InuYasha's Lullaby
.ca/pin/493214596691548777/
Tumbling through the Veil to save her godfather had not been part of the plan for one Reika Thebe Potter when she had started planning her escape in the summer before third year.
Taking advantage of the lack of adult supervision to sit down with the goblins to find out what her parents had left her. Learn her history and why she'd been left with the Dursleys considering Lily looked nothing like Petunia.
What she'd learned the first day had left her angry and returning everyday right up until the Weasleys showed up at the Leaky.
Blocks on her magic, potions and spells compelling her though she'd broken through some through sheer force and magic in some instances like her ability to speak to snakes and the glimpses of her creature inheritance from her mother's side of the family.
Everyday spent with the goblin healers and her account managers sorting out her health and her vaults. Dealing with all the blocks on her magic and the result of ten years worth of abuse and malnutrition.
All part of the long term plan for Reika to get out of England before Dumbledore forced her to her death via his tests or Tom Riddle and his band of lunatics got in a lucky shot.
Taking everything that was hers after having her parents will unsealed and packed it up into a multi compartment trunk she could shrink and wear on a necklace only she could take off.
All the jewels, jewellery, half of her family fortune and other treasures her parents families collected in one compartment. The books in their own compartment with the enchanted portraits of her Potter ancestors, a compartment with a budding greenhouse that her account manager suggested she have, an empty compartment where she could keep her personal belongings and the last compartment filled with the furniture she wanted to keep which ended up being anything connected to child rearing since most of them were family heirlooms she wouldn't leave behind for the vultures to pick apart.
Not when she was leaving what she hadn't packed for her American relatives, Sirius, Remus and her few true friends like Fred, George, Neville, Luna and the one friend she'd made in secret in Blaise Zabini.
Blaise being the one she'd take to the Yule Ball the following year after the disaster of her third year with Sirius breaking out of Azkaban.
The only one she'd actually confided her plans in escaping Magical England and left all of the instructions with him should something happen to her. The contingencies she had in place to reveal her suffering and what Dumbledore had done to Tom Riddle and herself. That the goblins had taken her horcrux shard and would use it to find the rest to bring the man back and force him to either fix what he'd broken or lead those still willing to follow the man to freedom.
The only one she'd revealed that her mother's family hadn't been magicless, that Lily Evans had been the first in centuries to have magic that the family had inherited from their ancestors; Riku, a dragon dai yōkai splitting and Towa, an inu hanyou daughter of Sesshōmaru and granddaughter of Tōga, the Inu no Taishō and Lord of the Western Lands of Japan.
That Reika had inherited this creature inheritance since combined with the Potter family magics it made Reika strong enough for the gene to return to the Evans family on top of the Parseltongue she'd inherited from her father's Indian roots.
That same creature inheritance being what would save Reika's life as the Veil let her pass through to the other side, in the Northern region of Middle-Earth.
Found by Arador of the Dúnedain curled up on herself in the snow, the changes she'd gone through minimal in that she'd grown to her full height of five feet even, her hair had gone from raven black to mithril white, eyes going from emerald green to turquoise, her nails becoming claw like, ears slightly pointed and inheriting Tōga's facial markings (though the marks on her eye lids were violet like Riku's) instead of Sesshōmaru's or Kirinmaru's facial markings on top of the heightened senses that came with the change. Her magic reserves having grown larger with the nature spirit side finally breaking through two years earlier and would be what had caught Arador's attention.
The markings she'd inherited from Tōga and her honey colored skin from her father setting her apart from many in Arda.
Reika waking up warm and safe for the first time she could ever remember, Arador sitting at her side as a means to question his find when she woke. His wife having changed the girl out of her strange tattered clothes and into something a little warmer though the girl had seemingly not felt the cold as he'd returned to the settlement that the Rangers called home.
Reika sitting up sharply once she realized what she's feeling and came face to face with an older looking man though his gray eyes told her he is much older than he looked.
"Where am I?" Reika croaks out as Arador chuckles at the canine quality of the girl's turquoise eyes and the wariness that spoke of years of hardship only those like the Rangers knew though for one so young to share those experiences was a sad thing.
"My village in Eriador" Arador answers, glad the girl knew Westron considering she looked like a small strange elf.
"I don't know where that is" Reika sighs tiredly as she rubs her eyes and pulls her hand back, having caught a glimpse of her nails and hisses some choice words. Realizing that her inheritance had come out earlier as she pulls a lock of her hair forward to note that it is the inu side she's taken strongly after instead of the dragon.
"Why don't you tell me how you came to be out in those woods in the dead of winter" Arador offers as Reika clenches her fists in her lap and begins the tale knowing the man needed to trust her. Missing the fact Arador caught the words 'I must not tell lies' carved into her hand.
Telling Arador of a race long thought lost to Middle-Earth and how she'd been born to them, her mother thought a first generation mage from a family of men and her father born to an ancient line of mages, of the two wars that had been fought amongst her community over the rights to practice the ways of old and how those ways were slowly being lost when those of the light kept catering to the supposed first generation mages who were bringing the beliefs and traditions of Men into their hidden world.
How those of the dark rallied behind a mage much like Reika herself, a strong half blood from an ancient lineage that had managed to survive the passage of time through sheer luck. That the dark tried to do things peacefully at first but the longer the dark had gone ignored the angrier they became till Reika's counterpart rose up and began fighting back with force, not quite sound of mind due to the really dark magic he'd performed in his youth and kept doing the more desperate he became not to die before his self appointed task was done.
Spoke of how the dark was winning by the time Reika was born to her parents, her parents still young themselves, their own parents lost to disease and the war. Leaving her father the last of his line and in need of heirs. That her birth had been a joy to her parents, so she'd been told, before that joy was ruined with a prophecy and forced them and another family to go into hiding behind strong magic.
How even that hadn't been enough since not long after her first birthday her counterpart learned of her family's hiding place from one who should have been a friend, how first her father had been cut down and then her mother. How her mother's magic and the magic her counterpart had done to stay alive had saved her from the curse no one had survived until Reika.
Spoke of being abandoned to her mother's sister and the abuse that she would suffer for the next ten years as nothing more than a live in servant and how Dumbledore, the leader of the light, put her there in hopes she would bend to his will once she was retrieved from her relative's home.
Spoke of the yearly misadventures and how before she turned thirteen she'd finally learned about her family's history and finally broke the chains Dumbledore had attempted to place on her with the help of the Goblin nation that had followed the mages to the other side of Aman with the Valar's blessing. Learned of her mother's history and that she wasn't the first in her family to have magic, just the strongest in many generations to wield it and that their ancestors were great nature spirits that ruled their lands before some of her ancestors traveled west.
How combined with her father's magic Reika was strong enough to inherit and wield the power of her ancestors. Hence why she looked like a strange small elf as Arador had put it.
"Yōkai or a Nature spirit were what those of the east on the other side of Aman called us. Those of the west though called us demons…I would have had to leave should the others find out what I had become since the community I had been born into didn't suffer those that were different and treated those like me as lesser beings" Reika finishes as Arador nods and asks of her father's treasures.
"I packed up what was mine of the family treasures and left the rest to those my parents and I cared about and what wasn't set aside went to my very distant relatives across the sea. I left the instructions to my plan with my best friend, the only one I shared all of this with. He'll make sure everything is in place and that those I left behind understand why I did what I did and force those that caused my suffering to face justice" Reika explains as Arador nods and would let her settle back into the bed after a wide yawn.
Unphased by her sharper canine teeth knowing what Reika was and that wasn't a threat to his people.
Reika more than made welcome amongst the Dúnedain once she woke up fully and began her integration into the people of Middle-Earth. Became known as Artemis amongst the rangers and those she helped protect, learning to wield the Sword of Gryffindor and a number of other weapons, but remained Reika amongst friends and family.
Arador taking Reika and welcoming her into his family due to her shared family traits with them and becoming the second in line for Chieftain of the Dúnedain.
Unaware that those able to feel magic had felt her arrival and were trying to pin down the source and that Arador wasn't talking when Elrond tried to ask the man when passing through Rivendell.
Taking the secret of Reika's origins to his grave as Arathorn and Reika took up his mantle thirty years after Reika's arrival.
Arathorn in leading the Rangers while Reika took up the role of protector of her newborn nephew and sister in law. Patrolling the roads between the Shire and Rivendell to remain close to the pair.
Becoming known amongst her people as the protector of the little folk as she showed the orcs and the agents of darkness why you didn't mess with an inu yōkai's territory.
It's during one of her visits to Rivendell that she would meet Gandalf the Grey, Reika having just turned fifty-nine and looking only to be 21 years of age amongst men.
Reika in the gardens with a four nearly five year old Aragorn though he was known as Estel amongst the elves. Arathorn having died three years prior and left Aragorn as the chief with Reika acting as his Regent amongst their people.
Gandalf stumbling upon the small lesson Reika was giving Estel about the flowers in the garden when her nephew asked her why she looked so different to the other elves. Estel trying to braid his aunt's hair to her amusement (Think Karna – Fate Apocrypha).
"That's because I'm not elven nephew mine. I am part of a race that crossed Aman long ago known as a mage but even amongst mages I'm different because my mother was descended from strong nature spirits. It's why I can change shape and why I look the way I do when I decide not to hide my nature like I do in the settlements of men" Reika explains patiently as Estel pouts and points out he thought her beautiful without her charmed necklace. Said necklace making her look like she had before her creature inheritance, her magic stronger for it and her inu nature more dominant than her human nature. Hence why she didn't lose her power during the new moon like some of her ancestors did.
"Your grandfather and father said the very same thing when I finally created the necklace. I had grown tired of being mistaken as a weird elf and wanted to blend in better amongst our people" Reika admits with a bright laugh as Estel giggles and asks her what her names meant, going silent though when his aunt stiffened up when the young yōkai finally realized their audience.
"It is the height of rudeness to eavesdrop on a private conversation" Reika says sternly as she stood up with her nephew held against her hip, turquoise eyes glaring down the grey eyes of Gandalf as the Ishtar in question ducks his head in amusement.
"Is it eavesdropping if the lesson is happening in a place anyone can walk through?" Gandalf points out as Reika huffs in resignation and relaxes once she realizes who she's talking to.
Elrond having taught her the important figures of Middle-Earth once he realized Arador had put that part of her learning off in favor of making sure she could take care of and defend herself in the lands she'd found herself in.
"That is also true" Reika sighs as Estel giggles into her shoulder at how put out his aunt sounds.
"Alright Estel you need to go find your mother and I will find you later with the answer to your question" Reika sighs as she put her nephew down, spotting Gilraen at the entrance to the garden.
"Promise?" Estel asks as Reika smiles softly and kisses his forehead.
"Promise and if you are really good for your mother I might even have a story for you as well" Reika promises as Estel smiles brightly and runs off with a cheer.
"It's been more than an age since a mage walked the lands of Middle-Earth, Lady Artemis" Gandalf points out quietly, using her Ranger name, as Reika sighs hearing the unasked question.
"A lot of my people have forgotten where we came from and I came back quite by accident. A happy accident but an accident all the same Gandalf the Grey" Reika admits as she pats the bench beside her so the older man could sit while they spoke.
"Arador was very protective of you that much Elrond has told me. Wouldn't breathe a word of you or your power to anyone" Gandalf chuckles as Reika smiles a small smile at the mention of Arador. He'd been a mentor and someone she had grown to trust while Arathorn had been her big brother and the one she'd truly grown to see as family in the way she would have grown to see Sirius if given the chance instead of a chance at freedom like she'd seen the dog Animagus as.
"Arador took me in and gave me a place amongst his people and amongst his family though more than a few weren't happy with that till I proved myself" Reika sighs as Gandalf nods knowingly, the pair moving onto happier subjects.
Reika giving the old wizard a chance to ask his questions about her magic and her people.
A worried frown forming once Reika had admitted the community she'd been born into was slowly dying each generation and falling further behind the rest of the mage communities as they continued to isolate themselves and continued to ban more and more spells. Fear of being discovered being equal to the prejudice that was rampant in her former home.
"Those that followed the mages are treated as lesser beings and I would have faced that same treatment regardless of my position amongst the community…eventually those that are tired of the treatment, those that didn't forget, will return to Middle Earth and with them the magic they carry" Reika admits quietly as Gandalf nods knowingly.
"You've found peace my dear and so will they when the time comes for them to come home" Gandalf points out as Reika nods as the bell for dinner rings, the pair having talked long into the afternoon.
"I'm sure Elrond will be looking for us both with how long we've hidden away in the garden" Reika smiles ruthfully as Gandalf nods with a chuckle and would escort the young nature spirit to dinner where Estel would chatter and let Reika know what she'd missed of his day knowing she would be returning to the wild in the next few days.
Gandalf promising to himself to keep what he'd learned that day to himself, not wanting the council to corner or imprison the bright healing soul before him as he watched Reika become lighter the longer she sat and put the conversation they'd had behind them.
Joining Reika when she left Rivendell, necklace back in place and looking very much like a child of man. Traveling the lands of Middle-Earth for the next five years as he helped her fine tune her control over her magic and her transformations into a horse sized white Shikoku and a large white and gold dragon (Think Rhaegal from GOT), both influenced by her yōkai nature. Her eyes the only thing that changed between the forms in that they turned ruby red instead of remaining the turquoise they were when she was human shaped.
Reika returning to her post not long after and retaking back her position as protector of the Shire in the year TA 2938.
Remaining at her post until Gandalf returned looking for her in the early spring of TA 2941. Hoping to see if she'd be up for one more adventure.
Gandalf finding Reika while she was taking a nap at the edge of Hobbiton, the Hobbits having grown use to her presence over the years, the children taking advantage of a large furry playmate in the recent years since Reika had revealed herself, the adults were grateful for the babysitter.
"Lady Artemis what a surprise to see you this far from the wild" Gandalf chuckles as Reika opens one red eye to sleepily glare at the man while the children who had been playing on and around her scampered off when she climbed to her feet.
"What do you want you wily old fart? You only come this far when you've found trouble" Reika grumbles as Gandalf chuckles at the male like voice of his former travel companion knowing her words to be true.
"I come looking for Belladonna's son to see if he would be interested in an adventure. That I found you here is pure happy luck Lady Artemis" Gandalf chuckles as Reika sighs tiredly at the mention of Bilbo. He'd used to love exploring the woods and was once one of her most promising students. Her lessons with the young Hobbit coming to an end with the deaths of Bungo and Belladonna.
"Don't get your hopes up Gandalf; Bilbo hasn't left Bag End since taking up his role as the Baggins in Bag End. Not the adventurous fauntling he once was. Bungo and Bella's passing combined with the Fell Winter saw to it" Reika sighs as Gandalf nods and would begin by telling her the tale of Erebor as a clue to his latest adventure and scheme.
"You know most stories of Men and Elves but I know you've covered very little on Dwarves through no fault of your own my dear…built in a solitary mountain, the kingdom of Erebor was one of the strongest fortresses in history. Not far from the Lonely Mountain, as it was called, was the city of Dale, where the Men lived" Gandalf began narrating as Reika sat on her haunches to listen, red eyes bright with interest.
"It sounds beautiful" Reika says quietly.
"Indeed it was, dear Artemis" Gandalf agrees as Reika's ears press back against her head at the past tense.
"Was?" Reika asks with dread as Gandalf nods.
"The Dwarves of Erebor managed to build their mighty kingdom because of the vast natural treasure in the mountain. Beautiful gem stones and bountiful gold veins that ran through the stone. The dwarves fashioned some of the most beautiful objects and strongest armour and weapons. At the time, Thror was the King under the Mountain and he became obsessed with gold. A sickness of the mind" Gandalf admits as Reika inhales in surprise
"A sickness that causes an obsession for gold?" Reika asks in surprise having not heard of such a thing in all her years.
"Yes…he even angered Thranduil of the Greenwood when he took gems belonging to his late wife" Gandalf admits as Reika chokes in surprise.
"He did what?! That's awful Gandalf" Reika growls as Gandalf reaches out and gently smooths out Reika's scruff as a means to soothe her anger.
"That was the least of their problems. The once peaceful days soon faded and the watchful nights began, but they were not prepared for what came down to the mountain. One hot day, a fierce wind blew through the land, uprooting even the oldest trees that grew nearby. A dragon from the North known as Smaug laid waste to the city of Dale for no reason before driving the Dwarves from Erebor out" Gandalf finishes as Reika chokes in surprise as the pieces finally came together for her.
"You're trying to take back the mountain…You're asking me to go on a quest to a mountain controlled by a gold hungry dragon that managed to level not one, but two cities? A dragon likely much larger than I am at this current time?!" Reika barks out in shock as Gandalf nods.
"You're the only one I know who likely stands a chance against Smaug should the dragon wake and the quest fail to retake the mountain in a stealthy manner my dear" Gandalf admits as Reika breathes in and out, trying to calm down.
"But I'm only one person Gandalf and as you know I haven't had any practice against another dragon!" Reika growls, her panic clear at the idea of facing Smaug alone.
"You will not be alone" Gandalf reassures. "We must gather a group to undertake this task, for you see, not only is it a home to the Dwarves, it is strategically important" he admits as Reika calms slightly.
"And how, pray tell, do you intend to deal with the bloody dragon if not by force?" Reika demands incredulously.
"With no small amount of skill, luck and stealth" Gandalf chuckles as Reika sighs tiredly and would look curiously as Gandalf asked her to come with him to meet with Thorin Oakenshield. Thror's grandson and the heir to the throne. Thror having died and Thrain having disappeared in the years since the fall of Erebor.
"Go without your necklace but pack it if you would my dear Artemis" Gandalf calls over his shoulder as Reika grumbles and nods knowing the old man had his reasons and made her way back to the den she'd stored her pack and spare clothes in. Her trunk and the treasures inside left in the care of Estel, having given it to her nephew to protect as a promise to always return.
Finding Gandalf waiting for her to accept her pack knowing she was likely to travel as the dog instead of the woman to Bree.
The journey to Bree being a miserable one and one Reika had made many times before in her patrols and for meetings with her fellow rangers. Bree being populated by both Men and Hobbits.
Reika taking a moment to change back into her human shape as Gandalf put his horse into a stable, glad to be in town and away from the bandits on the road.
"There is one thing you must know about Thorin Oakenshield" Gandalf says, breaking the silence between the pair.
"Yes?" Reika asks warily.
"He has no love for elves or those like them, for he feels betrayed by them. During the dragon's attack on Erebor, Thranduil, king of the Woodland Realm, arrived with his army, but withdrew them at the last moment. This move saved many more lives from being needlessly lost, but…" Gandalf trails off as Reika sighs knowing without words what the old wizard wasn't saying.
"Thorin saw it as a betrayal" Reika sighs tiredly.
"Yes he did. As the survivors travelled the elves did not offer to help. Wood Elves are known for being isolated from the rest of the world. So whatever ill will he bears against the elves is not because of you and I would advise you to make sure to ignore his insults" Gandalf warns quietly.
"I'll be fine" Reika reassured knowing deep down she'd heard and been treated worse.
"Good…" Gandalf trails off as the two walk into the Prancing Pony, both attracting the attention of everyone.
It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke. It isn't long until they find the person that they are looking for and they sat down, dissuading two people from attempting anything.
Gandalf asks if Thorin didn't mind the two joining him before sitting down anyway and ordering what Thorin had whilst Reika ordered ale.
"I thought elves only drank fine wines?" Thorin snipes.
"That would be the case were I an elf. I'm a nature spirt" Reika deadpans.
"All the same to me" the Dwarf says gruffly.
"Fair enough" Reika sighs as she sat back.
"I should introduce myself. My name is Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey" the wizard says neutrally, the Dwarf's glare leaving his face.
"I know who you are" the Dwarf admits.
"Well now this is a fine chance. And what brings Thorin Oakenshield to Bree?" Gandalf asks.
"I received word that my father has been seen wandering the Wilds near Dunland. I went looking…I found no sign of him" Thorin says, his tone somewhat sad.
"Thorin, it's been a long time since anything but rumour was heard of Thrain" Gandalf says softly.
"He still lives, I am sure of it. My father came to see you before he went missing. What did you say to him?" Thorin asks.
"I urged him to march upon Erebor, to rally the seven armies of Dwarves to destroy the dragon and take back the Lonely Mountain. And I would say the same to you. Take back your home land" Gandalf says somewhat passionately.
"This is no chance meeting, is it Gandalf?" Thorin asks.
"No, it is not. The Lonely Mountain troubles me Thorin. That dragon has sat there long enough. Sooner or later, darker minds will turn towards Erebor. We ran into some unsavory characters whilst traveling on the Greenway. They mistook us for a pair of vagabonds" Gandalf admits. Leaving out that he had been the vagabond and Reika his canine companion.
"I imagine they regretted that" Thorin points out.
"One of them was carrying a message" Gandalf says, throwing the message on the table. The writing known to Reika as she resists the urge to snarl. "It is Black Speech. A promise of payment" the old wizard explains.
"For what?" Thorin asks warily.
"Your head. Someone wants you dead Thorin, you can wait no longer. You are the heir to the Throne of Durin. Unite the armies of the Dwarves. Together, you have the might and power to retake Erebor. Summon a meeting of the 7 Dwarf families. Demand they stand by their oath" Gandalf commands.
"The seven armies swore that oath to the one who wields the King's Jewel. The Arkenstone; It is the only thing that will unite them, and in case you have forgotten, that jewel was stolen by Smaug" Thorin reminds the wizard.
"What if I were to help you reclaim it?" Gandalf asks.
"How? The Arkenstone lies half a world away buried beneath the feet of a fire breathing dragon" Thorin points out.
"Yes it does. Which is why we're going to need a burglar" Gandalf says with a smile.
"And what of the elf?" Thorin demands.
"Nature spirit, not an elf" Reika says in an instant. "And I will be joining you" she sighs.
"And tell me…have you ever used that sword or that bow?" Thorin demands, pointing at her weapons.
"Yes, over fifty years. Let's just say that I was taken from my home and I think that no one should have to go through that. So say what you want about me even if I'm not an elf; I'm coming on this journey, Master Oakenshield. And should you choose to learn some manners, my name is Artemis" Reika says, smiling at the waitress when she hands the ranger her drink and downing it in one. "I'll get some rooms" she says as she walks off to speak with the barman.
"She's unlike any elf I've ever come across" Thorin says. He'd seen Dwarves take longer to down a pint of ale before.
"That's because she is not elven and unlike any being you've ever come across. It's been more than an age since a mage let alone a nature spirit has walked these lands. Lady Artemis's presence is likely the beginning of many changes to come" Gandalf says, tone fond.
"Hmm" Thorin hums in slight disbelief.
The following day, Thorin left for the Blue Mountains where the survivors of Erebor lived. Leaving Gandalf and Reika behind.
The rain having since abated, but a grey sky remaining. Nevertheless, the town of Bree seemed to be in high spirits.
Reika stood outside, grateful for her cloak. Having left her armour packed away and wearing only her travel clothes, a tighter black long-sleeved shirt, and the sleeves forming a pointed shape on the back of her hands and tie around her middle fingers with a pair of tight black pants tucked into her boots with her dark green cloak over it all. Her charmed necklace back in place to hide her yōkai nature.
"I think you surprised Thorin yesterday evening" Gandalf admits from beside her as they looked up the main street.
"How so?" Reika asks, hand resting on the pommel of her sword.
"For one, you drank a pint as though you were a Dwarf, with no spillage" Gandalf points out in amusement.
"Gandalf, my mother was from Ireland…I learned on a night out, anyone can down a pint in one with no spillage" Reika laughs as Gandalf chuckles.
"Although you admitted you had skill, you also made it no secret that you were willing to go to any lengths to ensure they make it home. Though he may not show it, it has affected him. He has yet to accept the fact that you are not elven" Gandalf points out.
"It's understandable, given his past with elves" Reika shrugs.
"Yes…it will be a few days before Thorin returns with help. In that time I suggest you get some practice in with your bow at least" Gandalf offers as Reika gives him an amused look before going to check in with her people. Letting them know she is traveling with Gandalf once more; getting in one last patrol before she leaves her territory in the hands of her fellow Rangers.
A week and a half would go by since Thorin left and Reika would take Gandalf's suggestion and practice with her bow where no one could see so she didn't have to hide behind her necklace.
With a calming breath, measured movements and a strong pull, she loosed an arrow and it embeds itself deep in the centre of the target.
Suddenly, a smaller arrow lands right beside it and she drew another, turning to face the newcomer and aiming, surprised to see two Dwarves with mischievous grins, one of which is holding a small bow.
"I had a feeling she'd react like that" the one with darker hair says.
"You did say she would, Kee" The one with fairer hair agrees.
"And you should know better than to sneak up on a woman with heightened senses" Reika grumbles, putting the arrow back in her quiver and putting the bow over her shoulder.
"Fili…" The one with fairer hair begins.
"Kili…" The one with darker hair adds.
"At your service" they bow to her as they speak in unison but it was clear it pained them to do so.
"Reika Potter, at yours" Reika returns the bow before walking to the target and retrieving the arrows, her own going to back to her quiver and she passes the other back to Kili. "Impressive marksmanship" she says neutrally.
"Well Fee, I'll be damned; an elf with a compliment for a dwarf" Kili snarks.
"Not such an impressive feat. I'm a nature spirit not an elf" Reika deadpans.
"Impossible" Fili says.
"I assure you, young dwarves, it is not. My dear Reika here is the only one of her kind in all Middle-Earth at this time" Gandalf says walking up to them.
"I see you've become acquaintances with Thorin's nephews" he says to Reika in amusement.
"I have. Judging by their presence, I guess Thorin has returned with others?" Reika asks curiously.
"Ten others" Gandalf admits.
"Ten? To retake the Lonely Mountain?" Reika asks in shock.
"Why is that a shock for you?" Kili asks, offended.
"Let's see, thirteen dwarves, one ranger and a burglar up against a fire-breathing dragon that destroyed two cities…one without really intending to. That's why it's a shock to me" Reika says, earning a glare from both.
"Then by all means, go home" Fili says casually.
"I don't actually have a home" Reika hisses out between her teeth. "A pleasure to meet you both" she says shortly as she walks away. Not wanting to lash out like her inner demon wants for the insult.
"What did she mean by that?" Kili asks the wizard.
"It means she is rather similar to your uncle in that she's never truly had a home, just a place to sleep…only unlike Erebor, she has no chance of going back" Gandalf explains, sympathy in his voice before heading off in the same direction as the mage. "I suggest you make sure you are prepared to leave; we must set off soon" he calls over his shoulder.
"She has a choice of three kingdoms…" Fili trails off.
"We have a choice of six" Kili says. "It still wasn't home enough for Thorin" he adds on. "Perhaps we shouldn't judge so harshly, not yet. Of all the beings we've come across, she's the most polite" Kili says, before heading back.
"I suppose" Fili agrees.
Reika on her part returns to The Prancing Pony and meets the rest of the company, easily figuring out who she is most likely to get along with.
Balin being the wisest, a neutral party who is polite enough to call her by name, but his brother, Dwalin, merely gives his name and a brief nod. The brother's Ur are also divided, Bofur being the kindest of the three with a sarcasm that immediately makes him likable. Bifur being impossible to read, given that he only spoke Dwarfish. Bombur seemed to be neutral too, welcoming, but not overly friendly.
Gloin and Oin are similar to Dwalin. They disapprove of her presence, but Gandalf makes it clear that Reika is going on this quest whether they like it or not. Dori and Ori are polite, the latter almost curious, whilst Nori eyes the other's bow and arrows with a gleam in his eye.
Kili and Fili walk in after Gandalf, the latter offering a quiet apology for earlier before sitting down.
"So many names to remember. I can't guarantee I will, but I'll do my best. When do we leave?" Reika asks her wizard friend quietly.
"In ten minutes" Gandalf says.
"I'll go get my sword and travel pack then" Reika says returning to her room to grab her things before heading outside, changing shape mid step to the startlement of the dwarves, Gandalf accepting her pack and weapons.
And so they set out, headed for their next destination so they could retrieve the final member of their company. Reika walking behind the rest of the group whilst Gandalf took the lead and all she could think about since speaking with the younger members of the company is her home. Home being the road to Estel, her nephew probably always would be her home and she always misses him when away from Rivendell.
Despite her presence initially causing some tension, it's clear that the Dwarves are a rather jovial bunch, easily conversing with one another. It reminds Reika of life back in the Gryffindor common room. Lively as well as loud, especially during Quidditch season where the parties were numerous and the beer flowed easily. She's never really enjoyed being the center of attention during those times, but she found them to be just like these Dwarves: Loud, friendly and full of laughter.
As the journey takes them closer to their next stop, Reika is surprised when a member of their group slows down to join her at the back of the train.
Fair haired, in furs and brimming with weapons, is Fili, the Dwarf who'd hit a nerve in telling her to go home so bluntly. Since his quiet apology at the Prancing Pony, they'd not spoken since, but the moment Fili reaches her, he matches the Ranger's pace. Needless to say, it's a shock when Fili speaks.
"I just wanted to apologise again; I meant nothing by what I said" Fili apologizes
"Master Fili you don't need to apologise. I doubted you without really knowing you" Reika points out, her male sounding voice surprising the blonde as she kept pace with Fili's pony.
"I still should have held my tongue. Home is a sensitive subject to us Dwarves, you see" Fili admits and Reika nods.
"I see that. I came into these lands quite by accident in a way I shouldn't have survived and into a land that is very different to my own. Being forced from all I knew…well I can imagine that's what your uncle went through when Smaug took Erebor"Reika admits quietly.
"For an Elf, you're not bad" Fili points out.
"Not an elf but I suppose, given the Rangers close connections, technically I am of Imladris and not of the Woodland Realm"Reika chuckles.
"Dwarves see no difference between the types" Fili says and the other smiles.
"Perhaps you should. I think you'll find there are some differences"Reika chuckles, red eyes bright in amusement.
"Reika doesn't sound Elvish" Fili points out.
"It's Japanese and it means fresh flower…the lands I come from have many of their own languages. I know at least a few as if they were my first language. Perhaps I'll show one to you one day"Reika explains with a small chuckle.
"I look forward to it" Fili agrees as Reika tilts her head, red eyes the only thing giving away her surprise before she looks forward once more.
"I suggest you pick up the pace, Master Fili. Your brother seems eager to talk to you" Reika says.
"How'd you guess he was my brother?" Fili asks.
"You two have similar sounding names, speak in unison and let's not forget that you two practically have mischief written on your face when you grin at the same time. You're brothers, now go on and catch up with him" Reika encourages in quiet amusement.
"Alright. We will talk more later" Fili grins, before catching up with his younger brother.
Reika watches him go with a small smile. She'd made her peace with Fili and possibly Kili, but many decades of bad blood would stand between her and the rest of the Company in the days to come.
Poor fortune? Yes. Challenge? Most definitely. Like the dragon, however, she is willing to try to deal with it.
Soon the grey of the Bree-lands gave way to a familiar tree lined road, the sound of nature surrounding them once more. A comfort she cherishes since Earth isn't nearly as vibrant as these lands, not after going through the Industrial Revolution.
The air being fresher, the water, clearer and the wildlife more abundant. She'd never really noticed nature before her inheritance but she chalks it up to the fact that her yōkai side would always be more at home in nature compared to being in a crowded town or city like London.
"You seem to be deep in thought, Lady Elf" The one with the odd hat, Bofur, says, falling into pace with Reika.
"Not elven…I'm going to be saying that a lot on this quest aren't I?" Reika asks tiredly.
"Probably through it all" Bofur chuckles. "So if not an elf what are you?" he asks.
"A mage that also happens to be a nature spirit courtesy of my mother's ancestors…my mother's ancestors live just as long lives as elves, much longer than an ordinary mage" Reika admits slowly, red eyes going distant.
"So you're likely going to see and learn a lot more than you would have if you were to live a short life" Bofur points out reasonably as Reika chuckles sadly.
"More like, live a normal life with my small family or live forever, see and learn what I can and eventually lose that family to time. The choice may have been taken out of my hands but it would take something particularly important to get me to stay alive after that kind of loss"Reika points out quietly.
"Well when you put it like that…" Bofur trails off.
"I've made peace with what happened to me for the most part so don't think on it too hard. I certainly try not to" Reika chuckles, ignoring the slight flinch from the dwarf at the sight of her teeth.
"True but it's easier to share that kind of burden than let it fester" Bofur points out reasonably.
"True…thank you" Reika says softly.
"Anytime" Bofur says as they came to as stop not far from the Shire with Gandalf travelling onwards.
Helping making sure the ponies are secure, Reika volunteers to scout the area as her senses are better in her current state compared to the dwarves.
Walking carefully through the forest and though she is ever vigilant, her mind drifts to the peace she always felt when she strolls through the woods.
"Hmm, all clear" She calls, beginning to circle around.
"You did not travel far, Lady Reika" Fili says cheekily.
"My senses are better in this form. I can see and smell farther, hear clearer" Reika says as she strolls around.
"I see, Bofur told me of the choice that was taken from you" Fili says quietly.
"I wondered how long it'd be before the rest of the Company found out"Reika chuffs tiredly.
"Will you be alright?" Fili asks in concern as Reika came to a stop abruptly.
"I've lived this long so we'll see" Reika chuckles without humor. It had taken her a long time to come to terms with her nature and it had taken Arathorn promising that things would turn out okay one day. That she'd find someone like he'd found Gilraen. That her family would eventually join her if things were as bad as she'd admitted to back on Earth.
"How old are you now?" Fili asks curiously.
"66 but I will be 67 mid summer" Reika admits after a pause to think about her answer.
"A child then" Fili muses as Reika snorts in indignant surprise.
"I beg your pardon? How old are you, exactly?" Reika asks as Fili realizes his words.
"82…years old that is" Fili explains.
"Then Dwarves and Men…or rather former Men in my case must age differently. In my case, I've stopped aging for the time being. Physically at least" Reika muses as she relaxes once more.
"I see. I'm sorry about the…" Fili tires to apologize as Reika cuts him off.
"No, no, to live until eighty-two where I am only 66 would make me a child by comparison yet you are as mischievous as any other young man" Reika points out in quiet amusement.
"Dwarves mature at different rates compared to humans" Fili admits as Reika nods thoughtfully.
"I see" Reika muses as she settles down by her pack and sword.
"You can add that to your learning of the world" Fili says with that same cheeky smile. "Do you know how to use that sword?" he asks curiously.
"The Dúnedain taught me first and then I learned from the elves when I stayed in Imladris then Gandalf when I traveled with him for a time…but it never hurts to have more practice" Reika admits, changing shape mid sentence, looking at the beautifully crafted weapon. "Work was menial in my world. We learned by doing. I suppose the same could be said for any weapon, but given that we're fighting a dragon, learning in the field isn't going to cut it, is it?" she giggles sheepishly knowing her magic wasn't likely to cut it if Smaug's hide was magic resistant like her own.
"No, it is not. I could teach you if you would like? Payback for showing me one of the languages you know?" He offered.
"உங்கள் வாய்ப்பை ஏற்கிறேன் (I accept your offer)" Reika says with a smile. Speaking in Tamil, having spent time in the first few years on Middle-Earth learning her ancestors' languages in conjunction with learning how to read the few scrolls that had survived from Riku and Towa's time. The Tamil books being easier since she'd been learning from the Patil twins before she'd fallen through the Veil.
"I take it that means a yes?" Fili asks in amusement.
"Yes it does" Reika laughs.
"Very well Lady Reika...we'll start training when we begin the quest properly" Fili agrees as the two return to camp as the evening began to set, Balin noticing the dark clouds on the way, meaning potential rain as the two return.
Reika sighs. All she'd had to deal with was grey days and rain when she was in Bree even though she preferred the warmer weather. Wrapping her cloak around her shoulders a little more, Reika made sure her pack and sword are secure.
"Where's Thorin?" Reika asks as she notes his absence.
"He's attending a meeting with the other Dwarf Lords to see if they will help" Balin explains.
"Do you think they will?" Fili asks, almost hopefully.
"I don't know laddie, we shall see" Balin says quietly, catching Reika's eye and seeing the understanding there. She knew that it might just be them marching on the mountain.
Gandalf returns just as the dark skies set in, informing them that their burglar, to the disbelief of Reika, has agreed to undertake the quest. The Wizard explaining that he left a marking on the door of the target house, and that they should make their way up.
Dwalin set off first whilst the others pack up their things.
"Your idea of a formidable force differs from mine; Gandalf and you know my opinion about the Hobbit you picked" Reika says quietly as they took a leisurely walk.
"Numbers don't always win a battle" Gandalf reminds.
"Depends on the creature. In this case, it just so happens to be a fire breathing reptile" Reika deadpans.
"It's not the mountain we seek...rather a gem within" Gandalf admits as Reika stops abruptly.
"A gem? One of countless that the Dwarves are known for producing?" Reika asks in disbelief as the two brothers of Durin's line fell into step.
"This is not just any jewel, Lady Elf. This one is an heirloom of our house" Kili starts to explain. "It has a few names, particularly the King's Jewel, but it's known primarily as the Arkenstone. If we can get that gem, we can unite the rest of our people and drive Smaug from the mountain. Thorin will then be able to claim his birthright" he finishes.
"I see" Reika says softly. "In my world, treaties work a little differently" she muses thoughtfully.
"How so?" Fili asks.
"When one of our allies goes to war, we go with them if they need us. No questions asked" Reika explains, her turquoise eyes going somber at the thought.
"Are there many wars in your world?" Fili asks curiously.
"There were, some bloodier than most. Two in particular spanned the world over and cost the lives of so many, we declared an entire generation lost. Millions of lives lost and the deadliest of weapons ever created" Reika admits somberly.
"And yet you're concerned about returning?" Kili asks incredulously.
"Truthfully I'm not, my ancestors paid the price for both sides now there's only me that remains of my father's lines and I never got the chance to meet more than just my mother's sister of my mother's family" Reika admits, tone a little flat at the admittance.
"Well you are here now. And in that time, you've managed to get yourself embroiled in a quest to unite the Dwarves against a dragon" Fili points out as Reika throws her head back and laughs, thinking about what Arador and Arathorn would think of her now.
Between the three of them she had been the least adventurous. Her misadventures at Hogwarts having made her more cautious when wandering Middle-Earth.
"Yes and my brother used to say I wasn't adventurous" Reika giggles helplessly as a warm feeling fills her at the sight of Hobbiton.
There's a sense of peace here, one that has been undisturbed for many years.
The Elves lived in the beauty of their valley and forests, the Dwarves had their mountains and the Men had their cities and towns, but the Hobbits lead the simplest of lives in Reika's eyes.
"Coming here always reminds me of my home" Reika says softly.
"You lived in the countryside?" Bofur asks.
"No, but the city I lived in was surrounded by it. Rolling fields and hills" Reika admits.
"Are you sure this is where our burglar is? These folk seem too gentle?" Bombur asks Gandalf who gave a resolute nod.
"Ripples can make waves" Gandalf says cryptically.
Reika follows the brothers some distance away, catching the attention of Hobbits who would gawk at her with wide eyes. She would offer polite greetings to them and smile at the few that recognize her before reaching a familiar green door with the Dwarfish rune on it.
Knocking on the door, Reika grins able to hear the others already making noise.
"There are far too many Dwarves in this house already!" A familiar if older annoyed voice shouts, before opening the door and gawking up at the slightly crouching mage.
"It's good to see you're doing well Master Baggins" Reika smiles as Bilbo stares at her before realization dawns.
"Lady Artemis?" Bilbo asks in surprise.
"Yes it has been awhile. May I come in?" Reika asks gently.
"Um, of course, may be a tight squeeze" the Hobbit says, still shocked.
"Many thanks. I was worried it was going to rain" Reika says as she shucks off her bow, quiver and undid the belt carrying her sword.
Placing the weapons to one side, she undid her bracers and chest plate, placing them neatly and out of the way before unclasping her cloak. "It started off warm but then went cold" she admits.
"You know these Dwarves?" Bilbo asks.
"I've recently met them" she laughs as the princes walk out.
"Oh good, you're here. Grab a couple of chairs" Fili says and the other nods.
"Well it seems that duty calls...perhaps we can talk later, Master Baggins" Reika smiles politely, before turning and walking right into a door. "Ah, bloody hell" she hisses out, surprising the others with the slight curse. "What? I'm not a language prude" she grumbles, grabbing some chairs.
With the arrival of the rest of the Company, it becomes quite crowded and lively.
