Juniper stood before Buttercup. In her hand was several sweet carrots. She offered them to the enormous bear and giggled each time the bears tongue passed over her palm taking the carrots happily.

The staging area was bustling with activity. While most of Thranduils troops had already departed for Lasgalen, the supplies and the rest of the army were just now heading there. These would be the last days she would spent with Buttercup before she left. Such a long journey was not one the bear could make.

Elthian watched her. It was a great contrast. The powerful beast and his diminutive Master. Soon the bear was rolling over to his back and going belly up for her to rub. Like an over sized puppy.

"It is time Juniper."

Elthian looked over to see Thranduil approaching. He was not on the back of his Elk. Memna was to stay home. Instead he was on the back of his horse, Belegund. She looked over her shoulder at him and nodded then looked back to Buttercup.

"Alright you big bear its time to go. " She said softly and the bear rolled back over. She climbs up onto his massive back.

Ryu came hurrying over. She climbing up on the bears back with Juniper. Her cloak opening up as she wraps it around Juniper along with her arms. Thranduil caught himself smiling at the fae naturally cuddling together for warmth.

Feren was crouched down hugging a sobbing Dehlia. He glanced up to see tears in the normally stoic Dorians amber eyes. "You must obey your Naneth and help take care of your nethig." He spoke gently and rose bringing the little girl with him. Dehlia clung to Feren . Her small arms around his neck. He wrapped his arm around Dorian and pulled him close. These 2 children were now his and leaving them was difficult.

Soon they were moving in a file down the road south. Flanked by Thranduil and Legolas.

On the rise behind them Ninnel and Galion stood watching. Galion struggled to hold his emotions in. Soon he was failing. Ninnel knew why the seneschal was unable to control his emotions. She wrapped her arms around Galion and soon his head was lowered to her shoulder and he was sobbing.

She glanced to see Minol on the back of a black horse. Looking back as well. For the first time she saw his face show emotion. His brows creased with sadness before he turned away and followed the King .

"There there." She said softly to Galion. "Lets go inside and get some tea. You have a kingdom to run and I have children to take care of. "

This ride had become very familiar to Juniper and Ryu. The day would warm up enough for Juniper to come from under Ryu's cloak and shed her own for some sun. The fae rode under the protection of every elf present and the bear.

Juniper looked back to see Elthian behind them. A smile curled on her lips . The sun shining down on him as it was made him seem to glow even more than she normally saw him. She turned about and lay her head atop Buttercup's and stretched out. Her small feet against Ryu's thighs.

Ryu seemed to only have eye's for Legolas now. Juniper catching her peeking over several times. Her own purple gaze shifted to Thranduil. He looking forward with no emotion on his features. She lifted an arm and slid it under her head . Her eyes drifting from Thranduil to the blue clear sky overhead.

"What are you thinking of?" Thranduil's voice broke the daze she had found herself drifting off to.

"I wonder if the sky is the same in the east." She said softly.

Ryu's eyes widened and she smiled to Legolas as Juniper answered Thranduil's question. Legolas tried to hide his amuzed smile.

Thranduil chuckled. "I now realize just how sheltered you have been." Juniper narrowed her eyes and looked at him.

"The sky is the same anywhere you go. It might be cloudy or clear. Yet it is the same sky. At night though. The stars change position. There are even different ones in the far south. It depends on where you are on the arda ." Thranduil explained to her.

Juniper now looked back up to the sky. "I wonder why the stars are different in other places."

"That I do not know Melamin." Thranduil couldn't help but smile.

"It is because the gods choose to show the different peoples different stars." Ryu said softly and Juniper sat up looking to her. "The gods of the south show the people their stars. That is what I was told."

"So the people of the south do not believe in the Valar?" Legolas asked.

Ryu shook her head. "They believe in different gods." Her brows creased. " Well I think they are the same gods but they call them by different names. I will tell you all about them. Just not now. I still have bad dreams about my time in the south."

Juniper reached out and pulled Ryu into a hug.

"Finnola." Juniper squealed finally catching sight of her friend at the small camp. It was here they would stay for the night and Finnola had left the day before to make sure it was prepared and safe. She ran towards the Giantess and leapt up into her powerful arms. "Are you doing better?" She asked softly.

"I still miss him but yes I am better." Finnola placed Juniper down gently. She nodded to Legolas and smiled. "I do need to speak to Legolas though. Your tent is over there near the center of the came."

