AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's the next chapter!!! :D Enjoy :3

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~Chapter Five~

In The Deep Places of The World

The Fellowship now compelled to travel in the darkness of Moria, they follow the old wizard. Their only source of light was Gandalf's staff. Behind Gandalf the companions followed two by two in a line. The pairs consist of Frodo and Aragorn, Gwiliweth and Pippin, Boromir and Merry, Gimli and Sam, than at the end Legolas and Medlinya. The companionship crossing an insecure bridge above a deep mine workings into the ground for metals and Mithril.

"Quietly, now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence will go unnoticed." Gandalf voiced seriously.

They continue up a steep stair, passing through a dwarf cemetery. The graves are plundered scandalously. Dwarf skeletons cluttered about the Morian Cemetery Cavern and Goblin graffiti scribbled on monuments in dried Dwarf blood. The air weighed heavily with sinister foreboding.

Medlinya's heart fell into sadness and compassion for Gimli. Her eyes flickered up at the Elf beside her, 'My heart feels awful pain for Gimli. Walking through such a place, his people dead. His family, even.'

Legolas' blue eyes gaze down, seeing such a sad frown on the she-elf. His heart did clench in sadness for Gimli as well, but his hate for Dwarves kept the Elf from saying anything in response to the woman beside him. He barely nodded to her with a real look of compassion than faced forward once again.

The group finally reaching the top of the stair, the hobbits were huffed from such a steep climb. The path splits into three passages, each disappearing into dark tunnels. Gandalf paused, frowning. "I have no memory of this place."

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The Fellowship nervously waited, while Gandalf sat on boulder, staring engrossed at the three tunnels in front of him. Seemingly appearing to be in a reverie. A faint noise from inside one of the tunnels sounded, causing a few who heard to glance at the tunnels. Medlinya quietly perched herself on a boulder overlooking the hobbits huddled close by a campfire.

"Are we lost?" Pippin whispered over to Merry, as he eyed the old wizard behind them.

Merry glanced to Pippin than the old wizard, "No, I don't think we are." His eyes gaze back at the anxious hobbit sternly, "Shhh, Gandalf's thinking.."

"Merry!" Pippin whispered aside.

"What?" Merry hissed quietly.

"I'm hungry." The hobbit responded, looking down at his stomach.

Medlinya smiled at such a comment, shaking her head. Her sapphire blue eyes caught the heart-broken Dwarf staring off at the skeletons below. The cloaked she-elf stood up and quietly wandered over to Gimli. The stout figure did not flinch nor react to her presence beside him, mutely until she set a hand on his broad shoulder. Startled the Dwarf jerked his head up to see the cloaked elf.

"Why are ye here, lass?" Gimli asked warly. His blue eyes revealing his true melancholy as his expression on his face tried to be fierce as always.

"I was worried about you, Master Gimli." Medlinya answered, truthfully. Her grip on his shoulder strengthened. "If you need anyone to talk to, seek out me." she added, letting go of his shoulder.

Pivoting around, Medlinya began to stroll away to the campfire. "W-w-wait!" Gimli stuttered. Her head whisked back to the Dwarf, his eyes stared at her hidden face pleadingly. "Stay." he muttered.

"Of course." She responded with a smile.

Legolas sat beside Aragorn, carefully studying the cloaked she-elf comfort the Dwarf. No he was not mad or angry at her. Surprise and acknowledgement that an Elf would move out of their way to comfort a Dwarf. She is a special Elf, he thought to himself with a soft smile playing on his lips.

In the darkness, away from the fire sat Medlinya and Gimli close beside. He spoke of his unbearable sadness of his people, with every word slowly his sadness waned but still lingered. Medlinya held the Dwarf's shoulder in her soft hand, comforting him in a quiet but meaningful way.

Behind her Frodo and Gandalf spoke of a creature following them by the name of Gollum. The creature gripped the cave wall with his withered fingers, not to far away from the Dwarf and Elf. Gollum peered around with his large, luminous eyes filled with malice. Gimli and Medlinya receded to the rest of the Fellowship at the sight of the creature.

"It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance." Frodo grimly sneered, staring at the creature.

"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" Gandalf questioned, the frowning hobbit. "Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment... even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many." Gandalf hypothesized.

Frodo's eyes downcast to the Ring chained to a necklace around his neck, "I wish the Ring had never come to me... I wish none of this had happened."

