Chapter 13: Cloak and Dagger
Everything swam before the brown-green eyes of Ariel Brooks.
Her whole body felt numb and cold as she lay flat on her back in the middle of the empty darkness. She wasn't sure how long she'd been like this. it could have been minutes, hours, days…weeks…honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if years had passed since she'd first entered through those doors.
"You're awake," a voice hissed in her ear. "I admit I am impressed. There are very few who would have the strength to survive my wrath. Even the old fool Gandalf would not be able to withstand me on his own for so long."
She did not flinch, nor did she turn her head.
Not that she could've. She had no energy left in her to even blink…she scarcely had enough left to breathe.
She could faintly taste her own saliva as droplets of it dribbled from her mouth and over her face which was now a mess of filth and sweat.
She barely noticed as the voice of the dark lord snarled to the darkness.
"Balcheth! Take this dreg to the dungeons, but make sure she is unharmed. There is much I still need her for."
"Yes, my lord," rasped the voice of an elderly woman, yet she still sounded unsure "But sir who shall guard her now that you have sent out all your forces from this fortress?"
"You shall of course, and I expect nothing less than the best of treatment from you." The voice purred smoothly.
Ariel's head lolled to the side as she felt a charred hand smooth itself over her cheek and a hissing voice whisper in her ear with a forked tongue laced with poison:
"Do not worry my pet. I will make sure you are taken care of. After all, I cannot have my newest servant dying on me before I bestow my blessing."
"I will never be yours, monster" Ariel said, yet when she opened her mouth, nothing but her breath came out.
My voice?! My voice…
Ariel gasped softly, trying her best to breathe through her drowning mouth that appeared to be coming straight from her burning throat.
Somewhere beside her the old woman Balcheth chuckled maliciously as she coughed harshly her throat searing in pain.
"Do not worry my Lord. I shall take good care of this child"
Ariel winced as she felt her body be picked up by what felt like many ropes, though she could not see any about her.
Indeed, there weren't any as her body was carried as if on a cloud of air…a cloud of air with white hot needles in it that felt like they were piercing her skin.
"How sad…the little mermaid…struggling for air"
Tears streamed down Ariel's cheeks as she rasped and gurgled, trying to get a breath as she felt her body be carried through a door and down a set of stairs that coiled on the outside of the massive tower.
It took a painstaking effort, but she managed to turn her head to the side and open her mouth. At once red drops began to pitter patter on the ground she hovered above, spewing from her mouth like tiny rain drops in an April shower.
However, it was enough to drain her mouth and provide her with a clear passage for air so that she could breathe and let her catch a glimpse of the ruinous fortress.
Where there had once been hundreds of orcs, were now few sentries that kept watch on the walls or lower levels, with one small pack of wargs patrolling with them. Inside the buildings however she could see fire light flickering and the hulking shadows moving and fighting one another. Ariel could not help but shudder as she caught sight of the hooded sword wielding statues that guarded the foot of Sauron's tower.
Was it just her, or did they somehow feel…alive?
Maybe it was a trick of the strange dark lighting from the storm clouds above, but she almost thought that she could see a something pale flicker from beneath the hood of one of the statues…something like a skeletal ghostly figure.
But she didn't have time to ponder the horrible spectres as the few orcs in the fortress sneered and chuckled vindictively at the miserable sight of her.
She could only guess how pathetic she must have looked, floating in mid-air in rags and covered in a coating of soot, sweat, tears and other disgusting things…
However, there was one positive thing she was slowly becoming aware of. She could now feel her strength returning ever so slightly to her extremities. She even managed to wiggle her toes by the time Balcheth led her body down on the ground floor of the tower where a door led into a corridor lined with heavy metal doors.
It was to the farthest one on the left at the opposite end of the corridor that Balcheth all but dragged the floating Ariel.
It was a large stone room, completely bare of anything save a filthy animal pelt on the ground in front of a fireplace, which was empty and unlit. On the end opposite the door, was one window, if it could be called that. It was just a large square cut out of the wall and barred with thick iron and gnarly dead looking vines, with only a view of the overcast sky above.
Oww… Oh well, at least I can see the sky.
Ariel grimaced, wincing as her ruined body was thrown unceremoniously onto the pelt. Her stomach jolted when she it's head was still attached and felt her gut all but fall from her body as she recognized its shape.
It was a great black bear skin, mouth open in a roar. Yet even as Ariel looked closer at it, she could tell that it wasn't a roar of anger, but one of fear. Was this her fate, she wondered to herself in horror. Would Sauron have his fun with her, kill her, torture her corpse and put it up on display like a trophy?
She gasped tears streaming down her face as behind her Balcheth chuckled maliciously.
"Ah what's this? Crying over an old rug? You are truly pathetic. Then again this is no ordinary bear skin. No this is a skin changer-oh yes" Balcheth sniggered with glee as Ariel looked up at her horrified "Yes, a skin changer, just like that gigantic beast friend of yours. Such a shame we could not catch him too. Morgoth knows how long it's been since I've tasted their flesh. Who knows, one day when my master has regained his strength, we will finally hunt down the monster and I'll hang his pelt on my wall after I've skinned him alive."
Sick did not even begin to describe how Ariel felt as she lay there on top of the skin changer pelt. This matted, bloodstained, dirt ridden fur had once belonged to a shapeshifter, a living, breathing, thinking being just like Beorn.
Beorn…he'd been a stranger, but he'd been so kind to her even though he hardly knew her. And not just him but all those other kind people she'd met on her journey, like Gandalf, Aragorn and Elrond, Galardiel…and the dwarves …
Oh god she hoped the dwarves were alright. She could remember the look of terror on Thorin's face when she had been dragged into the mist. And Fili and Kili and Ori, were they alright. And Dori and Nori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Balin, Dwalin, Oin and Gloin…and Bilbo. Oh poor Bilbo, he still had the ring. The damn ring was here so close to its master! And she knew about it!
But no, I couldn't have said anything could I? Oh no if I said anything about the ring being here-
Ariel shut her eyes as she racked her brain over, only to whimper silently and shudder as she remembered the searing heat of the flames and the hissing whispers in her ear. Yet despite all this, she could not recall her ever mentioning the ring out loud.
In fact, she wasn't sure if she'd thought about it at all. Her fear of the flames had driven any thoughts about the one ring clear from her mind.
She sighed in relief. Trust this to be the one time her phobia had some use.
Now all she had to do was make sure he never found out what she knew.
Easier said than done.
She snorted to herself as with a gargantuan effort she pushed herself over onto a more comfortable position on the fur. The movement cost her nearly all her energy but now she could rest better. At least the fur was somewhat warm, or at the very least a reprieve from the feel of cold stone against her cheek.
She was vaguely aware of the feel of paper against her breast. What was that again? Oh yes, her father's letter. She sighed softly shutting her eyes as she rested a hand against her chest, feeling the envelope through the front of her ragged corset.
Hopefully it wasn't destroyed by the soot and the heat.
Hopefully…
Gandalf the Grey sighed as he led his horse over to the banks of a small nearby stream. He had been riding for a few solid hours, and while he had the energy to keep going without rest, his horse was still mortal and was growing tired.
There was a distant rumble of thunder and Gandalf turned quickly to face the east where he could see the green edge of a vast forest in the distance, shrouded by nasty looking storm clouds above.
What was that Ariel had called them, Cumulonimbus?
The wizard shook his head to himself. Of course, he knew about the proper stages of the water-cycle, and the different meteorological events that ruled the sky. Indeed, there were a great many "scientific" concepts from Ariel's world that he was well versed in. The only real difference was that he didn't complicate his knowledge with overly tedious classification and long-winded names.
Yet there was something strange about these storm clouds…something that wasn't right. It wasn't made from normal changes in the weather, that much he was certain of.
This is coming from the South East.
He frowned as he traced the path of the dark storm clouds with his eyes.
The South East…that was where Dol Guldur was…
He shuddered as he glanced towards his horse. Should he ride back? He could still catch up to the rest of the company if they hadn't already gotten themselves lost in the depths of the forest.
