Luin had no idea how long they had been wandering. The canopy of the trees blocked out the sky and loomed like a heavy weight over their small group. It was unknown wether it had been hours or days. The atmosphere of the place crept upon them until they were drowning under it's oppressiveness. Luin could feel the darkness pricking on his spiritual energy. The soft blue glow which he emitted from his body to serve as a guide for the dwarves behind him, was growing dimmer. He could sense it flickering as he struggled to glow brighter.
"I need air", someone groaned. "Air". There were grumbles of shared sentiments as the dwarves stumbled forwards. They were listless, almost sleepy and drunk. Luin watched with concern. It was the air, he realised. The air was drugged to confuse just like Gandalf said. Although, Luin did wonder why it was not affecting him.
"Oh No", Bilbo breathed as they came to a stop at the bridge. The stone bridge was destroyed. Crumbled away into the black waters of the river. Luin looked at it in disappointment. He glanced down at the black waters, then at the forest around them.
"I'll go and check if there is another crossing", he said to Thorin. The dwarf nodded lazily and Luin sighed. "You stay here!" He instructed them sternly. The dwarves all nodded at him like toddlers. "Wait for me to come back". They all nodded again and watched cheerily as Luin backed away. Kili and Fili waved slowly after him.
Luin sighed again as he looked around at the dark twisting trees. He flew nimbly up on to a branch and began running through the canopy. The trees twisted freakishly around each other, black trunks and sharp twigs. The branches offered a stable pathway through the air, despite their unnatural looking shapes, and Luin danced across them like a spirit. Keeping to the river, he made his way both upstream and down stream, searching for a way across. Having no luck, he returned to the path where he had left the dwarves.
"Damn", Luin cursed when he arrived back at the bridge and realised that they were not there. The path free and empty. He should not have left them alone. The forest was playing tricks on their minds. Who knows where they were now.
Groaning in frustration, Luin closed his eyes and concentrated on the energy of his Qi. Energy spread out around him in waves, searching the forest for the familiar life forms of dwarves. It pulsed through the forest in unseen echoes until something sparked and pulsed back. Luin found what he had been looking for. The company was about two miles away to his right. Relieved that he had not lost them, Luin flew back up into the branches and began running through the trees towards them.
The first spider lunged up at Luin from below just as he was jumping to another branch, pincers aiming for his legs. It's huge black body burst from the gloom under him with scary suddenness. Luin flipped over the beast, slicing down with one of his swords as he landed. The spider screeched and fell from the tree, dead. Luin did not pause. He just kept running towards the dwarves. The second spider came scuttling from the left and Luin was forced to slide under the beast and slice it open as he passed. Once he was up on his feet he was moving again.
"Thorin!" Luin called as he spotted the dwarves through the branches. They were assembled in a circle, facing the spiders with their swords raised. "What did I tell you about staying on the path?" He shouted as jumped from above. The spider that had just about to get Ori from behind crumbled as Luin drove his sword through it's head.
"Luin!" Ori said joyfully as he spotted the blue wizard. "You're here!"
Luin grunted a reply as he sliced the head off of another spider. Black blood coated his swords as the corpse dropped to the forest floor. The dwarves had been split up by the fight. Some were in the branches with Luin, while others fought on the ground. They were lagging while more and more spiders emerged from the forest.
"Regroup to Thorin!" Luin yelled as he slashed with both his swords. The dwarves listened to him and this time and immediately began falling back to form a circle around Thorin. The circle a naturally protective measure to defend their king. Luin dropped down and landed next to them. He spun his swords with a flick of his wrists and raised them threateningly at the spiders.
The wiz of an arrow made him pause. Above them, a spider screeched as a arrow embedded itself in its skull. A figure of green and blonde darted through the branches and Luin froze. There was a man. A elf with blonde hair so pale it was almost white. He was dressed in green and Luin faltered, stepping back reflexively as the Elf took the spiders the pieces like they were nothing. It was the figure from his dreams. That ever escaping figure just out of reach.
Luin hastily pulled up his hood as the elves dropped from the canopy. They raised their bows at the dwarves. Although it was a only a small squad, probably a scouting troop, they outnumbered the company. The blonde elf landed in front of Luin and Thorin. His arrow pointed at Thorin's head. Luin nervously pulled his hood down further over his face, hiding his features in shadow. The elves of Mirkwood were isolated. If they were hostile to dwarves, a species they knew and were familiar with, Luin doubted they would react positively to him. It was best if he kept his face hidden for a while.
