A/N: The designs for the amulets and face masks in this chapter comes from this link:

https/products/tactical-half-mask

Check it out if you are interested in seeing what they would look like.

Chapter Nineteen: Mirkwood, Bridge and Spiders

We all rode together across a vast distance before reaching the edge of Mirkwood by ten in the morning according to the clock in my status file, as we approached the edge of the woods I looked around at the sight of the forest. The outer trees looked grey and lifeless with not leaves on their branches while the ground was scattered with dead twigs and very little plant life and fallen autumn leaves.

Gandalf got down from his horse and made his way over to the Elven gate, looking around at the arch before turning back around to face us.

"Here lies our path through Mirkwood." Gandalf said, I looked around as I then saw Bilbo look towards Gandalf and the forest.

"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin said as he mounted off his pony, I turned to look up at the hill to see the large figure of Beorn in his bear form patrolling, 'If by luck you mean a guardian beast shapeshifter, then yes we do have luck on our side.' I thought with a smile as Thorin slid down and held out his arms to me. I fell sideways as he caught me without any problem before placing me on the ground and on my own two feet.

As I looked around, I saw many of the other Dwarves and Bilbo slide off their ponies and to unbuckle their gear packs from them.

"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master." Gandalf said calmly under the elven arch, Bilbo walked closer to the arch but still remained out of the forest.

"This forest feels sick. As if a disease lies upon it." He said as he looked over the view of the forest that laid before us.

"I know what you mean, Bilbo. I can feel it too." I said, feeling a sickening dark energy being emitted from the trees and in every corner of the forest in my line of sight. Plus, the very thought of those giant-ass spiders being in the deeper part of the forest was the worst part, but the thought of being forced to Mirkwood and to see Thranduil wasn't as bad, but it wasn't a pleasant thought either.

If he was anything like he was in the movies, then I knew I wasn't going to like him at all.

"Is there no way around?" Bilbo asked, I could sense that he was uneasy as he looked at the forest.

"Not unless we go 200 miles north." Gandalf said as he turned around to look at the forest. "Or twice that distance south." He then began to walk a few feet more into the forest, I turned to look at Bilbo before Thorin stepped closer to me and then whispered in my ear.

"Amara..." He began, I turned to him staring at him with a serious look.

"You sense it too, huh?" I asked in a hushed tone, Thorin nodded his head as he looked over at Bilbo, who seemed to be fidgeting with something in his pocket. "Wait here for me, keep an eye on Bilbo." I then turned away from him, suddenly felt a drop of water on my cheek. I looked up and saw that it was starting to rain. 'Thank the gods, I chose a waterproof outfit today.' I thought as I then made my way over to the other who were having trouble with their packs, I knew full well that each pack weighed roughly the same weight as the dwarf carrying it and the added water from the rain would just double that weight in water.

"Hey guys, why you let me store all these packs in my item box?" I asked as I approached the company, many of the company members turned to me in shocked confusion.

"Are you sure it won't be too much, Lass?" Balin asked concernedly.

"Not at all, in fact it'll make our track in the forest a lot easier, and we'll be able to travel a farther distance a lot quicker too." I explained with a smile, I wanted to make our time in the forest as short and hassle free as I could, even if it was just doing small things like carrying their packs in my item box.

All the dwarves turned to each other and nodded in agreement before Bofur spoke out. "Sounds good to me." He said and then all the dwarves gathered all their gear packs into a pile, once the last of the dwarves' packs were gathered along with Bilbo's I stored them all in my item box before the rain began to pour down heavier.

As the ponies then galloped off, returning to Beorn's homestead, Nori was about to unbuckle Gandalf's saddle before Gandalf protested:

"Not my horse! I need it." He bellowed as he was made his way towards us, everyone then turned to face Gandalf in confusion.

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked worried.

"I would not do this unless I had to." Gandalf said in a sad tone, he and Bilbo soon had a short conversation between the two of them. I turned to Thorin who then nodded his head, he knew what the two were talking about and we both knew that Gandalf was suspicious as to what Bilbo had in his pocket.

After which, Gandalf then turned and made his way to his horse, the rain pouring down even more,

"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter the mountain without me." Gandalf said as he pasted many of the dwarves but then stopped by Thorin and I, Thorin nodded his head the wizard's words and he knew how important the map and key were for our journey.

