Hello readers! Welcome back! Let's keep this brief. I hope you like my story, now go! Read it!
Jackie came out of her unconsciousness to the rhythmic movement of a galloping horse. It was shortly after dawn and the sun had barely risen in the sky. Their obvious destination; Laketown. Shifting to see exactly how she was still seated on the galloping horse she moved her head the slightest bit upward, immediately she was met with the cool blue depths of the Prince of Mirkwood.
"It is about time you woke up Dornessiti. I was beginning to worry." Legolas spoke softly eyeing her up and as if making sure she was really there.
Jackie just smiled. Then moved her head again to check her surroundings. Kili was bent over on his horse as if he was about to collapse, that gave away the fact that they had rode all night and had no intentions of stopping.
The gates of the Laketown were just poles of wood making an arch, they look like they had been standing there for longer than Jackie herself had been alive even though they were probably only fifty-sixty years old. As they galloped through what she guessed was supposed to be roads she realised that the rest of lake town was not much different. The houses looked like they were about to fall in and the very place had a depressing air to it. Even the people looked hardened. The few parts of the population she did see looked malnourished, unbathed and cold to the bone. Top all that off with a grim expression that even an elf couldn't read what was behind. It made her heart clench. She had not been beyond the forest since the mountain was taken over by Smaug and she received her third scar. She had had no reason to leave the forest, she had had no clue where her family went after she helped them and it would have looked suspicious, she had left without notice on the day Smaug attacked. Against her better judgement of course but it was her family in danger and if the elves weren't going to do anything she was, and, she had made the right choice. She still shuddered to think what would have happened to a lot of innocent dwarves had she not been there that day.
Crowds of people were gathering along the side of the 'roads' watching the strange trio pass by while scrambling to get out of their way. By the time they reached the town square a crowd had gathered. The townmaster was standing on an elevated platform staring at the Lonely Mountain. He was a fat man with shoulder length dirty blond hair with a beard and impressive mustache to top it off. She didn't like him. The way he was obviously well fed, bathed regularly and wore fine clothes considering the environment and all his subjects in the town looked like dried meat made her want to hurl.
"Townmaster." She barked none too gently, ignoring the pain that once again laced through her body. "We are looking for~"
"I do not recognize your face pretty one girl. Who are you?" The townmaster asked in what he probably thought was a cool and flirtatious way.
"Someone you do not want to anger." Legolas said from behind her. She must have been imagining the hostile edge in his tone.
"We are looking for a company of dwarves." She continued as if she was never interrupted.
"Haven't seen any of their race here in ages. Now about that name…" the Townmaster responded much too quickly. Kili scoffed behind her.
Legolas, on the other hand growled. Before Jackie could ask what happened to the non expressioned, unfeeling elf he was supposed to act like he had flipped off the Stallion and onto the platform the Townmaster was so proudly standing on. Pulling out his knives he held the poor man at knife point.
"Do you remember now sir?" He snarled. She couldn't help the smirk that found its way onto her face.
"Y-yes! Company of eleven dwarves and one small thing, Hobbit, it called itself. Now if you could just lower your extremely pointy blade…" He said breathlessly. She was surprised he hadn't peed his breeches yet.
"Where are they now?" She asked.
The Townmaster tried to speak with as much dignity he could muster with an elf pressing it's blade into his meaty neck. "T-they left just before dawn to~"
"The Lonely Mountain." Jackie finished for him.
The man nodded desperately. Nodding to the Prince who jumped down from the platform and walked up to Jackie and her brother they made a somewhat circle. Of course with two out of the three of them on a horse it wasn't perfect.
"So what shall we do now Dornessiti?" Legolas asked her.
"I… I know not."
"Jackie?" A voice from the quickly dispersing crowd called out, leaving one very old dwarf and a young one looking very much like Kili.
"Balin? Fili?" She called, afraid that it was just another mirage
"Kili? Jackie?" Was the reply from an overly excited Fili.
"Yes, YES! It's us!" She cried out.
Sliding of the horse she ran toward the dwarves who brought her into a bone crushing hug. Kili followed swiftly jumping into the hug belly flop style.
"Come with us, and bring your elf friend. We have much to discuss." Balin said warmly, a huge smile dominating his features.
