Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Nanaiel lay thinking on her impending meeting with the dwarves in the dungeons. She wondered if any would remember little Nana who trailed after her father for the few months they had been in Ered Luin. Would they call her Nana? She hadn't been called Nana in so long. It was too plain for elves, who preferred her full name. She hoped they wouldn't mind calling her Nana, she never wanted a dwarf to call her Nanaiel and the elvish name wouldn't sound right from a dwarf's lips.
Would they like her? Would they know of her family? Would she be able to aid their escape? Would they allow her to leave with them?
The last question had plagued her for days. If the dwarves decided she was of no use to them or if her family did not want her, she did not know what she would do. If she escaped, if she made it from the forest, she only had two choices, Esgaroth to the east or the home of a skin-changer to the west.
Maybe, if the dwarves were to refuse her, she should just live the rest of her days in Mirkwood. She was safe, though unhappy. Then she thought again, what is the point of living if there is no life to live. If she was to go through the rest of her days monotonously, what was the point?
If she could not leave, she would never experience the things she wishes: fighting, traveling, or finding her One. She would never give up the chance of finding her One. Leaving the safety of the kingdom was the only way she would find happiness.
Nanaiel sat up from her place on the bed, sliding off and walking over to her window. Though it had been sealed by the king's magic, it still gave relief to the repetitive vision of her bed drapes and stone floors. Her window gave her the best view of the gardens. Her room was next to her mother's. Thranduil had forbid her from using her mother's rooms for reasons unknown to her. Nanaiel was fine with this as she did not wish to disturb anything her mother's old rooms.
She had wished to return to the cabin but that had become impossible due to the growing amount of dark creatures and death in the forest. She did not even know if the cottage still stood. All she knew was her uncle's frustration at not knowing where it stood to this day. His sister's most well-kept secret was still secret to that day. When the darkness surrounding the forest dissipated she would find the cottage. Even if she was old and grey haired by the timed that occurred.
Nanaiel sat on her window sill, closing her eyes and leaning against the wall behind her, unknowingly mimicking a certain dwarf who sat many floors below her, in the cells. She would speak with the dwarves and proceed from there with the information she gained.
Nanaiel woke to the sound of knocking. She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She pushed herself from her bed, grabbing her dressing gown from a chair to cover the tunic she wore to bed, the length of it hardly appropriate for company.
Nanaiel quietly opened the door, peeking through only to see Legolas and Tauriel standing outside. Realizing her friends were waiting to come in, she pulled the door open further. Closing the door behind them, she turns to her friends with questioning eyes.
"We need to plan how to escort you to the dungeons without creating suspicion. We found a few different passages that would work and do not know which would be best. Also the guards that stand at the entrance to the cells will be difficult to distract," Legolas explained. "Tauriel cannot just call them away as it would seem suspicious."
"If you were to distract the guard, Legolas, then Tauriel can walk past with me on her other side. The guard will only see Tauriel," Nanaiel suggested. "Then, if someone were to hear voices and investigate, Tauriel would be there to quell their suspicion."
"It seems you've thought this through, my friend," Tauriel smiled, finding amusement in her small friend's plan. "Pray tell, what am I supposed to say if a guard comes to see what the commotion is?"
"Tauriel, I'm sure you could find something in that imagination of yours," Nanaiel replied. "I'm sure the dark haired dwarf who was giving you admiring looks would serve as good company while I have my discussion."
"He may admire me but the feeling is not mutual," Tauriel stated, lifting an eyebrow at Nanaiel's suggestion.
"Not yet, anyway," Nanaiel smirked.
She had seen the small looks the dwarf had given her friend. The look as one of admiration and attraction. It seemed to be a milder look of the ones her father gave her mother. She knew Tauriel held a small interest in the dwarf, knowing her friend for long enough to recognize curiosity in her brown eyes.
"Let us finish our business of getting you down to the cells," Legolas suggested amusedly.
Contrary to most other's beliefs, Legolas did not hold a fondness for Tauriel that went beyond that of a sister. They had figured out early on that they were not meant for each other. Legolas had not yet found his intended and neither felt a pull stronger than friendship.
"Which paths were you considering? I know most of them and some are less traveled than others," Nanaiel asked. "If we find one no one has use for, that will be the most logical. I know of two that none use but that might have changed since my confinement."
Legolas spreads a map along the table and points to a path marked with a green ink leaf, three others baring the same mark. As he traced each path, he explained how many he passed on his way to the dungeons and possible hiding places there are on each path. One ran too close to the throne room to be comfortable and another would take too much time to navigate. This information left them with two options.
"Of the last two paths, one is more traveled by guards but closer to your rooms. The other is less traveled but a bit farther," Tauriel explained, moving her finger along the map. Nanaiel traced the two lines, thinking on the times she had used those and many other paths to get from her rooms, around the palace, and back without being seen.
"This one," she says pointing to the path further from her room. "Less guards, they probably would expect me to take the one closer to my rooms to cut my time, if I was trying for the doors again."
Legolas and Tauriel nodded to her choice, rolling up the map. They had decided the best time was right after dinner. No one would be coming by and shift change wasn't until the next morning. They would leave once food had been brought by her rooms.
