She suddenly sat up. Screaming and thrashing about . Strong hands grabbed her shoulders. Her eyes were wide opened yet she was not seeing him. Thranduil Held her tightly and spoke louder. "Juniper calm down. You are safe. Juniper look at me. Listen to my words. " Slowly her struggles eased . Her eyes drifted onto his face and it came into view.

Her small hand lifted to caress his cheek. She was breathing heavily as if she were out of breath. "Thranduil?" He smiled to her and reached up to gently take her hand into his. "Where are we?" She gasped suddenly and pulled her hand away from his and she began to struggle against him to get from the bed. "Where is Ryu? I must see Ryu." Demanded and His hands gripped her shoulders tightly once more.

"Stop." He commanded her in that firm yet calm way of his. She complied and her eyes locked onto his. "Ryu is injured but out of danger." She saw no lie in him and her body relaxed a bit. "We are in the elven camp at Lasgalen. You have been asleep for nearly 2 days Melamin."

She pulled her gaze from his and she began to look around the tent. It was the royal tent she was so familiar with. Her eyes finally drifted to those gathered. Finnola had moved closer She wore bandages on both her arms and one over her cheek. Celeborn was behind Thranduil. His hand rested on Thranduil's shoulder.

"Where is Elthian?" She asked gently and looked to Thranduil.

He smiled gently. "He is with Feren. He has not been gone long. He will be back soon."

"I want to see Ryu." Her voice cracked with her emotions.

"Juniper." Thranduil began to speak. "You need to relax and ..."

She cut him off. "I want to see Ryu now." She was not going to let this go until she saw her sister. He knew it and he looked to Finnola. "Can you go check . Make sure its ok for Juniper to see Ryu at this moment." Finnola smiled softly and nodded before turning to leave.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Celeborn asked her gently.

Her gaze shifted up to him then drifted down as she tried to remember. "There was a thick fog. Chaos erupted around us. Buttercup was... OH No Buttercup.."

Thranduil's hand cupped her cheek and she looked at him. "Your bear is fine. He is just at the edge of the forest."

She looked relieved and closed her eyes for a moment. "Buttercup was fighting then we were knocked off his back. There was this thing on Ryu. It was clawing her and she was bleeding. That's all I remember." Her eyes looked to Thranduil for answers but before he could give them Finnola returned.

"She can see Ryu. Though she has yet to be awakened." Finnola said softly.

Thranduil looked to Juniper and began to pull the blankets back. Finnola handed him the small cloak that Juniper wore. He wrapped it around her with care before scooping her small form up in his arms. He moved through the tent and slipped past the flap.

"Has she said what she remembers?" Finnola asked Celeborn.

"She has no memory of what she has done." He said lowly.

They then followed Thranduil and the Queen from the tent.

The sky was clear and the air was chilled. Juniper lay her head back against Thranduils bicep and looked up at the sky. She could see so many stars that sparkled over head. The half moon looking down on her.

She was taken into another tent. The air within it warm and the light held an inviting orange glow to it. She saw Minol there. He smiled to her and bowed his head. Then as her eyes drifted over the space she saw Legolas sitting beside and sleeping Ryu. Her face covered in small poultices.

Juniper gasped softly and squirmed to be let down. Thranduil carried her to the bed and placed her down to sit beside her sister. Juniper took her small hand into her own and kissed it several times. Tears began to drip from her cheeks as she looked to a distraught Legolas. She reached out with her free arm and He leaned into her embrace.

"She is still with us." Juniper whispered to him.

She sat back and released him then looked to everyone. "Tell me what happened. Do not hold things back from me I will know if you do." She warned them.

Minol looked to the gathered group and cleared his throat. "If I may?" Thranduil nodded towards him.

"These were some of his creations." Minol began. "Goblins made even further twisted by his torment and mixed with them were things he called chimera. I thought his experiments on creatures like this was folly and he would never be successful but it appears he managed to perfect it. He takes different beasts and mixes them together in unnatural ways. " He paused and watched the play of emotions on her face.

