C5

Two days and a river crossing later and Tauriel was tired, sore and wet as well as about three hours hard ride away from the others. Mithrandir had hidden their tracks well, their location would have been difficult to discover even for her if it weren't for the hawk that Arenal let fly but Amrâlimê was tiring, her Meares blood not enough to keep the fatigue of days of hard riding from affecting her. Still the mare followed willingly behind her as the wood elf ran in front of her setting a steady pace in spite of the ache in her ribs.

The scouts that had been behind them were dead along with a quarter of the small force she had scattered while they slept. It would take them longer than it would take her to get to the heart of Mirkwood to reform and catch up with her and they would be safe the moment that they crossed into the forest. Not since she was an elfling child could she remember feeling such bone weary longing for home. Then her longing had been for her recently murdered parents, now it was for her King's forgiveness and a semblance of the life she had once led.

"When we reached the halls of my King there will be a warm clean stall and rich fodder waiting for you." She promised her mare as she cut away from the path the others had taken for a route she knew would take her on a much faster course to the edge of the forest. "He may not be pleased with me but he will not take that out on you." The mare nickered as if in understanding and Tauriel smiled. She would find a quiet spot within the edge of the forest and wait for the others to come to her. She could use the time to assess her injuries and rest. It would take the others the rest of the day to reach the spot she was sure that Mithrandir would aim for, in the meantime she threw her hawk back into the air. As evening drew in Aranel would release the other and between them the hawks would lead them back to each other.

Legolas had not been clear about the reason for her King's sudden summons, all she knew was that he had a task for her. Nothing had been said about rescinding her exile order, nothing had been said about what it was that her King wanted from her or where it would take her but good or bad she had answered his call and would soon be within the dark, familiar trees of Mirkwood once more and soon after that she would be rid of the dwarves as well. No more familiar brown eyes looking at her out of a stranger's face, no more angry glances from a soon to be Princess who didn't know what had come before and no more wizards who thought they knew more of the world than they did.

She had seen the world outside of the wood and had been awed by some and left wanting elsewhere. She had met many, some mortal and therefore it was unlikely that she would meet them again within their lifetimes and others as enduring as the very earth beneath her boot clad feet. Her journey home could very well be the end of her journeys through middle earth until such a time as her King had no use for her again or the beginning of new travels if he found her in anyway inadequate.

Already her life had been anything but what she had expected, part of her was afraid of what else might be thrust in her path before Ilúvatar's designated time came. What elleth had ever fallen in love with a dwarf? Mortal man, yes but their most time enemy? What purpose did such a love have if it was felled before it had a chance to truly begin? Logically she knew that there was no future down the path she had begun to walk but deep down she knew she would give her own immortality for another day in Kili's presence. She had been a fool to deny him then and now she would pay for her mistake all her days in Arda and beyond for she was sure that the halls of waiting were as much closed to elves as the undying lands were to dwarves.

Amrâlimê had drawn alongside her as she thought about the impossible, her stride steady as it ate up the ground. It would seem the mare was as eager as she was to reach the trees and make camp. In one fluid movement she reached for the pommel and used the momentum she had built up to swing onto the mares back only guiding her in the right direction as she set the pace. No matter what the outcome of the next few days she was at the very least done running from events over which she had no power.

An hour or so after noon she came to the edge of the Mirkwood and stopped. The trees towered over the entrance to the old elven roads, the light breeze making the branches creak and groan under their own weight.

It was here under trees not unlike those that she had first laid eyes on Kili. She had shown off her skill then, taking as much delight in hindsight in the surprise on his face as she had in the way her blades and arrows had parted evil flesh from bones like a warm knife through butter. She had taken her job seriously and never had she felt so alive as when she was dispatching what evil came into her preview. There was nothing she had ever been able to about the darkness that had caused the Greenwood to sicken but she had taken pride in halting its progress. Those were simpler times when she had been able to ignore her own desires and restless nature and follow orders more blindly.

For better or worse she had been changed. Her view of the world and the races that walked within it were less critical and more accepting while her devotion to the destruction of darkness had only grown. She unsaddled her horse, fisting her hand in her copper colored mane for a moment as she looked at the creature.

"Don't wander far!" She commanded letting her go so she could roll and find good feed. The horse was a loyal creature and would return before long or if called. It was only after the gift had been given that she realized what a prize the shield maiden of Rohan had given her for the safe return of her injured father.

She took a deep breath as she turned for the trees. They sang softly of the state of the wood, the creatures that dwelt or lurked within, retold the tales that the birds had brought with them from other woods and places. There was more contentment, more talk of growing tall and strong and less of shadow and disease. The Mirkwood was growing strong again, looking after itself even as her fellow wood elves worked to drive out the creatures of darkness that had found stronghold as her King's eye had turned inward. There was hope here once more.

