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You almost tripped when your foot caught on a root, but you managed to catch yourself before you fell into the moss and pine needle-covered ground.
"I thought elves had more grace than that." Kili's teasing voice sounded from behind you, and you gave him a look over your shoulder.
"I am only half-elven, as you well know, Kili." You remarked sharply, but a smile was playing on your lips the whole time. You corrected the position of your bow and quiver on your shoulder as they had slipped down with your stumble. You didn't like this forest one bit, it was far too glum and the air was far too heavy for your liking. You missed the fresh smell of the forest of Lothlorien, the light and color that the Mallorn trees gave to the forest.
Bilbo climbed a tree to get a better idea of which way your group was supposed to go, but the moment he had disappeared between the branches, you were ambushed. The largest spiders you had ever seen surrounded your small group, attacking you out of the cover of the dark forest. Everyone drew their weapons, trying to fend off the spiders, but it became increasingly obvious that you were outnumbered.
You cried out in pain and suprise when your legs were suddenly pulled from under you. The impact knocked the air out of you, and the dwarves were too engrossed in their own fights that they didn't notice that you were in trouble. A spider had gotten a hold of your calf and was now trying to haul you towards the darkness of your forest. You were disoriented from the spider dragging you along the forest floor, and the air was just starting to return to your lungs. You tried your best to find purchase on the forest ground, your fingers digging deep, but all you got was a handful of pine needles and dead leaves. As a last resort, you pulled your dagger out of your boot, and swung it blindly, hoping to hit any part of the spider and make it let go of you. Your plan worked, and the spider dropped you, making you hit the ground with a thud.
You twirled the knife in your hand, ready to deliver the killing blow, but someone beat you to it. An arrow was embedded in the spider's head before you could react. You were about to yell out your thanks to Kili but realized that the arrow was not one of his. It was elven. The forces of Mirkwood worked fast magic of the spiders before they turned their attention to the company. The dwarves lifted their weapons, ready to fight, but it was soon made clear that they didn't stand a chance as there were at least a dozen arrows pointed in their direction. They would be dead before they would get one swing in.
You didn't bother reaching for your weapons and instead tried brushing most of the dirt off your clothing. You had met King Thranduil briefly before, you had delivered some documents to Lady Galadriel in a meeting he was present in. He wasn't the most welcoming presence, and you were nervous as you would probably be brought in front of him. The elves started collecting the weapons of your traveling companions, seemingly saving you for last as they probably saw you as the smallest threat. You didn't know whether to be insulted or grateful so you just decided to stand still and quiet. The dwarves were being tied up when someone finally came to you.
He was an ellon with long, blonde hair, and he extended his hand for your weapons. You handed him the dagger from your boot, as well as the daggers you carried on your hips before carefully removing our archery equipment from your back.
"I have never had the pleasure of meeting you before. Where are you from?" Legolas gave you a smile as you handed him your bow and quiver, and he inspected them with interest.
"I grew up in Lothlorien. I'm Y/N." You introduced yourself, offering him your hand. You knew he was your captor and that you should hate him, but curiosity won. You had met only a few elves from outside of Lothlorien, and you were enthusiastic to know more. The ellon was also devastatingly handsome, but that was beside the point.
"Y/N of Lothlorien. I am Legolas." To your great suprise, the elf didn't shake your hand like you thought he would. Instead, he grasped it gently with his and pressed a kiss on your knuckles. You blushed deep red, the color creeping up all the way to your ears. You desperately tried to mask it by brushing your hair over them, but Legolas wasn't buying it. He had the audacity to wink at you, and you blushed even deeper red, if possible, and tried to avoid the eyes of the dwarves the best you could.
The remainder of the journey towards the Mirkwood kingdom was similar. The elves allowed you to walk without restraints, noting that you were in no condition to run away due to the spider bite on your calf. You tried to keep the rising pain that was emitting from the spot hidden, but the pain was starting to show in your eyes in small winces as the way to the kingdom seemed to go on forever. You noticed Legolas throwing you worried glances over his shoulder, but you convinced yourself that he was just making sure you weren't thinking about running away, nothing else.
The dwarves had noticed the looks the elf was throwing in your direction, and they were not pleased. They were not ill-mannered in any way, but they still unnerved them, as they had no idea what the elf wanted of you. Maybe they thought that you would give them information easier than anyone else in the company.
