In the morning, at breakfast, the company sang and belched and were quite loud. Lulyn, though, had more elf like table manners, and so she sat in the middle of this obnoxious dwarf bunch quietly and ate. While they were eating, Elrond pulled Thorin away quietly. Lulyn got up and followed out of curiosity. They came to a small room with a table in the center. On the table, was a map of middle earth, it was quite large, and Lulyn seemed to just now realize how big the world was. She examined the map closely, forgetting the reason they were there. Thorin cleared his throat and Lulyn stood up straight, knowing she could examine the map later.
"Recently I've been noticing the unusually large number of orcs on our borders. That was one of the reasons I was away last night. I've done some research and I do believe that the orcs are gathering in Ered Mithrin." Elrond stated, tapping that spot on the map.
"How do we know your research is correct?" Thorin asked bitterly.
Elrond sighed. "Well, you might just have to go on faith."
Thorin frowned. "And if you're wrong?"
"I do not believe I am wrong, for the signs are pointing toward Ered Mithrin. But in the event that I am wrong, there is always a chance they could be hiding in Dol Goldur once again. Or you could go to Thranduil and see what he knows." Elrond suggested.
Thorin grunted. "I'll take my chances in Ered Mithrin."
Elrond nodded. "I figured that would be your choice."
"So, what's our path?" Lulyn asked.
Thorin inspected the map. "Well, I would assume we would all prefer the quickest route, which would be cutting through Mirkwood, then-"
"You shouldn't take the path through Mirkwood." Elrond advised.
Thorin frowned. "And why not?"
"Thranduil has extra scouts stationed all over Mirkwood. If they see you, they'll most probably put you in prison." Elrond explained.
"But going through Mirkwood is quicker." Thorin argued.
"Not if we are arrested by elves." Lulyn chimed in.
Thorin shot her a warning look, apparently, he didn't want her opinion.
"If we go through Mirkwood, we can get into the mountain where the orcs are, kill some and get out." Thorin said.
Elrond sighed. He muttered something along the lines of, "Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves!" Then took a breath. "I'm only trying to give you the best advice I can. If Thranduil arrests you, he may not release you. Anytime soon."
"Fine. We'll go around Mirkwood." He grumbled. "We leave as soon as possible." He looked at Lulyn. "If you're coming, you best get ready now. And go find my nephews." He ordered.
Lulyn nodded and ended up searching all over Rivendell for the brothers, which was an adventure in itself. She got lost...twice, and found Fili in the armory, seeing if he could hide any more weapons and take them with him...like he needed more. Once she dragged him out of there, she found Kili flirting the some elf maidens, who were relieved when Lulyn managed to get him to come with her. The group met at the gate, where Gandalf was speaking to Thorin, saying something about how he's staying in Rivendell to do research. Gandalf couldn't stress enough that they "MUST go around Mirkwood".
As they left, the elf maidens gave Lulyn Kor, who had been all cleaned up and looked the nicest he had looked in a long time. He didn't look too happy with the gems all weaved through his feathers; he could barely fly. By the time they had left, he had most of the gems plucked out.
That night, they found shelter in a cave in the Misty Mountains. Of course, the company made sure it wasn't an entrance to Goblin Town. It was around midnight, and Lulyn stared at her scarred hands. She lay awake, replaying the moment when she thought she had had her final adventure, then the look Kili had given her when he saved her life popped into her head. She smiled when she recalled his words: "Just consider it payment of my debt." And his charming smile, and his dark brown eyes, and his...woah woah woah, wait. Was she..? No...she couldn't be. She'd just met the dwarf for goodness sake. She decided to forget about it and go to sleep. She rolled over and pulled the blanket up over her shoulder. When she fell sleep, her dreams were not pleasant.
