Yay! Another Chapter! I'm trying to get as much out as I can while I have a break. Hopefully I can get a lot of the story to you!
Our journey through Mirkwood started relatively slow. Dwalin was still getting used to driving and we were trying to figure out the best way to maneuver through the trees. The air was draining us all making matters worse. I tried turning on the car air to get a filtered breeze but had no idea if it was actually working. The forest was not easy to get through even if we were making more progress than we would have on foot.
I wasn't too worried about getting lost, even though we were no where near staying on the trail, we had the compass on the iPod which was currently plugged into the car playing Bach. Thorin had really taken to the device and the music on it. I was really glad. It seemed to keep him in a better mood.
We'd driven all day and by the time we were all ready to hit the hay I'd told them all the creepy stories about the forest and they were quite alright with sleeping in the severely cramped car. We ate dried foods since there was no fire and quickly tried to nod off so the night would be over and gone.
As our journey continued the air was making everyone sluggish. Our next nights camping made it hard for those on watch so we traded shifts more often through the night. I could hardly even wake up when my turn came and I tried to explore the forest with my eyes to keep them open. All around us the forest whispered. I'd never experienced something like these woods before and every once in awhile a chill would take over my body. I could see the boys tossing and turning in their sleep. They could sense the strangeness of the forest even while resting deeply.
I was startled wide awake, at some point in my shift, by a distant sound of singing. It eerily carried through the tree trunks and my stomach did flips in anxiety. I leaned out the window and tried to glance through the foliage. It was so deeply dark that my eyes started wigging out. I sat back more anxious than before. It had to have been the elves. I hadn't thought they would sound that creepy though. Could it have been something else? Something that hadn't been mentioned in the stories? My breathing was beginning to quicken and worry tore through my body. I couldn't see why the elves would be awake at this time. Didn't they ever sleep?
While in my thoughts a soft glow reflected off the hood of the car. I leaned forward again, hesitantly. To the left of us, behind layers of trees and groundcover, was a faint blue light. That had to be the elves. I reached over to nudge Dwalin. He woke with a start, ax in hand. I shoosed him hoping not to unnecessarily wake the rest of the company. Dwalin looked around for a moment before noticing the illuminated forest.
"Do you think it's…" Dwalin's hand came up to cover my mouth. I looked at him in shock. There was no way they could hear us from that far away, was there? I was guessing, from Dwalin's silent movements, that that was exactly how well they could hear. This thought panicked me further. If they heard even the slightest strange sound from us, they would come and investigate. If they did come around we would definitely be captured. If we tried to escape in Grandpa I worried about their arrows and weapons hitting the tires. Any scenario would ruin our plans. Dwalin had the keys in his hand in case we had to make a quick escape. The light slowly trailed through the forest until it faded into the distance. We both sighed in relief.
"You'd better try and get to sleep, Lass, I'll stay awake for the next watch." He whispered. I nodded in relief. All of this stress had drained me further and I was out in minutes.
The next morning Dwalin, Dori, Thorin, and Balin did a quick search of the area, making sure the elves were well on their way. When we were all ready Dwalin started up the car only to have an arrow whiz from behind his head and plant itself into the dashboard. I yipped in surprise and the car exploded in a furry of movement as the doors and trunk flew open and a wave of dwarves exited. I stayed inside knowing full well I wasn't suited to skirmish with elves.
Two figures had jumped from the tree canopy with bows raised. One had long, fire red hair. The other had mid length, straight, blond hair. Both held venom in their eyes. I knew well enough who these two were. Before war broke out between the groups I quickly clambered out my door and ran around to the line of battle ready dwarves.
"Wait! Please, stop! These are the elves I've told you about" I whispered to Balin, pushing past the dwarves, "We don't mean any harm." I said to the elves.
"Speak for yourself," Thorin muttered under his breath. I took the scarf Ori had given me and whacked him to keep quiet.
"They can help us," I whispered back. Thorin understood that I knew how things were supposed to play out and tried very hard to believe that these elves were supposed to somehow help him. His nephews kept their guarded stance next to him. From a ways off, the elves grew restless.
"We would not help the likes of you, you will come with us to the Woodland Realm and the King shall decide your fate," Legolas almost hissed.
"No! No. Please listen. I have seen and know the outcome of our meeting. You do capture us but we escape and you two go after us and eventually become our allies," I could almost see him rolling his eyes while pulling his arrow taut. I had never been so close to being shot down where I stood. I was almost too nervous to continue, "I… I am trying to shift the future I know to save the lives of many good, innocent people, dwarves, and elves." I breathed quickly trying to explain. They continued to look, very obviously, not convinced. I sighed, trying to think of how to persuade them without getting shot.
