Tsaiya observed the formidable woman in front of her, she was wearing a black long sleeve shirt that insinuated her figure while also complimented the girl's breast while tucked in a long red skirt that had rips on the side for her legs as she wore black boots similar to that of Tsaiya's, but what she also noticed was the transparent figure sitting on the girl's shoulder as well, similar to Havanna but instead of its white glow, this one was ominous like a shadow.
"Corvus" Havanna hissed while the being flew down unto the ground and walked to the side and positioned itself a few feet from Havanna.
"Havanna, still a duck I see" the being Corvus almost laughed.
"Shut it crow!" Havanna snarled.
"You think your apprentice can match up to mine?" Corvus teasingly shouted.
"Oh no, mine isn't a match for yours Corvus" Havanna said, only for Tsaiya to be shocked from the words of her friend. "There is no comparison for mine is far better than yours!"
Tsaiya looked from Corvus to Havanna and then back to Vidae and stared at her face, it seemed the night before had done something to both the two girls.
Vidae's face was covered in scratches and two imprints of hands were left on each cheek of the woman's face, and to Tsaiya's recollection, the imprint belonged to her.
"I see you did not heed my warning from last night" Tsaiya mentioned while she tightened her grip around her weapons as so did Vidae.
"You really think that was a threat" the woman huffed while energy sparked from her, clearly irritated by the tone Tsaiya had been talking in.
"Your face says otherwise" Tsaiya teasingly said, only for the woman to grit her teeth at the current look of her face.
The woman's form reminded Tsaiya of a raven or even a crow, her hair, the darkness in her eyes and the aura around her; this woman clearly loved nothing but death and destruction and would probably cause that to whomever had the misfortune to meet her.
But Tsaiya was not going to have none of that, this person should leave immediately.
"Now away with you! You crow! Go back to your own world!" Tsaiya shouted while lifting up her weapons and crashing them down in a warning.
"I am no crow! My name is Vidae and like my name, you are about to die!" the woman hissed as she prepared herself.
Their eyes flickered and the battle begun.
Both Tsaiya as well as Vidae rushed into each other, their weapons immediately clanging against one another as Vidae swung and tried to hit Tsaiya with her staff and spear, trying to cut the girl down t once while Tsaiya intercepted each attack and blocked it quite easily.
"You filthy rat!" Vidae snarled, she had faced many before but no other that could match her; the same as Tsaiya, this woman could obliterate anyone she cared for and she could not allow her to do such a thing, that fueled her resolve to defeat her even more; this person must be stopped.
Their weapons clashed once again, Vidae ever growing desperate to erase the girl in front of her.
Her blows were fast but not entirely powerful; just swift blows to overthrow her opponent.
Swiping upwards she pushed Tsaiya away with her magic, cackling evilly.
The girl quickly standing up, yards away from the woman who looked absolutely insane while leaning against her staff.
"For you see, I am the powerful of both of us" she snarled while summoning orbs of fire that quickly flew towards Tsaiya.
The girl in response clutched her weapons and deflected each and every fireball that was flown at her; her sword shined as daylight as she used her scepter to redirect most of the incoming projectiles back to Vidae who roared in frustration.
Every fireball was either deflected or destroyed by Tsaiya or had flown to nearby trees that exploded on impact, Boulders that shattered instantly and even mounds that seemed to catch on fire immediately.
With every attack deflected and destroyed, Vidae's confident smile seemed to falter and had become into that of a snarl, it was as if this girl had predicted such a feat and was prepared for this.
Deflecting another fireball, Tsaiya swiftly dematerialized her weapons and quickly extended her arms as she turned; a chilling air blew and all before her except for the detestable woman were frozen in ice, her arms then glowed a mystical gray as she called upon the powers of ice and then dropped her hands forward and an enormous beam of grey shot from her palms and fingertips; incasing Vidae in an enormous iceberg that formed around her entire being.
