A/N: What's this? I left a day between updates? I needed a break from writing yesterday but here we are again :) This chapter strays from the rest of the story and tells of Riley's journey with Gandalf. I'm taking some liberties as the movie doesn't really say what happened all the way with Gandalf so bear with me.
Khuzdul words:
Iishkh khakfe andu null: I shit on your face (modern day translation).
Chapter Sixteen: Of Many Revelations…
"So tell me, Riley." Gandalf said. "When did you begin to have feelings for Bilbo Baggins?"
Gandalf and Riley had been on horseback for day and the further away from the company they got, the more anxious Riley felt. He knew that Gandalf wouldn't ask him to come along if it wasn't important and he knew that Maggie was in good hands. Even so, this was the furthest away from each other they had been, since arriving in Middle-Earth. Riley was afraid and didn't like not knowing how things would go from here on end, or when he'd see his sister again. The landscape was different from the plans and forests they had been running across. Now, Gandalf had brought them to a barren and rocky hillside. It was cold here and the air felt to Riley unwelcoming. They dismounted the horse and Riley felt immense apprehension as he looked up at The High Fells of Rhudaur. Gandalf's question caught Riley off guard and he wasn't sure what to say. Admittedly, Riley knew very well that he and Bilbo had become closer friends of late and they share a connection. Regarding the matter of feelings, Riley wasn't sure how to process that.
"Umm...I...what?" Riley stuttered, feeling his cheeks pink. He harked. "I mean, I don't know what you're talking about...probably."
"Oh please." Gandalf mused "You are just as bad at lying as your sister. I can see it you know. The way you look at him when you think nobody notices."
Riley felt even more embarrassed. If Gandalf had noticed, who else had? He hadn't even talked to Maggie about it, because frankly they had more important things to consider. Hell, Riley hadn't even had time to consider what he actually felt and as Gandalf mentioned it, something stirred within Riley Spencer. A strange flutter that was unfamiliar to him.
"Wouldn't it be a ridiculous thing, though?" Riley asked. "A hobbit and a human, I mean come on." It was indeed ridiculous, Riley thought, not just because of the height difference although that was less of a problem. Riley wasn't exactly the tallest man and Bilbo wasn't the shortest hobbit either.
Gandalf marched towards the mountain and as he did, Riley couldn't help but to wonder how on Earth they would get up there. It wasn't as if they had any climbing gear to speak of and it was very was a stone pathway of sorts, leading up to the entrance. Finally, they reached the beginning of the path and Gandalf turned to Riley, raising an eyebrow.
"No more ridiculous than a dwarf and a human." Gandalf stated.
"So...for the sake of argument, let's assume that you're right." Riley continued. "Do you think that..you know...he feels the same way?"
"Oh yes." Gandalf said matter-of-factly. "Undoubtedly. Bilbo Baggins is a changed hobbit and for the better, I think. You and your sister's presence on the quest, has set in motion things that not even I could have predicted and I believe that this might even be part of it. Now come on, we have a long journey up."
"I would not trust Thranduil the great king, to honour his word, should the end of all days be upon us! You lack all honor."
Maggie heard Thorin's angry words choe from her cell and glanced over at Fili, who was leaning against the cold, stone wall. They'd been stuck in there for some time now and Maggie was already growing restless. The cells were cold and they had already determined that there was no way out, save by the king's will and Thranduil did not seem keen on letting them. For somebody who claimed that dwarves were greedy, Maggie thought, Thranduil was no better himself. After a while, the rest of the company had simply stopped trying to use force to open the cells.
"I have seen how you treat your friends! We came to you once! Starving! Homeless! Seeking your help! But you turned your back! You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us!"
At the sound of Thorin's rage, Maggie felt her heart sink and a hint of fear made itself known. She understood now why the dwarves hated the elves so much. A part of her felt guilty for having idolized them before and she hadn't truly realised how much power they held and how manipulative they were. Deep down though, she knew that Thranduil was an exception and that not all elves were like this. Although Maggie couldn't help but feel there was more to Thranduil's coldness and that it wasn't just caused by the dwarves. Footsteps interrupted Maggie's thoughts and she saw Thorin being cast back into the cell he shared with Balin. He was outraged and his eyes full of fire. Balin seemed unphased though.
"Did he offer you a deal?" he asked.
"He did." Thorin brushed a bit of dirt off his clothes and nodded and then shouted out the bars. "I told him he could go ishkh khakfe andu null. Him and all his kin!"
