Golden Thrones and Moonlight Veils (HOBBIT FANFICTION)

Mirkwood

The forest was dark and ominous, beautiful yet dangerous. It felt unnervingly quiet, as though no life existed within it, except for the dwarf company now walking through it. From the moment they stepped onto the path, Talessa had been overwhelmed by a sense of wrongness, as if they truly weren't supposed to be there. The others seemed more agitated with each step, and she couldn't tell if it was the strangeness of the ancient woods or the absence of Gandalf, who had always been there to pull them out of trouble.

The wizard had left them to cross Mirkwood alone, mentioning only that he had pressing business in the south. He didn't elaborate, just warned them to stay on the elven path, the only safe way through the forest. Too many stories spoke of travelers who veered off the trail, only to be lost in the endless woods forever. Talessa hoped they wouldn't share that fate.

"When are we going to stop?" Eline asked wearily, holding on to Talessa. Both women were exhausted, their steps faltering. It was strange, the tiredness that clung to them. They had only been walking for a few hours—or so it seemed—but it was hard to tell. The scant sunlight barely pierced the thick canopy above, and the shadows never seemed to shift.

"Thorin!" Talessa called out to the dwarf walking several paces ahead. "Can we stop for a bit?"

"Yes, stop," Bofur chimed in, panting. "I need air!"

"My head," Oin grumbled, "it's swimming."

"Keep moving," Thorin ordered, not looking back. The dwarves continued to stumble forward, steps unsteady. Fíli caught up, offering Eline a hand.

"We'll stop soon," he said gently, though his eyes strayed anxiously to Thorin.

Not long after, Nori called out, "The path—it's disappeared." So they had no choice but to stop.

"Find it!" Thorin barked. "All of you, look for the path."

Talessa watched him cautiously before deciding to sit down on a nearby rock, pulling Eline with her. Thorin glanced at them but said nothing.

Eline collapsed next to her friend, her head spinning. She had never felt so drowsy before and was tempted to lay down on the muddy ground, to just give in and sleep—to forget the cursed forest and the dangers lurking within it. She was about to do just that when someone draped a warm cloak over her and Tessie's shoulders.

"I'm sorry I can't offer you more comfort, my ladies," Fíli apologized. Eline's heart swelled, and for a moment, she really wanted to kiss him. She didn't, of course, and the dwarf moved on, still searching for the elusive path.

It was Gloin who eventually found it, but the trail led across a steep river, and the bridge that once spanned it had long since collapsed. They found a narrow spot upstream where some fallen trees formed a precarious crossing.

Gandalf had warned them about the river, telling them never to drink from or bathe in its waters, so they crossed carefully. Talessa and Eline made it across without incident, but the branch beneath Bombur snapped, dropping the dwarf into the river. Kíli and Fíli pulled him out quickly, but Bombur immediately fell into a deep, unnatural sleep. Nothing they did seemed to wake him.

Talessa found it deeply unsettling that a few drops of water could do this, and she kept a closer eye on the group, counting heads as the darkness of the forest thickened around them.

With the last of the sunlight gone, Thorin gave the order to set up camp by the riverside. The women offered to gather twigs for the fire, but Thorin refused to let them leave the camp. Instead, they sat at the base of a tree, watching as the dwarves made preparations for the night.

"I don't see what you find so interesting about him," Eline muttered, glancing at Thorin, who was busy giving orders, his voice sharp and impatient.

"What do you mean?" Talessa asked, her tone sheepish. She had known her friend would eventually notice whatever was happening between her and the dwarf king.

"I'm not sure I like him," Eline admitted. "He's so strict—and too ambitious. I just don't want you to get hurt."

Talessa didn't want to get hurt either. She didn't know if what had happened at Beorn's house had meant anything to Thorin. He never brought it up again. She noticed him watching her from time to time, but he never approached. She sighed.

"I know you've never been with a man," Eline continued, bumping her shoulder against Talessa's. "So just be careful, alright? Don't let him put a baby in you unless he's planning to marry you."

Talessa gasped, staring at her friend incredulously. "I wasn't—! We didn't—" she sputtered, her face burning.

Eline laughed at her discomfort.

"You know what, the same goes for you," Talessa shot back. "Don't think I haven't noticed how cozy you've been getting with Fíli."

Eline's cheeks turned pink, and they both burst into laughter, drawing a few curious glances from the dwarves.

A few moments later, Talessa leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "How exactly would I go about it if I didn't want him to put a baby in me?"

Eline's eyes lit up as she eagerly began to explain.

✧

By the time the dwarves had lit the fire, night had fallen completely. There was some debate about whether the fire was truly necessary—if it might do more harm than good—but in the end, they decided it was safer to see their surroundings, and the fire would hopefully keep larger beasts away.

After eating a simple dinner, the strange fog clouding their minds eased somewhat, but poor Bombur remained in his deep sleep, impossible to wake. Thorin posted more guards than usual, ensuring the events of the Misty Mountains wouldn't be repeated. He sat with his back against a thick log, watching his companions huddled around the flames.

If the forest hadn't been so eerily silent, they might have sung to lift their spirits. Instead, they spoke quietly, exchanging whispered tales and hushed conversation, trying to find some small comfort in each other's company. One by one, they began settling for the night, each finding a spot to curl up under their heavy capes. The dwarves were used to the harshness of the road, sleeping without the luxury of a roof or even the comfort of an inn. The women, however, were not accustomed to such rough conditions, though they haven't complained once.

Thorin's gaze fell on his eldest nephew, Fíli, helping Eline arrange her blanket on the damp ground. He set his own rug beside hers, a silent gesture of protection. A few feet away, Talessa busied herself laying out her quilts on the outskirts of the camp, as she often did—finding solace in isolation, curling up near a tree or a large rock. Thorin typically didn't mind who chose to sleep where, but now, seeing her so far from the group, something inside him stirred. He didn't want her in such a vulnerable position, especially not here.

Without a word, Thorin walked over to where she had laid her blankets, picked them up, and moved them closer to the center of camp, next to his own. Dwalin shot him a questioning glance, but Thorin ignored it. His eyes went back to Talessa, standing motionless where she'd been, her arms wrapped around herself, looking more lost than ever since they had entered this cursed forest.

He gestured for her to come closer. She hesitated for only a moment before walking over silently, sitting down on her blanket in front of him. Her gaze lifted to meet his, and Thorin couldn't help but reach out, his hand brushing gently across her cheek through the thin veil. There was something so captivating about her, something that tugged at him. With a final glance, he stood and joined Kíli and Ori for the first watch.

Kíli, sharp as always, remained alert, but Ori, exhausted beyond measure, dozed off despite his best efforts. Thorin didn't wake him—his men needed rest, and Kíli's keen eyes would catch anything out of place. Still, the forest was unnervingly still, with only the soft snores of his company and the quiet rush of the river breaking the silence. The woods were too dark, too quiet—unnaturally so.

Suddenly, a branch snapped in the distance. Thorin saw Kíli tense, hand instinctively reaching for his bow, but Thorin motioned for him to stay. He would investigate the noise himself.

He moved into the shadowy forest, the night growing darker with each step.