A.N. Hello y'all! I'm really, really trying to get better about updating, I swear I am. Christmas season is pretty busy for us, especially as we now live in an area that gets toured every night for the lights. We had to up our decorating game (though we've always gone above average before), but are still being totally schooled by some of our neighbors. These people know how to decorate. It's crazy. Quick note about the chapter title: Yes, it is deliberate, for those of you who will understand the joke.
Hennele-rogue: Here it is! I hope it didn't take too long for you!
Tibblets: Hello! Thank you so much! ^_^
I want you all to know how much I appreciate every one of you who reads this story. It's been a project that I've really enjoyed, and love a lot, so thank you. All of my writing comes from my heart, and from the places in my head that no one in my life is really privy to. You guys get to see a side of me that not even my husband sees. Not to be weird, but just to give you some insight into why this all means so much to me. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and plot points.
They rode a bit longer than Danica expected before reaching Mirkwood. Two more full days, and most of a night. After a long uphill climb, the dark, foreboding forest wall stretched out before them. Any animals that had been previously seen and heard were now gone, leaving a lonely, eerie silence in the air. They dismounted at the gate, unburdening their ponies, and preparing to send them back. Danica stroked her pony's nose, sad to be separating from the animal. John gave her shoulder a sympathetic pat, also sorry to say goodbye to his horse.
"Greetings, Mithrandir," the smooth voice had Danica, along with most of the others, jumping.
Without anyone knowing, a small band of elves had emerged from the trees. Though there were weapons on them, none were drawn. They held a patient, if withdrawn air. Danica heard a few of the dwarves grumble, and saw them grab their weapons in caution. So did the elves.
"We are not here to fight you," the first elf, a brown-haired woman said. "That will not stop us if you start a confrontation,"
"They will not," Gandalf moved to the front of the group, addressing the she-elf. "They only wish to pass through this wood peacefully," Danica caught the "they," and suddenly remembered Dol Guldur. Only Thorin and Bilbo seemed suspicious about the wizard's wording.
"That is why we are here," two more elves appeared; a blonde man, and red-haired female.
Gandalf smiled warmly. "Legolas. It is good to see you,"
Smiling as well, Legolas gave a response in elvish, then looked at the dwarves, his eyes cooling. "We received a letter from Lord Elrond of Rivendell. Your quest, and plight are known to us. Tauriel and I just came from stopping a few orcs from entering the forest. I am sure some of you will wish to argue, but we are here to help guide you to my father's halls,"
As before, some of the dwarves grumbled, but Thorin raised a hand to silence them, and stepped beside Gandalf. Out of the corner of her eye, Danica saw John put a hand on Bifur's axe to lower it.
"Why would you wish to guide us, unless to lead us astray, or throw us in your dungeons?" Thorin questioned.
Danica winced, but knew it was a valid question, especially since that's exactly what happened in the original story. Legolas was not as understanding.
"You would be wise to not question our honor," he replied, both his voice and eyes hard. "If we intended to take you prisoner, we would have ambushed you in the forest, where you would stand no chance of fighting back, or escaping. Believe me when I say that none of us take this lightly. We are here because a great danger threatens our home. Greater, even, than a dragon. If not for Lord Elrond's letter, explaining the situation, we would never have agreed to this. In fact, we would have done all we could to stop you,"
Before Thorin could scoff, or make a remark that would further heighten the tension, Danica made her way forward.
"What, exactly, did Lord Elrond say in his letter?"
For the first time, Legolas looked at her, then at John, and back. He seemed surprised when Thorin didn't try to stop her, or change the subject.
"He told us of the traitor, and the other travelers who know of the future. That knowledge, he said, could bring destruction upon this entire world. Would you call that accurate?" there was something about his tone that felt angry, and made Danica want to cover. It was clear that he saw John and Danica as equally dangerous as Rachel, and wished them all gone.
"Not so much for me," John said easily. "I only have a vague idea about this quest, and nothing about the future. Trust me; this isn't much danger to ya," he tapped the side of his head.
