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Chapter Text

A wise old Wizard once told me that extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people.

But here's the catch. I am not really that extraordinary by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm the daughter of Calvin and Nora Brooks. My father was a carpenter and my mother was a florist who ran her own flower shop.

I also have a brother Ian who is older than me by four years. He was studying to be a lawyer and used to work at the public library, which I sometimes used to volunteer at.

Not that I ever wanted to be a librarian…

I often thought I'd go into botany or become a florist or even become a gardener.

I never imagined that I would be swept away into the land of Middle Earth and forced into battles and crazy adventures over mountains, rivers and sweeping plains.

Yes.

I said Middle Earth.

The same Middle Earth that was created by J.R.R Tolkien.

The same Middle Earth which is home to humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits and probably every single other crazy creature that ever existed in fantasy fiction that has ever existed.

You all might ask me am I high on some form of crack? You might ask me if I'm playing April fools. But I'm not joking.

I really am in Middle Earth

How did I get here you might ask?

Well…that's a pretty long story…

And like all good stories, it starts like this:

Once upon a time, there was a seventeen-year-old girl named Ariel Rosalie Myrtle Brooks…

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

A young woman winced in her sleep as her alarm clock blared loudly beside her on her bedside table.

Without opening her brown-green hazel eyes her arm automatically slid out from beneath the tropical green comforter. With a hard whack, her fingers slapped randomly at the buttons on the top of the device, the sounds from it growing louder with every extra beep.

Eventually after a couple of moments of slapping and slamming over the hard surface she managed to press the right button, which yielded at once to her touch before it shut up.

"Finally," the girl groaned her head lifting up groggily from her pillow. She tried to squint at the clock but her dark red-russet hair was in the way of her light brown eyes.

Jesus is it that late already?

She brushed back her hair, blinking hard as she tried to adjust herself to the light about her. The sun was shining, making her light beige skin take on a slightly golden sheen as she sat up in bed stretching out her limbs.

"Ariel!" a woman's voice called from outside her room door. "Ariel get up it's time for breakfast"

Ariel pinched the bridge of her nose as she yawned, doing her best to fight away the sleep that was threatening to engulf her again. She could not help it. Her bed was so soft and warm and comfortable. She could gladly fall back in its snuggly depths and remain there for all eternity.

But unfortunately for her fate had other plans, one of them just so happening to barge into her room at that very moment.

It was a young man. He was tall, lean and healthy, with dark coffee coloured skin and a shaved head of black hair that set off his eyes, which like Ariel's were a clear hazel with a slight upwards tilt.

"AH! The creature lives!"

He grinned wolfishly as he looked over the younger girl in the bed who glowered sleepily up at him before looking at the door.

"Ian seriously shut up. We're already late and I'm not in the mood,"

"You mean you're really late" Ian snorted standing to the side to allow his younger sister to get to her wardrobe. "I've been ready for half an hour"

"Well whoop-tee-freakin'-do!" Ariel rolled her eyes as she pulled out a pair of blue skinny jeans and a loose dark green shirt and began to get dressed.

"Oh don't get like that Airy-fairy" Ian shook his head fondly "We're only going to stack shelves. Not trek over the whole world."

"I bloody hope so. Or else I'm quitting" Ariel grunted as she pulled on her clean shirt and brushed out her hair, tying it quickly in a small braid to the side.

"Quit? You haven't even started anything yet. Come on Airy. It'll be fun. An adventure. We'll have a blast" Ian chuckled as he made to exit only for his sister to call out after him.

"Yeah, because swimming in a sea of by books is such an adventure! Seriously" she muttered when she heard his footsteps as he descended the staircase.

"It's a goddamn library. Just how fun can it possibly be?"

Ok…I will admit…this isn't so bad

Ariel found herself rolling her eyes to herself as she stood in the middle of an isle made up of two high and long bookshelves. Beside her was a large trolley laden with books of various shapes, sizes and colours.

She had been replacing returned books on shelves for almost an hour now but she had to admit it wasn't as boring as she would've originally thought.

For one thing the books she was putting back too were all of many different sorts and many had odd or amusing titles. Of course, there was nothing entertaining about the classics, and many of the non-fiction books were rather bland in appearance. But still it was always fun trying to find their spots by racing her brother down the mostly empty pathways between bookshelves on the back of the trolley.

But that fun had ended half an hour ago, when her brother Ian had been called away to assist a patron at the front desk.

Ariel was just finishing squeezing a very worn copy of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, when she heard someone cough from beside her.

She quickly turned her head and saw to her surprise an old woman standing behind her, looking up at her with cold beady black eyes as she rasped.

"Excuse me my dear, but could you please help me find a book? I would ask the nice young man at the counter but he's busy with someone else"

"Of course. Why don't I take you to the computer and we can do a search" Ariel politely nodded to the old woman who gave her a crooked smile.

"Thank you my dear"

The old lady's voice was as harsh as a crows squawk and as scratchy as nails over a chalk board. Even her soft rattling breaths made the hairs stand up on the back of the younger girl's neck.

She's just a lonely old lady who probably doesn't speak to anyone that much

Ariel tried to reason as she led the old woman to one of the machines and set up the search for her.

"Now just type in the name of the book you want to find and we'll see where it comes up" she quickly stepped aside for the woman to take her spot, barely suppressing a shudder as she caught sight of the woman's hands as they reached out towards the keyboard.

They were bony thin and claw like with long sharp nails, almost like a bird of prey's talons.

Kinda fits though

Ariel had to admit as she took in the rest of this stranger.

The old woman did indeed look like a bird. More accurately; she looked rather like an old vulture, what with the way her pale head of thin white hair rose from the strange black cloak that she wore over her dark red dress. Heck even her nose was beak like!

Ok…maybe now she can find her book happily

Ariel mentally sighed with relief as she saw the old woman hit enter and look at the results of her search only to screech at the top of her lungs.

"WHAT?! BORROWED!"

Ariel bit her lip nervously as she glanced over her shoulder. She could already see some other people in the shelves behind her eyeing her and the old woman with obvious disdain for the ruckus. She tried to give them an apologetic look only to wince as the old woman yelled again.

"NO-NO-NO IT CAN'T BE BORROWED!"

"I'm sorry mam but could you please keep your voice down your scaring the other patrons."

"WHERE IS IT? WHERE IS IT?"

"Please mam maybe I could find you another copy-"

"SHUT UP! I DON'T WANT ANOTHER COPY"

"But mam-"

"I SAID SHUT UP YOU STUPID GIRL!"

And with that Ariel felt one of the claw like hands of the woman lash out and strike her across the cheek. Surprised she fell backwards onto the floor, landing painfully on her behind just as the old woman continued to shriek, her fingers furiously slamming down hard on the keyboard keys.

"Hey what's going on?!" a familiar voice sounded and Ariel felt a large pair of hands grab her and pull her up to her feet.

"…hey Ian" She felt a deeply embarrassed flush spread over her cheeks as she heard many people about her mutter from all around her as her brother made to pat her down.

"You ok?"

"It was just a slap. Nothing major" Ariel tried to shrug but she was shaking a little from the shock.

"Alright but stand back and let me take care of this" Ian patted her shoulder consolingly before rounding on the woman.

Ariel had to admit she was impressed by how calm he made himself appear despite the angry glint in his eyes.

"Mam, I'm sorry you weren't able to find what you were looking for but if you hit a member of staff or anyone in this library again I'm going to have to call security to escort you outside"

The old woman paused at the computer, her eyes the only thing that moved as they swivelled around to look at Ian.

Ariel gulped with terror as she caught sight of the murderous gleam in those dark irises.

"Meddlesome boy" she muttered darkly under her breath before roughly thrusting out her palm at him.

On it in the centre of it was a large brand, burnt right into the flesh, imprinting a red mark that stood out against the red skin like blood on snow.

Ariel squinted as she took in the shape. It looked like it was a thin slanting eye with a very catlike vertical pupil. For some reason the shape was very…familiar…

But she didn't have much time to ponder the meaning any further because suddenly the symbol began to glow as if a fire was lit up from within and was about to burst forth.

Ariel looked towards Ian who was now rooted to the spot and staring wide eyed at the old woman's hand which was now glowing so brightly it seemed to be on fire.

She grinned wickedly as she saw fear brew in the depths of his light eyes.

"That's right boy, behold my power for it will be the last thing you ever see!" and with a loud cackle she let loose the fire from her palm and it surged forwards.

There was chaos as people scrambled away, gasped and screamed, though nobody's voices could match Ariel's shriek of terror as she saw her brother engulfed in a large ball of fire.

"NOO! IAN!"

KABOOM!

An elderly man, with long silver hair and beard, looked up quickly towards the stormy skies above his head.

He was an odd old man, for he wore long grey robes, a big grey pointed hat and held onto a tall brown wooden staff which he leaned against as he watched the dark clouds swirling above the long pier he walked beside and felt the first drops of rain fall onto his forehead.

He wasn't quite sure why, but he felt as if he was waiting for something. Though what he was waiting for he did not know.

All he knew was that he had to go down to the beach that was close by as soon as the rain had ended, for it would be there that he'd find the answers he sought…to questions he had not yet asked or thought about.

But he was to learn.

Beep-beep! Beep-beep!

"Ariel" a voice whispered in her ear. "Ariel"

Ariel looked up into the blurred face of an older man. He was tall with dark skin and short dark salt and pepper hair and goatee that made his tired hazel eyes seem to pop from his exhausted face.

"Hey Dad"

"Hey yourself. Listen your mom and I are just going to go get something from the cafeteria downstairs. Do you want to come with us?"

Ariel shook her head rubbing her eyes.

"No you go on ahead, I'm good"

"Are you sure?"

"yeah…I'm sure" she tried smiling, but her expression faltered as she saw the look on her father's face. He was looking really…intense…his eyes were scanning up and down her face, drinking in her features as if he was trying to memorise every single line and shape on her face before it disappeared.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

Calvin Brooks shook his head trying to smile, though failing miserably as his eyes almost welled up with tears.

"I'm fine sweetheart…just a little tired. Are you sure you won't come down to eat?"

"I'm sure. If I get hungry I'll just grab a bag of chips from the machine outside and come back in." Ariel shrugged. "besides I wanna stay here when he gets up"

If he gets up…

She bit her trembling lip as she looked down upon the hospital bed beside her. In it her brother lay, his body strapped up to so many machines that it was barely possible to walk easily in the room without tripping over a wire of some kind.

She vaguely felt her father's hand cup her cheek as he pressed a small kiss to the top of her head, before murmuring a goodbye and leaving the room.

But it wasn't enough to break her gaze as she continued to stare down at her sibling, a numb feeling settling over her entire body.

He would've looked completely fine had it not been for the equipment around him. Indeed, he only looked to be fast asleep which was odd considering what had happened.

"Just what did that old bat do to you?" Ariel muttered reaching out to take her brother's hand. It was cold from being out of the warmth of the blankets that were over him but not so much that it was worrisome.

Then suddenly something harsh brushed against her fingers.

Ariel blinked and looked down at her brother's hand. It seemed normal enough.

She felt it again with her fingers. Again the rough texture of damaged skin under the bandages.

It's on his palm

She quickly turned his hand over and drew her own away to see clearly only to jump back in horror.

There on his left palm clear as day to see for all was a red burn in the shape of a hideous eye.

"Nasty isn't it?" an elderly voice muttered from behind. "but then again it is a third degree burn so…"

Ariel froze and quickly whipped her head around ready to scream. However, she was quick to stop herself.

