This chap is about 3,600 words. Thank you all reviewers, those that fav and follows, it keeps me motivated to write (at least when I'm able to). For some few weeks now I will have a tight schedule, and I'm not entirely sure when I will get time to write, but at least this is another chap ;)

R&R! Enjoy!

Chapter 9:

"Fíli, Kíli?" Calithilel yelled, recognizing the two dwarves. To say they were relieved to see her was an understatement. In excitement and forgetting that they were amongst others, they happily yelled her name and hurried to hug her. She felt within her mind and soul that Legolas had caught it before leaving. He knew now, but she was also certain that he would keep it for himself, for now. Thranduil would not know.

"Calithilel, we have a boat, let's go!" Fíli yelled and hurried towards him.

Briefly she noticed Legolas close, had he not left yet after all? Then she saw Tauriel and understood. He was waiting for her. She then saw Kíli talk to her and she hurried over to the boat and got in.

"It was time," Fíli joked.

"Say that to your brother," she answered and laughed upon his expression.

Óin, Bofur and Fíli pushed the boat a bit out while she happily sat safe, and grinned at the three dwarves. Were they happy about it? Not so much, but it made it so much funnier.

"You know I can help," Calithilel offered after they had pushed off from the shore.

"No, no," Kíli insisted.

"We think you've been through enough," Bofur said and looked down.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"Well, you were trapped…" Kíli pointed out.

"Oh!" She bit her lip. "I'm fine though."

"Did they hurt you?" Fíli asked.

"Not by purpose. I kind of hurt myself." She frowned and the dwarves looked at her strangely. "The first time I was being foolish, and the other times? I would say the same, but at the same time I was healing part of the forest, making it better, so I had to."

"You look tired," Óin pointed out.

She snorted.

After reaching shore again it was time to walk, and on unsteady feet she almost (just almost) fell out of the boat. Quickly she managed to find balance and started to follow the dwarves, just a bit weary. What would await them in the mountain? She did not have to wait all too long, for she got her answer. Entering the huge mountain, her mouth fell open. It was spectacular! She still had to admit that she preferred the elven kingdom in the caves that belonged to Thranduil, but this was not bad, not bad at all.

Suddenly they heard the voice of Bilbo and stopped. He yelled, "Wait!" A short pause. "Wait!"

"It's Bilbo!" Óin said happily.

"He's alive!" Bofur exclaimed.

He came running straight towards them. "Stop! Stop! Stop. You need to leave," he said seriously. "We all need to leave."

"We only just got here," Bofur said.

"I've tried talking, but he won't listen," Bilbo tried to explain.

"What are you trying to say, Bilbo?" Calithilel finally asked.

"Thorin!" She jumped with the dwarves a little startled. "Thorin. Thorin. He's been down there for days," he whispered. "He doesn't sleep. He barely eats. He's not been himself. Not at all. It's this place. Ahem. I think a sickness lies on it."

"Sickness?" Kíli asked. "What kind of sickness?"

Gold sickness, Calithilel thought.

Fíli walked around Bilbo and down the stairs. Both Calithilel and Bilbo yelled, "Fíli!" And then they were all running after the dwarf.

They do not see the seriousness of this, she thought and fought the urge to grimace.

Gold. Gold that first looked beautiful to the eye. Gold in waves. Gold that easily turned a person to greed. Calithilel felt sick. Even Thranduil had his weakness for pretty things. Not that she minded much shiny objects, in a certain scale, especially in her previous human life, but now she had started to despise it. So much suffering, and all for gold. War. For what? Yes, gold. Gold and jewels. The stupid jewels Thranduil wanted because of his previous wife would be here somewhere. She could almost see them within her mind. She wanted to find them, but most of all, she wanted to crush those pretty jewels. The Arkenstone was on a good second place in her list of gems she wanted to destroy, but she knew it would not really happen. Or if it did, she would most likely not be the one to do the destroying. Thorin was so deep in the gold, so deep in the sickness, that he barely even noticed them watching him.

"Behold the great treasure hoard of Thror." He threw a red gem, which Fíli caught. "Welcome my sister-sons… to the Kingdom… of Erebor."

"Are we invisible?" Calithilel whispered to Bilbo who barely nodded.

She wanted to turn and walk away when Thorin's gaze fell upon her. "The strangest jewel of all! All are safely within the mountain, claim one thing as your treasure, but please… stay." The way he told her to stay made her feel uneasy and she almost longed back for the caves where Thranduil would be. She was safer there, why had she left? "Of course, take a look around, so you may, but the Arkenstone… is mine."

She coughed. "Ahem. I know what I want." Even saying the words made her feel uneasy. She noticed Bilbo watching her with great curiosity. "I want the gems. The ones of true starlight. The gems Thranduil wants the most. It is only right that I claim them… After all-"

"Consider them yours!" He grinned.

She tilted her head. "Really?"

"I think I saw them earlier... Yes… Yes I did. I gave them to Balin. When you find him you will receive them. Fíli, Kíli, Óin, Bofur and Bilbo, you are her witnesses."

"Uhm, thank you?" Calithilel was not sure how to respond to this strange behavior and let her lead by Bilbo.

To say the reunion was great there and then would not be lying, but soon Thorin wanted them to look for the Arkenstone. However, Calithilel had followed Balin to the gems. In the start all she could do was look in wonder at the gems in front of her. She felt strangely tied to them, as if they belonged to her.

"Calithilel, are you alright?" Balin asked, watching her with concern.

"I'm not sure," she whispered. "But with these my plan might work," she added and put on the necklace.

She felt faint and she heard Balin gasp. She opened her eyes and looked at Balin with wonder. The gems were in the right place. She could wear them proudly and please Thranduil. She shook her head. Please Thranduil? What in the world was she thinking?

"These gems do not feel right," she whispered to Balin, her voice shaking.

"You glowed strongly for a moment, lass," Balin said.

"Maybe I should take them off," she said and her hands were on the way up to her neck when Balin stopped her.

"No lass, you will upset Thorin if you do not wear the gift you chose. In the state of mind he is now…"

He did not have to say more. She nodded, agreeing with the dwarf.

The next few days would be uneventful. They were all looking for the Arkenstone, or, all of them would be lying. Calithilel had not been allowed to look and had been given a room that was clean. If dusty counted as clean. At least there were no dead bodies. She had not been allowed to go close to the entrance, to say it truthfully, she was forbidden, and not many of the dwarves understood why. But most of all, Bilbo had protested the most. Calithilel was supposed to be free. Her duty had been fulfilled, at least concerning the contract, but Thorin would have none of it. No protests mattered and the dwarves followed the orders of their king. She did not want to fight her way out, and she waited patiently, boredom the only thing killing her. Bilbo, Fíli and Kíli kept her days light when they seemed the darkest, and she wondered what the king under the mountain was planning. And then Bard came.

She heard his name whispered between the dwarves, they did not all agree with the king, after all, Thorin had promised gold. It was plenty in the mountain. But it was no swaying their king and their loyalties were high. Nevertheless, Calithilel had understood long ago now that it was futile. The gold sickness too strong. It had such a deep hold of Thorin.

Then a few days later she had managed to sneak close to the only entrance and exit, and she heard his beautiful voice. Her heart sang to her, telling her to go to him no matter the cost. She deeply wanted to, until she heard it. Payment had been offered and been accepted. Bilbo had to climb and she held her breath. Then, he wanted the gems. Thorin laughed as if he had won and a stillness took place.

"But I have something much better than those gems," she heard Thorin say.

"And what may that be?" Thranduil asked, curiously.

"The female elf with the most precious eyes you may ever lay eyes on."

"Calithilel is here?" Thranduil almost sounded confused.

"You did not know?" she then heard Kíli gasp.

"She is now part of this treasure!" Thorin announced. "She will never leave these halls!"

"Uncle!" Kíli gasped.

"This is absurd Thorin," Balin tried to reason.

"But imprisoned she will fade," she then heard Bilbo squeak from below.

"She cannot and will not, not with her heart well alive," Fíli muttered.

"Yes she will," Kíli argued.

"I most likely will," Calithilel admitted and walked up to the dwarves.

"What are you doing here?" Thorin asked angrily.

"Saving myself," she answered and smiled. "I know what is coming!" she yelled, making sure her voice could be heard loud and clear for both elves and humans. She briefly spotted Gandalf with Bilbo and breathed out in relief. "I will not take any of your sides, but I will fight against what is coming! Believe me or not, nevertheless, I will not have my choices taken away from me." Thranduil had spotted the necklace around her and she could feel brief anger within her. It was strong and she wanted to laugh at him. She then turned towards Fíli and Kíli. "Please stick together no matter what. Do not split up. This is very important." The brothers nodded. "Good. Now, do you have a rope? I would like to get down."

"Do not let her leave," Thorin threatened.

"Sorry uncle," Fíli and Kíli said in unison and stood in front of her to protect her. She smiled gratefully and then hurried down the rope. She went straight for Gandalf and Bilbo when she heard the march and she knew it was the coming dwarves.

The dwarf riding in the front – Dain – yelled, "Good morning. How are we all? I have a wee proposition if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider… just sodding off? All of you! Right now!"

Most of the humans started to back a little down, but the elves stood firm, and so did Calithilel by Gandalf's side.

"Stand fast," Bard said.

"Come now, Lord Dain," Gandalf started while walking forward. Calithilel and Bilbo staying by the humans.

"Gandalf the Grey," Dain said with the hint of a good tone. "Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!"

Calithilel barely looked a moment towards Thranduil and she felt his hurtful gaze. Her heart was in pain and she had to pull herself together before it went more out of hand. She could not stand with him, not now in such an important moment. If she now stood with him, most would see. It would break the trust of many friends, so she was sure. She stood her ground, no matter how much she wanted to go to him.

"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves," Gandalf said. "A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand down."

"I will not stand down before any elf," Dain said angrily. "Not least this faithless woodland sprite. He wishes nothing but ill upon my people. If he chooses to stand between me and my kin… I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then."

"He's clearly mad, like his cousin," Thranduil said, not making things better.

"You hear that, lads? We're on!" Dain turned towards his army. "Let's give these bastards a good hammering!"

The dwarves started shouting and the elves started to change their positions. Getting ready for battle. Then the sound came. Halting them all. Had it not been that she knew what was coming she would have been startled. Instead she looked towards the mountains where the worms would emerge with distaste.

"Were-worms," Gandalf said. Not so loud, but Calithilel heard it clearly. The battle had come.

"Oh, come on," she heard Dain complain.

The orcs were shouting and she fought the urge to cover her ears. Horns blew.

"The horns of hell are upon us!" Dain yelled and started leading his forces towards the new enemy. "To battle, sons of Durin!"

While the dwarves went to battle the elves stood still. Calithilel turned to glare at Thranduil. Will you do nothing? She thought so harshly towards him and then saw him flinch. So he had heard her. Are you going to be a coward? She then asked. His eyes hardened.

"Thranduil!" Gandalf shouted. "This is madness!"

Will you fight… or run? she asked and then turned away from him to follow the dwarves herself.

The dwarves went in position, and right before the orcs attacked, elves jumped over to fight. An ecstatic "yes!" erupted from Calithilel and she briefly looked around her, hoping no one heard her, Bilbo had indeed and showed a hint of a smile. Also Gandalf had heard and stared at her disapprovingly. She fought the small blush that threatened to cover her cheeks while she drew her sword.

The start of the battle was blinding. She was not sure what she was doing. Her body acted on its own, and yet the sword was not her best feat. She kept glancing, looking for Thranduil, but also knowing it could be fatal. Many fell back towards Dale and she followed, to protect the people there. Briefly she felt an arm around her and then she was behind a horse, or so she thought for a moment, until realizing it was Thranduil riding and it was not a horse.

"I thought you might need these!" Thranduil yelled and handed her two daggers in their hurry.

She hurriedly tucked them away and smiled. "Thanks!" This was her element and she was more than ready now.

When reaching Dale she jumped off without warning and Thranduil briefly looked back her way, but she shook her head, and as if understanding her, he rode on.

Did we just have a moment? She briefly thought before she drew the two daggers and grinned at the coming orcs. Now this would be fun. Well, so she had thought. She was pushed further into the city and soon she was backed up by more elves. She fought with them, even seeing many slain beside her, barely missing her, but killing her race. She saw Thranduil and fought her way towards him, and then she stood close to him. She knew now it was close to the time.

"I have to go!" she yelled, while stabbing yet another orc.

"You must stay to protect, you do not leave now unless it will keep you safe!" Thranduil growled.

"I have a task to fulfill," she turned to him. "I will try to come back to you. No matter how you are I cannot deny my feelings, and I would love to get to know you more. I have a purpose in this world that I must fulfill, and I am sorry." The last part she whispered as she backed away, but his eyes told it all. He was starting to break, he did not want to lose her, the love was there even without them truly knowing each other, it was natural, and it was how it was supposed to be. Still she disappeared through the buildings and fought her way out. She was ruthless as she went, not caring for herself, and not noticing an arrow coming towards her. She barely felt it as she took wings with the wind and started floating, and then… the wind cloaked her and took her safely towards Ravenhill.

