Pain and darkness filled her thoughts for what seemed like years. She knew logically it could not have been that long, but it definitely felt like it. Occasionally she would manage a small period of consciousness where she either found herself hung over someone's shoulder or laid out on blankets. Hot and cold swept through her in turns, indicating she had a serious fever. With it came dreams of the past and some of nightmarish futures.
At times she thought she heard singing, usually from Kili, his hands running through her hair gently. She wanted to tell him not too since it couldn't have been pleasant with how sweaty her locks were, but she had no energy. The worst part was how she couldn't even see him when she did manage to wake. The forest they walked through bathed in darkness of the likes she had never experienced. Though Hades' realm came exceptionally close to matching it.
After one horrific dream she managed to wake gasping for breath. It was dark, too dark for her to see, but she heard movement next to her. Without thought she latched onto the figure, her hands roaming the shoulders up to his face. The familiar stubble and features had her relaxing some before the images of her dreams returned sending a trundle of fear through her. Frantically she started feeling him all over trying to check for the wounds he had suffered in her nightmares.
"Percia? Percia, I am fine," he whispered quietly to her, trying to keep from alerting the others. She just sniffled and grabbed onto him harder, curling up into his warmth. His arms wrapped around her easily. "It's okay, I have you."
"She awake?" The gruff sound was easily recognized as Oin, the group healer.
"I think so," he replied. "Though I am not sure if she is mentally here."
"Hold her up. I need to try and get some tea in her," he ordered.
Percia let him, moving in his grip just enough to free her face from its place on his chest. Squinting she tried to make out Oin's figure, which she could hear, but only black prevailed. She started slightly when something was pressed against her lips.
"Small sips Percia," Kili instructed encouragingly. She had no problem with attempting the first, the second sip, however, was a fight.
"Ugh!"
"Yes I know it's not the best tasting," Oin muttered, clearly having had this argument many times before. "But it's good for you so stop being stubborn and drink!"
It just wasn't fair she could not exploit the powers of her full pout given the darkness. So she huffed irritably and choked down the vile tea. If she felt better a few minutes later she wasn't ever going to admit it.
"Long?" A small feeling of accomplishment came over her at getting the word out considering how dry and pasty her throat felt.
"Five days," Kili stated factually. "We continued to carry you hoping to break the other side of the forest, but we have been unable to do so. Though many thank you that it was not Bombur we had to cart around. You are far lighter than him."
From off to the side she heard Oin snort.
"Welcome." Okay that came out a little bratty but she hated being sick for any length of time. Kili only chuckled and pressed a kiss to her temple.
"When we actually get some light in this infernal place I'll get a better look at you," Oin declared suddenly. "Can't really tell how bad off you are now, but at least you're awake. Now go to sleep."
She choked out a laugh, feeling Kili shaking with laughter as well. Kili lay back, taking her with him, allowing her to curl into his side as they drifted to sleep.
Sure enough the next day when enough light broke through the canopy Oin descended upon her poking and prodding in the name of healing. It reminded her of the kids from the Apollo Cabin; they had no sense of personal space either. One cup of tea and a declaration she would survive later and the group was moving once more.
Percia had to take it a bit slow, but managed walking a fair amount. Sometimes though one of the others would simply sweep her up into their arms and carry her over the more difficult parts of the trail. The ones not Kili often received glares from the sable-haired prince, which they ignored. When they rested Bilbo and Bombur fussed over her, the former due to his natural inclination, and the latter in gratitude of her saving him from falling in the river. Waving them off did little good so she just sat by and endured.
The worst part of their situation was the loss of their supplies. Even with rations the food had dwindled to the nothing a day before she woke. Their water supplies were not much better, which in her opinion was worse. One could survive a long time without food, but only a few precious days without water. Given the continued looks of the forest around them, foraging for either did not look hopeful.
She felt bad for many of the Dwarves and for Bilbo; going hungry was not pleasant by any means. Her own experiences helped to harden her to the hunger pains, but the loud growls from empty stomachs started to become hard to ignore.
It certainly didn't help that the group seemed to be suffering from delusions. If she didn't know better she'd swear they had smoked some of Demeter's special plants. They all certainly seemed drunk. Granted the forest did seem to play on every one's mind. It reminded her greatly of the Labyrinth. The giant spider webs offered little comfort either. Hopefully those were simply made by a bunch of regular sized spiders and not something more ominous. But she wouldn't hold her breath.
At one point fighting broke out within the group, the Dwarves pushing and shoving each other in a drunken fashion. Percia stood off to the side not willing to get involved. Idly she noted Bilbo climbing one of the main trees and doing a pretty good job of it. He was sprier than one would anticipate.
"Enough! All of you!" Thorin's commanding voice took her attention away from their Hobbit to the king. He looked tense and uneasy which only caused her battle instincts to flair. "We're being watched."
Everyone took defensive positions looking for danger. Percia's hand slipped down to Rip tide, curling around the hilt. However something huge slammed down onto her, throwing her to the ground. All around she could hear the others shouting and shadows shifted violently but she could not move despite her struggles. A sharp sting in her back had her world fading to black.