A few short days of rest was all we needed before we headed back out on our quest. We were restocked with supplies and mounted on the ponies Beorn had graciously lent us for the time it would take to reach Mirkwood's borders. He had been a wonderful host, regaling us with stories of his youth and the many other shifters he used to know. The company was happy and Thorin and I were blissfully caught up in our newfound feelings for each other. We set out towards the forest with lightened hearts and full bellies, calling farewell to the man we had befriended and promising to send word upon the success of our quest. We were now about halfway to our destination upon the slopes of Erebor, with just over two months until Durin's day, and we were making excellent time.
A couple days of fast riding brought us to the borders of the forest, and my good mood evaporated at the sight of shadowed, dead woodlands. I could feel the heavy taint of evil over this place, and I shuddered in anticipation. It felt disturbingly similar to the aura that had surrounded the black blade Radagast had shown to Gandalf. I tried extending my mind to communicate with the trees only to withdraw hastily, a pained gasp forcing its way past my lips.
"What is the matter?" Thorin asked me in concern. He had been eying the forest darkly, not liking what he saw any more than I was, but he could not sense just how deep the corruption went. I realized I was clenching my fists when I felt his hands gently but firmly trying to ease my fingers apart.
I gave him a tight smile, trying not to worry him overmuch. "It is nothing I'm sure." Moving to stride forward, I felt him pull me back insistently.
"It's not nothing, to have you so on edge." He stroked my hand with his thumb. "Tell me what bothers you and we can get through this together."
I sighed sadly. "The trees are dying. I cannot speak to them, they are in so much pain. It is overwhelming. I can feel the shadow of evil tainting this place. If we truly must venture in here I wish to get through as quickly as possible."
Before Thorin could reply Gandalf spoke up from atop his horse. "I fear I must leave you here to brave the forest alone, there are pressing matters for me to attend to." Shocked cries greeted his words, more than half the company voicing instant protests. "I am sorry," the wizard said heavily. "I have no choice in the matter. Doubtless I will be able to meet you on the other side. I trust you will be just fine as long as you heed Beorn's words and keep to the path." Before the group could say anything further he was off, galloping swiftly south.
Our mood was considerably dampened with his absence, only realizing now that he was gone what a sense of comfort he had brought us. Letting go the rest of the mounts to return to their master, we faced the forbidding treeline with doubt and uncertainty. It was Thorin who at last took the first step under the trees, and we hesitated only a moment before following him into the shadows.
I could feel the darkness closing in the further we got from the border. We had been walking all afternoon through the murk, feeling unsettled by the oppressive silence. Nothing stirred in the gloom, no passing breeze offered relief from the stifling air. I glanced around every so often at the trees, observing how their deadened branches were coated in moss and webs. I had long since abandoned any hope of communing with the forest, giving up when my attempts were met by searing pain. For a brief moment I had felt something else, some slight probing interest that felt utterly evil, and I withdrew, fearful of attracting the attention of the malevolent being that had hold of the trees.
We stopped for lunch, eating less than we normally would when discomfort began to ruin our appetites. Everyone was wound tight as a coiled spring, and we all jumped in fright when a slight popping noise nearby disturbed the quiet. Food was cast away and hands were on weapons in an instant. I turned full circle, straining to find the source of the disturbance. A sudden flutter of wings overhead brought our gazes up, and shaky chuckles resounded through the group when we saw who had arrived.
I held up my arm with a smile, offering a landing spot for the glossy raven that had appeared with a soft caw. "Morla," I sighed. "Thank Mahal it's you. How is everyone back home?" The bird rattled off a series of comments that had those who could understand her grinning in amusement. Extending a leg, she allowed me to dislodge the scrolls tied to her foot. I glanced briefly at the names scrawled on each one, passing them to their intended recipient, and we sat back down to read for a moment. I had to hold back a grin when I caught Kili making faces at the mushy look his brother bore while he read the note penned by Barla. By the time he had gotten to the end of the lengthy letter he had a broad smile from ear to ear. Gloin also looked happier, and Thorin was shaking his head in amusement at something his sister had written.
"Dis sends her regards," he announced to the rest of us, passing the note to Kili so his nephew could read it. Fili joined him, and the two rolled their eyes when they came to the part directed to them, Dis' mothering tone evident even in writing. I took a turn last, almost bursting into giggles when I read her slyly suggestive passage concerning Thorin and I. 'As I'm certain the two of you are no longer being stupid, tell Balin he owes me money, and he better be ready to deliver when you get back.' I passed it to the dwarf in question, smirking when he groaned at the reminder of his part in the bet.
