Mirkwood, standing at the opening of the forest road it stretched far beyond sight to both the North and South, a demanding presence it seemed to both draw in and ward away. Arabelle's eyes searched through the heavily entwined trees, no sign of life to be found as a festering feeling grew in her stomach, a wiser part of her mind told her to flee. Even Bilbo was uncertain on entering the forest, Gandalf perhaps listening to his wiser self as he suddenly was needed elsewhere, giving the company instructions before leaving them all. Yet there was little choice, it was the only way to reach Erebor by Durin's day, Thorin instructing Arabelle to take the lead as she was keen on sight and found it easy to follow the path. When they came across a broken bridge they had managed to cross via branches, only Arabelle's swifter nature saving Bombur from falling in, though it had come at the sacrifice of a rather harsh pull on his beard. Arabelle watched as further into the forest they delved the darker the minds of the company became, even she had begun to feel the fog that threatened to haze her senses. Fili stuck to her side, knives drawn he did not trust they were not being watch and Kili joined his brother's paranoia constantly looking for something to shoot. Bofur seemed determined to drown out the silence of the forest with his own chatter, Bifur and Bombur constantly shushing him they added to the noise. Dori had a permanent hand on his brothers, pulling them along, Balin and Dwalin seeming to inspect every tree with suspicion, Gloin was constantly swatting at Oin to keep his hands off the plants. Eventually they came to a slightly larger section of path, allowing the company to be together they collapsed to the ground.
"We need rest Thorin, food, fresh water." Balin whispered in a hushed tone
"We need to keep moving."
"We have been travelling for daysssss." Kíli whined like a child.
"How'd'ya even know, could be weeks!" Bifur exclaimed.
"When was our last meal?" Bilbo rubbed his growling stomach.
"We rest, but only for a bit." Thorin sighed.
"I can hunt." Arabelle offered.
"No. You heard Gandalf, stay on the path." Fíli reiterated Gandalf's advice much like an order.
"We need food, I am the best hunter."
"You can't go." Fíli argued "It's not safe."
"Then by all means join me." Arabelle rolled her eyes, wondering if he would be dumb enough to tell her what to do for a third time.
"No courting couple can be alone!" Balin spoke yet another courting rule, Arabelle having already forgotten the first dozen "Not in a dark forest!" Gloin seemed ashamed of them already "No chance! Not while there is still breath in me!" Dwalin picked up his axe, readying to go with her.
"Well, I am not taking you. Your feet are heavier than stone!"
"I will join you." Thorin stood up, sharing a nod with Fili as he intended to keep his promise and make an effort to know his nephews intended.
"Really?" Arabelle scrunched up her face.
"Thorin it's not safe, you can't just go-" Dwalin began but Thorin levelled a look to him.
"I am capable of looking after myself Dwalin. Stay here and set up camp, see if you can get a fire going." Thorin's orders clear as he prepared his bow and arrows.
"Be nice and don't do anything stupid." Fili spoke softly as he pressed Arabelle's hands to his lips.
"How can we when we are leaving all the stupid here." Arabelle winked, pecking him on the cheek before running to catch up with Thorin before they jumped down a small embankment.
At first they had spoken about tracking, then they had spoken more in hand signals, a brief congratulations at their kills and now as they walked back a silence had fallen between them. Not a good silence either. It was awkward as one would take a breath in, perhaps preparing a question and when the other turned the words were lost and simply breathed out, they would share thin smiles and continue. Eventually Arabelle could stand it no longer.
"Fili asked you to spend time with me didn't he? That is why you came."
"Yes." Thorin answered "Fili wishes us to find something in common."
"Figured, he told me I had to be nice." Arabelle quirked a little smile "I mean I have only threatened you a couple of times. Don't know why he is worried I wouldn't be nice."
"Five times actually." Thorin noted "Dwalin is keeping track."
Arabelle threw her head back and laughed, Thorin unable to help it as he chuckled a little "Well we can both hunt, though clearly I am better." Arabelle motioned her three rabbits to his two with a gloating smile.
"Lucky shot." Thorin grumbled "What else do you…do?"
"What else do I do?" Arabelle's face twisted a bit at the awkward question, Thorin's scowl reappearing as he remembered why he hates talking to other people.
"Fine don't say. We have hunting and Fili in common that should be enough." Thorin started a stomping march ahead, though completely in the wrong direction.
"Thorin wait!" Arabelle tried to catch up but something caught her eye "Thorin!"
