As we lost the light it became more difficult to see yet we pushed on, practically fumbling our way through the forest as the distant howls of Gundabad wargs sounded in the distance, creeping ever closer as their pace outmatched us. They would be upon us by tomorrow, if not before dawn. An arrow remained notched upon my bow as I ran alongside the dwarves, silently moving through the trees as Gandalf led the way. Some of the dwarves struggled with seeing the way until the moon came out and their eyes adjusted, though several times my hand darted out instinctively to pull one of them out of the way of a tree. "Get your hand off me!" Nori growled so I immediately drew back, apologising softly, however when he turned around he hit his head upon the tree straight away, grunting as he backtracked. "Blasted trees!"
"Nori, stop fooling around and keep moving!" Thorin snapped quickly as he breezed past, keeping up a steady pace so I moved forwards, leaping up some rocks to turn my eyes and look behind us, searching for a sign that our scent had been tracked. "Lady elf, are you with us?" He questioned but I paused a moment longer, knowing that it would only be a matter of time before the wargs picked up the scent. I must do something to throw them off the trail and do it quickly.
"I shall draw them away and lead them towards the river further downstream." Announcing my plan to the others the company halted, scattered slightly in the darkness though Fili and Kili instantly protested against the idea of me separating myself from the rest of them, more so to the fact that I would be placing myself in imminent danger of being caught alone.
"Don't be daft, they'll catch you and kill you!" Fili said to me with his brother at his side.
"We're better off in numbers, we have to stick together. You cannot go off on your own!" Kili agreed however I smiled under the moonlight as I descended from the rocks, returning my bow and the arrow to the quiver upon my back as I held out my hand openly.
"It is not open for discussion. Someone, give me a scrap of clothing. I shall set it as a lure in their path then draw them away. You must continue running, your very lives depend upon it. I shall return soon, expect my return by dawn." No one moved for a moment until Bilbo started to stammer.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Tilting my head I gave Mithrandir a pleading look, not having the time to argue so he suggested that Thorin listen to my advice and trust in my confidence. With a clenched jaw Thorin ripped off a small fragment of his tunic and handed it to me so I gripped it tightly, dipping my head. "Wait, wait you're not really going to go alone, are you? There have to be at least twenty of them out there!" Bilbo panicked so before I left I brushed my fingers down his face to calm him.
"One may move faster than a company. I shall return Bilbo, you have my solemn vow." I told him sincerely before disappearing from sight, heading southeast downstream where I scattered various herbs into the wind to blind their scents and confuse the wargs before leaving obvious trails for them to follow such as dishevelled paths, broken twigs and placed Thorin's cloth piece upon a branch where it would be smelled before continuing onwards. I raced down the river with swift feet, hearing the wargs as they crossed into the woods and began their search. My chest constricted tightly as my breathing became more difficult but I forged onwards, refusing to give in as I made it look as convincing as possible that the company had followed the river rather than crossed it before I then leaped up into the trees, using them to run over the water before I then disappeared into the forest.
My visions allowed me to find my way back to them as the sun rose, however when I caught up to them once more and suddenly appeared from the bushes with very little light to see with, the dwarves instinctively turned to me and drew their weapons in a defensive manner, intending to attack the sudden intrusion upon their momentary respite. "Be still! It is I." Calling out in as loud a voice as I dared I lifted my hands, proving that I was not their enemy as I stepped further into the pale morning light and the moment my form was revealed, a collective sigh of relief was shared amongst the company to see that I had returned as I had vowed.
"Ah! Asta my dear, I was beginning to grow worried for you." Mithrandir admitted as he came to my side, using his wizard's staff dependently. "From now on I must insist that you remain close where I can keep a careful eye on you. Lord Elrond and a great many other people will have my head should any ill befall you." I chuckled softly at his words before I then noticed that Bilbo was not among the company. Seeing my quick eyed glances Mithrandir patted my shoulder, anchoring me close to his side. "Do not fear, Bilbo is merely taking a look at our surroundings for us. He will be back shortly." Too weary to answer I inclined my head, remaining as still as possible as several different glances were thrown my way. Some were distrust, others nervousness though two or three were warm and welcoming, such as Bombur, Bofur and the king's nephews.
"You look like you could do with some rest." Fili said to me as he came and stood right in front of me, arms crossed in front of him with a mischievous smirk playing across his lips, the amiable expression of his features earning a smile in return.
