In year 2768, Valar had sent Vesper to the Lonely Mountain, but was forbidden to enter the Greenwood. She felt a pull towards the Elven kingdom. It was calling to her; her fiancé was there. However, she listened to her lords and ladies and didn't come near. Her heart was throbbing, but she knew it wasn't time just yet.

When Vesper entered the Kingdom, her breath was taken away; it was so beautiful. It didn't hold the perfection of the elven realm, but it had its own beauty. The dwarves reminded her of Vikings.

She walked through the city, aiming for lower levels. She had to cast Disillusion spells on herself.

Whenever she stood on a bridge or beneath an archway, portal or door, she enchanted it. Enchantments against fire, rumbling, and smoke were woven into the stone. Straightening charms were cast on every inch, designed to hold through even the worst earthquakes.

She started her work at the very bottom of the mountain and made her way up. Soon, she was exhausted; the spellwork was strenuous. This was the biggest project she had ever done. Thankfully, her Disillusion spells dropped first, as she was on a floor where travelers were permitted.

She sat down in an alcove to rest. As she was digging in her bag for a Magic Restoring potion, she noticed a shadow being cast over her. She stopped what she was doing and slowly raised her head.

There was an old, white-haired dwarf with a kind smile and wise eyes. Next to him stood a young, black-haired dwarf, who was dressed in fine clothes and had an arrogant, impatient expression.

"Hello lassie. Are you lost?" the elder dwarf greeted.

"No, Master dwarf," she smiled pleasantly. "I know my way."

She returned to her bag.

The younger dwarf sneered. "What are you doing here witch." The last word was spat out. The elder dwarf shoot him a look.

Vesper looked up again. "I'm sitting in an alcove, young prince."

He drew a sword and pointed it at her. "How do you know who I am?"

"Your clothes and jewels are dead giveaway. Also the arrogance and way you held yourself, the way you walk, you move, it all screams noble, old blood. I recognise a noble when I see one, believe me. But how others act around you is most telling. They respect you, look up to you, like you are supposed to lead them, protect them. You are too young to be the king, but young enough to be a princ," she looked him up and down. "Son of the crown prince if I'm not mistaken."

That left the two dwarves gobsmacked.

Vesper give the sword a look then raised an eyebrow at the prince. "Well, are you going to stab me for my deductions? Do you even know how to use the sword properly? 'Cus you hold it the wrong way. Even my apprentice had done better job when he held sword for the first time and he was fourteen years old boy from men kind."

His befuddled expression morphed into one of fury. "How dare you?

"I dare because this is clearly the first or second time you hold a sword. I can tell that you are more familiar with an axe. You should do more practice before you draw your sword at anyone."

"And who are you to tell me what to do!?"

Vesper pulled out a phial from her bag. It was filed with swirling blue liquid. The two dwarves look at it suspiciously. Vesper just smirked opened the phial and downed the potion in one go.

"You said it yourself, I'm a witch." Then she disappeared before their eyes.

Both dwarves stepped back and the older drew his sword looking around. Light laughter rung around them. They stood back to back.

"Ah. Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you. My Lords and Ladies sent me here to help," Vesper laughed.

"Who are they?" the price bellow.

"The Valar, of course."

"Why do we need your help?" asked the elder.

"You will see in few years. Until then good bye." Vesper left the two wary and disbelieving dwarves still laughing. She knew it would come biting her in the ass later but she could help herself.

Later...

"Damn it!" Vesper cursed under her breath as she watched guards roaming around. They were everywhere on bridges, roads, in archways. Since her interaction with the prince and the other dwarf the number of guards had tripled.

"Should have keep my mouth shut," she muttered.

She gotta be more careful when casting, it'll take more time and magic than she thought.

"How troublesome."

With a sigh she cast Silencing charms and more Disillusion spells and continued with her work.

Slowly she walked through the levels of the Lonely Mountain casting her spells as silently as possible while using combination of Notice-me-not charms, Silencing charms and Disillusion spells. She had to rest more often and sleep in abounded places, she couldn't risk getting caught by the dwarves. At least she didn't need to steal food, because she had more than enough provisions.

"Ahhh," Vesper was laying on a roof of some shop near the entrance to the mountain. It took her whole ten days to finish, now she was completely exhausted. She swore she won't take a magic replenishment ever again. She could taste it's foul taste even now and she took it more than eighty hours ago.

She raised her left arm to cover her eyes, but stopped at the sight of her forearm.

Some years ago she draw a Vegvisir on it and fueled it with magic. It was as permanent as tattoo (removable only by magic) and as functional as an actual compass.

She stared at it, her tired mind processing its meaning. Then she shoot up full of energy again.

'The prince will need something to guide him,' something screamed inside her head. She had a pretty good guess who put that idea in her head but for her it just meant she's not done yet.

Groaning she stood up, drank a Pepperup, took her staff and hid behind the oh so familiar spells once more.

In training grounds

Young Thorin was training with a sword again. Ever since he met the witch he trained with his sword restlessly.

The young prince despite all his good behaviour had flaws like everyone else. He was stubborn, prideful and sometimes reckless. His recklessness could coast him his life when he drew a sword at the witch when he wasn't skill with it.

He was replaying that encounter again and again for past few days.

He and Balin were taking a stroll at one of the lower levels of the mountain when they saw a shimmering figure in one of the side alleys. They followed it quietly. The figures soon turned into a woman. She was definitely from race of men. She had black hair braided into so many braids that it would make any dwarf jealous, had a fur around her shoulders, simple green dress that were surely made by elf's hands, a bag was resting on her left side along with a sword and held a staff in her right hand.

She was heavily leaning on the staff while she made her way to an alcove near by. She sat there with a tired sigh and started to rummage through her bag.

Balin had decided to approach her and he tagged along. When he called her a witch she didn't denied it. When he asked her something she answered honestly. But she mocked him and compared him with a child from race of men. She had no respect for him or his title. It made him furious. When he shouted at her she calmly answered. When she confess what she is and became invisible he realised that he may have angered a powerful being, a servant of Valar, a Maia. He was so relieved when she said she is here to help but was worried. What will come in few years? Will it be so bad that they need a help from the Maia?

He swung his sword and decapitated a dummy he was training with. He stood there his sword raise at the headless dummy breathing heavily. Suddenly he felt something burning his left forearm. He dropped the sword and clawed at the left sleeve to see what is happening. He saw black lines running around his forearm making a strange symbol and everywhere where they went he felt the burning. When the symbol finished drawing itself it stopped burning.

Thorin didn't notice that others have gathered around him in worry and where now staring at the symbol as well.

"It must be the witch's doing," said someone on his left.

"Had she deliberately marked our Prince?" the question came somewhere from his right.

"But why would she do that? If she was evil she would have gone after the king, right?" asked another.

Thorin ignored them and was about to leave when he stepped on something. He looked down to see a rolled up paper. He picked it up and opened it. Inside were instructions on how to use the symbol, Vegvisir, it was a compass. At the end was written a note.

You can tell your grandfather that I am leaving today. Take care of yourself and your people, they will need a strong leader.

~Witch

When Thorin finished reading he ran out of the training ground and ran all the way to the entrance. He stopped running in the entrance hall and calmly walked to the Gate and stopped there. The witch stood twenty meters before the Gate. They locked eyes and she smiled a small sincere smile. She bowed to him, turned around and walked away. Thorin also turned and left, he got the message.

My work is done now it's up to you.