Lulyn and her parents galloped across the terrain. The sun was setting, and they w"ere having a race. Even if it was the anniversary of her big sister's death, the grief was behind her and this would be what she would've wanted. They stopped in a little valley, surrounded by mountains once the sun had set and the ponies were tired. Lulyn laughed and hugged her parents. They pulled out their picnic and started to eat a pie her mother had bought while they were in Bree. Lulyn always loved her mother's necklace. It twinkled in the sunlight and glowed In the moonlight. She loved to hear the story about how one of her great-great-great dwarf relatives stole the amethyst from the orcs and made a necklace out of it for his wife. She was never told the end though.
A twig snapped in the underbrush. In the blink of an eye, Lulyn's father had his bow ready and her mother had her sword drawn. Lulyn noched an arrow in her bow that her father taught her how to use. Turns out, it was a squirrel. Lulyn and her parents sat down again, and as Lulyn's mother cut another piece of pie, an arrow stuck right into it, splattering it everywhere. Then, out of the underbrush came an Orc, then another, then another, then another. Four more joined the three already in the valley. "Lu, get behind me." Her father ordered. Lulyn did, but then another Orc came up behind them. Azog the Defiler. He was followed by several other orcs, which Lu didn't want to take the time to count. Lulyn gasped and tugged and her father's tunic sleeve frantically. He spun and instantly let his arrow go. Azog dodged it like there was nothing to it. Nine orcs encircled The Nobleheart family, weapons ready. Azog and Lulyn's father had a discussion in black speech, which she couldn't make out, but it sent chills up and down her spine. She glanced toward the ponies, they stood there, nervous and fidgety. The discussion continued, she caught something, for the conversation switched to Elvish. It ended with Azog shouting, "Then the line of thieves will be ended!" And there, before her eyes, Lulyn watched as Azog impaled her mother. Lulyn gasped and looked away, clinging to her father's leg. "Odelia!" Her father exclaimed, dropping to his knees at her side. Lulyn swallowed hard. Her mother lay motionless, and her breath was gone. "The dwarfling next!" An excited Orc exclaimed. Lulyn gasped. Her father took the necklace from her mother's neck and clutched it. A single tear rolled down his face. Azog raised his weapon, ready to make his next kill. Quick as lightning, her father opened her hand and put the necklace in it. "Lu, take this and run. Run and don't look back. Remember, the past doesn't matter. ...Lu?" He said, teary eyed. "Yes Adad?" She asked hurriedly. "Anin mela lle." Lulyn began to cry. "I love you too, Adad." She whispered. And with that, she turned ran as fast as she could, she glanced over her shoulder and saw her father fighting Azog, and losing. She looked up at one of the other mountains that surrounded the valley. She gasped when she noticed the Elvenking on his elk and some soldiers standing by, watching her father lose his battle. She wondered if they had been there the whole last thing she remembered was the angry roar of Azog echoing across the mountains and seeing him jump up over the ridge she was standing on.
Lulyn woke with a start, she sat up quick with a gasp. She found herself curled up against the cave wall, tears streaming down her face. She silently cried and decided to take a walk to clear her head. She got up and slipped away, climbing out of the cave. She stayed well away from the edge of the cliff, knowing no one would hear her if she pulled what she did the other night again. The starlight made her necklace glow, reminding her of the nights when she couldn't sleep and so her mother would tell her the story of how the necklace came to her family. She smiled, fingering the necklace. She then heard a rumble nearby. She turned as she felt the ground shaking beneath her, slow...then faster and harder. There was a fell voice in the air, loud, but distant, as if it was trying to bring down the mountain. Lulyn rushed inside the cave and saw the dwarves hurrying to get their things together. "Someone is trying to bring down the mountain!" She called over the loud rumbling and the falling stones, getting larger and larger by the minute. After Thorin shouted a few orders, which Lulyn couldn't make out, the group escaped the cave and ran quickly as to get off that mountain. The voice died away as they got further, but the next few mountains appeared to be shaking and crumbling too. The company ran their way out of the mountains that night, Lulyn was the only one who thought to grab the ponies, she knew they'd need them later on. Once the group was out of the Misty Mountains, they pretty much collapsed from exhaustion. Every one slept well that night, no one even thought of taking watch, for they were all too tired. Lulyn stared back toward the mountain range. She wondered who was trying to stop them. That was obviously no accident.