Orcs are once again heard down the hall. "To the bridge of Khazad-dum!" Gandalf says as they run out the rear door of the chamber, closely pursued by an army of orcs. Other orcs spring out from the floor or crawl from the ceiling and down the pillars like spiders. They surround the Fellowship, who have drawn their weapons outward. Just then, a fiery light appears at the end of a hall, followed by a thunderous growl. The orcs, dismayed, flee, panicking in all directions. Ilmare growls before going into an attack passion. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir says as they hide behind their dragon friend. "A Balrog-- a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" Gandalf exclaims, startling Ilmare, who turns after them. 

The Fellowship enters a passageway, then down a flight of steps. Parts of the steps end into a chasm, and Boromir nearly falls into one. Legolas pulls him back. The Hobbits, too, stop short of falling in. They take another flight of stairs down. Aragorn and Gandalf bring up the rear. "Gandalf," he says as Gandalf cuts him off. "Lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near," but Aragorn resits. "Do as I say! Swords are no more use here," he says, and Aragorn does as he says. Ilmare looks behind at Gandalf, worry in her blue eyes. She then turns and follows the rest of  The Fellowship, who encounter a gap on the stairs. Legolas leaps forward and lands on the other side. "Gandalf," he beckons. Gandalf leaps after him. Ilmare bends down so the hobbits can climb on her back, and she then takes the two men in her claws. 

Some of the stone steps crumble and fall into the abyss as she lands on the other side. Aragorn pushes Frodo back up the steps and clambers after him. They struggle to their feet and look at the widened gap that separates them from the rest of the Fellowship. The Balrog is heard approaching from the other half; the fiery light is seen getting closer. Stone structures around the mine collapse as it draws near. A huge rock falls from the ceiling and smashes down the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them and weakening the stairs' foundation. The stairs begin to wobble. "Stay there. Hold on. Hang on! Lean forward!" he says. "Come on!" Legolas urge them on. 

They shift their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming onto the steps where their companions are. They leap across to safety. Then, turning, they continue to run down the stairs as the stone structures collapse behind them. Ilmare has stopped to face the Balrog, knowing well that Gandalf will do the same. "Over the bridge! Fly!" she hears Gandalf order her friends as she stands her ground. The Fellowship crosses the bridge. Gandalf turns to face the Balrog beside the great white dragon. The Balrog growls at the two. "Gandalf, Ilmare! Frodo calls after the two, but they don't listen to him. "You cannot pass!" Gandalf says as a blazing light radiates from Gandalf's staff, illuminating the entire bridge. Ilmare lets her body light up to add the glow. 

"I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udun!" Gandalf says. "I am the dragon of the north; I am the shifter. you shall not pass!" Ilmare roars, and the ground tumbles under them. The Balrog strikes down on Gandalf with its flaming sword. Gandalf parries the blow with Glamdring, shattering the Balrog'sBalrog's sword. ilmare sents a fire wave at it, but it only staggers at its place. ": Go back to the shadow!" Claire growls.  The Balrog brandishes a flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly. "YOU...SHALL NOT...PASS!!!" Gandalf shouts. Gandalf strikes his staff onto the bridge. As the Balrog steps forward, the bridge collapses from under it, and the demon plunges backward into the chasm. Exhausted, Gandalf leans on his staff, watches the Balrog fall, and then turns to follow the others. At the last minute, the flaming whip lashes up from the depths of the abyss and wounds about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but is straining to keep his grip. 

Ilmare stagers and growls out of fear of losing him. she is about to lash forward as he says something that makes her stop. "Fly, you fools!" he then loses his grip and falls into the chasm. Ilmare roars in agony. 

------------------------------

The Fellowship crosses Dimrill Dale and enters the Woods of Lothlorien. "Stay close young hobbits! They say there's a great sorceress lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell..." Gimli says, and Ilamre snorts. She is now in her elven form. Her ears then pick up a faint whisper. It's Lady Galadriel. "Frodo...." the whispering echo.  Frodo, startled, looks around. ": ... and are never seen again." Gimli ends his sentence as he looks around. "...Your coming to us... is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, Ring-bearer!" Galadriel whispers a voice echo in Ilmare's ears., but she knows it is not meant for her, so she continues to walk on. 

"Mr. Frodo?" Sam says worriedly. " Well, here is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Gimli boast.  With arrows notched, Lorien elves suddenly appear from behind the trees, aiming at them. The Fellowship stops and looks around, alarmed. "Oh..." Gimli says as he raises his hands. Ilamre glares at the elves, and they seem to cover under her gaze but do not move away. "The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." the captain of the guard, Haldir, says as he comes into view. "Haldir o Lórien. Henion aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn. (Haldir of Lorien, we come here for help. We need your protection.)." Aragorn says. 

" Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go back," Gimli says. "You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. Come, she is waiting." Haldir says, ignoring Gimli's comment. He then sends Ilmare a glance before turning around, leading their way. Finally, the Fellowship arrives at Caras Galadhon. They ascend a winding stairway amongst the trees towards the grand court of Galadriel and Celeborn. With a glow issuing forth from them, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien descend to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand. Aragorn touches his head reverently in greeting. Ilmare mirror him. 

"Nine that are here yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him."  Lord Celeborn says. Galadriel looks at Aragorn, reading the answer in his eyes. " He has fallen into shadow. The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail to the ruin of all." she says, looking over the Fellowship. Galadriel looks at Boromir, who can't stand her gaze. He starts shaking and casts his eyes downwards. "Yet hope remains while the company is true." she ends. Galadriel looks at Sam and smiles. Sam continues to gaze at her.  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." 

-whispers to Frodo in his mind-

"Welcome, Frodo of the Shire. One who has seen the Eye!"

-end-'

Later, back on the ground, an area has been provided for them to rest in. The hobbits are settling down to rest. In the trees, the elves singing can be heard.  " A lament for Gandalf." Legolas says in a pensive vocie. he glances at Ilmare, who has her head in her fair hands. His gaze softens, and he walks over to her. "are you okay?" he asks. Ilamre looks up from her hands and gives him a weak smile. "so okay, I can be after this, but do not worry for me, Mellon nin. I will endure." she ends her words with another smile. Legolas nods but does not go from her side. "What do they say about him?" Merry then aks and Legolas looks up into the trees. " I have not the heart to tell you. For me, the grief is still too near," he says grimly. 

- the song-

"A Olorin I yaresse ( Olorin, who once was...)

Mentaner I Numeherui... (sent by the Lords of the West...)

Tirien I Romenori (to guard the lands of the East...)

Maiarion i Oiosaila...(wisest of all Maiar...)

Mana elye etevanne...(what drove you to leave...)

Norie i melanelye? (that which you loved?)." 

-end-

 Aragorn walks over to Boromir, who is seated alone on a great tree root. "Take some rest. These borders are well protected," he says. "I will find no rest here. I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me even now; there is hope left. But I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope." Boromir says. " My father is a nobleman, but his rule is failing. And now our...our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right, and I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored. Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The white tower of Ecthelion glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver. Its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?" he continues and looks at Aragorn. 

": I have seen the White City long ago," Aragorn said. " One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guards shall take up the call: The Lords of Gondor have returned!" Boromir says, what a smile.  The Fellowship is asleep. Galadriel walks by. Frodo wakes up with a start and proceeds to follow her. Galadriel descends to her garden and fills the ewer with water. She turns towards Frodo. "Will you look into the mirror?" she asks. "What will I see?" Frodo asks. "Even the wisest cannot tell. For the mirror shows many things." She begins to pour the water into the silver basin. "Things that were, things that are and some things..." she empties the ewer. " that have not yet come to pass."

Frodo steps up to the mirror to take a look. He peers down and sees nothing but his reflection. Then suddenly, the mirror clears and shows a vision of Legolas, Merry, and Pippin, then Sam. Next, he sees Bag End, then the burning of Hobbiton, the enslavement of the Hobbits, and the destruction of the Shire. Then the Eye of Sauron fills the mirror. The Ring hanging from his neck pulls him closer to the water. Steam begins to curl up from the basin as Sauron speaks to Frodo in Black Speech. Terrified, he grabs the Ring and jerks back, throwing himself off the step and landing on his back on the forest floor. " I know what it is you saw, for it is also in my mind."  speaks to Frodo telepathically. "It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The Fellowship is breaking. It has already begun. He will try to take the Ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all." she says. 

"If you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring," Frodo says telepathically. Opening his palm, he offers the Ring to her. "You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this." Galadriel says. She approaches Frodo and places her hand over the Ring. Her image begins to change. "In place OF A DARK, LORD, YOU WILL HAVE A QUEEN! NOT DARK BUT BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE AS THE DAWN! TREACHEROUS AS THE SEA! STRONGER THAN THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH! ALL SHALL LOVE ME AND DESPAIR!" she booms before her image returns to normal. "I pass the test! I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel," she says. "I cannot do this alone," Frodo says. " You are a Ring-bearer, Frodo. To bear a Ring of power is to be alone. This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will." Galadriel says with a smile. " Then I know what I must do. It's just... I'm afraid to do it."  Galadriel bends down to meet him at eye level. "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." 

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A/N: so here's this chap:) I hope you liked it:)

-Saph