The sun had moved in the sky so it was almost set by the time both parties began to talk about pressing matters. Bard had been kind enough to lend one of his rooms to them on the condition that he was there when they began to talk, which no one objected to. Bards to daughters and son were somewhere in the other rooms, most likely eavesdropping on their conversation instead of making sure that none of the Town Masters men were within ear shot. Now both Bard and Legolas were standing uncomfortably against the wall watching the interaction between three dwarves and an elf.
"So ye used Mel-arée Mirad on Kili to stop Orc poison from killing `im an to heal `is wound the arrow left. Which would `have depleted yer energy to almost nothin. Then ye go an summon horses! But not just any horses, mountain horses! Yer insane Jackie. I always knew it but dammit woman, ye should be dead now!" Fili half yelled half stated in awe.
"What can I say little one? I have a habit of avoiding death." She smirked.
"So that would mean ye are almost out of energy right?" Balin asked
"Yep. It is horrible master Balin! I feel like a bag of queen's luggage!"
"There is a herb that could replete yer energy and stabilize yer mind." Balin noted like everyone knew.
Jackie stared at him for a second. "Why have you not shared this information before!" She yelled. Kili and Fili who were sitting side by side burst out laughing, Fili actually falling off his chair.
"It is not funny little demons!" She said, throwing her water glass at their heads. "What is it?"
"Kingsfoil. Athelas or Asëa Aranion if you please." Balin announced, nodding to Legolas at the last name.
Bard pushed off the wall. "That is but a weed master dwarf."
"A weed with extraordinary healing properties master Bard." Balin responded, taking a sip of his ale.
"Do you believe you could obtain it Balin?" Jackie asked , hating how helpless her voice sounded.
"I shall try." Was Balin's response.
The old dwarf left the room shoving Legolas in the hip on his way out. A warning look from Jackie stopped him from retaliating. Fili and Kili were both arguing on how long it would take for the old dwarf to come back with the desired was staring out the window thinking. She hadn't been remotely near the Lonely Mountain for years and now she sat at its feat. Memories from her years within its walls flooded back to her. The good times she had when her atar (Elvish: father) was raising her, helping the twins with their shower, making fun of the current kings. Then some of the not so good memories came back to her. The bullies when she was first there, the twins falling, falling, falling. Smaug, rocks raining down on the scared dwarves on the inside, fire burning her friends and family. Suddenly she wanted to be as far away as possible from it.
As if sensing her discomfort Legolas moved over next to her and touched her arm lightly. A few days ago this action would have been unfathomable, now it was normal, comforting even.
"Are tye ehtelë Dornessiti (Elvish: Are you well Dornessiti)?" He asked softly.
"Nányë ren- engwës i inyenna been muina búlë lanwa me an yen. Te were halda -esse me an a tyarwë Legolas, te are naicelea, san san naicelea. (Elvish: I am remembering things that have been hidden deep within me for years. They were hidden in me for a reason, Legolas, they are painful, so so painful.)" She murmured quietly.
"Ni han~ (Elvish: I understand~)." He began, cut off shortly by the roof caving in.
An Orc landed in the middle of the room. Pulling out a long sword off of its ugly back and turning to the remaining occupants of the room it charged, growling loudly on it's way. Kili and Fili grabbed their swords and met the Orcs' charge while Legolas jumped up from her side and pulled out the bow that had never left his side. Bard pulled twin daggers out from under his coat and jumped out the window. A muffled thump on the ground proved that he made it without injury. His actions were explained a few moments later when sounds of clashing metal were heard from outside. Meanwhile three more Orcs poured into the home from the hole above.
Screaming from the next room meant that they weren't the only Orcs to breach the house. Knowing that Legolas and the two devils would never want her to fight and probably put her somewhere 'safe'. Jackie decided to move into the room where the screaming was echoing out of to help Bard's children. Crawling along the floor so to avoid being seen she managed to get to the next room without interference. Inside that one there were three more Orcs. Bard's children were cowering under the table which probably would have hidden them had they not been screaming at the top of their lungs. The two daughters were hugging their younger brother tight in between them as if that would keep the Orcs away if they truly did get to them.
This is what humans get. Honestly, they raise their females to sit around at home when these two could be formidable warriors. Their loss.