Reika has a grin on her face, however, despite their somewhat crude behaviour, she is used to it. More than used to this kind of thing after the Gryffindor parties and going to a few pubs with her Rangers.
"Ale?" Fili offers as he passes by on the table.
"Thank you" Reika says accepting the tankard.
After passing out all of the ales, the Dwarves drank them in one, but there's spillage and they all let out loud belches, the young Ori beating them all before their gazes land on Reika. She gave them a grin that they take as a sign of a challenge.
"You rely on spillage to get you through a pint" she laughs and with one hand raises the tankard to her lips and drank a little slower compared to when she was in Bree, savouring the taste whilst spilling not one drop. In one go it's gone and for a moment she's silent before letting out a small hiccup then a burp that would make the rest of the Elves blush.
Kili and Fili hit the ground laughing in an instant, Balin grins from ear to ear and even Dwalin gives her a nod.
"I rely merely on a deep breath, that was quite the ale" Reika sighs contentedly and puts down the tankard.
"Oh she may be Elfish in appearance, but that was a burp worthy of a Dwarven hall" Fili wipes a tear from his eye. "And here we all thought you preferred a fine wine instead of a simple ale like us" he sighs, earning a laugh and smile from Reika.
"Pardon me, your uncle made the same deduction before I proved him wrong" Reika admits with a hiccupping laugh.
Fili, Kili and Reika finish eating first, the mage/yōkai hybrid grabbing another ale but only sipping it this time as she looks around Bag End.
Ori politely approaches an agitated Bilbo and asks him what he should do with his plate, prompting Fili to take it and throw it, Kili catching it and then passing it to someone else.
"Excuse me, that's my mother's West Farthing crockery, it's over a hundred years old! And can-can you not do that? You'll blunt them!" Bilbo protests as Reika withholds a snort.
"Ooh! Did you hear that lads? He says we'll blunt the knives" Kili teases.
Reika leans against the doorframe, watching as plates went flying through the air. One almost hits her, but she catches it easily and sends it flying at Kili who catches it and grins at her before he began to sing.
"Blunt the knives, bend the forks."
"Smash the bottles and burn the corks" Fili adds.
"Chip the glasses and crack the plates" The other Dwarves sing.
"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
Though she doesn't take part in the singing, Reika taps her foot to the tune, easily throwing plates as though they are Frisbees, earning a glare from Bilbo in the process. He walks into the dining room as the song comes to a close and giggles along with the others at Bilbo's surprise before three loud knocks are heard coming from the front door.
"He is here" Gandalf says.
The Wizard answers the door and Thorin gives Gandalf a small smile before walking in, taking off his cloak as he did so. The rest of the Dwarves and Reika stood as Bilbo wanders in as well.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door" Thorin complains to the wizard.
"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!" Bilbo went to look but Gandalf stops him.
"There is a mark; I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield" Gandalf introduces.
"So, this is the Hobbit" Thorin says as he analysed Bilbo. "Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Thorin asks.
"Pardon me?" Bilbo asks in surprise.
"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin asks.
"Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant" Bilbo rambles as Reika breathes out quietly.
"Thought as much, he looks more like a grocer than a burglar" Thorin says and though Reika didn't laugh, she agreed for Bilbo couldn't even handle mess in his own home, let alone a dragon in a far away mountain. Obviously having forgotten his lessons with her.
Heading into the dining room with the others.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asks.
"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms" Thorin admits.
The Dwarves all murmur happily and Reika begins to feel hope for them. If the other kingdoms agreed to aid Thorin, there may be no need to undertake the quest alone and face the dragon with only a tiny group.
Something about Thorin's face crushes that hope, however, for he looks grimmer than he had at their last meeting.
"What do the Dwarves of Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asks.
"They will not come" Thorin says and the others grumble. "They say this quest is ours and ours alone" the king admits.
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asks, catching their attention.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light" Gandalf says with a slight smile. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak" Gandalf says as he produces a map.
"The Lonely Mountain" Bilbo reads aloud.
"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time" Gloin speaks up.
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end" Oin says, and Bilbo looks a little concerned as he turns to them.
"Uh, what 'beast?'" Bilbo asks.
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals-" Bofur explains before Bilbo cuts him off.
"Yes I know what a dragon is" Bilbo says.
"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie" Ori says enthusiastically and even Reika smiles as the others shout their agreement.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest" Balin points out and Reika has to agree as spirit was not enough to overcome a large threat.
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters. All of us, to the last Dwarf" Fili says with a grin, but not before clearing his throat. "And a mage" he adds on.
"Finally, you get it right" Reika laughs.
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time" Kili says excitedly.
"Oh, well, now, uh, I-I-I wouldn't say that I- -" Gandalf stutters out.
"How many, then?" Dori asks.
"Uh, what?" Gandalf asks.
"How many dragons have you killed?" Dori asks again.
"You seem to know a lot about what we need to do, Gandalf…that means you must have killed one before right?" Reika says, her tone light and eyes bright with amusement already knowing the answer.
Gandalf began to cough on his pipe, embarrassed and thus revealing the truth. He's never killed one as far as they knew and that would make things difficult.
Reika sighs as the other Dwarves got to their feet and began to argue amongst themselves before Thorin stood and gave a thunderous shout.
"Shazara! If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the Mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!" He shouts, earning cheers from the Dwarves and a vicious smile from Reika.
"You forget, the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain" Balin says, bringing them back down to reality.
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true" Gandalf says before producing a key that earns a look of wonder from Thorin and the rest of the company.
"How came you by this?" Thorin breathes out.
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now" Gandalf says as he hands the key to Thorin.
"If there is a key, there must be a door" Fili points out.
"A back entrance?" Reika asks the wizard intently.
"Precisely" Gandalf agrees. "These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls" the wizard explains, pointing to the right spots on the map.
"There's another way in!" Kili says excitedly.
"Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-Earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done" Gandalf says and the others nod.
"That's why we need a burglar" Ori speaks up.
"A good one too, an expert, I imagine" Bilbo agrees as Reika winces, for the sentence sounds too confident, as though he were volunteering.
"And are you?" Gloin asks.
"Am I what?" Bilbo asks.
"He said he's an expert!" Oin grins.
"M-Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life" Bilbo admits and a few of the others had to agree.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material" Balin says, earning a nod of agreement from Bilbo himself.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves" Dwalin adds and another argument breaks out amongst the Dwarves.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is" Gandalf says in a powerful voice before returning to normal. Reika wincing at the use of magic and waving off Fili and Kili's concerned looks. She's never liked when Gandalf did that since it always pressed against and down on her magic as if trying to force her to submit.
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this" Gandalf says to Thorin.
"Very well. We will do this your way" Thorin says, though he is reluctant, despite Bilbo's vehement disagreements. "Give him the contract" he orders.
"It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth" Balin explains casually.
Bilbo moves away to read through the contract whilst Thorin and Gandalf whisper quietly between themselves.
Reika says nothing, but she worries that the Dwarves are getting their hopes up too much. As it is, the funeral arrangements comment has already put Bilbo off.
"…lacerations…" Bilbo reads out loud, catching their attention. "Evisceration?" He then looks at them in shock. "Incineration?!" he demands.
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye" Bofur says and Reika groans while face palming.
"Huh" Bilbo says breathlessly.
"You alright, laddie?" Balin asks in concern.
"Bilbo?" Reika ask as she got up in concern.
It only gets worse.
"Think furnace with wings. Flash of light, searing pain, then Poof! you're nothing more than a pile of ash" Bofur finishes and Bilbo seems to compose himself.
"Hmm…Nope" is all Bilbo says before passing out.
"Very helpful, Bofur" Gandalf grumbles and moves to pick Bilbo up and get him settled somewhere a little calmer to speak privately.
Fili, Kili and Reika in the mean time took a moment to step out into the garden to get some cool air, all the while wondering if Bilbo would sign the contract.
Reika has another tankard of ale; one she is sipping lightly as she looks up at the stars. Lost in thought and only pulled from them by Kili.
"What do you think, Lady Mage?" Kili asks.
"About what?" Reika asks absentmindedly.
"The chances of him signing the contract. After all you agreed and you didn't even sign one" Kili points out.
"I'm armed…my chances of survival are slightly better than his. Plus, most in Hobbiton are not accustomed to adventures or anything out of the ordinary. We might have had better luck with some of Bilbo's Took cousins…If Bilbo signs the contract, well, it'll be interesting to say the least" Reika sighs.
"So why did you come? If you're not obligated by a contract?" Fili asks.
"A desire to help and the fact that I have no actual home of my own. So if I can help someone get their home back…well I'd say that's a good thing" Reika explains her reasons with a small sad smile, which surprises both Dwarves.
"You'd risk being incinerated?" Kili asks in shock.
"Were it easy, it wouldn't be much of a quest, would it? Plus, considering how it is spoken about, I'd very much like to see Erebor" Reika admits quietly.
"And so you shall, Reika" Fili says with a small smile.
Balin soon calls them back in then, his face grim and Reika's heart sinks.
Bilbo had obviously said no to signing the contract and though Reika could hardly blame him, she'd had a small hope the young Hobbit who'd sought to go on adventures with her would win out against the Hobbit Bilbo had become after the Fell Winter.
Reika would sit with her back against the wall as Thorin sang a haunting but beautiful song of his homeland.
"Hmmmm
Far over the Misty Mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To find our long forgotten gold
The pines were roaring on the height
The winds were moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light"
The rest of the company sang along as Reika listens; eyes bright with her emotions as the song ends.
There are a couple of rooms spare that Bilbo generously lets them use. Fili and Kili inviting her into theirs where she lets them have the bed, taking a plush, if small chair to use. Using her cloak as a blanket, she makes herself as comfortable as she possibly could.
The two youngest Dwarves are still awake, however.
"Will we ever get to live there? To reclaim it?" Kili asks, unsure now.
"You may not have a burglar to help, but I'm sure there's a way to retake it. If my country can fight two world spanning wars, facing unfavourable odds but go on to win…Then I know there has to be a way to deal with that dragon" Reika whispers softly so as not to risk waking anyone. "I mean, my existence here is impossible…if divine intervention exists, I'm sure a dragon killing tool does too" she points out quietly.
"Thank you, Reika" Fili smiles.
"Get some sleep. I imagine your uncle will have us leaving early" Reika whispers, yawning and flashing both princes her canine teeth. Sleep coming a little easier knowing she would be on the move come morning.
After watching their interactions from before, it's surprising to see that the Dwarves could move a lot quietly as they clean up the Hobbit's home the following morning.
Aside from an empty pantry, it's as if they had never been there and caused quite the mess with their little party. Carefully putting her elvish armor and cloak in her pack, Reika took a final look around the house to make sure they hadn't left anything.
"Well, that's that" Balin says, feeling a little disappointed.
"Come on, we've a mountain to get to" Reika encourages with a small smile.
"That we do, lass" Balin agrees.
Reika waits until the other Dwarves filter out of the house before closing the door gently and following them down the road in canine form.
Some Hobbits are already awake and are shocked to see thirteen Dwarves, a Wizard and Reika walking along their roads. Reika giving those she knew quiet polite greetings.
"Must you speak to every one of them?" Thorin grumbles.
"Better to be polite than ignorant" Reika says cheerfully, throwing off those that hadn't heard the male voice her canine form had. Drawing amusement out of those that had like Gandalf, Fili and Bofur.
"Well save the niceties, it's not as if you will be returning to this land" Thorin grumbles.
Rolling her eyes, Reika deliberately carries on, earning snickers from Fili and Kili and Gandalf even got in on it as well. It's as everyone else got back on the ponies and were on the move that they hear a familiar voice, only on this occasion he isn't flustered or annoyed.
"Wait! Wait!" Bilbo shouts as he approaches them and they stop moving. "I signed it" he pants out as Balin takes the contract and looks at it in detail.
"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield" Balin says with a smile and the others cheer, Reika huffing her own relief knowing the ponies aren't quite used to her yet for her to show her amusement or delight without scaring them.
"Give him a pony" Thorin says gruffly.
"No, no, no, no, that-that won't be necessary, thank you, but I-I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I- I-I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once-WAGH!" Bilbo is cut off as he's lifted onto the pony.
Reika chokes out a laugh as they began to move once more, this time keeping pace with the rest of the Company.
Fili and Kili keeping pace with her, sniping at one another as brothers do, further adding to Reika's amusement.
"Maybe you could settle this for us" Kili says thoughtfully sometime later.
"Settle what?"Reika asks curiously.
"We're both making bets on what you did on your world" Kili admits.
"I see, and what do you have so far?" Reika grins knowing she's going to have a good laugh since none of them would be anywhere close considering her many years on Arda compared to Earth.
"Well you didn't start out a fighter that much we do know. So does that make you a healer?" Fili asks.
"No. I wasn't, but I did consider it" Reika says.
"You seem curious to learn…were you a scholar?" Kili asks and Reika chokes out a laugh. She had enjoyed learning at Hogwarts when she could get away from the twin's younger siblings and Hermione Granger. "I'll take that as a no" he says thoughtfully.
"Were those the only two you could come up with?" Reika asks her amusement clear to both princes.
"Well it seemed they were the most likely options. What were you?" Kili asks.
"Since I was fifteen when the Dúnedain found me I was a school student before coming to Middle-Earth" Reika says, outright laughing when the others all turn to her in shock. "It's why I'm so used to you being loud. I used to live and study with several people in the dorms I slept in, it got busy and loud. Especially during parties"she admits.
"School? You had a school?" Kili asks.
"When the mages left Middle-Earth some of us founded schools and I went to one of the oldest since we needed to learn control without outing ourselves to the world of men or hurting those around us with a lack of control" Reika explains patiently.
"That makes sense" Fili says thoughtfully as Reika rolls her eyes in quiet amusement.
After travelling for a long time, they eventually stop as the sun began to disappear over the horizon. As the others set up camp, Reika would perch herself on a rock, canine eyes scanning the area. She jumps as Fili and Kili sat down right by her before she turns her gaze back out to the land before her.
"Any dangers?" Kili asks.
"Nothing, the forest surrounding us is clear" Reika reassures.
"Good, because you're going to do some training" Fili says, his voice leaving no room for argument as Reika changes back.
"But I volunteered to be on watch" Reika points out slowly.
"That is why Kili is here, Elf" Thorin walks over to them, ignoring Reika's wrinkled nose at his purposeful mistake. "The burglar doesn't have a weapon so we can't train him. You do. Kili can take your watch, but I want you in fighting form" The King in Exile says gruffly and the other nods. "Fili will train you first" he adds on as Reika nods and would dig around her pack and come out with a different sword to the jewel encrusted one she kept belted at her waist.
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you to start" Fili draws his own blades.
"You're going to regret that" Reika snickers as she got into her stance, doing her best to ignore the fact that they're being watched closely by the main warriors of the company.
Fili gave all of three seconds before unleashing a flurry of strikes that Reika parries with ease.
"What happened to going easy?" Reika asks with a laugh.
"This is easy…by Dwarven standards. I could pit you against Dwalin if you would prefer" Thorin says in a mocking voice.
"I don't particularly care for your tone" Reika grumbles, retaking her stance with a lot more confidence to the surprise of the others. If only to wipe that smirk off of Thorin's face, she would perform her very best with what she knew.
"That's the spirit" Fili encourages as he too retook his stance.
As they went through the motions, Fili shouts instructions on her stance, her movements, even her blocking technique. They soon began exchanging blows, Reika mostly on the defensive, but her movements more fluid as she picks up the Dwarves fighting style and incorporates it into her own.
The fair-haired Dwarf lunges forward then, as if to stab Reika and using her sword, Reika blocks the attack, Fili's sword sliding along the Elven blade she'd pulled from her spelled pack.
"Very go-" The elder prince is surprised as Reika slashes at him, the Dwarven prince having to dodge.
"Well" Kili chuckles, before returning to his watch.
Fili picks up the pace with his strikes and Reika parries them a little more easily. It's when Fili goes to strike at her feet that Reika surprises them. She steps on the blade and it falls from the Dwarven princes grasp. Kicking it towards the rest of the supplies, Reika gives a slight grin at Fili, who grins back.
"That's a mistake I won't make again" Fili chuckles.
"Well I should hope not, lest you end up weaponless" Reika says with a breathless laugh.
Reika doesn't show her surprise when Fili draws a knife and throws it. Bringing up her arm, she's glad she is wearing her bracers as the Elven metal easily deflects it, although she certainly feels the impact. Fili bows with a smirk at the slight surprise in Reika's eyes. The only thing that's given away her surprise.
"I'm never weaponless" Fili says smugly.
"I can see that" Reika laughs lightly. Turquoise eyes bright with the idea of a challenge.
"It's good to see your reflexes aren't dull" Fili readies his sword.
"My reflexes are just fine" Reika grumbles and readies her own stance once more.
Despite her yōkai traits, Reika knows she still has her limitations.
Reika begins to tire and as her sword is lowered, Fili brings Reika to her knees by clipping the back of her legs with the handle of his throwing axe. As Reika went to recover, she feels the cold of the blade pressed against her neck.
"And that concludes this first lesson" Fili says, taking the sword away from Reika's neck.
A round of applause went up and the Dwarven prince bows with exaggeration before turning to Reika and bowing before her too. More than able to see that she'd been more focused on learning than actually sparring, able to see that if she'd been serious she'd have put up more of a fight.
Clutching her aching wrist from when she parried a sword blow, Reika stands and bows back.
"Instinct is always good in a pinch, adrenaline helps too. Still some training is always good. I'll teach you more" Fili says with a grin, grabbing his other sword and sheathing both weapons. "How's the wrist?" he asks as Reika sheathes the Elven sword she'd used for practice.
"Sore; nothing I can't handle, really" Reika waves off absentmindedly as her healing factor kicks in.
"Glad to hear it" Fili says as they soon settle down for the evening.
Most of the Dwarves having already fallen asleep but Fili, Kili, Gandalf, Reika and Bilbo are still awake. Reika busy laying out her own bedding when a scream is heard in the night and those still awake became a little more alert.
"What was that?" Bilbo asks.
"Orcs" Kili answers seriously.
"Orcs?" Bilbo asks, ever so slightly nervous.
"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them" Fili explains just as seriously as his brother.
"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood" Kili continues and Bilbo turns away, now clearly frightened.
Both brothers chuckle and Thorin speaks up.
"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" He asks angrily.
"We didn't mean anything by it" Kili says, sounding like a chastised child.
"No you didn't" the King sneers. "You know nothing of the world" he walks off and Balin walks over to them.
"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs lead by the most vile of all their race: Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King" Balin explains as Reika flinches, thinking of Arathorn's death due to an Orc arrow to the eye.
"Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him: a young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent…wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King" Balin says almost proudly.
"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asks.
"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago" Thorin growls, as Reika looks into the fire, curling in on herself a little, hoping he's right.
The following day, Reika is all too easily reminded of the Scottish weather as they ride through the forest in what could best be described as a flood from the sky.
Though warm, she is soaked through and that makes her somewhat miserable as she trots along. Silently glad she's spelled her pack to remain dry and the only thing still dry amongst the company.
"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori speaks up.
"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard" Gandalf says, the only one who is more or less the same in demeanour despite the less than favourable weather.
"Are there any?" Bilbo asks.
"What?" Gandalf asks curiously.
"Other wizards?" Bilbo asks again.
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards; you know, I've quite forgotten their names" Gandalf says casually.
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo asks.
"That would be Radagast the Brown" Reika cuts in, having met the quirky Ishtar in question during her time on the road with Gandalf. Radagast having left his forest home to reach out to Gandalf to help with a problem he was having. Reika having travelled a little ways with the pair before going another way while Gandalf had gone off with the other Ishtar and met up with the Grey wizard further down their planned trip.
"Is he a great Wizard or is he more like you?" Bilbo asks Gandalf, pulling a laugh from Reika whilst Fili and Kili snicker at the causal insult.
"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world" Gandalf admits.
"I enjoyed my time with Radagast when he ventured West, he reminds me keenly of a dear friend. It's usually the gentle souls you have to watch for since they're the fiercest in protecting what is theirs'"Reika admits fondly thinking of Luna and how out of all her friends Luna would love Middle-Earth best, right next to Neville.
Soon they reach an old, ruined farmhouse and to the relief of the other Dwarves, Thorin declares that they would be camping there. He hands out jobs to the others before turning to Reika with a look of indifference.
"Lady Elf, you can scout around" Thorin commands as Reika resists the urge to bare her teeth at the King at once again being called an elf. Even though the king had seen her change shape, the magic being something elves couldn't do.
"Right" she grumbles before turning around and heads into the forest on light paws and nose to the wind, she soon happens upon the two young brothers and the ponies. Her footsteps surer as she walks up to them.
"Uncle has you scouting again?" Kili asks.
"It seems my heightened senses have some benefits…not that he would admit that" Reika grumbles before letting herself relax and change shape.
"Dwarves are naturally stubborn, but one thing he will never, ever do is compliment an Elf or a being that is like an Elf" Kili says and Reika sighs.
"I serve a purpose, nothing more, it seems" Reika says quietly and without her usual humor.
"Don't let him get to you like that, you're more than just a mage with a few useful gifts to us at least" Fili reassures, pulling a small smile from Reika.
"Thank you, Fili, I'd best get back to scouting, lest your uncle burn my face off faster than any dragon ever could" Reika says quietly.
"You do that, Reika, we'll see you around" Fili encourages as Reika turns around continued with her task.
Reika would finish scouting by the time the sun had begun to descend and she returns to camp just as Bombur has finished dinner.
Gratefully accepting a bowl, Reika finds herself a corner and began to eat.
Though it's simple, it's nevertheless hearty and warm, something the Dwarves appreciate after the rain from earlier.
"Notice anything on your scouting trip?" Thorin asks gruffly.
"All clear as far as I could tell, though I could smell something rather atrocious, one I know but can't quite remember where it comes from" Reika reports quietly.
"At least you're serving a purpose" Thorin grumbles.
"I know you don't like the Elves. I know you have good reason not to, but I'm not one of them" Reika reminds the King, just clinging onto her temper.
"You've been welcomed amongst them to use their weapons and armor, an Elven friend" Thorin says gruffly. "I'm not unlearned in the ways of Elves; I was a prince and such diplomacy with them was required during our time of peace and I learned about them and about people like you" the King finishes as Reika's saint like patience finally snaps.
"So that gives you the right to tar me with the same brush? I live amongst them because it keeps my nephew safe and because until I met this company I fit in no where else outside the Rangers of the North" Reika snarls, surprising the others when her eyes bleed red and her canine nature became a little more pronounced. "Check the circumstances of my appearance and you will find you've got no reason to hate me. I am a mage, I come from a different world and this choice to be what I am is courtesy of my parents, so back off" she finishes in a much calmer voice, earning quite the death glare from the king.
"No one speaks to me like that" Thorin growls.
"Someone should. I'm going for a walk" Reika grumbles as she picks up the sheathed sword of Gryffindor.
"We stick together…" Thorin goes to argue.
"I'll be with Fili and Kili. At the very least, they treat me with some respect" Reika hisses out and just as she's about to leave, Fili bursts into the camp, shouting about trolls.
Reika quick to run into the trees with the company on her heels, cursing herself for forgetting her first encounter with a very different kind of troll as she comes to face with the three that had stolen the ponies.
They manage to hold off the Trolls after charging into the clearing, Bilbo even manages to release the ponies but then said Hobbit is picked up by said Trolls and held hostage, forcing them to put their weapons down.
Resulting in Reika being stuck in a burlap sack, squirming to get away with the rest of the sack clad Company.
"You're making a huge mistake!" Bilbo shouts as he manages to get up.
"You can't reason with them! They're halfwits!" Dori shouts.
"Halfwits? What does that make us?" Bofur demands.
"Fili" Reika calls to the blonde Dwarf, who was on his stomach and struggling to turn over at the very least. "I think I can flip you; can you lift a shoulder?" she asks quietly, not wanting to catch the trolls attention.
"Barely" he grunts, lifting a little as Reika slid her feet beneath the other and with effort, she manages to flip the struggling Dwarf who sat up and squirms so that he is sat beside Reika. "Well this is a fine mess" she grumbles to the blonde.
"Indeed it is" Fili mutters.
"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up." Bilbo says and Reika squawks.
"I beg your bloody pardon?! Smell?!" Reika snarls in outrage.
"What do you know about cooking Dwarf?" One of the Trolls asks.
"Shut up, and let the, uh, flurgaburburrahobbit talk" The Troll who is obviously the cook of the three orders.
"Uh, th-the secret to cooking dwarf is, um-" Bilbo stutters out.
"Yes?" The troll presses.
"Uh…it's…" Bilbo continues to stutter.
"Tell us the secret…" The Troll urges.
"Ye-yes, I'm telling you, the secret is…to skin them first!" Bilbo calls out.
"Tom…get me filleting knife…" The Troll grins.
"When I get my bloody hands on you Bilbo, you're going to wish I had the patience of the Elves!" Reika snarls with the rest of the Dwarves.
"I won't forget that! I won't forget it!" Dwalin says, pointing rather threateningly at the Hobbit.
"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scoff them, I say, boots and all" One of the Trolls says and the other grabs Bombur before getting ready to eat him.
"No, not that one, he's infected" Bilbo shouts, stopping the Trolls in their tracks.
"You what?" One asks gruffly.
"Yeah, that one's got worms in his…tubes…" Bilbo says and the Troll throws Bombur back on the pile and on top of them.
"In-in fact they all have, they're in-infested with parasites. It's a terrible business; I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't" Bilbo says, earning even more protests from the Company, except for Thorin oddly enough.
"Parasites? Did he say parasites?" Oin asks and Kili nods.
"We don't have parasites, you have parasites!" The young dwarf shouts.
Reika then notices that Bilbo had rolled his eyes and it catches her attention what he's doing.
Bilbo is stalling them until sunrise or until Gandalf could return. Thorin seems to catch on too, for Reika feels a sharp kick from the King in Exile and the Company silences their protests, looking to their leader, then each other and then back at the Trolls.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm!" Oin began.
"Mine are the biggest parasites! I've got huge parasites!" Kili adds on as the rest all make various statements of agreement.
"What would you have us do then?" The Troll asks Bilbo. "Let them all go?" he demands.
"Well…" Bilbo shrugs.
"You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools!" The Troll says, going to grab the Hobbit.
"Ferret?!" Bilbo shouts sounding offended.
"Fools?!" One of the Trolls also sounds just as offended.
"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf shouts as he appears on top of a rock and Reika sighs in relief as Fili sags against her with the same feeling. Gandalf uses his magic to break a massive boulder as the Trolls were discussing whether or not they could eat him, the trolls turning to stone under the first rays of dawn.
There's a moment of silence before they all break out into cheers for Bilbo and for Gandalf as well as a couple of apologies for the Hobbit.
"Oh! Get your foot out of my back!" Dwalin complains as Gandalf and Bilbo began the process of untying everyone.
Being stripped to her undergarments had not been fun and Reika welcomes the warmth of her clothes and elven armour as she pulls them back on. Her bow is fortunately intact too, which is good as the Trolls were far from gentle when handling it. The sword of Gryffindor more than able to handle the level of abuse it had gone through with the trolls.
"I missed the weight of a sword on my hip and a quiver and bow on my back…that's the last time I don't investigate a familiar scent" Reika grumbles, mentally cursing herself for being so lax.
"That's life on the road for you…your weapons are comforting in unfamiliar territory" Fili says, now back in his furs.
"Very true" Reika giggles as she puts Gryffindor's sword in her pack as Fili nods.
"Yeah, thanks for flipping me over, the situation was already bad but I was far from comfortable" Fili says gratefully.
"I think we were all far from comfortable, Fee" Kili walks over, now back in his armour. "Just coming to tell you that Gandalf and Thorin want to search for the Troll's cave, considering they can't move around in the daylight and all" he explains as Reika wrinkles her nose.
"Personally I'd like to get out of here, but he's the leader" Reika sighs.
"Yes, we heard all about you telling my uncle off, well done on surviving and also for giving him the telling off he deserves" Kili says with a small grin. "When you get to know him, he's actually a decent Dwarf" he admits as Reika smiles tiredly.
"Well something tells me I have a long way to go until he becomes warm and cuddly" Reika chuckles tiredly.
"Indeed. Come on let's catch up before we get in more trouble" Fili returns her smile.
It isn't long until they find the cave and Reika holds her nose as they walk in.
The smell more than familiar now that she remembers what it belongs too. She'd smelt this cave from a far distance off and brushed it off as probably an animal carcass, a fact that Thorin soon picks up on as he takes in the look on her face.
"This is the smell you picked up on during your scouting?" Thorin asks.
"Yes, but I couldn't have known it'd be a Troll cave since the Trolls I learned about didn't live in caves this far down the mountain" Reika grumbles with a small scowl directed at herself.
"No, you couldn't have" Thorin agrees, much to the other's shock. "After all, you are still learning about our world" he points out.
"Never thought you'd actually agree with me" Reika chuckles as she took her hand off her nose and instantly regrets it.
"Oh bloody hell this is disgusting" Reika gags out as she re-covers her nose. "They amassed quite the collection" she muses once she recovers a little, taking in all the gold and weapons.
"Indeed they did" Gandalf grabs a familiarly shaped weapon. "Lady Reika, may I see your sword?" Gandalf asks and the other pulls her elven sword from its scabbard and passes it to the old Wizard. "It would appear that the Troll's had managed to acquire a sword from one of the Rivendell soldiers" Gandalf hands both of them back to the mage.
"Good thing I trained to be ambidextrous" Reika mutters as she looks at the second blade.
"It's plain" Fili notices.
"Meaning it hasn't seen use in battle" Reika says. "Lord Elrond did say he would have my blade engraved the next time I returned to Imladris" she muses.
"More like 'blades' now…I can't wait to train with you again" Fili grins as they head back up into the fresh air.
"That feeling I have right now? That is what I call a sinking feeling" Reika sighs, earning a laugh from the Dwarven prince.
The rest of the Dwarves emerge from the cave soon after, Thorin wielding an Elven sword and Gandalf with a blade of his own. Even Bilbo is given a weapon. A mere dagger to people like Reika, but it's the perfect fit for the small Hobbit.
They are soon startled out of their relative peace by a man, familiar to Gandalf and Reika, shouting random crimes.
"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" Reika is surprised to see Radagast so far from his forest home. His rabbits still nervous and twitchy in her presence.
Gandalf quickly introduces the wizard to the rest of the Company. It isn't a social call it seems with how panicked Radagast looks.
"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong" Radagast explains urgently.
"Yes?" Gandalf urges.
"Oh, just give me a minute. Um, oh, I had a thought, and now I've lost it. It was, it was right there, on the tip of my tongue" Radagast says, before looking momentarily surprised. "Oh…but it's not a thought at all…just a silly old…" Radagast opens his mouth and Gandalf pulls out an insect. "…stick insect" he finishes as Reika sighs.
"He never learns" Reika mutters as Fili snickers at how done Reika looks.
Gandalf and Radagast walk off a few paces to discuss and Reika did her best to ignore them for it was not her business to meddle in Ishtar affairs. No matter how dark Radagast's package felt to her magic.
To take her mind off of the conversation, Reika focuses on cleaning her new sword whilst Fili and Kili scrutinize her back. Sensing them, she rolls her eyes.
"Fili, Kili" Reika says, to which they both answer 'yes' at the same time. "I can feel your eyes all but burning a hole in my back" she points out slowly.
"Well you have two swords" Kili began.
"I'm well aware" Reika grins.
"Well to make them easier to draw, why not attach them to your quiver?" Fili asks.
"That's not a bad idea" Reika says thoughtfully knowing it would be easier and force her to cut back on using her ancestor's sword. It would cut back the risk of poisoning her new companions who didn't know that the sword of Gryffindor had Basilisk venom imbued into it.
"Leave it to us" they say in unison, grabbing the swords and her quiver and quickly getting to work, getting them attached easily while Reika tucked the sword of Gryffindor away into her bag.
Both blades are now on either side of the quiver, making it easier to draw both of them with ease.
"Wow that was fast" Reika says in awe.
"One thing you'll come to know about Dwarves is that we are efficient builders and craftsmen. With a small group of dedicated stoneworkers and builders, we'd rebuild Erebor to its former glory" Thorin explains.
"I look forward to seeing it" Reika admits softly and Thorin turns away.
"You'd be one of the few beings lucky enough to have seen it, Lady Reika" Thorin says as Reika perks up in joy at his words. He'd finally stopped calling her an Elf.
Before they could continue their conversation any further, a howl startles them and Reika quickly shifts shape. She recognizes this howl and knows it didn't belong to a wolf and the Dwarves seemed to recognize it as well.
"Was that a wolf? Are there…are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asks nervously.
"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf" Bofur says.
Reika reacts before the others as a Warg knocks her down and reacting with instinct, wrestles with the animal till she has it pinned enough to bite into its neck, twisting till she hears a snap, it dies with a whimper, collapsing on top of her. Fili and Kili help remove the dead weight as a second one ambushes them, only to be killed by Thorin and Dwalin.
"Warg-Scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind" Thorin explains as Reika paces around the group.
"Orc pack?" Bilbo says anxiously.
"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf asks urgently.
"No one" Thorin says.
"Who did you tell?" Gandalf demands, knowing the alternate is so much worse.
"No one I swear, what in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin demands, sounding ever so slightly worried about how they had been found.
"You are being hunted" Gandalf says bluntly as a way of explaining.
Much to the concern of the others, the ponies and horse bolted, just as they need them. Reika and Fili on the alert as they try to come up with a solution.
"I'll draw them away" Radagast offers.
"These are Gundabad Wargs they will outrun you!" Gandalf argues as Reika snorts in amusement, knowing if the rabbits could out run her than they could outrun anything.
"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits, I'd like to see them try" Radagast points out, answering the unasked question as to why Reika is amused.
The rabbits in question quick to get moving and away from Reika.
As Radagast moves ahead of them, managing to draw the pack away, the Dwarves began to run, the forest soon giving way to the plains.
They could hear Radagast laughing as he successfully kept the Wargs and their riders busy, causing some of them to trip and even break their necks.
They soon have to hide as Radagast draws them a little closer to the company.
When the Wargs are out of sight, they start running again, but Radagast is once again forced to draw them closer in order to evade them.
They do not go completely unnoticed in their flight, for a Warg and its rider prowls above them on the rock. Thorin looks at Kili and Reika, giving them both a nod and Kili quietly drew his bow, an arrow ready to fire while Reika lowers herself down to jump. They both move quickly, leaving their cover, Kili firing his arrow and injuring but not killing the Orc while Reika would launch herself forward for the kill. Pulling Orc and Warg to the ground for the final blow.
Both creatures fall down and despite their injuries, they both fight to stay alive, making a lot of noise that doesn't go unnoticed. Reika tearing the Orc's throat out, finally killing it and shutting it up whilst the Dwarves finish the Warg.
Reika notices that the thundering footfalls have stopped.
"Radagast is no longer drawing them away" Reika growls softly.
"Move. Run!" Gandalf says and they all start to run as fast as they can.
The Company reaches a clearing and began to back away towards the centre as the Wargs and their riders surround them from all sides. Kili has his bow drawn instead of his sword and could see that even more were on their way while Reika makes her own circle around the company. More fragile compared to the Wargs but still enough to shield the Company.
"Kili! Shoot them!" Thorin shouts as Reika launches herself forward without a sound.
Kili loses an arrow, one taking down the Orc while Reika kills the Warg. They began to fire at and take down more of the Orcs and Wargs but for every one they kill, two seem more to take their place and it's clear Kili wouldn't have enough arrows to kill all of them. Reika and the others notice that Gandalf is absent as they come to that same realization.
"Where's Gandalf?!" Kili shouts as both Dwarf and yōkai move back.
"He's abandoned us!" Dwalin shouts.
As the Wargs and Orcs began to move closer and surround them, they begin to close ranks. Reika remaining close to Kili who is still shooting at them, flashing her teeth and snarling in warning.
Thorin has also drawn his sword and shouts at them to hold their ground.
"This way, you fools!" They turn to see Gandalf's head jutting out of a cave.
"Fall back, Reika, I'll cover you" Kili says and the other hesitates. "Go!" he shouts as Reika growls.
"You better follow us down Kili, or I'll bring you back and kill you myself!" Reika snarls.
"I'll be right down. Don't worry about me!" Kili shouts at her.
Reika turns and passes Thorin, sliding down the rocky slope as Gandalf counts them all. Fili came down then, followed by Kili and a sigh of relief escapes Reika as Thorin joins them last.
A familiar horn is heard over head as an Orc body falls down the hole with them. Thorin grabs the arrow that's embedded in it and asks for one from Reika, the mage having changed back and accepted her weapons back from Bilbo.
"Elves" Thorin says.
"From Imladris" Reika sighs in relief.
"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?" Dwalin asks.
"Follow it of course" Bofur says as Reika took the lead, slipping to the front.
At Gandalf's urging, they follow the pathway, which is nothing short of narrow and at times, it seems like they'll never get through.
As they progress, a warm feeling began to make its way into Reika's heart, a familiar and pleasant sensation. She knows where Gandalf is leading them but she doesn't say anything.
Eventually, they emerge and the Dwarves look on in mixed reactions of awe and hatred. Fili and Kili were the former, fortunately, and Reika smiles softly as she looks down upon the place that sheltered what remains of her home. The magic of the valley felt by all of them.
"The Valley of Imladris in the Common Tongue, it's known by another name" Gandalf explains.
"Rivendell" Bilbo says softly.
"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea" Gandalf adds.
"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with the enemy" Thorin grumbles.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself" Gandalf chastises him.
"I know for a fact that they are willing to accept you into their protection Thorin. Elrond is not King Thranduil" Reika says quietly and Thorin turns to her with raised a brow. "Yes I know the story" she admits a little more confidently.
"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us" Thorin points out to the wizard and the sole woman of the company.
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me" Gandalf says as Reika resists the urge to snort.
"This will be interesting" Fili notes and Reika nods with a wry grin.
"Indeed it will, Fili" Reika giggles quietly as they made their way across the bridge.
Coming to a stop in a small courtyard at the entrance to Imladris, Reika smiles at Lindir, the elf returning the smile before turning his gaze on Gandalf.
The dark-haired Elf walking down the steps gracefully, both the Wizard and Reika meeting him at the bottom to greet one another formally.
Thorin and the rest of the Company remaining on guard, however.
"Mithrandir and Lady Artemis" Lindir spoke at last.
"Ah, Lindir" Gandalf smiles again.
"Lastannem i athrannedh i Vruinen (We heard you had crossed into the Valley)" Lindir spoke in his native tongue.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond" Gandalf says seriously.
"My Lord Elrond is not here" Lindir admits, earning frowns of confusion from both Reika and Gandalf, for Elrond hardly ever left Imladris.
"Not here? Where is he?" The Wizard asks before the horns from earlier sound off and both smile once more.
Turning around, they see a column of soldiers riding across the bridge. As they move closer, the Dwarves tense and drag Bilbo into the middle of the group, as if to protect him, but this merely earns raised brows from Reika and Gandalf.
"Ifridî Bekâr! Hold ranks!" Thorin orders as the Elves circle them.
Elrond soon separates himself from the rest and smiles down at the Wizard and hybrid.
"Gandalf! Reika!" Elrond calls out happily.
"Lord Elrond. Mellonnen! Mo evínedh? (My friend! Where have you been?)" Gandalf asks in Elvish.
"Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad. Dagannem rim na Iant Vedui (We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the South. We slew a number near the Hidden Pass)" Elrond responds in kind before pulling out a wrapped Orc blade. "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near" he muses already knowing the answer from how ruffled and bloody Reika looks.
"Ahh, that may have been us" Gandalf says, sounding a little sheepish.
"Welcome Thorin, Son of Thrain" Elrond greets politely as he turns to the company.
"I do not believe we have met" The King in Exile responds, oddly cordial for one who hated Elves so much.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain" Elrond admits.
"Indeed; he made no mention of you" the other says sarcastically and Reika rolls her eyes, but not really surprised that Thorin had chosen to be hostile.
"Nartho i noer, toltho i viruvor. Boe i annam vann a nethail vin (Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests)" Elrond calls out.
"What is he saying?! Does he offer us insult?!" Gloin asks angrily.
"No, master Gloin, he's offering you food" Reika says and the Dwarves huddle together to go over their options, before agreeing.
Elrond gestures for them to follow, Reika and the Wizard walking ahead of them, already knowing their way around. "Honestly the sensitivity of these Dwarves" Gandalf mumbles.
