Disclaimer: Still don't own any of it...and I still don't make any money from this story.

Chapter 15: Escape to the Misty Mountains

As soon as Lady Galadriel had given him permission, Kili prepared to move Marie to a more comfortable place to rest.

"Follow me." Lord Elrond told him as soon as he gathered Marie's frail body into his arms.

"I was just going to take her back to the room." He told the taller man, as if it was the most obvious thing in all of Middle Earth. Really, he didn't know what this Elf was thinking. After all that had just happened he wasn't in any mood to go wandering around Rivendell with Marie cradled in his arms, even if she did weigh less than his travel pack.

"I believe she would do better in the Halls of Healing, Master Dwarf."

Kili bristled at the implication that they couldn't take care of her properly, he was about to say something to the rude Lord of Rivendell. His face must have betrayed his thoughts; Elrond spoke first. "It's much more peaceful in the Halls, there isn't as much...excitement there."

He held his tongue, looking down at Marie as she shifted slightly in his arms he felt his determination to argue shattered. Regardless of what it was, if it helped Marie he knew he would do it.

He followed Elrond down one of the long halls until they stopped in front of one of the doors, Elrond opening it before they made their way into the large room. As soon as he laid her down on the soft bed in the middle of the room he was shoved out into the hall by a couple of Elf maidens. He paced outside nervously for what seemed like hours before he was allowed back into the room. The moment he was allowed entrance he rushed to Marie's side, pleased to see that she still looked peaceful. It seemed that the healers had used his time of exile to clean her up a bit and change her into a new light blue dress. Her rosy cheeks and dark hair hanging in a single, thick braid over one of her shoulders gave her a comely appearance.

The last thing he remembered was pulling a chair close to her bed to watch over her as she slept. He must have fallen asleep; the next thing he knew a terrified scream tore him from his rest. He was on his feet, dagger drawn and ready before his mind caught up with his body.

"Marie!" He called out as he made his way toward her. The moment he was close enough she scrambled out of the sheets and flung herself into his arms. He managed to shift quickly enough so that his dagger met with empty air instead of her soft flesh. "What's wrong, what happened?" He could feel her tremble violently as she buried her face deeper into his chest. He gave her a moment to collect herself before he asked again. "Marie, what happened?"

"Someone was here." Her quiet voice came from the front of his tunic. Ice seemed to replace the blood flowing through his veins as he registered what she had said. His senses instantly switched to high alert.

"I need to light the fire." He told her gently. Her hands tightened their grip where she was bunching the front of his tunic. He could feel her shake her head vigorously against his chest. "Marie, I need to be able to see." He told her as he carefully pried her fingers from the fabric. Without a second thought he pushed the handle of his dagger into her trembling hands.

He made his way to the fireplace in the dark, listening carefully for any indication that they were not alone in the large room, but the only sound he could hear was the slight wheezing from Marie. He lit the fire as quickly as he could, instantly relieved as soon as he could see around the room. The only ones in the room were Marie and himself. She stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.

She looked terrified, shaking violently with his dagger still gripped tightly in her right hand. Her eyes were so wide with fear that they looked as if they had been painted on as she gazed around the room frantically, searching for someone or something. "He had a knife." She chocked out. "He was going to stab me!"

Her gaze fell on something off to the side of her bed and Kili watched in alarm as the blood ran from her face. "Marie?" He called to her as he follow her gaze to the floor. There, as if someone had cast it aside in a hurry, lay a long dagger, gleaming in the firelight.

Someone had been here, and by the look of it they hadn't been by for a friendly visit.

One of the Elven healers chose that exact moment to come bursting into the room, drawing a surprised shriek from Marie and she whirled toward the door. Kili rushed to her side once again and gathered her into his arms as her breaths started coming out in painful sounding gasps and wheezes.

"What had happened in here?" The healer asked sternly. "We have other patients here who need undisturbed rest!"

Kili glared at the insensitive Elf over Marie's quivering shoulder. "Would you be so kind as to retrieve my uncle?" He bit out harshly. He was at the end of his patience with all of these rude and insensitive Elves. "We have had an emergency."

The healer nodded, leaving the two of them alone once again.

"It's alright, you're safe now." He soothed her gently, rubbing his hand up and down her back. He had no experience in calming a distressed female, but he did remember his mother doing the same thing on the rare nights when terrors filled his dreams. He assumed it was working. She seemed to melt against his chest, her breath evening out once again. "I'm sorry I fell asleep, I should have been keeping watch."

"No." She pulled away from him, breathing deeply. "Don't blame yourself, please. I'm not hurt, just caught off guard."

He raised his hand to gently cup the side of her face, images flooding through his head. If she hadn't screamed...

The door burst open again, causing both of them to flinch. 'At least she didn't scream again.' He thought in reflief as he slowly released her soft cheek.

Thorin, Balin, Oin and the healer rushed into the room. Balin and Oin regarded them with a look of worry, while Thorin looked unhappy to be woken at such a late hour. Balin took a moment to gently usher the healer back out the door, closing it behind her. The moment the door clicked shut Oin rushed to Marie's side.

"The Elf maiden said there was some kind of emergency, are you not well?"

"I'm alright." She told him. "I'm not hurt."

"Hurt?" Thorin asked, eyeing the two of them suspiciously. Kili realized suddenly that he was still on her bed, nearly holding her in his lap. He quickly stood, bending down next to the bed to retrieve the dagger. He would explain later, they had much bigger problems to deal with at the moment, propriety could be discussed at another time.