Juniper followed Finnola's pointing finger . She grabbed Ryu's hand and tugged her along. "Come on sister lets getting settled." Ryu stumbled off after the Queen and looked back over her shoulder to Legolas who was standing there smiling and shaking his head.

Finnola's gaze took on a serious look as she turned back to Legolas. "There are some strange tracks in the forest. You should see them."

Finnola and Legolas walked into the forest with purpose. She taking him to a spot where several others stood waiting on them. She stopped without a word and simply pointed to the ground. His cold gaze drifted down to the forest floor . A sense of confusion began to fill him for he did not know what he was looking at.

Slowly he lowered down into a crouch and he observed the tracks. "I have never seen this before." He spoke softly and looked up to Finnola.

"Neither have I or has anyone here seen tracks like these." She spoke lowly.

"These are like a birds. Three toes . The movement is bird like as well. Yet this bird must be enormous. " Legolas held his hand down in the middle of the track. His fingers splayed out and there was still several inches all around his hand that did not touch the track.

"Well would you look at that."

The voice came from over head. Finnola and Legolas as well as the other elves present looked up to see Minol in the branches of the trees over head.

"This bit of information I am about to share I see no issue with. There were very dark things being created in the bowels of his lair when I left. His cruel experiments never seemed to end. Most of the things he was twisting then died. The foul beasts you have encountered were those that survived his cruelty. I suspect he has perfected his dark magic. Whatever left these tracks are from him. "

Legolas rose and looked to the guards gathered. "Triple the patrols and the guard. " Soon the elves disappeared into the forest to obey his command. "Finnola we need to protect The Queen and Ryu far more heavily than we thought while in out own forest."

Minol dropped down from the trees . He sighed as he looked at the tracks. "This is a message to all of us. He can attack us anytime, anywhere he chooses. This is meant to scare us." He looked between the giant and the elf.

"I must tell ada." Legolas turned and swiftly departed leaving Minol with Finnola.

"If you have an idea what these are you need to tell me now so I know how to protect the fae." She said to Minol softly.

"I have an idea but you will not like it." He answered back and lowered down to look on the tracks more closely. "He calls them Chimera."

As Juniper and Ryu sat near a warm fire Juniper began to notice the presence of the guard increased around them. "Something is amiss." She said to Ryu and now Ryu looked around.

"There are so many around us." Ryu whispered to Juniper.

Juniper rose and called out to Elthian who stood several yards away and was speaking with Feren. "Elthian, come here please." He said a few more words to Feren and started towards her.

"What is it Melamin?" He said trying to smile. She knew him well enough to know when he was trying to not worry her.

"We are still within the safety of our own forest. Why are there so many guards around us?" She asked gently. Her face having lifted to look up at him. He sighed and lowered down so she did not have to crane her neck so much.

" There are some strange tracks in the forest. We suspect they are from more of those twisted beasts. " As Elthian spoke her shoulders began to slump and her eyes lowered. Ryu listened and felt her lips quiver.

"Here in the forest?" She asked almost in disbelief.

Elthian nodded . "I need the both of you to stay together and not wander."

Ryu rose and moved beside the queen. Her hand sliding into Junipers. Her fingers lacing with the queens. "We will obey Elthian." Ryu said with a reassuring smile.

The night had passed without incident. A fog clung to the forest that morning. They had awoken early. She huddled beside Ryu and within the warmth of her cloak. They both cradled cups of tea. Junipers her usual morning tea. The taste of which she had become accustomed to.

Thranduil had not shared the tent that night. She and Ryu had cuddled together all night. Thranduil had remained awake and alert . The discovery of the strange tracks and the story about the chimera had given him good reason to stay on guard. He approached his wife and her sister with a smile and lowered down to a crouch. His arm hard reaching out to caress his wife's cheek.

"I would like it if you wore your mythril dress Melamin. Just to be safe." She looked deeply in his eyes and could see the worry within the steely depths.

"Ryu has no armor." She said softly.

He smiled. "Then you must protect her."

"I have Shadow and Shade sister. I assure you they are my armor and my weapons." Ryu rose and took Junipers hand and tugged her up. "Let's go find your pretty shiny dress. " Juniper got to her small feet and Ryu looked to the king who mouthed the words 'Thank You.' to her. She nodded to him and smiled.

Legolas moved beside his father and stopped. They watching the two fae disappear into the tent. "There is no sign of movement in the forest. No fresh tracks. It's a bit strange Ada. Not even the wild life moves."