"For more reasons than one," Fili joked, earning him a punch on the shoulder from John, while the others chuckled. Some of the tension was eased, but not between Legolas and Danica, as he leveled his gaze at her.
"And you?"
Thorin moved closer to her. "She is no threat. If you searched all through this time, and theirs, you would not find a heart more pure,"
His praise warmed Danica, and had Legolas' brow rising.
"High commendations, considering she is not one of your kind,"
"Be that as it may," Gandalf said quickly, "it is the truth. The power that brought her here would not have done so with anyone who had corruption or greed in their hearts,"
While Danica appreciated the support, she could still see the skepticism in the elves' eyes, and knew that some of their thoughts were valid.
"I would never betray the good in this world, let alone those who I consider friends and family," she began. "but your concerns are not misplaced. My very existence is a threat, because of the knowledge I have. Though I would rather die than spread that knowledge, I know there are ways to reach into my mind, and break me. There has already been an attempt to do just that,"
"Which you survived," Thorin pointed out, troubled by her speech.
"And despite the attack, and attempts to reach out to her, she has not given the enemy any ammunition for evil plots," Gandalf added.
Legolas regarded her, some of the iciness melting away. A couple of the elves behind him seemed impressed, and looked at her with more approval.
"I respect the honesty with which you have spoken. For that, I will trust you,"
"Thank you," Danica said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Now that this has been settled, it is time to send the ponies back to Beorn," Gandalf announced.
"What about your horse?" Dori questioned loudly.
Almost as one, everyone looked at Gandalf, and his horse, which was still fully saddled and loaded.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo's voice was dismayed, as were the looks on the Company's faces.
"I would not do this unless I had to," the wizard lamented, regret plain in his expression. "There are some things that I must attend to. Besides, I never promised to be with you the whole way. Forgive my sudden departure, Legolas. I trust you to take care of this group, and see them safely beyond your borders,"
Legolas gave a low nod. "You have my word,"
Gandalf turned his attention to the Company, but mostly Thorin and Danica. "Be careful who you trust outside of this group," he advised. "Take care of each other, for that is where you will find your strength, and courage. Wait for me at the overlook, if you can. And if you see Rachel, do what you must,"
There was a hint of a warning that made Danica sick. She remained still, letting Thorin nod in response. The air remained somber as they bid Gandalf farewell, and followed their new guides into the dark woods.
Thorin had been more than troubled by Danica's admission to the elf prince. He'd been disturbed. There was no lie in her words, but that only made the pit in his stomach worse. Somehow, he knew for certain that they were living on borrowed time. Even if he survived, it was not likely that whatever powers that be would allow her to remain in his time. Just like she had said, her very existence was a danger because of her knowledge. If she did stay, she would be hunted for the remainder of her life. This was a reality he had instinctively known from the moment he met her. Unlike before, it made him that much more desperate to take every moment he could. Of course, there weren't many of those to be had in the forest.
Everyone walked in a single file line, barely speaking. No sun or wind breached the thick boughs of the forest ceiling, leaving the air a heavy, dark green. Danica and Bilbo were the first to struggle with the thick air, followed by the Company. Dwarves were used to stagnant air, but this was different. It was also incredibly difficult to see. Even once Thorin's eyes adjusted to the dark, everything was dim and murky. The first day, he had followed directly behind the elves, but then let Danica or his nephews take the lead after he bumped into the elf in front of him. Damn people made no sound while walking, and never gave warning when they stopped. Though he would never admit it out loud, the other problem was that his eyesight wasn't the best. It had never been as sharp as Bilbo's, but was now hindered by the dim light.
Night brought its own set of struggles. The kind of darkness that descended gave a new meaning to pitch-black. No fires were to be lit, as they would attract too many of the forest's nocturnal creatures. Thankfully, the elves had lanterns lit with insects that glowed, but let off no warmth. Thorin had seen such anomalies in the deeper places of caves. While it was nice to have a small bubble of light, it was difficult to sleep. Danica always slept best in Thorin's arms, which was the only way he could rest as well, despite the looks the elves gave. Mostly, they seemed surprised, but he didn't miss the disgusted glances a couple of them gave. Only one, the red-haired female named Tauriel seemed genuinely curious. On their third night, she came and sat beside them as they ate a very small supper.
