Vesper felt dread building inside her the closer she got to the Dol Guldur. Every instinct shouted at her to get away, that something unnatural was there, however it only straightened her result to see what's there.

There were dark clouds above the former fortress which kept the sun for illuminating the stone ruins. The place was perfect for the darkness to manifest.

Vesper knew she couldn't enter the place without any type of protection, therefore she stopped by a small clearing to paint her face. Firstly she drew a stripe across her eyes and small line under it. Secondly she wrote runes under the line to dispell any illusions that would try to confuse her senses. Finally she drew one big rune on her forehead to not loose her way. Only then she felt ready for anything that will come. Taking a beep breath and steeling herself she stepped forward.

The fortress was dark and Black magic was covering every surface like a big slime. It was sickening.

Vesper had feeling someone was watching her. The gaze of someone on her back was heavy and it wasn't only one person.

There was sound of swinging blade. Instinctively she ducked and rolled away. She heard a blade hitting a stone and screaming. Terrible scream that dig deep into her heart, spreading fear in her body. She was immensely happy the spelled paint kept her mind working. However, she wasn't fast enough and another blade tore through her cloak, luckily not hitting her body. She rolled away again and blocked incoming sword with her staff. The creature holding the sword was oddly similar to Dementor.

"Ring Wraith," Vesper whisper in horror.

Tightening her grip on her staff she blasted the foul thing away. She got to her feet and drew her sword clashing it with a sword of a second wraith. Soon they were entangled in a deadly dance of blades. Hearing the third wraith coming she set the second one on fire and blocked the third's swing. Muttering a spell the runes on her blade glowed and set the blade aflame.

The wraith withdrew and started to cautiously circling the strange being. The screaming of his fellow still rung in the air. His other companion was crawling slowly towards them a knife clutched in his hand. Turning to the creature of light and fire he used the Black Breath on her.

All strength left Vesper's body and she collapsed to her knees. Her vision was getting blurry and black spots danced across her vision. Suddenly there was a burning pain in her shoulder. The pain forced her to drop her sword and scream. A powerful gust of magical fire left her body in desperate need to protect.

The wound was throbbing like it was pushing something out. There was something falling down her back and blood trickling after it. It was tainted. Her body and magic were fighting it off, but Vesper didn't hear, didn't see, didn't feel only wanted to escape, escape, escape from this place.

She got to her legs and hobbled away. The magic moved under her skin morphing her body into her phoenix form. With a flap of her wing she was in the air, another flap and she was leaving the wretched place behind. Her mind cleared from the haze of fear and she became aware of the pain and tainted poison in her shoulder. She needed a safe place to heal, not the Woodland realm, the wraiths would search for her there, she needed place somewhere else.

The pain was getting worse by a second. The need to land was also growing. It was a miracle she saw a town in middle of the lake. The wraiths fear the water and wouldn't look for her there, at least not anything soon.

Vesper glided down intending to land on a dock, but her body was weakened and she fell into the water. Her body automatically changed to the human form as it was more capable of swimming. Desperately she kicked her feet and waved her arms in attempt to swim but she was drowning. When she was loosing hope someone jumped into the water and dragged her out.

With the guidance of the strange she grabbed onto a dock with her good hand and pulled herself up. On her knees and hands she coughed up water, gentle hands rubbing her back. She raised her head to see the stranger, who saved her life. It was a man in his forties with a kind smile on a stern face.

"Thank you, you have saved my life," she said in common.

"Do not mention it. Who are you and what are doing here?" he asked.

"I'm a medicine maker. I-" before she could finish armed guard came and grabbed her by arms. Vesper cried in pain, more blood colouring her clothes as they aggravated the wound.

"What are you doing? She is injured!" the man cried.

"This is not your business, Bard," a slimy voice replied. "This being is an intruder and as such will be arrested until we know whenever is their presence danger to our town or not."

Vesper looked up to the face of the nasty man. "I am not a danger to this town, sir. I am just a mere medicine maker."

"Like I would believe that. What medicine maker walks the world in a leather armour? And what woman dresses in armour?"

"Stop it Alfred. Look at her armour, at her cloak. It is made by an elven hand. Elves do not give their things just to anyone. You may risk the trading with the Elven King. I think Master wouldn't be pleased about it nor the people of Lake-town," Bard said staring Alfred down.

Alfred gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Release her," he barked out.

The guard let go of Vesper's arms which caused her to fall on the ground. A his of a pain left her lips as she pushed herself to her feet.

"How long will you be staying in our town," Alfred asked her.

"One night," she answered.

"Can you pay?"

"Pay for what?" asked Vesper, who was attending to her injury.

