Capturing True Love

Chapter 1

Our steps echoed around the dark, bleak forest. No light could be seen, besides our oil filled lamps. We were careful to stay away from the silk infested trees, looming over our heads. I listened to the never ending crunch of leaves as we walked towards what we thought was the Elve's home. It turned out to be a giant wolf pack, sleeping. When Thorin realized what it is, he almost yelled.

"Move back!" Thorin urgently whispered.

Except... Thorin's whisper is more like talking. Which woke up the leader of the wolf pack. We had to battle those wolves for the longest time. We got cuts and bites and scratches all over ourselves. We realized that we might not make it out of the fight alive. Suddenly, a pure white arrow came flying towards a wolf in the darkness.

"The elves are here!" I called to the others.

Cheering could be heard. I saw Legolas flying down from a tree, shooting wolves left and right with that big bow of his.

Then, I saw an unfamiliar face. It was a young girl, following Legolas around with a huge array of small daggers and knives, cutting down wolves with ease. She was quite short for an elf, and had dark brown hair, flowing down her tiny shoulders. Her face was filled with concentration, which I thought made her look beautiful.

Kili had already married Tauriel. I don't understand why Thorin let him. An elf and dwarf marrying is unheard of. Anyways, I'm getting off topic. After a few minutes, the wolves realized they were outnumbered, and ran off into the darkness.

Legolas strided over to Thorin, who was bloody and scratched. "Hello, old friend! I'm glad you answered our call!"

Thorin muttered something just out of reach of my hearing, but Legolas grinned and laughed.

We were escorted to the Elven Realm of Mirkwood. The young elf was walking next to me, peering shyly at me. She was just a few inches taller than me, which I thought was a definite plus.

I smiled at her. "What's your name? I haven't seen you before."

"Isabele," she said. Her voice was soft and soothing, like a dove flying in the silence of the night. "And yours?"

"I'm Fili. So, why haven't I seen you around the last time I was here, some decades ago?"

"I-I..." Isabele faltered, a single tear flowing down her face.

I frowned, and put a comforting arm around her. "You don't have to tell me, if you don't wish to."

"No! I want to tell you." Isabele took a shaky breath. "My father and I lived in a small elf village, on the edge of Mirkwood. One day, we saw a huge cloud of dust, rising. Nobody took notice of it, although it was unusual. After some days it had been there, a scout was sent to go look for the source. He never came back. A day later, a huge orc raid, riding on Wargs came and killed everybody, but I escaped. I had no food, no supplies, and above all else, no family. I came to Mirkwood seeking a home, because I had heard there were elves living there. Thranduil adopted me into his family with kindness and sympathy that I had never seen before. For a decade, I've been living here. It's my home, now; Thranduil and Legolas my family."

I was speechless. Isabele had had a hard life so far. "I'm so sorry," I whispered. I wish I could have done something to comfort her, but being only acquaintances, I remained still.