Of Mountains and Woodlands Chapter 4
The next morning came painfully quickly and even more so did dusk. The average talk of the day went on amongst the company as it would any other day but Maya said nothing for the entire duration of the ride out. The Wild Wood loomed menacingly ahead. Its shadows and life were strangers to her that day – she felt as if she were walking into the dark with no means to light the path ahead of her, the knowledge of knowing she was no longer welcome changed her view of it dramatically as it would for anyone. They stopped a good way away from the actual borders at Gandalf's suggestion. They hid the ponies and de-armed themselves enough to make them not look like a serious threat but not enough to make them look an easy target to the forest dwellers that roamed unseen in the shadows. Yes, the Wild Wood was a dark place now. Maya sat on the grass waiting for the time the sun finally disappeared beyond the horizon and the blanket of night replaced it.
"The time is now, Maya. On your feet," Gandalf cast his long, moonlit shadow over her as he stood just behind her. The action caused a little shiver to trickle down her spine and she stood up rather quickly. Maya kept her bag, checking inside it, but abandoned her sword and donning Thorin's cloak, which was far too long and dragged on the ground around her feet; she lifted its fur hood over her face and disappeared. She looked like a ghost as she moved ahead of the company. Gandalf followed behind her, Thorin in the middle and Dwalin bringing up the rear. They got to the border and she paused, briefly turning for one last assurance. Gandalf urged her on and she didn't turn around again. Crossing her arms to battle the cool night air, Maya made her lofty way into the darkness, where the trees grew tall and their branches reached low and the bark groaned.
Bilbo lost sight of her but he stuck close to Balin who was just in front of him. Sometimes he would stop abruptly and Bilbo would walk into him and both would almost lose their balance. Balin would then whisper over his shoulder,
"Easy, lad,"
Bilbo did his utmost but the forest was not the one he read about in his books, not at night. It creaked and groaned in the breeze. Eyes opened and closed around them and sometimes footsteps were heard in the distance. It was so silent Bilbo worried for his own breathing, it was all they could be sure to hear in the undergrowth. The canopy was thick but little beams managed to fight their way through gaps in the leaves and with that Bilbo wished he didn't look up for whenever he did, he was sure there was something leaning out of the trees, reaching down, clambering through the arms of the forest. At last they came to a halt and Bilbo once again found his face on the back of Balin. They huddled close, all of them, waiting,
"What's happening? Why have we stopped?" Bilbo whispered, clutching the sleeve of Balin's own cloak. He did not say a word against it, bless.
"Waiting to be found, Mr Baggins," Gandalf whispered back, his voice drifting down from above them.
"Why? Can't she just lead us there?"
"No, she can't. How can she, if she does not know the way?" and that was all Gandalf cared to say. Bilbo sensed that the wizard was also ill at ease with the likes of the forest. Bilbo was confused about the answer he gave though and it took some time to understand that Gandalf would not give a direct answer for a) they didn't know who was waiting for answers in the shadows and b) if she was to pass off as a simple traveller, then of course she wouldn't know the way. The silence hung so heavily in the air that Bilbo could feel it on his shoulders but when a voice from around them echoed out, it slipped in between the crevices and soothed the offence the dark took from such an invasion,
"15 travellers in the dark; in cloaks and hoods, they walk these paths. What brings them here in the middle of the night, I wonder,"
No one could locate where the voice came from but Gandalf mustered the courage to speak out when the others dared not,
"We come seeking your assistance,"
"Ah, well I would assume so for no travelling party with their wits in the right place would wonder into a forest they did not know by themselves. Even if you are 15 armed and strong,"
"We seek the help of Marlow, Lord of the Wild Woods,"
"He no longer holds Lordship here. His brother now rules,"
"Then we wish to have his audience instead,"
"Whatever for?" the voice's smooth touch twitched with curiosity.
"I regret to inform you that it can only be for his ears,"
The voice chuckled in the dark and from the murmuring bushes stepped a lean figure. His face was still in shadow but his weaponry and stealth were definitely evident. It made them all shake in their boots to be looking ahead when he so nimbly stepped out from beside Bilbo. The shadow made his way to the front of the little huddle, stopping in front of Maya, the moon cascading over his features. He was built much the same as Maya: high cheek bones though with a more defined jaw and not one scar and his eyes were lilac. His attire was more a warrior's grooming than that of someone who belonged in the forest.