Within the shelter of a quiet copse Tauriel set about making camp. She found dead wood for a fire and stones to line the perimeter of the shallow pit she had dug to house it. Cleared area for bedrolls and set up a highline at the edge to tie the horses and ponies to. She filled her water skin with water from a crystal clear brook that ran a short walk from her chosen camping ground and groomed her mare when she wandered into the camp she had made. It wasn't long after she had put away her grooming tools and sat down by her fire to sharpen her weapons that she heard the sounds of approaching horses and the screech of a falcon from behind her.

"Mae g'ovannen." She called out as she heard the distinctive sounds of her traveling companions as they dismounted. "Tolo anin naur."

"Sevig thû úan." Aranel said as she turned her head to look at them.

"Ego, mibo orch." Tauriel smiled as she watched her friend grin.

"If that is how you speak to a friend, I would hate to hear how you speak to an enemy." The grey wizard tutted at them.

"You all look travel worn but unscathed, I trust you ran across no trouble?" She laid her weapons aside as she stood and took the pack horse from the frowning wizard.

"We found no trouble but it looks as though trouble found you." The Princess of Erebor was looking at her critically.

"A couple small nicks but mostly just bumps and bruises that will be gone before long. I would not look near as bad as I do now had I not left all of my changes of clothes with the pack horse." She shrugged away the dwarf's observations.

"You found them then?" Sada asked.

"Killed some and scattered the rest. It was a mixed party I came across, men and dwarves both in the company." Tauriel nodded. "Mercenaries from the way they were organized and outfitted."

"You're more hurt than you want to say." Arenal said after she had tossed the older elleth the bag that held her spare clothes and Tauriel let a small gasp escape her lips as it made impact with her side.

"Nothing that won't heal easily." She held onto the pack. Mithrandir raised both eyebrows at her but said nothing as their eyes met. "There's a small tributary nearby. The water is fresh and safe and there is a small pool that would do for washing." She said before turning to the dwarves. "I assume that relations between our people are better and a doubt that there are any patrols this close to the edge of the wood at this time but I would still recommend you either come with me now or go with Aranel later so there is no room for confusion."

"You go. I'll go later." Dis motioned to Sada with her head and the younger dwarf picked up her own pack and followed along after Tauriel.

For the most part Tauriel ignored her companion as she stripped off her clothes, throwing her ruined tunic and undershirt to one side and put her dirty but salvageable grey wool trousers next to her pack before undoing her braids and slipping into the pool. The water was cold enough to be slightly uncomfortable even for one such as herself who was little affected by cooler temperatures and instantly goosebumps erupted across her skin. She knelt in the pool, dipping her head down and allowing her hair to become fully submerged, her fingers running through the tangles as the flow of water from the stream tugged gently at it.

"So you do have a death wish." Sada spoke a few minutes later from the place in the pool that she had vacated. She had replaced her undergarments and was trying to get her hair as dry as she could with a linen cloth she had kept in her pack.

"Since you ran into the wilds alone knowing that you could be a target because of your relationship to Prince Fili, I could say the same to you." She answered not unkindly and she pulled the patrol uniform of the King's Guard from her pack and looked over at the crown prince of Erebor's betrothed. For whatever reason Sada was not what she had expected Fili to pick for a bride, too headstrong and not in the least bit meek or ladylike.

"You didn't get those bruises, cuts or scars from being particularly careful with yourself." Sada was staring pointedly at the large patch of purple that had formed along her side as well as the light scratch that ran the breadth of her abdomen. "Looks like an axe took a good swipe at you."

"Small and single sided. Missed the blade mostly but was caught handily by the blunt side. Ruined a perfectly good tunic." Again she shrugged it off.

"They spoke of you in Rivendell, called you reckless. Your friend says it's because you lost a great love during the battle of the five armies and wish to join him in the undying lands." The dwarf pressed. Tauriel paused and drew a deep breath.

"That may have been true once but now I wait on Ilúvatar's time. We elves believe that we are given but one great love in our long lifetimes. It was a love that even though it cost me dearly I cannot find it in me to regret that it happened. In the aftermath of the great battle I lost the other part to my soul along with my rank, my home and my purpose. It has taken me these last years to find that purpose again." She closed her eyes against the throbbing in her chest, Kili's face held for a moment in her mind's eye before she released it back into memory and looked over at the young dwarf. "In memory of him I have tried to make sure that other's loved ones make it safely back to them and never share in my fate."

"Your fate?"

"To walk this earth alone."

Sada was troubled. She kept a watchful eye on Tauriel as she had her friend remove some stitches from an old wound on her arm and then set about making supper while the other dwarrowdam followed the younger elf maid to bathe. She looked different somehow, here, beneath these trees in the fresh clothes she had put on. Dark leather leggings under a deep green tunic with a leather brigandine and knee high leather boots. She had replaced her bracers with vambraces made of leather with silver inlay that matched the scroll work on her brigandine. Her fire red hair she had left mostly loose except for a few braids that seemed to be designed to keep the rest from her face. She looked every bit one of the King Thranduil's Captains once more.

