Silverhelm: A Tale of Two Enemies

Of Balrogs and Stone-Dragons

And we ran. Would this hall never end? We ran on and on, with our swords drawn (or in Legolas's case, arrows nocked) until we were stopped by a DOOM, DOOM.

Orcs. Orcs and goblins everywhere. They poured into the great hall and swarmed down its pillars, surrounding us with their blades and clamor. And underneath it all, the terrifying beats of the war-drums.

Doom, doom.

Doom, doom.

We were forced into a circle, blades on the outside, with the hobbits safely inside our ring. I found myself between Aragorn and Legolas with my sword in one hand and my longest knife, as long as Frodo's Sting, in the other.

Suddenly the goblins dispersed. They climbed up the great pillars and slunk back to their holes. The reason was soon apparent. The huge hall was illuminated by some unseen fire. My breath caught. I wish my optimism would come true...

"What is this new devilry?" Legolas questioned.

"This foe is beyond any of you," Gandalf said. "RUN." I knew what it was, and for certain Aragorn did also. It was a Balrog, a fallen Maia, a servant of Morgoth, the First Dark Lord. This was Durin's Bane, the reason for the fall of Moria.

Finally, we exited the giant hall. Gandalf stopped suddenly, and thanks to my Elvish sense, I did not crash into him and send both of us careening into the chasm beyond, for that was what we looked upon: a cavern, with steep steps spanning it from where we were to the other side.

"Go!" Gandalf said. "Hurry!" We ran own the steps are fast as we dared, for one misstep, one slipped foot, one step taken too eagerly, and all of us would fall.

Again, Gandalf stopped.  Thankfully I did too, and Legolas behind me, because there was a gap in the stair. Legolas jumped over first. Gathering my strength, I did likewise. As I landed, I grabbed his shoulder to steady myself and quickly backed away from the crumbling ledge. Unlike most elves, I lack precise balance and perfectness. Next, Gandalf jumped over. Every time someone jumped, a few blocks fell. Holding Merry and Pippin by his sides, Boromir jumped. Legolas and I, who were nearest the edge, moved aside. All three of them landed safely and joined Gandalf. The gap was ever-widening. Grabbing Sam under the arms, Aragorn tossed him over the gap. Legolas caught him and sent him to Gandalf. Aragorn moved to do the same to Gimli, who held up a hand.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf," he declared proudly. I sighed. Could he not swallow his pride and make it easier for us?

Backing up, Gimli executed a leap that would've made Beren proud. But he landed just short of the ledge. My hand shot out and grabbed the nearest part of him, which happened to be his beard. Seeing another hand holding the beard, I looked to my left and saw Legolas, shoulder to shoulder with me. Ugh. Why am I having to work with him so much today?

"Not the beard, not the beard!" Gimli cried. Ignoring his protests, we pulled him up. With his jump, an entire section of the staircase had broken free, an entire section of the staircase had broken free, and the section Aragorn and Frodo stood upon was standing alone. Small bits of rock continued to fall off. I looked at the gap with horror. Even I, being an elf, couldn't jump that far. How would Aragorn and especially Frodo make it?

"Lean forward!" Aragorn instructed Frodo. What? As both of them leaned forward, the platform tipped. When it finally crashed against ours, Aragorn and Frodo jumped off.  Oh, now I understand, I thought. They used their own body weight. I'd never bothered to learn things like that, they were for scholars, not warriors. I wondered how Aragorn had remembered that in the middle of all of this. It is common sense, but... Men are aren't usually known for their common sense. Much like Dwarves.

We were running again. An arrow whistled past my ear. Looking up, I saw that orcish archers standing at guard platforms were shooting at us. I reached for my quiver and shot an arrow towards the sound of a whooshing bowstring without looking; I needed to keep my attention on the path ahead.

Behind me, I head a whistle of appreciation. "How did you do that?" Legolas inquired.

"What, did I hit it?" He nodded. "I just shot towards the sound."

"What sound?"

"The sound of him releasing his bowstring, of course. Now if you would kindly let me save my breath for running!"

When we finally made it off the stairs, the Bridge of Khazad-dum lay ahead. We just needed to cross the small hall (by comparison) in between. We met no obstacle, and no arrow was shot at us as we hurried through the hall. The Bridge was narrow, and Gandalf herded us across when we reached it. He crossed it last... but he didn't cross. Gandalf remained in the middle of the Bridge, because on the other side, a Balrog had emerged.

Durin's Bane. My breath caught.  The Balrog filled the entire chamber, and even then it seemed stooped. It was made of both shadow and flame. In one hand it clutched a fiery whip, and great wings of shadow stretched out behind it.

It growled at Gandalf, and made to step onto the bridge and end the Istar. However, Gandalf held his staff in his left hand, and Glamdring in his right. A white glow issued from the end of the staff, shielding the wizard from the darkness.

"I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor!" Gandalf shouted. "The dark fire shall not avail you, Flame of Udun!"

"YOU..." He held his staff and sword at his sides "... SHALL NOT..."  brought them up before his face "PASS!" He smashed his staff into the bridge. In an explosion of white light, the bridge before him crumbled into the darkness, taking the Balrog with it. I let out a sigh of relief.

Gandalf turned around to us, looking at the ground, obviously exhausted from his fight with the fallen Maia. Suddenly, from the darkness of the chasm below, a fiery whip came up ans ensnared Gandalf's ankle, pulling him down. His staff and sword fell, but he managed to cling on to the edge of the bridge.

"Fly, you fools," he whispered, and let go, dropping into the pit.

"Gandalf!" Frodo shouted. I put a hand over his mouth, restraining him.

"Quiet," I hissed. "There is a dragon ahead. Do not wake it."

The dragon. Everyone else had forgotten about it.

So, how was that chapter? I'm wondering about my pacing, too fast or too slow? Anyways, as promised, in the next chapter, I will develop Legolas and Lyrasael's relationship a little. Be prepared for a surprise at the end. Please comment and tell me how you feel, also a vote a day makes the Nazgul go away.