"For 15 strong and armed, this one seems small,"
"She is a dwarf though deaf and mute," Thorin interjected before Gandalf had a chance to reply. The Nymph sought out Thorin's voice and put a face to the words.
'Is that so," he folded his arms in suspicion, "Deaf and mute. I'm disinclined to believe such a thing,"
"It is true," Thorin's voice did not waver but Bilbo was pretty sure Thorin realised his error. They all did.
"You let a deaf and mute dwarf woman lead you on through the forest," he smiled and shook his head at an angle. He proceeded to pull Maya's hood from her head, pulling her hair away from her face. The warrior Nymph's eyes widened before he turned so suddenly from her.
"I thought you dead, Puck Thorn," Maya's voice was not strong, not confident. The fear was there but it caught everyone off guard when she knew Puck's name. Bilbo tensed more so that his limbs began to ache under so much tension. Bilbo was brave to continue on a quest so dangerous for the sake of others but he felt like a gold fish in the sea at that moment.
"I thought you gone forever. Why are you here, Maya?" Puck turned to her, prowling back towards them.
"The wizard,"
"The Wizard, Gandalf who came the day you were banished?"
"The same,"
Puck glanced up at him, all menace draining from his features only to be replaced by something else and Bilbo had no idea what it was. At a loss, Puck bowed slightly,
"Evening," he glanced around and found Thorin once more, "Thorin Oakenshield, I presume then,"
Thorin bowed his own head in return. Puck looked back at Maya,
"Well, you'll get your wish. They're watching us, so I can't exactly tell you to run, but Maya…you know the consequences,"
"Yes," she fixed her gaze over Puck's shoulder.
"I'm sorry I can't be…I'm sorry," and he drew his sword and from the dark, all the Nymphs that had been watching them appeared; their knives, spears, swords, whips and other strange things drawn and directed at them. Bilbo felt the cold, steel tip of a knife on the side of his neck and the wet path of a water droplet that ran down his skin from the tip of the knife.
Puck led them into a clearing and there before their eyes, the canopy opened and the moon shone as bright as fire down onto them. The branches of the trees grew and stretched, twisting into one another to make what seemed like benches. Before them, another tree opened up and water flowed from its innards, leaving a shimmering path in its wake which the new Lord of the Wild Wood followed to a clump of tree branches that he fitted into quite nicely. They were in an organic auditorium and Bilbo couldn't help but be amazed.
"So," the Lord spoke in a rusted voice. It did not suite his looks: a crooked nose, dull blue eyes. He was the most uninspiring being in their midst, "You have returned again, Maya. I must say I'm rather disappointed. Do you like what I have done to our Woods? Do you think it will do?"
But Maya shook her head,
"You've ruined it. Tell me, what drove you to turn us into malevolent and dark creatures? That was not what the Woods were meant to be and if it's any consolation, I'm not here of my own accord," she took a step back into Bilbo and he tried to stifle the pain of a crunched foot as best he could as Maya quickly squeezed his hand. Gandalf lifted his head, straightening his shoulders to show confidence,
"I am Gandalf the Grey, one of the many guardians of Middle-Earth. I have come, because I need your knowledgeable help,"
"Ah," the Lord laughed a low, sick laugh, "Speak, then, Gandalf the Grey. What is it you must know?"
"A shadow grows in the East. A necromancer has been rumoured to have been seen. I wish to ask if you might know what is beginning to brew there,"
"Well," the Lord shifted, "I know that your reckless quest has set in motion some dark forces but much more than that, I cannot tell you,"
"Then let me speak with Marlow, for surely he would know,"
The Lord's face hardened and his twisted, arrogant smile disappeared,
"He no longer dwells with the living. He came to his demise a fortnight ago tonight," Bilbo felt Maya tense and he saw Thorin glance at her through the corner of his eye. But Gandalf gave it no heed – it was best they remained oblivious to all.
"It's a shame, but never the less, we thank you for your help and we shall be on our way," Gandalf turned and urged them all to turn quickly too but the Lord was not so kind,
"Puck, if you will,"
Bilbo felt a rough hand grab his arm and before he knew it, he was yanked from the group and strung up between two trees like he had been the night before between the trolls. The others shuffled in dismay, grunted, tried reaching for Bilbo, yelling but it was in vain as their weapons were stripped from them and were held captive once more,
"What is the meaning of this?" Gandalf shoved through the crowd to the front.
