Departing Shadow

Freya sat in the shadow of Erebor with her head raised to catch the patches of light that streamed through the murky grey clouds. The dragoness was starting to feel the world become cold as the days passed on as of late. Coruwen would come to see her every so often, but she knew the elleth wouldn't leave the king's side without being forced. Freya's gaze fell on the corpse of Smaug whilst carrions picked off large chunks of rotten flesh, and her heart sank in her broad chest.

Her little dragon, her baby, torn down to nothing by an arrow to the chest.

In a way, Freya cursed Yavanna for gifting her with only one child. Then again, she was now alone in the world without another mate, child, or friend. Yes, the Queen was alone. She was luckily graced with dear friends like Coruwen, but they weren't her size or of same kin.

Freya brought up one paw to scratch her bone white neck scales and she felt the cold slow her movements. Damn cold blood to hell. She let out a small puff of fire out of her lips to warm up her frozen paws and it allowed her to move the paw freely again. She wiggled her talons, inspecting them carefully. They glistened a bright vermillion when they caught sunlight much like her little Smaug.

"Stop that you fool," Freya growled at herself. Her eyes fell on Erebor to watch the little people below scurry about like little ants. Then again, everything was an ant to her. She let out a rumble when Bard passed her with a look of concentration upon his young face. The lord jumped and whirled to face her.

"Lady Queen," Bard said as he regained himself. He cleared his throat of the fear that circled through him, and it was plain to see by his expression. Freya found the race of Men interesting; they were short lived creatures, quite handy, but reckless. "Is there something you need, Freya?"

Freya crossed her paws one over the other, and regarded him with curious amber eyes. "I am bored, little Lord. Speak to me," Freya replied. Bard moved a lock of wispy, brown hair out of his eyes and began to ponder on what to tell her. She could see the little gears in his head moving. "Don't hurt yourself."

Bard shot a glare up at her and she let out a chuckle that rumbled her cold chest cavity. A few times the Lord would open his mouth to speak but would quickly snap his mouth shut. Freya became impatient as Bard came to sit on her folded paws. She let those she trusted sit on her paws, and Bard was of the handful she trusted. Her gaze rose up and panned the world around her.

Cream and dark grey tents were precariously spread throughout the landscape, and there had once been light brown and green mingled in between. She sent a small prayer to Yavanna for the elf-host's departure. The elves made the dwarves uneasy, and thus would treat her poorly… Well, more so than usual, unless it was the Son of Thrain or any that bunch.

In fact, Freya found it rather funny that Thorin had let her stay beneath his mountain for a spell. She didn't know if Coruwen had stayed his wrath or a simple act of kindness. Whatever the cause, she was happy for it. She felt Bard pat her paw gently. The dragoness flicked her gaze downward to Bard.

"How come you had to be summoned to be on this earth, Queen Dragon?" Bard inquired.

Freya's eyes went wide, and felt her heart give out a painful jolt. Bard's eyes became concerned when she did not reply shortly after him. Gently, she nudged him with the tip of her nose. "Great Lord, I have lived on this earth for a long time. I have been alive since the First Age and that Age was when I was injured. In the Second Age, I was killed by who I loved dearly." Freya told him. "My mate breathed his cold air into my lungs, killing my fire and thus I died."

Bard placed his rough hands on either side of her nose, placing his forehead against it. "I am sorry to pry, Lady Dragon," Bard apologized.

"It is nothing, Little Lord. Few know of how I died, or the truth. Not even the Elven Lady of Thorin knows the tale."

Bard was surprised by the latter statement, for even Freya had told Coruwen practically everything about herself. However some things aren't meant to come to light, even when you're as old as the mountains.

"That is a truly horrible death…" Bard said placing a hand on the pommel of his sword. "Is there anything you wish for me to tell you?"

Freya let out a hum in thought, her tail tip flicking pensively. "How does the king and his heirs fare?"

"The last one finally awakened just this morning after much time. The youngest is walking, and the king is more alert than ever."

"Excellent that is very good to hear." Bard smiled up at Freya as she let out a small chuckle. "I will assume that the king is becoming anxious to move?"

"Yes… Dwarves are such stubborn creatures, and I have yet to understand that single trait."

Freya laughed. "Not even I understand them, Little Lord."

Coruwen and Kili walked side by side as she helped him regain his walking. The muscles in his body had lost their ability to hold his own weight since his injury. His hand rested on her forearm and she watched him carefully.

