Zoor Se Dovahruth
Sixteen

-Filkun-
Starlight

Fili glanced briefly over at the little mop of hair lying next to him in the small bed. His little girl was fast asleep again, her little nose twitching ever so lightly and her chest raising up and down in a very soothing rhythm. She was his little star in a vast sky of darkness, sweeter than death, and by far the one thing he was most proud of.

Her little spouts of curiosity, adventure, and spontaneity kept the parenting part of their lives never dull. She was a true Durin but most of all she was truly her father's daughter. Thorin would often remind Fili that when he and Kili had been little lads that they had been just as much of a handful, if not more. Fili couldn't argue with that logic either. He'd remembered pulling little stunts with his brother just to trouble his Mother and Uncle every so often.

Fili's little girl was no different in some aspects. She, just like her mother, had an adept skill and interest in stealth and the occasional pickpocket. Keeva had been admit that if she were to practice such a skill that she page homage to the chief deity of Night and Darkness, the Night Mistress or as Keeva would often call her, "Lady Luck". Sadly, Keeva's beliefs in the Daedric Prince had slowly dwindled over the years after teaching their daughter the art of hiding and their daughters lessons soon followed.

Fili often still found his little one practicing in the dark hallways though. Her determinedness never ceased to amaze him and eventually he'd taken his daughter's lessons up, teaching her the basics of battle as well as some help from Kili in the art of archery. She was still very much a beginner, her swings very off and her aim a bit shaky. Still, she put as much effort into her lessons as she did when she ventured of into the halls of their home, looking for adventure and fun.

Fili smiled, brushing his hand over her hair to push it behind her ear. The tip of it was very slight, a testament to the world that she was a descended of a race of elves this world had never seen before. But she was also very much a dwarf and Fili couldn't help but chuckle at her short little legs and slightly big ears. He loved her still, even if she was an odd mix of heritage. She was his little star, his gimlel – as Kili would so kindly put it.

Fili rose from the bed carefully, as to not wake the little girl from her dreams, and quietly closed the door behind him. The halls that evening were lit by a variety of candles. It was a dull light but enough to encourage him to follow the path towards the study. The fire in the hearth was burning slowly and the only person in the room enjoying its mesmerizing dance was a Halfling. Quietly, Fili entered the room and took his place behind the chair that Keeva occupied. Her eyes were glued to the flames, a distant look in her gaze, and hushed incantations leaving her lips. Fili had often spared his daughter from this sight. It even bothered him to see Keeva in this state. But there was nothing he or anyone could do.

Fili bent down and swept Keeva's hair off her shoulder. He places his lips on the bare skin, the flesh on her neck broke out in goose bumps and he smirked proudly at his work. There was a sharp intake of breath from her lips, the incantations ceasing, and Keeva blinked her eyes to clear the fog from her mind. Fili kissed her neck once more, earning him a soft giggle from the girl that began to squirm underneath him. "Fili, that tickles," she gasped, her hand reaching up behind her to hook her hand around his neck. But she didn't complain any further and instead turned her head to meet his and kissed him softly.

"You were taking much longer than usual," he said after she pulled away from his lips and stood from her chair. "Did something happen?"

Keeva eyed him cautiously, her lips pressed thin and her brows knitted together. It was this look that often ensured a silence from her for many days. She would meditate during this silence, the fire in the hearth her only friend and her true family becoming nonexistent. She'd only done this a handful of times before and Fili had promised himself the last time that he would not let it happen again, "Keeva, don't do this. She needs you, I need you."

"Fili-" she began, her heart panging at the sight of her Lion's pain. Keeva was torn between her duty and her family, but the decision was clearly simple. "I won't- I will stay."

Fili's gaze eased with relief as he stepped towards her and wrapped Keeva in his arms. She sighed, burying her tired eyes into the fur of his shirt. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the warmth that Fili wrapped her in. Keeva knew deep down this is where she was supposed to be. This was what life should have been.

"One day, you will be free."

…

Little feet padded down the stone hall and veered the corner sharply as their pace picked up. The soft snores from the bed were the encouragement the little one needed as she nearly sprinted to the bed and jumped up to tackle the large body underneath the blankets. A grunt replaced the snores causing the little one to giggle.

Fili sighed but smiled none the less. Lifting his head to peer down at his stomach, he found the mass of golden hair lying there in a heap. "You've awoken quite early, âzyungel."

