Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews, my peeps! Thanks faithfulpoet, DwarvenWarrior, fairyshavetails, helicopter815, SwanInProgress, dearreader, WannaBeNinja, MistressLeia24, Emily, znk99fg7, CherryTree230, Michelle, uno mega, LeoInuyuka, Firverilin, Antheila, anna. pantelarou, Just4Me, TheHobbitFanatic, Desert Vulpes Zerda, TimeLady945, Sophdeloaf, UKReader, cauldron-of-ceridwen, and obsessed reader for reviewing. The favorites and follows are also dearly appreciated ;) Look at me using the word "dear" haha. Answers to anon reviews will be below.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Wish You Were Here
Two terrible cries of agony sent white-hot pain lacing Rue's bones: Gloin and Fili's cries. Fili had fallen down, curling and uncurling his injured leg. No. Rue trembled all over. No. Thorin had made a start for him, but was stopped by Legolas.
"Do not move, Dwarf."
"MY SON WAS STUNG! HELP HIM!" Gloin bellowed, bringing Gimli's head in his lap as he rocked back and forth, weeping.
The Elves merely blinked at each other, their gazes shifting over to Legolas for direction.
Foxy She-Elf had crouched next to Rue, gingerly touching Gimli. For a fleeting moment, Rue felt overprotective of Gimli to the point of wanting to punch the Elf in the face.
"He has no heartbeat," Rue sniveled, wiping the snot from her nose. "Please help him."
There was no answer.
Rue tried again, this time more defiantly.
"DO SOMETHING!"
Her cry echoed through the forest like a canon going off, deflating the silence.
Foxy She-Elf shook her head. "He is paralyzed…and still lives. The venom causes paralysis. We must get him into the King's halls…"
She didn't have to say it. The look on her face said enough. There was a chance Gimli might live. He was still alive. Rue slowly stood up, crying in relief. Alive. He was alive.
Legolas came forward. He grunted what Rue assumed to be commands in Elvish. The Elves forced her and the Dwarves to form a straight line. What? Rue felt like she was going to throw up the little breakfast she had.
Bilbo wasn't…here. But he had been here, which meant―
This was actually a good thing. Bilbo was supposed to have snuck away in the hopes of aiding them in their escape via barrels on the river. Legolas knelt beside Gimli, awkwardly beginning to lift him when―
"I'll do it."
Rue jerked in shock, turning to see Kili volunteering with open palms.
Legolas sneered, "Get back in line, Dwarf."
Kili glowered at Legolas heatedly. "I insist."
Fili leaned against Kili for support, struggling to stand on his own.
Suddenly, Foxy She-Elf was there, forcing her assistance on Fili as she swung his arm over her shoulder. The height difference was immediately apparent. Awkwardly, Tauriel bent down. Fili attempted to pry her hands off him only for Legolas to snap at him in Elvish.
Fili growled something in Khuzdul Rue guessed was an insult.
"He is also injured," Thorin pointed out sharply. Then softer, his gaze falling to the grass in humiliation, he spoke, "He is in need of aide."
Legolas scooped Gimli off the ground, wrinkling his nose in apparent disgust. Rue wanted to kill him. Seriously, she wanted to punch Legolas right in his nose. He was not the Leggy all the girls from her generation once drooled over when they were teenagers. This Leggy had a sharp sense of superiority about him. Gimli was supposed to be his friend in Lord of the Rings, right? That was what Tumblr had taught her anyway. A startling thought abruptly pricked at her mind. Legolas was never in The Hobbit. Eh?
"Search them for weapons," Legolas commanded as he started through the woods first, hurriedly leaping over branches, cradling Gimli in his arms like he weighed no less than a puppy.
Moments later, they were being searched. Some Elf seized Severus from Rue. Without the familiar dagger in hand, she felt lonely―fear shrouding her like the spider corpses shrouded the forest floor. Everyone's weapons were taken away. When an Elf took Orcrist and the oakenshield away from Thorin, Rue thought she was going to cry all over again. The defeated expression on his face broke her heart…Damn it.
"My son," Gloin moaned, sniveling.
The last thing Rue remembered was Foxy She-Elf asking Fili, "Where did your friend go?" Bilbo. Quietly, Rue gasped.
Her grip on him was suddenly firmer.
Fili smirked. "What friend? All my friends are here, captured by you and your dear comrades."
The Elvenking's Halls made Rue think of an earthy Taj Mahal when she had been expecting something like Hogwarts. She always seemed to revert to thinking she was in Harry Potter instead of The Hobbit. The Elvenking's halls―which partially had the appearance of a palace―were molded inside parts of a tree and a rock face. The Woodland realm was so far…very natural if that made sense. From the flickering sconces hanging from the wooden columns, to the narrow walkways formed out of brown-colored stone, eventually transforming into passages carved from wood, ascending higher and higher. Rue blinked in surprise, watching as her feet pitter-pattered across branches. They were climbing up fantastical tree branches.
