Hello once again everyone! What? A second chapter this week? Yes! I have enough chapters written ahead at the moment that I am able to gift you with this update for the 4th of July.
Some descriptions of Mirkwood are taken straight from the Hobbit. Of course anything from the Hobbit belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and any lines from the movie belong to Peter Jackson.
Everything else belongs to little old me.
Please enjoy this update!
Xoxo Mels!
Dwalin and I had stayed in our little sanctuary for as long as we could, enjoying our time alone together away from the others. It was a time to get to know one another better and a time to have our honeymoon. The morning of our departure from Beorn's house was upon us and Dwalin and I stared at one another in the dim glow of the campfire. Neither of us had gotten much sleep that night, our time mostly spent making love to one another beneath the stars, knowing that finding time or privacy for such things was about to be nonexistent.
Dwalin rolled slightly towards me and kissed the top of my head before he rolled out of our cocoon of blankets, ensuring that they were still covering me, and rose to his feet, stretching and yawning. The first hints of dawn were lighting the horizon and we still had to pack up our camp and return to the house to ready ourselves to move out for Mirkwood. Dwalin stoked the fire as I groaned and rolled over onto my stomach and sighed, already mourning the loss of the time alone with my husband.
I apparently fell into a doze for a few minutes as I was reawoken by Dwalin shaking my shoulder and when I lifted my head he had a cup of tea waiting for me. I had shown him how to brew a proper cup after he insisted he learn and he had actually gotten quite good at it. I sat up, Dwalin fixing the blankets over my shoulders and yawned before I started blowing on the liquid, steam rising off of it into the cool morning air.
Dwalin walked around the camp in the buff, more awake than I was and he began looking for anything we might have misplaced in our haste such as clothing. He held up part of my underthings with a smirk which had been caught on the low branch of a tree and I snorted and rolled my eyes as he came back with them. After drinking my tea, the two of us dressed and ate the last of the honey cakes and bread before packing up our bed rolls and then Dwalin doused the fire.
I took one last look at our campsite and frowned, not ready to leave just yet and already missing the time alone with my new husband. Dwalin walked over to me and turned my face towards his, kissing me deeply before he pulled away and caressed the side of my face.
"Maybe the skin changer will let us come back on our anniversary," Dwalin told me and I smiled at that.
"Maybe. It would be nice to come back," I agreed with my husband before I slipped my hand into his and the two of us set off back on the almost invisible path back towards Beorn's house.
We enjoyed these last few moments together in silence and I leaned my head against Dwalin's shoulder. Despite him carrying most of our supplies, he juggled everything so that he could wrap an arm around my waist and pull me flush against him. Dwalin had told me that he felt calmer when I was within his range of sight.
He didn't need to be constantly touching me, but it made him feel more at ease if he could physically see me. I thought it was good that we had time to talk about what would make it easier for us to travel moving forward. Now I knew that I should stay in Dwalin's line of sight so he could confirm I was safe for himself. I knew that it wouldn't be different for just Dwalin and I moving forward but for the Company as well. The dynamics had changed.
With that being said, Dwalin trusted every member of the Company with me, including Nori now even if he didn't trust the thief so much when we had started off on this quest. Before long Beorn's house came into view. Beorn himself was outside chopping wood with his massive axe and as we approached the house he turned around, always on guard, relaxing when he saw it was just us.
"Welcome back little bunny," Beorn greeted me as Dwalin and I entered the gate and walked up to the door of his house.
"Thank you and thank you again for your gift," I thanked Beorn and he waved his hand, a knowing look on his face as he looked between myself and Dwalin.
"Life is short and precious. We must cherish the time we have with one another," Beorn said and I nodded in agreement at his words. "You'll find your kin readying to leave for Mirkwood inside," Beorn directed us and I bowed my head to him, thanking him once more before taking Dwalin's hand in mine and leading him into the house.
When we walked inside we were met with the sight of Thorin and Lyssaria standing almost nose to nose, both of them looking ready to kill one another. Gandalf was trying to intervene in whatever fight that was going on between the two of them and the three of them looked up when Dwalin and I entered Beorn's home.
"Mizimith," Thorin said in a cool voice as he took a step back from Lyssaria before he stepped forward to greet us. I frowned, looking between my uncle and my cousin who now had her arms crossed as she glared holes into my uncle's back.
"What's going on here?" I asked as I stepped forward and gave Thorin a brief hug before stepping back to my husband's side, Thorin and Dwalin clapping each other on the back.
"Nothing that concerns you," Thorin told me and I raised an eyebrow at that, frowning at my uncle.
"Actually, I think this does concern her," Lyssaria said as she spoke up, her voice sounding cool and snapish. "I've tried to inform your idad that I have decided to venture into Mirkwood with you," Lyssaria said, turning and addressing me.
"And as I have already told you, you are not joining us Elf," Thorin snapped back and I raised my hands, stepping between the two of them before they could really start arguing. It was far too early for this.
