Summary: Meeting them happened by chance. Pure unlucky chance. Kagome, an elven maiden, a runaway from Mirkwood, throws her caution to the wind and tags along with the brash company of dwarves, constantly butting heads with the leader. A quest wasn't in her lifetime agenda, but this one just might have been worth it- even with all the trouble that might amount from it.
Pairing: Undecided
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or The Hobbit.
Prologue
A gentle breeze carried through the treetops, rustling the leaves. A small smile lifted on her face as her long, raven hair swayed in the breeze, her perch in the high-up tree giving her a lovely vantage point of the ground below. The sunlight bearing down on her face made the weight in her heart fade, her expression softening as her sorrow got chased away by the feeling of peace swirling around her.
It was hard to fully ignore the ache in her chest, stabbing with bitter pricks, but, she knew, that one day she'd be able to push it all away. She stood on the sturdy branch beneath her, bracing her palm on the thick trunk of the tree. Birds sang above her head, her pointed ears twitching slightly with the melody.
She opened her eyes, sapphire blue gazing out across the wide, vast, open space beneath her. The trees of Mirkwood were behind her- so far behind her.
"When will you return?"
The blonde-haired elf gazed down at her, blue eyes trained on her face as he seemed to pick up on her somber emotions. His hand rested on the side of her face, urging her to look at him. She avoided his gaze, a soft smile gracing her face as she shrugged.
"I will not be long," she responded with her soft tone. She lifted her own hand, letting it rest over the one holding her face so gently. Still, she didn't lift her gaze to meet his own. "I promise, Legolas."
She didn't want him to see the finality in her eyes.
Her expression softened, a sheen of moisture building up in her eyes.
"Forgive me, please."
Her apology went unheard by the person who deserved it most. She lifted her free hand, letting thin fingers burrow into the material of her top, right above her aching heart.
"I cannot return home," she spoke so softly. "Not anymore."
The face of her closest friend, first and current love, flashed behind her teary eyes. She didn't want to imagine the worry he must've been feeling as the days stretched on without her returning as she'd promised.
They'd grown so close, but she knew this was for the best. They'd never be permitted to be together, and leaving was the easiest way. She never shared the reason, and that was for the better, as well.
It was too late to go back.
Far too late, even if she did miss home.
Her gaze fell to the ground as she leaped from the tree she'd been resting in.
She had a long way to go still.
Kagome sat, feet resting in a stream that ran through the trees of the forest a few miles away from her home. Her bow and quiver of arrows rested on the ground at her side, and her sword was on the opposite side. Both were in quick reach for her. She rested there, eyes closed and weight ever-so-slightly tipped onto her palms in the grass behind her. She swayed her feet in the cool water, humming a soft tune under her breath.
The crunching of twigs and leaves didn't disrupt her. She was far too used to the sounds caused by the creatures living within the forest to be perplexed by them.
Her hair, left free, pooled around her on the ground. She soon fell to rest on her back, arms outstretched at her side as she gazed up at the sky. White clouds peppered the otherwise blue hue.
She lounged like that for a good long while before the sound of heavy footsteps snagged her attention. She sat up promptly, one foot retracting from the running water to brace on the ground. She turned toward the source, pointed ears twitching as the footsteps grew closer- loud voices accompanying them. She rose from the ground, plucking her weapons up along with herself. Her sword was fixed to her side and her quiver to her shoulder. A single arrow rested on the drawstring of her bow, and she took quiet steps toward the source of the noise. Her bare feet tread carefully over the grassy ground, and she came to a pause behind a thick tree. She peered around her hiding spot to observe the group of unfamiliar faces. Uncertainty guided her next actions, and she notched the arrow tight as she stepped from her position.
"Who are you to tread on this land?" she called out, blue eyes narrowed in equal confusion and annoyance. They turned to her the moment they saw she was there, surprised by her presence. "Name yourselves."
"I fail to see how it matters to one elf girl." One of them answered. She took him to be the leader of the pack. Even as those around him expressed their discomfort with his battle-ready attitude, it didn't seem to dissuade him in the slightest.
"Tch…" Kagome scoffed, tightening her grip on her bow. "You are on my land," she remarked dryly. "This is my home. It would be in your best interest not to be so arrogant." Of course, it would happen to be a company of dwarves to stumble upon her home. Well… mostly dwarves. Her eyes caught sight of the two non-dwarves there. One seemed to be a hobbit, and the other a wizard. Her words seemed to bother him- the dwarven leader.
"Where are the rest of your kind, then?" He asked, glancing around. He figured if they had crossed land belonging to elves, then they would've been stopped by now.
"The rest?" she repeated those words, a frown pulling her lips down. "There are no other elves here," she stated. "I am on my own, but that does not change a thing. Tell me why you are trespassing on my home."
"Why don't you lower your weapon, and let up talk this out peacefully," the wizard suggested. He looked to catch her gaze with his own, eyes twinkling somewhat. His voice was aged with years of knowledge, and his words seemed to be genuine in search of a conversation. "How about we start with who you are?"
She stood her ground, but she did allow her bow to drop a few inches. At the same time, she let her arrow relax on the drawstring to come across as less threatening. "Who I am should be of no concern to you all, but…" she paused and sighed. "My name is Kagome," she told them. "I am a runaway from Mirkwood. I have been for many years now."
"Gandalf the Grey," he replied with his own before going on to do the same to the rest with him. The leader of the group was all glares, and she soon learned his name to be Thorin Oakenshield. As the air of uncertainty faded entirely from the area, she let her grip on her bow relax entirely, allowing her arms to rest.
"A runaway from Mirkwood?" Thorin took charge of speaking once more, focusing his cold stare on her scowling expression. "Why have you run away?"
Kagome frowned and looked down at the ground between them. "A sunflower needs the sun to grow, does it not…?" she whispered softly. Her voice was so quiet, it was almost as if those words were not meant to be heard. She shook her head and sighed. "It is better off this way. I am better off here," she said, voice straying a bit louder. "Perhaps I merely did not belong there, after all."
"I see," Thorin responded. Kagome let her gaze drift back to him, and she sighed.
"Will you tell me your business for being here now?" she asked. "I have answered questions. Will you return the gesture?" she requested.
"We're on a quest of sorts, you could say," Balin- the eldest of the dwarves, answered. Kagome raised a brow and nodded, silently encouraging for more information. He supplied her with more, and once he finally fell silent, Kagome let her gaze drift among all those present.
Had she heard right? Her gaze returned to Thorin, curiosity seeping into brilliant blue irises. Curiosity, and perhaps concern when the weight crashed down.
"You have a goal of waking Smaug?" Kagome questioned in pure confusion. "I assure you, there are far easier ways to meet your demise that do not involve fire and destruction for the rest of the populace," she stated. She sighed and shook her head, seeing the annoyance that flashed across Thorin's face at her comment. "I think it to be a horrible idea- idiotic, even, but what do I know…" she muttered dryly. "You are merely going to submerge yourself into a living furnace."
Though she didn't know them well, she didn't want them to do something so reckless that might end up costing them their very lives. She knew he wouldn't listen to her concerns, no matter how genuine she attempted to present them.
"What path are you planning to take?" she asked, only to be met with resistance. She wasn't surprised when Thorin bit out a harsh reply.
"What does it matter to you?" he snapped, and Kagome leveled a glare at his face. If he wanted to be mean, then two could play that game.
"I merely wanted to be nice and see if I can recall a way to extend your lives, even if just a little bit," she growled back just as harshly.
"We do not want or need help from the likes of you," Thorin stated.
Kagome bristled at his statement and abrasive tone. "Your arrogance will be your downfall," she sneered at him to hide the hurt his words caused. What's with people treating her like she knew nothing at all? She turned to Gandalf, posing the same question to him. "The path," she repeated. "Which do you plan to take?"
"We're currently on path for Mirkwood," he responded.
Kagome nodded, setting her hands on her hips. Thorin didn't seem pleased by the idea, and, while she hated to be in agreement with him, she couldn't help but share the same idea.
"King Thranduil will know of your trespassing," she cautioned them. "Perhaps even the moment you step foot in those woods," she said. "Even if he somehow fails to notice, you still must deal with the risk of getting lost on the trails," she added. "You would need someone who had walked them dozens of times to make your way through."
"Is that so?" The hobbit, Bilbo asked her. She nodded.
"It is better for you to find a different path," she stated. "Save yourself the trouble waiting to happen. If you still wish to persist, then find yourself a guide, at least."'
"Well, how about you?" Bilbo asked. Kagome looked at him, blinking owlishly at the abrupt suggestion.
"What about me?" she asked.
"You said it yourself," he said. "You're of the Mirkwood elves- granted, you're a runaway," he specified. "Why don't you guide our way, since you know enough to give us caution and warning."
"I-I…" Kagome ended up stammering over her next words. It was a sharp contrast from her previous disposition. He was correct- she knew. "I-I sincerely doubt that is a good idea," she said eventually. One look at him, and most of the company, told her that they desired a better explanation. Kagome sighed. "Perhaps you do not understand," she stated. "I am a runaway from Mirkwook, and that means I ran away for a reason," she explained. "Going back is something I have never planned, let alone even considered in the first place. I cannot go back," she said. She couldn't bat the flash of sorrow that wavered in her eyes as she downcasted her gaze to the ground. It wasn't missed, but none of them could comment on it- it wasn't their place to, no matter the curiosity they felt over it and her reasons. It faded soon, replaced with a guarded gleam.
