The Last Light

by ArchangelArrow

"What has happened to you? I remember the sweet boy who made me laugh, and gave me gifts, who loved art and music, who showed me the beauty in the world. I wanted to be just like you. How could you have fallen so far?" He said nothing. Did nothing. Just looked right on through her, as if she wasn't there. And she knew then. There was no coming back from this.

11. Chapter 9

-Fear cuts deeper than swords- George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

May 2ND Monday

The Shire Year 1340

Year 2941 T.A

Morning dawned quickly and silently in the heart of the Shire. On the borders of the Old Forest in the Eastfarthing, was a group of rag-tag misfits camping in a clearing off the side of the Great East Road. And they were the oddest bunch of people you would ever meet.

At this time of the morning, with the sun on the rise, only two in the entire camp of thirteen dwarves, a hobbit, a girl of man and a wizard, were awake.

One was Dwalin, who had taken over for the last watch of the night. He sat with his axes unsheathed having been sharpening and polishing them to keep his hands busy. When Fili had woken him, he had been more than surprised to see young Lily Baggins awake.

The entire night she had been staring into the fire, her legs curled up to her chest and her chin on her knees with Fili's coat still covering her. She hadn't moved a muscle for all those hours, and it unnerved the scarred dwarf slightly.

Now the sun was on the rise and with it the company. Dori, the eldest brother Ri, was a light sleeper and as soon as the warmth of the sun hit his face he was up and moving with ease. He stoked the fire and began to make tea, as Bombur began on breakfast.

The grey-haired dwarf just about jumped out his skin when he turned and saw what at first he thought was a spirit, but turned out to be Lilyana. Her eyes were open, and dull and unfocused as if she was lost in her thoughts, her skin was pale as a sheet, and he could see she was shivering.

Dori frowned, and looked at Dwalin, who shrugged and gruffly said "Hasnae moved from tha' spot all night." then the tattooed dwarf rose to go awaken the rest of their companions.

Feeling worry shoot through his veins, Dori quickly made up a cup of strong herbal tea and hurried over to the young lass. She didn't look up as he knelt down in front of her, didn't even so much as blink. The dwarf reached out and gently touched her shoulder, and she flinched.

"I'm sorry Lady Baggins," then he held out the tea "Here, drink this, it'll help." he placed it in her hands, and then went off to see to Ori and make sure his younger brother got his share of breakfast.

Lilyana just sat blank eyed and blank faced as the morning went on.

0o0

Warm. Her hands were warm. It was nice, a nice feeling. She had been cold for so long, how long she didn't know, all she knew what that it was nice to be warm again. There were people scurrying about all around her, busy doing this or organising that, but she found no interest in their activities.

For a short time, someone had spoken to her, but she couldn't remember the words. Words were complicated. They were so jumbled now; she couldn't seem to find the right ones to go with the right things.

"I'm scared," she inhaled sharply and quickly closed her eyes "I'm scared."

She trembled where she sat, and prayed, begged in her head to make the voice go away. That frightened little girl's voice had been speaking in her mind for hours, days, years maybe, and that voice wouldn't go away.

"I'm scared. The shadow wants to eat me."

Behind her closed eyelids was only darkness. She was afraid, she was alone.

Why was she alone?

0o0

She looked so alone. That was the thought Bilbo had when he took his first look at his niece that morning. He had been woken by one of the dwarves, and the very first thing he did was search the camp for his niece. He found her.

She was sat upright, eyes dazed as if she had taken a hard blow to the head. He felt worry suddenly at the thought, and quickly hurried over to her and reached out. Her eyes flickered and she winced away from his hand.

"Lilyana, cariad," she blinked "Tà sè ceart go leor*," she inhaled "Tà sè dom cariad, Tà sè dom*." Her stiff, tense posture relaxed and this time when he reached out for her she didn't move.

He tilted her head first one way, then another, making sure to angle her head into the light. So far he saw no sign that she had hit her head in her time in the rushing river. At least not that he could find. But he was worried over the dazed state she was in.

He knelt down and took her face between his hands gently, and looked into her eyes "Lilyana look at me," she didn't move "Dearest I need you to look at me," her eyes then flickered up to his "Dearest I need you to tell me, did you hit your head?"

She slowly reached up to touch her head, and looked very confused as she did.

"What's wrong laddie?" a voice suddenly spoke

Bilbo jumped, and turned around to find Balin standing there "Oh Master Balin you startled me," then he looked to his niece "It's just...I think my niece may have hit her head yesterday, but I'm not sure, I am no healer."

Balin hummed, then beckoned Oin over, who after being told what he was wanted for, he began to check her over "All right lass, I need to look here and follow the movement of my finger, can you do that?" she nodded and proceeded to do as she was asked.

After he ran his fingers over her head, and when he touched the left side of her temple she winced. Oin hummed and then asked her how many fingers he was holding up. She frowned, blinked and couldn't seem to get her eyes to focus.

"Seems she has a mild concussion," Bilbo could practically feel his heart stopping "Now, it is only a very mild concussion, nothing to worry about, it'll be gone by tonight at the least. The thing to do is just to keep an eye on her and she'll be fine." then the old dwarf went to pack up.

