The Wind Fell Silent

18. The Roars of the River

Third Person

It was a while before Arenna and Legolas reached the lower levels of the dungeon where the dwarves were kept, enough time for Arenna to calm her appearance. She had chased away the tears that threatened her eyes and set her jaw to stop he lips from quivering, but under the surface there was chaos. Though she knew there was no way wind would reach into the depths of the cavern, she felt it all around her, inside her. It tugged her away, told her to run for the only thing that had kept her steady for so long was seemingly gone. Of course now, when she would have gladly given in, running was not an option. When the dwarves finally woke at the sounds of her arrival, they all yelled in joy and shock at her sudden appearance, for many had assumed she had died or given them up. Renn told herself to greet their welcome, but could manage only a feeble smile. Legolas wordlessly led her to an empty cell and held the barred door open as she silently trudged through it, before closing it with a heavy thunk behind her.

"I'm sorry" he muttered, refusing to meet her eye, before turning and leaving.

Immediately the dwarves began clamoring to speak to her (Kili the loudest among them), but it was Thorin she answered.

"Where have you been?" he asked, having to raise his voice to be heard.

"Asleep until this morning" she answered, her voice quieting the others.

Thorin watched her closely, "Are you well?"

Her answer was flat, "I'm getting there."

He paused for a moment, peering at her carefully through the bars, "How do you know the prince."

Arenna sighed, knowing that her friendship with Legolas would cast a shadow of doubt on her loyalty, loyalty that had currently landed her in prison.

"He is a very old and dear friend, and is not to blame for any of this. He acted out of obedience to the king, who I assure you is NOT and old and dear friend of mine."

Thorin huffed in response.

"Did the king treat with you?"

"He tried" she answered, very aware of Kili's eyes on her from his cell across the gap, "He asked that I deliver some jewels to him once we were inside the mountain, in return he would release us with provisions."

"And what did you say?" Thorin asked, his voice sharp.

"I told him that I had no claim over the treasure in the mountain and that I had no intention of stealing from my friends."

Thorin continued to analyze Arenna shrewdly, searching for any hint of a lie. He seemed for the moment satisfied. With a nod of approval he returned to the shadows of his cell and left Renn to hers. The others seemed to sense that she was in no mood to relay anything from above levels, and turned back to their cells, for the moment pleased that she was alive and seemingly not a traitor. All but Kili.

The moment the others quieted, he called to her excitedly. She looked healthy enough, if a bit thin, and beautiful as ever with her thick hair pulled into an intricate braid and clothes that clung to her curves. But to his confusion and bewilderment his call was met with silence as she turned and disappeared into her cell.

Nothing disturbed Arenna for some hours as she brewed in her own pain and jealousy. Across the river that ran beneath the cells, Kili began to pace. Several times he had tried to speak to her, to get her attention, only to be ignored. His fears over the past few weeks flared, perhaps she didn't care for him as he thought she did. Perhaps she was bound to the elf and loyalty to the company was the only thing that brought her down to the dungeons.