"What if I were to help you to reclaim it?" Gandalf asks.
"How? The Arkenstone lies half a world away, buried beneath the feet of a fire-breathing dragon," Thorin answers.
Gandalf smiles. "Yes, it does; which is why we are going to need a burglar."
12 months later:
Thorin gently cradles Anarane as Fili and Kili hover over his shoulder, gazing anxiously down at her with concern bright in their eyes and their mouths in a grim line.
Thorin looks up at Gandalf, his eyes pleading. "Mithrandir… please…"
Gandalf sighs heavily. "Let us remove ourselves from this Carrock and I'll see what I can do."
Thorin gently lays Anarane on the ground and standing to his feet demands angrily. "What do you mean?! You healed me mere moments ago! Why can't you do the same for her?!"
Gandalf's gaze bore into Thorin. "It was not I who healed you Oakenshield, but Anarane."
Thorin gazes back down at her with a shocked expression, his mouth hanging open,
"We need to leave here. Come, Thorin. Once we are off this Carrock, Oin and I will see what we can do." Gandalf states.
Thorin nods, and with Fili and Kili, carries Anarane.
As they make camp, Gandalf and Oin examine Anarane.
"She did not have this side wound in the Goblin Tunnels." Oin mumbles as he examines the jagged tear. "All she had were the wounds inflicted by the wargs."
Gandalf whips his head around to stare at the dwarf. "By the wargs? When did she acquire them?"
As Oin shows him the claw marks on her back and the teeth marks in her shoulder Thorin answers, "Remember when we were attacked by those two wargs on the Great East Road?" At Gandalf's nod of acknowledgment Thorin continues, "She took down eight orcs and six wargs and didn't realize the two wargs without riders sneaking up on her. She was caught off guard."
Gandalf's face crinkles in compassion at the red and puffy wounds. "Unfortunately, without athelas there's not much I can do. We'll just have to hope for the best."
At that moment, Anarane fights her way back to consciousness.
Gandalf sighs happily. "Welcome back, young lady."
Anarane blinks owlishly. "What happened?"
"You fainted as we were gazing upon Erebor." Balin answers with a smile.
Anarane scoffs and rolling her eyes states, "As if. I am a warrior and warriors do NOT faint."
At Balin's shrug, Anarane directs her plea to his brother, "Dwalin, help me up."
As he brings her to her feet, she hisses as the wound in her side stretches. "Oin, may I have some bandages?"
As Oin hands them to her, he asks, "Out of curiosity, did you have that wound in the Goblin Tunnels?"
"No." Anarane answers simply as she secures the bandages to her wound.
"Then, how did you acquire it?" Dwalin rumbles.
"It was from Azog, of course."
Everyone turns to face Bilbo, who was sputtering from the angry glare Anarane was leveling at him. "What? Was it supposed to be a secret?" He inquires of her.
"When were you battling Azog?" Thorin growls.
Anarane rolls her eyes at his tone. "As you were carried away by the eagle."
"And why would you fight him?!"
Anarane levels her glare at Thorin, who returns it with one of his own. "I was trying to make a deal with him."
At everyone's expressions of shock, she shrugs non-chalantly and states, "I told him that if he gave up his quest to destroy Thorin he could take me."
Only one's voice returns to him. "And why would you offer yourself?" Thorin asks weakly.
Anarane bends to retrieve her weapons. "What does it matter?"
As Thorin opens his mouth to reply, Bofur asks first, "Where are you going?"
The others notice the slight wince as Anarane swings her quiver on to her back. "Taking first watch." And leaves before anyone can say otherwise.
As Anarane leans back against the rocky wall, she hears footfalls. Turning around, she meets Fili's and Kili's gazes of concern.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" She asks worriedly, making to get up.
Fili and Kili plop down, one on each side of her. "You mean other than you not resting? Then, no, I guess there's nothing wrong." Fili answers.
She smiles at his reply. "Keep in mind I'm older than you dwarfling."
"And that matters because?" Kili's face twists in confusion.
Anarane swings an arm around each of their shoulders. "When someone was there at your birth and sang you to sleep as fussy lads that means that they're supposed to worry about you, not the other way around."
The boys settle in, mindful of Anarane's wound. Gently finger combing the waves into submission, with great care disentangling pine needles and knots that occur when hair is not properly looked after, she hears Fili mumble something. When he was this tired, his brogue became nigh impossible to interpret. Being around him his whole life though she smiles at his request of "Don't ever do that to us again."
Anarane was debating how she could stand without waking up her sister's sons – she seriously needed to stretch her legs – when her elvish hearing picks up footfalls that were TRYING to be quiet. "Luck is on your side. If I didn't know your footsteps, a knife would be buried in your gut right now, Thorin."
As he comes into her line of sight, his face a mask of confusion, he inquires "My gut? Not my chest or between my eyes?"
Giving him a droll stare she glances meaningfully down at the slumbering dwarves snuggled into her sides. "And risk waking them up? They need their rest. A foe is not worth their well-being."
"And what of your's sister?"
Anarane arches a brow at the term. "The company's well-being is the only thing of importance."
Thorin pinches the bridge of his nose. "Are you being this difficult on purpose? You seem to be putting in quite the effort to test my patience."
Anarane gives a snort of contempt. "I don't have to try, Thorin. My mere presence gives you irritable bowels."
"What would ever make you think that?"
Seeing his despair, she feels no pity.
"What would make me think that?! How about the glare full of hate I received after you reprimanded Fili and Kili for not knowing anything of the world and I reminded you that how could they when you had kept them safe at the Blue Mountain? Or your snort of disdain as you ordered me to return to the Blue Mountain? Your glare of disgust in the Goblin Tunnels on the swinging path? When the bridge slid down the cavern's wall and you grabbed my jacket to keep me from falling off it, but you did not even look at me? Could it have been your growl of disgust as you roughly yanked me from the wreckage? And those are just from these last months! We would be here well past Durin's Day if I accounted for every moment since we were forced from Erebor that you have treated me like scum. So to answer your question Thorin, I have no inkling why I would possibly think that."
His face hardens and as he turns from her, Anarane relaxes in relief. Knowing Thorin, she had angered him and he would stomp away like an angry child,leaving her to her exhaustion.
Thorin turns back around with a repentant look. "That's what I used to do and as a king I do not have to explain myself to anyone."
Anarane rolls her eyes; same old Thorin.
"You, however, are not anyone, dear sister. And because of that, I will admit that I continued to treat you poorly after this quest began. You are correct in those assessments; but what you perceived as continued poor treatment in the Goblin Tunnels is incorrect. The glare of disgust on the swinging path was directed toward myself for not being the one to catch you. If I did, that would have meant I was by your side. As it was, I had left you behind. The reason I did not look as I caught you before you could fall from the bridge was because the fear I felt when I saw you falter was still pounding in my chest. I reacted on instinct grabbing your jacket. My fear was overwhelming. It may have seemed that I yanked you from the wreckage roughly, but I assure you that my fear of not seeing you emerge, knowing you were… buried, fueled my need to see and feel that you were still alive. And the growl of disgust was for the filthy creatures that had almost taken you from me. You saved us on the Great Road-"
"And as a king, you must appear grateful. There is no need to continue pretending that you care Thorin. You and I both know that there is nothing I can do to earn your trust and love. After all, I am an elf." Anarane interrupts, disgust evident in her words.
As Thorin opens his mouth to reply, Anarane orders "Fetch Bilbo."
Thorin sputters, but his look of indignation quickly morphs into one of concern. "What is it?"
Anarane sighs in exasperation. "I don't know, which is why I need our burglar."
Thorin hesitates, but acquiesces.
"You acquire my assistance?"
Anarane gives Bilbo a small smile. "Indeed I do, dear hobbit." Carefully disentangling an arm, she points. "I believe I saw something over there. Would you be so kind as to go investigate it?"
"And why are you unable to accomplish this task?"
Giving Thorin an irritated look, Anarane answers slowly "Because your irakdashats are heavy, and I can no longer feel my legs and arms. By the time I can, we may be in inescapable danger. And though as an elf I would be as quiet as a burglar, I am not at my best."
"Say no more. I'll be back momentarily." Bilbo promises and disappears from sight over the ledge's edge.
