Chapter VI: Spiders. Why Did it Have to be Spiders?

A/N: Took a little longer than I would like, but I finally finished it. It's the rest of Beorn's place and into Mirkwood. Hope you all can catch where I got the title of the chapter from! Thanks go to Blondiezhere for the translations among other things! Elvish and Khuzdul are in bold. Here's the chapter! SSD

Somehow she was back in Rivendell. Ashara would know the sound of those fountains anywhere. Looked like her grandfather wanted to speak to her.

"You should have used the open eyed sleep, indyeldë."

Turning around Ashara replied, "Gandalf has already chastised me on the matter. What is going on haru? You do not use the dream speak lightly."

"Just a warning. Be careful when you enter that forest. There is a magic about it that will cloud the minds of those that enter it. The dwarves and the hobbit will be more affected by it than you will."

"Will I have any trouble?"

"Some, because you are not from there. It's time for you to wake up. It's been three days, and all of your companions are worried about you."

Ashara blearily opened her eyes, finally feeling better than she had since before the Goblin tunnels.

Her mind cleared even more when she felt something small leap onto her chest and began licking her face. Upon opening her eyes, Ashara saw that it was a wolf pup with reddish-brown fur and yellow eyes. It cocked it's head to one side when it saw Ashara was awake.

"Good morning pup. Please get up so I can eat. I'll give you some of it," Ashara coaxed.

After giving her face a final lick, the pup got up and started walking towards the kitchen.

There was no one there, everyone seemed to be outside.

Ravenous with hunger, as it had been three days since she'd last ate, Ashara began to cook several sausages and some bacon. Contrary to popular opinion, elves did eat meat and enjoy it!

While the meat was sizzling, she began making some hotcakes and toast.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ashara saw two familiar hands moving towards the sausages. She managed to whack both hands with the hot tongs.

"OW! What was that for?" Kili asked as he rubbed his hand. His brother did the same.

"You two will wait until they're done cooking. I get the first helping, I'm quite hungry," Ashara replied with a grin before saying "Set the table, please."

Once the large meal was finished, Ashara motioned to the dwarf princes to join her.

After sitting down, she tossed one of the sausages to the wolf pup who had followed her around the kitchen.

Balin was glad for the respite at Beorn's house. Everyone needed the rest.

Ashara had slept for three days, which had concerned certain unnamed members of the Company, but Gandalf had said it was normal for the situation. Upon waking up, she had made a large meal, and ate more than Fili and Kili thought an elf would.

At the moment she was showing Fili where she hid all of her daggers that Gandalf had taken from her while she slept. Most of them were the usual spots, but there some built in and well hidden sheathes in her armor.

As the pair began practicing throwing knives, Balin notice Thorin watching the scene with narrowed eyes. His gaze was primarily on Ashara, who was pointedly ignoring him.

If he didn't know Thorin any better, Balin would think...

Mahal, you better not be doing what I think you're doing!

He could almost hear laughter that wasn't his own in the back of his mind.

After training with knives all day, Ashara, Fili, and Kili who had joined them in the afternoon knew that they needed to get indoors for the evening. It had been a good day.

"Where in Mahal's name have you been?"

"And now it goes to hell," Ashara thought.

"Uncle, we weren't that far away. We were just practicing throwing daggers," Fili came to the rescue, hoping to stave off another spat.

Once Thorin was out of earshot, Fili asked her, "Where did you get the idea to have those sheathes built into your armor?"

Ashara thought for a moment before replying, "A ranger I know fairly well, Soren had blades hidden in his armor. He was the one who showed me what I showed you. She knew that she had a sad smile on her face.

"I'd like to talk to him sometime, compare notes." Fili said with a grin.

"So would I. He's been missing for 15 years. Though my grandfather seems to think he's alive."

Dinner was going fairly smoothly, with some conversation concerning what they'd done over the course of the day.

Until Ashara started coughing and hacking. Her eyes were watering as well.

Bilbo took a sniff at the pepper shaker she'd just set down. As he caught the scent, Bilbo exclaimed, "Ashara what were you thinking? This is powdered ghost pepper. You don't need a lot of this!"

"Thought... it was... regular pepper," the elf replied in between coughs.

After Kili handed Ashara a glass of milk to better deal with the intense heat, he glanced in his uncle's direction.

While the rest of the Company had given some kind of reaction to Ashara's predicament, his uncle had shown nothing. Then again, he and Fili had pulled enough pranks themselves, that Thorin could just be ignoring it.

Or he was the perpetrator himself. His uncle had an excellent poker face.

Ashara *knew* that damned dwarf king had pulled that prank on her. She was more than willing to admit that he'd gotten her good.

However she had a good way to get him back!

Most of the Company woke up the following morning to Thorin shouting in Khuzdul and loud barking.

Fili barely heard someone snickering as he turned around and saw Ashara with the biggest self satisfied smirk he'd ever seen.

It didn't fade one bit as the dagger his uncle threw landed between her fingers.

"You naskhûna! You set those wolves on me!"

"Consider it repayment for the ghost pepper powder last night!" Ashara replied with a smile that that would scare a Balrog. She was slowly reaching for her sword.

Before that could happen, Gandalf came up, grabbed their elbows and dragged them outside saying, "Now listen here you two..." before leaving earshot.

After the wizard dragged Thorin and Ashara outside, everyone else did their best to go about their business, as if they weren't curious as to what Gandalf was saying.

Bilbo had noticed Beorn cringing several times. Apparently he could hear every word.

As Nori made his way towards the door, the Skinchanger stopped him.

"You really do not want to know what the wizard is saying to them," Beorn said with a shudder.

While they were all curious, if Beorn was edgy about what Gandalf was saying, then it was likely unwise to interrupt the wizard in his reaming out.

About 30 minutes after leaving, both Thorin and Ashara were back in the cabin, looking everywhere but at each other. Gandalf was close behind, clearly exasperated by their behavior.

Before Bilbo could say anything further, Ashara turned towards him and said, "Let's go outside. You still need to practice your sword work."

The next few days, Thorin and Ashara were so polite to each other it was scaring everyone else.

No one dared ask what Gandalf had said to them.

After being at Beorn's for a week, they were all getting restless.

It will be nice to ride and use the open eyed sleep, Ashara thought as she mounted her horse.

The open eyed sleep would also serve the purpose of helping her avoid speaking to Thorin.

"Go. While you have the light," Beorn instructed.

Once they got going, she let herself fall into the state that would help her rest and help her keep her wits when she entered Mirkwood.

When the Company arrived outside of Mirkwood, it was nothing like what Bilbo had expected it to be. Something was not right.

He'd already began dismounting when Gandalf said, "Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master."

Bilbo glanced towards Ashara who was still mounted. Her eyes were open but somewhat glassy. He tapped her on the leg saying, "Ashara, we're outside of Mirkwood."

The elf shook her head and smiled, "Thank you Bilbo."

Once she sent her horse off, Ashara heard Bilbo say, "This forest feels... sick. As if some disease lies upon it."

You've certainly let things go haven't you Thranduil? Ashara thought.

There was no avoiding Mirkwood. It was the most direct way to the Mountain.

Ashara felt a sudden feeling of darkness come over the area, but she wasn't sure where it came from.

Gandalf had been looking around near the gate before rushing out shouting, "Not my horse, I'll be needing it!"

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked.

"I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf said as he mounted his horse.

Ashara felt a wave of anxiety course through her veins.

"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."

Before he galloped off, Gandalf said to her, "Lenga ech!"

At first, things felt normal in the forest. Everyone was walking in single file along the path.

Kili was in front of Bilbo, and Ashara was behind him. It made him feel much better that two of the better fighters were nearest to him.

Bilbo was unsure of how long they had been walking when Fili called out, "We found the bridge!"

He barely suppressed a groan when he saw that the bridge was damaged so that they could not cross the river in a conventional manner.

"We could try and swim it?" Bofur suggested.

"Didn't you hear what Gandalf said? A dark magic lies upon this forest. The waters of this stream are enchanted," Thorin reminded.

"It doesn't look very enchanting to me," Bofur murmured.

"We must find another way across," Thorin said while looking distastefully at the disrepair of the bridge.

The water looked really inviting to Bilbo before Ashara shook his shoulder.

"These vines look strong enough," Fili said and made to climb them.

"Fili. We send the lightest first."

First the dwarves looked at Ashara before she said, "I'll take my chances jumping across."

At that, she took a running start and jumped cleanly from one side of the bridge to the other.

Bilbo heard Thorin mutter "Showoff". The only reply was a snicker from Ashara.

Ashara happy to be across the river. It helped clear her mind of the magic that was trying to worm its way in.

Shaking her head again to clear it, Ashara helped Bilbo to his feet after he managed to get across using the vines.

What in the name of Morgoth has Thranduil been up to? Ashara mentally snarled. She wondered if her grandfather knew what was going on it what was once called Greenwood the Great.

"Something is not right," Bilbo murmured before shouting, "Stay where you are!"

Of course the dwarves had already started crossing the river via the vines. Some were doing better than others.

Bombur was nearly falling asleep.

As the Valar would have it, Thorin was the first dwarf across.

Ashara heard some rustling and drew her hand and a half sword at the sound.

It was a white stag.

SHIT! Thranduil will know we are here sooner rather than later, Ashara thought.

She had hoped to avoid the ruler of the Woodland Realm. Thranduil was difficult enough to deal with, even under the best circumstances.

Ashara also wanted to keep up the illusion that she was an ordinary elven soldier. She had come to enjoy the anonymity she'd found with the dwarves. And that anonymity would be lost the moment Thranduil or his son Legolas saw her.

Before she could say anything, Thorin shot an arrow at the stag, though he missed.

"You shouldn't have done that. It's bad luck," Bilbo said while looking in the direction the stag had bounded off.

"I don't believe in luck. We make our own luck!" Thorin declared.

Bombur proceeded to fall backwards onto a branch and fell asleep, snoring.

"Say what you will about our "luck" Oakenshield, that stag you shot at is a messenger of sorts for Thranduil. So he will know we are here, if he doesn't know already!" Ashara said with a sidelong glance at the dwarf king.

Before an argument could break out, Bilbo hissed, "Instead of you two arguing like an old married couple, perhaps the focus should be on getting Bombur out of the river!"

Bilbo had thought himself to be a decent climber.

Hopefully when I get to the top, I can clear my head!

It would also serve the purpose of some rare alone time. The dark magic of Mirkwood was affecting all of the Company. Even Ashara seemed to be having some problems. Though it seemed to be less so than any of the others. Bilbo figured it was a perk of being an elf.

As soon as he reached the top of the tree, his mind cleared. Bilbo called out, "I can see a lake! And a river. And the Lonely Mountain! We're almost there!"

When he got no answers, Bilbo asked, "Can you hear me? I know which way to go!"

Since silence reigned again, Bilbo called, "Hello?"

Worried, he began to climb down the tree before slipping into a bunch of webs.

WEBS?!

Then Bilbo saw the biggest spider he'd ever seen. After he slipped and fell, the spider wrapped him up and tossed him further down.

Things just keep getting better and better in Mirkwood! Thorin thought sarcastically as he struggled to get out of the web sack.

The spiders had been on them in an instant, before any of them could draw their weapons.

He could barely see through the webbing. What little he could see of the web sacks nearby, those in there were still struggling.

If Thorin strained his ears, he could hear what was likely curses in one of the elven tongues. The she-elf was still conscious.

Before he could think on the matter any further, Thorin found himself falling through the air, and hitting the forest floor hard. He heard several more hard hits.

Thorin managed to cut himself free with a dagger. Ashara was already out, her armor still covered in some webbing. She was helping Fili cut himself loose. And judging by where the remnants of her sack were, it was likely she'd landed on his oldest nephew.

Ignoring the hum of some unnamed emotion, Thorin went and checked on the others. He called out, "We need to get moving. Those spiders will be back, and in greater numbers!"

"Sanka liantës!" Ashara muttered as the Company was running from yet another pack of spiders.

Just as the pack was about to catch them, Ashara noticed movement in the trees that were not spiders. It seemed that Thranduil's guards had finally shown up and were dispatching the spiders with ease.

Ashara then saw an only too familiar head of blond hair: Legolas.

Damn. He's going to recognize me the moment I take off my helmet. Probably before!

After being surrounded, the exchange between Thorin and Legolas went downhill the moment after Legolas accused Thorin of stealing Orcrist.

"Your weapons. Now," one of the guards growled at her.

Upon deciding that there was no need to start a scene, Ashara gave up all her visible weapons.

"Remove your helmet."

Ashara could not suppress her groan of reluctance. The guard snarled, "Remove your helmet, or I will remove it for you!"

Glaring at the guard all the while, Ashara took off her helmet.

It would figure that the moment she handed it to the guard, Legolas would turn around. His eyes went wide.

"Hiril nín, Natyë haiya var Imladris."

She replied, "Návë farina arliantës nánë ala panin."

"Manu nar le carya as naugrim?" Legolas asked again.

"Mithrandir's inea," Ashara replied with an eye roll. Legolas grinned a bit at that.

Turning to the guard Legolas ordered, "Anno i carnas opto anzya."

Thorin watched with narrowed eyes as Ashara's weapons were returned to her without fuss upon the order from the head of the patrol.

Who is she to command such respect?

As they were marched into the palace, Thorin realized that he knew very little about the she-elf who was traveling with the Company.

A/N 2: And everyone is in the palace. How much longer do you all think Ashara's cover as an ordinary elven soldier will last? Will Thranduil keep his mouth shut or will he be an ass? Looking forward to hearing what you think of the chapter!

Translations:

Sanka liantës!- Hate spiders!

Hiril nín, Natyë haiya var Imladris- My lady, you are far from Rivendell.

Návë farina arliantës nánë ala panin- Being hunted by spiders was not planned.

Manu nar le carya as naugrim?- What are you doing with dwarves?

Mithrandir's inea- Gandalf's idea.

Anno i carnas opto anzya- Give the weapons back to her.

Khuzdul Translation:

naskhûna- temptress