"How fare your travels, Reika?" Elrond asks the other.
"Interesting, to say the least. It's never dull traveling with Mithrandir as you know" Reika admits with a smile. "Yet despite that, I've rather enjoyed my time with my current companions" she adds on.
"That is good to hear, I see you have replaced your ancestor's sword for two swords now" Elrond notes as Reika giggles nervously.
"Yes and a fine story to go with it" Gandalf chuckles.
"Well I look forward to hearing about it" Elrond says as Reika would split off from the group once her nose caught the scent of her nephew and her sister in law. Ignoring the protests behind her as she picks up the pace the stronger the scent got.
Gandalf quick to reassure the company of where their lady mage is going and that they'd see her at dinner.
"Auntie Rei!" Estel calls out happily and throws himself at Reika who catches him and hugs him back.
"You've gotten taller Estel!" Reika laughs as Estel grins and nods, his eyes level with his aunt's eyes now.
"Amil says I'll be just as if not taller than Atar when I'm older" Estel says cheerfully as Reika smiles in amusement.
"Yes and I will forever remain tiny in comparison, now we have guests so I need to get clean and change. If you've been good Lord Elrond and your Amil might let you meet my current company" Reika says as Estel bounces and pulls off the necklace she'd given him and hands it to her.
"I took good care of it like promised" Estel says happily as Reika smiles fondly.
"Thank you Estel, why don't I open the trunk up and you pick out a clean set of clothes for dinner?" Reika offers as Estel nods eagerly and would slowly climb down into the trunk once it's on the ground and open. Reika not far behind him as she pulls out her soaps and a couple towels before climbing back out to head to the bath attached to the rooms Elrond had given her.
Estel climbing back out of the trunk just as Reika climbs out of the bath, her hair clean and skin free of the blood and gore from fighting the Orcs and Wargs.
"No shoes I take it?" Reika asks as Estel shook his head no.
"No you're more comfortable without them when you're here" Estel points out as Reika laughs at how well her nephew knows her to catch that habit.
"Very well sit and let me finish up then we can go to the kitchens to make sure there is meat on the menu" Reika says fondly as Estel nods knowing his aunt couldn't go without unlike the rest of the inhabitants of Imladris. Turning around as his aunt pulls on the clothes he's pulled out in the small formal collection she had in a dark navy blue long sleeved maxi dress that had stars stitched with gold thread all over the dress skirt that covered the fact she had no shoes with a smoke colored high collar sleeveless mantle over top tied into place with a simple black leather belt.
Unaware the colors he'd pulled out were that of the Durin folk as Reika finishes dressing and put the trunk back on its chain and around Estel's neck. To finish off the look she wore the earrings she generally wore when not on the road in a pair of small onyx hoops in the lopes of her ears and two studs and a cuff in the upper point of her right ear. One stud made of mithril shaped into a star to represent Arathorn, the spiral cuff made of onyx shaped as a snake to represent her Peverell and Potter roots and the third and the upper most stud a lily shaped pearl stud to represent her mother's roots.
Walking down the hallway with Estel's arm looped through her own Reika would make her way down to the kitchen, relieved to find that the staff had prepared for her arrival and did have a bit of meat going out to the tables.
"Make sure a couple of my usual platers reach our Dwarven guests please?" Reika asks as the closest elven maid nods in understanding, voicing that she is glad Reika is back in the elven halls. Reika the only one who could get Elrond's sons to behave outside the man himself.
Reika and Estel would finally reach the pavilion as Thorin joined the main table, her appearance drawing quite a bit of attention from the Company while Elrond would smile in amusement that Estel had managed to worm his way into dinner with their guests. The boy pulling out his aunt's chair for her as Reika sits next to Gandalf. Estel quick to get into his seat next to her, the servants having predicted the young boy would get his way with Reika back in their halls.
Thorin joining them around the table not long after, all of them with their new swords waiting to be examined by the Elven lord.
As the Dwarves sat and bemoaned the minimal amount of meat with their meal, Reika enjoys some salad with her meat as she listens to the others.
"This is Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver. A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well" Elrond hands the weapon back to Thorin, who nodded with some respect. "And this is Glamdring, the Foe-hammer, sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the First Age" he explains as Reika makes a curious noise.
"Gondolin?" Reika asks.
"A city of the Noldor hidden from evil for 400 years" Gandalf explains.
"The sword you retrieved for Reika, though similar in appearance to the ones we use here, it too is a blade of the First Age" Elrond explains.
"So it too will glow blue when danger is near" Gandalf muses.
"But it's identical to the sword you gave me during my last stay in these halls" Reika points out quietly.
"The Elves of Rivendell are Noldor" Elrond explained. "Some of the designs for our weapons endure to this day, but the method of creation is vastly different. This blade, though nameless, will likely gain a name on your travels. I will nevertheless have them engraved with some basic patterns, for they have seen service" he reassures.
"Thank you, Lord Elrond" Reika smiles, accepting the blade back. Estel getting a better look at his aunt's latest addition to her growing arsenal of weapons.
"How did you come by these?" Elrond asks.
"We found them in a troll hoard on the Great East Road, shortly before we were ambushed by orcs" Gandalf explains. As Estel squeaks in surprise and gives Reika a wide eyed look. Getting a secretive smile that told him she'd tell him about it sometime soon.
"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?" Elrond asks, all of them remaining silent.
"Excuse me" Thorin stood and left. Reika noting the time knew Estel would need to be in bed soon.
"And me as well…I'm going to take a walk through the gardens. Come Estel" Reika says gently as Estel perks up and climbs from his seat at Elrond's silent encouragement.
"Will you sing for me Auntie Rei?" Estel would ask as they made their way to their favorite place in the garden, taking the long way to her nephew's delight.
"One song in the garden and one for bed" Reika reassures as Estel bounces happily and drags her to the garden. Night falling by the time they reach their spot, Gilraen approving of the small deviation from routine knowing Reika is to leave again in the coming weeks.
Fili stood on a balcony overlooking some of the gardens of Imladris just as night fell. Wandering away on his own after dinner is done to gather his wayward thoughts and feelings.
He'd never really had much good to say about the Elves until he had met Reika. Granted she is of another world, but she is also of Imladris and she's vouched for Elrond and his people. Needless to say, Reika is right about the fact that Elves differ based on where they live, for Elrond and his people are the opposite of Thranduil.
Someone entering the gardens catches his attention then, and he takes a closer look.
It's Reika and her nephew, the former seems to be smiling as she walks with newfound grace in the gardens. The mage so content, she appears to be almost glowing in the starlight and Fili feels something warm in his very being as he watches Reika's nephew race ahead of her to a fountain settled in the heart of the garden. Her fond smile and Durin's colors making her stand out all the more under the moonlight.
Just as he comes to the realisation of what his feelings are, Kili is standing beside him.
"I think uncle may have been wrong" Kili says quietly.
"What about?" Fili asks, not taking his gaze away as he watches Reika get her nephew to settle down.
"About the Elves, or at least some of them. These Elves have been so kind to us" The younger of the two says. "Fili?" Kili turns to look at his brother. "Fili?" He calls a little louder and the older of the two snaps out of it.
"Yes?" Fili asks.
"Are you okay? You seem distracted" Kili points out.
"Much like you were distracted by that Elven maiden that wasn't actually a maiden?" Fili teases his brother lightly.
"That was a mistake, one I don't intend to repeat" Kili says instantly. "Have you got your eye on someone?" he asks.
"Who told you that?" Fili asks warily.
"No one, I was joking, I was right, who is it?" Kili says with a slowly growing grin. "You could never hide your feelings from me brother, who has caught your heart here?" he asks.
Fili turns back around and looks at Reika, who is now standing on the edge of the fountain, a small smile on her face as she breathes in the fresh air. Her beauty in the starlight is striking, her jewel colored eyes filled with happiness, more than ever before.
Kili follows his gaze and then it hits him like a ton of bricks.
"Reika" Kili says quietly.
"I just realised it now, watching her practically glow here. There are few things fairer than the sight I see before me now" Fili admits quietly.
"I am happy for you" Kili says with a small smile. "But I think you should wait until uncle warms up to her. However I know you'll likely not listen to reason" he sighs.
"Since when have you and I ever listened to reason?" Fili asks.
"A very good point. So, will you talk to her?" Kili asks.
"I will, but later" Fili admits as he looks back down into the garden, both falling silent as they hear humming coming from the garden below.
Unaware of the current conversation and her audience on the balcony, Reika would begin to softly sing as her nephew had asked of her. Thinking on what she'd been feeling lately and letting those feelings dictate her song choice.
"I can try but it hurts to breathe
Until you're with me
'Cause only then can I breathe again
And that should be enough for me
I should be happy
But we both know I never could accept defeat
I messed up and it's like a curse
But what have I learned?
'Cause I keep making the same mistakes
Tell me how strong I need to be
So those around me never know pain
I only wanna keep them safe
I'll cherish every laugh
And without looking back
I'll believe in love and live on
And I want you to know
I'll always hold you close
With your scars some new and some old
And together we'll continue down this path
Though it may hurt we both know we can't go back
I can still feel in my chest a bitter pain
Though it may hurt scars of sin we can't erase
Darling
La la la la la la la la la
I remember the cripplin' cost
The love that I lost
So long ago, but the pain remains
I can't look at the vivid sky
So blue and so bright
When in my heart there only is a world of grey
But no matter the sacrifice
I would pay the price
And keep believing in only this
It's the color within your eyes
Dazzling with such life
How it reminds me of flowers on a sunny day
There's things we can't control
I know it in my soul
But I'll trust in love and live on
Like candles burning bright
I wanna hold you tight
As we melt away our nightmares
I will be there when the pain it makes you numb
And I'll be there 'til the light of morning comes
And as long as you are by my side
I don't care if we're against the tide
Fighting off a world of waves
'Cause as one we'll never break
I'll cherish every laugh
And without looking back
I'll believe in love and live on
And I want you to know
I'll always hold you close
With your scars some new and some old
I'll cherish every laugh
And without looking back
I'll believe in love and live on
Because if I'm with you I know that we'll pull through
With a bond that can't be broken
And together we are clinging to a thread
Though it may hurt we can only look ahead
But I promise I will keep the dark at bay
Yeah I promise I will always keep you safe
Darling
La da da la da da da da~
La la la la la la la la la la la la"
"Your choice has been made, has it not?" Reika hears the question in her head from a familiar voice. One she'd heard in passing, always when her mental shields were down. Always able to sense the power behind the voice when she relaxed the tight leash she had over her own magic.
"Yes…I guess it has" Reika thinks back, breathing out through the strong grip of her emotions.
"Then I look forward to seeing what the changes this choice will bring" Galadriel of Lothlorien says in quiet joy for the young yōkai. Having stopped to listen much like the Dwarven princes and knew that Reika's influence on those around her would be felt in the years to come. Having kept an eye on the young soul that grew and made a place for herself on Middle-Earth, knowing that the battle against the darkness had already been won with the knowledge Reika held within herself.
Galadriel's voice leaves Reika's mind, and despite the sheer power Reika had felt, she doesn't feel unnerved at all.
"Auntie Rei?" Estel's tired voice would bring her back into focus.
"I'm fine Estel" Reika reassures gently as she picks up her sleepy nephew. Feeling quite content as she strolls back to her rooms, Estel falling asleep against her shoulder. Still unaware that Fili and Kili had heard her words.
The Dwarven Princes completely shocked by Reika's song and the sight of who could only be the Lady Galadriel further in the garden watching the inu yōkai.
They'd heard stories, none of them good, about the witch from Lothlorien. What they had just witnessed had proven them wrong, for she was fair, gentle and comforting.
They would never forget what they had seen that day and would be sure to tell Thorin of the interaction between Galadriel and Reika.
"You should go speak to Reika" Kili suggests once they both get over their shock.
"I will, but not now…as you said, Thorin needs to warm up to her first" Fili admits, smiling softly as Reika began to sing a much softer tune, her voice carrying through the halls to all who would listen. The elves smiling faintly at the much loved lullaby and the dwarves a little surprised at the message of the lyrics.
"Cast away your worries, my dear
For tomorrow comes a new day
Hold to me, you've nothing to fear
For your dreams are not far away
As you lay your head and you rest
May your dreams take over, my love
Listen close, my son of the west
For your destiny lies above
Though the world is cruel
There's a light that still shines
In the darkest days of our lives
When all hope seems lost and you can't find your way
Think of me as you look to the sky
Child mine, your future is bright
For your father's blood's in your veins
In dark times, I pray you will fight
For the world will soon know your name"
Reika sang softly as she tucks Estel into his bed, smiling slightly at the content look on her nephew's face before slipping from the room towards her own in preparation for the long days to follow. Knowing they're going to be anything but peaceful.
For fourteen days the company stayed in Imladris and in that time, Reika practices with both Lindir and Fili, allowing her to adapt the two styles of fighting to what she already knew from Gringotts Goblins and the Dúnedain.
At one point, Fili and Lindir reluctantly agree to fight together against Reika and though Reika had been beaten and slightly injured, she nevertheless put up an impressive fight.
Fili and Elrond helping to patch Reika up after a particularly gruelling session, Reika having sustained quite the cut down the length of her arm. She hisses as Elrond applies a salve to the wound and Fili merely chuckles as he prepares a bandage for her. Reika in turn looks at him with a glare that puts Thorin's to shame, if only for a moment.
"This salve will accelerate your healing…on top of your own rapid healing, this will be gone within days and there'll be no scar" Elrond reassures, getting up to let Fili take his place.
"Well aside from this, you did well" the Dwarven Prince says with a smile.
"Thank you" Reika drops the glare in the face of that smile.
"Anytime" Fili says quietly fond.
"I have matters that I must attend to. Is there anything else I can do before I leave?" Elrond asks the two.
"No thank you Lord Elrond" Reika reassures with a smile.
"We won't keep you" Fili says politely.
Of the Dwarves, Fili, Kili and even Thorin had been the politest after the initial tension blew over.
Elrond bows before taking his leave. Fili carefully tightens the bandage before checking to see if there was any more of the salve left. Finding a vial, he passes it to Reika, who took it with a raised brow.
"Just in case, you never know if you'll end up wounded out there" Fili points out as Reika nods with a faint smile.
"Alright" Reika agrees as she pulls down the sleeve of her shirt. She's already unpacked and repacked all that she had from her stock in the trunk. Glad she'd taken the time from her last patrol, before Gandalf had approached her, to work on some healing salves and potions.
"Just to let you know, we will be leaving soon before they can stop us from going on the quest" Fili says and Reika nods.
"Do you think they'd stop us?" Reika asks quietly as they left the healing hall.
"They can try, but I think Lord Elrond secretly agrees…not to mention Lady Galadriel" Fili says as Reika looks at him sharply.
"You saw her?" Reika asks in surprise, not having seen the elven woman but had been sharing her thoughts with her over the last few days. Galadriel encouraging Reika to share with at least the princes her dragon side.
"Indeed I did and I'll never forget the sight. We heard a lot of stories of Lothlorien and the Elven witch who protects it. She is no witch; she is no sorceress but she is a fair and powerful being. One worthy of respect…I know that now" Fili admits as Reika leads the way down to where they'd promised to meet with Kili and Reika's family.
"So you like the Elves of Lothlorien and Imladris?" Reika asks curiously.
"Like is too strong a word, rather I don't dislike them as much. I cannot say the same for Thranduil and the Elves of Mirkwood, as it's now known" Fili explains as Kili and Estel came into sight along the river and out of sight of where the rest of the company were staying.
"I don't expect you to given your history" Reika reassures without looking back as she crouches down slightly to catch her nephew.
"When this quest is over will you come back here? To live with them like you do now?" Fili asks.
"I might; however, should Thorin allow it, I would like to stay at Erebor whilst they bring it and Dale back to their former glory" Reika says and Fili gave a small smile. "I'd visit to see you all. I've only known this side of the world and I was worried that I wouldn't fit in with anyone. Yet despite your uncle's less than warm reception of me" she explains. At this, Fili grins. "I finally feel like I belong somewhere" she finishes as Estel makes a noise of distress at the idea of his aunt living somewhere else.
"I'd still come back to see you nephew mine; it would be just like my patrols but for a longer period of time and by the time I come back you'll likely be big enough to be going on adventures of your own" she reassures as Estel nods with a small frown that melts away as they stop at the river; Her nephew knowing what she's doing and eager to see the dwarven princes' reactions to his aunt's dragon form.
"I'm glad to hear it and I'd certainly like to show you the wonders of the Lonely Mountain. Maybe we could explore it together. After all, it would be the first time I would get to see it" Fili offers patiently.
"Together then" Reika smiles as Kili finally cuts in and asks what Reika wants to show them.
"Ah, you both know I have my canine form, but what I've not mentioned and Gandalf kept quiet about is that I have a second form I can take. One that's likely to upset those that were born and fled from the Lonely Mountain if they were to see it now with my standing with the company" Reika admits as Estel pouts and points out he thought her second form amazing.
"I appreciate the sentiment Estel but not all are likely to be as accepting of the second form as you and the rest of our people are" Reika points out as she steps into the water and changing shape without giving the princes anymore of a warning. Her large form taking up most of the river as she lowered her head onto the riverbank where Fili, Kili, Estel and Gilraen still stood.
Estel jumping forward to hug her to the best of his abilities to the amusement of his mother and shock of Fili and Kili.
"How?" Kili asks as they slowly approached their female companion.
"My mother's ancestors were descendants of powerful inu daiyōkai, the one my mother and I descend from married the splitting of a powerful dragon daiyōkai. I'm just the strongest in quite a long time to be a inu daiyōkai. The canine form is my main form but this form would have been my main form had I been pure mage and even then I might not have been a dragon since my dragon daiyōkai ancestor and a couple other things influenced this outcome like my inu daiyōkai influenced my current species" Reika explains as Gilraen simplifies it for the princes at their confusion.
"The ancestor that produced Reika's maternal line married a dragon demon but Reika is more dog demon than dragon, but the dragon demon and a couple things added to her blood influenced the magic she uses to be in this current shape" Gilraen explains softly as Fili nods and takes that final step. Resting a slightly shaky hand against Reika's nose while Estel sat on top of said nose.
"This is why Gandalf invited you along" Fili chokes out, piecing together what Gandalf has planned as Reika slowly nods. Mindful not to lift her head too much otherwise she would flood the bank with displaced water.
"He helped me practice the magic and we were both surprised that I became a dragon. As we all know dogs don't grow as big as I change into and can't fly like I can though I've never used that part of my inu heritage…too flashy and so is this form hence why I rarely use it but Gandalf invited me along in case Smaug still lives and breaks free of the mountain" Reika admits quietly as Fili and Kili both make noises of denial.
"Smaug is so much bigger than you are if the stories are to be believed" Kili points out as Reika huffs out a sigh, forcing Estel off her nose.
"I told him that and I know Smaug will be a lot bigger than I am now and I have no experience fighting another dragon in this form. I'm hoping I won't have to use this form to fight, that the plan to smuggle Bilbo in to get the stone is successful but Gandalf wanted a little insurance in case that plan fails" Reika admits as both princes shook their heads in denial since they knew Reika would only get herself maimed or killed in this form if pit against Smaug on her own.
"We'll just make sure it doesn't come to that" Kili says in a wavering voice knowing should something happen to Reika his brother would never recover from the loss.
Watching as Reika relaxes into Fili's hand and sighs. Relaxing for a little while and answering the brother's questions while Estel would admit to having gone flying on his aunt's back a couple times with Elrond's twin sons.
Gilraen leaving them to it knowing they would bring her son back up to his room come evening.
"You'll need to step back a little so I can change back" Reika admits a little while later, Kili nudging his brother away. Estel quick to climb back up the path. All watching as Reika changed back and wobbles a little on her feet on the shore.
"Are you always that unsteady?" Fili asks in concern as Reika accepts the steadying arm around her shoulders.
"If I haven't changed into that form for a long time, yes. I try to change into that form at least once every couple months to keep in practice and avoid the unsteady feeling I get when I put it off. Now if we're going to leave soon, we need to be ready" Reika says, abruptly changing the subject from one of her few weaknesses. The princes letting her do so knowing it had been difficult to show them what she had.
"Okay" Fili says gently and lets Estel fill the silence as the youngest of the group asks his aunt if she's going to dig out her actual armor since she had been using the elven armor she had been gifted last year by Elrond.
Reika's thoughts drifting back to Fili's offer for when the company retook the Lonely Mountain.
The prospect of exploring the greatest kingdom of Middle-Earth excites her. To do so with the one she had grown closest to warms her heart in a way she hasn't let herself feel in a very long time.
"You have your own armor?" Kili asks as Reika nods, the archer bringing her from her thoughts as they get close to Reika's rooms.
Estel passing over his necklace for Reika to unshrink and open so she could dig her armor from the personal section of the trunk.
"As the histories mentioned when the mages left, some of each race went with them. The goblins that left with the mages evolved and became smaller and smarter than those that remained if the whispers I've heard are true…anyways they became weaponsmiths to rival the dwarves that traveled across as well and after a few uprisings and wars with the mages, the goblins were delegated as managers of our money system though they shared the job with a couple other species in a couple places of my old home. My father's family weren't speciesist so had a good relationship with the Goblin Nation and that extended to me once I was able to sit down with the one in charge of my family vaults" Reika begins to explain as Kili asks the question on both his tongue and his brother's.
"Family vaults?" Kili voices as Reika unshrunk the charm of the necklace her nephew had handed her.
"My father's family were a long line of nobles…there was a lot of inbreeding so by the time I was born my father's family had gathered a lot of wealth and knowledge. My mother's family being the same though she didn't know about it since she was the first in several generations to be born a mage" Reika answers as both princes share a look that she didn't quite understand but her nephew did as he grins and asks her to lift out the armor and finish the story.
"Right, anyways the goblins showed me how to use my paternal ancestor's sword once they realized they would never be able to reclaim it since they were the ones to make it in the first place as a gift. Especially after they learned how my first attempt at fighting with said sword went. Since I had my paternal ancestor's sword they felt I needed appropriate armor to go with it" Reika says as she levitates the armor rack out of the personal section.
The brothers taking in the form fitting long sleeve shirt, leggings and ankle-high boots made of a weird black scaled leather. Over this a white kimono top that went down to her thighs with a red and white cherry blossom flower crest at the collar and sleeves held closed by a yellow obi and over it a black metal cuirass and leather arm bracers made from the same material as the under layer.
"What leather did your goblins use?" Kili asks curiously as Reika gently pulls the armor off piece by piece revealing the two layered spiked pauldrons beneath.
"My world still has dragons though they're watered down from what they once were...The goblins managed to get a hold of the carcass of a Hungarian Horntail and used the hide to make most of my armor. The mantle is made from my overcoat the one time I let the goblins shave my canine form down to the undercoat. The pauldrons belonged to my oldest male ancestor and are one of a few things that managed to survive through the ages and that my second oldest male ancestor would relinquish from his vault, after he salvaged his father's remains, to one of his male grandchildren. Said grandchild never gave it back and they remained in the vault till I liberated them" Reika admits as she held the pauldrons in question knowing she isn't going to wear them on the road but better to have them in her travel bag.
"They look well made" Fili admits in awe as Estel laughs and asks his aunt to show them the drawing she had of her ancestors so they understood why they were so well made. They'd needed to be well made to withstand the abuse Tōga had put them through.
"You have drawings?!" Kili asks eagerly as Reika giggles weakly and would switch the compartment on the trunk after putting the armor rack away. Summoning the scroll and the album of modern pictures her ancestor had put together with another relative.
Time Travel being very much a thing in her maternal family though her mother never got to meet any of their ancestors. Those that were full and half yōkai of the line living long lives like Reika.
"My ancestor Towa convinced her father to have a portrait of her grandfather commissioned since the humans of the time always drew him in canine form and never in the human shape he preferred when in the company of his second wife, Izayoi" Reika admits as she passes over the scroll, smiling faintly when the princes look between her and the scroll in slight surprise. Especially when they compare it to the pictures Towa had kept of herself, her father, twin sister and uncle with their yōkai side on display.
"You look quite like him" Kili says thoughtfully as he flips the pages until he got to the part of the album Reika had added to by adding pictures of herself, her parents and the few friends she'd made at Hogwarts.
Noting she still looked like a child of man in most of the pictures, her hair of similar color to his own and very much tiny compared to most of her friends and her ancestors.
"Coming to Middle-Earth triggered my yōkai nature as means to survive since I didn't prepare the right offerings to go through the door the Valar made for the mages to leave these lands" Reika answers the unasked question as she looks down fondly at her much younger self with Luna and Neville by the Black Lake in her third year.
"Is this ancestor still alive?" Fili asks curiously holding up the scroll with the image of Sesshōmaru for his brother and Reika to see as she nods.
"Yes he was still alive when I came to Middle-Earth though a bit older looking than he is in that portrait…I was going to reach out to him once I'd managed to untangle myself from my father's people to see if Riku and Towa were still around. They being who I descended from and by extension him" Reika admits wistfully knowing that it would likely be sometime before those on Earth figured out where she's gone and try to follow.
"Why are his markings different compared to yours?" Estel asks curiously, having only noticed it now that his aunt had none of her grandfather's markings even though Sesshōmaru has the closer relation to Tōga.
"Sesshōmaru took more after his mother than he did his father. His venomous claws and bite coming from her too" Reika explains as Estel nods his head and hands back the scrolls so she could repack them. Obviously done with the history lesson for the time being as she packs away the Sword of Gryffindor into the trunk instead of into her travel pack.
"Why don't you use that sword in spars if you're more comfortable with it?" Fili asks with a frown as Reika wrinkles her nose in thought.
"Goblin made silver takes in what makes it stronger and I happened to kill the largest and most venomous snake on my world with the sword when I was twelve. The venom kills in under a minute without phoenix tears applied to the puncture sight if its stare doesn't kill you first" Reika sighs as both princes eye where she'd packed the sword with a little more caution and awe.
The small group unaware Balin had come down the hallway looking for the princes to see if they'd informed Reika to be ready to go at a moments notice and had listened to the history lesson and the warning she'd given about her ruby encrusted sword.
The older dwarf leaving them to it while Reika would note the time and admit its likely time for Estel to go track his mother done for the evening meal. Her nephew having spent the last couple weeks solely in Reika's company.
"I'll come wish you good night and good bye before we go like always" Reika promises gently as Estel nods and would hug her tightly before heading further down the corridor and entering his and his mother's rooms.
With The Company leaving soon, with Gandalf and Lord Elrond distracted by whatever meeting they're attending, it's the perfect time to slip away before they can be stopped. Reika having said her good byes the night before to Gilraen and Estel.
Reika looking at her newly engraved swords with awe. Whilst they had no names, they are engraved with elegant golden designs, the handle embellished with vine like patterns that match the scabbards when Bilbo approaches.
"Artemis?" Bilbo pokes his head into the room.
"Master Baggins did Thorin send you?" Reika asks as she sheathes the swords.
"Yes, we're leaving now" Bilbo says, slightly dismayed at the prospect. Bilbo obviously enamoured with Imladris and would very much like to stay.
"Alright I'll just grab my armour" Reika says lightly as she pulls on the pieces she isn't wearing. All her jewellery tucked away in her trunk. Estel giving back her necklace since he knew she'd need some of the supplies she kept inside.
"I'll go let them know" The Hobbit smiles and went to turn away.
"I assume you'd like to stay?" Reika asks and the other gave a slight nod. "Perhaps, when this is all over, we can journey back here?" she offers and Bilbo smiles at her, nodding once more and heads off.
Looking around her room one last time as she fastens her leather cuirass in place with her charmed necklace around her neck, tucked safely underneath all of her layers, Reika would sigh for she would miss Imladris.
Miss the peace it usually brought her and miss Estel and Gilraen but knew it isn't quite home for her the way it is for her nephew and sister in law.
Heading out, she closes the door and did her best to avoid Lindir, whose likely been given orders to stop them should they try to leave.
"Let's go" Thorin says gruffly as they left, oddly stealthy despite their boisterous nature. All of the company slightly surprised to see Reika looking like any daughter of man though no one comments on it.
"We have some time to make up" Balin explains. "Which means we will be stopping only when it is necessary now" he admits.
The other Dwarves offer no complaints as they walk along the thin pathway on the side of the valley. Bilbo stops to take a look at the city behind them with a longing expression on his face whilst Thorin oversaw the others.
Reika stopping to take in the city one last time knowing it could be her last, knowing the dangers of heading into the unknown all too well.
"Master Baggins, Lady Reika…I suggest you keep up" Thorin calls out as Reika huffs in amusement.
"Come on, Bilbo, we'll see it again" Reika reassures softly, before walking away.
"I too would like to go back there" Fili admits quietly.
"A Dwarf wanting to return to a city of Elves? I must have heard wrong" Reika teases with a small grin, which only widens when Fili glares slightly, before softening his features.
"I think there's a lot more to learn about Elves…I've had a chance to get to know a few and I've seen the true visage of the Lady Galadriel. Whilst I don't doubt my uncle in that the Elves have not treated our people right before; I know not to tar them all with same brush" Fili admits.
"Not an Elf" Reika says as though it is rehearsed.
"I know, but you'll live just as long if you could" Fili points out, silently admitting that the quest to retake the mountain would likely test her mortality like nothing else had.
"I know…There's so much I still don't know and can learn. From what I can gather, there is a lot of history to this world" Reika admits.
"Three ages worth" Fili grins again.
"Plus there are languages, visiting these places…I'd like to see and learn all that I can" Reika smiles. "I know a couple variants of the Elven language, but I'd like to learn the Dwarven language too" she admits.
"Most people only learn multiple languages for diplomacy…do you intend to become a diplomat?" Thorin asks, surprising the others by getting involved.
"I am a diplomat of sorts but I liked learning" Reika admits as some look at her in surprise. "I was taken in by the Dúnedain when I came to this world, taken into the chief's family so my brother and I shared leadership when Arador died. I am the current regent until my nephew is old enough to take his place as chief as my brother's heir" she explains.
"Why continue?" Thorin pushes, hiding his surprise at having someone equal in status to his own in the company not his nephews.
"In my old world, diplomacy has led to fruitful partnerships and cooperation between nations. Perhaps it would benefit the Elves and Dwarves…after all, I'm travelling with a company of Dwarves who I've come to care about and I also care about a few of the Elves" Reika explains and she could have sworn she saw Thorin crack a small smile.
"You believe you can foster peace between our peoples…naïve…but your heart is in the right place" Thorin says.
"You don't think it's possible?" Reika asks curiously.
"It may be for me, having been welcomed into the home of Lord Elrond himself. Though I will never make peace with the sprites of Mirkwood…they abandoned us" Thorin says bluntly
"It's understandable that you'd have bad feelings against them. Besides, if I were a diplomat, I would represent only Imladris…Mirkwood is nothing to me" Reika says, earning a few laughs of delight from the other Dwarves.
"I like your train of thought, Lady Reika…still, there is a lot of bad blood from the rest of my kin. You might convince me and the others of this company, but you would have to convince the rest of the Dwarves of Ered Luin" Thorin points and the other sighs.
"It's never easy but I'm glad I may be getting through to you" Reika admits in quiet amusement. Going quiet to focus her energy in keeping pace with Thorin's new drive to make it to the Lonely Mountain.
Yōkai endurance aside, Thorin pushes them very hard and they're all nothing short of tired and eager to rest. Reika sent scouting again, but just as she is due to leave, she spots Fili get up and check his weapons before standing there, waiting. The Dwarf raises a brow as Reika stood, a little curious.
"What?" Fili asks.
"Why aren't you resting?" Reika asks back.
"I want to scout the area as well…come on" Fili says and the other kept her brow raised, but she picks up her swords and bow as they head out.
They'd set up camp in a small clearing that's just off the road in a clearing of a forest. It isn't as beautiful as the wooded areas of Imladris, but the terrain is still lush and vibrant with life.
Lightly, the two step through the woods lightly, their eyes constantly scanning the area. Reika drawing her First Age sword to act like a detector if there are orcs nearby.
"So…got names for your swords yet?" Fili asks quietly.
"I may have for the one" Reika admits quietly, tone amused.
"What is it?" Fili prods
"Burūsuchīru…it's Japanese for Blue Steel. No need to guess which sword that's for" She says with a small grin which Fili returns.
"A good name. Quick and to the point" Fili says before a snapping twig startles the pair.
"Not an orc" Reika says quietly.
"An animal then…" Fili trails off.
Sheathing her sword, Reika instead draws her bow and prepares an arrow as they follow the noise, soon picking up the tracks of the animal.
Reika is good at tracking, but Fili is more than proficient at it, leading them on the correct path. They soon happen upon a stag and Reika prepares to fire.
The majestic creature merely looks up and at her, not even remotely fazed by the presence of the Dwarf or Yōkai. Reika hesitates then and lowers her bow as she continues to watch the stag, eyes distantly fond and Fili in turn watches her.
"He's not afraid" Reika says softly.
"No towns or villages around here. No need to hunt and so they don't need to fear the Free Peoples" Fili says equally soft.
"It wouldn't be right to kill him…Back home even rabbits don't venture from their homes in the fields. People hunt them and consider them to be pests" Reika says, putting the arrow back in her quiver and the bow over her shoulder. "Let it be. It should be able to live out its life" she says, eyes quietly sad and telling a whole different story as to why she wants to let this stag go.
"Had this been near a town or village, people would have killed him for food or to sell…Erebor may be home to the largest trove of treasure in this world, but it doesn't have a heart of gold like you" Fili compliments.
"Thank you, Fili" Reika whispers with a slight blush that doesn't go unnoticed.
"Come, let's return to the camp" Fili encourages.
Reika takes one final glance at the stag before turning around and following the Dwarf back to the campsite. The others have already prepared their bedrolls and are relaxing whilst Bombur prepares dinner and Thorin is caring for Orcrist. Reika takes off her armour but leaves her necklace and cloak on and chooses to lean up against a tree.
"You two were gone for some time" Thorin says without looking at them.
"We were tracking an animal whilst scouting…it got away" Reika explains.
"A shame, but no matter" Thorin says.
"Bombur's cooked something nice up in any case. Rivendell has some nice spices" Nori says, earning a glare from Dori. "Come on, you enjoyed them too" he grumbles at his annoyed brother.
"Once we've had supper, I recommend getting some sleep as soon as you can. We have a lot of time to make up for" Thorin explains. "I trust that's not a problem, Lady Reika and Master Baggins?" The King in Exile asks.
"Not at all" Bilbo says nervously.
"I can keep up. The terrain is a little rougher than what I'm used to, but I've managed before even when I was human" Reika reassures.
"Tell us of your world, or at least your country" Kili says excitedly.
"Aye lass, you've made references to it before, but what's it really like?" Gloin asks.
"Compared to other countries, there aren't as many cities. It's small, but full of personality and culture dating back thousands of years. Beyond the capital city where I lived, the countryside consisted of green fields along gentle hills that offered beautiful views and when the weather was warm, it was always pleasant to be out. Ruins of fortresses past tell the stories of our past" Reika explains, green eyes distant as she tries to remember what little she'd seen of Britain outside her trips to Diagon Alley. The memories not as clear as the ones she had of Hogwarts and of her years on Middle-Earth.
"It sounds lovely…almost like the Shire" Bilbo says with a small smile.
"Indeed it is…It's why I enjoy my time there, for it reminds me of the English countryside and Scottish highlands" Reika smiles fondly.
"And what about the capital?" Fili asks.
"Londinium, or in the common tongue, London, is a city set on the River Thames which led out to the North Sea, which separates England from the rest of our alliances in mainland Europe. If you take the river, you can see most of the city's landmarks in either direction and a little bit beyond that is the ocean. The beaches are always busy when the warm weather arrives. The centre of the city is always busy as people shop. Hundreds upon hundreds of people constantly moving, whether it be to work, to spend their hard earned money or to see the sights" Reika says fondly.
"Do you miss it?" Fili asks.
"Sometimes…but my friends and small family here, they've helped lessen the longing even though it's been many years since I arrived" Reika admits.
"You said you were a student?" Kili asks.
"I did. One of many that went to the premier school of magic in the United Kingdom. It was a school so it was peaceful, for the most part, expect during house parties when the whiskey, beer and ale was snuck in. It got very loud. Very spirited. It's quite the atmosphere. My older housemates got me accustomed to it very early on so I'd indulge in a drink or two with my friends, listen to them about their days or other things. Living in the castle for most of the year you meet a lot of people, a lot of backgrounds" Reika reminisces, leaving out her year end misadventures.
"We like a drink ourselves…course you don't need me to tell you that" Bofur says with a grin whilst the Dwarves chuckle. "And we've seen you drink as well. Not as much, but you certainly know how to down a pint" he points out.
"Well when you party with a bunch of Gryffindors, you're drinking with the best of them" Reika giggles as she remembers how scandalized Hermione had been when she learned the twins had been the ones to get Reika acquainted with alcohol and that they'd been the ones to build up Reika's infamous tolerance to the higher grade bottles that occasionally got snuck into the tower. The Chamber incident had only helped with it and made it legendary since the phoenix tears in her system always burned off most of it so she had become the one to beat in drinking games.
"Your people sound like a good bunch" Fili says with a smile.
"They are. Far from perfect, but they're good people" Reika smiles fondly.
"What about your family?" Kili asks tentatively. Reika's good mood diminishing slightly at the question.
"I was one of two children in the household I grew up in though no one knew it from looking at the house…I was my parents only child with no close relatives on my father's side and supposedly only my mother's sister on my mother's side. Growing up was hard on the good days and a constant fight for survival on the bad living with my mother's sister…it had its ups and downs but it played a part into who I am as a person" Reika admits quietly, turquoise eyes far away as she thought about all the chores and the abuse she'd gone through.
"Are they?" Bilbo hesitates, wondering where her parents were to be stuck living with relatives that obviously didn't want Lady Artemis in their home.
"Yes…long before I came to Middle-Earth. My father came from a noble line of mages that had dwindled down to my father and myself in our home country and a few very distant relatives across the sea. My mother was the first to have magic in her family in a very long time that most thought her mundane born, her parents happy and proud of her for her magic which made my aunt spiteful, hateful and had her clinging onto any form of normalcy she could find…my parents died a little over a year after I was born due to the infighting the mages of my community brought upon themselves" Reika explains, tone a little subdued.
"They loved and wanted me though and did well with what time they did have. They didn't suffer in the end like others did during those times and were together again in death even if it meant I was on my own" Reika finishes with a small sad smile.
"Well now we know where the heart of gold comes from and your knack for fighting" Fili says.
"Heart of gold?" Thorin asks.
"The reason the animal, a stag, got away is because I couldn't bring myself to kill it. Not when my father's secondary form was a large stag" Reika admits ruthfully.
"Normally I'd chastise you for hesitating, given that orcs will give you no quarter, however I've seen you kill an orc easily and your willingness to fight. A respect for life is a good thing Lady Reika. It separates us from the orcs and other evil creatures" Thorin reassures as Fili and Kili would go on to ask how her father could change into a stag and learned of the Animagus transformation. An advanced level of Transfiguration that most mages didn't bother with unless their talents lay in the subject or like Reika herself had been around those that had mastered the magic during her formative months and found it easier to transform. Hence her two forms, the second one being courtesy of that magic, the princes the only ones understanding what she meant when she mentioned the second form while the others assumed the dog she turned into was the Animagus transformation.
That night though, Reika elected to take the first watch. She stood a little distance from the camp, her bow in hand, hood drawn up as she watches over the Dwarves she's come to respect. She quickly scans around the camp and could see no threats. When her shift is done, she goes to Kili and gently shakes him awake.
"You're up" Reika smiles.
"Five more minutes…" The Dwarf reaches out and pushes her face away.
"Thorin's stood over my shoulder" Reika says pleasantly.
"And I'm up…and you're lying" Kili grumbles.
"Yes I am but I imagine that he would do that if he felt someone is slacking. All clear when last I looked. The biggest challenge you'll have is keeping yourself entertained" Reika smiles and lays down on her bed roll.
"That's always a challenge for most but I'll stick to planning pranks" he says mischievously.
"You do that. I'm going to drift off into dream world" Reika yawns out.
With a 'goodnight' from Kili, Reika pulls her cloak tight around her and closes her eyes. Warm and comfortable (or as comfortable as one could get without a mattress) she drifts off quickly, the lingering longing for her old home gone. Some of the people she misses obviously, but truthfully she'd found her home amongst the people of Middle Earth.
