To the Expected and Unexpected

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart." ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I didn't wake to sun shining bright on my face nor the chirping of birds. I didn't wake to the smell of food nor the laughter of children. I awoke to danger tingling in my senses.

I had slept in the open air of the tall tower, hoping to find some sort of solace. My mind kept running around in circles around the loneliness I lived in and would have to endure for all eternity. Alone but not alone. There would always be people standing beside me but I would never have what I had back home again. I'll never have anyone to call my own.

I had to let my mind drift by meditating and it had been reposeful sleep until I sensed an overwhelming amount of chakra signatures that had not been near me before. In smooth, quick movements, I was on my feet and observing the city from the high perch. Soldiers in lines five marched through the streets, garbed in golden armour, and each company wielding different weapons, whether bows, spears, or swords. It seemed as if there was a river of gold streaming into the city and there had to be at least ten thousand of them. The sun sat above the horizon and not one of the townsfolk was awake to witness the arrival of the army.

Who were they?

They seemed friendly enough, though, if they weren't storming screaming genocide.

Some hours later, I learned they were elves and they were exactly as the townsfolk said: graceful and beautiful. They oddly reminded me of Kaguya with her otherworldly regality but it comforted me to know I am not the only silver haired being in this world.

There had been shouts of relief and joy when the elves rolled in the cart of food and the townsfolk swarmed around to unloaded the goods. I had refrained from eating for six days to give others more to eat, and even my body had yet to make demands, it was taking a toll on my chakra reserves. Maintaining my bodies functions and holding out against the heat consumes more energy than fighting. My stomach grumbled in relief seeing the food and as much as I was grateful to the elves, they did not come for us.

The Elvenking was going to declare war on the dwarves. There were precious heirlooms of his people within the mountain. It was petty to go to war over something so priceless. Bard agreed with me and attempted to avoid war by talking with the dwarves but he had failed. Said they didn't listen to reason, said that Thorin Oakenshield's word meant nothing. Tomorrow at dawn the elves would be going to war.

I knew, though, those dwarves in the mountain had to have some sort of reinforcement coming. They couldn't be so confident they could withstand an attack by an army elves by their lonesome. There were ten of them! Whatever is coming, it is going to be massacre and I had to prepare for the aftermath. I barely had enough herbs left to treat the injured for the next few days. So with that in mind, I grabbed my walking stick and a small satchel. There were only five hours of daylight left to go down, gather herbs, and return. I would have to sprint.

A light pink dusted my cheeks and my hair was frazzled. I had made it back to Dale with two hours to spare and as I trudged through the city, it had a different air to it. Companies of men practiced their kata while others filed weapons. Woman ran around fetching things for them and children were nowhere to be seen.

I passed by a yellow tent with two elves keeping guard. Many elves kept watch in similar stances around the city, however, a majority of them looked down at the gates of the Lonely Mountain.

"Fern!" The elves gazes flickered to me, my brow wrinkled at the action, but my eyes spotted Bard emerging from the tent.

I approached him at the entrance and I could spot the carpeted floor and the kindling fire pit. There were tables with papers all over and jugs of what I assume to be wine. It all looked regal, it must be the tent for the Elvenking.

"Fern, are you leaving?" My eyes rose to met Bard's. There was the small frown on his lip that never seemed to disappear.

My head tilted to the side. "No."

"But your bag. Your stick," his eyes flickered to the offending objects.

Ah. Now I understood what he meant and a small chuckle escaped my breath. "I've just come back. I went down to the forest to restock whatever herbs I'll need for after the battle."

"It is an army of elves against thirteen dwarves. There will be no battle," a husky voice drawled from within the tent and Bard stepped aside to look at the Elvenking. There was an old man smoking a pipe in the tent, dressed in grey robes that were worse for wear, but I payed him no heed, for I was ensnared by the glowing sight of the elf sitting on wooden chair worthy only of kings.

Like one small shaft of light flooding into my eyes, I will never see things just the same but I'm not afraid. Everything I have seen, all I have done, and all I have doesn't seem so significant anymore.

At the drop of a hat, I could leave almost everything that I've ever known to be by him. The hollowness in me — in heart — is gone. A lump grows in my throat.

There's a beautiful storm in his eyes. My chakra hums to his and it oddly feels we're perfectly intertwined. I know we have the same raging battle happening within us and I'm unable to decide whether to be angered or grateful. He's showing me feelings I've never felt before.

This elf with enthralling blue eyes, speckled with grey and green, is so familiar but I know I have never met him before. I am a stranger to this world and yet he is making me question whether it was him that reminded me of home. Or was it Konohagakure that reminded me of him? I inhaled and, for a moment, I was lounging on the grass after a long day of training, staring absentmindedly at the blue, cloudy sky through the canopy of the tall trees of Konohagakure. His eyes were home. They were a treasure I never knew I lost.

