Wow, thank you to everyone still following along with this, glad you are enjoying it enough to suffer through the wildly long span of time it takes for me to update. Shout out to daughterofthechief, Kaylynn21 and midnightsunfish for the reviews!
Kate walked through the dark hall, instinctively taking a left at the end. The tapestries that had once lined the walls now lay crumpled on the floor, tattered and frayed.
She swallowed loudly as her footsteps echoed and when she made that final turn there was Vairë at her loom. Kate stilled, watching the goddess rip the threads out, angrily tossing them on the floor. Unsure of what to do Kate simply watched, wondering if Vairë even knew she was here.
Kate quickly smoother her hair, tucking the stray curls out of the way before clearing her throat, announcing herself. But Vairë did not once tilt her head in Kate's direction.
"I choose you, Kate Mackenzie, did I not?" her voice thundered, the loom she worked at creaking under the force of her words. "I chose you to be The Traveler. I cared for you. I protected you. This is how you would seek to repay me? By casting aside my gift?"
"It was a gift I did not want," Kate protested, risking a step forward. "You didn't even ask me if I want to be The Traveler, if I was prepared for it, you just decided!"
Vairë laughed, a bitter sound, as she continued to unravel her work.
"As you have just decided to give it away? As if it were that simple. A toy you grew tired of."
"Kedron wants it. This way everyone gets what they want and I-"
Vairë stood to her feet and the earth shook so violently beneath her Kate could hardly stand.
" You should not be here, Kate! A Traveler here, now...It cannot be. I cannot know what this will do. Everything we worked for..." She sighed, her words tapering out into nothing as she looked on in horror at the destroyed tapestries that lay around her. Lives, futures, timelines that may never come to pass now.
Kate frowned, worry settling into her belly and finally that deep ache in her bones. This was all wrong. Had she done this? In making this deal with Kedron had she thrown everything into chaos? There was still time though. Time to reconsider, to change things, if only Vairë would allow her to go back.
"Then send me back! I didn't want to be here, I was just correcting what had been wronged, doing what you appointed me to do! I- I was being The Traveler, just like you wanted."
"But you were deceived."
"Wouldn't be the first time!" Kate shouted. "I'm doing my best and I can learn, I will keep learning, I just have to go back. I can fix it. Just let me go back!"
"You do not see what is happening Kate. It is right before your eyes and you do not see it." Vairë sighed, turning away to pick up the ruined futures of so many, her white hair touching the floor, mingling with the fabric.
"Then show me. Teach me. I will do it, the only reason I even made this deal with Kedron was to go home! So that I could have time with Legolas, that's all I wanted."
"This is not about Kedron, Kate." Vairë explained. "And I cannot allow you to go back, not if you insist upon this course."
"What do you want from me?!" Kate screamed in fury, hot tears spilling down her face as she kicked aside yards of fabric. "I have done everything you asked. I have done it all, even when you would not have the blood bond removed I still did my job. A job I do not want and did not ask for. I watched and I guarded and I allowed thousands to be murdered because you said above all else the timeline must stand! At great personal cost to myself I did these things! And now you punish me for something that has not even happened yet and instead of allowing me to correct you just want me to fix it without any guidance at all?"
Vairë ignored her, carefully wrapping thread around her fingers, which only further incensed Kate.
"Are you not going to answer me? I will get back Vairë. I have to get back to them. To Legolas, and Aragorn, to help Alice-" Vairë sniffed, and Kate paused trying to decipher something, anything from her response. "If you will not help me I have no choice but to go along with him. You know this." It was a threat, Kate knew it, and there was nothing subtle about it. So when Vairë finally looked up at her, with that fire burning in her eyes, Kate should not have been shocked.
"It would be unwise to make an enemy out of me, not when I have held you so close in my esteem."
"If this is being held close then I can't imagine what being shut out must feel like." Kate bit back, anger flooding through her and taking control of her tongue. The moment the words left her mouth she regretted them, and she clamped her mouth shut, her fingers reaching out as if they could grab the words and stop them from reaching Vairë's ears.
A cold wind rushed through the halls, and the already dimly lit room seemed to darken further as Vairë gave a short nod, turning her back on Kate.
"Well perhaps, Kate Mackenzie, you will know now. No longer do you have my protection or my favor. I will regard you as little more than a frayed thread, one that must be burned to be repaired. And repaired you must be. You will have nothing but the Title of Traveler. A title which you treat as a curse, so I curse you with it...There is no future for you, no future in this world or in your unions. There will be nothing but your striving to make this make. Perhaps, in time, you will see the error of your ways and adjust your course. I pray it will not be too late for you.