"It has been many days since I last rested, Prince Fili, but I can go on a little longer. Do not be concerned, I shall not slow anyone down." I promised him however his next words caught me off guard by their kind thoughtfulness.
"It was not you slowing us down that was my concern." He said nothing more, smirking again and winking before turning away and going back to his brother's side where they spoke briefly in Khuzdul. I felt uncomfortable with how many of the dwarves openly showed their disdain and dislike for me being here, the tense silence as we awaited Bilbo's return only making the sensation increasingly more difficult to bear. That is until Bofur came and sidled up next to me quietly and rather unexpectedly, but I did not oppose his company.
"I wouldn't worry about the others lass, just give them time and they'll come round." He told me with certainty so I looked down to him with a more relaxed expression, appreciating his consideration. "We're a stubborn bunch, but we respect people who never give up and you don't strike me as whimsical."
"Indeed not." I agreed, the two of us sharing a smile together just as Bilbo returned with a hurried and rather nervous step.
"How close is the pack?" Thorin questioned but the hobbit continued walking as he spoke, making rather large and urgent hand gestures which caused me to frown, sensing that something other than wargs and orcs had startled him so my eyes naturally turned across to Mithrandir. I suspect that there is something that he knows but is yet to mention to us.
"Too close." Bilbo announced with a shake of his head. "A couple of leagues, no more but that is not the worst of it."
"Have the wargs picked up our scent?"
"Not yet but they will do. We have another problem, however." The hobbit answered Dwalin's demand and I awaited to hear what else he had seen, though Gandalf had immediately jumped in with the question of whether or not Azog and his pack had seen Bilbo. As they spoke, Bofur leaned his head towards me.
"Seems like your little trick did us well lass."
"Scents can be easily covered if one knows how." I answered simply like it was nothing, though inwardly I was glad that the ploy was successful. Although I could not lead them further away, a few leagues was better than nothing and it bought us just a little more time. Perhaps we may even be able to take them by surprise. With my bow it would be easy enough for me to shoot them from range without engaging in close combat so that their ranks would be thinned down further.
"Will you listen? Will you just…listen?!" Bilbo's small voice carried around the company who were speaking among themselves, drawing their attention to him as he attempted to warn them of what it was he saw. "I am trying to tell you that there is something else out there!" His voice squeaked slightly as if it broke from his nervousness. My eyes darted in the direction that he pointed, however Mithrandir's voice drew my eyes back towards him at the uneasy tone that he possessed.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" His question sent chills down my spine.
"Ye... yes but bigger, much bigger." My mind was ill at ease with this description. I have no knowledge of such a creature to exist though there was no doubt that it would be dangerous and possibly a great foe should we cross it. I felt Bofur stiffen beside me as he addressed Mithrandir, almost shaking in his boots as our wizard looked visibly distressed at the news that something else was close to our position. Something possibly more dangerous than an orc pack, if one could believe.
"You knew about this beast?" The others muttered and argued, Dwalin suggesting that we all turn back the way we came, however Thorin reasoned that it would be unwise to risk falling prey to the orc pack when we had only just escaped them. It seemed impossible, the chance that we would all make it through this forest alive was growing ever slimmer but I was not ready to give up just yet, the future was changeable but also predictable and some things were simply meant to be. We will find a way through this forest and I believe Mithrandir knows a way.
"There is a house. It's not far from here, where we might take refuge." The suggestion sounded uncertain and I arched an eyebrow slightly, standing a little apart from the dwarves as they had clustered together instinctively at the threat of a new enemy.
"Whose house?" Thorin demanded to know, unconvinced by Mithrandir's tone. "Are they friend or foe?"
"Neither. He will help us or he will kill us." This was more unsettling than before. Does Mithrandir truly intend to lead us to a place where we would not know what our fate would be? It is lucky that I have such great faith in him and that I am able to quickly glimpse into the future, otherwise I would be reluctant to even consider going to such a place.
"What choice do we have?" Almost as soon as Thorin had spoken a bone chilling roar sounded from not too far away, making my head snap towards the source with a slight widening of my eyes. The giant bear was coming, it must have caught our scent.
"None." With no alternative options open to us, we had no choice but to flee for our lives once more. My keen eyes kept a close surveillance upon our surroundings, checking over my shoulder as the sun rose over the horizon once more, signalling another night without sleep or rest. My supplies were dry so there was no way to restore myself except through sheer force of will alone. At least I did not fall behind, in fact I found it relatively easy to keep pace with the dwarves, Bilbo and Mithrandir though they ran as quickly as they could.
