River of Stars

Chapter Nine

     The Fellowship followed Gandalf, coming into another large dark hall of pillars much like the one before. A sea of orcs poured from all sides, crawling from deep caverns on the sides and holes in the ceilings.
     It was not long before they were surrounded. Then suddenly, the caterwauls of the horrible creatures boxing them in stopped. The growl of something much larger swept through the room.
     The orcs ran back where they had come from, disappearing even faster than they had appeared, and the party was left mostly alone again. They turned toward the steadily growing amber light coming through the doorway at the end of the hall, the same place the growling spawned.
     Weapons were readied and pointed at the place, but nothing came through.
     "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked in a whisper. Gandalf shut his eyes tight as the glow came down the hall.
     "A Balrog," he said. "A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
     As he shouted the last, they all ran after the wizard away from the light of the Balrog.
     "Quickly," Gandalf snapped.
     Boromir took the lead, so ahead he almost fell through a large hole in the path before Legolas could pull him back. They all stumbled to a stop, unsure now where to go.
     "Gandalf?" Strider asked.
     "Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." Abis followed his gaze and saw the bridge he spoke of. "Do as I say! Swords are no more use here."
     The Fellowship turned and went down another staircase, twisting and winding, until they came to another large gap in the path. Legolas jumped it easily, turning back to help the others do the same.
     "Gandalf," he called. The Grey Wizard seemed to consider a moment, then took the jump, being steadied by Legolas on the other side.
     Arrows began raining down, and Abis turned to see little orc archers shooting at them from high above. Legolas shot an arrow of his own, hitting the archer down.
     "Merry, Pippin," Boromir called. He grabbed the hobbits close to him and they jumped together. Just before the ground gave beneath them.
     Strider tossed Sam across then turned to Gimli, who threw up an indignant hand.
     "NOBODY TOSSES A DWARF!" He shouted. He jumped across the gap himself, nearly falling before being caught by Legolas on the other side. "NOT THE BEARD!"
     More of the path began to give. It was only Strider, Abis, and Frodo on their side of the stairs now.
     "Steady," Aragorn cautioned. "Hold on."
     The stairs began to crumble behind them, being hit by large chunks of the wall as the Balrog slammed into it from the other side. Then even the steps they stood on began to slip.
     "Hang on..." Strider commanded. He held onto Frodo by the collar of his shirt, keeping the swaying hobbit in place the best he could. "Lean forward!"
     The weight of the three of them was enough to persuade the falling staircase forward, tipping it to land against the other side. Legolas caught Abis, pulling him to the stable side of the stairs, but even the little bit of pressure on his wound made Abis nearly scream. It may go much deeper than he realized.
     Legolas looked at him with concern, but did not have much time to question him as the Fellowship rushed onward.
     "OVER THE BRIDGE!" Gandalf yelled. "FLY!"
     The group kept running, but Abis pulled Legolas back as he realized Gandalf was not following them. When he turned, they saw the great looming monster which could only be the Balrog.
     Gandalf was facing the looming creature, surrounded by flames. Then he turned and ran. Once the wizard started moving Abis and Legolas did too.
     They followed Strider across the bridge, and this time Gandalf's stopping was not noticed until they had reached the other side.
     "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" He shouted at the Balrog.
     "GANDALF!" Frodo called desperately, but it did no help.
     The monster rose to its full height, covering itself in flames as it roared.
     "I am a servant of the Secret Fire," Gandalf said. "Wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!"
     Gandalf raised his brightly glowing staff, just as the Balrog raised a mighty sword of flame. The two lights collided, creating a blinding flash as the two faced each other.
     "Go back to the Shadow," Gandalf growled.
     The Balrog manifested another weapon. This one was a whip made of fire, which he raised and cracked down just once.
     "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf yelled, slamming his staff into the ground. He held his ground as the Balrog fell, the bridge crumbling beneath him. The wizard began to turn away, but the fiery whip of the Balrog curled around him, pulling him down.
     "No, no!"
     "GANDALF!" Boromir had to pull a scrambling Frodo back, holding him away from the dangerous chasm.
     The wizard clung helplessly to the edge of the bridge for one more moment.
     "Fly you fools."
     Then he fell.
     "NO!" Frodo screamed. Boromir had to lift the hobbit and carry him away. Abis and Strider still stood frozen.
     "Aragorn!" Boromir yelled. Abis grabbed Strider and pulled him away.
     It was like the whole world had gone quiet but everything was still too loud. Like trying to read a book when the words kept leaping off the page, or hear a conversation when you're a million miles away. As soon as they were out of the mines, the hobbits all collapsed on the ground.
     Boromir had to hold back Gimli from running back inside. Abis only dropped his shield, falling to the ground and curling in on himself as he sobbed.
     Abis had not been close with Gandalf, but he had known him through Strider's stories, and even considered him a friend. And he had seen him die. And he did nothing. How useless could he possibly be?
     "Legolas, get them up," he heard Strider say. Abis pulled himself up a little bit to look at Aragorn.
     "One of us has just died..." he whispered.
     "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir snapped, much louder.
     "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs," Strider yelled. "We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir. Legolas, Gimli, get them up."
     The others began raising the hobbits to their feet.
     "Frodo?" Strider called. "Frodo!"
     Strong but gentle hands tried to pull Abis to his feet, and from the careful avoidance of his left side he knew it was Legolas.
     "Come, we have to keep going," he said gently. Once Abis was steady on his feet Legolas handed him his shield.
     "Why did we come here?" Abis whispered. "Why did we ever leave Rivendell?"
     "Because people need our help. Gandalf knew what he was risking, we all do. But we cannot linger on it, not now."
     Abis nodded, and he and Legolas joined the others.
     The faces of the poor little hobbits made him want to cry again, especially Pippin's.
     He grabbed the crestfallen hobbit and pulled him in for a tight hug.
     "It's not your fault. It's not your fault," he whispered, trying his best to comfort the hobbit. Pippin wrapped his arms around him and nodded. "It's okay."