It was…weird, this entire place Twilight Zone creepy. The air was heavy, silence berating her eardrums.
Foxy She-Elf―Tauriel, which she had learned was the Elf's name from listening to Legolas call for her―led them higher and higher. Rue wondered if all the climbing was going to stop, already tired as hell, instantly regretting how she had spent her week on earth. She should've been jogging and staying in-shape instead of eating Ho-Hos and Ding Dongs while keeping her butt on the couch.
There was an awkwardly loud gurgle from her stomach as they stopped in front of a wooden door at the top of one pathway. Underneath the pathway was open space―a cavernous drop where only slithering tree roots and a slinking waterfall awaited. Rue gulped. Well, that beat making a run for it.
Damn, she was hungry. An In-N-Out burger sounded good. Chili cheese fries. Yum. Rue licked her lips.
"Come with me," Tauriel suddenly instructed, leading Rue away from the Dwarves, gently tugging on the chains keeping her hands trapped. What? She obeyed, not particularly in the mood to start a prison riot. Rue snorted at herself. Yeah, right. Like anyone would follow what she was doing.
"Where are we going?" Rue asked, voice trembling, hands shaking like she was suffering withdrawals from drugs. All too well, she knew what drug withdrawals looked like…
"The Elvenking wishes for you to have your own sleeping quarters before he speaks with you," she said simply, staring down at Rue.
"Wait a minute," she started frantically. "I should be taken―" Tauriel pulled her farther away― "I don't want to go anywhere. Please? Please? I want to be taken to the dungeons, too!"
Fearfully, she cast a glance over her shoulder, eyes finding Thorin's. He stood tenser, on high alert, swallowing hard. Then discreetly, he mouthed, "Go." By one look alone, Rue understood why Thorin had told her to stop resisting Tauriel's commands: Fili and Gimli. They had been taken to healers straightaway and…
Rue nodded once. Must be courageous.
Balin was open-mouthed, gaze drifting from her to Thorin.
Kili gave Rue a halfhearted grin meant to be encouragement. Ori jerked his head as a goodbye. She didn't want to say goodbye. Nori found her eyes, unblinking, so serious it scared the hell out of Rue. Nori was never this serious. It only affirmed the insane: they were imprisoned. Prisoners. Thranduil would inquire about what they were doing in the Greenwood. They were prisoners with two wounded on the line…
These things hadn't happened in the book.
Fuck the book.
Rue blinked away tears of frustration.
Tauriel faced three Elf men detaining the Dwarves. She spoke in quick Elvish. Without hesitation, they began to round the Dwarves away from her and―
"NO!" Rue screamed. Stupid. Tauriel's grip on her chains tightened.
One last time, she met Thorin's eyes. His blue ember eyes told her to be strong. Rue couldn't help but remember when they had been inside her bedroom, Thorin listening to her play her cello. It felt like yesterday.
Rue heard a chorus of "goodbye lassie" from the rest of the company as they turned the corner. Nori told her to stay strong. Bofur said not to let the She-Elf's fluorescent skin burn her eyes―well, he worded it very differently, but the meaning was there.
Her heart was breaking―shattering.
With the feel of chains digging into her wrists, pinching her flesh, Rue had never felt so…hopeless. Gimli and Fili were injured. And Rue was nothing more than a prisoner―freedom stripped from her like the vermin she was. The only light in this stink-ass situation was Bilbo.
Bilbo.
Even in the face of imprisonment and hunger, Rue found herself giggling.
Giggles. More giggles. Tauriel cocked her head to the side in confusion before proceeding to unlock the wooden door.
Rue laughed some more. "My friend Bofur's really funny. You guys are―" She snorted, stumbling into the room as the door swung open― "Really tall." Yep, ten points for being so stealthy and smart, right? Thorin would be proud.
Rue was really beginning to hate her "sleeping quarters." Only hours had passed, but it felt like a lifetime confined between wooden walls. The entire room was earthy like the rest of the Elvenking's Halls. Bedposts were elegantly carved wood, molded into decorative swirls. There was a wooden rocking chair by the bed, which was settled on a magnificently woven brown rug ornamented by Elvish letterings.
She sat on the bed in a daze, blinking. Rue was beyond tired, but she refused to let sleep steal her awareness away. Nope. She had to be ready at any moment…Bilbo would free the Dwarves. What about her?
Shaking her head, she gripped her backpack tightly―desperately. Rue would have to rescue herself. She could do it. After falling back in Middle-earth―or waking up from a bizarre dream―a newfound bravery had flooded her very core.
Interesting enough, Tauriel had allowed her to keep her backpack after the Elves had dumped everything out in the woods and searched for weapons. It'd been kind of embarrassing when her feminine hygiene products had come tumbling out. Not to mention her underwear. Thorin had glared daggers at the male Elves, commanding they look away.
