Before she knew it Bilbo had disappeared again, Cheyenne took a deep breath hoping that he would pull this off and free her friends. She walked back in the direction she had first come back to the courtyard.
The air was thick with anticipation, the type that made it feel like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to change. Cheyenne walked slowly along the courtyard, the stone beneath her boots cold, but it was nothing compared to the gnawing chill in her heart. Three days. She had only three days until she would be married to Legolas, until she would be bound to this kingdom for eternity. No matter how much she tried to focus on the tasks at hand, her thoughts kept slipping back to Fili. His smile, his quiet strength, the way he always made her feel like she could be more than just a human.
She felt the familiar weight of the dwarven braid in her hair, a symbol of a bond she could no longer claim. It felt wrong, everything about this felt wrong. But she had made a choice. She had made a deal with Thranduil to save the lives of the dwarves, and now, there was no turning back.
"Cheyenne," a soft voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.
She looked up to find Legolas standing a few paces away, his face hadn't expected to see him again today after he left her only a few minutes ago. But there he was watching her with a mixture of pity and something else in his eyes.
"I saw you come back here, you look more upset than before," he remarked, his voice low. "Is something else troubling you?"
Her eyes met his, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure if she could talk to him anymore, especially not about Fili. The thought of Fili brought a sharp pain to her chest, and she had to force herself to breathe steadily, not wanting to appear too frail.
"I'm just thinking," Cheyenne answered after a long pause, "about everything. About how much has changed. And how much hasn't."
Legolas tilted his head slightly, clearly unsure how to respond, but he didn't press her further. Instead, he took a step closer, his presence enveloping her. "The Feast of Starlight approaches. I know this has not been easy for you. But we must remain strong."
"I know," she said, forcing a smile she didn't feel. "I'll be ready."
For a fleeting moment, her gaze drifted toward the direction of the dungeon. She could almost imagine Fili's voice, low and filled with humor, calling to her from the depths. She shook her head, trying to shake the thought. She couldn't afford to dwell on what could have been. The dwarves were still trapped in those cold cells, and that was all that mattered now.
Fili's face flashed in her mind again, and with it, a rush of emotions she couldn't control. Love. Longing. Regret. She couldn't even admit to herself how much she wanted him. How much she wished things were different.
"Cheyenne," Legolas said again, breaking her thoughts. His voice held a note of concern now. "You seem distant.I know how hard this is for you but I promise that I will try to make it as easy on you as I can."
"I'm fine," she replied quickly, turning back to him. She hoped he couldn't see the truth in her eyes. "Really."
Legolas studied her for a moment, as if deciding whether to push further, but he seemed to think better of it. He stepped back, his posture still noble, but there was an unmistakable sadness in his gaze. "I know this is not what either of us wanted. But we must play the roles we've been given. You will be a queen. You will carry yourself with dignity."
Cheyenne swallowed hard. The words felt like a weight pressing down on her chest. She had made the deal to save the dwarves, to save Fili, but now… now it was too late to undo it. She had no choice but to walk this path to the end.
"I know," she whispered again, almost to herself. "I'll be ready."
As they stood there in silence, Cheyenne's mind began to race. The dwarves, her friends, were still locked away, and she hadn't been able to see them, to speak to them, in days. Every passing hour felt like an eternity. She was meant to be part of their escape, meant to help them find freedom once more, but she had no idea how it would happen. All she could do was wait, just like everyone else.
Fili and the others would hopefully escape with the help of Bilbo just like they were always meant to. He was going to march on the mountain and live his life never knowing that she had stayed, that she had done this all for him. It was best this way, it would make it easier on him in the long run, that way he wouldn't feel guilty or do anything stupid.
A sudden surge of anger rose in her chest, and she clenched her fists tightly. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She wasn't supposed to be the one standing here, quietly waiting to marry another man. She wasn't supposed to be leaving Fili behind, her heart breaking into pieces.
She could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall, but she refused to let them show. She couldn't. Not in front of Legolas.
Before she could say anything more, the sound of footsteps echoed through the courtyard, and Legolas turned toward the noise. He stiffened, and Cheyenne knew, without looking, that it was time for her to return to her chambers. The elves were always watching. They would never let her out of their sight for long.
"Come," Legolas said, his voice firm. "We should return to the palace."
Cheyenne nodded numbly, her thoughts still heavy with the weight of the past few days. She couldn't be here much longer. She couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine. But for now, she had no choice but to follow him.
As they walked side by side, Cheyenne's heart seemed to break all over again with every step. The sound of her heartbeat seemed louder now, ringing in her ears. Every inch she moved away from Fili felt like a betrayal. And as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a nearby pool, her own eyes seemed like those of a stranger. Someone she didn't even recognize.
But she had made her choice, and there was no going back now.
Fili sat in the darkness of the dwarven prison, his mind racing with every thought of Cheyenne. She had agreed to marry Legolas just to save him and the company from being killed. She was dooming herself to a life, he knew she didn't want to and the thought made him angry.
"Cheyenne," he whispered under his breath, the sound barely audible in the quiet of the cell.
His thoughts were interrupted by the noise of guards moving in the hallway, and his heart sank. There was no way to know what would happen next. Would they be here forever? Would he ever see her again?
The cold stone beneath him felt heavier now than ever before.
But he couldn't give up hope. Not yet.
He had to believe, with all his heart, that somehow—somehow—Cheyenne would find a way to free them.
And if she did? If she somehow managed to free them from this prison? Fili was certain of one thing.
He was going to save her or die trying.
