Chapter 37

Immunity

Zora's POV

It took us a few nights to get to the forest gates, and Beorn followed us all the way. One night I snuck off to speak with him.

"I know you want me to forgive him, but I cannot. I know you spoke the truth when you said he ended my banishment…..but he could have lied to you. Believe me when I tell you…If I see him, I will not kill him. I am not a murderer. But I will hurt him for what he did."

He gave me a look that said, 'It will not make things better for you. You will only start an unnecessary fight.' I sighed and nodded.

"I know. Which is why I will do everything in my power to avoid him."

He gave me what I believed to be a sigh and a shake of his head. I smiled and put my hand on his paw.

"Estelio nin mellon nin. I know what I am doing."

He nodded and I had then gone back to Thorin. Now that we faced the forest gates, I knew not if I wanted to avoid Thranduil. Mirkwood had changed, it was no longer the beautiful green world I had been raised in. It was dark and tainted. Even though it had a couple thousand years, I still knew every rock, roots and leaf.

"Here we must say good-bye."

I looked at Gandalf.

"And me too."

"Wayne no." I said.

"Kare wa watashi ni Zora ga hitsuyo ni narimasu. Sukunakutomo koko de kare wa, kare ga narimasu okotte iru." (He will need me Zora. At least where he is going he will.)

He spoke in Japanese so no one else would know. I ran forward and hugged him. Wayne was my brother, blood or not he was my brother. I had never been without him all the years I had known him.

"Be safe. And make sure Gandalf and you come back."

"No promises on the safe thing."

I pulled away and gave him a serious look.

"This is not a game Wayne. This world has changed. And if the…those things are back in there….just remember you are my brother and I love you. You are good and pure no matter who your father is, do you understand me?"

He put his hands on my shoulders and nodded.

"I WILL come back. I always do. Besides, I have an army waiting for me in Erebor when I get back."

I smiled and chuckled. I kissed his cheek and then he mounted the horse behind Gandalf.

"Farewell, and do NOT stray from the path."

They grumbled and I smiled a bit.

"Come on, the sooner we get this over with….the better I will feel."

"And when Zora's stressed and angry…."

I gave Anthony a death glare and he shut his mouth. Thorin put his arm around my waist.

"We must go my love. As you said, the sooner this is over the better."

He kissed me and then we sent our horse and ponies back. I pulled Epona towards me.

"~Be safe my friend. Ever have you been there with me through dangers. Now you must trust that Thorin will take care of me.~"

Epona seemed to look at Thorin.

"~Now go back to Beorn.~"

She nuzzled me and then galloped away. Thorin took my hand and we walked away.

Thorin's POV

I felt better walking through this forest with Zora beside me. She knew this forest, with her to guide us, I felt safer.

"Wait."

We all stopped and she walked forward. She drew her sword and cut an almost invisible rope that showed a pit fall trap.

"I set that up with a friend when I was 9."

They looked down at the sharpened sticks.

"You were nine years old?" Nori asked.

I nodded.

"Only myself and…..and an old childhood friend know of these traps. They were meant for deer or rabbits. But once a group of orcs wandered into the forest. Our traps stopped many if them and the others left in fear." I said.

Anthony smiled.

"The only 9 year old in this world or the old one would be you who could do this."

I smirked and we continued on. As the sun began to set I stopped.

"We shall stop for the night."

"The sun's still up Zo."

I smiled and looked at him.

"It is safer to stop now. For when the sun sets…our world will become pitch black."

They all nodded and we set up camp for the night. I took first watch and looked around my home.

"Zora?"

I looked up at Kili. I gave him a fake smile and he sighed.

"Zora you are like my sister…..I know when you give a true smile and when you do not." He came and sat down beside me. "Tell me what is wrong."

I looked at Kili.

"Before I was banished…I had a friend who was like a brother to me. We had been together since birth. Playing together, fighting together when we were old enough. He is Thranduil's son. The son of the man who banished me." I said.

Kili hugged me and I fought back my tears.

"It will be alright. You have us…..you are practically my aunt! You are my best friend, apart from my brother, but that is beside the point. Thranduil made the worst mistake of his life. If he tried to harm you…..he will answer first to Thorin, then he shall have the rest of us to deal with."

I had to laugh a little. I kissed Kili's cheek.

"Thank you Kili. You always know how to make me laugh."

He smiled and shrugged.

"It is what I do."

I smiled.

"Well you do an excellent job of it."

He chuckled and I walked back to Thorin. He pulled me down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me.

"Beorn told me…what the elf king did to you."

I sighed and rested my head against his chest.

"I should have known Beorn would tell you."

"It was bad enough he betrayed me and my people….but I love you more then anything in the world….if we meet him and he so much as looks at you…" He sighed and then looked away. "Never mind."

I gently turned his face towards me. I stroked his cheek and smiled.

"Knowing that you would defend me like that…..I love you so much sweetheart."

He kissed me gently and sweetly. I closed my eyes and his hand went behind my neck. We slowly separated and he looked into my eyes.

"You will never know need again Zora, not need, pain, loneliness, or grief. Not so long as I am with you…..and I am always with you." he whispered.

I took the ring from around the chain I wore. I put it in his hand and closed his fingers around it, then covered his hand with mine.

"This was my father's. My mother gave it to him when they fell in love. I want you to have it Thorin."

His breath caught and I smirked.

"Are you crying?"

"No."

Yes.

"Yes you are. This ring has been passed down, father to son, or in my case daughter. And this necklace was my mother's. It was given to her by her mother, my grandmother."

I could hear the smile in his voice.

"And one day, this will belong to our son or daughter."

I closed my eyes and a few tears fell.

Thorin's POV

I felt her tears fall on my hand and I panicked.

"Zora?! What is it?"

"I am so sorry Thorin…."

"For what my dearest?"

"All the wars I have been in…..all the wounds I have suffered…..they have done damage to my body. I can never bear children. I am so, so sorry!"

I pulled her to my chest.

"Hush now! I do not care! I would rather have you with me for the rest of my life and never have a child, then not have you at all. It is not your fault. People did this to you, and it is their fault. Never blame yourself for their cruelty."

She calmed down and I kissed her hair.

"Now get some rest. Tomorrow we shall have to go deeper into this forest." I said.

"Le melon."

"I love you too."

The next day we came to a black river. It flowed fast and strong. To my horror, Zora jumped in.

"ZORA!"

She surfaced and smiled.

"This river is enchanted, to all of you but me. I have the blood of wood elves in me. The enchantments of this forest are of no use against me."

I sighed in relief but I still did not like her swimming in this river.

"Zora please get out of there."

"Hold on."

She swam a bit down river and pulled back a boat. We all crossed, 4 at a time and there were no problems…until the last load.

"BOMBUR HAS FALLEN IN!"

Zora ran and dived as Bombur began to float downstream. She grabbed him and began to pull him back. Zora looked around and then her face showed fear.

"Where is Anthony?"

"He was in the boat…with Bombur."

"Zora I know what you….ZORA!"

I was too late, she dived back into the river and swam downstream looking for Anthony. I would not leave until she returned.