Maggie didn't have to understand Khuzdul to understand the sentiment behind the cursing. Balin had an amused expression on his face, Thorin's temper didn't seem to surprise him in the slightly. The white haired dwarf merely sighed and leaned sank back into his seat.
"There's that then." Balin said "A deal was our only hope."
Thorin looked out the bars of the cell and Maggie met his eyes. He was calmer now and Maggie's earlier fear was gone.
"Not our only hope." Thorin said
The brief moment of peace was interrupted by another set of footsteps approaching them. The Keeper of the Keys was a male elf with long and auburn hair. He towered over Maggie and then turned to one of the other guards that had accompanied him.
"Take the girl." he ordered
Before Maggie could protest, the guard roughly grabbed a hold of her arms and dragged her out of the cell. She protested and struggled but it was useless and soon she found herself between two elf-guards. Even if she tried to make a run for it, she knew they'd catch up with her in no-time. Maggie heard Fili call out after her and some of the other dwarves called out to leave her alone.
"Do not touch her!" Thorin hissed behind them but she was already heading up the narrow stairs back to Thranduil's throne room. Once they got there, the guards simply threw her to the ground and Maggie pulled herself up. Thranduil got up off his throne, elegantly striding towards her and Maggie hated the sight of him.
"The dwarf would not listen to reason." Thranduil said, his voice was smooth as silk. "Perhaps you will."
Maggie let out a groan of annoyance and had to resist the urge to spit at Thranduil. "If you think I'm betraying them, you're a lot dumber than I thought."
Then, a grin spread on Thranduil's face, not one joy though but of slyness. As he walked up to Maggie, she felt her heart racing again. She had been scared before but the presence of King Thranduil was a different kind of fear. She knew that he was powerful and perhaps he even knew things that Maggie was unaware of. Maggie wasn't going to betray Thorin or the mission, but she didn't know if she was unable to withstand Thranduil's magic.
"Perhaps not as dumb as somebody who believes a dwarf could possible feel love for a human." Thranduil stood beside Maggie, she could almost feel his breath on her skin and it sent a shiver down her spine. She closed her eyes, reminding herself to not listen to him. All he was trying to do was intimidate her and scare her into complying with his wishes. Maggie knew that what she and Thorin had was real. She knew he loved her, even though they hadn't actually spoken those words to each other yet.
"Tell me Margaret, what do you see in your future with Thorin Oakenshield?" Thranduil asked. "Has he promised to make you his queen and share with you all the riches of his land? Do not be foolish, dwarf cares only for himself. You have witnessed his greediness and I know you are frightened of it. You know of the madness that runs in his family, do you honestly think your presence will change that?"
Breathe Maggie, she thought, He is only trying to scare you. Maggie was scared though because a part of her knew that Thranduil was right. She knew about the madness in their family and she was well aware that Thorin was susceptible to it. She had seen hints of it throughout their journey but not enough for her to worry about it. Maggie knew that Thorin would never want anything bad to happen to his company or to her. Yet she suddenly felt uncertain and as her eyes stared up at the great ceilings of Thranduil's palace, she couldn't help but wonder if she really could change things? Maggie couldn't lie to herself, she had hoped that she would be able to change things, that her feelings for Thorin and his for her would make things different somehow, as selfish as that might be. Suddenly, Maggie snapped out of her thoughts bringing her attention back to Thranduil. His spell had almost gotten to her.
"Just because you are incapable of feeling love or anything!" Maggie snaped "It doesn't mean that the rest of us are the same."
Suddenly Thranduil was right in front of her, his brown eyes piercing into hers. Maggie felt a sudden burning and pain in her chest as he spoke.
"Do not speak to me of love, girl!" he hissed. "You are but a child! What can you possibly know of love? I have known great love and I have lost it! If you think my heart is hardened because I am cruel, then you truly know nothing! What you think you feel for the dwarf is merely lust and child's play. He will grow tired of you and then cast you aside like a toy. That is what dwarves do and you are no kin of Durin."
It was then that Maggie realised she had tears streaming down her eyes and she was shaking.
"If you go with the dwarves to that mountain, you will die." Thranduil told her, his calmer now. "But if you stay here, not only will you have safety but also an ally. The choice is yours to make but make it quick, my patience is growing thin."
Thranduil sank back into his throne, each arm resting on the chair. Maggie was silent for a moment, wiped her tears and collected herself. She was even more terrified than before and uncertain of what lay before her. But she had made a promise and she wasn't going to betray the Company no matter how much Thranduil's words echoed at the back of her mind.
