Under Dwalin's command the town was ready for the impending attack in minutes. Heavily armed dwarves lined the walls, an array of axes and large double-edged swords taking precedence over other weapons. We listened to the approaching shrieks, and I shifted uncomfortably at not knowing what was coming for us. There were too few warriors, I reflected, looking up and down the walls. Even of those up here, some looked very young, some very old, and many appeared to have never seen battle at all regardless their age. Miners and craftsmen, their sons and fathers, not the soldiers I was used to fighting with. That was not to say that we were without hope. The sight of Dwalin alone was comforting, I could see a true battle-hardened warrior in him. Gloin also was impressive, his heavy axe a promise of carnage. But it was seeing Thorin standing tall among his people that gave me courage. I was not used to seeing leaders in battle, much less on the front lines, yet here he stood resolute. He called orders along the wall, calmly advising those around him and providing an inspiring sight.
The enemy came closer, and I began to get a glimpse of them through the thinning trees. They were ugly, grey-skinned creatures, about the same size as the dwarves, and possessed of mis-proportioned limbs. I did not recognize them, and so I turned to Dwalin for an explanation.
"What are they?" He turned to me, looking rather surprised through his disgust at the encroaching figures.
"Goblins," he spat venomously. I glanced at them again in momentary confusion. They looked nothing like the swarthy, green-skinned traders I remembered having dealings with back home. Here a familiar name took on a different shape, one more wild and vicious than the images I kept in my mind. It was disconcerting until I firmly put it aside in favor of keeping them under a new, more generic title. Enemy. For clearly they were. Unlike the few in my homelands that remained neutral to the strife of other races in an attempt to preserve trade, these could not be reasoned with. They had no love of anything other than killing, as far as I could tell. This at least would make it easier to kill them. I would not have to worry about destroying a potential ally. I set myself in a ready position, my staff gripped in one hand as I prepared the magic that I would unleash upon them from the wall top.
The enemy broke through the treeline, massing at the base of the wall momentarily, perhaps to try and cow us with a display of force. My hands trembled in anticipation, noting with some trepidation that I was the only one able to attack from range. The dwarves clearly had no love of archery, despite its potential use in a situation such as this. I made a note to attempt to convince them to remedy this in future. Seeing that they were about to begin swarming up the walls, I found I could hold back no longer. I reached out with my thoughts, convincing several thick root systems to break free of the ground and entrap some of the goblins. It would not hold, so I worked fast to blast those held captive with my magic, the bolts of energy that hissed towards them colored with the shades of the forest. They shrieked in pain and fury, clawing at their restraints and reaching out for me as they died. I swore internally when I realized I had effectively drawn the attention of the entire attacking force.
My concentration was swiftly diverted from those below when the frontrunners reached the top of the walls and began assaulting anyone within reach. Flipping my staff down into a comfortable dual-handed grip, I began to crack it over the heads of those within my considerable reach. It was less effective than the magic, but I lacked the focus to continue while I was under immediate threat of being struck. I settled for attempting to disarm or knock out my enemies, using my longer reach to my advantage. I had not counted on their ability to jump twice their height and just as far, and so received many cuts and blows until I was forced on the offensive. I ignored the sharp pain, whirling my staff around me and trying not to hit my allies. The fight around me was roiling with screaming bodies.
I did not know how long I had been fighting when I began to feel the strain of exhaustion set in. We had been forced off the wall tops and back into the settlement, many of us fighting alone. I tried to block out the cries of pain, and the too-familiar images of severed limbs and bloodied bodies on the ground. There was no time to help the wounded, and I felt a mounting frustration when I found myself unable to focus enough to heal those around me as I continued to fight. The ability to draw on my power was taking more energy that I was used to, leaving me feeling helpless and afraid.
I turned to the sound of a vaguely familiar voice, pitched high in panic. Bofur and Bombur were fighting furiously side by side as they stood over their fallen brother. I spied the axe embedded in his head and winced, it was a terrible way to go for the quiet dwarf that I had only met that morning. I fought my way over to them, determined to aid in protecting the body of their kin. The enemy around us appeared to be thinning slightly, giving me hope that the battle may end soon. I took the momentary lapse in fighting to look around for the others that I had recently become acquainted with. Dwalin stood back to back with Balin, an arrow buried in his thigh. Balin appeared to have a possible broken arm, but was holding up with his brother's support. Gloin stood amid a pile of corpses, protecting Oin as he bent over a wounded soldier, trying to bind his leg. Dori looked to be desperately protecting his brother Nori, and I wondered why the young dwarf had even been permitted into battle. He should not have had to see this.
