I'm BAAAAACK! Sorry for taking so long, guys. I got a new job and have had MAJOR writer's block. But I have persevered and I am on a roll! Enjoy, rate, and comment!
Chapter 28
"A Daring Escape"
Shortly after the group of Dwarves and Elves had left and Legolas had disappeared through the trees, Calyr gasped in a lung full of air. He slowly sat up and gazed at the small vial in his hand; thankful that no one had searched him.
"I did not expect Ginger Root, Shepherd's Purse, and Lotus to work so well…" he chuckled slightly. The healer rotated his arms, turned his head, and twisted his torso to get circulation going through his body once more. Once he was able to stand, without the help of a tree trunk, he pulled the piece of parchment out of his tunic that his love had slipped him.
The brunette unfolded it to find a floor plan of the palace and a note, "I will warn Torshar. Be safe… -Legolas" this made him smile as he refolded the note and pocketed it then began to study the map. Just as he was about to begin his trek to the palace, a spec of dark red caught his attention.
"Who is there?! Come out!" he demanded and drew a dagger.
"Wait! Please don't hurt me!" answered the frightened voice of the healer's Hobbit companion.
"Bilbo?" he asked as he approached and found said Baggins cowering behind a tree root, "Bilbo! I thought you had been captured!"
The Hobbit looked up then smiled in relief, "Calyr!" He then leapt to his feet and hugged the Elf's waist, "We thought the prince had beaten you to death…"
The healer smiled as he sheathed the dagger and returned the embrace, "I made an elixir that made it seem like I was dead. Legolas had to beat me to make it look believable… Come to think of it… How did you escape being taken to the palace?"
The Hobbit began to stutter under the Elf's curious gaze, not being able to find the proper words, until he was shocked into silence, "It wouldn't have anything to do with that ring… Would it?"
Bilbo looked down at the band of gold in his hand and sighed, "I found it in the Goblin Tunnels…" he began but was silenced once more by a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I do not wish to know, my friend. The less I know… The better." The Elf stated, then gently lifted the Hobbit over the tree root, "Now, Legolas and I have a plan to get our Dwarf companions out of the dungeons but it is going to take some invisibility magic from a certain Hobbit…"
Bilbo looked at his ring then back up at the brunette Elf, "Are you suggesting that we simply walk through the front gates?!"
Calyr smirked, "Precisely!"
Torshar slept off and on throughout the night due to the fact that her love was down in the dungeon, not knowing what had happened to her. For all she knew, Thranduil could have had all of her friends executed and she would be none the wiser. Worry coursed through her heart as the sun began to rise and cast small rays into her room.
Just as she finished drying her face, after washing all of the emotions from the sleepless night before, the door to her room unlocked and creaked open. Thinking of it as nothing more than her breakfast, the minstrel simply walked past it without a glance… Until she realized that there was no guard present. At first, she ignored it thinking it was just shift change. But that thought quickly flew out the window when it was obvious that there were no footsteps approaching. Cautiously, she stuck her head out into the hall to find it void of life. The bard then quickly grabbed and put on her boots then proceeded to quietly sneak down to the dungeon.
Luck was on her side because the first cell she came to held the Dwarf prince, "Thorin…?"
Her heart leapt in joy as the king-to-be stirred from a restless slumber and raised his head, "Thorin!" she whispered overjoyed as tears streamed down her face.
His Dwarf feet could not move fast enough when his eyes focused and his brain realized who he was seeing; his beautiful lover from the moon. He jumped up and ran to the barred door; grabbing her hands as best as he could, "I was beginning to worry…" he confessed, making her smile.
I'll wager the sun's on the rise…" called Bofur from another cell in a depressed tone, "Must be nearly dawn…"
"We're never going to reach the Mountain, are we…?" asked a forlorn Nori to no one in particular, making Thorin and Torshar tighten their grips on each other slightly and close their eyes sadly.
"Not stuck in here, you're not." Came the voices of Calyr and Bilbo who poked their heads out from around the corner of Thorin's cell with the keys, and effectively scarring the versifier to death.
The Dwarves began to chatter happily at hearing the Hobbit and Elf's voices but were quickly quieted by Bilbo, "Shh! There are guards nearby!"
