LOTR || ⤜𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩 → [Legolas x OC]

⤜ 27 → The Dark Curse

I was, for the first time, silent.

"Kneel," Maloki demanded shortly. But I could not. I was frozen in place. He stepped closer until there was only a hands-width of space separating us. "I said," Suddenly his eyes grew dark and he yelled, "KNEEL!"

I cried as I felt someone kick my legs from behind and pushed me onto my knees. I looked back to see Daerion holding down my shoulders. His harsh eyes bore into me as if to say "obey". I looked back at Maloki. He was grinning madly, watching me crane my neck to meet his eyes.

"Tell me, Rosa. Do you fear me?" He asked, turning around to gaze at his throne.

I angrily shook my shoulders, causing Daerion's hands to fall. "I pity your pathetic conceited existence!" I spat back.

Maloki whirled around with fluid grace. "Careful girl, that mouth of yours will get you in a lot of trouble," his lips curled into a sneer, revealing a set of straight white teeth. "Dispose of her." The last part was not directed me, but rather Daerion.

"What!?" I panicked. "Dispose? What do you— wait!"

Daerion did not wait as he hauled me up from my kneeling position with a searingly tight grip around my upper arm. I gritted my teeth together to stop myself from crying out.

Maloki's smile was sinister as his eyes followed me while I was being pulled away from him. No amount of strength or stubbornness could stop Daerion from dragging me towards the door that I initially tried to escape from. A guard pushed it open and Daerion strode through, yanking me along like a misbehaving animal.

"Where are you taking me?!" I grunted against his grip. We passed through a maze of corridors, sinking deeper and deeper underground. The air was mustier and even more cold than the throne room. "Let me go!" I screamed at him.

Abruptly we stopped. Then Daerion turned to me with a smirk. "If that is what you wish."

"What—" My words were cut off as he pushed me back. A surprised yelp escaped me and I stumbled down a steep edge, landing on my back on the hard stone floor.

"Apologies."

I sat up. "No, no, it's fine. I enjoy falling and breaking my skull." As if on cue, my head pounded sharply and I clutched it groaning. It felt like the world was slipping away and I desperately tried to hold on.

Slowly, my senses returned to me, each one more painful than the last. The sound of dripping water first, then the fading echo of heavy footstep. Above the wheezing that had to be my clogged nostrils, the reek of mould and mildew smothered the damp, cold air. Small sharp stones pierced the back of my hands. I must've landed on them funny because each movement set my hands on fire. Wincing, I opened my eyes and finally took a look around.

The only source of light were the torches beyond the door but I immediately knew it was a prison cell. I tried to stand up but my head was so dizzy I almost blacked out again. Examining the slants of light that crept in through the gaps between the iron bars, I sighed and gingerly touched my head. It ached. I clenched my teeth and quickly realised that my jaw was throbbing too.

Instinctively I reached up to my neck, seeking the comfort my pearl necklace often brought. But when my fingers met air, I froze. It was not there. I panicked, feeling around my neck, shaking my top, blindly patting around the floor in the dark. No, no, no, this cannot be. This cannot— suddenly my fingers landed on something round and smooth behind me in the dark. I breathed out in relief and picked it up, bringing it into the light.