Chapter Thirty-four: Troubles of Mirkwood
Fili jolted a little as Bella again stumbled into his back. The first few times it had happened, Fili had actually stopped to make sure that she was alright. But Bella herself had quickly put a stop to that, saying that her feet weren't used to having obstructions in the road and were bumping into uneven stones and exposed roots. Fili reluctantly accepted it, acknowledging that as the case.
Yet now, they had been traversing the elven path for a week. Yes, the light never exceeded the brightness of a cloudy, predawn, but one could at least see the front of the line and the back at any given time. Aside from actual evening and early morning.
"Oh, botheration!" Bella muttered as she steadied herself. "You'd think the elves would care for their road a bit better. Smooth out the bumps, maybe clear roots."
"Agreed," Bilbo said. "And maybe even provide room for winds. There are reasons we spend summer afternoons out of doors back home."
"I suspect it wouldn't be half so bad if we could actually see beyond our own noses," Bella said. "I would actually suggest some sort of torches if they wouldn't attract those giant moth-bat things."
Fili forced himself to keep moving, even though his body wished to stop in surprise. "The two of you can't see anything at all?" He turned around slightly to see their reaction.
Bella blinked in surprise before she smacked her face as she rolled her eyes. "Of course you dwarves can see better. Mahal made you to thrive in tunnels and the dark."
"Not thrive, exactly, Amralime," Fili answered with a chuckle. "But we can see things in darkness better than some races."
"It's no wonder then that you lot have managed to keep the pace so well this past week," Bilbo grumbled. "But don't go saying anything to the others," he snapped. "We have been handling ourselves just fine. We would also rather to get out of this sooner rather than later." He shuddered then. "My eyes are starving for sunlight."
Even as Bella voiced her agreement, Fili sent a small prayer of thanks to Mahal and Eru. Their temporary blindness meant that they couldn't see the shadows of unknown creatures moving through the trees, the unnaturally black squirrels, nor the disturbing spiderwebs. Now, Fili would never think himself a coward when it came to insects and spiders. But whatever spider made those webs had no right to even exist. He regularly prayed that they wouldn't meet the beasts that crafted the sticky, white things for he feared for the safety of the entire Company if they should meet.
"Found the bridge," Bofur called from the front of the line. "At least what's left of it."
A moment later, Fili understood what the miner meant. The stone bridge was destroyed aside from where it was rooted to the shore. While Fili could care less about most elven craft, it appeared that this bridge should have lasted for another age instead of just collapsing. He rested a hand on the nearest wall. Sometimes, stone spoke to dwarves. Maybe—
Darkness. Tendrils of darkness ripping and tearing! Get back! Flaming red eye. Where is it?
Fili jerked back, gasping. He vigorously wiped his hand on his trousers, trying to rid himself of the grimy sensation.
"Fili?" Bella asked, touching his back.
"Nadad?" Kili asked.
"This didn't just happen," Fili said. "Something, or someone, destroyed the bridge."
"What do you mean, laddie?" Bofur asked, reaching his own hand out to the stonework.
"No!" Fili cried, grabbing his wrist, inches away from the stone.
Bofur stared at him in shock. A glimmer of understanding settled in. "What did ya see, lad?" he asked, twisting his hand to return the wrist-hold and settling his free hand on Fili's shoulder.
"Something dark," Fili said. "Something set on the destruction of everything good in this world. It was searching for something."
"Searching for what?" Balin asked.
"I don't know," Fili answered. "But I pray it never finds what it seeks."
"I'd say that's enough talk of dark things in a place like this," Bilbo said nervously. "How are we to cross the river without the bridge then?"
"Swimming the river is out, based on what Beorn warned us about," Bella said. She quietly rubbed Fili's shoulders, a comforting rhythm that eased the fear from his body.
"Might these vines work?" Kili asked from the side.
Fili wound an arm around Bella's waist as he moved to his brother's side. A tangle of thick vines spanned the river.
"They look sturdy enough," Dwalin said. "Thorin?"
