A/N: This has been an absolutely pain in the rear week. I'm trying to curb my sailor-like cursing so just take what I said and magnify it if you must. First, my computer died and I went a bit insane waiting for it to come back from the shop with the genius repairman. Then I had one funeral and three deaths in the space of 3 days. My mother then broke down and so we ended up driving eight hours to spend time with family so she could calm down a bit. Then in the middle of making comfort food for the immediate family of the ones that passed away my mixer tries to die... Now that may seem like a small thing for most people but let me explain, my mixer is awesome, it replaces at the very least 6 small kitchen appliances and there is very rarely a day that it is not used. Like I can count on one hand the number of days in any given month that it is not used. So to have it die? My muscles are simply not up to par for that to happen. It is a fifty-plus-year-old workhorse (yes I should be expecting it to die I know.) and I am just not prepared for it considering how much I cook.

Anyway, reining in my ever-spinning brain back onto track, so I'm looking at computer upgrades and camera purchases and learning techniques for these things and... Brain off and spinning again. On top of this, I'm thinking about publishing my original stories onto platforms like Wattpad and Inkitt. Any thoughts? You know what? Let's just get to the story. Y'all can tell me later!

Now as I hope I have made obvious I write fanfiction for practice in the craft of writing. And if you like my writing style, my original works are much the same style, although varying subjects and genres. I just need to get over my own nerves and publish them. Can I get a supportive hug, please?

Also because my Ao3 readers have caught up with my readers you are now on the regular update schedule so you get parts of insanely long chapters. Cause 25+ pages in my writing program is a bit of an eye strain for me to write and edit each week. So love you all but I love not being sick all week from migraines and pain more.

Well on with the show and here we go! (I'm a poet and I didn't know it. Bad poet, but hey.)

Like, Subscribe, Favorite, Follow, Kudos and Review, (and consider following or supporting on P-atreon and Ko-fi. Cause you know adulting.)

Much Love

JR

P.s. P-atreon and Ko-fi update: Why aren't there tiers and goals yet on either? Mainly because I'm trying to get used to writing regularly on them. I don't want to promise my patrons something and not be able to deliver. So I'm working on building slowly and getting my routine down, then I will be doing some patron-only content like polls for story design and personalized thank-yous and inspiration videos or packages that contain some of the things that inspire each story and other various things. Maybe even some world-building polls. I dunno. I'm winging it. So hang in there with me, I'm still learning, and sign up to follow me so that when the tiers and goals go live you'd be the first to know. (There are 3 tiers up on P-atreon now and a goal up on Ko-fi. I'm working on others.)

Pps. I've caught up on posting on my older stories to Ao3. I am now free to post any deleted "scenes" and extras in conjunction with the older stories and the ones I am currently working on. They will only appear after a story is completed. And after Patrons get the first crack at them. Sorry. What do I delete? Mainly anything that needs to be edited out to meet the rating rules on this site. But also little interesting snippets that just slowed down the pacing. I will not be posting them here on this site. Apologies. But it has more "interesting" rules.

Chapter 4 Departure

The dwarves were just as loud and antagonistic as she remembered to the elves. But she had always found it to be more like the refining fires that they used than actual hate. Despite the long-standing rivalry between the two races. And for all his 'we are more refined and less prone to petty disputes' air that Elrond liked to wear like a second skin, he participated in the rivalry just as much as anyone else!

Only salad and greens on the table indeed. She snorted. When there had been roast venison last time she had seen his table. And wine? When he knew that dwarves preferred ale? Was he trying to be a rude host? The answer was obvious even to her while she hid in the shadows out of possible sight from Mithrandir.

"Mithrandir," she heard Elrond begin. "Can you see those in the Unseen Realm?" Having no interest in explaining, he asked it low and in Sindarin, to keep Thorin from understanding.

"You mean the nine?" Gandalf returned in kind.

Shaking his head minutely, Elrond murmured back. "The queen of Greenwood returned with a companion. But she herself is stuck in the Unseen Realm."

Rolling his eyes at the presumption of the elvish lord, Thorin spoke aloud, imperiousness dripping from every word. "If you wish to keep secrets Lord Elrond, I would suggest you not speak in a language all of us understand even if we do not speak it."

"I don't know what he said." Bilbo piped from his place at the table.

"He speaks of the Queen of Greenwood." Fili translated for the hobbit, proving his king's words. Sherilynn who had been sitting at a table behind them in the hall, stiffened next to the elleth who had been discussing the various properties of a healing plant and its trade value should she find any on the journey.

Turning to the pair like the whispering old males they were, Thorin leveled them with a look. "Against the Queen, we hold no ill will. She was ever an even-tempered and wise female who never turned her back on the suffering of others." He flicked the heel of a loaf of bread on his plate with a fingertip. "'Tis the King we bear a grudge against. Now, what is this about her being in the Unseen Realm?"

Elrond grit his teeth but thought better of the retort that was on the tip of his tongue. "You know the queen was a Singer?" He asked instead.

