Running to You (LOTR- Legolas and O/C)

Ch. 9- Mines of Moria (Part II)

    "Let me risk a little bit more light..." Gandalf taps his staff. Bright light flashes for a moment causing great shadows spring up and flee. "Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!"

   I could hear one of the hobbits gasp. Before us stretched a great empty hall, with mighty pillars and black walls, polished and as smooth as glass. It never ceases to amaze me the craftsmanship and skill of dwarves.

   "Well, there's an eye opener for ya, no mistake!" Said Sam.

   Ahead there was a wooden door that looked like it was busted through. There were a few skeletons laying in front of it, possibly goblins. Gimli rushes ahead of us towards the doors.   

    "Gimli!" Gandalf cried out as we hurried after him. We had entered another vast, empty chamber lit by only a narrow shaft of sunlight beaming in from a small hole near the roof. Dwarf and Goblin skeletons were piled high. I sighed and looked at my dwarven friend. He had reached a tomb in the center.

    "Oh no.. no no no!" He sobbed. Gandalf, Aragorn and I stepped closer to the tomb and I read the inscription aloud.

   "Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria." My heart fell. Balin was like a father to me, a mentor, just like Thorin was. He was kind to me when most of the others in the company refused to let me in, to get to know me. I knelt down next to Gimli with my hand on his shoulder. Tears ran down my face as I silently mourned a dear friend's death. I overhear Legolas tell Aragorn that we had to leave and I stand up, wiping the tears from my cheek.

"It'll take us days to reach the other side," I stated matter of factly. I watched as Gandalf carefully picked up what remained of a book, its pages cracking as he opens it.

"The have taken the bridge and the second hall... we have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long.. the ground shakes... drums in the deep.. we cannot get out. Will no one save us? They are coming..." The bone chilling message sent us into a deep silence. I looked at the hobbits who were clearly frightened. Three of them huddled together near Gandalf but... where was Pip?

Suddenly the sound of armor and metal clanking and crashing down startled me and I look over to see Pippin staring wide eyed at us. As if we couldn't get any more silent, this was a silence that would make your skin crawl. It would make you think something sinister was approaching. And something was.

"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Gandalf yelled. Loud drumming could be heard from the depths below us, growing louder and louder with each passing second. It had become very clear that we were to face the same fate as these dwarves.

"Mr. Frodo!" Sam pointed to Frodo's belt where Sting was glowing blue.

"Orcs!" Legolas yelled.

"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn ordered the hobbits as he and Boromir slam and wedge the doors.

    "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!" Yelled Gimli. He stood on top of Balin's  tomb wielding two rusty battle axes. I chuckled lightly and shook my head.

   "Now is not the time for jokes, Gimli!" I smirked over at him. Legolas came to stand by my side as he prepared an arrow.

    BOOM! The doors were busted down and in rushed maybe 20 or so goblins followed by a large cave troll.

    "Of fucking course there's a cave troll! Why not?!" I said to no one in particular. I could've sworn I heard a grunt-like laugh come from Legolas but I could just be going crazy. Legolas fires arrow after arrow. Elios tears into goblins left and right a few feet away from me, Aragorn and Boromir slash and stab their way to the cave troll.

   "Elios, glenn- na hain. Glenn! (Go to them. Go!" In a flash of black fur he leaps in front of my brother and Boromir, tackling three smaller orcs. I soon find myself slowly backing up towards where the hobbits were. An orc swings its sword at me, a nasty grin plastered on its face. I duck to the left and roll away, swinging my own sword and slicing into the orcs neck.

"Aragorn! Aragorn!" Frodo yelled. I spin around and watch in horror as the cave troll lifts Frodo up by the tip of its spear and throws him against the wall. In my rage I barreled through goblins and orcs, slicing my way through until I was at Frodo's side.

"No no no no," I said as I fell to my knees next to him. I gently lifted his head and I specter his body. Oddly enough I did not see any blood or cuts... "Frodo!"

"Move!" Gandalf ordered, pushing me away only slightly. As soon as the dread began to set in, Frodo coughed. Relief washed over all of us us he opened his eyes and sat up.

   "I'm alright, I'm not hurt," he said. I scowled and eyed him. There wasn't a scratch on him!

   "You should be dead," Aragorn began, looking between me and Frodo. "That spear would've skewered a wild boar!"

"I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye," Gandalf said, gesturing to Frodo with a hand. Frodo then opens his shirt revealing something I had not seen in years.

"Mithril..." I whispered in shock. Thorin had gifted Bilbo this shirt long ago, before the Battle of the Five Armies. I was there by Bilbo's side when he was gifted such a priceless item. Elios rested his head against my arm, making me smile for just a moment before tears began to gather in the corners of my eyes. I stood abruptly and walked away as the others continued to express their surprise with the little hobbit. My sudden departure did not go unnoticed, however. As I sat with my back against Balin's tomb and my eyes closed tightly, someone took my hand and gave it a light squeeze. I reluctantly open my eyes, looking right into those blue eyes I know so well. His eyes searched my face as he studied me, trying to get a handle of what was going on in my mind.

"Baw baur na worrui, Legolas. (No need to worry)," I say smiling. The side of his mouth lifts in a half attempt to return the smile as his thumb gently brushes my cheek, wiping a stray tear.

  "Baw, nin mel. Cin nall-. I na- ú- tríw (No, my love. You cry. That is not okay.)"

   For a moment I forget the anger I've held against him. For a moment I forget what he did. For just that moment, I give in to the tenderness of his touch, the care in his eyes as he spoke. But then that moment is brutally interrupted by the danger that once again is nearing far too quickly. Loud, beating drums boomed in the distance.

"To the bridge of Khazad-dum! Quickly!"

We rushed after Gandalf as he led us through Moria. Elios ran next to Gandalf, turning every so often to check on me. When he did, I'd nod slightly. The silent affirmation was all that he needed.

The deeper we went into the mines, the louder the drumming became. We were nearing a distant door as Goblins began scuttling down the pillars around us like cockroaches. I find myself getting closer and closer to my brother while we ran. Elios decided to be by my side and he soon was running with me and Aragorn. Suddenly a deafening roar fills the air, sending chills throughout my entire body. Fiery light dances down the hallway and across the pillars casting eerie shadows. The Goblins freeze. I look around in confusion when they begin to back fearfully away into the darkness.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir says, looking to Gandalf. A huge shadow surrounded by flame fall across the hall. The ground shakes.. an unearthly sound rumbles.

"A Balrog..."