Heart of a Warrior ➝ The Hobbit ✓

Part Twenty-One

PART TWENTY-ONE ~

After hastily washing in the icy stream, they had followed the trail of heavy-set prints through the forest with no interruptions. All seemed reasonably quiet and peaceful, excluding the rustling foliage and scurrying animals.

Alissa's gaze wandered aimlessly from branch to branch, as she searched her mind for something useful to say. She sighed and her gaze switched to the dwarf. He was concealing his feelings well, for his eyes were distant and his face blank.

"Do you think the camp was Kili?" Alissa asked after a while.

Fili shrugged. "The tracks seem to be headed in a direct line at the moment, so who can say?"

A silence settled between the two for the rest of the journey, and they only paused somewhat occasionally as they searched for hidden tracks that strayed from the trail.

Eventually, they came to a halt as they saw that the trail jolted suddenly to the right, towards the camp.

Alissa raised an eyebrow and a grin played at her lips. "Told you!"

Fili glanced at her with a slight smile but said nothing.

They continued following the trail for some time, until they decided to stop for a quick rest. Alissa's forehead gleamed with sweat as the midday sun glared at them high between the clouds. Fili clenched his jaw impatiently as the girl took a hasty sip from the flask and he busied himself inspecting the trail.

"Shall we continue?"

The dwarf nodded, eager for them to continue on their way and the two companions set off once more.

~

Fili suddenly stopped in his tracks and held out a hand, sending his gaze searching through the densely packed foliage. Alissa immediately followed his actions and perked her ears as she strained to hear over the streaming wind.

The dwarf frowned and scrunched up his face, shutting his eyes, as he concentrated on his surroundings. Suddenly, they flutted back open and he glanced about him in confusion. His eyebrows knitted into a frown as he spun about wildly.

"What is it?" Whispered Alissa as she struggled to see the reason for Fill's distress.

"I believe I hear orcs, but I am not sure where,' he explained.

Alissa felt her heart lurch, but she concealed her feelings. Her hands wavered above the hilts of her jagged daggers and she stroked the leather sheaths subtly as she searched for the hidden beasts.

As if out of nowhere, a deep-throated growl erupted from the undergrowth and three orcs, all brandishing rusted blades, charged towards the bewildered companions.

Alissa immediately drew her daggers and sent them spinning wildly through the air. A smile of triumph played vividly on her lips as it thwacked into the beast she was targeting. It's face contorted in pain as it stumbled into it's companions, sending them shrieking to the ground. She sprung forth to collect her blades and dropped down, stabbing the struggling Orc in the chest.

Fili swung his sword at the remaining Orc, landing a blow to it's exposed side. Then he lunged forward, penetrating the leathery skin and digging deep into the tough flesh.

Half a dozen more sauntered out of the undergrowth, raising their charred weapons. Alissa took in a deep breath, calming her furiously beating heart, before uttering a shriek and leaping forward, thrusting her daggers into the nearest mangled creature.

~

A/N: Ahh. Damn. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in ages. I've got a lot of revision to do and I just haven't had the time with school. Anyway. I hope you're enjoying my fanfic. I really appreciate the comments and votes. I believe it's coming to an end soon. BUT... I have other fanfics to write, as I have mentioned in my 'Imagines' story-thing.
Anyway. Really sorry this was such a short update, I'll try and post more soon!
Thanks for reading! And Please VOTE!! :D