The moment the cell door was unlocked Torshar threw it open and jumped into the prince's trembling arms, "Oh my love… I was so scared that something had happened…" she whispered with a slightly cracking voice.
Thorin tightened his grip around her waist and upper back, "I would never let that happen…"
Once everyone was freed, Torshar began to lead the company back up but Bilbo and Calyr directed them down, "Follow us!" The two led the other fourteen down into the cellars where the wine was stored only to find two brunette Elves slumped over a table with a couple of empty bottle and snoring loudly.
"This way…" Calyr whispered.
"I don't believe it… We're in the cellars!" Kili voiced lowly and angry to the group behind him.
Bofur quietly confronted the Elvish healer, "You two were supposed to lead us out, not further in!"
"This way!" the Hobbit hastily got the Dwarves hidden behind a wall of fifteen empty barrels, "Everyone, climb into the barrels quickly."
Dwalin was the first to state his protest, "Are you mad?! They will find us!"
"No, they won't. I promise you. Please, please. You must trust us." Bilbo pleaded then looked to Thorin for help as the group turned to each other to discuss it. The warrior looked at the maiden of the moon who nodded.
"Do as they say." He ordered then stepped down, leading Torshar to a barrel and began to help her into it.
Calyr gently picked up Bilbo and placed him inside a barrel as Tauriel's voice echoed down, "Where is the Keeper of the Keys?!"
Bofur poked his head out and asks, "What do we do now?!" worried.
Calyr smirked, "Hold your breath." And pulled a lever, releasing the barrels. But before they could begin their descent through the trap door that lead to river below, Torshar quickly jumped out of her barrel and watched sadly as her friends rolled into the river.
"What are you doing Torshar?!" Calyr demanded in confusion.
"Buying you all time! Quickly, Calyr, go! Guide them and I will meet you all in Esgaroth." She then gave the Elf a quick hug then shoved him down the trap door.
As the door closed and the redheaded Elf began to enter the cellar, the versifier heard Thorin shout her name in a confused and scared tone. Ignoring it, Torshar picked up the ring of keys that had been dropped by the Hobbit then bolted up the stairs; shoving Tauriel and the guards aside.
"GET HER!" the archer shouted and pointed at the minstrel's retreating back. The two guards quickly took off towards her direction but soon lost sight of her as she slipped into a dark room.
As they ran past, Torshar released a silent breath, that she had not realized she was holding, and turned to face the room as the sun began to light it. White marble flooring shimmered as the versifier took a cautious step closer to what appeared to be a four poster bed with a grey sheer curtain around all sides. Her heart rate began to pick up as she stepped up to the side and slowly pulled the curtain to reveal a lifelike figure of herself, asleep, in a white Elvish wedding gown.
"Beautiful… Isn't she?" came the cool, collected voice of the Woodland King as he shut and locked the door; bathing the room in partial darkness. Torshar turned when she heard his voice and glared, moving away from the bed as if a deadly predator was sleeping on it.
"What is this?" she questioned accusingly.
"She is a complete replica of you… In every detail…" Thranduil answered as he stepped close to the bed, "After our last encounter, I found myself thinking of you often…I couldn't… Can't, get you out of my mind. Your scent… The feeling of your skin… The silkiness of your hair…"
To say the minstrel was becoming increasingly uncomfortable would be putting it mildly… She had never seen the Elf King act like this and it was beginning to freak her out. Wishing she had her weapons, the versifier kept backing up until her back bumped into the far wall, preventing her from putting any further distance between them.
Thranduil looked up from the sleeping figure on the bed when he heard Torshar collide with the wall, "I no longer need her… Because you are here with me now…" With break neck speed, the blond man leapt over the bed and trapped the mistress of music between his arms; preventing any chance of escape.
Now she was becoming extremely worried. This imposing man could easily take advantage of her due to the fact that the door was locked, everyone in his kingdom wouldn't lift a finger to help a Dwarf, and his physical strength alone was superior. Her breath caught in her throat when one of the King's hands left the wall and grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger.
"So beautiful…" he whispered and stared at her plump light bathed lips. Subconsciously, he licked his own then began to lean in only to be interrupted by a knock, "What?!"
