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"Kili! Pick up your feet boy!" Thorin Oakenshield's voice rang over the hills as he ordered his nephew about. Kili had been scanning the area with his eyes, the hills so vast and far that not even the eyes of an elf could see much more than grass and rock. He quickly jogged ahead until he reached his brother. Fili's head was twisted to smirk at his younger brother.
"Why do we not camp on the hills?" Kili grumbled to Fili. "I doubt the wizard can go on much further." He nodded his head to Gandalf the Grey that walked beside Thorin. "Besides, I'm starving."
Bofur, who was just a few steps ahead of the young princes, turned and walked backward as he grinned at their leader's nephew. "I'm starting to think this quest is a little too much for you, Kili."
"Not at all," he suddenly perked up, a new lease of life in his step. "Bring me an Orc or a Troll and I will kill it where it stands. But this," he gestured to all around him, "this nothingness is not my idea of a quest."
"Did you expect Erebor to be right on Mr Baggins' doorstep, little brother?" Fili chuckled, catching the attention of the hobbit walking in line with Ori, Nori and Dori.
He huffed, "Of course not." He nudged Fili, causing his brother to stumble over his own feet. "But is dinner too much to ask for?"
The wizard's voice bellowed from the front of the company, his voice light with amusement. "Dinner will come soon enough, Master Dwarf, once we reach the River of Irased. Then you are free to eat, bathe and kill all the Orcs and Trolls you can find."
"I'll have the food, you have the trolls," Fili shoved Kili with a grin, moving to walk beside a laughing Bofur as they continued to follow the herd. Kili mimicked his brother's words before falling silent for the rest of the afternoon's journey. Steadily, they reached the end of the hills, revelling in the sound of gushing water coming from the River of Irased. The river rested within the Forest of Illenia, surrounding its borders with a deep and steady stream of clear water.
Thorin stared up at the forest. Illenia contained some of the oldest and mightiest trees in Middle Earth. He'd heard tales of creatures that were not found anywhere but within the forest, and that the dead that called Illenia their home remained, warning off ill willed races that seek entry.
"Forwards," Thorin yelled, waving his men to start their trek into the great forest. "Keep your eyes open and your hands ready until we reach the river." The would-be king led the way, flanked by the Grey Wizard who chuckled at the dwarf's defensiveness.
"Rest easy, Thorin. The habitants of Illenia want nothing to do with you unless your will is tainted." Gandalf aided his steps with his staff, his eyes searching for any forms of life within the forest. He too had heard stories of those who lived in Illenia. His luck flared when he had the honour of meeting a dweller of Illenia when he came to call in Lothlórien. She had been just a child then, but even so, the strength and power Gandalf had felt from this one girl almost overwhelmed him.
Eventually they arrived at the River of Irased, and the dwarves cheered in relief. Dwarves were known for their fondness of dirt and sweat, but perhaps a quick dip in the water would do them no harm.
"We'll rest by the bank until morn," Thorin announced, scanning the trees. "Bofur and Bombur, wash if you like but have supper served within the hour."
Bofur nodded once and moved to search for dry wood. The dwarves dispersed, some of the sweatier dwarves pulling off their armour, readying themselves for a dunk in the river. Fili heaved himself down onto the pebbled bank, sitting beside Gandalf who puffed on his pipe, his eyes following his uncle.
"What does this forest hold, Gandalf?" Fili asked just as his brother joined the two. "My uncle is a wary leader at the best of times, but…"
"But this place has him on edge more than usual," Kili finished off when his brother could not find the words.
Gandalf chuckled. "Not many stray far into Illenia, master dwarves. It would be unwise for Thorin to bring hostility unto this land, and he is no stranger to the tales of Illenia, as am I. Your uncle may just be too stubborn to heed my words."
The young dwarves nodded, watching their uncle as he glared at the trees on the opposite side of the river. It was not until darkness came and the dwarves could barely see but the fire that heated their broth. They ate quickly, put out the fire and soon set up the beds for the night. It was not comfortable upon the bank, to say the least, so most of the dwarves headed to the edge of the forest where the dirt and leaves were easier on their backs than the rocks and pebbles. Uneasy to see his men away, Thorin joined the company within the trees while his nephews took up watch in the clear space by the river. Gandalf awaited Bilbo as he returned from his turn to clean up.
Kili was leaning against a large rock as he chuckled at the Halfling. Bilbo was a shy fellow, as his comfort did not return at the sight of the young dwarf laughing softly to himself.