"A fee for entering the Lake-town and staying for the night. If you can't pay you will be thrown out," Alfred smirked.

Groaning she pulled out some trinket she took from a bandit she killed some time ago and threw it at the man.

"Is that enough?" she asked challenge in her voice.

The man grimaced at the blood that stuck to it.

"It is enough. However, we will be watching you." The man left with his guard leaving Vesper and Bard alone.

"I must thank you yet again," she told the Bowman.

"Do not worry about it. Say, do you know where will you sleep tonight?" he asked her.

"Not yet. Do you know any good place?"

"There is not an inn with a room, but you can stay at my house," he offered.

"You have already done enough for me, I couldn't-"

"You are injured and I want to help," he cut in.

"Alright," Vesper agreed.

Bard took her to his home where he introduced her to his three children. The eldest daughter Sigrid offered to help her treat her injury and Vesper took her on the offer after some reluctance. She was quite surprised Sigrid thought Kingsfoil was a weed, thankfully she had some with her so they were able to neutralised the poison. Despite that the wound refused to heal properly. Vesper suspected it won't disappear until her next Burning Day. Bard and his children were very welcoming people and Vesper wanted to show them her gratitude.

After dinner Vesper turned to Bard. "I want to give you my gratitude and a gift for you and your children."

"You don't need to," Bard started but Vesper stopped him.

"I won't take a 'no' as an answer," she stared the Bowman down until he agreed.

"Then my gift or rather gifts. For the youngest," Vesper picked up a piece of wood and under the scrutiny of the family transfigured it into a doll fairy.

"A fairy," Tilda cheered.

Vesper give her the doll. "Be careful with the wings they are fragile and without them the fairy cannot fly."

Tilda give her the most serious look and told her she promises.

"For the only son," Vesper turned to Bain. "I saw you eyeing my sword. I will not give you a sword, but I will give you something else."

Vesper reached to her hair and took one of her hair decorations. She held it above the table and a dagger appeared.

"It is a great blade even if it isn't a sword. May it serve you well, young Bain."

The boy didn't know what to say. He looked to his father. The man was glaring at the woman distrustfully.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Vesper smiled at him. "I was given name Vesper the Witch. I am an Istari in service of the Valar."

Eyes of everyone widen in shock. But Bard frowned.

"I have never heard of you," ha said.

"Have you heard of Alatar and Pallando? The Blue Wizards?" she asked.

"No," Bard replayed.

"What about Radagast the Brown?"

"No."

"Yet they exist, like I do," there was twinkle in her eyes. "We all cannot be like Gandalf the Grey or Saruman the White after all."

"I suppose so," Bard admitted still cautious.

Vesper pushed the dagger towards Bard. "You can assure that the dagger is not cursed if you want. I will not take it personally. It is good to be suspicious of strangers. However, I am not your enemy and would never hurt a child."

Bard's eyebrows shoot up.

"Children are gift from Magic herself. They are to be loved and raised with care. I honestly envy you the blessing of three children and hope you will have a happy future," she smiled.

Bard nodded taking the dagger. He examined it carefully before handing it to his son.

Vesper turned the Sigrid, she pulled out a beautiful hairpin. "For the eldest daughter, to find happiness in her life."

Sigrid took the hairpin, enchanted by the beauty. She gently run her fingers over the metal flowers and precious stones.

"This is too much," she tried to return the gift.

"It is rude to refuse a gift, besides if you return it to me I will threw it into the lake," Vesper said.

Sigrid kept the pin in the end. Vesper turned to the father.

"Now, what give the father?"

Bard felt like these ancient eyes were staring into his soul.

"Your ancestor shoot the black arrows in hope to kill Smaug the Terrible," her eyes landed on the hidden arrow and Bard tensed.

Her eyes returned to the man. She suddenly took his hand. Bard wanted to take his hand back but couldn't even when he fell light burning there.

"Let your aim never be wrong, let your arrows always hit their target," she said and let go of him.

Bard looked at his hand and saw runes drew on the back. "What is that?" he asked uneasily.

"Just a little charm to help you with your work Bard the Bowman," Vesper answered.

Bard frowned at her.

The next morning Vesper approached him with a letter in hand.

"Soon elves from Milkwood will come and will ask for me. Please, give them this letter, it is for an Ellon called Legolas," she hold out the letter.

Bard raised an eyebrow. "Legolas, the prince of the Woodland realm? How are you involved with him?" he asked.

"Don't you think that's too personal question?" she answered.

Bard sighted and took the letter. He frowned at it. The letter was heavier than expected and there was something inside. He looked up to talk with Vesper so more but she was already gone.

