Chapter 34
Adrianna walked through the far boarders of Mirkwood paranoid about meeting the spiders. She knew they would be found deeper inside the wood, but she couldn't help the fear from creeping around her.
She hadn't felt any approaching darkness, and she still had her trusted sword, so she would be prepared if danger did approach her.
As the chestnut haired Faye made her way across the luscious green grass, she looked around her warily to see if any goblins resided near the caves and in the boarders of the wood.
But, again, she would be able to feel if they were anywhere near her.
She wished she had a horse with her, because she would be able to reach the King's Gate much quicker if she was riding. But unfortunately, she didn't have the luxury of a four-legged companion.
Adrianna broke into a run as soon as she found the dirt path leading into the woods. Many mushrooms and toadstools camped around the thick trunks of lofty trees, rabbits and hares hopped along and hid in the undergrowth of bushes, and inside broken logs as the Faye ran past the startled creatures.
By the position of the sun in the sky, Adrianna expected it to be late afternoon, and she would have to travel through the woods into the early hours of the evening before she could finally reach the King's Gate.
She was exhausted, but she daren't rest in case she had to travel during the night, when the spiders had awakened. And Adrianna hated the spiders. And she certainly did not want to lose the path!
After another few hours of walking, she reached the black river and changed into her fairy form to fly to the other side.
Adrianna shivered, causing herself to gasp and look around her surroundings warily. Upon not spotting or hearing anything suspicious, the Princess took another step forwards and another, and another before pausing to listen and look at her surroundings again.
Again, upon hearing nothing, she took off into another run.
Trees whipped past, and as she almost stumbled over a root, and then the hem of her dress, she shivered again before coming to a standstill.
The sunlight couldn't stream through the thick foliage, and Adrianna was therefore shrouded in a very dim light. But that didn't affect her hearing. As something rustled in the distance, Adrianna felt her heart begin to pound uncomfortably against her ribcage.
The rustling stopped, and Adrianna turned around frantically on the spot in an attempt to locate where it could possibly have come from, and what it was. It couldn't be a spider. Legolas had said that the spiders didn't attack in sunlight.
Sunlight.
The trees above her blocked the light from the sun.
Adrianna whimpered, and clutched the hilt of her sword in her hand. She shivered again, but this time, out of fear.
As soon as a giant leg made its appearance over the top of a log, Adrianna screamed, turned on her heel and began to sprint down the path.
The spider squealed before taking off after the Faye, its eight legs thudded rhythmically along the path, growing louder and louder with each passing second.
Adrianna screamed again, forming into her fairy size in time to dodge a spit of silk thread. Hot tears ran down her cheeks, and in her blind panic, Adrianna strayed from the path and flew into the woods in an attempt to flee from the spider.
With a bloodcurdling shriek and a flash of blinding white light, Adrianna's feeling of darkness suddenly vanished, along with the pounding of many legs.
The Faye hid behind a tree and listened intently to the silent atmosphere. Upon hearing and feeling nothing, Adrianna formed back into her elleth-like size, and peered out from behind the tree she had hidden behind. A magnificent snowy stallion stood proudly beside a white robed man with a long white beard.
"Gandalf?" She whispered, wiping her eyes.
The old wizard smiled at her and held out his hand, "I do not believe I have seen you run so quickly before, my dear." He chuckled.
She threw her arms around his neck, "O' Gandalf!" She cried, "I'm so glad to see you; something awful has happened!" She burst into a new wave of tears, and clutched tightly at the old man's cloak.
Shocked at seeing the usually cheerful Princess in such a distressed state, Gandalf gently held her as though she were a child, "Tell me what has happened, my dear?"
She formed into her fairy size and sat upon his shoulder as he mounted Shadowfax and began to ride along the path into the thick of the woods.
"We have to get into the Kingdom as soon as possible!" She pleaded. "Legolas is trapped in an underground goblin city, and I promised him I would get help!"
She explained everything to Gandalf, from the moment she and Legolas had left The Glade to go in search of somewhere to marry, until the moment Legolas had found the crevice in the wall for her to escape the rocky dungeons in which the goblins resided.
Gandalf didn't reply for a moment, instead, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "We shall explain everything to the King, he'll know what to do."
"But I cannot tell him of our wedding plans, Gandalf." She stated, "I told my father, it is only right if Legolas tells his."
Gandalf nodded in understanding, "I think that would be best." He replied, urging Shadowfax on wards across the bridge towards the King's Gate.
As they rode into the Kingdom, they were greeted by three of the elven guards.
"We need to see the King!" Gandalf exclaimed as he dismounted.
Adrianna flew off of the wizards shoulder, and formed into her elleth size to hurry up the stairs beside Gandalf and into the hall.
The King rose from his throne, and descended the few stairs to greet his visitors. "Greetings, Adrianna, Mithrandir." Thranduil stated, "And what do I owe this pleasure?"
Gandalf stepped forward, "There is a matter of urgency, my Lord."
"Legolas is in danger!" Adrianna cried out, rushing forwards to meet the King.
The King looked startled, "Where is he?" He asked, ensuring his tone remained calm.
"There is an underground goblin Kingdom." She explained, "We became trapped upon leaving The Glade of Tarasara, heading west to Mirkwood. I escaped through a crevice near the far boarders. There are six Rangers with him, they're trapped as well."
Thranduil nodded, "I will send riders to scout the far boarders of my Kingdom." He explained, "In the morning, we will find the entrance to this underground place. Do you remember where it was?" He asked.
Adrianna frowned, "I believe I should remember it. We rode west from The Glade, and stopped in the first clearing for the night. It was there, the entrance was a trapdoor of some sort. Unless they broke free, two horses will be there."
"And if they did escape, then there should be traces of where they were." Gandalf stated, "Either a gnawed branch or broken reins, the ground will be trampled."
The King nodded, "I will have you both shown to a room for the night." He stated, "We will ride in the morning at first light. I will have the elves prepare."
She didn't particularly want to wait until morning before returning to find Legolas. She was desperate to see him now, and know that he was safe and unharmed! But the King knew best, and if Gandalf didn't press the matter then the wizard thought it would be best too. But Adrianna knew she would find it incredibly difficult to sleep that night.
In fact, she didn't even retire to her bed. The Faye paced her chambers all evening and all night, she was emotionally drained and exhausted, but suffered from severe insomnia.
From her window, she spectated the elves ready themselves to leave that morning, and as the golden sun rose above the tall trees of Mirkwood, the Princess dressed herself and was ready before the elf maiden had even reached the door to her chambers to awaken her.
As Adrianna descended the stairs from the throne room and into the courtyard, she greeted Gandalf, who was speaking with one of the elven guards.
"Gandalf, when are we leaving?" She asked.
He turned to look at her, worry lines creasing his old and weathered face, "Soon, Adrianna, do not worry."
"My Lady?"
Adrianna turned and thanked the elf as he offered her the reins of a chestnut gelding. She gently ran her hand along the horse's muscular neck, and combed her fingers through his mane.
The King soon joined the gathering of elves, riding a magnificent silver moose across the cobbled paving. He rode up to the front of the gathering and turned to address the elves, Gandalf and Adrianna, "Let us find my son."
A/N: I am so very sorry for the long wait :/ If you read my Assassin's Creed fanfiction as well, you know I have been swamped with fitness training and such -_- but that's over now. Unfortunately, I'm starting the last unit for my course: Law. Christ alive, I don't think I'll be able to update for another few weeks, but I promise you there will not *touch wood* be a wait as long as this one!
Please review :) xx