"Aye," Thorin answered. "The lightest will go first."
"Right," Bofur said. "Bilbo, between you and your sister, who's heavier?"
Bella released an offended cry, even as Bilbo demanded, "Do you wish me to actually answer that or for me to live to see another day? I am not answering that."
"Fee, there would be slight problem," Kili said quietly. "Can either of them even see the vines?"
"Amralime?" Fili asked, knowing that she would have heard.
"I only know we are at a river because I can smell how stagnant it's become," Bella answered.
Fili nodded. That left just one thing to do. He took off his pack and waterskins. He removed his swords and largest of his knives.
"Fee?"
"I'll see if there's any hope of a boat on the other side," he said before half-leaping onto the first vine.
Bella gave a short, quiet cry behind him. "Fili? What are you doing?" she asked fearfully.
"Fili, be careful," Kili added.
Fili focused on grasping each vine before him, stepping or swinging to the next one.
"Kili, what is he doing? Is he alright?" Bella asked.
"He's doing fine so far," Kili answered. "He's almost halfway across now."
"Fili!"
Fili yelped as his uncle's harsh cry startled him into losing his footing. His hands strangled the vine as his legs pumped for something solid. He finally managed to wrap his ankles round another vine.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Uncle Thorin demanded.
"Saving our hobbits," Fili answered. He shook his head to clear it. He hadn't believed the talk about the river being enchanted, but now that he had been forced to claim rather large lungfuls of the air above it, he understood. There was a confusing or drowsy sort of spell over the water. Not good. "No one else follow unless I say!" he called back. "I'm going to see if there is a boat we can use."
"Fili! I want an explanation!" Thorin shouted.
"Bella and I can't see anything in this forest," Bilbo answered as Fili continued on his way again. "More likely than not, we would end up in the river instead of crossing on those vines. Unless those vines were a perfectly woven mat which I thoroughly doubt at this point."
Fili finally leaped from the last vine to the opposite shore. "I made it," he called, more for the benefit of his One and her brother. "Again, no one follow me!" He looked about the shore on that side of the bridge. While there were steps that led up to the path, there was nothing else on this side. He jogged up the stairs and crossed the path to the other side. He grinned as his search was rewarded. "Found a boat!"
"Does it have oars?" Nori asked.
Fili searched. "No," he answered. That would do little good. Wait. "Dori! Toss two lines over here. Make sure one has a hook."
A moment later, Dori threw a hook across. Fili made sure to stand to the side, allowing the hook to land in the loamy shore. He then took the three-pronged tool and secured it to the boat. He untied the boat and allowed the rest to pull it to the other side. Dori then threw the second length of rope. Fili took that and tied his end to a sturdy tree.
"Use this rope to pull yourselves across," he said. "You can then use the hooked line to haul the boat back that direction for another load."
"Bella, you and Bofur go across first with Fili's things," Thorin ordered. "Bilbo and Ori will be next with the extra supplies that we have. Oin, Gloin, Nori, and Dori will be next. Bifur, Kili, and Balin follow after. Bombur and Dwalin, and then I'll follow with Dwalin's things and anything that didn't make it before."
"Why do you always pick on me?" Bombur grumbled. "'You better come alone, Bombur. He'll mistake you for two.' 'Just Bombur and Dwalin, none of the supplies.'"
"You're just . . .," Bilbo started, "more robust than the others."
"If it would be any comfort," Bella said, "I am certain that there are plenty of hobbit lasses who would snatch you up for your figure alone."
"After they got over the fact I'm a dwarf, you mean," Bombur grumbled.
"Yes, but thankfully, you don't have to worry about that," Bella said. "You have a lovely wife who loves you just as you are."
Fili chuckled as the larger dwarf preened a bit.
"And blessed with near a half-dozen wee ones," Bombur said.
"Aye," Gloin said. "Blessed by Mahal and envied by all."
"Alright," Thorin said. "We best get moving."