Anarane groans as she starts to extract herself.
"We should join the others and wait for Bilbo's report."
"And what of our discussion?"
Anarane levels a bland glare in Thorin's direction. "There's nothing more to discuss." She stiffly crouches down and gently shaking them, wakes up Fili and Kili.
The Desolation of Smaug
Exiting the forest, Anarane spies a house surrounded by a hedge in the middle of a plain.
"To the house! Run!" She hears Gandalf order.
As they run across the plain, Anarane struggles to keep up.
She knows the "bear" is right behind them; her elvish hearing leaves little room for doubt.
She realizes she's in trouble when Bombur passes her; she is nowat the back of the group.
"Come on, get inside!" Gandalf orders.
Ori peeks out a crack in the door. "He's leaving!"
Dori pulls him away from the door. "Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious: he's under some dark spell."
Gandalf sighs. "Don't be a fool; he's under no enchantment but his own. Alright now, get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight."
As the dwarves start spreading out, Gandalf whispers quietly to himself "I hope."
Anarane smiles at Gandalf's words, her elvish hearing easily picking it up. But the words have another meaning.
She will be sleeping by the door, especially if their "host" was not fond of dwarves.
Settling down, she angles herself away from the others and is grateful she is the only elf in the group as a hiss escapes before she can stop it.
During the run, the bandages had moved and her shirt was now sticking to the sluggishly oozing blood. She stubbornly refuses to acknowledge her back, which feels like it's on fire. There is nothing she can do for those injuries as she can't reach them herself.
She starts to lift her shirt, to see how bad the damage is, when someone over her shoulder asks "Anarane?"
She sighs inwardly and, not turning to address the speaker, inquires "What is it, Thorin?"
"We did a lot of running, over rough terrain. … You fell behind, even Bombur passed you."
She snorts as she discreetly eases her shirt up. Yeah, that didn't look good. "If I recall correctly, he passed everyone and was the first to reach the door."
"More like run into it."
She snorts at his deadpan delivery. "So forgive me, but I don't see where that would be concerning."
He sighs heavily. "Anarane-"
She looks at him over her shoulder, but does not turn to face him. "You should heed Gandalf's words and get some sleep. I dare say everyone could use it. I'll keep watch. We'll be safe tonight."
He smirks. "As I recall, our host is not the only one not overly fond of dwarves."
She gives him a serious look. "Only some. The fact that you're Kili and Fili's Irak'Adad, and that they adore you, is the only reason I look out for you in the first place."
He smiles and seems about to reply, when his name is called.
He seems hesitant to leave. Inclining his head, he bids "May sweet dreams find you tonight." And walks away.
Anarane sits in the corner, struggling to keep her eyes open. Her bow is laid across her lap, but an arrow is nocked. She continuously runs her fingers over the fletching in a pathetic attempt to stay alert. With the orcs, wargs and Beorn prowling about, she isn't about to let her guard down.
She startles to awareness as a gentle creak resounds. As the door begins to inch open, she slowly raises the bow.
As the towering man steps around the door and into the house, she keeps her weapon steady.
When he notices her, he slowly raises his hands and rumbles softly. "Peace, little sister." When she doesn't lower the bow, he gives a warm smile. "If anything, you should be at my mercy. After all, you are intruders in my home."
As Anarane lowers her bow, Beorn's brows lower as well as his face twists into concern.
"You are wounded." He growls.
Anarane shrugs and hopes her grimace of pain wasn't evident. "It's bound to happen." She answers simply.
"You planned to be injured at the hands of wargs."
Anarane keeps her mouth shut.
After a moment, Beorn states "I am a shapeshifter. My sense of smell is heightened. The stench of those foul beasts is powerful, as is the stench of rotten and foul flesh and blood. Are you unaware of athelas?"
"I'm aware of it. Unfortunately, our group doesn't have any."
He motions her toward what appeared to be a kitchen area.
"I happen to have some. Please, little sister, allow me to mask your wound."
"Wounds. And for future reference, females do not like being told that they smell and they don't particularly like being told they smell bad."
Anarane stands against a wall in the kitchen, somewhat paying attention to the conversation about Azog. The athelas felt wonderful; however, her wounds were that bad it would take awhile for the pain to be manageable.
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf informs Beorn.
Anarane's focus was now on the conversation. Her brow furrows in anger.
"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees." The shape changer warns.
"You mean beside the cowardly elves that live there?"
Beorn's eyes shows his curiosity at her tone and words. "There is an alliance between the orcs of Moria and the necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need."
"We will take the Elven Road. That path is still safe." Gandalf continues.
"Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous." Beorn counters.
Anarane snorts softly in derision. "You will find no argument that they lack intelligence; however, I believe you give them too much credit believing they are dangerous."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because you are only truly dangerous when there is nothing left but to survive. They have never had to toil to survive; they hide away. THAT makes them cowards, and being a coward teaches you to be reckless, stupid, arrogant." She answers as Thorin turns and walks away from the table.
She might have said more, but Beorn adds "But it matters not."
Thorin turns back around to face him "What do you mean?"
"These lands are crawling with orcs. Their numbers are growing and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive."
Thorin looks shocked.
Beorn stands up from the table and faces Thorin. "I don't like dwarves." As he starts walking toward him, Anarane tenses, her finger playing with the hilt of her sheathed dagger at her waist.
Beorn continues. "They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." He picks up a mouse that had been scampering on the table and holds it, all the while approaching Thorin.
Who is standing with his arms crossed.
Beorn stops and finishes "But orcs I hate more. What do you need?"
Anarane softly releases the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
As the company makes their way through Mirkwood, Anarane stops to sit down on the path, trying to catch her breath.
Gandalf had not been wrong; the air was heavy.
With her injuries and the athelas fading, with no more to help her continue to heal, her wounds were making it difficult to traverse the forest.
She was just going to try to catch her breath; after all she had elven hearing and sight to keep the company safe; the dwarves, they were-
Anarane's world goes black.
Bilbo catches himself on a branch and then, watches in horror as a web parts to reveal a massive spider. As the spider opens its fangs and hisses at him, Bilbo yells.
Anarane comes awake with a start.
What had happened?!
She'd heard someone call out.
Getting to her feet, she stumbles toward where it had come from.
A blonde elf runs through the treetops and then, swings down a spider's silk in order to land on it and kill it. He slides on the forest floor under the spider facing Thorin, slicing it in half and comes up, kneeling, with an arrow nocked in his bow and pointed at Thorin.
"Do not think I won't kill you, dwarf. It would be my pleasure." He warns.
The dwarves look around, and see that they are completely surrounded and outnumbered by Mirkwood Elves, all with drawn bows aimed at the dwarves.
One elf breaks away and placing herself between the arrow and Thorin, levels her own nocked arrow at the stranger. "Do not think I won't kill you, elf. It would by MY pleasure." Anarane growls.
After a moment of wide-eyed shock, he snarls. "Le varya naugrim?"
Without a twitch, she answers simply "Toi nossenya."
His eyes narrow dangerously. "Ya naa lle?"
It had been so long since she had been around strangers, she decided to give the simple answer. "Nanye Anarane Haldirion. A le?"
"Nanye Legolas Thranduilion."
At his reply, Anarane's stance became aggressive.
"Lass?" Balin wonders
"He is the prince of Mirkwood, Legolas Thranduilion; child of Thranduil." She hisses.
"Help!" Kili shouts.
"Kili!" Fili replies and the dwarves whirl around to see a spider pulling Kili away by the foot.
At the cry, Anarane had turned around and as she makes to go to him, her arms are wrenched behind her back, making her drop her arrow and bow. She bites down hard on her lip to keep the cry of pain inside as the rough movement jarredthe injuries on her side and back.
"I don't suffer anyone to aim a bow at me and threaten me."
Anarane scrunches her face in disgust at the words whispered in her ear. Unfortunately, she knew he was just far enough away that she could not head butt him. "Harnas ti, adhir innas na-harnas, o nin." She snarls.
An elf hands Legolas Thorin's sword, Orcrist, and he inspects it. "Echannen i vegil hen vin Gondolin. Magannen nan Gelydh. Where did you get this?"
