Heart of a Warrior ➝ The Hobbit ✓

Part Six

PART SIX ~

Alissa trudged slowly down the winding path, littered with soft leaves and moss. She had entered the forest at the bottom of the hill from the cave when the sun was still high in the sky, and now found herself lost between the pressing darkness of the trees. Branches twisted out like a crippled hand, gnarled and twisted, and the dense undergrowth tangled beneath her feet. Her mind was set on one goal: To find Fili. Kili's distressed expression plagued her mind, and she knew she couldn't leave him in the dark about his brother's fate.

She wondered along, aimlessly, for a while, following the path deeper into the dense maze of trees. A sudden shadow fell over her as the canopy of trees above her become more entwined, blocking out the shimmering moonlight from the sky above.

Alissa paused, considering heading back and setting up camp, but before she could make up her mind, a faint whizzing sound grew louded and she felt something skim past her ear. The missile thudded into one of the trees before her, and she saw an arrow of pure silver wedged into the bark.

Alissa's heart missed a beat. She could hear heavy, ragged gasps and grotesque snarls behind her, and a wet gurgling voice issuing commands. Orcs.

Very slowly, she pivoted on one foot to face the growling beasts. Seven of them, three armed with bows, the other four brandishing swords. There was no way she could defeat them all; not on her own, and especially in the darkness that seemed to blanket the whole forest.

"Well, what do we have here?" Hissed one of the orcs, raising his blade so it glinted red in the dappled moonlight that fell through the leaves.

Alissa gulped loudly, never taking her eyes of the beasts.

The leader of the pack held out an arm to stop his companion from moving any closer to human and ordered for her to be tied up.

Alissa cried out as an Orc twisted her arms back behind her and tied them with a thin strip of cloth. She gave no struggle, knowing that disobeying them will get her into deeper trouble.

The Orc gestured for them to take the girl with them, and two of the creatures stepped forward and grabbed her arm. Alissa had no choice but the stumble forward after the orcs.

As they made their way through the maze of trees, Alissa's foot got caught on the protruding roots of an old oak, and she staggered forward, tumbling to the ground. Leaves and twigs brushed against her face as she landed on the floor with a thump, and the two orcs dug their charred nails into her arms as they hauled her back into her feet.

"Keep moving," Snarled an Orc behind them, kicking Alissa in the back and sending her lurching forward again. A gurgling laughter erupted from the Orc behind and Alissa abruptly turned and spat in its face.

"Oh, that's it, human scum!" He roared, drawing his sword from its sheath.

"Enough!" Ordered the leader, pushing Alissa away from the smirking orc.

The beast snarled at its leader, hissing in protest, but slid its blade back into its holder. "Don't know why we don't just kill her," the Orc muttered as they continued their march through the forest, their weapons and packs rattling noisily with each thumping step.