Suffering from a bit of a writer's block at the moment, but here you go, new chapter nonetheless!
A little note to begin with once again: you guys know that I am most grateful for all the reviews and messages this story gets and they do keep me going but a little something I'd like to get off my chest without sounding bitchy hopefully; comments like "Update now!" or "Update immediately!" are neither speeding up my uploading schedule, nor do they sound very friendly. Don't rush me peeps, just regard the updates as wizards: they arrive precisely when they mean to.
On another note, unfortunately Men-i-Naugrim did not win the fanfiction challenge, nor did it make 2nd or 3rd place. Oh well, we shall move on then.
Enjoy the chapter and once again thank you for your reviews, favs and follows!
The sun slowly crept above the treetops of Mirkwood, drawing orange and yellow patterns on the cloudy sky.
While Thranduil's elves slowly came back to their senses, soon to find the prisoner, as well as the raft missing, the dwarves had slowly begun to settle down. Bombur, Glóin and Nori were snoring, happily dreaming of home and food and soft beds. Dwalin and Bifur had not given up their guard of the two elves and Thorin remained restless. He sat a few yards away, sharpening Orcrist's blade only to keep himself occupied and tried to ignore Balin by his side. The old dwarf had never been more unhappy with his leader and that said a lot, for Balin, as well as Dwalin, were usually Thorin's most loyal companions and trusted friends.
"This will not help to keep the peace between you and Thranduil", Balin insisted but no matter what he said, nothing seemed to impress the king.
"And you believe that imprisoning my nephew is Thranduil's idea of keeping the peace?", Thorin mumbled, causing Balin to roll his eyes.
"No it is not of course, but you don't have to act the same way! You could be the bigger ma-", Thorin glared at him. "Dwarf. The bigger dwarf."
"It is a simple deal", Thorin stated and even though he sounded calm and controlled, Balin could sense it boiling underneath his surface. He knew it was worry that drove Thorin to this crackbrained act but the old dwarf believed it to be his duty to tell him the truth.
"It's not simple at all for its consequences will be grave, Thorin, and you know it. There is nothing simple about keeping the son of the Elven King as a hostage."
"He's not a hostage, he's a guest", Thorin simply replied and seemed fine with that, whilst Balin mumbled a quiet "You don't tie your guests up though."
Legolas still stood by the fire, his companion kneeling by his side for she was slowly growing tired and her wrists began to hurt from the thick, rough dwarven rope. He watched as one dwarf after the other fell asleep and only a few remained awake. The wizard in his corner seemed unpredictable, for his eyes were open but he hadn't moved in a while. Little did Legolas know, that Gandalf in fact slept with his eyes open.
When Fíli stirred, Bofur carefully led the elven healer over to him, so she could have another look.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you", she murmured quietly, even though Fíli did not seem to grasp what was happening yet. With his uncle out of earshot, he turned to Bofur, who sat close again and looked tired and worn out.
"What happened?", he asked, his voice still husky.
"You fell ill. Silly lad, why didn't you get that wound checked in the first place?", Bofur asked, though not accusingly. He was in fact merely glad that the youngster started to feel better.
"I- I don't know I- couldn't", Fíli admitted quietly and the miner smiled understandingly. Durin's pride, once again. It was a phenomenon to the down-to-earth Bofur who usually had no trouble with admitting a mistake. For Fíli, Kíli and most of all Thorin though, it seemed like an impossible task to manage.
"This lovely lass has been taking care of you since last night", Bofur explained, gesturing towards the elf.
"That's- cordial", Fíli muttered, unsure what to say. Even though she wasn't his type at all – not enough beard and she was way too big on top of that – he couldn't deny that she was beautiful in her own ways. "Thank you." The elf merely smiled at him, while she changed the bandage on his side.
Bofur noticed the blush on Fíli's cheeks and giggled quietly. Seeing one of the youngsters that shy surely was something new and thus quite entertaining.
"What's with the other one?", the youngster asked, trying his best not to stare at the lady.
"That's Thranduil's son, I suppose. Your uncle has decided to have him captured", Bofur scratched his neck.
"What? Why?"
"Because your brother-"
Fíli bolted upright, only to sink back down the next second, clutching his side.
"I wouldn't recommend you try that yet", the elf calmly said, helping him to settle down again.
"Where is Kíli?", Fíli demanded, ignoring her completely.
"He went to find help for you", Bofur sighed. "It seems like Thranduil locked him up in his palace though."
"He went alone?", Fíli was most distressed and no matter how much the elf tried to calm him down, it was to no avail.
"Bilbo is with him. It seems as if your uncle has now decided to even out the situation and has, in turn, taken Thranduil's son hostage."
Fíli looked over to Legolas, who still stood tall but seemed utterly unhappy. Like his uncle, he had never been fond of elves but he remembered Lord Elrond and the help he had offered when Kíli was injured. And even though their departure from Rivendell had been sudden and not to their own choosing, the elves had still saved his brother. Fíli peeked over to his uncle who was slowly falling asleep, leaning lightly against Balin's shoulder. It seemed as if the turmoil of the last day had finally taken its toll on Thorin and he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.
"Bring him over", Fíli whispered to Bofur, who just looked at him in surprise. "Go on, I want to speak to him."
Dwalin, still guarding the elf, was reluctant to let Bofur take him to Fíli. He left Legolas under Bifur's guard and crouched down next to the youngster.
"What do you think you're doin' huh?", he asked, trying to remain grim as usual when he was more than relieved to find Fíli awake and not so pale anymore.
"Please Dwalin. I know you're loyal to my uncle and I admire you for this loyalty but I have to do this."
