A/N: Can I give a big thank you to all you lovely lovely readers?! Seriously. You guys are amazing! Thank you to my guest readers like gamergirl. I can't send you a personal message so here's a shout out! You're awesome.
I hope you enjoy this next section. Things are going to start taking interesting turns. Hope you like it!
Chapter Summary: The company encounters elves
A low groan passed by Thorin's lips as he came back to consciousness. He tried to will his sluggish mind to work through the haze he was under, but it was a slow-going process.
What had happened?
The last thing he remembered was the company preparing to anchor the boat and tug it across the river.
And then the light. He'd seen a light in the distance.
After that though?
Thorin drew a blank. He simply could not process things after that point, no matter how hard he pushed himself.
It was utterly frustrating.
He brought his hand up to his face.
Or tried to at least. It appeared that his hands were bound in what felt like rope.
He then tried to open his eyes, only to be met with darkness.
Soft fabric had been placed on his face, obscuring his view.
And, he noted, he was laying on piled straw.
He could hear the soft drips of water running down stone. The air was cool and musty.
Confound it all where was he?!
"Welcome, Thorin Oakenshield."
Thorin stiffened.
A sense of unease settled in Lyla's stomach and she hesitated to take her ring off.
There was something…offsetting about the elves below her though she couldn't place WHY she felt uncomfortable. The elves at Rivendell had been hospitable and friendly. But these elves set her on edge.
She wanted to get a better look.
"I'll be right back," she murmured to Nori and Gloin who'd gone still watching the elves below them with trepidation.
She checked the tie of her scabbard and then slowly maneuvered down to the lower branches, trying to remain as silent as possible. She noted that more elves had come into the area, numbering more than a dozen now, each stood tall and slender, their long hair swaying around their shoulders as they moved. Each wore green or grey tunics and they were speaking in a hurried manner, their tones too low for her make out.
She lowered herself closer.
And nearly went tumbling as an arrow whizzed past her ear. Letting out a terrified squeak, she pressed herself flush against the tree and gazed downwards. A tall elf, with long blonde hair and grey armor stood, staring at the tree, his bow out and an arrow poised to fire. His eyes were sweeping over the tree, flicking through the branches searching for movement.
He'd shot an arrow at her!
His eyes narrowed and he slowly lowered his bow and murmured something to one of his companions nearby, his had rising up to point to the top of the tree. Towards the company.
She pressed herself against the trunk of the tree as two elves ascended the tree towards the struggling company. She did not trust these elves. Especially now that she'd almost been impaled by an arrow.
So she remained hidden, wary of what would happen to the company.
Nori and Gloin—who had freed themselves—balanced on the branch their knives drawn and furious scowls on their faces.
The first elf, the tall blonde male who'd fired the arrow, approached slowly, eyes narrowed as he assessed the fury in the two freed dwarves' faces.
"I think it best if you relinquish your weapons," he remarked, his lilting voice quiet and disturbingly calm.
Lyla could hear the power behind his words.
Nori snorted condescendingly, "Why would I want to do that elf?"
"Because I will strike you where you stand if you do not dwarf."
Lyla turned her head upwards in surprise and found a tall red haired elf maiden standing high above Nori and Gloin, bow pulled taut and an arrow aimed at the ready.
Her green eyes flashed dangerously. "Do not think I won't kill you."
Nori's face betrayed his surprise at being caught unaware. His eyes narrowed and a deep expulsion of breath escaped his lips. He muttered something low and foreign to Lyla's ears.
She assumed it wasn't something overly kind.
But Nori knew when he'd been beaten. So in defeat, he lowered his weapon and raised his hands in surrender.
Lyla was still perched in the tree, watching as more than twelve elves worked to get her company down from the trees. Bombur, who was still unconscious, proved rather difficult to safely deposit on the ground.
Her heart nearly shattered in horror when two dark haired elves nearly dropped the giant, round, snoring creature.
But somehow, the spritely creatures managed to get twelve bundles down to the ground.
'Where was Thorin?' she wondered in a panic. Even Dwalin was within the group. But Thorin? That blasted, arrogant dwarf was still missing.
And as for the rest?
The poor dears.
The dwarves were surprised to find their rescuers were elves.
As each member was released from their webbed prisons, they gazed up in shock and alarm at the elves that loomed over them, carefully peeling away the remnants of the spiders' attacks.
They were even more surprised to find themselves freed from one binding and placed into another.
"Oi what's the meanin' of this!" Bofur exclaimed trying to extract himself from the grip of two dark-haird elf men, only to have a small knife pointed at his throat in order to silence his protests.
