Answers to reviews:
jiubantai-taicho: yeah, I decided to take out that bit of Liante being similar to a Skin-Changer, I figured it sounded similar considering Liante can shift into a Spider.
Lilspooky221: You'll see what their relationship is like when I get to that point.
Ryu Otsutsuki: Sorry but not.
Light Hero Kaiser: Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit. I only own the OC Liante.
"This... may be more complicated." Liante said to himself as he sat on a tree branch, looking at the entrance to halls of the Woodland Realm, Thranduil's kingdom. There was no way for him to sneak inside without alerting every Elf inside and causing more trouble than necessary. Sure, if Liante took the frontal approach and just butchered everyone in his path, he could probably save the Dwarves and Bilbo, but going that route may not be the best option.
There's always different options than bloodshed.
Suddenly, he heard a loud horn blast its sound through the forest. The trumpeting call was so loud, it couldn't have been far away, and the son of Morgoth looked in the direction of the sound, his body tense as if awaiting an attack.
Deciding to investigate, Liante jumped from tree branch to tree branch with the agility and grace of a spider. He did this for ten minutes, when suddenly the endless trees came to an abrupt halt, and a raging river was churning in front of him. He looked on in brief surprise for a moment at the blue foaming waters, but at the sound of a shout, they looked over in time to see thirteen barrels come sweeping down the current… with a Dwarf in each of them.
As Liante followed their progression down the current, his eyes suddenly caught on something, and he quickly moved backwards into the darkness of the trees. He had spotted a gate over the river manned by four tall figures in full armour and armed with shields and swords.
Elves.
As the Dwarves in the barrels were swept towards them, the armed soldiers quickly pulled a lever that shut the gate, causing the Dwarves to stop in their tracks. The soldiers then quickly drew out their swords in perfect formation.
"I swear, these Dwarves always need saving." Liante muttered before he heard the sound of a pained cry and snapped his head up to see one of the armed soldiers fall between the barrels in the water, an arrow wedged in the centre of his back. Where he had once stood, a snarling Orc face appeared.
And chaos erupted.
The guards in golden armour were quickly overrun by the Orcs. However, it took Liante seconds to reach the outpost and kill an Orc from behind, then kicked it into the river before turning to another.
"It's Master Liante!" Cried Ori.
"He found us!" Dori hailed as well.
"Take these!" Liante shouted as he picked up the clubs and crude bone-swords from his dead opponents and tossed them to the dwarves so that at least two of them were better armed. He then kicked an Orc's fallen war-hammer to Dwalin.
"Open the gates!" Thorin shouted the command as he continued to try to force the gates open.
"A little busy at the moment!" Liante snapped back as he crossed blades with one Orc, parried it's attack and decapitated it only for another Orc to jump in and attack.
"I got it!" Liante heard Kili call out. He looked around just in time to see the black-haired twin climb out of his barrel and onto the shore, working his way to the bridge and towards the lever that had shut the gate. He was unarmed and Orc's tried their best to swipe at him, though he managed to wrestle a short-sword from one of them.
Liante's attention was forced back to the Orcs as three ran at him, one trying to tackle him so that the other two could cleave him, but Liante kicked the leaping orc in the face, stabbed the second through the skull and grabbed the third's head in his hand before clenching hard enough that his superior strength crushed the Orc's head like a watermelon. Liante barely reacted to the blood on his hand as he dropped the body and ripped his sword out the second Orc's skull, only to swing it and decapitate the first.
Kili managed fine though, and he quickly reached the lever. He extended an arm, but before he could open the gate an arrow came soaring through the air and impaled itself in his left thigh.
"KILI!" Fili's shout echoed through the air over the noise of battle and chaos. Liante whirled around to see Kili had been struck in the leg with an arrow, but not just any arrow.
A Morgul Shaft. Those were often tipped with poison. If it wasn't treated quickly, Kili will die.
Liante cursed to himself while casually impaling an orc behind him without looking, ripped his sword out and kicked the corpse down into the river. Liante then saw another Orc, this one different than the rest. The Orc had more decorative armour, and metal seemingly nailed into his head. His lips were gruesome strings of cut teeth-torn flesh, and there was a certain savagery yet cunning in his eyes.
Bolg, spawn of Azog.
Bolg had a bow in hand and a sick grin on his face, so it was clear to the son of Morgoth a to who fired the arrow at Kili.
Liante leaped over and ducked an arrow that would've hit his head. He checked Kili's wound and growled.
