The company fell silent and gazed at her in wonder. They could see now what Beorn meant.
"I am with child. Nearly six months now." She said, a protective hand over her child.
"Halien…" Thorin said, looking at her. "Why did you not tell us?" Then thinking to her, 'Why did you not tell me?'
"I didn't want you to worry. With the Orcs hunting us and time running short on our quest, we had enough to worry about without throwing a child into the mix." Halien said, then looked at Thorin with worry in her eyes. "Please forgive me, little king. I should have told you sooner, but I feared it would interfere with the quest."
Thorin shook his head. "We will simply have to be more careful now." He said and pulled her down for a kiss. "It is splendid news, nonetheless."
Halien smiled and looked up at the others as they cheered and congratulated her. The smile quickly faded as she remembered what Beorn had just said. She placed a protective hand over her growing child and sat back down.
"Beorn is right. We may not reach the forest safely and in time." She said. "The Orcs are too close and could very well catch up to us. If they did, there is no way that we could survive."
Thorin put a hand on her shoulder in comfort and looked at the skin-changer. "I will never let that happen." He tilted her chin up to where she was forced to look at him. 'Nothing will happen to you or our child.'
"I don't like dwarves. They are greedy and blind, blind to the lives they deem lesser than their own." Beorn said, standing. He picked up a white mouse that Bofur had shooed off his sleeve and stopped in front of Thorin. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?"
Halien stood. "We need horses and any supplies you can spare. We are already in your debt for keeping us safe from the Orc pack, but we greatly appreciate it."
Beorn nodded. He set the mouse aside and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. 'Your child is indeed strong. You must be careful on your journey.' He thought to her. 'Be sure to get plenty of rest and try not to fight with your sword. If you can help it, do not fight at all. If you must defend yourself, keep a dagger with you and use your bow.'
Halien nodded.
"I will give you the horses outside in the field. There are seventeen, take those you need. I will give you the extra supplies I have in my stores, that which I can manage without during the winter."
Halien and Thorin bowed and they began to get things ready with the others. Beorn got the horses ready, adorning them with the bridles, saddles, and reins. The company put their packs on the saddles and quickly mounted them into the saddles.
"Go now, while you still have the light," Beorn said. "Your hunters are not far behind." Then, to Halien, he sent, 'Be careful, elf. I know your father and his reputation. You and your company will be safe as long as you do not lose your way. Stay your path, never waver and you will be fine.'
'Understood. May the ancestors protect you, Beorn. We are ever grateful and indebted to you.' Halien sent back.
'May you reach your journey's end safely and unharmed. May your child be born healthy and in peace.'
With that final goodbye, Beorn seemed to shut the door to his thoughts and Halien heard not another word.
It did not take them too long to reach the edge of Mirkwood. They dismounted the horses and Halien looked at the trees, a sadness in her heart. She did not realize that she was crying until Thorin grasped her hand and asked if she was alright.
"I am sorry. It has been so long since I have been here. The trees…. They are crying out in pain…." She said.
Halien and the others watched as Gandalf approached the woods.
"The Elven Gate." He muttered. Turning to the others, he said, "Here lies our path through Mirkwood."
"No sign of the Orcs," Dwalin mentioned. "We have luck on our side."
"I do not sense them near," Halien added. "They feel very far away, but they remain close enough for us to be wary."
Gandalf looked into the distance and Halien sensed Beorn standing watch on a near cliff to the south of their position. "Set the ponies loose," Gandalf ordered. "Let them return to their master."
"This forest feels sick," Bilbo said. "Like a disease lays upon it. Is there no other way around?"
"Not unless you wish to go two hundred miles north or twice that distance to the south," Gandalf explained.
As the company went about taking their packs off, Gandalf stepped through the gate. As he walked a few feet further into the woods, Halien felt a familiar presence. It was that of Lady Galadriel and that meant she was reaching out to someone. Halien looked around, then started when Gandalf suddenly came hurrying back out of the woods.
"Not my horse! I need it!" Gandalf said.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked, suddenly worried and frightened.
"I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf said.
'Lady Galadriel has a task for you, doesn't she?' Halien asked him. 'I felt her presence. Does it have to do with the Necromancer?'
Gandalf nodded, then he looked at Bilbo. "You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You are not the same Hobbit as the one who left the shire."
"I was going to tell you," Bilbo said with urgency, like what he had to say would never be said unless it was right then and there. "I found something in the goblin tunnels."
"Found what?" Gandalf asked, looking at him with concerned interest. "What did you find?"
"My courage," Bilbo answered, but Halien felt that he was not entirely truthful and that he was hiding something from the wizard.
"Good. That's good." Gandalf replied. "You'll need it."
Turning away from the hobbit, the wizard walked to the horse. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the sweeps of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter the mountain without me." He said, looking to Thorin at the last part, then mounted into his saddle, gave a warning not to leave the path, and urged his horse forward, galloping off to the north.
"Why must he leave?" Ori asked.
"There is an important task he must attend to, Ori. His succession in this task may have a crucial part to play in the coming war." Halien explained. "The numbers of Orcs are increasing every day and soon enough, they will have a large enough army to overtake Middle Earth. Do not hesitate to think they will not take advantage of that fact and sit idly by."
The company nodded and set their mounts loose. Halien looked towards the forest. "We must be careful. This sickness upon my homeland is dark and Gandalf is right. The illusions the sickness will create will try to push their way into our minds and can easily lead us astray. I will try to lead you safely through these woods, but I do not know how things have changed. So long as we stick to the path, we will remain safe."
And with that, she nodded to Thorin and turned to lead the company into the dark trees that were once her home.
