Fili scanned the darkness with wide eyes. The Mirkwood was deeply shadowed in the day but as night fell, it became as black as the tunnels in the deepest parts of the earth. Absently, he waved his hand in front of his face. He saw nothing but felt the stale air stir around his thick fingers.
He heard Bombur roll over in his sleep, nearly crushing Ori who gasped for breath before violently shoving away the obese dwarf. He would have chuckled, if the heaviness of the place did not weigh so on his heart. Glancing up toward the canopy, his heart lurched as bulbous, incandescent orbs appeared in the trees overhead; two by two like insect eyes.
"I can't take this anymore."
He heard Gloin grumble.
"What are you doing?" Fili hoarsely whispered, blindly turning in the direction of the older dwarf.
The clacking sounds of a flint being struck came to his ears. A few sparks flew in the darkness as Gloin furiously worked for the damp wood to catch fire.
"Gloin…" Fili looked out at the wood, strange yellow eyes blinking out of the darkness, "You know that is a bad idea."
"Be still." Gloin mumbled as a piece of wood caught the precious flame, lighting his weary face.
The massive form of one of the bats of the forest swooped down from the tree overhead, brushing against Fili's head. Fili pulled one of his swords from his waist and waved it over his head, standing up. As the fire grew strength, more eyes began to glow in the gloom. The inky moths crept in from the canopy.
"Gloin, put that out." Fili demanded, "It's doing more harm than good."
The stubborn dwarf ignored him, continuing to build up the fire. A shuffling came from the leaves overhead. The creature kept from the light of the fire, but Fili could make out the form of a monstrous, many legged being scuttling in the dark.
"Gloin, stop being a bull headed oaf." Kili took his place by his brother, having awoken with the disturbance.
Fili glanced over at his brother, his sharp eyes dilating in the rare light. Kili had strung his bow and was as alert as Fili felt. Fili gripped the hilt of his blade, unsheathing a second sword.
"Gloin!" Thorin boomed as he awoke.
There came a louder rustling from above as a host of the creatures occupying the trees moved closer. The dwarves held their breath, strands of what looked like web hanging inert in the stagnant air. Thorin wielded Orcrist as he strode over to his nephews. The whole company was awake by this point.
"Kili…" Thorin nodded towards his youngest nephew.
Kili readied his bow as a giant spider, the foul spawn of Ungoliant, began to descend from above in the weak firelight.
An arrow flew through the dark, bright red feathers at its end trembling as the head sunk into the bulbous body of the insect. The creature let out a strange shriek before falling to the ground, only to be cloven in two by Orchrist. In the heat of the moment, Fili had been unaware of from which angle the arrow had flown. He glanced over at his brother to see he had not loosed his arrow.
Thorin tore his sword from the mutilated body of the spider and strode the border of the clearing where they had camped for the night. Strange shadows played across the now silent wood, the eyes from earlier having retreated into the black. A few moths floated lamely, gravitating towards the light.
An upright figure moved through the wood, walking steadily towards them. Without a word, the heirs of Durin readied themselves for whatever appeared in the light. Kili pulled back the string of his bow.
"Wait!" Fili shouted, holding out a hand in the direction of his kin.
Fili took a step forward towards the edge of the clearing. Ducking under a low hanging branch, Cub came into the light carrying her own lean bow. She seemed to stand straighter, her gaze more focused than it had been when they had first met in the house of Beorn. Despite the gloominess of their surroundings, Fili found himself breaking into a chuckle. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she eyed him.
"Master Dwarf," She nodded, "How glad I am to have found you."
"And how glad we are that you are no goblin or other foul beastie of these woods, lass." Gloin shouted from behind them.
"Gloin, put out that fire." Thorin grumbled, "We will speak in the morning, girl."
I barely knew dawn had come, the forest remained bleak even during the day. The rustling of the dwarves nearby brought me around from a dreamless sleep. It was the first time since Gandalf had broken my long suffered enchantment that the faces of my family had not danced before my sleeping eyes.
Sitting up, I gazed around at the dwarves gathering their belongings. There was a certain slothfulness to their movements, as though they carried invisible burdens on their broad, strong bodies. Even the spry Kili dragged as he rolled up his sleeping pack.
"It's this place." Fili spoke.
I looked over to find him crouched, situating his weapons. He paused, resting his hands on his knees and peering up into the dark shadow of heavy foliage overhead.
"It has made weary even the hardiest of us." He nodded to a particularly burly member of the party, his tattooed arms crossed over his powerful chest, "Even Dwalin has been nearly bent over from the heaviness of this place."
"I am merely thankful to have found your company." I replied, glancing back over at him, "I promised Beorn I would make haste but the forest has slowed my journey."
"How did you find us in such a forbidden place?"
I shrugged, dragging myself to my feet, "In part it was blind luck. Also, you have seen what I learned from Beorn during my time with him."
Fili nodded contemplatively as he stood next to me. His gaze drifted over to where his Uncle stood. Thorin Oakenshield plodded the soggy ground towards us.
"I would speak with you, mistress Cub."
"Yes, m'lord." I answered, unwilling to correct the brooding dwarf King of my true name at the moment.
Fili pointedly lifted a brow to me before turning back to preparing his traveling things. Taking a deep breath, I brought myself to my full stature and followed Thorin.
"Well, what is your path, maid?" Thorin turned, his sharp gaze studying me in assessment.
"I make for Lake Town on the other side of the forest." I said succinctly, "I seek my family."
Thorin pursed his mouth, his eyes softening, "I remember. Gandalf mentioned that your memory was restored to you after our departure."
"Yes, m'lord." I answered, "Where is the wizard, if I may ask?"
"He has taken another path for now. We parted ways before entered the Mirkwood."
"My lord, I entreat a favor of you to allow me to travel with your company to the other edge of the wood. You have seen the dangers of this part of the world."
Thorin paused, pacing slightly towards the company with his eyes to the ground and his large, capable hands at his back. His dark brow was furrowed in thought.
"Beorn requested that I find your company." I dared mentioning, averting my gaze if such a declaration were too bold.
The dwarf king halted. I looked up to find him studying me in with quiet amusement.
"Trying to guilt me into acquiesce, maid?"
"No, I did not mean-"
"You are fortunate I have already heard of your prowess in a brawl from my nephews. You have even earned the admiration of Fili, who is not as eager to praise the skills of others as his brother. And I am impressed you have made it this far into the wood by yourself." Thorin approached me, coming to stand almost over me.
Since my consciousness had been restored, I had recalled being shorter than most of my family in my memory. Even as a child, I had been small but sturdy. My shoulders and torso, though slim, were broad for a woman, enough so to allow me to wield weapons most others of my gender wouldn't be able to carry.
I looked up to meet his overpowering countenance. He carried himself like a king. I swallowed but kept my expression hard as flint.
"You are welcome to travel with us to the Lake Town, maid." He answered, "But be aware, none of my company will be assigned to protect you should we run into any trouble."
"I will not need any protecting." I answered candidly, with no intention of sounding prideful, "Beorn saw to my upbringing."
Thorin gave a close lipped smiled, nodding, "That is a statement I will not need see to believe."
Author's Note: sorry sorry sorry for the long hiatus on this story! I have had several other stories popping around in my head lately. I hope this chapter was acceptable! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SWEET REVIEWS, they are so very appreciated (: yall are awesome!