"You did battle against them Juniper. " Thranduil spoke then. "Well rather Rowena did." Her brows creased when he told her this.

"When I finally found you . Rowena was in command. You were over Ryu protecting her. You commanded me to take her to safety. It took all my strength then to keep her from falling to the venom they had put in her. If it were not for Celeborn and Thranduil's assistance. I would not have been successful. " Minol explained.

Legolas' color seemed to go pale as the details were spoken. He took Ryu's hand and held it against his lips as he began to weep.

"Do you remember fighting the large chimera? Do you remember slaying it?" Thranduil asked.

Juniper shook her head. " I remember nothing after being taken off Buttercups back."

Thranduil looked to Celeborn then. "It is as it was before. When Rowena is in full control she remembers nothing." Celeborn said softly. "That being said Thranduil. Is it not a relief to know that Juniper indeed is capable to protecting herself and others?" Thranduil just nodded but said nothing.

"When will she wake up?" Juniper asked as her attention turned back to Ryu and Legolas.

"I can not say." Minol looked to them as he spoke. "This venom, it is evil. Her wounds have already begun to heal though. Her body just needs time. We will of course do all that we can."

Her lavender gaze lifted and she looked on Minol. She smiled softly to him. "Thank You Minol. " He bowed deeply to her.

Her small hand lifted and she reached out to Thranduil. He took her hand and lowered down so she could easily look into his eyes. "Now tell me how they were able to attack like this within our own borders. With such large beasts."

He did not look away. He held her gaze and exhaled a deep breath slowly. "I do not know for sure. I suspect that they used some kind of a shield. Something to obfuscate their movements. Like the fog ."

She understood the weight of what this meant. She held his hand and looked to Ryu. "So there it is. They can hit us whenever they wish and we will not even see it coming."

Elrond and Elladan continued to ride towards the river crossing. Passing a good distance from the Rhun. The terrain became more desert like as they went. Though not all sand dunes and intense heat. This was rocky with deep brown grasses and few trees. It grew colder as well. Only a few small streams were their water sources.

They stopped atop a hill and looked out on the vastness before them. In the distance they could see a caravan moving. "Humans." Elrond said softly.

Elladan watched them a few moments. "Is it a trade caravan?"

Elrond shook his head. "I think not. These humans look, defeated." He urged his horse on then . The pace picking up. Elrond sensing these people needed aid.

They slowed as the neared the first of the small wagons. This one drawn by a a large ox. An old man and 2 human woman sitting on the bench like seat. Elrond pushed the hood of his cloak back as they came to rest along side the wagon . As the wagon stopped so did the line of others.

The old man narrowed his eyes looking on the elf. "You must be Elrond. Gandalf said we would meet you along the way."

Elrond's brows lifted. "It is good to know Gandalf is ahead. What has happened to your people?" He asked in concern.

As the old man told Elrond of the attack and all that had happened. Elladan rode slowly along the line of people. Something was pulling him along. The eyes of these humans told him everything. They all looked as if hope was fading. As he neared one of the only box wagons with a cover over it he could hear the sounds of agony coming from within. He stopped and a young girl with big brown eyes and long dark hair looked up to him with wide eyes.

"Do you speak westron?" He asked her and she looked confused.

An older female spoke from a few feet away. "I do." She said .

He looked towards her. Her head was covered in a dirty course woven cloth . Her dark eyes honed in on him.

A scream came from inside the wagon and he quickly dismounted. "What is going on in here?" He asked her.

"Orwen she is.." the woman looked a bit pained as she searched for the right words. "Labor. Bad Labor."

Elladan felt his throat tighten. He stepped closer to the wagon and pulled back the curtain. An old wrinkled woman and a young girl looked to him and He lifted his hand ." I can help." He said gently. The old woman looked at him for a moment . Her eyes drifting over his features and then his ears. She gave him a nodded and He climbed inside.