Needless to say that the passage over the Misty Mountains is a far cry from anything Reika is used to in the days to follow. For all her climbing experience, nothing prepared her for this. The rain lashes at her face and the lightning struck repeatedly, the sound of Thorin's voice barely audible above the howling wind. Were it not for her enhanced senses, she no doubt would have lost the others. Or worse.
"Hold on!" Thorin calls again, pushing through. A stone gives way beneath Bilbo's feet, the Hobbit starting to fall before Dwalin pulls him back in line. "We must find shelter!" he calls out over the noise.
"Watch out!" Dwalin shouts suddenly.
"What the hell?!" Reika looks up.
The company follows their gaze to see a massive boulder hurtling through the air, impacting the side of the mountain. Rocks falling from the impact rain down on them as they all press against the cliff side as much as possible.
"This is no thunderstorm; it's a thunder battle! Look!" Balin shouts.
Looking back up with the falling rocks having passed, Reika is astounded to see a giant made of stone rear up. Using immense strength, it tears off another boulder from the mountain top, all of them in awe of the creature before them.
"Well bless me! The legends are true! Giants! Stone Giants!" Bofur says.
"Look out! You'll fall!" Thorin breaks them out of their awe.
"What's happening?!" Kili shouts.
As the Stone Giant in front of them throws the boulder, they can feel the earth move as another one rears up. Everyone yells to one another to brace and hold on as the second giant is hit in the head with the boulder. The vibrations in conjunction with the falling rocks cause the pathway beneath their feet to start crumbling, splitting them.
"Kili! Grab my hand! Kili!" Fili shouts more than able to hear as the split moves them out of range.
"Fili, get back!" Reika shouts over the noise.
Whatever protest Fili is going to give is cut off as the giants begin to fight with their fists, flinging the company around on both sides.
Barely managing to hold on, Reika manages to stop herself from falling, gripping the Cliffside for all it's worth. One of the group is able to jump to another spot as a third stone giant makes an appearance and it throws a boulder at the one that one part of the group is on, causing it to fall forward.
Suddenly the group disappear behind a shower of rock, and Reika's heart seizes.
"No!" Reika and Fili shout.
"No! No! Kili!" Thorin calls out in despair and the others rush to the spot.
"We're all right! We're alive!" Balin calls and Reika lets out a breath of relief as they see the others.
"Where's Bilbo?! Where's the Hobbit?!" Bofur asks.
"There!" Ori shouts.
"Get him!"
Reika could see that Bilbo is hanging onto the ledge by his fingertips.
Ori tries to grab hold of the Hobbit, but he slips a further few feet, now relying on another handhold. Several of the others try to grab hold of him with Reika even trying to reach down to grab him. Her height not making things easier if anything it puts her more at risk.
"Reika, get back" Fili pulls her up.
"But Bilbo…" Reika protests.
Thorin swings down to Bilbo and with some effort, manages to give Bilbo enough of a boost that the others can grab hold of him and pull him up.
The others now focus on getting Thorin back up, and with some effort, he is back up with them, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Thought we'd lost our burglar" Dwalin says.
"He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us. Dwalin!" Thorin says and has the large dwarf follow him to scout ahead.
"If Bilbo's lost…then what the bloody hell am I?!" Reika hisses at Thorin's retreating back.
"Reika…no" Fili says.
"No, Fili. I may be a mage, but this land is still foreign to me…I'll speak more when I've calmed down. I'd rather not snap at the wrong person" Reika says quietly, her eyes bright in the gloom of the storm.
The rest of the company follow Thorin and Dwalin into the cave. It's empty, fortunately and so they all begin to move in to set up camp.
Gloin walks in with a bundle of wood, placing it on the floor and rubbing his hands together to warm them up. Reika removes her cloak and bundles it up, successfully wringing it out.
"I honestly didn't expect that to work" Reika muses at the damp garment in her hands.
"A small waterfall in there" Kili chuckles as he set up near her.
"Right then! Let's get a fire started!" Gloin says.
"No. No fires. Not in this place. Get some sleep, for we start at first light" Thorin orders, not paying attention to some of the others grumbling about the cold. Reika would have said something as well, but Thorin is right.
They have no idea what else is lurking in these mountains.
Reika would shove her pack into her trunk, quickly unshrinking and reshrinking it when Fili moves to set up beside her. All of her belongings, but her bedroll and cloak, safely tucked away before shifting. Her fur a good alternative to getting warm.
Reika would make herself as comfortable as one could on the floor of a cave. Using the bedroll as a pillow since her cloak is still soaked. She's just about to drift off when she feels Fili gently tug on her ear.
"You would do well to not let my uncle get to you. His anger is born out of concern for us. I'm sure he will calm down in the morning" Fili reassures as Reika's ears pull back in her quiet distress.
"Perhaps" Reika sighs leaning into Fili's touch, ignoring the fact both Kili and Fili have curled closer to her as the largest source of heat in their corner.
"Get some rest, Reika. We still have the rest of this blasted mountain to traverse tomorrow" Fili sighs as Reika chuffs before settling as much as she could and drifted off.
It is in the middle of the night that Reika is disturbed by the sound of movement in the camp. Bandits would never come so far up the mountain, so she rules that out. Her encounters with orcs have her more than a little cautious.
She would inhale through her nose and relax when she doesn't scent trouble so stays silent.
"Where do you think you're going?" She hears Bofur ask. Looks like he had taken it upon himself to take the watch.
"Back to Rivendell" Bilbo answers and it became clear to Reika that Thorin's words have stuck.
"No, no, you can't turn back now, you're part of the Company. You're one of us" Bofur tries to reassure.
"I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door" Bilbo says.
"You're homesick…I understand" Bofur says.
"No, you don't, you don't understand! None of you do - you're dwarves and a ranger. You're used to - to this life, to living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere" Bilbo argues.
Reika did her best not to flinch at the others words. It's true that she's never had strict home like the other, she's never really belonged anywhere except on the road. She knows its temporary, but it doesn't hurt any less and suddenly a wave of homesickness washes over her, one she hasn't felt since her first days with Arador and Arathorn.
"I am sorry…I didn't…" Bilbo apologizes guiltily.
"No, you're right. We don't belong anywhere. I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do" Bofur says kindly.
Reika is startled to see a faint blue glow coming from Bilbo's sword as he unsheathes it, now fully awake she would shove to her feet. Fili, woken by the movement, opens his eyes slightly and sees Reika's rather alarmed expression, quickly sitting up and putting a hand on his own sword.
Strange sounds are heard then as cracks in the sand on the floor forms.
"Wake up. Wake up!" Thorin calls to the others.
Before the others can react, the floor collapses downwards.
For a moment, Reika realizes that it's really one big trap door. Sliding down the chute, they fall into a wooden cage and whilst they struggle to get up, small creatures begin to attack them. Reika is aware of one on her back, snarling when it ties a rope around her neck.
Before they have a chance to protest or fight back, they're led away from the cage and over several poorly built bridges. A throne becomes visible and a large goblin sits on the throne looking at all of them with interest. Reika did her best not to flinch at the large goblin's grotesque appearance, choosing instead to look around at the others.
Alarmed when she doesn't see Bilbo amongst them.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?" The king spoke.
"Dwarves…and a skin changer, your Malevolence" A small goblin answers.
"Dwarves and a skin changer? Are they a prisoner of yours, Dwarf?" The goblin spoke to Thorin.
"Not bloody likely" Reika growls. Startling the goblins with her ability to speak, silently glad for her male voice since she knew if they learned she is female she'd be in deep trouble.
"We found them on the front porch" The small goblin says again.
"Well, don't just stand there! Search them! Every crack, every crevice" the king orders and Reika is surprised that two Goblins climb over her, searching for anything of value. Finding nothing, they leave her alone. "What are you doing in these parts? Speak!" He demands, but not one answers. "Well then, if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Breaker! Start with the youngest" he commands.
The goblins go to grab Ori, but Reika puts herself in front of the others with a snarl just as Thorin shouts out for them to stop. The King takes an interest in Thorin then, a small grin forming on his ugly face as he gets into the Dwarves space.
"Well, well, well, look who it is. Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror; King under the Mountain" the King mock bows in front of him. "Oh, but I'm forgetting, you don't have a mountain. And you're not a king. Which makes you nobody, really. I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just the head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak, an old enemy of yours. A Pale Orc astride a White Warg" he starts out mocking but finishes gleefully.
"Azog the Defiler was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago…" Thorin says in disbelief.
"So you think his defiling days are done, do you?" The Great Goblin cackles then. "Send word to the Pale Orc, tell him I have found his prize" he commands.
A tiny goblin takes the message and heads off in a basket along a system of ropes. Reika begins to shift nervously now.
The last time they encountered the Warg Riders, they'd relied on Radagast to try and lead them away as well as the intervention of Elves of Rivendell. They had no such help this time to say the least and the group are without their weapons.
After some time, the Great Goblin decides that he wants more information on what they are doing and so sent for several large torture devices. The entire time, he is singing about how he is going to torture them, whipping the other goblins into a frenzy.
Reika could only hope that some sort of divine intervention would save her and the others now.
"Oh hell" she growls when a particularly nasty looking instrument is brought out.
"Whatever god you worshipped in your world cannot save you now, Reika" Bofur says quietly.
She would have replied but the goblin who seems to act as the Great Goblin's lieutenant gives an inhuman screech. He stares in fear of Thorin's sword and the larger Goblin has crawled onto his own throne, the rest of the creatures howling in rage at the mere sight of the weapon.
"I know that sword! It is the Goblin-Cleaver, the Biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks."
As the Great Goblin spoke, Reika feels two painful lashes on her cheek as she is whipped by one of the goblins. The skin is broken, but adrenaline courses through her as the goblins begin to attack the company. Snarling in pain with every hit, bite and lash, dragging her down to the floor. She starts to snap and lash out with her paws as much as she can, but all she can hear is angry snarls.
Thorin is thrown next to her and she looks up to see one of them pull out a knife and go to behead the leader. A bright shockwave rips through them, destroying the devices and knocking the goblins. Reika recovers and sees Gandalf.
"Take up arms! Fight! Fight!" Gandalf shouts.
Reika is the first up, lunging at the two goblins that whipped her face, killing them in an instant with pure strength. Tearing them free, she swipes at her next attacker and tears the little monster's throat out.
The Great Goblin suddenly turns to Nori then, swinging his mace, only to be knocked off of the edge by Thorin.
With Fili and Kili helping to take out the goblins that had previously surrounded, Reika is able to get back to the rest of the group. The goblins are able to regroup and are heading towards them so at Gandalf's urging, they begin to run from the throne room.
As they are running along one of the narrow passage, several Goblins are heading towards them. By Dwalin's command, they take down a post from the railing and use it as a long spear to knock many of the approaching goblins off of the edge. Dropping the post, he charges ahead, killing as many as he could.
Reika, letting out a battle cry as she charges ahead, knocking those in her way and only kept on running, swiping at another two goblins and two more until none are left in her path, using the momentum to continue running.
Now on a raised platform, they are fighting as well as they can on such a narrow space when a few of the goblins began to use ropes to attack them. Reika shifts mid step and began to fire at them with her magic, managing to kill some as they are above the platform.
"Cut the ropes!" Thorin shouts.
Reika draws her tanto from her boot and cuts any ropes near her with the other Dwarves. The platform falls outward, entangling the goblins swinging on the ropes. As Kili fights, several goblins start shooting arrows at him. He deflects some arrows with his sword; he then grabs a nearby ladder and drops it on the oncoming goblins. Kili and some of the other dwarves run forward, pushing the ladder and the goblins it has trapped in front of them. As they approach a missing area of the path, the goblins fall down into the darkness; the ladder, however, acts as a bridge for the dwarves to cross to the rest of the path. As soon as they cross it, Dwalin breaks the ladder, preventing the goblins chasing them from crossing it.
"Impressive!" Reika manages to grin as she ran with Fili and Kili.
"Not so bad yourself!" Kili praises.
"Quickly!" Fili urges the pair.
They continue to run until they reach a section of path that is suspended by ropes from above. Reika and some of the others slice some of the ropes, causing the path to swing towards one other section.
"Jump!" Thorin shouts, some of the others doing as he suggests.
Several of the Company, Reika included are able to jump, but the section of path began to swing back, heading towards the pursuing goblins. Some of them jump on board, getting into a melee with the remaining members and losing easily. The path makes another pass at the section Reika stood on, allowing the rest of the company to jump over. Quickly cutting the ropes that remained, they continue to run as the path falls down.
As they continue their run, Gandalf hits a rock above his head with his staff causing it to collapse and cut some of the goblins off. The boulder begins rolling ahead of them, crushing the goblins in front of them and clearing the way.
Finally, they make it to a bridge between two walls of the cavern but as they were just about to cross it, the Great Goblin leaps up and cuts them off as the other goblins surround them.
"You thought you could escape me?" The Great Goblin taunts. He swings his mace twice at the wizard, causing him to fall but the others keep him up. "What are you going to do now, Wizard?" He taunts again.
Needless to say, he is pretty surprised when Gandalf leaps forward and hits him in the eye with his staff before cutting his stomach open.
Howling in pain, the Goblin King drops to his knees before gaining a sense of calm.
"That'll do it" he croaks out as Gandalf slashes the Great Goblins throat, finally killing him.
The weight, however, causes the bridge to start shaking when suddenly, the section of the bridge on which the company is standing breaks away from the rest of the bridge and starts sliding down the side of the cavern.
The bridge slides at a terrific speed down the cavern's wall, demolishing everything in its way; the dwarves cling on, screaming in terror. The bridge slows down and lands at the base of the cavern, breaking apart and burying the dwarves in the timber and wood.
Gandalf gets up from the pile of wreckage and inspects the rest of the dwarves and Reika, who are still stuck in the wreckage.
"Well, it could be worse" Bofur says, before the Great Goblins corpse fell on the wreckage, crushing them further.
"You just had to bloody say it!" Reika snarls out in pain.
"You've got to be joking!" Dwalin growls out.
It takes time to finally pull themselves free from the wreckage, Reika assisting Fili from it before they hear a noise from above.
"Gandalf!" Kili shouts out.
Thousands of goblins are climbing down the walls after them and Reika tightens her grip on her tanto, a small sinking feeling in her stomach.
"There's too many! We can't fight them" Dwalin points out.
"If we don't move now, we'll have no choice!" Reika says.
"Only one thing will save us: daylight! Come on! Here, on your feet!" Gandalf commands as they all get to their feet and make a run for it.
It takes some time but eventually the company makes it out of the mountain. Reika smiles in relief as she feels the warmth of the sun hit her face but they nevertheless put as much distance as they can between the goblins and them.
Soon, they come to a stop so they can finally take a few seconds to catch their breaths.
"Five, six, seven, eight...Bifur, Bofur...that's ten...Fili, Kili...that's twelve...Bombur and Reika…that makes fourteen. Where's Bilbo? Where is our Hobbit? Where is our hobbit?!" Gandalf demands after counting.
"Curse the Halfling! Now he's lost?!" Dwalin looks around.
"I thought he was with Dori!" Gloin says.
"Don't blame me!" Dori protests.
"I didn't see him amongst the company when we were taken by the Goblins. Nobody lost him. A lot happened so we must have been separated" Reika breathes out turning sharply back to the mountain.
"I think I saw him slip away" Nori spoke up. "When they first collared us" he adds on.
"What happened exactly? Tell me!" Gandalf demands.
"I'll tell you what happened. Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since first he stepped out of his door! We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone" Thorin rages as Reika's patience snaps.
"I see you conveniently forget to mention what you said before we were captured" Reika speaks up, earning a fierce glare from Thorin.
"No…there was a time when your glare may have scared me, but not now" Reika growls, her eyes red in her anger.
"What did he say?" Gandalf asks.
"Said that Bilbo was lost, that he should never have come with us. Yes he was going to leave, but not because he wanted to go home. Because Thorin had caused doubt within him" Reika explains with a powerful glare in return.
"In any case, he hasn't gone" A familiar voice says behind them.
"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf laughs as he spoke. "I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life!" he says happily.
"I thank you for your defence, Reika, but it wasn't necessary" the Hobbit smiles gratefully at her. Missing the look she's giving his pocket as she senses the dark magic of the ring he'd found in Gollum's cave. Familiar dark magic that had her itching to reach out and ward it to the nines till she could bring the Sword of Gryffindor down on it.
"Bilbo! We'd given you up!" Kili is surprised but overjoyed to see the Hobbit.
"How on earth did you get passed the goblins?" Fili asks, just as surprised as the others. Reika watches as the other gives a nervous laugh and went to say something. She would have voiced her concerns if Gandalf didn't cut her off first.
"Well what does it matter? He's back!" Gandalf says with a small smile.
"It matters!" Thorin spoke up. "I want to know…why did you come back?" he demands.
"Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. And you're right, I often think of Bag End. I miss my books. And my armchair. And my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. And that's why I came back because you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can" Bilbo says, the others going silent, most of them touched and Gandalf smiles.
"I have seen a great many things in my time here, mostly dangerous, I've witnessed the tenacity of men, the grace of the Elves, the stubbornness of Dwarves" Reika says and at this, the others chuckle at Reika. "And the kindness of the Hobbits; it's refreshing to see that kindness hasn't left the world" she says with a small smile.
The moment is interrupted when the sound of howling comes down from the mountain. The whole of the Company look around, weapons clutched tight as they wonder how far away they are.
"Out of the frying pan…" Thorin began.
"And into the fire!" Gandalf finishes. "Run! RUN!" He orders and the others begin to run
With the Wargs rapidly pursuing them, the remaining daylight is replaced with the darkness of night but that doesn't stop them. The Wargs reach them, the first one leaping at Bilbo who ducks behind a rock, the Warg missing him by mere inches. The monstrous creatures turns and charges at him, but Bilbo, who'd drawn his sword, impales it in the head, killing it.
Reika has drawn both of her tanto, holding one back by the neck with her tanto as she impales another that approaches the right side. No longer distracted by the other, she slits the other's throat and it hits the ground with a whimper, dying soon after.
With the Wargs dispatched, they continue to run until they reach an outcropping.
"Bloody hell" Reika whispers as she peers down.
"Up into the trees! All of you! Come on, climb! Bilbo, climb!" Gandalf orders.
"I'll go up last" Reika says, keeping her knives drawn.
"Reika!" Fili calls as a Warg lunges at her. Knives held up, she prepares to push back and stab the beast but an axe thrown by Bifur kills it before she can.
"Get up here, now!" Fili shouts at her.
Seeing the main body of the riders and Wargs, Reika tucks her knives into her obi and takes Fili's outstretched hand, climbing the tree easily once she got into the hang of it. The riderless beasts soon circle the trees that the Dwarves have climbed up as Reika perches herself on a branch just above Fili and Kili. The Wargs cease their growling and turn, where a large white beast has appeared, and astride it a large, muscular white orc missing an arm.
"Azog?!" Thorin says in shock, the others as surprised as him.
"That's the Defiler?" Reika asks, never having seen or run into the pale orc in her travels. Azog having no interest in her territory.
"Yes" Fili says darkly.
The Orc begins to speak in Black Speech then, the language foul as he spoke. Reika incredibly repulsed by the way the words sound, snarling when the Wargs begin their assault, attempting to climb the trees. Reika conjures a ball of fire, but with the trees shaking violently, she can't throw it; Reaching for one of her tanto as she prepares for a fight.
With the combined weight of the Wargs attacking the trees, the furthest one from the edge, on which Reika, the two princes and a few others are perched on, begins to fall. As they fall towards one of the other trees, they jump onto that one, but the other trees begin to fall as well until they are all perched on the very last tree.
"I don't much like our prospects here" Reika says, swallowing her fearful whine.
"Fili!" Gandalf calls and the fair haired Dwarf looks up, catching a flaming pinecone. He quickly throws it at the Wargs, who begin to retreat. "Reika!" Gandalf calls and passes two down to her.
Throwing them in quick succession, the Company are able to create a barrier of fire, angering the white Orc.
They all start to cheer for a brief moment before the roots of the tree they're in begins to uproot.
The tree tips over, but comes to a rest, hanging precariously over the edge. Reika is knocked off by the sudden stop and is about to fall, were it not for a hand grabbing onto hers.
"You're not getting away from us" Fili says as he keeps her held up.
"This would be a really bad time to get sweaty palms!" Reika says as she looks down for a moment.
"Look at me! Just focus on me" Fili calls down, able to see her fear. Both knowing that she couldn't reveal her dragon side here. Not with her position still so precarious with Thorin.
"Okay" Reika whispers, turquoise eyes bright with her fear.
"Kili, try to reach her" Fili calls out quietly.
The dark haired prince reaches for her and Reika swings herself up to reach the other, both brothers clutching her hands. They begin to pull and with some effort, they manage to get her up and out of harm's way.
Reika perches herself and breathes deeply as her heart beats wildly in her chest.
"You're alright, I will not let you fall. I promise" Fili says, keeping a strong hand on her shoulder.
"After that little rescue I know you won't" Reika breathes out as Thorin pulls himself up and begins to walk down the trunk. Sword drawn he approaches the white Orc.
The King Under the Mountain breaks into a run as he charges at Azog, the other grinning in anticipation. Going to slash at the larger Orc, the others watch in shock as the Warg smashes it's paw into Thorin's chest, knocking him down. Thorin gets up, the wind knocked out of him, only to be hit in the face with the Orcs mace before he could react, a few of the Dwarves calling out to their leader in despair.
"Thorin" Fili whispers in horror as the Warg clamps down on his arm, Azog roaring in excitement before the beast flings Thorin away, the other landing heavily and almost unconscious. An Orc approaches him then.
"No" Reika whines out in despair.
What no one expects is Bilbo to fling himself at the Orc and kill it.
Pulling his sword free of the body, the Hobbit stood in front of Thorin, protecting him. Reika takes out her sole remaining tanto watching what has happened.
The riders and the Wargs begin to surround Bilbo then and Reika lets her feet do the work.
Running the length of the trunk with Fili, Kili and Dwalin, who's managed to pull himself up, the four ploughs into the massive group, fighting them; Reika fights with a rider, blocking his blows before killing the Warg he is riding. The Orc is flung forward as his steed falls and before it has a chance to get back up; Reika ends its life with her tanto being stabbed through its throat. Despite the initial shock of the resistance, the four are pushed back together and surrounded.
Reika, aware that Bilbo is at Azog and his Warg's mercy, prepares to shift and charge.
Before she can change and any of the others could respond, the sound of eagles' breaks through the growling and the Wargs found themselves under attack by giant eagles. Reika looks up in shock but doesn't question their good fortune. Before she can process what is going on, she is snatched up by some talons and then dropped. Before she has a chance to cry out, she lands on the back of another with Fili and Kili landing by her.
"I'm going to suffer a heart attack at this rate" Reika breathes out shakily as the Eagle circles nearby, waiting for its brethren to deal with the rest of the Orcs and Wargs.
When all is said and done, the Eagles begin to fly over a great distance then.
The flight is relatively calm, if not for the concern for Thorin.
Fili calls out to him, but the other doesn't respond. Reika keeps one hand on the Eagle beneath her, the other on Fili's shoulder, squeezing gently as she does so.
Soon, they reach a large bear-shaped rock, one they are on landing. Fili and Kili get off quickly whilst Reika turns to the large creature.
"Thank you" Reika whispers softly, the Great Eagle regarding her for a moment before taking off.
Reika turns her attention to the others, who surround Thorin.
Gandalf is knelt beside him and whispering something she could barely pick up. The Dwarf is still but for a moment before his eyes flutter open and he takes in a deep breath.
"The halfling?" Thorin demands.
"It's alright, Bilbo is here, he's quite safe" Gandalf reassures.
Dwalin and Kili help Thorin to his feet but the other shrugs him off and approaches the Hobbit, fury in his eyes and in his voice when he speaks.
"You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed! Did I not say that you would be a burden?" Thorin demands as Reika went to step forward, but Fili puts a hand on her chest to keep her back. "That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place among us?" He advances on the other, who looks terrified. "I've never been so wrong in all my life!" He says, grabbing Bilbo and embracing him deeply.
Relieved, Reika releases the breath she's been holding and smiles as the others cheered. Fili then turns to her as Reika's legs finally gave out beneath her.
"Are you okay?" Fili asks
"My feet are bloody killing me" Reika sighs, earning a laugh from the prince who wraps an arm around her shoulders.
"First complaint…I'm impressed" Fili chuckles
"It was bound to happen eventually" Reika sighs as she rests her head on his shoulder for a moment as Bilbo and Thorin spoke. "Not a pure nature spirit, remember?" she points out, reminding the prince she still has human limitations even if it took a lot longer for her to reach them.
"True" Fili smiles.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bilbo asks and the others turn. With a bit of effort and some help, Reika stands and joins the others in looking out at the view.
In the distance, Reika sees it. A solitary peak.
"Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. The last of the Dwarf kingdoms of Middle-Earth" Gandalf smiles.
"Our home" Thorin says softly.
The sound of a bird nearby catches their attention and they see it flying in the same direction of the mountain.
"A raven! The birds are returning to the mountain" Oin calls out.
"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush" Gandalf corrects.
"But we'll take it as a sign…a good omen" Thorin says.
"You're right, I do believe that the worst is behind us" Bilbo says optimistically and Reika smiles as she allows herself to believe it.
Reika continues to look at that solitary peak, curious as to what awaits them inside and hopes in her heart that she would see it soon.
Letting herself be guided down the towards the ground after the group takes sometime to rest.
Once on the ground the group would let Bilbo scout ahead being the lightest on his feet to see where Azog and his riders are in conjunction with the group.
Bilbo peeking over some rocks on a high ledge would spot Azog and his Warg Scouts running along a ridgeline not far away, occasionally stopping to smell the air in their pursuit of the Company. Not finding anything, they continue on their way.
Suddenly, Bilbo hears a snarl from the side, and ducks behind the rocks. He peeks out and sees a large bear watching Azog from another pile of rocks, snarling softly.
The group watches as Bilbo scrambles back down the rocks.
"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asks Bilbo.
"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that's not the worst of it" Bilbo reports.
"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" The elder dwarf asks.
"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem" Bilbo says and Gandalf looks quite concerned as he spoke up.
"Did they see you? They saw you!" The wizard exclaims.
"No, that's not it" Bilbo says, his exasperation building as he tries to explain what the problem actually was.
"What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material" Gandalf says, the dwarves and even Reika chuckle loudly in appreciation of Bilbo.
Finally the Hobbit's exasperation builds and he starts talking louder.
"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there" Bilbo explains as Reika frowns in concern.
"If something other than Azog has you concerned" Reika says quietly whilst the others look a little concerned themselves.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asks and the others look at him curiously.
"Ye…Yes…but bigger. Much bigger" Bilbo says.
"You knew about this beast?" Bofur turns to Gandalf. "I say we double back" he says only to be cut off.
"And be run down by a pack of Orcs" Thorin points out.
"I for one am not eager to get into a fight this soon after we barely survived our last encounter with Azog and his pack of Wargs" Reika says as Gandalf appears to be deep in thought.
"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we may take refuge" Gandalf says.
"Whose house is it? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asks.
"Neither. He will help us. Or he will kill us" Gandalf admits and the others look dismayed whilst Reika lets out a humourless laugh.
"Well then. Fifty percent chance of death or success sounds lovely" Reika growls.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin asks when suddenly a loud roar startles them all. Startling her badly enough into shifting into her canine form with squeaky yip.
"None" Gandalf says simply.
The Company run through plains and over streams, urged on by Gandalf, before reaching a forest as their pursuers did.
Another roar, the bear again, can be heard and the group stops, the grip on their weapons tight. From the lack of thundering footfalls, Azog's pack has also halted their pursuit, no doubt reconsidering.
"This way, quickly!" Gandalf shouts, all of them breaking out into another run. After some urging, Bombur runs past all of them, earning surprised looks from Fili, Kili and Reika as he did. Soon, they run through a gate in a hedge.
"Come on, get inside!" The wizard orders.
They run to the front door of the house; it is closed. Bombur, who reaches the door first, throws himself against it but falls flat on his back when the door doesn't budge. The rest of the dwarves catch up and begin throwing themselves against the door, trying to open it.
Gandalf looks back as a massive bear breaks out from the edge of the forest and runs toward them.
"Open the door!" Gandalf yells.
"Quickly!" Thorin, pushing through the dwarves presses against the door, manages to raise the exterior bolt, opening the doors.
The entire company bolts inside the house and they try to slam the door shut, but the bear has already gotten its head in the door. As the bear roars and tries to push the door open, the dwarves yell and strain to close it. Bilbo pulls out his sword and points it unsteadily at the bear whilst Reika would snarl and push forward.
"Close the bloody door!" Reika snarls out as she swipes at the bear's nose.
"Come on, lads!" Dwalin encourages seeing the opening Reika has given them as the bear snarls in surprise at her actions.
With a final heave, the dwarves manage to close the door and drop the bolt across it. They sigh in shock, fear, and tiredness. Reika collapsing to the floor in exhaustion.
"What is that?" Ori asks.
"That…is our host" Gandalf says and the others look at him in surprise.
"I beg your pardon?" Reika demands, breaking the shocked silence.
"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear; sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overfond of dwarves" Gandalf explains.
"What about me?" Reika asks.
"It has been ages since your kind walked these lands but the legends have persisted and since you are associated with nature…he will have some respect for you" Gandalf reassures.
"Thank Merlin" Reika breathes out shakily.
"Fortunate for you" Fili says sarcastically.
After some concerns and reassurances from Gandalf, they make themselves comfortable whilst Reika starts to process this new bit of knowledge.
Skin-changer, a man who is capable of turning into an animal; her surprise obvious at the fact that there is someone else on Middle-Earth similar to herself.
"I know you've spoken about the elves and other beings of your world but does your world have skin-changers or dragons like Smaug?" Fili asks.
"No, not that I know of anyways…we have legends about dragons though" Reika admits thinking of the Welsh legends she read about in primary when she used the library as a way to hide from Dudley.
"Legends?" Thorin asks, sounding somewhat curious.
"At present, my country is part of a union referred to as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Four countries make up the union. England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Wales has a symbol of a red dragon on a field of green with a white background. Before it was part of the United Kingdom, Wales was a separate nation. England invaded Wales and they were represented by a white dragon. The two dragons fought, and the cries of pain from the red dragon led to animals perishing, plants becoming barren and women losing their children. The king of Britain went to his wise brother in a nation referred to as France and is told to dig a pit in the centre of Britain, fill it with mead and cover it with cloth. After doing this, both dragons are drawn to the hole where they drink the mead and fall asleep entwined together, wrapped in the cloth and buried…" Reika tells the story, the Dwarves chuckling. "So the tale goes" she giggles as well. "It sounds like an average evening for you" she points out.
"Well minus the burying part" Fili grins. "So the dragons were tied to the life of England and Wales" he points out.
"And whenever it was in pain, the country suffered for it…given how pleasantly drunk and the fact that it is now asleep, I don't think it'll be in pain anymore" Reika says.
"At least the dragons of your land are benevolent" Thorin says. "That said…it was an interesting tale from what must be a rather deep history" he admits as Reika smiles
"It is" Reika says as she walks three circles before curling up in a ball like she usually did. Resting her head on her paws.
"So out of this war, a union was born between those four nations?" The King Under the Mountain asks
"It took a lot of time, but yes" Reika yawns out.
"Maybe we should try that with the Elves" the younger prince grins and the others chuckle. "At least the woodland sprites…Rivendell is fine" he relents at the half hearted glare from Reika.
"I'd hate to have to fight you, Kili…It'd be unbecoming of a Dwarven prince to lose to a Ranger after all" Reika chuffs out a laugh.
"Care to put that to a test?" Kili asks.
"No one will be putting any skills to any tests. What you will be doing is getting some rest. After all, we may yet have to run tomorrow should Beorn make the decision to try and kill us" Gandalf says.
"What being doesn't want to hear that before going to sleep?" Reika asks sarcastically.
"Rest" Gandalf sighs.
The following morning, Reika is woken by a soft breeze, no doubt from an open window. Opening her eyes, she is surprised to see that there is a bee looking at her curiously. Well, the bee isn't the surprise, rather the size of this particular bee. It is quite large to say the least and given that the windows are closed, it is safe to say that the wings are the cause of that breeze.
"Merlin, You're a sizeable fellow, aren't you?" Reika muses as she sat up to look at the bee.
"I'm not sure it will respond" Fili says, having just woken and looking at the bee with a similarly surprised expression.
"I suppose to you, it would seem bigger?" Reika asks with a wry grin.
"Shut it" The other shoves her good naturedly.
"Ahh…you're awake. Come" Gandalf says with a small smile.
Reika picks herself up and shakes her coat out, the bee still watching her curiously as he did so. Reika would follow Gandalf and is greeted with the sight of a very tall man. This must be Beorn, the one who had chased them into the house in the first place. The man turns and regards her with a mixed expression of curiosity and awe.
"Never did I think that I would see the day when a Nature spirit let alone one willing to travel with a Dwarf" Beorn says as Reika chokes out a small laugh.
"Were I a normal inu, I would agree" Reika says as she stood her ground.
"Yes…Gandalf has told me of your unique circumstances" Beorn admits as Reika sat down. "I apologise for the scare" he apologizes.
"Running and fighting has become a regular occurrence since I have arrived" Reika chuckles, shifting mid-sentence to accept a somewhat large mug of milk. "It still doesn't take anything away from my wonder at the world around us" she admits with a sigh.
"Very strange indeed…a spirit who willingly journeys with Dwarves and despite facing numerous perils, you maintain a sense of wonder about the world" Beorn muses.
"Where I came from, There were very few races besides Men allowed and openly capable of building cities like those seen here. To me, Middle-Earth is a breath of fresh air, quite literally, given how clean the air is here" Reika admits, nearly jumping when the bee that woke her perches itself on her shoulder. "It's not going to sting me, is it?" she asks quietly whilst Kili and Fili grin at her wariness.
"If you do not harm it, it will not harm you. Respect life and sometimes it will respect you back" Beorn replies as Reika slowly nods with thoughtful turquoise eyes.
"Good to know" Reika hums thoughtfully as she slowly and carefully lifts the mug of milk, the hairs of the bee tickling her neck. "Miracles and oddities are beginning to become daily routine on this trip" she sighs tiredly as the Dwarves snicker at her tired expression.
"I would be more threatened by your glare were it not for the wide eyed bee on your shoulder" Fili says as the other turns a fiery look on him.
"This bee cannot protect you for long, Fili" Reika says darkly. Feeling somewhat confident, her dark look changes to a small grin as she lifts her hands to her shoulder once she puts the mug down, the bee crawling onto her palms before getting up and heading to an open window and gently releasing it. "Your lucky I don't like to use magic on others outside…I might just change that view and then I may best you in a fight" she reminds him in amusement.
"I look forward to it" The elder prince says with a playful glint in his eye. "We'll see the true strength of the English" he grins.
"Indeed we shall" Reika smiles as she returns to her seat as Bilbo joins them.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield" Beorn turns his attention to Thorin. "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" He asks, surprising the other.
"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asks, his surprise clear.
"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the Orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved" the larger man explains and Reika notices the manacles still on the others wrists. "Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him" he finishes as Reika swallows the distressed whine at the man's words. Knowing that likely would have been her fate had Azog caught them in the Goblin kingdom.
"There are others like you?" Bilbo asks.
"Once, there were many" Beorn says softly.
"And now?" Bilbo asks warily.
"Now there is only one" Beorn says looking to Reika, the Company falling into silence at the solemn confession and reminder about their female companion. "You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?" He changes the subject.
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes" Gandalf nods.
"You are running out of time" Beorn points out.
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood" The Wizard says, some of the Dwarves stiffening at the mention of the realm.
"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need" Beorn warns as Reika frowns in concern.
"We will take the Elven Road that path is still safe" Gandalf tries to point out only to be cut off.
"Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not" Beorn says bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Thorin asks.
"These lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive" Beorn says bluntly.
"Lovely" Reika grumbles whilst Thorin looks on in shock, Beorn standing and facing him.
"I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own" the skin changer admits as he gently picks up a small mouse. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?" he asks as the Company relax a little.
With a warning that the Orcs and their vicious Wargs are not far behind them, the Company set off quickly on the ponies living on Beorn's land not long after. Reika in her dog form to the delight of Beorn who would give Reika a little extra for her healing supplies.
Rapidly, they soon approach the rather dark and dead forest. Reika stopping by the ponies as soon as she caught the scent, her heart aching at the poor condition of the land in front of her. Silently seething at how withdrawn the elves of these woods had gotten to let the forest suffer to this degree.
"Something dark lurks in here…I can smell it faintly and feel it to some degree" Reika admits, eyeing the forest warily as they walk into the trees, finding an ancient archway.
"This forest was once vibrant with life…but as Radagast has warned, darkness now permeates through this forest" Gandalf says, before gesturing to the archway. "The Elven Gate. Here lies our path through Mirkwood" he announces to the company.
"No sign of the Orcs, we have luck on our side" Dwalin says.
"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master" Gandalf says, the others grabbing their supplies and letting the ponies go.
"This forest feels, sick" Bilbo approaches. "As if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?" The Hobbit asks.
"Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south" Gandalf says, heading in.
"You look uneasy, Reika" Fili notes in concern. "You've never been able to sense things before?" he asks as Reika shook her head no.
"Whatever made this forest so barren is not natural…As Bilbo said, it's like a disease has made this forest very ill. If the Wood-Elves live here, then I only feel a quiet simmering rage that they've let it get this bad for they could have done something to try and save their home instead of letting it suffer to this degree" Reika growls out, calming herself when Fili reaches out to touch her cheek. Her marks becoming more pronounced in her anger.
"Normally I would feel that this is comeuppance…but you're right. Whatever caused these woods to be so barren can't have been natural. Which means it could very well be bad news for us" Fili sighs.
"Hence my concerns…Let's hope we don't run into whatever is causing it" Reika says quietly.
Just as Nori is about to begin unsaddling Gandalf's horse, the Grey Wizard marches out with purpose towards them.
"Not my horse! I need it" Gandalf starts to mount it.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo approaches him.
"I would not do this unless I had to" Gandalf admits as Reika swallows in unease.
The uneasy feeling in her stomach worsening slightly and for a moment, she considers changing form to give another set of swords, but thought better of it, turning to look back at the forest as Gandalf and Bilbo spoke. At one time, this forest must have been quite the natural beauty, a sight that Reika would have enjoyed seeing on much better terms.
"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me" Gandalf speaks up, looking at Thorin. "This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray" he warns the Company.
"Lead us astray…what does that mean?" Bilbo asks fretfully.
"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again" Gandalf explains before turning to head off. "No matter what may come, you must stay on the path!" He heads off and the others turn to the forest.
The path is gruelling to say the least. Reika, like a couple of the others feel as though she isn't getting enough air. Her head swimming and focuses on keeping on the path, unaware that the party is not in front of her, at least for a moment.
When she turns, Reika gasps when she realizes that she is now very much alone in a forest that is playing with her head something chronic. Her guard up now and by some miracle, she continues along the path. If all went well, they'd find a way out. Thorin and the others had a tendency for creativity when it really mattered. Heeding Gandalf's words, she continues to walk along the path slowly so as not to lose it.
"Whoever built this path needs a bloody good slap" Reika grumbles to herself as she continues her slow but steady walk, thoughts of the others clouding her mind. Normally she'd rather her judgement intact, but thoughts of the group help keep the dark magic, for lack of a better term, from entering her mind.
As Reika walks, it seems to get much clearer, her mind no longer under the influence of the strange air of Mirkwood. Just as she is about to pick up the pace, she feels something sharp against her neck. An elven arrowhead if she isn't mistaken.
"What have we here?" A woman asks, appearing out of the woods with several other elves. She is beautiful, with long red hair, wearing little armour and carrying a bow as well as two knives. "A skin changer very far from the mountains…a thief perhaps?" she asks as Reika swallows hard.
"If I may shift shape, I may be able to provide an insight into who I am" Reika kept her voice neutral. Her male sounding voice startling the she elf since skin changers couldn't speak in this form.
"Any sudden move will be your last" the she elf warns as Reika changes shape. Revealing her human form, her elven cloak and armor obvious to all, hair short and ruffled from the action. Fili and Kili having expressed an interest in making some small braids in it but she had shut them down for the time being. Brushing back some of her charmed hair, she revealed her pointed ear. "Explain…" the elf demands sharply.