Bilbo frowned. After what happened yesterday he had been planning to share the pack pony with her, so as to keep an eye on her. But now he knew that was impossible. If she collapsed off the pony he would not be strong enough to hold her up.

He quickly made his way over to the two dwarves that his niece had become close to in the last week. He coughed and the two looked up from saddling their ponies

"What is it Master Baggins?" Fili asked. For a moment he couldn't find the words to say. Luckily Fili seemed to catch on "Do you need us to keep an eye on Lily?"

He nodded then clearing his throat said "Y-Yes, yes. She has a mild concussion and I was wondering if you boys would be kind enough to watch over her for me, seeing as we both can't ride Myrtle as she's the pack pony."

Fili smiled, and said "Of course Master Baggins, it'd be our pleasure."

Bilbo nodded, and quickly brought his niece over. Fili smiled and held out a hand to her, encouraging her to come closer, to not be afraid. She looked to him, then to Fili, and back again several times. Bilbo smiled gently "It's all right cariad."

She nodded, then reached out and took hold of Fili's hand. The golden-haired dwarf grinned and led her to Caradoc and helped her to mount up in front of him. Bilbo could only watch, and continue to watch, with trepidation and yet a small smile at the sight of a broad-shouldered heavily armed dwarf being so gentle and kind to his niece.

Still slightly smiling, he went to mount up himself.

0o0

The day passed by at an alarmingly slow pace. At least in Kili's opinion, but that was probably because there was not a single word passed between him and Fili all morning, and that had something to do with Fili's riding companion.

She hadn't spoken a word for hours, and hadn't moved in that time either. She had simply been gazing off into the air, lost in her memories or thoughts and gone far too deep to hear them. Fili had signed to him in Iglishmek that he didn't want to scare her and that they should leave her be.

Kili hated the silence. He really did. He was so used to their being talk between him and his brother. They had been close all their lives, and it had been said many times they could have been twins. Where one was, there was the other.

And now there was just silence. And he hated it.

"What do you reckon mother's up to Fee?" the second he spoke, Lilyana slightly jumped.

Fili gave him a look, but answered anyway "Probably pacing at home, cursing Thorin under her breath for allowing us to come." he huffed out amused.

Kili grinned "Probably had to have been restrained from coming after us to drag us home by our ears."

Fili chuckled "More than likely," then he blow out a puff of air and said slightly grimacing "You do realise that she'll more than likely bury us alive and dance on our graves if she hears we got into any trouble or danger right?"

Kili shuddered "Here's hoping she doesn't hear a whisper of what happened at the river yesterday," then he grinned and clapped his brother on the shoulder as he sidled closer "Speaking of, thanks for coming in after me and saving my behind."

Fili frowned "What are you talking about?"

Kili shook his head "Come on Fee don't act dumb," then he grinned "Well dumber than usual."

Fili punched his shoulder then "Oi watch it!" then he frowned "Kili I wasn't the one who saved you from drowning yesterday."

Kili then frowned himself "Then who did?"

Fili looked down at the dark-haired girl riding in front of him, and Kili felt his jaw drop and his eyebrows rise all the way to his hairline. He couldn't speak for shock. He spluttered and stammered for a few moments.

"Lilyana?" she blinked and for the first time looked up, and at him. He felt the intense focus of her gaze and felt the urge to look away "You saved me?" She nodded "Why? You're terrified of water aren't you? So…why?"

She looked away, and did not say a word. Minute after minute went by, and Kili was sure that after so long she wouldn't answer him at all. Fili sighed, and shook his head and signed to him to let it be, and to leave her alone.

Kili frowned and tried to protest, but Fili narrowed his eyes and gave him 'that look'. The look he had received when Fili used his old brother status to tell him when he was acting stupid and to do as Fili told him to do.

He disliked that look with a vengeance, and not for the first time, he ignored it "Lilyana why?"

Fili glared this time "Kili-"

"Kindness."

The voice cracked and broke and was so very rough from disuse. But the sincerity and honesty within was unmistakable. Kili and Fili weren't the only ones with slacked jaws and raised eyebrows. Seemed those who were close enough within hearing range shared their expressions.

"W-What? What was that?" Kili spluttered

"Lily? Say that again." Fili joined in.

She swivelled around to sit side-saddle, and then she looked straight at him. Her eyes...Mahal never had he been looked at like that. He found himself utterly anchored by those eyes. They were deep, so very deep, and filled with emotions he could only guess at.

Then, Mahal then, she smiled.

It was such a small little thing, but within it was all the warmth of the very sun or so it seemed to him. A breeze picked up, and some curls of her dark hair came loose and once the breeze died down they framed her cream-coloured skin.

"Kindness." she repeated, then she smiled at his expression and turned away to gaze at the land around them.

Kili could only stare at her, and her smile.

0o0

She was warm again. But this was a different type of warmth. It wasn't forced warmth like the cup of tea she had been holding earlier that morning. No this was entirely different. It started in her chest, and slowly but surely spread outwards all over her body all the way to the tips of fingers and toes.

It was as if she was standing in front of a fire. And it started the second she heard him say her name.

"Lilyana."

She heard him ask why she had saved him. It took her a moment, a single moment to figure out what he was talking about. She remembered the cold feel of the water, suffocating her, and shook the thought and memory off quickly.

