A/N: Hello! I'm here with another update! Also, thank you so much for all the new follows! I'm overjoyed you guys like this! I was worried it might be a bit dull, but so far you guys seem to like it! Also, I realised I'd written in the last chapter that the kidnappers had snuck Eira out the window - obviously being under a mountain here is no window, so feel free to ignore it.

Question for you: would you like the chapters to be longer or is this length decent?

Let me know in the comments/reviews! Enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen

Chase

I had never seen such rage as the fire in Fili's eyes when he and Maggie found out that Eira had been taken. Within seconds, Fili ordered a search of the whole mountain and there wasn't a person in sight not looking for the young princess. I too had to admit that I feared for Eira and wondered who could have taken her. There was no doubt in my mind that when Fili did find whoever took her, there would be no mercy shown. I'd always known that both Fili and Kili shared their uncle's personality in more ways that one, but it was Fili who truly mirrored Thorin's characteristics. I saw the look in Elrond's eyes and I am certain that he too thought Fili would bring down the whole mountain with us under it.

Which is why, when I saw Millicent following Maggie to the stables I decided to go after them. I knew what they were thinking, or at least I could hazard a guess. Outside, the weather had also taken a dramatic turn and a mix of rain and snow fell from the skies. I saw Maggie saddling a horse by the stables and Millicent standing by, neither of them noticing my presence.

"Out there in the dark on your own? Maggie, that's lunacy!" Millicent said as her voice quivered "You could get hurt on the way and then what good would that do Eira? I know you're scared, believe me I am too, but you can't go alone. You need me."

I watched as Millicent placed her hand on Maggie's arm. For a moment, the queen of Erebor stood there pondering her thought and I couldn't help but wonder what choice she would make. Finally, Maggie nodded in agreement and Millicent exhaled a relieved sigh.

"Do you know how to ride horses?" Maggie asked "If not you'll have to learn on the job. Alvis is fast, but kind. Take her."

I couldn't believe they were both so reckless. While Maggie had indeed been queen under the mountain for several years, she was still not of this world and did not know all of its dangers. Not to mention Millicent was only just beginning to understand this world and all its creatures. She had not yet encountered its evils and as far as I understood, she did not possess any combat skills with which to defend herself.

"I suppose either of you know the woods well enough to know where you're going?" I asked "Without neither dwarrow nor elven senses to guide you? You'll either get hurt or die on the way."

My sudden appearance startled Maggie so much that she drew her sword and pointed it right at me. When she realised it was just me, she exhaled a relieved sigh and yielded

"You can come with us or you can stay here." Maggie said "Either way, my daughter has been taken and I am going to find her, whatever it takes. If you try to stop me, Thranduil, it won't be my husband's wrath that you have to worry about."

I knew that if I did not come with them, I would indeed face the wrath of both Fili and Elrond. Obviously, I too wanted to find Eira because the child was precious to me.

We rode for hours, mostly in silence. I took the lead as we crossed fields and forests in search of those who had taken Eira. I used my elven senses to trace the kidnappers, but anything I could pick up was vague. They were human and considering their speed, I also guessed they were skilled horsemen. I seriously doubted that they hailed from Rohan, because they had no quarrel with the dwarves of Erebor. In fact, Queen Éowyn and her brother Éomer were dear friends of Fili and Maggie. They both fought together with the fellowship and certainly had no ill will towards them. No, these foes were something new entirely and it troubled me. There were smaller villages whose people allied neither with the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan nor with Erebor. They served only themselves, but why kidnap Eira?

Nightfall came all too quickly and we slowed down in a secluded part of the forest, where we would be safe. Despite the darkness, the snow on the ground made it lighter and once we got a fire going and had some food, sleep would hopefully come easily.

"We should camp here for the night." I suggested "Lembas should keep our stomachs full until morning and there are herbs for tea."

"No!" Maggie protested as she dismounted her horse. "We can't stop now, Eira needs us! God knows what will have happened to her if we wait until morning."

"What good will you be to Eira if you are too tired, hungry and unable to stand on your two legs?!" I asked. "You need your strength if you want to fight for her. We camp for the night."