The worst part of captivity so far was the unknown. Rue wasn't sure how Gimli or Fili were doing. Rocking back and forth on the bed, she hugged her knees. Already, she had searched the room for a way out. But they were Elves…so it wasn't happening anytime soon unless she had wine to tempt them with of course. Rue snorted. So not funny.
Thud. Thud.
A knock on the door resounded. She jumped halfway off the bed. Rue was up on her feet, instantly missing the reassurance of having Severus by her side. Her trusty dagger was long gone along with the rest of their weapons. It felt like her arm was missing. Not until today had she realized she had developed such a deep bond with her dagger. If Eleanor were here, she'd be jealous.
Seconds later, the door slowly opened, revealing―
Tauriel.
"The king wishes to see you," Tauriel said airily, gently leading Rue out the room by the forearm.
On the bright side, her chains were gone. Rue thought it was a telltale sign the Elves didn't view her as a serious threat. Sexist jerks. Realizing her wrists remained tender from the brute of the shackles, she kept her arms by her sides in fear of further injuring herself. Rue briefly wondered if the Dwarves were still chained…
She hoped not. If they were, there was going to be trouble when she saw Thranduil.
The blur of strange wooden walls, open chasms below, a cascade of two small waterfalls gushing into a pond, and narrow wooden walkways clouded past Rue.
What felt like an hour later but in actuality mere minutes, they arrived to a staircase. Rue followed the steps―up, up, up. Her eyes froze on the throne. There he was, the legendary Thranduil. Skin the color of snow, eyes jarring in every look they cast, body angular, Thranduil was way more…divalicious than she had ever imagined. It was a weird description to come to mind, but that was what she thought: diva. Thranduil's long fingers elegantly pinched the armrests of his throne, his lavish jewelry winking at her mockingly from afar. Even his jewelry had attitude.
Tauriel beckoned Rue to climb the stairs. She ascended the stairs one at a time, knees shaky, heels throbbing. This was the man who had watched Smaug burn Erebor, who had done nothing as the Dwarves―Thorin―wandered homeless, cold and hungry. Maybe Rue understood why Thranduil had kept his troops at bay while the Dragon caused a behemoth of annihilation, but that didn't excuse him from offering aid in the aftermath. Thranduil could have helped while keeping his army safe. But he didn't.
Suddenly, Rue was beyond angry, seeing red as she paused a few feet away from Thranduil's throne. He peered down at her from his nose, a crown of berries nestled on top of his head. Who wore a crown of berries? All right, it was time to put an end to these hateful thoughts if she ever wanted the Dwarves to see out the quest. Do it for Fili and Gimli, who were at Thranduil's definitive mercy. Gimli had been stung. Rue needed to play things smart. She could do that.
"Introductions are a must," Thranduil started, his index finger curling against his armrest. "My captain of the guard told me she was not certain which race you belong to. As I look now, I am also uncertain."
Rue's lips parted instinctually to answer the question, but remained pursed. Uh. What was she supposed to say? If Rue lied and said she was a Dwarf…there was a chance her lies would catch up with her judging from the fact fourteen Dwarves were unaware of the lie.
She swallowed hard. "I am of the race of Men." It was time to imitate Middle-earth lingo.
"I thought you were a She-Dwarf," he cooed melodiously. "I have not seen a She-Dwarf since…" His words were lost as his gaze steadied in the distance. If someone else would have left that sentence unfinished, it would've been awkward, but not with Thranduil. The Elf exuded confidence and self-assurance, to the point of having a Justin Bieber-sized ego.
Rue awkwardly bounced on her tiptoes, unsure of what to say―
"I do not have to finish for you to understand what I was going to speak of."
Rue stupidly blinked, realizing with a start he had been referring to Erebor. Well, now this was awkward.
"No." She nodded eagerly. "I understand what you were going to say."
"I would not have expected Thorin Oakenshield to seek the guidance of a foolish woman―" Thranduil leaned forward, eyes narrowing― "Is that your duty to the company of Thorin Oakenshield…a guide?"
"Yes?" Rue nervously squeaked. Great. Her answer had sounded more like a question.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Tauriel pointedly shake her head, gaze lowering. It was a silent gesture expressing disappointment. Eh?
"You are not asking the questions, Lady―"
"Lady Ruby," she finished enthusiastically, grinning.
"Lady Ruby, are you not a guide? Because I believe it highly unlikely you would serve any other purpose in the company of Dwarves. You are a woman after all," he sneered.
Tauriel physically jolted from his words, eyes seething.
She nervously bit her lip. "That is what I am, Elvenking. A guide," Rue said thinly, voice unexpectedly shrilly during her last word. As a last resort, she bowed.
Thranduil smirked. "Your foolish attempts to cajole me will not succeed."
"But I'm not." Rue shook her head. "I mean I am not. You are King Thranduil. You have protected your fortress from the―the―"
Thranduil narrowed his eyes on her like she was prey and he was the predator. "Greenwood."
"Yes, the Greenwood. You have protected your kin and slayed the foul creatures in the forest."