"Forgive me if I come across as rude," she began, "but am I correct in assuming you two are mated?"
"We are betrothed, yes," Thorin answered cautiously.
As she had always been, Tauriel looked innocently intrigued and perplexed. "I have never heard of such a thing happening,"
"Much about our situation has never happened before," Danica responded wryly.
Tauriel smiled. "So it seems. And what of your people? Will they accept such a union?"
Normally, he would be insulted by the question, and refuse to answer. Then again, anyone else would have been nosy and judgmental. Danica also looked at Thorin, waiting for his answer.
"Not easily," he surprised himself by replying. "As you said, a pair like us is uncommon at best. The fact that their leader is involved only complicates matters. However, we have one absolute law when it comes to a bonded pair; you never separate them,"
He was unsure why he'd been so candid with the she-elf, but seeing Danica's reassured smile made him realize that it was worth it.
"I wish all races believed the same," Tauriel said softly. "To accept the bond of two hearts without focusing on the differences without is truly honorable. You have my deepest respect. I wish the two of you happiness," though she gave a smile before moving away, she seemed sad. Thorin was also dumbfounded by the level of honesty and civility she'd shown.
"Why would she speak with us about that?" he mused, not really expecting an answer.
Danica sighed, looking at Legolas, whose eyes were on Tauriel's back. "I have an idea, but it's probably best not to speak about it here,"
A frown tugged at Thorin's brow at the reminder of how good elven hearing was. Speaking no more, they finished their food, then laid back, wrapping their arms around each other. Danica fell asleep quickly, but Thorin's eyes remained stubbornly open. Kili had sat beside Tauriel, and was conversing quietly with her. The longer they spoke, the more the sadness lifted from Tauriel's shoulders. Kili had a way of doing that; of lightening one's emotional toll. Fili had the same gift, but his focus was on his family, including Danica.
One other person was closely watching the elf and dwarf speak. There was no true anger on Legolas' face, more like regret. When he noticed Thorin's eyes on him, he murmured a word to one of the other elves, and disappeared. Though still somewhat curious, Thorin closed his eyes. After all, his concerns were greater than the romantic complications of a couple of elves. Erebor, and Smaug still loomed over him, casting a large, and heavy shadow. Then, there was the woman in his arms. The one who held his heart in her small hands, and would take it with her wherever, or whenever she went. He kissed her forehead, and kept his cheek pressed there throughout most of the night.
The next day, they continued their endless trekking over a terrain that never seemed to change. Tauriel and the brunette female took the lead, with Dillinger behind them, and Danica behind him. Thorin followed her, seeing as she shrank from the large webs that seemed to grow ever denser in the trees beyond the path. A couple of times, they heard strange clicking and creaking, and she would jump, head turning erratically to find the source of the noise. The elves would also look, but seemed no more perturbed than usual. By the size of the webs, Thorin could guess that the arachnids that produced them must be massive. Judging by the size of Danica's reactions, she must have a terrible fear of spiders. A good distraction came when they reached a broken bridge that used to go over a running creek of black water.
"There is a boat on the other side," Tauriel called once they all came to a stop. "We will traverse a few at a time, and make sure you do not touch the water,"
It was a tense quarter of an hour as the elves split up to ferry each group of dwarves across. For the most part, it was uneventful, thanks to everyone using the utmost caution. In the last boat were Legolas, Dwalin, and Bombur. Dwalin and Legolas had exited the boat without difficulty, but Bombur was a bit slower. The elf prince offered a hand, which Bombur vehemently rejected, with much grumbling. Just as he put his first foot on dry land, the sound of heavy hooves had them all startling. A great, white stag came bounding from the distant trees, and took a high leap over them. Most had to drop to the ground to avoid being struck.