Thorin stood alone, rage in his eyes and his stance strong. He had a cut across his face and several wounds on his arms, but he ignored them, swinging his sword relentlessly. My eyes roved over the enemies again, there were much fewer, and some even went as far as to retreat. At the sight of this I attacked with renewed strength, joining in a line with some of the others to drive the enemy back out of the town. They had been soundly defeated, those unable to run quickly killed. A ragged cheer rose from the tired fighters at our victory, but I did not join in. Even without looking I knew the cost had been high. One life lost was too much in my mind, and there had been many who would not see the sunset on this day. I strapped my staff to my back before hurrying to assist with gathering the wounded. Now began the grueling process of healing, of mind and body, and informing the families that would not be seeing loved ones again.
I was surprised to see Bifur being carried towards the healing house, his brothers bearing him gently inside. Knowing that if he still lived he would not have much time, I raced after them. I was right behind them when they placed him on a bed in the large room, Oin already bustling over with a handful of medicines and bandages. He stopped short at the sight of the vicious wound, seeming unsure how to proceed, and I took this as my cue to offer my help. I stepped forward as he began to discuss the unconscious dwarf's options with his brothers.
"I will not lie, it doesn't look good lads. I cannot risk removing the axe, and I don't know if he will wake from this. Only time will tell." I sorrowed to hear his fear, and I sought to give them some form of hope, that at the least he would live. I knew I could promise that much, it was not outside my skill.
"Let me." They looked up in surprise. "I have skill as a healer. I can assure you, removing the axe will not be a problem for me without causing further damage."
"He will live?" Bofur asked quietly. I nodded.
"Yes, though... I cannot promise what his mental state will be like. He may suffer memory loss or any number of other side effects. In wounds of the mind I have no experience, I can only heal his body and hope for the best." I searched their faces carefully, making sure they understood the implications of my words. When I was certain it had sunk in I moved forward, placing my hand over the axe. I let the magic begin to work inside for a moment before slowly drawing the weapon out of his skull. It took many tense minutes, healing as I went to ensure he would lose no more blood. Finally it was out, the wound closed over to leave an angry red scar. I relaxed when his heartbeat became steady, his breathing beginning to come faster like one who is waking from a sleep. He opened bleary, confused eyes to survey the faces bowed over him. Catching his attention, I questioned him to try and gauge the extent of the mental damage.
"Master Bifur, do you remember me?" He looked at me uncomprehendingly for a moment before slowly jerking his head in a nod. Somewhat pleased, I continued.
"Can you remember when we met?" His mouth opened, and he stared at me in confusion before rattling out something unintelligible. I frowned, hoping he hadn't lost the power of speech.
"He does," Bofur said, noting my lack of understanding.
"How do you know? Did you understand what he said?"
"Aye lass, he spoke in Khuzdul, the language of our people." He looked relieved to hear his brother's voice, and I relaxed slightly also before moving on to the next question.
"Bifur, can you tell me when we met so that I can understand?" I was nervous, then dismayed when the theory of his confusion proved true. His mouth opened and closed several times, eyes widening as he began to panic at the loss of the common language we had shared. I grasped his hand, trying to calm him. "Easy there, it's alright. You've only just woken and you are already speaking, even if I can't follow. If I am the only one who cannot understand, that is a small loss considering the alternatives. Rest now, and regain your strength." Giving a last squeeze, I released his hand and moved away slightly. When Bofur and Bombur claimed his attention fully I began heading around the room to see what else I could help with.
I could feel the extra effort it was taking me to heal, so I skipped over any who could be saved easily with ointment and bandages, focusing on those who were too far gone for traditional medicine. Even so it was a hard battle. There were some I could not save, and it broke my heart to tell the families thus. I tried desperately to focus on the positives. Bifur was the only one that I knew personally that had been badly injured enough to require my help, and all things considered, I felt he would make a mostly full recovery. Still, I found myself fleeing the building, needing an escape from the emotions brought on by the sights and sounds inside. I dropped onto a bench outside, head in hands and my knees nearly level with my shoulders at the shortness of the seat. I didn't bother to look up when someone joined me, feeling no threat from the warm presence at my side. It was the rough voice that had me raising my head to wonder why Thorin bothered to come out here to speak to me.
"Are you alright?" he inquired. My stare met his, and I could see my dull gaze reflected in his blue eyes.
"I'm fine, thank you." I almost flinched from the sound of my own emotionless voice. He noticed, but instead chose to comment on the wounds I had not yet bothered to tend.
