By the time I reached the end of the path I was panting. My legs were shaky, burning from the exertion and my breaths were coming out in gasps and wheezes. I clutched my side tightly and stood spinning around frantically.

How can this be the end of the path? No one's here!

Just as I was beginning to get really desperate, thinking I was too late, too late to be of any use, an enormous, oversized spider came crashing down in front of me. It landed with a thump and I jumped back, heart pounding. When I was certain it wasn't going to move, wasn't going to roll over and start attacking me, I looked up. Squinting into the trees I caught sight of Bilbo on a branch, tearing his web cocoon away from himself hurriedly.

"Bilbo!" I hissed, my eyes darting around nervously. The last thing I wanted to do was alert the spiders to my presence. Bilbo froze for a second, "Bilbo down here!"

The relief on Bilbo's face at seeing me standing below, looking up in terror, desperately trying to get his attention was clear. He put a hand to his lips and motioned to the other giant spiders gathered around the webs which I assumed must be the dwarfs. Shocking me completely, Bilbo suddenly disappeared.

What the-?

My eyes roamed the tree tops looking for him, although I don't know why. He hadn't stepped behind a tree or anything, he'd quite literally just winked away, half a second before he'd been a solid hobbit. Now there was just thin air where he should have stood. My breathing became a little more rapid...

That's just not possible

I blinked. Pulling my eyes tightly shut and then pushing them forcefully open again next time, surely it had to be a trick of the light.

Apparently not.

There was a crashing sound a short distance away and most of the spiders went scurrying to investigate. I nearly stepped off the end of the path to join them. Nearly.

Oh god, I hope you know what you're doing Bilbo…

Gulping as I waited for either the spiders or my friend to return, I kept my eyes trained desperately on the dwarf cocoons, one spider hadn't left. I was trying to build the courage to face my fears. To leap up the trees and take on the remaining great, hairy, massive spider when it scurried round, facing the other direction as if looking for something. I narrowed my eyes.

What the hell is it doing?

The spider almost seemed to be having some sort of mental breakdown. It looked as if it was jabbing out at thin air, poking and clawing wildly.

Maybe it's having a fit?

My confusion suddenly dissipated and my mouth sprang open when Bilbo flashed back into existence. Right there on the branch, fighting the spider, stabbing his sword straight into its face. My eyebrows shot right up into my hairline and my eyes became saucers. As the spider came crashing down, bouncing on trees and landing just a little to my right with a thump I started; shaking my head to regain some sense of wits. If one of those things came down alive, I had to be ready for it.

"Sting." Bilbo muttered looking at his sword and then down to me. "It's a good name!"

I rolled my eyes at him. "It's brilliant but we have more pressing matters to be dealing with here!" This comment spurred him into action.

"Get ready to rip them out!" He shouted before swiping his sword through the webs, cutting the dwarfs free.

As each one fell down, I tore into the cocoons freeing them. Most of them woke up a little frantic as they hit the ground; others needed a little slap on the face when eventually Bilbo cut down Fili.

"Fili." My tone was laced with relief as I scratched my way into his cocoon allowing him to stand up and start yanking webs off himself. As soon as his arms and legs were free I launched myself at him. He caught me. Wobbling, only slightly this, for someone who had been paralyzed, was quite a feat indeed. "I thought…" I dabbed furiously at my eyes, smearing cool tears along my face.

Fili grasped me tightly, hugging me close, "Shh…shhh, I know, I know." He muttered into my hair.

Pulling back, I opened my mouth, intent on telling him everything I'd discovered I felt for him when Kili piped up. "Guys, can you possibly do this later." He stared at us imploringly, looking around in a panicked fashion.

We both gulped and nodded.

"Where's Bilbo?!" Bofur was frantically tearing himself from his cocoon as he looked around.

"Oh he's…" I trailed off as we heard a shout.

"I'M UP HERE… AHHHH!"

Pointing our heads upwards we saw Bilbo coming down on top of a giant spider, from my best guess, he had stabbed it and fell.

"…falling." I finished in a slightly worried tone as Bilbo smashed into trees, bouncing all over the place but, completely away from us.

Bofur gave me a nod, Kili and I shared a meaningful look and then we were off. We were running through the forest, desperately trying to make our escape from the spiders when they came scurrying back and attacked.

I froze. I'd ripped my sword from its scabbard instinctually, but I froze. The spiders were petrifying.

"ZAI!" Bofur called urgently as a spider reared up to attack me, "Do something!"

I did nothing. I stood and I gaped at it. It was like my worst fear come to life. I felt physically sick, so trembling, I stayed, standing, staring and gaping. I would have died. I should have died. But I didn't.