Yes, it was an old woman that had entered the room, but it wasn't the same one that had attacked her or her brother. No, this woman was very different, her face was wrinkled but kindly, and garbed in a nurses scrubs, a large rectangular leather satchel in her arms.

Ariel stared at her in alarm as she stepped over the threshold of the room.

"What's your name?" the old lady smiled as she approached her side.

"A-Ariel" Ariel stuttered warily. "I-I'm sorry but who are you nurse…?"

"Nuldien."

"Nuldi-what-what?" Ariel cocked her head to the side and the old lady, Nuldien laughed.

"Nuldien. Don't worry sweetie. I'm not like that other old hag that you met today"

"And…and who exactly is she?"

Ariel gulped as she looked towards Nuldien. She could not pinpoint why, but the woman gave off an overwhelmingly good vibe that made her feel like she could trust her…even if she sounded ridiculous as she said:

"A servant of a very dark power"

"Of what dark power?"

Ariel almost would have laughed, but then she remembered the way the evil old hag's hand had glowed like a fire.

Nuldien seemed to guess her thoughts because she sighed heavily as she made to sit in the spare chair by Ariel's other side.

"My dear what does that mark remind you of?"

"Um…a freaky red eye" Ariel replied blankly as she glanced at her brother's hand.

"Yes, and who uses such a symbol?"

"Err…I…don't really know" Ariel gulped as Nuldien's eyebrows rose.

"You do know but you just don't recognise it" the elderly woman sighed as she placed her rectangular leather-bound satchel upon the edge of the hospital bed and opened it up.

It was a very large, very thick red leather book with the same red eye embossed into the front cover, only this time it was surrounded by a circle of some form of familiar but strange letters.

It took Ariel a full minute to take in the two titles that were printed on either side of the symbol.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

"No…" she muttered in disbelief, shaking her head out vigorously "No this is just crazy"

"No, my child" Nuldien nodded sadly "it isn't"

"Seriously?" Ariel now began to laugh, though the sound was bitter and hollow "you expect me to believe that that old hag came from …from a fantasy book? And works for that Sauron or whatever his name is?"

Nuldien's eyes hardened their shade turning from smoky grey to pewter within a second.

"Yes, I do. And it would do you well to listen to what I have to say?"

"What are you going to tell me? That my brother is cursed and this book has the answer?"

"Yes, it does."

Ariel stopped laughing though her gaze remained narrowed upon the old lady beside her.

"Ok say that I believed you, which by the way I most certainly don't. How the hell would I go about curing him hmm?"

"That is actually quite simple" Nuldien shrugged "You go to Middle Earth and help destroy the one ring. If you don't then you better get used to hospitals quick smart child because you'll be visiting every week or so"

"Right…I just gotta go to Middle Earth." Ariel rolled her eyes "What are you gonna do? Book me a flight online? A cruise? Click your fingers and just magically whisk me away in a second?"

"As a matter of fact, I am"

"Wait what?"

Nuldien smirked and before Ariel could even blink the old lady had snapped her fingers in a hard click.

At once the young girl felt something hard tug behind her navel.

"Wait what's happen-WHOA!" Ariel cried out as world suddenly began to swirl about her in a mass of colour. She could barely feel her body for it felt as if she were being sucked straight through a vacuum tube and down into darkness.

She almost missed Nuldien's last words as she felt her body begin to fall, down, and down deeper into the void.

"Goodbye and good luck Ariel"

And then suddenly everything turned black.

Salt…

That was all she could taste in her mouth.

Salty water.

And she was laying on something wet and gritty.

Sand…

Ariel's eyes opened a sliver only to shut again as something crashed over her.

It was a wave, not a big one but still enough to hit her body hard and making her tired muscles ache even more.

She tried to open her eyes again, ignoring the sting from the salt water spray and raised her head. Sure, enough she was laying at the edge of the water along a long, undisturbed beach.

Struggling she managed to turn herself over onto her back trying to ignore the unpleasant chill or wet that had soaked her straight through to the bone.

Something green flashed in the corner of her eye and she turned her head slowly to see just next to her body a strange stick lying beside her body. It was reddish in colour, about her height (maybe slightly taller) with something green, winking at her brightly from the top of it.

But her eyes were too tired to make out much else and so she turned back to look up at the sky.

It was dim about her and grey as the sun slowly rose behind her in the east, its existence only noticeable due to the air beginning to warm and the sky lightening with each passing moment.

In the distance, she could see the dark cloudy dregs of a storm fading into the distance.

She stayed still, her body still too tired to move and let the waters, which were surprisingly clean wash over her body as the waves slowly but surely evened out into gentle pushes and pulls.

As her eyelids began to droop once more she could faintly hear the voices of several people calling out in muffled panic as they came closer, their voices mingling with the calls of seagulls that flew somewhere above her in the air.

Oh good…the police have found me…

Ariel's lips quirked upwards in a smile as she let her mind drift off once again into darkness.

"[There look! There is someone laying in the water!]"

"Are you sure this was a good idea? After all she has no idea of what awaits her there"

"Trust me Celegon. Everything will be fine. Once Gandalf sees her he will take care of everything. She will be safe. I promise"

"I can only hope you're right…Nuldien"

The Elves of the Grey Havens (or Mithlond as they called it in their own tongue) were used to strange and unusual things washing up upon the shoreline of their port. It after all was the point from which many of their ships had travelled to and from the west.

So, it wasn't unusual to find small unusual objects, driftwood or shells littering the white sands.

Hence why Gandalf the Grey was so interested in the elven lord Galdor's words.

"We would not have called for you so immediately if the situation were not so strange" the elf admitted as he and the elderly wizard walked down the length of a hallway.

"Indeed not" Gandalf nodded though his eyes were shrewd "And what of this girl. Is there anything of her history that you can discover?"

Galdor shook his head softly, his brow furrowed on his fair face "No and that is remarkably troubling. Her overall appearance is that of a human and yet her garments are not like any I have seen before. They appear to be the clothes of a man but yet they are fitted and tailored to her female form and they appear to serve more for aesthetics than functionality in regards to a trade. And then there is her staff-"

The elf's eyes quickly darted towards the long ash staff in the grey wizard's hand.

"-It is remarkably like your own, though made of redwood and there is a green crystal set in the top."

Gandalf stopped dead in in his tracks.

"A green crystal?"

"Yes" Galdor paused mid step also to look back on the wizard with a quirked eyebrow "You know of this artefact?"

"…yes…yes as a matter of fact I do" Gandalf's voice was soft with thoughtfulness as he stroked his long beard slowly, his mind swimming.

But surely it could not be time yet…could it?

He looked up at Galdor who opened his mouth to say something only to be cut off by a loud feminine shriek.

Both elf and wizard wheeled about to the direction of the sound, from which an elf woman with long golden hair and a fair face was running towards Galdor hurriedly.

"My lords our new guest has awoken-"

Gandalf the Grey had seen many things in his time upon Middle Earth. Many of them were of the unusual variety, whilst others were amusing, some were fascinating and some indeed were downright astounding.

What he seemed to be witnessing before him seemed to somehow fit into all those categories.

What had once been a large spacious bedroom, fashioned and decorated by the work of cunning elvish hands was now a mass of green vines entwining themselves in a defensive nest like construction around the centre of the great bed.

In the middle of it a girl was scrambling about in a panic trying her best to scuttle away from a long tendril of a vine that was creeping its way around her ankle.

"Ah! Get off! Get off!"

She squeaked swatting the vine away only to find another trying to twirl itself into her russet hair.

Gandalf took a moment to quickly observe the rest of the room. It was almost covered head to foot in the plant life which was surprisingly animated, considering its breed and species.

His eyes quickly snapped to a point on the ground when they caught the faintest trace of a green glimmer.

There laying on the floor by the foot of the bed was a long thin staff, made from redwood with one end carved to resemble an eagle's talon gripping a bright green stone in its clutch. It was glowing slightly, the brightness fluctuating as the girl continued to squeak and jump in her makeshift nest.

"I shall leave you to it then" Galdor nodded at Gandalf as the wizard quickly stepped forwards, his feet deftly darting over the writhing vines all over the floor as if he were trying to avoid stepping over a pit of snakes.

He snatched the staff off the ground in one swipe and within moments was holding it out in front of the girl who jumped at the sight of him.

"Here. I believe this might help"

The girl sat there shocked for a moment as she looked him over before quietly taking the staff from him. As soon as her hand touched the long rod, the plants around her stilled where they were at once.

Gandalf let loose a small sigh of relief as he straightened up watching the girl closely as she looked at her surroundings.

Gulping she tentatively gripped the staff tighter in her hands the glow from the green crystal within intensifying as a small hum sounded throughout the room, like when one would rub their fingers over a glass harmonica.

The old wizard watched with wonder as slowly but surely all the vines around the room began to creep down from the walls and ceiling and floor all the way back to the open window from which they seemed to have come from.

Once they were all safely out of reach of the walls, the girl gave a huge sigh of relief.

"Thanks"

"You're very welcome" Gandalf huffed as he made to sit down in a chair that was beside the bed, dusting off some fallen leaves. "So, now that we have those vines sorted out perhaps we could get down to business. What is your name?"

The girl bit her lip nervously as she mumbled timidly.

"Ariel. Ariel Brooks"

"Ariel" Gandalf repeated with a small nod of his head "daughter of the sea. Fitting seeing as you were found by the waters of the havens"

"Yeah…though back where I come from Ariel means something slightly different"

"I know it does" Gandalf nodded gravely "in fact in your world it means the holy lion"

"My world?" The girl's head quickly snapped to him her eyes wide with surprise.

"Don't be alarmed" Gandalf quickly put up a hand to silence her "I know of where you come from and I know who sent you. Nuldien the Red, the great keeper of secrets. I believe you've met her"

"Yes" Ariel nodded slightly, her body seeming to relax a little bit, though not enough to remove the wary glint in her eye as she looked upon the wizard. "But how do you know her?"

"She was once one of my order, and she was a good friend. Wiser than most of us Istari, though remarkably eccentric in her methods." His voice fell away thoughtfully as old memories began to surface once more on the edges of his mind.

Ariel blinked as she looked upon the old man's face trying to digest what he'd just said.

Order…Nuldien the red…the red Istari…Istari…oh my god…OH MY GOD!

"GHA!" she squeaked and Gandalf jumped in his chair in surprise. He looked up to see Ariel's hands clapped over her mouth.

How could she have not recognised it before? The long grey beard, the grey robes, the staff, the hat!

"Y-you, you're-you're. G-G-G-Gan-Gand-" she stuttered her grip on her own staff, which was still in her hands, tightening in surprise.

"Yes, Miss Ariel. I am Gandalf the Grey." Gandalf's eyes twinkled in amusement as Ariel fell back into the headboard and ran a hand over her hair.

"Oh my god I'm dreaming! I'm hallucinating! I've finally, officially cracked!" she groaned loudly. "No there is no way I'm really on Middle Earth, I'm just-"

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid I must disagree with you there" Gandalf steamrolled over her quickly to stop her hyperventilating. "You are here and you were sent here for good reason, though I have yet to determine the nature of your task. Now, how did you get here and what did Nuldien tell you?"

"She…she barely told me anything" Ariel breathed deeply to calm her spiking nerves "She just sent me here. My brother…he was attacked…he was dying…. She said if I came here and helped destroy some greater evil or something that I could save him"

"And what is this great evil called?"