"Vidae!" Corvus screamed in fury, as if disappointed by such a trick.
Tsaiya then returned her weapons in her hands and narrowed her eyes, she could still feel the energy coming from the woman.
In a flash, the ice exploded and Vidae looked extremely displeased.
"I will kill you!" she roared while storming forward as she pointed her staff directly to Tsaiya.
She quickly rose her scepter as the lightning struck with terrible strength; her scepter drawing in its raw power; Tsaiya then aimed her scepter at Vidae who shielded herself with her own staff as the lightning was redirected towards her.
"I am not going to die from the hands of you!" Tsaiya shouted while holding up her weapons and prepared for another attack.
"You will die!"
Dark energy could be seen warping around Vidae as her eyes alone from the amethyst that they were, began to grow darker until they themselves were completely black.
"What are you?" Tsaiya gasped out loud while raising her weapons up, she did not know what was going to happen but she had to be prepared for anything.
"I am the destroyer, I will destroy anyone, anything in my way" her voice changed into a warped multi-voiced being.
She could feel goose bumps all around her body, the small hairs on her neck stood up as if telling her that this person was now dangerous and that she had been child's play all along.
"No matter what you say or even do will not sway her now; she has been brought here to destroy you; as you are now, you are no match for Vidae; you could however just surrender and vanish like the rest of this world when we are through with it" Corvus laughed while Havanna insulted the being once more.
Tsaiya shook her head as a dark tendril quickly appeared out of nowhere and struck her very hard that it sent her flying and into the ground.
The crash caused all the air to escape from her lungs as she coughed and gasped.
But it did not end there, as the girl stood up; another tendril had struck her once more and once again sent her flying from the ground and this time within a tree and as she fell from the branches and landed on the soft grass she hissed in pain and cried out in agony.
The two beings chuckled in delight.
"You should just vanish right now" Corvus teased.
Tsaiya stood up, her willpower clearly unscratched while her body and soul screaming at her to keep standing for everything she had believed in.
"Have you not been listening all along? I refuse to give up, I refuse to vanish; there is more promises that I must keep and until I fulfill them all; then I will not leave this world" Tsaiya yelled; she would stand by her friends when they open the doors to Erebor, she will be there when they take down the dragon and she will be there to save their fates and reverse them however possible; this was her mission from the Valar and she will not back down from this obstacle.
"Tsaiya" Havanna whispered, he was shocked of the outcome while his hope for her was renewed tenfold.
Another snake like tendril crushed against her; but this one was clearly that of teasing as it continued to beat the girl.
"I won't give up" the words escaped her mouth as she held up her weapon to block the continuous attack.
They could have done away with her at any time but they wanted her to give up her hope before truly ending her completely, they were looking on as the tentacle kept crashing itself into her sword and scepter; it seemed as if any moment it would break and it would go back to crashing itself against the girl.
Havanna felt as if he was absolutely powerless, he could not do anything but just look at his friend as she closed her eyes tightly while shielding herself from Vidae's attack.
"Perhaps we should visit them now and destroy them" Corvus tormented while giving a glance towards Tsaiya.
Her eyes flew open and in one move she sliced the tentacle, ending its magic.
Her hair disheveled from falling from the trees and some sticks and twigs and leaves were caught up in it; there was blood running down her mouth from the blows that magic had caused her and she swore she could feel bruises on her back from her landings on branches and the ground; but at this moment she could not care and felt even more invigorated than ever.
Vidae however did not sense this, she was angry for she had not been able to kill the hope burning within the girl's heart and mind and evermore she could see the light of that same hope sparkling in the girl's eyes as well; she hated that light, she vowed to destroy it ever since she witnessed Tsaiya's love for her companions within the dream she had with the girl and she detested her for using that love as her power; even more fueled with rage for using that same power to corrupt the flesh of her face.
