The Elven camp was a wooden structure built on top of a large tree, which they'd reached after walking for about a quarter of an hour. Spiral stairs led to the balcony of the semi-circular building nested in the fork of the tree's main trunk. Two Elven guards stood at its base, and they threw surprised looks at the one called Sirannon.
"Please, proceed up," he said and made an inviting gesture with his gloved hand. "Refreshments will be offered to you, while you're awaiting the answer from the Halls."
Eorwyn looked up and swallowed in discomfort. She was never fond of heights, and the steps seemed rather too steep to her. She had longer legs than Ein, but she would still have trouble climbing the steps.
"Perhaps, the refreshments could be brought down," she said haughtily and looked around. "Lord Ein and I will sit over there."
She pointed at a fallen tree a few feet away. Ein gave her a side glance and then marched to the tree. The Elves shifted in obvious unease, but Eorwyn ignored them. She sat down, and Ein joined her.
"So, what sort of refreshments are those?" he asked as if addressing the canopy of the autumn leaves above them, and Eorwyn snorted.
"I'll send one of my men down right away," Sirannon said with a courteous bow and started walking up to the lodging.
When he disappeared inside, Ein chuckled.
"What's this about, birdie?" he asked and pulled out his pipe from behind his belt. "Is that lair of theirs not to your liking?"
"That lair of theirs is too much of a nest, and no matter what you call me, I'm no bird." Except perhaps a chicken, she thought in amusement. "If we need to retreat, neither you, nor me will sprout wings."
"Were I alone, I wouldn't even think about retreating, but I see your point." He threw a glance up the massive tree. "My Da was a merchant, a poor and quite a hapless one to it. He'd take myself and my brother on his trips. I used to love to climb trees as a bairn. My brother used to tease me for it, called me 'an Elfling.'"
"Couldn't possibly seem like a compliment, could it?" Eorwyn whispered conspiratorially and bumped her shoulder to his.
He laughed. "Obviously. I'd chase him and smack him every time for it. I was younger, but already much faster and stronger."
He squinted and lit up his pipe.
"Where is he now?" Eorwyn asked quietly.
"He didn't come back from the tunnels," Ein answered quietly. He looked at her through the cloud of his aromatic smoke and seemed to guess she didn't understand. "That's what they say about those who fought under the Misty Mountains, from Mount Gundabad in the north to the peak of Methedras during the War with Orcs. Those who'd been there never speak of what had happened to them - or what they'd done to their enemies." Eorwyn frowned. "I was younger, just a lad really," Ein said in a hollow voice, "but already one of the best swordsmen. My gift was said to be wasted in the tunnels, so I was called to fight on the surface. We lost half of all our warriors in the battle of Azanulbizar, your King's bother included. I've known him, Frerin, son of Thrain." Ein exhaled another ring of smoke. "And I saw King Thorin fight in that battle as well." He glanced at her. "Those who did would never forget his fortitude."
Eorwyn bit her bottom lip and whispered, "I sometimes feel so… small, compared–" She didn't continue, and he tilted his head, giving her an inquisitive look. "So young," she said. "And insignificant."
"You are young, aren't you, lady Eorwyn?" he said softly. "Even by the measure of Men."
"Aye, I've seen eighteen Springs. I'm not a child in the eyes of Men, but I'm hardly an adult."
"And you are small," he added, and she nodded. "But you aren't insignificant, that I can assure you of," he said.
He was almost whispering now as well, and Eorwyn searched his eyes, trying to understand the emotion laced in his voice. He passed his pipe in his left palm and picked up her hand. She could feel him gently squeeze her fingers through two pairs of gloves. They sat so close to each other that she could see the golden specs in the green of his irises.
"You are–" he started in a raspy voice, and then a noise came from above them, and Eorwyn saw an Elf coming down with a sack of provisions and several dark green bottles, tied together at their necks.
He passed the food and drink to Ein with a bow and climbed up the ladder again.