Kate woke with a start, the strangled cry still balancing on the edge of her lips, face still damp with tears. The blanket on top of her seemed to heavy suddenly, the air in the room too thick with regret and fear. She shoved them aside, hastily fidgeting with the latch on the window, only feeling like she could truly breath when the cold air rushed into the room like a vacuum.
The rain still poured outside, drops trailing along her arm as she held open the window, darting under her sleeve. She shivered in response, the cold water helping ground her...reminding her that the vision was over.
But perhaps it was only a dream? Some subconscious fear working its way to the surface of her mind in the wake of this stressful event?
She took another shuddering breath, summoning up ley lines as she did, and the breath caught in her throat. Distorted and ragged, the lines no longer held their golden hue. Now they were a scarlet red, snaking and weaving their way through the streets of Bree and seeming to curl away from Kate's hand. She dropped the line like hot coals, and slammed the window shut, leaning against it as she gulped for air.
"How does it feel?" he asked, his voice slinking through the darkness. "How does it feel to be cast aside by her? To be like me?"
"Go back to bed." she rasped, her through raw. Kedron chuckled to himself, leaning back against the wall as he repositioned himself on the floor.
"A common enemy, that's what we have now Kate. The both of us aligned in one goal. Quite the pair we'll make."
"Vairë isn't my enemy." Kedron smiled, his teeth flashing white in the darkness.
"I wasn't talking about her, but make no mistake Vairë is no friend to you." A flash of lightning lit up the sky as thunder cracked ahead.
"We're only a pair because you need me and I need you. One common goal, that's it. Then I go home, to Legolas, and my life and I'll never have to see you or deal with Vairë or any Traveler nonsense again."
"Legolas...is your husband?" Kedron sputtered, fully awake now.
"Yes,"
"The Elf Prince of the Greenwood?"
"Yes," Kate said again, teeth clenched as she crawled back into bed.
"Prized and only son of King Thranduil?"
"No. Must be another one. Common name, kind of like John." Kedron let out a peal of laughter, and Kate heard his body thump as he fell back on the floor. "Can't imagine what could possibly be funny about that."
"Does he know?What are you?"
"Yes, and he's actually pretty great about it, doesn't bother him at all." Kate defended, irritably flipping the pillow over to the cool side.
"No, not the Prince. Of course he would. I'm speaking of King Thranduil. He knows?"
"He did before I came here, to this time." Kate supplied, not really in the mood to divulge any more of her life to Kedron. He let out another cackle and Kate rolled her eyes.
"And you speak to the king, as you do know? With all your eye rolling and hysterics and what not?"
"I guess so, yeah. Maybe not the hysterics, but I suppose if the situation called for it-" Kedron's laughter cut her off again and she frowned.
"Oh, if I could see his face! What a gift, that was to know this, truly, Kate. Thank you." he said, wiping at tears and Kate smiled despite herself, remembering Thranduil's less than enthusiastic expression upon meeting her.
"He isn't so fond of me, no."
"And yet his son is. A mortal and an Elf. Rather uncommon."
"For good reason…" Kate said quietly, her heart aching as she thought of her husband.
"Even worse considering what you are...and the blood bond that was placed on you...by me?" Kedron mused. "Which is why you're willing to accept our bargain. All for him?"
"Yes...it's worth it to me." Kedron snorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Love is rarely ever worth it."
"Ours is."
"Everyone believes that," he supplied "rarely is it true." Kate rolled to her side, listening to the rain beat louder now, watching the fat drops slide down the glass.
"Never would have pegged you for a cynic," she said sarcastically.
"Never would have imagined you a romantic. You can be rather caustic."
Kate shrugged, pulling the blanket around her chin. Thoughts of Legolas filled her mind now, her heart clenching in her chest. How long had it been now, since she'd been in his arms? Heard is heart beating as she laid against him, listened to his laugh that came so easy?
How long had it been since she'd seen Aragorn? Fought beside him, teased him? What news of the hobbits? She wouldn't even get to say goodbye now...she hadn't gotten to say goodbye to anyone.
She missed them. She missed home. Her throat tightened and she buried her nose further under the blanket, it's musty scent distracting her from the memories that threatened to bring tears to her eyes. What if all she had left were those memories now?
What did she have now that they were all gone? She was only a Traveler in name now, whatever that meant, and in this time she wasn't a wife or a niece, or a healer of any renown. What was she? Who was she now?
Kedron's partner. She thought in disgust, her lips curling into a sneer.
Was she simply expected to let it all go? All her hopes and dreams because Vairë said so? She couldn't.