But no, to do so would be folly. He still knew barely anything of this Necromancer, or of his followers. If he rode back now, he'd be riding straight into a trap.
No, he had to know for certain of what he was up against.
Even so…he couldn't help but feel the hair on the back of his neck bristle uncomfortably as he looked once again over the green of the forest.
Perhaps I should've brought Ariel here with me
He pursed his lips worriedly as his thoughts wandered back to the red-haired maiden once more.
She was a bright little thing, if a bit hot-headed, and surprisingly cunning when it came down to her own survival. Yet he still couldn't help but worry for her safety. She was still quite young after all.
If Saruman could've read Gandalf's mind he would have scoffed at the Grey Wizard's apprehension.
"Always you must meddle" he would say.
But is it meddling?
Gandalf thought quietly.
Was it meddling when you took it upon yourself to take a young fledging sorceress under your wing when she had no one in the world to guide her? Was it meddling to feel fond of someone and worry for their safety when they were far away?
The Grey Wizard wondered faintly, if this was what human parents and grandparents felt when they were separated from their charges. Though he had advised and watched over many a family, he had never had one that he could call his own.
He supposed he and his fellow Istari could be considered brothers and sister, for they were of the same species, but none of them were related through flesh and blood. Only through the song of Eru were he and the Istari, and all the Maiar and the Valar connected.
Or at least that was how it was supposed to be…until Nuldien decided to throw all caution to the winds and bear not just one, but two children, with a human father to boot.
I suppose I must press on if I am to find out more about our enemy.
Gandalf sighed once again as he made to turn back to the mountains where he was headed, and into the gloom of the Wilderland.
Ariel barely knew when her eyes had shut. She wasn't even aware she had fallen asleep. She was so exhausted that she hadn't even noticed the small thrush that had perched itself in the gap of the window between the thorny vines just a few hours ago.
It looked down on her quizzically, twittering softly as it gently fluttered down to the ground by the sleeping girl's head. It tilted its head as it examined her grimy red-brown locks and chirruped gently as it hopped around to look at her face.
She looked like the human the Brown Wizard had described. Only she seemed far too thin and malnourished to even move. The thrush had seen more starving, orphaned hatchlings fatter than her.
He started as he heard the lock on the wooden door creak ominously and swiftly flew back out the window as it opened with a clang.
Ariel grunted, though a mere puff of air escaped her lips as her eyes creaked open ever so slightly.
A person was standing in the doorway. Not an orc or Balcheth, but a human. She couldn't see their face for they were garbed head to foot in black with nothing visible save their deathly pale hands, which had yellowing claw like nails and their eyes, two sickly looking dark brown orbs that were human in colour and shape. Though that didn't count for much considering her current location.
When they spoke, their voice was thin and raspy.
"My Lord Sauron bids thee welcome, little Loitare*"
"Ariel" Ariel mouthed, though as before, no sound escaped her even as she struggled to move where she lay.
The dark figure however took no heed of her struggles, the malicious sickly eyes crinkling with wicked mirth as they said:
"I am Ogol. The lady Balcheth has ordered me to see to your needs while you are in her custody. I must say it is an honour to serve one of the Great Master's chosen ones. It has been a long time since he has granted his blessing to anyone. He must have high hopes for you indeed."
His great master's blessing, yeah right. More like curse. And Ogol? Che! Looks more like an Igor to me.
Ariel glared at Ogol, but quickly faltered as her strength once more began to wane. If only she had her staff, then she'd be able to smash it into this filthy fanatic's face.
Now that she thought about it, where was her staff? Did Balcheth or Sauron have it? And her pendant-watch, it was missing too. Did it drop out on the floor while she was writhing in pain? Had she lost it in the forest.
What's the point?
She sighed glumly as she sank further into the fur beneath her, barely hearing Ogol's words as he bustled around her.
It's not like I'll have another opportunity to find them again. Besides I have dad's letter. Though it's probably burnt to a crisp too.
Suddenly her vision was filled with the sight of something greyish, slimy and lumpy set in something metallic next to a stale slice of bread.
"Now come little Loitare, you must eat. You need to rebuild your strength if you wish to start serving the master soon" Ogol purred as he lifted a spoon of the disgusting substance to Ariel's lips.
Despite her disgust, Ariel opened her mouth obediently but shut her eyes. Perhaps it would taste better than it looked.
It didn't.
It took all she had in her not to spit and throw the mouthful back up as the sludge was poured down her throat.
God, even sewer rats have better food than this. Oh well, at least there's bread.
Yet still she kept eating the dreadful muck, barely able to breathe as the man force fed her spoonful after spoonful with barely even a pause to catch her breath even as he stuffed small pieces of bread in afterwards to help bind her stomach. Though she already despised the man greatly, Ogol had a point. She needed to get strong enough to move and soon, if only so she could find a way to escape this hellhole. And the only way to do that was to feed, drink and rest her body for as long as she could, at least until Sauron decided to torture her again any time soon.
"Very well done little Loitare" Ogol simpered as she swallowed the last mouthful with a grimace. "Keep eating like this and soon you will be back on your feet. The master will be pleased"
He petted her on top of her head and chuckled as Ariel glared fiercely up at him. This bastard was treating her as if she were a feisty newly adopted pet dog that needed to be broken in.
Well he can keep on dreaming. I'm not broken just yet. No sir. Not me.
She scowled as she started suckling from a leather water skin placed at her mouth, though that too tasted exceptionally foul. Whatever brew she was drinking was certainly not water, or at the very least was not clean water. Still it was liquid that was keeping her hydrated…somewhat…
If I don't die of parasites or food poisoning it will be a ruddy miracle.
Ariel gasped as Ogol finally took the drink away from her, simpering and cooing over her with that sneering hiss of his.
"Now you sit tight here while I get you some more fitting clothes. No more of this disgusting green. From now on you are no longer one of those pathetic Istar. Now you are one of the Master's chosen ones. Now you are Lady Loitare"
"Ariel. My name is Ariel. Not Loitare" Ariel mouthed in silent anger, cursing him as he all but slithered away from her, sniggering softly to himself with glee.
"Oh yes, Ogol, will make you beautiful for the master, and he shall be pleased. Master has been waiting for you for a long time Loitare. A long time indeed."
His frantic mutterings trailed off into a fit of soft manic giggles that made Ariel's skin crawl even as he set down the tray of food he had brought next to her and shuffled out of the room.
She sat up gingerly, her muscles and back all stiff and sore from her earlier torture. However the meal and drink, while disgusting, had helped restore some of her strength at least. She looked around herself yet again, her eyes darting around every nook and crevice for some sort of way out. Yet the only way out seemed to be the door.
She winced as something metallic caught her eye, but it was only the glint of the small bread knife on the tray, glinting as the grey light from outside streamed in through the cracks in the solitary window-
Wait a moment?!
Ariel's eyes widened as she heard the shuffling feet of Ogol start to get louder as he made his way back.
Quick as lightning she snatched the small knife off the tray and stuffed it into the mouth of the skin-walker bearskin just as the door handle made to turn.
With an effort that all but winded her, she flung herself down upon the fur as Ogol let himself in, hoping against hope he had not heard a sound.
It didn't seem like it. For one thing, he was too preoccupied with the bundle of dark cloth in his hands and he was still muttering under his breath.
"I'm afraid this is all we have for you my Lady, but it will suffice for the master." Ogol sneered as he held the bundle out towards her. It was a plain grey dress, with long fitted sleeves and a frayed hem. It was so drab it could almost blend into the stone wall behind her.
Ariel's lip curled as her captor helped her put on the dress, doing her best not to panic as she felt his gnarled fingers slide oh-so-accidentally over areas of her body that they should never have been. Yet his reverence for his masters orders eventually overrode his desires and it wasn't long before he finished his task and roughly shoved her back down on the skin-changer pelt.
"The master will summon you when he is ready. In the meanwhile you must rest. Sweet dreams little Loitare, we shall make a great servant of you yet."