"Well, I suppose we might as well eat," Ein said, opening the sack.
They found cheese and bread and glass jars of preserves, all wrapped in parchment, and Ein moved away from her and started arranging their meal on the tree between them. They ate in amicable silence.
Ein was smoking his second pipe, and Eorwyn had just finished practicing the two-digit multiplication table in her head, when a noise came from the opposite direction that they'd come from. The bushes moved, and a group of Elves stepped out. Eorwyn noticed from the corner of her eyes that Ein suddenly had his swords lying across his lap, instead of being strapped to his belt.
"Greetings," said the Elf that had stepped out of the woods first.
"Greetings, Captain Tauriel," said Eorwyn, and the redhead looked at Eorwyn more attentively.
Eorwyn rose, and Ein followed her example. Meanwhile, the one called Sirannon stepped out onto the balcony and then started hastily climbing down the ladder. The guards that stood by it squared their shoulders.
"This is lady Tauriel, Captain of the Mirkwood Guard," Eorwyn introduced. "This is lord Ein, son of Finnar."
Ein gave the Captain a ceremonious bow, and she looked him over quickly.
"The guard who'd brought news of your arrival said you were on an official diplomatic mission and required passage through our woods," the redhead said. "I was told to accompany you to the Halls of King Thranduil."
Ein shifted closer to Eorwyn, his hands on the handles of his swords, and muttered, "No making runes dance, I see."
"Our mission is of urgent nature," Eorwyn said firmly. "Unfortunately, we have no time to enjoy the hospitality of King Thranduil. Our companions–"
"You said they carried a disease," the Elf said sharply. "They aren't allowed to enter our woods."
"Lord Ein and I have endured the illness already, so our healers deemed it safe for us to come here. Provided with a map, we could pass through your woods without coming in contact with your people," Eorwyn said, keeping her tone even. "King Thorin–"
"Is he travelling alone?" the Captain asked, and Eorwyn looked at her in confusion.
"We have three more companions and King Thorin waiting for us," she said.
She heard a quiet chuckle from Ein behind her, but she decided she'd inquire into the reason for his merriment later.
"We do not need anything but a map and the permission to–" Eorwyn started, only to be interrupted yet again.
"King Thradnuil requests your presence in his Halls," Captain Tauriel said. "Do we understand it right that you are the proxy of King Under the Mountain?"
Eorwyn swallowed a knot in her throat.
"I am his wife," she said, surprised at how steady her voice was. "I am Eorwyn Kalmûna Ereborul, the Lady of the Mountain."
The redhead's face wavered, and another suppressed chuckle rumbled in Ein's throat.
"Allow me to congratulate you on your wedding, my lady," Tauriel said and gave Eorwyn a low bow.
Her four companions - Mirkwood guards, judging by the armour similar to hers - followed suit. So did Sirannon and his guards as well.
"I thank you," Eorwyn said and gave the Elf a tilted nod. She mimicked the gesture she'd seen King Thorin make many times. It was both gracious and dignified. "And now, please, provide us with a map."
"Unfortunately, my orders are different," Tauriel said. "I am to show you the way to King Thranduil's Halls. He wishes to speak to you himself."
King Thorin's words echoed in Eorwyn's memory. If the dastards don't behave, just leave. On the other hand, he told her to trust her intuition, and the latter told Eorwyn she needed to take the risk. They had no time to waste. The women in the garrison were waiting for them - and relying on Eorwyn to get to them. Going around the woods or searching another path would take too long.
"Very well," she said, and felt Ein's surprised gaze on the side of her face. "Lead the way, Captain."
The Elf gave her another bow and made an inviting gesture towards the bushes she'd come from. Her guards moved the branches aside, and Eorwyn saw a narrow but clear path leading away from the camp.
"Are you sure?" Ein whispered in Khuzdul.
Eorwyn nodded, without turning to him, and took a step forward.
