An Understanding

Thorin opened one eye, feeling the cold of air bite at him in his sleep. His hand instinctively reached for Coruwen, but found her not to be there. He sat up trying to find her in the darkness. He wondered how she could have gotten away from him; then he reminded himself that she was an elf and could slip away undetected easily. He wrapped himself in a robe and walked out of their room to find her standing on the balcony that overlooked the vast distance between Erebor and Ered Mithrin.

Coruwen had been staring off into space lately; she had been doing so since Freya had left when the dragoness came to visit. Thorin knew Coruwen loved Freya dearly, but there was an underlying cause to this strange behavior that he did not understand. Freya had been the one to marry them two years ago, and was a dear friend to his wife. He watched her for a few seconds to make sure she wasn't going to turn around before he started towards her.

The wind played with Coruwen's gold hair and nightgown. She practically appeared like a phantom with long gold tresses that hung down to her low back. Gently, Thorin placed his hand on her low back and she stiffened beneath his touch. No doubt the ring on his hand was cold; for even his necklace was starting to have the chill spider its way around it.

"What is troubling you?" He asked quietly as he played with the tips of her hair. The elleth looked down at him with somewhat vacant expression. Instantly, her attention turned to the outside again. Thorin pulled her close to him, and one slender hand pressed itself to his chest to stop him. She was fighting him, and he wanted to know why. Her fingers graced his necklace and she looked down at him with a bit of wild fear in her eyes. Tentatively, he spoke to her again. "Coruwen, what is bothering you?"

"You do not take it off?" Coruwen whispered. Her eyes focused on his chest, where a white stone pendant hung loosely. His hand encompassed hers and her eyes rose up to his. The sky blue they typically possessed was exchanged with a dark ocean blue; a sign she was tired. Thorin decided that she was a bit frayed and led her back inside. She sat on a lounging sofa playing with the hem of her gown. Her wits weren't about her right now; his Coruwen wasn't present.

Thorin sat behind her and pulled her back so that she lay against his chest. Coruwen's fingers played with the silver chain around his neck, pulling the Evenstar free. He watched her trace tiny designs on the opalescent white stone. The necklace was a symbol of their devotion to the other.

"Do you remember what you told me?" Thorin asked. Her blue eyes snapped to his, slightly startling him. Coruwen reached up and pulled herself closer to him. "Do you?"

"Why would I not?" Coruwen replied, her voice returning to its normal tone. "I chose to give my immortality away so you could live longer; a choice I will never forget."

He let out a small laugh, "I believe we both will not forget that."

Her hand cupped the pendant, staring at it intently. "It was upon the morning after our bonding that I gave this to you." Coruwen traced the chain up and around the back of his neck, where her hand rested. Her hand was cold against the back of his neck, a trait that was common with her. In fact, she was colder than normal currently even pressed up against him like she was. Her free hand stroked his jaw, which made him inhale deeply. "You thought I had lost my mind."

Thorin kissed her forehead. "You were giving away what your people hold dearest. I thought you were toying with me…"

Coruwen pulled herself up and kissed him firmly. Her gold hair created a veil around them as she placed a hand on the side of his face. He found himself being able to hear her heart within his ears as he deepened the kiss by pulling her closer to him. Her delicate frame was pressed up against him with his arms wrapped around her hips. Their release brought forth a soft smile from both of them as she rested her forehead against his.

"I love you," Thorin whispered as her hand brushed up against his cheek.

"And I love you too," Coruwen breathed. She tucked her face into the crook of his neck and nuzzled him. "It was for this reason that I gave it away. I would not be able to love you if you passed away." She sat up with a small bit of sadness lingering in her blue eyes. "Giving away my immortality," Her hand placed itself on his heart, "Is far less of a punishment than loosing you to time's cruelty."

"Is that what you are upset about?" Coruwen shook her head, and he sat up so he could look at her. Thorin took her face in his hands, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I will not pass, so long as I am with you. That I can assure you of; for age has not graced me since we have been married. But tell me what troubles you…"

Coruwen moved his hands away from her face, placing them in her lap. "A shadow has been brooding in the east and south, as of late. I cannot sleep because it seems to be moving towards Erebor and the Iron Hills."