"I came to wake you up!" she chimed, her blue eyes flashing up at him and gleaming with fascination. She peered over at her mother and crawled over, wrapping her tiny arms around her mother's torso. "Monah, the sun has risen and the day must begin. You have promised to teach me more about Nirn."

A moan escaped Keeva's lips as she turned over and blinked tiredly at her little girl. Fili noted the exhaustion in her gaze and felt a tinge of worry fill him as he watched Keeva pull the little girl up further in the bed to hug her back – very weakly that is. "Yes, you're lessons. I haven't forgotten. Have you taken your breakfast with your Uncle Kili and Thorin?"

"Yes, Monah," she replied slowly, also noting the exhaustion in her mother's voice. Keeva nodded and smiled weakly as she forced herself up and out of the bed. "Then I will dress and meet you in the study. Hurry now. Go and practice your calligraphy before I join you."

The little girl looked to her father with some worry but he ushered her off with a soft pat on her cheek and flick of her nose, "Go do as your Monah says."

She hurried off the bed and scampered out of the room leaving it to be silent again. Keeva slipped into a plain grey linen dress and began to tame her locks into a braid. Fili gathered himself from the bed and hurried over so that he could take Keeva's hair from her and finish the job himself. "You're not well."

"I am just exhausted from the last-" Keeva cut herself off as she allowed her eyes to peer up into his. There were dark circles under her eyes, a ghost of something haunting her dreams and visions. He never knew what kind of visions or dreams she had. He couldn't imagine what terrible things she saw. But every night when she entered that trance with the fire he knew nothing good would come from it. "Is there a possibility that you could not- just for one night…"

He'd paused in braiding her hair after asking her this one request, all of his attention focused solely on her and nothing else. The woman before him was quiet and contemplating. Keeva had always been that way, always thinking and planning; even strategy within battle or politics when Thorin would ask her for her opinion in his work. She was always thinking. Such a trait was instilled in her at such a young age by her mother. The Bosmeri culture was well known for their unwavering devotion to the Green Pact and when Keeva's mother had broken away from her people and their land she'd done it because she knew her freedom to think and speak would be worth the loss. She'd done it for her daughter and oddly enough, Keeva was doing the same for their own daughter.

Keeva turned into Fili, her forehead resting on his chest as she grasped the fabric of his tunic and squeeze her eyes shut, "I wait every night, praying that he will come. I linger in the frost and stay my movements every night in hopes that one day he will find me on the Dragonstone, to free me, so that I finally can break the link I have with that land."

"Then return to it tomorrow," Fili insisted, his eyes closed as he pressed his lips to the top of her head. He loved her so much. He just wished to see everything resolved for her.

"I promised I would wait," she reiterated after their conversation from the previous night, "I don't go back on my word."

Fili smiled and brushed her hair back as he smiled down at her, "I have a good feeling that what you wait for in the night will come soon enough."

"I hope you are right," she muttered quietly as she turned back around so that Fili could finish her hair.

Keeva departed Fili after that, in search of the study to continue her lessons with her daughter as Fili joined his Uncle, brother, and good friends from long ago. Balin, Oin and Ori had decided to visit their humble home in hopes to be reacquainted with old friends. Fili was happy to oblige them in every way possible.

Fili found his dwarf companions all gathered in the dining hall, feasting on a wonderfully prepared lunch of pork, various cheeses and breads. Their tankards were filled with the best mead around, bringing smiles to all their faces as they greeted Fili with open arms. "Oh Lad, it's so good to see you."

Balin embraced Fili before Ori and Oin took their turn. The younger dwarf had aged little since last they'd seen him and Fili couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Ori's tomes within his grasp. "I'm glad you have come to visit. We'd not seen you in quite some time."

"Aye, we must apologies for that," Balin insisted. "But we came when the time was right."

"How long will you be staying with us?" Thorin asked with a slight urge of hope that perhaps they may have more company for the on coming years. "Our halls are yours as well. However long you would like."

Balin glanced over to Oin and Ori and smiled warmly, "I think we'll play it by ear. How does that sound?"

The new found company was more than the Durin folk could ask for. They were warmed at the thought of having friends stay and to be able to look back on olden days was a dream come true. There was nothing grander than sharing a drink and swapping tales of battles new and old. Fili couldn't deny he still loved the thrill and adrenaline that he could remember from those days.

"And what of our little Bosmer?" Balin asked, resting back in his chair as he peered over to his former leader. "We had not the pleasure to say goodbye to her last we saw her."

