The hour was late when Arabelle crawled under the cold silk sheets, goosebumps tickled her skin as she rested into the mountain of pillows. Her mind unable to rest as she thought to the dwarves locked in cells, a shiver shot up her spine, winter was fast approaching along with Durin's day. A list began to form in her mind; find the map and key, rescue the others, escape the well-guarded kingdom, survive the cursed forest. All of this to be achieved whilst the Elvenking watched her like a hawk to prey; a shaky sigh escaped her lips, all was beginning to seem lost.
"Belle." A whisper from the shadows, she bolted upright her hands curled into fists as she lacked any weapons "It's me."
Bilbo appeared from thin air, Arabelle's jaw smacking the ground below as he put his hands up to wrap around her fists encouraging her to lower them. In doing so she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close as she cursed herself for forgetting the hobbit. Though it was strange how he had not only avoided capture but also snuck his way into the woodland realm, past all the guards and was now in her room; her brows furrowed. "How?"
Bilbo shrugged and smiled sheepishly "Tall folk are rather bad for seeing below their own noses."
"Bilbo this is more than light of foot. The elves are keen on all senses, and I would like to think I am no fool. I had no sense of you at all, even when you spoke, I could not see you."
"Can't you just be happy I'm here?" Bilbo quipped back, clearly annoyed as he attempted to avoid her gaze, but she continued to stare at him until he begrudgingly sighed and pulled out a small object from his pocket. Reluctantly his hand opened to show a ring, gold, it blazed even in the dimness of the room it captivated both their eyes.
"A magic ring…" Arabelle looked to it, a strange allure to the small object it seemed to speak to her; pulled on her.
"It's mine." Bilbo snapped and tucked it back in his pocket.
"Bilbo." Arabelle was taken aback from his accusing tone and sharp action "I would never steal from you, you should know that."
"Right. Right." Bilbo shook his head free from a voice which belonged deep in a goblin cave "Sorry Belle, I think I am just tired, don't suppose you have any food?"
"No food sorry, the bed's comfy though." Arabelle collapsed back into the cushions, patting the spot beside her, Bilbo crawling up to join her under the covers.
"Why aren't you in the dungeons with the others?"
"It's a long story. But we need to focus, Durin's day will be here before we know it and it is up to us to save this quest, we might have to test out your burglaring skills a bit earlier than expected my friend."
"Right, well we best rest."
The morning had approached far too fast for the pair who had fallen asleep in a matter of seconds the night before, so tired they had not noticed the gentle knocks on the main door as serving elves flittered in with breakfast and a new set of clothes for Arabelle. Only when the knocks rang on the door to the bedroom, did they both jolt up Arabelle stammering out for a moment to dress as Bilbo clambered to hide under the bed.
"Sorry. Not a morning person." Arabelle opened the door but shielded the room with her body, letting out a rather large yawn with no polite hand to stifle her morning breath the elf took an unsubtle step back.
"We will tend your chambers whilst you eat, Eryniel is particularly good at hair if you wish her to braid whilst you sit."
"Actually, I prefer to eat in private. Plus, I shall tend my own hair, unless you wish to start a courtship?" The elf flushed a little in confusion "I shall call you when I am ready to dress." The elf nodded slowly backing out of the chambers as Bilbo crawled out and bolted straight for the table of food, Arabelle laughed slightly as the dwarves had clearly rubbed off on him as no fork or knife was in sight when Bilbo tore into the first scone.
"So what's the plan?" Bilbo asked between bites, Arabelle leaving the food for him as she poured some tea, her stomach riffled with uncertainty she felt ill just watching Bilbo eat.
"I don't know." She sighed "We need the map and key. Plus, we need to find the keys to the cells. Then by some miracle we need to find a way to sneak thirteen dwarves out of one of the best guarded realms in middle earth. Oh, not to mention, we need to do all this and give us time to travel to Erebor and find a hidden door before the final light of autumn."
"Right. Well I will start with the map and key. You see if you can find a weakness in their borders." Bilbo spoke so plainly, so reassuring, Arabelle felt stupid for worrying at all.
"How do you do it Bilbo? How do you have such faith we will get out of this?"
"Because it is you Belle."