"My name is Reika…I am a ranger from Rivendell" Reika admits slowly. Keeping her full status to herself, silently glad she'd packed all of her things into her trunk before they'd left Beorn's.
"Lord Elrond did not send word you would be passing through" the she elf points out.
"Well this wasn't exactly a planned trek for me" Reika says pointedly.
"You would risk getting lost in the forest forever on a trek you had never intended to take? You present more questions than answers" the she elf says. "But you speak the truth, partially. And if you are indeed one of Lord Elrond's people, it would do no good to harm you. I am Tauriel, Captain of the Guard" she introduces herself.
"I suggest you follow us in the other form…" Tauriel says slowly as Reika nods, swallowing her fear to do as told.
"You're not going to muzzle me?" Reika asks forcefully knowing it was very real possibility they would.
"You may yet need your jaws; these woods are no longer safe. If I see you try to run…" Tauriel warns as Reika nods.
"I'm well aware of the potential consequences so lets go" Reika says, following behind the she elf and resisting the urge to snarl and snap as the others of her retinue surround her on all sides.
The trek to the palace a quiet one without any trouble, the muzzle coming on as soon as the city gates close behind her and she's dragged before the king.
Thranduil regards her with disdain mixed with curiosity. The intruder's hair raven black, short and unruly. To the King of the Woodland Realm, Reika looked like any other skin changer he'd come across…except for the ears. They are pointed like that of any Eldar. Yet her eyes looked young. So how in the name of all that is good in Middle-Earth did she manage not only to find the ancient path, but stay on it?
"In my many years, I have never been as surprised as I am now, half-breed" Thranduil admits as Reika stares back, muzzle still in place.
"And why is that?" Thranduil detects a slight accent through the muzzle, unlike any he has heard before. This one did not come from the town on the lake. So where is she from?
"You are young for a half-breed…that path is known only to those who have lived many years. How did you come by it?" The King begins to circle her slowly, regarding her attire. She wore the armour of Rivendell and wielded their weapons. Could she be one of Elrond's?
"I don't suppose sheer luck would be an answer?" Reika asks forcefully.
"You would need to be blessed indeed to wander into the forest, find the path and then stay on it" the king answers.
"Lord Elrond's library is extensive" Reika retorts.
"So you are of Rivendell, then. And tell me, what is your purpose here?" Thranduil demands.
"That is information privy to myself" Reika says stiffly.
"Insolence will not serve you well…I suppose your business is your business. Perhaps I will discuss it with Lord Elrond when we next meet. Will you at least tell me your name?" Thranduil sat back down on his throne.
"Reika Potter" Reika answers stiffly.
"A unique name indeed, not Elven, however. Where do you really come from?" Thranduil asks.
"A country far from here known as England…I travelled from it. Quite by accident" Reika admits with a sigh. "I was found by Arador of the Dúnedain, taken into his family and later moved to Rivendell as part of my training with the Rangers of the North…I was given this armour and these weapons to protect me on my travels" she explains, keeping the details of why she moved to herself. Not willing to risk her family for the comfort of this king.
"I see" Thranduil gestures for two guards to approach Reika.
"I take it I am not being let go" Reika states rather than asks.
"Until I receive confirmation from Lord Elrond as to your identity, you have trespassed upon the land of Mirkwood and are sentenced to confinement until then. Your weapons and armour will be cared for, for they are of my kinsmen and they will be returned if you are found to be telling the truth. You may take her away" Thranduil orders.
Reika could only glare at the King before she is led away by the guards, heading further into the cavern in which the kingdom is built.
Soon, she found herself removed of all but her under clothes and necklaces. Shoved unceremoniously into a cell once her muzzle is removed, Reika could only watch as the guard locks the door, and with a smug smile he departs up the stairs and she is left alone.
"Bloody great" Reika sighs to herself as she curls up into the corner of the cell.
After what felt like an hour later, the door slams open and Reika hears the sound of many footsteps. Reika stands up and went to the bars, leaning against them to see who else had the good luck to experience the hospitality of the Woodland Realm. She kept her face set in a blank mask as the Elf from before led the rest of the Company minus Bilbo into the area.
"So you stayed on the path?" Bofur asks and Reika nods.
"For all the bloody good that it did me" Reika sighs tiredly.
"Well off the path was no better" Bofur admits.
"I can see that" Reika says as Fili is brought to her cell. "I get a cell mate?" She asks with a small grin that Fili returns.
"Move away from the bars, half-breed" Tauriel says, her glare fierce.
"Your wish is my command, my lady" Reika says as she stands back and the cell is opened before Fili is given a shove. "For a people of such high bearing, you do not treat your prisoners so well" she says sarcastically.
"Mind your tongue…lest I remove it" Tauriel threatens, before slamming the door and locking it.
"You would need to go through me first" Fili says standing by Reika and though the she-Elf stays quiet, she has a surprised glint in her eyes as she walks away.
The rest of the Dwarves are put into their cells and the guards as well as the captain leave. When it was clear that they were gone, every one of them, except for Reika and Balin, began to throw their bodies into the bars, trying to break them down. Despite all the effort, there is no shifting these doors and escaping from their cages.
"Leave it! There's no way out. This is no Orc dungeon; these are the halls of the Woodland Realm. No one leaves here but by the king's consent" Balin says, the others stopping.
"I don't bloody believe it" Reika sighs as she sat down.
"Me either…captured by sprites" Fili turns and notices muzzle marks and cut on her cheek. "Where did you get that cut?" he asks.
"Elves, I've come to find out, are rather jumpy when a sudden move is made. I was struck across the face by a bow…the sharp tip caught my cheek…the marks are from a muzzle" Reika explains as Fili knelt to get a closer look at it, his hand reaching out.
"May I?" He asks quietly.
"Yes" Reika hisses out as the prince gently touches it.
"You didn't intend to threaten them?" He asks for confirmation.
"Not with an arrow pointed at the back of my neck…I jerked when they shoved me on the path and in reflex, one of them struck me. They muzzled me when I lashed out at the city entrance…I got startled by the loud noise of the gate closing" Reika explains, privately grateful for the feeling of warmth against her cheek.
"This will not go unchecked" Fili says angrily.
"There is no sense in getting worked up about this, Fili" Reika soothes, reaching a hand out to rest on his shoulder. "On the one hand, I am beyond furious that they struck me without a reason, but on the other, I'm well aware that the forest surrounding this place is far from normal. Anything and everything is a threat" she admits.
"It is not right" Fili says, his hand covering the others.
"No, no it's not; but we can't make this situation any worse than what it already is" Reika points out.
"Reika's right, laddie." Balin says from his cell. "Thorin is with the Elven king now…with some luck, his exposure to our ranger will have done wonders in changing his opinion of Elves as a whole" he tries to reassure.
"Were he not negotiating with Thranduil, I'd agree, but as was explained to me, what the king did when Smaug attacked Erebor was unforgivable to him. Were he to work out some kind of a deal, I'd consider it a miracle" Reika reminds the older dwarf.
"You've a point there…" Balin says.
"For now…I suppose the best we can do is make ourselves as comfortable as possible and get used to looking at the ceiling, wall or person opposite you" Reika says calmly. "Thranduil has said that he would speak with Lord Elrond…he can vouch for us" she offers in reassurance.
"By the time he arrives here, Durin's Day will have passed" Kili points out.
"A good point" Reika says, noticing how Fili is still staring at the cut.
"It doesn't hurt?" Fili asks.
"Stings a little…it's still fresh. My advanced healing hasn't kicked in yet. Really, Fili aside from this cut and a bit of anger, I am fine" Reika reassures gently.
"At least they had the courtesy to clean it" Fili says, sitting in front of her.
"Initially they weren't going to. Legolas, the son of the King as I came to find out, insisted that it be left as a reminder of what will happen if I make a sudden move again. Tauriel disagreed…she may be uptight, but she was generous enough to ensure it didn't get infected" Reika admits, having to swallow her anger at the memory of Legolas' words.
"You should have seen Kili when he met her" Fili says with a grin at the mention of the she-Elf. "We were attacked by spiders…" he starts to narrate only for Reika to cut him off in alarm.
"Spiders? That needed intervention from Elves?" Reika asks, thinking of Aragog and not liking the idea that Middle Earth had spiders that size.
"They were sizeable spiders, Reika. Anyway…she moves through the tree tops and kills several of the spiders with ease. Kili was trying to hold one off and requested a knife. She told him no, killed it and he had an amazed look on his face. Notice how he hasn't stopped smiling for quite some time?" He points out and Reika takes a discreet look. Kili is smiling and that is when Reika catches on to the fact that the young prince had a brief exchange with the Elf when she locked him up.
"Ahh…It would seem that she has stirred feelings within our young Dwarf" Reika grins in amused delight.
"An Elf and a Dwarf…Thorin would be so angry" Fili admits.
"I think if your uncle saw how much she made him smile, he wouldn't mind so much" Reika points out with some optimism. "After all it's obvious he doesn't hate all Elves, hence my presence" she reminds.
"But you're a mage and a ranger with close connections with elves; and you're travelling to help us reclaim our home" Fili points out.
"It figures that the closer we get to our destination and the decision I have to make the more you refer to me as either a mage or a ranger" Reika giggles softly
"Do you need much more time?" Fili asks.
"I think I will wait until we reclaim Erebor" Reika smiles, lying down to try and make herself a bit more comfortable. "I already miss my cloak, it was a good pillow" she grumbles, putting her hands behind her head.
"Lift your head" Fili says.
"Okay…" Reika says with a raised brow but did so. Fili moves to sit beside her, legs extended. The prince then shuffles closer to her.
"Lay your head back down…" Fili says.
Reika does so, surprised to find that her head is now resting in the Dwarves lap, able to see the fair haired Fili smiling down at her. She smiles back, silently thanking for him before settling a little more.
Reika nearly jumps when the other uses her chest as something of an armrest, the others hand resting above her heart.
"Better?" Fili asks.
"Much…but are you sure?" Reika asks slightly unsure.
"Dwarves find any stone surface comfortable…we prefer beds but stone is a good second" He explains. "You're without that luxury, however" he points out.
"Oh yes…because nothing says a good night sleep like a cold stone floor and chronic back issues the next day" Reika says with a grin, earning a chuckle from Fili.
"We're lucky to have met you, Reika Potter…even should you choose not to stay, you will always be the most unique being I've ever had the good fortune to meet. You've a heart of gold, with one of the best senses of humour and you refuse to let old prejudices between my people and the Elves stop you" the prince says earnestly with a kind smile.
"Well I can honestly say that I'm glad to have met you and your Company…your collective spirit is a reminder of home that I've come to cherish. It's your kindness in particular that has moved me…you were the first to accept me for what and who I am…and for that, I will be grateful for the rest of my days" Reika admits quietly.
With a small blush and a burst of confidence, Reika leans up and presses a gentle kiss to the other's jawline before settling down. The smile she receives in return is positively radiant as Fili places his arm back across her chest, hand still resting above her heart. Smiling shyly in return, she relaxes once more. Despite the fact that she is locked up, she is content. If they are lucky, they would be out of there in no time.
The moment is broken though when the door reopens and Thorin is led down to the cells and put in one by the guard. Reika has a sinking feeling in her gut as the door is locked and the keeper of the keys goes back upstairs and out the door.
"Did he offer you a deal?" Balin asks.
"He did. I told him he could go 'Ish kakhfê ai'd dur rugnul! Him and all his kin!" Reika notices Fili wincing.
"That bad?" Reika asks quietly.
"Let's just say I've not the heart to translate it" Fili admits.
"Thorin…if we get out of here and we're still somewhat young, remind me to teach you diplomacy with your enemies" Reika grumbles sarcastically before sitting down once more.
"Well, that's it, then. A deal was our only hope" Balin sighs.
"Not our only hope." Thorin says with a smile that has Reika perking up.
"Bilbo…he's still out there" Reika breathes out in awe. "That Hobbit has gotten himself out of worse. If anyone can get us out it's him" she says in delight.
Day turns to night and noise can be heard from above. A party is obviously in swing for the Elves of Mirkwood. Despite this, however, Tauriel comes down to check on the prisoner and she stops by Reika and Fili's cell, the latter sound asleep whilst Reika is wide awake. She notices the captain watching.
"Lady Tauriel" Reika greets slowly.
"Lady Potter" Tauriel returns the greeting.
"Not 'half-breed' anymore?" Reika asks and Tauriel looks down, a little guilty. "It's fine…In my country, you develop a thick skin" she reassures the she elf.
"Though you are a prisoner, you are still considered a kinsmen to us" Tauriel says and Reika smiles.
"I don't suppose that would get me early release?" Reika asks in amusement and Tauriel smiles back.
"I'm afraid not…How is that cut?" She asks.
"Well the pain has stopped…I thank you for cleaning it for me. Continue with your rounds, my lady. You can return to the celebration then" Reika encourages and watches as Tauriel went to walk off before turning back to her with a curious expression.
"He stood in front of you to protect you from me…why?" Tauriel asks.
"I don't follow" Reika raises a brow.
"Well you are aware of the animosity between Dwarf and Elf, yes?" Tauriel asks and Reika nods. "I am curious to know why he so readily defended you…" she admits as Reika nods thoughtfully.
"I was not travelling that path alone…these Dwarves are my companions but they lost the path" Reika explains as the she elf nods. "Aside from a few others, they are the first beings of this land that I came to know and care for…there was some animosity initially as to be expected. That soon changed and I am glad for it" she admits with a fond smile.
"You would be the first to befriend a Dwarf for many decades" Tauriel smiles. "Farewell" she says and continues her rounds, stopping to speak with Kili. At this, Reika gently wakes Fili.
"Reika…you should be resting…" Fili chastises sleepily.
"I thought you might like to see this" Reika teases, and Fili notices the two talking.
"We're not eavesdropping" Fili says, before moving to sit by the cell door.
"Oh, of course not…we're just changing our seating choice" Reika giggles softly with a smile, sitting opposite to watch them.
"The stone in your hand, what is it?" Tauriel asks the younger, somewhat curious.
"It is a talisman. A powerful spell lies upon it. If any but a dwarf reads the runes on this stone, they will be forever cursed" Kili says seriously as he held up the stone and she steps back, slightly startled and went to walk off, much to the frustration of the elder prince and inu. "Or not, depending on whether you believe that kind of thing. It's just a token" he says with a smile when she returns and they notice she smiles back. "A runestone. My mother gave it to me so I'd remember my promise" Kili admits.
"What promise?" Tauriel asks softly and Fili smiles slightly at this, for he remembered the stone.
"That I will come back to her" Kili explains, the she-Elf looking down in shame. "She worries. She thinks I'm reckless" he admits.
"Are you?" Tauriel asks.
"Nah" Kili tosses the stone up and misses it, causing it to fall out of the cell. It would have gone deeper into the cavern if Tauriel didn't stop it with her foot. Picking it up, she looks closely at it as the sound of laughter intensifies from above them. "Sounds like quite a party you're having up there…" he says leadingly.
"It is Mereth-en-Gilith, the Feast of Starlight" Tauriel explains, stepping away slightly. "All light is sacred to the Eldar, but Wood Elves love best the light of the stars" she admits as Reika swallows her whine at her forgetfulness.
"I forgot about it…" Reika whispers. "I've only celebrated once in my years on Middle Earth" she admits looking down.
"One day you will again" Fili smiles reassuringly before they continue to listen.
"I always thought it is a cold light. Remote and far away" Kili says softly and she turns to speak with him.
"It is memory, precious and pure. Like your promise" Tauriel hands him back the stone with a smile. "I have walked there sometimes, beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away and the white light forever fill the air" she says, looking wistful and Reika could only smile softly at the faint memory the elf's words stir for her.
"I saw a fire moon once. It rose over the pass near Dunland, huge; red and gold it was, filled the sky. We were an escort for some merchants from Ered Luin, they were trading in Silverbuck for furs. We took the Greenway south, keeping the mountain to our left, and then, this huge fire moon, right in our path. I wish I could show you..." Kili spoke as Tauriel sat and listened intently. Fili retreats deeper into the cell with a warm smile on his face, followed closely by Reika.
"I have watched him speak to many a woman before…but never has he opened up quite like this" Fili says quietly with a smile.
"You are happy for him." Reika notes fondly.
"Very…though I wish the circumstances were different, he has found deep feelings for this woman and for that, my heart swells for him" Fili says, that same smile on his face. Reika smiles back as well before yawning.
"Tired?" Fili chuckles.
"You could say that…but I doubt I'll get much sleep…it's not warm nor comfortable down here" Reika admits tiredly.
"I can't provide much in the way of warmth…but use me as a pillow again?" Fili offers.
"And expect you to sleep whilst sat up? Fili, surely that can't be comfortable?" Reika points out unsure.
"Never underestimate a Dwarf's ability to fall asleep anywhere" Fili smiles before patting the spot beside him. "If we are indeed fortunate, we're going to need the energy" he points out.
Reika smiles and lay down before resting her head in the others lap, the others arm drapes over her chest once more. Shutting her eyes, she figures an hour or two of rest couldn't hurt much, especially if Bilbo is indeed out there and coming for them.
Escaping these Elves would require a fair amount of energy to say the least.
Night soon turns to day and the Company remained trapped in their cells. The party above seems to have died down now, confirming that for the prisoners. Reika woke slowly to see Fili looking down as they all thought they have no hope of making it to the Lonely Mountain. She reaches up and gently touches his cheek.
"Have hope, Fili" Reika says softly.
"Day has likely come…we are running out of time" the elder prince leans into the touch.
"So long as there is a chance that Bilbo is still out there…there is still hope. Don't give up now" Reika says with a soft smile. The two startle when they hear someone clear their throat just outside the cell.
"I trust I'm not interrupting?" Bilbo whispers with a grin.
"Bilbo" Reika smiles as they both went to the door. "Never have I forgotten the determination of Hobbits" she grins in delight of being right.
"Well are you going to continue giving up or are you both ready to get out of here?" Bilbo holds up the ring of keys before unlocking the door as the others pontificate on the same thoughts Fili and Reika were having earlier.
"I'll wager the sun's on the rise. It must be nearly dawn" Bofur says grimly.
"We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?" Ori asks, hopelessness in his voice.
"Not stuck in here, you're not!" Bilbo says as he got to work on unlocking the doors to the delight of the rest of the Company.
"Bilbo!" Balin says in surprise, the other Dwarves exclaiming in surprise.
"Shhh! There are guards nearby" Bilbo warns, the others quieting down.
Bilbo leads the Dwarves through the halls of the Woodland Realm, eventually making their way to the wine cellar. Reika and a few of the others are rather amused to see a couple of Elves passed out on the table surrounded by several empty bottles. The Hobbit leads them deeper in and though Reika tends to give people the benefit of the doubt, she is very much confused.
"This way" Bilbo says quietly.
"I don't believe it, we're in the cellars!" Kili finally voices what the others thought.
"You were supposed to be leading us out, not further in!" Bofur says and Bilbo merely rolls his eyes in exasperation.
"I know what I'm doing!" He snaps. "This way" he leads them into a room with several barrels that are stacked sideways, all of them open on one end. Reika then notices the trap door and it dawns on her what the plan is.
"Everyone, climb into the barrels, quickly!" Bilbo says.
"Are you mad?! They'll find us!" Dwalin points out as Reika steps forward and picks a barrel without a word.
"No, no, they won't find you, I promise you. Please, please, you MUST trust me!" Bilbo says and all of them milled around, deciding what to do.
They hear a commotion, indicating that their time is quickly running out.
"Do as he says!" Thorin and Reika say with no hesitation as the dwarves follow Reika's lead and pick a barrel. Reika could see Bilbo moving towards a lever and she notices the section of the floor that could be opened. Her eyes widening, she goes to protest before she is cut off by Bofur.
"What do we do now?" Bofur asks.
"Hold your breath" Bilbo says with a small grin.
"Hold my breath? What do you mean?" Bofur asks as Reika took in a deep breath. The Hobbit pulls the lever and the barrels went down the opening, the Dwarves yelling as they fell several feet before landing in a river that ran beneath the Woodland Realm. As they move towards an opening, Thorin held his arms out to hold them in place. Suddenly, Bilbo falls into the river and grabs a hold of the barrel holding Nori.
"Well done, Master Baggins" Thorin says with a slight grin.
"Go" Bilbo says after waving his hand in thanks.
"Come on let's go" Thorin says as the Company begin to paddle with their hands, the river slowly pulling the barrels along. Emerging into the light, the ones up front spot a waterfall ahead and Thorin turns to take a look at the rest of them group.
"Hold on!" Thorin calls out.
Gripping tight to the sides of her barrel, Reika feels her stomach drop as they go down the waterfall and into the rapids. Reika could see the Elves out of the corner of her eyes and Legolas yells out an order, a horn sounding out. The gate shuts and they are unable to go any further down the river.
"Bugger" Reika hisses out.
Just as the guards appear, swords drawn, a black arrow pierces the back of one. Several large orcs swarm over the walls, killing the remaining Elves before throwing themselves at the Dwarves and Reika.
Reaching out to one of the dead guards, Reika snags a sword as Dwalin manages to pick one up himself.
"Kili!" The older Dwarf calls and Reika turns to see the young prince heading up to the gate lever.
Heading up with a sword tossed to him by Dwalin, Kili fights off several orcs with Fili throwing a small knife at an orc that prepares to strike his brother from behind. Just as Kili reaches the lever, a black arrow pierces Kili's calf and he stops short, panting in pain.
"Kili!" The fair haired Dwarf calls.
Despite the arrow in his calf, Kili manages to pull the lever before falling over onto his back. Reika turns sharply to see a large Orc with metal embedded in his head preparing another arrow. Tauriel arrives as another orc prepares to kill the raven haired prince, killing the orc with an arrow to the head. Kili returns to the lever and continues to pull the lever, finally opening the gate.
Holding onto her barrel tightly as well as the sword she has a hold of Reika is unable to see anything behind her as she focuses on maintaining control of her barrel. Reika feels an impact and she turns to see an orc balancing on her barrel. The creature raises his sword and brings it down, Reika brings her sword up with a snarl, blocking the attack. Striking the back of the orcs knee, the foul being nearly loses its balance but drops the sword. With a grunt, Reika drives it into its stomach before pushing it off and into the river.
"I don't bloody think so" Reika hisses as she grips the barrel and refocuses on trying to control the barrel.
"Cut the log!" She hears Thorin yell.
Thorin hits the log with his sword followed by Bofur, then Reika and finally Dwalin. The log, swarming with orcs, falls into the river killing them. Reika watches, much to her amazement as Bombur goes sailing through the air before landing on the river bank. The barrel begins rolling along the path, mowing down a great many orcs in his path before it flips through the air and lands on the other side of the river.
Reika watches in concern as the barrel came to a stop and is surrounded by orcs. Bombur kicks out the bottom and his hands burst out of the side, holding axes before he began spinning rapidly, killing many orcs around him. Tossing his axes to one of the dwarves in the barrels, he gracefully jumps into a barrel.
"Miracles and oddities" Reika breathes out to herself.
Legolas, Tauriel and the other Elves soon catch up with the Company and Orcs, fighting them off along the treetops and river banks. Reika notices a sword sail through the air above her head and into an orc that is about to kill the Elven prince. The fair haired Elf looks at Thorin, a grudging look of understanding passing between them. Legolas and the rest of the Elves cease their pursuit then and the group continues to slowly float down river.
Finally, the river begins to calm down somewhat, the company now paddling with their hands to continue moving.
"Anything behind us?" Thorin asks.
"Not that I can see" Balin reports.
"I think we've outrun the orcs" Bofur shouts up.
"Not for long; we've lost the current" Thorin reminds.
"Bofur is half drowned" Dwalin shouts up.
"We're all half drowned!" Reika growls, sopping wet.
At Thorin's urging, the group makes for the river bank where they climb out onto the shore. From the looks of things, Reika and Bilbo are the only ones with a weapon, the others having lost theirs through various means. Reika sighs as she removes her shirt, without a care the others could see her chest bindings, and rings it out over the side of the rock in the hopes of drying it quicker. Unaware of Fili approaching her and jumps when she feels a cold hand on her back. She turns to see a grinning fair haired prince.
"Don't do that…I'm still coming down off of the rush from back there" Reika hisses out.
"Sorry…didn't know you'd react that way" Fili says as Reika nods as she tugs her necklaces off.
"How can I help you?" Reika asks as she puts her creased shirt back on and secures a belt around her waist, sliding the sword into it.
"Do you know anything about healing aside from what we saw at Rivendell?" Fili asks.
"Kili's wound…" Reika breathes out in remembrance and the other nods.
"The bleeding won't stop no matter how much pressure we put on it and his blood seems a little dark" Fili points out and Reika follows him back to the group, Kili perched on a rock, leg extended. Reika approaches and crouches by him.
"I'm fine, Reika…" Kili protests.
"You know, I said the same to my healer. She never believed me no matter how often I said it" Reika sighs.
"Of course she didn't" Kili mutters as the other peels back the cloth over the wound. "Or just peel it back with no warning" he hisses out.
"You'd have said no if I asked" Reika grumbles, hiding her concern when she notices the oddly dark blood. "Are orcs on this side of the mountains known to use anything on their arrows that would cause this? Poison of some kind?" she asks.
"Not that I know of" Fili says as Reika quickly unshrinks her trunk and summons several corked tubes, a stone and bandages. Stuffing her charmed necklace back in before snapping the trunk shut. Shrinking it and reattaching it to the remaining necklace chain, trying to figure out which potions she would use after forcing Kili to swallow the bezoar.
"Bind his leg quickly. You have two minutes" Thorin says, interrupting Reika's thoughts before she could continue.
Reika forced the bezoar into Kili's mouth and applies two of the potions she'd summoned that would help before standing up whilst Fili got to work on binding the wound once she is done. Reika and the others notice a man aiming an arrow at Ori and immediately moves to his defence. Dwalin jumps in front of the archer with a thick branch, but the bowman fires and it embeds in the branch. Kili picks up a rock to throw it but it's shot out of his hand.
"Do it again, and you're dead" The bowman spoke before Reika places her blade against the man's neck.
"I wouldn't advise it" Reika growls, the bowman regarding her warily. Her canine nature foreign and making him wary.
"You wield a sword of Mirkwood but you do not look like one of them" the bowman points out slowly.
"It's a long story…one I don't feel like sharing with someone who threatens my friends when they are defenceless" Reika growls, the fight down the river and her helplessness with Kili's injury not helping her temper.
"Excuse me," Balin speaks up, his tone casual. "But, uh, you're from Laketown if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" He asks and the bowman lowers his bow, Reika lowering her sword as he did so. The man climbs aboard the barge, the others waiting by it.
"What makes you think I will help you?" He asks.
"Those boots have seen better days" Balin notes as the man loaded the barrels. "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" Balin asks, Reika surprised at how deductive the other was. It seems to pay off as the bowman turns, his expression looking a little less guarded.
"A boy and two girls" the bowman admits.
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty" Balin says and Reika notices the other looks a little pained at the mention.
"Aye. She was" He says and Balin's smile fades.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" He's cut off by his brother's loud whispering.
"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties" Dwalin grumbles.
"What's your hurry?" The man asks.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin asks and Reika rolls her eyes.
"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands" the man says bluntly.
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills" Balin says before the man turns to Reika.
"I'm but a barrel merchant from Mirkwood…lost my balance and fell into the river" Reika smiles, Fili grinning beside her. Not breaking her smile, she subtly, but firmly steps on Fili's foot. "The Dwarves assisted me with moving the barrels down here" she explains.
"Simple merchants, you say?" The bowman asks.
"We'll need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asks as the bowman looks at the barrels, noticing the various nicks and dents sustained in the fight.
"Your friend's lie is convincing…she has Elf's ears and I know the barrels come from where she says she's from" the bowman says thoughtfully as Reika resists the urge to frown.
"What of it?" Thorin asks.
"I don't know what business you had with the Elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil" he admits as he boards the barge and tosses the rope to Balin.
"Offer him more" Thorin mouths to him.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen" Balin suggests and the other nods.
"Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler" the bowman points out.
"For which we will pay double" Balin says, and the other regards him with a suspicious expression.
Reika stands off to one side, speaking with the man known as Bard. The rest of the Dwarves are milling around, some sat down essentially twiddling their thumbs whilst they wait. The fog has set in now and some ice can be seen around the barge.
"You are fortunate that you look Elven and are carrying a sword of Mirkwood. It will help with any ruse that we need to concoct should anything go wrong" Bard admits as Reika grimaces down at said sword. Still very much angry Elrond's gifts had been taken from her.
"I wish I didn't have to carry this particular sword" Reika grumbles.
"Where are you from? I've never seen you in Laketown, but your accent suggests you were born there"
"I was once a denizen of the far away nation of England. Fate brought me to the protection of the North and then later Rivendell with my nephew and sister in law…I suppose you could say Rivendell is my home" Reika admits quietly.
"I have never heard of a nation known as England…must truly be far away" Bard muses as Reika smiles slightly in amusement.
"You could say that. My apologies for raising my blade against you" Reika apologizes, leaning against the side of the railing.
"You were defending your friends, it's understandable" Bard reassures.
"Watch out!" Bofur shouts when large rocks come into view, which upon closer inspection are actually ruins.
"What are you trying to do, down us?" Thorin asks irritably.
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here" Bard answers.
"Oh I have had enough of this lippy Lake man. I say we throw over the side and be done with it" Dwalin says and Bilbo turns to him angrily.
"Oh, Bard…his name's Bard" Bilbo scolds.
"How do you know?" Bofur asks.
"I asked him" Bilbo says as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"I don't care what he calls himself. I don't like him" Dwalin says to Thorin.
"We do not have to like him; we simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets" Balin orders and Reika takes out two small pouches of gold, handing them to the bargeman.
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin quietly asks Thorin.
"We don't" Thorin answers.
"There's, um, just a problem: we're ten coins short" Balin says and Thorin instantly turns to Gloin with a slight smile.
"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have" Thorin encourages.
"Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-" He stops talking when they all turn to look up at the Lonely Mountain appearing through the thinning fog.
"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it" Gloin says, instantly throwing a sack of coins into the middle of the pile before Bilbo coughs as the Bargeman approaches them.
"The money, quick, give it to me" Bard says hurriedly.
"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before" Thorin says.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead" Bard explains.
They turn and spot many rooftops in the distance, no doubt belonging to Laketown. The group comes to a stop just outside of the city at a dock.
Bard hops off and speaks to a man whilst the Dwarves went back into hiding. Reika keeping an eye out.
Reika can't hear what was said but she began to grow nervous when she notices Bard pointing at them and shaking hands. With a sinking feeling, she feels as though they are been sold out and her hand itches to draw the sword at her hip. That feeling disperses when she spots fish being pulled out, no doubt to go into barrels and she does her best to hide her amusement. Bard gets back on and they begin to move.
"I must say, even if we get caught, I will be caught highly amused" Reika whispers out, choking on her laughter.
"Quiet. We're approaching the toll gate" Bard says as they stop at the gate.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh it's you, Bard…and visitor" the gatekeeper turns to Reika who smiles.
"Morning, Percy" Bard says lightly.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asks.
"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home" Bard says, the Gatekeeper agreeing before turning to Reika.
"Escorting this batch personally?" Percy asks the woman.
"I needed to get out of the forest for a change" Reika smiles.
"Not so fast" A man steps out and plucks the papers out of Percy's hand. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?" He asks as he tosses the papers to the wind. "If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman" the man points out.
"That's none of your business" Bard says coldly.
"Wrong. It's the master's business, which makes it my business" the man says.
"You would risk the wrath of Thranduil, king of the Woodland Realm, by refusing these barrels?" Reika speaks up.
"As I said…Bard is not a fisherman" the man says as Reika wrinkles her nose at the look he's giving her.
"Oh come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat" Bard points out.
"These fish are illegal" Alfrid throws the fish that he is holding into the water, then he turns to the soldiers. "Empty the barrels over the side" he orders, the captain echoing the order, the soldiers obeying quickly. Needless to say both Reika and Bard are concerned.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce" Bard tries to appeal to Alfrid.
"That's not my problem" the other says callously.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?" Bard demands.
That works, as Alfrid raises his hands and stops the soldiers from emptying the barrels. It's just as well, as the barrel is holding one of the Dwarves.
"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard?" Alfrid sneers. "Protector of the common folk? You might have their favour now, Bargeman, but it won't last" he warns before walking away.
"Raise the gate!" Percy shouts. As they begin to sail through, Alfrid turns.
"The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember. We know where you live" Alfrid warns.
"It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives" Bard responds and Reika smiles at that. In Surrey everyone knew everyone regardless of reputation. Reika takes in the sight of the town, poor and ramshackle. She only hopes that these people would deal with whoever this wretched Master is. With some luck, things would go smoother.
The grin on Reika's face is wide as the Dwarves got out of the barrels. Not even Thorin's fierce glare is able to stop her visible amusement. They must have looked like quite the sight.
A Man, a elf like woman, thirteen Dwarves and a Hobbit all gathered on the docks, most of which now stank of fish and covered in slime.
"And just when I thought the Troll cave smelled bad" Reika grumbles, holding her nose.
"Embrace me, Reika…I'm cold." Fili mutters with a grin.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to freeze Fili, until you're clean you are not coming within spitting distance of me" Reika says as Bard gives the dock keeper a coin.
"You didn't see them; they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing" Bard says. "Follow me" the bargeman says to the Company. As they walk through the town, a boy approaches them.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched!" the boy explains urgently.
Following them, Reika is the only one who is able to accompany them to the house, what with her being thought of as an Elf of Mirkwood. To the rest of the citizens, she is here to speak with Bard about the future transportation of barrels from the Woodland Realm. As they head into the house, Bard comes back out to toss an apple to one of the people watching him.
"You can tell the Master that I'm done for the day" he calls out to the watchers.
"Da! Where have you been?" A young girl embraces Bard as an older daughter came out too.
"Father! There you are. I was worried" she says, before hugging him. Bard hands his bag to the oldest girl.
"Here's something to eat. Bain, get them in" Bard orders his son.
"I'll join you" Reika offers with a small smile. "This will be something for the history books" she giggles out.
The two head down some steps to the lower floor of the house which is open to the water. Looking around, Bain knocks the wall near the toilet three times and suddenly, Dwalin's head appears through the toilet, which is open to the water below. Reika does her best to withhold her laughter, but she ultimately fails.
"If either of you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off." The older Dwarf mutters before he raises the seat and began to pull himself out. Bain reaches out to help him, but Dwalin slaps his hand away.
"Get off" Dwalin growls.
"Up there" Bain points up the stairs and Dwalin heads up.
Reika could only stand by and watch as one by one, the company climbs out of the toilet, looking rather put out. Reika heads up and grabs several blankets with Tilda, handing them out to the cold Dwarves. Now that Fili is cleaner, Reika approaches the other and gently drapes the last one over the fair-haired Dwarf's shoulders.
"Got your laughs?" Fili asks with a small glare.
"I did…but now you have my last blanket" Reika giggles out, her breath visible.
"What about you?" Fili asks, noticing the others slightly trembling frame.
"I'm not the one who just went for a swim in frigid waters. Don't worry about me, Fili, I can handle a little bit of cold. My school was cold most of the year and so is the North where I patrolled before being assigned the route between Hobbiton and Rivendell" Reika reassures.
"Yes, but I doubt it was as cold as here" Fili says before opening the blanket. "You've two choices. You sit…or I drag you down and make you sit" Fili says with a mischievous grin and the other rolls her eyes before sitting, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders.
"Only because you asked so nicely" Reika says with a small huff.
"I have terrific manners if you must know" Fili teases.
"By Dwarven standards or by ordinary folk's standards?" Reika raises a brow and the other chuckles.
"Point taken" Fili agrees.
"You have a point about the cold here though" Reika mutters. "These poor buggers with their just barely standing houses must be all but immune to the common cold" she muses out loud.
"It was not always this way, Lady Potter" Thorin sits opposite to her for the moment. "There was a time where this town flourished just as much as Dale had. Esgaroth flourished on trade from Men, Dwarves and Elves. When Erebor was sacked and Dale destroyed, only the Elves were able to trade with the town…tales of raids from Smaug reached the Blue Mountains. Refugees from Dale would likely have stretched resources as well. It would explain this poor quality of life" Thorin says.
"Erebor had a far reaching influence" Reika says and the other nods.
"Indeed it did" Thorin says, standing up and moving to the window before looking shocked as he gazes out. "A Dwarvish Wind-Lance…" He whispers.
"You look like you've seen a ghost" Bilbo says, wrapped in a blanket with a hot drink in hand.
"He has. The last time we saw such weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came" Balin explains grimly, the others listening intently. "The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowmen to fire on the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made. His store was running low when Girion made his last stand" Balin finished his small tale. Only Fili understanding why Reika had gone so still at the tale. Knowing it's likely fear for her safety in her second form that has her holding her silence when she obviously has questions.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would be different" Thorin says quietly as Bard approaches him.
"You speak as if you were there" the Lake man notes.
"All Dwarves know the tale" Thorin replies dismissively.
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast" Bain speaks up and Dwalin chuckles humourlessly.
"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more" Dwalin says as Thorin strode up to Bard.
"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" He asks the man.
"Wait here" Bard says before heading downstairs. Fili, Kili, Thorin, Balin and Reika gather together then.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn" Thorin explains.
"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then" Balin points out.
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asks, looking a little pale much to the concern of the others, not that they speak up.
"Then this quest will have been for nothing" Fili says quietly.
"Have faith, gentlemen…we've gotten here. We're cold, some of us are soaked and reek of fish, but we are here" Reika reassures as Bard returns and puts the weapons on the table. They're not what they are expecting, more handmade than anything.
"I think I'll stick to my Mirkwood sword" Reika sighs. Fili and Kili knowing she's left unsaid her ancestors sword and her goblin made armor so she doesn't upset their uncle. Balin catches it too if the slight smile he gives her is any indication.
"What is this?" Thorin asks, looking at one of them.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon" Bard explains as Kili picks up another.
"And this?" Kili asks.
"A crow bill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none" Bard explains.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes" Gloin explains.
"It's a joke!" Bofur exclaims as they threw their weapons down.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key" Bard explains.
"Thorin" Balin calls in warning and Bard looks up. Recognition of that name flashes in his eyes, a fact that doesn't go ignored by Reika. She files that little fact in the back of her mind for the time being. "Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now" he pleads with the king.
"You're not going anywhere" Bard says firmly.
"What did you say?!" Dwalin snaps.
"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall" Bard warns the group.
Hearing this, the Company settles down. Reika watches in concern as Kili practically slides to a seat on the couch, checking the wound on his leg.
Making sure no one is looking, Reika walks up to the other and kneels down in front of him, earning an exasperated sigh but also a smile from the younger prince.
"You really do worry" Kili says quietly and the other smiles.
"Doctors take an oath in my world. They swear to do everything they can for the sick and wounded. I was never a doctor obviously…but my mother wanted to be or so I was told…anyways it's an oath not for work but as something of a code to live by" Reika says quietly
"She sounds like a remarkable woman" Kili offers as Reika smiles faintly.
"She was so I was told…let me see, I will be discreet" Reika offers.
"Alright" Kili winces as she pulls back the makeshift bandage. The wound is still bleeding slightly and though Kili is pale, the skin around the wound is paler still. Startlingly, the blood is even darker than before. Her potions and the bezoar obviously not having done enough to her dismay.
"Kili you should not travel like this" Reika warns softly, understanding that this is his ancestral home. "I know how important this is to you, but there is something about this wound that is causing me no end of concern" she gently touches the area just outside, the other hissing in pain before relaxing. "Sorry" she whispers, looking up worriedly.
"Whatever it is you're doing is easing the pain" Kili says.
"I only touched it" Reika points out.
"Then you quite literally have magic hands" Kili chuckles, pulling a weak laugh from the inu. "I see what you see…I see the dark blood and though it pains me, I am determined to make it there. I did not come this far to stop now" he warns as Reika nods, swallowing her distressed whine.
"And no matter what I say, you'll keep going" Reika sighs. "The stubbornness of Dwarves" she grumbles.
"You should be used to it by now, Reika" Kili chuckles.
"Yeah I should" Reika whispers as she sits beside him after replacing the bandages with a clean set that's tied off properly knowing every little thing would help at this point knowing how impatient the rest of the company were.
Said Impatience having the Dwarves taking their leave then and there.