He asked her again why she had saved him, and this time, she felt the urge to answer him. Kindness, she had told him, and she was being completely honest. She knew what it was like to drown, to be so sure that the cold insistent water would be the last thing you would see and hear and touch and know.

For the first time in what was possibly days, she guessed, she wasn't trapped in the dark alone anymore. His voice had saved her. How she didn't know. But she heard him, heard him and no one else, when she was locked away so very deep.

No one had ever been able to bring her out of the darkness before. Her grandmother had tried, her uncle had tried so many times after that, even Wilcome and Adalgrim had tried as well. No one had ever succeeded in chasing her nightmares away.

No one, until him.

0o0

"Lily." she blinked and felt a hand on her knee.

She looked down from where she perched on the pony, and saw a familiar golden-haired dwarf smiling up at her. He motioned for her to dismount and she did as he asked. She hopped off and slipped on the ground.

She heard a gasp, whether from herself or Fili she didn't know, and waited for the moment she would hit the ground. But it didn't come, for quick hands grabbed her upper arms and halted her fall.

She had closed her eyes, but now she slowly opened them, and looked up as she straightened. She lost all conscious thought. Deep soulful eyes looked into hers and she could only stand still under that gaze.

Once again she had been clumsy and tripped over her own feet. And once again, Kili had had to use his fast reflexes to catch her and stop her from falling flat on her face. She felt herself flush. She couldn't help it.

Kili frowned at her "Are you all right?" She nodded.

For a moment or two they didn't say anything. It seemed he was as caught up in her as she was in him. She wondered why she was flushing even more than she had been before, it was so confusing and she was confused.

"Lily, Kili, come and get some lunch before it's all gone!"

They jumped a foot in the air, before Kili dropped his grip on her arms, and they both backed up a step away from each other. Kili rubbed the back of his neck before ambling away, and she cleared her throat, and brushed back some loose curls of her hair.

She sighed, but didn't join the company. She wasn't hungry in the slightest, and she wanted some alone time to think.

She was so...confused. All morning the dwarves and her uncle had been acting strangely around her. They were just acting...strange. They were all being kind and gentle and none of their comments were insensitive at all.

In the week or so she had known them; she had come to know that dwarves were not sensitive in the slightest. They were blunt, and brash and highly stubborn to boot. They were just naturally honest and blunt so she knew that the things they said weren't meant to hurt.

But all morning, in fact even since last night, every single one of them had been treading carefully around her. As if she was some fragile piece of glass that would shatter into a million pieces at the slightest touch or wrong word.

She just couldn't understand it, and she couldn't understand them.

"Lilyana?" she blinked and turned to see that Kili was stood next to her "Are you all right?"

That was the second time in just a few minutes he had asked her that. She nodded anyway. He smiled and then asked "Would you like to ride with me for a while?" she frowned and he continued "It'll give Fili's pony a rest from carrying two people."

She couldn't argue with him. She had always had a soft spot for animals, any animals, and somehow, Kili had used that to get her to ride with him. She wasn't sure if she was happily surprised at the fact that he knew her well enough to know that, or she was annoyed at the fact that he had more than likely just manipulated her into doing what he wanted.

She felt something nudge her shoulder and rolled her eyes at Kili's pony Minty and petted her. "Seems Minty wants you to." he grinned at her.

She sighed, and then before he could say another word, she placed a foot in the stirrup and easily pulled herself up into the saddle. Instantly she knew it was a bad idea to have mounted under her own power.

Her ribs suddenly twinged and it felt like a million or so little needles were stabbing at her. She sharply inhaled, and gritted her teeth. Yes it was a very bad idea to have mounted herself.

She heard a startled gasp and looked down to see Kili's wide eyes. His hands gestured helplessly as he stuttered for a moment "I...could've helped you, you know."

"I...I didn't n-need help." A lie.

He seemed shocked she had spoken, but she couldn't blame him. She hadn't spoken more than a single word all day. He shook off his surprise, and then glared at her "You could have fallen and gotten hurt."

"I was perfectly fine doing it myself." Complete lie.

He seemed to almost growl, and ran his hands through his hair, messing it up even more than it was already "All this time we've helped you, and now all of a sudden you know how to do it yourself?"

For a brief moment Lilyana forgot the pain in her chest and felt amusement at Kili's aggravation. Until she moved too quickly and her ribs protested with a sharp stabbing ache. She hissed through her teeth and that caught Kili's attention.

"Are you all right?" he asked frowning up at her.

She nodded "Y-Yes," No. "I'm f-fine." No I'm not.

She didn't know what was wrong with her. Why was her chest hurting like this? She didn't remember doing anything that could possibly have made them ache so badly as this.

"You're sure about that?"

"Yes, I am perfectly fine." she snapped out. She hadn't meant to snap but her ribs really were painful and Kili was testing her patience.

Kili huffed but didn't say a word. He mounted up behind her and snatched up the reins in tight fisted hands. She'd made him angry. She hadn't meant to make him angry with her, but it was too late now to change anything.

They rode on, in absolute complete silence. She had a feeling it was going to be a long day.

0o0

She had been right. Completely and utterly right. This had been a very, very, sluggish long day.