"Why do you wish to travel with us? We have Orcs hunting us down and our road is hardly safe," I asked Lyssaria and she shrugged as she hugged herself with her arms.
"My mother is of Mirkwood as am I. I might not have been raised in the forest, but I have a better chance of making it through than any of you. I want to go with you. I can be your guide. I don't care about your treasure or your mountain. I just want to see where my mother once lived," Lyssaria told me and I looked at her for a long moment before nodding in understanding and then I turned back to Thorin.
"Thorin, Lyssaria is my irak'namad. Her adad is my mother's brother. Like it or not we are family. I...I can understand her desire to see the home of her mother," I told Thorin, frowning deeply as I thought of my own mother whom I never had met. "A guide through Mirkwood can only get us through the forest faster than trying to transverse it on our own. Lyssaria certainly won't slow us down. I'll take full responsibility for her," I told my uncle and he looked between me and Lyssaria for a long moment, not looking pleased.
"If she slows us down in any way…," Thorin began and I put a hand on his shoulder and shook my head.
"She won't. We will make it to the mountain before Durin's Day," I promised my Uncle and he nodded before looking to Lyssaria.
"Then you may venture forth with us, but you are not a member of this Company," Thorin told Lyssaria and a sneer curled on her upper lip
"Good, I never wanted to be," Lyssaria snapped before she walked steadily past us, heading to pack up her gear. "Regardless of what you decided I was going to come with you," She called over her shoulder and I snorted and had to hide my mirth as Thorin fummed.
"Did you have a pleasant time?" Thorin asked Dwalin and I after several long moments of him fuming and then getting control of his anger.
"Aye," Dwalin grunted and I snorted aloud at that and Thorin held a hand up.
"That's all I need to know. Pack up the rest of your gear. I want us gone before midday," Thorin informed us and Dwalin and I nodded before making for our stuff.
There was a cheer from the others as they noticed our arrival back and Dwalin received several good thumps on the back while Bofur and Nori made some lude jokes that had me blushing furiously which only added fuel to their fire. Dwalin ordered them to keep a civil tongue in their heads before leading me away so we could ready ourselves. Bombur insisted on feeding us again and Dwalin ate happily, never one to pass down food. I ate as much of my plate of eggs and fresh bread as I could and Dwalin easily ate the rest of it.
Stuffed and more than a little tired, I sat down and pulled on my boots for the first time since my arrival at Beorn's house. It felt weird to be wearing boots again and it took a few minutes for my feet to adjust, but it all came back to me. Dwalin returned with our packs which were outfitted with new gear. I frowned in confusion upon seeing it, knowing that we had very little left after our journey through the goblin tunnels.
Dwalin explained to me that Beorn had apparently gone to the nearby village of Men and had traded for things we needed with some of the extra products of his animals. Thorin and the other dwarves had also traded work around his house in repayment for what we needed, mostly iron work or tailoring or even just woodwork. Dwalin helped me to get my pack onto my back and then he strapped my axes to my back before leaning in, pressing his forehead to mine.
"Stay close to me when we ride out," Dwalin told me as he checked over the straps of my axes and pack for a third time, fiddling with them nervously and I reached up, stilling his hands and taking them into mine.
"I'll stay by your side always, mo chridhe," I assured Dwalin before leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips. "Don't worry," I told him as I pulled back and Dwalin sighed heavily, turning slightly as Thorin called for us to move out.
Dwalin slipped his hand into mine and I followed him outside where Beorn was waiting for us, two horses and fifteen ponies waiting out front with him. Beorn turned to us as we filed out of his house, a grim expression on his face. Gandalf was beside him talking in hushed tones and Lyssaria was already waiting upon her horse looking bored.
"Your way through Mirkwood is dark, dangerous and difficult. Water is not easy to find there, nor food. The time is not yet come for nuts, thought it mat be past and gone indeed before you get to the other side, and nuts are about all that grows there fit for food; in there the wild things are dark, queer, and savage," Beorn warned us and I frowned deeply as I realized just how difficult the next leg of our journey truly was going to be.
"I have provided you with skins for carrying water and bows and arrows. But I doubt very much whether anything you find in Mirkwood will be wholesome to eat or drink. There is one stream there, I know, black and strong which crosses the path. That you should neither drink of, nor bathe in; for I have heard that it carries enchantment and a great drowsiness and forgetfulness," Beorn informed us and I frowned deeply, hoping that we would not have troubles crossing that stream. We had suffered enough delays already. I was beginning to believe that magic was real. After all, me being here was proof of that.
"And in the dim shadows of that place I don't think you will shoot anything, wholesome or unwholesome, without straying from the path. That you must not do, for any reason," Beorn cautioned us and I nodded in understanding. Gandalf had been telling us the same thing.