Ariel opened her mouth but paused quickly.

Oh crap…he knows about my world…but I don't think he knows that this world a part of a book…a book in which everything in his future has been written down…If Saruon had been defeated when Gandalf had become Gandalf the white then I'm in Middle Earth before they've discovered the Ring and before Sauron came back from hiding…if I tell him everything now I'll change everything or worse if people know I know what's going to happen they might …

She gulped once more this time doing her best to keep her voice calm and composed even though Gandalf's blue-grey eyes had hardened so much that they were now as grim as storm clouds.

"I… can't tell you. It's not that I don't want to" she quickly added as the wizard opened his mouth "but...but"

Quick Ariel think. You don't have to lie to him you just need to bend the truth a little.

"But I cannot because I am under oath not to reveal it"

"Under oath?" Gandalf raised his eyebrows.

"Yes" Ariel quickly nodded "Yes I am under oath. In my world, many of my people know of the future of Middle Earth and many other worlds. However, it is forbidden for us to speak of them aloud except to one another so that we may not damage the flow of time or destiny. There are certain things that are meant to happen, and it is not our place to change it for our own means unless it is in dire circumstances."

Christ if only I could've bullsh-ed like this on my English finals…

Ariel huffed in relief as she saw the old wizard slowly nod his head in understanding.

"If what you say is true. Then Nuldien must have seen some great disturbance to have sent you here in her stead"

"Yeah maybe" Ariel nodded quietly but then she quickly asked "How did you know this Nuldien lady sent me? And how do you know of my-my world?"

"The answer to both those questions lies within one answer. As I said before Nuldien was once one of my Order. And being a secret keeper she knew many things we didn't. One of these was the means to travel through worlds through magic. She would often disappear for weeks on end before suddenly reappearing with tales from these other realms. One day she left but stopped returning altogether. That was nigh on two hundred years ago. But before she vanished she foretold that there would be a time when this Middle Earth would be in danger and in that time, she herself would send to us over the seas an ally bearing a green stone. Just like the one you have in that item of yours"

As Gandalf spoke quietly, his eyes roved over the staff in her hands as the green gem within flickered with a glowing light from within

Ariel looked down on it feeling the small pulses of power trickle through the wood and into her skin. It felt…refreshing…invigorating…as if she were sitting in an open field with the sun over her face and soft grass beneath her body.

And yet what was she supposed to do with it?

Gandalf seemed to read her face and thoughts because he sighed heavily.

She was young, far younger than what he had expected to have seen, more on the edge of maidenhood than womanhood.

Barely grown out of her puppy fat…

He mused as he looked over the youthful face, unlined and unmarked by age or experience.

But I guess we'll have to make do for now. Who knows, she made it this far and she's still mostly in one piece. There is a strong conviction in her… she has a purpose…she said her brother is at death's door unless she saves this world. Her love for him must be strong indeed. Maybe that's why Nuldien sent her, for one who loves is far stronger in heart than one who fears or hates.

"So, miss Ariel." Gandalf coughed when he realised that the silence had dragged on a fair bit. "Are you well enough to walk?"

"huh?" Ariel blinked at him. "Walk? I guess so"

"Good. Because you'll be doing a good deal of it from now on" Gandalf grunted as he slowly made his way up onto his feet, leaning against his own lighter-coloured staff "That is, once you've been properly fed and clothed for travel in this world. I daresay you'll find it impractical to walk or ride about the wilderness in a nightdress"

"Yeah…I guess so" Ariel bit her lip unsurely as she looked up at the older man who was slowly making his way back to the now-closed room door "uh… where will I be going exactly?"

"You'll be coming along with me." Gandalf looked back at her as if what he'd just said had been the most obvious idea in the world "I have an errand that I might require some help with and in return I shall help you with those new powers of yours. Correct me if I'm wrong but I do not think even you've had much experience with magic"

"However, did you guess?" Ariel rolled her eyes sardonically. "Wait hang on! What is this errand you have to go on?"

"Oh, I'm just picking up one last small thing for a quest I am organising" Gandalf's eyes twinkled "I don't know whether you know of this or not considering your worlds powers of foresight, but there is a party of dwarves that currently want to regain their lost kingdom from a dragon. The only trouble is we just need one more member Dwarves are a very superstitious lot and thirteen is not considered a lucky number."

"Who do you have in mind to fill in this spot?" Ariel's fingers were now shaking with anticipation as the corners of his mouth twitched upwards in a small smile.

"Tell me Ariel…what do you know of Hobbits?"

In the hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit.

Not a nasty, dirty wet hole full of worms and oozy smells.

This was a Hobbit hole.

And that means good food, a warm hearth and all the comforts of home.

Chapter Text

There is the small snapping and slight sizzling sound as a match is lit.

The hiss as a small flame ignites a candle wick.

The click of a key as a box is opened.

The small plop as the cap of an inkwell is opened.

The scratching of a quill as it writes over the pages of a large leather bound red book.

My dear Frodo.

You asked me one once if I had told you everything there was to know about my adventures. And while I can honestly say I have told you the truth, I may not have told you all of it.

I am old now, Frodo. I'm not the same Hobbit I once was.

I think it is time for you to know what really happened. It began long ago in a land far away across the shining seas.

A world of men, though not men like you'll find here on this middle earth. A world of strange wonders and unheard-of inventions. With great cities made from metal and money made from paper.

It was in such a place that SHE was born. A young woman who would, unknowingly, change the world as we know it, and in more ways than we can possibly imagine.

The elves call her Calenhyrin. The Dwarves call her Zarsûna, and amongst man she has many more names, the most common being "the Green Lady".

But I just knew her as Ariel Brooks…

Ariel wiped her nose as she shivered in the cold night air.

She was striding up the long winding road that looped up around the hill like a great snake. Alongside her little homes with doors far shorter than her average frames were shut, the lights behind their windows either lit dimly from within or completely black as their owners rested from a long day's work.

She drew her green cloak tighter about her form as she rounded yet another bend in the road, clutching her hood tight about her head so that she could cover her freezing ears. She was glad the dark green dress and corset she wore were sturdy and thick, and that her brown boots were long, because she didn't think she'd ever have been able to handle this cold in the clothes she had first arrived in.

Man if my friends could see me now…

Ariel sighed as another cold gust of wind whipped about her.

She couldn't see why she had to leave her horse behind at the inn. If she hadn't she'd have been up this hill a lot quicker.

Damn old man! I get he doesn't want to make a scene but still…brr, damn its cold.

She bristled, teeth chattering slightly as she turned around another bend, only to stop dead in her tracks as she caught sight of a group of people just ahead of her. Or rather a group of very stout short men, led by a very tall man with a large grey hat.

It was he who turned to face her, his bright eyes twinkling as he smiled at her from beneath a long grey beard.

"Ah Ariel, there you are. I was beginning to worry"

"No need to worry old man. I was just sightseeing" Ariel smiled, her heart leaping in her chest with both excitement and anxiety as she looked over the other figures

Were these the rest of the dwarves?

From watching the doors of the hobbit hole, she knew Dwalin, Balin, Fili and Kili had already come into Bag End from the other direction of the road. Though she had not met them or seen them up close, they had matched the descriptions Gandalf had given her to a tee.

And speaking of dwarves…

She blushed and dipped her head down a little under her hood as she caught sight of the dwarves' curious expressions as they assessed her. Most of them seemed politely interested, others not as impressed.

Gandalf however was not perturbed.

"Gentlemen me to introduce my new apprentice, Lady Ariel Brooks. Ariel this is the company…or at least eight of them. This is Gloin, Oin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur"

Ariel did her best to commit all the dwarves' names and faces to memory, though admittedly it wasn't hard for her to overlook Bombur for he was massively fat like a drum.

She curtsied politely as they all gave sweeping bows muttering "At your service" one after the other before Gandalf addressed her once more.

"My dear just how long have you been walking? I could've sworn you left before us…"

Oh yeah right, he said for me to go on ahead.

"um…about an hour or so" she shrugged only to see some of the dwarf's eyebrows shoot up. "I took a wrong turn and had to double back."

"An hour milady?" one of the shorter younger looking dwarves, in grey and brown with a shortish beard, said worriedly "In this night air and in that thin cloak. You'll catch a chill if you're not careful."

"Ori that thin cloak as you call it" Gandalf rolled his eyes impatiently "was fashioned by the elves and it is highly effective in its duty to its wearer. But we haven't the time to discuss fashion or the night air. Let us just get inside as quick as maybe."

And with that they all began making their way up the hill towards a round green front door.

Poor Bilbo Baggins was almost at his wits end as he watched with despondent desperation, twelve dwarves run amok about his house. He was especially dismayed when he discovered that his wonderfully fully stocked pantry had been all but ransacked, and had been left with nothing save a couple of condiments that had been hidden on one of the highest shelves.

He could barely tell who was taking what and had only just managed to tug some prize tomatoes he himself had grown from the hands of a dwarf. Meanwhile behind him, Gandalf stooped out from the dining room and began counting off the names of his company.

"Uh, Fili, Kili. Uh…Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori. Yes, you are quite right Bifur" The wizard nodded quickly as the dark shaggy haired dwarf passed him and spoke in a gruff and completely unintelligible tongue accompanied by a brusque hand movement.

"Is something wrong?" Ariel asked as she poked her head out from the dining room where she had been trying to quietly set places at the table. There was so much food set on it that it was beginning to groan alarmingly under the weight.

Gandalf looked at her and smiled.

"Oh nothing is wrong, we're just one dwarf short"

"He is late, is all" Dwalin nodded gruffly from the wall he was leaning against as he sipped a tankard of beer "He travelled north to a meeting of our kin. He will come"

"Mister Gandalf" Dori, a dwarf with a grey beard, quickly piped in as he came into the room, holding up what appeared to be two tiny shot glasses full to the brim with red wine. "A little glass of red wine as requested. It's got a fruity bouquet"

"Oh cheers" Gandalf took the tiny glass with a smile just as the dwarf turned to Ariel and smiled at her.

"And you milady? What will you be having?"

"Oh no, it's alright I'm fine thank you" Ariel smiled politely before quickly glancing down beside her where Bilbo was trying and failing to regain his composure, his furry feet nervously tapping as they tried to decide which direction to go in.

Poor guy…

She sighed softly to herself taking in his now haggard appearance. She guessed it was only natural. From what she could remember of the books, Bilbo had only thought Gandalf would be calling in to his house. He hadn't expected twelve or thirteen raucous dwarves to come barging in and pillage his pantry.

It was a hard slog for Ariel to get small snippets of food from the table seeing as they were all tucking in heavily, Bombur catching a boiled egg whole in his large and mostly full mouth with many a cheer from the others.

Like first day in the school cafeteria all over again

Eventually after several tries and attempts to squeeze her way in, and watching a rather long sculling of beer, and a spectacular belching competition, Balin's kindly but sharp eyes caught sight of her.

"Are you alright lass? You look a little out of sorts"

"What? Oh. No I'm fine…I guess I'm just a little…uh…from the journey" she shrugged. She tried to back away quickly not wanting to cause any trouble but he quickly pulled her back by the cape.

"Well if you're tired then you must eat and regain your strength. Come lass let's make room for you" and with that Balin turned slapping at both Kili and Fili who sat beside him.

"Oy you two rascals, where are your manners there is a lady present."

The two young brothers both looked rather taken aback for a moment as they glanced around for a sign of what their elder was talking about. They were quick to catch sight of Ariel who was trying her best to stand back with her hands fiddling in front of her nervously.

