I was terrified, wet, and cold. Aragorn still held onto me, and I was clinging to him like a lost child. "Are you alright?" my brother asked, looking at me carefully.

"I-I," I stumbled through my speech, I was shaking.

"Lothrayel!" Legolas came forward, worry glinting in his eyes. "Are you harmed?" he searched me for any signs of injury.

"I think I'm fine," I whispered to both of them. "Just scared..." I swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. "Thank you, both for coming to my aid." I took a small step forward before wincing and letting out a small cry.

"Rayel!" the both exclaimed, coming forward to rescue me.

"It's my ankle," I confessed as my brother helped my down to the ground.

Legolas gently removed my shoe and a jolt of pain surged through my body. When I saw my ankle I let out a small whimper. "It's really swollen," he muttered. "There is dark bruising around your ankle and the Achilles tendon is sprained."

I bit my lip, trying to remain strong; but it was helpless. A silent tear rolled down my cheek, "I can still walk," I assured them. "I'll be fine."

"No, you cannot," Aragorn shook his head. "I will not allow you to further your injury any more than it already is."

"What are we going to do?" Merry asked.

"She can't walk on that ankle," Sam chimed in.

"She'll only injure herself more," agreed Pippin.

I felt helpless and a hindrance. "I can go on," I promised. "We don't have time to waste."

"Rayel," Aragorn started, but he stopped when he saw the determination in my eyes. "Alright, but someone will assist you at all times, understand?"

I nodded.

"We'll take different shifts," he gestured to himself, Boromir and Legolas. "We'll help you keep your balance until we can find our way out of the Mine. I can find some herbs to help with the pain when we get to Lothlorien."

"I'll take first shift," Legolas volunteered, carefully slipping my foot back into my boot. "If that's alright?" he asked Aragorn.

My brother was quiet and thoughtful and finally nodded. "Alright, just be careful with her," he helped me to feet and silently handed me over to Legolas.

Legolas wrapped his arm around my shoulder to help me and I wrapped my arm softly around his waist for balance. "Be careful," he said softly. "I don't want you to trip."

I do admit, I blushed.

"Quietly, now. It's a four day journey to the other side," Gandalf announced, as we climbed up the stairs in front of us. "And let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

We walked on for many hours, and with each step, I felt a twinge of pain and every time I tripped, Legolas caught me. Eventually he picked me up, carrying me the length of the stairs. "Sorry," I whispered. "I'm sorry that I've caused so much trouble."

"You didn't cause any trouble," he assured me, setting me down softly as we reached the top of the stairs. "You just happened to become injured- and there's nothing wrong with injury. Everyone gets hurt at some point or another."

"But I was the first," I whispered.

"No, Rayel," objected Boromir. "I was the first one injured- and at your hand none the less."

We all chuckled and Boromir took hold of my arm. "I have her now," he said to Legolas, who nodded and continued up the path. Boromir wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me close, helping me along the bridge-like pass over a cavernous pit. "I underestimated you, Rayel," he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked, peering at him suspiciously.

"I thought you were just a hot-headed, pretty Elf, but I was wrong. You are strong, brave, enduring and you have pure heart. That is something to be proud of- and I'm sorry I thought ill of you."

I smiled, "All is forgiven, Son of Gondor. I keep no grudges amongst my friends," I smiled.

"Then I am glad to be your friend," he lifted me into his arms and over a large crevice in our path. I had not seen it, and most assuredly would've fallen had he not come to my assistance. "Thank you," I said sincerely as he slowly set me back down.

"You're welcome," he replied.

"Tell me about Minas Tirith," I begged. "What is it like?"

Boromir smiled at the mention of his home, "What is it like? It is the greatest marvel of the Age of Man. The White City of Gondor stands in the shadow of a great mountain and off in the distance, you can see green glades and the Fields of Plennor and off, far away in the distance is the capitol city of Osgiliath, with the river running through the city. The banners hang throughout Minas Tirith, baring the White Tree and the eight stars that surround it. There overlooking the city stands a White Tree, it's branches are long and healthy, bearing beautiful white flowers in the Spring... but the Tree hasn't flowered in many years..." his voice drifted off. "In the Great Hall of Kings, there bears a likeness to all the Kings that have ever ruled over Gondor, and their faces seem to follow you wherever you go. But White City stands under the shadow of Mordor; a glint- nay- a bright light in the middle of darkness; yet no one can breech my city."

