Faedra took up the rear of the company. She kept looking over her shoulder, thinking she heard someone call her name. It had felt like hours, before Faedra ran into the dwarves when they made a sudden stop.
She pushed her way ahead, only to run into a broken bridge. She mentally slapped herself, remembering the memory clearly.
Faedra, Amara, and Lia were running through the Mirkwood woods, being chased by orcs. They ran around trees and through bushes, not stopping to even catch their breathe. When they came to the bridge, they quickly ran across it.
"Go!" Faedra screamed.
"What are you doing?" Amara asked.
"We aren't leaving without you," Lia said stubbornly.
She was really known for her stubbornness. She was almost as bad as Faedra.
"Just go," Faedra ordered," I have an idea, but you need to trust me."
"I hate your ideas," Amara muttered and took off running, Lia close to her heals.
Faedra unsheathed her sword and started to look at the bridge floor. The orcs were gaining quickly and Faedra had little to no time. She found the tiniest of a crack on the bridge and she thrust her sword into it. The crack grew bigger until the bridge fell into rubble. Many of the orcs had fallen into the enchanted water, while others tried to swim it. None made it to her alive and Faedra ran after Amara and Lia, the orcs left behind to drown.
"Faedra...Faedra…" A voice called, snapping her back to reality.
"Faedra!" Tara practically screamed.
Faedra blinked and looked down at her scowling sister.
"We're crossing right now," Tara explained.
Faedra looked and found all the dwarves jumping on the vines. All Faedra could do was stare at the sight in front of her. Bombur had fallen asleep on one of the branches and others were yawning, trying to keep their eyes open. Faedra heard an arrow being shot and the sound of hooves running away. Thorin and Bilbo stood side by side on the other end, staring up ahead at nothing. Before anyone knew it, Bombur had fallen into the water still snoring.
"Well that's just great," Faedra muttered.
Tara grabbed a hold of a vine, but Faedra stopped her. She cut one vine and swung across, as did Faedra. They heaved Bombur out of the water and the dwarves carried him on their shoulders. Faedra walked on and she heard it again.
"Faedra, Faedra," It called, "You must rest. Come to me and rest. You can rest forever if you wish. You won't have any problems to worry about. Faedra, come, Faedra, Faedra."
She shook her head and looked forward. The dwarves had disappeared and she saw tracks leading away from the path. She cursed in elvish, but she quickly stopped.
"Why do you follow them, Faedra?" It asked, "They are but a burden to the rest of the burdens you hold on your shoulders. I can help you, Faedra. Let me help you. You won't have to worry about anything else. Just let me help you."
"No!" Faedra screamed out loud and ran towards the way the dwarves had voice called out to her, but Faedra ran on in anger. She knew it was just the darkness of the forest trying to get a hold of her again. But she would not let the same thing happen to her like the last time she had entered this godforsaken forest. She stumbled a few times and she could hear herself breathing heavily, even though she had not run that far.
The earth felt like it was tipping and the trees became distorted. Faedra collapsed next to a stream and she looked into it. She saw an elf with long black hair that was tied back at the top. The bottom hung over her shoulders as if she was leaning over something. Her face held a beautiful smile that would make anyone smile and she wore a spring colored dress.
"Naneth?" Faedra said.
The reflection in the water just smile back at her and Faedra reached out a hand. She was inches from the water before she withdrew and tumbled backwards. The earth went back to normal, but she was still breathing heavily. Tears dotted the corners of her eyes, but she willed them to not fall. She go up and continued to follow the tracks the dwarves left. It wasn't long before she heard screams and yells from ahead.
Faedra heard something above her and found spiders walking on webs quickly towards the noise. Faedra pulled her hood over her face and ran quickly. She nocked an arrow into her bow and started shooting spiders from above. She was hiding beneath bushes and behind trees, so the spiders could not find the shooter. When she came into view of the dwarves, they were surrounded by elves.
Faedra let out a few curse words in elvish, until she was cut off by yell for help, that sounded like Kili. Faedra ran towards Kili quickly and started shooting spiders while a she-elf killed the others. Faedra hid behind a tree as the she-elf looked for the shooter. She grabbed Kili and pushed him towards the company. Faedra overheard bits of the conversation the she-elf spoke with another elf.
"Are the spiders dead?" The blonde elf asked in elvish, most likely the leader.
"Yes, but more will come," She said, "They're growing bolder."
The elf nodded and was about to turn away when the she-elf spoke again.
"When I was fighting the spiders, arrows flew out of nowhere killing the other spiders," She explained, making the elf curious.
Faedra noticed the elf look at Tara and he lifted her chin, looking at her. If there was one thing she didn't like it was to not lay a finger on her little sister. She quietly unsheathed two daggers, one in each hand, and approached the elf from behind. The rest of the elves took no notice as they were still busy taking away the weapons. Faedra quickly put a dagger over his throat and one pressing against his back. The elves all around quickly pulled out their bows, aiming at Faedra, but she didn't pay them any attention.
"Do not touch her again," She whispered in his ear, anger lacing each word.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"A shadow of the night and day," Faedra answered, still in a whisper.
She could feel the elf stiffen and she couldn't help but smile.
"Release him," The she-elf spoke, her bow pointing at Faedra, "Or you will die."
"Is that so," Faedra spoke in elvish, "Perhaps we shall put it to the test."
She could feel a presence behind her and tossed the dagger that was around the blonde elf's throat. It embedded itself in the shoulder of the elf and the blonde elf lept on Faedra, bringing them both down.
"Faedra!" Tara screamed, but was held back by the other elves.
The rolled a few times before Faedra came out on top of him, another knife against his throat and his arms held above his head.
"Legolas?" Faedra said, getting off the elf.
She removed her hood and her black locks tumbled out of the cloak.
"Faedra?" He breathed.
The other elves look around in confusion.
"It is good to see you again, my friend," Faedra embraced the elf in a hug.
"You as well," He said and he turned towards a guard that was holding Orcrist.
"This is an ancient Elvish blade," Legolas spoke in elvish and he swung the sword up, "Forged by my kin."
Thorin gave him an unhappy look as he watched Legolas inspect the sword.
"Where did you get this?" Legolas finally asked.
"It was given to me," Thorin spoke.
"Not just a thief, but a liar as well," Legolas said, pointing the sword at Thorin, "Take them!"
The elves obeyed the command and Faedra walked side by side with Legolas.
"He spoke truthfully," Faedra told him, not looking at his face.
Legolas was silent for a moment before asking, "How is Amara?"
"She is well," Faedra said, "At least the last time I saw her she was. I sent her on a journey to retrieve the leaves of the Culumalda tree."
Legolas just nodded, remembering the time Faedra and Amara had traveled together to get the leaves.
"Why are you with a group of dwarves?" Legolas asked curiously, "And who is the elf?"
"The elf is my little sister, Tara," Faedra said, "And even though you are a close friend of mine, my business with these dwarves are my own."
He knew he wouldn't be getting anything else out of her and just looked ahead. They walked in silence the rest of the way until they came across a bridge and the gates of the Woodland realm. Even though she had visit the palace hundred of times, she still stared in awe at the beauty.
"Close the gate," Legolas ordered.
Faedra and Legolas made a sudden stop as they could sense a presence behind them. They both turned but saw nothing. They made eye contact before heading through the gates. As the company walked through the hall they were soon thrown into the jail cells.
"I should be in one of those as well," Faedra said, as she watched the dwarves sadly.
She noticed Tara being tossed in a cell and Faedra looked at Legolas in shock.
"What are you doing?" She asked in the common tongue now.
"You will find out soon enough," He said and went to speak with the orange haired she-elf.
Faedra started to approach Tara's cell, but was stopped short by some elven guards. The turned her around and lead her up the steps. She walked the path that lead to the throne room. She passed some guards who were holding Thorin and walking towards the cells. He glanced at her, an unhappy expression on his face. She walked up the steps to the king's throne and one guard pushed her, making her fall to her knees.
"Hello, Faedra," A voice was heard.
"So we meet again," Faedra said looking up with no shown emotion, "Thranduil."