"Oh goodness lass. We're so sorry we didn't see you there! Here please sit"

Kili quickly scooted over so that there was a gap between himself and his brother who swiftly snatched her an empty plate up and began filling it quickly with food, which was probably for the best considering how spiritedly Bombur was devouring nearly everything in sight, including the gigantic rolls of cheese.

"There you go that should fill you right up"

"Thank you" Ariel flushed pink suddenly feeling very shy as her stomach made a loud grumble at the sight of her full plate.

"Is no problem miss…?"

"Ariel" Ariel nodded as she accepted cutlery from him, blushing to the roots of her hair.

"Ariel…it's a pleasure to meet you"

"It's nice to meet you too um…Fili is it?"

"The one and only" Fili grinned before standing up to his feet and sweeping into a low bow.

"Fili son of Boli and Dis of the house of Durin. At your service miss Ariel. And that there is my younger brother Kili" Fili nodded back at his younger brother Kili who quickly swooped in from the side with a cheeky lopsided grin and glinting bright eyes.

"My lady" he gave her a tiny wink.

If Ariel had thought, she was pink before it was nothing compared to the almost magenta shade as her hand was swept up towards the youngest dwarf's stubbled chin so that he could graze his lips over her knuckles.

"So…Ariel? Wow what a name! So unusual, but very fitting for a sweet young maid such as yourself. Tell me what does it mean?"

"Uh…it's kinda got two meanings" she gulped her eyes darting down to her lap. "In Elvish it could mean Daughter of the sea, but in the tongue of my people it means Holy Lioness."

"A lioness? HA! More like a lion cub" Came a gruff bark and Ariel turned to see a rather dwarf with tattoos and knuckle dusters sitting just on the other side of the table across from her.

He cast quite a terrifying image what with the tattoos and battle scars marring his large bear like arms, not to mention his beard was long and shaggy. But what caught her attention the most were his eyes, dark but shrewd even as they made to assess her with mounting suspicion and doubt. It was a look that she just noticed, that a lot of the older dwarves were sparing her.

Ok I was wrong…this is so much worse than first day at school…

"Excuse me but I don't think I quite caught that Mister…?" she replied doing her best to keep her voice and face as cool as possible.

"Dwalin son of Fundin" the gruff dwarf, Dwalin, snorted as he took a swig of his drink. "And I was saying, that yer seem less like a big cat and more like a little kitten"

"maybe… but even a kitten can still draw blood when it scratches"

There was a small pause in many discussions around the table as all the dwarves made to watch the exchange with intrigue. Indeed, Fili was quirking an eyebrow at his brother as they watched Ariel bristle ever so slightly in her seat as she responded quietly.

"She has a point there" a dwarf with a funny hat, whom Ariel recognised to be Bofur, murmured to the small cardigan bearing form of Ori who was looking nervously at Dwalin.

The older dwarf's face was remarkably blank even as he looked the girl before him straight in the eye. Ariel looked straight back, willing herself not to break eye contact though internally she was screaming to just look back down into her plate and sink away to be invisible.

Then suddenly Dwalin burst out chuckling, the sound rather deep and booming but jovial all the same as he threw his head back hard.

"HA! I like you kid! You've certainly got spunk! Hey Gandalf where did you find this little fire cracker?"

"Oh…I wouldn't say that I found her." The Grey Wizard shrugged almost nonchalantly though his eyes did twinkle a little "Rather I'd say she found me. And a good thing too considering… …"

"Considering what?" Ariel tilted her head but Gandalf just smiled as he sat in his seat and took out his long wooden pipe from his satchel.

"Nothing my dear, now why don't you eat before your food gets cold"

Ariel nodded.

Quickly she began to eat trying her best to be as neat and as ladylike as she could. And yet despite her much cleaner manners the speed at which the food disappeared off her plate was just as astounding as the dwarves around her who were watching with great intrigue.

"Well someone is hungry" Kili sniggered as he watched the girl shovel the last bite off her clean plate. He winced as Balin slapped him hard over the back of his head much to everyone's amusement.

"Manners."

"It's alright. I actually haven't eaten since the morning anyway" Ariel grinned reaching out for a small warm roll of bread in the centre of the table which she quickly began to munch upon.

"So Lass" Gloin's voice spoke from his spot opposite her at the table "Since we are all going to be traveling together for a while, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself"

"Um…ehe" Ariel laughed nervously scratching the back of her head. "I'm not sure if there's much to tell. My name is Ariel Brooks, I'm seventeen years old. My father Calvin is a carpenter, and my mother Nora is a flower seller and my elder brother was studying law-" she was glad she had a piece of bread in her mouth for it masked whatever tenseness she had in her jaw.

"And you ended up a wizard's apprentice?" Nori raised his brows. "No offence but that is rather odd occupation for a young lady isn't it?"

At this Gandalf's voice arose from his end of the table and his voice was calm and jovial, though he gave Ariel a pointed look as if to say "let me handle this".

"That is true. However, Ariel has already demonstrated a fair aptitude for magic, and whilst it is remarkable in its own right it would be beneficial for her to start learning to harness such talent from an earlier age when it is easier than leave it to fester and run amok untrained"

"Aye fair enough" Dwalin and some of the older dwarves nodded grimly, though Kili looked very excited as he beheld his new neighbour who was now nibbling nervously on a piece of crust.

"You can do magic? That's incredible? What kind?"

Ariel glanced around the table. All the Dwarves and Bilbo, who had just walked in from his hallway, were now sitting or standing still gazing at her expectantly. She gulped nervously.

"It's alright Ariel you can show them" Gandalf's voice was gentle.

"Okay…but just don't be disappointed if it doesn't work…I'm still just getting used to it" Ariel nodded, taking a deep breath as she reached backwards for her staff which she pointed carefully at the bowl of gorgeous fresh whole tomatoes.

Grow…

At first she thought she had failed for whilst the green gem in her staff glowed brightly nothing seemed to happen. And then suddenly without warning Ori gave a cry out in alarm and everyone jumped.

The before all their eyes the tomatoes were slowly but surely beginning to expand outwards, almost as if they were inflatable balloons.

Stop

She quickly commanded as they became almost as big as a small rockmelon each, the vines joining them together now thick as normal twigs.

There was a heavy silence as all the men in the room stared between the overgrown food and the young girl with wide eyes. Indeed, Bilbo's eyes were wider than his dinner plates.

She grew the tomatoes…she grew the tomatoes that were already picked…all with just a wave of that stafff?

Too astounded to speak he quickly turned to look back into his pantry just as loud cheers sounded from his dining room. However, the sight before his eyes did nothing to alleviate his bewilderment.

His entire pantry was completely empty. There was not one shelf left untouched. Even all his best cheeses were demolished.

Why me?

He thought despondently as he made his way into his kitchen where a couple of dwarves were currently standing about chatting over large mugs of beer, one of them taking a small square of woven lace and wiping his mouth on it.

Alright I've been tolerant for long enough

The poor Hobbit strode forwards and yanked the cloth out of Bofur's hand.

"Excuse me but that's a doily not a dishcloth"

"But it's full of holes" Bofur shrugged, unperturbed by Bilbo's obvious aggravation as his control was starting to dangle by the thinnest of threads.

"It's supposed to look like that it's crochet"

"And a wonderful game it is too, if you've got the balls for it" at this all the Dwarves in the room chortled.

Bilbo however huffed angrily as he stormed back to a shelf to tuck the small doily away before it could be damaged any further.

"Be-bother and confiscate these Dwarves!"

"My dear Bilbo whatever is the matter?" Gandalf asked concernedly as he came in from the dining room.

"What's the matter?" Bilbo snapped irately "I'm surrounded by Dwarves. What are they doing here?"

"Oh they're quite a merry gathering, once you get used to them" the old wizard added trying his best to give an encouraging smile down at his host, but Bilbo was clearly not impressed.

"I don't want to get used to them." He hissed as he led Gandalf through the rooms and around the disaster zone that had once been his comfortable little home "Look at the state of my kitchen. There's mud trod into the carpet. They've pillaged the pantry. I'm not even going to tell you what they've done in the bathroom. They've all but destroyed the plumbing. I don't understand what they're doing in my house! Agh!"

His small cry mingled with that of a young woman's as Ariel accidentally bumped into him her plate accidentally tipping some reddish watery liquid all over the smaller hobbit's brown curly locks.

"Oh goodness I am so sorry" Ariel spluttered sounding just as mortified as he felt. She couldn't believe she'd accidentally spilled Tomato water all over Bilbo Baggins within barely a few hours of knowing him. "Really Mister Bilbo I am so sorry-"

It's official…this has got to be without a doubt the most embarrassing night of my life.

Both hobbit and girl thought in unison.

As the substance dribbled over his face and over his lips, Bilbo caught the strong taste of tomato and sighed heavily in aggravation.

"It's alright miss. I was just going to wash up anyway"

"No, I really am sorry" Ariel insisted feeling her gut eat away at her with guilt "I mean for everything. I wasn't looking at where I was going and I've kind of assisted in demolishing or mutating what was once in your pantry-"

"It's alright" Bilbo put a hand up quickly to stop her. It wasn't that he was angry at the girl, what had just happened was clearly an accident, and judging by her previous behavior she was herself new to this company of loud boisterous Dwarves. And so, it was with a great deep breath that he forced himself to speak calmly. "I understand."

Ariel bit her lip trying not to glance in the direction of Gandalf who was watching their interaction quite closely and curiously.

"Here" she held out her hand, the one not holding the now empty plate, in which she had folded up neatly a proper cloth napkin.

"…Thank you" Bilbo murmured quietly as he took the cloth and began dabbing at his face and hair.

And he sincerely was thankful. She was perhaps the only other person who seemed to understand his predicament that evening. His gratitude however was cut short as he saw Ori enter the room holding up his own clean plate.

"Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?"

"Tip it on my head perhaps" Bilbo muttered under his breath though when Ariel caught his eye she saw that there was perhaps a small twinkle of amusement.

She sighed slightly with relief just as Fili strode in and quickly snatched both her's and Ori's plates in his hands.

"Here you go Ori, give them to me"

And with that he quickly threw them in the direction of Kili who had just come out of the kitchen, only for him to expertly fling them back inside.

Then suddenly from the dining room somebody threw two more plates at Fili who then chucked them to his brother, who started to get into a rhythm as he passed the plates on into whoever was catching them in the kitchen.

Poor Bilbo began to panic once more as one by one every single one of the dishes and plates he owned was thrown across the room in front of his horrified eyes.

"Take that back! No excuse me! That's my mother's West Farthing pottery, it's over one hundred years old!"

Ariel would have been worried at this statement had she not been so impressed by how skilled the dwarves were with their task. It seemed their dexterity extended further than their usual craftsmanship in stones and metals.

And speaking of metals…

Ariel felt her heart brim with excitement as she heard a rhythmic thumping and clashing as the Dwarves in the dining room began to bump and slice their knives and forks against the table and one another.

Oh god…it can't be

"And can you not do that you'll blunt them" Bilbo cried out in alarm only for the dwarves to all laugh.

"Ooh you hear that lads he says we'll blunt the knives"

"Blunt the knives bend the forks" Fili sang.

"Smash the bottles and burn the corks" Kili sang.

"Chip the glasses and crack the pla~tes. That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!" they all sang in unison.