"Fíli, Kíli!" she yelled when stepping foot unto the ground once more. She started walking, but soon found herself to struggle and turned her head to see the arrow that stood out form her back. "Fíli!" she yelled again, followed by a grunt. She started to breathe more heavily. "Kíli!" She closed her eyes and found it difficult for a moment to open them up again.

"Calithilel!" she heard the brothers yell.

"You are hurt," Fíli said worried.

She failed to meet his eyes and fell to her knees. "Break the arrow or pull it out!" she grit out.

"We cannot do that!" Kíli protested.

"You must!" she gasped out.

"It's the only way," she heard Fíli mutter.

She felt two strong arms holding her shoulders tight and then a burning pain in her back. She wanted to scream but at the same time not drawing attention to the three of them and she kept her mouth shut tight while tears streamed down her face.

"It's out," Fíli said relieved.

"Good," she sobbed, trying to pull herself together. She wiped her eyes and then were helped back on her feet by Kíli. "Where is Thorin and Dwalin?" she then asked.

"We split up with them, just now before we ran into you," Kíli explained.

"Good, then there is still time. We need to split up, but under no circumstances are the two of you to split up. Just like I said. Always stay together, no matter what. You are stronger together, and I will take care of the rest."

"I'm not so sure…" Kíli started.

"No, we must listen to her," Fíli said. "We trust her." He met her eyes and nodded once. She nodded back and turned from them.

"Search the lower levels, I'll take the rest," she said as she walked away from them.

Of course she was found, just like Fíli would have been, but she did not go quietly and fought until she lost both her daggers. Her sword was gone and she had no bow, neither any arrows when they led her out. Azog had her by her neck and she briefly saw Thorin, Dwalin, Bilbo and then from another place, Fíli and Kíli, at least they would now stand a higher chance.

`This one dies first. Then the brothers. And at last, you, Oakenshield,´ Azog said in black speech and held her over the edge.

She started to struggle, still having fight left in her. "Go!" she yelled. "You know so well this is a trap. Get away!" She wriggled under Azog's grasp when his sword went through her. The pain was so great it was enough to make her black out, and she wondered if she ever would wake up again.

"You did well."

Thranduil found his son by a lifeless body. He did not expect the sight of such a bloodied Silver and he fell beside her. Trying to lift her up to him. "Why?" he whispered. "Why did you do this?"

"Her name… Her name is Calithilel," Legolas said and breathed shakily.

"How do you know?" he asked surprised, looking up at his son through tearful lashes.

"I heard the dwarves shout it. It is her name. Was."

Light opened up in front of them and they barely saw the outline of a person. "Her life is still present, though barely. Do you not recognize your former wife, Thranduil? Legolas surely recognizes his mother."

"How?" Thranduil whispered, too much in shock to truly understand.

"That is why I felt so familiar to her," Legolas mumbled.

"Her soul when she died the first time travelled far and found another body and lived a new life, a life where time flows differently. When she died there, we made it possible for her to come back, for this is the world she truly belongs to, but not without a prize. She had to rescue at least one from the line of Durin."

"She saved two," Legolas said, finding his voice.

"Indeed she did…"

"Why is she like this, why does she not remember?" Thranduil asked, trying to understand how Calithilel could be his former wife and mother of Legolas.

"She cannot remember and never will. She is not the same person. She is who she is now, but she will always belong to you, Thranduil, and feel close to you, Legolas. We gave her a new body. We gave her a family. We gave her love. Now it is up to you to bring her back." The light disappeared and so did the person with it. One of the Vala, it was the only explanation.

"Father, what are we going to do?" Legolas wondered and wiped his tears away.

"We will let her recover," Thranduil said softly.

"She's still dying," Legolas pressed.

"I will save her!" Thranduil started glowing in determination. He had to save her. He sought for her pain and her wounds, looking for the reason and her fading light. He tried to strengthen her with his own, but it was not the easiest as they were not yet bonded. However, he would not give up, and even if it nearly killed him, he would save her.

"Father!" Legolas yelled. "That's enough!"

Thranduil felt himself being pulled away from Calithilel and nearly wanted to protest, but the rest her body would have to heal itself. "Come, let's take her to Dale."

Tell me what you think ;)

- Moonlight Starlove