"That is all the advice I can give you. Beyond the edge of the forest I cannot help you much; you must depend on your luck and your courage and the food I send with you. At the gate of the forest I must ask you to send back my horses and my ponies. But I wish you all speed, and my house is open to you, if ever you come back this way again," Beorn told us and he smiled down at me. I smiled up at the skin changer and bowed my head to him.
"Thank you Beorn. We are forever in your debt for your hospitality," I told the man and he shook his head.
"No debt amongst friends, little bunny," Beorn told me and I smiled and nodded.
"Of course," I told Beorn before adding. "Should you ever wish to visit Erebor you will be more than welcome," I told the skin chnager and he bowed his head to me before the others thanked Beorn as well with many bows and many "at your services" before we loaded our bags upon our borrowed ponies and mounted them.
"The Orcs will not dare to cross the Great River for a hundred miles north of the Carrock nor to come near my house -it is well protected at night!- but I should ride fast; for if they make their raid soon they will cross the river to the south and scour all the edge of the forest so as to cut you off, and Wargs run swifter than ponies," Beorn warned us as we rode out of the gate of Beorn's garden, the skin changer easily keeping pace with us.
"Still you are safer going north, even though you seem to be going nearer to their strongholds; for that is what they will least expect, and they will have longer to ride to catch you. Be off now as quick as you may!" Beorn told us and Gandalf threw a parting word to him before we spurred our ponies off toward Mirkwood and galloped away.
I looked over my shoulder as we rode away and caught one last look at Beorn's house and Beorn himself before turning my attention forward and navigating my pony so that I was riding alongside Dwalin within his line of sight. We rode hard and fast wherever the ground was grassy and smooth. The mountains were dark to our left and in the distance the line of the river with its line of trees grew ever closer the further we rode.
There was no time for talking, but Dwalin and I stayed together and when we took a few minutes to rest and water the ponies and stretch our legs we spent the time in each other's arms, talking in low voices with one another. As of yet we had not caught any signs of Azog, but I knew that meant nothing. The sun had only just turned westwards when we had started out from Beorn's house and until evening it had shone golden and bright on the land around us. The day was hot, the last days of summer still lingering around, but soon the days would turn colder.
Once we had put many miles between us and Beorn's house we slowed our pace and the others began to trade conversation once more. Dwalin and I spoke quietly to one another, getting to know one another better. I had learnt that his favourite food was lamb and he was very partial to blackberries. He spoke to me of his childhood growing up in Erebor and of his training in the army. In turn I told Dwalin of my childhood growing up on Hegg and spoke to him of what I had done once I had lost my father.
In the evening when dusk settled and the peaks of the mountains glowered against the sunset, we made camp and set a guard. It was no surprise that Dwalin volunteered for the first watch. Kili and Fili readily set about hunting, not heading out too far from the campsite and they returned with several rabbits which were roasted and divided amongst us. The others were in good spirits with meat in their stomachs for the first time in a long time.
Dwalin sat behind me, holding me firmly to his chest as we ate and it wasn't lost upon me that Dwalin tried to give me most of his ration of meat. I gently refused him and when he attempted to pass it to me again I shot him a pointed look and he finally stopped trying to give me his share of food too. The rabbit was delicious and gone all too soon and the rest of our meal consisted of root vegetables which Bombur made into a stew.
Once we were fed, we were a bit more at ease and I snuggled up to Dwalin who took one of our blankets and draped it over me. Thorin was watching us closely and he nodded in approval as he saw Dwalin's care of me. Bofur called for a song and asked if I would oblige but I declined, not feeling in the mood for singing and feeling rather tired too.
"The wind was on the withered heath," A deep baritone suddenly began to sing from behind me and my eyes widened in surprise and I looked over my shoulder and up at my husband who had begun to sing. "But in the forest stirred no leaf: there shadows lay by night and day, and dark things silent crept beneath," Dwalin continued, rubbing a hand down my arm and gently running it back up, and I settled against his chest, feeling his voice reverberating in his chest as he sang. The tune of his song was the same as our song of the Misty Mountains and hearing his voice again made that fire within me burn brighter.
"The wind came down from mountains cold, and like a tide it roared and rolled; the branches groaned, the forest moaned, and leaves were laid upon the mould," Dwalin sang as he rubbed my back and I hummed slightly as I pressed my face into his chest, hugging him tightly and listening to the song I had never heard before.
"The wind went on from West to East; all movement in the forest ceased, but shrill and harsh across the marsh its whistling voices were released," Dwalin continued to sing and my eyes began to grow heavy as I listened to his lulling voice, feeling safe and warm in my husband's arms.
"The grasses hissed, their tassels bent, the reeds were rattling on it went, o'er shaken pool under heavens cool, where racing clouds were torn and rent. It passed the lonely Mountain bare, and swept above the dragon's lair: there black and dark lay boulders stark and flying smoke was in the air," I hear Dwalin sing as my eyes closed and my breathing evened out and I fell asleep against my husband's chest.