And at that some of the dwarves begin to play flutes from their packs as others continued to sing loudly slide the plates across the table to be "cleaned" by Bombur who it seemed was substituting for a garbage bin with the amount that he was consuming. They were having such a merry time that even Fili quickly pulled Ariel into a small gig with him around the entrance hall of the hobbit hole, which was met with much jovial cheers and clapping.

"Cut the cloth, tread on the fat. Leave the bones on the bedroom mat. Poor the milk on the pantry floor. Smash the wine on every door! Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl. Pound them up with a thumping pole. And when you're finished if they are whole, send them down the hall to roll"

Ariel could not help but smile with glee as her partner held his hand for her to spin around one last time as the singers all cried out loudly.

"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

Bilbo quickly lurched forwards at the last word to look wildly between the shoulders of two dwarves only to see to his uttermost astonishment all his plates and dishes neatly stacked one on top of another, with no cracks and no damage whatsoever.

"Ha did you see his face" Bifur chortled just as Oin cried out towards Fili's and Ariel's direction.

"And did you see our new friend's lovely footwork"

Ariel giggled brightly much to the delight of the company around her who all turned and gave her and Fili a small smattering of applause. She curtsied to them all, blushing shyly to the roots of her red-brown hair as Kili whooped loudly only to be smacked on the back of his head once again for his cheek by Balin who shook his head with an exasperated smile.

She turned back to Fili just as he made to bow low before her.

"Thank you for the wonderful dance miss Ariel"

"Oh...I'm-I'm not such a good dancer really" Ariel's blush deepened as she smiled bashfully. "If anything I should be thanking you for being such a good partner"

"Nonsense" Fili smirked as he straightened up "You are wonderful and light on your feet. I shall be delighted to dance with you again when the next good song arrives my lady"

"Well I look forward to it kind sir..." Ariel smiled as chuckling he took one of her hands in his own and politely pressed his lips over her knuckles.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Ariel quickly wheeled about as everyone around her fell into a hush.

Even Gandalf's eyes grew serious as he paused, his now lit up smoking pipe halfway to his mouth.

"He is here" he murmured standing to his feet he quickly glanced at Ariel who nodded nervously before timidly reaching out to the round front door and pulling it gently open.

What she saw made her gasp softly and her eyes widen in shock.

A Dwarf in thick clothing and a fur lined cloak entered the house. He was tall by the standards of his people, the top of his head reaching Ariel's chin. His bearing was proud and straight to match his regal face which was framed by long black hair and beard.

Despite being taller than him, Ariel suddenly felt remarkably small as he spared her a piercing glance with a pair of bright blue eyes. After a quick assessment, and a small derisive snort, he he turned his imperious gaze upon Gandalf who had stepped forwards to greet him.

"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for the mark on the door"

"Mark?" Bilbo cried out "There's not mark on that door. It was painted a week ago"

But even as Ariel quickly peeked over the side of the said door she saw glimmering in the light of the moon a thin rune scratched very finely into the green paint along the wood.

"Actually Bilbo there is a mark" She gave the hobbit an apologetic look.

"Of course there is one" Gandalf rolled his eyes "I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, Ariel, allow me to introduce the leader of our company; Thorin Oakenshield"

Chapter Text

When Thorin Oakenshield first stepped into Hobbiton around sunset, his first thought was:

That wizard must be mad. There is no chance we could find a burglar in such a safe little pocket of the world.

But even as he wandered around the sleepy hillsides, watching as the residents all tucked in for the evening, he had to admit there was something charming about the many gardens and the simplicity of the people that tended them.

Though these were people who'd never known hardship and woe like he and his people had, he did not feel as bitter towards them as he had first thought he would. Indeed, there was something soothing about the sounds of the people chatting and the children playing as he walked along the paths in the pink and lavender twilight.

There was just something about the innocence of this place that made him feel at peace…until he realized that he had gotten lost.

He frowned at the map he'd been given as he struggled to find the directions on it, only to curse as a strong gust of chilly wind suddenly whipped it up and out of his hands. He jumped to get it, but already it was sailing away beyond his reach and up into a tree.

He sighed heavily to himself, pinching his nose and thankful that none of his kin had been there to witness such an embarrassing moment.

What does it matter, I'll ask someone for directions. I'm sure someone could tell me where this Mister Baggins lives.

And so, he did ask someone. An elderly hobbit who was shutting the low round gate to his home, was very helpful and polite to him and even offered to drive him part of the way. But Thorin refused. The gesture whilst welcome, would also be too cumbersome for such an old hobbit and the Dwarf prince did not like the idea of having to explain his displacement to a complete stranger.

So, he had begun walking once more following the directions he'd been given. Yet as he wandered he realized that though some of the landmarks were obvious, there were some which required a more hobbit like perspective to understand. For one thing Hobbits, as it transpired were quite good with their herbal lore, and often used certain plants and trees as landmarks.

Being a Dwarf who's love for the earth only extended to metal, jewels and rock, Thorin was not quite sure of which trees to locate as he continued to wander aimlessly through the many small winding lanes of the sleepy village. Though he'd travelled a lot, to him a tree was always just a tree, and he'd never learned carpentry like the lower-class dwarves, preferring blacksmithing to woodwork, and jewels to flowers.

Not like these hobbits.

He rolled his eyes as he passed by the same tall tree by a crossroads once more. Now it was well dark, the stars were twinkling high above in the blue-black sky as the moon shone serenely in its place in the heavens.

By mahal where is this hobbit's home?

He was about to storm off and go towards the nearest house to ask once more for directions when he saw something green in the corner of his eye.

It wasn't grass or vegetation, like the surrounding hillsides. This was the green of cloth.

He looked around and saw some ways above and a few hills away, a tall form striding up the hill.

It appeared to be a human. They were around an average height as far as humans go, but still they towered over the last of the small hobbits who were locking their doors.

Gandalf? No but Gandalf wouldn't wear green.

He squinted hard at the figure as a gust of wind swept off its dark hooded cape. At once a shock of long reddish brown was illuminated in the moonlight, though it was quickly covered up again before he could get a good look at her face.

A woman? An elf? No it's too short to be an elf…and besides what would an elf be doing in these parts…but still…could she be…

Thorin watched her as she trudged up the hill towards its top.

Maybe just maybe, that's where I need to go…

The Dwarf prince thought as he quickly dashed down the path, not noticing the small faintly glowing white flower that had suddenly bloomed just next to the spot he'd just been standing in.

When Gandalf the Grey had first met young Ariel Brooks, he had to admit he had his doubts.

While she had adapted quickly to life on the road with him, she was still quite green (he chuckled at his own pun) to the world around her. She'd never used magic, she'd never even swung a sword. Indeed, the only blade she seemed to have ever used was a kitchen knife to chop vegetables.

She was also surprisingly skittish around the campfires, which he noticed interestedly, she always avoided lighting, or even getting close to, even if she was feeling cold. Yet in spite of this one fear, she was disarmingly bright, with a cheeky wit, a rock-solid stubbornness, and quite a mind of her own with, last but certainly not least, a temper to match that mane of thick russet-red hair.

Yes, this new apprentice of his was going to be quite a handful.

And so, it was with bated breath that the old wizard introduced her to the leader of their new company.

"-Bilbo Baggins, Ariel, allow me to introduce the leader of our company; Thorin Oakenshield"

"Lady Ariel" Thorin gave a gruff bow towards Ariel who curtsied in return. But before she had even straightened up he was already eyeing Bilbo with discerning amusement.

"So…this is the Hobbit. Tell me Mr Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

"Pardon me?" Bilbo blinked in surprise as the dwarf prince made to circle about him eyeing his scrawny form up and down as he sized him up.

"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"

"Well I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know…" Bilbo tried to smile back determined not to seem so shocked as he felt "but I fail to see how that's relevant"

"Hmph! Thought as much" Thorin smirked smugly before turning to the others "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar"

There were several chuckles from the other dwarves but Ariel did not laugh nor crack a smile.

Dissing his host when he himself arrives late? So NOT cool man!

She quietly seethed glowering sidelong at Gandalf who himself was chuckling at the small exchange. Once he caught her eye however he quickly coughed to compose himself before giving a rather confused and slightly hurt Hobbit an apologetic look.

But Bilbo it seemed was more determined to just get this whole night dealt with as quickly as possible.

Soon he was sitting by Ariel along a small clear patch of wall in the dining room as Thorin began eating a small bowl of soup made from leftovers of the giant tomatoes the young girl had just grown that evening with her magic.

"So…miss Brooks-" The Hobbit tried to say but at that precise moment Balin made to ask Thorin from the table.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?"

"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms" Thorin nodded before gulping down another spoonful of soup.

"All of them, that's good" Balin and the other dwarves nodded in excitable agreement. Eventually Dwalin spoke up from his spot beside Gandalf who was seated next to the Dwarf prince and smoking a long wooden pipe.

"And what of the Dwarves from the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?"

Even if Ariel hadn't known the events from the Hobbit book top to bottom she still would've been able to guess Thorin's answer even as he sighed heavily.

"They will not come. They say this quest is ours…and ours alone"

"You're…you're going on a quest?" Bilbo stood up and quickly all eyes fell upon his intrigued face.

But Gandalf's eyes had darted to Ariel who at that moment was trying her best not to smile knowingly.

She caught his eye and gave a tiny imperceptible nod behind the hobbit's back.

So…Bilbo Baggins is the final member of our company…

He gave her a small smile in return before addressing Bilbo who was doing his best to try and look as non-committal as he could though his interest was clearly spiked.

"Bilbo my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." The Wizard's smile widened to himself as he fumbled in a pocket of his grey tattered robes and took out what appeared to be a folded-up square of parchment which he proceeded to open.

"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak"

Ariel stood up to lean over one of Thorin's shoulders and when he was done lighting a small ca, Bilbo did the same.

"The Lonely Mountain" He read aloud off the flowing script above a map, which showed a mountain towering over a small lake and valley.

Ariel's eyes widened as she looked over every detail. Every tracery of ink was identical to the maps in the books she'd read back home in her world. Even the little imprint of the dragon above the mountain was the same.

"Aye" Gloin spoke up gruffly after taking a swig of ale from his mug. "Oin has read the portents and the portents say it is time"

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold" Oin nodded gravely "When the birds of yore, return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end"

Ariel stiffened trying her best to keep the small squeak from within to burst from her.

In the wake of her excitement to meet the hobbit and the rest of the company of Thorin, she had totally forgotten that there was one giant scaly flying bloodthirsty reptile that she had to meet at the end of the journey.

Noticing and sympathising with her shock, Bilbo gulped nervously.

"Uh…what beast?"

"That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible" Bofur shrugged as he puffed on his smoking pipe. "Chiefist and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks…extremely fond of precious metals-"

"Yes, thank you I know what a dragon is" Bilbo rolled his eyes, as Ariel turned her back on the group to hide her now extremely pale face.

Fire breathing…fire…oh god…fire…no wait a moment girl just breathe, and think cold, cool thoughts of water…the waves on the beach…

Ariel took a deep shuddering breath barely listening as Ori stood up to his feet and shouted out enthusiastically.

"I'm not afraid. I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of Dwarfish iron right up his jacksies!"

"Sit down!" Nori quickly pulled the younger dwarf down as Balin shook his head.

"The task would be difficult enough even with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen. And not thirteen of the best…nor brightest" he added and at this many of the dwarves began to cry out in offence.

"OY! Who are you calling dim?"

"What does he say-"

Eventually Fili's voice called out louder than the rest.

