Chapter Twenty
Arirua shot straight up, hands instantly reaching for her throat, gasping for air. Her hands met with nothing and she greedily gulped the fresh air. For several minutes, the star just sat very still, breathing deeply. She could see that the dwarves were awake and moving about, but she couldn't bring herself to get up.
After several deep breaths, the star slowly got to her feet. Once on her feet, she started walking through the enormous house. The bees lazily buzzed around her and the oxen grunted as she passed by them. The large strong creatures brought a small smile to her face, even though she was still recovering from the dream.
It was strange, she thought as she stopped to pet one of the oxen's noses, that she remembered the dream this time, unlike all the other times.
The young woman continued to walk through the skin-changer's home, admiring the craftsmanship of everything. Everything was so detailed, covered with carvings of animals, mostly bears. And it was all very large.
"Well, I say we should leg it. Slip out the back way." Arirua heard Nori say. Frowning, the star wrapped her arms around herself and began walking towards the sounds of the dwarves.
"I'm not running from anyone, beast or no." Dwalin snarled. Arirua quietly stood at the back of the group, looking over the group.
"There is no point in arguing." Gandalf said with a raised voice. "We cannot pass through the Wilderland without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down before we ever get to the forest."
Arirua stood there, confused, but she remained quiet.
"Ah, Bilbo." Gandalf said. Arirua looked over to see the hobbit joining the group. "There you are. Now, this will require some delicate handling. We must tread very carefully. The last person to have startled him was torn to shreds." Several of the dwarves took a step away from the door in fear, as if Beorn himself was about to enter.
"I will go first," Gandalf informed them, "and, uh, Bilbo? You come with me."
Bilbo looked worriedly at Thorin but stopped forward. "Is this a good idea?"
"Yes." Gandalf said simply. "Now, the rest of you, you just wait here and don't come out until I give the signal."
"Right." Bofur said who was currently staring out the window. "Wait for the signal."
"And no sudden moves or loud noises, and don't overcrowd him. And only come out in pairs. Right." Gandalf told the group. There were several murmurs of agreement and understanding. Gandalf turned to leave, but turned back quickly. "No, actually, Bombur, um, you count as two so you should come out alone."
Bombur nodded in agreement.
"And Arirua," Gandalf said, looking back to her, "you come out last and when you do come out, come and stand with me and Bilbo. Do you understand?" The star frowned but nodded. "Good. Remember, wait for the signal."
"The signal. Right." Bofur said as Gandalf walked out of the house. Silence passed over the group when Bofur spoke again, startling the group.
"What signal would that be?"
Everyone's eyes darted to the dwarf with wide eyes. Arirua could hear several mutterings of Khuzdul. The star even muttered a curse or two of her own under her breath.
Silence filled with house again, except for the occasion bleat of a goat or buzzing bee that got to close, as they all waited for some kind of signal to come out. Outside, if she strained her ears hard enough, Arirua could hear the sounds of wood being chopped and words being spoken, although she couldn't make out what they were saying. The dwarves shifted around, trying to work off some nervous energy. Arirua felt someone tap her. Looking over, she saw Kili motioning for her come stand next to him. She took a few steps and stood next to him. He cried to smile his usual cheeky smile but she could still see the worry in his eyes. She unwrapped one of her arms from her body and clasped his hand. The young dwarf prince placed a kiss on her hand before letting it fall. It was slightly uncomfortable to hold his hand, with the height difference, but she ignored that and embraced the peace it brought her.
"There it is!" Bofur yelled suddenly. "Go, go, go!"
Dwalin quickly grabbed Balin from the center of the group and shuffled him outside.
"Dwalin and Balin." she heard Dwalin say just faintly.
"Go, go!" Bofur said again after a few moments.
"Wait, that's us!" Gloin said, before he rushed out the door with his brother in front of him.
Arirua frowned. This did not seem right. Gandalf would not have asked them out this quickly. Not if he had to reason with a man who was not fully a man. Although Beorn was a man of sorts, his bear side was just as much present as his human side. Which meant the temper of the bear was always there, gnawing at him.