Vidae lifted her staff up and launched her darkness and finally destroy Tsaiya and after she had been done killing the girl softly, she made sure and vowed with her life that she would kill the girl's companion so that her soul would be restless in the afterlife.
"Tsaiya!" The duck screamed while the dark magic had struck Tsaiya and swallowed her completely.
He dropped unto his legs and sulked his head down.
"Like I told you before Havanna, you apprentice isn't as powerful as mine; they never are" Corvus teased as he approached the bird.
"You should have faded along with them, but you can never do such a thing can you? You still vow to destroy me but my apprentices always keeps destroying yours"
The duck shook his head. "I will defeat you one day Corvus-
A flash of light caught everyone's attention as a piercing light destroyed the dark tentacles and it flew towards Vidae who had little time to react but managed to dodge it; barely however.
"What is this?!" Corvus snapped.
Havanna noticed the form of his apprentice, breathing heavily as she had acquired a white bow that she was now wielding and a black quiver, yet there were no arrows within the quiver.
"How?! How could you do this?!" Vidae screamed while unleashing another swarm of darkness that Tsaiya quickly dispersed by pulling back unto the string of her bow and unleashing a volley of white transparent arrows that dissipated the darkness as soon as touching the dark veils. Two arrows struck the woman's staff and destroyed it.
"My staff!" the woman shrieked. Corvus looked dumbfounded as Havanna turned to the raven.
"I told you, she is even better than yours for the hope she has within her heart isn't that of saving the world, but protecting those who are dear to her. This is why she will defeat any who stands before her; even him." the duck smiled while looking at Tsaiya.
Before Vidae could lift up her arms and cast another spell; Tsaiya had shot two other arrows and bounded the woman to a tree; her sleeves were pierced into the tree's mighty oak as she could not move from another arrow that rendered her unable to do so.
"You bitch!" Vidae snarled as she tried harder and harder to cast, though she could not from the arrows that pinned her to the tree as well as sealing her powers while doing so.
Tsaiya did nothing in response as Corvus flew towards his apprentice and with one last look he glared at the two.
"You will be defeated in the next time we see each other!" the raven snarled while a dark aura formed around him that seemed to expand around Vidae's being and they disappeared slowly.
Tsaiya turned to see the damage done to the area nearby, scorch marks from the deflected attacks had left the earth scarred and barren; some trees as well as nearby bushes were caught alight to which Tsaiya had put out with her magic.
"That's not the last time we will see them, isn't it?" Tsaiya whispered to Havanna who beamed a proud smile at his friend.
"No, but there is no doubt that I will train you even harder to defeat that crow in a woman's body as well as that rat on wings" Havanna grumbled. Tsaiya giggled while feeling a bit off balance but she brushed it off; this was nothing compared to her trainings as well as that damn battle between the titans; but she knew she had to prepare herself against that woman if she would come back, to which Tsaiya knew she would.
They made their way back to the cottage and as soon as she was sighted near the rock door; Gandalf as well as Fili and Kili came rushing out immediately; the wizard looked really angry.
The girl sighed while looking to Havanna who was crouching in fear, the anger of a wizard was one thing to be feared.
Teehee~ Never make a Wizard Angry!
The Accursed Forest
"You fool of a girl!" The wizard shouted while looking at her in her current state.
She still had the twigs and branches in her hair; most of the leaves came off during the walk over as well as she stopped bleeding but she was correct on her bruises and there were many scratches around her face and body.
"Tsaiya!"
The girl looked at Bilbo who appeared alongside of the group forming group; she did not see Bilbo nearby at all.
"What happened?! Why do you look like you just came from a battle with orcs?!" Kili said while wiping his clean sleeve against the girl's face, cleaning the dirt and dried blood from it.
Gandalf's eyes widened while the girl looked at him, it was as if Kili had just told him a huge hint but with the girl's eyes, he knew what had transpired.
"Fili ask Beorn if we could once again use one of his baths and Kili can you also ask if we could borrow some cloths to dry off with" The wizard looked at them as they hurried to do what they had been told; they did not want to feel the wrath of a wizard.