I have to get out of here.
Ariel shuddered as she gingerly pulled herself back onto her hands and knees and crawled up to the massive bear head on the ground. Carefully she pulled out the knife she'd hidden in the long snout. It was small, with a slightly dulled serrated edge, but at least it was better than nothing.
I have a weapon, now I just need a way out…
She looked around at the room again, her eyes falling on the vines that twisted and entwined themselves through the stones.
There had to be a gap between them somewhere, she wondered as she crawled over to inspect the plant life. Yet even as she looked over them she could tell it was no use. Half of the vines were already dead and had fused so fiercely with the wall that they had all but created a second skin over the top of it, binding and strengthening the blocks in their hold.
Still Ariel did not give up hope as she tried to carefully trace a path along the half dead plants down to the ground.
Water…all plants needed water. No, scratch that, all living mortal things needed water, even the orcs. Ogol had given her water just then, so he must have gotten it from somewhere nearby, unless Sauron was also a master at plumbing and irrigation.
There has to be some water or sewerage system beneath this fortress somewhere. There's no way they could support so many mortal life forms in one place without it. But how am I going to get out and find it?
How indeed…
Sauron's gaze hardened slightly as he looked into the orb before him. The reconstruction of his fortress of Barad Dur was progressing smoothly in Mordor. It wouldn't be long till it would be complete and when it was, the Kingdom of Erebor and the dragon and the whole of Mirkwood would be in his grasp.
All thanks to the carelessness of one wandering grey wizard. The dark lord could have laughed at how ridiculously easy it was to capture the old fool's apprentice. Speaking of his newest prisoner…
Sauron had to admit, that he was impressed by her fortitude. He had not expected the little half-breed to be so stubborn in the face of his power. But it would not last long. After all she was partially of the race of men, and unlike elves, man was far easier to sway to his will. The Nine lords of the Nazgul were proof enough of that.
He looked down into a blackened withered hand where a small ring made of three entwining thorns crafted from dark wrought iron, sat. As the dark lord turned it over in his charred fingers, slender miniscule letters in an ancient script seemed to glow and glimmer an ominous green light, illuminating the small shard of dark green stone that was held tight by the thorns.
It had been a long time since he had made such a token. The last of his creations had been the One Ring and that was now lost to him…thanks to that fool Isildur and his heirs.
The mere thought of that accursed mortal was enough to make what was left of Sauron's blackened heart sear with wrath and hatred. To think that a mere human would be able to make him sink so low…
No…this was not the time to focus on old wounds. Now was the time to act swiftly and decisively.
His hand gripped hard around the ring in his palm sparing a tiny glance over his shoulder. Behind him on the floor, the remnants of a tall, slender wooden staff which lay smouldering from where it had been burned, pieces of its shattered green crystal dull and lifeless on the cold stone. If only he had the One Ring, then he would not have had to resort to using such lesser materials like the girl's pitiful device.
The image in the orb before him swirled and changed as he focused his attention onto the young woman he had tortured mere hours ago.
She was curled on her side in her cell. Her eyes were open but she already seemed more alert than when she had left his chambers. Alert and determined.
A cold smile flickered over his dark shadowy form as his fiery eyes glinted with malicious pleasure. So she was going to continue fighting him till the end was she? Well, no matter, Sauron always did enjoy breaking the strong ones.
Darkness grew deeper and Bilbo Baggins grew ever more uneasy. The night air around him was oppressive and stuffy, so much so that he felt he could barely breathe.
It was like a great hand was squeezing him around his chest and neck restricting each breath as it came in. He had tried to sleep it off, but even breathing in his sleep felt difficult. Also he did not feel comfortable letting his guard down while beneath the dark shadows of the tall gnarled trees above.
By Eru, this forest was beyond sick. It was dying and rotting even as it lived and breathed around them.
And it only seemed to have gotten worse since a day or two ago when that strange storm had passed over the forest. While the canopy had kept out the worst of the rain, the roaring and howling of the wind through the trees was enough to make both hobbit and dwarf blood freeze in the veins of the company. It didn't help that at certain moments, they could all have sworn they had heard a young woman's screams of terror and agony carried through the air.
It was such a frightening sound that even Dwalin, the hardiest and toughest of them all had trembled head to foot as he heard it.
A strange sensation tugged at Bilbo's insides and absentmindedly he pulled out of his pocket a small ring of pure gold. It was such a pretty colour…so tempting and beautiful. He could understand why a creature like that Gollum would have been so protective of it. It was precious beyond all meas-
Something rustled nearby and he quickly tucked the ring away in his waistcoat as he turned to face the source of the noise. But it was only Ori turning over in his sleep on the leafy ground.
With a heavy sigh, Bilbo leaned back against the tree trunk behind him. This was going to be another long night.
One whole week…that was how long Ariel had been in Dol Guldur. One miserable week.
Yet it felt so much longer. Barely any sunlight reached the fortress through the thick storm clouds that constantly swirled over its skies. The only indication of the passing of time was the fact that the days were only a lighter shade of grey that would suddenly turn to pitch black once the sun had set.
Not that Ariel could see that happening from her cell. The only marker of the passing of time was whenever that miserable servant Ogol and the crone Balcheth came in to check in on her.
She still had the knife in her possession, and kept it hidden up the sleeve of her dark grey dress, which hung on her like an oversized curtain draped over bones.
Despite the food she was fed daily, she didn't seem to be putting on any weight. Indeed with each night that passed she felt as if her energy was being sucked out forcibly from within, along with the muscles on her bones. The lack of sunlight was not helping either and by the second day her warm beige skin had taken on a papery and sickly hue.
It wouldn't be long till she was as thin as a wraith…of course she wouldn't be surprised if that was Sauron's plan for her all along. After all what better way to get rid of your enemy then to turn them into one of your most despicable lowly slaves?
Ariel shivered as she looked up at the ceiling from her spot on the Skinchanger pelt. Something terrible was happening up there she just knew it. But without her powers she could not do anything.
Thorin was right, I am nothing but a useless human. Why did I even think I could do this?
Ariel sighed heavily, only to grip her knife tightly under her sleeve as the door to her cell opened.
It was Balcheth flanked by two muscular, swarthy orcs with battle scars all over their faces and bodies.
"Get her up, quickly, or else it will be your heads I will serve to the master." Balcheth snorted as the two hideous guards swiftly strode towards Ariel, snatching at her upper arms. They were so thin that the orcs already massive hands almost had to ball up into a fist to get a solid grip on her.
Ariel winced as she was dragged her up to her shaking feet. As she rose, she looked down at her ankles, which were so bone thin she was amazed she could even support her own weight on them as she was shoved out into the corridor.
They didn't bother cuffing her, after all what could one scrawny, powerless girl do to two fully armed, massive orcs? Then there was the piercing cold that struck her as they exited the tower to walk back up its steps that coiled around its side.
So Sauron wanted to see her once more, not that she could imagine why. She had no magic left in her for him to take unless…unless it wasn't magic he wanted?
She felt her blood run cold as Balcheth opened the door to Sauron's tower and bowed low to the darkness beyond.
"Master, I have brought the girl as requested."
"Send her in" the deep guttural voice of Sauron rumbled from within the shadows. "Alone" he added when Balcheth tried to step in first.
The hag looked taken aback, her eyes flashing scarlet and her hands smoking as embers sparked off angrily at her fingertips. Nonetheless she stepped aside with a bow of her head to let the prisoner past.
Despite her terror, Ariel gritted her teeth and straightened her spine as she took a bold step forward. Why bother feeling scared when she had nothing left to lose? If Sauron wanted to end, her then she might as well go down fighting tooth and nail.
Meanwhile, shrouded in the darkness, Sauron watched the bedraggled girl shuffle in. Though her movements were timid, her eyes were glowing with a bright green fire, one that seemed to blaze in the dark like a candle in pitch dark.
Though she spoke no words, she glowered into the darkness even as the door to his tower shut behind her.
The dark lord's charred lip curled.
