Life as a Dragon (LOTR)

Our battle had lasted what felt like days, but I knew it was only a few hours. Honestly, this battle would have been over if I could fly or use my left wing effectively. The primary weapons of Balrogs are their imposing size, which means relative strength, and the heat generated from their corrupted spirit. If you think about it, Dragons are the natural predators of Balrogs. We can fly around their hulking form, inherently resist their temperature, and have protective scales like armor. Huh... food for later thought.

I could constantly prattle on in my mind during this battle because we were both resting. Yes, he wasn't used to moving this much, and I was already tired from the flight and subsequent struggle with Sauron before this. I don't have much beef with any Balrog. They mostly want to sleep and keep to themselves like a typical grumpy teenager. Only when Morgoth comes calling or someone intrudes on their sleep do they get all cranky and violent.

Both heaving for air, we lean against our respective rocks while cautiously eyeing each other. In the distance, I could hear the screams of the dying and the clash of weapons. The realities of war are grating and tend to sink into your psyche, leaving an everlasting trauma. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is what it was called back on Earth.

Huffing, I rose with determination. Steadying myself, I braced for the next round of our battle, as the urgency to finish this and save as many lives as I could was persistently drumming in my ears.

Grunting in annoyance, he also rises shakily—time for round two.

Elrond's POV

Watching the Balrog rise from the depths was one of the most demoralizing things I had seen in my centuries. Everyone's struggles and hardships kept getting more challenging and brutal.

When we think we have an ally to combat Sauron directly, the enemy meets him with equal force. Yes, it was a blessing that he was here to handle it, as that would have been a terrible surprise later in the battle; it still felt like making money through hard work and then losing it all again via mugging.

Sighing in resignation, I turn away as the battle between the Balrog and Urulóki as it moves away from the battlefield. I could only thank the Urulóki later for his consideration of the collateral from their struggle.

Scanning the army, I see we are holding well and starting to push the Orcs back. Orcs were a potent foe created from Morgoth's corruption of Elvish and Human souls. They had powerful physical strength and populated easily, making them the best army. However, what they lacked, in turn, was stamina and mental stability. The longer you fought and held against Orcs, the quicker they would fall apart. Fighting them wasn't about winning; it was about outlasting them. 

As I start to relax, I feel it. A pulse of magic gathered within their ranks. Sauron has decided to join the battle. The air trembled, and the ground shuttered as Sauron's might came forth, blasting a hole through the impenetrable wall of elven shields. The attack allowed the Orcs to pour in and slaughter the elves caught off guard.

Drawing my sword, I sprint toward the breach with all my power. Meanwhile, I telepathically contact Lady Galadriel and notified her of Sauron's location. She responds affirmatively and says she will contact Saruman and Gandalf to come to my aid.

Reaching the breach, I cleave an Orc holding an axe in two before spinning clockwise to take the head from another about to kill an Elf on the ground.

Continuing my momentum, I meet a swinging axe in a clash of sparks. Slightly twisting my guard, the axe slides past my left as my blade rakes across the now stumbling Orc's throat.

Moving forward, I pull a dagger from my waist sheath and throw it toward an Orc about to cudgel another elf to death. Not expecting a weapon to appear in its throat, the orc clutches its neck before falling to the ground to bleed out.

With my intervention, the situation stabilizes, and my warriors start pushing the Orcs back into the breach. Cleaning my blade on a dead Orc's loincloth, I take a moment to look around for Sauron. Unfortunately, it seems he had slithered back into the horde.

This was going to be a long battle.