HOME | DD

Description
Kili felt himself falling to the ground. His limbs were encased in a cocoon of spider’s web. His whole body was immobilized. The prince hit the dirt with a grunt. He felt the webs cut away and someone helped him to his feet. To his relief, it was Dori.

“Damn these creatures,” Kili grunted.

“Up in arms, there are more coming,” Dori said. Kili drew his bow and followed him into the fray. The young prince shot down several spiders before his attention was diverted. Gloin was struggling to rip the webs off of Fili. Kili ran to them and dropped to his knees. He pulled out his dagger and sliced through the many layers of silk. Kili pulled his brother to his feet and they rejoined the fight, side by side.

Kili released another arrow and watched his prey fall from the trees. He glanced around and tried to count heads. The forest had dissolved into madness; weapons were flying and dwarves were being tackled. Dwarves yelled, spiders hissed and the sickening squelch of blade on flesh was pervasive. However, almost all were accounted for. All but one.

“Where’s Y/n?” He shouted above the chaos. No one answered. Kili’s heart sank. His heart beat in his ears as he turned his head frantically. He promised her he would protect her.

He spotted one bandaged foot poking out of a thickly woven cocoon, which dangled upside down from a low tree branch. It was her. No other part of Y/n’s body was visible but Kili recognized Oin’s handiwork. He dropped his bow and clutched his dagger. Kili wove in between spiders and dwarves alike as he ran to the tree. Kili grabbed the nearest branch he could and swung himself up into the tree. He reached for the next branch but was met with the terrifying face of a spider. Without hesitation Kili stabbed it in one of its many eyes. It fell to the ground with an eerie screech. He quickly climbed to Y/n’s branch and hacked away at the sticky web that suspended her.

She fell to the ground with an inaudible thud. Havoc raged around her. Kili jumped down. He landed on his feet and dropped to his knees. Kili tore the web from the girl’s face. Y/n’s eyes were already open, wide and staring. Her weak gasps concerned the prince greatly. Blood oozed from her neck. Kili turned her head to examine the wound. The skin around it was tinted green. He swore. It was spider venom. He effortlessly ripped the rest of the webs off of her; leaving only the silk tangled in her hair.

Kili slung Y/n over his shoulder. He held her in place with one arm and in the other hand he held his dagger. Y/n’s head flopped and she continued to gasp. Blood ran up the side of her neck.

Y/n couldn’t understand what was going on. Everything was blurry. Her breaths came in ragged random intervals. She felt herself being lifted and her world turned upside down. War cries and hisses invaded her mind. Oh god, that hissing. The sound came hand in hand with terror. Y/n felt herself being jostled as the person holding her began to run. She stared at the boots stomping along beside her. The pain in her neck was one she had never felt before. It felt like acid was eating through her skin. Disoriented tears ran up her face.

Thorin gave the command to run and Kili eagerly complied. The company fought for their lives as they retreated further into the woods, away from the path. Kili twisted his head to look on either side of the group. Spiders surrounded them. The creatures advanced at a steady pace with no mercy in their eyes. He felt despair settle into his heart.

Thorin stared down the spider directly in front of him. Before he could weigh his limited options, it collapsed. The spider was dead before it hit the ground. An elf stood behind it.

Thorin raised his sword and the blonde elf stepped forward, with all the dignity and beauty afforded to his race. His bow was raised for the kill. Without warning all the spiders fell to the ground dead. The company found themselves no longer surrounded by spiders, but by elves. Instinctually the dwarves retreated into a tight group. They pushed Kili and Y/n into the center of the formation. Dwarves protected their wounded.

“Do not think I won’t kill you dwarf,” The elf spoke, “It would be my pleasure.”

Thorin stared at him. He was itching to attack but he had to think of the lives of his men. He lowered his blade an inch and the elf took it as a symbol of surrender.

“Search them,” The elf bellowed.

“Wait! Wait! Please,” Kili shoved his way to the front of the group, despite many members of the company pushing him backward.

“Kili what are ya doing?” Bofur hissed. His eyes were trained on the many weapons aimed at them.

“Please,” Kili repeated to the elf, “Help her, she’s injured.” His eyes were pleading. Thorin was enraged by the treacherous act.

Legolas looked down at the dwarf in front of him, then at the human girl he carried. For a moment he was torn. These dwarves were trespassing on his father’s land. They were enemies of the kingdom. But on the other hand, the girl was dying and he was not a soulless being.

“Set her down,” He commanded. Kili lay Y/n on the ground as gently as he could. Legolas felt the eyes of his men on him. “Search them! Now!” He yelled.

The elven prince bent down to examine the girl. She was gasping and shaking and her hand clutched her neck. She was obviously in shock. He carefully lifted her fingers away from the wound. The girl moaned. “She’s been bitten,” He muttered. He surveyed the sickly green skin around the puncture wound.

“Please help her,” The dwarf pleaded. Legolas looked at the girl again. Her panicked eyes tore themselves from the dwarf and rolled around to him. Legolas was still touching her hand, almost holding it. The tips of his fingers were covered in thick red blood. Her breathing became deeper and sharper. A vague, dazed smile pulled at her lips as her eyes glossed over.

Y/n felt herself being lowered onto the ground. Energy drained out of her with every drop of blood. She felt nauseous. She raised a feeble hand to her neck. The pain was growing. A figure leaned over her and something cool pushed her hand away. Fingers touched her neck and she groaned. Y/n couldn’t quite keep her eyes in focus. Her gaze drifted over to the side and her heart skipped a beat. The most beautiful person she had ever seen looked down at her. His blonde hair flowed past his shoulders and fell into his face. His features weren’t human: they were better than human. In that moment Y/n could have sworn a soft golden light surrounded him. She tried to smile as ringing filled her ears. She was in the presence of an angel.

“This girl needs a healer,” Legolas commanded. One of his guards rushed to his side. “Take her to the infirmary. Immediately,” He stood, “As for the rest of them… take them to the dungeon.”

Kill watched as Y/n was carried away. Relief flooded through him. Without the elves’ help Y/n would have died in hours. But now… she had a chance. Elves pushed him into line with his fellow dwarves but Kili didn’t care. She had a chance.

Legolas’ second in command approached the elven prince. He lowered his voice so only Legolas could hear. “Sir…why save the human? There is no value in it.”

Legolas paused briefly before he gave his answer. “If she dies, the others will be less likely to talk.”