She was exhausted, and she hadn't spoken a word, or moved so much as an inch since just after mid-morning when they all stopped for a quick lunch. She was mentally and emotional exhausted.

Since she and Kili had had their little falling out- their second in as much as a week- neither of them had said a word to each other the entire time. He had talked with his brother, but had completely ignored her the entire time.

She wasn't sure if she was annoyed he was ignoring her, or if she was fine with him ignoring her because it meant she didn't have to talk at all.

Her ribs were absolute agony. They had stung before but now they felt as if they were on fire. She couldn't take in a proper breath without feeling like she was being stabbed. She was kind of glad just a little, that Kili wasn't talking to her.

Something was wrong. She knew something was wrong. Not only were the dwarves acting incredibly strange with her- all gentle and careful- but there was something wrong with her, not just with her ribs. There was a great big blank in her memory.

She remembered laughing as Fili told her an embarrassing story about Kili during their childhood then...nothing. A great big, empty black blank of nothing. It unnerved her, missing such a large duration of time.

She looked out the corner of her eyes, at a flicker of movement and noticed most of the dwarves were sneaking glances at her. The glances were filled with…concern? Suspicion? Pity? But why? Why were they looking at her like that? Had she done something wrong?

She turned away and frowned at the landscape. What in the name of the Green Lady was wrong with her? Since when did she care so much about what others thought of her? Even as a child, whenever the other children teased and bullied her, she would just smile, shake her head and roll her eyes and brush it off.

But…lately she'd truly started hearing the rude and snide comments and rumours and gossip about her. She knew what those at home thought of her. They thought her odd, strange, a freak. They would talk about her, even if she was in the same room, as if she was deaf.

She remembered their words.

Why can't she be normal?

So pathetic, so weak.

There's something truly wrong with her. Touched in the head.

She felt her fingers cramp and looked down to see her shaking clenched fists. She flicked her fingers out, stretching them, to decrease their soreness. She heard a chirp and looked up to see Flit hovering before her eyes, golden head titled in concern.

Her faithful little friend, always there when she needed him. Always seeming to know when she was upset or hurt. She felt eyes on her and looked up into blue/grey orbs. Her uncle frowned at her from his pony.

His eyes asked what he couldn't voice "Are you all right?"

She gave a shaky pained smile that she hoped he wouldn't clearly be able to see and nodded. Her uncle really didn't look convinced so she gave another smile. She was pretty sure he still wasn't convinced in the slightest.

She felt Kili adjust his sitting position from behind her suddenly. She bit her lip in order not to yelp or let out a cry as her ribs protested.

But unfortunately she must have made some noise of some sort for Fili spoke up "Lily? Are you all right?" She gritted her teeth and nodded "Are you sure? You look a little pale."

She nodded again "I'm fine." she quickly ground out from behind her clenched jaw.

It was then Kili snorted under his breath. Obviously he believed her as much as her uncle did. This was, not at all in the slightest. She wanted nothing more than to turn round and smack him, hard, right across the back of his head.

"You don't look fine." Fili stated with a frown

She gave a smile to the golden-haired dwarf, and hoped it didn't look pained or shaky at all. Yet she was sure that it was a grimace rather than a smile "I'm fine." she said again.

"Mahal, you are so infuriating!" Kili snapped at her

She opened her mouth to snap back and...quickly closed it tight shut again. Her ribs had been jostled as the pony stumbled once more and she knew she would have cried out if she hadn't clamped her mouth shut.

She let out a breath slowly, and raised her eyes to the heavens- the skies were grey covered- and sighed a little. The day was about to get longer.

0o0

They made camp that night in a fairly nice clearing, just off the side of the Great East Road in the Old Forest.

All the dwarves, Gandalf and her uncle had dismounted their ponies and were giving their mounts bridles to Kili and Fili who were tending to them. Lilyana watched for a moment before she turned back to the problem at hand.

Her ribs were aching badly, and every time she moved even a little it was like being stabbed over and over by tiny knives. And naturally she was dreading dismounting.

She sighed and knew she'd have to get it over with, so better to do it as soon as possible while everyone else was distracted with their assigned camp duties.

She swallowed, clenched her fists, and then counted to three in her head.

One. This was going to hurt. It was really going to hurt.

Two. Perhaps she should ask for help.

And before she could even finish counting to three she felt herself being lifted from the saddle.

She had closed her eyes in preparation for the inevitable pain but now they flew open at the movement of being taken from the saddle. And there stood the dwarf she was least expecting to see.

Dwalin was frowning at her, as his hands gently took hold of her by her waist and lifted her with complete ease from Minty and lowered her to the ground, all without jostling her ribs. He let go as soon as she was steady and looked down at her.

He was a dwarf, yet he was only very slighter shorter than her, no more than by a few centimetres, and Lilyana was annoyed because of it. She was of Man, shouldn't she be taller, much taller? Weren't those of the race of Men taller than hobbits and dwarfs? She knew she wouldn't be taller than elves or Gandalf, but honestly why was she shorter or barely taller than the dwarves?

"You all right lass?" Dwalin asked her in his gruff voice.

She nodded "Yes, thank you Master Dwalin."

The dwarf scoffed at her, and then crossed his arms "Nice try lass but you'll have to get up earlier then tha' to fool me," she frowned at that "You may have even tha' uncle of yours fooled but no me."