"Right, no pressure. Well when you are out of these chambers be sure to wear that ring Bilbo, keeping your presence a secret will be what saves us." Bilbo seemed unsettled but nodded.
Arabelle had indeed needed to call in help to dress as the Elvenking seemed to be making sport of finding the tightest clothes possible with so many strings and straps Arabelle was not sure if they were clothes or torture devices. Eventually, after many curses, she walked out of her rooms in a green tunic and pants combo, the brown corset over the top was at least more to her colour pallet even if it was less her style. Arabelle began simple, retracing her steps from the night before as she began to make a road map in her mind, the staircase to the dungeons to her left she decided to wander down the right. The staircase opened to a training field, walls filled with weapons neatly stacked on the side as a group of archers practiced at one end, another group had training swords drawn but no longer did they swing as all attention fell onto the new occupant.
"M'Lady." Legolas made his way over to her with a smile as she chided him for not using her name, Legolas ushered her over to where he was training. "Tauriel I don't believe you two have formally met." Legolas indicated his training partner who begrudgingly offered a small bow.
Arabelle placing a hand upon her chest and nodding in return with a gentle smile "Please do not stop your training on my behalf, I was simply seeing the kingdom."
"She should not be left alone; she will be looking for an escape." Tauriel hissed to Legolas.
"She is the cat's mother." Arabelle smirked a little at Tauriel's shocked expression "I have spent enough time with elves to know I cannot escape; so figured might as well get use to a new home for a bit."
"You plan to stay?" Legolas asked.
"You plan to let me go?" Arabelle shot back with a quirked brow "Come Tauriel let us see what you Mirkwood elves have on those in Rivendell."
Arabelle had simply been looking to distract the pair from her true intentions, the sooner they believed her resigned to stay with them the sooner they would drop their guard. Arabelle entered the ring with Tauriel on the opposite side, they agreed on the long staff, three rounds, first flesh hit wins. Tauriel had the classic ego of any elf, instantly underestimating her opponent Arabelle landed the first blow in a surprise swing from the back; this got the attention of the entire arena. Tauriel straightening up she reassessed her opponent. Arabelle clearly too cocky from the first blow she had barely been able to keep up with Tauriel's second onslaught and was quickly swiped to the ground. Third and final round had both women cautious. They stalked one another, matching their footing as they circled around, a crowd of elves now surrounding them as they cheered on their captain. The third round was the longest, wooden staffs collided with echoing bangs that left splinters on the ground, Tauriel was fast, but Arabelle was strong, they danced around one another until finally Tauriel landed the killing blow poking Arabelle square on the chest she fell back and let out a few pants while thanking the stars for the respite.
"You could at least have the decency to have broken a sweat." Arabelle huffed as Tauriel stood over her, hand extended.
"You fight well." Tauriel was gracious in victory as she helped Arabelle to her feet "Perhaps better if your clothes fit." She noted the broken stitching.
"Yes, I fear I will be the seamstress worse nightmare." Arabelle laughed lightly pulling the broken corset off.
"Perhaps I can take you to mine this afternoon, get something properly fitted." Tauriel offered and Arabelle nodded enthusiastically, a tour by the captain of the guard was something she needed.
"M'Lady, your lunch is ready in your chambers as you requested." A quiet serving elf piped up from the sideline, Arabelle nodding her farewells as she hurried back to regroup with Bilbo who was sitting in front of their lunch, feet swinging from the chair his eyes looking far away, he looked weary and Arabelle couldn't help but worry for him, Hobbits were not known to travel so far nor take part in daring escapes.
"Bilbo are you ok?" Arabelle came to sit beside her friend whose fingers lingered in his pocket.
"Fine. I'm fine." Bilbo seemed to snap himself out of his own trance "Lunch looks good, shall I pour the tea?"
"Sounds good Bilbo." Arabelle smiled as he began fussing over plates and spoons; a much more natural state for a Hobbit he seemed to take comfort in divvying up the food.
"So did you find an exit?" Bilbo asked as he handed over a neatly made sandwich.
"No, I only made it to the training arena, though I am hoping to find out more this afternoon. Any luck yourself?"