"Aye," Thorin answered. "And we well know the legends. Many of us wish she had been among our number when Smaug first came to the mountain. Then again at the Battle of Azunulbizar. What of it?"

"Sherilynn." Elrond called. "Will you please join us."

Thorin wasn't the only one who turned to look at her as she stood, garbed and ready for travel or battle, and made her way to the head of the table next to Elrond's chair between him and Gandalf. "This is the Singer Sherilynn, a formidable warrior in her own right and the companion of the queen. She must make her way to Mirkwood. And if you will consent to it, she will join you as far as she can before turning to that kingdom. You may find it useful to have a singer as well as an extra sword."

Kili looked nervously to his changeable uncle who stayed silent, studying the small female who was almost no bigger than a child herself. Slender as the sword she wore at her hip with practiced ease, she wasn't much to look at though she was pretty he guessed. The hair rather threw him though, as it was the bright pink of flowers.

"We have no need for a female slowing us down." Thorin finally answered evenly before returning to the meal.

As Caelann walked from the shadows, flickering in and out of visibility to Sherilynn and a shocked Gandalf, the tables began shaking. Elves and dwarves alike pushed back from them in fear. The torches around them began to blaze and sputter in turns.

Only Sherilynn and Gandalf heard the quiet song that she sang, or saw that every movement the tables did was mirrored by her raised hands that followed the beat of the tremulous song. "Caelann stop! I think you've made your point!" Sherilynn called above the noise.

"Indeed, my lady!" Gandalf added, scooting his chair back as she walked closer. As she reached him, the shaking stopped and he could see the tears in her eyes.

"It is good ta see ye again, old friend." She whispered, leaning over to wrap her arms around him in a tight embrace. When she pulled back, she kissed his aged-looking forehead before resting her own on it, tears slowly falling from her eyes. "I missed ye."

Letting out a soul-deep sigh, Gandalf relaxed and returned the kiss in greeting for all it looked like he was kissing the air. "It is heartening to see you again as well, my lady." His weathered hands came up and brushed her hair back from her damp face. "We have much to speak of."

"Later my friend." She promised, smiling through her tears of relief and exhaustion. "We have many days of journey before us. Make sure Thorin takes Sherilynn. For the success of his quest and the lives of his kin and himself, she must go. There is much danger waiting them before they find peace at the end of this. Their quest will not be over after the mountain is retaken and danger comes quickly with bats and wargs."

Narrowing his eyes on his old friend, Mithrandir considered her carefully. He had always found her to be an even-tempered and wise female, it wasn't often that she made demands and it was never without purpose, even if she told even less of what she knew than he did. But if she said it was essential that the young woman travel with them, he had to believe that she knew what she spoke of. But that wouldn't make it an easy sell for Thorin Oakenshield, the would-be king under the mountain.

"I ask one question of the both of you." Gandalf began, watching both women carefully. If they answered truthfully, he would argue for them. If not… "Will the company succeed?"

The one called Sherilynn looked to Caelann as the queen considered her answer carefully, holding up her hand for her companion's patience. "Dangerous question you ask." Sherilynn finally said when she lowered it. "To know the future is a double-edged blade."

"That sound's like something the queen would say." Gandalf mused, a hidden smile playing behind his eyes.

"She and I have had many conversations about how much to tell all of you," Sherilynn admitted with a shrug. "And I agree with her arguments." Looking Thorin in the eye for a moment, she turned to Fili and Kili then to each of the dwarves in turn giving a warm smile to the eldest whose white hair turned up at the ends of his luxurious and well-tended beard. "If I tell you what will happen," shaking her head, "I could cause you not to stay your course out of fear or arrogance."

Growling in annoyance at her evasion, Thorin stood abruptly and caught her arm at the elbow forcing her to face him. "Answer the question." He demanded.

She supposed that he thought the anger-filled look that he was giving her was actually intimidating. Her father gave a better glare though and it worked better if the person glaring was taller. "Remove your hand if you wish to keep it." She whispered.

As one every dwarf around the tables straightened and the air filled with tension. Only the elves remained relaxed. In Glorfindel's case even stretching his long legs out before him and yawning.

"Or you'll what?"

A quick glance at the invisible Caelann, who only shrugged and looked amused, decided it for her. Sherilynn swung a closed fist and hit Thorin under the jaw and swept his legs out from under him before moving sedately back to her place. "I will not be telling you anything Thorin Oakenshield. Because you would not listen even if I told you."

As one the dwarves erupted, all but Balin who remarkably, placed himself between the angry dwarves and the female. "Settle down!" He roared to be heard over the shouting. "Had he done the same to any of our women, she would have handed him his bollocks and you know it!"

As Thorin regained his feet, rubbing his surprisingly sore jaw, the company of dwarves slowly settled to wait for his pronouncement. Brushing the dust off his clothes, he turned to them and waved them aside. They parted like the rocks split under a hammer and chisel, revealing the woman sitting in her chair with her back to the table. "Well, I know you can hit."

She only raised a brow at him.

"I won't be taken by surprise next time."

"Next time," she rolled her eyes. "You won't be getting back up."

He almost wanted to smile.