Rue's gaze dropped to her feet. She was openly being unconfident. All right, Rue had to muster enough courage to stare him dead in the eye and start making demands: like to see Gimli and Fili.
Finding her inner-Gryffindor, Rue peered up at him, meeting his calculating gaze.
"Lady Ruby, if you simply tell me what you were doing in my wood, then we will no longer have to speak and you may be taken back to your chambers," he spoke nonchalantly.
Rue was speechless in contemplation. What in the heck was she supposed to tell him? She couldn't tell him about the quest. It was highly secret and something Thranduil would be against, right? Waking up a sleeping Dragon wasn't exactly the brightest plan, but, but―
"If I―I tell you, Great Elvenking, may I―I see my friends? How are they faring?" Rue nervously stammered, surprised she had even summoned enough guts to ask to see Fili and Gimli.
"Now, Lady Ruby, I shall be the judge of such things." Thranduil shut his eyes, leaning back in his throne. "Tell me what you were doing in my kingdom."
She stuttered, "Well―uh―well, we were taking the Old Forest Road, going to visit―" Rue scoured her mind of the Middle-earth map in The Hobbit book― "The Dwarves of Ered Mithrin. We must discuss some trade and Thorin is…he was summoned to a secret meeting. I do not know much more, for the Dwarves have kept such secrets from me. Dwarves…they are secretive." Rue nodded.
Thranduil tapped his fingers. "To discuss trade?" Another smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. All at once, his smirk vanished, making the hairs on the back of Rue's neck stand up. There was no more ounce of contemptuous mockery in him. He leaned forward, glowering at her with the utmost disdain. "Do you assume me to be nonsensical, to believe your deceits?"
Rue shook her head fast. "I can explain―I'm sorry―"
"Tauriel, remove Lady Ruby from my sight." Thranduil refused to look at her, turning away with his nose high in the air.
Quickly, Tauriel led her down the stairs and away from the throne. Elf men dressed in armor―soldiers―were gathered at the bottom of the stairs, standing more erect as Rue and Tauriel passed them.
Great. She had screwed up. Rue's hands were shaking, forearms unusually white. Wait. Her entire body was pale now. The fear of what she had done―of the repercussions they could suffer now because of her―ate at her heart. No. What had she done?
Rue didn't feel herself walking, but she did. She walked on. Nothing made an impression as she was taken back to her sleeping quarters. Awkwardly, Tauriel lingered in the doorway while Rue numbly sat on the bed.
"You should not have lied," Tauriel criticized, shaking her head.
Helplessly, Rue muttered, "I didn't―I mean, it's complicated." Interlacing her fingers, she nodded to herself. This was the only gesture bringing her any comfort at the moment…
"If you are summoned again, speak the truth. You are from the race of Men. It is understandable honesty is not as valued to your kin, but to Elves, especially the Elvenking, to lie is to insult gravely."
Rue sighed, "Again with the human thing…"
Tauriel's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. "I did not mean to…insult you, Lady Ruby, for we cannot help the races we belong to, but we may help our perceptions."
Rue merely sat in silence, wondering if she would ever get to see any of the Dwarves again. Come on, Bilbo.
"You speak strangely," she deadpanned.
Rue jerked in her seat. Crap.
Then Tauriel was gone. And Rue was left with her thoughts―with the feeling of being a utter failure.
The door was locked. There were no windows―no way out. Rue lay on the bed, morbidly depressed like film Harry was depressed after he asked Cho Chang to the Yule Ball and she turned him down.
Being alone forced her to think about things she didn't want to think about: earth, Natalie, Mom, her cello, the lost diary, and Mr. Scabbers. Who would feed Mr. Scabbers? What if time had frozen again and if she ever returned…she would be back in the park with the mugger.
A long time passed. Hopelessness seeped in her bones. Rue was…dead weight. Nothing more. Dead weight. She turned on her side, facing the door and sighing.
That was it. Enough with moping around. Her presence in the story―the quest―made a difference, and it was about time Rue started taking responsibility for what could and would happen.
She sat up bolt right, determined.
Rue dug a hair tie out of her backpack, putting her unruly frizz in a ponytail. Possibly the next time Tauriel came a-knocking, Rue could outsmart her? Yeah, right. She had seen Tauriel slaughter those spiders like Voldemort had slaughtered James and Lily. Head vomit. Regress that totally rude thought.
Knock.
A soft knock had rasped on the door. Hmm. Was it dinner time? Thranduil wasn't going to starve her, was he? Why keep her in this nice room and not send her to the dungeons, too, then? Rue knew the only thing keeping her from the dungeon was her…womanhood. Being a woman in Middle-earth had worked to her advantage for once.
Slowly, she climbed to her feet, traipsing for the door, opening it.
Tauriel was there, a frown disappearing from her face almost instantly.
"Hi," Rue piped up. "Is it dinner time?"
"Thranduil said you may see to your wounded comrades. Come," she instructed, beckoning Rue.