"Coruwen, you don't have to stay with me," Kili said in a low voice. "Go be with uncle before Lady Arwen has a stroke."

Coruwen chuckled at the remark, but patted his hand softly. "It was Thorin who told me to stay with you, Kili. And I will do just that." Coruwen stated with a small smile. She found Kili's self confidence a sign that he was tired of being babied. Coruwen knew he was the baby of his family and was treated as so; it drove him insane. Kili looked at her with embarrassment in his eyes, "However, if you want me to leave you alone I can certainty do so."

She felt his hand slip off of her forearm and felt him latch onto her quickly before she could get too far away. Coruwen helped brace him since he lost his balance. Once he was balanced, Coruwen ruffled his hair. His bad hand came up to smooth the mussed hair as he glared at her.

"Ok, ok, I get it when I'm not supposed to do something," Kili muttered begrudgingly.

Coruwen laughed, "You're just as stubborn as your uncle."

Kili pursed his lips in a pout. "I can thank my mother for that."

"Oh?"

"When you meet my mother, I will warn you that she even strikes fear into Thorin." Kili shook his head, letting out a sigh. "And I suppose being around Uncle isn't helping me rid myself of this stubbornness."

"No, but it isn't a bad thing. It is better to be stubborn than meek." Coruwen brought his gaze up to hers. "Do not be discouraged by who you are…"

Kili watched as Coruwen turned her attention away from him. He tightened his grip on the navy cloth of her dress, and he watched her slender hand rest on top of his. Her fingers tapped his hand as if she were plucking strings on a harp.

"How much longer until Uncle and Fili are able to move again?" Kili asked.

Coruwen was caught off guard by the question since she had been previously watching Erebor's misty, ethereal halo circle the mountain's peak. Her mind reeled for a second and then picked up the pieces quickly. Her blue eyes met the curious gold ones of Kili.

"Knowing Thorin, he will be walking by tomorrow or the next day." Coruwen replied. "Fili has been sleeping most of the time and probably won't be too far behind."

Kili nodded in agreement. "Then begins a whole new adventure…" He whispered. Coruwen chewed the inside of her cheek in worry knowing of what he spoke of. "Uncle has told of us that one day either myself or Fili will rule over the mountain… And it seems frightening to know that one day he won't be here."

Coruwen's heart gave out a painful twinge, knowing that truly Thorin wouldn't be there beside her. She would live on without him, without the love she held so dearly. Without the one person who accepted her.

"Coruwen?" Kili asked. Her eyes were clouded over by a look of pain. He removed his hand from her arm, feeling his body shake a little as he reached up to touch her face. He moved aside some of her gold hair to get a better look at her face. "Coruwen, are you ok?"

The lady shook herself free of the thoughts that clouded her, and he let out a relieved breath. Thorin would kill him if she was broken in any fashion. Her eyes fell on him, and a faint smile came to her lips. Then she looked him up and down, confusion painted on her face.

"What?"

Coruwen took a step back with her hands on her hips and a confident smile on her face. "Look down, Kili." She said.

He was standing… By himself. Happiness came to him as he did not shake or wobble in place. No, he was standing perfectly on his own.

That instance was short lived.

Kili took a step towards her and tumbled to the ground. Coruwen cried out for him, and as she knelt at his head to make sure he was all right, she started to giggle and laugh. Kili stared at her like she had lost ever loving mind.

"What is so funny?" Kili growled as pain poked at his back. Great, he had rolled onto his wounded shoulder. It had luckily healed, but it still hurt a great deal. Coruwen stood and held back a laughing fit. He braced himself up on both elbows while Coruwen pulled him up on his feet again. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Not funny."

"It was at that moment in time, Dear Kili," Coruwen laughed. She contained her laughter with a simple clearing of her throat. "We should get you back to the tent."

Kili nodded and walked back to the tent with Coruwen. He entered the tent to see Fili upright and talking to Ori, who was sitting a chair with his sketch book in his lap. When Kili entered, Fili gave his brother a small incline of his head in greeting, which he returned. Coruwen moved to sit beside Balin, who was watching over Thorin.

Coruwen knit her fingers together, leaning into the back of the chair's wooden back. She felt mentally exhausted again. Her heart seemed slow and everything dragged on forever. Balin looked back at her and smiled.

"He fell asleep not too long ago," Balin said. "He was planning on waiting for you and Kili to return."

Coruwen shook her head. "He needs the rest," she whispered. "In a few days, they will be heading back to Erebor."

