Do not own any one you know, although I truly wished I did. (= Hope there aren't to many mistakes. I did learn last night that my time line is possibly off. I will do my best to keep it right, but I can't make any promises. Thank you for all the reviews. Makes writing this so much easier to know that people are interested in it.


Gandalf told the tale to Beorn as the dwarves started to arrive. Beorn kept looking over at Finley with a knowing look. She would turn away from his stare every time. Finally after Bombur arrived did Beorn realize what Gandalf had done. He laughed and told them that he would give them shelter and food for as long as they needed. He now had a newfound respect for the dwarves because they killed the Goblin king. Finley also enjoyed that part of the story. She did not realize what all they had been through so far all to reclaim their home.

Finley walked out to the porch and sat in one of the large wooden chairs. She heard the door open and looked over to see Beorn sit down beside her.

"Dwarves?"

"Gandalf." she simply stated.

"You told me the story about why you left your family, do you plan on helping them the rest of the way?"

"No."

"Finley, it would only be fitting."

"Beorn."

"You left your family because they would not support those dwarves. You finally have your chance to stand up for your believes by helping them reclaim their home."

"Thorin will never allow it."

"Then give him no choice." Finley looked over at Beorn, her brows knitting together. "Tell him that you are going no matter what. That you know the way through Mirkwood better than any of them."

"They are going through Mirkwood? I can not help them. I swore to never go back there."

"Unless your father finally realized the error of his ways. You can show him."

"I could not show him then, I can not show him now." she sighed.

"Fin, you have a spark inside you that needs to be ignited."

Finley turned her head. Her eyes could make out the beginning of the Mirkwood forest. She wasn't the rebellious elfling she use to be. She settled to live a life in the wilderness far away from any other person. When she left her home, her plan was to find where the dwarves had headed and help them, now she knew Thorin hated elves and would never of let her help them.

"That spark died a long time ago."

"You are still young, why shut out everything that you stand for? Why not fight along with them like you planned to all those years ago? Why not prove that you are nothing like your father, that you are willing to risk you life to help them reclaim their home? You always said you dreamed of adventure when you were younger, why not live it now?" Beorn said standing up.

"He will never allow it."

"Follow them anyways." he smiled. His lively brown eyes met light gray emotionless eyes. For the first time since he met the young elf, he saw a hint of hope in her eyes.

Finley nodded then stood up as well. "I will." Beorn clapped her on the shoulder with a laugh then turned towards the door.

"Dinner will be served soon."

Finley nodded then turned to look out towards the setting sun. "I plan to tell them not to venture outside at night, I hope you take the same warning."

"I am always safe around your kin Beorn. I have no reason to cross them. Why would it be any different now?"

She couldn't see that Beorn nodded, but she did hear the door close behind him when he entered the house. Her sensitive ears heard him talking to the dogs about gathering food for dinner, and telling the ponies to bring the dishes so some of the dogs could set the table. Her eyes focused back on the pink and purple sky shutting out the idle chatter from inside the house.

She thought about the chance of seeing her father when going through Mirkwood, her once safe home. Now it was taken over by darkness that seemed to be relentless, destroying the happy forest. Her thoughts strayed to something Beorn said to her a few minutes ago. Why not prove you are nothing like your father, that you are willing to risk your life to help them reclaim their home? Was she really willing to risk her life? Was helping a race that hated hers really possibly losing her life? Did she even really care if she died or not? She always said that a part of her died all those years ago. She questioned every day what she truly had left to live for. Now she finally did, and she would die fighting to help a race that her family let down all those years ago.

When Finley finally left her thoughts she realized the sun was almost fully set and the sky was much darker than it had been when her conversation ended with Beorn. Finley turned and opened the door walking inside. She saw the dwarves sitting around the table drinking ale and smoking their pipes. Gandalf was sitting off to the side in a large arm-chair, his face hidden by a smoke screen from his pipe. Bilbo was casually resting on a bed roll looking almost a sleep. Then she saw Throin sitting in a far corner staring at what looked like a map.

"Ah, Finley I was wonder when you would grace us with your presence." Balin said from across the room. Everyone turned to look at her. Finley just stared at the older dwarf. He had a soft smile on his face.

"I lost track of time."

"We tried to save you dinner," Dori started.

"We did. I set a plate away in the kitchen for her." Bofur interrupted him. Finley nodded then walked to the kitchen. She saw her plate sitting on the counter. With more food then she could eat, but she figured if she had anything left that the dwarves would help her finish it.

