Note: / is timeskip


The trees, dead as they may seem, evidently grew taller and thicker the further the company ventured into the cursed forest. Their thick branches and leaves gradually blocking out the sunlight until darkness descended upon them. Fortunately, that didn't slow the pace, well for the Dwarves anyway. Having been brought up under stone, they were used to the darkness, even the younger ones. Unfortunately, Bilbo and Alexa were not. With only hints of light shining through the leaves in the darkness, helping them see.

Alexa and Bilbo were left clinging to each other, stumbling through the darkness. Nighttime was worse, at least during the day they could see each other. But at night, they were basically walking blind. It got to the point that even the Dwarves could no longer see the path in front of them.

Thorin had soon called it a night. Causing everyone to let out synchronizing groans of relief as they dropped their heavy packs. They lit no fires since it brought out the creepy crawlies of the forest. Like a moth to a flame.

The first and only time they lit a fire, Alexa had almost passed out when she saw a tarantula crawling up her boot. She had screamed so loud that it was a miracle the company still have their hearing. Even Oin heard! And that is saying something.

Ever since that night, Alexa had taken the first watch. So, she could ensure that no creepy crawlies would touch her. Since the 'incident', she had been nervous to activate her lightsaber in the darkness of the forest. Worried about the brightness of the blade. If the company got attacked during the night, they better hold their own. Cause there was no way that she would ever activate her lightsaber in this place, in the dark. Force no! She'd rather take a shot from a blaster than be swarmed by the creatures of Mirkwood. Or force forbid another spider. She shivered at the thought.

Alexa ended up staying up all night, not wanting to face the nightmares that would surely turn up. It had been like this for many nights. The nightmare was always the same. Events of the attack on the temple, Anakin's fall, fellow Jedi dead around her and those she could've saved had she fought harder.

Jedi don't have nightmares, either visions or nothing. And yet the forest had a way of twisting her mind, she couldn't explain it. But each day that went by her mind slowly got foggier. There was something deeply wrong with this forest.

/

"The path goes this way," Thorin says from the front, taking the company on the first turn of the path.

As the company travelled further into Mirkwood, the clear-cut path soon became harder and harder to see. Outwardly blending in with its surroundings. Due to this Dwalin had taken the lead with his war hammer. Letting it drop before him till it would hit the path, as to continue following it successfully.

"This way," Dwalin grunts, directing them to the right after hearing a clear thud from the stones of the path.

/

White flakes glided down from the trees over the company. Alexa walked next to Bilbo, near the middle of the group.

"We found the bridge," one of the Dwarves called from ahead.

Rushing towards the front with Bilbo, the pair's faces dropped as they looked at the bridge; well what was left of it. It was too far to jump, too risky to even attempt. The water had a thick mist over it, almost inviting them in. Alexa watched as Bilbo's eyes glazed over. Worried, she grabbed his arm and tugged him away from the enchanting water.

"Oh… We could try to swim it," Bofur suggested, after seeing the ruins of the bridge.

"Didn't you hear what Gandalf said? A dark magic lies upon this forest. The waters of this stray are enchanted," Thorin said, his words causing Bilbo to snap out of it. Twitching his nose, he gazed up at Alexa, silently thanking her for pulling him away.

"Doesn't look very enchanting to me," Bofur replied, staring wistfully at the water.

"We must find another way across," Thorin said, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

"These vines look strong enough," Kili conveyed, a little way ahead of the bridge. Grasping a vine in hand, he goes to climb across.

"Kili! We send the lightest first," Thorin stated, stopping his nephew from going any further.

"Oh," Bilbo breathed, noticing the entire company staring at him expectantly. Looking up at Alexa, she nodded slowly.

"I'll be right behind you," she assured, walking with Bilbo towards the vines.

Grasping the closest overhanging vine as support, Bilbo walked along a thick vine beneath his feet. The vines creaked, swaying unsteadily.

"It's alright. Can't see any problems argh!" Bilbo grunted, almost falling into the water below. Luckily, he managed to wrap his feet around the thick vine he was previously standing on.

"There's one. Ugh! Everything's fine," Bilbo said as he dangled over the water.