"And what are you going to do?" Balin inquired patting her hand. Coruwen shut her eyes as confusion prodded her mind. She didn't know that answer in all honesty. What would she do after Thorin and the boys were fine? The main reason she had stayed for such a long period of time was because they were injured. Or was there another underlying cause? If she went back to Lothlórien then she would have to face her father about the fact she had ran away from Imladris. That, and Haldir would guilt her into her telling him about Thorin.

Balin's voice snapped her back into reality. "Lass, you do not have to decide now."

Coruwen met his eyes and nodded slowly. "Right," She muttered.

"Dear one!" Freya's voice boomed over head, scaring everyone in the camp half to death. Coruwen stood and left the tent with Arwen following her. Freya was lying in front of the encampment with her paws crossed revealing her bone white neck scales and her angular head held high. Coruwen felt the air become so thick with tension that one could cut it with a knife. The amber eyes of the dragoness bore down upon Coruwen, making her feel tiny and meek like a child before their parent. "I have something to tell you."

Arwen halted beside Coruwen and let out a whimper of fright. Coruwen took her hand in hers in assurance. "What is it, Freya?" Coruwen asked in a calm voice.

"I am leaving," Freya replied flatly. The remark caught Coruwen off guard and she stared up at the dragoness in disbelief. Before she could say anything Freya continued, "I will be returning to the homeland of my people, and where Glaurung was slain."

"But Freya-," Coruwen felt her heart drop out of her chest. Why was Freya leaving? Had she done something to invoke this? The dragon lowered her nose down to Coruwen's level, meeting her eyes. The amber, fire like eyes of Freya were endearing and kind. "What have I done?"

"You have done nothing, my dear one." Freya cooed bumping Coruwen with her nose. "I am a dragon, not a pet. I am the last of my kin, and I would like to live out the rest of my days in the Parched Heath."

Coruwen's forehead rested against the broad, scaly nose of Freya with her heart heavy with grief. Her slender hands ran across the rosewood scales that were smooth like river stones. Her nails scraped the scales of Freya's nose as she withheld tears.

"Freya, why?" Coruwen whispered.

Freya rumbled in her chest, and shut her eyes as she nudged Coruwen again. "My dear one, I will truly never leave you… I would not do that to someone I care about. You mean a great to me, just as much as Smaug. But you must understand I am no pet."

Coruwen nodded slowly and felt Freya's nose slip away from her fingers as she raised her head up into the sky. The dragoness' lips curled up in a small smile as she gazed down at her elleth.

"I am sorry, Freya. I understand that being the last of your kind is hard, and I have forgotten that fact about you." Coruwen extended hand up for Freya to touch with her chin. "I will miss you, my Queen."

"I will return to you, my little elleth," Freya unfurled her wings from her sides as she padded away. The muscles in her shoulders flexed pulling the dragoness into the air with one heavy launch of her back haunches, and there Freya hovered with the wind at her mercy. "Good bye, Dear one!"

Coruwen placed her hand over her heart and then raised it to the air. An elven gesture of farewell. The dragoness raised her head allowing her scales to catch the light, and they glittered in the clouded sunlight before she flew off to the North. Arwen placed a hand on Coruwen's shoulder as Freya passed out of sight.

"Coruwen, are you all right?" Arwen asked.

"I am fine," She replied shortly. As she turned to face Arwen, she saw faint grief in her stormy eyes. "Do not tell me you are leaving too."

Arwen shut her eyes, nodding. "I cannot linger here. Ada sent a hawk the other day telling me to return to Imladris. I do not know when I am to be leaving, or if someone will come and fetch me." Arwen stated with sadness cracking her soft voice.

"Arwen…"

"I was sent to heal people, and to check upon you. I know you won't leave Thorin until he has regained his position as King of Erebor, but I cannot stay here until that happens."

"I see, and you do not know if the twins come to fetch or not?"

"No… I do not even know if it is the twins that will be fetching me."

Coruwen sighed. "Knowing your father, he sent the escort four days ahead of that hawk."

Arwen let out a little laugh, nodding. "Come; let us return to the others."

The women returned to the tent to see Thorin and Kili standing side by side, speaking to Balin. Arwen let out a quiet scoff as she walked over to Fili, but Coruwen laughed under her breath. Typical Thorin. She twirled a piece of her gold hair with two fingers as she thought over Balin's previous question.

Where would she go after the royal line of Durin was restored to Erebor?