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." A tone of finality resounded in Gandalf's voice. "There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you also were meant to have it... and that is an encouraging thought."

Suddenly a brightness in Gandalf's face, appeared. "Ah! It's that way!" The old wizard pointed to the right hand tunnel, as the Fellowship scramble to their feet.

"He's remembered!" Merry vocalized in relief.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down there. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!" Gandalf noted with a hearty laugh.

The companionship traveled through the dark tunnel, till they reached a new chamber. Passing under an arched doorway into a black and empty space. Gandalf pauses, "Let me risk a little more light." the wizard tapped his staff. For a brief moment a light blazes like a quiet flash of lightning. Shadows in the dark spring up and flee.

"Behold! The Great Realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!" The wizard announced. The Fellowship gasp at the brief sight of a vast roof, far above their heads, upheld by many pillars sculpted of stone. Before them stretches a huge empty hall, with black walls, polished and smooth as glass.

"Well, there's an eye opener and no mistake!" Sam commented in awe.

Ahead of them, a wooden door has been smashed. Black arrows are embedded in the timbers with slivers sharp as daggers. Two goblin skeletons lie in the doorway. Gimli gasped in dismay, rushing ahead.

"Gimli!" Gandalf hollered in a hushed tone.

The Fellowship follow after the distressed Dwarf. Gimli races into another vast chamber, lit with a narrow shaft of sunlight, beaming in from a small hole near the roof. In the far corner sits a stone walled well. Dwarf and Goblin skeletons are piled high up scattered all around the room. The beam of light falls directly onto a stone table in the middle of the room: a single oblong block, about four feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone. At the sight, Gimli fell to his knees right in front of the stone table.

"No... no... no!!!" Gimli cried, overwhelmed with despair. The brave, fearless Dwarf began to sob heavily.

Gandalf quielty reads an inscription of runes, carved onto the white stone slab. " 'Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead, then. It's as I had feared." Gandalf sadly noted.

Spotting a Dwarf holding a rotting remains of a book, Gandalf carefully took the book into his hands. The book had been slashed and stabbed, also appearing to be covered in dried blood. The pages crack and break as the wizard leafs through the book.

Medlinya stood beside Legolas and Aragorn, watching the room just outside of the tomb room. Legolas glances at Aragorn, worriedly. "We must move on, we cannot linger." the Elf stated. Aragorn peered over to Legolas, nodding in agreement.

"They 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. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no-one save us? They are coming." Gandalf read from the book.

Unnerved, Pippin back away nervously, strumbles against the well, sending a insecurely balanced armored skeleton tumbling in. Merry reaches out, grabbing Pippin before the hobbit falls in himself. The Fellowship froze, stunned into silence as the clad skeleton clatters down the deep well echoing loudly.

Gandalf turns angrily on Pippin slamming the book closed with a thud, "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us your stupidity!"

The companions fall silent. A low rolling boom rises from the depths below, growing louder. BOOM... BOOM... as if the caverns of Moria were turned into a vast drum. A great horn blasts nearby. An answering horn... running feet... harsh cries echo.

Sam's eyes glanced at Frodo's belt, "Mr. Frodo!"

Frodo looks down. A cold blue glows is emanating from Sting's scabbard. The hobbit drew out the sword and stares at his glowing blade. Legolas' eyes widen, "Orcs!" the Elf revealed.

Aragorn turns to the hobbits jogging towards the door, "Get back! Stay close to Gandalf."

Aragorn and Boromir slam and wedge the doors. The Man of Gondor catches a sight of something; he turns to Aragorn with shock in his eyes, "They have a cave troll!"

Medlinya unsheathed her swords, anticipating the Orcs just as Gwiliweth whipped her daggers out. Gimli snatches up two rusty dwarf axes and leaped onto the tomb, "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!" he yelled, anger consuming him to avenge the fallen.

Legolas assumed shooting stance right in front of the tomb, to his right Aragorn does the same with duller bow compared to Elf's. Boromir wielding his round shield with his left and his mighty sword in his right. Gwiliweth stood beside Aragorn, studying the door waiting for any movement. Medlinya stood in between Legolas and Boromir, assuming her en garde position with her swords. The great fighters shielding the hobbits, behind them.