I turned to Morla, who was still perched on my shoulder and offered her a treat as I stroked her head in gratitude. She chirruped in thanks, devouring the tasty morsel before rubbing up against my face in a gesture of affection before disappearing.
The cheer we felt at receiving word from our friends and family did not last as we pressed on. What little light there was faded quickly, the black of night pressing upon us with a heaviness that left me especially drained. I had felt myself steadily losing strength over the course of the day, and now slumped wearily against the base of a tree. I found myself unable even to summon the strength to aid in preparing the camp, or to smile in the face of the worried looks being thrown my way. Letting my eyes flutter partway closed, I continued to try and resist the pain that was swamping my mind in waves. The trees had been in agony for so long, and now that they had found someone to listen they heaped their distress upon me without end.
Stupidly, I reached out to the trees once more, thinking to find a way to calm them. No sooner had I made contact but the evil presence stirred, flaring to life as it sensed an opposing force. I felt ice fill my veins and shadows cloud my thoughts as pictures of death and loss filled my vision. I could hear someone moaning in distress, and realized dimly that the pained voice sounded remarkably like mine. Another voice joined the first, pleading in low tones for me to respond, to come back from the darkness. I felt a slight warmth on my arm, the owner of the other voice shaking me as the pain continued to assault me. Groaning, I somehow found the strength to fight back, taking comfort in the warm hand and letting the heat spread throughout my core. It slowly banished the menacing presence, and I blinked when my eyes registered the flickering light of a fire nearby.
"Thank Mahal, you're back," Thorin whispered in relief. He pulled me into his arms, rocking me in an attempt to be comforting. Despite his closeness I felt myself shivering uncontrollably. "You're so cold," he muttered in concern before draping his heavy fur coat over my shoulders. Holding me tight, he drew my head back to rest against his chest and uttered a string of soft Khuzdul in my ear, his presence gradually allowing the warmth to seep back into my bones. I sighed in relief, falling into a deep slumber, the sounds of my companions lulling me into a sense of security.
I was about to cry in frustration when my sleep was interrupted, but before I could voice my outrage I noticed some rather telling things about my surroundings. First, my companions were nowhere to be seen, and as I was certain they would not abandon me I began to think I might be dreaming. Second, the forest was utterly changed, the corruption gone and a beautiful shining green left in its place. Bird song filled the air and soft light streamed down through the trees. The last and most obvious clue was the presence of one I had not seen for almost seventy years. Though it had been a long time I recognized the goddess instantly. Yavanna was a beacon of green light, the flowers in her wild brown hair sending out waves of delicious scent. She strode towards me sedately, a small smile on her face, and I hastened to stand.
"Yavanna," I bowed deeply. "It is truly an honor to see you again." I could not help but glance around as I spoke, awed by the changes to the forest. I had no doubt it was the same place, despite the unearthly quality to the air.
"Beautiful isn't it?" the goddess replied, her voice like a rippling brook. It was the first time I had heard her speak, and I was mesmerized by the sound of it. "It was once known as the Greenwood, and was a place of great wonder, filled with life." Her face grew sad for a moment.
"What happened to it?" I whispered, feeling compassion for the loss of what was undoubtedly her home.
"Evil took over." Her face was grim now, the very air darkening slightly in the face of her uncharacteristic anger. Around us, the trees withered, until the only bright point left was the clearing in which we stood. "Look around you and take heed of what happens when good folk fail to act. This darkness has been left unchecked for far too long, the elven king refusing to risk his people to defeat it." Holding her expression for a moment, she waited for my solemn nod of acknowledgement before allowing herself to smile again. At the return of her good cheer the darkness was once again driven away. "But there, it does not have to be this way. The greenwood will be restored once again, and balance returned to this place."
"How?" I asked, incredulous at the thought of such a feat. My kind had some small power to bring life back to damaged plants, but a forest of this magnitude? That would be unheard of in even the most powerful of druids.
"You must do it," she said simply, smiling when I gaped at her in confusion. "I can give you the power to accomplish this task." She held up a hand before I could speak. "I must warn you however, it comes with a price, the same as all things of this nature. You would be tied even more closely to the earth, and most importantly the light, any light. If you accept this gift you will be unable to live without staying close to the open air. More than a day underground will see your strength wane, until you find the light again or waste away."
