Emerge the Dragonborn | The Hobbit

Chapter 6 - Arachnophobia

Anaynah, 22 years of age,
Rivendell

    Anaynah had stood at the edge of Rivendell. The moonlight cast a haunting glow upon the Elven structures as if foretelling the impending doom that awaited her. Her heart was filled with conflict and torment, burdened by the weight of her destiny and the ominous prophecy that loomed over her soul.

    As she gazed behind her at the place she had called home now for over a decade, a sense of guilt and despair washed over her. The shadows danced in the corners, whispering sinister secrets that sent shivers down her spine. The chilling wind carried the voices of unseen forces, urging her to embrace the path of darkness, voices that had never before tormented her.

    Slowly, Anaynah turned her back on Rivendell, breaking the bind that had once brought her comfort. A solitary tear ran down her cheek. Each step she took felt heavy, her body aching, her heart in pain. The moonlight, once a gentle companion, now served as a cruel reminder of the desolate journey that lay ahead.

    With every passing moment, Rivendell faded in the distance, its light diminishing as she ventured further. Anaynah's will became tainted, her purpose mired in the realization that her fate was intertwined with the forces of darkness.
    She did not fully comprehend the weight of this prophecy. She did not find it fair.

    Why me?

    If she was destined for evil, was there any point to even try be good?

    Anaynah couldn't help but feel a tug at her heart. She paused, her conflicted emotions written on her face as she wanted a final glance at the sanctuary she was leaving behind. The memories flooded her mind, both good and bad, and for a moment, she wavered.

    But then, with a resolute expression, Anaynah shook off her doubts. She knew that she had to stay true to her path, no matter how difficult or uncertain it might be. She took a deep breath, her gaze lingering on Rivendell for a moment longer, before finally turning her back on it and walking away.

    From that moment on, Anaynah embarked on a new chapter, a path shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. She left Rivendell behind, forever closing the door on what had once been her sanctuary. With every step forward, she would try to run away from her destiny, forging ahead into the unknown.

    If the world was only going to view her as a beast to bring their demise, what point is there to try be anything else...

Present Day,
Mirkwood

    As Anaynah's eyes fluttered open, confusion pricked her at the sensation of her eyelashes caught against the cobweb that ensnared her. Breathing in the air of Mirkwood through a little gap in the web provided little respite, still stuffy and glum.

    Finally she began to become conscious or her surroundings, fully aware she had been put to sleep and wrapped in what was still an unknown substance. She attempted to shift her arms, but her clothing only strained against the sticky substance, adding to her frustration.     That is when she realised she was suspended in the air, upside down. Blood rushed to her head, causing a pounding headache from her inverted position. Frantically she looked around, her vision limited, trying to make sense of what the dark figures were.

    Her eyes went wide when she heard the quick scurrying of the shapes around her. They were moving away from her and towards the other cocoons.

    Blood drained from Anaynah's face, despite the fact she was upside down.

    Spiders.

    Giant Spiders.

    They had captured the Company, readying them for their next meal. Anaynah tried to steady her breath.