Two of the Orcs were on top of the table while the other was beginning to grope around under the table occasionally touching the older sister making her flinch away. Grabbing their attention she motioned for the poor humans to follow her before throwing one of the nearby clay bowls and throwing it out the window, distracting the Orcs momentarily. Balin where are you with that stupid plant?
The three children followed her down the rickety stairs and out the front door to the planks that made up their roads and alleyways. Almost colliding with Balin on their way out she stared indignantly down at him for a second before realising who it was.
"Kav othok Zal ill Balin? (Dwarvish: do you have it Balin?)" She asked hurriedly in dwarvish, not even caring for the astonished stares from the children.
"Aye lassie. I have it with me `ere." He responded in common, earning a confused glance at him but thankful signs for the humans in victansy.
Pulling out a green herb he handed to her. Smelled amazing, it looked like a piece of Orc dung. Well, Balin said it shall fix me and fix me it shall. Gulping she looked at Balin questioningly, and, with a nod from the dwarf she closed her eyes tight and bit into the plant. It doesn't taste half bad. Finishing the entire plant in record time she grabbed the youngest child's hand and continued running down the stairs. Hearing the others follow her she turned into an alleyway.
"Stay here. Do you understand little ones?" A chorus of nodes was her only response.
Running out of the alley she could feel the herb working on her, coursing through her blood, tingling her nerve endings, filling her bones with strength she never knew she had. Images from her past flashed past behind her eyelids as she vaulted herself onto one of the many roofs. But no longer where they dark and made her feel weak, they were all the memories of the good times, Thrain, Thror, Thorin, Kili, Fili, Tauriel, Legolas. They were in danger now and the familiar urge to protect everyone she cared about surged through her, enhancing her already returning strength.
Flipping herself over a ten foot gap over one of the many river-like things that ran through the town and into one of Bard's open windows. Stabbing the last remaining unsuspecting Orc in the back she landed on the table in a crouch. The dramatic entrance ruined when her tight pants ripped and the Orcs' sword grabbed one of the loose parts of her over-large shirt that she got two mornings ago from the flet. So standing there, in front of Bard, Fili, Kili and Balin she had ripped pants and nothing but some extra bandages wrapped around her chest.
"Where is the Prince?" She asked hopping down and gratefully taking a shirt offered by bard, who seemed to be the only male in the room who was in any hurry for her to cover up.
"He left to vanquish these fell beasts' leader." Kili said, still staring at her covered figure.
Jumping down from the very window she entered the house and onto the small platform that ran along the houses she began looking for him. As if knowing that she was searching for him she crashed into him around the corner.
"Tatya lú within lempe days Dornessiti, tye must reallime ve me. (Elvish: Second time within five days Dornessiti, you must really like me.)" Legolas quipped.
"Din pen-channa. Ni was slightlime concerned i na- ilya (Elvish: Silence idiot. I was slightly concerned, that is all.)" She said slapping his arm. The expression on his face was one of disbelief and honestly she wasn't so sure that that was it either.
"Qua has lärë. Ni boe linne- ana Gundabad an ni caure i felda. (Elvish: Something has happened. I must go to Gundabad for I fear the worst.)" Legolas murmured softly, staring at some point over her head.
"San ni lenna- as tye. Tye sinte i ni indóme linne- as tye vilwis tye méra me or vamme ar tye pole- vamme lare- me. Mime astalda has entulessë. Ni am lala longer a cólo. (Elvish: Then I shall go with you. You know that I will go with you whether you wish me or not and you can not stop me. My strength has returned. I am no longer a burden.)" She argued. Not even allowing him to start, she swung herself up onto the nearby Stallion and looked, now a head taller, down on the Prince of Mirkwood.
"You are infuriating."
She was about to reply when an elf from Mirkwood appeared out of nowhere. Feren she believed her name was. "Mime héru Legolas! Ni túc- quetta -o your ontáro. Tye are ana péle- ana him immediatelime. (Elvish: My Lord Legolas! I bring word from your Father. You are to return to him immediately.)" Feren looked breathless but relieved to see the Prince alive all the same as if he had been kidnaped or something
Legolas frowned but nodded all the same. "Tul- Dornessiti. (Elvish: Come Dornessiti.)" He said matter of factly as if she belonged by his side.
Feren looked uncomfortable. "Mime héru… Dornessiti na- banished. If se na- voro cenya- apa Mirkwood vaht- en- se shall n- dag apa site. (Elvish: My Lord…Tauriel is banished. If she is ever seen on Mirkwood soil again she shall be killed on site.)"
"Banished?" The male elf beside her asked, his voice emotionless while Jackie just stared at Feren.
"Tye lótesse nimeár- mime ontáro if tar na- lala sinome an Dornessiti, tar na- lala sinome an me. (Elvish: You may tell my father if there is no place for Tauriel, there is no place for me.)" Earning surprised glances from both of the other elves.
"Legolas, -yes na- your tar-'s can-. (Elvish: Legolas, it is your King's command.)" Jackie cried aghast, completely surprised by Legolas's actions and by the look on his face he was to.
After a small pause the Prince's trademark smirk appeared on his face and he went once more into ass hole mode. "Ni ósanwe tye said tye wanted ana linne- númen? Don't nimeár- me tye've changed your ore i quicklime. (Elvish: I thought you said you wanted to go west? Don't tell me you've changed your mind that quickly.)"
She returned his smirk as Legolas swung himself up in front of her. Legolas dug his heels into the side of their steed and they were off, galloping away from laketown, away from her family, away from an entire world she would never enter again, away from her home with a prince of elves, someone she was raised to hate and her kin detested with a passion Leaving a dumb founded quard elf behind in the prosess. Weirdly enough, it didn't even feel that wrong.
They arrived at Gundabad in record time, a good few hours before the sun fell into the west. The Gundabad fortress was towering over them like a menacing shadow and Jackie couldn't help the small shivers that traveled through her body, she couldn't help that the male elf in front of her was making her feel safe, warm and fuzzy on the inside. Of course she wouldn't admit that to herself either. Legolas was kind enough not to mention the shivers even though the movements of the horse had her pressed up against his back. Legolas was still in his normal outfit, the one he had worn 4 days ago when they left the palace in hunt for the escaped dwarves. Jackie however now wore Bards shirt and a pair of his pants. Her arrows, bow and dagger had never left her eyesight since the time Legolas had used them. She was still mulling over the fact that she would never enter Mirkwood again to pay any attention to her outfit though.
The Prince himself hated the feeling he felt growing in his chest whenever he looked at Dornessiti in the human's shirt. Whatever it was it definitely did not endear Bard to him. He also did not like the feeling whenever he felt Dornessiti shiver. The urge to make sure she was ok, to wrap her in his arms and hold her there until she was one hundred percent better was overwhelming and made him question what in Valar's name he was doing. He had just ignored his father's direct orders and was running away with a banished elleth. He stood up and completely ignored the command and he would be surprised if his father didn't give him the same sentence as Dornessiti. And what did he care about her sentence! Or that if he let her go he would most likely never see her again even though he was immortal, or if she died, or if she left him. What did he care? Why did he care?
"Gundabad. What lies beyond?" Jackie murmured into the prince's back as they dismounted.
"An old enemy. The ancient Kingdom of Angmar. And this fortress was once its stronghold. It is where they kept their great armories, forged their weapons of war." He responded as he led them up against two large stones overlooking the fortress.
Gundabad was tall, higher than she had expected. But matching its height was it's sense of foreboding darkness. It could have held great armies in it's large size if it was still in use.
"A light. I saw movement." She gasped
"We wait for the cover of night. It is a fell place, Dornessiti. In another age our people waged war on those lands." He said staring at the fortress. "My mother died there. My father does not speak of it. There is no grave, no memory, nothing." Turning his eyes back he just looked at her. But she had the feeling he wasn't seeing her but was instead in some old memory.
It wasn't so hard to believe that he had some horrible memories that she wouldn't know about. He was older than her, if only by a few hundred years. And he is the Prince. She reminded herself. It's not like you need to know every one of his memories, or be in them, or be brought up, or~
She had no clue how long they had just sat there staring at each other but Legolas was the one who brought them out of their weird daze. "Cé nalmë men imi -Imë du lev- sin.(Elvish: If we are going in we should move now.)"
Just as the words left his bats a swarm of bats left the fortress. Jackie had never minded bats, with their black leathery wings and pointed ears much like her own and their squeaky voices. She grew up in a mountain; they were a unavoided side effect of all the tunnels and sometimes they did make her feel less alone. Of course she would avoid them if she could but really she didn't mind them. So when the bats came closer she wasn't as afraid or at least worried as she should have been until she realized their size and they were swarming over her head.
