I do not own the songs sang in this part. The credit goes to Ed Sheeran and Àsgeir.
To say that I felt like a wreck when I woke up is a complete understatement. Glancing around, I see rugged walls around me except on one side that is barred. I groan, knowing I'm in a cell.
"Therith?! Is that you?!" calls a voice nearby, making me grab my head as it hurts from the sound. "Please don't yell. I can hear you well enough Dwalin." I reply a bit cranky. "Sorry lass. How are you faring? You've been out for a while." he asks. "I am not sure yet, give me a moment." I groan as I struggle to sit upright. It takes a good moment or two before I finally manage. "You don't sound so well." Dwalin mutters.
"Hey Dwalin, is Therith awake yet?!" I can hear Fili shout from some distance. "The lass is up, though in a rough shape it seems!" he calls back making me grunt in annoyance. "Please be quiet! My head is killing me." I complain before looking myself over as well as I can.
I see I'm wearing a different top, though a loose one as my wings are still out. Underneath are bandages, a pristine white, making me believe that the wound has been sutured and has long stopped bleeding. Looking over my shoulder I notice a makeshift splint fastened to my left wing. Well, I guess I can't complain on them patching me up.
"Dwalin, any news?" I ask. He grunts. "Just that we aren't going nowhere for a while. I heard Thorin's talk with King Thranduil did not go so well." he informs me. "Why am I not surprised." I sigh. "The stubbornness of that dwarf will be the death of me."
For the next several hours, nothing happens, but then…we get fed. After that though, nothing happens for a long time. Sitting at the cell door, I hardly see anyone around. I suppose it must be night, but I have no way to tell. "Maybe the dwarves snoring makes for a good hint.", I think yawning.
I start as a voice suddenly sounds next to me. "Good evening Child of sky." it calls pleasantly, naming the literal meaning of my name. I look up at Legolas bewildered. He quirks a brow. "You look surprised. Did you not hear me approach? You seemed so keen before." he questions. "It seems the snores masked your presence." I say in a bored tone. He listens and the sounds that reach his ears seem to disturb him, making me smirk. "You get used to it after a while." I assure him. "I do hope not." he mutters to himself.
"Why brings you here?" I finally ask, curious to know. He crouches down, looking back at me. "I came to ask about your wounds. How are they feeling?" he asks. "Wounded is how they feel, I would say." I tell him, shifting to a more comfortable position. "Mmh, at least you're not in too much pain, I judge from your sense of humor." he says, making me shoot him a look. He grins in return. I sigh, not knowing what to do with this elf. I'd like to hate him, but I'm afraid I already like him too much for that. He's quite charismatic.
I look at him curiously as he makes himself comfortable by going as far as taking a seat outside my cell. "You know, I was surprised to hear that you are of Sky folk." he states, making me narrow my eyes. "Who told you?" I ask, thinking the dwarves talked. "My father did, he recognized what you are the moment he saw you." he explains, making my frown disappear. "You are the first one I've ever had the pleasure to meet though." Legolas continues. "Yes, I get that often." I say, leaning back, before deciding otherwise with a hiss of pain.
"I'm afraid we do not know much on treating broken wings the size of yours. We had to improvise." Legolas admits calmly. "Well, it's something." I tell him, letting him know that they didn't do a poor job. Though I've never broken a wing before as far as I recall.
I shift uncomfortable as he looks hard at me, once again an odd look in his eye. "What?" I finally question. Without losing the look Legolas states; "You look like a caged bird." I cock my head in question. "I suppose…" I mutter, before looking away from him, suddenly finding the wall very interesting.
"I have to go." he suddenly says before rushing off. I look after him confused until he has disappeared from sight. "He sure has mood swings." I think. Sighing, I get up and settle on the stone cot. Curling up tight, I soon close my eyes and fall into a fitful sleep.
I wake up once breakfast is shoved through under the bars. It looks an awful lot like the food we had yesterday, only stale. I suppose their leftovers, but I don't complain. Elven bread is pretty tasty and my stomach has been pestering me for the last hour.
Once finished, a hum sounds in the distance and I smile as soon more hums join in, following a leisure tune. Soon though it turns into full out song and I join them, not caring much anymore about the looks on the faces of elves:
Oh, misty eye of the Mountain below
Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke
Keep watching over Durin's sons
If this is to end in fire, then we shall all burn together
Watch the flames climb higher, into the night
Calling out father, oh, stand by and we will
Watch the flames burn on and on, the mountainside
And if we should die tonight, we should all die together
Raise a glass of wine, for the last time
Calling out father, oh, prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn on and on, the mountainside
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
And I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I'll hope that you'll remember me
Oh, should my people fall then, surely I'll do the same
Confined in mountain halls, we got too close to the flame
Calling out father, oh, hold fast and we will
Watch the flames burn on and on, the mountainside
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
And I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I'll hope that you'll remember me
And if the night is burning, I will cover my eyes
For if the dark returns, then my brothers will die
And as the sky is falling down, it crashed into this lonely town
And with that shadow upon the ground, I hear my people screaming out
I see fire, inside the mountains
I see fire, burning the trees
I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
I see fire.
And I see fire
And I see fire
And I see fire burn on and on, the mountainside
After a moment I hear Dwalin complain. "That really set a mood and not a good one. Therith, do you not know of a song with more cheer?" he asks. "I'm sorry Dwalin, but my songs are not merry ones. I do know one fitting for the occasion though.", I tell him. "Oh? Well let's hear it!" he urges. "Hold your horses." I tell him, licking my chapped lips.
Glistening nighttime dew, and they are walking with me.
From the house of red, I hear a child crying.
Foxes heading home, their prey hangs from their jaws.
And the forest knows, but it won't share the secret.
When the king takes sides,
Leaving moral minds; soldiers take their share.
Nighthawks seem to sense that now is the time.
Deep inside them burns the raging fire of life.
He'll take back what he owns.
Death cannot take hold, if I can keep momentum.
Fortresses of stone, turn into crystal tears
Soothed by southern winds; I've found my strength now.
And nobody knows, and we must keep ...
I cease suddenly. While singing I noticed something odd, that being the sounds of footsteps, but no face to join them. "Why do stop lass?" Dwalin asks as I hear other voices from other cells joining his confusion. I blink, no longer hearing the footsteps as their too far gone now. "I'm sorry, the words must have fled my memory." I say absentmindedly before settling down in confusion. What could that have been?