Despite the efforts of Bain, he is unable to stop them and Reika follows, offering her thanks to them as well as her apologies. Sneaking through the quiet town, they eventually make it to the armoury, several of the stronger Dwarves forming a pyramid to the second store. Thorin points to Nori, who runs up the pyramid and dives in, followed by Bilbo and then Reika.
"Sorry" Reika whispers, before running up them and diving in, finding several of them with weapons already.
"Are you alright?" Thorin asks Kili, noticing he is struggling.
"I can manage. Let's just get out of here" Kili says.
Thorin looks at Kili, then lays another sword on the pile Kili is holding. Kili begins walking down the stairs, but his wounded leg gives way and he falls with a cry. The weapons make a terrible clanging noise before Reika can throw a silencing spell, and the dwarves both inside and outside look around warily. In the distance, the watchmen cry out, and running footsteps approach.
"Run!" Thorin barks.
Those inside grab weapons and draw them, Reika pulling her Elven sword from her belt. Despite this, several guards enter, weapons pointed at them and they drop them when they hear that the others are caught.
"Bugger" Reika says with an exasperated sigh, putting her hands up.
Dragged in front of a large mansion, no doubt belonging to the Master, the Dwarves, Reika and Bilbo are all arranged in front of it. The Master steps out then, a portly man with thinning hair and one of the worst comb-overs Reika has ever seen in her life. The guards are rightly feared, but this man? She's seen much worse both on Earth and on Middle Earth.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Master asks as he puts his coat on.
"We caught them stealing weapons, sire" Braga, the commander says before gesturing to Reika. "And this woodland fairy was already armed" he adds on.
"I'm sure the King of the Woodland Realm would have much to say about this" The Master says and Reika rolls her eyes.
"Were I of the Woodland Realm, your words would hold more clout. But alas, I'm not of Mirkwood, so that particular threat is meaningless" Reika shrugs, flashing her teeth in a weak imitation of a pleasant smile.
"I saw her at the docks earlier…if she's not of Mirkwood she's with this lot. This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire" Alfrid speaks up and Dwalin looks rather insulted.
"Hold your tongue. You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" Dwalin announces, earning murmurs of amazement as people gathered around stop to look.
"We are the Dwarves of Erebor" Thorin steps up. "We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North. I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" He gives an impassioned speech, earning cheers from the crowds. Reika smiles. No wonder these Dwarves follow him so easily.
"Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all" Bard appears then and steps out of the crowd.
"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" Thorin says, earning more cheers.
"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard demands and Reika notices the others have grown quiet. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!" This spurs the others to shout negatively. "And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so driven by greed he could not see beyond his own desire!" he points out as Bard and Thorin look at one another angrily.
Reika has no clue as to what has spurred Bard to speak out against them. The dragon is a threat that much is true, but they had come to find a way to get rid of the blasted thing. This would mean the end of suffering for the region and Bard is willingly trying to get people to give it up. It is at this point that the Master steps up.
"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" The Master reminds the crowd as Reika swallows a noise of surprise.
"You're a descendant to him?" Reika asks in shock whilst Bard looks away.
"It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark" Alfrid speaks up, confirming the tale Balin had told earlier. Despite the anger, Bard approaches Thorin.
"You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!" Bard says.
"I have the only right" Thorin says, before turning to face the Master.
"I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?" Thorin asks the crowd.
"I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master welcomes as the crowd cheers. Reika the only one to notice Bard's unhappiness at the master's actions.
The next day, Reika manages to take a moment and dig out her goblin made armor and put all of it on, digging out the sword of Gryffindor and her sturdiest pair of dragon skin boots. Picking out a longbow with a fairly large quiver from the armory, she would attach her sword's sheath to her obi.
"You sure you don't want heavier armour? We're going up against a dragon" Fili points out.
"If it comes to outrunning the damn thing, I'm going to want speed on my side. Anything heavier than this will just weigh me down…especially if I have to shift into our last resort" Reika looks down at the bow. "I miss my own bow…my old swords…If I can, I will return this sword to Mirkwood" she sighs as Fili looks at the blade. "I took it from a dead guard during our escape…I don't know if it is custom for them to bury their dead with their weapons or if they are passed down…that's why I want to return it" she explains.
"You serve as that guard's revenge. You have killed Orcs that took part in the attack…lets hope you don't have to use your last resort" Fili says with a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I hope so; we should go otherwise Thorin might leave us behind" Reika encourages.
Leaving the armoury fully equipped, the Company make their way to the pier where a boat is waiting. Bilbo looks around for a moment and notices that they are in fact missing someone.
"You do know we're one short; where's Bofur?" He asks.
"If he's not here, we leave him behind." Thorin says bluntly confirming Reika's words.
"We have to if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays" Balin says as they make it to the boat. Just as Kili is about to get into the boat Thorin stops him.
"Not you. We must travel with speed. You will slow us down" Thorin says and Kili smiles, thinking it's a joke.
"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you" Kili laughs off.
"No" Thorin says. Fili and Reika, already in the boat turn to look at the two.
"I'm going to be there when that door is opened, when we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin" Kili says passionately.
"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed" Thorin lays his hand on Kili's shoulder and smiles at him, but Kili looks shocked and betrayed. Thorin turns to board the boat. Kili turns away. Oin gets out of the boat.
"I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded" Oin says.
"Perhaps I can be of some help" Reika says, joining Oin as Fili spoke with Thorin.
Despite Kili's protests, Oin examines the wound whilst Reika presses a gentle hand to his forehead, feeling the high temperature Kili has. Whether it's an infection or whatever the arrow was laced with or even a combination of both. Kili seems to calm a little, given that Reika's hand is cold and did wonders against his skin.
"Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the Company" Thorin argues.
"I belong with my brother" Fili says firmly.
The small splinter group are joined by Bofur and they watch as the rest of them head off to the mountain. Kili moans in pain and begins to collapse, his brother catching him as both Oin and Reika move closer to examine him.
"Kili? Kili!" The elder of the two shouts in concern.
"We have to get him inside so we can treat him" Oin says.
"He's not going to like this" Reika sighs, before leading the group to a particular house. Bard opens the door when it's knocked on.
"No. I'm done with Dwarves and Elves. Go away" Bard tries to slam the door but Bofur stops it with his foot.
"No no no! No one will help us; Kili's sick. He's very sick" Bofur explains, Bard looking at the now visibly ill Dwarf, hesitating.
"Please" Reika pleads as Bard relents to her, having noted she'd been reserved in the celebrations the night before.
Gently moving Kili to a bed, Reika keeps a cold hand on the others forehead, bringing the other some small measure of relief at least. The others bustle about, looking for things that could help. Oin pulls back the bandage and notices that the blood is even darker still, much to his concern and Reika looks even more worried.
"I gave him a couple things that usually works with treating poisons…what the bloody hell did they lace those arrows with?" Reika demands.
"A vile toxin, it works slow; it's better to be killed by the arrow rather than the poison" Oin says grimly as the other Dwarf moans in pain.
"The fever is a sign he's fighting it, but it's a futile fight at that" Oin admits as Reika barely holds back a distressed whine at his words. Focusing on what she could do for Kili.
"You won't object to me cooling him down then?" Reika asks.
"If it'd give the lad some sort of relief" Oin says.
"Right, Fili, can you get me a cloth and some cold, clean water? Let's see if we can get you cooled down" Reika turns to Kili, smiling reassuringly.
"That oath better keep me going" Kili says, trying to joke and reassure Reika.
"I'm going to try, Kili" Reika says as Oin went off to find more supplies. Kili looks to Reika and smiled.
"So…you and my brother" he says, the other raising a brow.
"What about him?" Reika asks softly.
"Oh, come off it you pointy eared fool" Kili chuckles weakly. "I see the way you two are with one another…the glances you send one another's way…the cuddling in Mirkwood's dungeon…not to mention how close you two used to set up camp with one another. It's clear to me that you are besotted with my brother and he with you" he points out as Reika flushes red.
"He's a Dwarf and I am a hybrid" Reika points out in an argument she knows sounds weak even to her ears.
"Has that stopped me from falling for Tauriel?" Kili asks and Reika smiles widely. "You listened in…I know you did" he points out as Reika doesn't deny it.
"It was lovely to see…" Reika grins, winding up to tease him but is cut off by the prince.
"It was also lovely to see my brother smile when you kissed his jaw in the dungeon; the point I am making here, Reika, is this…tell him. This journey has been hard on all of us, you especially as you're not accustomed to this part of the world" Kili says as Reika wilts slightly at the reminder.
"Is such a relationship even possible in Middle-Earth?" Reika asks, her tone the weakest Kili has ever heard it, revealing just how much she wants to be with his brother but unsure if it would work.
"Middle-Earth has experienced many dark times, the people look for happiness where they can find it; if it is in the arms of a woman or another man, it does not matter. When you find that happiness…" He winces in pain for a moment. "You go for it. You make my brother happy…but most importantly, give yourself that happiness" he finishes as Reika breathes out shakily.
"Your uncle would have me chased out of the mountain" Reika points out, both knowing what she's talking about.
"Thorin may be against Elves and those connected with them…but he has come to care for you. He notices it as well. Think about what I have said and think about your feelings too" Kili reassures.
"When we get this bloody poison out of your system, I will" Reika relents, as Fili comes back and hands her the cloth. "Thank you, Fili" she smiles, unaware that Kili is watching with a weak smile.
"Do what you can" Fili reassures as he put a hand on her shoulder.
"I have every intention of doing so" Reika says as she rung the cloth out and presses it against Kili's forehead. Fili heads off and Reika notices the others grin, returning it with a small one of her own. "Oh be quiet and cool down" she sighs with a small pout.
Night was beginning to fall and despite Reika's apparent healing touch, Kili's condition continues to worsen, the other writhing on the bed and moaning in pain. Oin and the inu tend to him as Bofur got hot water for them to use, Fili standing nearby and looking on in concern at his brother. The hat wearing Dwarf returns with the hot water, Oin putting it to use.
"Can you not do something?" Fili asks in distress.
"I need herbs, something to bring down his fever" Oin explains as Bard went through his medicine.
"I have nightshade, feverfew" Bard mutters and the other shakes his head.
"They're no use to me. Do you have any Kingsfoil?" Oin asks and Bard shook his head.
"No, it's a weed, we feed it to the pigs" Bard explains whilst Reika presses another cold cloth to Kili's burning forehead, not that it is having that much of an effect anymore.
"Pigs? Weed? Right" Bofur gets up and points to Kili. "Don't move" he says before dashing out of the house as the other two continue trying to relieve the pain. Reika takes another look at the wound and tries to hide her concern as she notices the blood is darker.
"Kingsfoil?" She asks Oin.
"Known to treat the foulest of conditions, its healing properties have since been forgotten by all but a few" the Dwarf explains. "It should treat this poison" he admits as Reika breathes out shakily.
"You're certain?" Fili asks hopefully.
"More than certain, lad…until Bofur returns, we'll just have to buy him some time" Oin explains as Reika nods, silently praying for Bofur's speedy return.
Despite their attempts to make the other comfortable, they aren't faring particularly well. Kili is still in pain, his fever still present and nothing that Oin and Reika try has any effect. Whilst he stopped writhing, he is still panting in pain. The quiet of the house is broken by slight but noticeable shudders. Shudders Reika recognizes.
"Please let me be wrong" Reika whispers looking up to Fili as the prince realizes what they've felt.
"No..." Fili whispers in horror.
"Da?" Sigrid calls.
"It's coming from the mountain" Bain says as Fili approaches Bard.
"You should leave us. Take your children; get out of here" Fili practically orders and the other shakes his head.
"And go where? There is nowhere to go" Bard points out.
"Are we going to die, Da?" Tilda asks, scared as Reika looks up to the mountain, fear in her eyes.
"No, darling" Bard says reassuringly but she doesn't look entirely convinced, Bard looking around at his children in concern.
"The dragon, it's going to kill us" Tilda whispers as Reika turns when she hears Bard move and he pulls down an arrow. Black and made of metal, Reika and the others look on in surprise. It's one of the arrows that Balin spoke of. Reika allows herself some hope then, for they had a Black Arrow as well as a Wind-Lance. They had a chance even if the arrow itself made her want to curl up into a defensive ball.
"Not if I kill it first" Bard says as he turns to Fili and Reika. "Watch over my daughters" he says.
"We'll see to it that they do not come to harm. I promise" Fili says and Reika nods.
"You have our word" Reika promises as the other left with Bain and the arrow. Reika passes her sword to Fili. "Let's hope you don't have to make use of it" she says, moving her bow and arrows close by.
"How is he?" Fili asks, standing beside her.
"I'd say resting, but it's a rather restless sleep." Oin says, examining Kili.
"The sooner Bofur gets back with that herb, the better…I can only hope that the others find a way to stop that beast" Reika says and Fili nods.
"You once told us that there had to be a way" Fili reminds her of that conversation from so long ago.
"There's always a way to do things…you just have to find it. Just as there is a way to heal your brother" Reika says, gently cleaning the site of the wound as much as she could without disturbing the other. "The next time I see an Orc archer it's going to wish it never fired a bow in its life" she snarls in quiet anger.
"Get in line, Reika" Fili says, hand resting on the others wrist. "I appreciate everything you've done for him; if the time comes…I want you to go. I want you to take Bard's children and get out of here. I won't lose you to dragon fire" he orders as Reika resists the urge to flinch.
"Like bloody hell. I'm not going to leave you and Kili" Reika says firmly.
"Reika…" Fili says.
"Īe, Fili" She cuts off in Japanese. "I'd get the children away from here but then I would be coming right back on dragon's wings. I'm not about to abandon the most important people in my life. Don't even ask me to do so" she says and Fili sighs and gave a slight smile.
"The stubbornness of Rangers" Fili sighs as Reika shook her head.
"No this is the stubbornness of an inu yōkai" Reika smiles back.
"Where is Bofur with that damned herb" Oin mutters as Sigrid looks out of the window after hearing some footfalls outside.
"Da? Is that you, Da?" Sigrid asks just as a slight noise can be heard on the roof. The Dwarves and Reika look up just as Sigrid walked back into the room when an Orc suddenly drops down from the roof and onto the balcony outside. Screaming, she surges forward and attempts to slam the door shut but the creature stops it with his sword.
"Sigrid, get down!" Reika barks, aiming her bow. The girl ducks and Reika looses the arrow, nailing the Orc in his head. Reika goes to fire another arrow at another Orc that strides in but said being takes action, throwing a blade at Reika. Dodging, but dropping her bow, Reika swore quietly when the creature breaks the bow, forcing her to retreat. Oin grabs a stack of plates and started lobbing them at the invaders. Sigrid, attacked by another one, slides under the table and pulls the bench close like a shield. A third Orc falls through the roof whilst Tilda throws a plate before being pulled down by her sister.
"Get down!" Sigrid shouts.
The fight quickly devolves into desperate grappling on Reika and Fili's part with several Orcs now in the house. Catching the wrist of one that is about to stab her, Reika does her best to keep the blade from her throat. Suddenly, the pressure is relieved and the Orc slumps on top of her, dead. She looks up to see Tauriel and Legolas making short work of the attackers, Kili even working with Tauriel to kill one before hitting the floor in pain, howling in renewed agony much to the concern of the others. When all of the Orcs are dead, Bain, having been forced to the floor by Fili to keep him safe, stood up and looks at Tauriel in amazement.
"You killed them all" Bain says in awe.
"There are others. Tauriel, come" Legolas says firmly. Tauriel looked up from Kili, who is being tended to by Oin and Reika.
"He's getting worse" Reika breathes out in quiet horror.
"Not just worse, we're losing him!" The Dwarf mutters as Fili kneels beside them both, looking panicked.
"Tauriel" Legolas calls again. Knowing that she isn't going to follow, he heads out and carries on his pursuit of the Orcs. Bofur returns suddenly, clutching a herb in his hand and Tauriel looks at it almost in reverence as she takes it from him.
"Athelas" Tauriel whispers, still looking at it. "Athelas" she says again, hope in her voice.
"What are you doing?" Bofur asks in confusion before she looks up with a smile.
"I'm going to save him" the she elf announces and Fili seems to sag in relief ever so slightly. "I need water" she says and Tilda instantly went to retrieve some, holding the tub up for her. "Get him onto the table" she commands as Oin, Fili and Bofur pick up the injured prince and put him on the table whilst Tauriel tore the Kingsfoil up in the water. Reika moves to hold down one of his legs as the other starts to thrash more in pain.
The elven captain looks at the wound, seeing how black and festered it has become, sharing a glance of worry with Reika.
"Hold him down" Tauriel orders, the other Dwarves doing their best. Tauriel closes her eyes then and begins to chant in Elvish as she presses the soaked Kingsfoil to the wound. "Menno o nin na hon i eliad annen annin, hon leitho o ngurth" she chants aloud.
Feeling the herb in the wound, Kili screams in pain and begins to thrash even more, Sigrid joining the Dwarves and Reika in holding him down, calling for her sister as well. Oin and Fili both looking at her in amazement as Tauriel continues her chanting, all of them noting that whatever it is that she is doing is working. Kili begins to calm down and look at the woman with amazement, her chants continuing.
Not long after, Tauriel binds the wound with a clean cloth. Reika watches over them with her sword in hand whilst Oin and Fili clean the pot that was used, still watching with wonder as they watch the Dwarf that was screaming in agony earlier looking more at ease than ever. Colour beginning to return to his cheeks somewhat.
"I've heard tell of the wonders of Elvish medicine. That, coupled with your apparent healing touch, was a privilege to witness" Oin says, Reika's mind wondering about the apparent ability.
"Healing touch?" Fili asks.
"You never noticed" Oin says. "She simply put a hand on his feverish skin and the lad began to calm" he explains as Reika stares at her hands in confusion.
"Reika, you never said anything" Fili says.
"My hands were cold, he was feverish, I thought he was just feeling relief from that" Reika whispers shakily.
"Relief from the fever perhaps, but you relieved his pain Lady Potter" Oin says. "Whatever force brought you to Middle-Earth blessed you with more than just immortality" The older Dwarf says and he looks down in thought. "I imagine that power when combined with healing herbs, will heal a person quickly" he muses thoughtfully as Reika swallows hard.
"I'll speak with Lord Elrond about it upon my return to Rivendell" Reika says quietly.
"You would return to Rivendell?" Fili asks.
"I promised my nephew I would and there's a few things I left with him and my brother's wife. A picture of my parents and a drawing my brother and I had done of us all together on their wedding day" Reika says fondly and Fili smiles. "I would look upon the grandeur of Erebor restored but I'd also like to look at those pictures again" she admits.
"Well, I'd rather you did not travel without someone to watch you as well; I will travel with you" Fili says as Reika frowns.
"Fili you should be at Erebor with your people" Reika points out.
"Like I said, I would rather you did not travel alone. I know you can fight; I've seen you fight many times. I would just like to travel with you and watch your back" Fili says. "We'll see Erebor before we leave and when we return, I imagine that my people will have restored the true beauty of the Lonely Mountain by the time we do return" he points out.
"You are confident that I will return" Reika notices with a smile.
"You agreed to go on an adventure with a wizard and when told the objective of the quest, despite your hesitance and the fact that you did not know us, you chose to help us. Such a selfless act from not just a Ranger, but from someone who is new to this world should be rewarded with all the fruits of our success. Thorin would see that you return to experience the true hospitality of our people. And I would like to walk those halls with you" Fili says as Reika sighs in amusement, knowing in her heart this is a losing battle.
"I did promise that we would when we were in Rivendell" Reika smiles and feels the other take her hand.
"You did and you strike me as the kind of person who would never break a promise" Fili smiles, running his thumb over the words carved into her hand.
"I wouldn't" Reika agrees with a small laugh, hand closing over the others.
"Good" Fili says, kissing the others hand softly. Just then, a loud sound can be heard in the distance.
Heading out onto the balcony, the group all looks up at the Lonely Mountain. What was dark, with no signs of life has changed. A warm light is glowing by the entrance, and a loud roar echoes in the wind.
Suddenly, the gravity of the situation hits them and Reika's legs give out in despair, thoughts of the worse going through her mind. Smaug is loose.
And if he is loose, that meant he had come across the others and bested them before they could stop him. She feels Fili's strong hand on her shoulder as they continue to gaze up at the light.
"He is loose" Reika whispers fearfully.
"And he is angry" Fili adds. "Laketown will be no more before this night is finished" he finishes as Reika swallows hard, both knowing what she would need to do before the night is done if Bard is to succeed or fail.
Reika watches as Smaug flew over the town, both impressive and terrifying to her as she heads back inside. The others are gathering what they could to keep warm as well as a few essentials.
"We have no time. We must leave!" Tauriel says firmly as she walks back inside.
"Get him up" Bofur says to Fili in regards to the now mostly recovered Kili.
"Come on, brother" Fili says as he helps him to his feet. Reika slides her sword into it's sheathe across her back leaving quiver of arrows knowing they'll be useless but Bard might need the bow if the Wind Lance is destroyed.
"Come on, come on! Let's go!" Bofur urges as he assists Kili.
"I'm fine!" Kili insists. "I can walk" The younger of the two brothers says.
"As fast as you can" Tauriel said, before turning to Reika. "You may need this…" She grabbed a blade that she kept in her quiver, one he had only just noticed given the stress. She handed it to him and he gasped.
"Burūsuchīru" Reika whispers. "How? Why?" she asks.
"I was using it as a tool to detect Orcs" Tauriel explains as she gave Tilda her doll. "I shall return this" she takes the Mirkwood sword from her obi. "To the family of the guard this belonged to" she reassures as Reika nods gratefully.
"We're not leaving. Not without our father" Bain says determinedly.
"If you stay here, your sisters will die. Is that what your father would want?" Tauriel demands.
Heading downstairs and around to the back of the house, the group climbs into a boat that is waiting. Fixing the sword to her hip, Reika climbs into the boat, helping Sigrid and Tilda in whilst she watches the skies. The rest of the townsfolk have a similar idea and are already on their way out of the doomed city.
Smaug swoops down and gets even closer to the town, no doubt to inspire even more fear into the hearts of the others. Reika knowing what the glow in his chest signifies.
With a vicious roar, Smaug lets loose a jet of flame that covers a section of the town in no time, the people crying out in fear as their homes go up in flames. The drake flies off then, putting a fair bit of distance between himself and the town, his chest still glowing with fire. Reika resisting the urge to reach for her bow knowing there's nothing but her own claws and the black arrow that can do a thing against Smaug's hide. And she can't shift here otherwise she would just drown the people around her.
All of a sudden, a larger boat approaches them, the Master atop with treasures and gold piled high on it. Colliding with the boat, the others barely manage to stay inside as several bits of gold fall into the lake. Glaring at the Master, not that he notices it, the others manage to right themselves before continuing their flight.
The bell tower, which has been ringing ever since Smaug had broken free of the mountain, suddenly stops and the others look up. They notice Bard is up there, bow in hand, firing arrow after arrow at the beast.
Bain and the others look panicked then, knowing that he is only going to gain the dragon's attention.
"Da!" Bain says in a panic as Tilda cries out too. They watch as he fires another arrow. It hits the dragon but bounces off harmlessly.
"He hit it! He hit the dragon!" Kili says with hope.
"No" Tauriel mutters sadly.
"He did! He hit his mark; I saw!" Kili insists but Tauriel shakes her head.
"His arrows cannot pierce its hide…I fear nothing will" she says, the others looking grim. Bain has a sudden surge of determination, and just as they pass it, he grabs a hook that gets him back onto the dock, the others trying to stop him.
"What are you doing?!" Bofur exclaimed.
"Come back! Bain, come back!" Fili shouted.
"Leave him! We cannot go back…" Tauriel said, though it clearly pained her to do so. Sigrid and Tilda were in tears.
"Bain!" Tilda cried out.
Reika without jumps and follows the boy, ignoring the shouts of the princes to come back as she shifts mid jump and gains some ground. Scooping Bain onto her back once he takes her bow.
"Show me where the arrow is" Reika barks as Bain squeaks and points out the directions, asking how she'd shifted as they went.
"I'm hybrid of peoples that long left Middle Earth, the precursors to the skin changers are what Beorn called my maternal ancestors when I asked and that is how I'm a large dog and the mage part is how I'm going to help your father beat the old furnace with wings" Reika promises as Bain nods and climbs down to grab the arrow once she stops above the boat.
"Go get that to your father…I'm going to go and do something stupid" Reika breathes out as Bain nods shakily and runs off to the bell tower.
Once Bain is out of sight Reika would climb onto the closest roof and jump into the air, shifting mid twist and let a loud snarling roar of challenge, catching everyone's attention as a smaller white dragon joins into Smaug's larger frame in the sky. Letting lose a jet of blue flames to ward Smaug off as she perches over Bard.
"Who are you that would stand against me?" The dragon asks, facing Bard and Reika.
Bard goes to pick up his bow, but much to everyone's horror, the bow is in fact broken.
"Now that is a pity" Smaug taunts and Reika snarls and launches herself at him. Catching the dragon by surprise and forcing Smaug onto the defensive. Though her advantage wouldn't last long as Smaug uses his larger size to pin her down onto the burning buildings before the bell tower. Ignoring Reika's claws as she tried to claw her way free.
"Now you just stay down…What will you do now, Bowman? You are forsaken. No more help will come" The dragon taunts once more as Reika weakly snarls beneath his feet. They all spot Bain and Smaug looks particularly interested then. "Is that your son?" He asks, curious. "You cannot save him from the fire! He will burn!" Smaug continues to taunt them. Growling when Reika brought her tail around and smacked the dragon across the chest, forcing him to let her go with an annoyed snarl.
Giving Bard the time to take the two broken pieces of his bow and jam them into the beams of the tower. He has Bain stand in the middle to act as a rest for the arrow.
"Tell me, wretches - How now shall you challenge me?!" Smaug asks as he rears up to fly towards them. "You have nothing left, but your DEATH!" Smaug bellows, flying towards the two and giving Reika her opening as she launches forward and holds Smaug in place. Bard having Bain move ever so slightly and after what feels like an eternity, he lets the arrow fly. All watch as the black metal embeds in the male dragon's chest.
"He did it, he hit his mark" Fili whispers in shock.
Watching as Reika drags Smaug into the tower and through several buildings. Flying upwards, Smaug would make several noises of pain as he flew high into the sky before Reika broke his neck and dragged his body to fall down into the middle of the open lake, never to rise again. Reika shakily rising from the freezing waters and letting loose a loud roar of triumph that is heard by everyone from miles around.
"The dragon is dead" Fili whispers, watching anxiously as Reika stumbles back into the water and weakly come up in her dog form. Beginning the long swim to the other side of the lake and towards the Lonely Mountain.
"If we don't get away from this slowly collapsing inferno, we will be too" Tauriel says. "Follow the rest of the survivors" she encourages.
Reaching the shore with the rest of the boats, survivors and debris poured onto the beach. People cry out for their loss, some yelling for their loved ones amongst the crowds and Reika wastes no time in jumping back into the water to help as many injured out and onto the beach once she reaches the shore. Fili and Kili assisting her for some time as well after helping her wrap up the worst of her injuries, pulling several survivors out of the freezing cold. Grabbing several blankets that had been loaded into their boat, she wraps up a small group they had been assisting.
"You look a little overwhelmed" Fili says when he notices Reika looking around.
"I'll be fine" Reika says breathlessly.
"We need to head to Erebor, Thorin is expecting us" Fili says and Reika shakes her head.
"My place is with the survivors for now, I feel responsible for them" Reika says, looking to the group she has been helping. "Fili, don't fight me on this" she says when the other goes to protest. "I'll join up with you later" she reassures.
"When I can, I will find you, do what you can for these people…we owe them" Fili says, heading off with the other Dwarves.
"Fili" Reika calls and the other comes back immediately as Reika meets his gaze. "Be safe" she says leaning forward and gently presses a kiss to his cheek before pulling back. Reika surprised when the fair haired Dwarf puts a hand on her cheek and leans forward, rough lips capturing hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. Pulling back with a smile that is a mix of cheekiness and happiness, Reika smiles back brilliantly.
"You be safe as well" Fili strokes her cheek gently. "I will see you in Erebor" he promises as Reika nods.
"Okay" Reika breathes out as the other heads off to join the rest of the Dwarves in the boat.
Tearing her thoughts away from her Dwarf, Reika heads back into the water with several of the men and began to pull people from the water whilst searching for any dry blankets as well as supplies.
Heading back to the shore with the rest, she starts to distribute some of the blankets to those who are soaking wet and no doubt freezing. It is then that she encounters the deputy. Alfrid if she's remembering correctly..
"I'll take one of those" the deputy goes to take a blanket from her.
"I don't bloody think so. There are others who need these more than you" Reika snaps and hands another one out to a shivering family.
"You brought that calamity upon us! You and your Dwarves!" Alfrid points out as Reika turns on him with a small snarl on her face.
"I'm well aware of that fact! Which is why I am trying to help. Here, get those little ones wrapped up" Reika says as she hands a blanket to a father who takes it with thanks. Alfrid gets a little bit forceful then and she draws Burūsuchīru. "I don't care what position you held before, but if you ever touch me again, I'll run you through. There are women, children, injured and sick people who need these. I suggest you move on" She promises darkly as the other backs off, hands held up.
Things begin to settle down as several people got some fires going and set up ramshackle camps all along the shore. A woman is handing out some of the only remaining blankets to the survivors when Alfrid starts to follow her.
"These are dry. You need them" she says and a man thanks her.
"Oi! Give me one of them! I'll catch my death in this cold!" Alfrid shouts.
"Oh, find your own!" She shouts back. "You're not in charge now, Alfrid Lickspittle!" she points out sharply.
"That is where you are wrong - In absence of the Master, the power cedes to his deputy, which in this instance is my good self. Now give me that blanket!" He reaches and grabs it before trying to pull it from her hands but she manages to get it back before hitting him with it.
"Master's deputy! Don't make me laugh! You're a sneak-thief, more like. I'll be dead, before I answer to the likes of you!" She says and he grabs her. Reika surges forward to help as Alfrid rose his hand to strike her.
"That can be arranged" Alfrid says, but before he can, his arm is grabbed by Bard.
"I wouldn't go turning on your own, Alfrid. Not now!" Bard spun him around and he fell over Bain's foot. Reika smiles in relief as the family is reunited and she approaches them.
"It's good to see you're alright, Bard" Reika says as Bain hugs her tightly in thanks.
"And you as well; thank you for watching over my children. Where are your Dwarven companions?" Bard asks.
"They've headed on to the Mountain after I urged them to go" Reika explains as Bard takes in her injuries for the first time. How some of the bandages are falling off from the constant to and frow from the freezing waters to reveal half healed gashes that are still bleeding in places.
"And you stayed?" Bard asks as Sigrid offers to rewrap some of her injuries.
"So that I could help" Reika nods as Percy steps out of the crowd then.
"It was Bard and Lady Potter! They killed the dragon! I saw it with my own eyes. They brought the beast down. He shot him dead, with a black arrow as she held the beast in place" At this, the people begin to cheer and put their hands on both Bard and Reika, all of them thanking them for the deed. It is then that Alfrid lifts Bard's arm.
"All hail to the Dragon slayer! All hail King Bard!" He shouts and said bargeman yanks his arm out of the others grip. "I have said it many times! This is a man of noble stock! A born leader!" he announces to all who would listen.
"Do not call me that. I am not the master of this town!" Bard looks around. "Where is he?! Where is the Master?!" He shouts.
"Halfway down the Anduin, with all our coin, I don't doubt. You would know!" The woman from before points at Alfrid who begins to protest, setting the people off. The more he protests, the angrier they seem to get; to the point that they grab hold of him and some rope, no doubt prepared to hang him.
"Enough! Let him go! Let him go!" Bard steps in and they let Alfrid drop to the ground. "Look around you! Have you not had your fill of death?!" he demands of the crowd.
"Aye…" Alfrid mutters as he got up only to fall again.
"Winter is upon us; we must look to our own, to the sick and the helpless. Those who can stand, tend to the wounded. And those who have strength left - follow me. We must salvage what we can" Bard says as he goes to walk through the crowd.
"What then? What do we do then?" The woman speaks up.
"We find shelter" Bard says and Reika follows him.
"Where do you need me?" Reika asks.
"I'm well aware of your ability to heal, given what I saw in my house…when we reach shelter, can you help with that?" Bard asks as Reika nods.
"Of course" Reika agrees.
"Tell me do you know if Thorin survived?" Bard asks her, feeling bad as she wilts at the question.
"I don't know…If he did survive the encounter with Smaug, I'm sure he will be happy to let you stay. I'm certain he will honour his word and give you the gold you need to rebuild" Reika reassures.
"Then my course is set" Bard says as Reika nods.
After conversing with Legolas, Bard has the rest of the survivors round up what they can. Grabbing any supplies she can shoulder Reika stays near Bard and his family as they begin the long trek up a very large hill. The bowman-turned-leader looks to Reika as she walks up the hill with little to no effort despite the amount of things she is carrying and her injuries.
"This climb does not bother you?" He asks and the other shakes her head.
"I suppose being an Elf will give you that…"
"I'm not an Elf, Bard. I'm a mage and a nature spirt. I have better endurance than most, but I tire eventually. My home for most the of year was a vast castle with so many stair ways…I'd climbed to the tallest towers at least a few times during the year before I left" Reika admits.
"How old are you, if you do not mind my asking?" Bard asks.
"67…I lost my parents very young and when the opportunity arose to walk where they walked I took it to make memories of my own and learn about them. I learned a few things about them both but not nearly enough but I vowed to explore the whole castle like my father did and I managed it the year before I left" Reika says a fond smile. "And I faced a worse climb over the Misty Mountains so this is simple for me" she adds on with a weak laugh in remembrance of the stone giants.
"I can imagine" Bard trails off into silence then.
"Bard, I owe you and your people a thousand apologies and then some for the calamity we brought upon your home" Reika says and the other shakes his head. "I had every intention of helping them in their mission Bard. I know it was not what you had wanted, you knew that there was a chance that the dragon would come" she points out as Bard stops her.
"Lady Potter, you helped save the lives of my children with revealing yourself the way you did and you have saved and cared for those who survived the attack. You have more than redeemed yourself in my eyes" Bard says firmly.
"I'll do whatever I can to help" Reika says.
"I am glad, we will need all the help that we can get with limited supplies and Winter upon us, it will be nothing short of difficult" Bard admits as Reika nods in agreement knowing it would be a challenge. That she would have to dip into her own stores if some of her patients are to survive in the days to come.
Following the climb, the survivors finally make it to a ruined city.
Reika quickly deduces that it's Dale based on the extensive burn marks across the ruins. They all look grimly at what is left of this place, including the bodies that litter the streets. Gathering the wounded into one big group, Reika leads several able bodied men in setting up something of a hospital in a section of the great hall.
"Percy, I need as much clean water as you can bring me; any healing herbs to help with these burns would be greatly appreciated" Reika explains as Percy nods.
"There may not be enough to treat all of them" The man points out as Reika nods.
"I'm well aware, any blankets will also be greatly appreciated. If only to make them a little more comfortable" Reika says as Bard walks in. Percy nods to him before heading out.
"Can you treat them?" Bard asks, kneeling beside the hybrid as she looks at some of the supplies she has to hand.
"I know some techniques to helping the wounded, but these are short term. If I can get my hands on plenty of supplies and some other healers, their chances will improve drastically. As it stands, I'm currently battling the cold and an increased chance of infection setting in. I will do what I can for them. If you know of anyone who has basic healing training, please bring them here" Reika explains knowing she couldn't use her magic as much as she wished since mundanes didn't heal as well under that influence as dwarves or other non human beings did.
"Of course, I thought I would also bring good news" Bard admits.
"I could kill for some good news" Reika says, standing up.
"The braziers by Erebor's gates are lit. The Company have survived" Bard says as Reika sniffs, eyes bright with relieved tears.
"Oh thank god" Reika sags in relief. "I wonder if they have anything preserved over there, anything that could help them" she says worriedly.
"It's been years since that mountain was inhabited" Bard shakes his head.
"We have to try Bard. If they have something, some kind of medicine, it could vastly improve their odds of survival" Reika points out.
"Alright but I will need you back here, you're a good healer and that touch of yours calms those who are injured, there's a road that links the city to Erebor…follow it. Be quick" Bard relents as Reika nods jerkily.
"Of course, I'll try not to take too long" Reika promises.
"Instructions for the healers?" Bard asks as Reika rattles off what he needs to pass on.
"Distribute the herbs as evenly as possible…I hate to say it, but they will need to be given to those who can be saved, tell them to use their judgement" Reika explains, looking sad and tired by the end of her instructions.
"Of course…" Bard agrees and lets her go.
The grand entrance of Erebor has Reika completely mesmerised as she hurries across the bridge. They definitely built to impress. The Elves had dominion over the great forests of the world, harmoniously living with nature. The Dwarves held dominion over the mountains, and though it needs some sort of modification, they too lived harmoniously with nature in their own way. She knew she would bring Estel to see this one day, that he would get to see this same marvel as she has.
"Thorin! Fili! Kili!" Reika calls out to them. "Anyone here?!" she shouts.
"For a mage, you have quite the set of lungs" A familiar voice says and she turns to see Kili.
"And for someone so close to death, you have recovered remarkably well" Reika smiles. "Well this is quite the city your people have built" she walks up to the other, who is stood on the battlements.
"It truly is something, isn't it?" Kili smiles wider. "Dwalin spotted you among the Laketown survivors. I was sent to fetch you" the raven-haired prince says.
"And you chose to stand on the battlements to make a grand introduction, very subtle. The others, did they make it?" Reika asks in concern as they walk down the battlements. Kili nods, putting her mind at ease.
"They're all safe, covered in soot, but nevertheless safe" Kili reassures.
"Thank God" Reika breathes out in relief.
"How are they? The survivors?" Kili asks.
"Bard is still alive, as is Bain. Truly, I wish I could stay here and help you and the others, but there are a lot of people that need help" Reika sighs sadly. "Several people have been burned…severely so. I and several other healers are doing what we can for them but there are very few supplies and herbs to work with" she admits tiredly.
"What are their chances?" Kili asks and the other looks grim.
"Before I left, I gave the order for the healers to use their judgement, save those who can be saved. I never thought I'd ever have to say that" she whispers, looking worn out and heartsick.
"I may be a Dwarfling in the eyes of Thorin and the others, but I do know that sometimes there are a few choices that need to be made; whether we want to make them or not. You were right to give that instruction" Kili reassures, hoping to alleviate some of Reika's stress.
"Thank you, Kili" Reika smiles sadly.
"Don't look so glum, I saw the kiss" The other grins then. "So you two made it official. It took you long enough!" he teases as Reika flushes.
"Okay, first. He kissed me, not the other way around and yes I do feel for him. The only hope is that Thorin accepts it" Reika whispers.
"Do I need to repeat what I said to you when I was suffering from that awful wound?" Kili demands.
"I suppose not…where are you leading me?" Reika asks.
"You shall see soon enough, my Ranger friend" Kili teases.
They walk through the many halls of the greatest city built by the Dwarves, talking about this and that. They pass by a floor made of pure gold then but judging by the slight ripples from their steps it still has yet to settle. Kili has to grin when she sees it. He hadn't been witness to what caused it, but he had been told the story.
"I am sure Thorin or one of the others can tell you what that was all about" Kili offers.
"Well if it was caused during their scuffle with the dragon, it's a nice touch to Erebor's grandeur" Reika muses softly.
"Indeed it is. It'll probably serve as a sort of memorial to the day that Smaug finally left" Kili says as they continue on their walk. He leads them deeper and deeper into the city. Eventually, they make it to a room which has a golden glow emanating from it. Kili gestures for her to go first with a small smile and she does so, eyes widening almost comically as she sees the gold. Mountains of gold for as far as the eye can see. Not even her advanced sight could see an end to it.
"Oh my…" Reika breathes out, taking a few stumbling steps forward in surprise.
"Pick a stone" Reika turns to see Fili smiling at her from the top of the steps.
"Why?" Reika asks in surprise.
"Just pick one" Fili chuckles.
"I was never one for jewels…when it comes to jewellery, I fell in love with obsidian since it matched my hair and were easier pieces to smuggle into my room when my aunt tried to throw them out…wonder what Luna did with those pieces now that I'm thinking about it" Reika muses to herself thoughtfully.
"I see…" Fili approaches her. "How are the people of Laketown?" he asks, bringing Reika from her thoughts.
