Woo! Another chapter done! And so quick too! Yay! Just to let you know, for the next couple of chapters there's going to be some time jumps in it. So the next chapter will be based of the Battle of Azanulbizar. Since this chapter has come so quick, don't forget to read the chapter before also.

Help from the Shadows

It has been almost two months since Thranduil denied any help towards the dwarves, and the day he was separated from his beloved. Ever since that day, his heart had closed to all except his family and close friends. His only duty now was to help his people, help them to survive through this. . .somehow.

Since there departure from Greenwood, they had been denied help at every settlement they could find. The dwarves are forced to provide for themselves, with little provision to go on as it is.

So this is what they do, going from settlement to settlement, many of the dwarves trying to get odd jobs here and there so they can at least earn some gold to buy provisions. But most of the time, the men they would work for would often try to cheat them, by either not paying what was promised or not paying them at all.

When they weren't in the settlements, they would camp out in the wilderness and try to live on as they could. They have already lost a quarter of the people from the journey, including children, so they try to save those that are still with them.

Apart from the deaths, they had only one minor incident in the wilds, and that was when there was some commotion from the other end of camp. By the time Thorin had reached the commotion, it was calm once again. After inquiring about it, he was told that it was just an intruder trying to force their was through, but they managed to sort it out, to which Thorin nodded at.

Today, Thorin decides to go hunting with Frerin, Dwalin and a couple of others. After walking through a nearby forest for almost an hour, they are barely able to find anything, a couple of rabbits and a pheasant, nowhere near enough to feed a camp of a hundred or so dwarves.

"Thorin! Thorin, here!" Thorin hears his brother hiss.

Rushing over to Frerin, he looks to what has his attention and sees what appears to be a trail of apples, spread too evenly apart to be coincidence.

"A trap?" Dwalin asks, a growl in his tone.

"Maybe. Weapons out and keep sharp." Thorin says as he takes out his sword and leads the way.

He doesn't know what possessed him to follow the trail that day. The need to protect his people, curiosity. . .he did not know. But follow it he did, and he was glad he did. For at the end, he and the others stopped as they came to a small clearing where a stag was laid dead on the ground, what appears to be an arrow wound in it's neck. Nearby were a couple of sacks, one full of smaller meats, such as more rabbits and pheasants and even some sausage links. In the second sack were some fruit, vegetables, bread and other dried food, which they could keep stored for months, along with a pack of medicinal herbs and other medical supplies.

"Where did all of this come from?" one of the other dwarves, Gari, asks in wonder.

"Thorin. . .you should take a look at this."

Thorin spun around at the sound of Dwalin's voice. He couldn't quite place it, but he didn't like it. Attached to a nearby tree was a sheet of parchment, pierced to the bark by an arrow. Just the sight of the arrow is enough to halt him in his steps. An arrow used by the elves of Greenwood. He would recognise them anywhere, Caladwen having used them.

"It couldn't be. . ." he breathes as he strides forward.

Instead of ripping the parchment, he carefully pulls the arrow out and reads the note, his heart stopping as he recognises the handwriting of his beloved;

"My Dearest Thorin,

Words cannot describe the relief I feel at knowing that you are alive. I have done nothing but worry about you and your kin for the past couple of months.

I cannot apologise enough for how my father treated you in Greenwood. I hope you know that I had nothing to do with him denying you help, as my intent was not to humiliate and anger you in front of him. I truly thought he would help. How wrong I was.

I know there is nothing much I can do to help you and your people right now, but I hope that this will help you all. After hearing you had come this way, I tried to gain access into your camp last week, but was denied as soon as the guards saw me.

I can understand if you never want to see me again. I do not blame you after the double betrayal my father gave you. And so, you will not have to see again if that is your wish. But know this, I will still try to help you like this in anyway I can. I do not want to see you and your people struggle more than you need to. I only wish I could do more.

I love you, Thorin, I hope you know this. I pray to Eru and Aule that we will one day meet and maybe you will forgive me.

All my love, Caladwen."

Tears had come to his eyes when he read the letter. How could she think that he would never want to see her again? Caladwen was the first thing he thought of when he woke, and the last thing before he slept. He would give anything to hold her in his arms once more.

As he reads the letter again, a few words stick out. She came to the camp last week? But, why did he not know?

"Thorin?"