Bofur and Kili helped Bella climb into the boat before they loaded Fili's items in. Bofur clambered into the boat and pulled them across the river hand over hand. Once the boat was in reach, Fili grabbed the bow and pulled it partially up the shore. As Bella stood, he caught her round the waist and swung her out. He inwardly laughed at her surprised cry.
"Fili! You nearly sent my heart out of my chest," she gasped.
"I thought I was the one who held your heart," he returned.
She slapped his shoulder. "Flirt."
"Only to you," Fili said.
"Bofur," Bilbo called, "make sure those two behave!"
"No shenanigans happening over here," Bofur called back, pulling out the last of Fili's things. He shoved the boat back into the water as Fili started putting his swords and pack back on.
Bofur helped Bella up to the path to wait for the others.
Bilbo was helped into the boat with Ori with the pack holding the winter items and a couple extra bags and waterskins. Their trip went smoothly, Fili and Bofur helping Bilbo out and back onto the path beside Bella. The twins sat and took charge of the extra items until the dwarf usually carrying them would come across.
Oin, Gloin, Nori, and Dori clambered in and their little voyage was successful. Bifur was a little more nervous than the others, but Kili and Balin helped him. On the water, Bifur seemed to suddenly enjoy the novelty of rocking the boat causing it to swing side to side. Kili rolled with it and laughed, while Balin became the nervous one. On shore again, Bifur joined the hobbits and animatedly told them of his little water journey.
Bombur and Dwalin proved worrying as the boat sank farther into the water than before, the water just an inch or so from the edge. Bombur held very still as Dwalin pulled them across. Upon reaching shore, Fili, Kili, and Dori all helped Bombur lumber out and up. As the large dwarf stepped out of the boat, he slipped on the muddy bank. Several shouts went up as Fili's heart lodged in his throat, even as he tightened his grip on Bombur's arm.
"Is everyone alright?" Bella called.
"Just fine, lass," Bombur returned. "Shore's just a touch slippery."
"Let's get you up to the path," Bofur said. "I'd hate to think what would happen if we had to carry you."
"Aye," Dwalin said, climbing out. "I'd hate to carry anyone through this forest. Mahal must have deemed us worthy of some small mercy by keeping us from falling to the river's enchantment." He shook himself. "I was starting to feel a little drowsy near the end there."
"Now we just need to get Thorin across," Balin said.
They sent the boat back over for the last time. Thorin put in Dwalin's pack and extra weapons, coiled up the rope they'd been using to pull the boat back to shore, threw the rope in the bottom, then climbed in. He pulled himself across, gathering the rope into the boat as he went.
A hunting horn sounded in the distance, just before two great, pure white bucks came charging down the path.
"Bella! Bilbo!" Fili shouted.
Bifur grabbed the hobbits and pulled them out of the way seconds before the beasts galloped by and leaped the span left of the bridge.
"Uncle!" Kili cried.
Fili whirled round to see Thorin collapsed half-ashore and half-submerged in the river.
Nori grabbed the boat before it could drift away as Dwalin heaved Thorin up by his shoulders.
"What's happening? What happened?" Bilbo cried. "I saw something white run past us."
"Two stags," Balin answered. "They leaped over the gap in the bridge."
"Oh, Thorin," Dwalin muttered, before raising his voice. "The idiot thought he could shoot one."
Fili could now see the bow his uncle held in one hand. "Does he live?" he asked fearfully.
"Aye," Dwalin said. "But it would seem that he is in a dead sleep."
"So," Bella said, "do we wait for him to wake up? Do we continue and someone else lead until he wakes up? What are we going to do?"
"As the eldest and Uncle's most trusted councilor, Balin is now in command," Fili said.
"Actually," Balin said, "Thorin has been so impressed by your maturity on this quest that, he told me if anything were to happen to him, he wanted you to lead with Kili acting as your second."
Fili froze as his mind blanked. No, he couldn't lead. He was the youngest save for Kili. How could he possibly—
A gentle hand caught his arm. "Fangon-nen, you can do this. Your uncle believes in you and so do I. And remember, you don't have to do it alone. Kili is with you, and Balin has advised your uncle for decades."