Seeing how serious she was, I considered her words thoughtfully. In the end though I could really see no other choice. "I'll do it." Her smile grew at my acceptance, and she placed her hands on my head, sending a jolt of power rushing through my veins. As she did so, I could feel the dream vision slipping away, my sight gradually returning to the blackness of sleep. Her voice was the last thing I heard.
"May your path always be filled with light, daughter of the forest."
I awoke slowly, the dim light showing me that it was now day above the canopy. I was surprised when I sat up to find my companions standing a little ways away from me and giving me odd looks.
"Is everything alright?" I asked them worriedly, looking around to find the source of their discomfort. I let out an involuntary gasp as my eyes met the ground. All around the area where I had been sleeping were the most beautiful flowers, exactly like those that had been in Yavanna's hair. I reached out wonderingly, running my hands through the colorful blooms. If I could make this happen in my sleep, what might I do when working purposefully? Placing a hand on the nearest tree, I opened up my mind, letting a tendril of power flow into the trunk. Almost instantly the bark regained its natural hue, and the moss and webs were replaced by emerald green leaves. A single shaft of sunlight pierced the darkness in that one spot, completing the picture of health. Letting the light wash over me, I laughed in delight to feel the power I had exuded returning.
"What?" Thorin choked out from where my friends still stood. Clearing his throat he tried again. "How is this possible?"
"I was paid a visit last night," I chuckled. In the back of my mind I could hear the faint strains of rippling laughter. "Yavanna blessed me with a gift, and a mission. I'm to heal this place." I kept the warning to myself, not wanting to blemish the good news with tidings of uncertainty.
"Must you leave us?" Bilbo suddenly asked in worry. The others echoed his concern, Thorin looking especially upset at the thought.
I frowned, startled with the idea for a moment before rationalizing that it was unnecessary. "I don't think so. I will heal what I can on the way through here, and once we have reclaimed Erebor I will return to finish the job. I am certain Yavanna did not mean for me to abandon you here. She did not explicitly mention that I had to complete this task within a certain time, just that it needed to be done. As I do not intend to go back on my word, I feel this will satisfy all parties."
"I can't believe she has you helping out Thranduil," Thorin grouched.
I burst out laughing, shaking my head at the turn his thoughts had taken. "Oh Thorin, only you could take a good thing like this and put such an unhappy spin on it," I snorted. The others chuckled, though I noticed a fair few of the elders seemed almost to agree with the king. I gave his hand a squeeze, smiling down at him and attempting to cajole him into a better mood. "Besides, think how much easier the journey will be without these shadows hanging over us."
Thorin's eyes softened. "Of course," he sighed. "How right you are as always ghivashel." I flushed at this new term of endearment, knowing what it meant. It was strange to hear it addressed to me, when our love was still so young, but so very right at the same time.
I was like a child with a new toy for the next few days, touching every tree I passed with eager hands and watching as the darkness flowed away. I imagined what our path would look like from the air, a gold and green ribbon cutting through the shadows. Autumn was approaching, and with that came a change in color to the healed leaves. Red and orange were prominent in some places, causing the leaves to be a riot of color, like flames against the bright sky. Butterflies fluttered down from the canopy, returning to their old homes in droves of royal blue. On top of all this, everywhere I walked flowers would bloom in my footprints in ribbons of color.
The entire company was in much better spirits now that we were surrounded by light instead of darkness. We talked merrily amongst ourselves, confident in our feeling of safety. I continued to ignore the evil presence that hovered at the edges of my work, the only sour note in my mind. It had grown quiet in the face of my newfound power, retreating back from the path on both sides. Because of this, we grew comfortable, heedless of the lingering danger.
Our only warning was the sudden probing I felt in my mind. I could feel the evil trying to break through, and next moment a crackling of branches grew louder as it swept towards us from the south. Trees swayed as if caught in a strong wind, and a hissing noise like that of steam joined the other sounds to disturb the silence.
"On your guard!" I yelled frantically, getting myself positioned to face the incoming danger. We all stared into the trees, straining to see what approached. I finally picked out large, many-legged forms and cursed loudly. "Spiders!" Radagast's warning to Gandalf rang in my head, and I mentally berated myself for forgetting.
With many battle cries we met our foes head on, and I struggled to ensure Bilbo was protected. He was becoming quite skilled with his little blade, but he still remained the smallest of the group, so I focused my attention on watching his back. He fought hard, keeping his wits despite the fearsome beasts that swarmed our group.
