Sticky. She felt that gross icky feeling of something sticky clinging to her, reminding her of the few times she walked into a spider's web on accident. It made her skin crawl, yet when she tried to move her arms to swipe the feeling away she found them constricted to her side.
Blinking away the darkness she woke to find herself wrapped in some sort of cocoon. What little she could see out of it showed several other large cocoons in the rather frighteningly large webs around her. Movement from her right alerted her to their enemy. Two large spiders danced across the web, pulling another cocoon with them. They looked about the size of Hellhounds, if not a bit bigger. Just what they needed. Percia seriously doubted a can of Raid would be any good against them.
A few more joined the two, all of them seeming to fight over the cocoon in their possession. Worried for what was clearly one of her group members, Percia wriggled around trying to get a hold of Riptide so she could cut off the web and save her friend. Luckily something startled the spiders, sending them scurrying off to investigate. All but one.
This one apparently decided to take advantage of the others' absence and enjoy a meal. Only someone else disagreed with the sentiment.
She didn't know how he did it, but Bilbo appeared out of nowhere, striking at the spider, until it fell to the floor dead. He then ran around the web cutting them down. Percia really wanted to stop him from cutting her own, worried about the fall, but it was too late and she soon found herself on the forest floor with the others.
Using Riptide she cut through the webbing, cringing at the thought of cleaning her poor blade. Peaking around she found the others relatively unharmed. She let a small smile slip seeing Kili trying to avoid Fili's hands as the older brother pulled webbing from his hair. Catching her look, the younger prince stuck his tongue at her causing her to laugh.
The amusement didn't last as the skittering of returning spiders echoed around them. What kind of spiders screeched?
Reflexively she dodged the one trying to jump her, rolling to the side and brining her sword up to cut its legs, managing to strike two. It wobbled as it rounded on her charging once more. Around her the others fought as well, taking out more of the eight legged beasts. Focusing she moved forward, stabbing the creature thought its gapping maw, twisting the blade before pulling it out through the head. Sensing a presence behind her she moved to protect her flank only to freeze upon seeing the arrows pointed at her by two Elven warriors.
Out of the corner of her eyes she could make out even more Elves around them. Knowing they had no chance she calmly lowered her weapon not quite letting it fall to the floor.
"HELP!"
The frantic cry startled her and she turned to move crying out for Kili just as Fili did, only to stop short as the Elves pulled her back. Thankfully he was okay, if slightly stunned, when another elf, this one female, pushed him to join the group.
"Search them." The one that called out was clearly the leader, his eyes a bright cerulean blue gleaming harshly in the low light. Percia did not want to get on his bad side, for these elves seemed inherently more dangerous than those in Rivendell.
The others protested as their things were taken from them. Percia just stood calmly allowing one of her guards to search while the other watched cautiously. He took Riptide and the few knives she managed to salvage from the Goblin Town fiasco. He paused on her necklaces, actually looking confused for a moment. His hand pulled up one of her necklaces before Percia could jerk away. If he tried to take either she would show them what she could do.
"What is this," he demanded holding the pearl up in the light for a better view.
Percia blinked in surprise. "It's a black pearl," she answered honestly. "My brother gave it to me." Both the elf searching her and the one watching seemed stumped. "Pearls come from the oceans, made by oysters. Little creatures that live in shells? Can be really small or the size of your fist? Some people like to eat them, though I never really saw why. They're kind of slimy," she babbled on. At their looks she blushed and shut her mouth firmly. She really needed to work on controlling her nervous habits.
Thankfully the elf let it fall back in place and stood back to await orders from their leader. Said leader was looking over Thorin's sword, speaking softly in their language.
"Where did you get this," he questioned the Dwarf, eyes hard once more.
"It was a gift," Thorin practically hissed in response.
"So not only a thief but a liar as well," the Elf shot back. The Glare Thorin pierced the other with could have peeled paint. Percia really wanted to roll her eyes. Could there be any more animosity between the two groups? Wait. Best not tempt fate with such a question.
Soon enough she found herself corralled with the others being lead to the Elves' kingdom. Somehow she ended up next to Kili, with Fili and Bofur behind them. Looking at her 'lover' she noticed he seemed far more distracted than normal. Had he been hurt in the attack?
"Are you okay," she whispered only to have him not respond. She tried again, with a bit more desperation in her tone. "Kili?"
"Huh?" His eyes finally met hers, though clearly his thoughts did not. "Oh, um yes, I'm fine." His eyes drifted away and towards the front. More specifically they trailed to a certain red-haired Elf female. "I'm fine…"
Percia wasn't an idiot by a long shot and she could easily put two and two together. It hurt to think his attention could be stolen so easily, but she was used to such things happening. It didn't stop her heart from hurting any less; however, she said nothing. A small pat on her shoulder had her glancing back at Fili, who flashed her a small sympathetic smile. She tried to smile back but doubted it amounted to much.
They were led over a bridge through a large set of gates into an underground world of the likes she had never seen. Trees grew within in such a way as to form walls and stairwells, canopies and walkways. In all, it was truly beautiful, and had they not been captured she would have enjoyed looking around like a tourist in New York.
Two of the guards broke off, taking Thorin with them as the others were led further into the keep. The cells of the dungeon were situated on various levels, the walkway winding around, but narrow with a large drop should one misstep. Each member was pushed into a cell, some doubled up, though her guard merely opened the door and allowed her to walk in. She nodded in acknowledgement of the courtesy, receiving one back.
She turned to study the small room, noting a blind in front of the chamber pot and a small cot set to the side. Glancing back out she noted her vantage point allowed her to see Kili's cell. She tried not to watch as he flirted with the she-elf, but it was like a train wreck she could not tear her eyes from. The cheeky smile he wore after the Elf's departure left something cold in her stomach. With a heavy heart she laid on the cot, trying to will the images from her mind.