"Go!" Bofur said with a motion of his hand. "Go, go, go!"
Dori and Ori quickly rushed out the door and timidly walked down the stairs.
"Dori and Ori at your service." Dori stuttered.
"Go!" Bofur ordered again. Fili motioned to Kili. The younger of the two nodded, dropped the star's hand, and followed his brother out.
Arirua let the others shuffle forward in front of her, remembering what the wizard had told her. Nori, Bofur, Bifur, and Bombur all stumbled out the door, making a loud ruckus as they went.
"Is that it?" Arirua heard a loud voice ask, almost like a snarl. Glancing over at the king, she nodded her head. He walked out in front of her and she followed quietly behind.
She felt the great man's eyes land on her as she walked out but she did not stop to look at him until she was standing next to wizard and the Halfling.
And when she did look at him, she could see a look of wonder and surprise on his face.
The man was tall, very tall. He was shirtless and she could see the scars on his back. He wore dark brown pants that looked worse for wear and boots that were equal worn. He had large hazel eyes that seemed to bore into her own blue ones. His face was framed with the thick mane-like hair that he had, that also trailed down his back, and his beard. There were small scars on his face as well. He had a wild, untamed look about him, but she knew that was something that was to be expect from a man like himself. What was curious though was the cuff that was around his wrist and the small bit of chain that was attached to it. He had been a captive once.
"It is an honor to meet you Beorn." Arirua said smoothly. "I am Arirua of Rivendell, and I have heard a great many tales about you and your people."
"My reputation precedes me." he said to her. His voice was deep and gravely, and when he talked, she could see flashes of his canines. "But you need no introduction. Your light is too bright for anything of this world. I don't believe I have ever stood in the presence of a star."
"I am here to apologize on behalf of my comrades for invading your home." Arirua said, changing the topic quickly. She knew that the Company was growing uneasy and she was growing uneasy as well. "We have had a difficult journey and we need a place to rest in peace, if only for one night."
The man looked over at the dwarves and a frown crossed his face. "I do not like dwarves," he snarled, and Arirua began to grow uneasy. "But I will not send them away just yet. The Defiler and his pack still roam the lands." He looked the star. "I will give you your day of peace."
"Thank you Beorn." she said bowing her head. The star then turned and motioned for the dwarves to go back inside the large house.
"Who is the leader of your company?" Beorn asked, eyes trained on the dwarves as they re-entered the house.
"Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf answered. Arirua turned in time to see the man's eyebrows raise and shoot to the dwarf king who was still standing outside.
Thorin nodded his head ever so slightly and walked back into the house.
The Company all gathered around the large table in the middle of the house. Their host silently placed platters of bread, cheese, honey, butter, and a little bit of fruit on the table. He also placed a large plate down in front of all them as well as a large cup which he proceeded to fill with milk.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield." he said to Thorin as he filled Fili's mug. "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"
"You know of Azog?" Thorin asked. Arirua watched as Ori reached for a piece of bread and Dori smack his hand. The younger dwarf instantly pulled his hand back. The star reached out, grabbed an apple off the plate laid before her, and took a bit, demonstrating that it was okay to eat. Ori's eyes grew wide and instantly reached out and grabbed a piece of bread. He then took a big bite and grinned. Arirua smiled at his expression.
"How?" Thorin asked him, trying to get answers.
"My people were the first to live in the mountains before the orcs came down from the North. The Defiler killed most of my family. But some he enslaved." he explained. Eyes turned towards the shape-changer. Several eyes shot to the cuff around his wrist. "Not for work, you understand but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."
"There are others like you?" Bilbo asked.
"Once there were many."
"And now?" the hobbit asked softly.
The tall man grew silent, looking out the window in front of him. That looked on his face was a look she knew all too well. It was the look of someone who had lost more than they ever thought they would.
"Now," Arirua said quietly, "there is only one."
Bilbo broke eye contact with her, realization setting in.
"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn." Beorn said, breaking the silence. He sat down the large ornately carved chair next the table.
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf told him.
