The Heart of a Warrior

The Prince of the Woods

Kili awoke to a calloused hand upon his forehead. The coolness of the touch made the hot dwarf relax. "Balin- wh-what happened?" Kili's grating voice sounded like a broken record, but it was the best that he could do as the dwarf felt trickles of fire leap up in his veins. Kili wildly looked around, trying to see where he was. His turquoise eyes finally focused and fell on the dwarf whom had his hand resting on Kili's febrile temple. Balin sighed. "You are harrowed with spider poison. And... You have a slight fever running."

"A fever?" Kili questioned his throat scratchy. "Balin, you always overreact. I am fine." Balin grunted. "We'll see, my young cousin." Kili felt himself moving, but he wasn't active. "Who-"Kili looked up to see his brother's face, scrunched with worry. Fili had readjusted his brother to make Kili more comfortable. "I am sorry, brother. I regarded you as uncomfortable." Kili cleared his throat as pushed himself up and responded, "Oh, I am just annoyed that Balin keeps telling me that I have somehow contracted a fever."

Balin's white, bushy eyebrows lowered in frustration. "I know a fever when I see one. You can't deny it. Anyway, you look like you have just run a mile! Can't you rest a while?" Balin pleaded. The three cousins heard a grunt behind them. Then, a flat voice said stiffly, "There will be no resting right now. Prince Thranduillion is taking everyone to his father, and our king's palace." The voice was austere, and its owner was an elf. While speaking, the elf had cunningly slipped bounds around each of the dwarf's hands. "Drat!" Fili exclaimed loudly, "we should have escaped when we had the chance!" The elf drew a silver knife, intricately designed, and threatingly said, "Make one move, dwarf, and I will lacerate you." His voice was as cold and as deadly as ice. Fili balled his hands into fists and growled. Kili couldn't stand it anymore. "Eca, a mitta lambetya cendelesse orcova!" He was cranky and tired, and wasn't going to put up with any nonsense. The elf was clearly taken aback by the comment, but didn't respond.

Prince Legolas Thranduillion was an elf of high power. He stood erect on a rotting log, and looked around at the scene that was playing out in front of his seething blue eyes. As he watched the dwarves being bound, an elf with swarthy skin, golden eyes, and dark brown hair walked up to the prince. "They are all here, Prince of Logs." The elf stifled a laugh as he walked away. "I will tell my father of this Keth-ather!" Legolas jokingly called. Keth-ather was Legolas's right-hand, and the Prince's father was on great terms with Keth-ather's father, Vonama." Move out!" He yelled to the other elves, and jumped off of his perch.

Kili leaned heavily upon his older cousin as the dwarfs were taken to the heart of Mirkwood. He was starting to think that a short rest would feel good at this moment. "Hypochondriac," he scolded himself quietly for thinking of such a thing. "Sorry, I didn't catch that. What was it that you said?" Balin asked Kili, expectantly waiting for an answer. "Oh," Kili stuttered," it was nothing." Kili hated to lie, but he also detested admitting that he was wrong. Kili felt a tickle in his throat, and coughed. Before long, he was half bent over, hacking up his lungs. Keth-ather heard the dwarf's distress, and sighed. "King Thranduil will not like this," Legolas warned, as Keth-ather pulled back from the Prince's side and walked to the dwarf. Keth-ather took from his leather belt that hung around his slim waist a small alembic, and popped the cap off. "Drink this," he urged the dwarf as Kili lost the ability to breath. Keth-ather ceased Kili and poured the liquid into his mouth. Then, Keth-ather bounded back up to Legolas; his golden armour flashing in the bright sun.

For the rest of the journey into Mirkwood, Kili tried to focus on not being sick and instead thought of what King Thranduil would act like.

It had been eight minutes since the spider attack, and Legolas was quite bored. "There is nothing to do." He moaned to Keth-ather, and started to pick at his tattered bluish-green cape. "Well... we could go back and taunt the spiders into another fight. I haven't had that much fun in weeks!" Keth-ather laughed. Legolas felt the blood drain out of his face. "No," he said to his friend," you do not want that. Don't you remember...?" Legolas's voice trailed off. Keth-ather took in a shuddering breath. "I, I understand what you mean. The spider attack, me and you alone in the woods..." Keth-ather couldn't say anymore. He was afraid that one more word may have sent the prince into a flashback, which would not be welcomed.

Legolas looked at the bridge below him. It was slick with water, which had been put there by the furious waves of the crystal waterfall that ran long and deep near the entrance to King Thranduil's palace. He sighed as he watched a river run deep under him. " If only this forest was not becoming so... evil." Legolas laid sad eyes upon his friend, who remained silent. " I can feel it already. Shadows in the night seem to grow darker, and they have a mind of their own. Spiders have been killing elves left and right..." Legolas's face hardened. " But this will happen no more. I will avenge my brothers." Keth-Ather placed a hand on Legolas's back. " We are here. I will take the dwarves to their cells." His reply was a tired smile. " Ni Lassui, Mellon Nin." He looked up and saw an elf with beautiful blue robes pooling around him.