I woke up with a start to the howling of a wolf and I shot up, the blanket that had been wrapped up tightly around me falling down to my waist. I looked around in a daze and heard movement and suddenly Dwalin was kneeling down beside me, looking concerned as he tried to calm me down. He sat behind me and pulled me to his chest and whispered calming words to me as he ran a hand across the top of my head.
"Abbad amrâlimê," Dwalin whispered to me and I sighed out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I relaxed into his hold.
"Was that a Warg?" I whispered to Dwalin as my eyes scanned the edge of the camp which was lit by the light of our fire. Apparently I had fallen asleep earlier and Dwalin had set up my bed roll close to the fire.
"No, just a wolf," Dwalin answered me and I nodded, sighing out another breath. "Sleep amrâlimê. I'm not going anywhere. Yer safe," Dwalin whispered to me and I nodded, turning in his arms and snuggling against his chest. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the rise and fall of Dwalin's chest, using it to lull me back to sleep. It helped that Dwalin was rubbing circles on my back, trying to sooth me.
I woke up once more when the watch changed. I could hear Dwalin and Thorin talking to one another in low voices, but I wasn't sure if I was hearing them correctly as I was still half asleep. I rolled over looking in the direction of the voices and saw Dwalin and Thorin silhouetted in the light of the fire. I hummed slightly and put my head back down, closing my eyes once more, but my ears perked up as I made out their voices.
"How is she doing?" I heard Thorin's ask my husband, his voice low so as not to wake anyone.
"Good. Happy I think," Dwalin answered him and I frowned slightly. I was happy, very happy. I hoped that my husband knew that.
"She smiles more around you," Thorin told him and I heard Dwalin hum lowly and the smell of pipeweed reached my nose. Dwalin sighed heavily then and I heard him shift heavily in his sit. When I peeked in his direction I could have sworn he was staring right into my eyes but he looked away quickly and turned back to the fire.
"I still think we should have…," Dwalin started to say and however he was going to finish that sentence, he never got a chance to as Thorin cut him off.
"She never would have forgiven us if we had left her behind," Thorin said and I frowned deeply as I listened more intently to the two now. "I considered it myself, but then I've made enough mistakes regarding her. I won't abandon her, especially after what she did saving my life. We're her family and she has proven she can take care of herself," Thorin said and I calmed as I heard his words.
"I know that you fear for her Dwalin, but you must trust her. Trust that you have trained her well and that you have given her the weapons that she can use to protect herself," Thorin said to him next and Dwalin sighed heavily once more.
"I know she would never have forgiven me, but at least I would know she was safe," Dwalin grumbled in a low voice. "Mahal, how am I supposed to protect her Thorin? Is that still not my responsibility? To protect and care for my One?" Dwalin asked Thorin, sounding distraught and I wished nothing more than to get up and go to him, but I knew that he needed to also hear from Thorin right now.
"It is your responsibility, but you aren't in this alone brother. You're not the only one who is worried about her. We all care for her Dwalin. Every one of us would die for her. She might not know it, but she has changed all our lives for the better," I heard Thorin say and then I watched as he slapped Dwalin on the back. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day," Thorin told him and Dwalin grunted and took one last drag from his pipe before dousing it and getting to his feet and walking over in my direction.
I shut my eyes and buried my face in the blankets, rolling over slightly so that Dwalin wouldn't know that I had been listening to his conversation with Thorin. I listened to some rustling sounds before the blankets were lifted, Dwalin groaning as he lowered himself down beside me. I shifted slightly on our joined bedrolls and I opened my eyes slightly, looking up at Dwalin as he rolled onto his side.
"Dwalin?" I hummed, trying to sound sleepy and he grunted as he got settled on the bed roll beside me.
"Aye, it's me lass," Dwalin answered me and he pulled me towards him, settling his arms around me as he scooted over more so that he took up more of our bed rolls so that I could lay on his chest before he settled the blankets back down around me. "Go back to sleep, lass."
"Men lananubukhs menu, Dwalin," I told my husband in a soft voice, yawning slightly as I spoke and Dwalin kissed the top of my head and began rubbing up and down my spine gently.
"Men lananubukhs menu, Adaira," Dwalin said and I snuggled up to him, my head tucked under his chin as my arms spanned his broad chest. I rose and fell with each of his breaths and this lulled me back to sleep. This time I did not reawaken until morning.
When morning dawned it was bright and fair, but there was an autumn white mist white upon the ground and the air was chilly. Soon the sun rose red in the East and the mists began to vanish which was about the time when I awoke, the last of the Company to rise. I was shocked to find when I awoke, yawning widely that everyone else was awake and either packing up their gear or quietly talking amongst themselves.
