[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Tom had hardly spoken these words, when there came a great noise: a rolling boom that seemed to come from depths far below, and to tremble in the stone at their feet. Then there came an echoing blast: a great horn was blown in the hall behind them, and answering horns and harsh cries were heard further off. There was a hurrying sound of many feet.
"They are coming!" cried Elrohir.

With great speed, Dáin hurried into the room. Arrows whined and whistled down the corridor as he sprang in.
"I was lucky to have found you!" he cried.
"You were lucky to reach us in one piece," said Théodred, drawing his sword. "Have you seen them coming?"
"There are Orcs, very many of them," Dáin said. "And some are large and evil: black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they are hanging back, but there is something else there."
"There is a cave troll," said Uglúk. "I saw him."
"Then there is no hope of escaping that way," said Gildor.
"We may cut our way out yet," gnarled Uglúk. "It is not the first time I led a squad out of such trouble. We only must - "

He did not finish. There was a horn-blast and a rush of feet, and orcs one after another leaped into the chamber. How many there were the Company could not count. The affray was sharp, but the orcs were dismayed by the fierceness of the defence. Elrohir stabbed one who dared to advance too far into the room, Dáin hewed the legs from under another. Uglúk and Théodred stood side by side and protected Galadriel. Halbarad, together with Gildor, defended the eastern door.

When thirteen enemy Orcs had fallen, the rest fled shrieking, yet the Companions managed to slay a few more before they retreated. The defenders were unharmed.

"That showed them," said Uglúk, observing his blade.
"Not for long," said Elrohir. "We cannot hold here forever, there are too many of them."
"There is no sound outside here yet," said Gildor, who was standing by the eastern door listening. "The passage on this side plunges straight down a stair: it plainly does not lead back towards the hall."
"This may be our escape route," said Halbarad. "Let us run!"
"Wait," Gildor stopped him, blocking the door with his reached arm.
"What?" asked Halbarad. "There is no time, we must - "
"Not this time," said Gildor.
"Gildor is right," said Elrohir. "Someone must remain here and watch over our retreat. You will be the last, Halbarad."
"But - why, that is – that is madness," said Halbarad.
"Not truly," said Théodred. "If you are true to us, you will be proud watch our back."
"Come on, tall man," said Tom cheerfully. "You may join us later! Just hold this door for some time."
Halbarad looked at the others, but there seemed not to be enough support. Reluctantly, he stepped aside and bowed towards the door.
"Please, go," he said. "I will guard your escape."
"Quick, now!" said Galadriel. "They may return in every moment!"

Swiftly, the Companions passed through the portal and started descending the stair. Halbarad remained up there, watching the entrance closely. Then there was movement -

The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark. The Companions groped their way down a long flight of steps, and then looked back. They could see nothing, but Halbarad seemed to be still standing on guard by the door. They stood peering up the stairs into the darkness. Gildor thought he could hear the voice of Halbarad above, muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo. He could not catch what was said. Suddenly there was a dull rumble and a heavy thud. The drum-beats broke out wildly: doom-boom, doom-boom, and then stopped. Halbarad came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the Company.
"Well, well! That's over!" said the Ranger, struggling to his feet. "I have done all that I could." In the darkness, they could not see his face, but he seemed to be laughing. "Don't stand here! Go on! Run! They are after you. Don't trust me anymore, do you? Well, so be it, fools: the Ring is not going to leave Moria! Let it lay here, until the end! It will be safer here, than if it got to the hands of the Enemy!"
With these words, he jumped at Gildor and tried to struggle the Ring out of his hold. But Uglúk grabbed Halbarad with his stong arms and threw him aside from the Elf's reach. The treacherous Ranger leapt at him with his sword drawn, but was beaten back by Dáin and Théodred who slashed him with their weapons.

"The devilry!" cried Gildor, gazing through the darkness towards the curled shape of Halbarad, lying on the ground. "What mischief has he done-to himself, and to all of us?"

But there was no time to think about it. Something just moved in the darkness at the top of the stair. Leaving the dying ranger atop the stair, the Company hurried down into the shadow.

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The Fellowship:

Groin Redbeard - Dáin II. Ironfoot
McCaber - Elrohir
Meneltarmacil - Uglúk
Nogrod - Tom Bombadil
Rune son of Bjarne - Galadriel
Sally - Théodred
Thinlómien - Gildor Inglorion

Gone:

Gil-Galad - Gandalf (left the Fellowship in Eregion) - innocent
Nerwen - Elladan (lost in the Pass of Caradhras) - innocent
Aganzir - Lobelia Sackville-Baggins (departed the Company by the dry streambed of Sirannon) - First Ringbearer & Protector
A Little Green – Éomer (dragged into the pool by the Watcher in the Water) - Avenger
THE Ka – Radagast (killed by Éomer's sword Gúthwinë by the Gates of Moria) - traitor
Gwathagor - Halbarad (killed by the Companions in self-defense in Moria) - traitor
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The third collision is upon us. Traitor and Seer, send me your picks. Others, wait until it's over.