Sorry it's been a while guys, but here it is. I'm working on the next one so hopefully it won't be very long!
xxx
The days ticked on sluggishly, each blurring into the next. Eruanna enjoyed the sights for a time, though even that small pleasure was lost when the heavens opened up and the company was soaked through once more with heavy rain.
'Must it always rain?!' Bofur yelled towards the sky, followed by several grunts of agreement and even more curses towards the uncongenial weather.
Bilbo rode beside Eruanna with his teeth chattering loudly. She knew he would be missing his warm hearth and soft, cushioned armchair most keenly at that time.
'Is my cloak helping at all?' she asked sympathetically.
'Y-yes, th-thank you,' he chattered back.
'You're going to be freezing,' a voice she recognised as Fili's, said from behind them.
'I'll manage,' she sent a soft smile over her shoulder.
'You'll find a way to warm her up, I'm sure brother,' she heard Kili's voice, then the sound of something solid hitting chainmail and Kili coughing loudly.
As if on cue, Bofur broke the uncomfortable silence with a loud whistle. Several of the others turned around, but not the ones closest to the front. He grinned at them and began to sing loudly.
'Under the stars I found a lass,
Her hair twas' fair as gold,
But curse my luck and burn my beard,
She thought my face too old...'
The song continued in the same strange manner, but after a time even she knew some of the words well enough to sing along with the others. This burst of morale brought them through the storm and out into clear skies by mid afternoon, by which time, Eruanna had laughed and sung with most of the dwarves, even getting a laugh out of Dwalin, which she counted as a great accomplishment.
When the sun began to sink in the sky, Thorin called them all to stop and they made camp on an outcrop overlooking the valley below.
They made camp and Bilbo went out with Eruanna to look for more firewood. As they were coming back, Eruanna noticed how jumpy the Hobbit was and she slowed her pace so he could walk a little ahead of her.
'Are you alright, Bilbo?' she asked gently.
'Yes, I'm fine,' the Hobbit insisted. 'I'm just a little cold'.
As they stepped back out of the trees to rejoin the others, a horrifying screech rang out down in the valley below.
'What was that?!' Bilbo squeaked.
'Orcs,' Kili whispered in a serious voice. 'Throat-cutters. They'—
'That's enough,' Eruanna cut him off before he could continue. 'Do not terrorise him for your own amusement'.
Kili hung his head. 'Forgive me, I didn't mean'—
'Kili, hold your tongue. You know nothing of the world,' Thorin growled in disgust from the other side of the camp and paced over to the edge of the outcrop. The prince was silent and Balin was quick to fill the silence.
Eruanna encouraged Bilbo over to the others to listen to Balin, while she slipped back into the trees to get more wood. The poor Hobbit had endured enough for one night.
Once she could no longer see the light of camp through the thick trees, Eruanna slowed to a leisurely walk, picking up pieces of wood when she saw them and adding them to her growing collection.
While the walk alone was refreshing, she couldn't help but agonise over what Balin had told her a few days ago. There was no doubt in her mind that the stranger that helped the dwarves was her sister, but knowing that the likelihood of her surviving capture was slim, Eruanna had to consider the possibility that she could be...
'No,' she hissed to herself and whirled around, startling an approaching deer and causing the wood in her arms to cascade down onto the forest floor.
Using a nearby tree for support, she slowly slid down its rough bark to sit on the ground. A feeling of hopelessness overcame her and she buried her face in her hands. Tears came quickly and she wept silently into the cool night air.
Movement close-by snapped her back to the present and she scrambled to her feet, just as a figure emerged from the dense trees and into the small clearing.
'Eruanna?' a soft voice entreated and Eruanna let out a small sigh of relief.
'Fili,' she gravitated towards him as her stepped closer. 'What are you doing out here?'
She heard him chuckle. 'I couldn't just leave you alone out here, could I? You're... one of us now'.
She smiled at him in the darkness, even though he could not see her properly. He seemed to sense her smile and raised his hand into the open air between them. Without much hesitation, she took the offered hand and he slowly pulled her over to him.
'Are you alright?' he whispered.
'Not completely,' she admitted. 'In fact, I'm rather lost'.
'Anything I can help with?'
The softness in his voice made her heart flutter and she felt a rush of happiness at his offer. Every fibre of her being sang at the caring nature of the young prince.
'Perhaps we should get back,' she responded quietly. 'They will not know where we are'.
'They'll live,' Fili muttered, but took her arm to lead her back. 'Will you at least tell me what has upset you? If it was Kili, I have spoken to him, but he was only making a joke and'—
'It's not that,' Eruanna said quickly. 'I'm just worried about my sister. She has been missing for a very long time. Who is to say she is even alive?'
Fili paused for a moment before he spoke and she looked down to see if she could make out what he was thinking.
'I know there's no real way of explaining it,' he began slowly, 'but Kili and I...well I know when he's in trouble. Like one time when we were little, he was outside and I wasn't and I just got this feeling like I had to check on him. When I found him, he'd managed to trip and cut himself with his own sword. Very embarrassing for him, I know, but every time I see that scar on his arm I'm reminded of the connection I have with him'.
'Are you trying to tell me that I'm connected to my sister?' Eruanna asked thoughtfully.
Fili shrugged. 'Maybe, maybe not. I just feel like you'd know if she were...you know'.
Eruanna nodded. 'Thank you. I understand what you mean and it is strangely comforting. I would know if she were gone'.
