Hi there! Long time no see everybody. I hope there are a couple of you loyal readers still interested in my poor old Amli. I've had a rough time but more importantly I've done a lot of growing and getting things back in order in my life. :) Lucky for both of us that also includes my writing. I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a review/follow and let me know what you think. Enjoy Part one
Hissing and hushed conversations of quality meats hung in the stagnant air. Thick webbing clung to eyelids as the company stirred from their induced slumbers; heavy bodies coming alive struggling against the sinewy prisons.
Freedom came at the hands of a brave hobbit stinging at spiders and cutting them from their precarious perches.
A stifled exhale escaped pale pink parted lips as the impact of hitting the floor knocked the wind from Amli's lungs. Green eyes glanced around with alarm as the realization set in that the nightmares of large spiders and horrendous fangs were truly reality before her.
Literally, said beast was intent on making a meal of her at that very moment.
Growling, Amli pushed her sore legs up under its jaw attempting to defend herself despite her aching body. Grabbing her sword or using her arms to kill the beast felt damn near impossible.
Hisses and urgent calls filled the air as Amli focused on getting the wretched thing off. A surge of rage and annoyance emerged from her pendant as she wished that for once their journey could actually be simple.
In that moment, Amli's hands grabbed at her sword and shot up. In one foul sweep, Amli managed to wound the beast fatally to the point that it fell to the side of her.
Getting to her feet, she prepped her sword and zeroed in on nearby spiders ready to do the same to them.
However Amli's attention was redirected as Bofur flew past her; arm linking around her free one pulling her backwards and away from the injured beast. Turning sharply on her heels, Amli patted Bofur's shoulder appreciatively as they rejoined the quickly moving company.
Focusing on the betterment of the company should be and was her main goal.
The overwhelming amount of spiders appearing from every tree and nook of the forest put things in to perspective immediately.
The company got to work killing as many beasts as they could while making their way through the accursed forest.
Amli sprung into action as a beast before her pulled Kili into its clutches. She cut at the back legs closest to her while Fili took to the others. Their collaborative effort allowed for Kili to be released and subsequently free to stab it clear through jaw.
Before she could fathom her next move, Amli's feet were swept out from under her as she was pulled back to a set of teeth and eight eyes all her own.
Amli cursed vehemently rolling on to her back to eye the beast that isolated her again from her company. The venom coursing through her veins made the odds of victory low but not impossible.
She merely had to account for weakened & strained muscles with dizziness that set in anytime her eyes gazed about.
So she had to rely on muscle memory and perhaps the slightest bit of luck.
Each time the beast charged at her; she would mirror the action with the point of her sword hoping to inflict more damage than what she received.
On retreat, Amli would make careful use of her blade by aiming for the joints of the arachnid's legs. Much to her displeasure when she managed to slice at one of its many legs, the other seven would knock her consistently to the floor.
The looming figure's imposing mouth closing in forced Amli to roll out of the side and onto her feet. Dodging out of the way again of the beast's front legs, on a bended knee Amli managed to stab it with enough force for the blade to pierce through its head.
Pulling out her bloodied sword, Amli's knees buckled as she keeled over expelling the contents of her stomach. A familiar hissing and crunching of leaves caught her attention as Amli tightened her hold on her sword and rose to her feet.
"Amli!"
Following the call of her name, Amli was relieved to make out Kili's figure nearby waiving her over. It appeared as though she hadn't lost all of the company yet despite hearing their echoing calls in the vast forest.
That relief dissipated instantly watching as Kili's feet were swept out from under him much like hers had been earlier. Though it was difficult to run straight and see clearly, Amli rushed to his aid.
The rattling and hissing of more spiders sped her feet as Kili and his predicament was coming clearer into view. Reaching for her dagger, Amli stared at it thoughtfully for a moment.
Tucking the blade hilt first into her bracer, Amli launched into a tumble praying to Mahal that her half-brained idea would work.
Landing on her feet, Amli used the momentum to launch herself at the spider while attempting to unsheathe the dagger from her bracer.
Much to her luck, said plan managed to go off without a hitch as she landed upon the beast impaling the dagger in its head. Kili plucked her from the beast with a firm grip upon her shoulder and brought her to her feet with the dagger in hand.
Exchanging a quick nod and small grin, both warriors focused their attentions on the onslaught of spiders making their way towards them.
An audible groan escaped Amli's lips as in their surveying she made out the all too familiar figure of the captain of the guard running with ease through the spiders. Her red hair muted by the depressing surrounding still whipped around flawlessly as were her attacks on the spiders.
That groan turned into a growl which was sentiment Kili shared as yet at again they felt the fangs of a spider pull them down to the floor.
Rolling onto their backs, both dwarves attempted to rid themselves of the annoyance. Grabbing at her sword, Amli attempted to cut the beast across the legs or at it's under belly.
Though it was in vain for when she grabbed at her sword and pulled it from its scabbard, one of its many legs kicked from her hand. A loud curse escaped her lips feeling as though the motion sprained or wounded her extended wrist.
"Hand me a dagger quick." Kili murmured as Amli could not help her glare.
Did she look like Fili? Strapped with weapons down to her undergarments? That dwarf even naked would still find some way to conceal at least two…well make that three weapons. Amli could not help but chuckle softly under her breath at the implication.
"Do you think I would give you a weapon dwarf?"
Tauriel's interjection caught their attentions and subsequently save their lives seeing as how a dagger flew between them and lodged it's self into the spider's skull.
Using the strength of their combined limbs both quickly pushed off the now heavy weight to the side and got to their feet prepared for a battle with the elf. Though that was short lived, seeing as how two sets of elves flanked them on either side.
