The Worth of Wild Things

by Kicollette

After their escape from Mirkwood and departure from Lake-Town, Kili becomes separated from Thorin, Fili, Dwalin and Company. Kili encounters an unusual young Elf (female OC not named Marisuviel) from Mirkwood, who joins him on his journey. Some Bilbo. No slash. Mix of Book and movie 'verse. No AU, so no happy ending expected.

38. The Mere

"I woke up and you were gone!" Kili snapped, more hurt than angry.

"I know, and I am sorry." Rhavaniel turned to him as they splashed through the shallow water."I should have awoken you. Something was in the house last night, and I followed it. I did not mean to. I swear I was not being irresponsible. It was as if I had no will of my own. I kept following the sound. I still do not know what made it, but I found another way out."

"Not that way." She said, as they encountered a split in the river. "There are markers, once you know where to look." She pointed to bits of moonstone embedded in the rock on the left passage, which caught the reflection of their lantern.

The cave ceiling became much lower in parts, and they had to hunch over. Rhavaniel hated this but Kili, who was used to mines, was comfortable here as long as the water was shallow. The water was higher and faster in some parts, but never above their waist through the whole journey. There were several places where they could barely squeeze through, and Kili had to take off his pack and hand it to Rhavaniel. At least this meant the Warg would not be able to follow them.

They reached a large underground pool, and Rhavaniel pointed up to an opening. This was the inlet to the underground river, and the source of the fish. They could see daylight though the water.

"It is a short way, and shallow on the other end." Rhavaniel told him. "You will not have to swim, I promise."

Rhavaniel placed her lantern on a rock. She wrapped first one pack, then the other, in the rain cloak and carried them up through the water. When she returned, she put the cloak over Kili. "Take my hand."

They exited the cave into a mere. The water was shallow at that point, and rock steps led them out of the water and onto the banks. Kili gratefully flopped down in the grass.

"Do you think the Dwarves who lived in the house knew about this place?" Rhavaniel asked him.

Kili considered it, "I think so. It looks as though Dwarves built those steps."

"Yes, but they did not build that." and she pointed to the magnificent alabaster and marble statue in the middle of the mere.