"Thank you Bofur." Finley said sitting in the now open space at the table. She ate her fill than kindly pushed her plate towards Bombur, who gladly accepted it with a large smile.

"Finley, do you miss your home?" Ori asked.

"Some times. You never stop missing your home, even if it was your choice to leave it."

"Do you plan on ever returning?" Bofur asked. Finley nodded.

"When?" Balin asked.

"Sooner than I thought." she caught Gandalf look at her with a smile on his face. He some how must have known of her plan to join them.

Finley sat and listened to the dwarves talk, some telling tales of Erebor, other telling more light-hearted stories. She eventually excused herself and walked to the other end of the house and sat in a secluded corner with her knees pulled to her chest. She rested her head on her knee and listened as the dwarves started to move to their bed rolls. Soon the only noise she heard were the snores of the men. Her eyes scanned the dark and she saw Thorin had fallen sleep in the same spot he was sitting in when she walked in. Gandalf was still sitting in the chair, she could tell he was not asleep. His eyes quickly looked over in her direction. He stood and walked towards her.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Do I truly have a choice in that?" she asked. Gandalf chuckled and sat down beside her.

"You plan on joining the company?" Finley sighed and nodded.

"Yes. Helping them do what my people failed to all those years ago."

"So a part of you that still is fascinated by the dwarves?"

"No, but a part of me still tells do what is right. To fix the wrong done to the line of Durin."

"That is a selfless act Finley. You know that they are going to travel through Mirkwood."

"I know. I also know you plan on leaving them. I heard you mention it earlier. They need some one to lead them through the forest. Some one to protect them from the darkness that now inhabit the once great Greenwood land. Some one with nothing to lose. One who only cares about how their quest ends, not about their life."

"You seem to be looking at this as a suicide mission."

"That is what it is, is it not? They are planning on facing a dragon. They must know that not all of them will live to tell the tale. That not all of them will be able to say they walked the lively halls of Erebor. That some of them will die in the process of fighting Smaug. Some of them must know that this truly is a suicide mission. It is a great honor for me that I will be able to fight alongside of them, maybe to protect the ones what where meant to die, maybe give my life so one does not have to. To help change the fate of the few that are brave enough to face this quest without a second thought."

"That is very honorable for you Finley." Gandalf said with a sad smile.

"It is late. I plan on leaving early tomorrow to meet them at the gate of the forest. Offering to lead them down the dark path they must go."

Gandalf nodded then stood up walking towards his own bed roll. She slowly closed her eyes letting sleep over take her. In the morning she woke to find that most of the dwarves were still sleeping. She stood walked toward the table where the animals had already set up breakfast. Finley grabbed a sweet roll off on of the plates and walked towards the door. She looked out to the porch to see Balin, Bofur, Dori, and Oin sitting out there.

She grabbed her cloak from beside the door, she strapped on her bow and quiver, then grabbed her pack from the floor. Once she was ready to go she headed out the door. All eyes looked up at her.

"Ye leaving?" Bofur asked.

"Yes."

"Why?" Balin asked.

"I have other matters to attend too."

"It is early. Why not stay for breakfast? You have spent far too much time out and about by yourself." Dori said.

"I cannot do that. I must be leaving." she said walking closer to the edge of the porch.

"It was a great pleasure to see you again Finley." Balin said standing up. Finley turned towards him and dropped down to one knee in front of him.

"Master Balin, this is not good bye." she whispered softly once he was standing directly in front of him. He gave her a questioning look. "There is only one way I can offer you my services, and it is to give your leader no choice in the matter." She stood back up and walked down the steps to the grass.

"Thank you for yer help Finley." Bofur said with a smile. She almost wanted to return his infectious smile, but forced herself not to.

"It was an honor Bofur." she said with a wave. She started the walk out of Beorn's property towards her home.

Once she reached her little tent she started packing up supplies that she would need. She grabbed her sword and attached it around her waist. After filling up a couple of water skins and packing all the food she could, she let out a loud whistle. Within a few minutes she heard the sound of hooves running towards her. Out of the trees came a beautiful black and white mare. The horse soon came to a stop in front of her.

"Eruanna." she said patting her nose. "I need your help for a short time." the horse rubbed her nose against her face. "I need to get to the Greenwood." the horse whinnied.

Finley smiled softly then moved to grab the saddle and bridle. She place both on her horse softly. Once all was in place Finley mounted her horse and they started off towards the dark woods.


Reviews are welcome