Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings Imagines

Kili ~ Charge 4

Emilyssia let the small flame flicker on her hand, illuminating the darkness around her. Despite having cursed it at the time Elrond was teaching her, she was currently very glad that she could use fire.

The darkness felt heavy around her, but that could have just been because she was alone. Her body hurt, no doubt because she fell a long way, and she winced as she stepped forward. Glancing around, she feels panic start to set in.

She was alone.

Emilyssia looks around, cold rock walls around her. She remembered the first fall, then the goblins, but after that, did she slip? She shudders and forces herself forward before she realises that her axe wasn't on her belt.

Looking back, she saw it on the ground not far from where she had landed. Unfortunately, it was split in two, the handle having have snapped off, their just being enough that she could hold it.

Sighing, she tucks the handle in the belt and held the rest of it in her unlit hand before pressing forward again.

She had no idea where she was going, but she didn't dare call out, she had no idea what else could be down here. She had heard enough tales growing up about things that went on down in the dark that she didn't really want to experience it herself.

As Emilyssia walked, for the first time in a long time, she wanted Dwalin. She fought back against the wave of fear, but it was winning. She was trapped down here as far as she knew, down in the dark.

Branching paths led before her and she couldn't stop the whimper that left her. This was something she had never been prepared for. Drawing in deep breathes, she tried to think logically about a possible way she could get out.

The flame flickered on her hand and she stared at it.

It flickered again towards her and she stared at the tunnel ahead.

There was air coming from down that tunnel. Air meant a possible way out.

Slowly, she walked down that tunnel.

Emilyssia had no idea how long she spent in those tunnels, it could've been hours to days and she had no idea. Many times she had to stop and catch her breath, double and triple checking that she was going the right way, and to help control the overwhelming sense of fear that still threatened to take her over, something she felt she was constantly trying to swallow in her throat.

Just as she was starting to give up, she heard voices.

Voices she recognised.

"Pa!" She called suddenly, abandoning caution and dashing forward.

"Emilyssia!" Dwalin's voice was distant, but it was enough to keep her running.

"Pa!" She called again, her voice breaking, desperate now more than ever to find them.

The goblin tackled her and the scream had left her throat before she even really realised what happened. Luckily, the goblin had been thrown off and she recovered quicker, her axe smashing into goblin before it could get off it's feet. She gasped for air, trying to calm herself as Dwalin called again, louder this time.

Emilyssia was shaking, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to her feet. She couldn't hear any other goblins but she suddenly found herself frozen to the spot, unwilling to risk being attacked by another. It was the first time she had really been taken off guard.

"Emilyssia!"

"Pa, please." She gasped, trembling, her breathing harsh as she tried to calm herself, panic further setting in when she realised the fire on her hand had gone out and she couldn't bring herself to relight it.

"Where are you?" The others were calling, but Dwalin's voice was loudest and they were getting closer.

"Over here!" She whined, curling up on herself as she sat on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees.

"Keep talking Emilyssia so we can find you." This time it was Kili's voice and she whimpered again.

"There are goblins, if I talk they will find me."

"We're going to get there first, we promise."

"I'm here, I can't move." Her voice was unnaturally high and she wished it wasn't, she had never felt so afraid before.

"You will be fine." Dwalin's voice sounded almost on her. "You will be fine darling, we are coming for you."

"Pa-" Her voice was cut off as someone heavy hit her back and went tumbling over her. For a moment there was a mass of confusion as they tried to untangle from each other until Gandalf's light came around the corner.

Kili had tripped over her.

Dwalin was there in a flash, scooping her up into his arms and Emilyssia buried her head into his shoulder as she started to cry, her body shaking so much.

"Can you carry her?"

"Of course. Let's go."

She felt herself moving, Dwalin carrying her securely in his arms, the others around him in case they were attacked again. She didn't want to seem weak, but right now, she was just glad to be back in the arms of safety.

Emilyssia barely registered the feeling of fresh air on her face, let alone the familiar light of dusk, her face still buried into Dwalin.

Slowly they stopped, Dwalin letting her down but she did not let go.

"Hey," He said gently and pushed her away. "Look at me."

Her eyes, red and puffy, met his, the trembling in her body having finally died down.

He wipes the tears from her cheeks. "You are okay now Emilyssia. You are safe."

Her lips trembles and she hangs her head. "I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"Being a coward."

Dwalin sighs and pulls her back into him. "You were lost and alone Emilyssia. I would be crazy if I said I did not expect you to be scared. Use it to make you stronger."

A small whimper left her, one only Dwalin heard, and he pulled her tighter against him, resting his head on hers. He glanced up, his gaze meeting Kili's, whose face was pale as he watched.

He looks back at her. "Are you hurt?"

Emilyssia sniffs and pulls herself away this time. "I...I don't think so. I was sore when I woke up but I think I'm okay."

"We will have to check later." Thorin cut in. "Right now, we need to keep moving, get as far away as we can before darkness hits."

She just nods in agreement, even as Dwalin looks worried.

But Gandalf had another distraction. "Where's Bilbo? Where is the hobbit?"

Emilyssia didn't listen to any of this, she took a few steps away to regain herself, wiping her eyes and brushing some of the dirt from her armour. Her hand eventually returned to her axe, still broken and this created such a great swell of sadness that she almost choked as tears threatened to take over again.

A warm hand rested on her shoulder. "We're going to be okay Emilyssia." Kili said quietly to her, the others still talking behind them. "We'll make it through this."

"Thanks Kili," She mumbled. "I'm glad you found me."

"Well, fell over you more like it."

She gave a small laugh. "You still found me. It didn't help that I was cowaring on the floor."

"No more than what I would've done if I'd encountered a goblin in the dark on my own. From what I could tell, he still ended up worse off."

Emilyssia turned to him and gave a small smile. "Yeah, I guess. Thanks Kili."

He smiles warmly at her. "It's no problem Emilyssia."

Their attention was then drawn back to the others as the shout to run reached them and Kili's hand suddenly wrapped in hers and pulled her quickly as they all began to run.