The Waterdancer

Chapter 18

I don't remember the last time I breathed in the fresh air. Everyone was swaying with every step. The one who seemed the least affected by the forest was Nemirien. She didn't seem as tired or hungry due to her Elven traits, but she occasionally slurred her words as she talked. I continued to walk down the path, my legs feeling heavier with each step. Then we suddenly came to a halt.

I approached Nori, who was taking the lead. "Nori, why have we stopped?" I asked.

Nori pointed to the ground. "The path...it's disappeared." he said slowly.

"What's going on?" Dwalin asked.

"We've lost the path!" Oin exclaimed.

I nearly froze as I remembered Gandalf's words. If you stray from the path, you will never find it again. "Find it!" I nearly shouted. "All of you! Look for the path!"

It was no use. We couldn't find our way back to the path, no matter where we looked. "I don't remember seeing this place before. None of it's familiar." Balin said.

"It's got to be here!" Dori said, clearly frustrated.

I could feel my head becoming cloudy. "What hour is it?" I asked.

"I do not know. I don't even know what day it is." Dwalin said slowly.

"Is there no end to this accursed forest?" I exclaimed. We continuously began to wander, not even knowing what direction we were going.

"Look!" Ori said, picking something up. Dori took it from his brother and inspected it.

"A tobacco pouch. There's Dwarves in these woods." he said.

"Dwarves from the Blue Mountains, no less. This is exactly the same as mine!" Bofur observed. I saw Master Baggins shrug his shoulders at that comment.

"That's because it is yours. Do you understand? We've been going around in circles. We are lost!" the Hobbit declared.

I shook my head at him. "We're not lost. We keep heading east."

"Do you know where east is?" Nemirien asked. I narrowed my eyes before realizing she was right. I didn't even know what direction I was facing now.

"We've lost the sun!" Oin exclaimed. Nemirien sighed, and sat herself against a tree.

I approached the little Elf, since we didn't seem to be getting anywhere. "Do you know where we are?" I asked.

Nemirien looked up at me and raised her eyebrows. "Oddly enough, I don't. I haven't been here in years, Thorin. Whenever I left Woodland Realm, it was always to go to Erebor with representatives to discuss trade. I don't know these parts." she told me. I closed my eyes, trying to clear my head.

I opened my eyes as I heard whispers. I saw Nemirien looking at me with wide eyes. "Am I the only one who hears that?" she quietly asked. I shook my head at her, and looked up to see the company arguing.

"Enough! Quiet! All of you!" They all turned to me and I gave them a warning expression. "We're being watched." I whispered. The company all began to look around cautiously. Then I heard something in the distance. It was coming towards us.

Before I could react, however, I heard Bofur cry out. I turned to see him being snatched by some kind of rope up into the trees. I reached to draw Orcrist, but it was too late. We were all meeting the same fate as Bofur. The next thing I knew, I was being yanked up into the trees, and wrapped into something sticky. The last thing I heard before blacking out was the shocked, high-pitched scream of Nemirien being captured by the same creatures.