Esgaroth, Third Age, 2941
"Do we need to do this?" Bain said. He scratched his head while contemplating about other choices.
"Do you want us to starve to death or what?" Sigrid asked. She lengthened her steps without waiting for her brother.
Bain shook his head. They were slowing down by the heat. Bain removed his scarf and swept his face.
Tilda also grew hot. She loosed her collar and pulled the hem of her skirt up to her knees. Her skin turned flush.
"Do what father said." Sigrid grabbed his shoulders and squeezed. "Pull yourself together."
Bain looked away, and Tilda nodded, wiping the tear with her thumb. She dragged her feet while Bain poked along.
Sigrid swung a wooden rod to clear the field ahead. Their sheep hopped past the glade before them. Here, there was plenty grass for sheep. Sigrid could leave them in the meadow for a couple of hours during the fish hunting in the forest. Father had told her to slaughter their sheep. Sigrid didn't do that, not because she loved them, but because they gave milk. Tilda's still very young and she needed milk. Every time her favorite drink was run out, she screamed unstoppable and that's the only thing Sigrid wanted now, a grumpy kid crying for milk. For the love of the child, let the sheep live, Sigrid thought.
"The decision must be made," Bain said.
"Yes." She'd told Bain on that morning. "Kill them now and we have nothing left. We can slaughter them later if we like, but let it be the last option."
"But how we're going to survive. There's nothing to eat," Bain asked, staring back with his blackened eyes.
"We stick together," Sigrid replied.
"No, I'll go to Gondor. There might have some works over there."
"And what are you going to do there? You're too young. You'll end up being a beggar on the street. Stay with me. Wait for father to return," Sigrid said.
"Father? Three months without a letter? Maybe he's dead. Who knows? There's nothing left here. I'll work as a stable boy or a shoe shiner somewhere. I'll send back some money. And that's how we're going to survive. Be rational, sis."
"I am rational. Don't you dare question about my sanity! Keep your chin up," she said, "and everything will be better."
"How do you know that?" Bain asked. He kept his eyes on his feet.
"Have faith."
"In what? In Eru? Where was him when mother died?"
"No, in us." Sigrid pulled her brother in her arms and hug him tightly. "I can't let you go there alone. All right? We will make it through. Together we will withstand. I promise."
Finally, Bain gave up and followed Sigrid's decision. They would go to Mirkwood, hunt some fish and sell them. Sounds like a good plan, Bain thought. But by then he started to realize it would be an impossible task to accomplish.
Tilda cried out again while stepping on a thorny bush.
Bain squatted down to rub his sister's feet. They were swollen. "Can we take a short break? It's too far. By the time we reach the river, we'd be too tired to catch anything," Bain said. He neither wanted to go further. He crouched down like a frightened cat next to his little sister.
Sigrid turned her back to them. "We have no time. Be strong, brother. Just keep moving."
Tear filled Tilda's eyes again and Bain yanked her up. Tilda shook her head and sat on her heels. He, too, sat down.
"It's getting dark soon," Bain said, "and we're not going to make it to the headwaters on time—"
"Then we have nothing to eat today," Sigrid said.
"Look, even we can, the water source is shallow and there are only small fish like darters live. It's a waste of time hunting for tiny fish." Bain explained.
"If there's no fish at the river mouth, don't you think it's logical to go upstream? There might be other places that have plenty of fish."
"Yes, but we can't wander randomly in the forest. And what about the money father gave you?"
"I don't know how long we have to live on our own," Sigrid said, "so we have to be very cautious what we spend."
"We can borrow some money. I'll work hard to pay back our debts later. There must be some jobs at the dock and—" Bain suggested.
"No, we are the bloodline of the Lords of Dale. We do not beg." Sigrid raised her voice. She clenched her teeth with anger.
"Swallow your pride. You drag us here for what? To get killed by wolf or bear? There's an easier way out but not like this. I don't want to die in the middle of nowhere. OK? Think hard, Sigrid. It's not embarrassed to ask for help."
Sigrid turned livid. "We do not beg," she said again.