"We may be few in numbers, but we're fighter's all of us, to the last dwarf!"

"And you forget we have a wizard in our company" Kili added with an encouraging grin to said wizard who was trying to now make himself look as small as possible in his corner "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time"

"Oh, well no…I wouldn't say-" Gandalf mumbled but then Dori cut across him.

"Well how many then?"

"What?"

"How many dragons have you killed?"

There was a very pregnant pause in which all eyes including Bilbo and Ariel's looked towards Gandalf who opened his mouth…only for a puff of pipe smoke to escape it.

"Oh come on then!" Nori prodded as many dwarves began to murmur insistently "Give us a number"

But when the wizard did not answer cries of outrage and argument suddenly broke out over the table.

"Hey! Hey calm down" Ariel tried to call out over the top of them only to be roughly pushed aside as Thorin jumped to his feet from his chair with a loud rumbling growl.

All the dwarves sat down in silence at once looking up at their leader with sudden docility and respect as he glowered down at them all.

"If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon, Smaug has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look East to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance and take back Erebor?!"

The last word came out as more a battle cry to which the other dwarves cheered loudly to, save for Balin who was still looking grim faced.

"You forget the Front Gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain" At this the cheers fell away quickly into a deflated silence.

But as their heads fell Ariel raised hers as she stood up from the ground.

"Not entirely true. " she murmured softly and everyone turned to look at her sharply.

Crap…did I say that out loud?

She cursed herself mentally, but Gandalf was quick to remedy her problem by coughing softly.

"Yes…yes you are correct Ariel" and smoothly he flicked out from the depths of his grey sleeves a large dark wrought iron key.

Thorin's eyes widened and when he spoke his voice was hoarse and thick with shock.

"How came you by this?"

"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain. It is yours now" Gandalf passed it carefully to the dwarf prince who took it and examined it closely.

"If there is a key" Fili breathed, exchanging awed glances with his twelve other companions "Then there must be a door"

They all looked at Ariel who nodded quietly.

"Yeah…there is one" she looked pointedly at Gandalf who quickly pointed out to a selection of runes on the still opened map that all pointed to a spot low on the mountain side.

"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the Lower Halls"

"There's another way in" Kili murmured and many excited smiles circled the table but Gandalf only sighed.

"Well if we can find it, but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere on this map, and I nor anyone else present at this table have the skill to find it. But there are others on Middle-Earth who can."

And with that he exchanged a rather tense glance with Thorin who narrowed his eyes back.

Gandalf rolled his eyes a little before returning to address the group at large once more.

"The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth. And no small amount of courage. But if we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done"

"And that's why we need a burglar" Ori pointed out to Bilbo who nodded in agreement, his eyes still fixed upon the map face.

"Hmm. And a good one too. An expert, I'd imagine"

"And are you?" Gloin raised his eyebrows at the hobbit.

Ariel shut her eyes as Bilbo quickly looked around in surprise.

"Am I what?"

"He said he's an expert hey-ey!" Oin cried out as he tried his best to listen through a beautifully carved silver ear trumpet.

Now Bilbo jumped in his spot.

"Me? No-no-no-no I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life"

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins" Balin sighed heavily as he looked about the beautifully furnished room about him "He's hardly burglar material"

"Nope" Bilbo nodded contented that finally somebody was seeing sense.

Dwalin snorted into his mug.

"Aye the Wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves…" and at this he glanced very quickly at Ariel who caught the look with a small glare of her own.

"Dwalin stand down before you get yourself killed" Balin hissed as he delivered a swift kick to his brother's shins from under the table. But already it was too late as the arguing and bickering that had started from all over the table suddenly began to get louder, and louder.

"ENOUGH!"

Ariel and Bilbo both shrank back in alarm as Gandalf stood up to his fullest height, the shadows about him seeming to deepen as he spoke in a great booming voice.

"If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."

And then just as suddenly as the darkness had come, it quickly died out and the candle light from the table flickered back to life. It illuminated the room just as brightly as before as Gandalf made to explain himself in a much calmer fashion as he sat himself back down in his chair.

"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf and human, the scent of a hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company. And I have chosen Mr Baggins."

Thorin however did not look so pleased at the prospect.

"What of the woman?" he gave a sharp look to Ariel who was doing her best to be inconspicuous by the wall once more. "She's no fighter and she's barely even passed into maidenhood. But surely even a weak and small mouse could be a burglar if it wished to."

"Uh, excuse me, what's that supposed to mean-" Ariel's face flushed red but Gandalf was quick to steamroll over her.

"You are right, Ariel Brooks is no warrior, nor is she a fully trained sorceress. But that does not make her weak or useless. You forget, Thorin, strength can be found in many forms and in many places. And though it may sometimes not be easy to see at first, it is always there, hidden and just waiting for the right opportunity to show itself. The same could be said for Bilbo Baggins. There is a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know. Including himself"

He looked upon Bilbo who looked back, not knowing whether to be flattered by the high esteem the wizard seemed to hold for him or to be horrified that he was chosen for such a perilous journey without his consent.

Gandalf quickly leaned in to murmur to Thorin, a sense of urgency lacing his grim tones.

"You must trust me on this"

"…Very well" Thorin nodded. "We will do it your way"

At once Bilbo's face fell like a stone.

"No-no-" he tried to protest but Thorin merely rolled over the top of him.

"Give him the contract"

There were many murmurings of ascent and giddy excitement as Balin reached into a satchel he had brought with him and pulled out a thick stack of parchment. When he caught sight of Bilbo's surprised face he added smiling.

"It's just the usual summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements and so forth"

"F-Funeral arrangements" Bilbo spluttered as the contract was shoved into his hands.

As he walked aside to peruse the article on his own Thorin spared a glance back at Ariel who caught his eye for one moment before quietly huffing and pointedly looking away.

Pff! That woman…so silly and petty…she carries that staff but she clearly does not know what to do with it. Not as a weapon nor as a basic tool. She'd serve better staying put in this hole and tending to a garden than traveling along a dangerous road in the Wild. Just what is Gandalf thinking of bringing her along?

Thorin rolled his eyes to himself.

Meanwhile in Ariel's mind similar dark thoughts were swimming around derisively.

He comes trapesing into someone else's home, completely late, and then insults them and other people to their face just because they are different to his high and mighty expectations! Thorin Oakenshield king under the mountain? More like Thorin Okenshield king of the Douschebags!

As he caught sight of the two moody faces, Gandalf pinched the bridge of his nose.

Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be the first time I see this kind of altercation between these two?

"I cannot guarantee his safety" the dwarf prince murmured softly to Gandalf who leaned in to listen.

"Understood" he murmured though it wasn't that enthusiastic a reply.

"Nor will I be responsible for his fate…or hers…" he added, glancing sidelong at a bristling Ariel.

"…Agreed" the wizard agreed solemnly just as Bilbo's voice wafted back into their ears.

"Terms: cash on delivery up to but not exceeding one-fourteenth of total profit, if any. Hmm. Seems fair. Err…present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence there of, including, but not limited to…lacerations?"

Bilbo's gut dropped as he quickly unfurled more of the paper to read the other portents which were slowly but surely getting more gruesome by the word.

"Evisceration…Incineration?"

"Oh aye" Bofur nodded as the hobbit turned to look disbelievingly at his uninvited guests.

"He'll melt the flesh of your bones in the blink of an eye"

"huh?" Bilbo breathed deeply to hide the tiny whimper of terror that escaped him. Ariel bit her lip nervously as she reached out to put what she felt was a gentle and consoling hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

"Ah…" the Hobbit gulped before he quickly bent over his knees to try and help the blood pump back down into his head as he took a couple of breaths before quickly straightening up.

"Actually, I feel a bit faint"

"Think furnace with wings" Bofur added as though using such weak euphemisms for an impending doom would help Bilbo's small panic attack.

"Let's get you some air outside" Ariel quickly took Bilbo by the shoulders trying her best to mime a stop talking action to the dwarves at the table who were all now watching amusedly as Bofur continued to ramble on.

"Flash of light, searing pain then: Poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash"

"Oh for heaven's sake would you cut it out!" Ariel growled, hands on her hips. But as soon as her hand left the shoulder of the poor hobbit he quickly keeled over unconscious onto the floor.

"err…whoops" Bofur grinned sheepishly at Gandalf who sighed heavily with exasperation as twelve voices barked with loud laughter.

"Dwarves"

"Here…camomile tea…it was the only thing I could find" Ariel smiled apologetically as she carefully placed a small but full and hot hobbit sized tea cup into Bilbo's trembling fingers.

"Thank you" he murmured when he finally had a good grip on the cup with both hands.

After a good deal of trying to settle everyone's mirth, Gandalf and Ariel had finally managed to wake up the poor terrified Hobbit up with smelling salts. Then after the wizard helped him change into a warm dressing gown they had set him down in a quiet chair by the hearth of his living room. Outside of it Ariel could hear many of the dwarves dawdled around the dining room, kitchen and hallway talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Well this has been an eventful evening" Ariel sighed heavily as she sat herself down in a chair opposite Bilbo running a hand over her face and through her dark russet locks, which the hobbit vaguely noticed looked redder in the flickering light of the fire.

"Yes…it has been very…very eventful…If you don't mind me asking Miss Brooks"

"Oh no, please call me Ariel. Everyone else does…or at least everyone did…back home."

"Right then…uh Ariel…once again if you don't mind me asking…how does a young lady such as yourself ever get involved in all this…magic…dwarves?"

"Well that's…that's a bit of a long story actually." Ariel snorted softly.

"Well then you can tell me the short version" The corners of Bilbo's mouth twitched upwards. It was such a relief to be able to talk normally and quietly after spending so many hours listening to such loud booming voices speaking of dragons and danger.

At this Ariel smiled softly to herself, though it was much sadder than he'd expected.

"Well…I guess…A couple of weeks ago I travelled across the sea from my home."

"With your family or-"

"No…no…I'm the only one who came. You see my brother he…he had an accident with magic and fell ill. We tried everything but nothing we tried worked…so I thought that I could perhaps find some cure here in this part of the world for his…uh…condition"

"Was your brother…did he do magic like you?" Bilbo wondered aloud but Ariel just shook her head.

"No, but he did run afoul of a woman who could and she…well…he's now stuck in an enchanted sleep thanks to her."

"I'm sorry to hear that. It must be hard for both you and your parents" Bilbo watched the girl sympathetically as she ran a hand through her hair, her green-brown eyes slightly overbright.

"Yeah…well…what's done is done. And now I'm here so I might as well can do what I can to try and fix the problem. At least I'm with Gandalf now. I don't know what I would've done if he hadn't found me and agreed to teach me. Though I don't know how I'm supposed to be having magic lessons if I'm going to be tagging along on this expedition."

"So you've just been dragged along for the ride huh?" he mumbled.

Ariel smiled.

"You could say that. But it's not been so bad. I used to go camping a lot with my dad so I'm pretty used to roughing it out in the wilderness. And as far as travelling is concerned we've got horses and ponies to carry the luggage so it's not too much of a strain. Touch wood nothing drastic has actually happened yet" she quickly added tapping the side of her wooden chair, just as Gandalf strode into the room.

"Ah Ariel there you are. Why don't you go get some rest, I'll look after Mr Baggins."

With this last sentence, he gave her a very pointed look.

Look after him? More like lecture the poor hobbit.

But nonetheless Ariel nodded at Bilbo who smiled back at her reassuringly.