"Bilbo Baggins, will you go with Fili and check if the water is warm for the young lady for I have many words to speak to her with"
Bilbo looked to Tsaiya as she nodded toward the hobbit who scurried into the cottage.
"Now here me Lady Tsaiya, I do enjoy having the pleasure to owe you for our protection but do you know what had happened in your absence!" the wizard shouted, sending shivers of fear down her body from his raised voice.
The girl shrugged, not wanting to anger him further and he went on to explain.
"Your battle with that woman was seen for a brief moment"
Tsaiya looked at Havanna who shrugged as well.
"What do you mean?" she asked, she did not know of what happened.
"Not only did we see storm clouds brewing in one area of the plain where everywhere else was bright as sunshine but we also saw igniting flames as well as a rogue fireball flying in our direction, luckily I manage to ward off that disruptive power but we also heard screams and shrieks of pain as well as the sound of blades clashing against one another"
So to sink in further, the battle could be heard even from here.
"Was the conversation heard?"
"No one heard any of you both talking but we could easily hear your screams however, it caused most of the company to become wild up and go and charge to protect you; I had to convince them otherwise or they would feel your wrath as well" he snapped.
"If I did nothing Gandalf, then that woman would have struck against the group and there would be more injuries-
"I did not say to not engage her, but to tell us at least so we would be more prepared next time; we could assist you Lady Tsaiya-
"I had underestimated her Gandalf, at the moment we had been equals but then some dark entity had ensnared itself into her and at the moment she was able to bring me down multiple of times and even convince me to abandon my hope; but then at the very last minute I felt the warmth within me and I felt as if I did; then I would have to abandon the people that I care most about and I could not do such a thing and I had manage to combat against her; but I fear her Gandalf, I fear that if she were able to really disperse me and silence me once and for all then she would have eliminated you all as well"
The girl choked on a sob, when Vidae had mentioned that she was planning on destroying her friends during the battle, she once again saw the vision of them dying in front of her and she had to have done something and then she remembered her training with Kili but she enhanced it and made it her own; she used was wielding a real bow but her arrows were of magic kind to which could never run out and would deal a great blow to the enemy too.
She looked at Gandalf who shook his head.
"I do appreciate your protective nature over us but Lady Tsaiya, however there are times where we want to protect you as well, I had to face thirteen dwarves who glared at me as if I was betraying them when we heard your cries of pain and I felt it myself that I was betraying you as well something to which I cannot abide by, but we now know of the powers that your enemy has possess and perhaps with proper training for your guide that you are able to defeat her"
"I am sorry for the pain I caused" Tsaiya lowered her head while she felt the ruffling of her hair from the wizard.
"You should not only apologize to me but to the entire company as well, they care a great deal for you" he said while he went along to smoke his pipe once more.
Tsaiya smiled and bowed while running into the house.
As soon as she opened the door, she looked at the dwarves who were either sitting down gripping tightly on their weapons and looked at each other, while others mumbled lightly under their breaths but as she cleared her throat, they all turned to her and they ran towards her. The voices of "You're alright!" and "What happened to your face!" as well as "Don't go rushing into battle by yourself!" was heard from them.
She laughed and apologized, she saw in the corner of her eyes that Thorin was seated by Dwalin as they nodded acknowledgement to her.
"I'm sorry" she said once again. "I had to clear that enemy away because they posed much a threat to us all" she added.
"It must have been quite a group to do a number on you Lady Tsaiya" Dori mentioned but was soon interrupted by Ori. "Group? It had to be an army to cause her that much distress!"
Then the arguments began between the dwarves on whether she faced an orc pack by herself, trolls, and even a whole army.
Of course she would not tell but she just laughed as she noticed Bilbo seated by himself near a window and went go sit next to him.
The hobbit smiled while scooting over to give her room as he sipped some tea and ate some fresh lembas bread from her pack that she shared with him.