"I don't-"

That got her a raised eyebrow "Don't lie to me lass. Come now, tell the truth. Your ribs are hurtin' ya."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement. She tried to tell Dwalin he was wrong with an "I'm fine, honest." but he gave her such a stern look, she cut herself off.

"Well?"

She sighed, and then nodded "Yes. They've been aching all day, and they especially hurt when I move too quickly," she told him truthfully, as he had asked "But it's all right, I can handle it," Then she frowned at him in turn "I don't need to be looked over by Master Oin."

Dwalin did not look impressed with her "You'll be doing wha' I tell ya to with no argument lass, and tha's tha'. Now come along."

He tried to usher her in Oin's direction but she dug in her heels and refused to move "No, I don't need to be looked at Master Dwalin. I promise I'm fine."

Unlike most of this company she wasn't being stubborn simply to be stubborn. She didn't like being prodded and poked and examined. She was an independent girl and could look after herself perfectly fine.

Besides if she went to Oin all the company would know she was hurt and would look at her like she was fragile, or weak, and she didn't want that. They were all rough and tuff, battle-hardened warriors, and they would think her weak if they saw getting tended for something so simple.

"Please," she begged "I... I don't need to be tended to. I'm not...Please?" She gave him her best wide-eyed stare.

Dwalin inhaled eyes intent on her and she felt like he was scanning every inch of her. Then he exhaled and nodded to her in assent. She was about to smile when he said "I'll keepin' a close eye on ya lass, be sure of it."

She nodded and was thankful when he turned and left her be.

0o0

Unbelievable. It was the word that came to mind. Unbelievable.

Kili was sat around the campfire, the delicious stew Bombur had made completely gone, as everyone settled into groups of two or three to talk and laugh.

Bombur was packing away the cooking supplies, Bifur was sat carving again though from this distance Kili couldn't see what it was, and Bofur was telling another of his stories about him being outrageously drunk at a tavern.

Dori was sewing, fixing one of the company's shirts, Nori was cleaning his fingernails with what looked suspiciously like a lock pick. Bilbo was sat listening to Bofur, smiling and shaking his head in amusement, as Gandalf sat silent puffing on his pipe.

Ori had his nose in his journal, and looked to be sketching something. The scribe looked up quickly and looked right at a certain only female of the group, who was currently sitting with her own nose in her own book, an absorbed look on her face.

Lady Li- Lilyana Kili chided himself once again for calling her by that title- must have felt eyes on her for she blinked and looked up. Ori quickly ducked his head again into his journal, and after a moment Lilyana seemed to shrug and went back to her book.

Kili frowned, but then brushed it off and went back to his assessment of the company.

His uncle, Balin and Dwalin were sat off to the side from the rest of them, and seemed to be deep in discussion about something that was obviously something quite important. Or at least Balin and his uncle seemed deep in discussion, Kili thought after a second glance.

Dwalin had his arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes intent on something sitting across the fire from him. Kili followed his gaze and was stunned to see it was on Lilyana. Although where Ori's gaze was one of absorbed concentration as he sketched, Dwalin's gaze was different.

The older battle-scarred dwarf's gaze was filled with a hardness of suspicion as if he was waiting for the girl to make some kind of move. Also there was...was that concern? Worry? No couldn't be. Dwalin wasn't the touchy-feely affection showing type.

Kili was jolted out his thoughts by a sharp exclamation of pain, and then a slight curse that his mother would have boxed his ears for should he have been the one to utter it.

Nori had startled his brother by sneaking up behind him, which caused Dori to jump and stab himself with the sharp thick needle he was using as he sewed. It was only a little cut but it was bleeding quite a bit.

Dori gave his younger brother a good glare, and then tried to tend to the small cut with only his non-dominant left hand. The grey-haired fussy dwarf couldn't manage it and ended up losing patience with a huff of exasperation.

"Here, let me master Dori." a soft voice suddenly spoke up startling Dori again.

Lilyana had put down her book and hearing and seeing Dori's trouble had gotten up to help. In her hands, were a damp cloth and a roll of bandages. She was on her knees on the hard ground before Dori, was on a higher eye-level due to sitting on a log.

"No, no that is quite all right my lady-"

"Lily." she instantly corrected.

Dori almost looked like he wanted to scold her for being so informal but didn't "It is really quite fine my lady truly."

Lilyana ignored him and almost snorted. Dori continued to refuse her help and eventually the girl huffed "Master Dori, I don't mean to be rude, but would you stop being such a baby and sit still." it was a command not a request.

Dori went red in the face with indignation but before he could say anything there was the sound of laughter. Ori was laughing so hard his journal fell to the ground and he didn't even notice. After a surprised moment Nori joined in.

Soon almost everyone was laughing. Kili was even sure he heard Dwalin chuckle, and saw his uncle's mouth quirk up at the corners. Lilyana looked like she was fighting a smile herself.

Before Dori could protest more, she quickly and gently cleaned the slight cut and effortlessly bandaged it. She tied it off and then smiled and said a simple "There, all done."

Dori sighed "Thank you my lady." it seemed the dwarf wasn't going to budge of the subject of calling the girl by her name and not the title.

