The truth in the lies

"They'll come from the east" Fraya supposed, looking over at the lonely mountain. "Should we meet them on their way?"

Shayla thought about this while she too looked over at the lonely mountain. "Yes, That'll probably be wise." Shayla decided, knowing it would be best if her father knew the entire truth about their coming before they reached said mountain.

"Do you think it'll be best to go through Laketown or east, missing the lake entirely?" Shayla asked as she looked at the small town in the distance.

Fraya thought about this looking towards the east, "If we go east around the lake and then go north towards the mountain we should reached the king's company within two days, possibly three but unlikely, then their company would be about a day from the lonely mountain." Fraya paused thinking, "If we go through Laketown it may hinder our journey and it would be harder to reach your father, with so many eyes on the mountain."

"Ai, We should travel east then." Fraya nodded and the two began their journey towards the east.

Xxxxx

When Legolas had awoken beside the river, he found Tauriel collecting arrows and seeing to the injured. Other Mirkwood Warriors were doing the same, no sign of Thorin and his company. Or the two Shayven elves. Legolas sighed, remembering how carless he was to be almost killed by an orc.

Slowly he sat up.

"She said you were even now" Tauriel said coming up beside him and helping the prince up.

"Huhh?" he replied, wringing out his cloak that was still damp.

"The Shayven, She said that you saved her life and she yours and now you were even." Tauriel said watching with amusement Legolas getting the water from his cloak.

"I see" Legolas replied, not really listening to Tauriel, thinking of the strange day that had occurred.

That had happened last night and now Legolas stood in front of his father with an orc that they had found alive lying dead at his feet. Legolas wasn't too happy that his father had killed the orc, convinced that he could have gotten more information. However he just left the throne room in search for Tauriel.

When he reached the gates the guards had told him that Tauriel had left with her weapons. Sighing, the prince walked across the bridge, but was stopped halfway by a hand on his shoulder.

Legolas turned to see Norui, his older brother and crown prince of Mirkwood grinning at him.

"Heard you took a little swim" Norui smirked at him

"Yes, Quite refreshing" Legolas replied evenly, ignoring his brothers antics, but smiling slightly never the less.

"Going after the Shayven?" Norui asked eyeing his brother's weapons suspiciously.

"Nay, Tauriel"

Norui nodded slightly

"I don't see reason to follow them, they were no threat and one saved my life." Legolas said calmly coming to their defence for reasons he did not know.

"Ai" Said Norui lightly, "Don't let father hear that."

They were silent for a few seconds before Legolas said, "I should be going." He gripped his brother's arm, silently asking through his eyes that Norui would cover for him.

Norui nodded, "Be careful"

Legolas smirked and nodded, it wasn't long before he found Tauriel.

Xxxxx

One day later….

The morning of a new day had brought the frosted grass and crisp morning air. The day had progressed quietly without any odd or unwelcome encounters; the two companions had made very good time. Now With the moon shinning in the afternoon sky Shayla and Fraya had stopped on the top of a rather large hill flat, looking down at Laketown as they rested, it would not be long until they reached the Kings Company.

"They shouldn't be far." Fraya said as the two stood up and turned away from Laketown.

"It won't be long until we reach some scouts" Shayla agreed.

As they walked across the top of the hill, a loud sound of drumming reached the pairs ears, slowly growing louder.

"It sounds like…. Birds?" Shayla thought aloud.

Just then a large flock of hundreds of birds flew above their heads, away from the lonely mountain and Laketown towards the south.

"It's as if they know something that we don't." Fraya said as the birds disappeared behind them.

As if on cue, a loud roar filled the air. Louder than any horn that Shayla had ever heard. When the beating started Shayla's first thought was another flock of birds, but the beating was in sync, it was no flock.

"Valar" Fraya breathed beside Shayla.

They had been told the stories of the beast that protected the mountain, but like all stories, it did little to compare to the true horror of the dragon heading for Laketown.

Smaug was magnificent. Even from this distance it was hard to miss the beauty of the dragon that sored through the sky. His scales twinkled in the moon light, daring the stars to outshine him. His strong wings fought the air around him and his talons sparkled like deadly razors. Even as the fire flowed from his mouth in a deadly stream, it was amazing as the clouds lit up in a dancing blaze of red and orange.

"How can something so awfully horrific, hold so much beauty" Shayla whispered unconsciously.

Fraya just shook her head, after a moment she spoke. "Eru help the poor humans of Laketown"

"Do you think we should offer aid" Shayla asked quietly

"I don't know if we can do anything for them that they can't provide for themselves." She paused, "We could help an evacuation?"

Shayla nodded her head, thinking the same thing. They started down the hill to Laketown.

Shayla knew that they could not destroy the dragon, but could offer their aid in other ways.