"Bilbo I'm sorry"
"For what Tsaiya?" he said while turning to her.
"For making you worry" she frowned.
He opened his mouth once and then closed it. "Well, you are my friend and I was worried but please do not make me worried again please; I am not accustomed to being worried" he said while tapping her hands in a comforting way. "Besides, I know you defeated the other person anyway"
"So you don't believe I faced an army? Or even an orc pack?" she whispered.
The hobbit nodded. "We hobbits know quite a few things; most than dwarves; I was reading up on some scrolls when we visited Rivendell and I came across a story similar to yours but with a tragic ending however and I read about Celestial Beings being brought from other worlds and all for purposes here and are sent back after the task was done" he whispered as if knew that she was not ready to reveal herself just yet.
"But I do not know what you faced however but for a being or beings to injure you like, it must have been a very powerful one indeed" he added and Tsaiya couldn't help but nod.
"The being was similar to myself Bilbo, in every way just as but the mind sets were different; completely different actually. This woman was bent on destroying me as well as everyone who I hold dear and I would not allow to do such a thing; actually this was not the first time meeting her" Tsaiya whispered even softer.
The hobbit took another sip of his tea and placed the cup down.
"What do you mean? You met her before?"
"Yes, last night when I told you I had a nightmare; it was an actual nightmare but she was also within my mind and we battled"
The look on Bilbo's face was pure horror.
"However this time I had underestimated her and she managed to do this to me but I gave her some scrapes and bruises as well before I had defeated her but I do know that I would have to train even harder from now on to make sure to go ahead of her level"
She bit into her piece of bread and felt full already and the bread was rather delicious as well.
"We can use your tonics from the elves from Rivendell to heal your cut and scrapes and perhaps even bruises too" Bilbo added while grabbing Tsaiya's medicinal bag and pulling quite a few tonics out.
The girl however rose her hand up. "Don't worry about me Bilbo, this is just cut's and scratches they will heal over time, I want to be able to use those in dire situations than petty ones such as this" she said while holding the hobbits hand and placing the bottles back into the bag.
"But you are hurt-
"Yes I am but I am in no dire need of any healing" she smiled. "But maybe a cup of a tea will be in order however, I am quite parched after such a battle" she giggled.
Bilbo sighed while shaking his head. "Alright, but next time you better be careful" he grumbled and went to fetch Tsaiya some tea.
As she sat there and nibbled on the bread that was quickly filling her up, she started to think of Vidae and how evenly matched they were until the woman started to use an unknown dark magic that seemed to consume her slowly; it felt as if this woman had become insane by this darkness that she was controlling but it was clear that the darkness had controlled her instead; if it wasn't for her last minute thinking then she did not know what would the outcome be.
"Greetings young one"
Tsaiya turned to see the host, Beorn looking down at her, his enormity only made her feel as if she was being squished up against the wall.
"You are not of Man but of something else" he whispered to where only the two could talk.
She nodded, skin changers were most likely different than the other beings around the realm for she knew that they probably were similar but instead Beorn would change every night while she transformed into a duck every new moon.
"You are a duck are you not?" he said while laying an arm on the desk.
The girl nodded once again while looking at the giant. "Yes I am though I become my usual being when the time of the New Moon has descended upon us, so in a few days' time I would again become a duck" she whispered quietly though even if she were to talk normally the dwarves would not hear anything since they were all abruptly loud in their own conversations with each other that they probably would not even hear her.
"Does your dwarven friends know of your enchantment?" the low voice of the skin changer rumbled.
"Not as of yet but I do know I would have to tell them sooner or later however, but the wizard and the hobbit are aware of it"
He nodded. "After this journey if you should find yourself a place to stay, you and your friends are always welcome here little duck" the giant rumbled while walking away towards the dining table.
Bilbo had returned with her cup of tea and placed it down in front of her.
