Flies & Spiders:
Once the meal was finished, the Dwarves milled about the room eyeing Beorn warily. I was about to get up when Thorin's shadow fell across the table in front of me.
"Can I help you?" I asked turning to face him. Thorin's jaw was set and his eyes were dark.
"I hear you are severely injured" Thorin said scowling. "You will be staying here when we leave".
"I'm sorry, I think I heard you wrong" I said sharply. "I am to stay here, when I signed a contract basically stating I'm with your quest until the end?"
"That was the case before your injuries" Thorin replied as he started moving away. "It's final, you are not rejoining the Company at the end of the week".
I glared at Thorin's retreating back. "Not allowed to continue the quest to save my family just because I broke a few ribs?!" I thumped my hand on the table "NO! I don't care about how injured I am, I WILL save my family!"
Thorin and the others all turned around at my outburst.
"I assure you, Master Oakenshield, I will be with the Company when it leaves!" I seethed. I cautiously started moving off the bench and by the time I'd got my legs facing the right way, Bofur was waiting to help me down.
"Easy lass, let's go get some air" Bofur walked me outside and helped me down the steps.
Once out in the open air my anger started slipping away. It was peaceful in Beorn's yard; butterflies were flitting about; dappled light fell through the trees and a pleasant breeze tugged at my hair. I took a few deep breaths and clenched my teeth at the pain. I turned to Bofur and the apology died on my lips when I saw how the light sparked off his eyes. I was lost for words for the first time in my life. "Amazing!" I breathed.
"What's amazing?" Bofur asked leading me towards a wooden bench underneath a large tree.
"Oh, um...just the, um..." I couldn't say it without sounding addled in the head.
"You were lookin' at me and you seemed far away" Bofur said resting his left hand next to my right. Close enough to send a tingly feeling up my arm. "Then you said somethin' was amazin'". Bofur looked me in the eyes and smiled "what was so amazin'?"
I blushed and looked at my feet "I-I saw how the light was making your eyes sparkle". I shook my head and cleared my throat "I'm sorry if I sound crazy".
"I don't think yer crazy" Bofur replied in a soft voice. He moved his hand so it rested on top of mine.
"R-really?" I asked looking up at Bofur's face. He had a broad grin which was making his eyes sparkle even more.
"I truly don't" Bofur whispered before leaning forwards and placing a kiss on my lips.
I felt a surge of energy explode in my body when our lips touched and my body responded immediately. I closed my eyes and brought my left hand up to cup Bofur's cheek. I felt Bofur's right hand on my face as he deepened the kiss. When we broke apart I was sure my face was the same shade as a tomato.
"I hope Thorin didn't see that" I whispered touching my lips with my left hand.
"I don't care if he did" Bofur replied weaving the fingers of his left hand with my right.
"I'm sorry about my outburst earlier, I don't want to cause trouble" I said nudging a rock with my boot.
"It's fine" Bofur replied giving my hand a squeeze "yer want to save yer family an' I understand that". Bofur sighed "I'd do the same fer my kin, even if they get on me nerves sometimes".
I smiled "thank you".
"What fer?"
"Being the kindest Dwarf I've ever met" I smiled wider and leant close to Bofur's face until my forehead touched his. "We should head back inside now, before they all think I've dwarf-napped you".
Bofur laughed and helped me off the bench "remember Anduin, I'm here for yer no matter what". He placed a kiss on my hand and helped me back to Beorn's house.
…
For the next few days I avoided Thorin like a plague; he didn't want me around so I wasn't going to try and change his mind. Bofur kept me company and we tried to keep our growing affection for each other as secret as possible. Bifur seemed to be the only one who noticed and we weren't concerned with him telling anyone; him only being able to converse in ancient Khuzdul. Preparations were well under way for the next leg of the journey and I would be lying if I said I was comfortable heading into Mirkwood. I'd been incarcerated for many weeks the last time I'd passed through those trees. Thranduil is a distrustful elf; and he didn't like my honest answer to why I was in his realm. I shook my head to dispel the bad memories and focussed on the task I had been assigned.
