I am so so so sorry for the extremely long wait! School has somewhat calmed down for now and I'll try to get the next chapters up quicker.
Thank you to all those who review, favorite, and follow! It means the world to see people are still enjoying this story :) (And a huge thanks to Oblivian03 for your continuous support!)
Enjoy!
Kíli looked around at the scene before him. They sat in a storage room, not far from the cell containing the Elves' decrepit bodies. The young archer sat perched on top of an empty barrel, the short she-Elf to his left atop a stack of hay. However they were not alone, for about half dozen other Elves either sat or meandered about the small room. They acknowledged Kíli with their eyes but made no move of greetings or interest.
A tense silence filled the room, not even the sound of shuffling feet reached Kíli's sharp ears.
"Please do not take offense by their actions. It has been such a long time since someone new has arrived. And besides, they cannot talk anymore."
The Dwarf looked to the being beside him. She continued to stare straight ahead, seemingly deep in thought, but there was something else, a darkness within her green eyes. "Tell me."
Blinking back the mist gathering in fair eyes, the she-Elf slowly turned to face the young Dwarf. Seeing the sincerity in the chocolate depths she took in a shuddering breath before answering. "Before you, I was the last one to arrive. Only a few of those here could still communicate, but they could offer little comfort, for they had not had contact with the 'outside world' for centuries." Pausing to compose herself, Kíli waited patiently. "I was just shy of my 100th year and it was such a beautiful Fall morning. Being the silly, naïve child that I was, I begged my parents to accompany me on a picnic. There had been known bands of Orc's wandering about, but my people had all but eliminated them."
"But not all of them." Kíli stated quietly, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fall into place.
The Elf nodded, swallowing thickly. "We did not even have a fighting chance. They came upon us so suddenly. My parents were killed instantly, run through with blades and left to bleed and rot on the grass. And me? I took an arrow to the leg and only after I had witnessed my parents' deaths did the filth knock me unconscious." A few Elves momentarily glanced over at the two talking beings as the she-Elf dabbed at her eyes, but they seemed unfazed. "I awoke a few times during the long journey but they were not pleasant, between being surrounded by Orcs and those dreams… I never knew what reality was and what was not. I soon found myself here in this living nightmare, a servant to The Orc, who has us do his bidding." She quickly added, looking away as if she was ashamed of the last statement.
"Servant to The Orc, what do you mean by that? How is that possible, being separated from your bodies?"
"We are bound to The Orc by the poisoned arrows he crafted. Although he cannot control us directly he can through our bodies—makes them do his will. He can control us here by threatening to kill our bodies, which in turn would kill us. The poison from the arrow could still kill our bodies, but every so often The Orc has to administer an antidote to our bodies, to keep the poison at bay. But, do not worry," she added as panic flashed in Kíli's eyes, "you have not been infected long enough to be in need of another dose of the short-term antidote."
The young archer relaxed a bit as the she-Elf continued, averting her gaze again. "We are partly responsible for you and your friends' presence here. When The Orc found out that his foot soldiers were hunting Dwarves, pushing them farther into the forest towards his dominion, he sent us and our bodies out to intercept you."
Brown eyes widened with realization. "It was you, the ghosts that I saw… the ones that attacked the Company!"
"Yes, it was us. We touched your friend's mind's to render them unconscious and then our bodies carried you here. I am sorry."
"It was not your fault. You had no choice." Kíli stated softly. Looking around the room again his brows furrowed. "Why is it that there are so many Elves yet I am the only Dwarf?"
"Orcs are virtually mutilated Elves, so in that regard, we are similar. That is why Elves were The Orc's first victim, besides those of his own race. Yes, his first experiments were on his fellow Orcs. But now, he wants to expand this experimental poison to the other races, so he can control all the races of Middle-Earth. You, my dear Kíli, are the first one outside of the race of Elves to be poisoned."
"Oh how wonderful. But, there is a way to return to our bodies… right?"
"There is a potion, but if we take it, it would mean certain death unless we take a draught to counteract a poison within the potion. The Orc was very clever in his invention."
"If there is a means, then why has not anyone here used it?"
"There are those who had tried, but none have succeeded, for the potion and draught is heavily guarded so that we in this form cannot even obtain it."
Dejected, Kíli shifted his gaze to the other Elves seeing them as if seeing them for the first time, understanding their behavior towards him. They had no more hope of returning to what they once were, and what if they did? Their lives would never be the same. The Dwarf could not even begin to imagine what they had been forced to go through, what he might be forced to do.
Suddenly, Kíli cocked his head, as if listening intently to something in the distance. Rising to his feet the archer began to leave the room.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to get back to the Company, something is not right." Kíli left the room and began down the corridor with the she-Elf following close behind, allowing his feet to take him where his mind did not know the way.
Angry voices could be heard, growing in volume as Kíli and the she- Elf approached their destination.
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" came Dwalin's roar, causing Kíli to flinch involuntarily. The young Dwarf had picked up most of the arguments, for the sound easily carried through the empty halls. The Company was stressed; tempers were flaring out of pure exhaustion. Kíli understood that, but he still could not help but feel that he was a contributing part to the raised tension. His body lay wounded, and the Dwarves had little means of helping him.
"I am so sorry! Please, just stop!" Kíli moaned, leaning his head against the cell door, after observing the scene for a few seconds through the window in the door.
"This is not your fault, Kíli. Do not blame yourself." The she-Elf laid a comforting hand on Kíli's shoulder.
"But their worry over me is causing them to fight! How can they rest and plan an escape when they keep arguing!" With that, the young Dwarf shook off her hand and slipped through the crack, standing amidst the quarreling Dwarves.
Taking in the scene, Kíli resolutely stepped in front of Dwalin and Nori. "Stop it you two! It was only an accident, you know that Nori! Mister Dwalin, Nori is weary, just watch where your feet go!" But his words went unheard.
Taking another desperate step forward he faced his red-faced Uncle. "Thorin, make them listen!" Yet again the archer's words were lost on the feuding Dwarf.
"Fíli, I will be alright, please stop worrying and get some rest brother!" Again, his own brother could not hear Kíli's pleads.
Silent tears began to track down the unnoticed Dwarf's cheeks. They could not hear him! They did not even know what had happened to him, let alone that he might be able to help in the Company's escape! In that moment, Kíli had never felt so utterly alone; it felt as if his heart were breaking into a million pieces. Clutching his tunic in a fist, the frustrated and anguished Dwarf sank to his knees, not caring that he was kneeling right on top of Dwalin. Comforting arms encircled the young Dwarf's shaking frame and he willingly sunk into the warm embrace.
Author's Note: Well, there you have it! Any and all mistakes are my own... I hope it wasn't too confusing and I kept all my "facts" straight. Don't forget to leave a review- questions, comments, and/or suggestions are welcome :)