"So I heard we are going back on the journey tomorrow, we're heading through the Greenwood" the hobbit said while sipping on his newly fresh cup of tea as well.
Tsaiya had grasped her cup and began to sip the drink that soothed her burning throat and her stomach.
"I hope that the forest is as beautiful as the rest of the forests we had come across of" she answered him for him to nod also.
"Tsaiya?"
The girl turned her head to see Havanna who had called upon her once again; the duck was smiling.
"Not only did you do an amazing job with dealing with Vidae but you had also been a step behind her; I'm going to teach you the spells that she was using against you but not the dark ones that she had been so enamored of doing; so when you're done find me near the beehives next to the rock door"
He then stepped through the door and went outside, leaving Tsaiya to hurriedly taking a few small bites of the lembas breads and a few more gulps of her tea.
As she rose up, Bilbo looked at her in a funny looking way as if he wanted to ask her what she was about to do.
"Training, now" she answered him before he could even ask.
He nodded once and went back to his tea.
She on the other hand opened the door and went into Beorn's yard to find the duck looking at the bees as if they were extraordinary.
"They're pretty enormous, I have never saw bees this big before" the commented when he heard her steps drawing closer to him.
"I swear that if they were angry that they could kill us anytime, with these enormous like bees it would just take one sting from them to just kill us alone" the duck continued.
Tsaiya nodded while Havanna turned around and faced her.
"The magic I'm going to teach you to catch up with that damn harpy is categorized under Manipulation"
Tsaiya opened her mouth but Havanna quickly stopped her.
"This is a different kind of manipulation however, we're not going to be brainwashing anyone, though maybe later on you are able too; but this will be the cause of your magic to surge through inanimate or animated beings such as rocks and trees and even animals however but it takes more magic to make them do your will; this magic is known to be of neutral kind since it determines on the caster and the one who's will is powerful too"
The girl nodded while seeping the information in as much as she could.
"What I want you to do is, focus your magic on that lonely tree right over there and will it to do something harmless"
Tsaiya listened to her friend and looked at the full blossomed tree that stood lonely at the corner of the courtyard, she approached the tree and stuck her hand out.
A white transparent string of light appeared from her hand and wrapped itself around the tree causing it to glow slightly and without a second to think the tree began to shake its branches and become alive, twirling around as the old wood began to creak and tug on itself; the tree was dancing.
Her eyes were wide along with her smile as she saw what her magic had done.
There were quite a few gasps and as she turned to see Bilbo with Fili and Kili; their hands with their swords looking at the moving tree.
"The tree! It moves!" Bilbo exclaimed while pointing at the glowing tree with his free hand.
The girl nodded while touching the tree.
"I'm manipulating the tree to move around" she smiled.
Beorn soon came out of his home and noticed the dancing tree. "The tree dances gracefully, it must be of your doing youngling" he smiled.
"How can such a thing be possible?" Fili said while looking at Gandalf who had been observing the situation the entire time and even enjoying the view as he smoked his pipe weed on a bench nearby though the setting sun was beaming harshly since the only shade that was covering his being was not twirling and dancing around.
The wizard exhaled a puff of smoke that turned into a bird as it flew to the dancing tree and landed on its branches.
"Magic is different in all forms; from a light that can guide you through all forms of darkness or even can cause trees to dance; this is no exception" he explained then sucked on his pipe once more.
The trio continued to stare at the dancing tree while Tsaiya had did her magic once more to even cause the flowers to do sing and move around; though the bees had difficulty landing on said flowers due to fright of the plants now singing a soft tune to which Beorn had gave a loud laugh while looking at the sight.
"My garden will become a circus from all of this! Dancing trees to singing flowers what else is next!" he exclaimed while laughing.
The girl laughed while turning to an old bench and looked at it, she smiled while doing it once more.
Tendrils touched the bench as it lit up with new life and had started to move on its four pegs like a miniature horse.