Fili's lips bloomed into a smile, clear as a summer's day with the wind blowing the fragrances of flowers across the meadows of Middle Earth, Balin knew everything had turned out alright in the end with that one smile. "Aye, she is nothing short of the wonderful person you'd known her to be."

"Well, let us see the Lass! Common!" Balin urged, having Fili order a servant to hurry off and find his little elf. When the servant returned, behind him followed a woman with a small and stout little tyke in her arms. When Balin, Oin and Ori's eyes gazed upon their former Dragon slayer their eyes grew two times their size and broad smiles pulled at the muscles in their faces. "My, my Lass. Now who is this?"

Keeva walked forward, holding her little girl on her hip, bouncing her up and down lightly to keep the girl from shying away, "Balin, Ori, Oin, this is my little kon. Dii mon, do you remember the dwarves from 'adad's tale?"

The little toe-head nodded, her hair bouncing while she bobbed up and down. Her blue eyes never left the three dwarves at the table, her curiosity getting the better of her, "Balin, Ori and Oin were some of the dwarves in the company. Go on, say hello."

Keeva set the girl down onto her feet and nudged her gently towards Balin who sat closely near the head of the table with Thorin. The little girl talked over slowly, her feet taking slow strides as she rounded Thorin's chair. Her Great Uncle watched her with a small smile as she tried her hand at a graceful curtsey, in which Balin cheered her on with a smile and laugh on his lips, "My, my, lass. You are a wonderful sight on these old eyes. You look just like your 'adad, you know that? Graced by the Sun and sky, you are!"

The little girl flushed deeply, her cheeks as bright red as her mother's hair, "Aye, and the rogue cheeks of a beautiful rose. You'll be a catch one day, you will!"

Thorin chuckled as his little niece shuffled over to him and hid her embarrassment in his tunic. A chorus of chuckles rounded the table in spite of her embarrassment. But Keeva would have said the poor girl needed a bit of humility to keep her level headed, so she didn't scold her on hiding away in the safety of Thorin's arms. "A beauty, Keeva. How long ago since the wee Lass has been born?"

Keeva's seemingly permanent smile faltered a little, but she quickly replaced it as she joined Fili at the table, placing her thin and tired hands in his, "Time has flown by so fast I can't even remember."

Balin smiled slightly, an air of confusion still hanging in his lungs but he didn't press it any further, it wasn't exactly his business to ask anyway. "Time is a fickle thing. Do not trouble yourself. But how are you doing?"

The conversation eased into a more comfortable topic as the day waned on. Their talk of the old days and new brought on new stories to share from their time being separated. They shared food and drink as Balin went on to explain his adventures after Erebor, what misfortunes he'd come across and those that he missed dearly. Dwalin was a common name heard at the table that night. His brother dearly missed him. Even Ori spoke of his separation from his brothers and how he'd felt a yearning to see them once more. But quickly, as fast as Fili's little girl's attention span could hold, the golden hair of his girl was bouncing up and down in front of him, vying for his attention.

"'adad, will you take me to bed and tell me more of your tale?" she asked, a small yawn following her question. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and leaned on his side affectionately as the others at the table continued to talk, politics and the aggression between lands still an area of interest at the moment.

"Aye, it's about your bedtime, yes?" Fili agreed as he stood to pick up the little tyke. She held fast to his tunic, even grasping one of his braids and pulling gently on it. Her head rested against his shoulder as Fili bayed the rest of his guests a goodnight before turning on his heels and heading for his little girl's room.

"Will you be able to stay awake tonight to listen?" he asked as he pushed to door open and gently laid her across the bed. She wiggled around a bit as Fili lit the hearth in her room to warm the space for a long night. The candle on the nightstand was lit afterward, giving Fili enough light to see the little girl's face in the dark. "Aye, 'adad. I've been waiting all day to listen," she admitted. Fili laid next to her on the bed, pulling up her blanket as he did so.

"Hmm, so where did I stop?" Fili asked nonchalantly as he propped his head up with his hand. He patted his little girl's hair down, even brushing his thumb across her brow. She smiled up at him, leaned up to his cheek and kissed it quickly before lying her head back down on her pillow, "Monah and you were at Beorn's house. You were about to leave for Mirkwood."