I was frustrated with how little I was able to do, improperly armed as I was. All I had were my daggers, a new gift that was not at all offensive, and my magic, useless in close combat. I did what I could, leaping in to blind my foes with swift slashes so the others could more easily defeat them. Spinning away from the clacking pincers of one of the foul beasts, I whirled right into the path of another, and was slammed to the ground by a heavy foreleg. The others were too busy fighting to help, so I did not call out, not wanting to distract them. I rolled to the side, trying to dodge the beasts attacks, before scrambling to my hands and knees to get away. I had gotten a few feet when I felt a sharp pain in my side, followed by a spreading numbness.
"Alanta!" Bilbo cried out worriedly, and I looked up slowly, shaking my head to try and clear the haze that had settled in. I realized that the spiders had either died or fled, as my comrades stood still, chests heaving with exertion. A few leaned on their friends, using the support to keep their weight off various injuries. Seeing the damage, I got to my feet with a grunt, intending to heal them so we could continue on.
"I'm fine," I began, before stopping when my words came out slurred. "I'm..." I wasn't able to finish speaking before my vision went dark and I sat down with a thump before falling over.
I felt myself floating out of a haze and opened my eyes to see Thorin pacing uneasily. Clearing my throat got his immediate attention, as well as that of the others. It looked to be late evening now, the setting sun gleaming through a break in the trees and competing with the light of the fire nearby. Hands reached out to steady me when I moved to sit upright, and I was happy to see Oin looking satisfied with my current state.
"What did I tell ya, she'll be just fine," the healer said reassuringly to the others. Thorin still looked a little suspicious, taking my hands and examining my face for any sign I was hiding an injury.
"He's right," I said soothingly. "I really do feel fine now, it was probably just a numbing toxin. Common in spiders, nothing to worry about."
He relaxed, sitting down beside me. "Sorry ghivashel, I know I worry overmuch sometimes," he murmured.
"How are the others?" I looked over the group, noting bandages and scratches. Dori appeared to be worst off, sitting against a tree with a grimace of pain etched on his face. Oin soon confirmed my diagnosis.
"Mostly small cuts and bruises, easily healed. Dori has a fractured leg, the fool." Here Oin glanced over at the dwarf in question, giving him a disapproving scowl. Nearby, Nori and Ori sat by their brother, one looking resigned, the other disgruntled. It was easy enough from their faces to discern what must have happened.
I got to my feet and went over to my friend, placing gentle hands on the injury as I began to heal it. "Silly dwarf, getting yourself injured from over protectiveness." For once he didn't protest as his face smoothed out, the pain receding. Just as I went to leave them, I turned back, offering one last observation. "You can't protect him forever you know. Eventually he has to find his own strength." Dori looked thoughtful, as he considered my words with a frown. Ori just gave me an appreciative smile that I returned easily.
We were attacked several more times as we traveled through the forest, but no more serious injuries occurred. It was in the middle of one such battle that Bilbo got separated from the group, though I tried to keep an eye on him. I was just about to go after him when we were ambushed by an unexpected group of newcomers. Elves leaped out of the trees around us, finishing off the last stragglers we had been fighting before turning on us. I don't know what I had been expecting after our experience in Rivendell, but it wasn't this. I looked into the cold blue eyes of the blond elf that held us at arrow point and hissed reflexively, recoiling in disgust.
"Blood elves," I snarled, temporarily forgetting where I was. The elf before us took me back to another time long ago, when I stood before a grim faced leader and his traitorous people. Blood elves were the sworn enemies of our people because of their blatant abuse of corrupted magic, and I felt an instant dislike for the memory our situation had wrought. The elf glared at me for a moment before turning his attention to Thorin.
"Don't think I won't kill you dwarf. It would be my pleasure," he said icily. The group shuffled at his words, sounds of mutiny resounding throughout my companions. I ignored the group and our captors alike, searching discreetly for Bilbo who still had not returned. For just a short moment I caught sight of him behind a bush before he vanished in plain sight, leaving me to try and cover the perplexed look that no doubt crossed my face. I turned back to our immediate problem, noting the hostile forces that had us surrounded. Several more stood outside the group, eying the healed forest path with curiosity and attempting to discover its meaning. Finally they broke apart, a red haired female approaching the blond that stood before us. She placed a hand on his arm to gain his attention.
"Legolas, you need to see this." When his eyes met hers she nodded towards the new growth, and his own widened in surprise. He motioned for one of the others to take his place and wandered towards the nearest healed tree, his companion in tow. I turned to watch them, noting with a hidden grin the way Kili's eyes followed the female raptly.