"Make sure you tell Oin to get some kingsfoil when you reach the shore," He ordered the Dwarf. "And don't do anything strenuous."
"I'm fi-"
"Kili, do not argue with me." Liante growled. "Kingsfoil, remember that."
Kili nodded. "Kingsfoil, yeah. Got you."
Liante nodded, then helped him to drop into the barrel below, wincing as the arrow shaft snapped on impact. He then followed the Dwarves downstream, though the Orcs were also in pursuit, so Liante had to take care of any that got in his way, tossing any of the Orc weapons to the Dwarves for them to defend themselves with.
He soon came to a halt when he saw the Dwarves had managed to get far away downstream from Thranduil's kingdom. He tense when he felt a presence behind him and whirled around to place his blade at the throat of an Elf who had his daggers placed at Liante's throat.
"You had better be very sure, son of Thranduil." Liante said in Sindarin, his tone a warning to the Elf Prince.
Legolas' eyes narrowed. "What business does the son of Morgoth have with the company of Thorin Oakenshield?"
"That doesn't concern you. And if you wish to live, you will not pursue me or my companions." Liante said with narrowed eyes, before lowering his blade from Legolas' neck. The Elven prince hesitated but did the same soon enough, and Liane turned and jumped down to a lower hill, running in the direction the Dwarves had went in.
"Anything behind us?" Thorin called, glancing over his shoulder to see that every member of his company, except Liante, was there.
Balin reported from the back, "Not that I can see."
"I think we've outrun the orcs," Bofur called, having clearly regained his usual optimistic demeanour.
"Not for long; we've lost the current." Thorin sighed as he and the company paddled their way towards the shore, all of them tired and wet and hungry and miserable.
"Kili's wounded," Fili reported. "His leg needs binding."
"Wait," Kili cut in, his voice thick with tension as he no doubt tried to hide his pain. "Liante told me to tell Oin about something. It was..." He winced, clearly trying to remember. "I think he said kingsfoil."
Oin immediately cursed up a storm, appearing next to Kili in a flash and peering closer at his wound.
"Oin?" Thorin asked, concerned. "What is it? What is kingsfoil?"
"It's a weed," the healer replied. "Useless to most, but in Rivendell I learned it has healing powers of great significance. If this wound needs that particular plant, it means Kili was struck by a poisoned arrow." He frowned. "We shall have to find some soon. I know nothing about it, nor how to unlock its healing properties, so we must wait for the lad's return."
Thorin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, before nodding. "Bind his leg," he ordered. "You have two minutes, and then we must leave."
"It could make his leg worse-"
"We have no time to delay," Thorin cut in, though it pained him to do so. "We still have an Orc pack on our tail. We must keep moving."
"To where?" Balin asked.
"Well, the mountain," Bilbo pointed out, frowning. "I mean... We're so close."
"A lake lies between us and that mountain," Balin pointed out. "And we have no way of crossing it."
Bilbo huffed. "So then we go around."
"We'll be cut down by the Orcs, sure as daylight," Dwalin muttered, shaking his head. "And we have no weapons to defend ourselves."
Thorin sighed again. "We must travel to Esgaroth," he decided. "It is safe enough that we can hide from the orcs, and we can restock our supplies there. If we wait a few days, then there is also a chance that Liante may be able to catch up with us."
"So how do we cross the lake?"
A startled yelp had them all whipping around, only to find Ori had an arrow pointed at him, the owner of said arrow being a tall figure shrouded in shadow. Kili tried to stand up to help, but then let out a groan and collapsed again, his leg giving out beneath him. Dwalin jumped in next, bearing a rock in his hand, but the stranger fired the arrow and knocked the stone out of his hand.
"Do it again, and you're dead."
The voice was gruff, and bore a heaviness that often accompanied exhaustion, but was nonetheless firm and strong, and commanded respect the same way Thorin's did. The threat of being killed was also enough to make the dwarves fall silent for a moment. Then Balin, with tentative steps and his hands raised in a placating matter, addressed the man. "Excuse me, but, uh... You're from Lake-Town, are you not?" The man slowly lowered his bow, only the furrow of his brow visible with the setting sun behind him casting his face in darkness. "That barge over there," the old dwarf continued, "I don't suppose it would be available for hire, by any chance?"
Halfway through running through the forest, Liante summoned Shadowmere and rode the black horse to increase his speed of catching up with the company. He noticed that night was coming, but he didn't stop for anything. Unlike Man, hunger did not bother him as he already fed in Spider form, he didn't need to deal with dehydration. And being what he was, he wouldn't be able to get exhausted or tired from just running.