I listened in wonder as Boromir described his home to me. "I'd love to see this marvel for myself someday..."

"You will," Boromir assured me. "And then I shall introduce you to my brother- you remind me of Faramir, dear girl. You are the sister I never had."

I smiled softly, "You are like another brother to me, Boromir."

Ahead of us, Gandalf came to a halt, rubbing his hand against the wall of the mine. "The wealth of Moria was not in gold," he muttered. "Or jewels... but in Mithril," he lowered his torch to the cavernous drop off, where suddenly the darkness was alive with a blinding white light.

We all leaned forward for a better look and I caught sight of Merry who seemed to be tipping a little too far. Pippin placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, silently warning his friend of the danger.

"Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings," Gandalf announced. "That Thorin gave him."

Gimli gasped at the mention of his distant cousin, "Ah! That was a kingly gift!"

"Yes," the Wizard replied. "I never told him, but the worth of that Mithril was of more than the Shire!"

We continued on in silence and came to another set of steep, stone stairs. The stairs were in fact so steep that the Hobbits, dwarf and I were forced to climb them on our hands and knees. The cold, marble stairs were littered in an array of mangled skeletons, dusty books and cobwebs. There was a soft gasp behind me and I turned to see Pippin slip backward and into Merry's path. "Pippin!" he scolded.

"Sorry," the other replied.

As we reached the top of the stairs, three great passages lingered before us, carved right out of the stone. Gandalf stopped in front of them, looking back and forth between them and grumbling to himself. "I have no memory of this place," he admitted quietly.

Hours later we all still sat in front of the passages; a roaring fire in front of us. Aragorn had his pipe between his lips and sat beside Boromir, who was quietly thinking. Gandalf sat on a boulder between the three doorways, whispering something to himself, while the rest of us lingered near the fire. Frodo sat nearby, thoughtfully staring down into the cavern bellow- when suddenly a look of terror crossed his face and he darted over beside the Grey Wizard. "There's something down there!" he exclaimed, and my ears perked up.

"It's Gollum," Gandalf replied.

"Gollum?" Frodo whispered.

"Yes, he's been following us for three days."

I knew I wasn't supposed to hear them, but it didn't matter now. Legolas heard them as well: you can't hide whisperings from the Elves. Especially not ones from Mirkwood and Rivendell. I exchanged a look with Legolas and he shook his head, "It isn't our business, Lothrayel." He said. "If this was something Gandalf wanted us to know, he would've told us."

I started to object, but the look in the Elf's eyes told me that it wasn't wise. "Are yeh feelin' better?" Pippin asked me, turning my attention away from further eavesdropping on Frodo.

"Yes, some," I lied.

"You're a terrible liar," Aragorn chuckled from across the fire. "It's alright to be honest."

I frowned, "But we cannot allow injuries to succumb us. We are on a Quest and I won't- no, I shan't let this get in the way of it."

Legolas smiled softly, "I admire your determination."

"She's always been stubborn," my brother laughed.

"I learned it from you," I pointed out.

"How do you feel, honestly, my lady?" Sam asked, caringly.

I frowned, "I can definitely still feel the pain, though the pain has started to subside somewhat."

"Ah," Gandalf beamed, getting to his feet and drawing all of our attention. "It's that way!" he started toward the middle tunnel.

"He's remembered!" Merry exclaimed, beaming happily.

"No," admitted the Wizard. "But the air doesn't smell so foul down here." He leaned down toward the small Hobbit and patted his shoulder. "When in doubt, Meriadoc, follow your nose." He led us down a winding staircase and at the bottom, he announced: "Behold: the great Dwarven city of Dwarrowdalf." The Great Dwarven city possessed hundreds of massive, looming pillars that held the ceiling in place.

