Saving Durin {Hobbit/Thorin}

Chapter 22: Tea, anyone?

Chapter 22:

Tea, anyone?

The spiders, being great task-managers, begin to wrap the company into individual cocoons of web and germs. All of my friends still lay in deep-slumbers as they are unceremoniously hoisted into trees and strung from branches. The arachnid enemies take their time, leaving me to be wrapped and hoisted last.

There are three spiders in the clearing, at the current moment. I have decided to call them Silvester, Niegel, and Gerry. Don't ask me why, the names just fit their characters.

"Let's kill her first. She looks yummy. Yes-Yes!" Niegel chants to his compadres.

"No, dwarves are best. Hides thick. Holds the juice in," Gerry disagrees. I push myself up into a sitting position. The spiders' thousands of eyes catch my movement, rushing towards me. However, before they can inject me, again, with poison, I speak to them.

"Let's have tea first. I barely know you guys. You can't kill me before you know me...that would be very rude," I play for time. The beady eyes of the spiders blink at me.

"She speaks us language," Silvester acknowledges. Of course, I can speak their language. I am an animal, after all.

"Okay, tea it is then!" I make my way to a standing position before they can say anymore. Picking at bark around the camp and grabbing my own canteen, I mix an herbal remedy that will put the spiders to sleep. Into four eggshells I pour the tea, nudging the three towards the spiders. They look on confused, though I wouldn't take my word for that; it is hard to read spider facial expressions.

"Pre-dinner. Yes, okay," Neigel says. His small mouth sucks up the liquid presented in the makeshift tea cup. The two others follow his lead, only seconds passing before they all pass out. Knowing that this is not a permanent solution to our problem as more spiders will come soon, I begin to cut down the dwarves as Bilbo joins my side.

"That was brilliant! Never did I think that a spider would drink tea," Bilbo praises me. I smile at him, glad he is okay and mentally stable.

"Everyone likes tea, or at least you can convince them that they do," I respond, sending him a smirk. Working together, we drop all the dwarven cocoons to the ground. From down below, I hear the cursing and grunting that only comes from a long-day in Mirkwood.

"Where's Bilbo and Erudian?" Bofur asks.

"Bilbo!" Some of the dwarves shout as others yell my name. I jump down from the darkened willow tree to greet my company.

"We're here," I say.

"I'm up here!" Bilbo shouts from above. His next words are interrupted as a spider attacks Bilbo, throwing him to the ground. Other spiders join in, biting and jabbing at the company. My attention is strung between two enemies, rolling and ducking to avoid their stingers as I do not have the space nor time to change into my Phoenix.

"Grab a leg!" Dwalin calls to no one in particular. Despite this, eight dwarves gather around the spider's eight legs, grabbing at them in a desperate moment.

"Pull!" Dwalin yells and the spiders is torn to eight. Of course, the remaining body of the spider falls onto a startled Bombur. Taking a quick survey, the dwarves are fighting off the endless spider brigade and Bilbo is searching frantically for something.

"Kili!" Fili shouts, drawing my attention away to the struggling dwarf brother. A spider is dragging him to the kill, deeper in the forest. I work my way over to him, only to be stopped by another spider. It is quickly becoming a frustrating endeavor as I have no weapon to defend myself.

Eventually, we defeat enough of the arachnids to compile together and run to safety. Taking this as my only chance, I transform into my aviary-form. I fly low to the ground at the back of the company, avoiding perilous branches and the occasional dwarf foot. As the spiders pile up to attack again, our company comes to a stop, waiting for the order to fight.

The elves, however, have a different idea and I am grateful. They quickly dispatch of the remaining spiders, though we are now left to face Thranduil's wrath for "trespassing." To make the matter even better, Legolas points an arrow at Thorin's head. Several of his inferiors follow the prince's lead, stringing arrows onto their bows and aiming at the company. Knowing a fight is futile, I return to my smaller and less-noticeable form though I am sure Legolas has already seen me.

"Do not think I won't kill you, dwarf. It would be my pleasure," the elven prince threatens Thorin. I growl at him, pushing my way in front of Thorin and into the arrow's contact.

"Hello again, Pointy-ears. Miss me?" I smirk at Legolas who looks ten times angrier with the mention of my nickname. Behind me, Thorin grabs my waist, pulling me towards him and away from the arrow. My back now rests against his chest, but I feel no comfort.

"Help!" Kili shouts at our backs, at mercy of another giant spider. Thorin's arms tense around my waist at the sight, so I rub circles on the backs of his hands.

"Kili!" his brother yells, trying to escape the elven guards in order to save his brother. It is a disheartening sight.

As it turns out, an elleth saves our youngest member, her hair a bright red. Her movements are precise, cutting down the spiders efficiently and quickly. It is not long after Kili's call that he is brought back to us, safe from harm. His eyes hold a look of amazement at the female elf's ability and beauty. I chuckle at the love-struck expression.

"My lord, Legolas," an elven guard speaks, coming in a hurry to our sides, "there are three spiders deeper in the wood, all unconscious due to unknown causes."

At his words, I start laughing, taking the elven guards and company completely off-guard. Recovering from shock, the elves look upon me curiously and the dwarves look proud. Turning my head to look at Thorin, he gives me a questioning gaze.

"I had tea with Silvester, Niegel, and Gerry, spelled with a 'G,' back at their camp. As it turns out, the tea was sleep-inducing," I shrug at my king. He laughs at me, pulling me into a deeper embrace. Turning my head back around to Legolas and the elves, they look bewildered as the dwarves and I all giggle incessantly. Their looks may stem from my actions, or the current state of the company. Then again, it may be the close position of Thorin and myself. Oh well.

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Hiya guys! I actually hate tea and spiders, so I kinda laughed at this chapter when I went back and edited it. I am definitely a coffee drinker.

Also, and more importantly, this gif! When I first saw The Desolation of Smaug, I broke out in laughter in the middle of the movie theatre at this part because of Legolas' eyeliner. It's so obvious! So now I am dying of laughter.

Let me know what you think of this chapter!

VOTE~COMMENT~ADD

Patagonian