For the first time in weeks, Danica's dreams were quiet. No images, just the soothing sounds of Thorin's voice. Once or twice, she though she heard Radagast as well, but didn't dwell on it. She wanted rest. Needed it. Facing the Easterlings and their general would be hard enough without a sleepless night. Even with the gift of dreamless sleep, morning dawned too soon.
Dread met her in the pale light, whispering coldly down her neck. Tara's mist drifted thickly through the air, a warning of who was on the move. Danica, Tala, Nathir, and Kayli packed up their camp quickly and quietly, then waited.
'It's almost time,' she whispered to Radagast, whose presence she felt in the back of her mind.
'I'm here. As is Thorin,'
Emotions swirled within her at the image of her husband. She clung to him, praying to be reunited with him once this was all over.
Under the soft sound of wind was the unmistakable crunch of feet shuffling across the rocky ground. The sun was hidden behind dense gray, creating a confusion of mist and shadow across the plain. Danica kept her sight trained on the sky for even the slightest shadow. When it finally came, her heart stopped. It was time.
Catching the others' eyes, she nodded. Tala and Kayli slunk into the mist. Danica threw back another of Nathir's potions, then settled down.
"The eagles will make sure Gwyn's body is taken care of," she assured him. "Once you have Tara, run. I'll make sure Tala and Kayli do the same, just in the opposite direction," she smiled.
Nathir didn't. "Thank you for all you've done. I put in in an impossible position,"
"You did. And while I still don't forgive you, I understand. If I were you, though, I would keep as far away from Erebor as possible. Unless you want to lose your head, that is,"
Now his lips did lift. "Duly noted,"
Unable to fight the effects of the potion any longer, Danica closed her eyes and gave herself to the darkness that pulled her away from Gwyn's body.
Instantly, she felt the Arkenstone's presence, there to welcome her home when she was ready. Gwyn's body was once again her own. A smile lifted Danica's lips as she opened her eyes in the mist. Never had she felt so strong and in control of her astral self. The General would have a harder time finding her now. Sucking in a breath, she hurried toward the sound of the moving soldiers. Though she knew no one would see or hear her, she flinched at the first few people she passed.
"Where is the witch?" she whispered into some of their minds. Their reply came in the image of the General at the front.
"Damn," she muttered. It should have been obvious that he would keep her close, but it frustrated her, nonetheless.
Keeping as much distance between herself and the soldiers as possible, she ran toward the front. When she saw the backs of Tara and the General's heads, she slowed. Her gaze zeroed in on the General, but he seemed not to feel her presence. His posture was arrogant, but she could see the way he subtly turned his head, cautious of any ambush.
'Tala, Nathir, and Kayli are taking out who they can at the back of the group,'
A vicious streak of excitement rushed through Danica. It was working, and she couldn't wait to see the way the General's face would pull when the ambush came from within and behind. That, alone, would go a long way toward making this whole endeavor worth it. And, if the opportunity came, she needed to kill him, At the very least, he had to be relieved of the dwarven ring.
There was no warning for the Easterlings before a powerful gust parted the mists. Danica reached into as many minds as she could to heighten their panic. Some were easy, and those who weren't Radagast took care of. In moments, soldiers were running every which way, dropping weapons and crashing into each other. As quickly as the winds came, they left, allowing the mist back in.
The General called out in his native language, his voice an authoritative roar. The stronger-minded soldiers took charge, rallying the others to fall back in line. All they got was resistance. Behind the panicked yells and shouted orders were screams of death. Tala, Nathir, and Kayli must have been seen, so now their efforts were out in the open, so to speak.
When the next gust from the eagle's wings hit, Danica darted closer to the horse bearing Tara. She couldn't risk being seen by the General, so she stayed close to the ground. With a warning look to his prisoner, the General rode further back, herding whatever men he could. Tara's brow furrowed as she fought to control the mist and hide the chaotic mess behind her.