Legolas waited for Vesper whole day and night, yet she didn't return.

"Something must have happened," he told Tauriel. "Something terrible."

"Let's return to the palace. We can form a search party there," Tauriel adviced.

Legolas agreed. The group of elves left the Witch's camp with one staying behind in case she returns. They travelled slowly as Legolas still wasn't fully recovered, which caused them to arrive to the palace in late afternoon. Thranduil, as if he knew when will they arrive, was waiting for them at the gate. When he saw his son a relief flashed through his eyes and he hugged his heir. The hug wasn't long but was heartwarming to Legolas.

Thranduil took him to their private wing to question him about his disappearance after a stop at the Healing Halls. Legolas told his father everything even that he was intimate with his one. He was blushing when he admitted that. Thranduil just shook his head muttering about youngsters these days not waiting for marriage and asked why she didn't accompany him here. Legolas answered that she went to take a look at the ruins where she suspected is the spider nest and hadn't returned yet. He continued his narration with explaining that the pull he feels changed location and now is at the Lake-town. At that Thranduil frowned.

"We'll make a search party today and send them off to the Lake-town at early morning tomorrow," he stated.

Legolas expressed his gratitude for the help with a smile.

When the sun comes out a group of four left the gates of the Elvenking's Halls. The group contained Legolas, Tauriel and two guards. If the young prince wasn't so stubborn the group would only have three elves instead of four. It truly was a fierce battle of minds between the most stubborn elf in the Mirkwood and his offspring yesterday, which ended victoriously for Legolas.

The group moved through the forest without any difficulties and safely reached the place where their boats were hidden. While they were preparing for the ride Legolas suddenly looked up.

"She left the town," he said.

There was no doubt of who 'she' is. They followed Legolas' gaze. They saw a bird made out of fire.

"Can she change her form?" Tauriel asked.

"Yes. She has a form of embodiment of fire itself," he replied.

"Should we follow her?" one guard asked.

"No. She must have left a message about her whereabouts in the town," Legolas explained.

They all feel silent again. They kept their silence the whole ride to the Lake-town. At the gate they were stopped by a man called Alfred.

"How may I help you my lords and lady?" He said slyly.

All four elves took immediate dislike to the man.

"Let us through," Legolas ordered.

"Of course, of course."

At his order the gate swung open. Before the group could continue the man stopped them again.

"If I may be bold, what is the purpose of your visit?"

Tauriel and Legolas exchange few glances that held meaning of thousand words.

"We are looking for a woman with black hair and hazel eyes. She has entered this town last night," Tauriel replied.

"There was a woman entering this town in rather unique way. Why are you looking for her?"

"That is non of your concern. Tell us where is she."

Alfred got a calculative expression. "Bard the Bowman had offered her housing for the night. She should be there."

"Thank you."

Without another word the group continued to the center of the town. They felt eyes on themselves from every direction. Tauriel and Legolas left the guards guard boats and went in search of Bard on their own.

It wasn't hard to find, soon Legolas was knocking on the door. The door opened revealing a teenage girl. She was very surprised by them, but was doing her best to hide it.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"Yes. We are looking for a beautiful woman with black hair by the name of Vesper," Legolas explained.

The girl's eyes narrowed. "What do you want from her?"

"I want to make sure she is safe. She went on patrol yesterday and have not returned."

"Sigrid, who's at the door?" a voice called from the inside.

"Two elves from Mirkwood," Sigrid answered.

"Invite them in."

Sigrid stepped aside. "Please come in."

Both Tauriel and Legolas thanked her and came in. Inside a middle-aged man welcomed them.

"Good morning. Are you looking for Vesper."

"Yes. Has she left a letter or something else."

"Before I answer that tell me what your names are."

"I am called Legolas and she is Tauriel."

"I do not know what are you to the Witch but she left a letter addressed to you," he handed over the letter.

The two elves thanked them again and left.

Legolas didn't open the envelope until he was in his room. Inside he found the pendant Vesper once give him and a letter. It said:

~Dear William or should I say Legolas,

I am sorry for leaving so suddenly. It pains me be separated from again, but it can be helped.

In the ruins I have found something, I do not dare to call it a person, full of darkness with power to raise dead. The Nine were woken from their slumber by its power. I have encounter only three of them, however I have no doubt the rest is also walking among the living or will be joining us soon.

In the brief fight I was injured and unintentionally drew the attention of the necromancer. I can feel it following me. I will do my best to shake it off as soon as possible, but I have to hide until then.

It should not take longer than a year, so, please, be patient until then.

Please, be safe.

Love,

Vesper~