SEVEN DEVILS, fili durin

CHAPTER SIX

"Lord Elrond!"

There was a slight limp to her step and an overwhelming ache in her burdened shoulder, but apart from that, Nymeria felt as though she'd come out of the rather adrenaline inducing chase practically unscathed. Of course, it seemed that absolutely no one else shared her sentiments if the way they all watched her so cautiously was anything to go by, as if expecting her to fall over and never rise again...but being killed off by some lucky orc was most definitely not going to be the way her legacy ended, she'd survive of sheer spite alone if she had to.

So, with that in mind she just continued on we she always forced herself to, ignoring the pain of her still mending wounds as her magic swarmed around her desperately like a mocking disease, an infestation of pure and irritable chaos, leading the dwarves through the dark cave with a ball of red glowing in the centre of her palm like an improv candle but far more dangerous, her dark eyes flickering around as she searched for an exist through the glooming shadows, her breath only slightly hitched without the lack of rest she was forcing herself to endure.

"You know, if you ask of them, the others wouldn't mind taking a small break as you gather your wits, Nymeria. In fact, I think they'd be rather grateful themselves." Gandalf's gentle voice came from the side of her, his long robes brushing against her ankle with their every step, his grey gaze casted upon the shaking of her hands and flickering orb of her magic in concern but she only shook her head with a hackling scoff.

"I can rest when I'm dead, I'm perfectly fine."

He hummed disapprovingly but didn't say anything more on the matter, and for a few peaceful minutes it was silent, the only sound echoing through the cave being the company's low murmurs as they spoke to each other surprisingly quiet, nothing more than a background noise that calmed the pounding of her head, and without her permission, her ears strained, trying to listen out for a familar voice of the blonde dwarf who seemed to follow her every move before she quickly realized what she was doing and cleared her throat awkwardly, face feeling strangely flushed.

However, she didn't get alot of time to figure out what had warranted that reaction, because finally, there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel and the dwarves quickly scurried past her to get to it as she paused, waiting for her hobbit who came up beside her, his hand instantly reaching out to place a gentle pat on her forearm, his forehead glistening with a sheen of sweat that came from the weight of both of their things no doubt and panting tiredly. "Nymeria, I don't think I can carry this much longer."

The faè chuckled under her breath at his hesitant whine, rolling her eyes fondly as she reached across the space to take their bags but there was a sudden pinch in her shoulder, causing her to hiss and move to cup her warm palm across her clavicle where she felt the dried blood sticking against her still healing skin with a curse, upper lip curling to show a flash of threatening teeth as she huffed and waved off Bilbo's anxious hands. "I'm fine, I'm fine, just moved too quickly is all."

She took a deep breath, rolling her shoulders to try and relieve the tension before she smiled down at the hobbit reassuringly, reaching out once more, though going through the motions more slowly, but the moment her fingers brushed across the backpack, it was snatched from her grip by calloused hand, a hand that was becoming more and more familiar to the woman as Fili threw it over his shoulder with ease, instantly moving forwards once more to take the other bag from the halfling calmly. "Give it here then."

Nymeria blocked his arm quickly, long limbs moving like a snake striking in the dark as she scowled at the dwarf, her eyes flashing dangerously as he turned to face her, raising his brows in suprise while Bilbo sighed in exasperation, already knowing where this conversation was going to go and already wanting it to end. "We don't need your help, dwarf."