- - - -
With you as their spokesperson, the company had managed, by some miracle, to convince Thranduil that they were there not to attack and that they were simply lost. It was mostly achieved with your tact and Balin kicking Thorin into his shins every time he was about to say something insulting. The company were given small rooms to rest in before they were to set off the next day. You, being the only woman, got your own room, and the dwarves didn't miss the numerous visits the blonde elf, who they knew to be the prince of Mirkwood, made to your room.
The dwarves were invited to lunch and they accepted, although hesitantly. But the promise of food, something other than dry bread and the occasional berries was too tempting, and here they were, sitting among the people of Mirkwood, eating to their heart's content. You had been seated at a different table with other elves, the blonde you had been talking to before next to you. The dwarves noticed the two of you watching each other from the corners of your eyes, cheeks dusting red every time you got caught.
Some of the elves managed to persuade you to dance with them, and you were now being twirled around by all the dancers, laughing with everyone else. Your cheeks were glowing red from the movement, but you showed no sign of stopping as the song gathered more speed. The dwarves kept their eye on you as they ate, surprised by this side of you. On their journey, you had been quiet and kept to yourself, but here, in the middle of your people, you seemed to blossom.
- -
"Thorin?" The said dwarf turned as he heard his name being called, and he was surprised to see you standing behind him, fiddling with your fingers.
"Could I have a word?" You glanced at the other dwarves.
"In private?" You asked, and Thorin was about to agree, but Dwalin beat him to it.
"If you 'ave something to say, lass, you can say it 'ere, in front of all of us." You stood still for a moment, clearly pondering before you spoke again.
"I want to stay here." Your words caused an uproar at the table.
"Quiet!" Thorin's barked order silenced them in moments, and he turned to you, his brow drawn into a frown. He wanted to hear what you had to say.
"I want to stay here. Legolas and I... We- We are-" You sighed, closing your eyes before you began again.
"L-Legolas asked me to stay, and I agreed, but only if you give your permission. I know I signed the contract, but..." You trailed off, your eyes flitting to Legolas, and Thorin could see the look that was passed between the two of you. Love.
"I will think on it, lass." That was all he said before he rose from the table and retreated to the bedrooms, the rest of the dwarves following his example.
The moment the dwarves reached their rooms and the door closed behind them, everyone started speaking at the same time.
"We cannot just leave her here!" Gloin muttered, not wanting to admit it but he, like the rest of the company, had grown quite attached to you while traveling.
"But if she wants to stay there is nothing we can do to force her!"
"We must decide this matter at once!"
"She signed the contract!"
"The contract is binding, she'll have to help us!"
"Aye, she signed it, she'll have to join us!" Agreements rose from the group of dwarves, and Thorin sighed. The contract was binding, and you had signed it. He would be in his right to demand you to join them.
But as Thorin remembered you interacting with the elf, he had to admit defeat. Your smile had been evident on your entire being, your eyes had shone so warmly as you had laughed at something the elf had said, your soft laughter ringing through the air. Forcing you to leave would have been cruel when it was so clear that you were head over heels in love and happy beyond words. He remembered the look you had had in your eyes when you had told him that you would come with them if he so insisted. There had been hope that he would let you stay, but buried underneath it, was fear and pain. Pain that he would make you leave.
Thorin made his decision in the blink of an eye and tossed the contract into the fire. Dwalin and Dori, who had spoken most loudly against your leaving, let out shouts.
"Thorin, what are you doing?" Dwalin asked, horrified, watching as the contract slowly turned into a piece of ash, the fire eating the dry parchment up the second it reached it.
"Making my decision." The rightful king answered simply, and Balin gave an approving nod behind his brother's back.
"You chose right, Thorin."
"Did I?" The leader questioned his most trusted advisor, who tapped him on his shoulder.
"You did, laddie. She would have been a great asset to us and I know she would have done everything in her power to help us but it was clear that her heart would have been here. She would have come with us, but not out of loyalty, like in the beginning, but bound by a contract." Balin finished, and Thorin nodded numbly, staring at what remained of your contract, solemnly hoping that he had made the right choice.
"And we have now made the first steps towards mending the pond with Mirkwood. When we reclaim Erebor, that will be a benefactor for both kingdoms."
You were there to bid them farewell the following morning with a warm smile on your lips. You waved enthusiastically and wished them safe travels, but the moment they turned towards the path, you turned towards your new lover, kissing him deeply. Legolas' hand was wound around your waist tightly he held you to his chest.