Halfway down the hill Fraya spoke "Shay" Fraya said next to her taking Shayla out of her thought, "Shay, look"

Above the town of Laketown the dragon flew high into the air and let out ear piercing thunder of pain. Smaug then turn in the air and nose-dived down to the buildings of Laketown. But he never pulled up. Shayla watched in open amazement as the dragon hit the water with a loud boom, but didn't get up again.

"I'll be dammed, they killed it" Fraya stated in surprize, "I must admit, I thought it would take longer."

Shayla didn't even think it would be possible to kill the beast. The two stood there for a long time before deciding it would be best to continue on their journey to the Shayven warriors.

"Do you suppose this means the dwarfs succeeded or failed?" Fraya asked evenly as they walked back up the hill.

Shayla didn't reply

Xxxxx

The kings company stopped when an ear-splitting roar filed the air before silence returned again. At the front of the company standing next to Prince Finwe a warrior spoke "The bloody hell was that?" Rayson said bluntly.

Finwe looked over a Rayson. Rayson was a strange elf, never really thinking before he spoke, Often he told the truth when the lies would be preferred. He was like the class clown, but more like Shyarvan's clown. Rayson was always playing pranks on the people around him and telling silly jokes, or making hilarious impressions of other elves. He had been a friend of Shayla and Fraya sense they were young and Finwe had found that he hung around the young Warriors company quite often of lately and had become friends.

Most nobles tried hard to avoid him. Often when Rayson did something wrong or stole a piece of pie from the kitchen he would use the prince's title as an excuse saying, 'Our poor prince is ravished' or 'how would I explain that you denied the prince a tiny piece of pie to the king.' Finwe didn't mind as the elf often shared his stolen prize with the crown prince. Rayson also happened to be courting Fraya, and had been for quite a while, to the surprise of most that knew him.

"Smaug" The king said looking towards the clouds of smoke in the distance. "Rayson scout to our east, Minsoal the west." The two warriors nodded and left the group. "Forward" He commanded to the group. 'What haven't you told us, Shayla' the king thought as they walked on.

Xxxxx

Shayla and Fraya had been walking well into the night and were sure they were almost with the kings company.

"Surly we are almost there?" Fraya asked in the faint moonlight

"If Finwe's leading them, they could be in the shire by now." Shayla replied with a smirk.

Fraya was about to reply when a rustle in the bushes caught their attention. The two stopped. Fraya drew her sword and Shayla noticed an arrow.

"You are surrounded, drop your weapons." Someone called out; the voice was muffled as though there was a cloth around the person face. Easterlings.

"You come out first." Shayla replied.

"You have three seconds" the voice replied coolly.

By the time two seconds had passed, the two hadn't moved. The voice shouted out "Attack!"

Shayla and Fraya braced themselves for an attack, but none came. Instead to their surprise a laugh broke out in the air Shayla looked at Fraya who looked equally baffled. Then the bushes moved again and a tall figure emerged into the moonlight, still laughing.

Fraya and Shayla lowered their weapons, both equally annoyed.

"You should have seen the look on your face." Rayson said through laughs

"We could have killed you!" Fraya shouted annoyed.

Rayson snorted, "I doubt it, had you though, it would've been worth it."

Rayson walked over and embraced Fraya, kissing her on the cheek. He then went over to Shayla and bowed a very deep mocking bow, "My Princess." He said sarcastically.

"Ai, a lonely peasant." Shayla said equally insultingly, but then broke into a smile and locked arms with Rayson, who pulled her into an embrace.

"Orph"

"We are not far from the rest of the company." Rayson stated, "Shall we."

The two she-elves followed Rayson back to the Shayven warriors.

Xxxx

An hour later found the trio in the Periphery of the Shayven camp. They weaved their way towards the kings direction, nearby warriors nodded slightly in respect to the young princess, which she returned. From the corner of her eye, Shayla saw Fraya looking cautiously at her.

"We'll leave you to it" Fraya said steering a confused Rayson away, whom looked like he was about to say something thoughtless.

When facing her father, Shayla would have liked her friend beside her, but she knew Fraya's reason's as she couldn't very well speak against the king should things take a turn for the worse.

Shayla was more than relieved to find her brother before her father, coming towards her with one of those contagious smiles on his face.

"Sister" he greeted, when they untangled from their embrace. "Good to see you are well." He said in his silky voice, that so many were envious of him for. It was the type of voice that when he sung, even the birds stopped to listen.

"And you brother. How are things?"

"Ai, they are good, the kingdom is well, Orcs have been at bay during the western territory of late. Father is as stressed as usual, Awray is…" he paused then, which made Shayla's smile vanish. "She has her days." Is all he said quietly.

Ever since the passing of her brother and mother Awray had never quite been the same. Some days it was almost like talking to the old Awray again, but others she was incomplete, often lashing out at elves for little reason.

Brightening the crown prince smiled. "But what of you sister, have you learnt anything extra of the orc sudden shortage?"