"It was given to me." Thorin answers.
Legolas points the sword at Thorin. "Not just a thief, but a liar as well."
"Caun!" Anarane shouts, struggling against the elf that still held her arms behind her back. "Avo maetha-him!"
"Enwenno hain!" Legolas orders.
The elves begin to lead the dwarves away.
As Tauriel walks away, Legolas addresses her. "Orchal eb vui, mal uvanui en."
He turns his attention to Kili and they glare at each other.
As Legolas turns to follow Tauriel, he stops and adopting an air of arrogance drawls out "Dartha."
As he approaches, the elf that is about to put Anarane in a cell, releases her, steps back and with a bow, leaves.
Anarane glowers at Legolas. "You should take a look in the mirror, Thrandulion. The only ugly thing I see around here is your arrogant face."
He stares down at her and with a smirk states "I'm sure we could find better accommodations fitting one of our kin; if you were to renounce the dwarves."
She scoffs and stepping back into the cell, shuts the door. "Pad-an udun."
He huffs and turning on his heel, storms out.
As she sits on the floor, leaning gingerly against the wall, Anarane listens to her brother's conversation with the "king."
"You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule: the King's Jewel, the Arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure." She growls. She does not like the condescension in his voice and prays that Thorin is reining in his temper.
"I understand that." Like he could. He still had everything, while everything had been cruelly taken from them.
"There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight." At his words, a memory flashes through her mind; of Thror showing her them, hoping to help the cloud of sadnessthat had descended on her. "A bit of starlight for my star in this dark mountain."
"I offer you my help." Anarane stiffens at that. They had asked for his help when they had been forced from the mountain and he had turned from them.
Thorin replies. "I am listening."
She laughs bitterly. He was a fool to trust the elven king.
"I will let you go, if you but return what is mine."
"A favor for a favor." More like selling your soul, Anarane thinks sourly.
"You have my word; one king to another." She growls. How dare he! If she was there with Thorin right now, she would have struck Thranduil for that barb, never mind the consequences.
Thorin's voice gets louder and louder as he speaks. "I would not trust Thranduil, the great king, to honor his word should the end of all days be upon us!" He is now shouting. "You lack all honor! I've seen how you treat your friends. We came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help, but you turned your back. You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us! Imrid amrad ursul!"
Anarane smiles and closing her eyes, surrenders herself to the darkness.
"I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon, but he would not listen." Thranduil turns and walks up the steps to his throne. "You are just like him." Thranduil motions, and guards grab Thorin and haul him toward the dungeons. "Stay here if you will, and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf! I am patient. I can wait. Bring me the elf that was traveling with them."
Thorin's face shows his fear at those words. "You leave her be! If you touch her…"
"What will you do, Thorin Oakenshield? What can you do, locked away in my dungeons?"
Thorin is thrown into a cell beside the other dwarves, and his jailer walks away with a ring of jangling keys.
"Did he offer you a deal?" Balin inquires.
"He did. I told him he could go Ish kakhfê ai'd dur rugnu! - him and all his kin!" Thorin shouts the last part in defiance.
Hearing this, Balin closes his eyes and sighs wearily in frustration. "Well...that's it, then. A deal was our only hope."
Thorin states as he grabs the bars. "Not our only hope."
Anarane's eyes snap open just as her door is.
The elf steps in and grasping her under an arm, hauls her to her feet.
"Stop! Get your hands off her! Leave her alone! Tell your king that if he harms her, he will suffer my wrath! Anarane!" Thorin shouts after her as she is led from the dungeons.
"From where do you hail?" Thranduil inquires genially.
Anarane rolls her eyes as she grudgingly answers "… I hail from the Lonely Mountain, Erebor."
He gives her a condescending smile. "Elves do not live in the mountain."
She gives a snort of derision. "Maybe not, but I grew up there. I saw you when you came to pay homage to Thror when he was king under the mountain. I am Thror's adopted granddaughter."
Thranduil smiles, now understanding Thorin's fear. "Which makes you Thorin's sister."
Anarane scoffs at the statement. "Though he won't admit it. Even though I hate you as much as he does."
Thranduil's eyebrow quirks. "And why is that?"
"Far over the Misty Mountains cold, to dungeons deep and caverns old. We must away ere break of day, to find our long-forgotten gold. The pines were roaring on the height, the winds were moaning in the night; the fire was red, it flaming spread. The trees like torches, blazed with light." Her pure voice rang out clearly and sweetly. When the dwarves sang it, it was a song to stir embers into flames of action.
When Anarane sang it in the voice of her kind, it was to invoke deep sorrow for what was lost.
As the last note gradually disappeared from the halls she snarls "But you would know that Thranduil for you were there when the dragon attacked us."
Her angry voice seems to wake him from the spell her voice had cast over him. "As I told your brother, I warned your grandfather what his greed would bring, he didn't heed my warning."
She stares at him in disbelief. How could he not understand?! "And because of that you idly stood by as innocent women and children were slaughtered?! You know naught of the babes I tried to save who died in my arms before I even made it out of the mountain! Nor of the screams of children, echoing off the walls. Screams of children I knew I would not be able to save in time, crying out for help, for their parents, in terror! Screams of children whose lives were viciously cut short! But how could you? When your own son has been allowed to grow into a warrior."
At Thranduil's confused look she smirks, "Even if he hadn't introduced himself I would have been able to tell that Legolas was your son for you both possess the same haughty, arrogant pride."
Her head snaps to the side as Thranduil backhands her, his ring cutting open her cheek.
She smiles scathingly. "… If I hailed from this realm, the fact that I stood by while my ALLIES were destroyed would cause me to feel so ashamed, I believe I would take my own life." She turns her back to him and starts walking away.
"Come back. I did not dismiss you…" The fact that those words were ordered in his voice of authority didn't make her falter in the very least.
She did stop though; she would dig in one last barb. Smirking, she turns around to face him and states as if he were a mere annoyance. "You are not my king! And even if you were, I would not pay you the respects due a king for the throne suits you ill Thranduil, no longer king of Greenwood, but king of MIRKwood." And she gives him a mocking, VERY disrespectful bow.
Oh, how her decorum instructors would have fainted from disgrace.
"Take her to the dungeons!" The angry shout informs her that she had done what she set out to do.
She had found her way under his skin.
Turning back around, she waves dismissively. "No need; I know the way." She replies airly.
Anarane plops down in her cell.
"Anarane?"
"I'm fine, Balin!" She snaps.
"You don't sound it lass." Dwalin's brogue rumbles.
"Why did you sing that song?" Bofur inquires.
Anarane chuckles. "His majesty, for some unfathomable reason, couldn't understand why I hate him as much as Thorin does. I figured the song was the best way to explain." She hisses in a breath as she prods at the injury.
"Anarane?!"
Anarane snorts. "Careful, Thorin. Your concern is showing." She growls.
"I told him not to lay a hand on you."
Anarane lets out a huff of disbelief. "And what could you do, Thorin, being locked away in these dungeons?"
After a moment, his soft voice answers "That's exactly what Thranduil said."
Of course he had. "Thus confirming what you've always said, all elves are alike."
"No, Anarane."
She raises an eyebrow at the angry growl.
"I was wrong. I see that now. You are nothing like these elves. I am sorry I have treated you as if you were. Please, forgive me, my sister." When she didn't respond, he continues softly. "Are you well?"
She sighs tiredly. "It's just a scratch, it'll heal."
Was that actually a chuckle?! "You know that's not what I meant."
When she doesn't answer, he continues. "He will pay for striking one of the house of Durin."
As she was still muddling through what Thorin had ACTUALLY said with that declaration, FINALLY claiming her as kin, he adds "He will pay more for striking you."
As her mind stops at the statement, Thorin placing her importance as one of the royal family, he finishes "And he will pay even more for filling you with fear."
THAT demands an answer. "Why Thorin? To keep your pride because you threatened him if he laid a hand on me? Or maybe, to keep the pride of the house of Durin?"
"No. Because I love you deeply, my sister." He declares, though the tone is no less heartfelt.
As the words settles, Balin asks "What happened?"
She was SO tired. "… Nothing."
"That's not true."
