The Fall of Gandalf in Moria

The Company of the Ring, fleeing from the Chamber of Mazarbul after discovering Balin's tomb, races through the Second Hall of Old Moria toward the East-gate. A great fissure has opened across the floor, from which a fierce red light and flames leap up, and the pursuing drum-beats—doom, doom—grow ever louder. Behind them swarm hundreds of Orcs, and among them two great trolls; but the terror that fills even the Elf Legolas with dismay is something far worse: a dark form of man-shape, yet greater, wreathed in shadow and fire, with a blade like a stabbing tongue of flame in its right hand and a whip of many thongs in its left. Legolas cries out, "A Balrog! A Balrog is come!" and Gimli, staring with wide eyes, names it "Durin's Bane." Gandalf, already weary from his earlier struggle to seal the door, falters and leans heavily on his staff, muttering, "Now I understand."

The Stand on the Bridge

The only path to the outer door is a slender bridge of stone, without kerb or rail, that spans a black chasm with a single curving spring of fifty feet. Gandalf orders the others to fly, declaring that this foe is beyond any of them and that he must hold the narrow way. Aragorn and Boromir disobey, standing side by side behind him at the far end of the bridge, while the rest of the Company halts just within the doorway, unable to abandon their leader. The Balrog reaches the bridge. Gandalf stands in the middle of the span, leaning on his staff in his left hand, while in his right Glamdring gleams cold and white. The enemy halts, the shadow about it reaching out like two vast wings; it raises the whip, and the thongs whine and crack. Fire comes from its nostrils. Gandalf speaks: "You cannot pass. I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."

The Breaking of the Bridge

The Balrog makes no answer; its fire seems to die, but the darkness grows. It steps forward slowly onto the bridge, drawing itself up to a great height, its wings spread from wall to wall. From out of the shadow a red sword leaps flaming; Glamdring glittering white in answer. There is a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog falls back, its sword flying up in molten fragments. The wizard sways on the bridge, steps back a pace, and then again stands still, repeating, "You cannot pass." With a bound the Balrog leaps full upon the bridge, its whip whirling and hissing. Aragorn cries out "Elendil!" and runs back along the bridge, Boromir shouting "Gondor!" and leaping after him. At that moment Gandalf lifts his staff and, crying aloud, smites the bridge before him. The staff breaks asunder and falls from his hand. A blinding sheet of white flame springs up. The bridge cracks. Right at the Balrog's feet it breaks, and the stone upon which it stood crashes into the gulf, while the rest remains poised, quivering like a tongue of rock thrust out into emptiness.

The Fall and Its Aftermath

With a terrible cry the Balrog falls forward, its shadow plunging down and vanishing. But even as it falls, it swings its whip, and the thongs lash and curl about the wizard's knees, dragging him to the brink. He staggers and falls, grasps vainly at the stone, and slides into the abyss. His last words ring out: "Fly, you fools!" and he is gone. The fires go out, and blank darkness falls. The Company stands rooted with horror, staring into the pit. Even as Aragorn and Boromir come flying back, the rest of the bridge cracks and falls. Aragorn rouses them, calling that they must obey Gandalf's last command and follow him. They stumble wildly up the great stairs beyond the door, and as they flee, Frodo hears Sam at his side weeping, and finds that he himself is weeping as he runs. The drum-beats roll behind them, mournful now and slow: doom. They pass through a hall bright with daylight from high windows, through its huge broken doors, and suddenly before them the Great Gates open, an arch of blazing light. They spring down the age-worn steps, the threshold of Moria, and at last come beyond hope under the sky, feeling the wind on their faces. Grief wholly overcomes them, and they weep long—some standing and silent, some cast upon the ground—as the drum-beats fade. The Company has lost its leader, and the quest is forever changed.