"Oh, Maya knows why and I think you do too, Mithrandir. For someone to be rumoured so wise, this was not one of your wisest ideas," the Lord grinned, darkly, "You see, Wizard, Maya was banished. She was not to come back and yet she returned three times and three times, she escaped my wrath. It angered me. She and her father have betrayed this forest and it is because of them I have it so well guarded,"
"For nothing!" Maya shot ahead of Gandalf, "Who has tried to find you? Who had posed a threat, Uncle? It's all in your sick little mind,"
"How dare you speak so shrewdly!" he rose abruptly, "You committed a treason by accepting this quest and so did your father by approving of it! He approved of it until the day he died. His soul starved of water beneath the bark!"
Maya's fury was evident in the way her fists shook but her voice was calm,
"And what of Mr Baggins?" she jerked her head in Bilbo's direction, "Do you wish to execute him in my stead?"
"Yes," the Lord sat back down, a look of content on his gaunt face, "Yes, I do. All them, actually, and then I intend to have you freed,"
"Wh-"
"Just so you understand the depths of your treachery," he smiled.
Maya looked around her in horror. None of the surrounding witnesses moved,
"Who are you?!" she yelled, "What have you become?!" no one answered.
The Lord let her have her moment before gesturing to Puck to do what he was bid. Bilbo's heart caught in his throat and he broke into a cold sweat. He was trembling. Puck took a step towards him, a look of regret on his face. Maya, however, met him head on, stepping between him and Bilbo's suspended body. The movement was swift, agile and somewhat majestic as all at once she drew from her bag two flaming balls attached to chains that wrapped neatly around her fingers. She stood sideways, one flame behind her and the other in front – a challenge for Puck,
"Drop him, Puck Thorn," she had narrowed her eyes and glared at him through a steady gaze. Puck stopped dead at the sight, frowning slightly, unwilling to go any further but the Lord clapped his hands excitedly,
"Oh! A challenge! Come now, Puck! Use your sword. I did not make you guard of the Western Boarder for nothing!"
"You said to have only the members executed and she was to be untouched," he spoke over his shoulder,
"Yes, well she rose to the challenge didn't she!" he got impatient, "Now do what I ordered!"
But Puck hesitated and spoke calmly to Maya,
"We don't fight with fire, Maya, we were never taught,"
She brought the other flame around too with a rushing sound as the breeze met the flame so that both flames were burning in Puck's face,
"You weren't. Now, drop him,"
"I can't,"
"Then we shall stand here for a long time,"
Puck paused and looked down once before raising his head; his face had darkened, his grip on his blade had tightened. From his back, he drew another shorter blade that glistened like water in the moonlight. Bilbo watched from his trees and so did the others. All eyes were anxious and tense. It was sudden when it began for when Puck launched his attack, he made not a sound and so quickly did Maya spin that her fire dragged a flaming path in the air and with an enormously, quiet clang as chain met steel, the fight between friends began.
Maya's fire flew around her giving the impression she was ablaze. The view was leant to Puck for more often than not he was locked in the flame too. Sometimes it was both of them; sometimes she let out a scream of pain as Puck's blade met Maya's flesh. Sometimes when the moment was still; both faces were equally as strong, as determined and completely lost. Every time Maya moved to Bilbo, Puck grew more aggressive and would not allow her to pass. The company looked on in darkness. The Lord looked on in excitement, leaning forward in anticipation of every alternative move. Bilbo was silent where he hung, the thought of life's end gone. What was before him was somewhat more moving. His little heart slowed and upon glancing at Gandalf, he knew he felt the same. This was the end of that which Maya could have risen to, for how much lower could one sink than to declare war on a friend, your own kind, on behalf of another friend you barely knew? Maya felt it too, he could see, for the light that passed her face lit up a brighter, glistening face than the usual and no rage could be detected in her moves. No. no, this hurt. Maya finally lashed out bringing a flame down upon Puck's shoulder making him drop his blade and crumble under the impact. She seized the moment and kicked him square in the chest and sent him sprawling to the feet of her uncle who was, by no means, happy about the turn of events. He rose but Gandalf gave no room for biting, and raising his staff, he emanated a light so bright Bilbo thought he might have dreamed the whole thing and that death was now finally there to collect him. It was the loss of his stomach in the drop and the hard thud as he hit the ground that told him otherwise. He was hauled up, winded, to his feet and was shoved forward roughly. There was a ringing in his ears and the light was still in Bilbo's eyes so he could barely see but Thorin's voice rang clear as was the clang of steel,,
"RUN! RUN! Move, Baggins! Maya! RUN YOU FOOLS!"