"You can go and fuck yourself." Maggie said, calmly. "I am not betraying Thorin Oakenshield."
Thranduil didn't get angry, he merely sighed. "You truly are a daughter of Amandil." he gestured at the guards. "Take her away."
After what seemed like an eternity (and then some) Gandalf and Riley had marched halfway up the hill to the stone fortress. It was an impressive structure and Riley wondered how it had been constructed. The stone steps were huge and often with a giant gap between each step. Gandalf just about managed to reach for each step, using his staff, seemingly with less effort than Riley.
"Come along Master Riley," the wizard said "We're almost there."
"How do you do it?" Riley asked while panting heavily, stopping every now and then. "You're ancient."
Gandalf ignored him and continued up the steps until a small, stone doorway appeared in front of them with even larger steps to climb. Riley muttered a curse and then, to his horror, the Wizard fell between the gap, grabbing onto the step Riley stood on. The oldest Spencer helped Gandalf back up onto his with, with some difficulty one might add, but they were safe. Until they reached another narrow entranced and slipped down the path, reaching a stone hall, completely encompassed in darkness.
"Okay." Riley said. "I do not like this at all." His claustrophobia stirred inside him and a mild panic began in the pit of his stomach but when Gandalf lit his staff , Riley was almost in awe of their surroundings. As he looked up, there seemed to be no end to the shallowness of mountain and the same when he looked down. A strange sound and movement caught Riley and Gandalf's attention and Gandalf carefully moved towards the dark entrance when a bat flew out of the darkness, making Riley scream. Gandalf turned around to shine is light and a familiar face stood in front of them.
"Oh it's you." Gandalf snapped.
"Jesus Christ.." Riley collected himself, relieved to see Radagast. "Do not sneak up on people like that!
The Brown Wizard seemed unphased and merely looked around him.
"Why am I here Gandalf?"
Riley asked himself the same question. Why was he there of all places? A few weeks ago he had been sitting in a cozy cabin in Wales, playing board games with his sister and their family. He had never expected their hike to turn into...this. Riley was way out of his depth her and couldn't for the life of him, understand why the Valar thought he was useful here. His sister made sense, Riley thought, because Maggie was fierce, fearless and determined. Riley didn't see himself as some great warrior or a hero. He was just Riley Spencer. A brother, a friend and very occasionally a lover. He knew nothing about magic beyond what he had read in books or seen on TV and even then he'd always thought it was just fiction and stories, created by the human mind and its need to fill the gaps and make sense of things it couldn't understand. That's why Riley had studied science at University, to understand as much of the world as he could and now, he felt, all of that was useless.
"Trust me Radagast, I would not have called you here without good reason." Gandalf said.
Radagast didn't seem satisfied with that answer and nervously glanced around him as they walked further into the darkness. "This is not a nice place to meet."
"I'm inclined to agree with you there." Riley said. They were inside the tomb now and even by the light of the Wizards' staff, Riley didn't like it at all. The coffins were made of stone and from the little he could make out, had some sort of ancient writing on it that he, of course, couldn't understand.
"These are dark spells, Gandalf." Radagast explained as they walked and he examined the tombs. "Old and full of hate. Who's buried here?"
"If he had a name, it has long since been lost." Gandalf said "He would have been known only as a servant of evil. One of a number. One of nine."
Riley jumped as he thought he heard a whisper. Nugu gurunkilu bard gurutu, said the whisper and though Riley didn't really understand the language he had heard the phrase so many times to remember it's meaning. Nine for mortal men, doomed to die. Once they left the tomb, Riley felt an immense sense of relief wash over him. Like he could finally breathe again after having been in the dark. He had lost track of how long they'd been in the tomb and now, dusk was falling.
"Why now Gandalf? I don't understand?" Radagast asked, a hint of anxiety in his voice.
"The Ring Wraiths have been summoned to Dol Goldur." Gandalf replied.
"But it cannot be the Necromancer!" Radagast was adamant. "A human sorcerer could not summon such evil."
"Well," Riley said. "He's not human then, is he?"
Radagast stared at Riley, examining him for a moment and then looked to Gandalf for an answer. "Why has he come along?"
"He has a name." Riley snapped. "Gandalf thought I'd be useful."
"Yes, indeed." Gandalf agreed. "Master Riley knows of this evil and he is right. The Nine only answer to one master?"
The brown wizard fell silent and Riley felt uneasy again.