"Well that's an eye-opener," Sam mumbled, in awe of the sight.

We followed Gandalf as he led us down the road and there before us, was an open door. Light streamed in from the high windows and welcomed us with warm rays of sunlight. But suddenly, my stomach leapt to my throat: there was an immense amount of bodies scattered around the entrance and with a heart-wrenching, "NO!" Gimli ran forward, the rest of us close behind.

"Gimli!" protested Gandalf, but the dwarf didn't listen.

We found him a moment later, on his knees in front of a tomb, sobs coming from his small body. "No," he cried.

"Here lays Balin," Gandalf read the Dwarf Runes. "Son of Fudin, Lord of Moria... He is dead then." He turned to face Aragorn, "It is just as I feared." His gaze shifted down to the ground, where a skeleton was leaned back against the tomb. In it's crumbling, spider-webbed hands was a large, dwarven journal. Gandalf handed his hat and staff off to Pippin as he reached down, dusted the book off and opened it curiously.

"We must move on," Legolas whispered to my brother. "We cannot linger."

I shot a pleading look at Aragorn, begging him to listen. "Please, Aragorn, something's not right-," but Gandalf interrupted me.

"The Bridge has been taken," he read. "We have barred the gates; but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes; drums, drums in the deep." He looked up at us, worry in his eyes. "We cannot get out; a shadow moves in the dark."

Legolas and Aragorn glanced around the room, suddenly taking notice of the abundance of battle-slain dwarves surrounding us.

"We cannot get out, they are coming," he looked up, his eyes locking with mine.

Suddenly there was a loud clang and all turned to see Pippin, who had somehow managed to knock the head off of one of the corpses. The worrier's body toppled backward and down into the well, bringing a long, iron chain and bucket down with it. We listened to it clanging and thumping against the walls all the way down where it landed with a massive bang.

We all held our breath, waiting for an attack or a battle cry, but none came. A few seconds crawled by and everyone let out a relieved sigh.

Maybe no one heard us.

"Fool of a Took!" exclaimed Gandalf, tearing his hat and staff from the terrified Hobbit's hand. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

Pippin looked down, remorse at his actions and suddenly he looked up, a look of horror on his face.

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

"Drums," I gasped, my eyes wide with terror.

The sounds of screeching and the drums drawing near terrified us all. We all searched the room, desperately trying to find where the noise was coming from. "Frodo!" cried Sam. "Your sword!"

Frodo's blade was glowing blue.

"Orcs!" Legolas exclaimed, venomously.

Boromir charged the door, looking out into the blackened halls of Dwarrowdalf. An arrow whizzed by his face, just missing him by centimeters, and embedding itself in the door.

"Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn yelled to the Hobbits as he bolted for the door, assisting the Gondorian in closing the gate.

There echoed a terrifying screech and Boromir announced; "They have a cave troll."

My heart thumped rapidly against my chest; my first battle was approaching and already I was terrified. Legolas drew his bow; Gandalf lifted his staff and sword, letting forth a small battle cry. Aragorn drew his long bow and Boromir joined us, drawing his long great-swords. Even the Hobbits had their swords in hand and with a silent prayer to Freya, I too drew my Eregethian blades.

"Rayel, stay close!" Aragorn ordered, his protective side taking over.

"Arrggh!" Gimli snarled. "Let them come! There is yet one dwarf in Moria, who still draws breath!" he raised his axe defiantly as the pounding of fists shook the barred door.

The Orc's sharp axe heads chopped through the wooden door with great ease and slowly the door began splintering open. Legolas and Aragorn took aim and fired a volley of arrows through the splintered wood and into the enemies behind. I heard screeching and cry of rage as their arrows found their mark. With a loud bang, the door cave way and a drove of Orcs came thundering into the room.

Legolas and Aragorn kept them at bay for a short while; arrows whizzed from their bows and into the herd of Orcs. But their numbers grew to be far too many, and I was forced to defend myself.