"Strong, somewhat, but some of them are burned quite badly and we are desperately low on herbs and other essentials" Reika admits quietly.
"Balin might know if we have any long lasting medicine…how urgent is it?" Fili asks.
"I don't think some of them will make it through the night" Reika says quietly, arms curling around herself at the admittance. Letting herself be tugged into action as Fili and Kili quickly lead her away from the treasure room.
Fili and the other two running into a room, finding the rest of the Company there. They cheer when they see her and a couple of them clasp their arms with her. Thorin even spares a smile for her when he sees Reika, walking up to her Reika sits down for a moment.
"I'm glad to see you are safe, Lady Potter" Thorin says.
"You as well, Thorin, King Under the Mountain" Reika smiles widely.
"My thanks to you for doing all you could for Kili…I could never repay you for the risk that you took in staying" Thorin says.
"Kili is family to me…I would take that risk no matter what" Reika says firmly. At this, Thorin bows respectfully. "I'd love to stay and help you in your search, but I made a promise to the wounded of Laketown. Balin, Oin, is there a chance that any medicines could have survived? Ointments for burns? Anything?" she asks the older dwarves.
"I am truly sorry, lassie, even our best preserved goods are no good…how severe?" Balin asks as Reika wilts a little bit.
"I am not a professional healer…but between the cold, the shock and the likelihood of infection…I truly don't think that they will last much longer" Reika says quietly.
"Do you have herbs to use?" Oin asks.
"Some…not enough" Reika admits.
"Put them in water, crush them up…the water will have the effects. It'll be diluted, but it should help a little" the Dwarf advises as Reika nods in relief.
"Alright…I need to head back. Bard is expecting me back in Dale to assist the rest of the healers. If I can, I will come back and help you in your search for the Arkenstone" Reika promises.
"I will escort you to the gate…I would like to speak with you before you leave" Thorin says and the other nods.
"Fili is quite taken with you" Thorin says as they walk through the silent halls. Reika looks concerned, and though Thorin can't see her from her position behind, he does notice that the other stays silent for a long time.
"I'm sorry Thorin" Reika whispers out, prepared for the worst reaction instead of the one she gets.
"And why do you feel the need to be sorry?" Thorin asks curiously.
"I'm well aware of the animosity between Elves and Dwarves" Reika points out.
"Were you an Elf, I would be inclined to agree. However, you are unique in that you are not from this world. How did you put it? I tarred you with the same brush? and I was in fact wrong to do so. I am aware how Fili looks at you…how happy he is to be around you. My kinsmen may not agree with such a relationship…however, I would do anything for my nephew to be happy; whether it be in the reclamation of our home, or by letting Fili be with you" Thorin reassures as Reika sags in relief.
"Thank you, Thorin" Reika sniffs out in joy.
"Happiness is in short supply as of late in Middle-Earth…I would not begrudge you for finding it in a dark time" Thorin reassures.
Reaching the gate of Erebor, they both stop to look at the city of Dale in the distance. Reika can see smoke rising from some of the small fires they have lit to keep warm and Thorin finds it odd to see the city inhabited once more, even if it is still ruined. The hybrid to the King with a small smile.
"I shall be back as soon as possible" Reika promises and Thorin returns the smile.
"I trust that you will be safe, Lady Reika" Thorin says as Reika nods.
"And you, Thorin" Reika says quietly.
Leaving the mountain, Reika jogs along the path to return to Dale, finding the city to be quiet save for the crackle of fires and hushed chatter. Making her way to the Great Hall, she gathers the healers and any remaining herbs she can find. Her own stores having been bled dry.
Bard walks in as they're grinding them up before putting them in water and mixing them.
"Any luck?" The former bargeman asks. Reika noting he looked even more tired than before she left which told her that the people she'd been giving orders to had turned to Bard completely for direction.
"I'm afraid not…Oin recommended we put the remaining herbs in water. The effect won't be as potent, but it should help battle infection and allow them to heal naturally. We have plenty of rags to use" Reika explains as she continued to work.
"I suppose it's something" Bard says. "How can I help?" he asks.
"By getting some rest" Reika says firmly and the other raises a brow.
"Pardon?" Bard asks.
"Whether you like it or not, you are the leader of these people now. You're no good to them tired. You've had of an eventful evening and day, what with putting up my companions and I, killing a dragon and leading us here. You need to sleep" Reika says, voice firm with her order.
"And what of you?" Bard asks knowing Reika looks no better than he does, if not a little worse with the beating she took trying to fight Smaug head on like she had.
"With what I am rest is a luxury for me. I don't need it during times like this" Reika reassures with a soft smile, flashing her canine teeth in reminder that while she looks like a human she isn't one.
"Alright…if anything changes, you'll wake me, yes?" Bard asks as Reika nods instantly.
"Of course. Now, go sleep" Reika laughs lightly as the other leaves before turning to the other healers. "You as well…" she orders knowing the human healers needed it if their patients were to survive the coming days. She could get them through the night.
"Are you sure?" One of them, the woman who'd stood up to Alfrid before, asks.
"Yes, I'll finish preparing this and we can soak the rags in the morning. Go get some rest as well" Reika reassures, watching them go.
When she's done, she has two buckets worth of strange smelling water. Putting it to one side with the clean rags, she finds a window and sits on the sill, back propped up against the side, and finds she can see the Lonely Mountain from her perch.
To say that she is surprised to see the hole in the entrance has slowly been filled is an understatement. Thorin had been open to the idea of giving gold to Laketown and helping the people. What could have changed in so little time?
With these troubled thoughts, Reika watches the sun rise on another cold day.
Heading back into the little make shift hospital, she finds Percy heading out and a few of the healers already awake. Quietly, they all get to work, soaking rags in the herbal water and applying it to the burns. Reika noting that the burned gritted their teeth, relaxing only when they felt the curative effects at work. She has to give it to them, they're a hardy people to say the least considering she would have made some sort of noise had she been burned this badly as a human.
"Lady Potter" Percy walks in.
"Yes?" Reika asks in concern.
"Bard needs you outside" Percy admits as Reika nods.
"Alright. Can you take over? Wring it out and apply firmly to the wound" Reika instructs, the other taking over whilst she went out the front, her eyes widening.
Stood in front of her, in full armour and armed to the teeth is an army of Elves. The swords she recognises, for she had wielded one before the burning of Laketown.
This army is obviously from Mirkwood, though why they are here is anyone's guess. Reika turns to Bard who looks just as dumbfounded as she does, both of them walking towards the group. With unnerving synchronicity, the Elves part so they could walk down the middle.
"How did we miss them?" Reika growls knowing she should have scented them.
"Alfrid seems to have fallen asleep on the night watch" Bard admits as Reika growls in annoyance.
Walking down the middle of the Elves, Reika notices that every row they pass by closes up behind them. No sooner had they emerged from the bank of Elves, they are surprised once more to see a stag ride into view, the rider familiar to both the Man and inu.
"My lord Thranduil; we did not look to see you here" Bard says.
"I heard you needed aid" Thranduil admits as Reika wrinkles her nose in slight annoyance.
As soon as he says it, a wagon pulls up behind him and the Elves on board help to unload food and water for the people who cheer. Reika smiles slightly as the people finally manage to catch a break after so much hardship. Bard looks to the Elven king gratefully, but Reika notes that his expression is cold, colder than usual.
"You have saved us! I do not know how to thank you!" Bard says gratefully.
"Your gratitude is misplaced. I did not come on your behalf. I came to reclaim something of mine" the king explains before turning to Reika, the inu just barely hiding her reaction to his words. Know there's a time and place for such things. "Lord Elrond sent an envoy from Imladris bearing a gift for you" he says to Reika who makes a noise of surprise.
"A gift?" Reika asks and the King gestures to the back of the wagon.
Pulling back the soft cloth that had been wrapped around it, she is surprised to see a full set of long sleeved robes and pants similar in pattern to her current get up but in the cut of the Rivendell guard's robes in her size, an obvious gift to go with her goblin armor. A smile making her look more energetic she than she has in the last couple days when she sees her cloak, other sword, bow and the quiver that Fili and Kili had modified months ago now.
"A full set of robes though curiously no armor as worn by the guard of Rivendell. I had your bow brought with your arrows, sword and cloak" Thranduil explains, silently noting the armor the skin changer wore and that her appearance has changed in the time since breaking out of his dungeons.
"Did he say why he has sent such a gift?" Reika asks as she pulls the bundle towards herself.
"It arrived as I was due to leave. I did not think to ask" the king says. "My elves will assist you with it" he says before turning to his army and giving a command in the Elven language. They begin to march towards the gate, Thranduil leading them and leaving the two behind, but they immediately follow him.
"What belongs to him?" Bard asks as they head down. Having seen her reaction and knew Reika knew something.
"Gandalf told me that there are gems that used to belong to his late wife…gems that were taken by the Dwarves" Reika says as they reach the elven king.
"Wait! Please wait!" Bard stops by him. "You would go to war over a handful of gems?" he asks incredulously.
"The heirlooms of my people are not lightly forsaken" The king says coldly.
"We are allies in this. My people also have a claim upon the riches in that mountain! Let me speak with Thorin!" Bard demands.
"You would try to reason with the Dwarf?" Thranduil asks in cold amusement.
"To avoid war? Yes!" Bard says firmly.
"Perhaps speaking with you two is not advisable" Reika sighs, both turning to her. "I was once a member of their company. For all intents and purposes, I still am. I planned to return to Erebor when I was done here. Perhaps if he spoke with me, a friend, he'd be inclined to return the gems and give what is promised to the people of Laketown" she offers,
"Are you aware of what becomes of gold that has been brooded over by a dragon?" Thranduil asks.
"Yes, dragon sickness, but by all accounts, it took a long time before Thror succumbed to it. It's only been a couple of days since they reclaimed the mountain" Reika points out firmly.
"Do not underestimate the effects of the sickness. If you think you can negotiate with him, you are more than welcome to try. I should warn you, half-Breed…whatever friendship you held will matter little to someone who has succumbed to dragon sickness. All he will see is someone who is trying to steal from him" Thranduil warns as Reika resists the urge to snarl at his words.
"There are thirteen Dwarves and a Hobbit in that mountain. I highly doubt they will be prepared to go to war with so few" Reika says, trying to believe her own words with little success.
Thranduil and Bard insist she wore her armour as a precaution. Though she doubts it's really necessary, she pulls it all on, grateful for the feeling of her cloak once more and the weight of her weapons at her side again. Shifting she would trot up to the gate, now entirely closed up with a hastily built but nevertheless impressive stone wall.
"Thorin!" She calls and the King Under the Mountain looks down at her from the top of the wall.
"Lady Potter" Thorin says, before turning to someone. "Throw down a rope" he calls and Reika would shift and approach the wall where a rope waits for her. Grabbing on, she is pulled up by Bombur, Fili and Kili, who help her climb over so that she is standing by them, all of them taking in her new appearance. The princes grinning slightly when they see that she has the quiver they had modified for her.
"You look as though you are dressed for war" Thorin notes.
"A gift from Lord Elrond" Reika says with a small smile.
"And the army of Elves along the walls of Dale?" Thorin looks less impressed.
"They are under the command of Thranduil. I agreed to speak with you so that a peaceful resolution can be reached" Reika sighs, knowing from that look alone that things aren't going to go well.
"Resolution to what, exactly?" Thorin asks gruffly.
"Thranduil seeks the White Gems of Lasgalen" Reika says bluntly.
"Of course he does, and what do the people of Laketown want?" Thorin asks, voice oddly cold.
"Just enough gold that they can rebuild their lives" Reika explains. At this, Thorin scoffs. "And I don't blame them" she finishes.
"Excuse me?" Thorin looks insulted.
"We went to them, they gave us food, armour, weapons; Bard took us into his home, tried to help us care for Kili and how are they repaid? With destruction and death. I and several others have been treating them for hours; those that survive will be permanently scarred" Reika explains, sounding worn and tired even to her own ears. Thorin doesn't hear or see this to her dismay.
"Those who have survived dragon fire should celebrate their good fortune" Thorin points out.
"And what of their family members who have died?!" Reika snaps, finally losing what little control of her patience she has left from not sleeping for two days and little food. "What if they watched as their family is taken from them by fire?! I thought you would have understood how they felt, given what you and your people went through when Smaug took your home" she demands.
"You would do well to watch your tone." Thorin says, his tone quiet but deadly.
"Uncle…" Fili goes to step in.
"Your friend is little more than a thief, Fili…she is not welcome" Thorin says, before turning to Reika. "I suggest you go; before I throw you to your death" he warns as Reika's bright eyes met his own.
"Your greed will be the death of you, Thorin" Reika says, her voice watery and broken. "I won't stay to watch this. I can only hope you don't drag the others down with you" she admits as she took hold of the rope and climbs down. She shifts shape and begins to walk back when she hears an argument break out on the wall.
"And just where do you two think you're going?!" Thorin demands to someone up there.
"She's no thief!" Reika hears Fili's angered voice. "I'd say she's the more reasonable between the two of you. I'm going with her" the fair haired prince says.
"You'd forsake your kin for some sprite?!" Thorin demands angrily.
"If my kin are acting unlike themselves, then yes. I would. Uncle, you are my family and I love you dearly, but you are acting very much unlike yourself" Kili speaks up as well. "We're going over the wall" he says.
"Hopefully you will come to your senses" he finishes.
Reika watches as the two climb down the rope and stand by her side before looking up at Thorin sadly. Thorin looks nothing short of furious before silently turning his back on the two. Reika sighs as the three begin walking back to the city on foot, Kili and Fili looking utterly devastated.
"Why did you join me?" Reika asks quietly.
"He's taken leave of his senses" Fili says. "The Thorin we saw there is nothing more than a shell of his former self. He's no longer the gruff but kind-hearted uncle that we know. And for him to say what he said…" he trails off.
"But you've only known me for a several months, regardless of what he said, I still don't understand why you chose to side with me" Reika admits tiredly.
"Because even though you were sent here by Thranduil and Bard, you were still trying to help us. He gave you no loyalty despite all that you have done for us. You risked your life for Kili…risked your life to come on this journey even though you had no real reason to" Fili explains as Reika leans into his hand on her side; Her dog form reflecting just how thin and tired she is.
"I hope your uncle snaps out of it" is all Reika offers to say.
"You and me both" Fili sighs.
Soon, they reach the city gates, both Thranduil and Bard looking at the princes in surprise and the tired expression on Reika's canine face.
"He will give you nothing" Reika admits in tired shame.
"Such a pity" Thranduil says sarcastically. "Still, you tried" he relents in cruel amusement, ignoring the slight snarl on her face at said amusement.
"If you intend to attack the mountain, let us go with you…perhaps he'll see reason if he sees what he is facing" Fili says and Thranduil raises a brow.
"You would march out against your uncle?" Thranduil asks.
"Only to help him come back to his senses" Kili says and the other nods.
"We attack at dawn" Thranduil says before turning to Bard. "Are you with us?" he asks the man.
Heading back into the city, Fili and Kili go up to the wall, followed closely by Reika. With sad expressions, they look at the gate of Erebor and watch as they collapse one of the statues so they could break the bridge.
"Do you really think it will come to war?" Fili turns to Reika, the inu laying down to rest her head on the wall.
"I don't know. From what little I do know; dragon sickness is difficult to break. Your uncle's words are not his own, but that of the illness" Reika admits quietly.
"We couldn't stay and watch him like that" Fili admits sadly and the other nods.
"I know" Reika breathes out and lets the princes lean into her sides for comfort, tucking her head under Fili's chin as they continue to watch the mountain.
Their peaceful vigil ended when Bard asks Reika and the princes to join him in the command tent Thranduil had set up in his camp.
To say that their little council was going poorly would be an understatement. Thranduil's arrogance and stubbornness knew no bounds and Bard, reasonable as he is generally, was terribly naïve. Reika and the princes are getting nowhere and not even the threat of Orc armies approaching the mountain from Gandalf is enough to dissuade either leader from their goal of staking a claim on the riches of Erebor. In fact, Reika did something that she'd never thought she would in front of a royal. She barks out a laugh as if she were listening to a load of tripe, which in this instance, she is.
"Is there something you would like to add, half-breed?" Thranduil raises a brow.
"This is utterly pathetic, an Ishtar, sent by the divine mind you, warns you that armies of Orcs are on the way and all you can do is dismiss him?" Reika asks in amazement.
"We do not even know where these armies are" Thranduil says and Reika rolls her eyes.
"Does it matter where they are? All we need to know is the fact that they are on the way and what they are coming for. Really, your arrogance knows no bounds" Reika barks as she turns to Bard. "And why would you take the risk of fighting when so few of you can at this time? I have spent hours tending to your wounded" she points out the man, looking every inch the noble lady she's been trained to be.
"We need that gold" Bard says.
"I understand that Bard; Really I do. I made a case to Thorin about it on your behalf after all. That said, I'd sooner be poor and alive than wealthy and dead" Reika says bluntly.
At the very least, the Lake man has the good sense to stay quiet in the face of her words.
"What would you know of this world? You are young." Thranduil says dismissively.
"I know more than you will ever know, but I also have a little thing called common sense. When a powerful being rides to warn you that an army of Orcs is bearing down on you, you shut up and listen" Reika hisses out, her eyes bleeding red in her annoyance with the king before her.
"Since when has my council counted for so little? What do you think I am trying to do?" Gandalf spoke up as Reika sat back down reign herself in. She knew it would do her no good to lose her temper here.
"I think you're trying to save your Dwarvish friends. And I admire your loyalty to them, but it does not dissuade me from my course. You started this, Mithrandir. You will forgive me if I finish it" the king of the Woodland Realm says and gave orders to his commander.
"You, Bowman! Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?!" Gandalf demands of the leader of Laketown.
"It will not come to that! This is a fight that they cannot win!" Bard says.
"You're naïve if you think that" Fili says quietly.
"You know as well as I that dragon sickness costs any sane being their sense of reason. My uncle told me that Thror was fully prepared to dive into the vast treasure horde to search for the Arkenstone when he dropped it during the dragon's attack. The dragon was in that horde at the time." Fili says. "So if you think an army is going to knock some sense into him, you are sadly mistaken" the fair-haired prince says softly and Reika puts a hand on his gently.
"Fili's right. That won't stop them. You think the dwarves will surrender - They won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own" a familiar voice cuts in. Gandalf, Reika and the two princes turns with surprised smiles.
"Bilbo Baggins" Gandalf says, earning a smile from the Hobbit.
"It's good to see a friendly face" Reika smiles as Fili approaches Bilbo.
"How is he?" Fili asks softly and Bilbo is almost prepared to lie if it spares the fair-haired prince any pain. "And I want the truth, Bilbo" the prince says as Bilbo sighs.
"He's paranoid, he believes that someone stole the Arkenstone from him; one of the company" Bilbo admits.
"We've all been so loyal; how could he suspect that one of us could have taken it" Fili sighs.
Before they can go any further, Thranduil stands up and examines the Hobbit in front of him with a calculating gaze before he sits back down again.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards" at this, Fili, Kili and Reika have to stifle mischievous grins, especially when Bilbo looks a tad guilty as well as uncomfortable.
"Yes, sorry about that" Bilbo says falsely. There is silence for a moment, broken only by the occasional snicker that escapes from the two brothers and giggle of the inu. The Hobbit then steps up to the table and places a wrapped object on its surface. "I came to give you this" he unwraps it and there it is. Pure white and practically glowing.
"The Heart of the Mountain…The King's Jewel" Thranduil looks amazed.
"You took it" Fili looks betrayed.
"Bear in mind that while Bilbo bears the title of burglar, that does not mean he stole it for his own gain" Reika speaks up. Able to see what Bilbo's plan is with his actions.
"And worth a king's ransom; how is this yours to give?" Bard asks.
"I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure." Bilbo explains, the Dwarves and Reika catching Gandalf's small smile.
"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty" the Lake man points out, still amazed.
"I'm not doing it for you. I know that dwarves can be obstinate, pigheaded, and difficult, suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they also brave and kind and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can. Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed. There will be no need for war!" Bilbo says as Reika nods.
"It's the best option we have to us" Reika admits quietly as the meeting comes to a close with a decision made on how tomorrow's meeting with Thorin is to go.
Reika would retire to her makeshift camp set up in one of the ruined houses that is near the Great Hall. Settling in the corner, back propped against the wall as she examines the swords she's grown so fond of, privately begging that she wouldn't need to use them tomorrow.
That they can resolve this situation diplomatically and the appropriate armies could deal with the Orcs that are marching on the mountain. She stops that optimistic train of thought knowing she can't get her hopes up. Not now with Thorin so consumed by dragon sickness.
"You're still awake" Fili says from the corner as he sharpens a sword he recovered from Erebor.
"As are you" Reika says softly as she put her swords down on a rotted but still standing table.
"What do you think will happen tomorrow?" Fili asks.
"I wish I could say for certain…what I hope will happen is for Thorin to see reason but if I'm completely honest, I don't think that will happen" Reika whispers.
"And if it comes to a fight?" Fili asks, already knowing the answer from the look on Reika's face.
"I won't fight the Company…you are among the few beings that truly accepts me as I am, regardless that I was likely brought here by a deity" Reika says as she walks over and sits beside him.
"Would you fight the Elves or Bard and his men?" Fili sounds hesitant.
"I'd fight Thranduil's Elves, but I won't hurt another of Laketown's survivors; we have cost them so much already. The last thing I want is for another family member to find out that they have lost a loved one" Reika sighs resting her head on Fili's shoulder.
"You really do have a heart of gold" Fili smiles sadly, taking her hand and kissing it softly.
"Thank you…we should get some rest" Reika admits quietly.
"Yes, we should" Kili walks in and makes himself comfortable. Fili settles in beside him, inviting Reika to join them. Smiling, Reika settles on the large bedroll beside Fili, reaching over to squeeze Kili's shoulder.
"When all of this is over…we are going to do everything we can to get Thorin back to normal. Balin and Oin may know what to do" Reika says firmly.
"Thank you, Reika…sleep well" Fili says quietly.
"You too" Reika yawns out, burrowing into the offered comfort as Fili pulls her close.
The following morning, despite the chill that creeps into what remains of the house, Reika wants to remain on the bedroll. That dream is crushed when she hears the sound of Elves preparing for the march on the Lonely Mountain.
With a slight whine and yawn, Reika disentangles herself from the cluster of limbs she had been a part of and stands up, stretching out her muscles and wiping the crust from her eyes.
"Reika Potter" Fili says sleepily. "You better have a good reason for getting up, I can feel a chill on my back now" he grumbles as Reika giggles tiredly.
"Believe me, I wish I could stay in bed, however the Elves are preparing to march" Reika admits as she pulls on her new robes as well as her cloak. "Our last negotiation; lets hope that Bilbo's plan succeeds" she says quietly.
"The Arkenstone is the right of Thorin, it should work" Fili stands up and starts getting prepared.
"You two really know how to ruin a good sleep" Kili mutters as he sat up with a yawn.
"Another time" Reika smiles, pulling her armour on before tugging on her face mask and attaching her modified quiver to her back.
"Rivendell is fortunate to have you as one of its protectors" Fili says softly as he looks the hybrid up and down. "The armour is beautifully crafted and I can tell it is very strong" he says as he walks around Reika, examining everything. "I can feel something, an energy coming from that cloak; at least, that's how I can best describe it" the prince admits as Reika smiles.
"Gandalf put a spell on it, it's meant to be capable of shielding me from unfriendly eyes. I don't know how. I haven't had a chance to use it" Reika admits, her own magic and combat skills having gotten her this far.
"Do you feel ready?" Fili asks.
"Is one ever really ready for war?" Reika asks back, knowing in her heart she hadn't been ready for the one back home, hence why she'd done what she had to escape the possibility. Yet here she is 52 years later preparing to march. Older and a littler wiser than she had been but still very much wishing it wouldn't come to war.
"We'll find out today" Fili admits.
Reika and the brothers are given horses which they ride at the head of the army with Thranduil and Bard. The great entrance of Erebor is clear to them now, blocked off with the hastily built wall. Fili notices the other Dwarves are already at the top as well as Bilbo, much to the surprise of everyone gathered.
"He must have snuck out" Reika whispers quietly, both princes nodding in agreement.
"Just what is he up to?" Kili wonders.
"I don't know, but let's hope whatever he is planning, it works" Reika says, turquoise eyes trained worriedly on the Hobbit.
They are broken out of their little chat when Thorin fires an arrow that lands just in front of the Elven king's elk, halting his advance. Reika feels her hackles rise then. This isn't a step in the right direction at all.
If anything all it did is make things worse. It's then that she experiences a sense of déjà vu. She'd seen symbolic moves in Earth politics.
"I will put the next one between your eyes!" Thorin shouts down and Thranduil regards him with an indifferent look.
Thorin draws his bow again, and the dwarves on the wall cheer and shake their weapons. Thranduil stares at the King Under the Mountain angrily, then slightly tilts his head.
Instantly, several rows of Elves near the front of the army pull out their bows, nocking their arrows, and aiming at the dwarves, all in one fluid motion. The dwarves' cheering cut off abruptly as all of them but Thorin ducks behind the ramparts.
After holding the pose for a few seconds, Thranduil raises his hand, and the elves easily put away their arrows. Thorin still has his bow drawn, however.
"We've come to tell you; payment of your debt has been offered and accepted" Thranduil speaks.
"What payment? I gave you nothing! You have nothing!" Thorin says, before regarding his nephews and Reika. "You would betray me now?" he asks sounding hurt.
"Betrayal would be standing by and doing nothing to bring about an end to this madness, uncle" Fili speaks up. "You knew of your grandfather's sickness because of this gold and now you have fallen to it…fight it, come back to us as the person we knew before all of this" he practically begs.
"War is the last thing that any of us want" Reika adds. "Thorin, I know we started off poorly but during our travels, you showed yourself to be brave and noble, please show us all you are still that brave and noble man I followed to this mountain" she pleads, tightening her grip on the reins of her horse.
"And yet you are garbed in full armour; tell me, Lady Potter, if you seek peace, why do you appear ready for war?" Thorin asks.
"You fired an arrow at the King of the Woodland Realm before anyone even had a chance to speak. Such caution is warranted, given your current state" Reika says, earning a glare. "If I didn't need to, I wouldn't be wearing it" she says, eyes conveying her sincerity.
"In any case" Bard reluctantly interrupts, pulling out the Arkenstone. "We have this" he holds it up, Thorin's expression now shocked.
"They have the Arkenstone" Dwalin mutters. "Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of Thorin's house! That stone belongs to the king!" he demands sharply.
"And the king may have it, in our good will." Bard says reasonably. "But first he must honour his word" he finishes and for a moment all is silent, for Thorin seems to be speaking to the others or to himself.
"The Arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick!" He suddenly shouts.
"It is not a trick" Bilbo can be heard then and Thranduil as well as Bard look concerned. They hadn't spotted him on the ramparts until just now. Reika can hear the betrayal in Thorin's voice as he spoke.
"You…"
"I took it as my 14th share" the Hobbit adds.
"You would steal from me?" Thorin demands.
"Steal from you? No. No. I may be a burglar, but I like to think I am an honest one. I am willing to let it stand against my claim" Bilbo hurriedly explains.
"Against your claim?! Your claim! You have no claim over me you miserable rat!" Thorin yells. At this Reika tenses.
"I was going to give it to you. Many times I wanted to, but…" Bilbo trails off.
"But what, thief?" Thorin spat.
"You are changed, Thorin! The dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word! Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin!" Bilbo shouts firmly then.
"Do not speak to me of loyalty!" Thorin yells back.
There is silence for a moment.
"THROW HIM FROM THE RAMPART!" Thorin bellows.
The other Dwarves look horrified and even Thranduil and Bard look concerned at what Bilbo is facing up there. Reika is itching to reach for her bow but resists the urge when she sees that the rest of the company don't move to obey.
"DO YOU HEAR ME?!" The Dwarven king yells and there is silence.
Suddenly he surges forward and grabs a hold of Bilbo. "I will do it myself!"
At this, Reika tugs out her unused wand, aiming for Thorin's arm, much to the slight anger of Fili and Kili. She aimed, grip tight on the eleven inch yew with basilisk fang core wand as she watches and prepares to fire off a stunner until she sees a familiar pointed grey hat moving through the army, magic radiating from him as he spoke with a powerful booming voice.
"If you don't like my burglar, please don't damage him! Return him to me!" Gandalf's voice booms.
"What are you playing at?" Fili hisses as Reika shakily put her wand away.
"Would you rather I stun him or Bilbo's death?" Reika asks as she turns to him, her face blank but eyes bright with her fear and resolve.
"He's my uncle" Fili says quietly.
"And he was fully prepared to throw Bilbo from the wall, the fall would have killed him" Reika says. "I will not lose people I care about. I wouldn't have killed Thorin, only stun him" she pleads for Fili to understand. She would always be willing to use her magic if it meant saving the life of her friends and family.
"Fair enough" the fair-haired prince mutters.
"You're not making a very splendid figure as king under the mountain, are you? Thorin son of Thrain!" Gandalf says.
"Never again will I have dealings with wizards, or Shire-rats!" Thorin spat as Bilbo clambers down a rope, returning to Gandalf's side.
"I'm going to hazard a guess and say that this didn't work" Reika whispers, Fili nodding in agreement.
"If anything, he's getting worse" Kili mutters softly.
"So are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?" Bard asks but Thorin remains silent. "Give us your answer! Will you have peace or war?!" the man demands.
Fili taps Reika's shoulders and gestures to a raven that lands on the rampart by Thorin.
"Aid is here…" Fili breathes.
"This is about to go south isn't it?" Reika asks in dread and Fili nods in agreement.
"Of all the times we needed our kin, this may not have been the best time for them to actually make an appearance" the fair-haired prince admits.
"I will have war…" Thorin announces.
As soon as Thorin says it, there is a rumbling in the distance and everyone looks up to see a large army of heavily armed Dwarves led by someone on a battle-pig. Reika hears another sigh come from Fili then.
"I assume you know who it is?" Reika asks.
"Ironfoot" Fili says. "He is Thorin's cousin. You think you've witnessed the stubbornness of my people? You have yet to see the full extent of it; putting it in perspective, Thorin is the reasonable in comparison to him" he admits as Reika grimaces.
"Oh this is going to be lovely" Reika says sarcastically.
Gandalf, Reika, Fili and Kili start to move to the front as the battle-pig carrying Ironfoot came to a halt, his army halting several feet behind him. If it weren't for the fact that she was warned about what Dain is actually like, Reika would have assumed that Ironfoot looks positively pleasant. He has a friendly expression on his face.
"Good morning! How are we all? I have a wee proposition, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider…just sodding off!" The man shouts and were it not for the circumstances, Reika would have let herself have a good laugh. Keenly reminded Seamus Finnigan in that moment and his fiery Scottish temper. "All of you! Right now!" he commands.
"Come now, Lord Dain!" Gandalf steps forward with the princes and Reika as Bard told his men to stand fast.
"Gandalf the Grey and the princes of Erebor…I'm curious to know what you're doin' down here with that masked sprite instead of standing by your uncle" Dain asks as Reika resists the urge to grumble at being grouped with the Elves.
"I travelled with Thorin and his Company on this journey, they're my friends" Reika says firmly but politely. "Reika Potter at your service, Lord Dain" she curtsies respectfully. If the Lord of the Iron Hills is surprised by how courteous she's being, it doesn't show. "I understand your prejudice but know this; I joined this quest so that the mountain may be reclaimed from the dragon" she says strongly.
"Yet here you are lass, stood alongside these forest fairies" Dain points out.
"In this conflict, I'm neutral. I don't wish to see it come to war" Reika says pleasantly.
"In that case," Dain turns to Gandalf. "Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!" he barks.
"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves! A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!" Gandalf says and despite knowing that Dain is bull-headed, Reika hopes he would not go to war knowing that Orcs are on the way.
"I will not stand down before any elf! Not least this faithless woodland sprite!" Dain says defiantly. "He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin - I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then!" he exclaims.
"He's clearly mad, like his cousin!" Thranduil says and Reika growls in annoyance. Her horse shifting in slight fear at the noise.
"You hear that, lads?! Come on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!" Dain shouts as he turns to his army. "Do not harm the Princes or the lass clad in black armour!" he commands.
One of the Dwarves yells out a command in their own tongue whilst the Elven archers retreat behind a line of spearmen.
Now more than ever, conflict seems apparent to Reika and alongside Fili and Kili, all caught right in the middle.
Just as they prepare to charge, a rumbling is heard and they all turn in the direction of the source.
"Were-worms" Gandalf whispers in horror.
At the spur of the mountain where the rumbling is coming from, giant worms with gaping maws burst through the stone, crushing giant boulders in their jaws. They soon retreat back into the holes.
"Oh come on…" Dain sounds exasperated.
They hear a bellowing voice from high up then, speaking what can only be Black Speech. Reika knows that it belongs to Azog and though she knows exactly who he is commanding.
Legions of Orcs begin to emerge from the four tunnels then and she looks to both princes who look at her with confidence.
"We fight. Will you join us?" Fili asked and the other looks back her fear and determination obvious as turquoise bled to red.
"I will fight" Reika reassures.
"The hordes of hell are upon us! To battle! To battle, sons of Durin!" Dain yells out.
Dismounting their horses, Fili, Kili and Reika join the Dwarves as they form a shield wall. Behind the Dwarves forming the barrier, they draw their swords.
"Are you ready?" Fili asks as he got into a ready stance.
"Is one ever ready for war?" Reika asks quietly.
"We are about to find out" Fili says with a small smile. "Stay by my side?" he asks.
"Of course" Reika promises.
Looking to the Elves hopefully, Reika only feels disappointment when he sees no movement to help the Dwarves. Despite this, she turns back around to face the approaching army, determination winning out over her nerves.
With a firm grip on both of her swords, Reika prepares for the weight of the Orc army to crash down upon them when she sees a flash of gold out the corner of her eye.
The Elves leap over the assembled Dwarven army and begin to fight the Orcs, the surprise actually giving them an advantage.
With battle cries, Reika, Fili and Kili join the charge with the Dwarves. Reika wasting little time in stabbing two Orcs, one on each sword before pulling her weapons back and slashing the neck of another Orc that gets too close. Parrying an attack from another with Burūsuchīru, she uses the other sword to slash the leg of her attacker, bringing it down with a howl of pain. As it writhes, Reika uses Burūsuchīru, driving it into the gut of the Orc and putting it down for once.
"You've been listening to my lessons!" Fili grins as he threw a concealed dagger at a nearby Orc.
"Of course!" She practically rolls her eyes in the middle of battle.
"Behind you!" Kili shouts, shooting an Orc that is about to bring it's sword down upon Reika's back.
"Thanks, Ki!" Reika turns to slash the neck of another Orc.
"I was worried you hadn't taken it in! Y'know…being a mage and all" Fili teases lightly.
"You're lucky I'm fond of you or I'd give you a right good thrashing" Reika growls playfully as she stands back to back with Fili. "Are you sure it's wise to engage in banter whilst we have these lovely chaps bearing down on us?" she asks with a breathless laugh.
"Just keeping things light. After all, this fight decides the fate of Erebor" the fair-haired prince says with a small smile.
"Yes, I'm aware of what's at stake, Fili" Reika says good-naturedly as she brings both blades above her head to block an incoming strike. "Oh no you don't" she snarls, straining against the Orc.
The weight suddenly relieves itself as Lord Dain rides over and strikes the Orc across its head with a mighty war hammer. He spares a glance at Reika and gives her a nod before he throws his head back to headbutt an Orc that is right behind him. The hit doesn't look like it affects him whatsoever and he even does it to a second one.
"Come on, lassie! Step it up a wee bit!" His comment having no heat behind it.
"Yes, Lord Dain" Reika barks out a laugh, stabbing an Orc in the gut and kicking it off of her blade.
"That's the spirt! Give these little buggers a good battering! Show them what happens when they mess with Dwarves and their allies!" Dain laughs then as he drops an Orc and slams his hammer into its face as though he is playing polo. Reika picks up the pace then. "As you were!" he calls.
The Lord rode off, mowing several Orcs down in the process as he laughs. Reika can only smile for a moment before turning her attention back to the battle. With a growl of effort, she blocks another sword and stabs its owner. It's then that they hear the sound of that blasted horn and she looks up to see more Orcs heading to the city.
"He's trying to force us to fight on two fronts" Reika breathes out in horror.
"To the city! Bilbo! This way!" Gandalf shouts, noticing that Bard's people have broken off to head back to Dale as Trolls carrying catapults emerge from the holes.
"Stand fast!" Fili shouts to the Dwarves as more Orcs begin to overpower them.
Kili is knocked down by one of the Orcs then and he struggles to get up. Reika, seeing this, put both swords away and draws her bow, nocks and arrow and fires with no hesitation, nailing the Orc in the back of the head. The youngest prince gets up and gives her a nod before getting back into the fight.
The battle worsens when Thranduil breaks off and makes his way to Dale, his army following behind and leaving the Dwarves to fend for themselves. Reika hears Azog's horn once more but doesn't look up from the fight to see what move has been ordered now. All she can tell is that they are slowly being pushed back. Reika hears the squeal of a pig and turns to notice that Dain's steed has been killed.
"You buggers!" The angered Dwarf shouts as he began to kill the Orcs around him with his hammer as well as his own head. "Where's Thorin?! We need him! Where is he?!" he shouts out.
"We'll have to do without him!" Reika shouts back as she slays another Orc.
Her movements are not as graceful as they were at the start of the fight. Exhaustion is setting in for her.
"Perk up, lassie! Thought Elves were made of better stuff?" Dain came over and joins him in the fighting.
"Not an Elf" she pants out, slashing the throat of another Orc.
"You're not getting tired already?" The Lord seems to tease as he headbutts another.
"No…are you?" Reika challenges as he stabs one with Burūsuchīru and beheads another with her unnamed sword.
"Not at all, lassie" Dain waves off.
They both look up to see that the fight is going poorly in Dale. What started out as campfires has turned into full blown blazes as the Orcs overran the city with ease. Before she can even ponder as to what is going in there, more Orcs arrive, one knocking Reika down before raising its arm to bring its cruel blade down on her head.
Lifting her glowing blue sword, Reika blocks the attack and uses her other sword to cut the Orcs leg off, bringing it down with a howl of pain. Not even hesitating for a second, she stabs the creature with both swords when she gets up, one in the gut and the other in the chest, piercing the black heart that lurks beneath the armour. Fili and Kili return to her side then, looking battered, tired and in need of a break.
"I don't think we can hold them off for much longer" Fili says as he pants.
"We're losing too much ground" Reika says tiredly as she withdrew her swords from the corpse.
The element of surprise is gone now. The Orc have successfully regrouped and are beginning to slaughter the Dwarves. Even Dain has begun to move back instead of trying to push forward. It's going poorly to say the least and for every Orc they kill, several seem to take their place with the occasional Troll to back them up.
"Fall back! Fall back!" Dain finally shouts. "To the barricade! Fall back!" he commands.
Obeying their Lord, the Dwarves broke of their engagement with the Orcs and rush to Dain, the small army exhausted and facing insurmountable odds. The horn sounds as the Dwarves regrouped at the entrance to Erebor, the Orcs regrouping and forming ranks in front of them. No order has come from Azog yet, no doubt gloating at how desperately small the army had become.
"I'd sooner not let this be the end…" Reika begins, catching Fili's attention. "but if it is, I am glad it's here with you, Fili" she spares the other a small smile. "It was one hell of a journey" she admits breathlessly.
"Aye that it was" The prince smiles back slightly. "You fought brilliantly, Reika" he reassures.
"As did you, I just hope we did enough damage to make a difference for the other free peoples" Reika huffs out.
"We'll do more damage; we fight until the very end" Fili says firmly and the other nods.
"Until the very end" Reika agrees whilst Dain rallies his troops to form up. "Well then. Ready for another bout?" she asks, knowing she has one good dragon shift left in her.
"More than ready" Fili holds his weapon tightly as the remaining Dwarves form up, forming a wall of shields. Reika stepping back and with a twist becoming the dragon the dealt the death blow to Smaug. Crouching over the Dwarves and letting loose a roar of challenge as she stood her ground.
Just as they did so, several large armoured Trolls push to the front and slam their clubs on the ground threateningly. For a moment, all that can be heard are the cheers of the Dwarves and the growls of their enemies. Azog yells loudly and the horn sounds again with the Orcs moving up.