"Keep to our plan, Kate." Kedron whispered fiercely, as if sensing her resolve shifting. "We are allied in this, so though we cannot trust each other we can trust our common purpose."
Kate merely nodded in response.
One way or another she was going home.
Kate adjusted her seating, forgetting how painful hours atop a horse could be and not looking forward to how she'd feel in the morning.
"If you would simply remove this cuff and let me know where exactly we are going, perhaps we would get there all the faster." Kedron barked, riding beside her.
"Well that's not going to happen so you'll just have to suck it up and travel along like the rest of us lowly humans."
"A fate worse than death, I assure you." he grumbled. "I won't be forgetting this, Kate. It pains me, you know this right?"
"I did not, actually," she conceded, glancing over at the harmless looking cuff on his wrist, shackled just as snuggly as it was the first time she'd put it on. Since that moment he'd done nothing but fiddle with it, pull at it, complain over it...if it wasn't such an effective way to protect herself she'd have taken it off long ago just to rid herself of his whining. "Does it hurt an awful lot?" She asked sympathetically. Kedron sent a pitying look.
"It really does."
"Good." Kate snapped, urging the horse forward as she ducked under a tree limb. Kedron laughed, rubbing his wrist once more as he urged his horse around the tree.
"There'll be no appealing to your sensitivities then," he quipped.
"Serves you right."
"Oh yes, I forgot. This is recompense for the horrible thing I've done to you. Remind me what that was again? So I can be sure to really enjoy it this time around." He said with a smile. "I am beginning to feel like the first time didn't go so well for me."
Kate rolled her eyes, her grip on the reigns tightening.
"It won't go well for you the next time either." She said through gritted teeth. "And when it's your job you'll have to ensure that."
"Oh yes...the noble task of ensuring people die exactly when they're supposed to." he said with a sneer, smoothing his hair back and then irritably leaning forward to peer at the sun overhead. "At least tell me if we're expected to reach our destination before nightfall. Or are we to camp out here in the woods like Trolls."
Kate shook her head, the woods began to clear and realized they very well would be sleeping out in the open tonight. She swallowed hard and her hands instinctively went to check the sword at her hip
They were not good swords by any stretch of the imagination and she longed for someone with Bergil's talent to right her blade, however there wasn't a lot to choose from in Bree and the merchants there knew it. From a new pair of trousers to packs, and even the nag's they sat on they were overcharged at every turn. And with minimal options to choose from, Kate couldn't afford to be choosy.
She just prayed the horses would live long enough to make it to Rivendell.
Kedron let out a long suffering sigh and sat deeper in the saddle.
"Should I take the first watch then, or would you like the honor?" He said, accepting her silence as an answer. Kate frowned, trying to decide what would be best as they led the horses out of the woods and through the clearing.
"I'll let you know. Looks like there's an old place ahead...we could rest there for the night." She suggested leading the horse forward.
"Wonderful," she heard him mutter as he followed behind, slowing warily as they drew closer to what appeared to have once been a farm. "I think it would be best if we found another location, Kate." he said quietly, grabbing the reins of her horse as she began to dismount. Kate rolled her eyes, grabbing the reins back and leading the horse to an old fence post that still stood.
"We won't make it to Rivendell by nightfall," she stated, beginning to unpack. "We'll have to camp out. Sorry to disappoint you." Kedron rolled his eyes and slid off the horse, landing in a crouch and reminding Kate of a panther she saw once at a zoo.
"That is not the problem, Kate, only I believe we are not-Rivendell?!" Whatever he had been about to say was quickly forgotten as his anger bubbled to the surface. He smoothed it over quickly, barking out a laugh as Kate reached for her sword. "So this is your aim then? To disarm me with your little parlour trick and turn me over to your elf friends, hmm? Hoping nepotism will save you and the wise Lord Elrond can send you back to your true love while I'm locked away, and left shackled like a dog? Is that it, Kate? Was that supposed to be clever?"
"My aim is to rest in Rivendell, Find out answers, do some research and find out if what you're proposing will really work so I don't end up like Aleric!"
"Oh I'll do far worse to you, Kate, if you try to trick me," he threatened, his voice dropping low and his eyes tightening.
"I'm not trying to trick you, but you honestly cannot expect me to actually trust you, do you?" She asked, the wind picking up and her nose wrinkled as a foul odor hung on the air.
"But I am to trust you?" He asked with a laugh, "The Traveller who has all but hobbled me and holds, in my opinion, a rather unhealthy amount of hatred toward me for something I haven't even done yet?"
"You put a blood bond on me!" Kate seethed, shoving her wrist in his face as the mark appeared once more on her skin. Kedron smiled, wrapping his fingers around her wrist, his thumb running across the mark.
"Yes...and you must have done something very bad to deserve it." He practically purred and Kate shoved him away with her shoulder.
"And in case you forgot you brutalized all of those Travellers, forced them to turn on Vairë because you got your feelings hurt and what you did to Aleric...to all of those Travelers...You killed them because they wouldn't side with Sauron. With Sauron. How could you do that? You are a bad person Kedron. There is no good in you, none at all."
Kedron smiled leaning forward and tucking a stray hair behind Kate's ear, chuckling as she batted his hand away.
"Yes, I did. I killed them all. Every last one of them." He said, watching in delight as her face scrunched up in rage. "They certainly won't be the last. I'll do it again. And you'll watch me...you'll let me do it. Over and over again you've watched thousands be slaughtered and you did nothing. So who is worse, really? Me, who knows who and what I am, who won't let one sniveling, lovesick mortal stand in my way...or you? One who fancies herself a noble hero, sacrificing for her cause. But wait!" he laughed, shaking his head. "It's not your cause is it? It's Vairë's. You let thousands die because Vairë told the travelers they must and they blindly obeyed. I did what I did because it needed to be done. Now if I add a few unnecessary flourishes here and there to the rather dull business, who can blame me? The Traveler's that sided with me, sided with Sauron did so because they wanted to. Because they could. No one bewitched them, no one told them they had to. They were given a choice and they chose me."
"But they wouldn't if they really knew," Kate protested.
"Maybe not, maybe they still would. Doesn't matter. People make choices everyday without knowing the outcome. That's life Kate. " He said with a shrug, yanking her sword from her side before she thought to grab it, tilting his head in warning. "I think, what you're really angry about, isn't what I've done but that I had the freedom to do it. I don't sit and frett and weigh my options I simply do as I see fit. And that upsets you. It upsets all Travellers but that's because they can't control me, you...you're upset because you're jealous. You long for that same freedom and it destroys you to know that someone like me, someone you abhor, can live this way but you cannot. Tell me i'm wrong."
"You're wrong." Kate ground out. Turning on her heel and walking toward the forest, hoping to outrun his laughter. This was a mistake, thinking she could team up with him. That she could trust him, that he would give her what she wanted, what she needed! She was such an idiot!
"Where are you running off to now?"
"To get firewood. We will sleep and then we are going to Rivendell."
She would go to Rivendell, she was speaking with Lord Elrond and if he couldn't get her the hell out of this time and back to her own time then she would make sure Kedron could. Whatever the cost. Unless she killed him first.
"We are not going to Rivendell, Kate!" He shouted back, anger seeping back into his voice now that he no longer had the pleasure of bating her.
"Yes we are!" She shouted back, childishly throwing a rock in his direction. "And if I can't find my answers then I'm going to Erebor and I'll help the Dwarves and I'll help you get what you want and then I'm going home!"
"Well then it seems our paths have crossed once more, Kate Mackenzie." A familiar voice called out, and Kate turned with a sigh as Gandalf the grey emerged from the woods. Behind him trailed the company of Dwarves she had met, most looking rather dismayed at running into her once again. Bilbo was there, curiosity peaked and he gave a confused wave, as the dark haired Dwarf elbowed his brother.
"I told you she'd be back," He said confidently with a wink, saying something about Mahal's blessing.
"Our paths cannot be crossed," Thorin said, leveling a look of disdain in Kate's direction. "For Rivendell is not our course. You are wrong about the Traveler once again, Gandalf."
"There, see? At least someone here can see reason," Kedron said with a smile, his hand placed on Kate's shoulder. She didn't miss Gandalf standing a little taller now, cautiously inspecting Kedron.
"And who might you be?"
"Aleric," he lied smoothly, sending a purposeful smile in Kate's direction. "I am her apprentice."
"Didn't know you could apprentice as a Traveler?" one of the dwarves whispered, the young one.
"Who would want to?" another dwarf responded.
Kate shifted under the weight of the lie, crossing her arms uncomfortably. This wasn't good. She didn't need to be a Traveler to know this was a worst case scenario unfolding right in front of her.
"Perhaps, Kate Mackenzie, you would not mind sharing your camp with us this evening." Gandalf said with a tilt of his hat, his eyes landing on the cuff around Kedron's wrist. "We have much to discuss amongst our company and would not object to your council." He said politely enough, but Kate still felt she was being reprimanded. Made even worse by Thorin's glowering stare.
No, this was not good. Not good at all.