Thranduil looked to his son and frowned. "We must be extra vigilant. Something is amiss ion nin."

The fog continued to cling to the lush forest. The elves moved in a tight formation around the Queen and Ryu. Buttercup lumbered along. He carrying his precious cargo. There was tension in the forest that day. It clung to the thick fog that engulfed them.

Elthian urged Loratha up beside Thranduil. "This fog feels unnatural." He said softly to the king. Thranduil hummed an answer of agreement. Even his eyes had a hard time seeing very far through it.

There was silence around them. No birds sang. Nothing seemed to move but them. Shadow and Shade appeared . They close to Ryu and Juniper. Shadow spoke to Legolas. "Something is coming. Its coming fast. "

"Ada." Legolas looked to his father. The line stopped. Then the sounds of movement surrounded them. The cries of the first attacks began to drift through the fog. An unseen enemy.

"Protect the Fae." Thranduil called out as the circle around the bear and his riders began to tighten.

Then in the blink of an eye they were over run. The elves attacking things so fast they seemed to be nothing but a blur. These were smaller things. Their cries and growls mixing now with the cries of the elves. Archers were useless in the fog. Everything was close combat.

Buttercup roared into the fog. He rose up and began to swipe at the things attacking him. Ryu and Juniper cling to his back. He bucks and spins and when Juniper looked down she saw it. It looked like a goblin but.. there was something very wrong with this goblin. Even more so than what was wrong with a normal Goblin. Buttercup trampled it soon after. Then was attacking another. Soon they were separated from Thranduil and the others.

She could hear her name being called. Though she could not see Thranduil any longer. Shadow and Shade never left their side. They too defending the fae. Their dark misty forms disappearing and reappearing as the destroyed the attackers efficiently.

"THRANDUIL!" Juniper screamed as she began to realize they were cut off from the others and they were surrounded. Something hit her and she fell hard to the ground. Ryu beside her.

One of the dark beasts was on top of Ryu . Clawing at the fae The scent of fae blood began to surround her as Ryu screams in pain. Shadow and Shade now over run by the attackers. Everything slowed down. Juniper closed her eyes.

Ryu was struggling against the thing on top of her. Shadow and Shade fighting their way towards her . She was screaming in fear and pain. Then suddenly she felt a warm spray of dark blood upon her fact and when she opened her eyes the beasts eyes were wide and protruding from its chest was a sharp shiny edge.

It was flung to the side and now standing over her was Juniper. The Queen crouched over Ryu Her blades in her hands. It was like thunder. The scream that came from the Queen. Ryu had to cover her ears. Several beasts dropped around them.

As more approached she defended her position screaming and slicing with her swords. Barely moving from her place over Ryu. Ryu watched as these things rushed towards the Queen and fell. One leaping for her and she ducks down them comes back up pushes it away from them. Her voice killing it as she screamed at it. She turned and sank a blade into the throat of another.

A blood soaked Minol dropped down beside her . She stopped her attack half way through once she realized who it was. He nodded to her. "Rowena." He said with a small smile. "Get her out of here." Rowena growled at him. Minol wanted to protest. He wanted to stay and protect the Queen but when he saw Ryu and all the blood He scooped her up and with a beat of his wings he was gone.

Now she had the freedom to move and kill as she wished. The attacks on her began to lesson and she was very aware of the trembling of the ground. A large dark shape appeared obscured by the fog. She took a few steps back and tilted her head back to look up at the massive beast that made its approach.

She felt a sense of utter disgust when she finally got a clear view of it. An amalgamation of animals . Unnaturally twisted into one. The head of a great eagle. The body of a Lion . Front legs of the lion back legs of the eagle. The wings on his back folded down. The tail of a serpent. Around it small things. made from Birds and other creatures. They scattered into the forest leaving her with the largest one.

It let out a shrieking cry his foul breath washing over her. She screamed back at it. Again her voice like thunder and it pushed the beast back but did not kill it. It charged her and she grinned easily dodging the attack she went small and the big as she attacked the beast back . Much to her dismay the sword hit its mark but did not penetrate the beasts flesh. Under the thin fur it was covered the the scales of the serpent.

Its tail swooped around and hit her flinging her several yards into a tree. She shook it off and got to her feet and in seconds she was being attacked again . All of her attacks were pointless. Nothing cut the beasts flesh. She dodged and flew managing to not be hit again. She flew higher and higher . Getting herself up near its head. She screamed at it. Her thundering voice made its eyes begin to bleed.