"The chair is moving!" Bilbo shouted in surprise.
Somehow this was causing a racket and most of the company had now been outside observing the commotion; some were shocked of the still dancing trees to singing flowers, one of which was Dori who shielded Ori and said that the garden had been enchanted and he could be as well, making Tsaiya to laugh and said that it was her doing.
This however did not calm the dwarf but it did ease him a little and let his brother go to observe this all and even began to sketch the scene.
Bofur had told his cousin to sit on the moving bench and even asked if this could be used to transport his enormous cousin; of course Beorn declined saying that the bench would lose its enchantment soon enough to which Tsaiya nodded, even though it looked simple this magic was very complex and was slowly but surely taxing her.
Though she was enjoying herself as the company laughed and looked in awe of her new training of magic, she even had a side glance of Thorin who had not come out of the house but was observing it all through the window; she couldn't help but smile and wave at him for him only to wave at her as well and then joined them to look at the delight.
Even Dwalin, who did not smile at all was grinning a few bits here and there.
Tsaiya had many types of fun as she did her magic once again to make the pots and pans within the yard come to life as they began to hop around her and towards the dwarves and hobbit; they of course pointed and laugh.
This was one of the few days of relaxation within the company and for Tsaiya who looked at Gandalf; both nodded as they knew of some sort of sketchiness waiting ahead of them far along the path of their adventure that this could be one of the few merry times they could have with one another.
The morning came when they had to leave from the comforts of Beorn's protection and venture through the Greenwood.
Beorn had given them ponies to ride on, but only for them to set them free when they have arrived at the entrance to the Greenwood.
They traveled once again in Beorn's lands far from his snug cottage passed roaring hills of greenery were there were many and many of animals that seemed to know of his protection and the farther they went, the land began to fade into an eerie color; as if the life had begun to fade from the land until they were near a very vast looking forest; a forest that seemed to have once been beautiful but now looked sickly ill.
Gandalf was the first to dismount from his horse and looked at the site before him.
Tall white like pillars stand and curved and shaped like the trees around it.
"The elven gate, the path that leads through Mirkwood" the wizard announced.
"No sign of orcs either, we have luck on our side" Dwalin announced while he began to dismount as well and a soon as he did everyone began doing so.
Gandalf looked towards a nearby rock formation to see a great bear staring back at him, Beorn.
"Set the ponies loose, let them return to their master" the wizard announced towards the group.
Bilbo took a few steps near Tsaiya and observed the trees and leaves.
"This forest feels sick as if a disease lies upon it" he said before stopping in front of the gate. "Is there no way around it?" he looked to Gandalf who continued to investigate the area.
"Not unless if you want to go 200 miles north or even double the distance south" the wizard answered while stepping into the path and going deeper within the forest.
Tsaiya looked at the sight as well, this was not the forest that she was expecting to greet her on the adventure.
She could feel dark energy as well as a thick heavy aura that permeated through the air and even ground along with the trees and leaves too.
The sight alone screamed danger as the trees felt it was alive but also extremely dangerous, it did not look like a welcoming forest but one that seeks revenge upon not being treated well or perhaps that an evil so great had managed to sink into the forest and change its nature.
She started to gather the items on her mount from the water jugs that Beorn had personally given her and tied it around her waist as she also gripped unto her elven travel pack closely, examining that she still had dozens of lembas bread stuffed inside and still fresh too and the tonics that were not touched at all either.
She felt prepared to journey through this forest.
Looking at the others she noticed them setting up as well; they knew that this forest alone looked evil and they decided to mount and tie their belongings tightly as too their weapons.
Bilbo however looked perplexed while fuddling his hands in his pockets but his bags and items were already neatly stacked on the side of him.
Nori had started to release the horses and was about to do Gandalf's when the wizard shouted.
"Not my horse! I need it!"
The dwarves who were bundled together looked at the wizard in confusion, Tsaiya as well but she could sense a presence in the area but not one that would dare to harm them but one nurturing; one that was similar to Lady Galadriel.
