Chapter 1. Cilla's P.O.V.

Looking in the mirror I sighed, feeling sadness overtake my heart. The Victorian style dress I wore was blue, black floral designs and lace on the end of the sleeves. The outline of the dress along my shoulders and neck area black lace, and from the top of the bosom to the bottom of the dress all black with the part between the lace looking and feeling like black silk. My hair was designed beautifully. The sides of my hair pulled into multiple braids all leading into one double braided top layer, the bottom layer laying flat with a couple of the smaller braids laying like a swing over the double braid. Three flower pins were at the top of the design that held the swinging braids, with one last flower pin to keep the double braid held. The finishing touch was a renaissance medieval circlet with two little chains on each side hanging down with a teardrop hanging down the middle between my eye and a fabric collar/necklace to match. If Quintana could see me, she'd be so proud. Her and Krystle both.

"Are you sure you want to go?" I looked in the mirror to my left, seeing Quintanas mother. Her pale face and bags under her eyes made me filled with pain, unable to do anything to help her.

"No, but I will for her. She always wanted to go to a nightcourt ball, it was our fantasy." I replied, looking in the mirror again and I sighed slipping on the royal blue ankle strap heels. Unusual for the dress style but I thought it matched.

For the last part of my outfit I strapped on quit a few thigh straps for daggers, a waist strap for a dagger, and the straps for dual swords that were hidden by my hair. Naturally they were all fake but considering it was for the nightcourt, I thought it was a good fit.

"Ok, have fun and please be safe." I hugged tanas mom and got in the car on my way.

1 Hour later

I handed my ticket to the elf dressed man with a small smile and he gave one back, taking my hand and placing a kiss on the back of it.

"Welcome to the NightCourt my lady, have a wonderful time."

"Thank you, I hope you do as well."

As he straightened, he gave a smirk, softly letting go of my hand. "Oh I will. Especially with your surprise of a lifetime."

I glanced over my shoulder at him with a small confused frowned before shrugging. It was weird and straight out of a fanfiction but oh well. It is NightCourt.

I gasped as I looked around, taking in the beauty of everyone here. Women dressed as elves, some like with with fake weapons, some like straight valkyries or faeries. Men dressed as elves, fae and the lot. It was beautiful.

"Welcome everyone, to the NightCourt. Everyone who has never attended one, please make your way to the dance floor. Women making one line and men another. To each will be a seasoned attendee to lead you, so please. Take this night of pure fantasy and enjoy yourself. And some I believe, will be changed forever from this night on."

I followed his instructions and found myself being walked towards by the very man that was at the door with a smile on his face.

He held me with respect, one hand holding mine and the other on my waist and we danced to the music.

He looked down at me with a smile, his eyes showing a hidden secret.

"I do believe we've met my lady."

I grinned. "Yes I do believe so as well. At the door right?"

He gave a small chuckle. "Indeed, I do believe your will have the night of your life that will lead to an adventure."

I tilted my head, curious but aware he wasn't going to say anymore by the look in his eyes.

The rest of the night was a true dream, a fantasy. I danced with so many men for once in my life, enjoying myself to the max, even a few women dressed as men (though that was just strait fun).

As we left the ball one by one, me seeing onlookers looking at us with curiosity and confusion, I noticed the man from earlier looking at me with a smile and mischief. When I turned back around I found a woman in front of me who smiled before snatching my wrist.

"It's time to go home Cilla." and my eyes widened as I lurched forward uncontrollably. One minute I was outside the ball and the next I landed on soft grass, a rock digging into my side.

I groaned as I rolled over, slowly standing up and gripping my head. I opened my eyes slowly, blinking as I looked around noticing all the trees before I heard it. Shocked whispers came from behind me and I whirled around locking eyes on stormy shocked blue eyes. Taking in the men infront of my I felt gob smacked as I recognized the Company of Thorin Oakensheild.

I stepped back a couple steps, my face settling into a weary look. The look on their faces instantly changed into concern and worry, Thorin showing his hands as he tentatively stepped forward.