Fili caught her hand and touched his lips to her knuckles in thanks. Her words offered calm, and assurance. "Hannon le, Melethen," he whispered.
"Glassen," she answered.
He straightened, taking a deep breath and releasing it. "Oin, examine Thorin, just to be assured of his health. Everyone else, gather your packs together. Also search for sturdy branches that can be used to make a stretcher."
"Could any of the vines be used in making the bed?" Bilbo asked.
"I didn't notice any thin enough to use that way," Fili answered. "We'll need to use ropes. Also, repack supplies to see if we can use any packs as covers." He wrapped an arm around Bella, welcoming her supportive arm around his waist. They could do this. They just had to get moving again so that they could reach the mountain before Durin's Day. The wretchedness of Mirkwood made it difficult to be sure of the exact date, but they couldn't be beyond July just yet surely. They could do it. They just had to keep moving.
Bella was grateful to the dwarves who helped her reach Fili's side in the dark. The fear and self-doubt that had radiated off of him had worried her. She'd had to reach him, reassure him. She may not know a lot about leadership, but she knew that too often the mood and motivation of the leader would eventually reflect on the group. And in this dark forest with its strange enchantments and black shadows, they couldn't afford dreary spirits.
She rested her head on Fili's shoulder, enjoying a moment where she could rest in his strength. She could hear the other dwarves searching for the needed branches and sorting out packs and ropes. Much nearer, Oin was grumbling about the low light as he examined Thorin.
Finally, "He'll be right as mountains once he wakes up," Oin announced. "But I fear we'll need to wait for him to sleep the enchantment off."
Fili heaved a great sigh. "Right," he said quietly. "Let's get him back up on the path. How's the stretcher coming?"
"We found the proper branches, Laddie," Balin said. "We're just working on fixing them together."
"I've woven enough cots in my time," Bella said. "I can help."
Fili helped her back up to the path and where the stretcher was being made.
She knelt beside it and ran her hands along the frame. She smiled as she felt her brother's handiwork in binding the sticks together at the corners. "Stand it on its side, please," she said. Then, with careful hands she used several of the ropes to weave a sturdy mesh. She did her best to keep any knots on the edges. There was nothing worse than a knot digging into one whilst sleeping.
Once she was finished, the dwarves laid out four packs over the stretcher. A disheartening discovery, heralding their limited rations. They had already been doing their best to ration their food to keep from running out, but it would seem that they would need to cut back on rations again.
Fili squeezed her shoulder.
She squeezed his hand back, understanding. She and her brother would survive. They would need at least a week to recover, but to reach the end of this forest, they could tighten their belts more.
"We'll need to go to half rations," Fili said. "Bilbo, you've studied maps. How much farther do you think?"
"Considering that we have just crossed the river," Bilbo said, "I'd say we're about halfway through. If we just keep to the path as we should and maintain the pace we've kept for about the past week, it should only be a week more."
"Alright," Fili said. "You heard him. Halfway through the woods, and I'd dare to say that the worst is behind us. We just need to continue onward."
"Where will we get supplies?" Bombur asked.
"If Bella and I can't appeal to elven hospitality," Bilbo answered, "we can ask the people of Laketown. Though, if I would be so bold, I would suggest that we reveal to neither elf nor man our true purpose."
"The elves I would agree with," Bella said, "considering what Beorn shared with us concerning them. But I believe the people of Laketown should be warned to take precautions. They live in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain and thus are at risk if we wake or fail to kill the dragon."
"We will not reveal our purpose to the elves," Fili agreed. "The people of Laketown, we will discuss and make plans as we continue on."
Bella smiled a little. Hopefully, discussing of plans would take minds off of rumbling stomachs as the days passed.