Anarane looks to her bars where Legolas is standing, arms crossed over his chest.
"My father is pacing his throne room, muttering angrily. What did you say to him?"
Anarane saunters up to the bars. "I told him he no longer rules Greenwood but Mirkwood, that the throne suits him ill and that because of his inaction when Erebor was attacked, if I hailed from here, my shame might cause me to take my own life."
Legolas smirks and turns around, making to walk away; when Anarane continues "I also told him that you and he possess the same arrogant, haughty pride."
Legolas wheels back around, angrily grabbing the bars.
Anarane smiles when his face falls. "Why the shock little princeling?"
"You did not have that cut on your cheek when we brought you here. How did you acquire it?"
"You do not know by now what your father's handiwork looks like?"
Legolas steps back from the bars; and as Anarane makes to do the same, he calls over his shoulder "Guard!"
As the door swings open, Anarane glowers at him.
"You will come with me or there will be consequences."
Anarane lifts her chin and squares her shoulders.
His smile is sardonic. "Not to you; I can see that you have no fear for yourself." Stepping into the cell so that they were almost toe to toe, his smile turns condescending "But I think I can figure out which dwarf I can hurt that will cause you the most pain."
Anarane huffs and snarls "Lead the way, princeling."
"Your highness! To what do I owe the pleasure?" The healer's eyes widen in horror. "Please tell me you are not injured, again!" He pleads in exasperation.
Legolas smiles at Nestoron. "Please, you act as if you see me on a daily basis."
"Well, I," Nestoron looks past Legolas at the unfamiliar female elf. "Mae lovannen. Man i eneth lin?"
Anarane glances at Legolas and Nestoron smiles warmly. "Forgive me if I've offended you; but I don't believe I've seen you before." He directs the statement to Legolas.
Legolas smirks. "You have not. She's traveling with the dwarves and is a prisoner."
Nestoron quirks an eyebrow "And you've brought her to me, why?"
Legolas gestures vaguely at Anarane, who crosses her arms at the rude gesture. "Her cheek is cut. Let it not be said that we do not provide medical help, even to our enemies."
Nestoron approaches her.
She shies back.
He holds up his hands in a placating manner. "Please, come and sit so I can better see." When he turns around and walks to a bed, Anarane follows; pointedly ignoring Legolas.
Nestoron's hands are gentle as he prods at her cheek. "Unfortunately, it was cut in such a way that it will sting, but should heal nicely. I don't even need to stitch it closed. It's more deep that large and the skin will grow back without a scar; and it's already stopped bleeding."
When Nestoron stands, Anarane makes to do so as well.
Too quickly.
She turns her face away quickly to hide the grimace at the unexpected pain from the two males.
"Anarane?"
At Legolas' concern, she turns back to the prince, the pain fogging her thinking.
He must have seen the confusion on her face. "Nestoron?" Anarane can detect a small note of panic underlying the question.
"Quimelle? Please, sit back down."
Anarane more or less plops back down as Nestoron comes back to her.
"The athelas must be completely useless now." She gasps out. "And your rough handling, princeling, didn't help matters, either." She lifts her gaze to see Legolas' stony expression, his mouth in a thin line; but there was, SOMETHINGin his eyes... if she didn't know any better-
Nestoron breathes a curse. "My prince, I will need you to leave the room."
Legolas snaps his attention to the healer, anger clouding his face. "She is a prisoner. I will not leave you here with her alone-"
"Then fetch me Tauriel!"
Legolas blinks. That Nestoron would dare interrupt him and speak to him with such disrespect-
"Do not be mad at Thrandulion. He is not mistaken. If I was not in this condition, it would be best not to underestimate me." Turning her attention to Legolas, Anarane begs. She would regret it later, but now- "We were attacked by orcs astride wargs. I dispatched eight orcs and was in the process of killing the wargs. I killed six, but of the two remaining, one's claws raked across my back and the other's teeth sunk into my right shoulder. On our quest, we were captured in the goblin tunnels where my already infected wounds werereopened by what was, no doubt, a filthy whip. As we fled, we were set upon by Azog the Defiler. As I was battling him so the others could escape, he was able to inflict an injury to my right side." As she recounts her injuries, her gaze falls to her lap. Lifting her eyes, she blinks to keep the tears at bay. "When you restrained me in the forest, you managed to irritate all those injuries and the jostling that I've suffered since entering this realm has not helped. If you were serious about giving medical help, I would be most grateful for some athelas. A kind man gave me what athelas he could; however, with all the traveling and the fact that he was not an elf, it's no longer potent." Straightening up and wincing at the pull on her wounds, she states solemnly "I swear I will not harm him. You can know this to be true for you still hold my kin."
Legolas glares and stomps to the other side of the room.
Anarane quirks an eyebrow when he returns with a large supply of athelas, bandages, mortars and pestles. Setting them down on the table next to the bed, he informs Nestoron "Hot water is on its way." At the healer's bemused smile, Legolas smiles warmly in return. "As you said, I'm here often enough. I know by now where everything is."
Anarane walks into the cell and biting her lip, turns back around to face Legolas. "Hannon le."
At his quirked brow, she sighs and looks to the side. "There are many who would not let healers render aid to their enemies." Turning back around, she gives him a steely look of determination as she informs him "Know this; that when we escape-" She ignores his scoff "I am now at my best. You may not have meant to, but now that I have been tended to by an expert healer, it would be best not to underestimate me."
Legolas gives a slight bow of his head as he shuts the door.
Turning to walk back the way he had come, he hears Tauriel speaking earnestly. "I have walked there sometimes, beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away and the white light forever fill the air."
As they continue talking, Tauriel sits down on the stairs by Kili's cell to listen.
Unseen by them, Legolas watches from the distance, his face a blank mask.
"Bilbo!" Balin greets happily.
As the dwarves exclaim in surprise, Bilbo shushes them. "Shhh! There are guards nearby!" Bilbo unlocks Thorin's cell and lets him out. He then proceeds to let all the dwarves out of their various cells and they chuckle.
As Anarane steps out of her cell to follow Bilbo, Thorin meets her. "What did that elf do?"
She smiles in assurance. "He took me to the healer." With a wicked grin she continues "With all the athelas I was given and my wounds properly tended to, let's just say a fight on our way out wouldn't be the worst thing to befall us."
Thorin smiles broadly as he turns and making his way down a set ofstairs, moves through the dwarves congregated at the bottom of the stairs leading up.
Bilbo pulls the lever, and the part of the floor that the barrels were on tilts downward into an opening.
The barrels roll out the opening and fall several feet into a river that runs beneath the Woodland Realm. The dwarves yell as they fall and the barrels make loud thumping noises.
As soon as her barrel stops bobbing, Anarane glances around and sees a set of stone steps. Heaving herself out of her barrel, and smiling widely as no pain accompanied it, she gracefully lands on the slick stone.
And is surprised to find all the dwarves still there.
She's shocked as she realizes they are waiting.
For Bilbo; she smiles at the realization that Thorin's heart has indeed softened toward their burglar. That was why she had left her barrel; she figured Thorin would leave Bilbo behind and she had been prepared to stay with the hobbit until she could have him caught up with the rest of the company.
At that moment, the floor above the barrels tips and Bilbo falls, yelling, into the river. He surfaces and grabs onto Nori's barrel, Nori leaning over to get a better grip on him.
"Well done, Master Baggins." Thorin praises.
Bilbo, half drowned, waves his hand in thanks and manages to splutter out a word. "Go."
Thorin nods in acknowledgment. "Come on, let's go."
The dwarves paddle with their hands as the river pulls their barrels along.
Anarane was prepared to follow them; from the banks, of course. There was no way she was navigating the powerful, turbulent river in nothing but a wooden barrel.
And definitely not weaponless.
She quickly climbs the steps as she hears elves rushing inside the Woodland Realm. It would seem that their escape had already been discovered.
"Holo in-annon!"
Turning to face the direction of the shouted command, she sees Legolas, followed by other elves, emerging from a gateway.
An elf with him blows on a horn.
Well, that won't do.
Quickly judging the distance, she leaps and landing, easily wrests the bow from the distracted elf prince and grabbing an arrow from his quiver, quickly nocks it so that it's a hair's breadth from his eye when he whirls around.