He looks up to find his brother standing in front of him. He clears his throat but gives Frerin a smile.

"Caladwen was here. She's helping us."

These words cause a large smile to appear on his face.

"If she was here, why doesn't she show herself?" Dwalin asks, happy to know his friend is helping, but confused as to why she doesn't come to them.

Thorin shakes his head as he allows Frerin to read the letter over his shoulder. "I do not know. However, let's get this food back to the camp."

The others nod and Thorin begins to fold the letter when Frerin stops hold.

"Hold on, nadad. She was at camp last week?"

"Apparently so."

"But, would we not know if she was there?"

"We should have known the moment she came."

After a moments pause where the other two dwarves gather up the stag, Dwalin's head snaps up.

"Hold on, wasn't there a commotion last week? At the far end of camp?"

Thorin things back and nods. "Yes, there was. When we got there, we were told of an intrud-"

That's when it hits. The intruder wasn't an intruder at all. . .

"They sent her away. . ."

"But. . .how could they? She's one of us. . .how could they send her away?" Frerin asks, and the heartbreak in his voice is enough to break his own heart.

Thorin pulls his little brother into a comforting embrace.

"I do not know, nadadith. But be assured, I will be finding out."

After getting everything together, they turn and head back to camp, picking up the apples on the way. What none of them notice, is a pair of blue eyes that has watched them from the trees, before leaving once they were gone.

When they return to camp, they are met with cheers from the people, the five dwarves didn't accept the cheers, knowing that they weren't responsible for all of the food they had. When they reach the main tent, Thrain comes up to greet them with a smile.

"Well done, lads. It's safe to say we won't be going hungry for a while."

However, instead of answering, Thorin walks past him and goes to the far end of camp, where the commotion came from the week before, his father following after him, wondering what was happening.

When he reached the edge of camp, he saw the same dwarves that were there last week. Burun and Gonar. They instantly bowed when they saw the princes coming towards them.

"Burun, that intruder we had last week, who were they?"

Burun blinks, not expecting this question before he answers. "Oh, no one, Your Highness. Just some elf that wouldn't listen to reason."

Thorin nods. "I see. Are you sure you did not know who they were?"

He seems to falter for a moment before shaking his head. "N-No, Your High-"

Among the cries of surprise and exclamation from Thrain, there is a grunt and a thud as Burun is sent on his arse, his hand covering a bloody nose.

"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Thorin roars, his anger at not only at Smaug and Thranduil but of the situation they are all in right now.

"Thorin! Stop this right now! What has come over you!?" Thrain yells at his son as he pulls him away from the injured dwarf.

Thorin just glares at the guard, hate blaring in his eyes.

"You dare to keep send her away!? You dare to keep my beloved away from me!?"

Thrain stops at this, staring at his son. "What?"

Frerin, who helped his father in getting Thorin away before he killed the dwarf, just hands over the letter they found. After he reads it, his own expression changes from angry and confused to despair and grief.

"Oh Thorin. . .I am sorry, I had not known."

Thorin doesn't say anything to him. What more can he say? Not only had her own father kept her away from him, but now his own people.

"Why did you send her away?" Thorin growls at Burun.

Burun, who had now managed to get to his feet, turns to the prince.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, but why wouldn't I? She's an elf! Her people turned away from us! My sister and I lost everything because of her kind!"

"Look around, Burun! Everyone has lost at least one thing because of King Thranduil! Caladwen has done nothing but try to help! And even when you turned her away, she still helped! Even after being turned away, she's still trying to help us all she can. If she turns up again," which he doubts now. "You make sure she is admitted, understand?"

He bows reluctantly, but this is all the confirmation Thorin needs before he goes back into camp. Going into his tent, he flops down onto his bedroll, taking out the letter and the arrow. As he rereads the letter, he can't help but think that she was here. . .last week she was right near him. . .he could have seen her, held her and reassured her that he does want to see her again, see her and much more. And because of that one dwarf – who knew who Caladwen is and purposely kept her away – he'll never get that chance. As he looks to the silver band on his finger, he finally snaps. He will never admit it out loud, but that night, he silently cried himself to sleep. Exactly a month from that day, they should have been married.

There we have it. Poor Caladwen getting turned away, and so close to Thorin! Will our lovers every catch a break? To find out, stay tuned for more, and please keep those reviews coming!

Translations;

Nadad - brother

Nadadith – little brother