As four of the dwarves picked up the stretcher to carry Thorin, Bilbo pressed a sachet into her hand. Like the others, she accepted it, stuffing it into her pocket. Her monthly curse was late. While a part of her appreciated the reprieve, it also made her paranoid against her body. She could only assume it was a combination of the dreary woods, less food, and her slowly stretching nerves. She was dreading when her curse would finally rear its ugly head. She could only pray that they were well out of Mirkwood and somewhere safe and comfortable when it happened.
Kili scowled at the contents of his bag. They were almost out of food. But now they were surrounded by beech trees. Trees that allowed enough grey light through that even the hobbits could see. Surprisingly, it had been the hobbits that had urged them to keep their original, steady pace. It had taken two days of carrying Uncle Thorin to reach the beeches. But ever since the river, oh, about four days ago, their rations had been halved.
Kili had spied Fili slipping half of his rations to Bella during the darkest mealtimes. Bofur was doing much the same for Bilbo. The younger prince suspected the hobbits were suspicious of this but kept quiet. Although, just this morning, Fili must have miscalculated the depth of the shadows because Bella caught him and scolded him soundly for risking his health by not eating what he could.
That had been the moment that Kili had slipped a half of his own portion to Bilbo as Nori, as sly as one pleased, put half of his portion into Bella's hand mid-tirade. The expressions on Bella's and Fili's faces were priceless. The hobbits had begrudgingly eaten their extra portions today because they didn't know who had given up their half.
Distant strains of haunting music caused Kili to stiffen. It had been three days now since that lament started floating over them. Initially Bella and Bilbo had guessed the distant notes were from elves, but over time, they and the dwarves started to doubt it. Why would elves wish to sing in a wood so diseased by darkness and evil? And while the music sounded as if it was from elvish instruments, there were no voices. Fear of further enchantment had them being even more careful to stay on the path, possibly even moving a little faster.
"Alright, enough rest," Fili said, standing to his feet. "Should only be another three days travel and we can leave these accursed woods behind."
"Oh, Mahal, let it be so," Balin said as he also got to his feet.
The midday rest was little more than a ten to fifteen minute break to rest the body and feet before pushing onward again. There were times when Kili felt that he could rest for longer, but he also feared potentially not being able to wake up if they were to actually sleep during the day.
Dwalin, Nori, Balin, and Bombur moved to pick up Thorin's stretcher for their turn carrying him. However as they lifted it, a groggy moan slipped out.
"Uncle?" Fili and Kili cried together. Kili raced to Uncle's left as Fili stood at his right.
Thorin slowly blinked dazed eyes, looking around, confused. "Where are we?" he asked, voice rough from unuse.
"We're over halfway through Mirkwood," Fili answered. "Based on Bilbo's knowledge of maps, we should only have another three days of travel before we are out. Four days if we run into an unexpected delay."
Thorin's brow furrowed. "We're no longer in the Misty Mountains?"
Kili blinked, shocked. "We left the Mountains nearly three weeks ago," Kili said.
"Uncle, what is the last thing you remember?" Fili asked.
Thorin rubbed his forehead, even as his stretcher was lowered once again. "We just got out of Goblin Town. Gandalf discovered that Master Baggins was missing."
Kili winced as he looked to the hobbits. Bella bit her lip as tears slipped down her cheeks. All of the delightful memories from Beorn's home were gone. The easy comradery that the two of them had built like an uncle and niece. Bilbo looked away mournfully. For him, it was the lost trust, Bilbo had gained by returning to the Company and defending Thorin from the orcs. Their friendship was still tentative, but it had been enough to comfortably address the other without titles.
"You don't remember the great eagles or the orcs that attacked us?" Fili asked.
"I recall the orc chase before Rivendell," Thorin answered.
Kili realized what Fili was preparing for as the blond firmed his lip.
"The Great Goblin was not misinformed as we had hoped," Fili said. "He attacked us shortly after we escaped from Goblin Town and once Bilbo rejoined us."
Thorin's brow furrowed in confused shock. "He didn't turn back once he had the chance?"