"You are injured." It was a simple enough statement, and for some reason I found myself laughing bitterly.
"I will heal." He hesitated before deciding to get to the heart of the matter.
"What's wrong?" Seeing my unwillingness to speak, his gaze hardened, and I knew I would not get away with my silence.
"All that pain in there," I gestured in the direction of the door. "That has been my life for the past forty years. Almost without pause. But here, my power seems to have weakened. I feel useless." Thorin's face took on an expression of sympathy and understanding, mixed with a confusion that I could not reason.
"Why do you do it still?" I didn't have to even ponder the question, responding in a voice laden with resignation.
"It is my duty. That was the price I paid for the power offered me. Never stop helping. Even if I wanted to, I have no choice now. It has become my purpose where otherwise I would have none." Thorin nodded, looking torn. I felt that maybe he almost understood, and it eased some of the pain I felt. He raised a hand slightly, as if to offer comfort, before reconsidering. Dropping his arm, he turned abruptly and returned to the building.
Thorin left the elf outside, wondering why he had felt the need to comfort her. Perhaps it was her talk of duty, the resigned tone matching the feeling he sometimes had at having to lead his exiled people. That moment had been the first time he had truly looked at her and seen more than an elf. He couldn't fail to notice the bags under her eyes, the bitter and jaded look they held. It told a story of years of suffering and hardship, and he began to feel a little bad for his earlier treatment of her. Shaking it off, he had returned inside. He could not yet reconcile these new feelings with the ingrained distrust he still harbored for the strange creature he had accepted into their town.
I had been resting only a short while when Dis came striding towards the building leading a contingent of women and children. I smiled to see Fili, Kili, and Ori among the chattering youngsters. Spotting me, Dis grabbed my arm, tugging me along with her as we headed to the next building over. Going inside, I determined it to be an inn. It was empty at the moment, with everyone currently at the healing house. She began barking orders to the others before turning to me.
"You're alright?" she asked appraising me. I nodded in affirmation, indicating that I was ready to assist with whatever needed doing. Looking satisfied, she gave me a slight smirk before telling me of my task. "Since you said yourself you are terrible at cooking, you will be minding the children in the main room here while myself and the others prepare a meal. I trust that won't be too difficult for you?" I blanched. Entertaining Fili and Kili alone was one thing, there were now over two dozen dwarflings waiting expectantly nearby. At no point in my life had I been exposed to such a large group of children at once, much less told to keep them happy. I must have looked terrified, because Dis burst out laughing. Several of the others changed from suspicious and wary to slightly amused as well.
"Big warrior like you, afraid of a group of children," she snorted. "You'll survive." She gave me a shove in their direction before adding, "most likely." With those final comforting words she was through the door into the kitchen. I turned to face them, gulping nervously when I saw all their attention fixed on me. I was reassured somewhat by the excited grins on the faces of the three I knew, and willingly returned their smile. Fili and Kili bounced over to me, grabbing each of my hands and leading me back to the group. I settled myself amongst them, cross legged on the floor, and no sooner had I sat down when they were bombarding me with questions.
"Why are you purple? Elves aren't apposed to be purple. My ma said so." I contained my laughter at the innocent question posed by a tiny dwarf girl. She looked to be no older than Kili, and had bright red hair and large blue eyes. Knowing that children were almost always smarter than their ages would suggest, I gave her an answer that I would have given anyone who asked me.
"Well, I'm a night elf. My people live very far away from here and are devoted to the moon. I suppose that is why we are colored like the night. We can be purple, or blue," here I leaned closer and lowered my voice, "or even green." There were gasps and giggles as the children contemplated this.
"Can you tell us a story?" Ori asked hopefully. There was an immediate clamor from the group, several shouts of agreement.
"A story! A story!" I waved my hands for attention, smiling as I thought of something I could tell them that would meet their parents approval. Finally coming up with an idea, I decided to talk about my travels, leaving out the fighting parts of course. I started with my adventures under the sea after our ship had been capsized by the giant squid. There was silence, punctuated by cries of delight as I described fish that glowed, sea turtles, rainbow coral, and whales the size of towns. I was careful to leave out the part about those same whales attempting to eat me. Getting a shot of inspiration, I decided to bring out some of the creatures I had met there.
