The Edge Of the Wild (Hobbit fanfic)

Chapter 21: Escaping the Dungeon

Tauriels POV

"She worries. She thinks I'm reckless." He chuckles quietly.

"Are you?"

"Nah. Sounds like quite a party... you're having up there." He nodded up to the lights and laughter coming from up the stairs.

"It is Merethen Gilith...the Feast of Starlight. All light is sacred to the Eldar. But Wood Elves love best the light of the stars. I always thought it is a cold light. Remote and far away. It is memory... precious and pure. Like your promise."
I gazed into the distance caught on my own thoughts.

"I have walked there sometimes. Beyond the forest...and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away... and the white light of forever fill the air." I looked at him and saw he was looking straight at me, his eyes full of wonder.

"I saw a fire moon once. It rose over the pass near Dunland. Huge. Red and gold, it was. It filled the sky. We were an escort for some merchants from Ered Luin. They were...trading in silverwork for furs. We took the Greenway south... keeping the mountain to our left. And then it appeared. This huge fire moon.. lighting our path. I wish I could show you the caverns."

He sighed deeply. He looked at me then smiled.
"You better go an join in your festival. It sounds really fun." He turned and started to play with the rune stone. I turned round and started to walk up the stairs.

"Tauriel...." I glanced upwards. "Don't think that the dwarf loves you." I nodded my head.
"Of course...my lord Legolas..."

Ulaalsias POV

"Galion, you old rogue, we're running out of drink. These empty barrels should have been sent back to Esgaroth hours ago. The bargeman will be waiting for them. Say what you like about our...ill-tempered king. He has excellent taste in wine." I peaked my head around the iron gate. The drunken elves swayed around, clutching onto each other so they didn't fall over. The tall brown haired elf started to run up the stairway.

"Come, Elros, try it. I have the Dwarves...in my charge. They're locked up. Where can they go? Ha, ha." He disappeared around the corner, laughing along the way. The drunken elves soon fell asleep.

"I'll wager the sun is on the rise. Must be nearly dawn. We're never gonna reach the mountain, are we?" Dwalin shouted from beneath us.

"Not stuck in here, you're not." My uncle suddenly popped out of nowhere.

"Uncle!" He put his finger to his lips.

"What?"

"Shh! There are guards nearby" he fumbled around with the keys. He soon unlocked all of the doors.

"Follow me! I have a plan!"

A little later

"Close the doors. It'll buy us more time. This way. Come on." We tiptoed down a cold stone stairway. We turned multiple corners before we appeared in a brightly lit room filled to the ceiling with barrels of wine.

"I don't believe it. We're in the cellars. You were supposed to be leading us out, not further in!" Thorin growled at him.

"I know what I'm doing! Shh! This way! This way!" He lead us over to a stack of empty barrels, stacked than higher than the shelves themselves.

"Everyone climb into the barrels quickly!" Everyone stared blankly at him.

"Are you mad? They'll find us." Thorin mumbled at him. The sleeping guards started to move around.

"No, no. They won't, I promise you. Please, please. You must trust me." They all shook their heads at him.

"Do as he says! Now!" I whisper shouted at them. They widened their eyes at me. I climbed into one of the bottom barrels, my entire body tucked inside completely.