"They began walking again, spirits higher, Gandalf looked troubled.
"We need to find a place that's safer then out here." Gandalf stated as if to himself.
"There are no signs of Wargs right now, just a great beast." Kili stated.
"Was this beast, a bear?" Gandalf asked.
"Yes, a huge black bear." Fili stated.
"Good, we must run for it. Do not stop and do not look back." Gandalf stated and they ran quickly toward a huge barn. As they pushed through the door, they were able to get in and bar the door before the great bear caught the last of them.
"What is this place, and what creature was that?" Thorin asked.
"That creature is our host, he is a skin changer. Beorn, is his name. We will be safe here, hopefully." Gandalf stated.
"Skin changer. That is abnormal." Nori stated, rising to leave.
"There is nothing abnormal about Beorn. His people used to dwell here in peace with nature." Gandalf stated. "Now rest, you'll need it."
The huge bear stalked about keeping guard on the barn. As dawn broke he changed into the form of a very big man and entered the barn with the sleeping company. Beorn told of his dislike of dwarfs, since they were greedy, but that he hated Orcs more. He was the last of his kind and that was due to the Orcs. He gave ponies and horses to the company and soon they were on their way again with food and supplies. Gandalf told them the way to go and left the company and Adara to head for the forest of the Woodland realm. He had to go and meet Radaghast.
As they came to Mirkwood, they dismounted and sent the beautiful animals back to their master. They were about to enter Mirkwood, Adara stared into the darkness.
"We must stay to the path. Do not veer off, it is too dangerous." They walked into the wicked looking forest covered in webs, and were soon hearing strange murmurings. After they walked in circles, Adara tried to get them to follow her, but they were angry and addled.
Bilbo climbed up and made his way out of the top of the trees and found the blue of the sky and saw the way they must go. He climbed back down to only find spiders and had to fight to get to his companions. As he fought he lost the sword and ring and fell to the bottom of the canopy of trees. He grabbed his sword and placed the ring on his finger and went back to fight the spiders.
He stabbed one and it screamed that the sword had stung him. Bilbo then named his sword Sting. As he hacked at the cocoons, he was able to get the dwarfs out of their fate. He soon found the last cocoon and hacked on it until Adara was free. She looked at Bilbo and smiled then grabbed her sword and stabbed another of the spiders. A swish of arrows was heard and soon they were surrounded by the tips of knocked arrows in Elven bows aimed at them.
"Why are you in the Realm of the Woodland Elves, Dwarfs!" A tall brunette female elf stated.
"We are merely passing through." Balin stated.
"We shall see about that." Another elf stated.
"We are friends of Gandalf the Grey. We mean no harm." Adara stated. One of the elves stalked toward them and cast his eyes up and down Adara. Fili stepped forward and pulled her against him. The elf smirked at them then gave an order and left.
"Drop your weapons." All disarmed although it took Fili and Adara the longest to drop all of their weapons. Adara looked about, but did not state that she was looking for Bilbo. Hoping that he had gotten away. They were taken to cells in the catacombs of the Elven kingdom.
Bilbo hidden with invisibility snuck in behind. All were cast into cells, but for Adara, who was pushed to walk on up the ramp toward the top of the catacombs, Thorin was taken by the smirking elf to the Elven King. Adara was taken to a room and was bowed to by the two elves then locked in. She felt horrible that her companions were stuck in dank cells. After several hours a pair of guards came and took her to the King.
"Why are you in my realm?" The king asked.
"I was helping my friends. We were merely passing through when the spiders attacked. Orcs were chasing us." She stated.
"So, you think slipping into my kingdom should be allowed?" Thranduil asked Adara.
"We did not slip in. We were fleeing Orcs. Forgive me King Thranduil, but I think your crown is too tight. It's causing you to think in error." Adara stated sweetly.
"You dare talk to a king, with such disdain!" Thranduil bellowed.
"I do dare, for even if you were my own father, I would not keep quiet, when injustice is being done." Adara returned.
"You are an insolent young human." Thranduil chuckled.