"You are running out of time."
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf told him. Arirua turned to look at the wandering wizard.
"You did not tell me this was your plan." she said, trying her hardest not to snarl at him.
"A darkness lies upon that forest." Beorn told the wizard. "Foul things creep beneath those trees. I would not venture there except in great need."
"We will take the Elven Road." Gandalf explained. "That path is still safe." Arirua gripped the handle of her wooden mug tighter.
"Safe?" Beorn asked sharply. "The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not."
"What do you mean?" Thorin asked, panic crossing his face.
"These lands are crawling with orcs. Their numbers are growing. And you are on foot." he told Thorin, but the star knew he was talking to them all. "You will never reach the forest alive."
The tall man stood up from, ducking the low beams of the ceiling as he walked towards Thorin.
"I don't like dwarves." he said slowly, making sure the words he was saying did not go unheard. "They're greed and blind. Blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." He gently picked up the small white mouse Dwalin pushed off his arm. "But orcs I hate more. What do you need?"
"Horses." Gandalf said and the large man nodded.
"They are yours to use."
The Company quickly grabbed what was left of their belongs and rushed outside to the horses. Rather, ponies and two horses.
Arirua gently patted the beautiful black and white mare she had been given. "Hello girl." she said to the horse softly. "Do not worry. I will treat you kindly." Arirua gave the horse's nose one more long, soothing stroke before mounting her. "Shhh shh shhh." the star whispered as the mare began prancing slightly. "It is going to be fine girl."
"Gandalf." Thorin said. "Time is wasting."
Arirua glanced over at the wandering wizard and the shape-changer and she felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew they were talking about what Sythralen was trying to warn her about. She didn't know what the darkness was, but she knew that it was growing stronger.
Above them, crows cawed.
And a howl followed it shortly after.
Gandalf rushed to his horse, mounted the black stallion, and took off. The Company quickly fell in, horses running swiftly across the land.
They traveled through the rest of the valley, over luscious rolling hills, and through straggly forests that were barely surviving. There were very few words said. Everyone remained focused on getting to the remains of what used to be the great Greenwood.
Arirua felt her heart drop when they finally arrived and her eyes laid on the forest now called Mirkwood. Gone were the beautiful and full green trees that housed multiple birds and creatures. Now there was only bare branches and black, sickly trees.
Beorn had been right. Radagast had been right.
The forest was sick, sick from a darkness that seemed to have its claws in everything.
Arirua quickly dismounted and followed the wizard towards the opening of the forest, but she did not follow him in.
"The Elven Gate." he muttered. He then turned to the Company. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood."
"No sign of the orcs." Dwalin said as he scanned the horizon. "We have luck on our side."
Arirua glanced towards the wizard and then up to the cliff where she could see the silhouette of a great black bear. She knew the man had been following them since they had left his land, but she had kept it to herself.
"I believe luck is a reasonable explanation." she said.
"Let the ponies loose." Gandalf ordered. "Let them return to their master."
"This forest feels sick." Bilbo commented as he walked towards the fallen star and the wandering wizard. "As if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?"
"No." the star answered. "No matter how much wish it with my whole heart."
"Arirua is right." the wizard explained. "Not unless we go two hundred miles north. Or twice that distance south."
The star watched the older man walk into the forest but still didn't go inside. She remained in the entrance. She placed her hand on the dirty marble that the entrance was sculpted out of. The archway was sculpted to look like the twisted branches that surrounded. It was cold to the touch and the woman retracted her hand quickly.
"Please, Gandalf, do not make me do this." Arirua said softly, so only the wizard could hear her.
"They're going to need you. You know the elves here. They know you."
"They did know me." Arirua demanded. "But they are not the elves they should be. Look at what their king has let happen to the Greenwood. He has let darkness creep its way into his kingdom."
The wizard continued walking into the forest. The young woman watched as he walked to what had once been a beautiful statue of the woman who had once ruled alongside the elf who ruled over Mirkwood. It was now covered with spider web like vines, covering every part of the statue except for her face. She watched him pull away some of the branches to reveal a symbol.
