Elves and Dwarves (part 2)

Mirkwood

Previosuly

He removed his hand from his pocket.

"Good. Well, that's good. You'll need it."

Gandalf turned and began walking towards his horse; he spoke as he passed Thorin.

"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me." Gandalf said

Gandalf stopped and looked hard at Thorin as he said this, then he continued towards his horse.

"This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."

"Lead us astray? What does that mean?" Bilbo asked Dwalin

Gandalf got on his horse. It began raining lightly, even though the sun was out.

"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again." Gandalf ordered

Gandalf wheeled his horse and rode away.

"No matter what may come, stay on the path!" He called as he rode away

Thorin and the Company turned towards the forest.

"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day." Thorin said

"Durin's Day. Let's go!" Dwalin said

  "This is our one chance to find the hidden door." Thorin said

The Company entered Mirkwood. They were following the paved path that started at the Elven Gate. Thorin was leading. At one point, the path turned a corner.

"The path goes this way." Thorin said

As the dwarves and Bilbo kept following the path through the forest, it twisted and turned over all sorts of terrain such as bare ground, high ledges, fallen tree trunks, and more. Dwalin thumped the handle of his hammer on the ground to find the paving stones of the trail.

"This way."

They continued walking.

"Air. I need air." Bofur said

"My head, it's spinning." Pin complained

The dwarves suddenly ran into each other as Nori, in front, stopped abruptly.

"What's happening?" Oin asked

"Keep moving. Nori, why have we stopped?" Thorin asked

"The path...it's disappeared!" Nori exclaimed

"What's going on?" Dwalin asked

"We've lost the path!" Oin yelled

They were standing in front of a steep cliff, and there was no path ahead of them.

"Find it. All of you look. Look for the path!" Thorin yelled

Meanwhile, the path was not far away from them, but on the other side of the cliff. They had unknowingly left it some time ago.

The Company wandered through the forest. The forest was beginning to affect them mentally, and they staggered about. Draco was curled up in Bilbo's arms as she attempted to escape the forest's sickening feeling.

"I don't remember this place before. None of it's familiar." Balin said

"It's got to be here." Dori said

"What hour is it?" Thorin aaked
"I do not know. I don't even know what day it is." Dwalin said

"Is there no end to this accursed place?" Thorin asked