What? There was a joyful kick in her gut as Tauriel carefully led her away from her chambers. Rue was dumbstruck, searching her head for the right thing to say to Gimli and Fili when she saw them. Wait. Was this really happening?
"Are they okay? Is Gimli alive?" she asked, giving a happy hop.
"He lives. You speak of the Dwarf with red hair?"
"Yes. I assume you redheads have a private repertoire." Rue grinned. So not funny.
From the corner of her eye, she spotted Tauriel playfully smirking. At least one person thought her joke was funny.
Rue was close by Tauriel's side, escorted down the twist of mingling, thick branches. Elves dawdled around, traveling through upper passages lighted by sconces Rue could hardly make out from her ever-descending vantage point.
Minutes later, they arrived to a doorway, waning light flickering from the torches lining the hall.
Rue made a start to enter the room just as Legolas emerged from the doorway. She stumbled back, startled. This Legolas was fifty times more daunting than the Legolas from the Lord of the Rings movies. His stance was tense, eyes accusatory in every look they cast. In some ways, Rue saw his father and vice versa. Talk about freaky father-son resemblance. It was hard to believe Legolas and Gimli would eventually form a friendship…
What if her presence had changed their future friendship? In the book, Gimli had never gone on the quest in the first place. Crap.
Legolas gave her a once over before addressing Tauriel.
"Tauriel, she is a prisoner, is she not? Why do I see nothing that binds her hands?"
Tauriel…rolled her eyes. That was very un-Middle-earth like.
"Lady Ruby has no plans to escape the Elvenking's Halls. She wishes to remain by her comrades," she retorted sharply. One good thing had come from her mess-up with Thranduil earlier: Tauriel perceived Rue as little to no threat now.
"Comrades?" Legolas echoed acidly. "I would hardly state a woman from the race of Men has comrades in the form of…Dwarves." His eyes were in slits.
"Perhaps you are mistaken," she commented teasingly. "It would not be the first time."
Legolas shook his head, taking off down the hall. That was interesting.
Rue ambled through the doorway, into a large room with stone walls. There was a wooden floor and six beds on the left and right side of the room. Lying in two beds on the far side of the room were Fili and Gimli. Fili was wide-awake; smiling the moment he met Rue's eyes.
She sprinted to his side without hesitation, arms outstretched like she was Donna from That '70s Show running into Eric's arms.
"Fili!" Rue cried.
She was genuinely surprised as Fili welcomed her hug with open arms, smiling happily. They hugged tightly, Fili giving her a pat on the back.
"How do you feel?" she asked, pulling away to give him some breathing room.
Fili awkwardly watched Tauriel as she stood at the end of his bed. "It has been proven Elf healers are the best. I am feeling much better. And Gimli―" He jerked a thumb at him as he snoozed on the opposite bed― "The Elves were able to remove the venom from his body. It was unlike anything I have ever seen, Miss Rue."
"Haha, better not let Thorin hear you say that," she joked, shifting to stand by Gimli's side. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched him sleep. The memory of Gimli having no heartbeat was all too real in her mind, still too raw. Rue gently swept strands of his hair out his face. Just to double-check, she let her finger linger underneath his nostrils, feeling his breaths warm her fingertips. He was alive. Gimli really was alive. Her throat felt swollen shut…like she might breakdown and bawl any second―
"You must tell Gloin he lives."
When she turned at the sound of Fili's voice, he was peering at her curiously.
She imagined herself in Fili's shoes, enduring days in pain, feeling better at some points while feeling like utter crap during other points. Rue pictured herself with the same Dwarf stubbornness, refusing to seek help, refusing to see the injury was beyond Gandalf or Beorn's capabilities of healing. Fleetingly, Rue hoped Beorn was okay.
Poor Fili.
"I'll tell him when I see him." She nodded.
"I prefer you this way, using the word 'when' instead of 'if.'"
"I, uh, prefer myself this way, too." Rue clumsily laughed.
As cool as an alley cat, Fili put his elbows behind his head, speaking casually, "When you see Thorin, tell him I have my reserves concerning my current predicament. Perhaps you may help me when the time comes?"
Rue was totally confused.
"Uh…all right. I'll tell him that."
Fili quietly chuckled.
Well, one thing was clear from Rue's conversation with Fili. He was not referring to Thorin as "Uncle," choosing to deflect the fact he was the Heir. She assumed it was for his and Kili's own safety. Mentally, she added it to her list of things to remember.
"Lady Ruby, take your leave."
Tauriel was directing her all too soon, standing tall. "The Elvenking said you are permitted only one hour out your chambers, and you have more than one visit to make."
More than one visit to make? Did that mean…
Rue beamed. "I can visit the dungeons?"
"Yes."
She turned to look at Fili. He tilted his head; giving Rue a discreet "come closer" motion.