"What is the meaning of this Tauriel?" he muttered, stroking the bark absentmindedly. She shrugged, unsure how to respond. "We must inform the king of this development," he said at last, returning in time to catch me smirking at the thought that I knew something they didn't. "What's so funny?" he suspiciously asked. My smile vanished, replaced by a slight sneer as I held my silence. I wasn't about to converse readily with our captors, and he seemed to accept this, for he did not pursue the subject. "Strip them of their weapons and take them to the king," he ordered the others haughtily, before striding along the path at the head of the group. We were divested of our weapons quickly, though with no small measure of amusement when the elves saw how many blades Fili and Nori had between them. A few of us were hard pressed to hold back laughter despite our predicament.
Once we had been searched thoroughly we were forced into a march along the path, our guard silent now other than a few barked orders when one of us slowed. I carefully refrained from touching any trees, grimacing when the path we walked continued to bloom with flowers beneath my feet. This fact did not go unnoticed by our captors and I felt their eyes on me, uncomfortable in the intensity of their stares.
It was only a short while before we reached a clearing, a palace of wood and stone rising in the center to tower over the forest. Crossing a bridge over a rushing stream, we were before the great doors, and I could see the darkness within. For a single moment I hesitated, afraid of entering the dim interior and losing the light, Yavanna's warning clear in my head. I could not abandon my friends, so I pushed the fear aside and strode forward again.
Most of the group was thrown directly into the dungeon, so I found out later, but Thorin and I were separated out from the group and taken a different direction. We exchanged glances, in silent agreement to say nothing. We entered the throne room under heavy guard, the leader of the group moving forward to stand beside the King. My first sight of Thranduil left me in immediate dislike. His cruel eyes watched us with a mixture of interest and disdain. Legolas leaned towards him and whispered in his ear, switching to their native language. While I had picked up some of that tongue in Rivendell, I did not know enough to make out what was said, and so I waited for them to address us uneasily. The conversation was short, the two exchanging a sharp barrage of words before Thranduil's eyes widened in wonder just as his companion had. He stood up, approaching us with his eyes on me.
"Tell me, from where do you come stranger? I have not seen your like before." I stayed silent, scowling in a fashion that was impressively like Thorin. He frowned slightly at the disrespect I offered him. "My son tells me you have worked a magic on our forest," he continued, eyes narrowing when I flinched slightly. I suddenly wondered if I could work the situation to my advantage.
"I was blessed by Yavanna," I said softly, noting with pleasure the way his eyes lit up in astonishment. A murmur arose from the guards as they took in this information, but I decided to let them make the next move instead of pressing into further explanations.
Rather than continue his interrogation of me, he abruptly turned to Thorin. "I had not thought to see your face again Thorin Oakenshield. I can only guess that your presence here means that you intend to retake Erebor, or perhaps just steal back some of your treasure. A far more likely scenario considering the pitiful following you have accrued." Thorin looked murderous in the face of the elven kings needling, but Thranduil's calculating gaze never wavered. "I too desire things from inside the mountain, white gems of starlight. I would be willing to let you go in exchange for that which was once mine."
"A favor for a favor," Thorin pretended to contemplate the offer.
"You have my word, one king to another," Thranduil said silkily, sitting back down on his throne.
Thorin's face remained impassive for just a moment before his resolve cracked, allowing his rage to shine through. "I would not trust the word of Thranduil the traitorous were it our only hope," he snarled loudly before breaking into an extremely foul khuzdul curse. I gaped at him in shock, knowing the phrase well and surprised that he would use it even in such bad circumstances.
The elf shook his head sadly, acting as if Thorin were nothing more than a child having a tantrum. "And you?" he addressed me again. "Would you consider making a deal with me? Heal the forest like you did the path and I will set you free."
"What of my company?" I asked suspiciously.
"They did not agree to a deal, I hold them to their leader's words." He looked immensely satisfied with himself, and I snorted rudely.
"I stay with my companions. If they do not go free I will make no deals with you." I turned away from him then, finished dealing with the greedy king.
Unsurprisingly we had both been thrown in the dungeons with our companions upon conclusion of our dispute with the elf king. I slumped against the wall of my cell with a sigh, listening to the others welcome Thorin back and question him about our meeting. Balin sighed at last, disappointed to hear how badly it went.
