A year before the time The Hobbit is supposed to take place, Elven-King Thranduil and his son Legolas as well as companions from Mirkwood come to Lothlóthrien. During their stay there, Thranduil and Legolas meet the youngest daughter of Lord Elrond...
Thanks so much for 30k! You all are awesome! Oh, and don't forget to listen to this music! Eurielle's voice is amazing. There is no dedication this chapter; I didn't have enough comments, so I guess I'll leave that for the next one. ;-)
'The dark figure streaming with fire raced towards them. The orcs yelled and poured over the stone gangways. Then Boromir raised his horn and blew. Loud the challenge rang and bellowed like the shout of many throats under the cavernous roof. For a moment the orcs quailed and the fiery shadow halted. Then the echoes died as suddenly as a flame blown out by a dark wind, and the enemy advanced again.
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'"Over the bridge!" cried Gandalf, recalling his strength. "Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!" Aragorn and Boromir did not heed the command, but still held their ground, side by side, behind Gandalf at the far end of the bridge. The others halted just within the doorway at the hall's end, and turned, unable to leave their leader to face the enemy alone.
'The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip, and the thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils.' Celebwen watched, frozen in horror, as Mithrandir faced the fiery beast. The dreams that she had dreamed long ago were now coming real. She could feel the heat even from where she stood and beads of perspiration broke out on her brow. She wished this was but a dream still, a terrible dream, but better a dream than real. Alas, this was no dream. Her lungs were burning from running as they had just down now and she was gasping for air as they all were, watching, stunned, as the unequal duel took place on the narrow bridge, the ancient Bridge of Khazad-dûm built by Durin long ago.
'"You cannot pass,"' Gandalf said. 'The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
'The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly onto the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm.
'From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming.
'Glamdring glittered white in answer.
'There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog fell back and its sword flew up in molten fragments. The wizard swayed on the bridge, stepped back a pace, and again stood still.
'"You cannot pass!" he said,
'With a bound the Balrog leaped full upon the bridge. Its whip whirled and hissed.
'At that moment Gandalf lifted his staff, and crying aloud he smote the bridge before him. The staff broke assunder and fell from his hand. A blinding sheet of white flame sprung up. The bridge cracked. Right at the Balrog's feet it broke, and the stone upon which it stood crashed into the gulf, while the rest remained, poised, quivering like a tongue of rock thrust out into emptiness.
'With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished. But even as it fell it swung its whip, and the thongs lashed and curled about the wizard's knees, dragging him to the brink.' Celebwen felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her body and she longed, she wished to cry out, but her voice failed her. 'He staggered and fell, grasping vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss. "Fly you fools!" he cried, and then was gone.'
"No!" Frodo cried out in anguish, his voice sounding hoarse and strange. Celebwen felt like calling out the same, but her voice would not obey her commands. Legolas struggled to hold back the young hobbit from running out onto the bridge and diving after Gandalf. The rest of them stood stunned as if turned into stone.
'With a cry Aragorn roused them. "Come! I will lead you now!" he called. "We must obey his last command. Follow me!"'
They turned and followed him, running swiftly up the stairs as orc arrows chased them. Celebwen could hardly see the stairs; tears ran down swiftly and as she ran, gasping sobs escaped her lips. Legolas grabbed her hand and nearly dragged her up. Boromir looked last at the bridge before running up behind them.
And then they were out of the Mines, feeling the wind and sun upon their faces and breathing the fresh air once more. But they were weighed down with sorrow and heavy-hearted. The hobbits threw themselves down once they were out of the gates, crying, the tears making streaks across their sooty faces. Even Boromir and Gimli were weeping. Celebwen sat down on the nearest stone, her arms hugging herself and rocking slightly back and forth, sobbing as she hadn't done in years.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked to see Legolas looking down at her. "Aragorn says we must leave this place before nightfall comes." She nodded, wiping her hands on her clothes and standing. "Are you alright?" he whispered.
"Aye," she said, but she was lying and they both knew it.
Then he embraced her, surprising even himself at his own openess. "Just hold till we reach Lothlórien," he whispered into her ear as he pulled back.
She nodded, wiping the tears from off her face. "Hannon-lle," she murmured, but she felt an unswallowable lump in her throat that made it hard to speak.
The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile, but in his eyes lingered a terrible sadness and Celebwen turned away, walking towards Aragorn as the Fellowship moved onward towards safety and away from the accursed Mines of Moria where their leader had fallen.
Sorry guys, for the short chapter, but I didn't want to make it longer.
Anyways, I'm not sure when I'll be updating again as I'm kinda stuck with what happens next and there's a few other reasons too, musically speaking. I hoped you liked it though. ;-)
And I'm putting this song here again because it's just plain amazing and I listened to it when writing this. Namárië, mellon-nins!
