𝐈𝐋𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄̈ || A.

𝟎𝟏𝟎 ⸺ the bridge of khazad-dûm

''To the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm!''
The Fellowship run out of the tomb area, orcs swarm behind them. The glance around themselves to see thousands of orcs chasing them, climbing out of cracks in the floor, out of the roof and down the great columns.
Eventually they are forced to stop, completely surrounded by orcs. They hold their weapons out before them, ready to fight.
Then a great roar is heard from an archway, which glows red. The orcs look round worried. The roar is heard again, the orcs screech in terror and scatter. Gimli grins. A low roar is heard again and the glowing red draws nearer.
"What is this new devilment?" Boromir grunts. Gandalf closes his eyes and thinks hard, as if he is dreading telling what is there. As he open his eyes, the red glow covers the entrance path of columns in front of them.
   "A balrog, a demon of the ancient world. Its foe is beyond any of you ... RUN!" Gandalf yells. They run as fast as they can, leaving the cavern of columns. Boromir races head, down some steps, but suddenly finds the steps end above a great chasm. He teeters on the edge trying not to fall, Legolas runs up behind him and pulls him back away from the edge.
Gandalf stumbles in last. Iladya looks over her shoulder, looking concerned as Aragorn waited for Gandalf.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn shouts.
"Lead them on, Aragorn! The Bridge is near!" Gandalf shouts. The narrow bridge gaps the two sides of the great chasm. A roar is heard behind them as the red firey glow draws closer.
Gandalf pushes Aragorn away, leaving Aragorn confused.
"Do as I say!" he pressures. "Swords are of no more use here."

They turn to the right and run down the steps in front of them, which wind their way to the Bridge. Suddenly they reach a break, a gap in the staircase, which is too wide to step over.
Legolas nimbly jumps the gap and looks expectantly at the others. Gandalf looks puzzled. They hear a roar again behind them as the roof above starts to crumble.
"Gandalf!" Legolas beckons Gandalf. Gandalf jumps over the gap to join Legolas. Arrows fire out of the air, narrowly missing Boromir and the hobbits.
Legolas turns, aims one arrow and shoots the orc firing directly in the head.
"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir takes each under each arm and jumps with them. As he does so, a greater chunk of the steps they were standing, fall away.
Legolas continues to aim at the orcs firing at them, killing them.
"Sam! Frodo!" Aragorn picks them up and throws them across the gap to Boromir and then he looks at Gimli, who holds up his hand.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Gimli leaps over and lands teetering on the other side. Legolas reaches out to stop him falling, grabbing his beard.
"Mind the beard!"
Iladya fires an arrow at the orcs, as Legolas pulls Gimli to safety. Suddenly more of the steps they have just left fall away. Aragorn pulls Iladya to safety further up the steps and clings onto the stairs as a great portion of them fall into the chasm. The gap now, is too wide to jump. The rest of the Fellowship look worried. Aragorn holds Iladya's back.
"Steady," he breathes. The doorway entrance behind them glows red. A great roar comes from just behind it. The doorway and roof above crumble, and a great chunk of rock falls from the roof, into the staircase behind Aragorn and Iladya, creating another great gap. They are now isolated on the staircase. The column on which this part of the staircase is, begins to crack and the staircase sways. The staircase on which they are standing continues to sway from side to side. Everyone looks frightened.
"Lean forward!" Iladya calls. The staircase sways then falls forward towards the rest of the Fellowship.
Aragorn and Iladya jump. Legolas gets a hold of Iladya and Boromir secures Aragorn's safety. They run down the remaining staircase, the part of the staircase they were standing on collapses completely, falling into the chasm. They run onto another room. The whole place is now in flames.
"Over the bridge!" he shouts as the flames grow higher. "Fly!" They run past Gandalf, who turns towards the growing flames.
From out of the midst of the flames a great black, winged creature with a horned head appears. He roars at Gandalf, breathing fire from his mouth. It walks after them with great strides, as one by one, the Fellowship cross the narrow bridge, Gandalf taking up the rear. Half way across the bridge, he stops and turns to face the Balrog?
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf shouts. Frodo looks at Gandalf in horror.
"Gandalf!" The balrog stretches its wings and draws itself up to full height in front of Gandalf.
"I am the Servant of the Secret Fire. Wielder of the Flame of Anor," he speaks. The balrog reaches down and draws its sword in front of Gandalf, and holds it high above its head.
"The dark fire will not avail you — he holds out his staff in front of him, glowing white — Flame of Udûn!" The balrog brings its sword down upon Gandalf who protects himself with his staff, bringing a crash and flash of great light. It drops its sword and roars at Gandalf.
"Go back to the shadow!" The balrog puts out a cloven foot onto the bridge. He wields a great firey whip above its head.
"You. Shall. Not. Pass!" He raises his sword and staff above his head and brings his staff down upon the Bridge. The balrog snorts at him, raises his whip and takes another step forward. As he does so, the Bridge collapses and the balrog falls into the chasm. Gandalf grunts and turns to walk away.
As he does so, the tail end of the balrog's whip snakes up and around his ankle, dragging him down. He clings onto the edge of the bridge. Frodo dashes towards him, but Boromir holds him back.
"No!"
"Gandalf!" Gandalf tries to hold on by his fingertips. The old wizard looks at them for a last time.
"Fly you fools!" After his words, he lets himself fall into the chasm.
"NOooooo!" Frodo screams. He struggles against Boromir who is holding him. Aragorn is looking on in disbelief.
"Aragorn!" Iladya shouts as Boromir takes Frodo and runs. Aragorn pauses. Then turns and runs dodging the arrows firing after him.