The blonde elf that had first addressed Nori stepped forward, his eyes narrowed, and a deep frown on his face as his hand rested lightly on the sword around his waist. "You have been caught trespassing on the king's land. He's requested your presence and an explanation of what has transpired since your initial entrance into Mirkwood."
One by one the dwarves' hands were bound, blindfolds placed over their eyes and they were positioned in a single file line with elves standing on either side of them, the tall blonde who she'd first seen, stood at the head of the party, his finely made armor betraying his elevated social status.
'Obviously the leader' she thought quietly watching the way the elf moved as if he was a part of his surroundings. She envied his natural grace.
Another four elves made up the rear, hefting the snoring Bombur in their arms. Lyla silently sniggered at their predicament.
Imagine if she and the rest of the company had to haul the sleeping dwarf for miles!
Her ears perked up and she could hear the low mutters of disgust emanating from their lips as they strained to keep up the grueling pace.
Her face pulled into a frown.
"Fat load of rubbish," One blonde haired elf muttered, rolling his eyes in annoyance, "Not worth the effort it will take to carry him back."
Lyla's blood boiled.
How dare they!
A low growl escaped her lips and she grabbed at the thinner branches of the tree, breaking off a small twig. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the twig soaring through the air, knocking into one of the rude elves carrying her unconscious friend.
The elf stiffened and stopped moving. He turned his head back, eyes narrowed, searching.
But, of course, he found nothing. The elf's face contorted into confusion and he muttered lowly, turning forward once more.
Lyla grinned as she hopped from her station in the branches wary of any loose leaves or grass.
Served him right.
She followed silently behind the elves and their dwarf captives as the elves marched the dwarves at a rapid pace, wary of her surroundings and fearful that she'd lose her company for a second time.
But the further they moved from the spider's nest, the worse Lyla was feeling. Adrenaline was wearing off, and with renewed force, the nausea was returning. Her head was pounding and she longed to take the ring off and to leave this accursed forest.
Above all that, however, she really really wanted a bath. The putrid smell emanating from her clothes made her nose wrinkle with each intake of breath. It was a wonder that the elves didn't suspect they were being followed because of the smell she exuded.
Oh what she wouldn't give for her bathtub at home with nice steaming water, a warm cup of tea and her favorite robe.
She could certainly sneak away, being invisible as she was, and just return…
'Why care about them?' A voice in the back of her mind hissed at her, 'They didn't want you in the first palce. Just leave them. They don't matter. Take care of yourself.'
But if she did that, she'd never see her dwarves again.
Lyla frowned and shook her head. Why would she think that at all? She cared about the dwarves!
She couldn't allow anything to happen to them. And as it was, she was the only one capable of actually helping them. She could remain unseen.
She was their best chance.
'Come on Lyla' she reprimanded herself silently, 'It isn't as bad as you make it. You can do this. Chin up, feet forward. That's the ticket.'
She straightened her coat (already mourning the warmth Dwalin's cloak had provided her) and silently traipsed after the company and their guards wary not to get too far behind or too close to be trampled on.
How alarmed would the elves be to discover an invisible creature following them!
They marched onward for a good while, and with each step, the dwarves (and Lyla) were wearing down to the point of stumbling and nearly knocking each other over.
Some of the elves sniggered at the company's obvious exhaustion.
Lyla was really beginning to hate these particular elves and she glared at each one who dared to open their mouths in derision against her dwarves. They were nothing like the elves found in Rivendell and she wondered how they could be so unkind, so calloused towards those who were obviously suffering.
But her anger was lost and replaced by shock and stunned appreciation as they rounded the bend and started their descent into a deep cavernous valley. And then she saw it.
Oh…
Her mouth fell open in wonderment, her breath catching in her throat.
She stood before an enormous cave that spanned higher than she could have ever imagined. Intricately carved stone doors stood before her, depicting the changing of the seasons with elvish scrawl engraved above and below the images. Just outside these stone doors, water flowed freely, weaving in and out through the trees, it's clear water inviting and enticing Lyla. The pathway was lined with bright beech trees, that stood proudly reaching for the sky.
The elves marched the company one by one down the steep path and over the bridge to the entrance and its enormous doors.
Surely they could not open such a massive door with so few men?
To her surprise, the gates swung open of their own accord and a tall slender elf man stepped forward, dressed in a rich silver(that even Lyla could see with her muted vision) robes and his brow was crowned in a headdress of thin delicate branches and summer flowers. His blue eyes swept over the group in a condescending manner as he regarded the blindfolded company. His lips pulled into morbid, almost resigned, smile (though the company couldn't see it).
"Welcome, company of Thorin Oakenshield, to the great elf kingdom of Mirkwood."