Fili, with a speed and accuracy I didn't know he had, pulled a knife from his coat and hurled it at the spider. The spider stumbled backwards slightly and just as it reached me again, pincers wide, Fili was there. I was numb with shock and the only thing I did as it came towards me was close my eyes and pray for it to be quick. There came a slashing sound and an awful squeal. When I opened my eyes the spider was dead and Fili was yanking his knife and sword back out, stashing the knife and turning to me.

"Mimur! Are you alright?!"

"I…I…" Swallowing thickly I nodded, still blinking rapidly at where the spider had been.

He paused, just for a moment and when he was satisfied he pushed me out of the way and into the side of our clearing before diving back into the fray. I watched with tremors running through me as the dwarfs slashed and swung, stabbed and ripped and just generally beat the spiders back. Killing them when they could. A spider landed on top of Bombur and a whole group of dwarves ran over grabbing a leg each and tugging until all eight legs popped off. The terror swirling through my gut intensified as Fili was fighting one spider while another approached behind him. My eyes darted around, nobody else had noticed. The spiders were going to kill him and I stood uselessly, terror struck.

Fighting back every ounce of fear in my body, or perhaps embracing it, (although it felt more like a struggle), I sprang forwards. Wrapping both hands around the hilt of my sword I vaguely noticed I could use my bad hand again. Charging, I gored the spider behind him right through the back. As it screeched twisting and turning I heaved the sword out and stabbed it back in, closer to the beasts head. "That's my dwarf!"

My heart was beating rapidly and I felt like my brain was going into over-drive but Fili was safe. His lips parted slightly as if to say something to me when suddenly, it wasn't just us and the spiders any more. As we ran towards…well just ran really, a pale blonde elf came sliding down a spider's web, killed the spider and had his bow trained on us. Before you could blink, there were thirty more elves surrounding us, all bow's pointing at our heads.

Fantastic.

"Do not think I won't kill you dwarf." The elf spoke to Thorin in a hard yet self-satisfied tone. "It would be my pleasure."

Thorin breathed in deeply and there came a cry from somewhere to the right of us. Fili's head snapped round, his eyes frantic. "KILI!" He yelled. My heart plummeted.

Fili stepped away from my side, towards the sound of Kili's screams but the elves levelled him with their bows and challenging looks. I grabbed his hand. Fili would take on a thousand elves to get to Kili, but he couldn't help anyone by dying. We listened to the struggle, heard Kili shout for a blade and the elf's harsh reply before everything fell silent. Then there were footsteps. Fili's shoulders sagged in relief and he pulled me into his side as Kili came through the bushes, held at weapon point by a female elf.

"Search them!" Announced the blonde elf.

A particularly harsh looking male elf, dragged me from Fili's side. I glared at him. He nudged, poked and prodded at me, with such a force it was making me sway on my feet. Eventually, apparently finding nothing of importance and sneering quite nastily at me he ripped my sword from my hand and shoved me back towards the others. I fell into Bofur, who was still being searched but risked his arm to steady me.

"Easy lassie." He muttered.

I took a deep breath trying to wipe the scowl from my face as I replied. "Cheers."

Fili glanced over to me before staring funnily back up at the elf searching him with raised eyebrows.

"Hey give it back that's private!" Gloin sounded highly irritable and I drug my gaze away from Fili, who had knives being pulled from every crack and crevice, to look at him.

The blonde elf was holding the frame which held the pictures of his wife and son. I felt for him. On this sort of journey, tokens like that were the last thing one wanted to loose.

"Who is this?" Asked the blonde elf, staring down at the picture with a look of revulsion on his face. "Your brother?"

"That is my wife!" Replied Gloin.

Well if he wasn't annoyed before…

I watched the elf carefully. Narrowing my eyes.

"And what is this horrid creature? A goblin mutant?" His voice was conveying a real distaste for the pictures. Personally I thought Gimli was quite cute… as for his wife, well culture wise it was weird seeing a woman with a beard but she was really lovely looking.

"That's my wee lad. Gimli." Gloin announced in a flat tone.

The elf raised his eyebrow at him, it was very offensive actually and as normal, with nervousness bubbled up inside me I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

"You know… there's no need to be such a douchebag." I told him as I strode over to Gloin levelling him with a stare. "I thought elves were meant to have manners… clearly, I was mistaken."

The elf narrowed his eyes at me and cocked his head frowning. "You are an odd looking dwarf."

"Sing a new tune won't ya?" I shot back.

"Or perhaps you're just a child." He smirked.

I glared at him harshly. "The next person to say that is going to lose their balls."

He scoffed and then suddenly his eyes widened, I followed them, they were flicking from my sword to me. "Never…" He muttered.