As the sky brightened and daylight lit our path I reached out for Bilbo, taking his wrist and drawing him closer so that I could grip the back of his jacket and lift him off the ground, leaping down a steep embankment that dropped several feet, using a branch to swing down as he yelped in slight surprise, the others following in their own way though in a brief pause, I placed Bilbo back upon his feet. "Be careful, my dear Bilbo." I murmured to him as the others slid down the slope, yelling to one another to keep up and not fall behind. "Do not stray too far from us. Try to stay within the centre of the group, otherwise you might be taken first as easy pickings." I gave him a nod of encouragement, my voice light yet insistent, wanting to warm him that predators would see him as the weakest of us because he was smallest and the least armed. Although I would not allow that to happen, I wished to ensure that Bilbo was aware.
"Right." He nodded, looking no less frightened but with a hand to his shoulder, I gave him all the reassurance I could offer before we were running once more, splashing across a broad stream though my feet never once touched the water, gracefully bounding from stone to stone before I then moved ahead and found a vantage point to look upon our surroundings.
"Eleniel, what do your eyes see?" Mithrandir questioned, breathing heavily and gripping his back as the others crossed over the water.
"The wargs have found our scent. The water here will not sway them for long." I murmured, peering through the wood as my hand tightened its grip upon the bow. "I see no sign of your beast."
"Well, that is something at least. Hurry, everyone hurry!" Urging them to hasten I turned my head, catching the eyes of Thorin as he passed by me but I said nothing, knowing that to try and speak to him now would not only be unwise but was also unwanted. His opinion of me had been made very clear. "This way! Quickly!" Our feet carried us all through the morning, running until it was nearly noon through fields and across flowered plains, the landscape shifting the further we ran with the heavy weight of danger pressing against our backs. As the forest trees returned in sparse scatterings before then engulfing us once more, I heard the distinct roar of the giant bear closing in on us, causing the blood to freeze in my veins and I almost stumbled through lack of concentration. "Run!" I slowed to the back of the company, ready to shoot at anything that came over the rise though Bombur had frozen in place, staring fearfully until Bofur grabbed his lapel and dragged him back into a running pace.
"Bombur, hasten your speed!" My hand pressed to Bombur's back, urging him with quick elvish words and then he was away, running with all haste and even began to overtake the others as we broke through the treeline and came upon a large hut nestled in the crook of a grove, sweet smelling flowers and a large fence surrounding the border as Mithrandir shouted to us all.
"To the house! Run!" Under my feet I felt the rumbling vibrations of something heavy lumbering after us, each step shooting another jolt up my legs as the long eaves of golden yellow grass brushed against my skin. Ahead of me I saw Ori stumble and fall, yelling loudly in terror as he landed flat upon his stomach.
"Ori no!" Dori and Fili had stopped, turning back to retrieve him however I was already at his side, lifting him up with one hand though I quickly noted that he had twisted an ankle, making it painful for him to run.
"Keep going! Noro lim, noro lim!" My voice cried out with surprising strength as I sheathed my bow and pulled Ori up into my arms, struggling under his hefty weight a little but refused to let him go or leave him behind. Fili and Dori did not run but waited for me, Fili gripping onto the back of my arm to help me maintain balance as Dori held up Ori's legs, the three of us racing through the gate as a huge black shape burst from the trees.
"Come on, get inside. Open the door!" My head turned slightly, seeing for myself the petrifying shape that was bearing down upon us with bloodthirsty roars. It was unnatural and something I could never have imagined myself. Huge bulking shoulders covered in a thick mass of blackened fur, short snout bearing large teeth slick with saliva and hooked claws digging deep into the earth. We were the last to enter the house and I could feel the hot breath of the beast upon my back as I carried Ori inside and the door was immediately slammed shut upon the snout, everyone yelling as I swiftly placed Ori down then stood in front of him, drawing an arrow and trained it upon the door ready to shoot.
"Push! Push!"
"Dwalin!" Breathing deeply through my mouth I watched as the dwarves finally managed to push the door shut upon the great bear and bar it from the inside, shutting the creature out though it rammed its oversized shoulders against the door to express its anger. My arrow remained upon the door, not trusting the creature to give up so easily.
"What is that?"