"Would you all like to see some of my friends from the ocean?" The cheers were deafening, so I called on several of my friends. The children were soon huddled around two small turtles, a seahorse, and several bright fish. All except the turtle were suspended in magical spheres of water so they could breathe. When they had settled down some I continued the story. Now I took them to a land of hot air, waves of sand, and tropical flowers surrounded by the clearest water I had ever seen. I told them of the foxes that hid in the dunes, and the giant beetles like jewels under the bright sky. Giving another call I soon had a couple of them joining us. The children were especially fascinated by the scarab, it's brilliant turquoise shell glimmering even indoors.
Next I told them of the islands near my home, with their forests of purple trees, crystals embedded in the earth, and a strange city of metal and light. I described the sound of the elekk that served as steeds, and the bears and huge butterflies that lived amongst the trees. I got the biggest cheer yet when I summoned a small bear cub, a ruby-colored butterfly, and an orphaned elekk baby. The tiny calf was momentarily startled by the attention, letting out a trumpeting squeal before falling on it's backside. The strange noise brought Dis running out of the kitchen to see what the commotion was, stopping in shock at the sight of the menagerie that frolicked amongst the children. I gave her a reassuring smile, and she retreated after one last wide-eyed look at the strange animals.
Getting their attention, I prepared for the grand finale of my tale. I was a little unsure about this part, but I figured it would be alright. "Alright guys, I have one last friend I want you to meet. She's a little shy, and I hope you wont find her scary, because I promise she is very friendly." They squirmed in anticipation and I called on the companion I had in mind. A pop of air and she fluttered in front of me, scaled wings beating before she landed on my forearm and curled a black tail around my hand. The effect of her appearance was immediate and completely unexpected.
"Is that a dragon?" the children shrieked excitedly. They hurried forward to look as I turned to the sound of a crash from the kitchen. 'Well, now I've done it,' I thought ruefully as all the women came dashing out armed with ladles and pots. I held up my arms in a gesture of peace, the trembling reptilian form still wrapped around my hand. She squealed in fright at the sight of the armed women, burying her tiny head under her wing and digging sharp claws into my arm.
"Relax, she's just a whelp and quite tame," I called to them, wanting to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. They stopped their advance, looking rather annoyed at the fright, so I decided not to ask what they had been planning to do had there really been a dragon here. I certainly hoped they would not attempt to attack it with kitchenware. Wisely holding my silence, I stepped forward with my bundle to show them there was no danger. Once they had acknowledged that the tiny creature was barely bigger than my hand, they calmed considerably, following Dis back to the kitchen. The children returned to playing with the creatures while we waited for the meal to be ready. I silently resolved not to show them the much larger dragons I had in my possession, knowing now that their reaction would be catastrophic. That would have to remain my little secret, at least for now.
After a good meal the children appeared to be getting tired, and it was arranged for bedding to be brought down from the rooms so they could stay here near their families. The children were excited at the thought of a camp out, curling up in a bundle with the animals that had remained nearby. I agreed to sleep in the same place in order to help out if needed during the night. Setting my own bedroll up, I curled up in the corner and drifted off to the sound of the dwarfling's rhythmic breathing.
I looked around myself in confusion. 'How did I get back home? I was just settling down to watch over the children.' Gazing down a hall glowing with light, I was uncertain where I was exactly, only that it looked remarkably like the inside of the Temple of the Moon in Darnassus. 'But the temple doesn't have a hall,' I thought to myself. I decided then that I must be sleeping, and perhaps it would be a good idea to explore a little. As I walked down the white hall the light began to increase dramatically, becoming almost blinding as I stepped through the open doorway at the end. The sight that greeted me was breathtaking. A massive room stood encircled by walls shaped like trees, it's circular shape curving upwards before breaking off near the roof. The ceiling was open to the night air, the bright moon shining directly down on the center of the space. All the floor was soft grass, gently sloping towards a small pool that gleamed with magical light. And at the foot of the pool sat a figure, bathed in light as if she were a moonbeam brought to earth. She turned at my approach, and I found myself dropping to my knees in reverence as I recognized the visage of Elune, our most sacred goddess. Her voice, when it came, sounded like chiming bells.
"Rise, my child." Her glowing hand appeared under my chin, gently guiding me to my feet and forcing me to look upon her. Even up close the light that surrounded her made her features indistinct. I found myself in awe, unable to speak, but she seemed not to require my reply for she continued speaking. "You have been given a difficult task now that your world is safe. It was no accident that you were pulled out of Azeroth. There is a need for one such as you. The world you have been called to is known by its inhabitants as Middle Earth. Already you work to find your place among them, and this is good, for they will need your help to overcome the evil that has taken over their home. It will not be easy, my child. Do not despair, you will have others watching over you as I once did. I will take you to them so you may find comfort." She began to glide serenely towards a doorway in the far side of the open space, beckoning me to follow.
