TW: Blood

Liliana was filled with a sense of gloom as she entered the forest. "Stick together and stick to the path." She told everyone. "This forest is dark and it's sick, it's going to try and get into your mind, try and convince you to wander away from the path."

"That's ridiculous," Dwalin said with a scoff. "It's just a forest, it can't get into your mind."

"Listen to her," Thorin said sternly. This was such a change from even just a week ago, and it would always take Liliana by surprise. "If we want to make it to the other side of the forest, then we have to do what Liliana says, stick to the path like she says.

They traversed down the path for what seemed to be hours, and everyone seemed to be getting more irritable the longer that time passed.

"When is this bloody path going to come to an end?" Even the jovial Bofur was starting to get fed up with things. "It just seems to keep going on for ages."

"It'll have to come to an end eventually." Out of all of them, Liliana and Bilbo were the only ones who still seemed to have some kind of enthusiasm left. "Mirkwood is large, but I have the feeling that we will soon be reaching its end."

"And why should we listen to you?" Dwalin snapped. "You are nothing but a half breed, and a woman no less."

This time not even Thorin scolded him. In fact, all of the Company, with the exception of Bilbo, seemed to be in agreement with Dwalin.

"How do we know that she isn't purposefully leading us astray?" Dwalin continued, gripping his axe tightly. "I always knew that we wouldn't be able to trust her. Not only is she a woman, but she is an Elvish half breed, she is probably working with the elves who live here in Mirkwood."

"I wouldn't do that!" Liliana protested. "You should know by now that I would never betray any of you!"

"She's lying!" Fili cried out. "We should have known from the start that she couldn't be trusted, but she made us lower our defenses, and now look at where we are."

Thorin pulled out his sword, and Liliana's eyes widened as she took a step back. "Thorin-"

"I should have killed you when I first got the chance." Thorin spat at her. "I made a mistake by not doing that, but I shan't make that same mistake again."

"Um, Liliana..." Bilbo said nervously. "I think that you should probably run."

Now, Thorin alone Liliana would probably have been able to take on, but now the other dwarves had taken their weapons out. Kili had his bow at the ready, with an arrow pointed straight at Liliana's head.

Liliana turned and fled deeper into the woods, away from the path. Kili's arrow just nearly missed its mark, grazing her head. Liliana could feel blood dripping down her cheek and a sting where the arrow had flown by.

Liliana quickly scrambled up into a tree, the foliage hiding her as the group of dwarves ran underneath her, shouting all sorts of obscenities.

Liliana had known that Mirkwood Forest could mess with your mind, but she hadn't thought that it would be this bad. She let out a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair.

"Liliana!"

"Bilbo!" Liliana let out a surprised gasp as Bilbo appeared in the branch beside her. "How did you know where I had gone?"

"I'm a bit more perceptive than the dwarves, especially since they're half out of their minds right now. How come you and I aren't being affected like this?"

"The forest affects everyone differently. I don't know, maybe the two of us have stronger willpower than the dwarves. It could be that our hearts are purer, it could be anything really. I know how this forest works, but I don't know the reasoning behind it."

Liliana sighed, her head resting back against the tree trunk. "We shouldn't have ever come into this forest."

"It's not like we exactly had a choice." Bilbo pointed out to her. "If we had gone any other way, then we would have never made it to the mountain on time."

"I also wouldn't have a dozen bloodthirsty dwarves chasing after me, not that being chased is exactly a new thing for me-" Liliana went quiet as she heard a rustling underneath her. "Ssh." She held up her hand, trying to decide whether or not she should investigate.

"Stay here." Liliana climbed down the tree, her hand reaching for the hilt of her sword when she reached the bottom.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A male voice said. "Turn around slowly, and drop your sword."

Liliana sighed, and her sword made a dull thunk as it fell to the forest floor. She turned around to see a blonde elf with piercing blue eyes.

"Who are you?" The elf demanded. He had a bow raised, the arrow pointed directly at her forehead.

"I am Liliana Stonehelm-"

"The half-breed. Your dwarf friends told us about you when we took them into custody. My father wants to have a word with you."

"Your father?"

"Thranduil, King over Mirkwood. I am Legolas Greenleaf." He took out some rope, tying Liliana's hands behind her back. "Now get moving." He started to push her along, and Liliana fought against looking back at the tree that Bilbo was hiding in. She hoped that he would be alright, and that he wouldn't get caught as well.

When they reached the palace Legolas brought Liliana to the throne room. The whole palace was underground. Liliana had never seen it before now, which was probably a good thing. Thranduil detested half-breeds, even if they didn't necessarily have elf blood in them. There were stories, stories of different kinds of half-breeds wandering into the Mirkwood realm and Thranduil made sure that they never made it back out again.

Legolas forced Liliana to her knees. "I have found the half-breed, father."

Thranduil stood up from his throne, going over to Liliana. "So this is the filth that the dwarves were all so concerned about." He gripped Liliana's chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I don't know why they would be so concerned, even by half-breed standards, she is terrifying to look at."

Liliana spat in his face, and Thranduil smacked her hard. Liliana fell to the ground, her cheek throbbing painfully.

Thranduil looked at his son. "Bring Oakenshield to me. He didn't agree to my terms before, but maybe now that I have a little leverage, he'll be a bit more cooperative with me."

Legolas nodded his head and a few minutes later, Thorin was brought into the room.

"Liliana!" Thorin tried to run over to her, but Legolas held him back, preventing him from doing so.

Thranduil grabbed Liliana by her hair, roughly pulling her up to her feet before gripping her throat and holding her tight against him. "You refused to bargain with me before Oakenshield, but now that I have your lover, maybe you'll be more agreeing to my terms."

Thranduil chuckled as Thorin's eyes widened. "Surprised? Wondering how I knew such a fact? You were so worried about her when you were first brought to me, and the love you have for her is clear in your eyes. Agree to my terms, or she shall remain in my dungeons for the rest of her life."

"Don't do it, Thorin!" Liliana said. "Don't do anything he says-" She gasped as Thranduil gripped her throat even tighter, cutting off her air supply.

"So what is it going to be, Oakenshield?" Thranduil sneered as Liliana's face went red. She clawed at Thranduil's fingers, trying to get some sort of air.

Thorin said nothing, and Thranduil threw Liliana to the ground, and the woman let out several raspy gasps, taking in deep gulps of air.

"You are a fool, Thorin Oakenshield." Thranduil snapped. "You don't know what's good for you, and for those that are in your so-called Company. Legolas, take him back to his cell, and then lock up this...this filth." He swiftly kicked Liliana in the stomach, and she grunted in pain, curling up in a ball.

"Liliana!" Thorin fought tooth and nail to try to get to her, but Legolas pulled him out of the throne room, the doors closing with a dull thud.