A/N1: Thanks to everyone who sent in reviews and comments last chapter. I really appreciate it.
Chapter 11: The Trip to Mirkwood
The company had been traveling for three days. Their path was a easy one, and as Beorn had told them, fresh water streams had been plentiful all along the way. The dwarves and Bilbo were all riding ponies, while Harry, Luna, and Gandalf were all on full sized horses.
They had posted guards each night when they stopped, but there was no sign of the goblins that they knew were likely perusing still them. Although one night when it was Bilbo's turn to stand the watch, he was sure that he saw the form of a huge bear off in the distance, but it never came close to their camp. He mentioned this to Gandalf the next morning, but the old wizard just told him to ignore it, and would say no more.
A few times Bilbo saw small herds of deer off in the distance, grazing and generally doing the things that deer do.
The next day they out just before dawn, and as soon as it was light they could see the forest coming as if it were rising up to meet them, or waiting for them like a black and frowning wall before them.
Birds, they noticed, seemed to sing less. There were no more deer. Not even rabbits or Billy Bumblers were to be seen. By the afternoon they had reached the edge of Mirkwood, and were resting underneath the great overhanging limbs of it's outer trees. Their trunks were massive, and Harry saw that they were giant Redwoods, all gnarled and twisted with age. Ivy and moss grew on them and trailed along the ground.
"Well, here is Mirkwood!" said Gandalf. "The greatest of the forests of the
Northern world. Now you must send back these excellent ponies you have borrowed."
The dwarves started to grumble at this, but the wizard told them they
were being foolish. "Beorn is not as far away as you may think, and you had best not break your promises. He is a great friend, but he is an even greater enemy, and he has been following us this whole trip, sitting far off in the moonlight watching our camps. Not only to guard you, but to keep an eye on the ponies as well. Beorn may be your friend, but he loves his animals as his children. You cannot guess what kindness he has shown you in letting you ride them so far and fast, nor what would happen to you, if you broke your promise and tried to take them into the forest."
"What about your horse, then?" asked Thorin. "You don't mention sending that back."
"I don't, because I am not sending it back."
"What about your promise then?"
"I am not sending the horse back, I am riding it, and I will escort the ponies and other two horses back as well. Though doubtless they could find their way home on their own."
It was then they realized Gandalf was going to leave them at the very edge of
Mirkwood, and nothing they could say would change his mind.
"Hush now," he told the Dwarves. "we talked about all this before, when we first approached the Carrock," he said. "It is no use arguing, as it will do no good. I have, as I told you, pressing business away South, and I am already late because of you. I had originally planned on sending only Mr. Baggins with you, but your luck improved greatly when I came across Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood. They have powers and abilities that you have only seen glimpses of so far, and as for Mr. Baggins, I have told you before that he has more about him than you guess. So cheer up Thorin and Company, we may meet again before all is over. That depends on your luck and on your courage and sense."
So now there was nothing left to do but to fill their water-skins at a spring they found close to the forest entrance, and unpack the ponies. They tried distributing the packages as fairly as they could, but Bilbo found his pack was wearisomely heavy, and did not at all like the idea of trudging for miles and miles with all that on his back. Luna had offered to lighten Bilbo's pack using magic. An offer he gratefully accepted. But the Dwarves declined, saying that the weight was no bother.
"I wonder if they'd say that if they had to carry the packs we have?" he asked Luna quietly. Their packs had feather weight charms on them, so they only weighed a few pounds. But without them they would have been well over 200. Most of it was dried and shrunken food, enough to last the company for months if they were careful. They also carried the water bottles that Harry had first transfigured when they arrived in this world.
"They probably would." Luna answered him, shaking her head. "Dwarves seem to take pride in how well they carry burdens, and the last thing they would want, it to appear weak."
Finally, at last, they said good byes to their ponies and horses, and released them so they could head for home. As they trotted away, they seemed very glad to put their tails towards the shadow of Mirkwood, and as they went, Bilbo could have sworn he saw the great bear leaving the shadow of the trees and shamble off quickly after them. Bilbo had gone just inside the forest after breakfast (a very meager on in his opinion), and it had seemed to him that it was as dark under the trees as early night was outside. Also, it seemed very secret: Like there was someone or something watching him.
Now it was time for Gandalf to bid them farewell." Good-bye!" he said to them all. "Straight through the forest is your way now, and don't stray off the path! If you do, it is a thousand to one you will ever find it again and ever get out of Mirkwood, or ever be seen again for that matter."
"Do we really have to go through?" groaned the hobbit.
"Yes, you do!" answered the old wizard, "if that is you want to get to the other side. You must either go through the forest, or give up your quest. And I am not going to allow you to do that Mr. Baggins. You have help Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood look after all these Dwarves for me. Otherwise their quest will be for naught." he said solemnly.
"No! no!" said Bilbo. "I didn't mean that at all. I meant, is there no way to go round the forest rather than through?"
"There is, if you want to go two hundred miles or so out of your way North, and twice that South. But even if you did, you wouldn't find it a safer path even then. We are in the wild, and there are no safe paths in this part of the world. Before you could get round Mirkwood in the North you would be among the slopes of the Grey Mountains, and they are simply full of goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins of the worst description. And before you could circle it in the South, you would find yourselves in the lands of the Necromancer, and even you Bilbo, don't need me to tell you tales of that black sorcerer. I would not advise ANYONE to go near any of the the places overlooked by his dark
tower! Stick to the forest path, because as dangerous as it is, it is still the safest option open to you. If you keep your spirits up, and hope for the best, you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes laid out below you, and the Lonely Mountain high in the East, where dear old Smaug lives. Although, I do hope he is not expecting you."
