NEW LEAF (Legolas FF) | ✔️

Chapter 20: Shelter

LARALEN

My head throbbed.

I slowly opened my eyes, feeling the stone cold floor on my right cheek. I could hear vague noises of water rushing somewhere and the crackle of a nearby fire. The pain on my head increased as my left cheek seemed to burn and I try to remember what happened. I was in my room, pacing and arguing about what to do. I wanted to leave but somehow I could not. I could not because... Elrohir. I frown at the thought, berating myself for doubting my choices. I wanted to talk to him before I left buy before I could, something hard hit me at the back of my head. The last thing I saw was a pair of dark brown boots.

I try to push myself up but realized I was tied up pretty well. My hands were bounded behind me, I could already feel the discomfort the rope gave on my skin. I move my feet. They were tied too.

"Lass?" I hear someone whisper. I swear I knew that voice. I try to raise my head, as my vision seemed to get clearer.

"She is awake!" Another familiar voice exclaims and I hear someone shush him. I could feel something sticky on the side of my head. Different smells enter my lungs as I try desperately to sit up, feeling the pain all over my body. It felt like I had fallen into a ditch somewhere and had broken a few bones in the process. The place was dark, but not dark enough that I could not see. On the stone walls, torches were placed and I could make out three slumped figures on the far off corner. I manage to sit up, wheezing for air and try to adjust my eyes to the figures far from me.

"Lass, are you alright?" The voice came again and I could finally place a name on it.

"Sir Balin?" I ask, in the same hushed whisper. There was a breath of relief as he seemed to lean forward, his face illuminated by the flickering flame. I probably did not look half as bad as he did. I felt my heart sank at the sight of him.

"What happened to you?" I asked, watching him closely. He smiled warmly at me before shaking his head and hitting something beside him that lets out a groan. Dwalin? The third slump moves forward and I remember him immediately.

"Ori?" I practically cry, seeing them in such a state. What happened? Where were we?

"That is not the problem right now, lass." Balin says, his eyes darting towards a dark hole to our left. It was then I realized we were in a cave. The cold damp air finally sinking into my skin. "We need to get out of here, quick. I do not like the men who have captured us. I especially do not like how they talk about you." He continued, watching me with sad eyes. I swallow the lump in mu throat, feeling the nervousness bite at my skin. My whole body was screaming in pain but I managed to hold back my tears. Now was not the time to cry. Now was the time to try and run.

"I will check on the prisoners," came a voice from the dark hole and I feel my body freeze as my eyes land on Balin, who shared the same look of distress. I push myself back, until my back collided with the wall and I bite my lip as the footsteps come nearer. If these were the same men that were looking for me, I might as well be dead. His feet comes into view first and I realized I was relieved it was not him. He walks over to the dwarves first, giving them all a kick and he spits out a dry laugh. I felt the world shrink around me as his eyes landed on me and his lips turned upward into a menacing smirk.

"Well, well," he says as he walked slowly towards me. I keep my chin up, even though all I wanted to do was cower in fear. Balin tries to trip him with his feet but he just kicks the poor dwarf and I watch in horror as Balin seemed to spit out blood. I glared at the man before me as he flashed me a toothy smile. I felt my insides turn before my eyes fall on my chance of escape. All of our escapes. A dagger by his left waist. If I could manage to free my hands, I would be able to take it from him. He approaches me slowly and I discreetly try to loosen my hands from the knot. I could feel my skin burning from my movements but the knot was loose enough for my hands to get out off, with a bit of effort. I try not too show the pain in my face as my skin struggled with the rope. "You know girl," he began, bending down towards my face. I face away, as the smell of alcohol and something putrid enters my lungs. "You gave us quite a hard time searching for you."