"Shadow?" Thorin didn't understand by what she meant. The look in her eyes changed to the normal peaceful expression she wore. Her hands tightened around his as he narrowed his eyes at her. "What do you mean?"

"Dark forces… Similar to those in Mirkwood or in Dol Guldur; however they move with the timing of Men."

"You must be talking about Easterlings…"

"That statement is a double edged sword. The darkness that has come into my mind sees a great evil, like a Nazgul. However, the lust for power is a signal of Men; meaning that both are present."

"And they march here?"

"Yes, it will take them about three days' time to reach Dain. To reach Erebor and Dale will take five days from the Iron Hills."

Thorin felt stress bear down on him. It seemed that battle had just come and gone. Now, it was riding to his home once more, from a place few know of. He let out a sigh, feeling his mind split in many different directions. How could he get word to Dain with no other evidence other than the words spoken by his queen? Dain was still unsure of having an elf as his ruler, but Thorin was unsure if his cousin would listen. On his shoulders, he felt Coruwen's hands rest. He shut his eyes in an attempt to calm his frayed mind, but still he felt spread.

"Thorin, you're over thinking things. Dain will listen to us; he always has," Coruwen assured him. She stood from her place beside him and started towards their bedroom. "We'll speak with the others in the morning. I am sure that Balin or Gloín will have some idea on how to get through to Dain that Easterlings are coming."

"If you believe so," He followed her, and came to rest beside her. As she laid her head on his chest, he wrapped an arm around her. When sleep came to him, he felt dread creep into his mind, thus making him stay awake. For a long while he stroked his wife's hair and felt her breathing deepen as she slept next to him. Then, something came to his mind.

The Evenstar…

Thorin's fingers pulled the Evenstar up and it was barely visible in the light. In the back of his mind, he heard Coruwen's voice telling him to take the pendant. She had freely given her heart to him; freely given up the Life of the Eldar so she could be with him.

"I would rather spend long years and pass away, than live throughout the centuries alone without you beside me. It is my life to give to whom I choose, and you are the only one I would freely give it to. With this, you are marked as the keeper of my heart."

This small object held a great force within; it was a symbol, a catalyst, and container. He dropped the pendant back onto his chest, and focused his mind on Coruwen. He slowly released the chain holding his spirit and let it remind him of her. As he drifted off to sleep, his breathing and heartbeat matched hers; giving him a sense of peace over his stressed self.

"Shut up, if they hear us, you're getting into trouble," A voice snapped. Coruwen's ears picked up the sounds of a young girl's voice, too young to be any child in fact. There was a small thump that was heard followed by a hiss of silence. "Stop it!"

Coruwen recognized that voice… It was out in the hall, and the voice belonged to Sol. Coruwen tried to sit up, but was pulled back down by Thorin's arm. His face was peaceful and the blankets around his waist. She placed her hand on his bare chest which made him twitch.

"Thorin, get up," Coruwen said softly, playing with his dark hair. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. She was surprised he reacted so quickly. Typically, he would have continued to sleep and she would have to flick water at him to get him up. That typically ended in a game of him chasing her around the bedroom. Coruwen had been with him for two years now, and learned different methods other than flicking water at her husband; she just found that method to be amusing. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," He replied simply. "And how are you?"

Coruwen blinked in shock, feeling like the man before her wasn't Thorin at all. Carefully she spoke. "I am surprised…"

Thorin's arm came off of her and she slid out of bed. There was a hum behind her as she pulled a dress out of the cabinet. She heard him walking about the room, and it bothered her a bit seeing him awake like this. Had she bothered him by speaking about the Easterlings? She wouldn't divulge into that topic quite yet considering that she would have to talk to Balin about it.

"Why are you surprised?" Thorin's voice questioned. Coruwen slid off her night gown and into a purple and silver dress. Her fingers played with the loop that went around her middle finger as she turned to face him. The slightly happy expression that was on her husband's face faded into one of concern. Such an expression was common lately that it hurt her to see his happiness fade away.