She smirks at the coldness in his eyes. "I told you, WHEN we escaped. And yet it seems you didn't heed me and have underestimated me." Keeping her attention and the weapon aimed at Legolas she orders "Give me a bow, quiver and sword." When none of the armed elves do as she commands, she gives a little sigh of frustration and growls "Egor nin innas mabcaun escar a darth daendeid." One of the females quickly divests herself as Legolas' eyes widen. Anarane's smile turns mocking. "As I told you when we first met, don't think I won't kill you. My family is those dwarves and I will protect them no matter the cost."
"No!" She hears Thorin shout. She had gotten what she had wanted; it was time to reunite with the company.
Something was wrong. Her eyes widen as she hears-
"My lord! Orcs are attacking the gate!"
Anarane rushes past Legolas, throwing his bow in his general direction.
Anarane curses the foul creatures under her breath as she rushes downhill. She is too far away and the orcs are swarming the post, the dwarves—her friends, her kin—from all sides.
They are surrounded, outnumbered and weaponless.
She can do nothing but watch in horror as the orcs begin throwing themselves at the dwarves in their barrels and offer up a fervent prayer to whoever was listening that by some miracle, they would survive until she could arrive to give aid.
And growls as she sees a certain reckless dwarf leave his barrel and start to run up the stairs toward the lever.
'I'm going to end him!' She promises as, being unarmed, he can only duck as an orc swings at him.
"Kili!" She hears Dwalin shout and blesses the gruff dwarf as he throws a sword to Kili. Where he had acquired it was anybody's guess, she was just happy that Kili, at least, was now armed as she watches him fight his way, alone, to the top of the stairs.
As he was fighting an orc, she breathes shakily as another one leaps up from behind him, raising its spear to stab him; she is still too far away.
She thanks those who had seen to give Kili such a protective older brother as Fili, who is still stuck in a barrel and under attack as well, had certainly been keeping an eye on his brother because he throws what looks like a dagger and kills the orc.
Anarane allows herself a small smirk at that; looks like he had managed to sneak one of his many weapons past the elves after all.
Kili kills the orc he had been fighting.
Almost as if time has slowed, she sees Kili reach for the lever, and hears an arrow soaring through the air.
And almost stops in her tracks as it hit Kili in the calf.
He stops short, panting.
"Kili!" She hears Fili's cry, muffled in her terror.
The black-haired dwarf groans in pain and strains to pull the lever, but falls over onto his back.
She was so close, so close and realized, not close enough as an orc approaches to kill Kili.
But an arrow suddenly flies into its head.
Looking to see who had fired it, she realizes that she and the other elves have arrived. She leaves the Mirkwood elves to fight the orcs and races toward the post.
At that moment, Kili manages to grab the lever and pull it, opening the sluice and letting the dwarves in their barrels through. However, he then falls on his back, again, in pain.
"Kili!" Fili shouts to his brother.
Kili manages to slide himself off the ledge and into his empty barrel below. As he lands in it, the shaft of the arrow in his leg breaks off on the edge of the barrel.
Anarane follows behind the company, using the stolen sword to start slaughtering the orcs as they begin shooting arrows at the dwarves from both banks of the river.
As she fights and does her best to protect the company from land, she keeps an eye out on the battle occurring in the river. If she had to, she would jump into the fray, with no thought for herself.
There are a couple of times where she's ready to, such as when an orc launches itself at Thorin in his barrel, but Thorinmanages to kill it with a sword he grabbed earlier. And then, he uses that same sword as an orc jumps from an overhanging tree branch toward Balin, throwing it and pinning the orc to the tree. Thankfully, as the orc drops its weapon, Thorin catches it while floating beneath him. He throws it back to Dwalin, who throws it to Nori, who throws it to Fili, who kills an orc with it.
She breathes a little easier as the dwarves began to acquire weapons and started arming themselves, like when an orc leaps onto Dwalin's barrel, only for Dwalin to headbutt it off and steal its axe. Which comes in handy, because Thorin, Bofur and Dwalin use their stolen weapons to cut a low-hanging tree branch stretched across the river in front of them, with several orcs on it, causing the orcs on it to fall into the river.
Bombur somehow bounces in a barrel onto land and after mowing down all the orcs that had surrounded him, jumps into an empty barrel back into the river.
It's then that Anarane notices that Legolas has caught up to them.
He has a foot on the heads of Dori and Dwalin, and was shooting orcs on either riverbank.
She has to grudgingly admit respect when he manages to skewer two orcs through the head with one arrow.
As he continues fighting orcs, he uses the heads of floating dwarves as stepping stones to get across the river.
She shakes her head at his antics. As she makes her way so she is now ahead of him, she turns to give a mocking farewell and notice that as he's fighting an orc, another orc runs up behind him and raises its sword to kill him.
She reaches back to retrieve an arrow, the thought of the elf prince owing her his life greatly pleasing her, and huffs with a glare of annoyance as Thorin, from his barrel in the river, throws his sword and manages to kill the orc behind Legolas.
She waits as Legolas and Thorin look at each other with some sort of understanding. And as the dwarves continue floating down the river, Legolas does not follow them.
Perhaps there was some hope for the princeling after all.
Anarane meets the dwarves and Bilbo as they paddle to the riverbank.
Climbing out onto a slab of rock jutting out a bit into the river, Dwalin demands "Come on!"
When Kili makes it on to the rocks, he falls to his knees in pain from the arrow wound in his thigh. Finding a rock to sit on, he takes a bit of cloth and presses it to the wound to attempt to staunch the blood flow. He throws his head back at the pain as Bofur looks at him concernedly.
"I'm fine, it's nothing." Kili responds tothe look.
"On your feet." Thorin orders.
"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding." Fili tells his uncle.
"There's an orc pack on our tail; we keep moving." Thorin points out.
"To where?" Balin questions.
"To the mountain; we're so close." Bilbo states.
"A lake lies between us and that mountain. We have no way to cross it." Balin points out.
"So then we go around." Bilbo keeps going as Fili wraps cloth around Kili's wound.
"The orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. We have no weapons to defend ourselves." Dwalin says.
"Bind his leg, quickly. You have two minutes." Thorin tells them.
Anarane growls as she shares a knowing look with Fili. He also is not happy with Thorin's decision. She smiles reassuringly, hoping to assuage his concern for his brother.
As Fili binds Kili's leg, Anarane keeps a hand on her sister's youngest son's shoulder. To anyone else, it may have appeared that she was providing comfort and maybe hoping to share some of her strength with the young dwarf. However, she was focusing on healing. It had been different with Thorin. For her healing to be the most effective, she would have had to be touching the wound. However, with Thorin being unreasonable, she had to settle for doing the minimal healing she was able to in the time they had.
So focused was she that she didn't realize a man was standing in their midst, his nocked bow aimed at Ori. As they all jump up, Dwalin, holding a branch, leaps in front of Ori. He raises the branch and begins to charge the man, but the man shoots his arrow and it embeds itself right in the middle of the branch, between Dwalin's hands.
Anarane makes to nock her own bow, but sways a little. She hadn't been paying mind to how much she was giving to Kili. Before she can regain her senses, Kili raises a rock to throw, but the man shoots the rock out of his hand, too. "Do it again, and you're dead."
Balin, approaching him slowly with his hands held in the air, asks "Excuse me, but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"
The man lowers his bow. He climbs aboard his barge as the dwarves approach. "What makes you think I will help you?"
"Those boots have seen better days." Balin observes as the man begins loading the dwarves' empty barrels into his barge. Balin continues "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"
"A boy and two girls." The man replies.
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty." Balin encourages with a knowing smile.
"Aye. She was." The man replies simply.
Balin's smile fades. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" He's interrupted by Dwalin whispering loudly to Thorin. "Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties."
"Shosh!" Anarane growls in a whisper.
Thorin smirks. "Nice to see you still know how to speak our language. You weretalking quite a bit to the prince in your shared tongue."
Anarane, still angry about Thorin's disinterest in making sure Kili was well, stalked to him and getting in his face growled "You won't have to worry about that seeing as you're about to lose yours."
"What's your hurry?" The man demands.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin growls his reply.
