The Valar Child: The Desolation of Smaug

Chapter 7 - Flies & Spiders

Hildar

When I opened my eyes, I was still staring up at the ceiling of leaves. Everything was fuzzy, and I hoped that my eyes were alright. When my sight did finally clear, I saw that I was trapped in a thick branch. I felt like I had a belt of bruises around my entire midsection, front and back. "Where's Beorn's magic honey medicine?" I asked myself. I carefully began to extricate myself, and accidentally rolled off the branch. I fell and landed on another one, which hurt me even more. It was all I could do to keep from crying out in agony. I finally landed on a branch without falling off and sat up slowly. Every muscle in my body screamed at me, but I did not make a sound. When I had finally righted myself, I made sure that I still had my sword. Gurthang was secure in its sheath, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, I would not feel a hundred percent better until I knew where all my companions were. I decided to traverse through the trees, and allowed my feet to guide me. I noticed cobwebs curling around twigs, encasing branches, and cocooning trees. The spiders had obviously turned Mirkwood into their home now. No wonder we had not seen any elves.

The forest was becoming darker, and I knew I was getting closer to where the spiders were nesting. Soon, I saw them. The dwarves were all wrapped up, and hanging from the trees! The spiders were checking on them, poking them with their hairy legs. That was when I saw one more spider was dragging another cocoon. This one was smaller and instinctively I knew it was Bilbo. Drawing Gurthang, I began my approach. I was careful about where I placed my feet, and sure enough, my tricky elvish feet, came in handy. Even though I was not being hidden from their sight, the spiders had no idea that I was coming. I was almost to the bundle, when it sprang to life, and I saw Bilbo's little sword come out, and stab his capture in the belly. The spider writhed, but the blade only went further in. Once the spider was dead, and had rolled off the branch, I saw Bilbo hacking himself out of the webs. I ran over to him and began to pull him back. Of course, he was startled and stabbed backwards, almost taking out my eye. "Bilbo!" I whispered desperately, and he stopped fighting. When he turned around and saw that it was me, he hugged me tightly. "Um, Bilbo. I'm bruised," I told him, and he let go of me. His hand went out and he raised his eyes, silently asking my permission. I made a face, but I nodded. Bilbo's hand went to my midsection, up under my tunic, and his hand touched my bruised skin. I shivered because his hands were cold, and he withdrew it.

"Sorry. That looks bad. If we find nice people in this accursed forest, you should have that looked at," Bilbo told me.

"After we free the dwarves," I told him, and I raised Gurthang. The hobbit's eyes lingered on the fine blade and the runes that were carved there. "I plan on making the spiders fear my name," I told him. The Halfling nodded before his hand went to his pocket. My hand went out like lightning and caught his just as he was pulling something out. Bilbo's blue eyes snapped up to look at me, and I forced him to reveal what was lying in the palm of his hand. What was there, made my heart stop in my chest. It was a single, golden ring. Simple in its design, but I could sense something dark about it. That was when I heard a voice whispering to me.

"I see you. I know you. You are the light. I am the dark. Give into me!" I looked up at Bilbo, and saw that his eyes were focused on the ring. He took it back quickly, enclosing it in his palm. He obviously seemed upset about me seeing it, and when he finally glanced back at me, his eyes had a slightly bloodshot look.

"Don't tell the dwarves, or Gandalf! It's my secret!" he hissed. I was surprised by the urgency in his voice, but I nodded. I stood up, and he made a move to put this ring on his finger, but I stopped him one more time.

"Be careful, Bilbo. Don't put your faith in one thing. It could betray you," I warned him. He nodded before he slipped the ring on his finger, and he vanished from before my very eyes. I gasped. I had heard tales of such weapons of war from the old dwarves, like Balin, in the Blue Mountains. That was when they spoke about the Seven Rings of the Dwarf Lords. They told me of the Three Rings for the Elven Kings. There were the infamous Nine Rings for Mortal Men, and they were dead. But, Balin told (at the time, I thought it was just to scare me) that they became the servants of a dark power, and that dark power had One Ring. And that ring, was made to rule the others. Hence, the only free rings left in Middle Earth belonged to the Elven Kings. That simple ring, had whispered to me. It had spoken to me. It obviously possessed magic, but I could feel that the magic was evil. I shook my head, trying to not think about that eerie voice, telling me give in. Instead, I focused on the imprisoned dwarves in their web cocoons. I was approaching, when I heard something go flying off to the side, and the spiders were all attracted by it.