'This way! Hurry!' Gandalf calls out as we follow him through Moria. I can hear the cries of the creatures as they are coming closer. I clutch my sword tighter in my hand. Not wanting to lose it. I make sure the boys are running in front of me so I can protect them...

'Faster!' Boromir yells as the creatures come closer. They are closing in on us.. O bloody...

But a deafening roar fills the air. A light dances down the hallway and all the creatures disappear in the dark again.

I shrug.

Why are they backing off?

'What is this new devilry' Boromir hisses as we stand closer to each other. A huge shadow appears and it looks like fire is surrounding it. The ground of Moria shakes as the shadow is coming closer. 'A Balrog ... a demon of the ancient world! This foe is beyond any of you!' Gandalf says in a quiet tone. We all look to the shadow that is coming closer and closer. 'Run! Quickly!' Gandalf yells urgently and we rush after the wizard.

For an old man he has a hell of a condition.

Instead of my own, that is nothing. The last time I was in the gym, was-.

I don't even know!

Note to self, if I survive this, I have to go to the gym more.

My shoulder is flaring with pain and I feel the blood soaking out of it. My leg is not hurting that much, but it stings...

Again I feel Aragorn's gaze upon me, but I keep running. I can't give in!

∞

We follow Gandalf into another huge chamber and the bridge appears. But from a chasm, a massive creature appears. In one hand a blade and in the other a whip.

Too bad that I am not dreaming this..

We follow Aragorn to the top of a stairway, but Gandalf stays leaning heavily on his staff and the bottom of it. 'Gandalf!' I shout and Aragorn looks back in concern. Gandalf shakes his head. 'Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near' I can see Aragorn is hesitating but Gandalf shakes his head. 'Do as I say; Swords are no more use here' He adds. I look the man right in his eyes and a small smile appears on his lips. 'Go' He mouths. 'Sara!' Boromir yells at the top of the stairs. I run to him, fighting my tears back.

The others are already down the stairs, standing in front of a gaping chasm.

Shit.

Boromir and I are rushing towards the others and when we are with them again, Boromir jumps without stopping over the chasm. 'Sam' Aragorn picks him up and tosses him over. Boromir catches him. 'Legolas' Aragorn orders the elf and Legolas jumps over as a prima ballerina.

Again showoff.

I chuckle at the elf but he doesn't noticed it because he catches Merry. 'Pip' Aragorn picks him up and throws also him over the chasm. Aragorn wants to pick Gimli up to throw him over but the Dwarf grunts. 'Nobody tosses a dwarf!' He says offended and he jumps. But before he can make it, he falls down.

'Gimli!' I shriek.

But luckily our elf is here, catching the dwarf by his red beard. 'Not the beard!' Gimli shouts in angry. Legolas lifts him up with a smile and helps him stand. 'Sara!' Aragorn grabs my wrist. 'Focus Sara' He mumbles in my ear as he moves his hand towards my waist, holding it tight. 'Hold on' He whispers.

'Okay' I whisper back.

Why do I whisper?

With his other hand, Aragorn holds Frodo. 'What are you going to do? Jump over with the two of us?' I shout when realization hits me. But before he can answer the whip of the Balrog smashes down behind us, so the floor we are standing on falls towards the others. 'Steady!' Aragorn shouts.

Nononono!

I close my eyes. I don't want to fall to my dead..

With a crashing sound our piece of floor connects with the other. 'Over the bridge! Fly!' Gandalf yells at an sudden and I open my eyes. Aragorn is looking right at me and again he grabs my waist, dragging me with hem. I shake him off, I can run on my own, thank you. We race towards a slender bridge made of stone and recklessly hurry over the bridge. I look over my back, seeing Gandalf racing towards us.

He made it!

But as he runs over the bridge, he stops in the middle and faces the Balrog creature. In one hand his staff and in his other his sword.

'Sara!' Aragorn yells. Now I see that I have stopped running and look with horror at Aragorn, who is standing with the others also still by an archway. 'You cannot pass!' Gandalf yells at the Balrog. 'Gandalf!' Frodo yells alarmed. 'I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn' Gandalf yells again. The Balrog puts one foot on the bridge.

This thing his huge!

'Go back to the Shadow!' Gandalf screams again at the creature. But the Balrog slashes at Gandalf. Luckily the wizard blocks it with his own sword. A ringing clash can be heard and the Balrog's sword shatters. 'You shall not pass!!'Gandalf booms again. He cries out again when he thumps the bridge with his staff and a blinding sheet of light springs up. The staff shatters and the bridge breaks, right at the Balrog's feet! It falls down to the depths below and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. But the sound of a lashing whip rings to the air and catches Gandalf.

'No!' I cry out, moving towards the wizard, but two strong arms are curled around my waist, holding me back. Gandalf is dragged over the brink and manages to hold on by his fingertips.

'Gandalf!' Frodo cries out just as I kick the one who is holding me in his stomach with my elbow. He releases me with a grunt and I storm forward. 'Gandalf!' I cry out again.

He is the only one who can help me.

He is the only one who understands where I am from.

He is my friend.

'Fly, you fools!' Gandalf says fierce and lets go of his grip, falling into the abyss.

I was so close, but again I am grabbed by my waist. 'Stop' I hear Aragorn say, his breathing ragged. 'Please' His plea is so full of hurt that I stop fighting and let him drag me back towards the others, while a sudden rain of arrows comes down at us. Frodo's helpless cries fade away when they disappear around the corner and soon light greets us as I stumble with Aragorn outside.

∞

He looks in shock at me, his hair messy and his eyes looking with worry. I look quickly around and see that everyone is outside. But the hobbits are sitting on the ground, silently sobbing, while Frodo walks away. Boromir, Legolas and Gimli are also looking with shock. Aragorn shakes his head, if he wants to forget what we just have seen. 'Legolas, get them up' He says urgent while gesturing at the hobbits. 'Give them a moment ... for pity's sake!' Boromir says, taking a step towards Aragorn. 'By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up. On your feet, Sam' Aragorn answers Boromir with a urgent but gentle voice. Also the Soldier of Gondor is grieving.

We all are.

But here on the top of the hillside, the pain in my shoulder and leg come back with full force. The adrenaline I was living on a couple of moments again, is gone and now I feel like shit. In the corner of my eye, I see that Boromir is talking to Frodo and Gimli and Legolas are taking the other boys already with them, walking towards the forest that lies further down the hill. Aragorn stand before me, looking also at our fellowship. 'Good kick' a small smile is on his lips. 'Well, thank you' I say before gasp at the sudden pain. 'You are okay, right?' He sounds immediately worried. I chuckle. 'No, no I am fine. I am totally fine' I say while catching my breath. 'Really because I remember what happened at the chamber. And you're repeating your words, you look pale and you look like you're about to topple over'

'Yeah' I shrug. 'You might wanna catch me' His arms catch my tired body and he picks me up so he carries me bridal style. He sprints towards the others who are all looking in worry at me. 'I am fine' I say with an unnatural high voice. 'Aragorn' Legolas says ignoring me. 'I think the blade was poisoned.

What?

'We have to get her to Lothlórien' Boromir says urgently as Gimli nods in agreement. 'Yes, we are not losing another'

∞

We march on or Aragorn marches on, while the others follow. But my eyes are feeling heavy and my tired body wants to rest. 'Sara' Aragorn warns me. 'Hold one, we are almost there' But how much I want to hold my eyes open, I can't.

I am too tired.

'You stay awake do you hear me!? Don't you dare to close your eyes! Please! Come on!' Is the last thing I hear before I fall in the black abyss.