"Sire, the Dwarves are all missing!" came the terrified voice of Tauriel.
The King looked from the door in door to the woman still in his grasp and looked down to notice the ring of keys in her hand, "You… You freed them…?"
"Yes. They will reach the Mountain, slay the dragon, and Thorin will take his place as Erebor's king! There is nothing you can do about it, Thranduil… It's over." The moon maiden stated, causing something to snap in the Elf ruler's brain and backhanding her across the mouth; knocking her to the floor.
Anger poured off of him life a waterfall as his breathing increased and he grasped a handful of Torshar's hair, "You will pay for what you have done, my dear." Suddenly, a horn blasted signaling that something or someone had breached the borders of the palace.
"If you leave this place, I cannot guarantee your safety in the trying times to come." Thranduil threatened as he fled the room.
The moment he disappeared, Torshar was up on her feet and dashing out the door in the opposite direction that the Elf was traveling. Twists and turns through the corridors seemed to only confused the poor She-Dwarf as her blood raced through her body, fueling her anxiety upon hearing it pound in her ears. Her cheek burned as she rounded a corner and came face-to-face with Legolas, who appeared to be in a hurry.
Backing off quickly and reaching for her confiscated dagger Torshar looked at the Elf prince in slight anxiousness, "Legolas…?"
The archer took a step back and raised his hands in surrender, even though he knew she had no weapon, "I am not here to harm you, Torshar. Although I am curious to know why you are not with Calyr and your Dwarf company…"
"I… I bought them some time…"
Shaking his head, Legolas lowered his arms, "I fear your sacrifice may have been in vain. Orcs have penetrated the borders and have followed your friends down the river. I did my best to follow and protect them but there were too many… I lost sight of the barrels."
Tears sprang to her eyes, "No… No, I don't believe it… Calyr would have found a safe route or a secret one!" a sob erupted from her throat as she fell to her knees and tears fell freely, "Thorin…"
The blond Elf prince carefully approached and laid a hand on her head, "I am so sorry Torshar…" he says apologetically then lifts his head when he hears several pairs of footsteps approaching. He carefully and swiftly lifts the maiden to her feet then holds her like he had just captured her.
Three guards came around the corner, "Prince Legolas, your father is asking for you."
"Very well. Bring this Dwarf so my father may deal with her." The prince then surrendered her to the chains that the guards carried.
The Great Hall seemed uneasy when Torshar was inside and positioned at the bottom of the steps to the landing beneath Thranduil's throne. His voice permeated through the stillness as he addressed someone that the minstrel could not see, "Such is the nature of evil, out there in the vast ignorance of the world… It festers and spreads a shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice that is as black as the oncoming wall of night… So it ever was, so it will always be. A time when all foul things come forth."
"You were tracking a company of fourteen Dwarves, why?" Legolas demanded.
A blood curling, malicious voice answered, making an uneasy chill run down the versifier's spine, "Not fourteen, not anymore. The young one… The black haired archer… We struck him with a Morgul shaft. Poison's in his blood, he'll be choking on it soon."
This made the mistress of music scream and fight her captors, "No, you're lying!" she continued to fight, not hearing Tauriel's dismissal when she attempted to kill the prisoner.
As she moved down the steps, one of the guards handed her a key and Torshar, who slowly stopped fighting and resigned to follow the redhead. Once they were completely alone, the warrior turned to the minstrel and unchained her. The crystal eyed Dwarf's confused look was answered as she looked into the redhead's caramel colored orbs, "I know your pain… Come with me…" Tauriel lead Torshar to the armory, retrieving her bow and quiver as well as Isenbold, but was disappointed when she could not locate Orchrist.
"Legolas took it as his own." Tauriel stated when she saw Torshar's confusion, "Come, we must hurry."
"Close the gate! Keep it sealed by order of the King!" Legolas ordered as he approached the gates an hour later.
"What about Tauriel and the Dwarf prisoner?" one watchman asked as the prince turned away but stopped in his tracks.
"What about them?" he asked with a careless tone although his mind was already racing in worry.
"They both went into the forest… Armed with weapons. They have not returned."