BOOM! The door bursts open in a shower of wood fragments, twenty Goblins charge into the tomb, followed by a huge cave troll that towered above them at least twenty one feet high. Gimli ducks a blow and immediately buries his axes in two Goblin helmets. Aragorn, Boromir, and Medlinya wade through into the mess of Goblins with their swords. Medlinya's sword burned brightly with the aura of fire. SLASH. Cutting through the flesh of Goblins two by two with her swords.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Legolas fired deadly arrows into Goblins' throats, desperately trying to shield the hobbits.

Whoosh. Thud. Gwiliweth's daggers pierced through the air, hitting every Goblin she aimed at, easily. Gandalf clutches his sword and joins the battle beside Gwiliweth, hacking away Orcs.

The cave troll swept his enormous wooden club at Aragorn, the Ranger stumbled backwards. The club descends for the killing blow. Suddenly a flash of steel, Boromir's long sword slices into the scaly arm of the troll; it rears back, his arm spewing foul-smelling green blood.

Orcs continue to advance to the hobbits, Sam backed up against a wall, a sword in one hand, a saucepan in the other. In desperation he swung wildly at a Goblin with a saucepan. WHACK. The Goblin keels over, leaving a surprised Sam. Continuing, Sam walloped another Goblin. WHAM. And it too, drops.

"I think I'm getting the hand of this." Sam expressed with a smile. WHACK. WHAM.

The cave troll lunged forward, thrusting at Frodo's chest with her spear, "Aragorn! Aragorn!" the hobbit yelled in fear.

Sam screams as Frodo is lifted off his feet by the spear tip and slammed against the wall. "Frodo!" Aragorn hollered in shock.

The hobbits went into a frenzy, no more frenzied than the cloaked she-elf. FRODO! Medlinya's eyes darken in anger, Weathertop all over again. Goblins advancing towards Medlinya are instantly killed by the infereno sword through their chest. Whoosh, hiss. Her swords sizzled, burning the Goblins' flesh as she charged towards her next victim, the cave troll. Wind flung some Goblins into the air almost hitting Boromir. His startled eyes spotted the she-elf slaughtering and flinging Goblins with her wind powers, his mouth dropping in awe at her sparkling radiance.

Medlinya facing the last Goblin in her path. Swinging her sword ruthlessly, a bone-crunching sound echoed throughout the tomb room. A severed head landed on the floor at the she-elf's feet followed with a thud of the body. When she finally got to the cave troll, Legolas had fired an arrow into the mouth of the troll, rendering the loss of air. The cave troll topples over, dead. Merry and Pippin tumbled off the troll onto the ground. Glaring at the blonde elf, enraged that she did not kill the cave troll herself.

Aragorn rushed to Frodo's side as the hobbit slumps to the floor, dead. Medlinya's anger melts away as she stared at the speared hobbit, horrified. Sadness and dismay hung heavily in the room as the Ranger removed the spear out of the hobbit. Suddenly, Frodo takes in a huge breath of air.

"He's alive!" Sam exclaimed happily with tears in his eyes.

"I'm alright. I'm not hurt." Frodo breathed out.

"You should be dead. That spear would've skewered a wild boar!" Aragorn declared, confused but relieved.

"I think there's more to this hobbit then meets the eye." Gandalf asserted with a brilliant smile.

Frodo opened his shirt to reveal the Mithril vest. The precious silver metal shimmered exposing the unbroken chains. The Troll's spear did not pierce the mithril. Gimli's eyes widened at the sight, "Mithril!" The Dwarf's eyes met with Frodo's, smiling like the sun at the hobbit, "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. The sound of drums ring out again, Gandalf turned to the others. "To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!"

With their weapons still drawn, the Fellowship follows Gandalf back into the vast Dwarrowdelf Chamber. "This way!" Gandalf instructed to his companions.

They hastily sprint towards a distant door as Goblins start scurrying down the pillars behind them, like cockroaches. In seconds, an horde of thousands of Goblins rushing towards the companionship from all sides. Medlinya frightened beyond belief, never seeing such a scene in her years. Unconsciously the she-elf shuffled closer to Legolas, fearful of the Goblins. The Elf felt Medlinya brush against him, protectively Legolas shifted his stance in front of the terrorized cloaked elf.

The Goblins slowly crept closer and closer to the Fellowship trifling with the companion's fear. A deafening roar permeated throughout the chamber. The goblins squawk fearfully in response, cowering. A fiery light dances down the hallway casting eerie shadows. The roar resounded ear-piercingly loud. The creatures squawk in alarm, retreating into the darkness.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir questioned, staring at the ominous light.