She knew then if it bleeds it can be killed and as it opened it beak to roar at her . She went small and in a flash of light she sped towards its opened maw. She nothing but a small glow disappeared inside the beast.

The sound of many hooves pounding the ground was heard and a bright light shined in the fog. The fog began to clear like smoke in the wind. Thranduil looked up and saw Celeborn in his golden armor . A vial of starlight held high in his hand. He on his meara chanting in Quenya.

As the fog cleared what they were fighting lost its smoke screen and the elves began to slaughter the foul beasts. Thranduil began to desperately look for Juniper and Ryu. Calling to them. Legolas and Elthian joined him. They found Minol. He was kneeling over Ryu. His hands glowing as he whispered. Her body covered in cuts and her own blood mixed with the black blood of the beasts.

Legolas' eyes widen as she runs to them. "Do not touch her." Minol warned without even looking at him. "There was venom in the beasts claws. I am not allowing it to move through her." Legolas sat back and watched in silence.

"Where is Juniper?" He asked as gently as he could. Not wishing to interrupt or even frighten Ryu.

Minol chuckled. "Rowena was doing battle deeper in the forest. She made me save Ryu. " He motioned with his head the direction he had come from.

Thranduil and Elthian ran as fast as they could. Easily killing the few creatures that still moved as they went. They were soon following a trail of dead creatures and broken trees. First they came upon the enormous chimera. It lay dead on his side. as they made their way around it they saw it had been disemboweled. Steaming foul innards littered the ground. They heard growls and followed the sounds. At first Elthian though it was one of the creatures they had just done battle with straddling one of its own and stabbing it repeatedly.

Then as the suns light began to filter through the trees he saw the glint of Mythril covered the the thick black blood of the enemy. Elthian took several steps towards her but Thranduil stopped him. "That's not her Elthian." He said softly.

She was covered in blood and guts. Steam rose from her body. Thranduil took a step towards her. Her pointed ear twitched and without even looking one of her swords was thrown in his direction. He barely stepped out of its path and it stuck in a tree behind him . He and Elthian both looked at it and then back to her with wide eyes.

She crawled from beast and spun around to face them. Putrid gore dripped from her face. In her hand was the other dagger. She panted like a beast trying to catch its breath. Each exhale a growl. Her eyes were wide and wild. The pupils so dilated that her eyes looked as dark as Ryu's.

"Put your sword down Elthian. Do it slowly." Thranduil said gently to him. They both lowered down and lay their weapons on the ground.

"Queen Rowena." Thranduil said softly. " We have not been properly introduced. I am Thranduil King of the Woodland Realm. It is an honor to meet you." He bowed his head in reverence. Elthian followed suit. "This is Elthian the captain of my personal guard. " He motioned to Elthian.

Elthian swallowed hard. "It is an honor My Lady." He spoke now. He had heard that Juniper was not alone . That their was another living within her. Now he was faced with the might of that being. She was terrifying.

She looked between them both. Then bowed her head slightly in recognition. "Is the nymph still with us?" She asked.

Thranduil nodded gently. "Minol is working to save her."

Rowena gave a sarcastic laugh. "I can not believe that I am forced to trust that traitor." She looked at her hands. "Do you love Juniper? Do you truly love her Lord Thranduil?"

"We both do. Elthian and I . With all of what we are." Thranduil said and felt himself smile.

"She is lucky to have you both." Her eyes shifted to Elthian then. "You will protect her with your life young guard. I will help you."

Her eyes then went back to Thranduil. "That is the evil you face young king." She motioned to the chimera with her sword. "Are you prepared?"

Thranduil grinned then touched the side of his face that once bore the deep scars of dragon fire. "Indeed My Lady."

"I fear what will come is far worse than dragons fire if you are not successful. " She staggered then the sword dropping from her hand. The adrenalin fading Rowena began to disappear into the background of Junipers mind. Thranduil rushed to catch her before she fell.

Celeborn and Feren came rushing towards them with several soldiers. They slowed as they neared the fallen chimera. Their steps now careful as they rounded it and saw the violent death it had experienced. Their eyes drawn to a shaft of sun light that now fell on Thranduil as he lifted a filth covered Juniper into his arms.

They were frozen to the spot . Looking at her state . Realizing she was the one that slew the huge beast .

Elthian looked to them and smiled. "Do not worry. She lives."