"Come now lass, give us a song!" Oin was encouraging me as we all sat together having eaten our last meal of the day, intending to take one more night of rest before leaving on the morrow at dawn. "We've played and sang plenty so show us something of the skill of the elves, but mind you speak up so I can hear you." His rolling tongue made me chuckle as Nori disagreed.
"The music of the elves is dull at best! It'll send us all to sleep!" He argued and some such as Gloin and Dwalin agreed, having no taste for lilting lullabies.
"I must confess Master Nori is correct." I announced over the argument, dimming it down as I spoke. "I do not possess the same skill as my kin as I am only half elven, my mother was mortal and I take after her most of all. I have no gift for instruments in particular and often make mistakes, I much prefer listening to music and the songs that you have sang are most enthralling, far more preferable to anything that I could offer." This was my attempt of escaping the request to sing as I did not wish to shame my people with my voice. I was able to hold notes but in comparison, my voice was perfectly ordinary though perhaps by the standards of those who have never before heard the songs of Elves, it would far exceed their expectation.
"We want to hear you sing." Fili said to me, not allowing me to escape. "Besides, I feel not at all weary, so a song or two from a gentle voice could be exactly what I need to send me into sweet dreams."
"Aye, we have gone and drank and eaten too much and though our bellies are full, I find myself only more awake than before." Balin agreed before giving me a kind and grandfatherly smile that twinkled within his merry eyes. "Do not be shy lass, sing us anything that you like." With all eyes now turned to me, including Beorn's and Mithrandir's I conceded, not wishing to appear rude by continually denying them their simple request.
Musing thoughtfully for a moment I decided upon one of my favourite songs, the words flowing from my lips in a more mellowed pitch before gradually rising higher. Although the words were in elvish, I noted how the dwarves all widened their eyes slightly, listening and even shifting a little closer as they became entirely focused upon my voice. Soon I saw their eyes begin to droop, the energy of the day wearing off with my lustrous lullaby that quelled their minds and allowed them to drift off one by one with Bombur being one of the first to go. With my voice filling the hut I sang through the verses, eyes closed and swaying slightly with the pulse before finally the song ended and around me I saw everyone had fallen asleep. Bilbo, Mithrandir, Fili and Kili, even Beorn were snoring with the animals curled up in various places, a multitude of snores making me blink before I chuckled to myself, rising to my feet with my bow coming to hand and my quiver being slung upon my back, taking up a watch over the door as Beorn got his rest. I could hear and sense the orc pack nearby, waiting for their chance though they did not dare approach the house for Beorn's presence but I did not feel easy being so relaxed so I remained awake, listening to the rumbling snores that sounded more like rolling thunder that hung overhead in the skies.
Several hours passed with me remaining in a fixed position, the moonlight soon streaking through the beams of wood of the quaint little hut, shining brightly and one such beam disturbed Thorin as it cast itself upon his face, making him grunt as his expression flinched against the light before his eyes opened gradually from the disturbance. My back was turned to him but I heard him move, shifting upon his bedroll before he then rose to his feet. "You are still awake?" He questioned, coming towards me slowly.
"I thought it ideal for someone to listen for any movement outside. We may be sheltered here but the danger is still out there." I reasoned with him, a hand resting upon my bowstring with the arrow ready to fly. "You should return to your rest, noble king. There is still a great distance we must travel before we reach your home."
"I shall rest when I am ready." He responded a little curtly, folding his arms as he too listened to the sounds outside but all was quiet. The majority of noise came from Bombur's snoring with Gloin a close second. For a while there was silence between us, Thorin leaning against a sturdy post and I believed that there was something that he wished to say but perhaps could not find the words so I said nothing, my attention focused upon the front door. "I do not understand you, elf maiden." He finally announced, keeping his voice quiet as not to disturb the others. He need not have minded such a thing, I doubt even a thunderstorm would awaken any of them for how deeply and soundly they slept. "You are very different from your kin in a way that I cannot yet describe and this disturbs me greatly."
"As I said before, I am only half elven. There is still the mortal blood of Man that runs through my veins, though this no doubt does very little to endear me to you." Giving him a soft smile the moonlight dimmed once more as the clouds passed over the moon but still in the silvery gloom I could see the Dwarf King as he continually studied me. "But I only ever speak the truth, Thorin Oakenshield. My intentions are as I say, to seek a way to save those that might otherwise perish and if this means that I must face a dragon, alone even, then alone I shall face him. I know that you do not trust elves, but it is wrong of you to encase us all into one prejudice." With my gaze finally fixed upon him, I gave him an intense look. "I am not my kin. I am Asta Eleniel, daughter of Men and Elves, Lady of Greenwood, Lothlorien and Imladris. This is who I am and you should not fault me for my birth, as I have not faulted you for yours."
His eyes sharpened quickly at my wording though my expression did not change. In a bid to protest and deny, Thorin opened his mouth but stopped, possibly knowing exactly what it was that I spoke off. The madness of the mind was a terrible thing but I yet had hope for the dwarf king as his heart was not yet tainted with gold. In addition, he realised that what I said was pragmatic and he did not have reason to doubt me just for my race alone. Eventually I heard him release a heavy sigh, noble features lifting to meet mine. "Forgive me for any offence that I might have given, my lady." He spoke with unbound gentility as he bowed respectfully. "But you still have not earned my trust nor your place within this company."
"This I accept, lord king." I acknowledged to him, turning my face back towards the door. "If you cannot accept me as your friend or even your ally, then at least do not think of me as your enemy for I am nothing of the sort. Go now, rest and sleep pleasant dreams, great king." I guided him, my lips tilting upwards slightly in friendliness. "I shall watch over you all this night so there is naught to be fearful of. Upon the morrow, we shall be away." Before he realised it Thorin's eyes began to drift closed, head dropping before jerking back upwards as he attempted to stay awake but my musical voice hummed in the deep, echoing softly in enchanting melody until finally Thorin had no choice but to drop down back upon his bedroll and soon I heard his light snores join the others.
They slept deeply and well without so much of a disturbance through the night and when the company began to rise at dawn, they saw me sitting upon a chair facing the door with my bow and arrow in hand. No one commented, however Dwalin shared a thoughtful look with Gloin before they grumbled to themselves, hurrying to tidy up their beds as I finally relaxed. Beorn awoke when he heard everyone else's movements, yawning largely before he then quickly shot to his feet in alarm, not having intended to sleep through the entire night whilst such hunters lay in wait for us just beyond the doors. "The orcs, did they come last night?"
"No they did not, they remained within the trees and did not leave the forest all through the night before they moved away. They are several leagues from here at this moment though I suspect they are merely circling around." I informed, returning my arrow with a twirl to my quiver before my bow then joined it upon my back.
"My dear girl, you should not have kept yourself awake all night just to stand watch, you should have awoken me you know." Mithrandir admonished caringly but I smiled to him comfortably as the animals began to prepare breakfast for us all.
"It was no trouble and I did not need sleep. Allow me to help you with the ponies, Beorn." With that I was moving towards the door, exiting the house with long strides as I went to where a herd of ponies and horses gathered, calling out to them softly and they all came cantering forwards, snorting and brushing their velvety faces against me. Within the hour we had all eaten breakfast and saddled up our mounts with supplies gifted to us from Beorn. His kindness was met with equal gratitude as I gave him the farewell of my people and he extended the invitation that I was welcome to return as often as I liked, though he expressed that he would prefer I be without the company of dwarves.
I laughed lightly at this, swinging up onto the dappled horse that he had given me to ride and drew up its head with a lift of the reins, saying a final goodbye before I stretched out my hand towards Bilbo, giving him an encouraging smile. He exhaled with relief and quickly scrambled up to sit in front of me, wiggling himself into a more comfortable position before weaving his fingers into the horse's mane at my direction. "Be at ease, dear Bilbo, I shall never let you fall." I promised him softly, knowing his trepidation at the idea of having to ride such a large animal as this when only used to a smaller pony.
With a click of my tongue we began to move off, skirting around the others as I scanned the trees before making a gesture to Thorin, assuring him that for the moment we were safe to leave. Mithrandir had quickly mounted his own horse after a brief conversation with Beorn, however the subject that I could not help but overhear concerned me. A growing darkness and power that was drawing forces towards it. Such monstrosities that had not been seen for an age. Of course I had heard the stories and the battle scene painted before the shards of Narsil came to the forefront of my mind. If an old enemy had indeed awoken, we were all in the gravest of dangers and I already knew what was to come to pass. I knew that he had awoken, though for a time I did not know his name and still I did not know for certain that it was the same threat. My visions were deeply troubling and confusing of late and I was unsure of where they fell upon a timeline, so I kept my worries and concerns to myself until I had more clarity.