Swinging from his position he grabbed the closest vine and swung over to the next. Leaping to the upcoming one, he found himself in a prone position, once more hanging over the water. His arms had a hold of the opposite vine whilst his feet were stuck on the previous. He stared down at the water, captivated for a while, breathing softly.

Shaking his head, he snapped out of his sudden daze and pulled himself up. Slipping across the wet vine he jumped over to the other side. As soon as he did, the foggy feeling suddenly got worse and the air seemed even staler; making it harder for him to breathe.

"Something is not right. It's not right at all. STAY WHERE YOU ARE! Oh, no," Bilbo muttered, as he looked back the way he came. Alexa and all of the Dwarves were climbing across; all at the same time.

Slapping his cheeks, he tried to rid himself of the drowsy feeling that had suddenly washed over him. Not too soon after, Alexa landed beside him, having successfully crossed the water without too much hassle. Which couldn't be said for the others. Bombur had slipped down onto a vine close to the water, having fallen into a deep sleep.

"Told ya I would be right behind you," she said, receiving a small smile from Bilbo - which was the first she had seen since entering this gloomy place. As she went to sit beside him, a heady rush passed through her head making her stumble a bit before collapsing against a rouge stump.

Alexa's head began spinning, the air on this side of the bridge was even worse than before. Breathing deeply through her mouth and out through her nose she tried to clear her head. Which had worked previously, but now the fog remained and grew even stronger than before. It was like she was heavily drunk, on the verge of passing out.

A thud sounds next to her and Bilbo. Thorin had landed steadily on the ground beside them. Not too soon after a creaking, scuffling sound comes from deep within the forest. The three looked towards the source of the noise.

Alexa's lips parted in awe as a pure white stag came trotting into view. The light shined upon the creature, creating a very angelic appearance.

The click of an arrow being notched sounded beside her. But she paid it no notice, preferring to keep looking at the ethereal stag. However, Bilbo did not. Flickering his eyes away from the stag, he looked towards Thorin who was slowly raising his bow.

"What are you doing?" Bilbo asked as he watched Thorin carefully. But Thorin didn't reply, too busy aiming the arrow at the stag. Bilbo's eyes fluttered back towards the beautiful stag, realizing what Thorin was about to do.

A twang sounded as Thorin released the arrow, it sailed towards the stag; missing it by a couple of feet. Startled from the noise, the white stag ran off into the forest, disappearing from sight. Alexa turned towards Thorin; a shocked look etched on her face.

"Why did you do that?" she asked Thorin, confused as to why he would ever want to slay such a magnificent creature.

"Meat," he grunted, not giving it a second thought.

"You shouldn't have done that. It's bad luck," Bilbo mumbled, gazing off towards where the stag previously stood.

"I don't believe in luck. We make our own luck," Thorin huffed, annoyed that the stag had gotten away.

Well, Thorin was wrong, so wrong it was almost laughable. As no sooner had he uttered the words, Bombur had slipped off his vine and fallen into the water.

After building a makeshift stretcher, the dwarves had successfully managed to pull Bombur out of the water without falling in themselves. And let me tell you that was a feat of its own. For it took eight Dwarves. Eight Dwarves to carry the stretcher which held the snoring Bombur. EIGHT!

/

As the days went on, Alexa grew more and more cautious. Always on guard. Always on high alert. She soon lost trust in the company around her. There was a constant nagging in her head that someone somewhere was watching her. So, she had stayed at the back of the group, where she could watch them, assess them.

Bilbo had tried to walk with her, but after her negative outburst from his touch, he had actively avoided her. The forest had changed all of the company, but Alexa's change had scared him the most.

He took note of how she strayed at the back. Eyes always wondering, always assessing the company as if they were about to strike. He knew she didn't sleep anymore, that much was certain. He had woken up one night or morning, he didn't quite know. To her rapid, shallow breathing. He had watched as she rocked back and forth in a fetal position, muttering incoherently under her breath. Whatever was happening was taking a huge toll on her. He silently wished that the day would come that they would get out of this forest, he could only hope that it was before Alexa lost her mind.