A huge shadow, surrounded by flame, falls across the hall. The ground below shakes, an unearthly sound rumbles throughout the chamber.

"A Balrog... A demon of the ancient world! This foe is beyond any of you!" Gandalf quietly informed, stunned. "Run! Quickly!" Gandalf urgently ordered.

The Fellowship sprint for the door. Consumed with fear, they scury through the stairwell, Boromir leading them. Looking back for the others, when his head turns back forward the stairs end abruptly. "Whoa!" Boromir hollered, flailing his arms to keep his balance. Below, a sheer thousand foot drop undoubtedly would kill one who fell over the edge. Legolas rushing out of the stairwell, wrapped an arm around the Man's chest, gradually helped Boromir away from the edge.

Medlinya stood behind Legolas as Gimli rushed to her side, followed by the four hobbits. The she-elf found herself and her companions at the top of a dizzying stairway. Gandalf follows, leaning heavily on his staff. Aragorn looked over to Gandalf, concerned. "Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." the old wizard wearily instructed. Aragorn hesitates at the wizard's words, the wizard sees this and pushes Aragorn out of doubt mentally and physically "Do as I say; swords are no more use here." Gandalf pleaded sternly.

With a connected stairwell to the right, the Fellowship bolted down two flights of stairs. At the middle of the third flight was missing a part of the stair, creating a four foot gap between their side of the stair and the other stair to the bridge. Legolas was the first to jump to the other side, easily. The men pushed forward Medlinya and Gwiliweth, getting the women to safety before themselves. Medlinya gracefully leapt to the other side, Legolas grabbed a hold of her than quickly let go to catch the next person. Gwiliweth cleared the gap suffienctly as Medlinya caught her. The two women receded downt the stairs for more room for the others.

Gandalf came next. His eyes showed uneasiness staring at the space between the stairs. The roar of the Balrog shook the colossal cavern, causing some boulders from the roof to fall. Gandalf glanced back to the door, to see the light of the demon approaching. Legolas stared intently at the old wizard, waving his hand to him. "Gandalf!" the Elf called, getting the attention of Gandalf.

The wizard finally sprung over the gap into Legolas' arms. A high pitched shriek of an arrow whizzed past Gandalf. The Fellowship peered over to a ledge high above them across the mine about sixty feet away. More arrows flew through the air. Faster than a flash of lightning, Legolas released an arrow. Medlinya observing Legolas' archery for the first time, watched with her sharp elf eyes the arrow pierce through the air; Striking the Goblin perfectly in between the eyes and cut through the head until the arrow was stopped by the pillar behind, leaving Medlinya awe-struck. Shrieking the Goblin plummeted off the ledge into the abyss below.

While Medlinya stared at Legolas in a trance, Boromir hooked his arms around Pippin and Merry to his hips and jumped to the other side, with a groan of the new weight. That launch caused the stair to crumble off two more feet, leaving Aragorn, Sam, Gimli, and Frodo on the other side. More arrows whizzing by the Fellowship, Legolas shot back efficiently every arrow he released, a Goblin collapsed over the edge.

Aragorn turns to the remaining, "Sam!" The ranger picks up the hobbit and hurls him across. Boromir caught Sam easily in his arms. Aragorn turned to the Dwarf beside him.

Gimli held up a hand to the Man, "Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" he gruffly yelled. "Yah!!!" The Dwarf groaned as he hurled across, the Dwarf landing on the edge. Beginning to fall backwards, Legolas' quick hand caught the Dwarf by the beard. "Not the beard!" Gimli bellowed.

Legolas pulled the Dwarf to safety. The rest of the Fellowship watch helplessly as more of the staircase crumble, stranding Aragorn and Frodo. They stared at each other trying to think of any way to save the two. Another thunderous roar echoed through the cavern. A huge boulder plummented down behind Aragorn and Frodo making their stair sway.

"Lean forward!" Aragorn ordered Frodo,.

Frodo and Aragorn gradually get the stair to move forward, as soon as the stairs collide Frodo leaps into Boromir's arms while Aragorn is caught by Legolas. Immediately The two women turn and lead the Fellowship down the remaining flights of stairs as the swaying stair crumbles down into the mine below.

The Fellowship sprint into a hall, the floor is split with crevice that spit out flames. Gandalf stood aside, "Over the bridge! Fly!" he yelled.

