Mirkwood certainly lived up to its name from Percia's opinion. The trees looked like something out of a horror film, large and oppressive, looming angrily above them. Even the plants looked menacing, their colors muted and depressing. Everything closed in tight, making the forest feel almost impenetrable, yet there was a road. Well it was more of an over grown path, and even that was stretching it.
Part of her wished they had kept the ponies Beorn lent them, but she knew they would not have been able to traverse these woods. Hades, they barely managed on foot. The further in they went, the darker it got, dampening their eyesight, at least hers and Bilbo's. Dwarves appeared to have special sight in darkness, helping them in the mines and deep mountains.
The atmosphere in the air around them made her skin crawl. She could feel the sickness within the forest, the darkness that leeched into the very ground contaminating everything. The Dwarves felt it to a point, but Bilbo especially felt it. From what he had explained about Hobbits, they were very connected to the land thanks to their creator Yavannah. Given his grayish pallor he more than felt the evil here.
It took them a long week to reach the shores of a river. They had tried to ration their supplies, however they were getting lower than any liked. Especially the water. Yet, when some of them tried to gather water from the river Percia pulled them back.
"What is it," Fili asked, slightly annoyed.
"Something is wrong with the water," she murmured, eyes on the river and a frown on her face.
"How do you mean," Balin inquired with interest and some worry.
"It feels like… magic, dark magic. I do not know what it would do, but I do not suggest drinking or even touching the water," she stated seriously. Squatting she held her hand out over the water, but did get too close. Concentrating she tried to find the life normal water held. Even in this world she had felt it in other water sources, but here it was different. Something was there; it stirred restlessly for a long moment like a predator waiting to strike. A bad feeling settled in Percia's stomach at the thought.
"Well how are we to cross," Dwalin demanded from somewhere behind her. "I don't see any bridges."
"How you can see anything in this darkness is a miracle," Dori snapped irritably. True enough they could not see the other side of the river aside from questionable looking shadows.
"Isn't that a boat?" Bilbo's question had the others peering into the dark. "Right over there?"
The group jerry rigged a rope to one of Kili's arrows and they worked to get the boat to their side. Percia just watched, keeping an eye on the water. She knew the others would never see what she could, so it was up to her to watch for the danger she knew existed there.
Once they had the boat Thorin ordered them all to cross in small groups. Bombur would be last due to his size, but Percia stayed with him. It would give her the best position should the thing in the water attack.
Slowly but surely they crossed the river until only she and Bombur remained. As she was so slim it proved no issue for her to ride with the lager Dwarf. Ignoring the others' whining and grumbling she kept her eyes on the dark swirling waters of the river. It moved in a way the others would not have known to be wary of, but it instantly put her on edge. Taking a calming breath she gathered her power preparing for the strike.
It happened in short order. Just as Bombur stood preparing to step off the boat, the water rocked. Had Percia not been prepared it could have easily been Bombur that fell in the water. Instead she pushed her power to toss the boat just so that the large Dwarf fell onto the bank, though the backlash overturned the vessel sending her into the water.
Like oil is sucked her in, coating her skin in a heavy suffocating film. She could feel the magic working to affect her unable to beat her godly blood. However, it did not stop the creature she had felt earlier. Breaking the surface she gasped for air, pulling Riptide out in a practiced move. The others all yelled to her, but she kept her eyes on the water, more specifically the wake heading straight towards her.
When the creature broke the barrier to reveal itself Percia wished it had not. It was a Kelpie, but not like any she had ever encountered. This one resembled a skeletal horse she had seen in her uncle Hade's realm, more than the majestic horse-like river spirits she had interacted with before. Its eyes rolled wildly in its head, the teeth gnashing at her threateningly. Its front hoofs lifted to strike her, but a quick block and push sent it back. The water in the river hindered her more than assisted her, though she managed to keep it from pulling her down into the dark depths.
The Kelpie came at her again, only to reel off when an arrow embedded itself in its eye. Using the distraction she fought to get to the edge of the river, the slimy liquid acting like a gummy obstacle. Hearing the scream from the Kelpie she looked back to see it once more plowing towards her. Thankfully she was close enough for Dwalin and Dori to jerk her from the river and to safety. One last haunting screech of rage left the creature before it disappeared back into the water.
"Bloody hell," Bofur muttered what everyone was thinking. "You alright lass?"
Unable to really speak she tried to nod only to feel her stomach revolt. Scrambling away from the others she heaved violently, thick mucus like fluid escaping from her mouth. A heavy hand pounded her back telling her to cough it all up. Sometimes Oin took his duty as a healer way too far.
"It's like she was in a bat of tar instead of a river," Balin mused curiously wiping some of the liquid off her.
"Get her out of her clothes," Oin ordered. "We need to get as much of this off her as possible."
"What," Kili screeched angrily. "Why?"
"Because whatever is wrong with that river is not reacting naturally with the lass," the healer huffed irritably. "We need to get any excess water off her before it makes her sicker."
Before the young prince could argue further Balin cut in with logic. "She did mention the water felt like dark magic was used on it. For us it would likely have been a different effect, one she saved Bombur from. But for her, a half blood daughter of a god that controls water, it would react vastly different. She probably knew that, which is why she took the chance to push Bombur to safety when the boat rocked."
"She was watching the water awfully close," Fili added, placing a comforting hand on his brother.
"Spell…" Coughing harshly to dislodge further phlegm she turned to the group, body shaking from the strain. "Tried to… pull me down… but I can resist… because of… blood. Bombur… could not." She turned to hack up more fluid. Leaning onto her knees tiredly she tried to explain. "Put to sleep… Kelpie would… have eaten… him."
"That creature," Bilbo clarified. "You know what it is?"
She nodded. "But it is wrong… corrupted… shouldn't…" Another bout of heaving took her over, once finished she tried again. "Shouldn't look… like that."
"Enough, get her out of these clothes," Oin barked harshly. "She's starting to turn a color that ain't right!"
Sure enough her skin had taken on a grayish hue that could not be good. She also felt unnaturally hot and did not fight as two pairs of hands started working on her clothing. Her vision started to tunnel and her strength left her as she succumbed to unconsciousness.