Dwalin was sitting close to me smoking his pipe and Thorin was sitting next to the fire, both of them glaring at anyone who spoke too loudly. Bombur seemed to be almost finished with making breakfast and Dori was fussing over Ori, rebraiding his hair. I lifted my head from the bunched up cloak which was underneath it acting as a pillow. The morning air nipped at my nose as I greeted the morning and it made me want to dash back under the blankets, but it was more than time for me to get up. I wrapped a blanket tightly around myself and sat up, raking a hand over the top of my head.
"Well good morning to yah lass," Bofur said brightly with a big smile on his face as I yawned again and I waved to him, covering my mouth with my other hand.
"Morning," I murmured, stretching languidly from my head to my toes as Dwalin got to his feet. I looked back at him with a smile on my face and he shot one of his own towards me. He came back a few moments later with a cup which was steaming and I could smell the fragrant tea within.
"Sleep well lass?" My husband asked me as he lowered himself down beside me with a groan and handed me the mug of tea. I accepted it gratefully from him and wrapped my hands around the warm cup, scooting closer to my husband and leaning slightly against his side.
"Aye, not bad. And you?" I asked him, blowing a few times on the top of the tea before taking a sip. I was delightfully surprised when I tasted the sweetness of honey in the beverage. "Honey?" I asked Dwalin in surprise and he nodded, looking sheepish.
"I asked the skin changer for a jar of some for the road. I know how much yah like it," Dwalin answered me and I pushed myself up and kissed him soundly, taking him by surprise. He grunted and then responded, kissing my back as he wrapped an arm around me before he pulled back, his cheeks and ears slightly flushed.
"Thank you, no one has ever done something like that for me before," I told Dwalin quietly as we stared into each other's eyes and he grumbled slightly at that.
"Good," Dwalin told me gruffly before he got up and went to get us both breakfast, Bombur having finished with it. Kili and Fili had gone hunting again so there was rabbit meat.
I sank in hungrily into my breakfast, the juices of the meat running down my chin and I wiped them away with the sleeve of my shirt before realizing what I had done. Being on the road had certainly changed my manners. I shook my head and tried to eat a bit more carefully, but I quickly decided that it didn't matter and began to eat with gusto again.
Dwalin offered me when I was finished eating and I smiled at him, wiping my face and my mouth with it before I reached over and wiped his face with it too before kissing him. Kili made an exaggerated gagging face as Fili made a disgusted face and Dwalin only looked smug at my attention.
I sighed, my belly fully and the morning air already starting to warm and I pushed the blanket down around my shoulders a bit, replacing it with the cloak which Dwalin had balled up under my head whilst I slept I wrapped it tightly around my shoulders and rubbed my arms a few times before stretching once more.
"Did anyone else hear that wolf last night?" Bilbo asked us all then and I turned to look at the Hobbit who was sitting near Thorin, eating his breakfast slowly, a contemplative look on his face. His nose twitched as he spoke, a concerned expression on his face.
"Aye, scared the bejesus outta me," I answered Bilbo and the Dwarves looked at me oddly at my turn of phrase before they answered the Hobbit in their agreement.
"I think I saw a giant…," Bilbo began to say but Gandalf cut him off quickly before he could finish his sentence.
"Hush!" He told the Hobbit and I raised an eyebrow at the wizard's insistence for Bilbo not to mention Beorn. I had heard rustling in the woods the night before too and thought that I had seen the shape of a giant bear lumbering around the edge of our camp, but I had thought that the shadows of the firelight might just be playing tricks on me.
I rose to my feet and took Dwalin's plate from him, insisting on taking it as I needed to stretch my legs. I brought them to Bombur and Bofur and then went to sit beside Gandalf who was smoking his pipe beside the fire. I slid my legs up to my chest and looked over at the wizard with a raised eyebrow.
"Why would Beorn follow us so far? I thought we had already said our goodbyes to him," I asked the wizard curiously and he regarded me as he blew out a smoke ring.
"Beorn has his own reasons. You've said your goodbyes to the man, but not to the bear," Gandalf told me and I nodded in understanding before rising once more and returning to my husband who had begun to pack up our gear.
I helped him to roll up our bed rolls and place them back on our packs and like the day before he helped me to secure my pack onto my back along with my axes. I gave him a quick peck on the lips once he had finished and he ended up pulling me back to him for a deeper kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we broke apart and hugged him tightly to me and whispered words of love to him.
Lyssaria remained on the outskirts of our Company, keeping up with Gandalf and mostly keeping to herself. I felt bad that I hadn't had much time to converse with her over the last few days. I didn't want her to feel that I was abandoning her especially after I told her that I would be there for her, us being family. The shadows were still long when we mounted our ponies and were off once more. I leaned across and patted Dwalin's hand before riding forward and keeping pace with my cousin's horse, my little pony easily trotting up alongside her horse.
"Good morning," I said to Lyssaria brightly with a smile and she turned her head to look at me, her eyes slightly widened in surprise and she cleared her throat, loosening her grip on her reins to a more relaxed position as she settled in for our long ride.