Nanaiel smiled at her friends, praying with all her might this succeeded, hoping they wouldn't be caught, for her sake and for theirs.
"Now that that's settled, Nanaiel, have you thought of what you want to ask them," Tauriel asked.
"There's so many things I want to ask and I don't know how. I will just have to improvise," she sighed. Tauriel gave her a reassuring smile.
"I have a feeling everything will go well," She assured.
"We have to go. We will leave you to your thoughts now that our business is settled," Legolas stated, standing from his seat. Tauriel gathered the maps and papers. Legolas hugged Nanaiel briefly before turning and exiting the room, followed by Tauriel, who waved to her.
Nanaiel slumped back into her seat, rubbing her hands through her loose hair, catching her fingers on the two small braids somewhat hidden in her hair. She had to give up many things when her parents died but she would not give up the braids her father had given her. She had learned to repeat the patterns and was able to recreate the dwarvish braids.
Maybe she would be able to learn more from the dwarves in the dungeons. The path she wished to escape through after the meeting was under the dungeons. It had taken her a while to figure out that leaving through the wine cellar was her best option. She had been allowed to wander before she had tried to leave. The only problem was the guards who frequented the room.
Sneaking wasn't that difficult being so small. It was also fortunate most of the guards greatly disliked her, so they didn't go out of their way to watch her. All except two rarely gave her any grief. The two were part of Tauriel's guard, whose fathers' had guarded the cottage. They would've inherited the job had the spiders not attacked. It seemed the king wasn't the only one who blamed her. Elion and Ralnor's fathers had been terribly wounded and were unable to fully recover. The young elves had concluded it was Nanaiel's fault as she was the only uninjured survivor. The elves were rather cruel towards her after her appearance in the palace.
She shook herself from those thoughts pulling out her own set of maps, making adjustments to her escape plan. She would have to wait and see how everything would work out.
The servants had brought her dinner in but she had barely ate, her nerves stealing her appetite.
Nanaiel tugged on her cloak before deciding the flowing material would only draw attention. She had dressed in her nicest and, coincidentally, darkest tunic and trousers. She had also chosen to only carry the daggers in her boots, knowing she wouldn't encounter anyone she would need to fight but wanting them there for physical reassurance.
She fidgeted with them before the door was pushed open. Tauriel and Legolas walked in, giving her small smiles.
"Dinner was just collected from the dwarves. No one should be down there except for the guards at the entrance," Tauriel explained. "We'll be leaving as soon as the halls clear."
Nanaiel nodded, the nerves seemed to have stolen her voice as well. Dwarves, real proper dwarves. Oh how she'd imagined the moment she would hear news of her kin but never did she think she would be able to speak with them. They may not be blood related but that would be grand.
She tapped her fingers against her thigh, pausing when Legolas glances outside. He scans the hall before turning back to the girls, nodding to indicate the hall was clear. Quietly they slipped from the room all walking with purpose as to not seem like sneaking if someone glances down the hall.
The walk there was uneventful. The path they chose was empty. They passed no one until they reached the entrance to the dungeons. The guard there was easily distracted by the prince. His enthusiasm giving away his inexperience, barely seeing his captain pass him.
Nanaiel visibly relaxed after getting around the corner from the entrance. Her nerves had been getting to her. She took a deep breath before nodding to Tauriel to lead her on through the twists and turns. She memorized the path as Tauriel point to some other paths leading to more rooms.
Voices rang through the halls as they near another hall of cells. They ranged from angry to soothing, as if one was trying to calm the other. Her steps faltered for a moment before they picked up. She passed Tauriel, pausing before entering. Taking a steady breath, she entered the chamber.
The floor split in the middle showing the lower caverns and paths leading to the cellar. Small alcoves littered the hall, she took note should someone enter unexpected. She then studied the cells and the dwarrows who had yet to notice the new addition to their audience.
They all quieted suddenly, seeing the small woman and realizing who she is. Most gave her curious looks. She noticed two who seemed young, a blond and brunet, who had taken interest in her presence. Nanaiel then looked to the other side, finding a white haired-dwarf and a half-bald one giving her a kind look and a guarded look, respectively. She straightened herself before speaking.
"Hello, I was wondering if there was someone here who could answer a few questions I have," she said, gazing around the cells a bit anxiously.
"And why should we do that, lass?" the half-bald dwarf practically growled. He seemed to be irritated and suspicious.
"I will not ask of your reason for coming to the Woodland Realm. I only wish to inquire after my kin. I know you heard of what I am when I was speaking with the king," she stated, turning her eyes on the kinder looking dwarf, silently begging. "I have no reason to give the king any information if that is your worry. He and I are not on very civil terms at the moment."
"We heard you're the princess and part-elf. The dwarf part is rather intriguing, as is your relation to us dwarves, Princess Nanaiel," the white-haired dwarf acknowledged, smiling at the girl. "Your discussion with the king gave away your feelings towards him."
