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[personal profile] mirkyking posting in [community profile] b2mem
B2MeM Prompt, Card and Number: "Mirkwood the Great" - G48: Spider
Format: Double Drabble
Genre: Drama
Rating: General
Warnings: Choose Not to Warn
Characters: Thranduil
Parings: None
Summary: Hints of dark days come on silken threads.

The arrow hissed through the air, finding its mark with a satisfying “THUNK!” Even more satisfying was the dying gibbering of the spider.

Thranduil watched it twitch and struggle, impaled to the bole of the oak tree it had dropped from. As it wheezed, Thranduil drew his blade, swiftly cutting a stray strand of web drifting from the tree, not wanting it to touch him. He strode up to the spider, stabbing straight thru the clicking mandibles, ending its life. Nothing, not even this foul creature, should suffer a drawn out death. Thranduil grimaced at the putrid smell when he pulled his sword free.

While cleaning his blade, Thranduil cast worried eyes about the forest. He listened to the woods, hearing only the return of birdsong and other normal sounds. He glanced up at the oak. A single web was spun in the branches. Looking at the neighboring trees, found them were free of webs. Thranduil frowned. No spiders had been reported by the Guards, either to himself or his father, King Oropher.

Thranduil studied the spider. No larger than a dog; which was in of itself frightening; even more terrify was the possibility of it being a descendant of Ungoliant. Surely it had to be an oddity of nature. Except...it had almost seemed like the creature was speaking as it died.

Troublesome.

Thranduil slipped the sword into its sheath and yanked the arrow from the spider. Making sure it was still in good shape, cleaned it and returned it to the quiver on his back. With his bow secured he moved swiftly through the forest, heading back to the caverns. Thranduil sighed, the king would need to know. One more concern for his father, on an ever growing mountain of them. One more distraction he did not need. War was in the wind and Oropher, along with Thranduil, would ride out to face it.

The Greenwood was fine, Thranduil told himself. It would be safe from the perils of the world. He felt a twinge of unease. He paused and looked back, his passing already swallowed by the darkening woods. He shivered and hurried on into the gathering night…

Date: 2019-03-02 01:34 am (UTC)
erulissedances: US and Ukrainian Flags (B2MeM 2019)
From: [personal profile] erulissedances
This is wonderful. So evocative for both the spider as well as a younger, less troubled Thranduil.

- Erulisse (one L)

Date: 2019-03-02 01:37 am (UTC)
mybluerose: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mybluerose
heh evil foreshadowing, a cannonThranduil and giant spiders! what's not to love?

Date: 2019-03-02 01:41 am (UTC)
kayleearafinwiel: (Default)
From: [personal profile] kayleearafinwiel
*shudders* Chilling! But it's so good to see younger Thranduil here, without the burdens he will have as King weighing him down yet. It was very brave of him to kill that spider! Sadly it won't be the last...

Date: 2019-03-02 01:55 am (UTC)
starspray: Vingilot sailing (Default)
From: [personal profile] starspray
How very evocative! It's wonderful foreshadowing of what's to come, and I like this look at a younger Thranduil.

Date: 2019-03-02 02:59 am (UTC)
elwendell: (Default)
From: [personal profile] elwendell
I love his thought that even the spider should not suffer. That was a nice touch. And, of course, the foreshadowing was perfect.

Date: 2019-03-02 06:07 am (UTC)
baileyboybee: (Default)
From: [personal profile] baileyboybee
Great story! Nice foreshadowing.

Date: 2019-03-11 02:39 pm (UTC)
elleth: (Writing: Other Echoes)
From: [personal profile] elleth
Oooh, evocative, and I like your Thranduil acting to prevent needless suffering, even if it's a giant spider's.

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