The girl did not rise from where she knelt and she frowned for a moment. Then Kili was shocked as she quickly took the sewing and needle from Dori's lap and began to fix the ripped shirt herself. Dori tried to take it from her but she wasn't having it.

"Come Master Dori you cannot sew with one hand, at least not properly," Dori went to protest again "I won't take no for an answer so you may as well sit and stop complaining." she said lightly.

Nori laughed again and clapped his older brother on the shoulder "Give it up Dori, this one seems to be more stubborn than even you."

Dori huffed as Bofur added in "Aye the lass has you beat Dori."

Lilyana gave a satisfied smirk as she sew the rips in what Kili guessed was Nori's shirt expertly. Kili found his eyes focused on her movements.

Her fingers dipped up and down with all the grace of a swan diving into water, as the needle caught the light of the fire as it went in and out. Her dainty knuckles seemed to dance under her very skin and the silver bracelet around her left wrist shone like starlight.

"Hewythr?" Lilyana spoke up in a questioning tone. Bilbo looked up at the strange words Kili didn't understand "Ba mhaith u rà leis an scèa an uimh sciathàin fae?*"

Bilbo raised an eyebrow "Measaim. Ach cèn fàth mian leat dom freisin?*"

"Sìlim go mbeadh na àit fosta ar oscailt do dùinn mà roinnte muid roinnt dàr scèalta agus stair," Lilyana then looked up and smiled "Chomh maith le go bhfuil tù ar an scèalaì is fearr sa iomlàine an Sìreach."

Bilbo chuckled and shook his head before Gloin spoke up "For the love of Mahal, speak words we can all understand!" his tone was filled with offense and annoyance.

Lilyana inclined her head to the red-haired dwarf "I apologise Master Gloin, I did not mean to offend you," then she turned to Bilbo "Uncle, please?"

Bilbo raised an eyebrow "Why not do so yourself? Yours are just as good as mine dearest." he smirked.

Lilyana huffed, and rolled her eyes "Hardly."

It was Ori who spoke then, too curious to keep his silence "What are you talking about?"

Bilbo smiled "My niece wants me to share some of our stories."

"Stories?" Ori piped up, journal back in hand

"What kind of stories Bilbo?" Fili asked

"Aye I'd like to hear one of these hobbit tales." Bofur jollily added.

Lilyana looked smug Kili noticed. Bilbo looked right back at his niece and the two had a silent battle of stares. Neither said a word for a moment, until Lilyana huffed out a sigh and Bilbo smiled in triumph.

Lilyana cleared her throat and then asked "All right. What kind of story did you want to hear?"

All of those who were interested shouted out what kind of tale they wanted to hear. Fili said an adventurous one, Dori a simple modest one, Bofur wanted a morally outrageous one, and Ori shyly said something with love.

Lilyana looked to him then, and he was caught under that intense gaze of hers. For a moment he couldn't even breathe let alone think. It took a jab to the ribs from Fili to jolt him out of it. He cleared his throat and said "Tell your favourite one."

She nodded as the others agreed with that choice. Then she began.

"There were once three brothers travelling down a lonely, winding empty road at twilight. In time the brothers reached a river, too deep to wade through, and too dangerous to swim across. However these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands, and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water."

All of them were engrossed in the tale. Kili was sure, that even Dwalin, Gloin, Dori and his uncle were listening despite the fact that they looked disinterested.

"They were halfway across the bridge when their path was blocked by a hooded figure. It was Death himself," the dwarves gasped without meaning too "He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for you see travellers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning."

Lilyana paused, either on purpose to create suspense, or for another reason it didn't matter. They were all hanging onto her every word.

"He pretended to congratulate the three brothers on their magic and for outsmarting him. He offered them each a prize, that Death said they had rightfully earned with being clever enough to evade him."

Kili found himself scooting closer in order to hear better, even though Lilyana was speaking clearly and loudly enough.

"So, the eldest brother who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. A wand that would always win against any other. A wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death. So Death crossed the bank to an Elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it the eldest brother."

Kili could see the entire story unfurling before his eyes. Lilyana truly had a gift for storytelling.

"The second brother, who was an arrogant man, wanted to humiliate Death further. He asked for the power to recall loved ones from the grave. So Death plucked a river stone from the water bank and gave it to the second brother, and told him it would return the dead."

Kili was sure the entire company had never been so silent in their lives. It was rather shocking.

"Finally, Death turned to the third brother. He was a humble man, and asked for something that would allow him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And so it was Death reluctantly handed over his own cloak of invisibility. Then the three brothers with their own prizes in hand, separated for their own destinations."

Lilyana paused to start on another rip in the shire she was mending, and the dwarves fidgeted in impatience for her to continue.

"What happened next?" Ori asked

"Yes go on Lily, tell us what happened to the three brothers." Fili said from beside her

She smiled, and then went on.

"The first brother travelled for a time to a village where he came upon another man he once had a quarrel. Naturally with the Elder wand in hand the oldest brother did not fail to win the duel that commenced and left his enemy dead upon the floor as he bragged of his wand's power. That night, as he lay wine-sodden and asleep in an inn, a thief crept in and stole the wand. And then the thief slit the oldest brother's throat for good measure. And so Death took the first brother for his own."