"No one reads the future but the elite and wise. I sense none of this in you," Tauriel sneered vehemently. I was probably insulting her ancestors with blasphemy but I had to try to convince them. I looked her dead in the eyes.
"I did not say I could read the future," I said with words of stone. She pulled her head back from her bow in shock, "I said I know what will happen. I'm not from this… " I waived my arms around aimlessly, "world. I'm from another place, in another time. The future actually." I said pointedly.
"Aye!" added Bofur, "just look at the strange clothes she goes around in every day," He nodded toward my attire. I tried to stifle being miffed at his opinion of my style. The dwarves around me nodded and murmured in agreement. So that's how you all felt, little turds. Tauriel's mouth opened slightly and Legolas' eyebrows rose in question as if they were just now taking notice.
"I don't believe a strange choice in clothing backs up such a ridiculous story." Legolas said, though the surety had wavered from his voice. I humphed. I knew this would be difficult but they were being stubborn about this.
"Well, what is your explanation for that thing behind us?" I asked, motioning to Grandpa. They glanced at it nervously. "You seen something like that in your twenty eight hundred years on this earth?" He looked up in surprise.
"How did you?"
"I know a lot. I told you I know the future of this encounter." I reminded him, almost smugly. He tried to counter.
"Then what is my name?" A grin almost pulled at his lips.
"Legolas. And before you ask, Tauriel." I motioned to his companion. I could go on and on but I was hoping they would just accept it now.
"That is impossible," Tauriel breathed, lowering her bow. Legolas looked at her just as shocked, "You speak the truth?" She asked, looking directly at me. I nodded my head.
"Yes. And it would really help us if we could skip the being enemies part and jump straight into being allies." The two elves looked at each other in confusion.
"How do we know you do not bring evil instead of good?" Tauriel asked, hands tensing on her bow. I looked at them blankly trying to figure out how to answer this one.
"Well, I guess the first point would be why I would come all this way with no skills in battle to try and harm the people here and the other point would be that dwarves and hobbits aren't inherently evil, are they?" I paused, "And how in the world are we going to bring about much evil if there are only 15 of us?" I gestured to the very small gathering of very small people around me. This seemed to appease them to a degree.
"I still do not fully trust you but we will hear you out. What is it you ask of us?" asked Legolas. There was a slight pause as I contemplated my answer.
"Well, first off, It'll really help if you skip bringing us to the King," They nodded, now worried that there was treason involved, "We will need a guide to get through the forest quicker… and we'll need to track down a bowman." All heads turned toward me in confusion. I hadn't told everyone all the details of what was to happen yet. They pretty much just knew the basics: Kill the dragon. The elves just wondered why we'd need any other bowmen besides them. I'd told the dwarves that I'd explain more of things once we'd gone through the Misty Mountains. I had had to keep that part of the story as pure as possible. They needed to know the rest of the plans from here on out, "There are still plenty of dangers ahead. The bowman will be needed for the dragon. We will need to send word to the dwarves as soon as he helps us slay the dragon and take back the mountain." The thought of taking back the mountain got the dwarves bustling with excitement.
"We will successfully claim Erabor?" I heard from somewhere among the group. I knew what this meant to them but it was too early to celebrate.
"Don't get excited just yet. There is a war ahead of us. They will call it The Battle of Five Armies and it will be one of the worst battles this land has seen. That's why we'll need Legolas and Tauriel. We need to spread the word of the oncoming battle quicker than our enemies can act. If we can bring more of us together before we are attacked we could save countless lives." Everyone stood in silence. News of war was never something pleasing to hear. I looked to the elves and noticed their newfound conviction to our cause. They understood now. They were finally on our side.
"Five armies Lass?" asked Bofur hesitantly. I nodded with a frown. Everyone sighed in apprehension for the future. I looked around us as they contemplated. It was quiet but I'd learned not to trust that.
"We should go now, before we run in to trouble." I said. The dwarves nodded and immediately ran to pile in the car. Thorin eyed the elves once more before turning and making his way with the others. The elves approached me.
"You've tamed that prince," Legolas motioned to Thorin's retreating figure. He knew who he was, I shouldn't have been surprised, "There was a time when he would have attacked us without a second thought." I knew what he was talking about and nodded. I suddenly realized that none of us had been properly introduced.
"My name is Sharae, by the way, it is an honor to meet both of you," I bowed slightly and Tauriel seemed taken aback. I'm sure she hadn't had such a greeting before, "I'm sorry to rush our meeting but I feel more anxious the longer we stay." They knew exactly why. The two of them followed me to Grandpa. I noticed their hesitancy as we got closer. I had forgotten they would need a little lesson or two on their new travel companion. "Okay, this big hunk of metal is a car."
Sorry there has not been a lot of excitement in these chapters. It will definitely pick up later! Thank you for reading.