"Not fully human, your majesty. I am Fay, and human. I was the daughter of an ancient Fay race of Upper Earth. Put here by my mother when my father died in battle, in a human war." Adara stated.
"And who was your mother, pray tell?" Thranduil stated with a smirk.
"Ondine, who ruled the realm of the water fay. She fell in love with a human and they had me. I lived with them until I was four, in human years, but in fay years I was nearly sixteen. I was found and the Lady of Light and Lord Celeborn had my rescuers take me to a couple who had no children. I lived there until Gandalf came and asked me to accompany him." Adara stated.
"So, who were you rescued by?" Thranduil asked, smirk still in place.
"By a young ranger named Strider, Haldir and the twin sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir." Adara stated and smiled.
"Are you the one who lived with the old couple in Rohan, on a farm?" Thranduil asked one eyebrow raised.
"Yes, that was me. I met a small group of your kin. They rode with my father, Haldir. Ever since he found me I have called him father." Adara stated.
"Yes, so I have heard for the last five years. My son is quite taken with your beauty. I must confess, he has good taste. You are an exceptional beauty. Strong, brave, loyal, caring, and I have heard as sweet as the nectar of a honey suckle." Thranduil stated and rose from his throne, Adara watched him, he was extremely tall, but even though he tried to be scary, she only smiled at him.
"So, the one that told me I was his beloved forever, is the Prince of Mirkwood?" Adara looked at him in amazement.
"You did not know he was the prince?" Thranduil asked as he walked closer to her.
"No, he just called himself Greenleaf. He mostly just talked about how nice it was to meet someone so hospitable among men. I did tell him of my heritage, he seemed to become even more interested in me after that. He also told me I had pretty ears." Adara explained and chuckled.
"Do not feel embarrassed, your ears are quite lovely. The small point shows the heritage of your kin.
"The fay of your world, do they have wings?" Thranduil watched the beauty before him with open curiosity.
"Some do, but my mother was not one of them. She was more like an elf, I guess. Tall, very beautiful, long blonde hair, deep blue eyes. My father was shorter, but taller than I became. He once told me that his mother was very tiny, I guess I took after her in my stature." Adara stated and smiled remembering her family.
"Where did your father die?" Thranduil asked in a low respectful tone.
"In Upper Earth, in a war between states. The Upper Earth year was around 1863, my mother soon after took me to a place called Stone Henge, in the country of England. She placed me on a rock slab and said words over me. The next thing I remember, was seeing an image of Lothlorien. Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn and Lord Elrond talking with my mother. Then I was sitting in a desolate field, and my rescuers came for me. That is all I remember of my parents." Adara stated and looked at the tall king.
Thranduil stepped down to where she stood and held out his hand to her. "Will you walk with me?" He stated and smiled.
"Of course, Your Majesty." Adara stated and curtsied. He put her hand in the crook of his arm and they walked through the huge doors and over several bridges to a lovely grassy area, twinkling with tiny lights, flowers of many kinds grew about. He smiled at the look of joy on the lovely young woman's face.
"Do you like my garden?" Thranduil asked.
"Oh my yes, it's absolutely gorgeous and magical. It reminds me of my mother's garden." Adara covered her mouth with her hands. "I have never remembered my mother's garden until now. Thank you." Thranduil put a hand on her shoulder. He noticed the glossing of unshed tears in Adara's eyes.
"You are very welcome my dear, I must admit, the way you describe your mother, is nearly Elven. I think perhaps she may have been an Elf-Fay Hybrid. It has happened before. Though not so much now as centuries ago. Did your mother ever tell you her age?" The Elven king asked.
"Only once, when I asked if I would ever meet my grandparents. She said that they were thousands of years old. She had laughed it off, as a joke." Adara stated.
"So did you ever think you might be Elven?" Thranduil asked.
"I never gave it much thought. I was happy with my life, but I often wished that Haldir had really been my father, so I would not have to be alone, after my human parents had died, I was very lonely." Adara stated and turned to look at the glistening pond, with its colorful lily pads.