"No, I didn't," Bilbo said, stepping forward. "I actually shared my reasoning a bit poetically at the time. But summarized, I felt that I had to continue on to help you reclaim your home."
"He also did the most un-Baggins-like thing ever and attacked an orc singlehandedly to save your foolhardy neck," Bella added.
Thorin stared at her in disbelief as he sat up. "He what?"
"Well, laddie," Balin said, "you decided to pick a fight with a certain pale orc, and if it wasn't for Bilbo stepping in, you wouldn't be alive at the moment."
"And Bella killed the white warg," Kili said. "We'll show you the pelt that we added to her winter coat once we're out of Mirkwood." Kili saw the pieces click into place for Thorin.
"Azog," he breathed. Thorin looked to each member of the Company he could. "He- No, it cannot be." He raked his hands through his hair, his face warring between fearful denial and stoic acceptance.
Bella knelt beside him and hugged his shoulders. "It was a shock then," she said gently. "And it's a shock now. We're practically family here, which means safety." She took a deep breath before finishing, "There was no time then for you to properly absorb that information, take that time now."
As Thorin trembled and then wept, Fili silently motioned for everyone to be seated again. There was much that they had to tell Thorin about. And the least they could do was give Uncle time to absorb it. Kili was just thankful they didn't have to recount their journeys from Rivendell or, Mahal, forbid, Bag End or the Blue Mountains.
Several minutes later, Thorin slowly regained control of himself as Bilbo offered him one of his last clean handkerchiefs. Uncle chuckled as he accepted the gift. "Still worrying about pocket handkerchiefs," he noted.
"I fear that no amount of adventuring will root that out of him," Bella said, teasingly poking her brother.
"So," Thorin said, heaving a great breath, "we discovered that Azog is in fact alive, Bilbo saved my life by killing an orc, and Bella killed Azog's white warg. Where from there?"
"We were rescued from the entire lot of orcs by some giant eagles," Balin said. "I discovered later by talking with Gandalf that he is actually very good friends with the King of the Eagles, and that was how he was able to request help."
"We were afraid that you wouldn't make it," Bella said. "You were horribly injured from trying to take on Azog one-on-one."
"So, in order to have a safe place to recover and have a haven that Azog couldn't enter," Fili said, "we stayed a few days with a skin-changer, Beorn."
"We'll be sure to recount everything that happened there at a later date," Balin said. "I'll only say that Bella was tutored in our traditional betrothal song and dance; Fili and Bella took the time to woo each other in the way of hobbits; and we discovered what a masterful chief Bella is."
Kili laughed as Fili partially melted where he sat, his eyes showing he was far away, reveling in Bella's divine cooking skills.
"And what of that has my pride and heir all starry eyed?" Thorin asked.
"Her apple pie," Fili answered. "The best I have ever eaten and sincerely hope to have again once we're out of here."
Bella chuckled. "We'll see, fangon-nen," she promised.
"Beorn provided us with supplies and warnings of what to do and not to do in Mirkwood," Dwalin said. "Gandalf left us to look into some sort of troubling wizard things, and we've been traveling in this blasted forest ever since."
"Technically, a week and a half thereabouts," Bilbo said. "Seventh day we crossed the enchanted river, where you slipped in and fell into an enchanted sleep for the past four days."
"I'm grateful that we haven't been pursued," Oin said. "It's bad enough walking in this half-dusk."
"Don't forget our hobbits have been walking blind," Nori put in. "At least we could half-see where we were going."
More haunting music sent shivers down Kili's spine.
"What is that?" Thorin asked.
"We're not quite sure," Bella confessed. "We thought perhaps it was elves, but most of us can't imagine elves wishing to sing in such a diseased forest."
"Nor have we heard any voices among the music," Fili said. "We just resolve to remain on the path and make no attempts to discover the origins."
"Wise," Thorin said. "For the origin could be quite foul."
"And we best be moving on again," Gloin said. "We still have half of today to travel yet and our food stores are pitifully low."
Bella was reaching into her pack when Balin beat her to it, pressing a share into Thorin's hands.