"A deal was our only chance," he said sadly. "We may never get out of here now." My heart dropped at his words, and the knowledge that I may have just caused my own death. Jumping to my feet, I began frantically looking for any way out of the prison before straining to see if light was visible. There was nothing, the ceiling over head blocking any view of the sky, and any windows that may have been present out of sight. I sat back down, determined not to despair and tried to conserve my strength, unsure when it would begin to wane. Thinking quickly, I called for Seraph, begging her to try and find us a way out of this. The little bird fluttered off down the hall and out of sight, leaving me alone again in the shadows.
Time blended together alarmingly fast, our only interruptions to the day being the small meals that were delivered to us. I ate mechanically, determined to give myself every advantage I could, and slept when it felt like it should be night time outside. Seraph did not return, and I tried to content myself with the fact that she was undoubtedly doing everything she could to help us.
I awoke feeling more tired than I should have been before struggling to my feet to pace the floor in distress. I pressed my face to the bars of the cell again, despairing at the sight of stone ceilings that I already knew were present. Some small part of my mind was hoping it would have changed, as I began to lose focus and my thoughts rambled in unpredictable directions. I quickly found myself sitting once more, and gazed towards the hall as my mind wandered.
Three days passed, and I was no longer able to stand upright. My limbs trembled, and my thoughts were sluggish. I let my head loll against the wall and my limbs splayed out like a doll as I slumped further towards the floor. The elves who brought food either didn't notice or didn't care that I was unresponsive when they attempted to speak to me, no doubt thinking I was just being difficult. Seraph returned at last, and landed on my knee, chirping softly in worry at my despondent state. I tried to reach out a hand to her, but I was no longer able to lift my arm. I whispered broken words of love to her, her responses slow to penetrate the fog that filled my head. It dawned on me that she was asking what was wrong, and I had just enough energy to give her a one word response before falling into a stupor. "Sun," I whispered. I didn't notice when she fluttered off rapidly now that she had a mission again.
Seraph searched frantically for someone to help her mistress, fearing the result of leaving her in her ailing state for much longer. She needed a way to get her to the sun, but the little bird was much too small to carry her, and besides, there were bars to get through. She went looking for anyone who could get her out. Her companions were out of the question, locked up as tight as her mistress, so she would have to place her trust in the ones who had jailed them in the first place.
At last she came upon an elf with a large ring of keys about her waist. The red haired female strode the halls with purpose, stalling slightly at the sight of the agitated bird. Seeing that she had the elf's attention, Seraph peeped loudly, circling her before darting slightly away in the direction of the cell. She had to repeat the gesture several times before the message got through. The elf was frowning in puzzlement. "You want me to follow you little one?" The bird chirped loudly in relief and confirmation, alighting on her finger for a moment before leading her successfully down the hall. In amused curiosity, Tauriel, captain of the guard, followed her strange visitor.
The bird stopped outside of a cell, flying in distressed circles similar to those seen by birds with a dying mate. Tauriel hurried forward, becoming instantly concerned at the sight before her. The strange elf sat slumped against the wall, her skin turning an unhealthy grey and her dulled eyes only half open. She appeared to be staring blankly towards the door, an expression of guilt and pain on her face. Swiftly unlocking the cell, Tauriel tried to snap her out of her stupor, but was unsuccessful. The bird was circling her again, darting towards the door and back, beckoning. Coming to a decision, she gathered the female up in her arms and strode down the hall after the bird again, ignoring the questioning cries of her companions in the adjacent cells.
Still following the bird who appeared to be leading her ever upwards towards the outer gates, she bumped into Legolas, who gaped at her burden. "What is going on here?" he asked, quickly relieving her of the weight as they updated him on the situation.
Tauriel gestured to the impatient bird, who was now circling again. "I bumped into this little one in the halls. She must be a friend of our elf here, because she was the one to make me aware of the girl's condition. She seems to want us to continue following her." So saying that Tauriel waited for Legolas to begin walking with her, the elf now draped in his arms.
They got to a clearing just outside the gate when the bird stopped, landing on the ground and doing a small dance. Chuckling slightly, Legolas placed the elf woman down beside her avian friend, smiling when the bird happily relocated to her chest. It stared at her intensely, clearly awaiting a change. They did not have long to wait before her skin began to lose its sickly pallor and her eyes fluttered open.
Author's note: I apologize if this chapter ends in a rather awkward spot, it was getting too long so I decided to stop here. I relatively happy with how Alanta's new power turned out as I tried to ensure it wasn't overpowered. My mind is currently at a blank for things to say about this chapter, so I'll leave it to you to make what you will of it. Hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading!