Narrator pov

The Fellowship runs out the chamber into a hall of pillars. An army of Orcs closely pursues the Fellowship. Other Orcs spring out from the floor or crawl, like spiders, from the ceiling, and down the pillars. They surround the Fellowship, who have drawn their weapons outward in a circle. Silveria snarls, and the orcs whimper while others snarl and leer. Gimli lets out a yell. A fiery light appears at the end of a hall, followed by a thunderous rumble. The Orcs flee in all directions. Gimli laughs, thinking he has scared off the Orcs.

The Fellowship is left alone. The weary wizard stares down the hall. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asks, and Silveria looks at Gandalf, who does not respond for a moment. He closes his eyes, concentrating. The rumble is heard again. Gandalf opens his eyes. "A Balrog — a demon of the ancient world." He says. The thing growls, still hidden around a corner of the vast hall, throwing fiery light on the pillars. Legolas's eyes show fear. "This foe is beyond any of you... Run!"

➳

The Fellowship runs to a small doorway. Gandalf shepherds them through. "Quickly!"He takes a last glance behind him and follows. The Fellowship enters a passageway and goes down a flight of steps. The flight ends in a missing segment, and Boromir nearly falls, but Legolas and Silveria pull him back. His torch whirls away into the vast underworld beneath. "Gandalf!" Aragorn calls. "Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!"They look across a vast space to a long bridge spanning the gap between a hall and a cliff face. Away behind them, the Balrog roars again.

Aragorn moves towards Gandalf, but Gandalf pushes Aragorn roughly away from him. "Do as I say!" He orders. Hurt and confusion register on Aragorn's face. "Swords are no more use here!" Gandalf ads. The Balrog roars again. The Fellowship descends a flight of massive stairs. The Fellowship encounters a gap in the stairs. Legolas leaps and lands on the other side. Silveria jumps after, using her wings. The Balrog rumbles again. Foundations splinter and crumble, sending huge rocks tumbling into the depths.

"Gandalf," Legolas says, and Gandalf leaps after him. Arrows whistle into the air from afar ledge, striking the stone steps. Legolas shoots back. His needle rises through the air and pierces the skull of an Orc. The Orc tumbles down from his ledge. "Merry! Pippin! Hoo-aah!" Boromir says and leaps across the gap. An exchange of arrows follows from the stairs to the ridge. Silveria starts to get annoyed by the mere weapons. She gives a loud snarl, and a small fireball enough to at least take out some orcs is sent the way of the arrows.

"Sam," Aragorn says and pitches Sam to the other side where Boromir catches the Hobbit. Aragorn reaches to pick up Gimli, but he holds up a hand. "Nobody tosses a dwarf."He leaps forward but nearly falls back into the chasm. Legolas grabs his beard and pulls him up. "Not the beard!" He calls. Some of the stone steps crumble and fall. Aragorn pushes Frodo to safety. They climb to their feet and look at the now widened gap that separates them from the rest of the Fellowship. "Steady. Hold on!" Aragorn says.

The Balrog can be heard approaching from the other hall. Stone structures around the mine collapse as it draws near. A huge rock falls from the ceiling and smashes through the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them. The stairs begin to wobble. "Hang on! Lean forward!" The heir calls and Silveria spreads her wings, so she's more stable. "Come on!" Legolas says. Aragorn and Frodo shift their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming them onto the steps where their companions are.

They leap across to safety. They run down the stairs as the stone structures collapse behind them.

➳

Around a great pillar in a fiery hall comes Gandalf, leading the Fellowship. A wall of flame whirls behind them.  "Over the bridge! Fly!" He yells. The Fellowship flees. Gandalf does not follow but turns, looking into the firewall. An excellent form of black shadow leaps through the flames, its eyes of white fire, great ash-black horns curling around a bull-like head. It opens its maw, rippling heat pouring out with a rumble. Gandalf turns, running after the Fellowship. A great, black, cloven foot stomps down into the hall, bursting into flame. A narrow stone bridge appears in the fiery light, and the Fellowship crosses the bridge. Gandalf turns to face the Balrog.

Silveria turns and widens her eyes. She feels herself shift, and soon she stands there in all her glory. A giant dragon with fiery blue eyes and silver scales. The Silver scale. Silveria roars and leaps across the bridge, so she's behind Gandalf, who looks at her as her head looks over him. "I will always protect you, Mithrandir. Like you did to me," she says and spreads her wings, so they're touching either side of the cash.

The balrog snorts, hiding its fear. Gandalf speaks up with more courage with the aid of his long-time dragon friend.  "You cannot pass!" He booms. "Gandalf! Silveria!" Frodo calls but in vain. "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor...." Gandalf says as Silveria lashes her tail. The mysterious balrog holds back its attacks. "The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!" Gandalf says, and The Balrog strikes down on Gandalf, who dodges the blow with his blade, shattering the Balrog's sword. Glowing embers run off the circle of light around the wizard. The monster bellows at the wizard. Frodo gasps. Aragorn runs forward.

Silveria snaps after the balrog. "Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf hiss. The Balrog steps onto the bridge. It brandishes a flaming whip. Silveria answers with a roar that would shake mountains. Gandalf raises his sword and staff together into the air. "You — shall not — pass!" He booms the last time and drives his team into the bridge, causing a bright flash of blue light to appear. Flaring its nostrils, the Balrog steps forward onto the bridge. The bridge collapses under it as it moves towards Gandalf and breaks before the wizard's staff. The demon plunges backward into the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. Gandalf, exhausted, leans on his staff and watches the Balrog fall. He and Silveria turn to follow the others.

Silveria slowly shifts back. Suddenly The flaming whip lashes up from the depths of the abyss and winds about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but strains to keep his grip. Frodo rushes forward, but Boromir restrains him. Silveria tried to take him, but he looked at her, "I'm sorry, my friend, but you must go. Take care of the fellowship, would you?" "Gandalf!" Frodo yells. The wizard grasps the bridge, looking into Frodo's eyes from beside Silveria, who has appeared. He stops struggling.

"Fly, you fools!" he yells one last time; he lets go of the stone and falls into the chasm, spreading his arms, the light of the Balrog glimmering far below. Silveria bows her head as Frodo screams. "No!" Boromir grabs hold of Frodo and starts to leave up a flight of stairs.  "Aragorn! Silveria," he calls. For a moment, both Aragorn and Silveria do not move, but then Orc arrows start whistling by once again, shooting at the companions. Dodging them, they turn and follow the others up the stairs.

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Chapter's up

-Saph