I swung my blades for the first time and took the head off on one of th Orcs. I didn't have much time to admire my handiwork before another came at me. With a shriek, he lunged and Legolas shot him in the neck, before it could harm me. Boromir, Gimli and Aragron with right in the middle of the battle. Their blades slashed back and forth while Legolas continued to rapidly deplete the attacking Orcs. I never thought a bow could do much- from a close distance, but I was wrong.

To my right, the Hobbits had joined into the fight and they were surprisingly well for their height. However, their height was their greatest advantage. They were able to dart back and forth, slitting ankles, cutting legs and such. I had never seen Gandalf in a fight, but I knew now never to underestimate a Wizard. He handled both his blade and staff in sync, slicing away at our enemies.

Right as the Orc numbers depleted significantly, there came a horrible shriek and rumble as the largest monster I had ever seen came into play. "Cave troll!" Boromir warned.

The troll was looming, huge and angry. He wore a collar of spikes around his neck and was being led on a chain by an armored Orc. In its hand it carried a large mallet- and at the moment it looked like it wanted to crush all of us. Legolas was the first to make an attempt at it; firing an arrow directly into it's chest.

That only made it angry.

With a shriek of rage, it came forward, taking a swipe at the first target: Sam.

"Sam!" I screamed, rushing forward and tackling him to the ground. Just in time too, the second we rolled across the stone surface, the hammer came down, denting the floor. "Hurry!" I shouted, sending the Hobbit scurrying away from the troll. I wasn't so lucky.

I now had the full attention of the troll- and it was furious. I backed up, only to touch the wall with the back of my hands. The troll swung his hammer and I dodged, falling forward and catching my ankle on the rivet in the stone. "Augh!" I gasped.

The cave troll came forward and raised its mammoth-sized floor above me- but thank goodness! Boromir and Aragorn managed to catch hold of the chain and jerked it backward, giving me just enough time to get to my feet and come to their aid, just as they had come to mine. But the troll got to Boromir before I could.

With one powerful blow, the creature threw Boromir across the room and into the wall. Boromir landed with a crack and then tumbled to the floor, lifeless.

"No!" I screamed.

But Boromir slowly got to his feet, right as an Orc came at him. I grasped my hunting knife from its sheath and threw it- catching the orc in the back of the neck. Boromir locked eyes with me and exchanged a grateful nod.

Aragorn was still holding onto the chain, trying to keep it away from the Hobbits. The Halflings had taken cover behind some of the pillars, and they were protecting Frodo with everything they had. Gimli was standing on Balin's tomb still and he was the new target of the beast. The troll brought it's fists down on the tomb, sending plaster and marble everywhere- Gimli dodged. But he couldn't get to his feet fast enough! Legolas fired double arrows from his quiver, buying Gimli enough time to get out of the way and take out another Orc.

I had never seen an Elf- let alone Legolas- in battle. Let me tell you this, I would never again make a crude comment again. Legolas haad his bow in one hand and his blade in the other. He was standing on the second level, taking down orcs left and right- and that caused him to become the next target. "Legolas!" I screamed.

He looked down at me and spotted the cave troll. The troll whipped his manacle at the Elf and Legolas dodged it easily, thus the creatures rage was ignited. It whipped the chain around again with startling speed, winding it around column, this worked to Legolas' advantage. With a fluid motion, he managed to nimbly run up the chain and onto the creatures back. All the while maintaining his balance, Legolas fired two arrows into the creature's skull sending it backward into the wall.

Legolas repelled against the creature and back to ground beside me. Together we took out another round of orcs before we were separated again.

To my left was Sam who was fighint wth a cast-iron frying pan. He swung it back and forth, bashing the orcs in the face and with a small smie I heard him say; "Hey! I think I'm getting the hang of this!" he took out another orc, smiling the entire time.

Oh, Sam.

That's when I heard a cry from the other Hobbits. The troll had surprised them and was now looming between two pillars: Merry and Pippin were together and Frodo was by himself. The troll was menacingly searching for Frodo, turning his head back and forth around the pillar.

"Aragorn!" I shouted, and my brother started for them, taking out all in his way.