"Just Nana, please. I never grew fond of my father calling me my full name. Doesn't fit dwarvish tongue," she smiled. "We haven't been formally introduced. I am Nana, daughter of Nalin, son of Fundin, at your service." This time she addressed the whole company.
"Hello Nana. Before I introduce myself, I would like to ask what your business with us is," he urged. She looked down for a moment, thinking her question through before speaking.
"I wish to inquire as to if any of my father's family is still living in Ered Luin, if at all," Nana expressed, looking into the dwarf's eyes. Her nerves only showing in the small fidget of her fingers. She walked closer to the old dwarf, stopping a few feet from his cell.
"Your kin is no longer in Ered Luin," he started, her face grew somber at the news. "But they do live and I can say they have been worried for you for a long time. Your sudden disappearance after the death of your parents caused many to believe you had died with them."
She gave him a confused stare before opening her mouth to ask another question. He cut her off before she could begin.
"I am Balin and there, in the next cell, is Dwalin, sons of Fundin, at your service," he added. Dwalin watched her from behind the bars, face becoming more anxious than stoic. She gasped at the news, taking a step back in surprise.
"You're my uncles? Oh that's wonderful," Nana grinned, before her smile disappeared. "But you can't be here. Because you are as trapped as I am."
"If we find a way out, we would like you to come with us. It is your choice but we never got the chance to properly get to know our niece," Balin announced.
"We also wish to keep you safe and as far away from that elf king as possible," Dwalin added. Nana's eyes lit up, disbelief coloring her features.
"I hadn't expected to be accepted so easily," she said.
"How did you expect this to go, lass?" Dwalin asked.
"I thought I would have to plead and prove myself. Doesn't my parentage bother you? Surely the rest of your group would not wish to have an elf tagging along, especially one as small as me," she asked. She was met with saddened looks from both her uncles but before they could speak a different voice spoke up behind her.
"You are also the daughter of a dwarf and kin to two of our company. We do not abandon kin," the dwarf stated. He was blond with the oddest braids she had seen, two of them were on his mustache. The dwarf was more handsome than any elf she had seen, though that might have been because of their differences in aesthetic preferences.
"Aye!" the rest voiced their agreement.
"That's very kind of you. If you would be so kind as to introduce yourselves, I'd like to know whom it is that speaks so kindly," she requested, stepping closer to the bar of the blond's cell.
"Fili, son of Dis. At your service," he replied, smiling at her through the bars.
She took a moment to study him. She took notice to how blue his eyes were, like the sky on a clear day, as bright as the sun. His eyes were not the only trait that mimicked the sun, though his hair was more the color of spun gold. She had never seen that color of hair, all the elves having a paler blond than the dwarrow in front of her. She wished to speak more to the blond who had caught her attention so thoroughly but before she was able to say anything Tauriel strode into the room purposefully.
"Nanaiel, we must go. Legolas just informed me of the king heading toward your rooms with the intention of speaking with you. He is stalling him for now but we must hurry," she stressed, throwing a glance at the dwarves in the cells around her.
"If we must, we must," Nana sighed. She turned to her uncles, "I wish to see you again before you leave. Be it from your own will or the will of the king." She nodded her goodbye to the others, and glanced once more at Fili. They hurried out of the room, sneaking past the guard.
They stopped short before reaching the hall to her room. Thranduil stood speaking with Legolas, who seemed to be subtly blocking the door. Nana turned to Tauriel, thinking up a plan.
"I need to get about halfway down the hall without being seen," Nana said. "Can you distract them?"
Tauriel nodded before leaving their hiding place and rounding the corner. Nana waited until she was sure the elf was far enough to look, then peered out to see the king and prince distracted by the captain.
Nana slid around the corner and walked lightly to the door leading into her mother's rooms. The door was kept unlocked but it was silently forbidden for any who weren't the cleaning elves to enter. Slipping inside she quietly closed the door and rushed to the connecting door to her room, hidden by a tapestry.
She relaxed as soon as she was inside her room, covering the door with the mirror she kept in front of it. She watched her reflection for a moment, before a knock sounded on her door.
"Enter," she called, moving from her mirror to her book shelf, as if deciding what to read. She listened as the door opened, allowing the three outside her door into her rooms. She glanced over seeing them stop just inside her door. "My king, what a surprise. Though I can't say I am thrilled to have you here, you obviously are here to ask something of me."
"Nanaiel, you are correct that I'm here with a request," Thranduil stated. "I wish for you to be escorted to the dungeons and speak with the dwarves. They may tell you things they will not tell myself or my guards. If you do this, I will consider lifting you punishment."
"Why would I do that? From your tone I can sense you already know why they are here. You just wish to have something gained from their travels," she replied. "I will not speak with them on your behalf."
"Very well, stay here and rot," Thranduil growled, anger glowing in his eyes. He stormed from the room Legolas and Tauriel following after.
Nana slumped into her chair and drug her feet onto it. She rested her chin on her knees and thought over what had happened in the past hours. Her family had accepted her and she had stood up for herself. Her eyes drooped as she thought of her uncles. The last thing in her mind before she fell asleep was a pair of sky blue eyes surrounded but gold.