"This is not the Greenwood of Old. There is a stream in the woods that carries a dark enchantment. Do not touch the water. Cross only by the stone bridge. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It'll seek to enter you mind and lead you astray." He warned us all, 'Not as long as I'm around they won't.' I thought as I then raced up to Gandalf and spoke in a hushed tone, this was my chance to give Gandalf the protection amulets I made for both him and Thrain.

"It's about what Lady Galadriel said in Rivendell, isn't it?" I asked, looking up at the elderly wizard.

"Yes, it is." Gandalf responded, looking down at me with a serious look.

"Then take these with you." I said as I summoned the two amulets from my item box, two beautifully crafted crescent moon shape with a caged orb made of a beautiful gemstone that I imbued with my magic.

"What are these, Amara?" Gandalf asked taking the two amulets from my hands.

"Protection amulets, imbued with my most powerful protection magic." I said as I then pointed to the one with a clear diamond-like crystal. "One is for you."

"And this other one?" He asked holding up the amulet with the deep light purple gemstone orb.

"You'll know when you see him, trust me." I said in a evasive way, Gandalf didn't ask anymore questions as he then stuffed Thrain's amulet in his pocket before placing his own around his neck. "Safe travels, Gandalf." I bowed my head before stepping away from him and his horse.

"You as well." He said before mounting on his horse, turning to the others before warning. "You must stay on the path. Do not Leave it. If you do, you'll never find it again." He then rode off away from us.

I turned to face the others as Thorin, who then strode through the group. "Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day." He said, I raced up to catch up to everyone as they all began to enter the forest, Thorin turned to me and held out his hand before pulling me close and leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Stay close to me, Amrâlimê." I looked up at him with a soft smile and nodded my head. "This is our one chance to find the hidden door." Thorin then lead us all through the forest from the front, I felt the sickening energy grow more and more intense the further we got into the forest.

Ten Hours Later...

By the time it began to become too dark to continue, we had made a good distance into the woods. I turned around to see the company was looking dazed, I knew it had to be because of the pollution in the forest air, so I took hold of Thorin's sleeve and tugged on it. Causing him to look back at me.

"Thorin, we should stop and make camp. It's getting too dark to continue on." I said as I motioned to sky which was blocked by the leaves of the trees but it was still obvious that it was getting dark.

"Aye, you're right." Thorin said to me with a smile, before he then turned around to the others and cried out. "We'll set up camp."

"Wait for a second everyone." I said as I then found the perfect spot and summoned out of my item box my magical tent, but I then cast a few new spells to multiply the number of rooms to match the number of company members.

As soon as I was done, I turned to the company and lifted up the flaps at the entrance.

"Ok, come on in and settle into your temporary home." I said as I motioned for them all to enter, which after seeing this kind of thing so many times, they had no hesitation before making their way into the tent. Once the last member entered I casted a protection barrier spell before entering the tent and closing the flaps securely before turning to them all.

"Is the air feel so much cleaner in here, or is it just me?" Bofur said as he breathed in the clean air that filled the tent.

"It's not just you, Bofur. I cast a series of spells that purify the air from outside before it enters the tent, as well as some barriers to keep any dangers away. So, we can all sleep peacefully." I said cheerfully as they all seemed to be relieved to breath fresh air again. "I have assigned everyone a sleeping area with your own private bath. So go settled in and relax in the baths, I'll get dinner started." I then motioned all the empty bunks.

As they all went to find their bunks, I then turned to the kitchen and began to cook the food for the company. Once everyone was settled in and bathed, they made their way to the table where I had plenty of meat and veggies for them to eat. I sat next to Thorin at the head of the table as everyone began to eat. After everyone was fed and I was about to clean up the dishes, some of the dwarves stopped me from cleaning and told me to go have my bath while they did the dishes.

I smiled and thanked them all as I went and took a good long bath, once I was satisfied with my bath I got out and dressed in comfortable clothing before joining the company who were al gathered by the fireplace enjoying a smoke of the pipe.

We all enjoyed just hanging out together, sharing stories, singing songs and just generally bonding. Soon enough, everyone soon started going to their bunks to sleep. When I slid into my comfortable bed, I then heard someone knocking on the wood beam just outside my bunk.

"Amara." I heard Thorin's voice call out, I got out of my bed to meet him.

"Yes Thorin? What is it?" I asked as I motioned for him to enter my bunk, before he then lifted me into his arms before he then carried me back to my bed. Where he laid me down ever so gently before laying down next to me, wrapping his arms around me as he pulled me close.

"I can't sleep without you in my arms anymore, my love." He said hotly in my ear, I felt his body warmth as we laid on the soft bed.

"Neither can I." I said with a smile, I nuzzled closer to him. "And just think, we hardly even knew each other just months ago."

"Aye." Thorin chuckled as he held me. "But that's now in the past. We have a future to fight for, and a home to reclaim."

"Let's just focus on getting through this spider infested forest first." I said, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as the thought of those spiders.

"Not fond of spiders, hm?" Thorin asked as he noticed my shiver as he held me.

"First of all, it's called: Arachnophobia: a intense fear of spiders, and secondly: I have a very good reason to fear them, considering how big they are here in this forest." I protested like a child, which only made Thorin laugh at my antics. "Hey, don't laugh at me, you jerk." I playfully slapped my hand against his chest.

"Sorry, my love. But I can't help it. You're too adorable." Thorin said, I could hear the sounds of humour in his tone, but I let it slide.

"Who would have known you were such a sap when in love." I teased as we just laid on the bed until we fell asleep in each other's arms.

Later The Next Day...

We walked through the forest, the air growing thicker and thicker as he struggled to breathe all the while we tried our best to stick to the path.

"Air. I need air." Bofur said out of breath.

"My head, it's swimming." Oin soon followed.

"Hold on." I reached into my item box and pulled out some technical half masks that I had altered, then passed them out to the other members. "Put these over your nose and mouth, it will release clean air for you all to breathe." I demonstrated it to them by putting on one over my nose and mouth.

Soon enough as everyone had their masks on, they began to breath a lot better, and it would seem that their minds were once again clear of the fog. "Thanks, lass." Balin said before we then continued our way through the forest, I stayed close to Thorin near the front of the line as he and Dwalin navigated the path.

The all of a sudden:

"We found the bridge." Kili called out followed by Bofur.

"Bridge." He then raced ahead before I called out:

"Careful Bofur." I cried as Bofur stood next to Bilbo who looked over at the black water, many dead plants and leaves floating on the surface.

"We could try and swim it." Bofur suggested casually.

"I wouldn't recommend it." I called out, standing next to Thorin as they all turned to look at me in confusion. I quickly used my appraisal skill to analyse the water. "That water is enchanted with a sleeping curse, anyone or anything it comes into contact with will be put to sleep." They all looked a bit nervous as they glanced back and forth between the water and me.

"For how long?" Dwalin asked.

"I don't know, my appraisal skill doesn't say. But if I had to take a guess, I'd say anywhere between a few hours to a few years, depending on the amount of exposure." I explained, sounding like a seasoned scientist.

"Then we must find another way across." Thorin said as they all began to think of a way to get across, while in the book they crossed using a boat, in the movie they crossed using the vines that hang from the trees. But I had a plan.

"Way ahead of you, Thorin." I said as I stepped forward and raised my arms towards the gap in the bridge, silently I casted a spell on the vines which began to move on their own and then they then connected to both sides of the bridge before filling in the gap and formed a strong vine bridge.

All of the company stared in awe, before Bilbo then stepped forward and said:

"Amara, have I ever told you how much I love your magic?" He looked at the vine bridge, completely stunned by my abilities.

"Only every single day." I said jokingly as I motioned for everyone to follow me across the bridge, which held strong at the weight of the whole company as they crossed. Once everyone was across to the other side I then snapped my fingers before the vines returned to their original place, hanging by the trees and nowhere near either side of the bridge.

"That'll slow down any orcs that may be following behind us." I said before walking towards the front of the line and then turned to face everyone, only to ask: "You guys coming or what?" I turned back around and began to slowly walk ahead, but I still manage to hear Dwalin speak:

"Thorin? Marry that lass."

I then heard Thorin respond: "I intend to, Balin." I smiled as I thought to myself: 'As do I.' And we all continued through the woods.

Hours later, we still were walking through the forest but as we stopped for a rest, I could sense something, I turned to Thorin who could sense it too. He then motioned for all the company to be quiet. I looked around only to see Bilbo was gone, and I knew that meant that he was or had climbed to the top of the trees.

Before I knew it, we were surrounded by giant-ass spiders, the second that I saw those hideous monsters I cried out:

"ARANIA EXUMAI!" I channelled all my magical energy into the spell which blasted away most of the spiders, but not all of them. Suddenly I began to feel lightheaded as my senses started to fade and I fell to the ground like all strength just left my body.

The last thing I heard before everything went black was Thorin crying out: "AMARA!"

And then it was all black...