"Do not think I will it kill you dwarf", the blonde elf stated. Thorin raised his chin defiantly and stared at him right in the eyes. It was obvious that this blonde elf was someone high up. He was probably the commander of the group, his armour unlike the rest of the elven party. There was slightly more decoration to his weapons, not very noticeable but enough to raise him above his men. Luin watched him from under the shadow of his hood. "It would be my pleasure", the elf smiled coldly.
"You would die before your stroke fell", Luin warned as he raised his sword to point at the blonde elf's neck. The blonde Elf turned to face Luin, as if noticing him for the first time.
"Blue wizard", he muttered in Elvish as he took in the colour of Luin's robes and the decoration of his swords. "Lower your hood", he commanded. Luin did not move.
"Your hood!" One of the elf soldiers echoed his leader's command. He lowered his bow and grabbed Luin by the shoulder. Instantly, all the dwarves swords were pointed at him in defence of Luin.
"Lay a hand on our wizard and die", Fili snarled as he pointed his spider blood coated blade at the elf's chest. The loyalty warmed Luin's chest and he smiled, expression hidden.
"Leave it", the blonde elf commanded, not wanting the trouble. The soldier reluctantly dropped his hold on Luin's shoulder. Luin glared at the brown haired soldier and smoothed out the rumple in his cloak.
A scream made them all look up. "Kili!" Fili called. Luin hastily looked over the company. Both Kili and Bilbo were missing. How could he have missed it? Fili surged forwards but was stopped by the blade of one of the elf soldiers. Reluctantly, he stepped back into the circle.
There was a flash of red hair as a female Elf bounded into the trees. After a few anxious minutes, she returned and dropped a unharmed Kili into the circle. She smiled proudly at the blonde elf, who nodded at her in return. "Search them", he commanded as he lowered his bow.
The soldiers obeyed. They pushed the dwarves around, taking their weapons and belongings. The blonde elf came forwards and pushed Luin away from the dwarves. Luin stumbled back as he was crowded away from his companions. "Your weapons", he instructed. Luin did not move, glaring at him from below his hood. The blonde elf sighed in frustration. "I hold respect towards the wizards", he hissed in elvish low enough for only Luin to hear. "But if you do not give me your weapons then I will take them by force".
The threat was honest. Luin reluctantly unbuckled his belts and held out his sheathed swords. The blonde elf took them and hooked the belts over his shoulder with his bow. He gestured to Luin's case and Luin gripped the strap defensively.
"This is a musical instrument", he said in elvish. "It is of no harm". The blonde elf did not back down. His blue eyes stared at Luin's hood stubbornly. "Fine. But do not let it out of your sight. It is one of a kind", Luin warned as he took the case off of his back. The blonde elf gently tied the case around his shoulders before taking Luin by the arm and leading him roughly back to the group. His long fingers neatly encircled Luin's forearm in a way which Luin couldn't help but notice. The elf let go and Luin stepped closer to his friends.
"Are the spiders gone?" The blonde Male asked the female. The redhead who saved Kili, tossed her hair and glanced at the dark woods.
"Yes but more will come. They are growing bolder", she replied. Her eyes alighted on Luin and she eyed him curiously. "Who is he?"
"One of the wizards", the blonde male stated.
"Will you remove his hood?" The female asked. She stepped closer to Luin as if to do just so. Luin held up a hand and a flame sparked in his palm. His stare daring her to get closer. He didn't need his swords to defend himself.
"He is a wizard", the blonde male chuckled as the female stepped back in surprise. "We will treat him with respect and take him to my father". Luin blinked. So the blonde was Thranduil's son, the prince. He had heard of him, what was his name again?
"Lord Legolas", one of the soldiers called. He held up Thorin's sword, Orcist, for the prince to see. Legolas took it and examined the blade.
"This blade was made by my forefathers. Where did you get this?" He snarled at Thorin, demeanour suddenly angry.
"It was given to me", Thorin growled back. Legolas pointed the blade at Thorin's throat threateningly.
"So not just a thief", Legolas spat. "But a liar as well. Take them in!"
AN: Oof angsty meeting. Legolas has not seen Luin's face. What do you think his reaction will be when he does?