Oin was watching me like a hawk and refused to let me do much more than lay down, sit up and walk around. I'd argued for hours about being allowed to help in some way and the old dwarf had finally relented and had given me the job of mending blankets and clothes. My sewing wasn't the best but the dwarves seemed happy their clothes had no more holes. Bofur was never far away and his presence was comforting. We had started taking long walks around Beorn's yard in the afternoon, stopping in secluded nooks to reaffirm our burgeoning love.
…
Before we knew it, it was time to leave. I was unable to help load the ponies Beorn was lending us, so I busied myself with making sure we had left nothing behind. Bilbo was too small to help with the ponies so he assisted me and we discovered Ori had left his quill; Bofur had dropped his pipe; Oin had forgotten a vial of medicine and, hiding under a pile of straw, I found Thorin's pipe. With Bilbo's help they were all collected and returned to their masters.
"Thank you, lass" Oin said when he received his item "you're not overdoing it are you?".
"I'm not one who makes a habit of ignoring the advice of healers" I replied with a smile before moving towards Thorin.
"I'm sorry to bother you Master Oakenshield but are you missing your pipe?" I asked holding it out to him.
Thorin scowled and grunted in reply.
Beorn lumbered over and stared down at us all, before addressing Gandalf. "Go now, while you have the light" he said "the hunters are not far behind".
Bofur helped me onto my pony and I grimaced as pain lanced through my chest. Bofur patted my thigh and turned around to help Bilbo; a concerned expression on his face.
Gandalf checked to see we were all on ponies before nodding to Beorn and heading off along hedge line.
Bofur rode so close to me our thighs were almost touching. My jaw was clamped together so I didn't cry out as the movement of the pony jarred my ribs, so all I could do when he asked me if I was alright was nod. Gandalf led the way across the countryside and only started slowing down when a gloomy-looking forest appeared in front of us. We all reigned in our steeds and began to dismount.
My stomach was churning from the pain in my chest and the moment Bofur got me out of my saddle, I took a few steps away from him, collapsed to my knees and was violently sick.
"Are you well, my dear?" Gandalf asked helping me to my feet.
I looked up at his weathered face and saw the extreme concern. "Not as well as I would like to be Master Gandalf, I have a few broken ribs" I said aware of Bofur hovering close by and also of Thorin's disapproving glare from the other side of the group.
"Well maybe I can remedy the pain so you are comfortable to travel" Gandalf said extending his hand. He placed it over the affected ribs, closed his eyes and started muttering in a language I didn't recognise.
To my utmost surprise, the pain started to melt away. I could take deep breaths and not want to cry; what on earth had Gandalf done?
"There" the wizard said removing his hand. "I think you'll find it easier to travel now, although the bones are not mended" Gandalf looked down at me "they will have to take their natural course to heal". Gandalf turned around and walked over to the break in the trees. "The Elven Gate" he said stepping just past the trees. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood".
"Are ye alrigh'?" Bofur asked picking me up from the ground. His hazel eyes were concerned and his brows furrowed.
"Yes, I don't know how Gandalf did it but I'm not in pain anymore" I replied with a half-smile.
"But yer ribs are still broke?" Bofur asked as Gandalf turned back towards us.
"Unfortunately yes, I'm still going to have to be careful. But under your expert care I should be fine" I winked and elicited a smile from the dwarf.
"No sign of the Orcs" Dwalin said as he dismounted "we have luck on our side".
"Set the ponies loose" Gandalf ordered "let them return to their master".
The dwarves busied themselves in relieved the ponies of our packs. I noticed Bilbo approach the forest.
"This forest feels...sick, like a disease lies upon it" he said. "Is there no other way around?"
Gandalf shook his head "not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south". Gandalf walked a little way into the forest and seemed to be far away mentally.