Bending down so her ear was close to his mouth, Rue's stomach was suddenly in knots. What if he told her something she didn't want to hear? Like that the Elves had already discovered he was the Heir and―
"Tell Kili to keep his big trap shut," Fili whispered. "Tell him to take careful heed of what he says and to who he speaks to." Pointedly, he glanced at Tauriel. "He is easily fooled by fiery hair."
Was Fili saying what she thought he was saying?
Rue nodded earnestly. "I will. Take care, Fili. When Gimli wakes up, tell him I was here―" Her voice dropped to a whisper― "Tell him I'll come back when I can."
Rue said goodbye, whirling around and following Tauriel out the room.
It seemed like Legolas's words had gotten to Tauriel because this time, she kept Rue even closer, gaze intently alert for any signs of treachery.
The coldness was the first thing Rue felt when she and Tauriel descended the stairs into the dungeon.
It was so freaking cold she was shaking like a leaf, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. The Dwarves were down here in the cold―in the darkness. The thought replayed through her head repeatedly.
Endless rows of prison cells lined the rocky walls. She stumbled down the pathway, greeted by―
"LASS!
"Rue!"
"Miss Rue, I have never been so glad to see you!"
The Dwarves were pressing their faces against the iron bars, the majority of them grinning from ear to ear.
A blur of red hair caught her eye. Rue tensed. Gloin was pressed against his bars desperately, fists clenched around the rods, sharp gaze unflinching. The bags underneath his eyes, rat's nest hair, and shallow breaths broke Rue's heart.
Straightaway, she went to his prison cell.
Gloin's eyes were as big as saucers, mouth parted.
"Gimli's okay. They got the venom out," Rue told him, patting his arm.
Visibly, Gloin was shaken, nodding. There was a round of cheers and whoops.
"And Fili?"
Rue turned, heart racing at the stir of the familiar husky voice. Thorin clenched his bars, eyes wide, searching Rue's for answers. His cell was across from Gloin's, next to Balin's.
She couldn't help herself, her feelings for Thorin winning over all rationalities.
Rue pathetically flung herself at Thorin's cell, reaching for his hands. Gently, his fingers covered hers as they both held onto the bars now.
"I never thought you'd be talking to me from behind bars," she joked.
"Answer the question," Kili jeered from one of the cells.
"Fili's okay."
Thorin slackened, his hand suddenly leaving hers as he reached through the bars. Rue inched closer to him.
"Are you harmed?" Thorin softly asked, his strong fingers caressing Rue's cheek. "If they did anything to you, tell me."
"They didn't. I'm okay," Rue spoke up sheepishly, leaning against Thorin's touch. Very fleetingly, he smiled. Too soon, the smile left his lips.
Rue noticed Tauriel awkwardly remain by the stairs.
Shutting her eyes, she got lost in Thorin's touch. Then―
Rue opened her eyes to find Thorin's fingers kneading through her ponytail. She pressed closer, cheeks crimson, all the while wondering what in the heck was he doing. And then she felt it. Tenderly, he pulled the hair tie out her hair, handing it to her. Rue slipped it on her wrist, eyes fastened on the floor as her hair spilled on her shoulders. He was exploring her hair, softly grinning.
"Your hair is―" Thorin cleared his throat― "It should be left down."
Rue bit her lip anxiously. "It's messy and in the way and―"
"Your hair is strong like a Dwarf's."
Forcing herself to chance his penetrating gaze, Rue swallowed hard, asking the question that had been on her mind ever since she'd come down here.
"Did you…did you speak to Thranduil?"
A storm surged in Thorin's eyes. He gripped her shoulder with one hand now, thumb caressing her flesh. Shivers shot up her spine.
"I did."
"And?" she prodded innocently, hoping for the best.
"And his pride ruined our only chance of making a deal," Balin explained, peeking out of his cell next to Thorin's.
Thorin glared daggers at Balin's cell. "I would not make a deal with the Elf who left us starving and―" He could not finish, seething, nostrils flaring.
Balin said optimistically, "Well, there is still hope for Miss Rue if she is taken to the Elvenking. She is much more charming than you if I daresay." Charming in all the wrong ways.
"I blew it."
Thorin's fingers tensed on her shoulder. "You were taken to speak with him?" Rage flashed in his eyes as he pulled her closer. Rue knew his anger wasn't intended for her.
"Yeah, and I―I made myself look like an idiot." Rue leaned even closer, attempting to whisper in Thorin's ear. "I didn't tell him about the quest. I said we were going to Ered Mithrin."
Slowly, she drew away to stare at him, scared shitless of Thorin's reaction.
Rue was expecting him to―
Wow. He was suddenly reaching gently for her shoulders and rubbing warmness into her flesh.
"Saying we were intending to travel to Ered Mithrin is ingenious," Thorin said quietly. "Do not worry, Rue. Thranduil already knows…"
She peeked over her shoulder to make sure Tauriel wasn't listening too closely to find her―
She was in front of Kili's cell, looking pretty annoyed at him as she said something about his lack of intelligence. Gimli might have high-fived her if she weren't an Elf.