Bain dropped his head. He rubbed a bead of sweats on his forehead with the sleeve. "If anything happens to us. It's on you, all right?"
"All right. I'll take the full responsibility from now on." Sigrid offered him her hand, but Bain refused to accept her reconciliation. He turned away.
"How can you be so sure? You don't even know where we're going,"
"For God's sake! We can go on like this forever. Just shut up, both of you, and follow me." Sigrid screamed at the top of her voice.
Tilda bit her fingers before bursting out crying. It's too much to bear for a little girl. She was forced to walk for four hours without anything to eat. And now her siblings were fighting like cat and dog.
"Stop crying!" Sigrid turned to Tilda. Bain still looked away. For the first time in many years, he felt hopeless. They worked hard for food this summer, but there's barely anything left in the lake.
Three months ago their father had come back with an empty boat, disappointing and gloomy. "The worst time in twenty years. No fish, nothing," Bard said, "and don't mention about the harvest from the fields. I'll go to Gondor. There are some works over there." Famine, the greatest enemy, had robbed everything from the people of the Lake-town, even their exhausting souls. And now, it stole away his beloved father. Where is he anyway? Bain thought.
"We won't give up. Not like this." Sigrid's voice was broken. She could feel warm tears falling. "Stand up. Stand up now. Both of you. Don't you ever—," she said. Sigrid dropped herself to the ground and buried her face on her knees. She trembled.
"Please, don't cry. I'm so sorry. I'll do anything. Please, please, stop crying. You're killing me," Bain said.
"Don't you ever—give up—" Sigrid finished her sentence while letting her tear fall down. It's a catharsis for her.
"Let's go. I'll complain no more," Bain said, "Look at me. Would you please at least look at me?"
Sigrid stood up. "Yes, you're right. Let's go. We should get going."
The sky was crystal clear. The warm light gleamed behind the fortress of pine trees. The only sound Sigrid could hear was tree rustling for mercy from the sun. They were slowly burned. A horrific death, Sigrid thought. The sheep bleated, too, for compassion. Sigrid also wanted to go back to their cottage since the heat was unbearable. She took off her cloak and thought about her plan. They were half way to the river source. Even reaching there by noon, they might not be able to get back on time the cargo ships boarded at the harbor. Dried fish, that's all they needed. She would sell them in a few days. Eat some and sell some. That would be enough for a week. And then what? She thought. She could trap some small animals, birds, frogs, or even rats. At least they would manage to survive this harsh time. Bard would soon collect some money and come to pick them up to Gondor. Sigrid calculated the chance. They must buy some more salt this afternoon as well. Father had left some coins before leaving. They must be hurried. Otherwise, the market would soon be closed and all the fish would be rotten the next morning without salt. Catching fish in the forest would take forever but she must do everything she could.
"What about the Elves?" suddenly Tilda asked.
Bain glanced at Sigrid and covered Tilda's mouth with his palm. He wouldn't dare to speak the word himself. Coming home with empty hands is not the only thing he fears the most. An old tale said there were gray fairies in the wood, but he had never seen one. He heard they had abducted, tortured and killed children. What a vile myth. Hopefully, they would come home safely.
"Don't speak of the devils. It's a bad omen," he whispered into Tilda's ear and she nodded.
"I'll kill them with my bare hands. Don't you worry," Sigrid said. She swung a dagger swiftly in the air. "Father taught me to fight so I'll protect you two from the wicked Elves."
Bain took the dagger and put it back into the sheath. "Don't be too cocky. They can slice up your throat in a split second." He gave her a black look. "Grandma said there's a dungeon for a brash kid like you. It lies deep under the king's throne hall. There, they cut you open while you're alive and—"
"Stop there. Grandma's old and insane. Don't believe a word—" Sigrid said.
"She saw them! She'd told me before she died. The elves took grandpa and locked him up in the dungeo—"
"No more creepy tale, kids. Let's go." Sigrid held Tilda up on her back. "And, in fact, grandpa died in the sea."
"How do you know for sure?" Bain looked around with his watchful eyes.