The Elvenking shined like the moon and I was captivated by his resonating light. He had lustrous pale-golden hair that fell around him like magnificent curtain and it was held down by silver circlet of threaded metal with a white stone resting over his dark brows. A black, shimmering cloak wrapped around him over his equally dark robes and a metal broach rested on his chest.

He sat motionless. His electrifying blue eyes flittered over me, taking in every inch as if he was trying to solve a puzzle, and my hand clenched around my walking stick. From the way my ends of my hair framed my face to the red haori that cocooned me like an empty sack of potatoes, he was studying me just as thoroughly as I studied him. Was I as familiar to him as he was to me?

I inhaled deeply to rid myself of the feelings and spoke quietly, reminding myself to address the Elvenking like the Daimyo, "There will be a battle, your grace."

A smirk played on his lips, "And why is that?"

"They have asked for reinforcements. It's impossible for them to be this confident against an army of elves without it, your grace. I'm sure there are other dwarves out there willing to take up the cause of defending their renown stronghold filled with treasure." I tried to explain while fighting for control with the thudding in my chest.

Bard gently held my elbow and prompted me, "What do you suggest we do? Don't look at me like that, Fern. You know about war. You warned me the elves coming yesterday. How should we proceed?"

"I left that life behind, Bard," I said, stepping back, but he insisted.

"There are lives at stake. People will die"

My retort was whispery. "That's what people do. They die."

"How can you say that?" Bard raised his voice, his eyes wide in aghast. "These are the people of Laketown. The ones that clothed you, fed you, for two years. You might have not been born among us but we are your people."

I let out a large exhaled and I met the Elvenking's piercing blue eyes for second before I turned back to the man. "You're not. No one can replace my home and nothing will ever compare to its glory. I served my duty as a soldier but I am done. I won't spill more blood."

"You are but a child," the old leaned his head forward, holding his pipe between his teeth. He had a long grey beard to match his ragged, slouched appearance and twinkling aged blue eyes. "Barely a soldier."

"And yet, I have survived through what would give you nightmares, Old Man."

Silence filled the tent as the men scrutinised me. They were picking apart every one of my words rather than the pressing issue: war. The Elvenking's eyes hadn't even strayed from me for a second.

"Are your people marching on the mountain?" The old man's voice was gruff as it cut through

"No."

Bard had narrowed eyes and his back was stiff. "How can we trust your word?"

"You can't but the truth, it is. My people aren't coming."

"Help me fight then, decide, plan," The dark-haired man pleaded and I had to hold back the shock at his insistence. Why did he want me to help so badly?

"I can't," I began while taking steps back. "I cannot interfere, not anymore," I shook my head, letting words spill out, "I stand on the shore of the river of time as events unfold before me and I can only lend a hand when the river calms. Stop asking me to get involved when I cannot risk the safety of my people."

I took one last look at the Elvenking, who had an indescribable storm raging within him behind his stoic features, and I walked away.

These men weren't focusing on what mattered. They were using me as an outlet for their planning when they knew exactly what was to happen. I didn't have time for that. This wasn't my fight.

"Thank you, Fern!" Rose chirped from beside her mother and I gave her a small smile, ruffling her hair. I had covered the burn on her little arm once again with salve. I rose to my feet and I pivoted to leave but a hand wrapped around my wrist. Roses's mother looked up at me in gratitude. "Thank you. I don't know what any of us would have done without you."

I didn't respond. How could I? Had I really done anything for them, I would have killed Smaug before he could do any harm. I gave her curt nod and left the building, escaping to the frosty night air.

The path to my tower came naturally and I meandered through the streets, passing all the soldiers who sat solemnly around fires, enjoying what could be their last night alive. An elf with auburn hair approached me with light feet and I stopped. "The King has requested your presence."

What? Did he feel the same as I did when we met? There is no I way I am going near him again. He threatened my resolve to keep my existence a secret. A sigh passed my lips as I closed my eyes. How would I get out of this?

I opened my eyes and let a charming smile grace my lips. "Please, lead the way. I still don't know my way around the city."
He nodded and turned, his red cloak billowing. I followed behind him diligently and the elf looked back occasionally, making sure I was there. At the last corner before reaching the King's tent, I pushed chakra to my feet and sprang to the roofs silently. I leaped through the city, staying to the shadows, until I huddled into cracked walls of the tower, staring up at the stars.

I hope I never see the Elvenking again.