"Ahh, yes, you're right," he grinned down at her, "Your Monah and I walked back to Beorn's, the quest heavy in our thoughts and a knowing eye watching behind us. Orcs were still on our tails and we knew we had to make it to the forest before they could reach us. Beorn had wished us off the next morning, our energy renewed as the dawn set foot upon the land…

Beorn approached Keeva that morning after he'd given her a special present. He'd offered her a bottle of oils to bathe with in the creek not too far off from the house. Beorn had been keen on seeing Keeva looking nice before she'd left and Keeva found she enjoyed the attention he gave her. It was almost as if she'd had an uncle who would dote on her. When she'd returned, clean and polished for the journey. Gloin had stopped to admire the new shine to Keeva's familiar shade of hair, he left his pony abandoned as he took one of her hands in his and gave a great smile, "Miss Keeva, what a beauty lies beneath all the dirt and leaves!"

A slight blush graced her cheeks as she thanked Gloin, "Oft I would hear words of discouragement from the boys of Windhelm. But I'm glad to hear that perhaps there is hope for this measly little half elf."

"Ah Lass, don't let those boys words trouble you," Gloin chimed, tapping her nose with his index finger and a smile bloomed across her lips, "They are just that, boys. What would they know? Now men- Men know what true beauty looks like."

Gloin glanced knowingly over to a particular dwarf in question and grinned wickedly at him. Fili chuckled lightly and continued to saddle up his pony, trying to ignore the knowing glances from all of his companions who'd seen him and Keeva walk back from the forest the prior day. Kili often teased him about small crushes when they were younger but with this Kili kept silent in the background, a broad smirk on his lips. It almost seemed worse with Kili not saying anything. Fili at least knew when his brother would speak he could get a reassuring opinion or a different view with his current predicament. Fili could even admit he was even considering goading his brother for an answer. But he was just as afraid of not getting one at all if he did ask.

Either way, Fili kept his eyes down and out of trouble. He'd already heard an ear full from Thorin and Balin the prior morning after breakfast about the way they'd found Fili and Keeva sleeping quite too close for moral standards. Fili rolled his eyes just thinking about it. But he did know they were right. It wasn't proper and he didn't want to further embarrass Keeva than he'd probably already had.

The Bosmer was dutifully tending to her new pony, strapping her pack to the back and easing the animal with soft coos and cresses. The dwarves had noted Keeva had a fairly unique talent. She connected with animals and wildlife as if she could speak their language and she'd even tried explaining it to them in the most simple of terms so that they could understand the elvish part of her culture, "The oath to Y'ffre that Bosmer have made has given us the ability to control animals to a certain extent. But there is also a darker note to this."

She'd paused by the campfire, staring for only a mere moment and then returning her gaze to every single pair that watched her carefully, as if this ghost story would turn on them if they didn't continue to listen, "The Wild Hunt, is a magical trait innate to all Bosmer, even those that are half of their kin. If the ritual is performed correctly, the Bosmer can shapeshift into a horde of feral, supernatural beasts – stampeding, slaying and devouring all in their path and eventually, when left with no surviving targets, turn upon themselves in a cannibalistic orgy. This is the Bosmer's original form before Y'ffre showed us how to escape the chaos and retain our form."

"How is it brought on? Why would you take such a form?" Bilbo had asked, his eyes round and curious. Even Ori was scribbling down feverishly in his journal every word that Keeva would sputter out.

"It depends," Keeva shrugged, her hands absentmindedly picking up a stick to stoke the fire, "Many use it as an act of vengeance and others use it as a tool of war. Either way, Bosmer are not proud of their ability and are unwilling to discuss the Hunt. It's an act of desperation. We are very reluctant to trigger it because it is irreversible."

It was clear the talent was only a connection with their former animalistic form. Many of the dwarves wondered if this Wild Hunt explained her very feral looking hair, never tamed – save for the braids. But she made up for this appearance with her kind words, humble personality and loyal heart.

When the company was ready to leave Beorn's, they said their goodbyes and climbed up on their ponies, hurrying their pace for Mirkwood before the sun set that day. Keeva nudged her ponies sides, the animal clicked into a gallop, and she nickered to the animal in an appreciative tone. The company made quick haste through the land, the plains changing with the ranges of the mountains, hills creeping up and down like wrinkles in a cloth. Keeva enjoyed the venture even though she knew they were not safe in the open. Surely with Azog recovering from her shot, they would have a better chance if Orcs did happen to cross them to the boarders of Mirkwood. But Keeva was hoping for just once that they would make the trip without any chase. She was quite tired of it.