I raised my eyebrows, grabbing me by the front of the cloak and lifting me off of my feet he held my sword in my face. The dwarves, Kili, Fili, Bofur and Thorin most viciously, tried to start towards the elf. They were yanked back by others.

"Where did you get this?" He demanded in a low tone.

I blinked at him. "Won it. Now put me down before I kick you in the balls. Don't think I won't elf" I spat. "It would be my pleasure."

Obviously annoyed with my mocking of his threats, he threw me down and I landed quite hard straight on my ass. Gritting my teeth I stood up and nodded at the others, letting them know I was okay. The blonde elf began speaking to the she elf, who brought Kili through and I strolled towards Fili.

He was sighing in frustration every time they found a weapon he was hoping they wouldn't. His pile of… well actually his arsenal, was getting so huge now I found myself struggling to decide whether to be stunned or giggle. How he hid that many weapons about his person was a mystery, but it did explain how he always had a blade when he needed one. Winking at me, he pulled his coat outwards cheekily as if to show he had no more weapons, the elf searching him pulled another huge knife from behind his head. Apparently satisfied, he then moved away from Fili and I, taking all Fili's weapons with him.

"Honestly." I snorted lightly as he threw his arm over my shoulder. "It's a wonder you haven't stabbed yourself… or me for that matter."

He smirked at me, "It's just one of my many charms and various talents."

I smiled as we re-joined the group forming behind Thorin. Blondie, as I decided to call him, was appraising his blade, speaking in elvish.

How rude.

"Where did you get this?" He asked Thorin and he didn't look too pleased about the fact that Thorin had it either.

"It was given to me." Thorin replied in what was, for Thorin, almost a whisper.

The elf pointed the sword at his neck. "Not just a thief, but a liar as well." He looked once again, disgusted.

I'm beginning to think looking like he's got shit under his nose is just what his face looks like…

The elf shouted something loudly in elvish and then the others began pushing us off, so we were walking in a line one by one.

"Thorin," Bofur whispered as he walked past the king. "Where's Bilbo?" Just as Fili growled, slapping away the hand of the elf that went to shove me forwards.

"She can walk!" He snapped.

We eventually came out of the forest, and although I wasn't glad about our situation, I was so relieved to finally be out of there. Or at least the main part of it, because I guessed we were still technically in the forest. We crossed a bridge into the palace, which was filled with high winding, narrow pathways making me grit my teeth and try not to lose balance. Honestly elven architecture, while beautiful, is unnecessary, impractical and ever so slightly ridiculous. But then, I am speaking from the point of view of someone who doesn't find navigating their way around elven paths easy. I suppose if you were an elf, it was fine.

The Mirkwood palace was a lot darker than Rivendell, but that was probably due to the fact that everything was carved out of dark wood. I gasped a little as we walked along; honestly, it was beautiful, even under the tense circumstances I had to admit that.

Blondie gave some more instructions to the elves carting us off and I felt myself being hauled out of the line.

"Hey!" I shouted in panic, as I was yanked in the same direction as Thorin. "What the hell?!"

Blondie, to my utter disbelief, actually answered me. Smirking at the dwarves he said. "The king wants to see you."

From his tone and the looks on the faces of the others, I gathered this was not a good thing.

By this point, I thought I'd had my share of creepy crawlies for the day. I was mistaken. Honestly, I've never met such an unnerving person as King Thranduil, he is a total creeper.

Tall with long flowing limbs and frosty blue eyes the elf king held himself impeccably. Honestly not one jot of emotion came onto his face unless he wanted it too, I kind of envied that. The man it seemed was in complete control. He wore a strange wooden head-dress I took to be his crown and how it sat on top of his long flowing blonde hair, (which was a close match for mine colour wise although pin straight), without messing it up I will never know.

The King didn't even acknowledge us until Blondie showed back up from escorting the others, to their cells. Thorin and I stayed silent for the most part while waiting, we asked each other if we were alright and then that was about it. But as Blondie arrived and I took in a deep nervous breath, Thorin squeezed my arm, giving me a small smile. I was grateful for the comfort. It was then that I noticed. I frowned slightly and looked between the King and Blondie. Once, twice and then again a third time.

When Blondie spoke to me it looked as if he was suppressing a grin, "Yes?" He asked.

"Are you…?" I trailed off indicating between Blondie and the King.

This time, Blondie did grin. "I am Legolas. Prince of Mirkwood, pleasure to meet you my lady." He kissed my hand.

I did a double take. "When did you get so polite?"

When the elf did nothing but raise his eyebrows at me I sighed, "I am Zalia Lucas, Princess of nothing. Nice to meet you Legolas." He frowned. "What?" I said. "You're not my prince. Got two of them already thanks, shorter, better height, better looking." I nodded at him with a cheeky wink.

