These chapters have been really short lately...They should be getting longer soonish...we're getting close to Ered Mithrin! Don't forget to review! Reviews are magical!
A couple days later, Lulyn had a plan. She knelt at the bars of the door and rested her head against them. She waited for an elven guard to come by. As he passed her cell, she looked up at the guard with pleading eyes. He stopped and raised an eyebrow. He was young...by elf standards, and was probably new at this guard position. "Yes?" He simply said.
"I...have a headache. I need fresh air. May I take a walk?" Lulyn said, feigning fear and pain. The guard began to walk away. "Please," She said hurriedly. "I haven't seen the sun for days."
The guard thought a moment. He must have felt pity on Lulyn, his expression softened. "Fine. I'll take you outside, but don't you dare try anything. Or I'll call reinforcements." He unlocked Lulyn's cell door and took her by the arm, leading her outside. Lulyn glanced over her shoulder toward Kili. She winked and he smiled. Once Lulyn and the guard were outside, he took her into the woods and they stopped a little while in. She took in a breath of fresh air, she closed her eyes and smiled. "Much better." She breathed as she let her shoulders sag as if she were relaxed. She felt the guard's grip loosen just the slightest bit, and suddenly, she twisted out of his grasp and took off back toward the Elvenking's halls. The elf darted after her. Taking advantage of her head start, Lulyn climbed a tree and watched him run back to the wood elves' place. She went from tree to tree, trying to keep up her pace. By the time he made it to the Elvenking's halls, he was out of breath. He asked the guards of the gates if they had seen her, then ran in to search the halls, hoping Thranduil wouldn't find out. Lulyn smothered a giggle as she watched her plan fall into place. The guard came back outside and talked to the gatekeepers. They agreed to help him search Mirkwood for Lulyn. Lulyn jumped out of her tree as the trio started out. She knocked out the one guard and took his keys. The gatekeepers drew their bows and aimed right between her eyes. "Alright, dwarf," One began. "You will come back to the prisons with us, and you won't get hurt."
Lulyn acted like she was thinking. "Uh, no." Then she whipped around, drew the one gatekeeper's sword, elbowing him with surprising strength, then turned to the other one, holding the sword point to his neck. "Not a word to Thranduil." She said. She gave the gatekeeper a death stare until he nodded. Lulyn managed to sneak back into the prisons and unlocked Thorin's cell first. He gave her a surprised look as she held the door open. The other dwarves cheered as she unlocked their doors. She got a few high fives and pats on the back. When she unlocked Kili's cell, she nudged him with her foot to wake him up. When he saw her standing in the doorway, he smiled brightly, laughed and hugged Lulyn, then spun her.
"Alright Kili, why don't we leave her alive. We may yet have need of her." Balin said with a wink. Lulyn smiled and turned to Thorin. "Have I proven myself?"
Thorin didn't answer, but his expression didn't exactly say "No".
Lulyn still looked at him, awaiting the answer. "Thorin, Anin khiluva lle a' gurtha ar' thar."
Thorin gave her a questioning look. "What does that mean?" He asked.
Lulyn smiled. "It's elvish...for, 'I will follow you to death and beyond'."
Thorin was quiet for a moment. He almost had a glare on his face, but Lulyn's words must have meant something, and his expression softened. "Welcome to the company." He smiled.
Lulyn smiled brightly as the company cheered some more, but their celebration was interrupted by approaching footsteps. "This way!" Thorin instructed, leading them down a long hallway. The company found themselves in a main hall, they tried to remain unseen, which mostly succeeded. They went to the armory and took their weapons back, sheathing their swords and hiding their daggers, swinging their axes and testing their bowstrings, the company managed a quiet escape from the Elvenking's halls. As they reached the front gate, they saw the one gatekeeper. Lulyn dropped to the back and leaned toward the gatekeeper. "Not a word." She hissed, then strode off with the company. They entered Mirkwood again, ready to continue their journey.