Gandalf spoke. "We've been blind, Radagast." he said. "And in our blindness, the enemy has returned."
A shiver down Riley's spine, as if someone had stepped on his grave as he continued to listen to Gandalf. "He is summoning his servants. Azog the Defiler is no ordinary hunter. He is a commander of legions. The enemy is preparing for war.
"Where?" Riley asked
"It will begin in the East." Gandalf replied. His mind is set upon that mountain."
A new kind of knot turned inside Riley as Gandalf said "East". Thorin and the others were heading east, to that mountain and his sister with them. Riley had been utterly foolish a curse under his breath. He should never have left Maggie. He needed to be with his sister and now they were already far away.
"Where are you going?" Radagast asked as Gandalf and Riley walked towards the horse.
"Master Riley and I must rejoin the others." Gandalf replied
"Gandalf!" Radagast protested
"I started this!" The Wizard snapped "I cannot forsake them! They are in grave danger!"
"If you what you say is true." Radagast began "The world is in grave danger. The power in that fortress will only grow stronger."
"You want us to cast our friends aside." Gandalf sighed and looked at Riley
"Hang on a minute!" Riley said. "No! No! Absolutely not! What you're asking is not fair! Thorin and the others need us and I need to be with my sister!"
"Son," Radagast said. "If the enemy gets his will through, your sister will be dead before they reach that mountain."
Riley hated to admit it, but deep in his heart, he knew that Radagast was right.
"Legolas." Maggie said, her voice was urgent.
After her less-than-successful encounter with Thranduil, Legolas was the elf responsible for taking her back to the dungeons. They walked quickly and Maggie was beginning to feel desperate. She didn't want to be stuck in Thranduil's dungeon until the end of days and she knew Bilbo was around somewhere, but she didn't know exactly where the hobbit was. They were running out of time and something had to be done. So far, Maggie had mostly observed the dwarves', not wanting to interrupt too much but if the valar had sent her, she couldn't remain passive and just do nothing. In a moment of bravery and adrenaline, Maggie tugged her arms away from Legolas' tight grip and stood in front of him. Legolas drew his weapon but Maggie held her hands up, hopefully showing him that she wasn't going to hurt him.
"Listen to me.' She said calmly "You need to help us."
The Prince of Mirkwood examined her carefully and then put his sword away. Maggie breathed out a sigh of relief, happy to have her head intact.
"Why on earth would I do that?' Legolas asked sharply. He didn't understand this girl or her business with the dwarves. His father talked of things that should be impossible. Like all elves, Legolas held great respect for the Valar but this made no sense to him. This girl carried herself in a strange fashion and spoke in the common tongue but in a strange way. Yet, Legolas thought, he intrigued her.
"You asked before how I knew your name." Maggie said. "I can tell you, although you might not believe me."
"My father claims you are from a distant land." Legolas said. "How are such things possible?"
"I don't exactly know how myself, but it is true. My brother and I, we're from another world. A world where there is no magic, there are no elves or dwarves or wizards."
Legolas blinked, but Maggie knew she had his attention. She also knew that she needed to tread very carefully. Telling Legolas the truth about her and about Riley was a dangerous move and she couldn't quite explain it, but a part of her felt like she had to do this. The youngest Spencer inhaled a deep breath and when she exhaled she spoke.
"Where I am from, this is all just a story." she said
"What do you mean?" Legolas asked, a spark of curiosity in his brown eyes.
"When I was little." Maggie began "My father used to read stories to my brother and I. One of them was a story called the Hobbit. It tells the story about Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit from the Shire who joins dwarves journey to Erebor to reclaim their homeland. If I'm not wrong, I reckon we're about halfway through although things haven't exactly gone to plan so far."
"You mean they are prophecies?" Legolas said
Maggie hadn't thought of it like that, but it made sense. In this world, these events were a part of its recorded history and all true, but on Earth, they were just tales of fiction. Maybe there was a fine line between prophecy and truth. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. Prophecies."
"You say that this is one of the stories you read." Legolas reminded her. "What is the other?"
Maggie was silent for a while and wondered how much she ought to reveal. "Gandalf is going to kill me when he finds out."
"Gandalf? You know Gandalf the Grey?"
"Yeah he's a friend." Maggie explained "My point is, you can't tell anyone about what I'm telling you. Not your father, not Tauriel not anyone. One should never know too much of one's future. I need your word?"
Legolas nodded. "You have it."
