Caught in Thorns >EDITING<

Caught in Thorns: Chapter 5

~Chapter 5~

I slash at the Orc hitting it across it's cheek. The Orc snarls and swings it's sword at me. I leap back just before it can touch me. I run forward and slash at the Orc again, hitting his arm. He lets out a shrill cry of pain and glares at me. The last thing I remember is him swinging his sword at my head.

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"Celaireth."

That's all I can hear, my name in a soft voice being repeated over and over. I can't see anything, just darkness. I can't call out, nor can I move. I am frozen in place. Then I see a light. A soft light at first, getting brighter as it gets closer. Then I see her. My mother. My mother, whom I have not seen in so long. She disappeared long ago, never to be found. I stare in awe as she looks me up and down, and then smiles.

"Oh my little Celaireth, how you've grown." She says in her soft voice.

She places a gentle hand on my cheek and I can feel a tear fall from my eye.

"It's been too long my dear." She says. "You are so brave and beautiful, you put your life on the line for that dwarf. But I have to say I must wait longer."

What? She must wait longer? Until what? I am beyond confused now. My mother is here, speaking to me. I don't understand what's happening.

"You must go back to the dwarves now, they need you." My mother whispers. "But one day, you will join me, along with your father, but today is not yet that day."

She takes her hand off my cheeks and steps away. No, I don't want her to go. Not now, not yet. I'm not ready.

"Go fulfil your destiny, I will be with you always."

Then she's gone. Just disappeared, faded away. She left me, left me again. I can feel myself falling, the darkness taking me over once again. Falling, that's all I do for quite a long while. Or what seems like a long while.

When I finally hit the ground, my eyes snap open and I sit up quickly. My temples throb and I lay my head in my hands for a brief moment. I am in a forest, not Mirkwood, but I can see the large trees above me.

"Celaireth?" A familiar voice asks.

"Kili?" I call out, looking back.

My head rests on Kili's folded up cloak and he is sitting beside it, watching me closely. I don't know how I got to the forest, most likely I was carried. The other Dwarves are packing up a little camp. Bilbo is acting as look out.

"Where are we? How long was I out?" I ask trying to stand up. My head protests immediately.

"We're in a small forest not far from Mirkwood. You've been out for a good few days." Thorin says as he walks by.

"I knew you weren't dead, the Orc had hit you when the side on the blade. I couldn't tell if you weren't breathing and we couldn't find your heartbeat, but I just knew you weren't dead." Kili says, standing up.

"We're near Mirkwood?" I ask hopefully.

"Yes but, we are not going to get there quite yet." Gandalf says.

"I don't mean to alarm anyone right now but the Orcs are close. And there is something else, a bear-like creature." Bilbo says coming up.

"We should go." Dwalin says.

Thorin comes over and helps Kili help me stand. Fili hands me my daggers and I give him a nod in thanks. I take a few test steps forward. I seem to be able to walk alright, but I don't think running is an option yet, my legs are still slightly wobbly.