"Good morning," She answered me, her voice soft and lilting, the words easily carrying between us. I threw a slight glance over my shoulder and met my husband's eyes, nodding at him once as he looked uneasy and he nodded back, looking more at ease. "Are you supposed to be talking to me?" Lyssaria asked me with a sniff as I turned back to her, looking disinterested and I shrugged as I raised a brow.
"I think they know by now that I talk to whomever I please regardless of how they feel. How are you fairing?" I asked my cousin and she shrugged her shoulders before rolling them.
"I forgot how much I hated sleeping on the ground," She remarked and I laughed at that brightly.
"I know. I'd almost forgotten the feeling myself. All it took was the luxury of a week of rest," I told her and we shared a smile. "Could you tell me more about Nordinbad? My adad did not tell me much about my amad's people. I think the memories were too painful for him," I told her and Lyssaria regarded me for a long moment before speaking.
"Nordinbad is a fortress hidden deep within the Grey is a place of isolation and refuge for the Dwarves of Durin's Folk. We live around an underground lake known as Azan-zâram. Gorin, our grandfather, is the Lord of these halls and has been for many years," Lyssaria began and I nodded in understanding. She sighed out a deep breath before continuing.
"Our greatest fear is Úrgost," Lyssaria said and I frowned in confusion.
"Úrgost?" I asked her and she nodded, a grim set to her mouth.
"A dragon who lives in the mountains East of Nordinbad. He is a Cold Drake, very different from Smaug, but dangerous all the same. He has hibernated for years, but we fear for when he shall wake once more. Many have sought out his lair in order to slay him, but none have ever returned," Lyssaria informed me and I frowned deeply at her words.
"It seems this world is rife with dangers," I commented and Lyssaria nodded in agreement. "It's certainly a change for me. The island where I grew up was safe. I lived a dull life compared to this. Now...now I know what true evil is," I said and Lyssaria hummed slightly.
"Once we understand the true nature of evil we can understand the nature of good," Lyssaria said and I nodded in agreement. "I've seen what Orcs can do. They destroy everything they touch. Now I understand how important family is, love...for it is these things we must fight for, these things we must never allow them to destroy," Lyssaria told me and I smiled at that.
"I've never felt anger all consuming until I saw Azog threatening Thorin. I knew with every fiber of my being that I needed to save him, to protect him. I lost myself for a moment…," I said, frowning as I tried to explain my feelings.
"Battle fever. It affects all dwarves. Berserkers even more so. It's why you never want to face an army of the khazad," Lyssaria told me with a smirk playing at the corner of her lips before she looked over her shoulder at my husband and then back at me. "Your dwarf looks like he might be a berserker," Lyssaria told me and I snorted at that and rolled my eyes.
"He's more gentle than you would think," I told her softly and she laughed at that.
"All khazad are. Big softies," Lyssaria said, shaking her head. "And stubborn asses to boot," She added before sniffing.
"I'm sorry about how they exclude you. Thorin...all of them really...they dislike Elves because King Thranduil refused to come to the aid of the Dwarves of Durin's line when Erebor fell," I told my cousin and she nodded, sniffing again.
"I'm quite aware of the fude. I've lived it. It's why our grandfather has never accepted me. He thinks my adad betrayed our people for marrying an Elf, nevermind the fact that he married his One. I don't belong amongst either race," Lyssaria said, her face taking on a grim set to it and I reached over and placed a hand over hers.
"In the world I grew up in, there were plenty of people who weren't accepted for the way they looked, the color of their skin or their physical disabilities. They weren't accepted because of who they loved or because of who they chose to be. I don't see things in absolutes, black and white. You are a Dwarf and an Elf and while I understand the anger that Thorin feels because King Thranduil did not uphold his oath to the people of Durin's line, I do not condone hating an entire race because of one Elf's actions," I told Lyssaria and she raised an eyebrow at me, looking surprised.
"I've met Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Lady Galadriel of Lorien and both are good people. I must judge them for who they are. They are honorable in my eyes. I must judge King Thranduil for who he is. I do not know him. I only know of him so I cannot form an opinion of him yet. What I know is that you are kind, you have a good heart, and you are family. On that I can judge you. So no, I won't discriminate against you, based on half your race. I'll judge you for the person I know you to be," I told her and I noticed that I had the ear of most of the Company and I hoped that they would listen to my words and form their own opinions based on facts, not emotions they felt for a whole race.
I fell back into place by my husband's side and rode beside him for the rest of the day and I was happy when I saw Ori and even Bofur approach Lyssaria and engage in small talk with her. For two more days we continued to ride on and all the while we saw nothing but grass and flowers and birds and occasional scattered trees. We also say the occasional small herd of red deer browsing or sitting at noon in the shadows. On the evening of the third day we all were in good spirits and eager to continue pressing on as Beorn had told us that we would reach the forest-gate early on the fourth day.