"Have to do what?", the old warrior required but Fíli's look soon gave the answer away. "I can't let you do that, laddie. Thorin would despise the both of us."
"I'll take the blame. Don't worry, you will still remain loyal, I simply forced you to do it. I am your prince after all!"
"Oh no, come on now don't pull that crap on me", Dwalin objected, wrinkling his scarred nose but to no avail.
While Bofur guided Legolas to the youngster, the healer helped Fíli to sit up straight for he did not want to face the prince in such a vulnerable position. He still had to look up to the elven prince until Legolas had settled down, but he didn't seem to mind as much as his brother or uncle.
"Have you been offered food or drink?", he asked, surprising Bofur even more.
"No, none of it", Legolas replied, his throat a little dry already.
"Bofur, would you be so kind?"
The miner scurried away quietly and returned with water, grog and smoked ham. Whilst rummaging around, he woke up poor Ori once again and the chronicler watched surprised. He settled down by Fíli's side and Fíli let him, considering that he was his trusted friend.
"Help yourselves", Fíli offered and though the two elves must have been hungry, they only took small bites, looking graceful and pretty. Bofur had to think of his own table manners and slightly shook his head to himself.
"How is my brother treated in the dungeons of your palace?", Fíli asked but he didn't sound unfriendly. His voice had a rather diplomatic tone, something that Thorin often lacked.
"He will be taken care of", Legolas replied. "Until my father has decided what to do with him."
"What do you think he will do?"
"I don't know", the elf admitted. "He will probably release him sooner or later, just like your uncle will release me and my companion."
Fíli glanced at his sleeping uncle once more, before he addressed Bofur, still calm and collected and ignoring the pain in his side.
"Please, bring me my dagger."
"Fíli, now don't do anything stupid", Bofur objected, but another gentle "Please?" from the youngster melted his heart and off he went again, to come back with parts of Fíli's ridiculously large arsenal. The young dwarf firmly gripped the dagger and leaned towards Legolas, leaving the prince to fear for a second that he might drive the blade straight through his throat but instead the young dwarf began to cut the ropes around the elf's wrists.
"Your uncle will not be pleased with this", Bofur murmured.
"I know. But I'm not pleased with this now", Fíli replied and when the ropes were cut, he put the dagger to the side. "Two wrongs don't make a right."
Ori and Bofur plainly stared at the young prince and whilst Ori's admiration for Fíli grew even more, Bofur came to realise that even though both Fíli and Thorin were direct descendants of Durin the Deathless, they were in fact very different from one another. And considering the hardship that Thorin had to suffer through in his life, that had turned him cold and bitter, and Fíli's lack thereof, it wasn't even that surprising to the dwarf from the east.
"I won't let you go without a condition though", Fíli stated, looking at Legolas. "Tell your father that Thorin Oakenshield is thankful for what he did and the help he sent."
"But it wasn't my father who sent help", Legolas admitted and was thus surprised when a small smile tucked at Fíli's lips.
"And it is not my uncle who is grateful."
It wasn't the beginning of a bond, let alone a friendship but the two princes silently formed an understanding that their eldest were not capable of forming. Before Legolas set off, he promised Fíli to look after his brother and help him escape as well as he could. The healer left herbs and the infamous poppy seeds with the youngster and the two elves disappeared quietly, taking the horses with them. Not a dwarf stirred and when they were out of sight, Fíli sighed heavily.
While he twiddled with the little pouch with the poppy seeds, Bofur watched him, deep in thought.
"You do know what you will have to suffer the consequences of this?", he asked, concern in his voice.
"I know", Fíli replied, picking a poppy seed from the pouch. "And I shall without complaint."
When Legolas and the healer arrived at Thranduil's halls again by noon, they found the entire palace in an upheaval. Thranduil sat on his throne, his face grim and he was most displeased. When Legolas entered, he looked up.
"And where have you been?"
"Out", the young elf replied. "What is going on?"
"The dwarf escaped", Thranduil muttered and Legolas had to try hard to keep his face from lighting up too much.
"He did? How?"
"The raft. He took the raft it seems. Happily paddling to Esgaroth right now, I suppose", the king replied and suspiciously watched his son's face. "You don't happen to have anything to do with this, do you?"
"No. I was out, like I said", the young prince blankly replied. "I am supposed to deliver a message of gratitude though."
"Are you? By whom and why?"
"By Thorin Oakenshield, for generously helping his other nephew."
"By Thorin- hey, you stay here and explain yourself!", Thranduil thundered after his son, who had already turned to leave, quickly enough to prevent his father from seeing the smile that had spread on his features.
Kíli and Bilbo meanwhile had settled down on the raft. Even though it wasn't the most comfortable way to travel and the little hobbit still feared to fall into the dark waters and drown, they were quite merry and cheerful. Of course both of them had forgotten to take provisions and they soon became hungry but all misery was quickly forgotten when the first rays of sunlight shone down upon them and the treetops slowly began to clear. Every glimpse of the blue sky above helped them to forget their hunger.
"Bilbo?", Kíli began after a while, taking a drag from his pipe that Bilbo had saved along with his weapons. "Tell me again, how did you plan on letting the others know that we are fine now and travelling to Lake-Town?"
"Hm", the hobbit smiled, lying on his back and looking up at the blue and green, thinking about the Shire. "I didn't."
"You didn't", Kíli smiled.
"Nope, I didn't."
Twittering and shrieking, the birds in the surrounding trees took flight and the black squirrels and deer of the Mirkwood escaped to their lairs when Kíli's shrill "YOU DIDN'T?!" echoed through the forest.