"I'll be alright. I just need to sit quietly for a bit. There's a spare guest room just down the hall, last door to your left if you would like to rest for the night."

"Thank you." Ariel smiled gratefully as she got up to her feet and quietly walked out of the room.

Gandalf watched her go with a curious gaze.

He didn't know whether anyone had noticed, but as soon as Ariel had walked past the sitting room window, the potted plant on the sill suddenly sprang to life. Quietly it tried its best to creep its way to her only to shrink back into its pot when she was finally too far to reach.

He turned his attention back to the Hobbit in the room who was quietly watching the fire once more, his face a little more relaxed than it had been before.

Now to deal with you Mr Baggins.

Ariel tossed and turned on the small hobbit bed in the guestroom of Bag End.

It wasn't that the bed was uncomfortable. On the contrary, she was so content to just lie there and sleep in the warm soft marshmallow plushness forever more even if her feet dangled over the end.

No…the only reason she couldn't sleep was because her thoughts were focused on the face of a young man, with darker skin and hair, but with very familiar features to her own as he smiled and laughed.

Silently she reached down the front of her green dress and pulling out a golden chain on which a small pocket watch clock was attached like a pendant.

It had been a gift from her brother for her thirteenth birthday. He'd found it in a tiny thrift shop down the road from her house and had bought it for her with his first pay from his first job.

It was a pretty clock, easy to read set inside a golden case on the front of which was a blooming white rose made from white shell. On the back was a small sentence engraved in a neat print.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why we call it the present"

"Don't worry Ian" she murmured tracing the white flower at the front delicately "I'll bring you back…I promise…"

She shut her eyes quietly only to open them again as she heard a small faint deep humming coming from down the hall.

At first she thought it was only just the wind by her window, but even as she listened more intently she heard the beginnings of a tune, mellow and sad.

Curious she sat up and slid out of the bed.

Since she'd taken off her boots to go to sleep her feet barely made any sound against the floor and so she was able to reach the corner wall outside of the sitting room just in time to hear the first lines sung by a deep voice.

"Far over, the Misty Mountains cold. To dungeons deep, and caverns old. We must away to 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"

Ariel quietly slid down the length of the wall curling her knees back up to her chin as she listened quietly to the song.

As she did she faintly could see in her imagination, tall snow-capped mountains and caves darker and deeper than any night she had ever seen and then the glimmer of gold under firelight. Only it wasn't just light…it was fire…a blazing red fire…the fire of a dragon…

And with that last thought her eyes shut and she slid into a darkness, deep and absolute as the blackness between stars.

When Bilbo opened his eyes, everything was as silent as a tomb.

He blinked once to let his irises get used to the light of dawn and then slowly and cautiously rose to sit upright.

He could hear nothing, save the familiar sounds of birds chirping and his neighbour's distant voices as they called out to one another on their morning errands.

He quickly slid off of his bed, his large furry feet cautiously feeling their way around the wooden floorboards as he padded out into the hallway.

He looked about quickly. Everything was silent and still and back in place.

They're gone?

Excitement and elation flooded through him as he darted back into his room, got dressed into his shirt and britches in a flash before dashing back out again to investigate the rest of his home.

Empty! Empty from ceiling to floor, from every nook and cranny.

Empty. Empty. Empty!

Was he dreaming? Or had last night been the dream? Had he really had thirteen dwarves a wizard and his apprentice over for dinner?

Oh, wait yes I did

He nodded to himself solidly as he caught sight of his very desolate and empty pantry. However whatever anguish he felt at the loss of his foodstuffs was quickly snuffed out by his overwhelming relief to finally have his home back to himself.

"Yes!" he hissed victoriously as he exited the kitchen which was as spick and span as ever it had been.

He walked about his hallway for a while, whistling between his teeth and patting himself down repeatedly.

Yes! It's over! They're finally gone! They're finally…gone…

His face fell slightly as he once again took in the space about them.

For a hobbit hole Bag End had always been rather large and spacious but when the whole company had come last night it had felt remarkably cramped and loud and…and fun and…

Bilbo suddenly felt his mind go blank….just like the room around him.

He wasn't quite sure why, but his heart twinged painfully at the thought.

Last night had been the first time in years he had had so many people with him in his own home. And whilst it had been a very hectic and haphazard affair, it was without a doubt one of the least lonely evening's he'd had in a long time.

No I'm just being silly. Besides they're dwarves and I'm just one hobbit

But even as he made to turn around and go back to the kitchen to fix himself breakfast, his eyes caught sight of a large pile of papers on top of which a note was neatly placed.

Brow furrowed in confusion he picked up the tiny note in his hands and read aloud.

"Dear Mr Baggins. I understand we were all uninvited and it was rather a strain on you to accommodate us at such short notice, but even so I wanted to thank you for your kind hospitality. It was wonderful to have met you and I wish you the very best in whatever you choose to do. Yours Sincerely Ariel.

P.S. If you do change your mind about joining us we'll be leaving by the western road."

Bilbo stared at the small piece of paper for a good long moment before carefully pocketing it as he looked upon the other large folded up batch it had been sitting on.

He gulped as he realised it was the contract from the night before.

At once unbidden, the familiar voice of a wizard floated over his mind.

The world is not in your books or maps, it's out there.

Bilbo paused for a moment and looked out of the window. The grassy hills outside were green and lush and life was peaceful and docile. But beyond that…beyond that…

Bilbo quickly looked back down at the paper in his hands.

"I must be out of my mind"

"Oy Mr Bilbo! Where are you off to?"

"Can't stop I'm already late!"

"Late for what?"

"I'm going on an Adventure!"

"Miss Ariel!"

"huh?" Ariel blinked. She was riding at the back of the long line of the dwarves' pony's doing her best to keep up but all the while her eyes strayed back towards the direction of the village of Hobbiton in the distance.

She looked up quickly, only to remember she had to look down to see who she was talking to.

It was Fili and Kili, both sitting atop two short dark ponies which they were steering back from the front of the long line to walk beside her at the back.

"Oh hello" she smiled as she patted her steed's neck and it nickered softly in greeting to the other equines. It wasn't a pony, but a tall strong horse. His coat was a fiery chestnut colour and he had a white star over his forehead.

Both the two young dwarves grinned as they exchanged glances with one another. Eventually it was Fili who spoke, his tone more gentle than his brother's.

"Hello Miss Ariel, the lads in front are having a bet and we were wondering if you'd like to cash in?"

"A bet?" Ariel quirked a brow "On what"

"Well…" Kili snorted in a very ungentlemanly fashion, unlike his brother. Ariel wondered if he was doing his best not to laugh "Since we left the contract on Mister Boggin's desk we haven't seen hide nor hair of him close by"

"So" Fili continued still attempting poise "we were wondering that if mister Baggins is not joining us then where would he be?"

"Still in his home probably" Ariel shrugged though inwardly she felt her gut drop. If Bilbo wasn't coming on this adventure after all…

"Exactly." Kili nodded barely noticing her worry "But some of the others and Gandalf think that he actually might come after us"

"And what do you think?" Ariel asked quietly.

"Dunno." Kili shrugged "But we just bet ten coins a piece to say that he would come"

"Uh…ten coins of what exactly?" Ariel questioned hoping that she didn't sound completely stupid. All her old money notes from her real world had been destroyed when she was washed up on the beach of the Grey Havens, and she still was unsure of what currencies were used on Middle Earth. So far she only knew the colours of the coins which were copper, silver and gold, though whether they were properly minted or not was yet to be seen.

However fortunately for her Fili did not pick up on her true anxiety and only shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's just silver coins really. We wouldn't bet our gold pieces, that would be catastrophic if we lost those. But what about you?" He added looking up at her with intrigue "what do you think will happen?"

Ariel paused for a moment and bit her lip in thought.

If she was honest with herself she was doubting now that Bilbo would indeed come, but even as such thoughts disturbed her mind she remembered that the adventure she was currently on wouldn't be called the Hobbit if said protagonist didn't even-

"Wait!" a voice called out loudly and breathlessly from behind. "WAIT!"

Ariel, Fili and Kili all turned round in surprise as something four foot high with a mop of brown curls and wearing a red jacket and dark britches over his large woolly footed feet dashed past them.

"Whoa" Ariel quickly tugged on the reigns of her horse as it whinnied in surprise.

She heard similar cries around her as the other dwarves made to halt just as Bilbo Baggins quickly skidded to a halt somewhere close to the front of the line. In his hands he was holding up a long roll of paper and waving it enthusiastically for all to see.

"I signed it!"

Ariel's face suddenly brightened as she recognized the red wax seal on the bottom of the last page. She watched with mounting excitement as Balin took the contract and looked it over.

"Everything appears to be in order" the old dwarf smiled, a twinkle in his blue eyes sparking as he looked down on the Hobbit below. "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield"

There were many a chuckle and grins from the others, even Thorin's mouth was twitching upwards in a small smirk.

"Give him a pony" he ordered only for Bilbo to immediately start protesting.

"No-no-no-no that won't be necessary. Thank you, but I'm sure I could keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays y'know. Even got as far as Frogmorton once-AH!"

He cried out as two dwarves grabbed him by the straps of his camping pack on his back and pulled him up into the air as another dwarf behind led up a pony to slide beneath his behind.

Ariel snorted into her horse's mane at the momentarily stunned look on the Hobbit's face as a pair of reins were suddenly thrust into his hands.

Kili and Fili both joined her in her mirth and soon the three of them were laughing freely. Ariel could not remember a time she had laughed so hard over something so small. At least not since she'd been sent to this world.

She only stopped when she heard Gandalf's voice call to her from the front of the line.

"Ariel! Could you come up here please?"

"In a moment Gandalf!" she replied still smiling as she nodded to her two companions beside her. "Excuse me gentlemen"

As quick as could be she flicked her horses' reins and set him to trot swiftly up ahead, both brothers watching her progress.

"Well she seems to be quite lovely."

"Indeed. Let's just hope uncle doesn't chase her off" Fili muttered as he wearily eyed Thorin's dark head of hair from the back.

"Do you think he will give her trouble?" Kili frowned concernedly "I mean…she is after all Gandalf's apprentice and he respects the wizard."

"Aye but you know uncle" Fili shook his head "he's always suspicious of new people. He trusts Gandalf because well…it's Gandalf. But Miss Ariel on the other hand is a stranger, and women who study magic don't usually have good reputation-"

"Good Reputation? Che!" Kili snorted rolling his eyes "I don't care what uncle says, I like her. She's got spirit, and if Gandalf approves of her then that should be more than enough for all of us"

"Aye, I agree brother. I agree" Fili smirked, though as his eyes found his uncle's sharp gaze on the back of Ariel's head he sighed softly.

This was going to be an interesting journey, that's for sure.

Meanwhile while the brothers were talking Ariel finally reached the front of the line where Bilbo was currently walking his pony beside Gandalf's own dark brown horse.

The wizard seemed to be delivering a sermon to their newest member with much graveness and wisdom.

"-you were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire. But home is now behind you. the world is ahead. Ah there you are my dear!" Gandalf's eyes twinkled with delight as Ariel made to trot her horse over onto his other side.

"What's up old man? Forgotten the directions again?" she smirked as said old man made to roll his eyes, though Bilbo noticed it was more out of fondness than true scorn.

Not like Thorin's glower as he and his pony skulked behind the three of them, keeping just far enough away to avoid looking suspicious, though still close enough to hear most of what was being said.