On the other side of this new door was a room even stranger than the one we had just left. Stars shone overhead, their light illuminating the odd combination of things on the ground. This room appeared to be split almost in two. The first half was a jungle of plants, vibrant with life, and I recognized many of them as belonging to the forest I had seen when first I came to Middle Earth. The second half was chiseled rock, a great forge heating up the space with an almost unbearable intensity. The walls were adorned with gold and gems, colors shining like fire in the light of the forge and stars. The center of the room held a pool very similar to the one we had left, and at it's edge stood three beings.
The first was a woman very similar in looks to Elune. Crowned in silver and glowing with starlight, she gazed upon us with grace and purity. The second, also a woman, was clothed in green, the wildness of her appearance suggesting she might be connected directly to the forest. She had a brilliant smile, her emerald eyes twinkling with mirth and flowers twined in her hair. The third left me craning my neck to look upon him, the giant of a man towering over the rest of us. His torso was bare, his legs clad in leather, with great boots of iron and a massive smith's hammer clutched in one large fist. His face was bearded, giving him a similar appearance to the dwarves I had become acquainted with. Gesturing to the three silent beings, Elune introduced them solemnly.
"These are Varda, Yavanna, and Aule. They are some of the creators of this world, and are to it what I am to our people. They will be watching over you, and it is they who brought you here." I gave a shaky bow, receiving a nod from the man and smiles from the women before Elune began to guide me back the way we had come. We walked slowly, me listening carefully to what she had to say. "You may find it challenging to connect with nature here so far from home, but you must keep faith and work to find your skills."
"Will I ever go home? My sister, is she alright?" Elune seemed to smile sadly.
"This is your home now, the distance cannot be traveled again. Worry not for your sister, she is strong of heart and will remain steady with her friends at her side." We crossed back through the first room, continuing down the hall I had first entered. Coming to one last door, we stopped. Elune motioned for me to open it. I did so, and was just about to step through when she called to me. "Alanta, my child. Do not be afraid to give of your heart to others." With those words she ushered me through the doorway again, leaving me confused as I stepped into a brilliant light.
"She's waking up, get Oin." I heard quiet voices, and a hand on my head brought me back to wakefulness as the room swam into view. I groaned at the headache pounding through my temples, the sound causing the hand to disappear from my head and move to my back, assisting me as I tried to sit up. "Easy there, you've been out for two days." I followed the sound of the voice, looking over to the concerned face of Dis. Thorin stood behind her, looking grumpy.
"You shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard," he grumbled, hiding a flash of worry by trying to insult me.
"I apologize, but I do not think I did." Holding a hand up before he could protest, I continued. "I was... held up. It would appear those that sent me here wished for me to know why and chose now to give their explanation." I fell silent, thinking back on the divine creatures I had been faced with. The faces of those around me grew doubtful, clearly questioning my sanity.
"Go, on," Thorin growled when it became clear I had forgotten they would want to know what happened.
"I met my goddess. I do not know how to even describe the things I saw, the things she showed me. A great hall of light, and then a room of starlight, and wood, and a forge. She introduced me to the ones responsible for placing me here. She said they were your gods. I will never forget their faces, their names. Varda, Yavanna, Aule. They are magnificent." I trailed off in renewed wonder. Thorin was now eying me with something akin to awe, if I had thought him capable of such an emotion. The others wore similar expressions.
"Mahal..." he breathed. "You have been blessed indeed to see such a sight. I cannot now doubt that you have been sent to help us."
Author's note: Well, I think this chapter was a good mix of angst, fluff, and explanations. Alanta gets experience with her first enemies in Middle Earth, and finds her power to be limited in a way that may take some adjusting to. I decided not to include some of her abilities just yet, for, well reasons. They will be in the next chapter (yes I am talking about the shape shifting that druids do). She receives some form of closure for the loss of her old life, and an explanation (of a sorts) as to why she is here. The gods weren't going to all out tell her, but it is clear she has a purpose, and she is headed the right direction. I hope the little section with the dwarflings was enjoyable, I found it rather fun to write. As for the statement from Elune about opening her heart to others, I wanted to get her thinking about the idea of friendship (or even love), though it will be a long time before she does anything about it. I thought the mention of Aule/Mahal to the dwarves would help greatly to get them on her side, but don't think they are suddenly in love with her or something. There will still be many chances for stubborn Thorin to act like a butt. Thanks for reading/reviewing and I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!