He would not call the girl covered in sweat and in great pain a woman. She looked far too young to be giving birth to him. Every movement he made was slow and gentle. He could sense her fear and pain as he knelt beside her and gently lay his hands over her swollen belly. His eyes closing as he began to seek the issue. Suddenly his eyes flew open and he went to the curtain.

She was still standing there. The one who spoke westron. "Hurry go the the front . My adar... My Father is there. He is a great healer. Tell him its an emergency. Go Go now."

She gave and nod and ran off towards the front.

There was no way for him to wash his hands properly he looked to the girl. "I need alchohol. Spirits the stronger the better. She looked to the old woman who spoke in a language he had never heard before. The girl rose and leapt from the wagon.

"I talk little." The old woman said. Then cradled the girls head in her lap. "She is sons daughter. Son is gone . "

Elladan understood what she meant. "What of the babies father?" He asked as he placed his hands back on her belly and she began to squirm and scream again. "He gone." The old woman's voice cracked a bit.

Within moments the girl returned with two bottles . As Elladan uncorked one the strong smell told him this was very strong liquor. Over a bowl he poured some over his hands . Elrond was soon climbing into the wagon and Elladan handed him the bottle. "Her hips are far too narrow. The child is still alive but not much longer. " With his hands cleaned and dried He began to check within the expecting mother. "I can feel the child's head. There is no room Ada. "

Elrond kept his composure as he dried his hands. "Put her in a deep dreamless sleep Elladan. We must break her pelvis to open up the birth canal."

Elladan looked to his father. "Ada that is barbaric. Can we not.."

Elrond looked to him. "There is no choice. She is too far into this labor for us to try anything else. She is not an elf."

Elladan cleaned his hands again then lay one on the girls forehead. She locked eyes with him. The pain and fear in them shook him to his fea. "What is her name?" He asked the old woman as he held the girls gaze. "Owren." She said.

"Owren." He said softly. Then gave her a gentle smile. "losta-ar-ôl ar-naeg losta-mi îdh." He whispered to her. The grimace of pain left her face as her eyes closed.

The old woman understood better than they thought. "You must break. I know. Can you help her heal? I hear elf has great magic."

Elrond was preparing to break the girls pelvis. "I can not completely heal broken bones with magic. I can help them to get started and the healing process will be quicker. This is a terrible time for this to happen. How old is she?" He and Elladan worked to get her into position.

The old woman sighed. "This her 16th winter. " Her eyes closed as both elves looked at her with wide eyes. "No judge. She thinks herself in love He thought himself ready for wife. He die protecting her."

"I was young once." Elrond said. "Youth makes you feel impervious. Youth makes you think you are far more wise then you are. There is no judgement. " He looked to the old woman . The wrinkles on her face like lines in a book . Telling her story. She smiled and nodded.

The wail of the new born child drifted from the wagon. Elladan worked quickly cleaning the girl and making sure her breathing was clear. Elrond was busy tending the mother. Elladan carefully passed the plump baby to her grandmother then helped his father.

The caravan had not moved and in fact they had started to make camp. As Elladan exited the wagon with the soiled laundry in hand he stopped and looked around at the crowd that had gathered. The hopeless look these people had when he first arrived was now changed. They smiled at him and spoke yet he did not understand what they said.

"They give you their thanks." The woman who spoke to him before said. He looked to her as he turned to throw the bloodied laundry in the fire. She followed him . "I do not need their praise." He said softly. She smiled to him and stood beside him as the flames took the smell of blood away.

"I am Kree." She said and pushed the fabric from her head to reveal pointed ears.

Elladan looked on her now with wide eyes. "You are half elven."

"There are many like me here." She said softly.

"How is that possible?"

She smiled to him. "Further to the east there are Elves. Though the numbers are few. The dark ones. They come and take those with ears like me. We never see again. "

This news made Elladan frown and his brows crease. His eyes swept over the camp. Now he was seeing humans and half elves living together. Though there were far more humans. "These Elves . Is there skin darker?"

