The Dark Within (Book One)

•14•

I open my eyes, expecting to be dead. But instead I see a fallen cave troll and Boromir.

"Do you think you can walk?" He asks me.

"I don't know." I say. He gently helps me sit up, feeling slowly starts to come back into my body. "Frodo?" I ask him.

"He's alright." He says. "He had on his uncles mithril and isn't hurt at all." Relief washes over me. "We need to go." I nod my head and he helps me up, my legs feel weak and I feel a couple broken ribs. My legs buckle but I can still stand. Boromir keeps his arm under mine and helps me quickly get out of there, after the others. Soon the adrenaline kicks in and he lets go of me. I start to run with everybody, pain flowing through me with each step. But my body numbs it. We hear the cry of goblins all around us, everywhere I look there's just more and more. We're not going to make it. I think to myself but we keep going. Slowly we become surrounded. We hold out our swords, ready to fight as long as we can. I push Frodo behind me.

'You may have gotten lucky this time with the hobbit.' The voice slithers into my mind again. 'But just know, that promise now forever stands.' Just as we are about to attack a roar is heard deep in the mountain. The goblins start shrieking and scattering off. A light starts to brighten at one end of the hall.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asks Gandalf. Gandalf looks troubled and worry rushes through me. If Gandalf is afraid then we all must be very afraid.

"A Balrog." Gandalf says as the light gets brighter. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" We start running towards a door, Boromir goes first, Legolas after him. I hear Boromir yell and quickly run in. He stands on the stairs right next to a steep drop. He begins to lose his balance and I run over to him. I firmly grip his chest and pull him back. He stumbles back a bit and we both fall to the ground. We both breathe heavy.

"We need to stop almost dying." I say and he laughs a bit.

"Do as I say! Swords are no more use here." Gandalf says and I look to see him push Aragorn. We all get up and start running down the steep staircases. We get to a spot where there is a piece of the stairs missing, all that is there is a far drop to a certain death. Legolas quickly jumps over. The rest of us hesitate, afraid of the jump. We hear the roar of the balrog again and pieces of the roof begin to fall down.

"Gandalf." Legolas says, gesturing him to jump. He does and Legolas helps steady him. Then we hear arrows being shot. Goblins stand on ledges shooting at us. We need to move quickly. Legolas shoots an arrow and we hear it connect with something.

"Merry, Pippin!" Boromir yells as he grabs them and jumps across. Rocks at the edge of the staircase fall off, making the gap even bigger. More arrows shoot down to us.

"Sam." Aragorn says Sam goes to him and Aragorn thrown him over.

"Frodo!" I yell and Frodo comes to me, he nods and I toss him, Boromir catches him. Gimli jumps next after exclaiming.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" He just makes it and Legolas helps him over. Suddenly more of the staircase begins to fall under us. We both jump up but I slip and grab onto the stairs, my legs dangle off. Aragorn grabs me and pulls me back on. I see the gap between us and the rest of the group. It's too far to jump.

"Steady." Aragorn says to me, he takes my hand. "We are not dead yet." The roar of the balrog is louder now, sending more of the roof tumbling off. A large chunk hits the other side of the staircase we are on so we can't make it back. Then I feel everything start to tilt. The support holding up the piece we stand begins to tumble. Aragorn pulls me close to help keep my balance. We lean together, trying to counter the way this platform is trying to fall. "Hang on!" Aragorn shouts. "Lean forward!" We both lean forward slightly and the platform begins to move forward, towards the others. It hits the other piece of the staircase and we stumble forwards. The others help steady us before we begins to run again. Adrenaline pumps through me. We are going to make it out. We turn a corner and see a narrow bridge across the cavern.

"Over the bridge!" Gandalf yells. "Fly!" We all start runnings, I make sure all the hobbits go before me before I run across. I hear the roar of the balrog right behind us. Once I make it to the other side I see it. A creature of shadow and flame emerges from the fire, letting out a giant roar. Gandalf quickly starts to run across the bridge but stops halfway and turns around.

"You cannot pass!" He yells at the creature.

"Gandalf!" Frodo yells to him. The balrog blazes bright, flame emanating off of him.

"I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!" Gandalf yells at him. The beast draws a sword and swings it at Gandalf but as soon as it gets close it melts into fire that disappears into the air. It roars at Gandalf again. "Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf yells again. Aragorn and I stand and watch while the other climb higher. The creature summons a whip of fire and snaps it. "YOU....SHALL NOT...PASS!!" Gandalf cries, he lifts up his sword and staff together and then drives it into the bridge, light flashes around him. The balrog takes a step forward and roars but the bridge breaks sending him down into the crevice. I sigh in relief and Gandalf turns towards us. Except the balrog swings it's whip and it wraps around Gandalf's ankle. Gandalf stumbles and falls, he's hanging on with just his arms.

"No!" Boromir yells and I look up to see him holding back Frodo.

"Gandalf!" Frodo yells. I start running towards him but Aragorn wraps an arm around my waist, stopping me.

"Fly, you fools." Gandalf says before falling off into the void. I gasp and stop fighting against Aragorn. No. NO!

"NOO!" I hear Frodo yell, anguish laces his cry.

"Eleris! Aragorn!" Boromir yells for us. We are both pulled from our trance. We turn and run up the stairs as more arrows shoot down at us. We run out the door and the sun light shines on us. We made it out. I just stare off into the distance, over the mountains. Gandalf was gone, our leader.

"Eleris." I hear my name being called and look. Aragorn stands with a gentle hand on my arm. "We must go before nightfall." He says and I nod my head. "Legolas, get them up." Aragorn says to the elf.

"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir says, distraught. I feel nothing.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the Woods of Lothlórien." Aragorn says. "Come Boromir. Legolas. Gimli, get them up." I look around for Frodo.

"Frodo?" I call out in panic when I can't see him. I finally turn and see as he wanders away, alone. I run towards him. "Frodo!" He turns to me, tears falling down his face. I kneel before him and lay my hands on his shoulders. His tears fall more. I pull him in and wrap my arms around him. "I know he meant more to you then he did to us. But I feel your pain little one." I whisper to him. I feel the others eyes on me. "We must keep going, Gandalf would not want us to give up." Frodo nods and I let go of him. "You are strong Frodo. I know you are." I wipe away some of his tears and stand up. I turn to the others and nod, Aragorn nods back and begins leading us to Lothlórien.