The others, however eager they were, were ready to make camp for the night for my sake, but after dinner I managed to convince them that I was not tired and willing to continue pressing forward. It did take all kinds of convincing as each of them was stubborn, my husband and uncle the worst of them, but some kisses had encouraged my husband and my words had encouraged my uncle.
We rode forward after dusk and far into the night beneath the light of the moon and once more, Bilbo and I noticed the shadowy form of a great bear prowling along in the same direction we were traveling. Gandalf told us," Hush! Take no notice!" and we turned our eyes forward once more, sharing a look with one another. It was only when I started yawning uncontrollably that Dwalin and the others put a stop to our travels for the day.
Dwalin had to help me down from my pony as my eyes were very heavily and I was sleep drunk, his strong arms lifting me from my saddle and as he carried me, Thorin rolled out a bedroll which Dwalin promptly laid me down in, tucking a blanket closely around me. I curled up onto my side, a soft sigh escaping me and I rubbed my nose against the blanket as the others forwent a fire and just got their bedrolls laid out and went to bed.
A watch was set once more, but Dwalin was not the first to take it as he slid into his bed roll beside me. I rolled to my other side and wiggled a bit until I had scooted as far over as I could so that I was tucked into the crooks of his arm, my head resting on his shoulder and my arm wrapped around his broad middle. Dwalin sighed as I settled down and my legs tangled with his as I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
The next dawn we started out before dawn even though our night had been a short one. We all were tired, but ready to finally reach the forest. I had never seen a forest before either and I wondered what it would be like to see so many trees in one place. I got my first look as soon as it was light. Ahead of us I could see the forest coming up as if it was waiting for us, a black and frowning wall before us.
The land began to slope up and up and it seemed that silence began to draw upon us. The birds began to sing less and there were no more deer or even rabbits to be seen. By the afternoon we had reached the eaves of Mirkwood and we were resting almost beneath the great overhanging boughs of its outer trees. Their trunks were huge and gnarled and their branches were twisted, their leaves dark and long. Ivy grew on them and trailed along the ground and I felt a strange feeling coming off of the trees that made me feel uneasy. A shiver ran down my spine and I rubbed my arms, feeling a sudden chill settle into me that was bone deep.
Gandalf dismounted his horse ahead of us and he walked into the edge of the forest through an ancient archway. I figured that that was the Elven Gate which Gaandalf had mentioned. Soon the wizard turned back and called to us as we began to rein up our ponies in front of the shadow of the forest.
"Here lies our path through Mirkwood," Gandalf called to us as I stared up at the looming trees, feeling a bit queasy.
"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side," Dwalin said as he dismounted from his pony before he came to my side and reached up, wrapping his hands around my waist and gently lifting me down from my pony. We were very close together and I looked up into his eyes and quickly lifted myself up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his lips.
"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master," Gandalf told us and I turned and looked into the distance, just about catching the sight of Beorn in his bear form watching us from a distant ridge. The others began to grumble about this, but Gaandalf told them that they were fools.
"Beorn is not as far off as you seem to think, and you had better keep your promises anyway, for he is a bad enemy. Mr Baggins' and Adaria's eyes are sharper than yours, if you have not seen each night after dark a great bear going along with us or sitting far off in the moon watching our camps. Not only to guard you and guide you, but to keep an eye on the ponies too. Beorn may be your friend, but he loves his animals as his children. You do not guess what kindness he has shown you letting dwarves ride them so far and so fast, nor what would happen to you, if you tried to take them into the forest," Gandalf scolded the dwarves and I raised my hands placatingly.
"We will be turning them loose and letting them return to Beorn. We promised after all and we will be keeping our word," I told everyone and any grumbling was at an end as my words chastised them enough and the dwarves and Bilbo dismounted and began taking their supplies off the ponies. I turned to my own pony and began unloading my pack and Dwalin helped once more to secure it to my back, tightening the straps and making sure that it was on properly and also comfortable. It was heavy, but I knew before long it would be lighter once our supplies began to dwindle.
Bilbo approached the forest on foot and I walked up behind him, talking in the forest with a grim looking on my face. I didn't like the look of it. It looked like a forest in a horror movie, the kind you shouldn't enter. It's not as if we had much choice though.
"This forest feels...sick, as if a disease lies upon it," Bilbo said as he looked at the trees and I nodded in agreement, rubbing my arms again as I shivered once more. "Do we really have to go through?" Bilbo asked Gandalf who had come to join us.
"Yes, you do if you want to get to the other side. You must either go through or give up your quest. And I am not going to allow you to back out now, Mr. Baggins. I am ashamed of you for thinking of it. You have got to look after all these dwarves for me. You and Adaria that is," Gandalf answered him, also looking at me and Bilbo shook his head at that quickly.