"Something funny?" Bilbo huffed, trotting out of the river.
"Not at all, Mr Baggins," Kili answered, watching as Bilbo used his jacket as a towel, attempting to hide his modesty, though the clothing was far too small to be of much help. Bilbo's cheeks flushed as he hurried into the forest. Gandalf could not help but silently laugh along with the young dwarf, tipping his grey hat to bid the prince goodnight before he disappeared amongst the trees. Kili looked down to see his brother asleep, his snores loud enough to wake the company. The dwarf rolled his eyes but nevertheless, sat beside Fili and kept his eyes open until it was his turn to sleep.
Many hours passed until Kili could stand it no longer. He elbowed his brother's side. Fili jerked awake, his hand instantly clutching at his hunting knife hidden within his boot. When he saw the only danger was his brother's impatience, he sighed and began to sit up against the large rock.
"Your turn to keep watch, I believe," Kili smirked, settling his body to lie on the pebbled bed. Fili launched himself on to the top of the rock, folding his legs underneath him, ready for the night's watch.
"Keep your snoring to a minimum, little brother," Fili grumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Kili laughed, "You are one to talk." Kili moved onto his side and rested his arm beneath his cheek, and soon he was sound asleep.
Fili sighed. He did not mind taking up watch on behalf of the company. But something about this place set him on edge. It was if a hundred eyes were watching him, while he could see nothing beyond the river and trees. He knew naught of Illenia, but that the people who lived within the forest where not all as they seemed. Fili was not Thorin; he knew little of the ways of the world and had yet to experience much beyond his own race. Perhaps this journey would bring about a change in him.
His eyes strayed down to his little brother. Kili had been the first of the two to accept the journey. Fili was pronounced Thorin's heir at his birth as his uncle bared no children of his own. And as his heir, Fili was always keen to prove himself to Thorin. But Kili was perhaps a little too keen, and had jumped into the quest with no second thought. Fili knew his brother to be strong and a decent warrior, one that could wield a sword and have a bow do his will, but he could also be reckless. And so Fili committed himself to two duties on the quest to Erebor; to reclaim his uncle's home from the dragon Smaug, and to keep his brother alive and well.
Having skipped the bathing session earlier in the night, Fili decided to freshen himself up. The cold water of the river would surely help awaken him.
He started by removing his boots, soon finding the bank's floor even more uncomfortable bare footed. He removed his armour, settling it down beside his brother along with his weapons. As sweaty as he was, Fili surprisingly managed to peel away his tunic, revealing his muscular chest from the heavy training routines from days gone by. His breeches remained but a single hunting knife was pushed under the length of his belt, just in case, as he started to wade his way into the river.
When the water touched the skin just about his waistband, a delightful shiver ran through Fili's body. It had been some time since he'd taken a dip in a river, and not once since the quest had begun had fresh water touched anywhere but his lips. With a content smile in the silence of the night, Fili submersed himself under the water.
He held his breath while his rough hands ran over his face, wiping the muck and grime from his skin. His hair floated in the water, his small moustache braids tickling his lips. Fili opened his eyes, ignoring the slight sting to see tiny fishes sweeping past him to the furthest side of the river. He relaxed, folding his legs from under him to fall to the bottom of the River of Irased. The water was shallow and clear enough for him to see, even on such a dark night, the current slow so he floated yet was not dragged away from his fellow dwarves.
From his entrance into the river, Fili had frightened away the fish but where they had once gathered, the water was now disturbed. Fili strained his eyes as the tiny animals darted away from the movement. His eyes grew twice in size when he realised it was two legs moving in the water. None of the company had crossed the river, so his mind shouted at him in alarm. Fili swam to the top, gasping as he swallowed the air greedily before rubbing the drops from his eyes.
The figure across the river must have seen Fili as they span on their heel, thrashing through the water for the safety of the forest.
"You there!" Fili yelled. "Stop!"
But they kept on running. Going on instinct, Fili swiftly slid his knife from his belt and threw it towards the imposter. It glided through the air until it struck the stranger at the base of their back. They fell forward, crashing into the shallow water face first.
With a proud gleam in his eye, Fili made his way across the width of the river, getting closer until he could just about see the body in the dark. He pulled the body so it was face up, and sharply he stumbled back as if he'd been bitten, tripping over his own feet as he rushed away.
The stranger was a woman. A young woman. And Fili has caused her harm.