"Don't, Lassie," Balin said. "There is arguably a reason you hobbits eat seven times a day, and we are already risking yours and Bilbo's health as it is."
Bella nodded once in acknowledgement.
"I won't hold you up," Thorin said, standing to his feet even as he took a small bite of food. "I can eat as we go. Fili, Bella, tell me of your courtship and what plans have been laid for replenishing supplies."
Kili happily fell in behind his uncle, brother, and sister as they walked in the middle of the group. Balin and Dwalin took the lead, carefully following the path. Thorin was alright. He may be missing some memories, but they could tell him about all the important things. And who knows, maybe overtime the actual memories would return.
For now, it was enough that Thorin was awake. His voice and occasional chuckle were a comforting balm in this forest. Especially when they stopped for the evening and he recounted the dream he'd had in his enchanted sleep. A prospering Erebor. Fili and Bella's children racing through the halls. Kili courting with a promise of an eventual wedding. Bilbo and Ori working in the vast libraries. In fact, every member of the Company thriving in Erebor doing what each did best. That dream seemed to make the night a little less dark, and their rest that much better.
Bella was feeling fairly well about their progress all things considered. They had been finishing a dip in the valley when Thorin woke up two days ago, and now they were almost out of the valley and two days away from escaping Mirkwood. Thorin had also decided that Fili would continue to act as leader through the rest of their Mirkwood trek, seeing as Fili had a better understanding of current history. Fili also knew best the plans that had already been decided upon. Bella suspected that Thorin also wanted to witness his nephew and heir in a leadership role. Something that made Bella warm with pride for her One.
Unfortunately, the food had run out just this morning. This put some of the dwarves, especially Bombur in despondent moods. Really, Thorin was possibly suffering more than most since he hadn't eaten anything during the time of his sleeping coma.
Personally, Bella was doing her best to ignore her rumbling stomach by planning her Masterpiece. Yes, she already had the design chalked out, so long as it hadn't rubbed away by now. But she wanted to make sure every color was perfectly placed. So, while Bombur muttered about his favorite dishes, she envisioned silver flowers, medium blue sigils, and nearly invisible Durin signs. When Dori started rambling about his favorite tea blends, she considered silver sigils, deep blue flowers, and visible Durin signs. During their midday break, she settled on stitching the sign of Durin in silver, Fili's sigil in medium blue, and the edelweiss in Durin's blue. She suspected that dwarves wouldn't look kindly on noticeable flowers on their clothing.
She would have spent the afternoon planning how she would systematically sew, topstitch, and embroider the vest, but things were once again changed up.
"Is there truly an end to this forest?" Dwalin asked.
"Of course there is," Fili answered. "The only way there isn't is if it has taken over the entire world, and I am certain Gandalf would have come flying through to find us by now if that were the case."
"And," Bilbo said, "we only have two days more of travel. Possibly one if we really push ourselves and attempt to travel through the night."
"I would not advise that," Fili said. "If we could be assured of strong moonlight, I might agree to the attempt. But considering we barely even see the sun's light, nighttime is just too risky in fear of losing the path."
"Might we at least ensure that we are almost through?" Balin asked. "We have plenty of trees that most assuredly would give us a proper look around."
"It would have to be our hobbits," Nori said. "Not even Ori would be able to navigate those higher branches."
Ori trembled a little. "And I would much rather not be in any trees again if it can be avoided."
Dori squeezed his younger brother's shoulder in quiet support.
Bella nodded. Anyone who had an experience in a tree like Ori and Dori had every right to protest tree climbing.
Fili turned to Kili. "Brother?"
Kili slumped a bit, a foreign reaction for the usually chipper dwarf. "If they are willing," he said. "I think that just about everyone could use some reassurance about now. I know it hasn't even been a fortnight, yet it's felt like months since we saw sunshine and breathed fresh air. And don't tell me you haven't been bothered by what the stone bridge told you. It's like the forest is trying to eat us alive. I believe it would be beneficial to know that 'yes, the end is in sight.' And I would say we are at the best place. The path leveled out from that slope maybe a half-hour before we stopped."
