Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own the wonderful world of Harry Potter or LOTR.
A/N: Hi folks. Just wanted to address something that popped up in a few reviews. Yes, I am very aware that the timeline in my story does not match the timeline Tolkien has in his works. For the sake of my story's progression, a few things have been altered and a few more things will be altered in the future. Thank you and enjoy.
-Chapter 18-
"Where does this river lead?" Hermione asked as they made they way away from the kingdom of Mirkwood.
"Lake-town. A human village that lives on Esgaroth the Long Lake." Legolas replied.
They had been travelling all night and now it is early morning. Hermione still could not get use to the face that elves seldom tire nor sleep. If she had this ability during the war back in Magical Britain, it would have been so useful. But the journey was not so pleasant, at least for Hermione's nerves. Along the way, they found tracks of more orcs. Seems like there was a group that fled ahead of the ones they decimated, chasing her companions. And with one of them injured, she prays that they were able to escape to safety.
"We must be stealthy when we reach Lake-town. It is ruled by a greedy lord and relations between Mirkwood and this human village have become… tense." Legolas frowned.
"I am surprised to hear you had a relation at all." Hermione chuckled.
Legolas smirked back. "There was a time when we woodland elves were all laughter and joy."
"My, my. And here I thought you were always such a sour-puss." Hermione laughed.
They soon saw the floating town on the horizon. Luckily, there were not many people out and about this early in the morning. Legolas motioned for Hermione to slow down as they hid behind the back of a building as a boat passed by the canals that wound through the town.
"Let's split up and search. We will cover more ground that way." Hermione whispered.
Legolas hesitated before nodding. He motioned for her to check the right while he started heading to the left. Hermione went from house to house wondering where on earth a wizard, a hobbit, and thirteen dwarves could be hiding. She doubts there is a large enough place or soundproof enough place to hide such a rambunctious group. She even looked into the many barrels by the docks since that's how they had escaped. But no luck. Hermione was about to pull out her hair in frustration and anxiety.
"Hermione!" Legolas had come in search of her. "I found them."
Her shoulders sagged in relief. "Lead the way."
They came upon a small house with two levels. When she entered, the sight before her made her halt immediately. There was Kili laid upon a table, passed out from what it looks like. An elleth stood by his side, the same one they met when they first entered Mirkwood.
'Tauriel, I believe was her name…' Hermione thought.
Oin was fretting about, wringing a wet towel before dabbing at Kili's forehead. When Legolas and Hermione walked in, Oin snapped his eyes to them and he heaved a great sigh.
"Lass! We were worried for you!" Oin said.
Hermione smiled apologetically. "Sorry. How is Kili? I learned of his injury while tracking you. And let me tell you, it was not easy."
"Humph. No thanks to those blasted orcs. But Tauriel was able to keep young Kili with us yet." Oin huffed.
Hermione looked to the elleth and nodded her thanks. Tauriel smiled back.
"Tauriel." Legolas called out.
Tauriel stood at attention. Legolas motioned with his head for her to follow him as he walked out. Hermione did not miss the look Tauriel sent to Kili and her hesitation before the elleth followed Legolas. A slight pang reverberated in her chest when she watched the two elves go through the door. Hermione faltered at the strange feeling before shaking it off and walked over to the table where Kili rested.
"Where are the others?" Hermione immediately questioned.
Oin hesitated before replying. "They have gone to the Lonely Mountain."
"WHAT?!" Hermione shouted.
"Shhhh!" Oin sushed her. "This town is not as welcoming as it seems."
"Oin, please tell me they did not rush in without a plan!" Hermione rubbed her temples. "Not only are they going up against a dragon, but they are now down two dwarves and an elf!"
"They had no choice, lass. Durin's day falls upon us today. If they did not go, the hidden door will be lost to us." Oin sighed.
Legolas walked back in, without Tauriel. "I have sent her back to the kingdom to report to my father of what has happened."