Defiant till the end. It's almost a shame I must snuff that fire out so soon.
Legolas Greenleaf, stared out at the clearing in dumbstruck silence. He could not believe his eyes. There it was again, the white hart, tall and proud, its silvery antlers illuminated in a stray patch of moonlight that streamed through the forest canopy.
It was holding his gaze steadily, not even flinching once in fright as he took a cautious step towards it.
What are you doing here? You have not appeared in this wood for centuries, why appear now?
Almost as if sensing his unspoken questions, the white stag turned its head up to the skies. Legolas followed its gaze, only to see with his sharp elven eyes, a mass of clouds above darken suddenly as lightning flashed overhead. They were so dark that they blocked out the moonlight as they gathered, all but plunging the forest into total darkness.
Another sudden storm? That's the second one in two days…how is this possible…unless…
there was a rustle against the forest floor and Legolas looked back down to the clearing before him, only to find it completely dark and deserted.
A pair of light footsteps behind him told him that one of his company had just joined him.
"Sire, the rest of the company have finished their patrol of the western paths." The elf said behind him in the smooth tongue of their people "Where are we to head next?"
"The Southern border" Legolas clipped as he turned to face his officer, a tall Silvan elf with dark brown hair and eyes.
"The Southern border?" the elf blinked both in surprise and trepidation, "But that will take us close to Dol Guldur sire, and your father commanded us-"
"I'm not suggesting we go towards that damned fortress. Only to our borderline, unless we find anything worth investigating of course." Legolas rolled his eyes irritably. What did this elf think he was? A child that needed minding?
Thankfully the rest of his company were less fearful of venturing so close to their enemies territory, and a good thing too. He'd need all the backup he could get if he wanted to get to the bottom of this confounding mystery.
Ariel blinked up at the stone ceiling. Somehow she had ended up back in her cell, alone and once again completely drained of energy.
What had happened? Where was Sauron?
She coughed as she tried to suck in a deep gulp of air, the skin on her throat stinging and blistering horribly as she reached for it with shaking fingers. What she felt there did not help her already mounting dread, as flashes of memory suddenly burst before her eyes.
The oppressing darkness, a roar of fury and frustration as she struggled and writhed like a snake caught in a trap. Then a burning hand reaching out to grab her by the throat as her left hand was raised before her and something metallic slipped onto her finger-
She froze, terror engulfing her as she raised her left hand. There upon her ring finger were three dark thorny vines of severely cracked and fractured wrought iron entwined around a familiar shard of green opalescent crystal. The same kind of crystal she once had in her staff.
Oh no…oh no-oh no-oh no!
She reached up to try and tug the accursed trinket off her finger, only to cry out silently in pain as the iron thorns tightened their grip on her digit.
As they did so, the cracks in the iron began to glow a vivid eerie green. She looked closer at the marks curiously only to realise with a jolt of horror that they were actually engraved words written in a tongue she couldn't read, but knew by sight alone.
It was the same language as was on the One Ring. Slender, fluid, almost as if they'd been scribed with the finest pen, yet her heart couldn't help but beat faster with terror as she turned her hand around to see the rest of the engraving which was quickly fading back to normal.
As they marks faded, she could feel the vines around her finger relax, and as they did small tendrils of dark red blood trickled down her hand from where the iron thorns had dug into her skin.
So…this was his great master plan. Give her a magic ring and trap her with his magic like he did the nine Nazgul. She'd applaud him if she weren't so disgusted, or afraid of further hurting her already bleeding hand.
Yet even as she shook out her left hand she grit her teeth. No…no there was no way she'd ever become Sauron's puppet. Not now, not ever!
There was the grinding of metal on stone and Ariel turned around to see Balcheth standing in the doorway to her cell. As soon as she caught sight of the glimmering green stoned ring on the younger woman's hand, her black beady eyes flashed with a furious fire.
How could he? How could he-after all these years of service. After I've devoted my whole existence to him-he's given this-this brat his blessing?!
Ariel could not help but shiver as she looked at the hag's face. It was beyond furious, beyond any level wrath Ariel had ever seen in her life. Her chalky skin was now deathly pale, her beaky nostrils flared and her lip curling in a bestial snarl, making her look more vulture-like than ever.
And then her black eyes narrowed and Ariel felt herself be thrown back against the wall as an unseen wall of air knocked straight into her.
Head throbbing and eyes watering she slumped down onto the floor, barely able to see as Balcheth raised her hand once more, this time grabbing the younger girl by the hair.
"Keep your mouth shut and follow me brat" Balcheth snarled as she dragged Ariel out of the dungeons and into the lower levels of the courtyard. Their progress was slow and silent, save the soft jingling of the iron manacles that bound Ariel's bone thin wrists and ankles.
Wait, what's going on? Why isn't she taking me to the tower?
Ariel thought wildly as the old crone led her down further towards the bowls of the fortress.
As they moved, there were vindictive chuckles and snarls as Orcs skulked about the ruinous stone walls, trying their best to catch a glimpse of their bedraggled foe as she descended further down the steps, down towards a path that led to a bridge that spanned from the fortresses outermost walls to the forest edge about them.
So I was right there is water that runs under here.
Ariel's breath quickened as she looked between her the drop of the far away ground and Balcheths seething, skulking form.
Heights…heights…why are all these godforsaken places so high above the ground?!
But even as she thought this her mind travelled back to when she and Bilbo had fallen off the Stone Giant.
The poor hobbit had looked so terrifi-
Oh NO! BILBO!
Ariel was glad she was behind Balcheth for had the old hag seen the name she had muttered it would have been catastrophic.
If she's taking me to where I think she's taking me then she'll see him…she'll see him use the…no don't think about it! she may be able to read thoughts!
Had she known nearly two months ago she would be thinking or knowing such things as mind reading witches serving dark evil powers, Ariel Brooks would have happily offered herself up to be institutionalised.
And speaking of institutionalised where are the men with a straight-jacket for this hag?
"Don't worry my dear" the old crone laughed "I will not fling you over the edge. That would be far too quick and kind a death for you. No I have devised something more…entertaining to watch. Well entertaining for me for you see I have not fed my dear pets' fresh meat for quite some time…and I must say they are feeling rather peckish for something other than small woodland animals or those filthy elves. Che! You would indeed be a rare treat for them, though perhaps they might also enjoy feasting on Dwarf as well"
Ariel's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to exclaim loudly.
"No please no! Spare them! Just kill me and spare them please!"
However even though the words had left her lips…no sound had they made.
Somewhere before her Balcheth smirked derisively as she continued to speak.
"Now don't be so melodramatic it won't even take them a moment to swallow your precious little friend's whole after they trap them. I hear the line of Durin is a particularly delicious bloodline…but we both know you knew that very well"
Balcheth cackled as she heard the sharp intakes of breath as her young prisoner made to struggle against her grip.
"Oh don't think I didn't notice how close you've crawled under their skins my dear. How you're tearing down the walls of the stone cold Thorin Oakenshield whilst bewitching the heart of his first heir and ensnaring the friendship of his followers. Quite the little mover and shaker you are"
Tearing walls, bewitching and ensnaring?! Oh my god this old bat is crazier than her master!
Ariel whimpered mutely as she felt her arms accidently graze the branch of a tree that the old as she was dragged further and further into the trees. The wood was so thick that it was large enough to double as an overpass to the forest floor.
Even if she had the energy to escape the magic she definitely wouldn't have enough to survive the terrible evils that lay about her and before her.
She could only hope that the company were having better luck. But as with everything that had happened so far…her hopes and prayers were not answered.
Ages and ages seemed to pass before her eyes as she tried and failed to struggle out of the old woman's grip, her exhausted, malnourished body swiftly showing signs of fatigue.
She could never remember a time she felt so tired or so hurt…both in body and in mind…
Her mind…
Ariel winced as the dark chuckles of cruel laughter and the heat of flames crossed over her minds eye, the sound mingling horribly with Balcheth's cruel voice as it smirked.