I turned back to watching the unloading and suddenly remembered I was going to have to carry a pack as well. I wondered how long Gandalf's magic would last if I had a weight on my back. Bofur disturbed my thoughts by bringing over two packs. One was quite large and clearly his, and the other was still large but it didn't seem heavy.
"This one's yours" Bofur said holding the smaller pack up.
"Will I be able to carry it?" I asked.
"'course yer will, it's filled with blankets and spare water skins" Bofur replied with a small smile.
"That's a relief" I smiled back.
"Not my horse! I need it" Gandalf suddenly yelled striding towards us.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked incredulously.
"I would not not do this unless I had to" Gandalf replied. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me".
I noticed Gandalf was looking hard at Thorin as he spoke.
"This is not the Greenwood of old. There is a stream in the woods that carries a dark enchantment. Do not touch the water, cross only by the stone bridge. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray" Gandalf said moving towards his horse.
Bilbo turned to Dwalin with a confused look on his face "lead us astray? What does that mean?"
"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again" Gandalf said from atop his horse. "No matter what may come, stay on the path!" the wizard called as he wheeled his horse around and rode away.
We were all silent for a moment before Thorin shrugged on his pack and strode towards the forest. "Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day".
"Let's go!" Dwalin agreed, shrugging his pack on.
"This is our one chance to find the hidden door" Thorin said as the rest of us donned our packs as well.
Bofur had to help me with mine because I didn't want to risk damaging my ribs any more than they already were.
Thorin led the way through the gate and onto a paved path. "The path goes this way" he said as the stones turned a corner.
The path twisted and turned many times and the magic Gandalf had placed on my ribs was starting to wear off. Soon I was gritting my teeth at even the slightest movement as we traversed over high ledges, fallen tree trunks and rocks. Dwalin was thumping his war hammer on the ground every now and then to keep track of the path, as it was overgrown with weeds in places.
"This way" Dwalin said after a sharp crack sounded underneath his hammer.
Behind me Bofur was starting to sway on his feet. "Air, I need air" he said.
"My head is swimming" Oin said from a little way on front of me.
"We found the bridge" Kili said suddenly.
"Bridge?" Bofur echoed before walking forwards to the edge.
I groaned when I saw the middle of the bridge was missing. How were we going to cross it?
"We could try and swim it?" Bofur said flippantly.
"Didn't you hear what Gandalf said?" Thorin growled "a dark magic lies upon this forest. The waters of this stream are enchanted".
"Doesn't look very enchanting to me" Bofur mumbled.
I hid a snort of laughter and winched as pain lanced through my chest.
"We must find another way across" Thorin said turning away.
Kili found some vines crossing the water. "These vines look strong enough" he said tugging on one. He was about to start across them when Thorin checked his advance.
"Kili! We send the lightest first".
Thirteen pairs of eyes looked at Bilbo, who was standing next to me.
With a sigh Bilbo started making his way across the vines. "It's alright" he said "can't see any problem". He took a few more steps then lost his footing for a moment before continuing.
"I don't know if I'm going to be able to cross that" I mumbled placing a hand gingerly on my ribs.
"We'll help ya lass" Bombur said with a smile, indicating his brother and cousin.
"Thank you" I replied with a tight smile.
In the meantime Bilbo had made it to the other side without falling in so Thorin nodded for us to get going as well.
Bombur went before me and Bifur and Bofur on either side as they helped me onto the vines. It wasn't easy to get a grip on the slimy vines and I had a very real fear I was going to fall in. Bombur started yawning and then he slumped backwards, knocking me sideways into Bifur. I looked down, half in a daze, and saw the large dwarf was asleep. A few seconds later Bombur had slipped off the vine and splashed into the water.
It was an enormous effort to haul Bombur to the shore, and then a stretcher had to be built as quick as possible. I didn't envy the dwarves who had to carry Bombur, I was just thankful Thorin had enough sense to pass over me in the selection.
