Fili stepped forward, walking through the shadow , breaking through it. He could feel its oppressive air dragging down on him, ripping at his mind and will. The shadow was dangerous and real. However, it was not alive. It moved and writhed around him.
It was not real.
For if it was, then it would have known they were there; it would have felt their presence. Their mission would be over.
They would have failed.
Instead, the darkness, breathing and screeching around them, was dead. It was only an echo of the dark magic cast by its immortal leader.
They were in Dol Guldur.
They were in the Necromancer's realm.
Orcs were strewn throughout the realm, leaking into other lands. Spiders were bred there, running into the dark forests of Mirkwood and spinning their intricate webs.
It did not make sense that nothing was moving.
Fili could feel the stale air taking its final breath. He felt that he was in the eye of the storm, able to do nothing but linger in the calm for as long as possible. Eventually, though, the dark and powerful storm would catch them, for it surrounded them. It wished to destroy them.
Fili would not let it. After all, he had to stand strong. Thorin had chosen him to represent the dwarves of Erebor on the mission to reclaim their home.
He had failed at that. The others had probably already reclaimed Erebor. He had left with two missions.
One, he had failed long ago.
The second – he had to protect his brother. And that mission, more important than any other, had so far gone somewhat well.
He had almost lost Kili to a poisoned arrow.
Tauriel had saved him, and Fili would do anything to help save Legolas. Seeing his body, however, had made it all the more difficult. He looked less of an elf. Bloody, torn…
Even his elven glow had dissipated. He was in danger.
But so were they all.
Fili was walking through tunnels of rough stone, carved with hate and contempt for the living free peoples of Middle Earth.
He did not know where to begin the search for Gandalf's staff. What would the Necromancer have done with it?
He paced through the darkness, feeling the others beside him, hearing their steps and breaths.
It seemed too quiet.
There was a monster waiting before them, a cat ready to pounce on them. It stood still, unnatural silence following it as it stalks forward.
The danger is unnoticed until it is too late.
Fili had noticed.
Was it too late?
Pondering this as he searched the tunnels, Fili saw how the cavern was widening, eventually leading him to the top of the citadel. Fili emerged into the open air. At once, the shadow retreated slightly, but it's presence lingering in their souls, being carried with them, using their souls as a vessel for darkness.
Shadow changes those it touches.
Fili was not exposed long, but he could feel the subtle heaviness that he now carried. It was dark and dangerous and deadly.
There was no way to stop it.
Fili stepped forward, seeing a black pit widening ahead of him. There was a large, deep crack in the stone. Evil radiated from it, darkness seeping out of it.
Fili could feel it.
Knowing the others were following, he made his way closer. On the other side of the crack, Gandalf's staff lay uncaringly on the ground.
"It doesn't make sense," Fili muttered, wincing as his voice echoed ever-so-slightly. An Istar's staff – a weapon, full of power – had been left there, left behind. All he had to do to retrieve it would be to leap over the crack. He stepped to the edge, looking over the cliff. He couldn't see the bottom of the black; it seemed to reach down forever into the ground.
That didn't matter.
It was small.
He could easily jump across it – yet, he could not prevent the suspicion that something was wrong, that something had been set up. Tendrils of darkness emerged from the crack.
Was it his imagination?
Or was it really down there?
There was an unimaginable evil lurking deep below them. Fili knew that it was watching them, biding its time in the shadows.
Was it worth it?
The other dwarves stood near him, beside him, looking over the large crack.
"What are we waiting for?" Ӧin growled. "It's right across."
"It's a trap," Fili said instantly. "I don't know what will happen."
"We can handle whatever it throws," Kili said. Fili shook his head at his brother, meeting his eyes.
He looked so tired.
He was so young.
"You saw what it did to Legolas," Fili started.
"It has destroyed immortal beings, and it captured Gandalf. We are no match for it," Ӧin said, interrupting Fili.
"It hasn't noticed us, has it?" Kili said, looking around him, peering at the stones.
"It lies in wait," Fili said. "There is a monster stalking us here."
"You are paranoid, brother," Kili argued.
"I am realistic," Fili countered.
"Well, then what are you planning on doing?" Kili asked, gesturing out with his arms. "We need Gandalf's staff!"
"I –" Fili hesitated. "I don't know, but it isn't worth falling into their trap."
"Please," Kili said, rolling his eyes. "It's an easy jump."
Kili stepped forward, ignoring the protest, shouted out too loudly by the other dwarves. He jumped into the air, powerful even in his tired state.
The healing had done him wonders, Fili realized, and for a moment, Fili thought that it really had been as easy as Kili said it had been.
There was a loud noise as Kili hit the other side, stumbling slightly with his extra momentum.
"There!" he shouted, boastful over his unharmed condition.
He leaned down and grabbed the staff. As soon as his fingers curled around the wood, streams of darkness and shadow shot from the fissure, blocking Kili from Fili's view.
"Kili!" he screamed out, but he heard no answer over the roaring darkness. The black flew towards him, expanding as he and the others scrambled back.
He could not see Kili.
Orcs emerged from the stones, running at them, weapons drawn. Fili pulled out the elven knife.
He was in for the battle of his life – for his life – with a weapon he had never had the chance to practice with.
Beside him, Ӧin and Bofur prepared as well, holding knives much like his own.
Fili had a single second to wonder if Kili was preparing to fight and using the elvish bow.
Then the enemy was upon them. Fili slashed at the orcs, jamming the knife into their flesh. They were ruthless, but their only strategy seemed to be to overwhelm them with sheer numbers.
Unfortunately, he knew that if they kept coming, then it would work. Already, Fili could feel himself slowing down the tiniest bit. It was hardly noticeable – if that – but it showed the start of something much worse. If he fell…
Then he would die.
The orcs continued to flood around him.
"Back!" he screamed to his companions. "Start back!"
He started trying to worm his way to the tunnel, trying to escape, trying to free himself. He ran when he could, but the stones were thick with enemies. Fili had a quick glimpse of Bofur before he reentered the fray, too chaotic to see through it.
Luckily, Bofur had seemed unhurt.
Fili wished he could say the same for Kili and Ӧin.
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Kili cried out as the darkness leapt up. He was frozen, hands clutching Gandalf's staff. He couldn't let go of it now.
He could hear the sounds of steel on armour from the other side of the black ascending tower. Fili's voice echoed towards him, calling out for him. He scrambled away from the darkness.
As he watched, it transformed, forming an eye. Kili felt it burning him. He was too close! He tried to run back further, managing only a few steps before his energy-less body collapsed to the stone once more.
"Dwarf, lost in shadow for a pointless mission. Let them pity you, dwarf, for it is the only compassion you will know here."
Kili was shaking, clutching at the staff and trying to stand again on weak knees. Finally he managed it.
"You have been touched already by shadow. None will save you this time."
Kili stared into the flame.
"I am not weak enough to fall for deception and trickery."
"The elf said the same thing. He fell. You will as well."
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Hey everyone…
There's no excuse for this wait. I'll try to ensure it doesn't happen again…
Anyway, what do you think?
Kili's situation is looking bleak.
In fact, all of their situations are bleak…
Thanks to all those that kept up with this and reviewed or read.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit