CHAPTER 6- Into The Woods

Legolas and Nirana seated on beautiful white horses and Morunn and I on ponies, we set off for Mirkwood. In the span of things. Erebor wasn't terribly far from Mirkwood, but it still took quite a while to get there. Surprisingly, Morunn and Legolas were able to carry on a conversation, though I could clearly see that they both distrusted each other. Nirana quickly became more likeable as she engaged with me in conversations that made me feel like we had been friends for years.

"So are there lots of dwarf women? Or just a couple? I always grew up on rumors that there were none but I knew there was no way that could be possible," Nirana questioned eagerly.

"There are much fewer women than men and there are much fewer than there were in the older days, but there are still a dozen or so in Erebor. Nirana, you seem very fascinated with the dwarves. Do you not hate us as your kin does?" I said.

"Of course not! I think that the tension between our races should stop. It's a foolish dispute. I hope you don't mind all my questions but no one else in the Woodland Realm would ever answer any of them," Nirana bubbled.

"Oh, no. I don't mind at all. Ask away."

I wondered why we had held the grudge against each other for so long. But then I realized why Dain hadn't let go. Thranduil. He was cold and deceiving and made anyone want to hate him. I wondered how Legolas had been able to grow up with him as his father.

"Thanks! So, what does the rest of Erebor look like? Is it all made of stone and do your men only mine or are there other tasks?"

"Erebor is magnificent. It is all stone and it took a very long time to carve out. It is so big it hardly feels like we are underground anymore. Most men mine, but there are several other things that they can do. When we get back to Erebor, I could give you a tour if you wanted."

"Really?" Nirana marvelled, "That would be amazing!"

But Nirana's excitement was cut off quickly by a shadow.

"Mirkwood," Morunn scowled.

"Keep to the path," Legolas warned as we entered the dark forest.

I never liked forests. Something about them just didn't seems to sit well with my dwarvish blood. I was surprised at the lack of fear in the elves' eyes. I took a deep breath and tried to clear all fear from my face, but I was sure I was failing. The path was hardly a path. It was more like a slightly discolored spread of crumbled rock.

"Alright, so just keep a close eye out for a Ogden tree, though I do not believe that we will see one until we are in the heart of the forest," Legolas informed us.

I rolled my eyes. Dain had told me just about everything about the tree so I didn't need the princeling thinking he was above me.

"Something's following us," Nirana said a few minutes later.

"Yes," Legolas agreed.

When he looked at Nirana I thought I saw a slight smile, as if to congratulate her keen senses, but then it was gone. I thought I had imagined it.

"I hope we find this quick. I don't like this forest, or any forest, but definitely not when something most likely dangerous is following us," Morunn whispered to me.

"Yes. We find the tree then run out of here as fast as we can," I replied.

"Show yourself!" Legolas cried to the darkness behind us, pulling out his long bow. Nirana also armed herself with a bow and Morunn and I took out our axes. My axe burned in my hand, wanting to lash out.

But, from the bushes came a white deer. Morunn sighed in relief.

"Now we know no one followed us in so all we have to worry about is what's already inside," Nirana told me, "But don't worry! Legolas and I know these woods in and out."

"Do you know Legolas well?" I asked, once the two men were ahead.

"Yes. We grew up together. We were best friends for the longest time. We still are, sort of."

I was amazed that someone so sweet could be friends with someone so cruel.

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