"Very comforting you are," grumbled Thorin. "Well good-bye then! If you won't come with us, you had better get off without any more talk!"
"I will be off shortly. But I wish to have a word with Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood first before I take my leave of you." He told Thorin.
"Oh?" asked Thorin, a suspicious tone in his voice. "what about?"
"What I have to say to them is from one wizard to another, and none of your concern. I assure you it is nothing that will do any of you any harm." And on this subject he would say no more, but simply motioned Harry and Luna to come over to him.
-=ooo000ooo=-
When the three of them were alone, he said softly, so as not to be overheard, "I wanted to first thank you both for going along on this adventure. You're agreeing to do so has greatly improved the chances of it succeeding. Second, I also wanted to tell you that despite Beorns and my warnings not to leave the forest path, if you feel you need to, do so."
Harry was about to say something to this, but Gandalf held his had up to cut him off. "The warning is because the forest is so dense and dark that if one were to leave the path, even for a short time, it would be very easy to get lost. That and there are enchantments on the entire path, put there by the Elves that keep dangerous things out. But it has been many many years since I have traveled through Mirkwood, before the two of you were born in fact, and I no longer know for certain what is the same, and what has changed."
"So we should follow the path unless something extremely unexpected comes up?" asked Luna.
"Precisely." Answered Galdalf. "Also, you should know that Elves still live in Mirkwood as well. They are ruled by Thranduil, the King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood, and it is they that made and guard all the passes through the forest. They may be able to help you if you find yourselves in need."
"Why wouldn't you want Thorin and the rest of the Dwarves to know of this?" Harry asked him. "Why just us?"
"Because Dwarves do not get along with most Elves. They have had…disagreements in the long past, and as such, neither trust the other."
"But they didn't seem to have any problem when we stopped at Rivendell, and Thorin seemed to hold Elrond in very high regard." Luna replied.
"Elrond is one of the High Elves, and they are an exception. They are the closest to royalty as you will find in this world, and very few treat them with distain, even the Dwarves. But the Wood Elves are different. They are of a lower class, and as such act differently towards outsiders."
"Are they dangerous then?" Harry asked. "and should we avoid them if possible?"
"No they are not dangerous as such, but they are very wary of any outsiders if they don't know them well. They will know you are in the forest before a week has passed, but they shouldn't trouble you. However," he added, "if you do meet find yourselves in trouble and have to go to them, you will be brought before Thranduil. Tell him that you are a companion of mine. They know me as Mithrandir."
"Mithrandir?" Harry asked, "You do seem to go by a lot of names Gandalf. Any others we should know about?" he asked with a smirk.
Gandalf chuckled softly. "A few others, but none that you will encounter. But as I was saying, when you tell him this, he will want proof. Tell him that the last time we met in his halls, it was to discuss the growing evil in the South. There were only three at this meeting. Myself, him, and one other that none knew about. This will be his proof."
"And who was this other?" Luna asked.
"Galadriel, Queen of the High Elves of Lothlurien. She traveled in secret so as not to alert our enemies, and none save Thranduil knew of her presence there in his realm. In fact, it is Galadriel's daughter Celebrían who is married to Elrond."
"I didn't realize Elrond was married. Why didn't we meet his wife when we were there?" Harry asked.
"That," Gandalf said sadly, "is a long story. Too long to be told now, and it really is Elrond's tale to tell if he wishes. But for now, that is all I wished to tell you both, that, and to stay safe."
"Thank you for telling us Gandalf. It's good to know that there is someone we can go to in the forest if need be. Even if Thorin and the rest won't like it." Harry said to him.
"Do you really have some place to be, or were you just saying that so that the Dwarves will have to rely on themselves?" Luna asked him.
"No I was not just saying that Miss Lovegood. There is a meeting of the White Council that I must attend. I'm am going to try and convince them that the time has come to drive the Necromancer out of his stronghold in the South. But that also is a story for another time. Come, we must get back to the company."
Harry and Luna nodded, and they started back to Bilbo and the Dwarves.
"So," Thorin said gruffly when they returned, "are you finished with you secret meeting then?"
"We are." Gandalf replied. Ignoring the Dwarves tone. "I just came back to say a final good-bye to all of you, and to wish you good luck with your quest."
Then, turning his horse, he rode down into the West.
"O good-bye and go away!" grunted the dwarves, all the more angry because they were really filled with dismay at losing him.
But the old wizard could not resist the urge to have the final word. Before he had passed out of hearing and out of sight, he turned and putting his hands to his mouth, called back to them.
"Good-bye! Take care of yourselves…and DON'T LEAVE THE PATH!"
Then he galloped away and was soon lost to sight, leaving the company to began the most dangerous part of their journey.
After he was gone, they each shouldered the heavy packs and the water-skins which were their share, and turned from the light that lay on the lands outside and plunged into the forest.
A/N2: A short chapter I know, but I wanted to separate the trip to the forest, from the actual trip through it. The next chapter, "Into the Dark Again", is half written, so it won't be too long before it's posted. Really! It wont.
Till next time.
TD