We had to stop several times and I made sure to keep an eye on the water skins I was handing out. We would be in the forest for a few days and there was no where to refill our water. When we started moving again something started to send an alarm through my brain, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I was so focussing on not tripping over a root I didn't see Nori stop until I ran into Gloin's back. Before I could apologise, Bofur had run into me from behind. The pressure was excruciating and a cry escaped my lips.
"Are ye alrigh' lass?" Bofur asked half in a daze.
"I'm in extreme pain thanks to you running into me" I shot back through clenched teeth "so no, I'm not alright!"
"Keep moving Nori, why have we stopped?" Thorin demanded, ignoring me completely.
"The path...it's disappeared" Nori replied.
"What's going on?" Dwalin asked joining Thorin.
"We've lost the path" Oin replied.
I looked up to what lay before us and saw we were standing on the edge of a steep cliff. We had apparently left the path some time ago.
"Find it. All of you look. Look for the path!" Thorin demanded.
Try as we might, the path was gone. We all started to stagger about as the forest began affecting us.
"I don't remember this" Balin said "none of it's familiar".
"It's got to be here" Dori added as he stumbled past me. "It can't have just disappeared!"
"Unless someone's moved it" Dwalin replied.
"It's not over here neither" Ori called from a few feet away.
We continued and I was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. I was walking in between Bifur and Bofur and every now and then one of them would make sure I was okay.
"Look!" Ori exclaimed suddenly.
I craned my neck to see what the small dwarf had found and saw a familiar object in his hand.
"A tobacco pouch" Dori said taking it off his brother "there's dwarves in these woods".
"Dwarves from the Blue Mountains, no less" Bofur said stumbling forwards to seize the pouch. "This is exactly the same as mine!"
"Because it is yours" Bilbo said "you understand? We're going around in circles. We are lost".
"We are not lost" Dwalin retorted. "We keep heading East".
"But which way is East?" Oin asked "we've lost the sun".
I found a rock to sit on as the dwarves started arguing. I watched Bilbo mutter to himself for a while before I started to hear an eerie whispering.
"Enough! Quiet! All of you!" Thorin yelled "we are being watched".
I curled my hands into fists to stop them shaking. I knew what was whispering and I also knew Thorin wouldn't listen if I tried to tell him massive spiders had surrounded us. A small scuffling noise alerted me to Bilbo disappearing up the trunk of an enormous tree. I sighed in relief to think at least one of us would escape the spiders.
The spider's attack was so quick I didn't have time to blink before I'd been stung and the wrapping had started. I could hear the cries of the dwarves as they fell to the spiders. I could feel the poison spreading through my body, making me very tired. I soon slipped into blackness and my last thought was hoping Bilbo got away.
…
A sudden bone-jarring thump on something hard brought me back to life. The pain that shot through my chest was worse than anything I'd ever received. I couldn't move, all I could do was try not to cry. I could hear movement around me and soon someone was ripping the web off my face. I saw a familiar pair of eyes full of concern.
"Are ye alrigh'?" Bofur asked removing the rest of the web.
"N-no" I said through the tears that had started slipping down my cheeks. "I don't think I can move".
"'course yer can" Bofur said waving Bombur and Bifur over. "Easy lads, she's in a bad way".
I clenched my teeth and hissed in pain as the dwarves pulled me to my feet. Once I was upright I had to lean on Bofur's shoulder to stay there.
Bofur patted my arm and gave me a supportive smile. "It's alright', take yer time".
The rest of the dwarves had freed themselves by now and were cursing at the tops of their voices. Oin had evidently seen the state I was in, because he rushed over. While he was assessing me, I noticed Bofur looking frantically about.
"Where's Bilbo?" he called.
The rest of the dwarves realised as I did, that Bilbo was nowhere to be seen. He was clearly the one who cut us down but he wasn't on the forest floor with us. The dwarves all started yelling for our hobbit and failed to hear the rustling of the spiders as they returned. We were soon surrounded by angry spiders. Oin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur made a circle around me and brandished what weapons they had. The spiders attacked and the dwarves met them in a fierce fight. There were little skirmishes all around my little group and suddenly an enormous spider bowled Bombur over and pinned him to the floor. Several dwarves rushed over and grabbed the legs.