"He knows?" she murmured.
"Yes."
Rue nodded, realizing how foolish it had been to attempt to lie to an Elf, especially an Elvenking. But her loyalty to the quest―to the company―had proven greater than her common sense.
"Tell me of better days."
Thorin had spoken very softly, like she was some neglected kitten. His request left her dumbstruck for a few moments.
If Rue had been locked up in a cell, she would've been requesting to hear about unicorns leaping through rainbows, too.
"I've never told you about my dad, have I?" she tentatively started. "Uh…those are some better memories."
At once, Thorin's eyes were bigger as he stood tenser.
"You have not."
"He…uh passed away when I was three." Rue swallowed hard. "I can't remember much about him, but what I can remember is…is nice. He was the one who called me 'Rue-Rue' first. When I was little, he used to put sunglasses on me and we'd dance to The Beatles. I remember he took me to this one lake. A goose bit me so he kicked it." Rue giggled.
"How did he―" Thorin nearly closed the distance between their lips, his breath grazing her upper lip and chin―"Did he pass on in battle?"
A very inappropriate laugh slipped from her mouth. "No. Not all men go to war in my world, Thorin."
Affectionately, he pulled Rue so close to the bars; the iron was forming little imprints in her arms and legs. But Rue didn't care.
"My dad died from a heart attack. Not something really bad. It's common in my world. I mean, not super common, but not unheard of. He was kinda―" Rue motioned to herself― "On the bigger side. Not the healthiest guy."
Thorin looked on in profuse silence, soothingly kneading her forearm.
"That's not exactly happy," Rue choked. "So better days, huh? I think better days were when we traveled to the Blue Mountains from Bree. Or maybe days ago when we watched Perks of being a Wallflower. If that…really happened."
"That was one of the better films I have seen from the race of Men. Us Dwarves know far better entertainment," Thorin playfully said, the word entertainment foreign on his tongue.
"Us Dwarves?" She grinned. "Actually, I think Thranduil thought I was a Dwarf." Did us Dwarves include her?
"He would think it, for your hair is long like a Dwarf's, and your loyalty unrivaled. But you are―" Thorin's hand flew to her face as he touched her chin― "Beardless. It is the only thing that gives away your true heritage."
She wasn't sure why, but she found herself apologizing for her lack of beard.
"I'm sorry I'm beardless," she mumbled, eyes hooded, downcast in humiliation.
Thorin shook his head, leaning closer to murmur inches from her lips, "Never apologize for your be―" He stopped speaking at once, warm hand cupping her cheek.
"I miss you."
Rue snuggled against the feel of his hand.
"As do I," Thorin breathed, their hot breaths mingling, bodies separated only by bars.
"When uh…when you get out―" Rue pointedly raised her eyebrows to make her point― "I think we'll have to do something really memorable to commemorate the event? Maybe swim in the river." She winked.
Thorin caught on to her hints, eyebrows traveling farther up his forehead. "The river? Will we be in a boat before we begin our swim?"
"Something much more interesting."
Thorin turned his head to the side, bringing his ear to Rue's mouth.
Sheepishly, she murmured, "Something that stores wine."
Lovingly, she watched his war piercing flickering in the glow from the fading torchlight. A strange compulsion surged through her and before Rue knew it―
She gingerly touched his piercing.
She gasped, jerking her hand away. Rue was officially a creeper.
Without warning, Thorin's hand shot to his ear, and then―
He was removing the piercing slowly, carefully. Rue watched in awe, fearing Thorin would hurt himself. How long did he have his war piercing? She assumed since his first battle. Thorin had told her about his war piercing long ago, or what felt like long ago. It felt like yesterday they were sitting in front of Bag End, Thorin fumbling in his attempts to apologize to her.
Seconds later, Thorin had the piercing in his hand, handing it to Rue through the bars.
"I wish for you to have this," he spoke quietly―huskily.
She opened her hand, jaw slack as the war piercing was tenderly placed in her palm. What? Rue was in shock, dumbfounded. She couldn't accept this. It was too much of a gift―
"Thorin, I can't." Rue shook her head, reaching her hand through the bars to return what was rightfully his. Thorin had earned his piercing. It wasn't hers to take. If she accepted it―
She couldn't do that to him.
Defensively, he puffed his chest out, growling, "Do you not want it?"
Rue's mouth opened before closing.
"No, it's not that. Thorin, I just―This is yours. I can't take it away from you."
Now cue Big Bad King Under the Mountain. What she got instead was a…sheepish Thorin. Rue didn't even know it was possible for him to be sheepish, but he was. His eyes were downcast as he gripped the bars tighter.
Rue shut her hand; fist clenched around Thorin's war piercing―now hers―as she nodded solemnly.
Thorin's gaze lifted skeptically. And then―
"Lady Rue."
Oh, no.
She turned with a start, blushing fiercely as Tauriel stood there.