Amli could not help the nauseous that fell over her at the realization that she was back in this order place with these horrid elves. Part of her wanted to disappear into the grayish and dark background that was the forest.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Kili brought about a sense of pride and strength that she had never quite experienced before. Even as her hands were being bound before her and all her weapons being seized, she felt stronger than ever.
A surge of panic ran up her spine as Tauriel neared the couple with a look of recognition on her face as they were forced to begin walking.
"Cam'wethrin. Welcome back thief." Tauriel murmured bitingly, face unmarred by the ill-will she was spreading.
"Do you till carry it?" Amli's eyes flashed dangerously at the mention of the pendant itself and that it were done in front of Kili despite him being ahead with one set of escorts.
"Carry what? What do I stand accused of?" She quipped shortly standing her ground before the elleth while playing naïve.
The stare down between the two was intense yet short lived as an elvish call rang out in the dank and frightening quiet forest.
Genuine and substantial relief washed over Amli as the two were led back to their company who found themselves in a similar situation. A sense of calm fell over her as she was introduced into the company besides Fili and Dwalin.
"Thank Mahal you two are okay." Fili murmured turning to face her momentarily gently leaning in to head butt his khahinh.
Reveling in the quick intimate touch, Amli gazed deeply into his eyes. "We are okay by Mahal's grace. You are a sight to behold." She murmured with a small smile, tears pooling in the corner of her eyes from joy.
The intimate moment was cut short as the prince of Mirkwood walking past the bundle of dwarves stopped before the couple.
"Ah we meet again wretch." The prince growled as Fili took a step forward tucking her behind him.
"I would be careful who you are calling wretch." Fili warned voice low and even keeled; eyes sharply glaring at the regal elf.
Despite their stare down, the prince's attention returned to Amli much to her displeasure.
"My father will be very eager to meet with you again wretch." He murmured curtly from his tight lipped expression before calling out an order in elvish. Said order apparently pertained to movement because the dwarves were walking single filed through what appeared to be a pathway through the intricacies of veins, and branches and substantial trees.
Every step that they took closer to Mirkwood placed another knot in Amli's stomach.
It apparently showed on her face seeing as how Dwalin who appeared beside her somehow slowed to ask how she was faring.
"Quite frankly, I'm ready to be rid of these Silvan elves." Amli replied with a tight lipped expression that Dwalin nodded at.
"I couldn't agree more." He grumbled glaring at the dainty soldier urging him forward.
The Mirkwood realm was obviously not the most stunning to behold. The sickness upon forest left things much greyer and un-enchanting then it once had been. Coming upon the gates to Mirkwood, things were not much different.
Surely the splendid architecture and columns that stood before them were beautiful at one time but they merely faded into the background in an odd sense. It was almost as if they were turning into relic from a bygone age.
Walking through the gates, Amli was reminded that despite the decay around him, Thranduil spared no expense when it came to his actual kingdom/strong hold.
Rich golden rays of sunlight illuminated hearty trees with deep root systems. It unveiled intricate carvings within the wood that offered an air of opulence all while still maintaining a strangely natural feel about it.
A rather hard push drew her from her thoughts as she nearly tripped landing on an off shoot of the root they were on.
"Hey watch it." Amli grumbled turning back to glare at her elf escort. "Where are we going?"
A chorus of "Where are you taking them?" rang out from the company causing Amli's brows to furrow in confusion. Turning over her shoulder, Amli was surprised to find Thorin follow behind her with his own personal guard.
Gazing back at their company that was quickly disappearing from sight and sound, Amli had a feeling she knew where she and Thorin were getting taken.
"We are taking you to meet with the King." The guard murmured softly confirming Amli's fear.
Well this should be interesting.
The intricacies in the carvings grew much more extravagant at they reached the King's throne room. Columns with the utmost detail surrounded them and provided the perfect setting for the compensating throne that was in the center of the opening.
"So the Wretch returns." Thranduil's caustic voice began carrying through the halls assaulting Amli's ears.
Amli in turn bit her tongue to keep from an outburst as his royal highness descended from the stair case. She could not help rolling her eyes though watching as elven robes dusted each stair he passed.
"Not going to say much thief? That's fine. One just cannot help but wonder what a lowly thief is doing with the company of Thorin Oakenshield. The failing attempting to retake a long begotten kingdom with sword forged from my kin." Thranduil taunted arrogantly.
"Yet this is to be expected. The company one keeps tends to be a reflection on them."
Amli's eyes flashed dangerously at the implication paid to their leader and kind. Certainly Thorin was hardly her favorite person but he had much more honor in his pink then this ridiculous woodland sprite.
"Do you still have it?" He questioned walking around her gazing intently at her stoic face. "That trinket you stole from me."
Amli glared at the King as he stepped forward in front of her; his own eyes gazing through her.
The pendant flared at the act of assertion; it was not too keen on anyone challenging its connection to Amli. Amli was powerless, somewhat, as she took a step forward to meet his act.
Despite keeping it together, panic surged in her chest noticing Thranduil's eyes flash gazing upon her neck.
"What do we have here?" Thranduil questioned tauntingly hand making its way to her collar.
Amli as if an animal cornered lost all common sense and charged at the elven king. Though both her hands still remained securely bound together, she still managed to actually hit the elven king a few times before the guards pulled her off of him.
"Wretched beast; take the trinket from her neck and throw her with her compatriots. I have had my fill." Thranduil bellowed beginning his ascent back up the stairs.
Amli's eyes flashed between the guards that surround her panicked as they held her tight. One's hand reached for the chain the Pendant rested upon and tugged sharply causing Amli to fall to her knees and cry out.
It felt as though someone had stomped on her wind pipe, ripped her heart from her chest and stabbed her all at once.
Any remaining strength she may have had dissipated as she lost conscious and gave into the darkness that offered to relieve her torture.