The Ties That Bind

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Impatience bubbled hotly in Thorin's belly, scorched through his veins as he paced the Throne Room. "This is madness, just sitting here, doing nothing."

"Thorin, we are to wait for Thranduíl as well. For you to go charging up to Ravenhill now, with just a dozen of your men, will only serve to get you and Her Royal Highness killed." Bard's voice was calm and even, and that served only to irritate Thorin further, especially when he added, "We wait for the reinforcements and then strike."

Although he knew Bard was right, and that they needed the elven army that hurried their way, it didn't make waiting any easier. As he paced, Thorin's mind whirled with what might be happening to Eirlys and each thought made him angrier than the last. And at the moment, he was furious enough to take on the entire orc army and make certain Madris paid for her deception was well.

"Your Royal Highness?" Thorin spun about to see Grabu standing in the doorway, looking a bit nervous as he added, "I've His Royal Highness, King Thranduíl of Mirkwood to see you?"

Thranduíl did not wait to be bid entry, but swept past the sentry without hesitation, Legolas at his side. "Thorin, are you certain of where Eirlys is?"

"About as certain as I can be," he replied, "but the only way we'll really know is to go up there."

Legolas looked from his father to Thorin. "I can go ahead and make certain."

"No." Thorin shook his head. "I will give Madris no chance to harm Eirlys. If anyone goes, it will be me."

"And me as well," Thranduíl broke in smoothly, "for if you think I'm going to simply sit here and wait—"

Thorin looked over at his father-in-law. "I did not think you would say anything else, to be honest. But, you do not know the terrain."

"As if that matters," Thranduíl told him, his tone brooking no argument. "What is your plan?"

The chill wind howled in through the windows, swirled down to bite into Eirlys with the sharpest of teeth. She sat against the stone wall, huddled in a ball, trying to fight off the call than seeped into her, that seeped clear through to her bones. Her head still ached from the valerian and no matter how she tried, she couldn't shake the nausea or the ache that settled into her joints.

She had no idea what time it was, only that clouds had blotted out the sun at some point during the day. She had no idea how long she'd been there. At some point, she'd drifted off to sleep again, due to the valerian, no doubt. She'd never taken the herb before, and had no idea how long it would remain in her system, but she knew she would never take it again. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so terrible, so groggy and detached from everything around her.

"Well, look who's up now."

Eirlys narrowed her eyes as Madris came into her field of vision. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Color me wounded," Madris replied dryly, shaking her head. "I should think you would have plenty to say to me. I should think you would be demanding to know how I could hide my true feelings for you, how I could pretend that you were like a daughter to me all the while I knew that I would betray you the very first chance I had."

"Does it matter now?" The words felt so thick and furry on Eirlys' tongue. Her head slowly began to clear, and the ashiness dissipated with equal slowness, and as it did, anger replaced it. "All you had to do was say something, Madris, and I would have let you go. It was that simple."