"No! No! I didn't mean that. I meant, is there no way around?" Bilbo asked Gandalf who shook his head at that question.
"There is, if you care to go two hundred miles or so out of your way north, and twice that south. But you wouldn't get a safe path even then. There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go. Before you could get round Mirkwood in the North you would be right among the slopes of the Grey Mountains,and they are simply stiff with goblins and Orcs of the worst description. Stick to the forest-track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best, and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes lying below you and beyond them, high in the East, the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smuag lives, though I hope he is not expecting you," Gandalf told us before he followed a path a few feet further into the shadows and approached a plant-covered statue.
Gandalf's POV
As Gandalf approached the statue, ahead of him Galadriel suddenly appeared to him, thought speaking to the wizard from Rivendell. He had felt something strange since arriving at the shadows of the forest and he had noticed Adaira shivering several times and rubbing her arms as if chilled even though the day was warm. The girl was obviously affected by the forest, even just within sight of it. It worried the wizard and confused him.
"Something moves in the shadows unseen, hidden from our sight. Everyday it grows in strength. Beware the Necromancer. He is not what he seems," Lady Galadriel warned Gandalf who approached the statue apprehensively, then quickly yanked off the vines, revealing a painted-on eye which he recognized as the Eye of Sauron on the statue. "If our enemy has returned, we must know. Go to the tombs in the mountains," Galadriel told him and upon hearing her words in his head, the wizard nodded in agreement.
"The High Fells. So be it," Gandalf said under his breath, a grim set to his mouth.
"The girl...there is something I cannot see...something ever changing..," The voice of Galadriel flitted through his head once more and this made Gandalf pause. "Her future twists and turns. The forest will test her. She must not stray from the path," Galadriel told him and Gandalf nodded grimly, hoping that the dwarves would listen to him this once. The unladen ponies trotted away and Nori was just about to finish unsaddling Gandalf's horse when the wizard emerged from the forest.
"Not my horse! I need it!"Gandalf shouted to stop the thief from unsaddling his horse and as he strode forward, the Company looked up and murmured in surprise.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked him, Adaria standing beside the Hobbit, one eyebrow raised as she regarded him quietly.
"I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf answered the Hobbit before the wizard turned and looked at Thorin, before turning back and looking at the dejected Bilbo.
"You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire," Gandalf told the Hobbit with a slight smile on his face.
"I was going to tell you; I...found something in the Goblin tunnels," Bilbo told him and Gandalf frowned, wondering if the Hobbit was finally going to reveal to him what he was keeping hidden in his pocket.
"Found what?" Gandalf asked the Hobbit, leaning forward curiously and suspiciously. Bilbo didn't answer him immediately, but fumbled with something in his pocket. "What did you find?"Gandalf tried to prompt him, but Bilbo stayed silent for several more seconds, before he finally responded.
"My courage," Bilbo answered him and he removed his hand from his pocket.
"Good. Well, that's good. You'll need it," Gandalf told the Hobbit, feeling uneasy that the Hobbit hadn't felt comfortable confiding in him. Gandalf turned and began walking toward his horse and he spoke as he passed Thorin.
"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me," Gandalf told the Dwarven King firmly and Gandalf stopped to look hard at Thorin as he said this before he continued toward his horse. " This is not the Greenwood of old. There is a stream in the woods that carries a dark enchantment. Do not touch the water. Cross only by the stone bridge. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."
"Lead us astray? What does that mean?" Bilbo asked Dwalin who had an arm around Adaria, a grim set to his mouth. Gandalf mounted his horse and it began raining lightly, even though the sun was out.
"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again," Gandalf warned them and he wheeled his horse around and rode away. "No matter what may come, stay on the path!" He shouted over his shoulder and Thorin and Company turned toward the forest.
Adaira's POV
As soon as Gandalf rode away, we turned to the forest and I took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly to steady my nerves. Dwalin leaned over and kissed the side of my head and I hummed slightly, closing my eyes for a moment as I tried to let him calm me.
"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day," Thorin reminded us all and he made for the Elven Gate, leading us into Mirkwood.
"Durin's Day. Let's go!" Dwalin said enthusiastically and he slid his hand into mine and squeezed it. I squeezed his hand back and nodded once before trudging forward.
"This is our one chance to find the hidden door," Thorin said as we entered Mirkwood. We began following the paved path that started at the Elven Gate. It turned after a short time and Thorin scanned the ground carefully before pointing ahead of us into the darkened gloom of the trees. " The path goes this way," He said and as we left the sunlight for the deep gloom of Mirkwood a heaviness settled in my chest that only grew the further we walked amongst the trees.
Khuzdul:
Mizimith- Little jewel
Idad- Uncle
Irak'namad- Female cousin
Adad- Father
Abbad- I'm here
Amrâlimê- My love
Men lananubukhs menu- I love you
Amad- Mother
Gaelic:
Mo chridhe - my heart