Courage ✔

Chapter 10

Fíli swung his arms around when he walked through another spider web. The threads stuck to his arms and were so thick he could barely get rid of them. Even with the help of his sword, he could hardly free himself.

Anxiously, his eyes flashed from left to right. Until now, the makers of the gigantic webs hadn't shown themselves, and he felt fortunate about that–but he knew they were spying at him from the high treetops.

The darkness around him made him depressed. It was so dark he wouldn't be surprised if he walked right into the mouth of a monster, only realizing he did so when the jaws snapped.

A shiver ran down his spine when he made an image of it in his mind, which was way too realistic, and he sent his thoughts in another direction. Alyssae. At this moment, she was the only light he could see. He got the feeling the webs would pulverize when he touched them with the hand she held yesterday. Yet, a shadow came over his memories when he thought about her. He had left her behind for the second time – again without reason. There had been something in the woods which had attracted his attention. He had heard someone cry and for a moment, he had believed he had seen a helpless silhouette, which lured him further and further away from his brother and her.

Where would they be now? Would they have found the others? Would they ever find him here? He knew they would go out looking for him, but these woods were enormous, and he couldn't imagine anyone would be able to survive here for more than a few days.

Fíli looked over his shoulder when he heard a strange noise, like a rodent that snapped a branch between its teeth. Two luminous eyes took his breath away; they were just a few inches away. The eyes rose above him, making him stumble backward. Long, bony legs held up a fat, hairy body, and helplessly he looked at the sword in his hands, which only seemed a void piece of cutlery. He didn't dare to turn around to run away, scared the deterred creature would push him to the ground. However, he also realized that it was neither helpful to attack the animal nor to keep standing still, and in the end, he decided that trying to escape the monster was his only chance to survive. He didn't look over his shoulder while he tried to find a grip on the humid soil. The leaves slipped away under his feet, but he knew how to keep balance.

He slipped sideways after a few trees, hoping to confuse the animal. His heart raced in his throat, and he couldn't remember he had ever been so anxious. He understood how Alyssae must have felt when a hungry warg faced her. He lost his balance because of a sudden height difference and rolled across the floor. While he lifted himself with the help of a thick tree root, he looked carefully over his shoulder, but the spider was nowhere to be seen. This didn't make him feel safer, and he started to run again, although he had no idea where he was heading for. That beast could be anywhere.

Because of the stuffy atmosphere between the dead trees, it didn't take long before Fíli gasped for breath. He breathed heavily while he leaned against a bark, wiping off the sweat from his forehead and trying to control himself again. He didn't know what to do anymore. He had no idea where he had to seek salvation. Everything looked the same. There didn't seem to come an end to the rows of trees and shadows seemed to enclose his heart. In vain he searched for beautiful memories. The mischief he caused with his brother when they were younger. Their uncle who invited them on this journey. The food fight in Rivendell. His arms around Alyssae while they danced to the music.

It didn't matter. Before a smile could appear on his face, he was thrown to the ground. His wrist snapped when he came down on a stump. He rolled on his right side while he chopped with his sword in the body that hung above him. The beast screeched viciously when he cut open the creature's stomach, because of which he became smeared with the intestines of the immense insect. The large legs stepped around him and made it rain fallen leaves. Fíli knew how to free himself. The animal stood on his sword, so he fled without the weapon. The fear that his death cries would attract congeners clasped his heart. Run, was all he said to himself. Run.