As Reika and the others prepare for a last desperate stand, the sound of a loud horn breaks through the noise and they all turn to look behind them.
Bombur is stood upon the rampart with the horn around him, blowing a mighty tune that stops the army in their tracks. With her sharp sight, Reika can see that Azog has turned his attention to the gates of Erebor and though he doesn't show it, Reika can tell that he is surprised. As soon as Bombur stops using the horn, there is silence once more before a large gold bell breaks the wall, the rubble falling and forming a rough bridge.
From the now open gap in Erebor's grand entrance, Thorin emerges no longer in his heavy armour and with the other Dwarves in tow. Fili and Kili smile as Reika lets loose a trumpet like noise of triumph as the King Under the Mountain leads a charge through his kin from the Iron Hills, Dain shouting orders to his men.
"To the King! To the King!" Dain commands.
Reika and the two princes join in the charge and with renewed vigour, they all practically slam into the Orc army, catching them by surprise once more. Reika, shrinking down to her inu size would grab and throw one of the Orcs, causing it to fall onto Fili's outstretched sword face first. Reika twisting and changing into her human form knowing her size was a disadvantage and bringing her swords down on the nearest Orc.
"We have a chance now!" Fili grins. "Come on, Lady Reika. Do pick up the pace" he calls out, back to back with his One. "I thought I taught you to do better than this" he teases lightly.
"I don't think now is the time for banter, anata. We should focus and for the record, I'm an attentive student. I did pay attention" Reika wheezes breathlessly, raising her swords to parry an attack whilst her fair-haired companion ran the Orc through.
"Good" Fili smiles. "Let's fight our way over to Thorin. Think you can keep up?" he teases as Reika barks out a laugh.
"Oh Fili…I thought you knew me better than that" Reika laughs in delight before running ahead of the smiling prince, leaving a trail of Orc bodies in her way.
Soon, both princes and the hybrid manage to make it to Thorin just as he is speaking with his cousin, the two having managed to gain a respite in the middle of the fighting. Thorin then turns to Reika in time for her to throw herself at him. Hugging him in relief to Thorin's surprise.
"Forgive me?" Thorin asks, returning the gesture.
"There's nothing to forgive, you weren't yourself and I knew that Thorin" Reika reassures him with a smile as she lets go. "Now how do we go about dealing with our unwelcome guests?" she asks.
"Aye, there's too many of these buggers Thorin…I hope you have a plan" Dain says.
"I do. We're going to take out their leader" Thorin says as they all turn their gaze to the hill that the Pale Orc has been using to direct his forces.
"Azog" Dain says with hatred.
Thorin, Fili, Kili and Dwalin mount four rams that managed to survive the battle. Reika stands beside Fili and takes his hand in her own gently. The other members of the Company move away to give them their moment.
"Will you join us?" Fili asks hopefully.
"I'll get there when I can" Reika promises.
"Alright, be safe" Fili kisses the back of her hand softly.
"You as well; make him pay for all of this suffering" Reika growls out and Fili gives a nod as Thorin prepares to ride with them.
"I'm going to kill that piece of filth!" The King Under the Mountain spits and he leads his warriors up the side of the mountain.
"May Durin be with you lads!" Dain calls after them before turning to Reika. "What about you, lass? Are you going to join them?" he asks.
"I'll need to fight my way out of here first" Reika says viciously.
"Leave that to me" Dain says. "Me and my men will draw them off. Make your way up Ravenhill and help them put an end to that pale devil" Dain says, shouting loudly with several of his Dwarves to draw the Orcs towards him.
Reika would begin running, noticing that against all odds, her mount has managed to survive the battle as well. Calming it enough to mount it, she spurs it up the hill. She spot the Dwarves making their way up their rapidly thanks to their unique steeds. Even though she took the longer way, Reika still encounters Orcs and she makes quick work of them as she passes by, leaving a trail of headless bodies in her wake.
Though it took her longer than her Dwarven compatriots, Reika still made it to the ruins located at the top of the hill just as they finish killing the last of the Orcs. Dismounting, she set her horse loose and drew her swords. Although there are no Orcs in the immediate vicinity, Burūsuchīru still has a soft blue sheen to it.
"Where is he?" Thorin asks as they all look around.
"Looks empty…I think Azog has fled" Dwalin notes.
"I don't think so...Fili, take your brother. Scout out the towers. Keep low and out of sight. If you see something; report back, do not engage - do you understand?!" Thorin says before he then turns to Reika. "Go with them, find a vantage point and keep watch. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary" he orders.
"Yes Thorin" Reika nods before they hear snarls.
"We have company" Dwalin says. "Goblin mercenaries. No more than a hundred" he notes.
"We'll take care of them. Go!" Thorin commands.
Fili, Kili and Reika make a run across the frozen river and find the ruins in which Azog has set up his signalling station. Quietly, Reika climbs high up to a point where she has sight of the entire area, at least on the outside. Sheathing her swords in silence, she drew her Elven bow and prepares an arrow for when she inevitably needs it and kept watch.
A feeling of unease enters her gut then. She can hear for miles around but she can't hear deep into the ruins that Fili and Kili are going through. She sees a light then in one of the openings and almost drops her bow at the sight before her.
Azog appears in the opening, dragging a bloodied Fili just behind him. She pulls the bowstring taut and waits for a moment, her heart practically in her throat.
"Don't you dare" Reika snarls softly.
The Pale Orc speaks in foul Black Speech, no doubt addressing Thorin as he does so. Suddenly, he lifts Fili by the neck and holds him over the ledge. With her superior sight, Reika adjusts her aim so that she could hit Azog's leg and fires the moment the giant Orc rears his hand back. The arrow has no effect, but the shock of the hit causes the Pale Orc to drop the fair-haired prince. Fili, despite looking weakened, manages to grab hold of the rock face, preventing him from falling to his death.
Firing two arrows in quick succession to take out the two Orcs that guard Azog, Reika runs from her spot and makes her way through the ruins.
With wrath guiding her actions at Fili's attempted murder, none of the Orcs that confront Reika on her way up survive. Most of them rendered headless with vicious slashes, her sword stained with black blood. Soon, she is stood beneath Fili in her dog form, who is clinging to the rock.
"Fili! Let go! I'm right here!" Reika barks. Her male voice a sound relief to Thorin and Dwalin.
"You'd better catch me, Reika" Fili mutters to himself before he lest go, falling onto Reika's waiting back. Reika landing and shifting back to fuss over the blonde.
"They put you through the ringer" Reika fusses just before they hear the sound of Orcs surrounding them.
"You shouldn't have come" Fili says.
"I wouldn't let you fall to dragon fire…what makes you think I would let you fall to an Orc who needs a bit of sun?" Reika demands heatedly. At this, Fili smiles sadly.
"We're surrounded anyway" the prince points out.
Although they are nowhere nearby, Reika can only feel dread. Even though he's saved Fili, they're still be killed…
"Unless" Reika breathes out, sheathing her swords.
"What?" Fili asks.
"Quiet and do as I say please" Reika says as she tugs Fili closer.
"What?" The Dwarf looks even more confused than before.
"Just do as I say" Reika says as she lay down too. Pulling the Dwarf close with one arm, she uses the other to bring her cloak over them, completely covering their forms. Several seconds later, the Orcs make it to their location and seem to be looking around, not noticing the two literally right there.
The two are face to face. Fili smiles slightly when he realizes that the spell on the cloak is keeping them concealed. Reika smiles back in relief and presses her finger up to her lips, carefully shifting so she could see the Orcs through the thin material of the cloak. After a minute of searching, they soon give up and move on.
Thirty seconds later, Reika threw the cloak off of them and quietly stood up with Fili.
"I've never once questioned the wisdom of the Wizards and now I'm glad I kept faith" Reika laughs as she dusts herself off.
"You saved us both" Fili says.
"Yes, but I do fear that Kili has gotten himself into trouble. I can hear him fighting and I also hear your uncle calling for him" Reika admits as she hands him her sword. "Can you fight?" she asks.
"Can I fight? Excuse me but who taught you how to use both your swords in the first place?" Fili is back to his lighter self and the other laughs.
"Come on" Reika encourages and just as they are about to make their way up the ruins to help Kili, Reika stops in her tracks then, her ears able to catch the sound of heavy rumbling. Fili turns and looks at her, concerned especially when he notices the other's growing look of horror.
"Oh hell" Reika breathes out.
"What?" Fili asks in concern
"The spawn of Azog, he's here…with another army" Reika explains.
"Another army?" Fili asks in horror.
"We have to put an end to the commanders of this host, maybe they'll scatter without direction" Reika says and the Dwarf nods resolutely.
"Forge on then" Fili says.
Following a trail of bodies from their position, they soon happen upon Tauriel who has just killed several Orcs that have come after her. She is looking around, no doubt for Kili.
They go to greet her when Bolg suddenly barrels out of a tunnel and kicks her against a rock that is nearby. Where they are, they can see Kili fighting two Orcs. The raven-haired prince sees Bolg attack Tauriel and with anger, he cuts his opponents down and began to make his way to her.
Tauriel slips out of the large Orc's grasp and began to fight back with her knife. Grabbing both of her arms, he twists, earning a shriek of pain from her. Fili and Reika surge forward, following in the path of Kili to try and reach her. Reika practically gasps when Bolg raises his first and strikes her in her face, bringing the she-Elf down.
Reaching down, the creature grabs Tauriel by her neck and lifts her up. Lashing out with her feet, she strikes Bolg in the knee, bringing him down. With little effort, he throws her into the wall.
Finally having had enough of this little fight, Bolg raises his mace and prepares to kill her when Kili throws himself from the parapet. The two engage in a brief fight before Bolg grabs him by the head and prepares to drive the pointed edge of the mace into the young Dwarf's chest. Tauriel leaps onto Bolg in a bid to distract him but she is easily thrown off. Raising his arm once more, he goes to bring it down.
"No!" Reika snarls, firing an arrow that pierces the arm holding the mace. Howling in pain, Bolg lets go of the mace and also releases his grip on Kili who scrambles away just as Reika reaches them with Fili in tow. The three stand, prepared to confront Bolg and he charges, picking up his mace and swinging before Reika can even dodge. The mace strikes her chest, and even though her armour protects her, it still sends her flying. She lay wheezing for breath as Fili fights on with rage.
In her anger for what he had almost done to Kili, Tauriel launches herself at Bolg when he approaches her, and he attempts to throw her over a precipice. Holding on, Tauriel kicks off of a stone and launches them both over the edge.
Before either of the brothers can make a move to come to her rescue, more Orcs arrive then and a new fight breaks out.
Reika, still down on the ground, catches her breath somewhat and stands up on shaky legs. Grabbing her bow, she fires arrows at any Orcs that aren't too close to Fili or Kili, killing several with ease.
The relentless force continues to pummel them for what feels like ages, the three fighting cohesively and putting a great many of them down. Out of arrows, Reika slung her bow over her should and even though her chest burns, she draws Burūsuchīru with a snarl and fights on, killing a great many Orcs.
The sounds of a battle in one of the crumbled towers, courtesy of Legolas, doesn't go unnoticed by Reika.
Making her way back up to them, Tauriel recovers her lost knife and joins the three in their little skirmish with the Orcs. Despite their skills in battle, however, they are slowly being overwhelmed and backed into a corner.
"Well this is perfect" Reika growls.
"I think this is definitely it now" Fili adds.
"Third time's a charm then" Reika does everything in her power not to roll her eyes.
The sound of Eagles is heard then and several of the Orcs are snatched up by massive talons as they fly overhead. Frightened by this new development, some of the Orcs scatter and, though bewildered by the addition of Eagles just when they need them, the four dive back into the fight, picking off the stragglers.
"I've been saying it from the beginning of this journey…miracles and oddities" Reika says when the last one has been killed and the others driven off. She feels breathless, but again she has just survived a war so she feels she deserves to be breathless.
"Miracles indeed" Kili says before embracing Tauriel.
Reika stumbles forward, clutching her chest in agony as it hits her just how much pain she's in. Vision swimming as she let go of her sword, the clattering of the blade catching her attention. Gasping, she drops to her knees just as Fili gets to her, fear and concern in his eyes.
"Reika! Reika! Speak to me!" Fili pleads as Reika wheezes out in pain, falling sideways into the Dwarves arms, unconsciousness now overtaking her to the sound of Fili's panicked voice.
Reika had been in the hospital wing often enough that pain had become an old unwanted friend for her over the years. The pain she felt when she woke up being nothing new to her. Her left arm painful, her legs ache but her chest…It felt like she'd been run over by Hagrid if she is honest with herself.
"Bloody hell" She hisses to herself as the pain really hit her as she fully came to.
"Reika?" A familiar voice calls out and slowly she opens her eyes, seeing a ceiling of stone. She's lying on a makeshift bed made out of bedrolls and blankets.
"Why is it so cold?" Reika croaks out, seeing Fili sat by her bed.
"We had to strip you of your armour and robes…what remained of them that is" Fili admits as Reika sat up far too quickly.
A sharp pain passes through her chest and she lets out a sharp gasp of air. She can feel Fili's hand barely touching her chest and she lays back down. Taking notice of the fact that her chest is covered in bandages and her arm is also bandaged. Having a moment of déjà vu that she hates the feeling of she wonders what had happened during the fight. She recalls the wound to her chest, but not the one to her arm.
"Not so quickly" Fili gently lays the other down and pulls a thin blanket over her.
"I remember the chest wound, but I don't remember this" Reika slowly lifts her arm.
"Well you were running on adrenaline…not surprising you missed a wound" Fili says as he took her hand ever so gently in his own. "For a moment, we thought we were going to lose you. I don't know what I'd have done if we did" he admits as Reika makes a noise of distressed surprise.
"It was that bad?" Reika asks.
"Bolg's mace completely crushed your chest plate…the metal and leather had even pierced your skin. Oin took a look at the wound and went silent. I'd never seen him silent before" Fili admits.
"Where am I anyway?" Reika asks as a means to change the subject.
"A bedchamber in Erebor" Fili says. "Or rather, what remains of it" he admits.
"We won?" Reika asks in relief.
"Yes, we won. A hard fought and sorely won victory. After you lost consciousness, Radagast and the Great Eagles alongside Beorn joined the fight and managed to get scatter the second army. With the deaths of Bolg and Azog, the survivors of the first army scattered as well and were easily routed. We have reclaimed the mountain, properly now" Fili explains as Reika wheezes out a breath in quiet relief.
"And what about the rest of the Company? Bilbo? Gandalf? Are they all okay?" Reika asks and Fili gives her a gentle smile.
"They're fine, battered…some worse than others but at least we are all in one piece" the prince reassures.
"I don't feel in one piece…I want to swap my chest out for a new one" Reika grumbles and the other smiles in amusement.
"You're stuck with what you have" the fair-haired prince says as he passes her a cup filled with cold water. "Drink it slowly" he tilts it towards her lips and the other did so, the cool liquid both giving her burning pain but soothing it a little.
"So…what do we do now?" Reika asks knowing in her heart there are a couple things she needs to do before Bilbo goes home.
"Well now…we wait and see if Thorin recovers" Fili says as Reika frowns in concern.
"Recovers?" She asks.
"During his fight Azog, Thorin was wounded. He was stabbed in the foot and then in the chest. Both Oin and the Elves have been tending to him but they are not sure if he will survive" Fili admits quietly.
"If there's one thing I've learned about your uncle, it's that he takes Dwarven stubbornness and multiplies it by ten" Reika says and at this Fili chuckles. Reika gently squeezes the others hand then and smiles with gentleness. "He will make it through this…he's a son of Durin" she says softly.
"Speaking of Thorin, he wants to speak to you…" Fili says.
"Did he say why?" Reika asks curiously.
"No…he didn't. Normally, I'd listen to Oin and make sure that you stay in bed but judging by how you are giving me that determined look, you probably won't listen" Fili sighs as Reika giggles.
"Dwarves aren't the only ones that are stubborn you know?" Reika says with amusement in her eyes. "Now help me up?" she asks as the other nods.
It takes some effort and there are a fair few sharp breaths from Reika but eventually she is up and they head out.
Thorin had been taken to the bedchambers he owned back when he had first lived in Erebor. With luck, they aren't too deep into the city and eventually the fair-haired prince and Reika reach the room.
Thorin is laying in his bed with Kili sat at his bedside. The raven-haired prince smiles when she approaches and Reika puts her hand on the younger's shoulder, feeling Kili's hand on her own.
"Thorin, son of Thrain, King Under the Mountain" Reika says as she slowly knelt down.
"Reika…Daughter of James and from the unknown world" Thorin reaches out and clasps the others hand in his own. "You fought brilliantly…you saved my sisters' sons" he says as Reika squeezes gently.
"I'd have done it for anyone" Reika reassures.
"I know…I doubted your loyalty and yet despite that, you fought for Erebor, you saved my family and you bear no ill will…I owe you my most sincere apologies" Thorin says as Reika shook her head with, tears forming in her eyes.
"Thorin, you weren't yourself. I won't hold you accountable for what that sickness did to you" Reika squeezes his hand gently. "Just rest" she puts her hand on the King's chest and focuses, feeling the wound heal ever so slightly with her magic.
"What is this?" Thorin asks in surprise.
"I may never know why one of your deities brought me to Middle-Earth. I didn't even know I even have this power" Reika says with a small smile. "What I do know is that I can use it to help those who need it…rest Thorin, you've a kingdom to run when you recover in full" she points out.
Not long after the pair would return to the room they'd come from, Reika getting Fili's help to take her trunk necklace off so she could get out what she needed to deal with the stowaway Bilbo had brought with him from the Misty Mountains.
"What is it?" Fili asks as Reika summons one of the three basilisk fangs she'd had Earth's goblins mount into a blade handle.
"This is a basilisk fang; one of three I took from the one I killed when I was twelve. It's one of only a few things that can deal with a certain type of magic" Reika explains patiently as they sat and waited for Balin to return with Gandalf and Bilbo. Her handles trembling slightly around the knife handle.
"Reika?" Fili asks in quiet concern.
"I'll be fine…its just I never thought I'd run into horcruxes again after I left England" Reika breathes out as the others approach, Balin asking what a horcrux is.
"It's the blackest of magics of my world, a bastard form of immortality that costs the caster more and more of their sanity and magic the more they perform the ritual magic to split their soul into pieces" Reika explains as Gandalf stares in surprise. The young woman never once admitting she knew about this kind of magic.
"And just how did you learn about this magic my dear friend?" Gandalf asks as Bilbo looks between them worriedly.
"I told you of my counter part in the dark faction on Earth, the one who had grown up just like I did but didn't find the things I did once we were allowed to attend Hogwarts" Reika begins as Gandalf nods.
"Yes a young and brilliant wizard by the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle" Gandalf says as Reika nods.
"He grew up in London during the second great world spanning war of Earth, the last known heir of one of the school founders, Salazar Slytherin…they kept sending him back to the orphanage he was born into during a time that the enemy was unleashing the most terrible of weapons upon the capital as a means to break us. In his fear of death the man who introduced to our magic left out a book for Tom to find" Reika explains as Balin inhales seeing where she's going.
"A teacher encouraged the lad to perform the magic?" Balin demands as Reika smiles darkly.
"Albus Brian Wulfric Dumbledore was afraid of what he couldn't control and Tom was one young man he couldn't control. Not with the gift to speak to snakes and the strong dark aligned core he had and the charisma to command those to follow his cause…so he laced the book with spells and left it where Tom would find it and in doing so killed the first of many in his war for control over magical England. Under the influence of the magics Tom killed a young girl and made his first horcrux and began the descent into madness. A descent that would eventually lead to the war my parents would be dragged into. More horcruxes being made the longer the dark's beliefs and the old traditions were banned" Reika wheezes out, accepting the glass of water from Fili as Bilbo asks why this mattered to her.
"Myself and another were called out in a drunken seers prophecy to be his downfall and in Tom's insanity he kick started that prophecy when he heard the portion that said we would be his downfall. My parents were just barely out of school and only married three years when my mother had me, when they learned the future they wanted for me might not happen because of what the seer had said…they performed a strong shielding magic that hid us for a time, making a friend of my father's the secret keeper. Only he could tell others where we were…what my parents didn't know was that friend was a follower of Voldemort, the moniker Tom had taken in his insanity. He told Tom where we were and on the night of Samhain he attacked us" Reika explains, tears forming as she got to the horrible truth of how she knew about horcruxes.
"The night he attacked our home Tom prepared the ritual to create another horcrux, planning to use my murder as the catalyst. But he what he didn't account for was the promise he made to one of his followers for the survival of my mother and that my mother had been reading the Potter family grimoire for a way to make sure I survived. Willing to pay any price to make sure I lived my mother stood her ground and wouldn't stand aside when Tom asked her too three times. When she wouldn't move he killed her and enacted the protective magic she had cast while Tom had cut down my father. That magic and Tom's promise to his follower would cause the spell he cast to kill me to backfire and in doing so the shred of soul he'd prepared to cut and make into a horcrux tore away as his body turned to ash" Reika explains, pushing her hair out of her face with her injured arm to reveal a very faint lightning bolt scar. One none of them had seen before.
"No" Gandalf breathes, getting it first.
"Yes…you see the shard had no where to go and it latched onto the only living thing in that room, me" Reika whispers as Fili asks how she was free of it then.
"The mage way would have seen me dead, as was Dumbledore's plan for me once he noticed the dark magic in this scar. It's why he left me with my mother's sister. The one who hated anything magic and her sister for having it when she didn't…he hoped I would be a malleable and willing martyr but that's not what he got. I face Tom twice before I found an opening to get help from Earth's goblins after I turned thirteen. They were the ones to pull the shard from my scar, my mother's protections the only reason they could since it kept it separate from my own soul, using it to find the rest after I destroyed one at the end of my second year of school" Reika explains as Gandalf nods thoughtfully and asks how she destroyed the shard she'd come across.
"The mage way to destroy it is with either basilisk venom or the cursed flame Fiendfyre…I managed to kill the oldest basilisk in England when the shard set it on me as I tried to save my friends' little sister. She'd been writing in the diary that was the shard's vessel and slowly it took her over, draining her as a means to try and gain a body. I stabbed it with the basilisk fang that pierced my arm as I killed it by shoving the Sword of Gryffindor through the roof of it's mouth and into its brain" Reika admits as she shows off the scar on her right elbow. Grinning at the impressed whistles of Fili and Balin.
"I survived that encounter because Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix companion healed the wound with tears after I had pulled the fang out. I used what strength I had left to stab the shard repeatedly with the fang" Reika finishes as Gandalf eyes the knife in her hand.
"You had the fang made into a knife" Balin notes as Reika nods.
"I feel my ancestors sword is quite overkill since it took in the venom of Salazar's basilisk when I killed it so I took three fangs and had my world's goblins mount them onto knife hilts" Reika explains as Bilbo asks again what the point of the story is.
"The point is that I felt that magic when we left the Misty Mountains and you've been carrying a dead person's soul with you all this time" Reika admits as Bilbo stutters in surprise, hand going to his pocket. Reika nodding in quiet agreement.
"Yes whatever you found in the Misty Mountains…It needs to go Bilbo otherwise its going to do to you what Tom's diary tried to do to my friends' sister" Reika says as Bilbo shakily pulls a ring out of his pocket. Conflict clear on his face as he puts a gold ring on the table before her.
Before Bilbo could reach for the ring again or Gandalf can say a word; Reika lashes out and stabs the fang knife into the ring. The ring letting out a horrible wail of agony as the letters engraved into flashed once before fading as black smoke fills the room as the ring split into two.
"I hate that part" Reika wheezes out, breaking the silence as Fili began fussing over her while Bilbo would slump into Gandalf, the ring's weak hold over him gone.
"Well done Lady Reika, well done" Gandalf whispers in tearful relief, more than able to sense the connection between the soul of the ring and the necromancer he and the council had banished at Dol Gu Dor.
A few days pass would pass from the incident, Reika's wounds healing enough where she could get out of bed with no assistance and walk around without feeling searing pain. Joining the rest of the Company at the entrance of Erebor when they spot Bilbo attempting to sneak away without a word.
"If any of you ever passing Bag End, tea is at four - there's plenty of it. You are welcome anytime" Bilbo says with a small smile and the Company return the smile. "Eh…don't bother knocking" he says as the Dwarves and inu nod with chuckles, some of them wiping tears away. The Hobbit turns around and heads over to Gandalf who is waiting with his horse and a pony. When the two are out of sight, most of the Company return to the halls of the now liberated city whilst Reika walks with Balin.
"And what of you, lassie?" The white-haired Dwarf asks.
"Soon I'll return to Rivendell…I promised my nephew after all and there's a few things I need to do if I'm to return here for a longer time if I'm still welcome that is" Reika admits, reminding Balin she is the Regent for her nephew's people.
"You're always going to be welcome here, Reika" Balin smiles. "Of course, I'm sure Fili would be a tad disappointed if you did not return" he teases lightly.
"Oh she doesn't need to worry about that" Fili says from the battlements above. "I'll be travelling to Rivendell with her. For diplomatic reasons of course" he grins mischievously and Balin can only shake his head. "We need to reopen relations with the Elves after all" he says as Reika laughs in delight.
"Of course, I believe you" Balin smiles in amusement before heading off as Reika walks up to stand beside the prince.
"So…when do we set off?" Fili asks.
"You seem eager to go back to Rivendell" Reika notes with a small smile.
"I quite enjoyed my time there. The Elves there are of decent stock at least" The fair-haired prince says. "Not to mention the fact that you are going there…where you go, I go" he admits as Reika smiles fondly.
"Well then pack plenty. It will be a long journey after all" Reika says in amusement.
"You've gained a taste for adventure"
"I've always had it, it just tempered upon my arrival years ago…I don't know how long I will be there. Are you sure Thorin will not be displeased about an extended absence?" Reika asks quietly.
"Well Dain is acting steward of Erebor until Thorin is on his feet, which won't be for a while. I'm sure they will be fine without me for a little while at least" Fili says with a shrug and Reika raises a brow but says nothing, taking the Dwarf's hand in her.
"Why am I not surprised? Always one for not doing what he's told" Reika giggles. "Thank you, Fili" she says softly.
"For what?" Fili asks.
"Everything…for getting to know me, for sharing the knowledge to defend myself, for fighting beside me and for allowing me to do this" Reika says as she leans in, soft lips brushing gently against rough ones, relief coursing through her when Fili returns the kiss, cradling the others cheek.
"You are most welcome" Fili says fondly as Reika smiles brightly, unaware of the image she paints in the sunlight of the battlements with how happy she is.
The pair are quick to catch up with Gandalf and Bilbo in the days to follow the victory of the Battle of the Five Armies. The world a lot brighter after the destruction of what they would all learn is the one ring of the dark lord Sauron.
Reika breaking into hysterical laughter when Gandalf points out she'd completed her prophecy after all while they had stayed with Beorn. Her improved mood leading her to flying the group over the Misty Mountains and into Rivendell.
Elrond and the elves of Rivendell more than happy to see her and welcome the group into their home as spring is just setting in. A full year since the quest had begun and ended.
"Auntie Rei!" Estel shouts and scoops up his aunt into a tight hug once she's human once more. Having grown again in the months apart and gaining muscle as he began to train with the other Rangers and go on patrols now that he is old enough to do so.
"I missed you too" Reika wheezes out happily, hugging back just as tightly when she feels her nephew's happy tears in her hair at the sight of the jade courting bead Fili had braided into her hair.
"You're not going to stay" Gilraen notes as her son puts her friend down. Having seen the courting bead as well.
"I found my place, but you and Estel will always be my family" Reika reassures gently as Gilraen nods while Estel asks how she was going to stay this time.
"As long as it takes to find the people to cover my routes and make sure those people know how to help you bear the responsibilities I carried until I went to retake Erebor" Reika assures as Estel nods his understanding. Quietly glad she wasn't going away just yet.
Fili more than able to see how hard it is for the young boy to let Reika go. Obviously filling the role of a parent much like Thorin had for him and Kili when they lost their father and their mother needed the time to mourn. He knew Estel would be attached to Reika and himself for the whole of their stay in Rivendell as Reika did as she promised.
Made sure that Estel had a small council of trusted advisors in place, Elrond amongst them, to help prepare the boy to be chief of his people. Possibly one day king though the couple wouldn't know this till Elrond sat Reika down and told her the story of the one ring and Isildur's downfall when he didn't destroy the ring. Admitted that Estel or Aragorn as he had been named by Arathorn was the last living heir of the line.
Bilbo and Gandalf having left Rivendell the day before, Reika gifting Bilbo with a portkey for whenever he wished to visit the Company. Having spelled simple silver band to the shared amusement of the pair.
"You don't know that will be what he wants Elrond" Reika warns weakly as she grips Fili's offered hand.
"It is his birth right and the path he's destined to go down no matter how long it takes for him to find the courage and drive to do so that much I've seen my friend" Elrond admits as Reika asks what it would take to push her nephew that far.
"It would have taken the resurgence of the ring had you not destroyed it…now he will naturally want to stand equal with you when he reaches your current age if not slightly younger" Elrond admits with a fond smile as Reika gives him a dirty look but lets the matter go.
"If it's what he truly wants I won't fight him on it, but he will spend some time at the Lonely Mountain with us to learn what he needs to" Reika warns as Elrond chuckles fondly knowing that this is the best he's going to get from the hybrid. Reika making more than clear how she'd felt about prophecy and divination over the years.
"You and the dwarves will have much to teach him" Elrond says fondly as Fili grins in shared mischief with Reika as he let the pair go.
Aragorn spending the night curled with the pair as Reika took him aside and explained to him what she'd been told. Taking the time to reassure her nephew that she would always support him in his choices in the way she'd wished the adults around her had when she was his age.
The reassurances going a long way in easing Aragorn's insecurities as he dove into his lessons with more than energy than he had before Reika had returned to Rivendell.
Aragorn asking her to sing the night before she and Fili were to leave and begin the journey home to Erebor. The pair packing the last of Reika's belongings into her trunk that afternoon after Elrond admitted they were hosting a farewell feast for her and to celebrate the renewed connection with the Lonely Mountain.
"I can manage that" Reika smiles softly as she and her nephew sat on the balcony overlooking the valley below Reika's rooms.
Picking something that would express the devotion she and Fili shared and showed her nephew she would always be in good hands and loved the way Arathorn had always promised she would be.
Aragorn getting his wish when he tracks the pair down before bed, finding them swaying in Reika's room, small balls of light dancing around the pair.
Fili starting of the tune Reika had picked out, amused by the fact the words sounded like marriage vows, like a promise of things to come. Reika quick to follow once she senses her nephew leaning in the door.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With ne'er a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you would marry me
No scorching sun nor freezing cold
Will stop me on my journey
If you will promise me your heart
And love me for eternity
My dearest one, my darling dear
Your mighty words astound me
But I've no need for mighty deeds
When I feel your arms around me
But I would bring you rings of gold
I'd even sing you poetry
And I would keep you from all harm
If you would stay beside me
I have no use for rings of gold
I care not for your poetry
I only want your hand to hold
I only want you near me
To love, to kiss, to sweetly hold
For the dancing and the dreaming
Through all life's sorrows and delights
I'll keep your love beside me
I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With ne'er a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you will marry me
If you will marry me"
The pair sing softly as Fili presses a kiss to her forehead, continuing to sway a little as Reika hums in joy. More than able to smell how happy her nephew smells for her and Fili.
Pulling away to hug Aragorn who sweeps Reika off her feet in silent reminder he's still growing and would always be taller and able to protect her like his father once had.
"Come on time for bed sweetling" Reika whispers, using her old nickname for him and gets a watery smile for her efforts as he puts her down and lets her tug him to his rooms. Singing him one last lullaby before she had to go.
The pair's journey back to the Lonely Mountain peaceful and a mark of the years to follow as they married not even a year after their return.
Aragorn walking his aunt down the aisle in her dark red off shoulder A-line wedding dress; gold beads stitched into flower and star like designs along the skirt and train. Reika forgoing the veil to wear a simple gold circlet that Fili had made for her to show off the braids and beads she wore with pride.
All of those she held dear to her heart standing in the throne to watch her moment of triumph and happiness as she bound herself to the dwarf she'd fallen in love with.
Thorin and Dis happily welcoming the hybrid into the family as a daughter of Durin. Dis ecstatic her eldest had found his One in the strong yet gentle Reika.
The joy continuing to grow as Reika gave Fili a son barely a year later, reminding those closest to them why they pair had married so quickly to the amusement of Kili who doted on his white haired nephew.
Young Frerin, named for Fili's uncle, taking strongly after Fili but inheriting Reika's wild white hair to the delight of his parents.
Reika's past finally catching up with her when Frerin is three and pregnant for the second time.
The magical creatures having had enough and making the right offerings to return home to Middle Earth. Most of the mages coming with them and those that didn't stripped of their magic by the Valar. Forced to live like normal humans.
Reika and the rest of those sensitive to magic able to feel the strong surge of magic signalling the return of those that once left Middle Earth.
"Amad?" Frerin asks worriedly as he clung to his mother's skirt. The pair having been on their way to Dale to visit the open markets.
"I'm alright sweets, Mama just felt a lot of magic being used is all" Reika answers as she gently with some effort lifts her son up and holds him against her hip. Making her way to the throne room to report to the rest of her family what she'd felt.
"Rei?" Fili asks in concern at the slightly winded Reika, taking their son from her as Tauriel forces her to sit. The she elf checking her and the baby over while Reika tries to wave her off.
"I'm fine, just winded from the large surge of magic I felt while I was on my way to Dale" Reika reassures as Bilbo asks what that meant, having come to visit since he hadn't been able to come to the wedding between Kili and Tauriel.
"Those that left Middle Earth so long ago have returned" Reika admits as Thorin sits up in surprise.
"Your people?" Thorin asks as Reika nods.
"The mages and likely every being that followed us the first time we left" Reika agrees as Thorin stood up and called for Balin knowing messages would need to go out since the surge meant a whole group have Dwarves had returned with no where to go since it had been a group from Moria that had left the first time and Moria was now inhabitable due to goblins and orcs that now held the Dwarf strong hold.
"Will they come for you?" Kili asks as Reika shrugs, rubbing a circle into the side of her baby bump. The baby kicking hard with ten weeks to go before they were due.
"I don't know and I'm not going to stress about it until someone comes to the mountain looking" Reika grumbles as she got up, needing to move since her agitation made the baby restless like it had when she'd been pregnant with Frerin.
"Now that I've said my piece I'm going for a walk and no its not back to our rooms in the royal wing" Reika warns as Thorin returns and tries to protest. Fili shrugging in amusement as he followed his wife with his son.
Tōga babbling about what he'd been doing with his Amad until she'd stumbled.
Reika giving birth to two more sons to the surprise of everyone by the time someone came looking for her. Both boys taking after their mother in species though the older of the two had inherited Fili's golden blonde hair and no facial markings while the youngest was born a male clone of his mother with his father's blue eyes. Both pale skinned like Fili and their older brother to the amusement of Reika.
Reika getting to choose their names and naming her blonde pup Taiyo for his hair and little Tōga for the ancestor they both strongly resembled.
Marvolo Slytherin formerly Tom Riddle having listened to the stories the normal humans of Middle Earth told of Reika's exploits in the slaying of Smaug and battle prowess during the Battle of the Five Armies and made the journey to the mountain with what remained of Reika's maternal family.
Sesshōmaru, his daughters, Towa's husband and InuYasha listening to those stories too and all amused at how strongly their youngest family took after them all. Learning of her existence after she'd fallen through the Veil and returned to the lands of their ancestors.
Reika sitting on the balcony of her family's rooms with Tōga in her arms, Taiyo sleeping peacefully in the bassinet next to her chair. Kili and Tauriel having taken Frerin for the day so both Fili and Reika could get some sleep while they could, the twins proving to be very good about sleeping when their parents needed them too.
Dis being the one sent to fetch them once the procession of mage and yōkai stops before the King Under the Mountain and announces why they have come.
Towa and Riku standing at the front of the line as Reika's closest family, giving Thorin his first look at where Reika had inherited her looks from. Her eyes looking back at him from a clean shaven man that looked no older than himself.
"Rei, there is a group here to see you" Dis explains as Reika looks to her in quiet confusion. Standing up with Tōga, her Rivendell guard and black under robes making little noise as she stood and accepted Fili's hand as they followed Dis to the throne room. Taiyo and Tōga settling quietly into their slings across their parents chests.
Kili and Tauriel beating them to the throne with Frerin to Towa's delight as she kneels to accept an eager hug from her grandson. Frerin very much affectionate to the delight of his family.
Thorin spotting Dis returning first as Fili and Reika stopped in the hallway outside so Reika could gather herself. Her nerves getting the better of her as they got closer to the throne room.
"It will be alright Rei" Fili reassures softly as Reika nods jerkily. Swallowing her fear and letting Fili guide her into the room. Looking every inch her oldest ancestor to the surprise of Sesshomaru and InuYasha and delight of Towa and Riku who would greet their sole surviving female descendant with a smile.
"You look so much like grandfather" Towa says in soft awe as she reaches forward and runs a gentle thumb over Reika's cheek marks.
"I found the scrolls and albums in my mother's personal vault, same with his shoulder pauldrons" Reika admits quietly, her eyes bright with joy as Riku smiles in amusement, revealing they share that smile.
"We knew Ronin had squirreled them all away somewhere when he travelled to the mainland, we just weren't sure where after he passed" Riku chuckles as Fili asks what had happened.
"Ronin was more human than yōkai so age caught up with him as it did all his descendants" Riku admits sadly while Sesshomaru would quietly ask/demand for the twins names.
"The oldest which Fee is holding is Taiyo and this is Tōga" Reika presents as InuYasha makes a noise of surprise.
"He looks exactly like the old man" InuYasha notes bluntly and earns a snort of amusement from Reika at his crass words.
"He looks like me, but he has blue eyes like his brothers" Reika says fondly as Frerin makes a happy noise of agreement. Giggling when Kili lifted him up onto his shoulders so he wasn't under foot.
"How did you know to come here?" Reika asks curiously as Riku grins and points to the silent figure waiting for his turn next to Thorin. Having quietly been discussing the state of things amongst those that had returned to Middle Earth with Thorin and Dis.
Giving Reika's family a moment together before the hard discussions had to happen.
"Tom?" Reika asks quietly as the young looking dark lord nods in amusement.
"It's Marvolo now thanks to you Ms Potter" Marvolo says as Reika snorts out a laugh of delight.
"How long has it been?" Reika asks as Marvolo grins knowing she's caught on.
"It's only been three years for those of us on Earth since you fell through the Veil and returned to our ancestral lands" Marvolo admits as Reika cackles in delight.
"It's been nearly fifty years for me" Reika says in delight as Marvolo's infamous composure breaks as he chokes in surprise while Riku, Towa and InuYasha would join Reika in her laughter while Tauriel would quietly ask what that meant.
"It means that those that knew me and followed Marvolo home are looking for a tiny eighteen year old me that looks like I did before the Veil kick started my yōkai blood" Reika giggles out helplessly. "It means that those that thought they knew me are going to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off, giving me the peace and quiet to reconnect with those that did know me" she finishes explaining as Fili and Kili snort in amusement.
"So it will be alright to notify some of your former classmates they can come to the mountain" Marvolo offers as Reika nods.
"Yes you may after you return to wherever you settled with the rest of your people" Reika says as Marvolo makes a curious noise.
"I'm married and have children Marvolo. The Dwarves of Erebor are my people as are the Elves of Rivendell and the Dunedain of the North as well through my nephew. I've been here so long that they are my people now, not the mages of Earth though I will always be a child Hecate and a child of the West" Reika explains looking to her maternal relatives and getting smiles and nods of understanding.
"I made sure you were made whole because I knew that wherever I was running to that the mages would never be my responsibility like Dumbledore had wanted of me" Reika finishes as Marvolo nods with a soft smile.
"And the people who returned with me are forever grateful for what you did Lady Potter" Marvolo agrees and would accept the offer of rooms in the embassador quarters so the discussions of trade and the return of the descendants of Moria's dwarves to the communities of the Iron Hills, Blue Mountains and the Lonely Mountain.
Reika and Fili offering up rooms in the royal wing to the rest of Reika's family during their stay in the mountain.
Fili happy to see Reika so welcome with her ancestors and finally at peace with herself and place in the world.
The world finally at peace with itself because of her arrival and actions since bringing forth a brighter and new age with the defeat of the darkness.