Fili slowly nodded. "Alright. Bella, Bilbo, would you be willing to see if the forest edge is in sight?"
"Of course," Bilbo said.
"Could use some extra exercising," Bella said, stretching her arms a bit. It took only a moment to locate a suitable tree. Fili and Thorin boosted Bella up first, shortly followed after her brother. She allowed her brother to take the lead as they started climbing. She sincerely hoped that they could break above the treetops. She would love even a moment of fresh air.
As Bella and Bilbo disappeared into the tree, Fili turned to his brother. "You wanted them out of the way for some reason," he said.
Kili had given him a condensed Iglishmek sign as he spoke earlier. Now, he spoke freely if quietly. "There has been something following us, ever since mid-morning. I would have guessed elves, but the shadow mass is too great. For whatever reason, they haven't attacked yet, but I hope that within a minute they'll reveal themselves and we can dispatch them before your One and her brother return."
"Well done, lad," Balin said. "While both have proven themselves as capable fighters in a pinch, this lowlight would be a terrible disadvantage to them."
"Thank you, Kili," Fili said. "Everyone, battle positions. Bofur, Nori, keep an eye out for Bella and Bilbo when they come back. If we are still in the midst of a skirmish, I want them in the center immediately, understood?"
"Yes, sir," both dwarves answered.
It took less than a minute for everyone to take their positions. And then it was merely a waiting game as ominous hissing started to fill Fili's ears.
Author's Note: I did not mean for a cliffie to appear Christmas Weekend! Unfortunately, I don't necessarily think the next chapter is much better. Oh, well. Eat, drink, and be merry and have faith that I wouldn't truly leave our beloved heroes to a horrid fate. Maybe a sticky situation, but nothing dire.
Okay. I borrowed from book and film in that I managed to simultaneously make the forest pitch black and a hazy gray. I know that the film couldn't provide on the pitch black forest or else we would have basically been staring into a black mirror for twenty to thirty minutes. But, hey, I decided to play with it. I also combined the river crossing scenes. The film provided just enough tension with the vines but the boat was more practical and safer overall. Concerning the bridge itself, in the book, it was a wooden bridge, thus perfectly explaining how it would have rotted away with age and misuse. The film however portrayed it as a stone bridge. I know, stone can be worn down like wood, but stone is sturdier, and it was just begging for a little more drama (or hints) connected to the whispers that may or may not be connected to the concerns of a White Council and a little golden trinket. Winks for those in the know and teases for those not in the know. Hee-hee.
And I changed the victim of the river. I couldn't let things go too smoothly. And the original victim, who did get a nod if you caught it, was simply a bit cruel in the original, especially when he awoke from dreams of feasts and remembering nothing since Bag End in the Shire. So, Thorin got thrown the short stick, kept memories of at least half their journeys, and, since I suspect the enchanted river gives you dreams that reveal some of your stronger if not strongest desires, provided a more hopeful and uplifting dream to share.
And you may wonder "where did all the food and water provisions go?" I have no idea. I suspect that not even Tolkien knew for I think that the Company ran out of food even before Bella and Company's did, and they had the largest eater out of the count for nearly a week (give or take a couple days). Maybe I don't fully understand the travel strain that the Company was under during that near fortnight within Mirkwood. Maybe the pitch blackness the original Company faced was so disorienting that it wasn't until they finally escaped the blackness that they realized that less time than they thought had passed. I don't know. But, the Company is now out of food, and most hope for the mercies of the wild elves of Mirkwood. Hm. Before or after a run in with some AOUS's? (Did no one catch the reference last chapter? Or am I being obscure? Trying one last time.)
I did really have some fun with this chapter as I tried to time out the journey based largely on the book and what Tolkien described. Yet, I also knew that I wanted to borrow largely from the film for the next phases, so great fun figuring out how to weave it all together.
Well, that's all for now. Merry Christmas!