"We're here my dear"
The hag gave a flick of her hand and at once Ariel found herself flung forwards onto the dirty ground amid a pile of ant infested leaves.
During their wanderings Balcheth had led them both back down to the forest floor…though the difference in height did nothing to improve Ariel's feelings. Indeed, it rather made her more terrified for the ground was filthy and covered in what could only be described as-
Webs…gigantic freaking spider webs!
Ariel was too weak to struggle now but her hacking coughs and sudden rush of breaths spoke volumes of her fear.
And how Balcheth revelled in it.
"It will be a slow process to eat you my dear." She sneered as the terrified girl descended onto the forest floor at her feet. "My pets have not had the flesh of a maiden in a long while…they will want to savour the flavour for as long as they can"
Ariel gasped as she finally got a look at the old hag's face.
Her…it's her…the one who…to Ian!
And indeed it was the same witch. She had the same chalk white wrinkled cruel bird like face and claw like hands. Her clothes were now jet black robes with a dark matted, blood stained and filthy pelt clasped about her shoulders Ariel was not sure what animal the garment had come from but she was guessing from the shagginess that it was the pelt of a warg.
"you" Ariel mouthed silently. How could she have not seen it before?
Balcheth smiled revealing a set of sharpened fanged teeth. Her beady sharp and cold eyes flashed as she surveyed the girl in her clutches.
"Yes my dear…it's me…now, which one of your friends should I take first?"
My friends?
But even as she thought this a familiar voice wafted to her from somewhere close by.
"I don't remember this bit. Nothing looks familiar"
Wait was that…Balin?
She felt her heart almost stop as the echoes of familiar voices hit her ears.
"It's got to be here"
Gloin?
"It can't have just disappeared!"
Dori…
"Unless someone's moved it"
Dwalin…
"It's not over here neither"
…Ori! Oh no! Guys! Guys! Whatever this bat does don't come close! It's a trap!
Balcheth smiled revealing a set of sharpened fanged teeth. Her beady sharp and cold eyes flashed as she surveyed the girl in her clutches.
Oh this was just almost too delicious to watch.
Seven days now…seven days and counting since the first night…
Bilbo Baggins' thoughts were now almost as sluggish as his legs as he slumped along behind Bofur who was stumbling before him behind the others.
They had been walking aimlessly like this for days now, hours and hours of wandering pointlessly through the forest. They rarely took a break, for the trees above were so thick that they could no longer tell if they were in the dimmest of days or the darkest of nights.
Time seemed to stand still in Mirkwood and not in a good way.
Bilbo only stopped in his tracks when the others stopped too, Ori leaning down to pick something up from the leaf strewn ground.
"Look" he brought up a leather pouch bound with black string for Dori to inspect.
"A tobacco pouch. There's Dwarves in these woods."
"Dwarves from the blue mountains no less" Bofur snatched the pouch from his friend "this is exactly the same as mine"
"because it is yours" Bilbo snapped striding forwards "Do you understand? We're running around in circles. We are lost"
"We are not lost" Thorin barked from the head of the company "We keep heading east"
"But which way is east? We've lost the sun" Oin pointed out.
"The sun?" Bilbo murmured his gaze drifting up towards the tree branches high above his head.
"We have to find the sun"
It was as if suddenly something had slapped him awake from a long deep sleep as his mind was filled with a sudden single clear idea.
"We have to go up!" he tried to yell over the top of the others who were now scrambling and squabbling amongst each other "We have to get above the canopy"
But for all the good his voice was he might as well have not said a word.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head to himself.
Fine if that's how its going to be then I'm gonna just go ahead!
And with that he turned his back on the company and quietly, in that stealthy way that hobbits could move, he lifted his large furry foot onto a low branch and swung himself up into the tree beside him.
The others, too absorbed in their fighting, did not notice him leave…and neither did the old witch who stood above them…for her eyes were set upon one prize and one prize alone.
"So…these are your pitiful little dwarf friends?"
Balcheth's eyes narrowed as she looked down upon the form of Fili as he was restrained by Gloin from lashing out at Bofur and Oin with whom he had begun a quarrel with.
"Ah…and here's your dear company leader"
She watched with intrigue, clicking her gingers to summon up a spell as Thorin Oakenshield roared above the rest of them.
"Enough! Quiet! All of you"
Attacop…Attacop…Attacop…
All the dwarves froze where they stood as whispers seemed to echo down from above.
"We're being watched" Thorin breathed as he looked about them and up into the branches above them.
There was a silence as the dwarf prince looked about him and his companions, his eyes narrowing as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle ominously.
After a full minute that felt like an hour, there was a gasp from Ori and he turned abruptly.
"Kili your bow" Thorin hissed as he caught sight of a shadowy figure step out from behind a tree close by.
But even as the young dwarf had set the arrow to the weapon Fili pushed his aim down yelling out.
"No don't shoot!"
But Kili didn't even need to hear the shout as his bow arm automatically lowered, his brown eyes wide with horror as he stared at his would-be target.
A taller, unnaturally thin young woman had stumbled into the clearing as a gnarled hand pushed her lower back. Her body was garbed in a tattered dark grey dress that seemed to hang off her body, contrasting starkly with a long sheet of filthy hair that was a horrifyingly familiar deep red-brown shade.
"Lass…" Balin breathed in shock as the hand at the girl's back shoved her forwards further into the clearing with such force that she landed heavily to the ground. The impact from the fall with a painful shove the impact completely winding her and making her bruised and battered body ache even more as she landed on her face.
She heard the thumping of hard boots rushing towards her and struggled a little as a pair of familiar hands made to turn her over onto her back.
"Ariel! Ariel can you hear us?"
Fili…Kili…
In spite of herself, the corners of Ariel's mouth twitched upwards in a small smile as the face of the two dwarves wafted in and out of focus. She tried to open her mouth to speak only to cough again, this time feeling her throat tear from within.
Fili watched in horror as a bubble of blood gurgled in her mouth and burst, staining her lips and chin red.
"Oin quick get over here! She's hurt!" he heard Kili call from his side, panic the only emotion in his voice as the others rushed forwards to their aid.
"it's alright Ariel…just hold on, we've got you" Fili grabbed hold of Ariel's limp hand, squeezing it tightly as her eyelids began to droop "Ariel!"
There was a rustle as Oin came scuffling along quickly with his gear and pack open and ready.
"Move aside! Move aside lads." He made to swat Fili and Kili away.
They were reluctant to move from their friend's side However Thorin came up to both of them and put a firm but soothing hand on each of their shoulders.
The two brothers turned to glare at him but stopped as they saw the soft gleam in their uncle's eyes as he gently pulled them back to give the healer some space.
No one dared move a muscle whilst Oin worked on examining the young girl's form as she seemed to hang on the edge of wake and sleep.
After a few minutes the dwarf healer looked up at the others his face grim but still relieved somewhat.
"Her pulse is strong…her breath not so much, but she's-"
But what Ariel was no one found out for at that moment several dark shapes pounced down from the trees above…giant shapes with eight hairy legs each.
"Spiders! Giant Spiders!" Gloin yelled both in fury and in terror as he brandished his weapon along with the others.
Ariel opened her mouth to scream but it was of no use, her distraction had proven to be most effective and soon the dwarves were each hoisted up by sharp mandibles and tugged upwards into the waiting clutches of the gigantic arachnids. Each one was about the size of a small car their long legs spindling their prey round and round as they ensnared them in a strange white string like substance that they excreted from their bodies.
It was Dori and Nori who was the first to go when they both accidently tripped over each other in an attempt to get a better footing.
Then went Gloin and Balin along with Bifur, whose loud war cry in Kazad was lost as he was wrapped up in the spider webs, like the filling of a bread wrap.
"Stay together" Thorin roared as he sliced down an arachnid close to him with Orcrist. But his words were of no use.
Bofur, Dwalin and Bombur, who had all lunged forwards to kill a spider had been picked up instead by three of its fellows and were being hoisted up into the shadows of the trees.
