Mirkwood part 6 :p
You slept soundly that night, lulled to dreams by the gentle snoring sounds of the dwarves in the cells surrounding you. Surprisingly, Legolas had not come to visit you that night, and you assumed that he felt guilty for the events that unfolded yesterday. Although, of course, if he hadn’t been such a pussy, things might have worked out a little differently…
Anyway…
You were woken up by unexpected banging and shouting. Leping to your feet, you looked outside your cell door and immediately jumped back as hundreds of elves ran past you, sharp weapons glinting in the morning sunrise.
You slept soundly that night, lulled to dreams by the gentle snoring sounds of the dwarves in the cells surrounding you. Surprisingly, Legolas had not come to visit you that night, and you assumed that he felt guilty for the events that unfolded yesterday. Although, of course, if he hadn't been such a pussy, things might have worked out a little differently...
Anyway...
Despite the sparseness of the elvish cells, they were surprisingly comfortable. Though the long wooden bench on the cell was hard, it was warm and dry. You had to admit, it was a lot nicer than many places that you had slept before.
That didn't mean that you didn't want to get the hell out of there, though...
You were woken up by unexpected banging and shouting. Instinctively leaping to your feet, you looked outside your cell door and immediately jumped back as hundreds of elves ran past you, sharp weapons glinting in the morning sunrise.
"They've escaped! They've escaped!" came a loud shout from outside, and your sleep-addled mind struggled to comprehend what was going on.
It was only when a guard looked into your cell and said loudly, "The girl's still here!" that you finally understood.
They had escaped.
Some time in the night, the dwarves had got out of their cells and quickly scurried away. And left you there. In a prison. On your own. You blamed Thorin. Of course it would be the surly leader of the group who had decided to leave you behind, under false pretences that you had actually begun to understand each other. That backstabbing son of a...
"(Your name!)" shouted a voice, and you turned to see Legolas standing outside your cell, sword in hand and, to your surprise, hair looking slightly dishevelled, "We need your help!"
"Excuse me?" you replied scathingly, raising an eyebrow, "I thought Thranduil didn't approve of getting assistance from a 'lowly woman'"
Legolas cringed at the harsh tone of your voice, "I'm sorry, truly..."
"Whatever," you dismissed him childishly, waving your hand.
You knew you were being immature, but you couldn't help yourself. The guy had stood by and watched you get beaten to a bloody pulp by his father yesterday, and today was asking for you to help him? You weren't usually one to hold a grudge, but if there was one thing that you couldn't forgive, it was bystander.
"There are orcs outside," he stated, and your head instantly looked up, interested, "Many, many orcs. An army of them. Your friends are in danger, as is Mirkwood. We have an army, but none with experience fighting these beasts. I know it's a lot to ask, but-"
"Give me a sword and I'm there," you stood up, ready to finally get some action. You had been stuck in this manky cell for days, and your weary legs were aching from lack of use.
Legolas silently nodded and unlocked the door to your cell. Before opening it, he gave you a wary look, and said cautiously, "You're not going to break my nose are you? Because Tobias is still in the hospital wing..."
You let out a loud laugh and smiled at him, "I only break the noses of people I hate, Legolas. You, surprisingly, do not fall into that category..."
"But you're willing to backfist me in the groin?" he asked, remembering your first meeting.
"Well, they were extraordinary circumstances" you replied sheepishly, stepping out of the cell and grabbing the sword that Legolas was offering you. It felt good to finally have a weapon in your hand again.
"Anyway," you continued, grasping the sword tightly and accustoming yourself to its balance and weight, "I could have done worse."
You smiled and followed Legolas through winding paths and passages. He ducked behind pillars and columns when he saw guards, and you assumed that, technically, you weren't supposed to be wandering the passages of Mirkwood with a sharp sword in your hand.
You were led downwards, away from the noise and commotion, until eventually, you reached a large cellar. Two elvin guards sat on chairs, a large table in front of them, fast asleep, tankards of mead in front of their bobbing heads. You raised an eyebrow to Legolas, and he shrugged, smiling again.
"Your friends are very crafty," he explained, and you couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"Ladies first," he proffered his hand and you saw a large gap in the floor, that led into what looked like a fast-moving stream.
"You have GOT to be kidding me..." you mumbled under your breath, and sighed as you slid your sword into the empty scabbard at your waist and looked downwards, "I am NOT jumping into that..."
Surely a fall of that size would kill you. Or at least seriously break some bones.
Legolas looked at you with a glint in his eye, "Scared?" he teased.
"We're not all as graceful as elves, princess," you explained.
He let out a laugh, "Well, we could technically go out the front way, but I was not allowed to free you, and if we pass a troop of guards on our way out... Well, it won't end particularly well for you..."
Damn. Death by drowning it was then.
"You go first," you said to Legolas, stepping back. You wanted to catch up with the dwarves, but seeing how it was done wouldn't hurt.
"If you insist," he replied smoothly, before stepping up to the hole, taking a calm breath, and jumping out.
If only you were an elf and you could live your life doing everything so gracelfully...
"Pull yourself together," you told yourself, rubbing your hands together in anticipation.
Stepping up to the edge of the hole, you closed your eyes and tried to blot out the sounds of rushing water and the occasional cry of an orc as an elf's arrow hit its target. You had a sword in your hand and you had your freedom.
That was all you needed.
Taking a deep breath and squeezing your eyes closed, you leaped into the abyss.