The days passed slowly in the dark prison, each one indistinguishable from the last. Fili had lost track of time, the hours blending into each other. He sat against the cold wall of the cell, his thoughts a tangled mess. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Cheyenne's face—her smile, the spark in her eyes, the warmth of her presence that had once filled his heart with hope.
But now, the warmth was gone. There was only the coldness of the cell walls, the distant echo of footsteps, and the uncertainty of what the future held.
As if sensing his turmoil, Bofur, who was in the cell next nearby, leaned forward to the door, his voice soft but carrying a hint of concern. "you've been quiet, lad," he said, "something on your mind?"
Fili shook his head, trying to push the dark thoughts away. "I'm fine," he muttered. "Just thinking."
Bofur raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. He glanced over at the other dwarves, most of them visible through their cell doors, their faces tired but determined. "We've all been thinkin', lad," he said with a sigh. "Do you think the elves will ever let us leave? Or do you think they will leave us here till we die? Bilbo is still out there somewhere, he had to have gotten away from the spiders and the elves didn't get him. Maybe he will come for us."
Fili shifted uncomfortably. The thought of being at the mercy of Thranduil and his kin made him uneasy, but he couldn't let that show. Not now. Not when hope seemed like a distant memory.
"I don't know," he replied quietly. "But whatever happens, we'll stick together. We always do."
A few of the dwarves nodded, their faces hardening with resolve. They had been through worse, much worse, and they had always come out stronger for it. But this time… this time, there was something different. Something more personal.
"You believe that, don't you?" Bofur said, his voice laced with a knowing sadness. "That we'll get outta here? That we'll be free?"
Fili didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted to the cell walls, and he found himself wondering how long they would be trapped here. It was as though the very walls of the dungeon were closing in on him, tightening their grip with every passing hour. He couldn't bear to think of Cheyenne, of her being so close yet so far away, preparing to marry another.
"I don't know," he said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "But I have to believe we will. We have to."
A heavy silence settled over the group, the weight of their shared uncertainty pressing down on them all. Bofur, ever the optimist, gave a reassuring grin. "Aye, lad, that's the spirit. We'll get outta here, and when we do, we'll show them elves a thing or two. We won't let 'em forget the dwarves."
The others chuckled softly, but Fili's heart wasn't in it. He couldn't shake the image of Cheyenne's face, the look in her eyes when she had last looked at him. It had been full of sadness and regret, and it broke him. He didn't want to think about it, but it was impossible to ignore.
Back in the elven kingdom, preparations for the wedding were in full swing. The palace was alive with the bustle of servants and attendants, each one working tirelessly to ensure that everything was perfect for the ceremony. The air was filled with the scent of flowers, and the sound of elven songs echoed through the halls, creating an atmosphere of both joy and unease.
Cheyenne moved through the palace like a ghost, her thoughts clouded by the weight of her choices. Every step she took felt heavier than the last, as if the very ground beneath her feet was rejecting her. She had spent the last few days in a blur of fittings and rehearsals, her every move dictated by the elves' relentless attention to detail.
She was to be married to Legolas in a few hours, and everything was already set. The gowns had been chosen, the feast prepared, and the hall decorated in elaborate silks and gemstones. The elves were meticulous in their planning, and they were determined to ensure that the ceremony would be nothing short of perfection.
But perfection was the last thing on Cheyenne's mind.
She stood before a mirror, her reflection staring back at her with eyes she barely recognized. The gown was beautiful, an intricate work of art, the silver fabric shimmering as she moved. Her hair was carefully braided, adorned with delicate strands of gold, but it all felt like a mask—a mask she had to wear for the sake of duty. They had tried to remove her dwarven braid when doing her hair but she had refused ready to fight anyone who tried. They had reluctantly let her keep it.
Her fingers traced the edge of the fabric of the gown, and for a fleeting moment, she wished she could tear it all off and run. Run back to the dwarves, run back to Fili.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to find one of the elven attendants standing in the doorway.
"Lady Cheyenne," the elf said with a slight bow. "The preparations are nearly complete. Would you like to join the prince in the gardens?"
Cheyenne nodded absentmindedly, her heart heavy with the weight of what was to come. As she followed the attendant down the hall, her mind wandered back to the dwarves. To Fili. She didn't know how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was fine. She had to have faith that Bilbo would pull through with the plan and save them.
Back in their cells, the dwarves sat in quiet contemplation, each lost in their own thoughts. Fili's eyes flicked over to Kili, who was in the cell slightly below him, staring at the stone floor with a faraway look in his eyes. The younger dwarf hadn't spoken much since they'd been captured, but Fili could tell that his thoughts were occupied with something—someone.
"You all right, Kili?" Fili asked, his voice low.
Kili blinked, his gaze snapping back to Fili. He managed a small, weary smile. "Just thinkin'," he said. "Thinkin' about what happens next."
Fili nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. "Aye, me too."
Kili's brow furrowed slightly as he looked over at the other dwarves. "Do you really think we can escape somehow? If we do, how do we get Cheyenne back?"
Fili hesitated, his mind drifting back to Cheyenne, to her promises. "I don't know," he said quietly. "But we've got to trust that someone out there still cares. That we're not forgotten. If we get out of here you all need to leave as quickly as possible, you need to get to the mountain."
Kili paused "what about you? You're coming with us"
"Not without her I'm not, I won't leave her here"
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and the dwarves stiffened, their senses alert. It was always hard to tell when the guards would come, or if they would be granted even a moment of peace. But for now, all they could do was wait.
And hope.
Fili's heart ached as he thought about the life he had once imagined with Cheyenne—one filled with laughter and shared moments, with a future they could build together. But now, that future seemed as distant as the stars themselves. And as the guards approached, Fili steeled himself for whatever came next.