For a moment, all he could do was stare. He shook himself out of the shock and waded over to her. He checked her over; she was still breathing but barely. His knife was still embedded in her flesh, and so as gentle as he could manage, with trembling hands Fili withdrew the weapon from her back. He cradled her in his arms, his breath ragged and his legs shaking. Should he wake the others?
First things first, Fili scolded himself. He lifted the woman's body from the water and started for the river's bank. She barely weighed anything in his strong arms, even with her clothing drenched. Blood began to drip onto his skin and her shallow breaths were becoming almost inaudible. Fili lay her body down, holding her head until the very last moment. His eyes ran over her body. She was clad in naught but leggings, a long flowing skirt of black cloth and a white corseted shirt. Her long hair was black and curly, her skin pale and translucent. She was incredibly beautiful.
The woman's eyes began to flutter open, her conscious slipping to and from. Fili sighed with momentary relief until her pain filled groan sent a shock to his heart. Their eyes connected and Fili's guilt spiralled out of control.
"I don't know what to do," he mumbled, his eyes flickering from hers to the blood stained pebbles. "You're losing a lot of blood." His eyes held hers, and to the woman, he became nothing more than a child in that moment. "What should I do?"
Her hand weakly began to rise, her fingers stretching out to reach for Fili's cheek. Fili's eyes watched her movements until she was too close; he pulled away from her touch.
The woman's eyes were beginning to water from the pain, yet her hand remained waiting.
"Please…" she whispered.
With a look of uncertainty, Fili remained very still, watching her fingertips as they made their way towards his stubbly cheek. When their skin connected, a gasp tumbled from Fili's lips as he felt his strength drain at the very moment her fingers came into contact with his face. His face froze in pain as his heartbeat paused; the life was literally being drained from him.
The girl beneath him shivered, blinking rapidly and gasping from the sensation. But as quickly as it'd started, the woman released Fili by removing her touch; the pain automatically stopped and his heartbeat returned. The dwarf dropped onto his back and choked on his own breath. Fili rolled to his side in time to see something extraordinary. From the tips of her fingers, a silver light glowed underneath the woman's skin, like grapevines growing and travelling until the light disappeared underneath her clothes, hidden from Fili's sight.
His voice was raspy as he gasped, "What did you do to me?"
Silently, the woman sat up. She moved onto her knees as if she hadn't recently been stabbed, lifted up her shirt enough to twist her head, checking on her wound. Her body had turned just enough for Fili to see a scar running along her back. But there was no blood, only what was left on the river bank. No wound that his weapon had left. He had been sure he had hurt her, positive even; he felt the knife leave her flesh when he had removed it.
With his strength returning, Fili let out a low growl, "What are you?"
The woman let her shirt fall back over her skin. She walked back to the river to wash the blood off of her hands.
"Human," she said, keeping her gaze away from the dwarf, "of sorts."
Fili sat up, his hand sitting beside the hunting knife, ready for an attack. "What do you mean of sorts?" he sneered.
With a frustrated snort, the woman flashed a warning look at Fili. "You ask many questions for someone that has just tried to kill me."
Fili huffed, "I thought you were a danger to my men."
The woman approached Fili, kneeling down in front of him, ignoring his wary eyes. "What men?"
At this, the dwarf remained silent. The woman chuckled, bending her head to try and catch his eye. "Well, won't you at least tell me your name, dwarf?"
He looked at her with suspicion before sighing. He went to grab his tunic and clambered into it, pulling out his hair and braids. Once he was dressed, he eyed her for a moment.
"I am Fili, grandson of Thráin," he grumbled.
The woman's eyes widened slightly. "One of Durin's Folk, huh?" She nodded with interest. "It is not usual for dwarves to come by Illenia, least of all a prince."
"I am to assume you live within the forest?"
The woman's eyes darkened as she crossed her legs; it did not go unnoticed by Fili that her knees almost touched his own. "It was my home once. A long time ago."
Fili kept his mouth shut. It appeared that this woman had no home. He almost felt sorry for her. Indirectly, Fili knew the loss and anger of such a matter could drive a man to almost anything. His own uncle had lost his home and kingdom, along with his mother, Dís. He understood the pain of not belonging anywhere, even if that pain did not lie within his own heart.
The young woman stared down at her hands as she murmured to the dwarf. "My name is Luna of Illenia. My mother was elf-kind but my father was from the race of men, as am I."
"But what you just did-"
"Wasn't of my race," she interrupted, muttering, "I know."
The pair sat in silence in the dark of night, the only sounds coming from the river and hushed snores from within the forest. Surprisingly, not even Kili had woken up since Luna had been discovered. Fili's brother remained asleep and in the time they spent in the quiet, Fili was careful to watch over Kili. Much time had passed until Fili noticed Luna shivering from the cold. With a heavy sigh, he stood and made his way to his brother where the pile of weapons and clothes sat next to him. Fili pulled his coat from the heap and walked back to the young woman, gently placing the coat over her shoulders in hope that she would soon warm up rather than be taken ill in her drying clothes. He heard her murmur a thank you as he sat beside her, just a few steps away from Kili.
Once her shivers ceased, Luna spoke. "My apologies for before, Fili," Luna addressed the young dwarf. "I would not have hurt you so if I hadn't been in dire need of your energy."
"Energy?" Fili asked in confusion.
Luna sat up straight and twisted her body to face the dwarf. Seeing as she had used him, she thought he ought to know what she needed to use him for. "Every being has energy within them; a sense of spirit. Its most commonly thought of as their life force. What you did to me…I was wounded to the point of needing your help."
Fili shook his head. "Forgive me, I don't understand."
She sighed. "Since I was a little girl, my siblings and I have been different, to put it lightly." She gave a half-hearted smile. "I have a gift, one I have been taught to control over the years, but it is a dark one at that. I am able to steal a being's life force with just a simple touch, if I should wish it." She gestured to Fili. "That's what I needed you for. I needed your energy to heal myself, as I have done so many times before."
Although this was all very sudden and strange, Fili tried to keep up. He tried to relax as he doubted any more harm would be bestowed upon him tonight, at least not from the maiden before him.
"I'm sorry for not asking first," she uttered.
"I suppose it was my fault," he answered, receiving a look from the girl that meant only two words: you think? "May I ask why you left Illenia?" Fili spoke quietly, hoping to ease the awkward tension between the two.
"I did not leave on my own accord." Luna released a heavy breath full of memories she'd prefer to forget. "Every year I would visit the home of the elves to learn about the gift. In time, my teacher showed me how to rein it in. I could touch within causing hurt and despair to families, so long as I kept my emotions in check." She stared at her fingertips, wishing she could be normal. "But after a few incidents, the people of my home were scared of me. Friends of our family wanted me gone." Luna looked up at Fili and tried to smile. "So I left."
Fili frowned at her words. This woman had a terrible gift that could steal a man's life if she chose, but to be exiled by her people? She was born with this darkness within her; she didn't choose this life for herself. And for someone so beautiful, how could their heart be filled with darkness alone?
"To them," she grieved, "I am nothing but a monster."
Fili shook his head. "That is not what I see." The dwarf scooted his body to sit beside Luna. "If what you say is true, then you fight this darkness within you every day. You stand up to it, to protect those you love by controlling it when many would so easily give in." He smiled handsomely at the young woman. "I do not see that as monstrous."
Luna's eyes glistened as she stared at the strange young dwarf.
"I should be glad I met you, Fili, grandson of Thráin," she whispered.
Fili bowed his head, a strange feeling washing over him; not many times had a maiden rendered the prince shy. His large hands slowly moved from his lap to hover over Luna's hand. The gifted human stared apprehensively, waiting for his touch. Fili breathed in once before placing his hands over hers, half expecting to feel weak and lifeless all over again. He exhaled and eyed Luna.
"See?" He gestured to their hands. "Control."
She huffed out a teary laugh, nodding. She knew she could control herself, but every day her gift frightened Luna to her very core. And tonight was no different.
"Come," Fili spoke, releasing her hands, almost missing the warmth of her skin. He passed it off as simply missing female company before he shuffled away, lying on his back, staring up at the stars. "Even after such a healing you must be exhausted. Let sleep find you and we shall speak again when morn comes."
Luna flashed her eyes to the body lying against the large rock and to the forest, where the distinct sound of snoring dwarves could be heard.
"What about your men?"
"None from my company will harm you. I shall wake you before my uncle does and decide what to do about your presence," his eyes moved to catch her gaze, "if you wish to stay until morning?"
Luna felt a small smile play on her lips. "Perhaps," she murmured, "as I have yet to be told what brings you here, dwarf."
Fili chuckled and returned his eyes to the heavens. From the corner of his eye, he saw Luna lay down, using his coat as a cover. She exhaled heavily, content and warm. "Will you not be sleeping?" Her voice was sleepy and low, moments from falling into her dreams.
"Rest easy," Fili murmured. "I'll watch over you."