Chapter Nine, Visions of Evil

"Where's Ninfea?" Killi asked as he looked around the small house once he'd changed into some dry clothes, that Bard had so kindly offered them. "She's in my eldest daughter's room getting changed herself." Bard answered from his place at the stove, he was confused why this dwarf was more concerned for the elfling then all the others when it was known they had a rivalry of sorts going on but he knew it wasn't his place to question it. "You have it bad brother." Fili laughed as Kili sat down next to him. Kili glared at his brother but it only made Fili laugh more.

"Ninth don't you think you should let Ardar know what happened to you." Elrhoir chaticised, his sharp tone leaving no one any mistake that he would do so himself if she did not, which snapped Kili out of his staring contest with his brother, he snapped his head around so fast that Fili swore he heard it crack but it didn't seem to bother his brother as he stared at his One who'd just entered the room dressed in a light green coloured dress that was slightly weather worn but Ninfea didn't seem to notice nor care. "What's the matter?" Elrohir asked again as Ninfea didn't answer he looked up from his food to his sister who was extremely pale, her eyes glassy and her skin clammy. "Ninth?! Ninth?! What did you See?" Elladan asked worriedly this time as Arwen helped their sister to a seat at the table opposite a dwarf with an axe head imbedded in his forehead, which was the only available seat left at the long dark oak table.

"Shhh! Let her sit before you question her?" Arwen snapped at her older brothers as she led their sister to the chair. "What did you See?" Legolas asked this time.

"He's back. He's returned." Was all Ninfea said her voice distant as she was still caught up in the vision.

"Who's back?" Dori asked confused.

"The Dark Lord Sauron," Ninfea said causing everyone who knew of him to freeze for they'd heard the tales of what he'd done. "He's brought back the Nine and Azog. He's the reason why the Greenwood has decayed, he's also in legion with Smaug. Gandalf... Gandalf has walked into a trap..."

Everyone started arguing amongst themselves after hearing what Ninfea had told them but it was surprisingly Bilbo that got everyone to shut up. "Go on Ninth. What's happened to Gandalf."

"Radaghast took him to Dol Ghul Dor he was attacked by Azog but he escaped from him then he was attacked by a dwarf whom was under a spell, I do not know his name..."

"What happened to him?" Bofur asked ignoring the glares he got from her brothers and sister and the stuck up Prince who'd locked them up.

"He was killed by Sauron when he cornered him and Gandalf, he has now been transformed into an Orc..." Ninfea trailed off and her eyes blinked rapidly as she came out of the vision.

She looked at her siblings and best friend worriedly and they instantly knew there was more. "What is it?" Elladan asked worriedly as this was the first time Ninfea had had a vision as things were happening as well as what was to happen. "We must worn Ada! He's going there along with Radaghast, Saruman and the Lady Galadriel to rescue Gandalf but Saruman will fall to the Dark Side, he will join Sauron, not now but he will. Gandalf is almost dead Sauron is draining his life." Ninfea said before she sent her Stag Patronus to warn her Ada of what she'd seen and also about what happened to her when she saw her siblings stern looks.

"How did you know all that?" Bard asked his voice a mix of suspicion and wonder, breaking the silence that hung around the small house. "I, Ninfea and our father have the gift of foresight like our grandmother Lady Galadriel. But my gift is rather small compared to theirs." Arwen answered as she wrapped her arms around Ninfea's shoulders drawing her sister into her side to offer what comfort she could. "Are you alright Ninth?" Bilbo asked his brow crinkled into a worried frown as he placed his hand on her arm. Ninfea tried to smile at him but it came out more like a grimace than anything, "I'll be fine Bilbo." Ninfea said softly as she closed her eyes and drifted off her head still on Arwen's shoulder.

Kili who had been watching Ninfea closely since she'd came out of the vision started to panic. "What's happened? What's wrong with her?" He asked rapidly ignoring his uncle who told him to stop. Arwen looked up at the dwarf and smiled softly at him it was plain to see that he cared a lot about Ninfea and if Adar, Solemn and Lunam approved then she did as well. "Nothing. She is simply exhausted she's never had this many visions in one day and it has drained her along with using her magic it has left her over exhausted." She answered kindly.