Thorin did his best to cover Oin, Ori, Fili and Kili as the four of them made to drag Ariel's body away, but he soon found himself outnumbered as not one but two giant spiders made to latch themselves onto him from either side.
When they saw their leader become trapped by the spiders webs, Oin and Ori both rushed forwards brandishing their weapons as Fili and Kili did their best to lift Ariel's limp weak form away from the danger.
However they were just as unsuccessful as their friends. Barely two paces back and a giant spider leapt at Kili who had to drop Ariel's arm just in time to leap aside.
"Kili…" Fili breathed as he saw his brother trip over a tree root sticking out of the ground.
The poor young dwarf cried out in surprise as he tried to scramble to his feet only to find all his limbs sticking flat to the ground where a large web had been woven.
There was a snapping sound from above and Kili looked down at Fili and Ariel with dread before he was snatched up swiftly in a sack of white spider webs.
"KILI!" Fili roared as the trapped dwarf began to be pulled up into the tree by a large spider.
Without even pausing to think he lunged for the sack only to miss and land face first in the dirt just as something crashed down from behind.
"NO! FILI!"
Ariel struggled on the ground whimpering silently as a black spider snared up the last dwarf with a web, his body writhing as he tried desperately to reach out and escape.
And all I can do is watch!
Ariel once more felt tears spill from her eyes as she watched the cocoon web about Fili begin to grow still as it was wound tighter and tighter as the spider trapping him rolled him up the slender string of web and up into the trees.
Cackling madly Balcheth leapt down from her spot on the great tree root and stalked low towards her prey, her breaths coming out in low soft hisses of excitement.
"Now that was what I call a show!'
The hag knelt down beside her captive, flicking out what appeared to be a cruelly shaped dagger made from a wargs fang.
Ariel stiffened her body trembling as the blade came tantalisingly close to the side of her head.
However it did not make contact with the skin. Instead in a smooth fast little swipe a single lock of hair, indeed one of her long side bangs on the right of her face, was cut away.
Ariel watched confusion mixing with her fear as Balcheth pulled out a tiny vial and slipped the red-brown lock into it.
"just in case" she hissed softly as she made to stand up as she did she pulled something out of the depths of her warg pelt cloak.
It was a dagger, with a rusted, warped piece of sharpened metal for the blade and an ugly carved hilt carved to resemble a monstrous bird.
Ariel opened her mouth to speak even though she knew it was pointless now to do so, as Balcheth made to delicately trace over the blade in her talon like hands.
"It is a beautiful work…" she stepped forward so that her foot was now pressing down onto Ariel's left wrist. "Shame…that I would waste it on someone like you. Oh well, at least now my lord and master's mistake shall be rectified and I will take that blessing he has bestowed upon you and become his right hand as was meant to."
Ariel's sobs were silent save for the small gasps and gurgles for breath as Balcheth held her down in a secure hold, one of her hands reaching to grab the girl's left hand and hold it still above her head.
Once it was secure she wasted no time tracing the edg of the knife against Ariel's wrist just above the manacle, as if she were a butcher trying to figure out which part of the meat she wanted to cut off her prey.
"stop squirming you little brat" she muttered as Ariel kept writhing and twisting under her weakly.
Ariel however was too panicked to even care for threats. It was almost like the feeling she had when she first had seen Ian in that hospital…so still…barely hanging on by a thread to life…
And now he's never going to make it…
She shut her eyes. Her powers were gone…she was separated from her friends…she was going to die alone by getting eaten by giant spiders.
Heck forget Ian, I'm not going to make it…
Balcheth's joy at her prey's dismay and despair was unparalleled as she let loose a cackle of mirth that echoed about the clearing around them.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Where are your precious mummy and daddy to save you now girl?! Where are they?! I'll tell you where they are. They're safe and snug at home with their perfect son! And your dear new friends they've gone on through this forest without you! To them the gold at the end of the road was more important than the life of one measly weak little girl! They've left you here to rot! And rot you shall for you are nothing! Nothing but a-AHH!"
Balcheth screeched like a banshee as something sharp slashed wildly up at her barely missing her face by inches, only to be tackled backwards to the ground the dagger in her hand all but flying away from her along with a rusted old bread knife.
Ariel panted as she tried her best to pin her would be attacker to the ground. Beads of sweat trickled down her face as she aimed a weak punch at Balcheth's jaw. It hit it's mark but barely caused a dent in the woman's face which snarled angrily as she yanked a gnarled-claw-like hand from her victim's grip.
Ariel cried out in silent pain as one of Balcheth's nails scraped a deep gash into her cheek, before she was once again rolled over onto her back, a gnarled hand reaching for her burnt throat.
"You little fool" Balcheth wheezed as she began to squeeze the girl's windpipe good and tight. "You think you can defeat me in this miserable state? How pitiful"
Ariel gasped and spluttered as with trembling weak fingers she reached up to try and claw at the hands wrapped around her throat. This, combined with the sting of her burnt flesh was so painful, she almost blacked out.
However she kept holding on with all her might to whatever consciousness she had left.
No-no-no! Don't give up! Don't give up!
She thought wildly as she struggled against the tightening grip, black dots starting to appear in her vision.
You didn't get defeated by Sauron! Don't let this hag do you in…you're almost there…almost…just…need…air…
Then suddenly, there was a sharp twang of tightened string and the shwip of something slender flying through the air as fast as lightning.
Bilbo could barely believe his eyes. He was above the top of the canopy of the accursed forest, looking into the pinkish red glow of a setting sun that fell over a gigantic lake in the distance. And even further high in the north east a faint outline of a shadowy peak.
The mountain! Oh goodness we're almost there, almost at the end!
He looked over the view, breathing in the fresh air with relief and wonderment. He'd never before appreciated how good it felt just to breath clean air once more.
However, even as he made to inhale the breeze blowing in his face a distant echo of a scream from down below reached his ears and he looked down.
"What was that?" he murmured to himself as he climbed down just to the branches below only to have his foot slip.
"Oh no…oh come on" he rolled his eyes as he caught sight of the sticky white webs beneath his feet as he tripped over them.
With a cry that was swallowed by the air around him he fell towards the ground.
Desperately he writhed, his limbs flailing about until he eventually managed to grab hold of a branch. But even as he managed to secure a grip he realised to his dread that he'd come face to face with a big, hairy, many eyed spider.
It roared in his face and he yelled, letting go of his grip on his safe branch only to land flat on his back in a white web.
He struggled and writhed, crying out in horror as he saw the great monster scuttle down the length of the tree on its long hairy legs, the front two of which reaching out towards him to roll him up securely into its trap.
Ariel gasped as she felt the hands around her throat suddenly retract as Balcheth fell backwards away from her, her malicious smirk quickly morphing into a high pitched screech of surprise. Meanwhile the arrow that had been fired at her, sliced past her face through the air, cutting off a strand of whatever disgusting white stringy hair she had remaining on her head.
Through the black dots in her sight, Ariel, summoned up all the strength she had left turned her head just in time to see someone leap down from the branches above landing solidly on their own two feet with the grace, precision and lethalness of a hunting cat.
Still clutching and screeching as she held onto her small injury Balcheth quickly made to back away from her new attacker as they advanced upon her, fitting a dark arrow to a slender but strong long-bow.
It was an elven man, clad in clothes of dark green with sleek dark armour over his shoulders and chest. He was tall in build, with a fair face framed by long white blonde hair and sharp bright blue eyes that were currently set in a glare of disgust and pure hatred as it looked upon the old hag.
"How dare you return to this land you witch," his voice was as cold as ice and so venomous that had Ariel not been so relieved, she would have shuddered.
"This land elf-" Balcheth spat as she began to back away "-belongs to my master-AGH!"
She shrieked in surprise as the elf shot another arrow at her one that barely missed her head.
With a feral snarl she lunged at him, only for the elf to dodge smoothly fitting another arrow to his bow string which he shot once more. This time he managed to graze the shoulder of the old hag, drawing a tiny scratch of what must have been blood only it was black in colour with a disgusting almost purplish sheen.