"I must say, Legolas was not exaggerating, you are the most lovely of creatures. I am sorry that you were accosted by my guards. I wish for you to stay freely with us here. At least until Legolas returns. He would very much like to see you again. He was very distraught, when he went to your farmstead and found it abandoned. He feared the worst." Thranduil stated kindly.
"I would love to be your guest, Your Majesty, but my dwarf friends are your prisoners. They did not mean to trespass, merely to escape the Orcs who were chasing us. Then those silly spiders, had to be mischievous and try to eat us." Adara stated.
"Mischievous, you mean hostile." Thranduil stated dryly.
"I do not believe that any beast is truly evil by nature, only by the company it keeps. And Dol Guldur is being ran by very bad company. If I had to make a guess, I would say that Sauron was trying to return to power." Adara stated and looked at Thranduil.
"What do you know of Sauron?" Thranduil asked.
"Only what I overheard my mother saying to another of the Fay, she said the power of darkness always finds a foothold in a world that thinks all is finally well. The darkness of Middle Earth will come again, it will come in the form of foul breath and darkening skies. Middle Earth will be close to falling, but for the brave and good to come together as one will put a final end to Evil's reign. The number of nine will be the downfall of all that is evil in Middle Earth." Adara stated looking blankly, as if she had stepped back through time.
"Your mother was a very wise woman. A seer, I presume, not unlike Lady Galadriel." Thranduil stated.
"The Lady of Light, reminds me of my mother, so graceful and kind, wise beyond all others." Adara stated tears again glistening in her beautiful eyes.
"Your eyes are wondrous to behold, when you first were brought before me, they were like the green of spring time, when you remember you family they turned the color of a stormy sky, now they are a soft rich brown. Amazing, I have never seen eyes like yours before." Thranduil stated, putting his fingers under her chin, he raised her face to meet his. Glorious, and your lips are the color of a rose's petal, and just as sweet I would say." He moved to taste her lips as he heard voices nearing their location. "Forgive me, Lady Adara, I was not myself." He stated and turned just as a small group of elves walked up to him.
Adara turned and sat on a bench near the pond and watched as a small frog jumped about lily pad to lily pad. She smiled as she watched the little green animal. When he slipped off the last lily pad into the pond she made a small giggle, that sounded like the tinkling of and the other elves turned and looked at the lovely woman. The elf standing in the forefront of the group stepped forward and gazed at Adara.
"It is you, Lady Adara, we thought something terrible had befallen you. The Prince still searches for you, I now can put his mind to rest." The elf stated and bowed his head to her.
"Yes, please tell my son, that he has company awaiting his return." Thranduil stated."Yes Sire, I will go right away." He bowed and left with the others.
"I am sorry for giggling, but the silly little frog miscalculated his last leap and fell in the pond." Adara smiled as she pointed to the frog now sitting on the lily pad he had missed.
"It's quite alright, I have missed the sound of a woman's laughter. I am pleased that you are enjoying yourself. Now as for your dwarf friends, they are a very stubborn lot, especially their leader. I was willing to make a deal for their release, but Oakenshield would not even hear of it." Thranduil explained.
"Perhaps he still holds ill feelings for you from sometime before." Adara stated innocently.
"Yes, I admit, I cared more for the lives of my people than for the neighbors living about us." Thranduil stated.
"I understand, your own people come first, there is no wrong in that thinking, but consider the feelings of others for their people as well, you will find that they are similar to yours." Adara stated and smiled at the Elven King.
"You are very wise, my dear. If you wish you may still have a room here. I was planning on letting your friends go in a few days anyway." Thranduil stated then heard a commotion.
"Sire, the dwarfs are gone. They've escaped, Tauriel has gone after them, your son went after her. What do you wish for me to do?" A tall blonde elf asked.
"Do nothing, my son and Tauriel can handle things, but if my son is not back by tomorrow evening, you are to go and retrieve him. He has company." Thranduil stated and bowed his head toward Adara.