I saw the anger in Maggie's eyes, fuelled by emotion and fear for her daughter's life. We all felt it and rather than arguing with her, I put my hand on Maggie's shoulder and squeezed it gently. Seconds later, tears streamed down her face and to my surprise she sobbed into my arms. It surprised not only me, but also Millicent who began to set up camp, while I comforted Maggie. Over the past few weeks, I knew that Maggie and I had finally put our differences aside and - dare I say it - were friends. The last time I saw her cry was during Thorin's funeral.

"Thranduil is right, Maggie.." Millicent agreed "We need rest and to come up with some sort of plan. We all want to find Eira, but we need to be smart about it. Let's sort out something to eat and rest our feet for a bit, yeah?"

Maggie nodded and exhaled a tired sigh.

Some time later after we'd eaten, Maggie fell asleep by the fire, wrapped in a cocoon of blankets and only Millicent and I stayed awake. I wondered what was going through her mind about all of this. I knew that just as I, she had also come to love Eira. Neither of us wanted to see harm come to her. However, if anything were to happen to Millicent, I would feel guilty. All these months later, I still felt as though her wellbeing was my responsibility. If Gandalf ever did decide to bless us with his presence, I did not want him to think I did not care about Millicent.

That was entirely the problem.

I cared, perhaps too much.

You may wonder when I realised this was the case? Truthfully, I couldn't even tell you, but I could no longer deny that it was a fact. Most of my waking thoughts concerned whether or not she felt the same way. Our night watching the stars told me that she might, but then logic stepped over feelings. Why would she feel anything for me - somebody who in her mind is thousands of years old. Logic told me it was unfathomable, but then I knew that Elrond and Maggie were living proof that it was possible.

"If I didn't know any better," I said "I'd have thought you put something in Maggie's tea?"

"I put a bit of Valerian to calm her down." Millicent confessed "It should help her rest for a few hours at least."

I couldn't help but smile at her cunningness, but Millicent was also a good friend.

"What of you?" I wondered "Will you be able to rest?"

"I don't think I'm tired enough to sleep." Millicent replied, "Besides, it'll be too cold to fall asleep when the fire goes out."

"If it is the cold you worry about, why don't you come and sit here?"

The words came out of my mouth quicker than I intended and at first, I expected Millicent to decline my offer. Instead, she moved from her place by the fire and sat down next to me. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, but I composed myself as I allowed my arm to rest around her shoulder. Months ago, a scenario like this would have been impossible, yet there we were. While we sat there, I gently ran my fingers through her blonde hair and almost instantly, Millicent relaxed and her heart beat steadied for the first time in a few hours. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence and there was no need for words. Despite the graveness of the situation, I found myself happier than I had been in a very long time.

Eventually, Millicent closed her eyes and fell asleep. While she slept in my arms and Maggie slept wrapped in blankets on the ground by the fire, I kept an eye out. For the first couple of hours, the forest lay silent. No animals walked on the snow-covered grass and only the North Wind made noise. In the silence, I wondered what was happening back in Erebor and if Fili's search party had found Eira yet, or if they were still searching. Had Maggie told Fili that she was going off on her own? If so, I hoped Elrond knew that I was with them and would not let any harm come to either of them.

From within the shadow of the trees, a branch snapped on the ground and I immediately sat up. A few moments later, Maggie and Millicent awoke, both aware that we were in the presence of something else.

"What is it?" Millicent asked "Is it a monster?"

Heavy steps pressed into the snow and crunched leaves and branches in its path. From its mouth came loud huffs and I knew it was some sort of creature. My hand grasped my sword tightly, but not even I knew if that would be good enough to defend us from whatever created headed it was that headed towards us. A deafening roar caught all our attention, but then to our surprise something changed. It was as though the roar became quieter and the footsteps less heavy, as though the creature was changing.

I knew then what the creature was and as large footsteps made its way through the terrain, Millicent tightly grabbed my hand.

It was no animal that stood before us though.

It was an abnormally large and hairy man.

"Beorn." both Maggie and I said at the same time.

To be continued…

I know that was rather a short chapter, sorry about that! Don't worry though, I have plans for the next one and I'm going to try to make them longer from here on end. Also, I know I'm kind of messing with the distance between Erebor and the woods where Beorn live, but bear with me on this one. What did you think? Who do you think has taken Eira? And how do you feel about Millicent and Thranduil getting closer? Too soon or is it at the right pace? Please leave a comment/review :)