When they did finally reach the edge of the forest, Gandalf at the head of the company slowed down, setting example for the rest of them. Keeva's pony pulled up next to the Grey Wizard and when her eyes landed on the decaying forest, she felt a sob catch in her throat. What was wrong with the wood? Keeva clambered off her pony and jogged over to the edge of the wood. Her eyes showed grief for the plants and trees, even her heart panged with an ache that she'd not known even existed within her. "What has happened to you?" she ask to the wind, it really was for no one's ears but the wood's.

Gandalf joined her at the entrance of the woods, his eyes grim.

"No sign of Orcs. We have luck on our side," Dwalin chimed from his pony. Gandalf turned on his heel, his eyes focused on something in the distance. Beorn, in his bear-form is watching them from a distance. "Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master."

Bilbo joined Keeva at the edge of the forest, his heart uneasy at the sight before him, "This forest feels… sick, as if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?"

"Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south," Gandalf warned the Hobbit. Bilbo's eyes gazed up at Keeva and he found tears there. Tears he'd not known were there for such things as this. But he never judged her. Softly he placed his hand on her shoulder and tried to smile, "Trying not to think on it, Miss Keeva. Let us focus on what lies ahead of us."

Keeva's tried to smile for Bilbo. It was more of a grimace than anything else and the tears in her eyes rolled down her cheeks like droplets. Bilbo handed her his make-shift handkerchief and she quickly thanked him as she wiped away her tears. Bilbo did all he could for her. He knew how it pained her to see this but she had to be strong when they entered the wood.

Nori was setting loose the ponies after the rest of the company had finally gathered the rest of their belongings. Fili had brought Keeva her pack quietly, letting her grieve the forest's sickness but not leaving her side, in case she needed the strength that he could offer her. Just before Nori began to release Gandalf's horse, the Grey Wizard emerged from the forest, "Not my horse! I need it."

Gandalf strides forward, closing the distance between him and the horse. His sudden outburst had the company murmuring in surprise. Bilbo even more nervous, "You're not leaving us?"

"I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf reassured him. Bilbo could see the seriousness in the wizard's eyes. But that still didn't make him feel any better about the situation.

Keeva, still despondent, turned to Fili and wiped her eyes one last time before she looked up at him. Fili was there, strong and determined, a hope there in his eyes that urged Keeva to feel the same. She felt a tug at her lips and nodded understandingly at the dwarf, "I'll be alright."

"I should hope so," Fili insisted, a grin spreading across his face to ease the sadness. "You're blood may be of Wood Elves, but your heart is very much that of a dwarf. I know you will be strong when we enter these woods. We're going to need your keen eyes and ears."

"Aye, by the looks of it, keeping alert in these woods may be the only thing that will save us," Keeva agreed, her eyes landing on the sickness that oozed from the woods. It screamed in her gut that there were creatures waiting in the dark, ready to strike when they weren't looking. Keeva knew she needed to be very alert. There was no playing around when they would finally enter the embrace of this darkness.

The sky began to cry, it's tears falling upon the company in a soft shower as Gandalf turned from Bilbo and took up his horse. He paused by Thorin, his gaze piercing and stern, "I'll 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."

Keeva took note of Gandalf's warning words. She trusted his guidance. He'd not let her down when he took her to the Hobbit hole or when he saved the company from the Goblins or even Azog. Keeva knew Gandalf was the epitome of wisdom. To take his guidance for granted would be foolish, even to the most stubborn of dwarves.

"This is not the Greenwood of old." The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray," Gandalf warned, his eyes ventured over to Keeva and they narrowed. Gandalf didn't say anything further but she knew that one look had warned her. Gandalf was worried about her and she was quite positive it had to do with the creature within her. When Gandalf turned away from her and climbed onto his horse, Keeva pulled up her mask in hopes that she could take something from Gandalf's words. The air was going to be her weakness if she didn't do something about it.

"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again," Gandalf stated before wheeling around on his horse to ride away, "No matter what may come, stay on the path!"

…

It's seemed like hours had passed as the company of dwarves continued on through the decay and poison that made up the forest of Mirkwood. When they had entered the gates of the wood, Keeva had been glad she'd taken up protecting herself from the air of the wood. She'd insisted to her friends to do the very same but they all smiled at her wonderfully and said similar words, "We dwarves are strong minded, Miss. Don't you worry."

But now as they traveled further and further into the tresses of the darkness Keeva began to worry. She evaluated her friends closely, they were becoming eccentric, bizarre or sometimes – Keeva hated to admit it – erratic. She hated to see her friends in such a state, losing their minds in the mists of this terrible wood.