Her fingers pulled on the golden wave straightening it out and when she released it fell back into a gentle, rolling wave. Her mind was split in many different directions, and her heart's adamant decision wasn't making it any easier. Her heart told her to stay… Stay with him. However, that would go against the laws of her people.

Why should she care? In Lórien, she had few people she considered friends. It was Imladris that she had the issue with; Arwen, Aragorn, Elladan, Elrohir, and Elrond were people the people she cared for.

The touch of someone drew her gaze downward to Thorin, who was resting his hand against her own. It made her jump a bit, but his grip tightened around her hand. He looked up at her with curiosity showing in his eyes. Gently, she let her hand slip free of his and she withdrew from his side. She felt slightly guilty for doing such a thing, and saw the clear confusion in his expression. Thorin's eyes narrowed in confusion, but returned to Balin when the elder started speaking again.

Coruwen turned and left the tent with guilt blooming in her heart. She came to stop just outside of the encampment where she could see the crunched grass where Freya had been laying. She sat on the ground with her legs tucked beneath her and shook her head. Her hands tightened around the folds of her dress as confusion bet down on her like a ton of rocks. The cold wind bit at her hands and back as she sat in the grass for a long while trying to piece together everything that as in disarray. The confusion was so strong that it prevented her from thinking clearly, thus making her feel helpless.

Behind her she heard heavy footfalls, though they were slightly muffled by the grass and wind she knew who they belonged to. Why couldn't he leave her alone in her grief? Her vision could see Kili and Thorin walking up to her, but she did not acknowledge them with movement. No, she wanted to be left perfectly alone.

"Coruwen, what was that about?" Thorin asked sternly. Coruwen flinched at the severity of his tone. Still she refused to look at him, nor would she answer him. Confusion was already prominent, and irritation was boiling up in her blood like embers growing into a roaring fire. The wind turned and buffeted her face, tossing her gold hair backward and pricking the tips of her ears. The wind was bitter and almost holding ice in its storm. "Answer me."

Coruwen pulled her cloak tighter around her, and she pulled her hood over her head. Her fingers were turning numb from the cold as they rubbed the navy blue cloth and silver stitching. Irritation flared when she heard the two come closer.

"I asked you a question… Now, tell me why you left," Thorin said.

"Uncle, let it be-," Kili was cut off by Thorin growling at him. A loud thump was heard followed by a rustling of cloth. Coruwen figured that Kili must've let Thorin go off on his own if he was so adamant about speaking to her. She let out a muted scoff when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.

Fingers pulled on strands of her hair and side of her cloak gently. Thorin's roughened fingers graced her jaw, and then began to trace her pointed ear. "What have I done to invoke your mistrust?" He whispered.

Coruwen's gaze snapped to his, and saw that it was still stern. Her own was fierce and angry for she was done with him prodding her at this moment in time. Her hand slapped away his touch from her, and she glared at him darkly.

"It does not concern you," Coruwen snapped.

Thorin raised an eyebrow to the remark as her gaze returned to watching the wind toss the bare limbs of the scorched trees. What had he done to invoke this behavior from her? He had treated her fairly as of late. His eyes looked her up and down, curiously searching for an explanation to this behavior. Her lithe form shook before him, in anger or confusion he knew not. Regardless, he did not desire to see her like this. Her slender fingers flexed, which were a faint red from the cold.

"I know not what I have done to you, but if I can fix it," He said.

Coruwen sighed. "It is Arwen and my people."

Thorin's brow furrowed in confusion, "You are not going to stay?"

"I do not know if I will or not." Coruwen replied sadly. "It is not because I do not care for you. It is because of my people's customs. To love one of your kind would be as if I committed a terrible crime; I would most likely be exiled."

"You have stayed with me this long, Coruwen." Thorin reached up and took the side of her face so he could look at her. Her blue eyes were dark with confusion, anger, and sadness. She was so fragile after he and the boys had nearly graced death. He could see she was torn between the two things she loved most in this world. "The boys and I greatly enjoy your presence, but would understand if you must leave to be with your people."

Coruwen shut her eyes and leaned into him, resting her head on his uninjured shoulder. He could feel her shake beneath his touch, and gently he wrapped his hands around both of hers. He believed she still feared that he would slip away from her. Thorin rested his chin on her head as she nuzzled him.

"I feel like a fool," Coruwen muttered. "I do not know why this haunts me. One would think that I would know the answer, but I can't seem to bring myself to that conclusion."

"You're going to stress yourself again; stop it," Thorin replied. "You do not have to hold the answer now, and maybe you will never know. I have certainly felt the same as of you once or twice in my life…"

Yes, once or twice was an understatement. He was confused as it was with that. He placed his hands on her back to pull her closer to him. "Thorin, I-I…"

He took her face in his hands, and saw her breaking before him. Her sky blue eyes tinted red and her cheeks stained by tears. Confusion hurt when you could not depict that which your mind told you, and that of your heart's law. "Love, you do not have to cry." His thumbs ran across her cheeks. "You are not bound to me."

"I cannot bring myself to leave you and the boys…"

"Then do not leave."

"What will my father think of me then?" She gripped his shoulder, digging her nails into him. Had he not been wearing a thick tunic she certainly would've dug into his skin. She shook her head sending her gold hair into her eyes and face. "I am so confused, completely and utterly confused! I hate this."

Thorin sighed shortly and began to think of ideas to stop her from over thinking everything. She was under stress as it was, and this silly idea wasn't alleviating it. She was like this, and he had seen it before in Mirkwood when she had helped them escape. It was there that he had come to terms with himself, and showed her what he truly felt for her.

Coruwen was an elf, a being that felt every little thing that had heartbeat in this world. He knew she responded to him differently, almost as if his inner most thoughts had melded with her. Then it hit him.

This sadness, confusion, anger, everything that she was showing outwardly was his current subconscious. To some this would make no sense, and it barely made any to him, but it seemed to make the most sense.

"Coruwen, my heart, stop this," Thorin whispered kissing her forehead. She froze beneath his touch, and then he her felt her relax in his grip further. Mentally, he sighed in relief. "You are not typically like this, and whatever is plaguing you needs to stop. It hurts me to see you broken." Her chin rested n his chest as she gazed up at him, and for once she was calm. "My fierce, beautiful queen broken before me. It is a punishment I do not desire."

"Thorin, I'm sorry," Coruwen breathed.

Thorin glanced over at Kili, who was facing away from them, picking grass blades out of the ground. Quickly, he kissed her lips and she laced one arm around his neck to deepen it. He broke away from her suddenly, and when she gave him a look of puzzlement he gestured to Kili.

Coruwen's fingers stroked the back of his neck, which sent fire across his skin. "Are you going to stay?" He asked quietly. Coruwen kissed him lightly with a serene smile on her face.

"I will stay by your side, my love," She replied. Thorin took a strand of her gold hair in his fingers, feeling the smoothness of it in his hands. He jumped when her frostbitten hand pressed itself to the back of his neck. He gave her a forced smile attempting to ignore it, but a playful grin came to her lips.

"What are you doing?"Thorin inquired, trying to force the edginess out of his voice, but it did not stop it from happening. Coruwen let out a little, mischievous laugh when her other hand crept up the side of his sleeve and began to trace the muscles on his arm. "Coruwen, you know I hate your little elf games."

"Whoever said they were games?" Coruwen kissed his cheek. "If you let me be beside you, you're going to have to get used to my ways of play."

"Woman, one day you will be the death of me."

"One day, love of mine."

Coruwen gasped quietly as his hand touched her low back, and traced the outline of her scars that ran across her hipline. She glared at him, while he chuckled at her reaction. "Then get used to mine as well."

He rubbed her back with his knuckles and she pressed herself closer to him. Out of his side vision, Thorin saw Kili sit up abruptly meaning there was someone approaching. Thorin withdrew his hand from Coruwen's back, but before she stood he kissed her temple. The kiss made her smile and fade in a short moment.

"Kili, who is coming?" Thorin asked as Coruwen helped him stand.

Kili turned around with shock on his face. It puzzled Thorin a great deal to see his nephew like this. The lad glanced over his shoulder and then at the two, and then did a double take.

"Kili, who is coming up to us?" Coruwen asked, keeping her tone even.

Kili moved aside and Coruwen's heart stopped when the man came up the hill. Long dark hair, storm grey eyes, and dark red robes came to her sight. The man smiled fondly at her, and then gave Thorin a bow of his head. Thorin and Coruwen shared a look between them before the man spoke.

"It is good to see you, little robin," The man said smoothly.

Coruwen shook herself free of the shock, and spoke, "Lord Elrond…"

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this, and I will be seeing you in a few days! Please review, because I love them and they push me to write more and they always warm my heart. :)

3insteinComplex: I love to hear that you love it! :) All will come in time, and in the words of Freya. "Patience, Dear One..."