"This doesn't sound like a reasonable story." Dori said, seemingly scandalised.

Nori glared at his brother "Shut it Dori, the rest of us want to listen."

Lilyana bit her lip and looked unsure of all a sudden "If it's too much trouble I can stop-"

"No!"

"Don't you dare!"

"It's getting good lass, don't stop."

"You can't just leave it there Lily!"

So many of them shouted out at once Kili could only make out a few of the things that were said. He looked to their present storyteller and gave her an encouraging look, to which she sighed and brushed back her curls.

Then she continued once more.

"The second brother travelled back to his home where he lived alone. Upon the threshold he took the river stone Death had given him and turned it thrice in hand. To his amazement and delight the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared before him. Yet she turned sad and cold, as though separated from him by a veil. She did not belong in the mortal world and she suffered for it. The second brother was driven mad by hopeless longing for her, and killed himself so as to join her."

Lilyana inhaled to take a deeper breath "And so, Death took the second brother for his own." she was solemn now.

"As for the third brother, Death searched for many, many long years but was never able to find him. It was only when he obtained a great age, did he take off the Cloak of Invisibility, and gave it to his son. And then, he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly as they parted this life. As equals."

It was utterly silent. It seemed no one even dared to breathe, or at least it seemed that way to Kili. Lilyana blushed and then cleared her throat "I'm not a very good storyteller, but you asked for my favourite so..." then she shrugged.

Instantly there was a cacophony of sound of protest at that. It took his uncle commanding them to be silent that got the shouting to stop.

"I liked it Lily. I think I've found a new favourite myself." Fili said smiling

She blushed even more and ducked her head at that. Kili found his eyes trained on her cream-coloured skin that was tinted pink across her cheeks and lightly freckled nose.

It was then Thorin told them to go to bed and to rest up for they would be travelling far tomorrow. So it was that the dwarves did as bade, and rolled out their bedrolls and got ready for sleep, all except Balin who would be taking first watch that night.

Bilbo had settled down in between his brother and Bofur, on Fili's right. Normally Kili and his brother slept next to each other, and for years, even when they came of age, they had slept in the same bed, unable to be parted. Normally. Tonight they were apart.

Fili had dragged Lily in-between them, stating that he didn't want her to be too cold in the night and shake herself to pieces as she shivered. She tried to protest but Kili knew once Fili made up his mind about something, nothing would change it.

Kili was a little annoyed with his brother for it, but he said nothing. So with a huff and a frown he unrolled his bedroll and settled down next to Lilyana.

Soon he was asleep, a frown still on his face.

0o0

It was the middle of the night, barely past midnight when she suddenly woke up with a start.

Lilyana wasn't sure what had woken her up, for she had been deeply asleep. She had been dreaming of lying in a meadow with wildflowers all around her with the sounds of birdsong and other animals in the air. She felt warm, and safe.

Now she felt cold, and afraid. Afraid of what she wasn't sure, but whatever it was it wasn't good.

She looked to the two brothers she was lying next to, making sure they were deeply asleep, before she quickly and silently rose to her feet with only a slight wince at her injured ribs.

She stood perfectly still, and as she searched the clearing and camp with her eyes, she listened with her ears for any sound that didn't belong in the night time air. For a moment she considered putting it down to her imagination.

Until she felt the hairs of her neck stand up, at a slight inaudible sound on the wind that chilled her very bones.

"What is it Miss Lily?" the lowered soft voice made her jump but luckily she didn't cry out otherwise she would wake the others "Miss Lily?"

It seemed Ori was taking the second watch tonight. She breathed deep, to calm her racing heart and shaking hands "Ori, you startled me." she whispered back, and then she looked to her left hearing that sound again.

She bit her lip, unsure for a moment, before unsheathing her dagger. As she took some steps into the woods, she said under her breath over her shoulder "Ori, if I haven't returned in ten minutes, wake everyone and pack up camp," she took another step "And whatever you do, let no one follow me, not even my uncle."

Ori went to protest, but she was already vanishing into the trees ahead.

0o0

She had been slipping past and through the trees for a while now. She wasn't sure if it had been ten minutes or not, and she did not care. She was far too focused on what lay ahead.

She followed the sound on the wind, using it as a guiding point. Something was wrong. She knew it deep within her bones, that something was very, very wrong. Apart from Flit who was hovering at her side there was no sound by animals in the forest.

No night calls of owls as they hunted mice and other such prey. No crickets chirping in the bushes, no frogs croaking from the stream, no foxes coming out to find food. Not even...she paused as something that should have been obvious finally came to her.

There wasn't any wind. Nothing, not even a whisper. Yet what was that sound she had heard?

She took a step forward, and instead of her foot landing on soft grass, it clomped down with SMACK, onto stone. She looked down in surprise, and saw dark brown flagstone beneath her feet. It was only a small jagged piece worn into the ground, as if the rest had faded and crumbled away to nothing.

Then she looked up. And felt the very breath leave her in one fell swoop.

A Darker Place You Will Not See

So If You Enter, Traveller Take Heed

For The Night Is Dark

And Won't Be Swayed

To End The Hunt When The Mwgan Play

Traveller, You have Been Warned Beware

Of Finding More Than Wood Fae Here

The warning was carved into a light coloured stone that came up to her chin. She knew this place. She knew the warning well. For it had been whispered around fires and in shadowed corners in homes for as long as she could remember.