"You must take your leave," she instructed firmly. "Say your farewells."
With that said, she traipsed for the stairs…kind enough to give them privacy for a goodbye. Eh? Well, Tauriel was turning out to be quite the unusual Elf in comparison to the other Elves around here.
Rue swallowed hard. Could she volunteer to stay down here? She didn't want to leave Thorin's side. Not ever again. Her entire day had been miserable until she had gotten the chance to visit Fili, Gimli, and the Dwarves down here.
"I gotta go," Rue uttered, barely audible as her gaze traced everywhere but Thorin.
Welcomed fingers clenched her hands. Rue looked down, open mouthed as―
Thorin gave her one last thing, something that made her heart practically skyrocket to the moon, something too overwhelming. She thought she was going to faint. The key to Erebor. He trusted her with it?
Hastily, she put it around her neck, tucking the key inside her shirt.
Centimeters separated their mouths as Thorin pressed as close as possible to her, parts of his body flush against hers. His voice was an octave lower, huskier and gentler than she had ever heard it, no trace of the familiar roughness whatsoever.
Thorin breathed, "Keep it safe."
Rue nodded, biting her lip and then―
Thorin slightly turned his cheek and she took her chance like a rock star―okay, not really.
Her heart was palpitating and pulse throbbing through her neck like a pickaxe striking gold as Rue leapt forward.
In a flash, her lips were meeting hot flesh, the dusting of Thorin's beard meeting parts of her mouth. She placed an affectionate kiss on his cheek. Her plan was to pull away fast and make a run for it, but she couldn't resist the feel of his beard mingling with her lips, the feel of his burning flesh beneath her mouth. Rue let the kiss linger on his cheek, Thorin tensing beneath her touch. Her eyes fluttered close. It was heavenly, Rue's entire being on fire―
"Bye. I'll be back. I promise. And Fili―I'll watch out for him," Rue stuttered, the words coming out clumsy and lame.
Slowly, she pulled away. Thorin brought a hand to her cheek, thumb caressing her jawline in an up and down soothing motion, eyes bright in…hope.
Rue sucked in a sharp breath, snuggling against the palm of his big hand. With great reluctance, she left the comfort of his palm―of his presence, gently walking backwards.
She turned. From the corner of her eye, she swore she spotted Thorin's hand fly to his cheek as he blinked in a zombie-like trance.
Tauriel beckoned her, seizing Rue's forearm rather firmly right as she was going to say goodbye to the rest of the Dwarves.
"Bye!" Rue hollered.
Out of nowhere, Tauriel jerked Rue to the left, away from the stairs.
Seconds later, Rue understood why as a familiar pair of blue eyes met hers. Legolas led the way down the stairs; several Elves behind him, holding someone rather short captive―
Tuffs of coppery-brownish hair met her gaze, hairy feet, and―
It all horribly clicked in to place.
No.
Ice coldness plunged to the pit of her stomach, every one of her little hairs standing on end.
And then she saw him being dragged toward one of the cells.
Bilbo had been captured.
Author's Note: I am changing things once again! Bilbo has been captured :p Until next time, follow, favorite, and review! Reviews are welcome with much love :D To people I haven't messaged back (on Tumblr and FF), I apologize. Lately, I've been in a writing slump and lazy slump. I'm getting behind again in writing my chapters :p Let me know what you thought of the chapter! Especially the big change at the end and the ThoRue moment.
Faithfulpoet: I definitely had fun writing the madness and action scenes. But the madness might've won that battle for once. Usually, I love writing action, but I had more fun writing things that just didn't make sense :) I love their pain, too, especially Thorin's. Now I'm feeling guilty LOL.
Thanks for reviewing!
Dearreader: Yep, and the plot bunny was totally impulsive on my part. I always planned to make the return more tangible, but I guess I prefer making things whacky ;) Your second theory is warmer to what might occur than your first :p
Thanks for the review :D
Emily: I will take your emotional reaction as a good thing :)
Thanks for the review form yours truly, The Evil Woman JK LOL.
Michelle: My best chapter yet? Thanks so much! It's always my goal to outdo my previous chapters, so that means a lot. I had lots of fun writing Mirkwood and ThoRue getting hot and heavy in the spider web LOL. That's what I do: make cold hearts warmer one day at a time. JK.
Thanks for reviewing :)
TheHobbitFanatic: Love for this story is always appreciated ;) What happened to your neighbor and Gandalf?
Thanks for the review!
Obsessed reader: I always love your reviews :) Oooh, I love the deeper stuff about Rue being found in the arms of her One if they both die. I never thought of it that way, but it seems true! Oh, that is most definitely! Thorin needs to learn to keep his hands to himself and Rue needs to stop being a tease—JK haha. "Cataclysmic." :p Let's hope I can make you really feel this way! Bitch Goddess of Cliffhangers? I might put that up on my Tumblr if that's okay with you? I love that nickname!
Thanks for reviewing :D