"Father told me."
"Doesn't mean it's the truth."
"I don't believe in fantasy," Sigrid said.
"OK, fine. Believe whatever you want. But be careful. Don't lead us into any trouble." Bain shrugged.
"In the name of Eru, I promise." Sigrid held her right hand up.
"Sounds like a good way to lie." Bain sighed.
Sigrid waved away her hand. She grabbed Bain's collar and pushed him forward. There was a big mound blocked the path. The ground was lopsided and slippery. Sigrid, with Tilda on her back, trotted uphill.
"Come on. Hurry up." Sigrid yelled at Bain while he slowly climbed up behind them.
"I can hear you loud and clear. No need to scream," Bain said.
Sigrid stretched out her arm, trying to grab Bain's hand. But before she could reach him, she tripped over her legs.
Tilda knocked her head on Sigrid's shoulder. Bain took her in his arms in time while Sigrid rolled down the hill like a ball into a muddy swamp. Bain exhaled.
"I'm all right," Sigrid crawled like a worm. She finger-combed her unkempt hair quickly and rubbed her dirty face with the gray patchwork skirt.
Bain bowed down while Sigrid dragged herself up. Tilda, followed Bain, curtsied.
"What are you doing?" Sigrid tilted her head to the sideways.
"I'm paying homage to the Queen of trolls." Bain mocked at her.
Sigrid smacked him on the head. "Let's move." She leaped over a log, but stumbling on the hem of her skirt and fell down again.
Bain pull her up. "It's going to be a long day." He sighed.
They hiked deeper into the forest where the sun disappeared completely behind thick willows. Sigrid clawed a spider web from the twigs. It was too dark. Bain narrowed his eyes. He couldn't see where the path ends. To his right, there was the river leading to the end of the World. And to his left there were overgrown hedges, weeds, and shrubs. Their path was steep and narrowed. The smell of dead leaves and wild flowers hung in the air. Here were no other people, not even a talking owl like in a fairytale to ask for the way out. They shouldn't have come. He could work on a fishing boat or in a tavern instead of running around like a lunatic in this haunting wood, he thought.
Tilda stopped to pick off purple saxifrage. She put it on her left ear and grinned.
"How far is it?" Bain asked, but Sigrid said nothing. He grabbed her shoulder. "Maybe we should stop here."
Sigrid looked away, thinking about the plan. "The water is rushing here."
"There might have trouts," Bain said. "Come on, let's do it. Don't wait until the nightfall."
"Shhh, give me a second to—" A Fly flitted over Sifrid's head and she raised her eyebrows. "Can you smell that?"
"What is it this time?" Bain put his hands on his waist.
"That rotten smell of flesh." She held her breath. "Over there." She pointed her finger to a pine tree on the other side of the river.
"Some dead deer, perhaps."
"Just walk behind me," Sigrid took Tilda's hand and looked back at Bain. "No, I've changed my mind. You go first."
"No, I'm a gentleman so ladies first," Bain said. He wrapped his arms around his chest.
"Damn it, Bain."
"All right, all right." Bain walked in front of his sister. "But don't fall behind, OK?"
They waded into the icy cold river while Tilda waited at the river shore.
"This is ridiculous," Bain said. "You lured me here and now we are floating in this freezing cold river. Not that I want to complain, but what exactly are we doing?"
"Blah, blah, blah. Keep talking. You're whining like a girl," said Sigrid. "It's summer, isn't it? Perfect time for swimming, don't you think?"
When they reached the other side, Bain could see something behind a bush. From the corner of his eye, he saw a naked foot, blue and pale. He stepped back. Sigrid held Bain arm as they slowly walked further.
The man laid there, lifeless, mouth opened. He stared back at Bain with empty pale eyes. His torso was cut opened. Blood still drifted from his wounds like a fountain.
"Holy shit!" Bain exclaim.
Sigrid choked while Bain stifled a chuckle. She grasped his hand and then they flew through the forest.
"You go back to the village now. Take Tilda with you," Sigrid said.
"No, we go back together."