Shayla had wanted to tell her brother more of the truth before she had to face her father, knowing he would see reason. "Actually brother there's somethin-"

"Shayla!" a voice called in calm greeting behind her.

Turning Shayla replied "father" and gave a small bow.

The kings imperial dark hair and stone face with sharp grey eyes identical to Finwe's and Arway. stared back at Shayla's own golden-green ones. Few elves were left around them, and those that were soon left, knowing the family would want to talk in privet for a while. This was precisely what Shayla had been trying to avoid, she hadn't put much thought into how she was going to break the news.

In the silence Shayla realised her father had asked her something.

When Shayla said nothing Finwe talked "Shay was just telling me about what more she knew of the orc plans."

If Shayla had not been thinking so hard of how to word her thoughts, she would have glared at her brother. She tried desperately to order the thoughts in her head, and how to say the news gently. Shayla opened her mouth, intending to start off at getting taking prisoner by Mirkwood, but soon closed her mouth again, knowing if anything, this news would only make things worse.

"Shayla?" Shayla was broken from her musing when her brother spoke.

Sighing Shayla decided the best course of action was to say it all in one big breath. "Gandalf had a message for me to deliver to a group of Dwarfs, we helped them, they helped us. There was a hobbit as well. They wanted to reclaim the lonely mountain, why was the hobbit there? Anyway they requested" Shayla said emphasising the word 'They'. "assistance in a war that is sure to come, and I said we would aid them." She said the last sentence quitter.

Finwe just stood with a confused look on his face, obviously missing every word said. But the king….

"YOU WHAT!" he bellowed, making even the trees shudder. "Do you have any idea, what you may have done!?" he seethed, not giving Shayla a chance to respond he continued. "The Dwarfs want the lonely mountain? fine, I don't care, all the better for us I say, they can face the orcs it THEIR PROBLEM NOT OURS!" he yelled. "THEIR WAR!" it was his turn to emphasise the word 'their'.

"They asked for our help father. Ours! The Shyarvan's." Shayla replied, ignoring her father's rage.

"remember to whom you are addressing" the king replied tensed, making Shayla fall silent. "And just who is 'they'?"

"A member of the company, Balin, my lord" Shayla replied formally not having heard his last name.

"A company led by whom?" the king asked, seeming to have calmed from his ordeal

Shayla paused "Thorin Oakenshield, son of-"

"Thrain" her father finished with surprising calmness.

King Beren stood lost in thought for a moment before he spoke distantly "Even if we were to come they would not accept our aid, this dwarf Balin did he consult Thorin oakensheild before coming to you?" Shayla's silence was enough for Beren to continue "Nay, we will be cast away before they even realise how much our aid may be needed. We leave for home on the morrow."

"What of a treaty?" Finwe suggested before Shayla would forget of her father's titles again and having finally catching up with what was happening. "Their trade of coal in the future may be of use, this would be the perfect opportunity."

It was as though her brother had been with Shayla when she explained the exact same thing about a treaty to Fraya, if her brother believed it as well then maybe it was possible. Despite herself Shayla smiled.

"We need allies" Finwe continued, "And the dwarfs are a good place to start as any, besides they too have… mistrust with the Mirkwood elv-"

"Ai and what of Mirkwood, they are close to the lonely mountain, where are they." The king interrupted.

"The dwarfs believe Mirkwood will fight against them for the lonely mountain, something about the pure gems?" Shayla said.

"Nothing more than see through stones" the king muttered. Beren had never had any special liking to treasure, to him it was a way of payment. Though he marvelled in the beauty of some stones in the end that's all they were, stones.

The silence that followed was so long Shayla was sure the king had fallen asleep. She was certain Finwe would have broken it, had her father not gotten there first, an idea in his mind.

"We will aid the dwarfs in this battle, and in turn we will have a mutual alliance with the dwarfs of the Erebor should we win. We will fight besides the dwarfs against the orcs once again. Shayla and a small party will go and propose this idea to the Dwarfs before dawn approaches, should they accept, we will ride to the lonely mountains first thing."

Shayla and Finwe were dumbstruck to say the least. Finwe even stood there open mouthed while Shayla had opened her month ready to give more reason to help the dwarfs, but closed it again. She did this several times and looked to Finwe to see if he had heard the same as her. He too was staring at her open confusion on his face. They had not expected this to happen. Ever. Hastily they bowed.

The king said one last thing over his shoulder as he walked away from them, "What is it they say? The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend." Whether the king was talking about the orcs or Mirkwood, Shayla would never know.

A/N hope you enjoyed it. trying to add more characters to the story. the story is finally progressing yay. anywho in the next chapter... Shayla finds herself in a journey...again, more about Rayson, what are the kings true intentions?, where the hell is Mirkwood in the middle of all this? this Dwarfs, and more in the next chapter... The enemy of my enemy. thanks chow