"Is the Dark Lord really back?" Tilda asked softly not looking away from the young elf whom had shown her some magic. "Tilda," Bard said as he kneeled down in front of his youngest placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "He will not hurt you sweetheart I promise you. Your safe." Bard swore placing though he really didn't believe it himself he would do his all to keep his three children, the centre of his world, his very purpose for living safe at all costs. "Why should we believe what is elfling says. She might be stirring up trouble for all we know!" Dwalin growled.

"How can you say that! Ninfea has done nothing but help us! She has risked being banished to help us!" Kíli roared causing Ninfea to twitch in her sleep. "No, Kíli. Dwalin is right..." Thorin started but was cut off by Bilbo. "No, Thorin. You're wrong. You know nothing about Ninfea and yet you continue to berate her. You judge all Elves on what Thranduil did so many years ago, if you knew what she'd been through you would not treat her this way." Bilbo said disappointedly.

"What has she been through then? You keep saying it, yet when we ask you say nothing." Dwalin said smugly thinking he'd called Bilbo's bluff. "Go ahead Bilbo, you can tell them. They need to know especially my sisters One." Arwen said softly as she stroked her sisters red locks. "What! Our baby sister does not have a One! She is too young!" Elladan and Elrhoir exclaimed outraged.

"Will you be quiet!" Arwen hissed as Ninfea stirred once again. "She needs her rest." Elladan and Elrohir had the decency to look ashamed as their little sister twitched in Arwen's arms. It was the first time they could get a proper look at her and what they saw made them ashamed they had not noticed sooner.

She had black circles under her eyes and her complexion was pale and her sunken in cheeks gave her a gaunt look. They could tell with that one look that she had not slept or eaten properly, if at all for a few days at least. "When was the last time she ate or got a goodnight sleep?" Legolas asked concerned.

"That," Elladan sighed. "We only saw her today and I doubt Adar would have let her leave if he saw her like this..." he trailed off as a completive look appeared on his face. "You think she used her magic to cover up how she really looked?" Elrhoir asked having came to the same conclusion. Elladan nodded his head grimly, he didn't like to think that she did it, again but the proof was staring them in the face.

"I think so. It would explain why we've just noticed considering we only healed her an hour ago and she has done this before." He told them he wondered what had happened to make their sister resort into hiding herself behind her magic again. "What do you mean she's done this before?" Kíli asked bringing all four Elves out of their thoughts. "What we mean Kíli is that when Ninfea first came to this world, she was so depressed that everyone feared she would take her own life. She'd just won a war in her world and seen the last of her family killed before her eyes, many of her friends and others were also killed and she's just found out that some those that she considered family had used her." Arwen explained softly never ceasing in running her hands through Ninfea's hair.

"I know that I didn't help matters and I regret that now," Arwen sighed as she placed a kiss to Ninfea's forehead. "For a long time Ninfea hid in her room, she only spoke when she was spoken to and she hid her appearance behind her magic so no one could see that she wasn't coping. It took us a very long time to earn her trust and even though I treated her terribly she still trusts me for which I will be eternally grateful for. After a while she began to trust us and open up to us more, though in her eyes you can still see the dullness and severe hurt she's been through.

It was when she wanted to explore that Adar brought her to Mirkwood to see Elladan, Elrhoir and I and Solis and Lunam took her to the Shire where she met Bilbo and they helped each other get over the grief they were suffering for they have both seen the destruction of war." Arwen said smiling gratefully at Bilbo for no words in any tongue could express her gratitude she felt towards the Hobbit for bringing her sister out of her shell.

"We need to leave." Thorin said loudly to his Company he frowned when he saw the Elfling that had helped them escape was curled up on the sofa with Kíli both of them laughing at the other had said. "Your not going anywhere!" Bard said firmly stopping the dwarves in their tracks, 'Well all but one.' Bard thought with an inward smile.

"What did you say?" Dwalin growled fiercely.

"The Master has spies watching this house and probably every doc and wharf in the town you will wait till night fall." With that Bard left the house after telling Bain to not let them leave.

"We are not waiting till nightfall, were leaning now if we're to make it to the mountain in time." Thorin said as he gathered up his things which sent the other dwarves into a flurry of activity as they rushed around collecting their belongings. "Kíli, come!" Thorin called when he saw his youngest nephew hadn't moved from his place beside the elf. "Kíli!" Thorin shouted, "Come we're leaving!" He left the house knowing that his nephew would follow as he'd never disobeyed a direct order before.