And into Bilbo's hands, his little elvish blade was shoved.
Thorin ushered them all as Gandalf set light to the surrounding area where the Nymph Lord held his hearings. All the warriors were starting to appear then, coming down from the trees, from the streams, the rivers, everywhere. He shoved Maya on too, for she was reluctant to move, but the image of Puck Thorn clutching his shoulder, on his knees at the feet of an angry, ruthless, Nymph Lord as he raged and screamed for them to be hunted down until all were dead; was burned into his head and for many nights after that, it was all he dreamed of. The escape itself, however, was like a dream. Everything moved slowly as the rustle of trees and bushes began to wane and it was if they were alone once more, but they daren't stop for fear of what was truly behind them, it was a dangerous fear indeed. They ran as separate people this time, the cool air misting in their faces as they panted on. Thorin could only sense the others around him, never fearing the outcome for where else would they wish to go? Eventually the forest gave way to the open valley they entered the forest from but still they ran. Maya was far ahead of them, Balin just to her right. Bilbo was just ahead of Thorin and Gandalf was taking his long strides as a giant once more in the moonlight, just a little way out of the main group. Everyone else was everywhere else. They reached their ponies but still they did not stop. They went as fly by nights but this time it was Gandalf who lead them on. They entered a larger valley after a slight hill and by the change in atmosphere, he recognised where they were. It was more sacred, safer and larger. It was the Hidden Valley but Thorin had no mind to quarrel with him just now. They came to a speedy halt in front of a rock face and Gandalf turned,
"We must leave the ponies. We cannot get them down the slope and the rest of your journey is no place for them anyway. Maya," he laid a hand on her shoulder, "Jump,"
She didn't hesitate; she disappeared behind the rock within seconds of being told to do so. Thorin started ushering the rest of the dwarves down the slope. Kili had started shooting his arrows into the distance and as Thorin looked on, sure enough, figures were making haste across the valley towards them. Some would fall on impact as Kili hit one and then another but Thorin didn't think it wise,
"KILI, No!" he appeared at the young dwarf's side and dragged his aim to the ground. Kili looked at him with wide eyes.
"Get in, Kili,"
Kili meant to take a last shot but Thorin shoved him,
"No, Kili! Get in! Go!" Thorin stood between him and any other chance he stood of taking another shot so Kili did what he was told. Finally all of them were in and swiftly making their way down a secret passage way which Bofur concluded would be a fantastic passage to follow considering the situation they were in. It was in there that he finally got given the chance to have a word with Gandalf,
"Don't think I don't know where you've lead us,"
"Thorin, that should be the least of your concerns right now and if it isn't, you are quite welcome to climb back out and find somewhere more to your liking," he snapped back over his shoulder and Thorin rolled his eyes. The wizard was right, there was no other place he really could be more grateful to find himself in at that moment. Something else was still on his mind though,
"What of the Wild Wood? Have you burned it all down?"
"No," Gandalf's shoulders dropped slightly, "Can you imagine if I did? No, though a great part of it will have been burnt but they are Nymphs. Nothing is better with water than a Nymph,"
"And Maya?" Thorin asked cautiously. Gandalf didn't look back at him, nor did he respond immediately. In fact, he didn't answer the question at all.
They entered Rivendell exhausted and a little haunted. Elrond offered up his welcome and food and they accepted as gratefully as dwarves could with the elves. They ate and they drank and all was calmed but Maya was not there. Thorin looked at his nephews who were sitting closer to each other than normal that night as the hours grew longer and when they caught his eye, he saw how shaken they looked and he smiled as best he could. He got up sullenly from the table and wondered the city. He came across Maya wonderings, leaning against a pillar. He didn't think she knew he was there and he left her be. The moon was still bright enough to light up one's face and just before he turned away, when he so badly didn't want to, he saw one tear paving its way over the scar below her eye; only one.