They race towards a slender bridge of stone without a rail at the far end of the hall. Behind them, a roar of an inferno brewed. Medlinya glanced back to see the Balrog in it's true form. The Balrog, a massive creature rose from the chasm, a great forty foot man-beast, with a mane of flames. In one hand is a blade like a stabbing tongue of fire; in the other, a whip of many throngs. Legolas grabs Medlinya's hand as she stood frozen stiff staring at the beast.

The Elf guided the she-elf across the narrow bridge. Gandalf, being the last of the Fellowship to reach the bridge, he stopped in the middle of the narrow bridge turning to the demon, "You cannot pass!" the wizard ordered with his staff in one hand and his sword in the other.

"Gandalf!" Frodo alarmingly yelled.

Everyone's attention was on Gandalf and the Balrog. Medlinya and Legolas stood at the entrance of the stairway up out of Moria, staring at the scene in disbelief. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!" Gandalf hollered at the demon.

The Fellowship watch as the Balrog puts one foot on the bridge and draws up to full height, wings spreading from wall to wall. Gandalf looked like a mini toy soldier compared to the mountainous height of the demon. "Go back to the shadow!" the wizard ordered, balancing horribly on the narrow bridge.

Angered, the Balrog slashes at Gandalf with it's sword of flame. The wizard blocks the blow with his sword, a ringing clash echoed against the walls. The Balrog's sword shatters into molten fragments. The demon snorted, and revealed his whip, "You shall no pass!!" Gandalf boomed, thumping the bridge with his staff, a blinding sheet of white flame springs up.

As the demon stepped more onto the bridge, the bridge crumbled right under the demon's feet into the black abyss below. For a moment the Balrog remained poised in the air, before plunging down. Relief floods the faces of the Fellowship, Gandalf trembled at the vast amount of his power being used against such a creature. Without thinking, the wizard slowly turns around as a falling Balrog lashes his whip of flame. The throngs of the whip lash and curl around Gandalf's knees, dragging the wizard nearly over the brink. Gandalf barely manages to hang on by his fingertips.

"Gandalf!" Frodo screamed.

The wizard and the hobbit locked eyes, all was silent. Everyone could not move from where they stood, too consumed in shock rendered them motionless. "Fly, you fools!" Gandalf fiercely uttered. The wizard lets go his grip and falls, following the Balrog into the bottomless abyss.

Frodo cried out in horror and quickly was carried by Boromir. The Man of Gondor carries the hobbit out of Moria. Legolas had done the same with Medlinya, who was squirmed in his arms trying to go back to save Gandalf. Her small hands beat against the Elf as tears in her eyes skewed her vision, her mouth repeatingly yelling at Legolas to put her down.

The Fellowship empty out of Moria by the Great Eastern Gate onto a rock clad, sunlit entrance. Sam, Merry, and Pippin fall slowly to the ground, sobbing. Boromir had to hold back Gimli from entering the mines again to go save Gandalf. Gwiliweth cried beside the hobbits, letting them lean against her. Legolas carried a now still and quiet Medlinya, silently he placed the she-elf on her feet. The she-elf did not try to make a break for Moria, after her protesting against Legolas it knock some sense in her. Her gaze went up to the Elf that carried her out. The normal black or white of what he felt was not present. Instead his face was just as traumatized with mixes of feelings just as hers. The Elf could not meet any face as his eyes wandered the rocky terrian, as if the answer was there on the rocks. The look on his face shattered her heart to see. Not wanting to see anyone else's face nor the Elf's, she placed her forehead against Legolas' chest.

Aragorn gazed around at the grief-stricken Fellowship, turning to Legolas. "Legolas, get them up!" the Man ordered urgently.

Dazedly, Legolas followed the order and helped the sobbing hobbits their feet, Boromir sees this, "Give them a moment... For pity's sake!" the Man of Gondor pleads, his own voice carrying a tone of sadness.

"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up." Aragorn ordered once again. Turning to a sobbing hobbit beside him, "On your feet, Sam." The Ranger softly said, pulling the hobbit to his feet.

Boromir glances towards Frodo, then back at Aragorn. Frodo had begun to walk away, as if he was in a trance. " Frodo?" Aragorn whispered, before yelling the hobbit's name. The hobbit slowly turned around, with a look of numb shock on his devastated face.

The Fellowship marches on...

(End of Chapter Five)

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hated writing about the fall of Gandalf. SO depressed now.. But nonetheless I will continue posting the chapters!