"They are swarming!" She called.
"These bats are bred for one purpose." He growled low in his throat.
"For what?"
"For war."
Glancing over the ledge once more, ignoring the bat wings flapping above their heads they watched as the Orc captain from before summoned entire armies of vile creatures as old as time itself to march against the Lonely Mountain.
"We must warn the others." She breathed
"We may be too late- Hurry!" He said as he swung himself up onto the nearby horse pulling her up with him.
Whispering softly to the horse, he bade it to move at its fastest towards Laketown. The Stallion gave a loud neigh before cantering off.
They arrived back in Laketown a few hours after the sun had gone down. Hopping off the back of the horse she stroked its mane lovingly before leaving to find Bard. Thanking the Valar when she did not have to go far.
"Good. You have returned." Bard said breathlessly. He looked worried and, at the same time, a little angry.
"Yes, and we have grievous news of much importance." She said quickly.
"So have I my Lady" He cut in earning a glare from Jackie.
"I am afraid ours is much more dire by many a score, good friend." He said, spitting out the last word as if it was poison. Stepping in front of her as if to block her anger from Bards line of sight.
"It's of the dwarves." He spoke so quickly that it was almost missed by even the elves, the fact that his face had gone an octave higher didn't help.
"What of them." Jackie asked cautiously, moving out from behind Legolas.
"Fili, Kili and the Old Dwarf, they've all left."
"I had known from the start that ugly~" Legolas started.
"Silence Kakhuf inbarathrag (Dwarvish: Goat Turd). To where did they go, friend Bard." She said, this time emphasizing the word friend to prove that Bard truly was one. She was afraid that she already knew the answer to her own question though.
After a small pause Bard spoke. "The Lonely Mountain."
Jackie just scoffed. "That was to be expected I suppose. But Bard, we must tell you~"
The ground shook beneath their feet, rattling the boards that held Laketown above the water while small waves crashed over their barriers. The night sky above their heads turned red, something she had not seen in over one hundred years. The scar along her stomach ached in memory of the day.
"What is happening?" Legolas asked, the only one among the three who didn't know even the slightest bit about dwarf culture or history, therefore not knowing what was happening.
Bard cursed. "Exactly what I was afraid of."
Far away in the realm of Mirkwood the King stood in one of his private rooms. It was one he rarely entered but had one of the best views in all the kingdom. The room itself was plain, a normal elven room. There was a hole in the wall though, put there on purpose for that was the window. It overlooked almost the entire forest, and, far in the distance (if you had elf eyes) you could see Laketown and the Lonely Mountain standing tall and alone behind it. That is what Thranduil was doing, staring out of his lands and occasionally glancing at the Lonely Mountain, before Feren came into the room.
"My Lord~" The guard elf began.
"I thought I ordered all guards looking for my son." He said, not taking his eyes off the window.
"I have come to Give you an update my Lord."
"Nothing good I assume." He said, turning his head slightly to take in the other elves' appearance. She Looked as if she had run from Laketown to his palace without rest, her strawberry red hair was only slightly out of place from it's long braid. Other than that she wore the standard guard uniform; Leather pants, a white tunic with a one shade of green or another leather over vest above it and brown leather cuffs to match around the arms. Her boots were made of the same material.
"We have found~" Before she could finnish her sentence small tremors shot through the floor. The distant night sky over the Lonely Mountain turned to a bright blood red. "What is coming to pass!" Feren cried out as another shock wave hit and one of the nearby tables turned over.
Thranduil just stared at the far away sky, a small smile made its way onto his lips and he sipped from the glass of wine in his fingers. "The dwarves have awakened Smaug."
Sooooo? What did you think? Before you start chewing me out, yes I know that Legolas going to Gundabad happens after Smaug's death but it fits better with my story if I put it here. I already told you that the TIMELINE IS DIFFERENT.
And yes, I changed Feren. So what. Like anyone cares and the character still does the same job, tell Legolas to get his ass back home.
I also know that I am doing a lousy job of updating aren't I? But I am trying. This Quarantine stuff is insane.
Please comment, review, favorite, follow or just keep reading. It means a lot to me (I never thought I would get over 100 readers). Love yall!