Golden Thrones and Moonlight Veils (HOBBIT FANFICTION)

A Narrow Escape

They had to leave the women—Thorin thought desperately, standing in front of the barrels Bilbo was urging the company to climb into.

"I'm so sorry, Thorin," the hobbit pleaded. "I didn't realize they were held elsewhere. If I had known, I would have freed them first."

Bilbo had used his magic ring to sneak into the elven fortress unnoticed, managing to steal the guard's keys. He had quickly freed the captive dwarves, but time was running out now. There was a river flowing beneath the wine cellars, where the elves discarded their empty barrels, and Bilbo's plan was to escape through that. Any minute now, the guards would realize their prisoners were gone.

"We need to leave," he urged, his voice desperate. "I'll come back for the women myself, but if we don't go now, we'll be stuck here forever. Please, just climb into the barrels."

Thorin closed his eyes for a moment, grappling with the decision, then nodded.

"Do as he says," he commanded, his voice solemn, and the dwarves obeyed.

Bilbo ran to open the latch on the floor, and once the barrels hit the water below, he quickly jumped through the hole before it sealed shut.

✧

Eline and Talessa were just finishing their breakfast, discussing what they should and shouldn't tell the elves, when their door suddenly flew open and Thranduil stormed in.

"How did they get away?" he demanded, his voice sharp with fury.

Talessa froze in her movement.

"They're gone?" she asked, her surprise evident. The Elvenking's gaze slowly shifted to her. The two women's shocked expressions confirmed to him that they hadn't known about the dwarves' early morning escape.

"Father," came a voice from the doorframe. The blonde elf who had led their capture the previous day entered, and Talessa now saw the resemblance. She should have guessed they were kin.

"Legolas," Thranduil acknowledged him with a questioning nod.

"They've been ambushed by orcs," Legolas reported. "We captured one for questioning."

"Did they manage to escape?" Eline asked anxiously, cutting in. Legolas shot her an annoyed look but gave a curt nod.

"All the dwarves got away, though one of the younger ones was injured."

Eline's heart twisted in fear, worried he might be talking about Fíli, who she had grown far too fond of in these past few weeks.

"It's Kíli," said Tauriel, stepping into view behind Legolas. Thranduil cast a disapproving glance in her direction. Eline felt only a little relief, knowing how close Kíli and Fíli were and imagining the pain Fíli must feel over his brother's injury.

"To the throne room," Thranduil commanded, and motioned for the two women to follow.

✧

The orc's body still twitched, though its head lay severed from the rest. Talessa watched in silence, her disgust mingling with pity. These creatures, born and conditioned to serve evil, were never given a choice.

What they had just learned from him was devastating. The orc spoke of a Ruler, the "One" who would soon set the world aflame. Talessa glanced at Thranduil, whose face had gone blank, his emotions concealed as thoroughly as his gates surely would soon be locked. Behind her, Eline sobbed quietly. The orc had also revealed that the arrow Kíli had been shot with was poisoned. The dwarf would die within days if the wound remained untreated.