"Please, do not fear us. We are merely concerned. What are you doing so far away from the mountains my lady? And alone?"

I waited a moment before I replied, still weary. "I'm not exactly from around here. Almost another world you could say."

"I see. May I have your name?"

I smirked. "Why, don't you have one?"

He blinked a moment before he and the rest of the company busted out laughing.

Chuckling small I gave his answer. "I ask those I don't know to call me Artemis, my name I only give those I trust. I hope you understand."

With a contemplative look he regarded me before slowly nodding in agreeance, the rest looking baffled.

Gandalf looked at me while smoking old toby and spoke. "You would not trust your own kin? The only race that protects women with everything they have?"

I frowned as I looked at him. "They are still men, and my experience has shown me I cannot trust men without proof."

Frowns were all around when I hear two familiar voices. "Cilla!"

I whirled around locking eyes on two women who should have been dead.

"Krystle? Quintana?"

"Cilla! Oh my gosh!" Krystle exclaimed as they both started rushing at me. This shouldn't be possible. I watched them die, I held them as they died.

My face set in stone and in seconds I had my duel swords (holy shit they're real) in my hands and I was on them. Their eyes widened as they immediately set to defend themselves.

"What the heck are you doing?!" Quintana exclaimed.

I snarled, my face twisting in the motion as I responded. "You're not real. You DIED! I watched you! I HELD YOU AS YOU BOTH BLED OUT!" I yelled out as I whirled in my offensive motions.

"Cilla look at us." Krystle grunted as one of my swords pushed hers down.

"Do we fucking look dead?" Quintana asked as I tripped her up and dropped on her, both swords aimed at her heart.

"You can't be alive! I buried you!" I felt wild, tears streaming down my face and I felt Krystle grab me in a choke hold pulling me off Quintana.

"Cilla look at us. Feel our arms and hands. Look at our eyes and tell us that we're dead."

As I struggled Quintana came over to me and grabbed my face in her hands to make me stop moving and I looked at her.

I grit my teeth as I spoke. "Tell me one thing both of you would know."

She smiled and I heard Krystle giggle. "When we were sixteen, you-"

My face paled. "Ok, ok. I get the point." I shrugged them off as I sat up before turning to both of them. I reached forward and touched both of their faces, joy overcoming me.

"It's really you. But how?!" I asked as I pulled them in for a hug, holding them tight and them reciprocating it.

I pulled back and looked at them, all of us with great big grins on our faces and Quintana spoke.

"We still don't know. We appeared a couple of months ago, we don't remember what happened exactly. Just that we died. Since then we've been staying with Bilbo, he found us."

I stood and turned towards the company, eyes searching out Bilbo. My eyes locked on his, unaware of a pair of chocolate brown eyes looking at me with wonder, and walked towards Bilbo.

As I stopped by him I noticed just how tall these shoes make me and smiled down at Bilbo. "I can never repay you for taking care of my sisters. They mean the world to me, and you have given me the universe by taking care of them. If there is ever a time I can help you, please just tell me what you need." I told him as I bowed my head in respect.

He looked shocked and he stuttered before responding. "O-of course. It is only w-what any respectable Hobbit would do."

I smiled and shook my head. "Either way, I can never fully repay you."

One of the dwarves cleared their voice before speaking and I looked at Fili.

"Pardon me miss, but why ever are you dressed as if you came from a celebration?"

I gave him a small half smile. "I did. I was at the NightCourt Ball before I came."

"Are you fricking serious?" Quintana exclaimed and I grinned looking at her.

"Oh, deadly so I'm afraid."

"Aye, we can see that lass. You showed us that very well actually." Dwalin spoke and I smirked at him.

"Holy shit, come here and make a turn. Slowly."

I walked over to the girls and slowly turned as I got to them, head tilted up with pride.

"Stop." I paused, my back to them and felt them touch my hair. With it being so close to my neck I tensed, but forced myself not to react. Doing so apparently caught their attention though.

"Cilla, what is beneath this neck thing?" Krystle spoke.

My jaw tightened as I looked down, mouth firm. "A reminder of the day you died."

There was a pause before I felt one of them slowly start taking it off. As the it came down, gasps were heard all around and one of the girls grabbed my arm and yanked me around before both of them gasped and stepped back.

"Cilla...what happened that day?" I frowned as I looked at them and looked away, two jagged lines across my jugular visible and barely healed. .

"I...I'm not ready to talk about that yet. Please, don't make me."

There was a pause before Quintana spoke. "Ok, whenever your ready."

I smirked as I looked at her. "The lot of you look like you're traveling somewhere, and I'm sure I'm not exactly invited. I'll find my way, don't worry."

"Nonsense, of course you will be coming with us." I looked behind me at Thorin in shock as he gave a small smile.

"Considering who you are to them, you're a dwarrodam, and the simple fact that you probably know as much as they do from what they've told us, it is only natural that you should join us."

I blinked at him as the rest of the dwarves nodded in unison. "You're serious? You would allow me to join you for those reasons alone? You don't know me, you don't know my loyalties."

Thorin nodded and Balin spoke up. "That may be true lass, but the fact that you are a dwarrodam alone encourages us to bring you along for your protection, not that you need it lass. You showed that very well. But you are a woman lass, please."

I thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but just a second. I only have one problem." I said and I reached out to hold Krystle's shoulder and reached down to pull my shoes off. Once off I let out a large sigh. "Okay, much better."

The company looked in shock when Ori spoke. "You wore those while fighting? Amazing!"

"By Mahal, ye shrunk too lass!" Bofur exclaimed.

I snorted and the girls giggled (to which Fili looked in awe at Krystle I noted). "You're making me want put those death traps back on Bofur, and I've been wearing them for 7 stinking hours." They murmured in shock while Thorin smirked.

He shook his head as he spoke. "As I said, you know just as much as them." I gave him a small grin at that.

As everyone got on a pony (Krystle rode with Fili, something I also took note of), I raised an eyebrow but before I could speak, a shadow overfell me and I looked up into the eyes of Kili.

He gave a grin as he looked at me. "I got you lass, no need to fret." He spoke gently (voice startlingly deep and smooth) before taking my hand with care. "Please allow me to assist you on our pony."

Both my brows shot up as I looked at him. "Our pony? Your willing to share with me without being asked?"

He gave a smirk, a mischivous twinkle in his eye. "Of course darling, trust me, we will be sharing quit the bit on this adventure. It would be my absolute honor to assist you." He said as he kissed my hand.

"I'm not sure your lady friend back home would be to happy." I said as I looked at him with slight distrust.

He frowned and shook his head vehemently. "No my lady, their is no other, nor has there ever been. There is only one for me." As he said this he held my hand tight and looked deep in my eyes, like he was trying to finds something.

I tore my gaze from his to look at Quintana and she nodded with a slight smile. "Alright, let's go then." I said. Kili gave a great grin and bent on one knee holding his hands out. "Um...what are you doing?" I asked.

Kili raised his brow and said "Helping you on the pony of course."

I snorted as I looked at him. "No offense princeling, but no thanks." I said, promptly putting my left foot in the stirrup and pulling myself up.

He looked up at me with awe and stood as I took my feet out of the stirrups and put them in front of them so he could get on.

"Do you mind if I sit on your dress lass? It does take up quit a bit of room, and I am a rather sturdy dwarf I'm afraid."

My brow shot up as I smirked and looked him up and down before looking forward. "No need to be afraid sweet heart, you only spoke the truth. But no, I don't mind at all."

I heard chuckles and giggles all around as he got on the pony, arms coming to rest around my middle and he spoke in my ear.

"Careful lass, some might take that as teasing, and I for one, always respond."

I turned my head and glanced at him, meeting his stormy eyes and gave a small grin. "Nothing wrong with that."

He gave out a soft groan as Thorin spoke.

"Move out." Already, I knew that I had to stop the events in the future. No one will hurt the line of Durin now that I'm here. And NO ONE will hurt my sisters, over my dead body.

This story is currently being review and re-written in some cases to make it less cringe-worthy 09-02-2024