"Pull!" Dwalin yelled.
They all heaved and the legs came away from the spiders' body. After checking Bombur was alright we started to relax slightly; then we heard a call for help.
"Kili!" Fili yelled recognising the voice.
We had defeated our enemy and were hurrying through the forest in search of Kili when more spiders appeared in front of us.
"Is there no end to these beasts?" I groaned, pressing a hand to my ribs. They were still extremely sore and any good that Gandalf did was definitely gone.
Suddenly there was a swishing noise and we all looked up to find an elf descending from the canopy. They landed on top of a spider and dispatched it swiftly before sliding under another to stand face to face with Thorin; bow drawn.
"Do not think I won't kill you dwarf" he said "it would be my pleasure".
Movement in the trees announced the arrival of more Elves. We were surrounded and outnumbered by many.
"Help!" Kili yelled from somewhere in the trees.
"Kili!" Fili spun around trying to see his brother.
A female elf dashed off and soon the sound of screaming spiders could be heard.
A few minutes later the elf was back with Kili held firmly by the shirt.
"Search them" the blonde elf ordered.
A few strode over to my group and pulled Bofur roughly away from me to search him. I lost my balance and fell to my knees, grimacing in pain.
"Get up" an elf ordered tugging at my cloak.
"Get yer hands off her!" Bofur growled as his captor took away his mattock and a few knives.
The elf holding me ignored him and hauled me roughly to my feet. I bit my lip in an attempt to stop myself from crying out in pain as his hands patted my clothes. He took my sword belt, my bow and my dagger. I raised my head and glared at the elf "it seems the hospitality of Thranduil has not changed since my last visit".
"Be silent" the elf ordered grasping hold of my sleeve with a firm hand.
"Hush, I'm fine" I met Bofur's gaze and gave him a small smile; a smile that wasn't missed by the female elf holding Kili. She gave us a very curious look.
"Hey! Give it back! That's private!" Gloin yelled out.
I looked around to find the blonde elf had Gloin's locket in his hand.
"Who is this? Your brother?" he asked.
"That is my wife!" Gloin announced proudly.
"And what is this horrid creature? A goblin mutant?"
"That's my wee lad, Gimli" Gloin replied.
I searched for Fili and was slightly amused by the expression of the elf searching him. He kept pulling out more weapons from wherever he looked. He even found the blade hidden in Fili's hood.
Another elf had searched Thorin and taken Orcrist. The elf presented the sword to the blonde elf.
He said something in elvish as he looked at the blade. "Where did you get this?" he asked in a language we could understand.
"It was given to me" Thorin replied stiffly.
"Not just a thief" the elf said pointing the blade at Thorin's chest "but a liar as well". He spoke in elvish again and the elves started leading us away.
As we passed Thorin Bofur leant close. "Where's Bilbo?" he whispered, before an elf shoved him forward.
"Leave him alone!" I growled as the elf went to shove him again. "We can't go anywhere, so stop rough-housing us will you".
"Be silent!" the blonde elf ordered as he strode past.
Bofur and I glared at the elf as he disappeared to the front of the group.
I felt like I was in a dream; traversing somewhere I had already been, in exactly the same way. This was the same path and circumstances as when I had met Thranduil the first time. We were led over a bridge and through the large gates that marked Thranduil's domain. The blonde elf said something in elvish to the guards and the gates swung shut and closed with a thud.
We were trapped; there was no way out.
-x-
A/N: I am terribly sorry for the slow update. The transcript I was using is absolute crap and was too much work to decipher. Fear not though, I have a better script and DoS on dvd so the chapters should be coming a bit quicker. Anywho, I would love to hear what you think, good bad or otherwise.
Until next time
Gaubdukhima gagin yakulib Mahal!
(may we meet again with the grace of Mahal!)