Shadowmere soon arrived at a lake and Liante got off the horse to investigate. He smelled Dwarves, a Hobbit and... a Man? Judging from the river and the smells, he must be close to Lake-Town, where the company must have gone.
Which means they were close to the Lonely Mountain.
Getting back onto Shadowmere, Liante rode on with purpose. It was less than an hour before they broke free of the forest, though Shadowmere neither stopped nor slowed, continuing onwards around the north border of the Long Lake. At the bridge to Lake-Town, Liante urged Shadowmere to stop, dismounting and giving him a loving pat on the nose.
"Thank you, my friend." He whispered. Shadowmere snorted, ducking his head and pressing it firmly against her chest. Liante chuckled. "Hodo, mellon nín. Agóreg vê. Sí hodo. (Rest, my friend. You did well. Now rest.)"
Shadowmere whickered, nibbled on her hair affectionately, then turned and walked away, leaving Liante alone on the bank of the lake. Facing the town, Liante reached and threw up his cloak's hood before making his way towards the gates. As he approached, the guards looked to stop him but all it took was one dark look from him to make them reconsider their action and let him pass without quarrel.
Liante continued to wander through the town, wondering where it would be that he'd come across his companions. As he walked people shot him dirty looks, jumping out of his path whenever they got too close. All except for one boy, for whom his curiosity seemed too great to fight. He looked to be on the cusp of manhood, maybe sixteen years old, with thick, dark hair and tatty but warm clothes. Liante paused when he approached him,
"What is it, boy?" The son of Morgoth asked gruffly, but not too unkindly.
His tone caused the boy to flinch. "S-Sorry sir. It's just... we don't get many travellers here. And yet lately it seems we've had so many."
Liante tilted his head to the side. "What's your name, young one?"
"Bain, sir. Son of Bard."
"Well met, son of Bard. Now, tell me about these many travellers?"
Bain nodded. "A company of Dwarves arrived today before the sun had set. They're with the Master now, feasting."
"Hmm." Liante hummed before he went to walk past Bain only to pause. He glanced at the boy who looked confused, then Liante took a small bag of coins and tossed them to Bain who caught them, surprised. Liante was already walking away before the boy could give his thanks.
'I must be going soft.' Liante thought, unsure of what to make of that. He was much different than he had been when in his father's army and led Morgoth's legions in battle.
Shaking the memories from his head, Liante continued on his way, heading towards the largest house in the town, which would undoubtedly be the place of residence for the Master of Lake-Town. It became achingly apparent this was his destination when he heard the loud revelry of the Dwarves echoing out over the town.
He approached the door, and was almost instantly stopped by a guard. "You have no permission to enter that hall." He spat. "Leave now, and rid us of your vile presence. Judging from your appearance, you must be one of them Rangers of the North."
Liante narrowed his eyes before he gripped the guard by the throat, causing him to choke. "I am no Man, nor Ranger." Liante hissed. "But I happen to be friends with the Dwarves and Hobbit in this house, so do not make anymore trouble for me... or else the ground shall be stained with your blood."
Liante released the guard and brushed past him, heading up to the hall and pushing the double doors open with a single shove. They creaked and groaned, and one seem to sag as it swung back, and the noise drew every eye his way.
In an instant the Dwarves' faces lit up, but before any of them could say or do anything, a man in dark clothing jumped to his feet. "Who are you to dare interrupt this feast, which has been held in honour of the return of royalty?!" He spat at the floor.
Liante raised a brow, very unimpressed. "Yes, such a fine display from royalty." Liante said sarcastically. "I have seen much better hospitality from those of royalty. As for you... I am unimpressed. I am merely here to rejoin my companions, for whom are feasting right now."
He gestured to the Dwarves and Thorin stood. "Aye, I can confirm he is with my company." The Dwarf stated, causing the Master of Lake-Town to look at him. "He is with us."
"H-He did not arrive with you." The Master pointed out.
"We were separated on the river." Thorin explained shortly. "He is also our help in destroying the dragon, Smaug."
The Master spluttered, but then managed to gain some modicum of composure. "Forgive me, my Lords, Of course you are all welcome to stay, as planned."
Liante almost rolled his eye against. The arrogance of Man will never cease to amaze him or annoy him...
And that's it for this chapter everyone. I hope you enjoyed it. We're close to the Lonely Mountain and Smaug.