"I couldn't find the map, but I did manage to find out which keys we need for the cells. Though they are constantly residing on the hip of a key master."
"Of course."
"I will try again this afternoon; this place just gets me all turned around." Bilbo huffed, many thought the paths to the Shire unnecessarily complicated and yet they had nothing on the entwined roots which resembled the overgrown forest outside and less actual pathways one could follow.
"Perhaps you should rest this afternoon Bilbo." Arabelle placed a hand over his "You haven't had a proper sleep and I know you worry about the company and Thorin-"
"Why would I worry for that dollophead?" Bilbo seemed aghast at the suggestion.
"Well in my experience people do not just throw themselves on top of Orcs to save dwarves that they don't like."
"Nonsense. You are just love struck yourself, you can't help but see it everywhere. Thorin barely tolerates me, why I doubt he thinks of me much at all, in fact I am not entirely sure he would even consider us more than indifferent comrades."
"Indifferent comrades?" Arabelle giggled at the hobbits scrunched up angry face which held no more anger in it than a rabbit. "Be in denial all you want but take the afternoon to rest."
"Tauriel." Arabelle answered the door sweetly smiling.
"I thought I heard voices."
"Perhaps my bad singing?" Arabelle offered as she pushed them both out the door "You still alright to take me to the seamstress?"
"Of course." Tauriel's eyes lingered on the door as Arabelle closed it, but her eyes quickly snapped to the arm that linked into her own in such a friendly manner she had no option but to accept it.
Just as Arabelle had planned they discussed dresses at first, though after travelling past one doorway Arabelle innocently asked if it was the library having clocked a tower of books; she was right. Of course, she had already figured out the second stairwell and so by the time they passed an unknown hall Arabelle noted the beautiful architecture; Tauriel offering up the fact it led to the King's private audience room. Down a few flights of stairs and across two walkways they finally made it to a more plain looking area of the kingdom, no longer were roots carved but merely shaped to make doorways and as they entered the seamstress shop Arabelle smiled kindly at the lady who beamed back at her.
"So you are the one dear Tauriel won't stop talking about?" She laughed as Tauriel seemed to pallor "Kili right?"
Arabelle watched as Tauriel flushed red and she had to bite her lip to stop herself smiling too wide "Arabelle actually."
"Oh right, forgive me too many names all you dwarves have such strange names."
"I shall leave you to it." Tauriel went to bow out when the lady snatched her hand up.
"Nonsense, I will need all the hands I can get. Those dwarves are not leaving their cells anytime soon captain, come stay with us women."
"You guard the dwarves yourself?" Arabelle raised a brow as her arms were raised for her, measuring tape wrapping around her bust.
"I am the captain of the guard, it is my duty." Tauriel replied rather stoically, defying her thoughts as they travelled to the young brunette whose stories had captured her evenings.
"Is it also your duty to accompany me to get clothes?" Arabelle asked "Not that I am complaining, to be honest I have been trapped with men for far too long."
"Yes well they all keep asking if you are ok and there is at least three of them who keep commenting on the clothes so I hoped this would keep them happy, or at least quieter."
"Ha! Good luck with that. But I bet you I can guess the three." Tauriel's lips pulled up a bit at Arabelle's challenge "Definitely Dori, Gloin will take offense on any matter and bit of a long shot for the last one but I'm thinking Balin."
"One has grey hair and his beard is held by a silver case (Dori, check), another put up quite the fight when we took his axe and has hair as red as mine (Gloin, nailed it) and the other is rather bald with a mean scowl (Dwalin, interesting)."
"Two out of three I'll take it." Arabelle laughed before being swatted to stay still as fabric was being pinned to her.
"Why do you travel with them?" Tauriel's question came from her own lips but sounded much like the Elvenking's words, Arabelle realising she was not the only one using the other.
"Because I can, because I want to." A smile graced her face "Just another adventure really."
"You are travelling across middle earth for adventure?"
"You make it sound as though that is a bad thing."
"Sorry. I just…" Tauriel's mind reeled at the possibilities, the freedom and Arabelle saw it, she saw it in the sadness that grew in the elves eyes.
"A cage is still a cage no matter how pretty you make it. You can report back to your king that I have no intention of staying in mine."