Taking the opportunity given to her, Danica ran to Tara.
"Tara! Drop the mist around you!" she had to hold the horse's reins when Tara startled.
"Danica! What are you doing here? Are you the cause of this discord?"
A few guards moved closer, surrounding them. Danica whispered in their minds to step back, then heard Radagast do the same. Once they did as commanded, Danica returned her focus to the elf.
"Trust me, you will be able to escape if you do as I say. Eagles are waiting to take you, Nathir, and my friends to safety,"
'Hurry!' Radagast warned. 'Your hold on the soldiers' minds is weakening! You need to return soon!'
"What about you?" Tara asked.
Danica looked hurriedly around them. No immediate threat.
"I'll be able to go home, back to my own body. Now, when you're in the air, make sure the others are with you before lowering the mist again. We don't want archers shooting at you before you're out of range,"
"Dreamwalker!"
The hair rose on Danica's neck and arms.
"Hurry!" she cried, then moved away, hoping to hide in what mist Tara left behind.
Every instinct told her not to, but she closed her eyes in the midst of the confused fighting. The minds of those closest to her allies were scattered and weak, allowing her to immobilize them. Through their eyes, she saw the eagles swoop in and gather Tala, Nathir, Gwyn, Kayli, and Tara. Before anyone could think to shoot them down, the thin gray around them thickened, darkening the area like a thunderstorm.
Relief had Danica's shoulders sagging. She would take a small breath to steady herself, then return to her body. The General could be dealt with after she reunited with Thorin and Frerin.
"Clever, Dreamwalker. Impressive, even, but you were too slow,"
Eyes flying open, Danica found herself face-to-face with the General. Caught between running or returning to her body, she froze, unable to do either. Her hesitation was all he needed to grab her wrist and shove something cold over her finger.
"You fell for my trap. Now, you're mine,"
Magic, dark and heavy washed over her. Radagast's yell of dismay was suddenly silenced as something deep within her snapped. The pain and emptiness that followed was so intense she cried out. The General grabbed her face and quieted her cry with his mouth. She felt nothing. Heard nothing. Not even her body back in Erebor. All that was left was the chain linking her to the General.
When he let her go, she looked down to her left hand. A gold ring, etched with runes and decorated with a single ruby rested on her ring finger, mocking the absence left by her wedding ring, which was on her sleeping body. Strange how she had never noticed the lack of it, until now. In fact, nothing material ever followed her astral form. Only a plain, white shift here subconscious must have created for modesty.
"It was sized just for you," the General lifted her hand, almost gently, caressing the top of her hand with his calloused thumb. "Crafted to contain your power and link it to mine. You will only be able to return to your body when I allow it,"
"No," shock and despair stole her voice, leaving only a hoarse whisper.
"Oh, yes. Now, since your hold on my men has been broken, it is time to fall back and re-group. Do not bother running. So long as we are wearing these rings, you cannot leave me, nor use your power against me. And no matter how hard you try, which I'm sure you will, you cannot remove your ring,"
All she could do was stare at her hand. A cold breeze blew, pimpling her skin. Horrified, she looked down.
"What did you do?!" And how was he able to change her clothes?
The General, who had begun to walk away, turned and raked his eyes up and down her form, taking in the skimpy red and black outfit.
"A slave's clothes from my homeland. I suppose it may be too cold now that you feel corporeal. You can grab a cloak once all my men have been dealt with, so perhaps you could work with me to hasten that process. No need to worry about anyone touching you," he said when she looked worriedly about the men now staring. "They may be able to see and hear you, but only I can touch you,"
The cold was the least of her concerns, but she found it was the only one she could focus on. Heart numb and ears ringing, she trekked through the calming crowd. When she felt the General's pull on here mind, she winced, but followed his whim, reaching into whomever he desired to restore order. Their powers bled into one another, mingling with an intimacy that left her sick.
A single tear fell down her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Thorin," she whispered, the words floating uselessly into the air, never to be heard.
