A/N I felt ill today so I literally did nothing but read and write! As a result here is another chapter for all you lovely readers! - J x
Night has fallen by the time we have reached Lake Town. It is a small, dilapidated village which gives off an air of sadness and a weariness of the world. The people here have seen much sorrow. Legolas turns to me and speaks to me for the first time in hours.
"The orcs are here, I can smell it." He wrinkles his nose in disgust.
"Then the dwarves must be too," I say without thinking and feel a stab in my chest as I watch Legolas's face fall slightly.
"Yes," he murmurs and I do what I have always done to comfort him; reach out and squeeze his hand in mine. I'm worried that he will not reciprocate the gesture, that he has shut me out for good, but when I feel his fingers tighten around mine I know that nothing has really changed. We have each other's backs, we always do.
We have our weapons on hand as we stalk through the dark streets; our light tread makes no noise though I can see boards that would creak noisily under heavier feet. Moving soundless through the town we are noticed by no one, but neither can we notice our prey.
Legolas hits me lightly with the end of his bow to get my attention and points to the roof of a wonky looking house. Orcs are poised there, ready for an attack but they haven't seen us in the shadows. A girl steps out of the door and looks around her, her expression worried. Suddenly, an orc leaps down in front of her and her shriek is clear and ringing in my ears. I run to her.
Legolas and I reach the house at the same time but are waylaid by the onslaught of orcs, they have seen us now and jump down to attack us. Legolas starts fighting them fiercely but I am more concerned about the screams of the girl inside the house. I leave my friend to contend with his opponents and carry on without him.
Smashing through the doorway I take in the scene before me; the girl I saw is huddled under the table clutching a younger girl who is crying while an orc scrabbles to reach them. I send an arrow through his skull and the older girl locks eyes with me, when she sees me she seems to have a surge of bravery for she comes out from her hiding place and starts throwing china plates at the oncoming orcs. Also in the room are some of the dwarves, one whose name I do not now shields the girls and a young boy with one arm, growling as he swings a strange looking weapon in front of him at any orcs that get close enough. There is also Fili, bravely battling orcs, his golden hair flying as he swirls round; weapon in hand. He notices me and his eyes widen in fear, but not at me, at something behind me. I spin round just in time to see the orc fall to the floor – dead. The last dwarf falls to the ground too with the effort of the blow he delivered; his face is drained of colour, strands of dark hair stick to his forehead with sweat and the bandage around his leg is dark with blood. Kili.
"Kili!" Fili cries for his brother, rushing over to him and I take his place fighting off orcs. Legolas bursts in to help, beheading an orc right in front of us which makes the little girl scream. A few blows later and the remaining orcs have made a run for it; Legolas makes to pursue them but I hesitate, glancing back to where Kili lies, writhing in pain with Fili murmuring comforts to him despite the tears streaming down his face. We both know what I must do. Legolas disappears into the night and I rush to Kili's side.
"Kili, Kili," Fili sobs, tears running into his beard as he tries to hold down his brother, but Kili is unseeing, lost in the world of pain. I prise one of Fili's hands from Kili's arm and hold it in both my own.
"I promised you, back in Mirkwood that I would keep your brother safe. I intend to keep that promise," I try to calm him down with my words, but he only looks more scared. "Be strong, master dwarf, be strong for Kili," at this Fili chokes back his sobs and nods, a determined look plastering itself on his face.
"Get him on the table," I command and the other dwarf rushes to help Fili lift the struggling Kili. I search frantically around the room for some sort of pillow but the closest I can find is a sack of walnuts so I place that on the table for his head. Kili whimpers fearfully as the two dwarves hold him down and the sound makes my heart break; such a sad, innocent sound. The children who had been cowering behind the older dwarf join the others in restraining Kili as he is strong and in his pain he cannot be easily controlled. I continue searching for something I can use to help, anything, thinking maybe a herb to ease the pain although I would need something more potent to heal him fully when another dwarf, still wearing his lopsided hat bursts into the room, clutching a bouquet of green leaves to his chest.
"Athleas!" I say, relieved. The dwarf however looks confused.
"What...are you doing?" He questions, looking up at me. I gaze between the confused dwarf to the one on the table and back again.
"I am going to save him."