"Did I bother you when I spoke of the Easterlings?" Coruwen asked. She walked forward and touched placed her hand on the side of his face. He spoke no words; she could see the answer clearly in his eyes. They were dark; the eyes she loved so much were clouded by emotion.

"It made me realize that this world is falling back into the old ways that my Grandfather and Father spoke many times when I was young," Thorin said, walking out of her reach. "If the Easterlings wish to take my kingdom then they have another idea in their minds."

Fili wondered why there had been a meeting called in the early afternoon. He had been helping Kili train Sol on how to use daggers, but the minute he got started with teaching form his mother dragged him away. Of course, Uncle had needed him the minute he wanted to do anything of mild interest. Dís called these timings called Princely Duties; he mentally called them annoyances. Because that's what they were, Annoyances…

Now, he was standing beside Coruwen as she spoke of Easterlings. She was clearly unsettled by this and it seemed to rub off onto Thorin. Fili had seen his uncle perplexed, but now he was holding back his agitation so much that he gripped Orcrist as it sat on his hip. Before Fili and Balin laid a map of the vast landscape of Rhun; several Dwarven cities were circled with Erebor and the Iron Hills amongst the red ink circles. It was slightly unnerving to see the circles; they seemed to be staring blankly up at the people above them.

"Dain will listen to us when we give word," Balin soothed as Coruwen paced back and forth. "He might question us for a split second, but if what you say is true and Easterlings are three days away, then he will have to act."

"I understand that, Balin. However, the information we have is from what my sight has seen. The dwarves of the Iron Hills still do not trust my logic," Coruwen stated. Fili saw her halt in her pacing and glare at the advisor. Balin didn't shrink away, but gave her a reprimanding look. His aunt let out a sigh and gripped the table. Her gold hair shrouded her face as she took deep breaths. Hesitantly, Fili walked over to her and placed his hand on her back. Coruwen straightened with one hand sweeping back her hair. "I am still an elven outsider in some people's eyes. I am not seen as a queen."

"Aye, but Dain will have to trust you; even if it is just this once. Regardless of what he tries to say; you are the wife of his cousin, meaning you are the Queen of Erebor." Gloín pointed out.

"Gloín is right," Thorin said walking up to Coruwen. The two exchanged a small look before Coruwen backed away. "Dain is going to have to trust us, and he knows of the power of the Easterlings. They are quite formidable when they catch someone off guard. However, if Dain is prepared then it will slow the attack that is coming here."

"One is coming here?" Gloín asked in bewilderment. The treasurer looked at his king and queen with wide eyes, and they both nodded. "Mahal help us."

Coruwen turned with one finger tapping Erebor's red ink circle. "They will be here in five days' time should they make it to the Iron Hills. Easterlings have a habit of splitting their forces into ships since they are close to the Sea of Rhun. If one force makes it to the Hills, than one will most likely ride to Erebor faster."

Fili tightened his hands into fists. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach so tight that he felt like he was going to gag. Stress was bearing down on him. The Battle of Five Armies made him nervous, and this was making him have that feeling all over again. No doubt this would throw Erebor into a frenzy. The small tap of Orcrist touching the floor made Fili's attention snap back into the room once more.

"Now that we have that decided," Thorin said under his breath. He turned his gaze on Fili, who stiffened under his uncle's hard gaze. "Fili, speak to Cairn and tell him to fly to the Iron Hills to tell Dain about the Easterling attack."

"Yes, Uncle," Fili replied shortly. He darted out of the room and made his way toward Cairn's Roost. He believed that Röac would send a raven in the stead of his son, but Cairn was the ruler of the Roost since Röac lost his sanity about a year ago. The old raven only sang simple Blackbird songs or mimicked other birds now. Kili desperately wanted to stick an arrow in Röac's chest because the raven attacked him last time and honestly, Fili wanted to let him because that bird was becoming a hindrance.

Upon entering, Cairn's sister gave out a welcoming song that made Cairn turn his head to the young heir. Fili lifted his forearm for Cairn, who landed on it with a curious look in his eyes. Fili saw how fluffy he looked; he was molting his beautiful ebony feathers in place of ones that were pitch black. Kili was going to have to get up here before Cairn tossed them all out.

"Greetings, Fili, son of Dís," Cairn greeted with a bow of his head. Fili repeated the small bow and Cairn let out little chirp in his throat. "What do you need of me?"

Fili let out a breath, "Uncle needs you to fly to the Iron Hills and warn Lord Dain about an Easterling attack that is coming in three days' time."

Cairn lifted his wings and hovered in the air. "How do you know of this attack?"

"Aunt Coruwen has been sensing it," Fili told him, his voice becoming slightly edgy. The way Cairn questioned an order seemed a tad insolent, but he was a raven… They questioned everything. The amber eyes of Cairn cocked his head to the side. "You know how the elves function, bloody bird."

"I know, I know." Cairn laughed. "I will make sure it is done with haste, young Heir." The raven lord flew out of the small opening that led the overcast world outside. Fili shook his head and left the roost. He returned to his uncle and aunt to find them alone without Balin or Gloín. Fili could see from his position in the corridor doorway that Coruwen was bothered by something. He tried his best to be quiet and get close to her side, but saw her blue eyes land on him instantly. A soft smile came to her lips as she looked him over.

"I'm not bothering you are I?" Fili said in a hushed voice. Coruwen shook her head and she motioned for him to go come over. He walked over to her side, and felt her hand pass across his hair. He would've typically veered away from such a gesture, but there was something about the way Coruwen stroked his head that felt like she was speaking to him in a gesture. Her hand drifted off of his head and fell back onto the arm of her chair. Her other hand rested on top of Thorin's wrist loosely as he whispered to himself about the attack that was coming. Coruwen shared a small smile with Fili before running her fingers across Thorin's hand. He had remembered when they did not use such gestures to get the other's attention. And Fili believed that only came with time, along with many other things that changed a person.

One obvious trait that had bloomed was their bantering and teasing. They did it typically within the confines of the company and family. Fili was starting to see it as Coruwen played with the hem of Thorin's coat. An amused smile creased her face, but Thorin wasn't focusing on her. Coruwen tugged on a strand of his hair so that his attention was on her.

"It will be fine, just as you said," Coruwen assured him. Fili saw Thorin give her nod, and then his gaze fell on him. The firm gaze he had possessed earlier had faded away into a one of fondness. Fili smiled at his uncle, before hearing a door be thrown open.

"FILI!" Sol's voice laughed.

Oh no…

Fili turned his attention to the door to see Sol running at him with her red hair flying behind her. He knelt down to her level, and when she tackled him he fell over in the force. She giggled as she sat on his chest playing with his hair. He could hear the laughter of his aunt and uncle overhead. He grabbed the giggling little girl and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Hi," Sol greeted placing one hand on his forehead. Fili couldn't help but smile at her cheerful attitude.

"Hi," Fili said holding back a laugh. Sol darted out of his grip, coming to sit at the feet of Coruwen. "Where's Kili?"

"Playing Hide and Seek with me." Sol replied simply. Fili didn't believe her, thinking that she must've tricked Kili into something. That's how Sol worked; she was devious little girl. He eyed her, and Sol shrunk down. "He got locked outside!"

"Thank you," Fili whispered patting her head. He stood, following the way Sol had run from and found a door with a chair in front of it. The wood door was cracked and Fili saw his brother's fingers attempting to pry open the lock. "Squirrel?"

"I want back inside," Kili whined. God, he sounded pathetic... Fili mushed the chair aside with his foot, and the door flew open with Kili skidding before him like a doormat. His brother's dark hair was ruffled and his bow missing along with his quiver. Kili rolled onto his back, glaring up at the ceiling. "Where'd she put 'em?"

"Put what?"

"My stuff!" Kili leapt up with an angry fire in his eyes that Fili had found odd. However, he agreed with Kili; if someone stole his swords, locked him outside, and then ran away he'd be fairly upset too. His brother darted off into the lower regions of the corridor in search of his things. There were cruses flying from his brother that he hoped that their mother wouldn't hear. After watching Kili open a few door and search with no avail, Fili decided to speak to Sol about what she did with Kili's things. "Tell Sol I'm gonna get her if I don't find my stuff!"

"Uh-huh," Fili drawled as he walked back to find Sol. He found the little girl still sitting by Coruwen as his aunt played with her red hair. The elleth's finger wove several long tresses into one long braid that rested on the girl's shoulder. Sol's green eyes lit up at the sight of Fili, and he gave a bright smile as he came to sit beside her. "Sol…"

"Yes?" Sol laughed. Fili saw the mischievous look glow in her eyes as she peered up at him through the flame red strands of hair that fell into her eyes.

"So, I found Kili," Fili began. He watched as Sol paled, letting out a nervous giggle. "And he is looking for his bow and quiver, which he says you hid."

Sol scoffed, "I did not!"

"No other person could have hidden Kili's things, Sol." Coruwen said with a slightly motherly tone. Sol crossed her arms and pouted. Coruwen chuckled and tied a black ribbon around the braids she had made in Sol's hair. "Go show the boys where you hid Kili's weapons."

Sol leapt up from her spot, grabbed Fili's hand, and dragged him down the same exact corridor Kili had been rummaging through. At the sound of Sol's little stomps, Kili tumbled out of room wrapped in a rope. His gold eyes narrowed at the sight of Sol, but she tapped his mouth shut with a tap of her slipper. Fili snickered at the sight of Kili, who just stuck his tongue out at him. Fili saw his brother like a an inch worm now as he slinked after Sol as she pried open a stone brick and then two others around it.

Within sat Kili's bow and quiver.

Fili laughed as Kili untangled himself so he could dive for his weapons. He clutched the weapons close to him and glared at Sol. The girl put her hands on her hips, giving him a hard stare.

"You, Little Sun, have a sick sense of humor!" Kili scolded. Within a second, Kili hugged Sol to him. "And I love you for it…"

Fili shook his head, not understanding his brother's backwards way of seeing things. He shrugged and put the stones back into the wall. There was a small shout of disapproval and a yelp. Kili sat on the floor, rubbing his forehead. Sol glared at him darkly with her little foot tapping the floor.

"C'mon you two, let it drop," Fili said. The two looked up at him, and begrudgingly followed him back into the main hall. The sound of metal upon metal made his attention fall on his uncle and aunt. The two were sparring, which was rather out of the ordinary. The two had very opposite fighting styles; one consisting of hard strokes that would throw just about anyone off balance and the other consisted of faster strokes meant to confuse.

Orcrist was pointed directly at Coruwen's chest as she was pushed up against a pillar. The glimmer of Elven steel flickered as it sheathed back into its place at Thorin's hip. Coruwen pulled her hair away from her face and wrapped it back onto her shoulder. Thorin pulled her up beside him and she straightened her skirts.

"I see you found your weapons, Kili," Thorin stated. Kili nodded and picked up Sol, who kicked and flailed in his grip. Thorin chuckled at the sight of Sol, and when she heard Thorin, she froze. "Ease down Sol, Kili won't hurt you."

"Yet," Kili murmured.

Fili saw Coruwen raise an eyebrow, meaning she must've heard him. She rolled her wrist once before sheathing the curved blade into an elegantly carved scabbard. Fili walked over to her side so he could observe the blade closely. It was a short blade; a very strange piece of weaponry for an elf. Elves were a tall race, and this blade was made for someone about half their normal size.

"What do you see, my lion?" Coruwen inquired kneeling down beside him. Fili ran his fingers over the elegantly carved vines that were etched with Cirth runes. Fili slowly tore his gaze away from the blade's scabbard and into the eyes of his aunt. He was so close to her that he could see light grey flecks in her light blue eyes, a whirlpool of grey and deep sky blue.

"This blade is too short for you," Fili said under his breath.

Coruwen seemed startled by the statement, and her hand caressed the blade like a long lost pet. "It was a gift from my father when I was young…" She muttered. "I have yet to ask your uncle for a new one."

Fili glanced over his shoulder to see Thorin speaking to Kili and Sol. "I bet you we could find materials for it here…"

"Fili, I know you're being generous, but I am not a melee fighter." Fili took her hand and she sighed. "Ever stubborn is the line of Durin…"

"You bet," Fili chuckled moving aside strands of his blonde hair. He turned his attention over his shoulder. "Hey, Thorin, we could find materials to make Auntie a proper sword, right?"

Thorin blinked in recognition for a minute, and then nodded. "I don't see why not," He replied. His dark blue gaze fell on Coruwen. "You could've asked, my queen."

Coruwen laughed nervously. "Slipped my memory," She lied. Fili placed a hand over his eyes, shaking his head. "Rhui nîn…"

Fili laughed and started off towards the mines. "C'mon, there has got to be something down there!"

Coruwen shook her head, and watched as Kili and Sol passed them to follow Fili, who seemed oddly exuberant about this whole issue. She felt her hand being grabbed and pulled on to follow. Thorin gave her a playful smirk and pulled her along before she matched his pace.

Fili climbed down a series of steps in the mines and leaned over the edge. He wasn't quite used to this mine; in fact it had rarely been used. As he stared down into the infinite darkness, something caught his eye. Something white…

"Hey, I think I found something!" Fili shouted over his shoulder.

Sol and Kili leaned over the side, peering down into the darkness. Sol stood on her tip toes, but shrank away when heights got the better of her. Fili felt a hand rest on his shoulder and Coruwen appeared at his side with her eyes flicking around in the dark.

Coruwen patted his head, "You're right, my little lion." She looked around for a way down. The queen let out a small noise in her throat. "I believe we have encountered a problem…"

Kili sighed. "That we can't get what brother saw?"

"Aye," Thorin replied stepping back from the ledge. "We need someone small…"

Sol squeaked, trying to hide behind the king as best she could. Fili kneeled down to Sol's level. Her green eyes glared at him, and he caught disapproval in them. "Sol's afraid of heights," Fili stated without a hint of amusement. "I wouldn't scare her like that."

"I can do it," Kili deadpanned. Fili looked at his brother in disbelief; this wasn't Kili at all. Granted, Kili liked a few high places, but he never ever offered to go into a deep mining chasm freely. "Amad has been having me climb up into high places ever since the week before Uncle and Coruwen married."

"If you say so, Squirrel," Fili replied.

It was then that they tied a rope around Kili, and let him clamber his way down into the hole. The younger son of Dís rummaged around in the dark for the white something that Fili had seen. Kili found it, pricking his hand on it in the process, but was pulled up. Fili was surprised by what his brother dragged up.

Under Kili's arm was a pearly white dragon fang…

"Dragon fang?" Fili whispered poking the fang as Kili placed it on the ground.

"One of Smaug's baby teeth," Coruwen informed them as she picked up the tooth. It was slightly curved and cream white with a bit of soot covering it. Fili watched her pick it up, observing the height. It seemed that the Valar wanted them to find it; for it fit Coruwen's height perfectly. Thorin stepped forward and looked the tooth over. "What do you think, love?"

"I can see what the smiths think," Thorin replied. "It will give them a new challenge; no one has ever worked with dragon fangs before."

Coruwen laughed, "I don't think anyone has ever found a dragon baby tooth before."

Now, for someone to be dragging a baby dragon tooth around in Erebor made many nervous. However, when Thorin explained to the weapons smiths that they could work with such a nearly in destructive piece of material they all leapt at the chance to create a sword for their queen. Fili found it uncanny that they found a fang of Smaug's in a mine…

"What would a baby dragon fang be doing in a mine? I'm fairly sure that Smaug couldn't have fit his ego filled head into that space," Fili said.

Coruwen shrugged. "That is an excellent question, my nephew. The only alternative I can think of was that one of your people fled down there in the dragon's plight, and Smaug bit the wall thus splitting his tooth." She assumed. "Knowing Smaug, there could've been a number of good reasons why he tried to fit his head into there."

"Yeah, if you're a dragon," Kili put in. "I didn't even know Smaug was still a baby…"

"Drakes are the adolescent form of a dragon; Smaug was just that. They do not reach their full maturity until they are at least a millennium old. Smaug as just five hundred years old; technically he was still a baby," Coruwen said.

Fili's head started wracking numbers, but couldn't seem to get them in the correct order. "Then how old is our Freya?"

Coruwen hummed, playing with a gold wave. "She was born in the Year of the Trees; she must be as old as Lady Galadriel, maybe more."

"Wow," Kili breathed.

"The sole reason Smaug came to Erebor was because Scatha had killed Freya when he was just a century old, and he came here since he had no other mountain to flee to."

"The bloody dragon is dead, and should stay that way," Thorin grumbled. "You using his fang will most likely represent your place amongst Freya's kindred."

"Hopefully," Coruwen agreed. "However, it will not be completed until the Easterlings have come and gone." A shadow passed over the group, and Coruwen sighed. "I hope to Yavanna that Cairn could talk sense into Dain."

Cairn landed on a tree beside the River Carnen, watching the murky red water rush over sun bleached stone. He could feel that he was close to the Iron Hills, but the winds around him felt tense. As if the world was holding its breath. His feathers were ruffled by a passing wind that carried a sound that made his little heart stop.

Chanting and horns…

Cairn flew up into the air and saw mass of red and black on the horizon. The queen was wrong; the Easterlings weren't three days' time from the Iron Hills, they were three hours' ride.

Cairn cursed under his breath and flew to the Iron Hills with a great amount of swiftness as storm winds beat against his flight. Grey clouds loomed over head as he passed into the realm of Dain Ironfoot; passing overhead of a shouting dwarf he landed on the window sill of Dain's home. He rapped his beak against the glass insensately trying to get the attention of the Lord, who he could see in broad firelight speaking to one of his sons.

"For the love of the Great Mother!" Cairn shouted. He pecked the glass until it cracked a bit, and then he wiggled his beak inside pushing aside shattered glass. He flew in and landed on Dain's shoulder giving him a scolding squawk in the ar for good measure.

"Oi, Cairn! What brings you here?" Dain boomed.

"Easterlings lie at your gate, Lord Ironfoot." Cairn explained, panting. Confusion passed in Dain's face like the raven had five heads. "They are three hours' ride to your gates, and they come bearing great weapons."

"Why am I getting informed of this now?!" Dain shouted standing from his seat. Cairn hovered in place, worry tinting his amber eyes. Dain's fiery gaze fell on the raven lord, and suddenly Cairn was reminded that Dain was indeed one of the many lines of Durin. This fire was identical to the one King Oakenshield obtained when rage smothered all other emotions. "Speak, Raven!"

Cairn cleared his throat. "Queen Coruwen foresaw this event, but at a later date… She didn't know they would be here in a matter of hours." Cairn squeaked. Dain growled in his throat, and Cairn let out a pathetic squeak. "They are planning on attacking Erebor as well, but how fast; I do not know."

"Damn that Elf, but what can I do?" Dain grumbled. "Fine, fly back and tell your king and queen that the Iron Hills is currently fighting against the Easterlings."

Cairn cleared his throat again. "My duty as Raven Lord is to stay until the battle has been finished… People could use me as a spy, you know."

Dain nodded shortly. "Fine, do what you want. I have a battle to attend to."

The raven bowed his head, silently praying that no one back home would be terribly injured. He could only hope now… That little fragment of an emotion that Men clung to was all he had now.

A/N: I'm terribly sorry if this story is really slow right now; it will pick up eventually.

Are you guys liking it? Do you have any ideas on what should come after the battle? What shenanigans do you want to see? Let me know, please!

Please review.