I ran too, toward the looming troll- but I wasn't fast enough. "Aragorn!" Frodo yelled, his body was in the hand of the troll. But with a swipe of his knife he managed to get free and fell to the floor.

"Frodo" my brother yelled, charging the troll with a spear raised high. He threw himself between the troll and the small Hobbit and impaled the long pole into the creature's abdomen. With a yell of rage, the creature swatted my brother against the wall as it had done to Boromir.

"No!" I cried, slamming my blade into its leg; the creature knocked me aside and I tasted blood.

Merry and Pippin were there now, throwing rocks down at the troll but suddenly it was interested in my unconscious brother. "Strider!" Frodo called, shaking my brother and trying to wake him. The troll was there in a matter of seconds- it plucked the spear from its side and threw it, missing both of them by inches. And as the beast retrieved it's weapon, Frodo led it away from my brother and found himself in a dead end. It all happened so fast: the creature thrusted the spear forward and Frodo let out a cry, before slowly sinking into the corner.

We all just stood there for a moment, trying to take in what happened- and Pippin and Merry were the first to react. They threw themselves off the landing and onto its back, screaming with rage as the stabbed it over and over again.

In a moment of blind rage, we were all on our feet, swords flying and screams of rage. I was going to make the Orcs pay for what had just happened. In a matter of seconds, only one target remained: Cave Troll. He had thrown Merry off already and swatted Gimli aside like a fly. Now only Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir and I remained. I rushed forward, driving my sword forward and into its leg for all I had.

"Rayel! Look out!" Legolas shouted, he had a doubled-loaded bow and instantly I knew to get out of the way. If and when the troll fell, he would fall hard. I dove off to the side and Legolas fired, with a final groan, the troll pitched forward, dead. And with his great fall, Pippin too was thrown forward.

Shakily and painfully, I stumbled to my feet and ran to my brother's side. Aragorn was crawling across the smashed walls and grumbling marble to Frodo's limp body. "Oh, no." he whispered, as everyone slowly came forward. Aragorn rolled Frodo onto his back and with a moan, the Frodo coughed, his big eyes opening and taking in what had happened.

"He's alive!" I gasped, and everyone sighed with relief.

"I'm alright," Frodo assured us, grasping his chest. "I'm not hurt!"

Aragorn looked at wide-eyed. "That spear could've squired a wild boar!"

Gandalf exhaled, "I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye."

I looked up at Legolas, and he looked down at me noticing my bloody lip immediately. Legolas didn't have a scratch, but the battle-rage had left his eyes.

Frodo opened his shirt to reveal silver-riveted armor beneath.

"Mithril," Gimli whispered. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins." He smiled.

Our moment of happiness drained away once more as shrill screams echoded throughout the tunnels. There were more orcs coming. "To the Bride of Khazad Dum!" Gandalf ordered and we were off. I followed Gandalf, somehow managing to keep stride with Legolas, but my ankle gave out once more and I pitched forward, scraping up the bottoms of my hands in the meantime. Before I could get to my feet Boromir scooped me bridal-style and continued forward. The Goblins and Orcs came from everywhere, climbing down the pillars, crawling out of the floor and pursuing us from behind.

It wasn't long before we were surrounded and Boromir set me down. Boromir, Legolas, Gandalf, Gimli and I made a tight circle around the Hobbits, shielding them from the gorwing mass of enemies. There had to be a thousand, all armoured and all wielding weapons.

We weren't getting out of this alive.

But right before they attacked, there was a massive roar from the other side of Dwarrowdalf- something huge and massive. A red and orange aura lit up the dark room and the orc and goblins screeched, retreating to the darkness. Aragorn and I exchanged nervous glances and immediately gripped our weapons all the more tightly. "What sort of new devilry is this?" demanded Boromir, as Legolas drew an arrow.

We all waited quietly for Gandalf to answer, looking to him nervously. He was gripping his staff tightly, knuckles white and eyes closed. "A Balrog," he whispered gruffly. "A demon of the ancient world."

We all held our breaths.

"This foe is beyond all of you..." he looked at all of wide-eyed. "Run!"