Suddenly, her arm was on fire. It was a fire she had never felt before during her banishment. She let out a blood curdling scream and fell to the ground. And as her eyes closed, a single image filled her mind.
An eye made of fire.
"All light will be smothered by darkness. Even the light of the stars."
The image disappeared and the pain slowly subsided. The star opened her eyes to see the Company standing over her, expressions of fear on all their faces.
"Melda?" Kili asked.
"Help me up!" Arirua demanded, rage boiling up in her chest.
"I advised against that." Oin said, trying to get a good look at her.
"Help me up!" she repeated, anger now very evident in her voice. Fili grabbed her good arm which she was holding up to them and pulled her up.
The star walked towards where the wizard was standing, speaking with the hobbit.
"What did you find?" Arirua heard as she got closer to the two.
"My courage." the hobbit said.
"Good." Gandalf said. "You'll need it."
"Gandalf!" the star said loudly, grabbing the wandering wizard's attention. "I wish to speak to you for a moment before you depart from us."
"I must leave…"
"I must speak with you."
"Walk with me." he said after a moment of silence.
"You knew." Arirua said. "You knew that the darkness was the enemy."
"No. But I believed it to be him."
"I…I saw him." Arirua told him. "I felt the darkness."
"Did you now?" Gandalf asked. "What else have you seen?"
"Last night I dreamed of darkness. And the darkness spoke."
"And what did it say?"
"That all light will be smothered by the darkness. And I am not the only one who has seen darkness. Sythralen suspected that the darkness was growing."
"Did she tell you this?"
"Yes. In a way." Arirua explained. "She comes to me in my dreams and speaks to me."
"She is dead, Arirua."
"I believe her to be trapped in darkness." Arirua said slowly. Gandalf raised his eyebrows but said nothing. "Are you going to see about this darkness?"
"Yes."
"You will find that it is the enemy."
"I have no doubt about that now but I still must go."
"Do as you please." Arirua told him. "Just be safe. Darkness is growing stronger. I can feel it."
Gandalf nodded. "I am always careful." He then turned to look at the Company.
"I will be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me." He looked over the Company. As he was speaking, the sky opened up and let cool raindrops rain down on the wizard, the hobbit, the star, and the dwarves. "This is not the Greenwood of old. There is a stream in the woods that carries a dark enchantment. Do not touch the water. Cross only by the stone bridge. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It'll seek to enter your mind and lead you astray. You must stay on the path. Do not leave it. If you do, you'll never find it again."
He mounted his horse and down on them. "Arirua, come here."
The star slowly walked up to the horse, patting its neck to let the creature know she was there, and looked up at her elder. "Yes?"
"Go with them." he told them. "Protect them. You know about this darkness. You know these woods from your visit and from what Sythralen has told you. You are their only light in this darkness."
"I know." she said softly.
"You are stronger than the darkness that rests in the forest. Do not fear it." The star simply nodded.
The wizard turned his horse and began riding away from them, but not without shouting one more warning over his shoulder.
"Come on." Thorin said, walking through the group to take the lead. "We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day."
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asked.
"Let's go!" Bofur said.
"It is our only chance to find the hidden door." Thorin told the Company.
Arirua turned and began following the group, bringing up the rear of the group.
As she came to the entrance, she stopped and looked up at the sky one last time. Then she took a deep breath and took a step past the threshold.
"For the light that is left in the world." she whispered to herself.
And then she took another step.
A/N: I told you I had more chapters for you guys! WHOOP WHOOP!
I had a lot of fun working on this chapter. I just had so much fun writing a different side of Arirua. And this chapter is the beginning to a whole lot more; this chapter is literally a doorway! I am so ready for what's on the other side of that door!
I hope you love this chapter! Let me know what you think, leave comments, good or bad, and ask questions. I love questions!
Remember, these chapters are unedited, so just bare with me. I'm trying to catch them, but I'm not the greatest editor in the world...
Don't forget to review and share. Oh, and don't forget to check out Project Artemis!
Much love!
RogueStarz