"Stay your weapons!" Legolas called when the Company began reaching for their blades and bows.
They did so, and, in the quiet, they heard the sound of horns, and the baying of dogs. A hunt. The stag that had come upon them bounded off, and a bit to the north, they saw a doe and a fawn. All three seemed to escape, but the sound of more hooves followed them. A couple of their elven guides made low comments, clearly upset at missing out on whatever was happening, which told Thorin that the hunt was Thranduil's doing. Being so close to more of those people made him weary.
"Must they hunt those deer?" Danica asked in a dismayed voice, looking in the direction the beautiful creatures had disappeared to.
"Do not worry," Tauriel passed a reassuring hand over Danica's shoulder. "They will not kill it. It is a tradition to see who can trap the white stag, for he is a master of escape. Good luck will follow the one who is able to outwit him,"
A loud splash had them all turning back to the stream, where Bombur now lay, slowly beginning to float downstream. Rushing to action, everyone helped use a rope with a hook to catch him, and pull him back to shore. Unfortunately, he was already fast asleep. According to Dwalin, the stag had gotten him off his balance, and neither Legolas nor Dwalin could get to him in time. Much to everyone's chagrin, they had to take turns hauling the massive dwarf through the narrow and windy path. This only spurred the elves to hasten their pace so they could reach Thranduil's halls sooner rather than later. Whether he liked it or not, Thorin knew they would have been in dire straits without their guides. Even with them, they had to travel four days with a slumbering Bombur.
On that fourth day, they heard distant singing, which brightened the elves' spirits immensely. Though they would have preferred to continue traveling without a rest, those carrying Bombur had to stop. Tauriel and Legolas remained alert, anxiously looking around the area. Danica, as well, seemed on edge. As it was getting a bit darker, Thorin only noticed the reason for their tension when he sat, and disturbed a sticky string of webbing. Squinting his eyes, he could see more webbing than they had yet encountered arching over their small resting place.
"We should move," Danica warned, her voice unsteady.
"I don't think my legs can take it," Dori complained, but not without reason. "Let the elves and John take a turn,"
"I have taken more than my fair share, thank you," Dillinger fired back, truly irritated for the first time.
Without warning, most of their elven band took off, bows and blades at the ready. They ran silently out of sight.
"What is happening?" Thorin demanded of Legolas and Tauriel, who were arming themselves as well.
"The spiders have decided to make their move," Tauriel's words were ominous, and had the rest of the Company also pulling their weapons. "We have been working endlessly to eliminate them, but they just keep coming up from the south. Never have they been this bold,"
Thorin went to Danica, whose spear was brandished, but shaking.
"Oh God, I don't know if I can do this," she squeaked. "I was hoping we would avoid them since our group was larger, and we had the elves,"
He meant to find some words of comfort, but Dillinger yelled a warning, and they all looked up to see a multitude of the giant creatures descending on them. Battle cries and shocked yells filled the air, but it was Danica's screams that rose above all. Somehow, much to Thorin's pride, she was still able to fight, even if her movements were a bit erratic. The first wave was defeated fairly quickly, and they stood, breathing heavily with the curled-up bodies of their adversaries littering the ground around them.
"Are you alright?" Thorin asked Danica quickly.
She could only nod, her entire body quivering. When he touched her face, it was wet, but whether from tears, sweat, or gore, he did not know. They moved further down the path, where the other elves had gone. Thorin looked around, counting, and realized that they were missing one.
"Where is Bilbo?" he called fearfully.
No one had the time to reply, as more spiders descended. One managed to get the best of Danica, knocking her to the ground. Thorin and Fili worked to beat it off, allowing Danica to stand. She didn't see the one behind her, that had its stinger primed, aiming for her back. Ducking under the one spider, Thorin pulled her out of the way, but wasn't fast enough to save them both. A sharp pain sliced through his side, but quickly numbed. A tingling, nauseous feeling overwhelmed him, and soon, his world went completely black.