Bard's barge is stopped at a dock just outside the city.
"Sir, do you have a cloak I could use?" Anarane inquires.
Bard raises a brow.
Stepping up to whisper in his ear she states "Elves senses are quite keen. And though I agree with your plan and believe it will grant them passage to Esgaroth, I do not wish to be part of it as one in a barrel or when they discover just how long they will be in said barrels." Stepping back she gives him a gentle smile. "Lend me a cloak and I will hide myself amongst your brethren."
He smiles, sharing in her amusement, as he hands over a brown blanket. "I'm afraid this is all I have."
As she dons it and hides herself within its folds, masking her ears and beauty, he admits to himself that she blends in very well.
Bard hops off and offering her a hand, inquires as she disembarkes "And how will you find us?"
As she walks past him, she answers "It's a small town, bargeman. I wager everyone knows where everyone lives."
A large portcullis blocking the channel rises, and Bard begins to pole his barge through. As
he passes, Alfrid turns around and shouts to him. "The master has his eye on you; you'd do well
to remember. We know where you live."
Bard looks up and sees a familiar face in the shadows behind Alfrid. Smiling, he replies "It's a small town, Alfrid; everyone knows where everyone lives."
Thorin strides up to Bard. "You took our money. Where are the weapons?"
"Wait here." Bard goes down the stairs to the lower part of the house.
While Bard is doing this, Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Kili gather together.
Thorin looks around, seemingly troubled.
Seeing her, he calls out "Anarane," and motions for her to join them.
Coming over, she arches a brow "Is something wrong?"
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin states quietly. Before Anarane can agree and ask why he's telling them this, Balin concurs "Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then."
She realizes then that Thorin has included her, still claiming her as kin.
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asks.
"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili states somberly.
Bard returns and lays the package on the table as the dwarves stand around it. He loosens the wrappings and reveals a couple of hand-made weapons. The dwarves look at them in shock, then pick up the weapons and look at them in disgust.
"What is this?" Thorin inquires.
Anarane figures she should probably keep an eye out for anyone who could chance upon this fool mission; but she was not going to take her eyes off of Kili for even a moment.
When this daft idea had been proposed, she knew she would have to accompany them. Something this ill-thought out, hastily planned and, quite simply, not wise, would not be successful and she would be there when it all fell to pieces.
Something was wrong with Kili; something pricked at her senses. She wanted to keep a close eye on him and be within arm's reach should he need it.
The dwarves that were in the armory begin collecting the weapons stored there.
Anarane is greatly concerned when she sees Kili struggling under a load of several different weapons. As Thorin hands him another weapon, he inquires quietly "You all right?"
"I can manage. Let's just get out of here." Kili replies. Thorin looks at Kili, then lays another sword on the pile Kili is holding.
When she sees him make his way toward the stairs, she leaves the wall she had been leaning against, meaning to intercept him.
However, she isn't fast enough.
Kili begins walking down the stairs, but his wounded leg gives way and he falls with a cry.
As he falls down the stairs, the weapons falling with him make a terrible clanging noise.
Anarane swallows in fear. She didn't like when she was around, she seesthe dwarves standing still as stone, glancing around warily.
They would need help.
Closing her ears and heart, she leaves through the window and, running across the rooftops,hears in the distance the watchmen cry out, running footsteps and Dori's shout of "Run!"
Anarane follows Bard as he strides forward, breaking from the crowd and shouting "Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."
As the people whisper anxiously, Anarane stands between Balin and Bilbo.
"So you fled to fetch Bard?"
Anarane sighs heavily at the irritation lacing the old warrior's accusation. "I was hoping he would be able to assist us. However, he was already on his way to confront Thorin and beyond angry when I met him on his way here."
"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" Thorin exclaims.
The people shout excitedly and applaud.
Anarane breathes a sigh of relief. Looks like they wouldn't need any assistance after all.
"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard pleads.
Anarane tenses, her grip on her bow causing the wood to creak ominously.
The people quiet down and shake their heads sadly.
"Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!" Bard demands.
"No!" the people shout and he continues. "And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"
Anarane takes an angry step forward.
For all his faults, Thror had treated her quite well, even treating her as if she were kin, going out of his way to try and make life easier and the best for his ward.
She's stopped by Balin's hand on her arm.
She turns her angry glower to meet his unflinching gaze.
As she calms herself, she realizes that, as the future king under the mountain, Thorin would have to win this fight on his own.
As Bard and Thorin stare at each other angrily, the crowd gets louder.
"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" The Master points accusingly at Bard, and the crowd begins to clamor.
As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger. A sentiment Anarane didn't share for she had seen what was hidden away in Bard's house.
The man that had tried to stop them from entering the town steps forward, the little weasel proclaiming "It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark."
Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward and speaks to Thorin earnestly. "You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!"
Thorin states simply "I have the only right."
Anarane's heart drops.
No, he could not believe that; the pride, the arrogance, what-
Thorin turns and faces the Master. "I speak to the Master of the men of the lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?"
As the people quietly watch in anticipation, Thorin presses "What say you?"
The Master thinks and then, smiling, points his finger at Thorin. "I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!"
The Master opens his arms in welcome, and the crowd erupts in cheers.
Anarane has been quiet as they dined. So much was occurring and not all of it good. After all-
"Fair lady, our neighbors in Mirkwood seldom venture from their realm. As such, you are the first elf to grace my house."
Anarane gives a slight bow of her head in acknowledgment.
"As such, would you be kind enough to grace us with a song?"
She opens her mouth to reply and hears Thorin answer "My apologies, I fear she only knows the songs that filled the dwarven halls."
Anarane stands slowly, gracefully and directing her most condescending glower at Thorin, turns a bright smile to their host and answers "As you desire."
"Oh, misty eye of the mountain below." Turning her attention to Thorin, Kili and Fili she continues "Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls. And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke. Keep watching over Durin's sons."
Thorin turns his attention to Balin, staring in shock as Balin smiles wistfully.
As she continues, smiles appear on the faces of those gathered.
Fili and Kili, as it brings back memories of her singing to them when they were younger; for Bofur, Dwalin, Gloin and the others, sad smiles, for her voice was meant to remind them of their mortality; and Bilbo, almost a silly one, as he reveled in the fact that he was actually hearing an elf sing.
"If this is to end in fire, then we should all burn together. Watch the flames climb high into the night. Stand by and we will watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side."
[As the song continues, the camera leaves the master's house, traveling through Laketown as people stop to listen to the haunting song floating in the air through the town.]
"If we should die tonight then we should all die together. Raise a glass of wine for the last time. Prepare as we will watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side. Desolation comes upon the sky.
[We see Bard in his house, the song making its way to his ears. With a glare, he walks to the open window.]
"I see fire, inside the mountain. I see fire, burning the trees. I see fire, hollowing souls. I see fire, blood in the breeze. I hope that you'll remember me."
[He slams the window shut angrily. The camera goes to the woods surrounding the lake where the orcs and Bolg, astide his warg, travel at great speed within the trees.]
"If the night is burning I will cover my eyes. For if the dark returns then my brothers will die."
[The camera shows Legolas and Tauriel astride his white horse, their eyes hard in determination as they track the pack.]
"I see fire, inside the mountain. I see fire, burning the trees. I see fire, hollowing souls. I see fire burn auburn on the mountain side." Anarane finishes breathlessly, a sense of grim foreboding settling heavily onto her soul.
The following morning in Laketown, Anarane and the company make their way through people as they crowd along the sides of the main channel while a boat is loaded with supplies for the dwarves to take to the mountain.
Anarane resolutely keeps her gaze forward; trying valiantly to ignore how, in her opinion, ridiculous the company looked fully decked out in not only armor but, a small shiver travels through her, regal clothing.
Since Anarane was as the back of the group, she could clearly see when Thorin stops Kili before he can get in the boat. "Not you. We must travel with speed; you will slow us down."
Her steps falter. It had not been her imagining. What had happened in the town square between Thorin and Bard had just been the beginning, And she knew what was coming even as Kili smiles, thinking Thorin is joking and replies"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you."
Sadness filled her as Thorin simply states "No."