"You're not leaving us? Are you Gandalf?" the hobbit spoke.
Gandalf came walking by near Bilbo as well as the girl and started to speak as well. "I would not do this unless I had to"
The girl looked to the rest of the group; specifically to Thorin who was not pleased at all by the sudden announcement.
He stopped in front of the hobbit and turned and looked down at Bilbo who was looking down at the ground.
"You've changed Bilbo Baggins, you're not the same hobbit as the one who left the Shire"
The hobbit adjusted himself.
"I was going to tell you, I" he smiled "found something in the goblin tunnels"
Tsaiya looked at the two while nodding her head once, as if eager to hear his answer, she also saw him reaching deep within his pockets.
"Found what? What did you find?" the wizard repeated once more while looking deeply at the hobbit as if waiting for a response.
"My courage" Bilbo answered while sticking his hands out from his pockets and smiling.
"Good. Well, that's good" Gandalf nodded in agreement. "You'll need it"
He walked away and for all rotten luck, it had started to drizzle on the company.
"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor." He said while traveling through the dwarves and approaching Thorin who turned to look him in the eye.
"Keep the map and key safe" he added in.
He then turned to Thorin and looked at him directly. "Do not enter that mountain without me"
Thorin nodded once while looking back at the gates of the forest, as if it was the only thing that was blocking him from his destiny.
"This is not the Greenwood of old, the very air of the forest is heavy with illusion; it'll seek to enter your mind and lead you astray" the wizard mounted his horse.
"Lead you astray?" Bilbo repeated. "What does that mean Tsaiya?" he turned to the girl who shook her head and a shrugged.
"You must stay on the path. Do not leave it, if you do you'll never find it again"
Everyone nodded and turned from Gandalf to start to venture.
"Lady Tsaiya, will you please come here for a moment"
The girl walked towards the wizard while nodding her head.
"Something evil is stirring within those woods, do not let the dwarves to go astray from the path." He said before strutting off on the horse.
"No matter what may come stay on the path" the wizard's voice echoed while he galloped away.
"Come on, we must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day" Thorin's voice rumbled while he led the group pass the Elven gate.
Havanna stuck close to Tsaiya's side, saying that a foul air had descended upon them and that he wanted to be her voice of reason since this air could not corrupt him.
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo said to only get ushered into the woods by Bofur who said "Let's go" to him.
"It is our only chance to find the hidden door" Thorin's voice echoed from the front of the group.
They entered the forest and looked around, everything screamed malice; from the trees that looked as if their barks had carved faces that were screaming to rocks that were jagged and even enormous poisonous looking mushrooms that grew on the side of these trees like boils of a great plague.
"This forest, what happened to this forest?" Havanna peeped while looking around at the trees.
The company bent through enormous roots that were covered in cobwebs while traversing down long walkways of rocks following the narrow path.
"Tsaiya?"
She turned to Kili who was beside of her.
"Yes Kili, how may I help you?" she smiled, the buzzing in her ears had returned and the aching of her chest was once again throbbing.
She concluded that she was perhaps under an enchantment since it only happened when Kili was very close by to her, such as now.
"I just want to walk next to you, you bring calmness to my mind" he whispered.
She smiled to herself. "Thank you Kili" she beamed as one of his hands brushed against hers and caused her to blush more.
They walked in silence as they enjoyed each other's company. Fili quickly joined them too and they talked quite a bit to pass the time.
The group walked and walked for time felt as if it stood still by venturing in these woods.
"There's a spell to purify things but I don't know if even you have the power to cast it at the moment" Havanna mentioned while gripping himself tight on the girl's shoulder while Kili stepping behind of her and she followed Fili's lead deeper into the forest.
She had a very terrible feeling of things happening but she just pushed it aside and focused on ahead.
Spoiler alert! Teehee :) Of course you have to find it too!