My clothes flapped against my bandaged limbs and short silver strands danced in the wind as I gazed out at the battlefield. The armies of men, dwarves, and elves were about to engage in battle over the petty treasures hidden within the Lonely Mountain.

A dwarven army of around seven thousand strong, on goats, pulling contraptions, and decked in armour had arrived at the top of the far hill. The dwarven goat cavalry charged down and the elves tried to counter with a horde of arrows, but the dwarves launched spinning ballistas that shredded the projectiles. Another volley of arrows ended the same and the goats rammed into the elven shield wall.
The elves and dwarves slew each other and blood spilled on the ground.

Suddenly, the earth shook beneath us and I wavered on her perch from the top of a tower. The fighting seized and we looked at the rocky hillside beside Dale where the tremors originated. Then, three massive worms burst forth from the earth, spitting rock from their fanged mouths.

An army of vile monsters emerged from the dug-out holes. Deformed wolves, clouds of bats, and dark humanoid beings with pointed ears, sharpened teeth and grimy skin. Their sheer numbers were horrifying.

Their retched scent made me gag. Their presence felt were wrong. Where these orcs?

Something deep inside me refused to acknowledge these things with the same pronoun as all the males I have ever known. There was nothing humane in them. Nothing but malice and sadistic joy. These things were worse than the Zetsu army. Zetsu's were human once but they were reduced to nothing. No thoughts. No emotions. No memories. They had no mind of their own. These things, though, — these orcs — only had one thought: let the wretched reign.

They advanced on the army of elves, dwarves, and men. The dwarves rushed out onto the field in a phalanx formation to counter the innumerable army of vile while the elves remained motionless. Right before when the Orcs collided with the Dwarvish forces, elves jumped over the Dwarven lines and stroked deep into the lines of the orcs, blunting the Orc charge and the Dwarves swept in and launched a counter-charge that skewered hundreds of the Orcs. Soon the Elvish and Dwarvish forces were fully engaged in battle.

A cohort of huge armoured giant beasts smashed into the left flank and wreaked havoc. Elves launched volleys of arrows that took out several of the giant beasts, giving the dwarves an opening to charge into the orc lines on their goat-pulled carts and cut down massive numbers. These dwarves did not get far, however. Even larger monsters, bigger than the giant beasts, with wooden clubs, chased after the dwarves and slammed them down with their blunt weapons.

I released a heavy sigh as more dwarves and elves fell. I needed to fight, something in me called on me to get involved. These things weren't right. This battle was no squabble between races. It was no longer a petty fight over treasure. I didn't want these orcs to win.

A half of the vile monstrous army moved in on Dale and the men of Laketown that had taken arms retreated to city to regroup and defend it, forcing us to fight on two fronts.

Catapults launched volleys of rocks against the city walls while a giant beasts with a stone headpiece charged the north wall and bashed through it, creating an opening into the city. My eyes widened at the flying projectile aimed straight at me and I jumped at the last minute, watching the tower crumble as I twisted in the air. I braced the long fall with a roll and sprang to my feet, sprinting along rooftops.

My face shifted into the indifferent expressions of battle that had been drilled into me as a child. The screams of people as they ran through the streets in panic didn't faze me. I ran past them with no hesitation. It was nice; for once, I wasn't the reason for the terrified screams.

I stopped at the edge of a roof and looked down at a courtyard where people I had known for the last two years were being cut down by a band of Orcs.

I said I would not get involved — my fighting days were long gone — but my heart ached at the bloodshed.

I twisted in the air and landed at the centre of the band of orcs, armed only with my walking stick. Like remembering a dance long forgotten, I pirouetted, ducked, and jabbed. Jumped, flipped, and kicked. I redirected blows and splattered blood and rammed my sheathed katana through eye sockets. It was a dance of blood. It was the dance of a killer.

As the dance ended, I snapped out of the trance and looked down at the bodies of nine orcs laid around me, along with dead men and women. A woman was huddled in the corner staring at me with wide frightened eyes. I recognised her; I had fixed her dislocated shoulder just days prior.

I'm still a demon if she is looking at me like that.

The cowering woman was frozen in fear. She must have never thought I was capable of such bloodshed. I twirled the wooden pole, hooking it under my arm, and pointed it at the woman. In the same manner I had done years ago, I cocked my head with a raised brow. I had been about to ask her a question when she screeched, scrambling to her feet, and ran down a street.

Hmm, she wasn't injured then.

I hopped onto the roofs again, letting my senses spread to guide me to the next band of orcs that was to be cut down. There was no way I was going to let the vile monsters live. I'd change the flow of the river of time. I wasn't going to let something with such a perverted existence to live.