She nodded. "Yes. Then there are the people whos skin is very dark. One of them was with the other elves that came before you. "

'There were Avari still in the east.' he thought. Elladan smiled. "Jeven is his name. His wife is an elleth named Tauriel. So you saw Gandalf and Glorfindel too."

"Yes yes. Minogos was with them. He bring the ancient spirits with him. They go to save Bynsarda. She the dancers woman. They take her and many more. Leave our homes in ruin. Minogos tells us to go west. Find the elf kings lands." She spoke then sighed. "I fear we will not make it. I see great darkness ahead."

"Can you see the future?" He asked lowly she only nodded.

"You will make it. I will guide you." He looked to her as he spoke.

"I knew you would." She said with a grin.

Juniper refused to leave Ryu's side. The Queen lay curled against her side. An arm around Ryu's small frame. Thranduil stayed as well . He sat in a large chair. His gaze off into nothing. Slowly his eyes shifted to fall on his son. He had not said more than a few words since they had made it to Lasgalen.

"You should rest ion nin." Thranduil's deep voice rose gently. Legolas did not move. Thranduil understood this worry very well. He rose and moved with silent grace to his sons side . His hand lay upon Legolas' shoulder. He jerked a bit as if coming out of a stupor.

He blinked a few times before looking to his father. "Did you say something ada?" His voice was low.

Thranduil smiled gently and squeezed his sons shoulder lightly. "You should rest."

"I can not." Legolas' eyes shifted back to Ryu.

"Yes you can." Thranduil began gently. "Lay beside her. I assure you Juniper will not mind. Ryu can sense when you are near. The feel of you next to her will be a great comfort. "

"How do you do it Ada? Juniper has been gravely injured. You almost lost her. How did you do it?" Legolas drew Ryu's small hand up into his grasp .

Thranduil's brows raised a bit as he inhaled and exhaled slowly. "The first time when she was bitten by that monster. I fell apart. I wouldn't leave her side. Not even to care for myself. I thought if I left for even a second I would loose her. By the time Galadriel, Elrond and Gandalf arrived I was barely there. Gandalf had to force me away and make me eat. As I recall I fell asleep at the dining table. I was ashamed to learn Gandalf carried me to bed . "

Legolas looked to his father then with a mildly shocked expression. He had never seen his father even in a sate where he was not in control . Especially of himself. Thranduil saw that look in his sons eyes and chuckled gently.

"You really do not want to get so distraught that you fall asleep in your soup and I have to put you to bed." He sighed. " You never stop worrying Legolas. Your instinct will be to never let her outside again. You would lock her away just to keep her safe. You can not do that. Especially to fae. You will end up choking the life from them. I have done that to. Well to a degree. It is not pleasant. So please do not do that."

His hand remained on his sons shoulder. "You can not take care of her if You do not first take care of yourself ion nin. Which starts with you resting. You have not slept in days. Nor even meditated and that would not do at this point. I will stay and watch. "

Legolas was reluctant but he listened to his fathers advice. He pulled his boots off and set them beside the bed then rose from his chair. The blankets pulled back just enough for him to slip under them. He now curled against her side. His head rested light against Ryu's.

Thranduil took his seat again. Now he watched as his son fell asleep next to the one that would be his wife. His gaze drifting onto the sleeping face if his own wife. Her fingers gently curling with a bit of Ryu's raven hair wrapped around a small finger. The familial bond had grown quickly between the two of them. Though 2 different races. They being the only true fae in the world. He could understand why the clung to each other so tightly.

Movement in the shadows was detected from the corner of his eye. Shadow and Shade too have refused to leave. Though they remained mostly unseen. If Ryu died they would too. Yet their worry seemed to be more than just self preservation. Their symbiotic existence was curious.

Finally Thranduil allowed his eyes to close. While he would not sleep he would meditate. Allowing his mind and body to rest yet he would be aware. This was natural to him and to all elves.

He focused in on Juniper. Her state of rest and her calming presence. She was at ease in those moments. He allowed that comfort to consume himself. Soon he would not have her so near.