So, massive apologies are in order. I had to venture back into Europe to sort out some stuff and meet up with some old family of mine and then sixth form started right back up again and I was thrown into the proverbial 'deep end' as it were with more philosophy essays than I could deal with. Unfortunately all my lovely little characters were cast 'out-to-sea' as I tried to 'keep myself afloat' academically speaking and remain with my head 'above the surface' (I'm so sorry, I'll stop) in terms of school work. Luckily, I've found a nice calm little 'tide pool' (you have no idea how sorry I am) between projects where I can get some writing done.

(I apologise but this chapter will be very short. I'd like to say it's for effect but it's actually because I'm just lazy)

Thanks for being so patient with me,

Ellie x

The boat had stilled long ago and the company had begun their climb higher into the rocky plains that sloped away from the mountains. Vahri remained on their tail, swimming upstream vigilantly and with single minded determinedness. Once or twice she feared she had lost them as they diverted long distances from the stream. Luckily, they always headed back towards it, close enough for Vahri to follow but far enough away that they didn't see her leap between stronger waves in the ever increasing current pushing against her.

She was growing exhausted, her fins aching and her ears throbbing as the water rushed past her. Without the promise of adventure to quell the nag of her curiosity, Vahri knew she'd have given up long ago. More than a few times she had to stop to allow her lungs to adjust to the altitude and the shallower waters but she pushed on for fear of losing them. It reminded her of the old legend, of Nerthus who swam for 7 days and 7 nights with her mate against the fiercest currents to save her unborn children.

Vahri wished that Narius was with her now, to keep her pushing onwards. This was the hardest thing she'd ever done in her life and it was getting more difficult with each breath she took.

Suddenly, she stopped as the water grew stiller. Not calm, exactly, but better than they had been for the last few hours of her journey. The water around her was suddenly a lot darker than it had been. She knew the sun was setting but the rate at which the water had cooled was alarming. Upon resurfacing, Vahri realised the stream had wound into a crevice in the ground and either side of her was now a steep rock face. It rose a good 5 metres above her but she could just make out the pinnacle of the mountain above the ground line, seeming to peer at her from where she bobbed in the icy river.

Vahri followed the water further, finally reaching as far as she could. Her vision was blurry from exhaustion and her arms ached as she pulled herself the final stretch. She took a harsh gulp of air as her head broke the surface and stared around her with fogged vision. She was at the very base of the mountain, almost right in front of the main door of Erebor. Glancing up, she knew she could swim no further as only a weak waterfall seemed an option to continue and Vahri couldn't manage it. Forgetting all common sense and the need to remain concealed she spread her arms out on the rock with her shoulders out of the water, closed her eyes and drifted out of consciousness.