As the group left Mirkwood forest, Hitomi felt a heavy sense that something just wasn't right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. They were halfway outside of the forest when suddenly, her mount's ears flicked back. This was never a good sign and reining the mare in, Hitomi strained to hear what it was that had alerted her mount when suddenly, a black arrow slammed into Kili's thigh and rearing, Blackstar screamed in fury as several dozen orcs swarmed on to the trail. Meanwhile, back in the palace, Thranduil looked up as a guard raced into view and managed to gasp out that the dwarves and Hitomi were now in danger and getting up, he followed the guards that were now racing to go and save the small group.
Meanwhile, Hitomi fought to keep control over her mount, while battling to remain atop her back as it seemed the orcs were also hell bent on ripping her from her mount's back as well as trying to kill each dwarf. Suddenly, Blackstar reared, and with no warning, she leaped forward onto her front hooves and kicked out hard with her hinds, sending several orcs flying, as her rider, quickly realized they'd been sneaking up on them. Meanwhile Thorin jumped into several barrels that were bobbing in the water, soon followed by the others, when suddenly a warg slammed into both horse and rider and crashing into the icy waters, Hitomi gasped as sheer cold sank into her almost instantly before she battled to keep her head above water as she watched Blackstar tread water. Thranduil meanwhile soon appeared and watched in horror as Hitomi continued to struggle before she vanished from view around a bend. Seeing to the disposal of the remaining orcs, he sent a silent prayer to the Valor to keep her safe.
Hours later, Hitomi weakly pulled herself aboard the small barge along with her horse and the dwarves. The male, aptly named Bard soon covered her shivering form with his coat, before steering the barge on towards Laketown, where once near a guard check, ended up bickering with one of the Master of the City's servant Alfrid. "Look!" Yelled Hitomi clearly annoyed now. "I am frozen, have traveled from Rivendell and Mirkwood to come here. Either you let us through, or, I can simply chop ya damn head off." She muttered as Alfrid considered his options before waving them on. Minutes later, Hitomi slowly looked around the town and shivered as the boards below her creaked under her mount's weight as Bard lead them towards his home. "She can stay underneath the balcony. It's warmer there and she'll dry off faster." He stated as Hitomi nodded. It was several days later, when she rode her mount along the boards as Smaug went on a burning rampage. The dwarves had long since captured their mountain stronghold home, but in doing so, they had pissed the massive fire drake off, who had then turned his angry sights onto Laketown. Racing to get away, Hitomi winced as some of the flames licked over her back, causing a serious burn, before they reached land, and turning her mount about, she watched as Bard brought the dragon down, before she turned her mount about and headed towards Dale with the other remaining villagers who had survived the firestorm.
Moving through the vast city, Hitomi shivered as she lead her mount towards what remained of the stables, and curling up in a pile of dry hay, she tugged her cloak tighter about herself, having tended to Blackstar, who was now also blanketed. As night fell however, the temperature continued to drop and shivering more, she curled into a tighter ball. It was late the next morning when a voice slowly woke her. "My lord! We found her!" Whimpering, she blinked slowly then tensed when she spied Thranduil inches before her. "What? How did you? Why are you here?" She mumbled as he looked down to her as his guards lead Blackstar down towards a large and much warmer tent. Laying Hitomi down on the large cot, Thranduil, quickly moved as a healer gently lifted the back of her singed shirt to revel the raw flesh below. "This needs treating my lord." Stated the healer as Thranduil nodded. Hours later and after a somewhat hostile meeting with Thorin, Thranduil watched as Hitomi tossed and turned, her body racked with fever.
As the day went on, he continued to ponder his options. Thorin had declared war, yet now, he, himself was torn with wanting to get back what rightfully belonged to him, or remaining with Hitomi until she healed, to which he knew could take days or even months. Sighing, he sat down in his chair, but looked up when a guard entered and stepping aside, watched as Gandalf stepped inside the tent. "What brings you here Gandalf?" Asked Thranduil as Gandalf sighed before explaining about the vast army he had seen and sighing he looked up as Hitomi began to try and stir. Getting up, Thranduil moved slowly to her side and smiled when she looked about, her eyes though, were filled with fever and pain as she mumbled softly "D...d...don't go to war with Thorin. His mind...has been..clouded...by a fever...dragon fever...I heard a few calling it...he's...not himself..." Closing her eyes, she shivered hard as she nuzzled his hand as Thranduil rested it near her. Looking to Gandalf, he watched as the wizard left the tent and lowering his head, he sighed heavily, watching as she opened her eyes again. "I..want to...go home..." She whimpered as faint tears showed in her eyes. "But I can't...I'm dead there...I was..killed in a riding accident...I can't return...and I hold no home ties here. I still have no idea why I'm here...or what my purpose for being here truly is." Lifting a hand, he gently silenced her. "You will return with me to Mirkwood. I will hear no argument on it either." Stated Thranduil as Hitomi slowly nodded.
Suddenly, horns sounded, soon followed by shrill screams and tensing at hearing her mount's sudden whinny, Hitomi looked about before slowly getting up. "What are you doing?!" Hissed Thraundil as she looked to him. "Those orcs will not care...if I am injured and recovering...they will attack...and they will either kill me slowly...or torture me...either way, I'd prefer to fight." She replied as she mounted up onto her mare's back and turning her about, rode out to meet the coming storm.