Spiders. They came from the shadows above, their descent so quick Arabelle's first arrow had only just stopped the first one from landing straight on Thorin whose sword cut down a second as he drew it. Arabelle dumped the rabbits to draw up more arrows, her long-range weapon quickly became ineffective as the spiders surrounded her she used the bow to wack the closest into a tree but another appeared from her right it tackled her. A gasp escaped her as she was thrown to the ground, the air in her lungs gone she glared at the creature having no time to draw her own blade she used her hands to hold back the pincers which threatened to gouge her face. Teeth clenched she growled in frustration unable to overpower the beast which pinned her down she questioned how she would escape; Thorin's blade being her answer as it sliced the spiders head clean off. Thorin pulled her up and dragged her to be behind him, blades drawn they fought back-to-back until the final spider fell.
"I hate spiders." Thorin huffed from his knees, the pair trying to catch their breath.
"Another thing in common." Arabelle noted and they shared a smile as she cleaned her blade on a patch of moss. A noise caught her attention, another presence, she stood quick assuming it to be a spider straggler she swung her blade only to be met with metal.
"Do not think I won't kill you dwarf." Fierce eyes stared her down, a she-elf pushing on her blade she pushed back slightly but just like the spiders more elves appeared and they would not be so easily beaten.
"What business do you have here?" A blonde-haired elf came to stand beside the she-elf, his bow aimed directly at Arabelle, Thorin standing in front of her.
"None that concerns you."
"Legolas, we should take them back, they are too close to our borders." She spoke in elvish, Arabelle sharing a little look with Thorin.
"Please, my uncle and I are just simple travellers returning to the Iron Hills." Arabelle patted Thorin's arm "My Uncle here is terrible at directions, and we have lost the path, if you would just point us in the right direction we can find our way from there."
"Dwarves do not travel this forest." Legolas eyed them cautiously, it felt an age since he had seen a dwarf, he thought these ones to look taller, the woman especially seemed off.
"Travellers with weapons and skills to take on a spiders nest." The red haired sneered a little.
"Tauriel calm." Legolas spoke to her.
"Please my father is old and tired." Arabelle nudged Thorin's ribs and he hunched a little "We mean no harm."
"The path is north. Head straight and you will meet it, we had best not see you straying from it again." Legolas nodded, Arabelle and Thorin beginning to walk off they stayed arm in arm.
"Is that not the symbol of the royal line of Durin?"
"Shit."
The Woodland Realm, home to the Silvan elves and ruled by the Elvenking Thranduil. Arabelle took the time to admire the intricately carved wood and archways, it was a maze of roots which were thick enough to hold three across. A different beauty than that of Rivendell this world was surely built by Yavanna herself it held an ethereal glow to it; it was breath taking. Thorin's face was red enough it looked as though he had not taken a single breath as he glowered at the two elves escorting them. Tauriel was clearly a captain of sorts, while Legolas' name was enough for Arabelle to know him as the young princeling of this realm. They discussed quietly between themselves, clearly unaware she could understand them as they discussed how short dwarves were, adding in a few remarks about their hair, Arabelle's worn out jacket and old riding boots not to their style. Thorin couldn't even understand what was being spoken but his scowl was enough to say he knew it was not pleasant. Finally, they came to a grand throne room, escorted to stand at the base of a podium a lavish throne towered over them, the Elvenking laid above so still one could be forgiven for confusing him for another carving.
"I send you out to deal with spiders and you bring me back dwarves." The king lazily drawled out as he stood, eyeing Thorin carefully "And not just any dwarf. Welcome, King Thorin."
"Is this your idea of welcome?" Thorin basically spat out as he gestured to the chains around them.
Thranduil seemed to linger on the thought for a moment before silently flicking his wrist, two guards stood forward, Arabelle rubbing where her cuffs had been tight against her skin, Thorin didn't even flinch though the guard he stared down might have.
"They were found, armed, by the western borders. Tried lying saying they were travellers." Tauriel bowed to her king as she spoke in elvish.
"There will be others, see them found and brought here."
"We are glad you found us." Arabelle rushed, Thorin staring daggers at her "With just the pair of us I doubt we would have survived the forest another night." Thorin backdown as understanding washed over him. "I should have known better than to come to this cursed place alone." Thorin spoke and Thranduil gave Tauriel a look to remain in the throne room.
"I have heard a rumour of a quest, a quest to reclaim a mountain." Thranduil spoke and Thorin physically tensed "You seek to reclaim that which would make you king." Thorin near growled his knuckles turning white; he hated the mind tricks of elves.
"He is already a king." Arabelle spoke, her voice laced with venom "And you would do well to treat him as such."
"Fiery." Thranduil commented as his eyes bore into Arabelle, Thorin putting himself between them.
"Very well. There are gems I too seek in the mountain, gems of pure starlight. I offer you my assistance from one King to another, you have my word for safe passage."
Thorin scoffed, folding his arms across his chest "Your word… I would not trust the word of King Thranduil if my life depended on it. Imrid amrâd ursul."
Arabelle sniggered a little, unsure why she bothered to learn Khuzdul from the others when Thorin's use of the language was much more her style.
"Not on your own life…" Thranduil spoke as his eyes moved from Thorin to Arabelle behind him, Thorin watching the shift he near turned to stone before knocking out two guards; it took three to hold him. Arabelle had quickly backed to the edge of the throne room, without walls she tethered on the edge with nowhere to go; Thranduil picked her up by the scruff of her shirt. Effortlessly he stood up with her in one hand, bringing their faces close together as he inspected the odd dwarf. Taller than others, she was softer in both step and skin, he did not know how but she seemed to understand them too; she was intriguing him, even as she squirmed in his grip.
"Let her go!" Thorin struggled against the guards, who were also struggling against him.
"It seems your King is rather fond of you." Thranduil's eyes bore into her, Arabelle steeling her mind from him he scowled a little unable to probe further.
"If you wouldn't mind backing up, I have smelt troll caves better than your breath." Arabelle sneered before landing a firm kick on his chest, he dropped her to the ground, guards ready for her. They twisted her arms back and held her at such an angle she was forced to remain on her knees, too heavy of a breath strained the muscle to the point of pain.
"Tell me Thorin, do we have a deal?" Thranduil looked to the dwarf who spat out venomous words in Khuzdul.
"Very well." Thranduil seemed bored as a foot came to press between Arabelle's shoulder blades, he pushed down slowly as she clenched her jaw, stifling the searing pain she felt her joints push to the extreme and she could not help the scream that escaped her.
"Stop it!" Thorin's voice boomed "You can have them! Just let her go!"
"Thorin no! I can take it!" Arabelle yelled, though she was ashamed to admit that she breathed in a rather greedy breath as the pressure was released from her back. "I won't allow it, I will steal the gems myself if it means you never see them you arrogant prick."
Arabelle clenched her eyes shut, preparing her body for more pain as the elf now crouched down low to her, his hair gliding across her shoulders a few strands tickled her face sending shivers down her spine. She could hear his gentle breaths in her ear, she felt the taunting smirk that covered his face he slowly put a hand to her back, time of no concern to an elf she knew he would make it slow.
"You will need to be strong." Her father's words played in her head a gentle memory "You will face many a challenge and you will not always win. But you must remember who you are, you were born to be a Queen."
The Elvenking behind her inhaled sharply, as Arabelle's eyes widened; he had seen.
"Release her." The Elvenking motioned "No wonder you attempt to protect her." Thranduil's eyes looked to Thorin with shock "Such a- treasure."
"You do not know of what you speak." Arabelle stood up "Now let us go."
"I think not." Thranduil smiled "It is clear the dwarf cannot protect you, it is a good thing you find yourself in my kingdom. Princess." Thranduil took her hand in his, a gentle press of his lips as he bowed down to meet it, she instantly snatched the hand back looking to Thorin who stared at her with wide eyes.
"Escort them to the guest chambers." Thranduil eyed them a moment longer before leaving the room, clearly needing time to think before deciding how to get the most out of such a situation.
Though no longer shackled it was clear the last thing they were was free, escorted by multiple guards who continued to stand outside as they shut the door of the chambers. Quietly they entered an extravagantly laid out parlour, furniture was carved into the walls as other more refined chairs sat filled with cushions and silk blankets, a vine filled with berries bloomed against one wall while a small fountain trickled down the other. Arabelle was biting at her lip as she watched Thorin pace, his expressions always difficult to read she wondered what was about to happen, she was half expecting him to lose it, perhaps yell at her, curse her for sure, would he exile her?
"Princess?" Thorin softly repeated the word which had clearly been lingering in his mind.
"It is not a title I use." Arabelle corrected him, avoiding his gaze.
"You are a princess though." Thorin pushed and Arabelle struggled to stand still under the pressure.
"Yes. I have claim to the throne of Gondor. I am Arabelle, daughter of Araborn, heir of Isildur, son of High King Elendil."
"You have kept this from me. From Fili?" Thorin sat down, his eyes darting around as he was clearly adding up everything.
"Yes, even from Fili. As I said it is not a title I use… I do not expect you to see the danger which comes with such a name, you have had mountains and armies to protect you your whole life; meanwhile my family has had nothing and they are all dead for it."
Arabelle watched as Thorin reacted most unexpectedly, he laughed "To inherit a crown with no throne, with all the danger and minimal protection from it; Fili was right, we do have more in common than even we realise."
"Thorin please, I need you know I have no intention of claiming the throne. It is safer if the line of Isildur is considered broken, to claim otherwise would put me and all the people I love in danger" Arabelle looked down, it was not a kingdom that belonged to her anyway.
"Then we will speak no more of it. Though you should tell Fili, he has often wondered why you do not speak more of your father's name." Thorin settled all her worries there and then, no further pushing on the subject, no further questions just simple acceptance.
"I will tell him, when the time is right."
"Till then your secret is safe with me, Princess."