"Someone snuck in while I was foolishly resting." He spat out as he thrust the weapon toward his uncle for inspection.

"Kili, please don't blame yourself for all of this." Marie's soft voice came from behind him.

"You could have been killed!" He cried out, spinning around to face her, furious. At himself for being too weak to keep watch for a single night, and at this stranger for even daring to attempt to run a woman through while she slept. A kind, beautiful woman.

"But I wasn't." She told him firmly. "I'm fine."

"What exactly happened?" Balin asked gently, bringing Marie a cup of water which she drank from greedily. Kili felt another pang of self-loathing as he watched the scene play out before him. He was completely useless, he hadn't even thought to get her any water throughout their ordeal.

"I don't really know." Marie started as she finished off the drink, handing the empty cup back to Balin. "I woke up and saw the knife. I didn't really think, I just screamed. It must have surprised whoever it was though, they left very quickly, thank goodness."

"Should we send a scouting party out?" Kili asked Thorin. Although he didn't want to leave Marie, he would join the scouts in hopes of putting one of his arrows through the assassin.

"No. He, or she, is long gone by now. We have most of our supplies gathered in our quarters." Thorin's determined gaze met each of them as he gave his order.

"We leave in an hour."

/

Marie was thankful for once that she had very few belongings. It took her barely 20 minutes to pack all of the things the Elves had given her into the pack it had come to her in. She hoped the Elves wouldn't miss the pack.

The rest of her time in Rivendell was spent writing notes. One to Aegnor and Elowyn, wishing them a happy wedding and thanking them for their help, along with the hope that they will see each other again in the future. She wrote one to Lord Elrond thanking him for his people's hospitality and apologizing for any damaged furniture and messes her company left behind. The last short note she left was for the Lady Galadriel, thanking her for her help and kindness along with her newly discovered memories. Kili had told her what Galadriel had told him.

She still had trouble wrapping her mind around the fact that she was from another world. Her knowledge of the fact that, aside from the ones of Beth, her memories were lost to her had effected her in a strange way. She felt a strange sense of emptiness at the prospect of her lost life, but she also felt relief. Now she felt like she could focus on making a life for herself here...after she helped to defeat a dragon...if she survived.

She left all of the notes on one of the side tables in their room before the group snuck out of a back passage into the cover of night. Gandalf was the only member of their company that was staying behind, buying the group some time as he attended another council meeting. He assured them that he would find them in the mountain pass as soon as he could slip away himself.

Their first night's pace was fueled by a sense of paranoia. The group moved quickly, keeping close ranks with Marie in the middle of their caravan, an eye always behind them to watch for the would be assassin. Kili kept close to her side, sharp eyes constantly scanning the dark for hidden dangers.

Finally, after what seamed like an eternity, the sun rose on the horizon, bringing an end to her night of terror. As the sky became brighter Thorin called for the group to stop and rest, much to Marie's relief.

"We should keep going." Kili called out as he continued searching the area. Marie could sense the tension and stress rolling off of him. She hoped he wasn't still beating himself up over taking a nap when that stranger had snuck into the room with them. Looking at him now, she doubted that he had given up his self abuse. "We should put more distance between that creature and Marie."

"Don't feel like we have to keep moving on my account." She told him, smiling up at him in an effort to lighten the mood. Judging by the annoyed look he shot her, it didn't work. 'Alright.' She thought. 'Maybe I should try the pitiful approach.'

"I'm actually a bit tired." She admitted, although it stung her pride to announce her fatigue to the group.

"Let her rest lad." Oin told Kili as he came over to poke and prod at her. "Being unconscious is not the same as being asleep."

Concern flashed across his features at the new information, making Marie regret mentioning her desire to rest. He took a moment to look her over quickly, probably searching for a sign that she would fall over any moment.

She gave him, what she hoped was a reassuring smile, as she laid a hand on his arm. "I'm alright. I just need a short rest."

"We can spare a few hours." Thorin said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Rest." He told her sternly, although she could see a ghost of the same concerned look Kili gave her in the older Dwarf's eyes. She guessed that if she spared Fili a glance she could catch the same faint look, as it seemed to run in the family. "It won't do us any good to have you falling over on the trail."

With that it was settled, and Marie was asleep the moment she leaned against one of the many boulders around them. The next thing she knew Bofur was shaking her awake for lunch.

"I'm sorry." She told him as she quickly stood, embarrassed that she had slept for well over a few short hours. "You should have woken me! We should have been back on the trail already."

"Don't you worry lass." He told her, flashing his wide grin her way. "No one even noticed after the rushed pace we kept last night. Besides, I distracted them with a long winded story." He gave her a wink as he lead her over to the others. Kili noticed their approach and held a bowl of stew out to her as she came to sit next to him and Fili. She accepted it with a small smile of thanks as she ate quickly.

The following three days passed with little to no excitement as the group travelled across the plains to the foot of the mountains. Marie looked to the horizon of jagged peaks and couldn't help but think that her true journey was about to begin.

A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry about the somewhat abrupt ending to this chapter. I couldn't think of a way to describe three whole days of uneventful travel to the base of some mountains, but I'm afraid it may be somewhat rushed. Thanks to all of the reviews! Next Chapter next week!