Unexpected

Chapter 13: To Dungeons Deep

The dwarves were completely surrounded. Mirkwood Elves, all with drawn bows, aimed at the company.

"Help!" Cried a voice. Eili whirled around to see her brother, Kili. A spider had grabbed his foot, and began dragging him away. Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air, striking the spider. Eili turned to see Kili's saviour.

She was a stunning elf with fair skin. Her eyes were bright and her long red hair blew in the wind. Cloaked in a green tunic and a brown corset, she hid among the trees.  Clutching a knife in one hand and a beautifully crafted bow in the other, she was not a force to be reckoned with.

The blond elf finally spoke again. "Search them."

The elves followed their order, approaching the dwarves. An elf with long, straight brown hair searched Eili's garments. He confiscated a few knives from her sleeves and more from inside of her coat. The elf patted Eili down further, until he reached her boots, where he retrieved another knife. After taking most of her possessions, the only personal item he allowed Eili to keep was her handkerchief. The elf held onto Eili's coat tightly, assuring she wouldn't escape.

Eili listened while the blond elf and the she-elf talk. Unfortunately, Thorin had forbade the study of the elvish tongue, so she did not understand.

"Where did you get this?" The blond elf asked as he turned to Thorin with Orcist, his blade, in hand.

"It was given to me."

The blond elf pointed the sword towards him. "Not just a thief, but a liar as well."

"Enwenno hain!" He yelled. The elves began to lead the company away. The brunette elf kept his grip tight on Eili's coat. Eili had no intention of running. She knew when to give in. Even so, she was too busy admiring the beauty of the Woodland Realm.

The dwarves had reached a bridge, crystal clear water rushing below it. The blond elf led, addressing the guards at the gate. The large doors opened and the company stepped into the kingdom.

Eili and the others were led down the wooden walkways of the Realm. Dwalin began striking his captor. The brunette elf handed Eili off to the blond elf and went to aid his friend. The entirety of the Woodland Realm seemed to be built off of a very, very large tree.

They were dragged down to the dungeons. The blond elf pushed Eili toward one of the cells and tossed her inside. She landed harshly on the stone ground of the cell. The dwarf pushed herself up, shifting to face the cell door. Eili's oldest brother was forced into her cell. Landing beside her, Fili cursed under his breath. Eili watched as the elf with long blond hair pulled an iron key from his belt, locking the cell door. The elf's eyes met Eili's, and he quickly turned away and left.

"This is not the end of it! You hear me?"

"Let us out of here!"

"Get off me!"

The young dwarf listened as the company protested. Fili rattled the bars of the cell door. She gazed at his hands. His grip on the bars was so strong that his knuckles turned white. Dwalin and a few other dwarves could be heard across the dungeon. They threw themselves against the cell doors, grunting in effort.

"There's no way out." Balin yelled. "This is no Orc dungeon; these are the halls of the Woodland Realm. No one leaves here but by the king's consent."

Fili sighed and let go of the bars. He slumped down against the wall beside his sister.

"I hope we get out of here soon." Eili said simply. "We will. Uncle's making a deal at this very moment." Fili said, wrapping his arm around her. Eili just wanted some tea. She wanted to see Bilbo. He was missing, and she wanted to know he was safe.