"That is our host." Mithrandir informed and several disbelieving eyes turned towards him. "His name is Beorn and he's a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear and sometimes he's a great strong man." He began to explain as he retreated further back into the rather homely hut, Bilbo finally catching his breath as I allowed myself to lower the arrow though I did not remove it from the string. "The bear is unpredictable but the man can be reasoned with. However he is not overly fond of Dwarves." I bit down upon my lip slightly, hearing the bear leaving so I finally replaced my arrow and bow, turning around to see to Ori's injury as Dori fussed over him as he snivelled slightly.
"Lie still, I do not think it is any grave injury but allow me to see." I offered, seeking Ori's permission and he glanced to his brother before nodding his head quickly, still too overcome with fear to speak. Carefully I removed his boot, leg wrapping and sock before I then rolled up the leg of his trousers, tentatively inspecting the ankle. Delicately I rolled and touched it as Dori soothed his youngest brother and I confirmed that there was no breakage. "It is only a light sprain, you shall be well after some rest." I told him with a bright smile for his comfort. "If we bathe it with a mixture of herbs in cool water and keep your ankle elevated, you will be fully restored in no time at all." I announced, reaching into my small pouch to retrieve the herbs of which I spoke, however Dori lifted his hand.
"I shall take care of it. Keep your elf herbs, we'll do fine without." Although I did not like the tone that he took, I kept the irritation from my voice as I looked at Dori sharply.
"These herbs are found across multiple regions and are universally used. I could list them to you if you so wish and I am certain more than a few you will recognise. I only offer simple treatment, but if you find my presence unnerving or uncomfortable then please by all means, use them as you will." Placing the pouch down on the ground beside Dori I rose to my feet and took a step back from where I was not wanted. "I wish you a swift recovery, Master Ori." With a polite gesture I turned and walked away from them both, fully aware of the look Dori was sending after me so I disappeared into one of the stalls where a horse was stabled, busying myself with soothing its nerves.
The creature was alarmed by so many newcomers at once so I murmured in the softest of tongues and ran my fingertips over the well groomed coat, hiding myself away from the others as they found places to sleep. We were all weary and I was no exception, however I had no bedding to lay down and no blanket to cover me as I had not thought that I would need one, yet I felt a constant chill to the air born of my own nerves with that skin-changer still lurking outside. "Aren't you going to sleep too?" Hearing Kili's voice it was a moment or two before I realised that he was speaking to me.
"I shall once you have all found your rest. The beast may yet come back so I shall wait a while longer before I close my eyes." I informed him, stroking the horse's face on more time before I ducked under the rope that kept it inside the stall. "You should sleep, Prince Kili. These past few days have been strenuous on us all and you will need time to restore your strength." The young prince nodded his head in agreement, pursing his lips slightly before he then turned a small smile up at me.
"Kili, just Kili is fine. Not really a fan of all that title nonsense." This made my smile return, easily falling into a relaxed state with his cheerful and rather curious nature. I knew that he found me interesting because I was not like him, therefore his curiosity drove him to converse with me unlike the others. "But to my understanding, you've been running and chasing us ever since we left Rivendell and managed to catch up with us, so you need the rest more than anyone else, I wager." With that he ushered me towards a large cluster of straw, making me blink as Bombur and Bofur flung out a blanket artistically and spread it across the straw.
"Not particularly grand I'll grant you, but there's nothing better than a somewhat soft place to rest your weary bones on." Bofur's cheery voice made me chuckle as Kili made me sit down and Fili then appeared with another blanket which appeared to be covered in various animal hairs so he shook it out.
"Come on, lie your pretty head down, even a princess needs her sleep." He teased and before I knew it my quiver, bow, sword and belt with my travelling pouch had been removed, large hands pushing against my shoulders to make me rest back my head.
"You are mistaken, I am not a princess by any means, only a ward of my people." I tried to explain to them as Fili shook out the blanket with a flick and it dropped down upon my form to cover me completely. "Please I insist, this really is not necessary…I do not even feel a chill…"
"It'll get colder in the night, so don't worry yourself lass." Bofur chided, giving me a jovial grin. "But if a giant bear does decide to come breaking through the walls, we'll be sure to wake you before it eats us all." His joking only served to make me smile more, eyes beginning to droop as they became heavy like lead. "Just go to sleep…go to sleep…" Still half joking, Bofur lulled me with slow waving hands, Fili and Kili hovering close with smiling faces. I believe one of them reached out and brushed aside one of my braids though with my eyes feeling so heavy I could barely see, so I allowed myself to let go and drifted off into a meditative sleep that bordered between full unconsciousness and simply dreamlessness.