"Air, I need air!" Bofur whined, holding his head as if this would help the world from turning.

"My head, it's spinning," Oin chimed in.

Keeva abruptly bumped into Kili who was in front of her. He turned around to apologies but then looked at her oddly, almost as if she'd had two heads. "Keeva your face has disappeared!"

Keeva eyed her friend with some concern and dropped her mask only for a second so that he could see her fully, but she was careful never to take a breath. She reasoned the air was clouding his vision, causing an illusion of her features to make her seem odd to him. His frown immediately eased into a smile, "Ah, well thank Mahal that it was still there! You looked so odd."

"Odd, my friend, is exactly the word I would use to describe you," Keeva countered her eyes trailed behind her to look at Fili. He was watching the branches and leaves, alert to anything that may be watching them. "Fili, how are you?"

When he turned around to look at her he smirked, "Is Miss Keeva worried about me?"

The question seemed a bit strange and Keeva jumped with surprise when Fili bent forward and kissed her cheek. Her eyes grew wide and he grinned down at her with a cocky look about him, "How very sweet Mi'lady, but I think I'm fairing much better than the blush upon your cheeks."

Keeva quickly turned on her heel, her cheeks burning out of embarrassment, and she passed a chuckling Kili to head to the front of the line with Thorin and Dwalin. She knew the dwarves were being affected by the air but she had not expected such a direct response from her crush. He'd always been so careful around her. Not only because of his position but because he'd been brought up in such a manor of respect. It wasn't as if she was offended. No, not at all. She was just merely surprised.

Keeva peered back around her shoulder and only gained to find Fili's blue eyes watching her with a smirk. She flushed again, but a fluttering feeling sparked in the pit of her stomach. She placed her hand on her abdomen, curiously rubbing it.

She'd only felt this feeling with one other person in her life. A fleeting and almost careless crush of another Bosmer she'd met in passing when her mother had taken her to visit the small Hold of Riften in the southern part of Skyrim. Her mother had wanted to visit some old friends within the Thieves Guild. Keeva had only been fifteen years of age at the time and her meeting with the head of the Guild was lost to her when she'd laid eyes upon the Bosmer thief in their headquarters.

He was a recent new member, young, perhaps five years her senior. But what struck her as odd was that he was still dressed in the garb of his homeland of Valenwood. The leather trousers, leather feathered hood that hid away his chestnut choppy chair, and then his bare sculpted chest, only sparing leather straps to hold down the single shoulder plate armor, all of it was so much for her to take in. The small fancy she'd grown for him even challenged her further when he'd peered up from his place in front of the statue of Nocturnal, his golden eyes piercing and feeding the feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was the first time she'd felt any sort of desire for something. Her mother thankful hadn't stayed there much longer and they left the Thieves' Cistern in hopes to find lodging at the local inn called The Bee and Barb.

Keeva bit her lip, a nervousness rolling over her mind after she'd finally realized this little crush of hers was much more complicated than she had previously thought. With a sigh, Keeva joined Thorin, dropping her hand from her stomach and listened to Nori as he explained why they'd stopped. "The path… it's disappeared!"

Keeva's heart sunk and the worry in her brown caught Thorin's attention. "Find it. All of you look. Look for the path!"

Keeva was on a mission, and before anyone could decide which groups to part away with in their hopes to find their way, Keeva had already hoped up, grasping the lower branch of a tree, and climbed her way around the forest to find their target. Fili looked on with some concern and hoped she'd come back safely to them…

…

A/N: This was a bit longer than intended but I think it turned out all just the same. Keeva's quite worried about her friends and she's dedicated to making sure she gets them out of there alive. But we all know who is waiting in the woods as well as a group of amazingly talented warriors. I've had this portion of my story planned out for quite a few months so I can't wait to get it out finally.

I'll try to warn you ahead of time if my updates may be a bit longer. I'm going to start my new job on the second of September and I just want to make sure I get into the swing of my schedule first before I start picking up on this again. I'll update one more chapter before then but after that the first week or two of September may be a little sparse.

Again I have to thank Dalonega Noquisi and Marina Oakenshield. I really enjoy when you guys leave me reviews. It does give me some encouragement. So please, if you have something to say don't be afraid! I don't bite and we all like to know what you think. So please! Leave a review or even pm me if you would like to talk. I'm always here, even when I'm not.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or Elder Scrolls. Any character that is not familiar is of my own creation.