Thorin snorted.

Well if we're going to go to hell in a hand basket, might as well do it thoroughly.

Legolas pursed his lips and pulled me off to the side, grasping firmly onto my arm as Thorin stood in front of King Thranduil.

"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand." Announced the King striding round Thorin in a languid manner.

His voice was deep and smooth, one of those voices which could get you to agree to anything if you weren't careful. I gulped mentally noting this down for my own talk with the king.

"A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive..." The King continued.

I glanced to Legolas and beckoned him down towards me. Although he didn't look pleased about it, he obliged. "You're going to have to stop him using words I don't understand if he expects to talk to me." I muttered. "Prosaic…who uses words like that anyway?!"

Legolas suppressed another grin and stood up straight again to listen to his father and Thorin talk, I sighed.

If I don't pledge my life to something by complete accident today it will be a bloody miracle.

"Attempted burglary, or something of that ilk." The King twisted his torso and head, leaning down to face Thorin and just looked really freaky if I'm honest. "You have found a way in," He began to walk backwards towards his throne, leaning slightly towards Thorin as he spoke. "You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule. The Kings Jewel. The Arkenstone."

Thorin looked down and seemed to sigh silently, but didn't say anything.

"It is precious to you beyond measure." Thranduil was not letting up at all. "I understand that." He gave a creepy little grin before his eyes became wider again and his smile dropped. "There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems, of pure starlight. I offer you my help." He bowed his head slightly towards Thorin.

Thorin grinned slightly. "I am listening."

I thought I was going to faint. Thorin, Thorin decides now is the time to listen to elves! Oh let's not pay attention to the nice ones! Let's just listen to Mr Creepy there who had the others thrown in cells. What the hell man?! What the hell?!

"I will let you go." Announced the elven king, "if you but return what is mine."

Thorin turned from the king and sauntered to the edge of his throne podium, thing.

"A favour for a favour…"

"You have my word."

It was at this point I saw Thorin's cheeky little smirk and it looked so much like Fili and Kili's cheeky little smirks I had to fight to subdue the grin that wanted to break out on my face.

"One King to another." Thranduil announced loudly, obviously thinking this would help his cause.

I can't say it's what worsened it, but I can't say it helped much either.

"I would not trust Thranduil," Thorin started out in a low quiet voice and then it rose and made the elven king frown. "THE GREAT KING, TO HONOUR HIS WORD SHOULD THE END OF ALL DAYS BE UPON US! YOU!" Thorin turned and jabbed with his finger towards the king in a rather vicious manner, "LACK ALL HONOUR!" he touched or rather hit, his hand towards his heart as he said this.

In his rage Thorin began storming towards the king. "I have seen how you treat your friends! We came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help but you turned your back!" Thorin sounded like he was choking up as he spoke the next sentence. "You turned away from the suffering of my people!" And then he became angry again. "And the inferno that destroyed us!"

With a vicious voice Thorin shouted something in Khuzdul at the king and suddenly Thranduil was in his face. "Do not talk to me of dragon fire! I know its wrath and ruin!" He began gasping and then…

"What the actual? Like… oh… that is just… man!" I couldn't help myself as I grimaced and threw my hands over my mouth; half of Thranduil's face was open. You could see his one eye was white and all the muscles in his mouth and jaw where there wasn't great holes.

That had to be some serious voodoo to cover that up!

"I have faced the great serpents of the north! " He pulled back from Thorin, stood to his full height and glared down upon the dwarf. "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon, but he would not listen." Walking back up the steps to his throne Thranduil announced "You are just like him."

He waved his arm and two guards grasped Thorin. "THORIN!" I yelled as he struggled and they pulled him off, Legolas grasped me extra tightly as I tried to get to Thorin.

I think that'll bruise!

Thranduil yelled, "STAY HERE IF YOU WILL. And rot. A HUNDRED YEARS IS A MEAR BLINK IN THE LIFE OF AN ELF! I'm patient, I can wait."

"ZALIA!" Thorin called as he was dragged down the stairs.

"She'll either be down soon!" Called Thranduil. "Or not at all!"

Well, that's not foreboding in the least. I gulped, turning for my conversation with the king.

Now their in Mirkwood, more to come from that conversation!

Hope you liked it!

Thanks for all the favs follows and reviews. Oh for all the people who've been asking what Mimur means... we'll be finding out soon, not in the next few perhaps but very soon.

Just as a little side note, I had someone on a guest account ask me if Zai actually had purpose or was a tag-along, well I think it's clear she's changing things subtly as it goes but obviously any bigger changes she might make I can't announce without ruining the story! So... sorry.

Rue.