She felt a chill trail its way down her spine and she shivered. Her very breath puffed out in front of her eyes in a white misty fog. It had been slightly warm earlier but it now felt like she was in the dead of the winter.

She heard the sound again, this time all the clearer and realised what it was. Now she knew that the sound was a voice, and now she could make out words. Words that chilled her very soul and her entire body from foot to head.

Vras. Ushk. Vras. Ushk. Kill. Feed. Kill. Feed. Even though the words were in a different language, she understood it perfectly fine. It was a dark tongue filled with all the malice and hatred and hunger of evil. It made fear pierce her heart.

"Oh no" she breathed out without meaning too.

She had forgotten. Both she and her uncle had. They were in the Old Forest and deep in the forest to the east was Tyrn Gorthad. How could they have been so blind, so stupid to have forgotten? She should have known.

Vras. Ushk. Vras. Ushk. Vras. Ushk. Vras. Ushk. Vras. Ushk. Vras. Ushk. It was here, maybe not close, but close enough. She knew what this creature was now. Knew as clear as day. It was a White Down, a Wraith.

And it was on the hunt.

Lilyana spun on her heel and took off with a speed she did not know she possessed back towards camp, back towards the company, those dark words echoing behind her. She could only hope, that everyone was all right, was still in the camp.

"Please don't let it be too late" she pleading prayed to whoever was listening.

She could only hope she was not too late.

0o0

Ori had stood there for more than twenty minutes, unsure of what to do. He stood shaking in the same spot that miss Lily had left him, wringing his hands over and over, debating whether or not if he should wake someone or...or maybe follow the young girl himself.

He just did not know what to do.

"What is it laddie?" the voice of Balin made the scribe jump out of his skin near enough.

"I-I-I..." He stuttered out unable to find the words

"What's wrong Ori? What has you so shaken?" Balin continued to question.

Ori swallowed and went to tell Balin the truth, to do as miss Lily had asked him to do if she did not return in good time from searching or exploring or whatever she was doing in the woods. He had even opened his mouth to do so when...

Balin gasped and said "Ori where is the lass?" Ori gulped not sure if he was about to get into trouble "And where are the lads?!" Balin exclaimed.

Ori frowned and followed the older dwarf's gaze. Miss Lily's bedroll was empty, as he knew it would be. But Fili and Kili's bedrolls were shockingly and frighteningly empty as well. The scribe was sure his heart was about to pound out of his chest.

Fili, Kili and Miss Lily were missing. And it was his entire fault.

Balin quickly roused the rest of the company, leaving Ori to gape at the three bedrolls of their missing companions "Up! Everybody up, now! Dwalin, Thorin get up!"

Unsurprisingly, Thorin and Dwalin were first to their feet, weapons in hand. They were followed by his two brothers, Dori and Nori having known he was on watch still somehow and were more than likely worried for him.

"What's going on?"

"What's wrong?"

"Why did you wake us so early, the sun's no even up?"

Balin held a hand up for silence which he got fairly quickly. Balin looked straight to Thorin "It's the lads" Thorin frowned at this confused "They're gone laddie" Thorin looked rightfully concerned then, Ori thought.

Then Balin looked to Bilbo who was also on his feet now and said "And so is the little lass" Bilbo went pale as a sheet

Balin then said to the entirety of the company "All three are missing"

Ori wasn't sure if he was afraid for his friends, or afraid of the glares both Thorin and Bilbo were giving him.

0o0

"Stupid, stupid, stupid mortals" It thought, leading its prey to its lair "Stupid, stupid, stupid. So easy to catch, so easy to take hold of, so easy to hunt"

The creature was one that had not been seen in many years, not by any who had lived to escape its clutches and tell the tale. It was almost too easy for it to lure two of the big group in the woods away from the rest.

Sometimes it wasn't any fun, the hunt being so easy. The creature loved chasing down its prey; the fun was in the chase. Allowing its prey a mere moment to think it had escaped death and then to bring it down was a thrill.

To listen to the agonised, despaired screams was something the creature took its joy from. It laughed, and led its prey even further into its trap.

"Stupid, stupid, tasty morals. It was too easy, too easy, too easy"

0o0

*Tà sè ceart go leor- (Irish) it's alright

*Tà sè dom cariad, Tà sè dom- (Irish) it's me sweetheart, it's me.

*Hewythr? Ba mhaith u rà leis an scèa an uimh sciathàin fae? -(Welsh) Uncle? (Irish)Would you tell the story of the wingless fairy?

*Measaim. Ach cèn fàth mian leat dom freisin- (Irish) I suppose. But why do you wish me too?

*Sìlim go mbeadh na àit fosta ar oscailt do dùinn mà roinnte muid roinnt dàr scèalta agus stair- (Irish) I think the dwarves would be open to us if we shared some of our tales and stories.

*Chomh maith le go bhfuil tù ar an scèalaì is fearr sa iomlàine an Sìreach - Besides you're the best storyteller in the entirety of the Shire

*Mwgan -(Welsh) Ghost/Wraith