'I'm glad I could make you feel better,' he murmured, sliding his hand smoothly down her arm to squeeze her hand in his.
This simple action left Eruanna feeling a little dizzy and she smiled privately as they cleared the last few trees. He then released her hand and it suddenly felt cold where his larger one had been.
'Gloin, take the first watch,' Thorin barked and everyone started to move to their bedrolls.
Eruanna lay down between the two princes once more and when she opened her eyes, they met a pair of soft blue ones watching her. The increasingly familiar fluttering in her stomach returned and she smiled gently at the dwarf.
Xxx
The next day went quickly, and with the rain far behind them, it seemed that they would finally be able to make up for some lost time. Bearing this in mind, Thorin kept them walking until the sun had almost disappeared completely.
He and Gandalf walked on ahead to an old house, which appeared to have suffered some kind of attack. They spoke in heated voices, but Eruanna tried not to listen.
It wasn't until Gandalf came storming over that Eruanna looked up from helping the others unload supplies.
'Would you care to join me?' Gandalf gestured to their horses.
'Where are you going?' asked Bilbo.
Gandalf turned to him with an angry sigh. 'Since it seems that Eruanna and I are the only ones with any sense around here, we've earned ourselves a break from dwarves!'
Eruanna looked around apologetically at the others for a moment, unsure of what to do.
'Go with him, lass,' Bofur jerked his head in Gandalf's direction. 'Sounds like he could use some good company to calm him down'.
Eruanna nodded shakily and quickly joined Gandalf at the horses.
'Where are we going?' she whispered to the wizard.
'Not so far,' he replied lowly. 'But far enough away that we may have some peace'.
Eruanna smiled a little at that and quickly mounted her horse, following the wizard up and over the next rise. Before she crested it, she looked back. The dwarves had all started to get ready, but she could see two of them watching. One was Fili, watching her with an intensity that she was quickly becoming accustomed to, and the other was Thorin, with his icy blue eyes staring daggers at their backs. Surely he would have assumed she would go with Gandalf? He probably thought she could not wait to get away from the dwarves.
Once they were about a mile away, Gandalf dismounted his horse and gave her a hand down from hers.
'I still don't understand what's going on,' she confessed as they settled down on one of the flatter rocks.
'Well, I've had enough of dwarves for the day and I wanted to check on you. Since your conversation with Balin, you seem most ill-at-ease,' the wizard surveyed her with a thoughtful frown.
Eruanna stared at him. 'How did you'—
'Caves are not the most private of places, my dear, and I am afraid that I am not always a sound sleeper'.
Eruanna blushed at the memory of what she'd all-but-confessed to Balin that night.
'Did you know about my sister?' Eruanna asked, deciding to steer the conversation away from that particular subject.
'Yes, I knew Aranel was in the battle,' Gandalf nodded.
'Then why didn't you tell me?' Eruanna demanded, though she did not sound as intimidating as she wished to.
'Because I assumed you'd already know,' Gandalf shrugged. 'Your sister made it her mission in life to protect the dwarves, particularly Thorin'.
'She never told me that,' Eruanna frowned.
'Why else do you think she left?'
'She told me that she needed to help the dwarves and that I would understand one day,' Eruanna said slowly.
'And do you...?'
'Do I what?' she asked innocently.
Gandalf chuckled. 'How would you feel if Fili needed your help?'
Eruanna's cheeks flushed brightly once more and she angrily tried to stamp down the fluttering sensation that invaded her stomach.
'Exactly,' Gandalf smiled knowingly and the two lapsed into silence as the sun disappeared completely from view, leaving only pink-streaked clouds across the darkening sky.
'Thorin,' Eruanna whispered in amazement.
Gandalf chuckled again as he took a draw from his pipe, causing him to cough. 'I know it doesn't sound exactly characteristic of your sister, but I can assure you of its truth'.
'When did they...when did she...?'
'Thorin knows nothing of your sister's feelings,' Gandalf quickly assured her. 'She first met him, as I understand, when travelling through the city of Dale on an errand from the king. It was no grand meeting and I doubt Thorin even remembers it at all, but Aranel did'.
'When did she tell you of this?'
Gandalf frowned thoughtfully. 'It must have been before the Battle of Azanulbizar. Yes, we met on the road one day when I was travelling to Imladris. She was surprisingly forthcoming since I was a stranger and you and I both know her to be of few words'.
'So why has she not been with him these years in the Blue Mountains? If what you say of her feelings is true, then why is she not here?'
Gandalf shook his head. 'I suppose she knew the dwarves would find a peaceful dwelling in the mountains, but I must confess that even I cannot account for her absence'.
Fear gripped Eruanna's heart. 'You do not think...?'
'No child, I do not,' Gandalf shook his head. 'I have met elves five times her age with less determination and ferocity of spirit. No, she is out there. We must be patient'.
'But how can I find her?'
'I believe that is exactly what you are doing,' Gandalf replied cryptically just as several loud yells echoed through the evening air. The wizard huffed and got to his feet quickly. 'Oh, for a moment's peace!'
xxx
So that's the next bit. Please let me know if you like it. I know that some might think that the feelings between Eruanna and Fili may be rushed, but I don't really see a problem with things developing quickly. I like to think that Eruanna is innocent enough to not really understand what she's going through. Elves seem to have such guarded and stern natures that I just think that love would be such a strange feeling when it comes to them. Especially since Eruanna is so young. Anyway, drop me a review and I'll get working on finishing the next chapter. It's getting there!