"Okay, there is another story. In our world, it's called the Lord of the Rings. It's actually kind of a big deal actually, anyway, it tells the story of Sauron fighting for control of Middle-Earth and a Fellowship who set out to fight him. You're in it." Maggie said
Legolas seemed confused and wasn't quite sure what to say. "I am in this...Fellowship, you say? Who else is?"
"Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I guess, technically, he's my nephew, several generations down the line." Maggie said. "Although you probably know him as Estel."
"Lord Elrond's adopted son?"
"Yes. Then there's Gilmi, son of Gloin."
At this Legolas scoffed. "That dwarf's son? What good could he possibly be on a quest of such importance?"
"Actually, you guys sort of become very good friends."
"Lies!" Legolas seemed offended. "I would never become friends with a dwarf."
"Well, I never expected to fall in love with one, but what do I know. I'm just a girl. Look, there is another person here, whom your father hasn't seen yet. That hobbit I told you about? Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. Bilbo is here. I don't know exactly where but he's somewhere in this palace. He's going to come and rescue us and set us free. You have to let him. The fate of Middle-Earth literally depends on us getting out of here alive."
Legolas was quiet for a while, deliberating what Maggie had just said. "Why are you telling me this? What makes you think I won't use this against you and share this information with my father. It would be welcome news that could used in his favor." he asked
"Because the Legolas I've known and read about is a good elf who does what is right and in his heart." Maggie replied " I know you won't because I've told you something that I haven't even told Thorin. You have the advantage here, you can choose your path and it doesn't have to follow your father's. I did you a favour and now you owe me."
Tauriel's voice caught their attention and then he turned back to Maggie.
"Do I really become friends with a dwarf?"
Maggie nodded. "Best friends. I could not make this up even if I tried."
"Guard!" Legolas called out "Take this one and put her with the others."
Their eyes met and while Maggie was unsure of Legolas' decision, she still felt like she had made an ally in him. To her surprise, she was cast back into the cell Balin shared with Thorin and for the third time that day, Maggie got up on her feet and brushed the dirt off her clothes.
"This." She groaned "Is is getting old."
"Are you alright, my love?" Thorin asked, his eyes filled with concern as he pulled her to him. Maggie had missed his warmth and allowed herself to be comforted by his body. "Did those swines hurt you?"
"No." Maggie said "Thranduil tried to offer me another deal but I told him go fuck himself."
Thorin smiled and rested his forehead against Maggie's. "That's my girl."
They shared a kiss and Maggie wished it would longer. Had Balin not been in that cellsh she knew, this could have turned into a much more intimate moment. From Thorin's tight grip on her waist, she knew he felt the same.
"We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?" Ori sighed from another cell
Then, to everyone's pleasant surprise, a familiar chipper voice appeared from out of nowhere.
"Not stuck in here, you're not." Maggie's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Bilbo's name and the jingling of the keeper's keys!
"BILBO!"
Bilbo hushed the dwarves. "There are guards nearby!"
"Close the doors. It'll buy us more time."
It took a few moments for Bilbo to unlock the cells and organising the dwarves, but finally they were able to quietly make their way further down the Mirkwood Palace and Maggie was finally able to take in the scale of it all. Enormous didn't quite cover it and she couldn't find enough words to describe how beautiful it was. If they'd been here under friendlier circumstances, Maggie would have taken time to explore its secrets and its corners. Thorin, she thought with a smile, would definitely enjoy getting up to no good in Thranduil's home. Eventually, the reached the kitchens, were some two young elves were passed out, fast asleep on the table. No doubt from drinking the elven wine that was also the table.
Maggie shook her head. "Graceful, indeed."
"Cellars!" Bofur called out, unimpressed with Bilbo's navigation. "You're supposed to be leading us out, not further in!"
Bilbo snapped. ""I know what I'm doing!"
Maggie sensed Bilbo's frustration, sometimes they were difficult to deal with. Eventually, the found themselves standing in front of large barrels stacked on top of each other. Oh god, Maggie thought, knowing where this was going. She'd hoped that maybe with things changing, this would be one of those events but it seemed like she was not that lucky.
"Everyone climb into the barrels!" Bilbo ordered "Quickly"
"Are you mad?" Dwalin snapped. "They'll find us."
"No they won't. I promise you." Bilbo whispered. "Now please, please you must trust me."
