It Was Her

Chapter 3

Pic is what she wears during the journey.

Skipping all the jazz at Beorn's house because it's kinda irrelevant to this story, Tili literally just sits there and eats which I'm sure sounds riveting but I would rather move on...

Tili sat on her pony next to her twin riding across the grassy field towards Mirkwood. It was clear that no one was pleased with the direction the quest had to take, but time was of the essence and Mirkwood was the quickest route. As they reached the borders of the forest, a shiver ran down Tili's spine, something dark and evil was near by and it was radiating from that forest.

It seemed as though Bilbo had the same opinion as he furrowed his brows looking at the forest.

"This forest feels...sick, as if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?" Bilbo asked hoping the answer was yes.

"Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south." Gandalf replied venturing further into the Elven Gate.

The company, having been instructed so by Gandalf, unpacked their belongings from the ponies. Nori, having finished unpacking his, began to take Gandalf's supplies from his horse. 

"Not my horse! I need it." Gandalf shouted striding with purpose towards his horse.

Murmurs of surprise spread across the Company as they looked up at the wizard.

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked

"I would not do this unless I had to."

Tili sighed as Gandalf and Bilbo spoke quietly to each other. It was starting to seem as though Gandalf was gone more than he was here. Last time he left them they were captured by goblins and Thorin was nearly killed by Azog, she could only imagine what might happen this time especially in that forest. 

The last thing they heard of Gandalf as he galloped away was his warning.

"No matter what may come, stay on the path!"

"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day." Thorin said as they turned to face the looming forest.

"This is our one chance to find the hidden door."

For a while, the journey through the forest went smoothly and the company as advised stayed on the path. But after some time, the air seemed to thicken, it was like breathing a dense fog. As the company trudged on, their minds and senses began to dampen and many became drowsy.

"Air. I need air."

"My head, it's spinning."

"What's happening?" Oin asked seeing everyone had stopped behind Nori who was leading.

"Keep moving. Nori, why have we stopped?" Thorin asked coming up behind his shoulder.

"The path...it's disappeared!" Nori gasped pointing ahead of him where a gap between two cliffs lay.

"What's going on?"

"We've lost the path!"

The dwarves asked from further behind the others.

"Find it. All of you look. Look for the path!" Thorin ordered as they backtracked the way they came.

It seemed as though the more they wandered and searched for the path, the more the forest took hold of them.

"I don't remember this place before. None of it's familiar."

"It's got to be here."

"What hour is it?" Thorin groaned.