Hello, wonderful people! Thanks for sticking with my story and reading this. It's great to hear that you are all enjoying it; it's honestly one of the best feelings ever!
I have to sadly tell you, however, that because today is the last day of my spring break, I will not be able to update each day. It might be every two or three days (I should never be gone for more than five!), so I just figured I should warn you all. I hope you understand; life is, quite unfortunately, very busy!
Even so, thanks for reading, and please do hit me with questions, concerns, comments, suggestions, etcetera. I love reading your reviews! :)
With a cry of effort, Avalain overcame the pain of the spider's pincers tearing through her side to kill it; she plunged the blade of her sword into its eye. The spider squealed and thrashed before collapsing.
For a moment, Avalain stood there, breathing deeply. At last, she smiled grimly and turned around—that smile immediately morphed into shock upon noticing the nine swords that were facing her. Crestfallen, the Elf girl perused those who were threatening her: Balin, Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Ori, Dori, Kira, and Thorin.
Only Fili, Kili, and Bilbo were staring at her in an unthreatening manner.
Recalling that Fili had said her name, Avalain smiled hollowly. "Hello, Fili."
He shook his head slowly. "No…" he whispered. "You cannot be her. She is in Rivendell, safe from harm. Aren't you? You cannot be her…"
"Fili—" began Avalain, but that was all she was able to say before she noticed a flurry of movement in the above branches.
Startled, she glanced up to see a few Wood-Elves using the spiders' last threads of silver silk to swing down to the ground. At the head of the ensemble was none other than Legolas Greenleaf, the Prince of Mirkwood, the next person Avalain was looking forward to seeing.
But he did not seem to notice her. Instead, he glared with loathing at Thorin Oakenshield, who had abruptly turned his weapon on the Elvish princeling. Legolas, however, merely pointed his arrow at Thorin's forehead. With a snarl that was most unbecoming of him—or so thought Avalain—he said, "Do not think I will not kill you, Dwarf."
Thorin's glare could've burned a hole through Legolas's forehead.
"Get back!" shouted Fili, stepping in front of his uncle.
Legolas raised an eyebrow and said—much to Avalain's horror—"Should I kill you first? I have no qualm about that."
"No!" shrieked Avalain, throwing herself in front of Fili. "You would not dare!"
For the first time, Legolas seemed to notice her. His blue eyes widened in shock and he lowered his bow. "Avalain? But how can this be?"
"I have been sent to deliver a message from my father to yours," answered Avalain. "It is most urgent. I arrived in time to help this Company repel some malicious spiders."
"You know these Dwarves?" asked Legolas instead.
Hesitantly, she nodded. "I do indeed. They passed through my city three months ago. They have become my friends." She turned around and smiled at them all in turn. "It is most wonderful to see you again. I must admit, when my father sent me on this errand, I had hoped I would catch up to you."
Fili blinked. "I… cannot believe it," he murmured, a smile coming over his face. "It is you, isn't it?"
Avalain nodded—but then she winced. Her head was pounding. "Yes, it is."
His smile began to grow larger. "You're as lovely as when I left."
"You flatter me," she laughed. "Here I am with mud and twigs and blood and spider intestines all over me, and you call me lovely."
"Well, you did just save my life. Besides, I thought I told you that being able to defend yourself was impressive?"
"Perhaps you did, but it certainly isn't hygienic," muttered Avalain.
It was not only Fili who laughed this time—Avalain smiled, but her head still pounded. It was becoming more painful by the second, and her vision was also tainted red. What was going on?
But that question was pushed aside as Legolas ordered to his guards, "Search them."
Avalain frowned. Since when were the Wood-Elves so inhospitable? Clearly the River-Elves and the Wood-Elves' customs had grown dissimilar. As she watched, however, Avalain had to restrain laughter at how many knives one Elf withdrew from Fili's coat. She counted at least five—and it seemed there were more.
Legolas's voice drew her attention. Avalain inhaled sharply as a stab of pain assaulted her side, but she heard his words all the same. "Who is this? Your brother?" When she looked, the Elf princess saw he was looking at a drawing of a Dwarf.
It appeared to be Gloin's, for he responded indignantly, "That is my wife!"
"This is a female?" Legolas appeared surprised. But he just shrugged it off. "And what is this horrid goblin mutant?"
"That's my wee lad, Gimli!" exclaimed Gloin in answer.
Legolas seemed amused. "I can still hardly see how you identify your wife as a female."
A red-haired She-Elf walked forward. "I've heard females have sparser beards than males."
"If indeed they have a beard at all," added Avalain, recalling that Kira had no facial hair of any sort.