There was some protesting from the dwarves until Thorin commanded them to do as Bilbo said. Somewhat reluctantly the dwarves climbed into the Barrels, Maggie shared one with Kili, him being the slimmest of the lot and there not being enough barrels for one each. After a bit of a struggle and some frustrated complaints from the company, they were finally in the barrels, looking at Bilbo for further instructions.
"What do we do now?"
The dwarves stared at him.
"Hold your breath."
"You have gotta be kidding me." Maggie sighed "Bilbo-!" she couldn't finish her sentence before Bilbo pulled the lever, opening a hatch and the barrels fell into the water into a stream. Maggie felt the pressure of the plunge as the barrel hit the water. They were in a small stream and not long after they'd fallen in Bilbo was behind them, grabbing onto a barrel. Steadily, they paddled down the stream and as they did the current got stronger until eventually the stream became wider. Once out in the open, the stream turned into a river with waves crashing against the barrels. Maggie was terrified. A waterfall and stronger currents. Maggie screamed and felt herself falling into the water, her body plunging into the depths of the river. Suddenly, the sound of a bugle echoed overhead and Maggie saw the Elven guards attempting to shut the gates leaving the palace ground. Her heart beat faster as she saw the elves of Mirkwood readying themselves for battle. But the first arrow that was fired didn't come from the elves.
It came from an orc.
"Watch out!" Bofur called out "Those are orcs!"
As the current grew strong Maggie struggled to keep herself in the barrel and to keep her head over water. The sight of orcs scared her, there was no way they'd be able to fight them out here and they were seriously outnumbered. A sudden crash against another barrel, threw Maggie out of hers and her body sank into the depths of the water. Under the waves, she had no control or power but still she fought the current.
"Maggie!" Thorin cried out
In desperation, Maggie reached for the surface of the water to try and find anything to grab onto, failing after each attempt until eventually Kili pulled her out of the water and onto the rocks. The In the next moment and jumped out in front of Maggie and Kili jumped out of the barrels and onto the bridge, stabbing the orc in front of Maggie which then collapsed by her side. Next, Dwalin threw Kili a weapon and and Fili threw Maggie one of the smaller blades the elves hadn't been able to confiscated. Fighting their way up the bridge, Maggie stabbed one orc while Kili decapitated the other.
"We must stop meeting like this, little sister." Kili joked as they stood back to back. The other dwarves were trying to push the gates open.
"Kili!" Maggie said. "Up there!" She saw the lever and Fili jumped up, crying out as he pulled the lever down and the gate below them opened. Maggie was about to help Kili back up onto his feet, when a sudden arrow pierced into his leg. Maggie watched in horror as Kili cried out in pain and then collapsed. She heard Fili's cry below them and Maggie fell to her knees beside the brown-haired dwarf.
"Kili!" she said "No, no, no."
As if things couldn't get worse, more orcs approached them and Maggie realised in that moment how helpless she was. She was no warrior and didn't have any sort of skill to take on these creatures and as Maggie held on tightly to Kili, almost ready to accept their fate, an orc fell dead in front of them. Tauriel, Maggie breathed out a sigh of relief. She watched in awe as Tauriel elegant ran while firing arrows at the orcs. Slicing their heads and stabbing them one after the other, with no effort at all.
"Kili." Maggie pulled Kili's head up "Kili stay with me."
Below them, the other dwarves followed the river in their barrels and down a small waterfall.
"Maggie." Kili said "Why did you stay?"
Maggie smiled, in an attempt to hide her fear. "I'm not going to just leave you, am I, you idiot."
"I see why Uncle loves you." With the strength he had left, Kili pulled himself up. "We have to jump! On the count of three, two, one."
On the last count, Maggie and Kili jumped into a barrel and Kili groaned out in pain. Once again Maggie's head drifted in and out of the water. In her blurry vision she saw orcs trying to catch up with the company and being killed by Thorin and Fili. One orc jumped onto Dawlin as Maggie grabbed for a barrel but lost its grip. In her exhausted and panic state, Maggie saw Legolas joining the battle and killing as many orcs as he could in his path, he jumped on a barrel and his eyes met Maggie's as helped her out of the water and into Thorin's barrel. As she watched Legolas fight the orcs, she knew the choice he'd made.
He was on their side now.
What Maggie didn't see however, was Thorin's wary eyes and that he had also seen Legolas' glance and that he had heard much more than he was letting on.
To be continued…
Another long chapter! Sorry! But things are picking up now. This was a difficult scene to write with lots of things happening and I'm still crappy at writing combat, but I hope you liked it. What did you think of Maggie telling Legolas the truth?