So many thoughts bounded through her mind, and she struggled with sorting them. She shut out the chatter of those present with her in hopes that it might help her dispel some of them, some of the memories, and lock them back into the recesses of her mind.
She was confident in her abilities to lead them through Mirkwood. She was certain she could safely lead them through. After all, she'd walked it many times with the king's son, once upon a time. Those memories burned, and she pushed them away. The ache in her chest was just as hard to kill. Her hands clenched tight as she allowed her gaze to roam over the company before her. Her eyes clashed against the stunning blue of the leader, and she knew she'd made her mind up. Even if she'd yet to agree with herself.
She couldn't leave them to take the risk, not when she was perfectly capable of helping them. Strangers or not, she couldn't simply turn her back on them. They didn't seem bad. She allowed her guarded facade to fade, and she gave a gentle shake of her head.
"Fine," she said after taking the time to think about it, weighing the options and what might come from any choice she could make. The sound of her voice had all eyes going to her. "I will lend my assistance to you all," she stated, voice soft. "At the very least, just ensure you make it through the trees of Mirkwood unharmed."
"Why?" Thorin questioned her. "What made you decide to help us? You have no reason to even want to."
Kagome looked at him, a small smile appearing on her face. "I feel as though it might be distasteful for me to allow you to knowingly go down a path so blindly when I can just as easily provide my assistance," she explained. "As it stands, I am still exceedingly familiar with the trails, and I have confidence in my ability to help you through." She sighed and shook her head. "With any hope, our presence will not be detected by King Thranduil until we have already made it through."
"What payment do you seek in return?" Thorin questioned. Kagome shook her head in response, her gentle smile still on her face.
"I seek no payment," she said. "I have no need for one, after all." She motioned for them to follow. Some were quicker to move than others, but they all eventually did as she requested. "While I worry about what might come of your venture, I will not allow someone to fall into peril if I can keep them from such a fate," she explained. "And anyway," she sighed. "I have been on my own here for quite a few years already. I see no harm with a little bit of companionship, no matter how fleeting it may end up being," she added, glancing over her shoulder with a kind smile highlighting her features. The sunlight gave her a natural glow, an enchanting one that made her stand out.
Maybe it was her own loneliness that guided her to place herself in this situation, or maybe it was only her good nature seeping through to the surface. The reality had yet to settle upon her shoulders. The truth behind her decision had yet to become clear.
Even with her back turned, she could see Thorin glowering at her, and she felt her smile widen a fraction.
As cold as he seemed, he wasn't bad.
She was intrigued by him, but that was something she'd keep to herself, especially since he seemed to loathe her so.
She couldn't be sure of what her decision would bring her way. If it'd bring luck or misgivings, the outcome no longer mattered. Whatever may come her way in the end, then she would merely have to face it head-on.
"I suppose I never liked being on my own in the first place," she mused softly, turning her gaze up to the sky. Thorin had caught up to her side, and he'd heard her whispered honest claim. He spared her a quick glance before he turned away.
"I figured the opposite," he remarked. Kagome looked at him with a sad smile on her face.
"Solitude is okay in moderation," she responded, "but when it is all you have, it can be a bit sad, you know?"
"What will you do once you've helped us through?"
Kagome thought she heard genuine curiosity in his voice, but she second-guessed herself. She must've misheard. She shook her head and laughed.
"I suppose I will just have to go back to being alone," she said, looking back up at the sky. "After all, a sunflower cannot bloom without the sun."
Even if she were to return, she'd never have the sunlight she adored. Blonde hair and blue eyes flashed through her mind, and her heart ached.
Her sunlight was unobtainable. At least the actual sun was within her reach.
Auroua-chan: Hello! I recently sat down for a marathon of all marathons- all Hobbit Movies, and then all Lord of the Rings back to back. Whew it was a long one.
Anyway, let's move on from my rambling.. The pairing of this story: I currently don't have one for it. I am leaning towards either Legolas/Kagome, or maybe even a Thranduil/Kagome, or even Thorin/Kagome but I dunno yet. Suggestions for the pairing are desired, and will be considered, even if it is one I didn't plan for a final pair.
I also might have a poll, depending on how many differing suggestions I receive.
Whew, that was a mouthful.
So, I will end this here. I hope it was a good start! Please remember to review&favorite&follow, if you would be kind enough. If there are any errors in the text, my bad.
Laters!