"Do you think your father will offer aid?" Hermione asked.
"I do not know…" Legolas frowned. "When the Lonely Mountain was sieged by the fire drake, my father did bring our warriors to help the King Under the Mountain. But the dragon was too much. He would not risk the lives of our kin."
Hermione chewed her lips. Should she use the stone to try and contact Lady Galadriel? But she was not sure if aide would arrive in time.
"What of your ability, Hermione?" Legolas asked.
Hermione frowned. "I am still unsure of the full extent of my abilities. I have control of it, but I do not know if it can be pitted against the fire-breathe of a dragon."
"My da can help!" a small voice squeaked.
Hermione whipped her head and saw a little girl looking around the doorframe, eyes wide and a slight blush creeping on her cheeks. Hermione walked over and crouched to the little girl's level and smiled.
"Hello, little one. What's your name?" Hermione asked.
"Tilda…" the little girl shyly mumbled.
"And how can your dad help us?" Hermione smiled encouragingly.
"He works with the archers! There's a black metal arrow that has been passed down to da in case the dragon wakes up." She whispered.
"A black arrow you say?" Legolas's interest piques.
Tilda jerked back at his voice. Hermione holds out her hands slowly, nodding at Tilda to come forth. Hesitantly, the young girl walks into Hermione's arms when she detected no ill will from the beautiful elf. Hermione hoisted her up and rested her on her hips as she tucked a strand of hair behind Tilda's left ear.
"Do not be frightened of him. Legolas does not know how to handle little ones. I think he's afraid of you more than you of him." Hermione whispered the last part, eliciting a giggle from the girl.
Legolas, with his superior hearing, obviously heard what Hermione just said and scoffed at the ridiculous idea of him being scared. But Hermione knew better as she saw a slight redness in the tips of his ears.
"Now, Tilda. Why do you think your dad can help up with this black arrow?" Hermione asked.
"Tilda!" Another shout sounded and a young boy few years older rushed in.
"Bain!" Tilda smiled. "You're back! Where's da?"
Bain stilled at the sudden appearance of new faces. In his hands was a long black rod that twisted to a point at one end. The boy noticed everyone's stare on the object in his hands and attempted to hide it behind him, only to have it stick up past his head. He slowly started to back away, but stopped when he saw Tilda in Hermione's arms.
"Wait! Do not be afraid. Bain, is it? We are friends." Hermione said as she crouched down and let Tilda down.
"They want to help with the dragon too!" Tilda smiled.
Bain's eyes narrowed at the strangers, contemplating whether or not they were telling the truth.
"You can trust us." Hermione said.
"Don't worry lad. They are with us." Oin grunted.
Taking his word for it, Bain nodded. He reached around and held the metal rod up for Hermione to inspect. "This is the Black Arrow. It was passed down to da from his da. It was used to pierce the dragon's armor."
"I know of this. Then your father is a descendent of Dale. Legend has it that this Black Arrow was able to chip a scale loose on the dragon during its siege of the Lonely Mountain." Legolas said as he took a look at the item.
"Yeah! We were going to mount this on the wind lance in case the dragon wakes up from the dwarves going under the mountain! But the master took my da away!" Bain said, distressed.
"What? They took da? But what about us?" Tilda cried.
"You said your father knows how to use this?" Hermione asked.
Bain nodded.
From a distance, a deep guttural roar echoed through the forest. Hermione and everyone in the house tensed. Oin jumped up and Kili groaned, having heard that ominous sound even in his sleep. Hermione locked eyes with Legolas, whose jaw was so tense; she could see the veins pulsating in his neck. Dread fell over her entire body. If that roar was what she thought it was, then that does not bode well for her companions that had walked towards the source. Steeling her nerves, she turned back to Bain and Tilda, who were as gray as ash.
"Where have they taken your father." Hermione's nose flared.
Now was not the time to panic.
A/N: Please review!
~lalune30
