"You need to know something," said Fili, taking her face in his large warm hands. "You will always have me. Even if the Valar take you away tomorrow, I will always be your brother. I want you. I'm going to fight Thorin for you, but even if I lose, y...
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Alright so this is chapter 51. Sorry it took me longer than I though. I actually wound up rewriting a lot of this chapter to get it to this point... and its still not perfect but it will have to do for now. Also know that it could be a while before the next chapter. I got asked to sew 18 memory bears, 21 pillowcases, and 4 blankets all before Christmas so I will be busy but I will keep writing just no promises when the next chapter will come out... but on the plus side I get paid to sew all those things and so I can use the extra cash to beef up Christmas... or pay a bill. ya know. To all those who commented and reviewed the last chapter... THANK YOU! I had an amazing birthday. Thanks for your love and support... and here's hoping they fix FFN ... but if they don't remember you can read this on Ao3 and a few other sites... just google the title of the story and bam you should be able to find it. Thank you all! Stay safe!
In which the company goes barreling and tragedy strikes.
The company came to halt at a signal from Tauriel as Legolas appeared in front of them, seeming to martialize from the darkness. Behind him Sara could see the torches burning on the bridge that spanned the 20 or 30 foot river. The water flowed beneath the bridge and through the iron bars of the water gate making what she guessed were floating barrels thump hollowly as they jostled each other in the current. She thought she could just make out Airidan's silhouette moving slowly and awkwardly about on the bridge as if dragging or carrying something heavy. Behind his silhouette the eastern horizon was beginning to turn a lighter shade of blue, the stars gradually winking out of existence.
"What did you find?" asked Tauriel, sounding hesitant and resigned.
"They were ambushed," said Legolas darkly. He held up a jagged arrow. "By orcs. All six of them. Shot in the back."
"Cowards," hissed Tauriel, taking the arrow from him, handling it as though it were entrails.
"We need to get you on your way quickly," said Legolas, tuning to them. Thorin put her down and checked his Orcrist again. The blade was still dark.
"You should come with us," urged Sara, glancing at Ruven beside her. "You can't stay here, not with that psychopath Saruman in charge. If he finds out or suspects that you helped us escape in any way, he will use his influence over the king to get you all locked up."
"Then it is well that no one saw us leave," said Legolas. "Our home is under attack and good men have already died. We are needed here."
"I am coming with you," said Ruven unabashedly, looking down at her and adjusting the straps of her pack on his shoulder to sit more comfortably. Dwalin cursed quietly from somewhere behind.
"You must do as you see fit," said Legolas, folding his arms across his chest.
"If the Orcs are led by Azog as I suspect they are," said Thorin, looking down at Sara with concern. "Then they will follow us once we leave. They are after Sara and myself. Me because of the long standing grudge between us and Sara because Azog saw her mark in their last encounter. He is determined to bring her to his master, wherever he may now reside."