The sight made the elf's eyes burn with bloodlust, but he restrained himself most expertly even as he made to shoot once more.
However his arrow, though keen in its aim did not find its mark.
For Balcheth had vanished in a puff of dark smoke and faltering screeches of pain.
Ariel's eyes darted about nervously as hush suddenly filled the clearing.
She's pretending…
The young girl thought wildly.
She's going to come back and finish the job when he's distracted!
Minutes passed in absolute silence as the elf man made to scout out the immediate area thoroughly, not sparing any bush or any branch.
There was a tiny shift from the ground and he wheeled about swiftly, ready to fire another shot with his arrow only for the arrowhead to face down towards the girl laying exhausted on the floor.
He lowered his bow cautiously and slowly as he stepped towards her.
Ariel's breath quickened as his face swam in and out of focus. Had she not seen how tall he was or that he had no beard she would've mistaken him for one of the dwarves in her weakened state.
The dwarves…
A tear pricked at her eye as her thoughts fell over the now familiar faces of the thirteen dwarves and the one hobbit that she had spent most of her two months travelling with. She never realised just till then, how much she actually missed their company, rough and rowdy though it may have been sometimes.
Please…please let them be alright…
The elf seemed to notice her sudden sorrow in her eyes and his wary glare softened into a frown of pity.
The girl looked broken…lost as she lay beaten and battered in tattered scorched rags, her skin covered in filth, scratches and sweat and tears.
When he knelt to her side quickly, she began to cough and hack for her breathing had suddenly accelerated in pace as she began to squirm where she lay.
"Shhhh." he hushed her softly noticing with sympathy that her eyes were wide with fear at his proximity.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to help you. Now I know this may be difficult for you, but can you tell me your name and where you come from."
Ariel nodded her head ever so slightly and tried to mouth one word.
"Ariel"
The elf frowned as he saw the mouth of the girl move in accordance with the syllables, but no sound escape it.
A mute…but her tongue seems to be intact?
Seeing his confusion, Ariel did her best to silently mouth her name ten times slower, making sure she articulated every single syllable as clear as she could.
"Ae-ri-el?" the elf's brow furrowed even more as he did his best to decipher the silent word.
"Ariel? Is that your name?"
A nod.
"Do you hail from Lake Town?" she shook her head ever so slightly before staring expectantly up at him. For one who could not talk she had very expressive eyes.
"Who am I?" he translated her silence out loud.
Another tiny nod.
"I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm"
Ariel almost felt her entire body stop.
Legolas? Legolas! I was saved by freaking Legolas! First Aragorn, now Legolas? Two members of the fellowship of the ring?! HOLY GODDAMN SHIT HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!
Had she not felt so weak and beaten to a pulp, Ariel might have facepalmed or grinned with excitement and joy. However instead she promptly began to hack and cough once more, another bubble of blood bursting at her mouth again.
Right…injured close to death…friends missing…oh god! Shame on you Ariel!
She mentally chastised herself as she squeezed her eyes shut against the searing pain in her throat.
At once Legolas slipped a hand on the back of her head and another to gingerly rest on her abdomen, as he raised her into a sitting position, her body weight supported solely by him.
She coughed a little as her body adjusted to this new position. However, this time, she noticed with some relief, it was much easier to draw breath as it was easier for her to swallow the saliva and blood in her mouth thanks to the aid of gravity.
Legolas waited patiently for her to take several desperate gulps of air before reaching down to a belt around his waist. From it he drew a water skin pouch which he un-corked and tilted up at Ariel's lips.
Her eyes practically spilled over with fresh tears as the first trickle of clear water slid down her raw and throbbing, dry throat.
"Easy now, easy, you'll choke if you drink too fast" he murmured gently as Ariel almost managed to make her mouth latch onto the pouch like a young suckling babe.
She couldn't help it. She could barely remember when she'd last drank a drop of such fresh clean water. The stuff Ogol and Balcheth had provided her in her cell whilst liquid and drinkable had still been horrid to taste.
With every gulp she took she could feel her limbs regain small vestiges of strength, though not nearly enough for her to move her arms and legs efficiently enough to walk.
The elf seemed to notice this for he sighed softly as he tucked the water skin back in its appropriate spot on his belt.
"Come let us not linger here, it is not safe."
Ariel nodded meekly as she felt the elf's arms slide under her, one around her back and the other under her knees. He picked her up in his arms, doing his best to be careful of jostling her too much. Ariel leaned her head against him, her eyes drooping as she felt the robust but steady beat of his heart from beneath the armour he wore.
Legolas glanced curiously as the girl in his arms quickly succumbed to her exhaustion her eyes fluttering shut and her breathing evening out into calm but steady breaths.
She's young…
He noticed as he began to swiftly but carefully carry her out of the clearing and through the trees.
But she has spirit.
The corners of his lips twitched upwards with admiration as he saw her breath deeply and evenly. Most people in conditions like this would've succumbed to death remarkably soon. But she was holding onto the last threads of hope she had left to her, whatever they may be.
There was a rustling sound to his left and the elf stopped in his tracks, holding his new charge closer to his body protectively.
He sighed in relief as another elf with dark brown hair stepped through the undergrowth towards him speaking in rapid elvish.
"[Prince Legolas I-]" but he stopped mid-sentence, staring down at the unconscious girl in his prince's arms. "[Who in Varda's name is this?]"
Legolas however was not offended as he spoke in hushed but urgent tones. "[Ruidor, you have good timing. This child was a victim of that fiendish hag that we confronted two moons past. She requires urgent medical attention.]"
"[Of course my Lord]" Ruidor bowed low before quickly rushing forwards, only to frown once he got a closer look at the girl.
"[Poor child, she is very thin]" he murmured worriedly as his prince deposited the girl into his arms "[Almost skin and bones and her skin is warmer than what it is supposed to be by the standards of her kind]"
"[Then make sure Eryniel tends to her until we can bring her back to the halls of my father]" Legolas nodded sternly a faint trace of anger brewing in his eyes as he looked about the woods around him and his subject. "[I will return once I have hunted down that abominable witch and those Ungoliant-spawn]"
When Legolas returned to the camp of his hunting party, it was late into the night.
Most of the elves were either asleep in their tents or staying on watch by the light of the fire. One such elf, a woman with fiery red hair was leaning over someone laid close to the ground by the fire.
Legolas's mouth twitched upwards into a small smile as the woman quickly felt his eyes upon her and looked up to face him.
"[Still up Tauriel? It is very late]"
"[Says one who has been hunting down shadows in the dark]" Tauriel spoke lightly, almost playfully but he could still discern the worry in her tones. "[did you find what you sought]"
"[No. The hag seems to have crawled back to Dol Guldur or whatever lair she came from.]" Legolas now frowned bitterly as he stepped towards her and looked down at the figure she was tending to.
It was the strange girl he'd found earlier though this time he was able to discern more of her features as her skin had been mostly cleaned up. She wasn't as fair as an elf but he supposed was sweet by the standards of her race. Her skin was not wholly pale, but a soft beige, almost like light maple wood, and from what he could see of the patches of clean spots, her hair was dark and rich like a redwood. Her soft round face looked innocent as she slept silently, her body curling into the sleeping bag and blankets contentedly.
"[Eryniel asked me to watch over her until she has finished preparing the medicine]" Tauriel explained quietly, her eyes softening with sadness as she glanced towards a tent just a little way off in the clearing. "[She still has a fever to sweat out and her throat was heavily burnt and bruised. She won't be able to speak for a long while, if at all. Then there are the burns on her arms, not to mention all the other injuries everywhere else-]"
"[Poor thing]" Legolas grimaced with sympathy on the sleeping girl "[To be so young and already put through so much torture. I am amazed she has lasted so long in that accursed place.]"
"[So am I.]" Tauriel nodded grimly "[But she hasn't given up yet, so who knows, maybe she'll pull through better than we think. She has spirit this one]"
"[Indeed, Tauriel, indeed]"
They both quickly looked down as the girl began to struggle and squirm in her blankets, her eyes still shut tight and her breath coming out in fast desperate pants. Without thinking Tauriel reached out her hand to swipe over the girl's brow soothingly, murmuring in common speech.