The Elf nodded and looked sideways at Kili, as if she were wondering whether he was a female or a male. This question proved Avalain's assumptions correct as she asked, "Are you female?"
"WHAT?" bellowed Kili. "NO!"
Fili frowned openly at the Elf. "It's not my brother's fault he can't grow a decent beard and it's very rude to mention it!"
The redheaded Elf girl looked at Avalain sideways as if to ask, Are they always this sensitive about their beards?
Avalain nodded in affirmation.
"Sorry," murmured the redhead Elf.
Legolas groaned and rolled his eyes before saying—much to Avalain's unspoken amusement—"All right, look. I don't know if Dwarves are comfortable with being imprisoned with the opposite gender, so if there are any female Dwarves here, please inform us of it."
Close to the back of the crowd, Kira raised an eyebrow and announced, "I am proud to inform you I am female; however, we take no care about imprisonment. Although I must say we detest it and would rather sort things out diplomatically."
"Trespassers receive no such treatment," retorted Legolas heatedly.
"Legolas, honestly!" exclaimed Avalain, but she was unheard. Because of the force with which she exclaimed her comment, the Elf girl felt a great stab in her forehead, as if a cold needle had been inserted into her brain. She gasped and threw her hand up to her face as if to block out the feeling.
"Now hurry up and follow me before my fingers just slip and let this arrow impale one of you in the back," snarled Legolas. To emphasize his point, one of his fingers was removed from the shaft of the arrow he was holding.
With an irritated grunt, exclaimed Oin, "What a grumpy lass!"
Legolas shot him a look that could kill before stating, "I'm male."
The Dwarves all raised an eyebrow and present him with skeptical looks.
"Oh, don't even give me that!" shouted Legolas, seeing their doubt. "It's easy to tell Elf women from men! Elf women wear dresses."
Avalain laughed at this point and curtsied. Legolas seemed relieved at her input; "See?"
Kili maintained his skeptical look as he pointed at the redheaded She-Elf who was apparently wearing trousers. "So this is a male?" he asked.
"No," replied the She-Elf. "I wear trousers for the occupation. Being Captain of the Guard requires a bit more mobility."
At this, the Dwarves all grunted. It seemed, luckily, that the most awkward part of the situation was over. But, knowing that Legolas might still hold hostilities, asked Avalain, "Now, that that is over… Legolas, will you present me to your father, please? And will you abstain from hurting any of these Dwarves, my friends?"
After a pause that seemed to last an eternity, he nodded. "Very well. I shall take you all to the palace as opposed to the dungeons straightaway. Do not expect, however, for these trespassers to be treated with any sort of respect."
"I only ask for a lack of disrespect," said Avalain. "I would honestly expect nothing less."
At this, Legolas smirked. "It appears you still know me, my dear friend. Now come—I daresay my father will be very pleased to see you."
Avalain smiled and set off to follow him, but she did not get three steps in before gasping and falling to the ground. The pounding in her head was preventing her from thinking clearly, from walking properly, even from seeing. Her vision grew fuzzier by the second; seeing her state, both Fili and Legolas darted forward. "Avalain!"
She gasped and mouthed their names, but no sound escaped her lips. She fell to the ground, too weak to pull herself up.
Legolas dove beside her, his eyes frantically searching her body for ailments. His eyes rested on the gash in her side from where the spider had pierced her—he inhaled sharply and shouted, "Tauriel! I need your help!"
The red-haired She-Elf walked forward, a look of concern and curiosity over her face. When she saw Avalain's wound, however, her eyes widened. "Ralior, Lathul!" she cried. Two more the Elven guards rushed over to the Captain of the Guard. "Help me transport her to the palace. And quickly!"
"What's wrong with her?" asked Fili, pushing his way through.
Legolas glared at him with a look that suggested a bit more than dislike. "She's been bitten by the spider; their saliva is filled with a deadly toxin. We have the herbs we need at the palace. Now if you would get out of my way so I can heal her."
Fili quickly did as was told, but not without making a face at Legolas's back. When he looked at Avalain, however, he noted that her gaze was upon him, and his own eyes softened. "Will you be all right, Star Lady?" he asked worriedly.
The Elf princess weakly smiled hearing the nickname. "I hope," she mouthed, but of course she could not say the actual words. Without any more time for her to try and communicate with Fili, she was hoisted onto her horse, which nickered uneasily seeing Avalain's condition. Legolas then seated himself behind Belutha and commanded her to ride quickly towards the palace, effectively leaving the Dwarvish Company behind.