Fili, already in the boat, turns and looks at them as Kili pleads "I'm going to be there when that door is opened; when we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin."
Thorin lays his hand on Kili's shoulder as he orders "Kili, stay here. Rest; join us when you're healed." Anarane is sick as Thorin smiles at him. How could he be smiling as he crushes Kili?! Her heart clenches at the look of shock and betrayed on his face that usually has a wicked smirk and mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Thorin turns from him to board the boat and Kili turns away, knowing he has lost this battle.
Anarane follows after him and Oin gets out of the boat declaring "I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded."
As she approaches the defeated dwarf, she longs to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, but knows it would not be welcome with how his heart hurt. She keeps her eyes on Kili's back that is turned to them as Fili fiercely states"Uncle, we grew up on tales of the mountain, tales you told us. You can't take that away from him!"
Kili finally turns to face them and Oin tries examining him; but Kili is trying to pull away from him. "Fili," he reprimands his brother.
"I will carry him, if I must!" Fili promises.
Anarane holds her breath even as she keeps a gently restraining hand on Kili's shoulder to aid Oin's examination. She prays she is wrong, but in her heart, she knows what Thorin's answer will be.
"One day you will be king, and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf, not even my own kin." Thorin replies, confirming Anarane's fear.
Turning her attention away from Kili, she sees Fili looking at them, before stepping out of the boat.
She growls and makes to step forward when Thorin tries to stop him. "Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the Company."
She need not have worried. For ever since he had met his brother as an infant, Fili had understood that family was everything; greater than riches or power, Fili loved his family. As Fili comes to the realization that his uncle doesn't share that same thought, Fili chooses the member of his family that he will always protect and look out for.
"I belong with my brother." Fili pulls away from Thorin and comes over to stand with them.
Anarane's gaze meets Thorin's.
She could see the simmering anger there, but she kept her gaze cool as she stared back.
He had made his decision.
In her opinion the wrong one, and he would have to deal with the consequences for when riches and power were chosen over those who loved you.
You couldn't expect them to stay by your side.
Thorin seemed to not understand this, for she could see the confusion in his eyes as he recovered from the perceived betrayal. He was the first to turn away as the musicians of Laketown play their instruments and the Master climbs up to a raised platform.
Turning back to their little group, she sees Kili looks on miserably from the dock as the dwarves in the boat smile, wave, and bow at the cheering people; Dori throwing out a "Goodbye!"
As they move further away, Anarae sees Bofur push his way through the townspeople and reach the water, only to find the boat of dwarves far off down the canal. He turns to them "Ah! So you missed the boat as well?"
Suddenly, Kili moans in pain and Anarane turns to see him begins to fall over, but Fili catches him. "Kili? Kili!"
Anarane sees the look as Bard opens his door to find themon his doorstep. "No. I'm done with dwarves. Go away." He tries to slam the door shut, but Bofur stops it with his foot. "No, no, no! No one will help us; Kili's sick. He's very sick."
At the pleading, Bard turns his attention to Kili being supported by Oin and Fili.
She can see it when he realized just how bad Kili looks.
Bard hesitates and Anarane knows she had to say something.
Moving forward, his gaze falls to her. "Please, he may not be mine; but he is my kin, my sister's son. I was there when he was born, I have been there ever since. And though he's not a young dwarfling anymore, our hearts never stop hurting when our little ones are in pain."
His eyes soften.
"I know we have wronged you. ...I wronged you." She would have gotten down on her knees if there had been the room and the time. "I beg you, please, don't let him pay for the mistake of MY folly."
Kili is laying on a bed in Bard's house, moaning and straining in pain. His face is covered in sweat.
Anarane sits next to him, pushing his sweat-soaked hair from his forehead. He should not be this ill from an orc arrow. True, it probably wasn't the cleanest, but this was not appearing as a normal infection caused by dirt. In fact, he should have been recovering; slowly, but surely with her healing she had used. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't reason or concentratewith Kili continuing to moan.
Bofur fills a bowl with hot water and rushes to him.
"Can you not do something?" Fili asks, his eyes bright with fear, bunching Kili's shirt in his hand near his shoulder, feeling helpless as he can't do anything to ease his brother's pain. He is only able to watch and not able to do what he did so well, fight, for this was not a physical foe.
"I need herbs, something to bring down his fever." Oin replies.
Anarane's eyes scrunch in thought. This was not a fever brought about by a normal infection; herbs would not help to fight thisfever, for it was not of this world.
Bard was searching through his bag of medicines. "I have nightshade, feverfew…"
"They're no use to me. Do you have any kingsfoil?" Oin interrupts.
"No, it's a weed. We feed it to the pigs." Bard informs the healer.
"Pigs? Weed? Right." Bofur points at Kili. "Don't move." He then runs out of the house.
Anarane looks down at Kili's face scrunched in pain to Fili, gazing down at his brother, a grim look on his face.
Anarane sighs.
Any other time and she would have started healing Kili right away. But obviously, her healing was no match for whatever was flowing through Kili's blood.
If she couldn't heal him with her ability, she would help Oin to heal him.
She leans over and kisses Kili's damp brow. "Okhlit aya, mim khi." Looking into his fever-bright eyes, she adds a harsh edge to her order and growlsBukhkhu's."
Seeing his eyes momentarily clear, she gives a sad smile and softening her tone states emphatically. "I love you, my heart."
Standing to her feet, she grabs her weapons and faces Fili.
His eyes were wide, his face showing his fear for his brother and the panic at her leaving them.
She gives him a gentle smile; he was still a child.
Grasping his shoulder, she leans forward and resting her forehead on his promises "I WILL return. I'm going to help Bofur find the athelas. Kili will be fine, everything will be fine. Protect him and yourself, my fierce warrior, for my heart lies with both of you. If anything were to happen to you two, it would surely kill me, for my life is yours."
Fili gives a wet chuckle as he leans back. "If I didn't know better, I would say you were master of the silver tongueinstead of a warrior." At another moan from Kili, Fili's face falls.
Anarane cradles his cheek with a reassuring smile.
At the next moan, she leaves the house, racing through Laketown in the opposite direction Bofur had taken.
She couldn't find the swine or the plant! Surely, Bofur must have found some by now.
She stills as something makes its way through the frustration clouding her senses.
A scream.
Anarane stops, turns around and runs back the way she had come.
Her heart seizes in terror as she approaches Bard's house.
Screaming is pouring from the dwelling, and growls.
She nocks an arrow as she runs; orc growls.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, she looks up and sees an orc leap to the balcony in front of the house.
However, she is not the only elf there.
A female elf walks in front of it and stabs backward with herknife, imbedding the weapon in the orc's chest. She pulls out her other knife as well, entering the house.
And there Legolas goes, jumping through one of the holes in the roof.
As she runs up the steps, she quickly stows her arrow back in its quiver and sliding the bow into its holder, she draws her sword.
Bard had sheltered them, given them aid; even though he had been within his rights to turn them away. She would not let him lose his children because of the hunters that had pursued them.
She herself would not lose Fili and Kili.
Also she couldn't be in debt to the Mirkwood prince.
As Anarane grasps Fili's shoulder, keeping him still as she looks him up and down, looking for any injury she hears Bain say in amazement "You killed them all."
Turning her attention to the Mirkwood elves, she's about to offer her gratitude when Legolas orders as he strides toward the door "There are others. Tauriel, come."
The female elf; casting about the room, she finds Tauriel standing over Kili.
It comes to Anarane and she remembers that she is the elf Kili was talking with in the dungeons.
Being around him all his life, she had recognized something by his voice when he talked with Tauriel; he fancied her.
Tauriel looks at Legolas as Oin approaches and kneels to examine Kili, who is still on the ground.
As Fili strides over to stand by his brother, Oin looks up and exclaims "We're losing him!"
Tauriel, shock on her face looks at Kili, then at Legolas, who is waiting at the door.
Anarane turns her attention to the prince as well.
"Tauriel." Legolas looks at his companion for a moment and then, walks out the door.
Tauriel remains standing.
Anarane feels her heart break.
She knows she had been foolish to hope, to want the prince to not be as cold and cruel as his father. It had been folly, she felt that, now; but his betrayal was not the only one.