"Shh…shh…little one. You are safe now and among friends. You can rest well tonight. Nothing will harm you"
Legolas watched quietly as the girl's body quickly relaxed, her head leaning into Tauriel's gentle touch as the elven woman soothed away her troubles.
"[What is that?]" he frowned as he caught sight of an opal ring set upon bands of iron thorns glimmering on her finger as it peeked out from under the blankets.
"[It's no use.]" Tauriel sighed heavily, holding his hand back as he made to reach out towards the trinket. "[No matter how many times we've tried to remove it, it won't budge. A dark magic surrounds it. Though considering what you told us about her fight with the hag, Eryniel thinks it was put on by force]"
"[I'm not sure what to make of this]" Legolas murmured softly as he made to sit beside Tauriel's side "[three sightings of the white stag and each time it has led me to strange findings. The flower, the necklace and now this child and this dark ring. What in all of Arda is going on?]"
"[Perhaps some sleep can help you figure that out]" Tauriel gave her prince a stern but gentle look that friends so often give one another when they are watching one another consume too much alcohol for their own good.
Legolas smiled.
Yes, a sleep would do him some good. Besides, he had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a long day.
When Thorin Oakenshield's eyes opened it was just as dark, as when he had them shut.
He racked his muddled confused brain for any details of what had last happened.
It was all a blur. Someone lying unconscious on the forest floor, an old witch's cackles, spiders spinning giant webs to entangle himself and every member of his company.
This has been without a doubt an absolute disaster…
Thorin thought grimly to himself as he did his best to struggle against the bonds tied tightly about him.
The spiders had done their job well, he could barely move Orcrist from his side, nor could he move his arms. He at least could kick out his legs, but with the way he was hanging upside down with the blood rushing to his head, it was proving to be very difficult.
He could hear Bofur and Kili groaning close to him as they also did their best to struggle free.
But to no avail.
That witch…tricked us so easily…dangling our lost friend in front of us…
Thorin snarled in his head as his mind turned to the forest floor.
Had Ariel been snared like they had in the spiders' traps? Or was she missing again? Was she even alive anymore?
She had looked on the brink of death, laying as she had done on the dirty ground.
If she manages to even live through such an ordeal I swear I will never again speak ill of a woman on a quest!
He pricked his ears carefully as the soft pitter patter of feet could be heard somewhere close by, followed by a great screech.
"AH! IT STING'S! IT STINGS!"
Thorin listened bewildered as something heavy thudded down somewhere close by and a familiar voice made to mutter.
"Sting? That's a good name. Sting."
Bilbo Baggins! You are another person full of surprises!
Thorin sighed in relief as he faintly caught sight of the Hobbit's shadow through the white web before his eyes.
He held his breath as he felt the great chord of web holding his body in mid-air get sliced. He felt himself fall but wasn't too distressed. The webs about him were thick enough to cushion him and some of the branches of the trees slowed his fall down considerably.
Though that still didn't stop the dwarf prince from grunting in pain as he landed splat on his back on the forest floor.
We're free!
Thorin struggled fiercely against the webs, tearing them asunder now that he had his grounding. About him the other dwarves were also scrambling to their feet.
He managed to catch sight of Dwalin's bald tattooed head, still half covered in a cap of white webs even as he made to start dashing over to help a very disoriented Balin up to his feet.
The dwarf prince quickly made to count the others.
There were twelve other dwarves in total, and if he had heard right before then Bilbo was somewhere up in the trees keeping out of sight.
As Thorin finally managed to get to his feet he drew out Orcrist from its sheath. It wasn't glowing completely but there was the faintest of blue glowing lines along the edges of the sharp half of the cleaver like blade.
His eyes narrowed as the small glimmer intensified as he looked about to his right where the hag from earlier was standing at a distance, watching with seething eyes.
Then suddenly a voice roared out, almost as if in a war cry, and Thorin turned just in time to see one of Dwalin's smaller Axes, one of Kili's arrows and even a pebble shot out of Ori's tiny wooden slingshot, fly past his face and towards where their enemy stood
Balcheth's eyes widened for a split second as all of the weapons spun towards her at top speed.
She dodged each and every one of them, save for Ori's pebble which surprisingly found its mark solidly in the centre of her wrinkled chalk white forehead.
She set loose a feral snarl that quickly turned into a screech as Bofur, Bifur and Gloin all leapt out from where they had been creeping up behind her.
Bifur's loud shouts in Kazad was indeed most ferocious as he swiped at the foul witch with his spear like weapon, Bofur translating his words for all to hear loudly.
"He says you are a dastardly horrible fiend! And that you deserve to rot for what you did to our friend. And quite frankly I agree"
"Do you now?" Balcheth hissed suddenly flexing her hands.
At once Bofur shrieked with pain.
The pickaxe in his hands had suddenly burst into flames in his hands, the blast so fast and so hot that even as he dropped it to the ground in shock it had dissolved to ash
Balcheth let out a cackle of mirth as the dwarves quickly jumped back from her.
"you fools" she sneered triumphantly "Do you not know power when you see it? I am Balcheth…the Great Hag-Queen of Misfortune and Death!"
"I do not care what your title is" Thorin growled as he advanced upon the old hag, Orcrist gleaming hot under his fingers "But you made a grave mistake by hurting one of our company"
"Oh isn't that just sweet, you do really care for them." Balcheth simpered maliciously, her eyes flashing with malevolent glee as a thought seemed to strike her. "And yet…you all had no trouble leaving dear little Ariel for dead?"
There was such a tense pause that none of the dwarves even dared move or breathe as Balcheth stalked about them in a haze of black smoke and flesh, her voice a tantalising whisper.
"She screamed for days you know? Screamed and screamed for someone to come and rescue her from the pain…from the scorching, burning flames…screamed for her parents…for all of you…but nobody came…hmm…now that is nasty isn't it…I wonder what she'll do when she discovers that her only friends in this world did not even care if she lived or d-"
Balcheth suddenly gasped as one of Fili's small knives flew at her, its aim sending it straight for her heart.
As quick as any of the dwarves could think she vanished in a puff of foul black smoke only to reappear on a tree branch above their heads, her body trembling from the shock of the sudden attack as she looked down on a small cut on her hand.
"…You win this time Thorin Oakenshield. You and your vulgar little troupe" she hissed, her voice as quiet as the wind yet sharper than his blade "but remember…I still have something precious to you"
And before anyone could even blink she vanished into thin air leaving thirteen very stunned, very horrified dwarves below on the forest floor.
"Look out!" Balin yelled suddenly and everyone whipped out their weapons just in time as several spiders jumped down from the trees suspended by ropes made from their silk.
This time however they were ready to face them. The dwarves attacked mercilessly, hacking and slashing at whatever flesh or leg of the arachnids they could reach.
They even had eight of the company pull off the legs of a particularly enormous spider intent upon devouring poor fat Bombur after he'd tripped.
"We're clear!" Thorin roared as Bombur managed to get up to his feet and begin running.
All the dwarves' hearts were hammering horribly in their chests as they ran, following their leader almost blindly through the undergrowth…at least until another giant spider blocked their path.
They just keep coming
Thorin growled in his mind as he made ready to slice the arachnid with his blade.
But then suddenly he caught sight of something just up in the trees above.
Something that looked phenomenally like a…
You have got to be kidding me…
He raised Orcrist higher in his hands as the tall blond haired blue eyed elf, jumped nimbly out of the tree, slid under the last spider, cutting it along its underbelly, and smoothly made to stand before him and the company as he fitted a new arrow to his longbow.
Just as this happened a host of more than thirty other elves suddenly popped out from behind tree branches and trunks, their bows also raised to strike as they circled the company of dwarves.
"Do not think I won't kill you Dwarf" Prince Legolas smirked as his arrowhead came level with Thorin's forehead. "It would be my pleasure"