She was more self-assured here, confident and at ease like she was unafraid of attack now she was in the woods. She had shared a few quiet words with the wizard and even smiled, she saw to her horse and her pack before starting a simple stew for supper that was making her mouth water after days of cold meats, raw greens and lembas bread. She had a summons from her King and for the first time in ten years was traveling home. Once she got there Sada hadn't been sure that even the news of Kili alive and well in Erebor would be enough to remove her from those halls again but then she watched the pain that danced quickly across the elf maid's face when she spoke of her long thought dead love. The elf felt as strongly for her Kili as she felt for Fili.

"You're scowling again." Dis broke her out of her thoughts.

"I think that the wizard is right. Withholding our knowledge from her is wrong." Sada responded.

"Marnat Sada!" Dis snappedat her in Khuzdul, making her turn to look at her swiftly. "Come!"

The older dwarrowdam stood and moved with purpose to the edge of the clearing where their camp had been set up and out of earshot of their elven companions. Sada followed, a frown fixed firmly to her face again.

"This level of secrecy is unnecessary!" She looked at the elves who were being obvious about not looking in their direction.

"Love doesn't conquer all. She is still a part of one of two races that have not seen peace in more years than they have. Thorin will not stand for such in his mountain and we would do best not to encourage either farther." Dis quickly explained in a barely audible hiss. "I too have watched her and while I do not understand the attraction he holds for her I understand the respect. I wish to do no more harm than has already been done."

"And if she gets herself killed protecting us not knowing that he still lives, how are you going to explain that to him?" She challenged.

"That she saved his brother's betrothed and should be celebrated for it." Dis snapped back. "Fili deserves to be happy."

"And Kili?" Sada shout was a snarl as she turning away from the other dwarrowdam, angry suddenly and startlingly the rest of camp enough for them to turn to look at them. The expression on Tauriel's face was guarded but she could take consolation in the fact that the only thing that any of the company, had heard was the name of Dis' son.

"Wasn't it Kili you spoke of in your dream?" Aranel looked between all of them as Gandalf made a disgruntled noise as he settled by the fire.

"Prince Kili is Princess Dis' youngest son." The wizard explained and Aranel looked strangely at the elder elf.

"Nogoth?" Aranel breathed.

"Dina, Aranel!" Tauriel gave her a one word command that closed the younger elf's mouth even as she looked over at Sada and Dis, pitching her voice so she knew she'd be heard by everyone. "I knew the Princes once. I imprisoned them in the halls of my King when they quested to take back their birthright. I fought alongside them in Laketown and on Ravenhill hill. I counted them both friend and because of that friendship I agreed to see their kin on a safe path home."

"And at least some of their kin are happy to call you friend too." Sada tossed a dirty look over her shoulder at her soon to be mother in law before stalking into the dark of the wood around them.

Elves and men, living in the sacred halls of the King Under the Mountain. Elves, men and halflings calling the King friend, dining at his personal table and sitting on the King's advisory council. It was a stain on the long proud history of the Khazad, an embarrassment to the great line of Durin that such a King now sit on the throne of Erebor and degrade his people and his bloodline so.

It was bad enough for the crown Prince to betroth himself to a dwarrowdam who, although she carried the name of Firebeard, was a lowly warrior with a wealthy father but for the younger to refuse any alliance and spend his days pandering to the strained relations between the Mountain's closest neighbors was an insult. Their neighbors should be attending them not expecting to be attended to. The insult could no longer be born and his master had sent him to make sure that these poor relations came to an end.

Do away with the Firebeard, make it seem an elven action that was plotted with the help of men and rid the halls of the stain upon them.

His orders were simple, undermine and distribute mistrust until the Firebeard returned to the halls of the King Under the Mountain. He was not alone in his mission, his master had mentioned others who would help to make dissent rise but his job was perhaps the most important. He must kill the dwarrowdam himself. He would see no glory on this earth for his actions but his family would gain honor and position as he waited for them. His people would fortify and grow strong again once outside influence was washed away and true alliances made between the very best of the founding families.

He turned his head to look to the west where his enemy would come from. He would make his land great again and count the cost worth it. For now all he must do was wait for the Firebeard's arrival or for other instructions. He faced forward once more, readied his spear and his shield for another early morning watch on the walls above the gates of Erebor.

Glossary

Mae g'ovannen - Well met!

Tolo anin naur - Come near the fire

Sevig thû úan - You smell like a monster

Ego, mibo orch - Go kiss an orc

Dina - Be silent

Nogoth - Dwarf

Marnat - Khuzdul - Quiet