Huntress' Heart

The Company of Thirteen

The pair came to a thick rope of web, hanging from the top branches down to the forest floor, were the spiders were attacking the Dwarves. Legolas sprung for the silk, grabbing hold and sliding down gracefully as Makatza hopped off the branch, falling for the one below and springing off.

She descended quickly, flipping down from branch to branch until she came to the last bough, unslinging her bow and allowing herself to fall forward. At the last possible second, she turned, her knees bending and catching on the branch as she notched an arrow, hanging upside down from the bough while aiming steadily at the closest Dwarf.

'I urge you to reconsider your next actions,' She spoke softly, watching as the Dwarf's hold on his sword loosened. 

A shriek from behind the small man had her flicking her aim upwards, losing the arrow over the Dwarf's shoulder to hit into the eyes of a spider with a wet thunk. The Dwarf went to make his move, but Makatza had slipped from the bough of the tree, her bow slung and dagger at his throat before he could blink. She held the Dwarf in stunned silence as the rest of her Elven company surrounded the remainder of the Dwarves, all with bows drawn taunt.

'You are making a grave mistake, Elf,' the Dwarf spat, backing up to stand with the rest of his kin. He was the tallest of the lot, with tangled black hair and the authority of a ruler.

'I may be, but that is yet to become apparent,' Makatza hissed in return, glancing sideways as Legolas came up beside her, arrow aimed at the Dwarf's forehead.

'Do not think I won't kill you, Dwarf,' Legolas said coldly, aim steady and true. Makatza lowered her dagger, sheathing it at her hip as she scanned over the Dwarf standing before them. 'It would be my pleasure.'

The Dwarf had fire in his eyes, his sword still raised as he stared up at the Elven prince, his gaze occasionally flicking to the elleth at his side. A sudden shout for help from a little way off had the Dwarves turning quickly, one near the back with blonde hair looking visibly mortified.

'KILI' He yelled, trying to run for his fellow Dwarf before being stopped by arrow wielding Elves. 'Please! My brother! He's out there!'

'Calm yourself, Dwarf,' Makatza called, the blonde Dwarf turning to face her along with the rest. 'Tauriel will take care of him.'

There were shouts of protest from the amassed Dwarves, but they were silenced with a dismissive wave from the Huntress, who scanned the trees in silence. Mere minutes later, Tauriel stepped around the trunk of a nearby tree with a Dwarf held at dagger point, shoving him to stand with the rest of his fellow kinsmen. The blonde Dwarf reached for him, pulling 'Killi' into a tight embrace that was cut short by Legolas's cold order.

'Thír hain (Search them),' he hissed, lowering his weapon and sheathing the arrow, passing the bow to Makatza to hold as he stepped up to the closest Dwarf, one with an unruly mess of red hair. He opened the Dwarf's jacket, reaching into the inside pocket and producing a locket of sorts.

'Hey! Give it back! That's private!' The Dwarf cried, stepping forward with a malice. Makatza flicked Legolas' bow in her hand, the far end of the weapon pressing into the front of the Dwarf's shoulder, sending him a look of challenge as he turned to her.

'Who is this? Your brother?' Legolas asked smugly, turning the locket ever so slightly to allow Makatza to glance at the contents. Two sketches were placed on the sides of the locket, one of a female Dwarf and one of a Dwarfling.

'That is my wife!' The Dwarf's defended angrily, shrugging his shoulder in an attempt to dislodge the end of the bow.

'And what is this horrid creature? A goblin mutant?' The Prince said with distain, flicking his gaze to the red-haired Dwarf before him.

'That's my wee lad, Gimli,' the Dwarf snapped, a fondness in his eyes at the mention of his son. Legolas looked back down at the sketch, before glancing at the Dwarf with repulsion.

'Enough. There is no need for childish taunts,' Makatza ordered, looking to Legolas with a sharp glare. The prince started at her blankly for a moment, before nodding ever so slightly and throwing the locket back to the Dwarf, walking away as the small man fumbled with his prized object. Makatza gave the Dwarf a nod, before turning to Tauriel who was watching the exchange.

'Are i fling's firn (Are the spiders dead)?'

'Aye, ennas siniath shall tul- (Yes, but more will come),' The Captain of the guard answered, moving her hand in a sweeping motion towards the twisted forest. Makatza followed her gesture, eyes narrowed as she scanned the gnarled trees.

 'Hain gal- cand (They're growing bolder).'

'Im'll iest an dáf na tegi- a dramm- di fling's nest in Dol Guldur. Im iest an cin na accompanui nin, iar mellon (I'll ask for granted permission to lead a raid against the spider's nest in Dol Guldur. I wish for you to accompany me, old friend),' The Huntress murmured as she clapped Tauriel over the shoulder, sending the Captain of the guard a smile, which was returned instantly.

The elleth moved off, making for the blonde Dwarf standing by the back of this 'Company', standing with his arms crossed and trying to look inconspicuous.

'Your weapons, if you'd be so kind,' Makatza ordered, watching as the Dwarrf's eyes widened in fake innocence.

'Weapons? I don't have any weapons,' the Dwarf mused, and the Elf rolled her eyes.

'Why am I not surprise?' she muttered, pulling the side of the Dwraf's over-coat to reveal a sword sheathed within. She pulled the blade free, waving it in front of the blondes face before tossing it to an awaiting Elf. She moved to pull various weapons and blades from around the Dwarf's body; finding one in his hood, shoved in his belt, stowed in his boots, even tangled in his hair.

'Bit excessive, don't you think?'

'Makatza,' Legolas called, gesturing for the woman to join him. She turned the the Elf that had been assisting her, chuckling at the pile that had grown as a result of her search. she gestured for the ellon to dispose of the weapons, before moving through the group of Dwarves, stepping past the small men until she stood at the Prince's side. He held a beautifully ornate sword in his hands, inspecting the flawless silver blade.

'Limb ceri- cin know -o hi magol (What do you know of this blade)?'

'Orcist, ton- bui i galadrim -o cín nos (Orcist, forged by the Elves of your kin),' the Huntress muttered, running a finger lightly along the sharp edge of the blade, pulling her hand away to find a thin cut. She rubbed her thumb over the abrasion, smudging the line of blood before looking to the Prince. 

'An iar magol, worthui -o a aran plural erain or erein (An ancient blade, worthy of a king.'

'Where did you get this?' Legolas demanded as he turned to the Dwarf leader, eyes cold with suspicion.

'It was given to me,' the Dwarf replied firmly, meeting the cold gaze of the prince with confidence. Legolas moved swiftly, the sword twirling as a blur before stopping with the point mere millimetres from the Dwarf's throat.

'Not just a thief, but a liar as well,' the Prince hissed, flicking the sword upwards slightly to rest against the bottom of the Dwarf's chin. Makatza raised her hand, placing it over Legolas' and pushing the blade down gently, away from the Dwarf. She shook her head ever so slightly when the Prince gave her a questioning look, removing her hand as he spun the sword into a sheath at his side, turning to face his Elven company. 

'Rach hain (Take them)!'