One, two, three, four, five, arrows were shot at them. None pierced through his flesh. Bain collapsed on the muddy ground as Sigrid crouched down, hands on her head. And then one shot to her angle, she was bleeding.
"Tilda?" Bain screamed her name. No answer. Nothing, only a hiss of a warm wind. There were two men, no three, came out from behind the willows. Bain pulled his dagger, but it was too slow. Those men in dark silver armors circled them to the corner. They looked alike, long brown hair with gray, cold eyes and pointed ears. They aimed the bows at Bain so he dropped his weapon to surrender. He thought about clambered up a tree, but it's too late.
"What do you want?" Sigrid asked with a trembling voice.
"You are intruders," One of the men spoke in a stern tone.
Suddenly Sigrid heard a scream, Tilda. A woman in a green cloak grabbed Tilda's neck.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my sister!" Sigrid got up and jumped on the woman. She hit the woman repeatedly on the face.
"Run now!" Sigrid said.
Bain froze as those men pulled their bowstrings back. That's it. I'm dead.
He wrapped his arms around Tilda and closed his eyes. God be with us, he prayed.
"Enough!" Another man showed up. He jumped down from the willow as the men bowed to him. "Let them go, now."
"But your highness, the dwarves just escaped and it's the King command to clean up the forest."
"These are just kids," he said, "Can't you tell the difference between children and dwarves?"
"But we need to interrogate them. They might see something."
"I said enough. Go now," he said. "This is an unspeakable disgrace." He waved away his hand.
Bain glanced at Sigrid. "Should we run now?" he whispered. Sigrid shook her head; her angle was hurt, of course. She felt her leg stinging. "You run," Sigrid replied. Bain still didn't move while the man approached them.
The man squatted down next to Sigrid. "Be still. I mean you no harm." He pulled out the arrow from Sigrid's angle and then put a purple powder on it. "This will help ease the pain," he said. "I'm Legolas. And you are?"
Sigrid lost her words. Her mind went blank. She stared at the man intensely and bent her knees as if to jump on him. She hissed.
"I'm Bain. That's Sigrid, and that's Tilda."
"I am so sorry for all the mistake. We are looking for fugitives and my men are panic."
"Are you—an elf?" Tilda's eyes were wide open as she asked the question. She held Bain's hand tight. He tried to loosen her hand, but she squeezed it harder. Bain didn't move.
"Yes."
"So you're going to throw us into the dungeon and kill us?" Bain asked. He hauled Tilda's up with his arms.
"What?"
"I heard Elves are mean." Bain hiccupped.
"That's absurd. We don't kill innocent children," Legolas said. "But if you raise your dagger again, I might." He smirked.
"Leave my brother alone. And, by the way, I'm not a kid. I'm 16," Sigrid said.
"And I'm 2,871."
"Oh."
Legolas grinned while pulling Sigrid up. "It's just a joke."
"That's not funny," she said. "You scare the shit out of him."
"You scares the shit out of us, she means," Bain interjected immediately.
"What are you doing here anyway? You can get yourself killed very easily. Do you know that?"
"We're hungry. There's no fish in the lake so we come here to find something to eat," Sigrid replied.
"I will tell my men to prepare lembas for you. Anything else you need?" Legolas said.
"Warm milk," Tida said.
"Tilda!" Sigrid raised her voice.
"That's all right. You will get everything you need in an hour," he said and disappeared behind the thick shrubs.
On the way back to Esgaroth Sigrid still couldn't erase the corpse from her mind. They should fetch someone, an authority perhaps. Judging from his garment, the guy who lay dead there was a noble man for sure.
The path veered right as they walked back to the glade. The sheep still waited for them. Sigrid widely spread her arms and ran to chase the sheep back home. It's a long day for her. All she wanted was a good sleep.
The Elves killed him? Sigrid didn't dare to ask Legolas directly. No need to stir him up. Too many troubles today and he was kind enough to let them go. He's a charming fellow, isn't he? Sigrid thought of Legolas. Long blond hair and grey-blue eyes, icy cold but warm at the same time. She smiled to herself.
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