Anarane waits, holding her breath, as motionless as a statue, for Tauriel to betray Kili; to wound his heart, to make him feel the pain Anarane is feeling.
Tauriel looks away and begins to head out the door to follow Legolas.
Anarane snarls and makes to follow her.
Just as Tauriel reaches the door, Kili moans in pain, and she turns to look at him. In her hesitation, she looks outside, then at Kili again.
Suddenly, she crouches and reaches behind her to grasp the hilt of her knives.
Anarane tightens her hold on her weapons, standing in front of Fili, Kili and Oin, preparing for another fight.
Tauriel's face transforms from its harsh look for battle to one of hope.
Dropping her arms, she steps toward the steps, out of Anarane's sight, but not out of Anarane's hearing as she hears the reverent exclamation of "Athelas."
"Hold him down." Tauriel orders as she approaches with the bowl of water and examines Kili's wound.
Anarane watches as Tauriel sees for the first time how bad the wound looks, and how Tauriel looks away in worry.
Anarane looks down at Kili as she and the other dwarves hold him down.
She keeps her eyes on him as she hears Tauriel chanting in Elvish "Menno o nin na hon i eliad annen annin, hon leitho o ngurth."
She knows when the athelas is on the wound for Kili screams and thrashes so much in pain, that Sigrid, many blessings on that dear child, jumps in to help hold him down and calls her sister to come help as well. "Tilda!"
Tauriel continues chanting and Kili begins calming down.
Anarane had thought to soothe Kili in his native dwarvish tongue, but she watches as he focuses his attention on Tauriel and stares at her, glassy-eyed.
As Tauriel binds Kili's leg with a clean cloth, he lies on the table with his head in a basket of walnuts.
Leaving them, Anarane joins Oin and Fili in the kitchen as they watch for a pot of water to boil.
"I've heard tell of the wonders of elvish medicine. That was a privilege to witness." Oin tells Fili.
Indeed; her own healing ability was not so wondrous to watch as that had been. She had always relied on, but it had been powerless against whatever had had Kili in its grasp; only athelas had succeeded. Perhaps there was a need for herbs after all-
"Tauriel."
She smiles in relief. It would seem Kili had awoken and was lucid.
"Lie still." She hears Tauriel order, softly.
Anarane's heart warms at the affection she can hear in the elven maiden's voice.
"You cannot be her." Kili continues. Ah, maybe not so lucid after all.
Anarane decides that even though Kili seems to be on the mend, it would probably be a good idea for Tauriel to stay here. Bofur was back and it seemed no other orcs were planning to attack. Besides, Tauriel was more than capable as a warrior.
And she had some things to say to a certain haughty, arrogant, cold, cruel elven prince.
As she makes her way out the door, she hears Kili say "She is far away. Sh- She is far, far away from me, and she walks in starlight in another world."
As Legolas fights the two orcs with his knife, Bolg strides away, limping.
Legolas dispatches the two orcs and runs over to where Orcrist is lying on the ground,picking it up.
As he stands, he falls back against a wall in pain, breathing heavily. His eyes open wide in confusion and he raises his hand to his nose.
It comes away with blood, and he is shocked.
"Not used to seeing your own blood?"
Legolas wheels around.
"Anarane," he breathes.
She walks toward him, her hair turning fiery under the moonlight. "Thrandulion." She returns.
Standing in front of him, she holds her hands up to calm him. "May I?" She gestures at his face.
He angles his head and placing a hand on each cheek, she angles his head one way then another.
He blinks sluggishly as he swears he can feel warmth spreading throughout his face from where her hands are resting on his cheeks and his nose- "Well, it's not broken and it's already stopped bleeding."
He chuckles softly, her words reminding him of Nestoron's the day before. "And to answer your question, not when it's because of orc scum." They share a quick smile, before he glances behind her. "Tauriel?"
Anarane gives a sympathetic sigh. "She did not accompany me."
His eyes show his understanding. "She is with him."
Anarane smile turns gentle. "I owe her a great debt. He is my sister's son and she healed him. He was dying." She opens her mouth to explain away his confusion and inhales sharply when she sees none.
"... You knew."
He looks away guiltily. "When I stopped chasing your company at the river-"
"After Thorin saved you." Anarane interrupts with a growl.
Legolas nods. "After, an orc tried to kill me. Tauriel would have killed it, but I told her we were going to keep it alive. We returned to my father's halls and questioned him. When I asked why they were tracking your company, he told us your company would no longer number thirteen, for the young, black-haired archer was stuck with a Morgul shaft."
Anarane gasps as she realizes just how close they had come to losing Kili.
"He told us the poison was in his blood and he'd be choking on it soon." Legolas finishes.
Anarane strides past him, not meeting his gaze, to the edge of the dock. "Forgive me, if I'm wrong, Thrandulion," she whirls around, the anger evident in her blazing eyes, "but you didn't come here to save him."
Legolas looks down, avoiding her ire. "I would have stayed in Mirkwood, left him to his own fate. Tauriel, however, did not." Lifting his gaze, he meets her anger with his own. "She defied my father, his orders, all because of him!" He snarls.
Anarane stands toe to toe with him. "I thought I saw something in you, in the dungeons, the healer's... something that your father does not possess. And I dared to hope, that if it were true, I would no longer feel ashamed of my kind, of the inaction of your father, because you were different." She backs away, walking backward the way she had come. "I see now that I was wrong and that what I said to your father before his throne and you in the dungeons is the truth. You both possess the same haughty, arrogant pride."
She looks to the side.
He follows her gaze and sees Bolg on a warg, heading out of the town.
Giving an exaggerated bow, she stands back up and smirks "May you succeed in your hunt, princeling."
Turning her back to him, she starts to walk away.
"Anarane!"
She stops, but does not turn around. He is running out of time and can't wait to see if she will acknowledge him. "My name is Legolas."
She stiffens and turns back around, confusion coloring her eyes.
He gives a bright, friendly smile and bowing tells her "Until we meet again." Then turning around, he runs to the edge of town, and mounting his white horse, gives chase after Bolg.
As Anarane makes her way through Laketown, a roar pierces the night.
She stops in her tracks, that roar taking her back to another time, a time when...
She wheels around to face Erebor, terror coursing through her veins.
She is not the only one.
People appear, exiting their houses. The light from Erebor is bright, easily seen by mortal eyes. They begin to shout and cower in fear.
As Anarane turns back around and rushes to Bard's house, her elven hearing hears his shout of "Listen to me! You don't know what is coming!"
But Anarane knew; she remembered.
As she ran, her mind went back to that day; the noise coming down from the north, like a hurricane as the pines creaked and cracked in the wind that had suddenly turned hot and dry. Thorin shouting-
The fire drake from the north.
Smaug was coming.
Desolation was fast approaching.
Evil was coming to destroy the town.
To destroy...
Them.
And here's a little snippet, for I was dabbling in fanfiction before I knew its proper title and when Lord of the Rings came out, Anarane was a part of that adventure as well :-) And the Desolation of Smaug provided a perfect introduction for Anarane as she joins the fellowship in Lothlorien after the loss of Gandalf.
Anarane made her way through her kin that were milling about on the riverbank, preparing the boats the fellowship were to take with provisions and supplies.
Holding tight to her pack, she found who she was looking for and made her way over to Legolas.
He smiled brightly. "Anarane."
She inclined her head. "Mae govannen, Thrandulion."
He rolled his eyes and opening his mouth, she added with a mischievous smile. "Legolas."
After he had spoken on her behalf, encouraging the others to grant her desire; accept her help and aid, and allow her to join the fellowship she had expressed her gratitude to Thrandulion.
She had received a stern glare that reminded her of the one she received whenever she was being lectured.
"Do you not remember what I told you?"
She had graced him with a genuine smile. "Legolas."
As Legolas, smiling in triumphant, turned back to the boat he was preparing, Anarane couldn't help it.
After all, he had not been the only one to speak up on her behalf, though the last time she had seen Gimli he had been but a small lad.
"Does Gimli know that you once referred to him as a horrid creature? A goblin mutant, I believe were your exact words."
She smiled wickedly, satisfied to have turned the tide on Legolas as she watched him still in his movements, his back stiffening.