"No Ariel I have not forgotten any directions. I just wanted a small quiet chat with you before we go any further." Gandalf smiled reassuringly.

"Okay…" Ariel frowned as she noticed Bilbo quickly slow his pony down so that he fell behind and gave them privacy.

"I know this might sound like the prying and meddling of an old man like myself," The old man whispered as soon as the hobbit was out of earshot "and I understand that this journey is all incredibly exciting, but I just want you to remember that you are still the only lady amongst thirteen male dwarves and-"

Ariel sighed with exasperation "And let me guess, I need to play nicely with the other children?"

"Well, yes and no." the wizard muttered softly.

"What do you mean?" she tilted her head in confusion which only made the wizard sigh heavily.

"Ariel you must understand. You are not like other women most of these males have encountered. Many of the women here in Arda…well…They are usually not as strong willed nor as independent of thought as you are. Hence why you and your more forward thinking might come as a bit of a shock to this company and indeed many men you will meet along the way."

"As shocked as a certain someone behind me?" Ariel clipped tersely glancing back at Thorin who quickly turned away, pretending to look somewhere else.

"Unfortunately…yes" Gandalf nodded grimly.

Ariel narrowed her eyes darkly as she turned back to face the front, all too aware of the Dwarf Prince's eyes once more piercing into the back of her head.

"So what do I do about it? lay over like a dog and let him walk over me?"

"Oh no-no-no don't do that at all" Gandalf shook his head quickly "In fact stay as headstrong as you are and fight back if you must. I only tell you this so that you can be better aware of your…cultural surroundings. Even Elves can be discerning of women and they are a much more educated race than most."

"I'll keep that in mind" Ariel nodded but then quickly asked "Wait am I really headstrong?"

At this the wizard's eyes twinkled once more with amusement.

"Yes…very much so. But oddly enough, it suits you"

Ariel burst out laughing once more, not noticing Thorin's scathing glower to the back of her head of hair.

That damned girl what is she playing at. Looking at me as if I'm some villain.

Granted he was keeping a rather unusually close watch on her, but still. She was a witch. There was no beating about the bush. She was a woman who knew magic. She could potentially be dangerous to both him and his kin.

True she probably wasn't so bad if Gandalf asked her to be his apprentice.

But could it be a trap?

Thorin wondered.

Could she be using that pretty face to deceive all of us?

He sighed softly as Balin and his pony trotted up beside him.

"Why so glum laddie? We're on our way and we've got our burglar" Balin grinned, only for his smile to falter as he caught sight of Thorin's suspicious gaze.

He followed it and saw it fell upon the young form of Ariel, laughing as Gandalf told her a funny story of one of his more amusing adventures.

"I must say it's a shame she's human. She'd have made a lovely Dwarrow lass" Balin smirked as Thorin glowered at him darkly.

"She's a witch Balin"

"A witch who Gandalf trusts" Balin quirked a white brow much to his leaders surprise "Aye, I too was sceptical at first, but I think there's more to this one than meets the eye. She's got magic yes, but she's also got spirit. Besides, I don't think Gandalf would ever let a witch hoodwink him now would you?"

Thorin stayed silent, his scowl deepening as the girl started talking animatedly to the wizard who listened to her patiently.

First the wizard and now my advisor, this witch is craftier than I thought.

Beside him Balin watched his leader, his small smirk widening ever so slightly.

Now won't this be interesting…

"Ow…"

Ariel scowled angrily as she rolled over once more in her spot on the cold earth beneath her body.

All around her there were loud snores.

It had been almost a full week since the Company of Thorin had set out from the Shire, but even so she still could not get used to the sleeping arrangements whenever they made camp.

You'll sleep like a log, he said. You'll be out in a heartbeat, he said. Said the damn wizard who could probably sleep through a hurricane.

She growled softly to herself as she sat up in her spot and looked about her.

The broad but short forms of Dwarves were scattered all around a small but warm fire.

She glanced at it warily and unconsciously rubbed the scar on her wrist just as someone else made to sit up from their spot. It was Bilbo and he also looked rather peeved. Even for a usually patient person like him this noise was sorely pushing it.

"Lovely night isn't it?" he softly snorted sarcastically as he caught her gaze.

"Oh yes delightful" she shrugged rolling her eyes. "If I wanted to listen to a tune of foghorns"

Bilbo chuckled softly at that as he made to stand up.

"Well, I'm just going to see if Myrtle needs more feed"

"You do that" Ariel yawned wide as she watched the Hobbit make his way over to his designated pony, a sweet calm mare who seemed already to be fond of her new master.

Though that may have been because of the small tokens and treats he was showering her with in secret.

Ariel watched in amusement, as Bilbo sneakily snuck the equine a juicy apple. Her own horse, whom she had now named Finn, was currently sleeping on the ground quietly unperturbed by the snores of the dwarves. That is until a strange screech sounded from far off in the distance.

Ariel felt her heart freeze at the sound. At first, she'd thought it was a bird…but she could have sworn she had heard words or syllables amongst the screeches.

Against her will her mind quickly redialled back to view a memory from nearly two weeks ago, of an old woman with a sharp vulture like face and fire in her claw like hands.

As soon as it was over Bilbo turned around to face the fire, where Fili and Kili were sitting wide awake on first watch along with Gandalf and smoking pipe weed.

"What was that?"

"Orcs" Kili nodded gravely.

"Orcs?" Ariel wheeled around to face them, eyes wide.

"Throat cutters" Fili explained quietly to the girl and the hobbit before puffing out a large stream of smoke from his nose. "There'll be dozens of them out there. The Low lands are crawling with them"

Orcs…brilliant…

Kili made to smirk as he caught sight of her bristle.

"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood"

Bilbo's face paled as he looked out over the distant horizon which was illuminated in the moonlight.

Ariel quickly looked back at the two dwarf brothers who upon catching sight of her frightened face both began to chuckle softly.

"You think that's funny?" a deep voice growled and Ariel turned to see Thorin standing to his feet and glowering down at his two nephews with disappointment and severity.

"You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"

Fili and Kili's smiles faltered as they averted their heads down to the ground in shame.

"We didn't mean anything by it"

"No, you didn't" Thorin snapped bitterly "You know nothing of the world"

Ariel felt a now familiar pang of irritation as the dwarf prince quickly gave a glance in her direction, but she kept her mouth shut. It had been happening for a while now. Every time he could Thorin found some excuse to quietly glare or give her a snide remark.

In return Ariel had taken Gandalf's advice and continued to react as she normally would, either ignoring the jibe or giving it back to him without mercy.

But she was too tired to put up an argument tonight. And it was with another yawn that she watched Thorin stalk off to brood on his own at the edge of the group.

"Don't mind him laddie" Balin's voice spoke softly as he walked up from his spot to stand beside the fire. He looked upon Fili and Kili with pity before turning his gaze on Ariel and Bilbo both of whom were looking confused.

"Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first."

Moria…but isn't that where…

Ariel stared with bewilderment as she listened raptly to the story unfolding.

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs, led by the most vile of all their race: Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc, had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin"

There was a pause in which Ariel faintly saw in her mind's eye a giant faceless creature bigger than three men with dirty grey skin and covered in blood, swing about a spiked club in its arms and felling lines and rows of sturdy dwarves in gleaming battle armour.

She gulped down a lump in her throat as she did her best to push aside the mental image of the creature roaring with bloodlust into the cold night air, so that she could listen to more of Balin's recount. However what came next out of the old dwarve's mouth was far worse than the images her imagination was conjuring.

"He began…by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us"

Ariel could almost see the dwarf army trying its best to run from the front lines of her nightmarish images of orcs, who seemed to be led on and spurred further into bloodlust by a hags horrible cackling laugh.

Ariel shuddered, clutching at her arms even though her elven cloak was covering her up warmly from the chilled night air. But then suddenly Balin's face was graced by a small warm smile.

"And that's when I saw him"

He looked towards the back of Thorin who was still standing some way away, listening quietly though his face looked distant, as if he himself was seeing the memories dance before him like a mirage.

"A young Dwarf prince facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armour rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. And so Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back and our enemy had been defeated"

Balin paused once more only this time it was to take a deep shuddering breath to compose himself, even though his voice shook a little as he made to speak again.

"But there was no feast, nor song that night for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one who I could call king"

Thorin turned around slowly at the last word and gazed back at his company, all of whom had awoken during Balin's last few sentences. Their faces were determined and despite herself Ariel could not help but admire the loyalty or steadfastness in their eyes.

Well…I suppose everyone has their moments of greatness…

She thought looking up at the dwarf prince who was looking about with both pride and gratitude at his fellow males. When his eyes fell on her however they narrowed slightly.

Ariel rolled her eyes.

-But he's still a douchebag!

"And the pale orc?" Bilbo asked Balin, completely missing the tense exchange that had just happened. "what happened to him?"

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came" Thorin spat bitterly as he made to walk away once more "That filth died of his wounds long ago"

There was a tiny cough from the shadows and Ariel jumped slightly as she turned to find out the source. But it was only Gandalf choking a little on his pipe smoke.

She gave him a worried look but he only smiled it off with a small wave of his hands. But even as she made to turn away to tuck herself back in to lie back down on the ground to sleep, she could have sworn she'd seen him give a very faint sigh of uneasiness.

Odd…

Ariel's brow furrowed as she rested her head upon her arm like a pillow and shut her eyes.

Gandalf was one of the calmest people she'd ever met in her life. What could possibly have him worried?

Little did she know that barely half a mile away, hidden in the shadows of the trees a shadowy figure mounted atop a great, hairy wolf like beast hissed in a vile tongue into the darkness of the night.

"[Send word to the Master, we have found the Dwarf-scum]

Chapter Text

The group of tall horses and their riders all looked up at the grey skies above their heads.

"[My lord, if I guess rightly then we must find shelter soon. I do not think the heavens will be so kind in their offerings for today]" a fair voice spoke in a smooth tongue of the elves from under a dark hooded cloak.

"[Yes indeed]" a deeper but still fair voice agreed as another figure nodded under his own black hood, which turned to a horse and his rider standing apart from the main group.

"Estel!" The second fair voice barked as he watched the rider quickly hop off his horse and make to quickly forage in the ground.

This figure was slightly shorter than the others and its male voice younger as he made to call back in elvish:

"[Yes my lord?]"

"[Mount your steed again quickly. We need to move before the rain increases]"

The younger male, Estel looked up toward the heavens, revealing the rugged face of a young man…with no pointed ears.

He smiled as he beheld the first raindrops but was stopped from appreciating them by his lord's next call.

"Estel"

"Coming!" the boy Estel quickly mounted his grey steed, pocketing something small and white in his pocket.

He'd just seen it blooming there in the grass. It hadn't been there when they'd first arrived at that spot to rest from their hunting.

He wasn't sure what it was. What he was sure of was that it was important somehow…

Though how it was important he had no idea.

But he was to learn.

"'Ey Mr Gandalf! Can't you do something about this deluge?"

It had been now two weeks since leaving Bag End and it was now currently raining over the edge of the wild.

"It is raining master dwarf" Gandalf replied gruffly to Dori's complaint, not all together happy about the dampness himself "And it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard"

At this piece of information Bilbo looked up, still a little hunched over from trying to keep himself warm as possible.

"Are there any?"

"What?" Gandalf snorted but the Hobbit wasn't deterred

"Other Wizards"

"There are six of us, no wait actually…now there are seven. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. There are the two Blue Wizards…you know I've quite forgotten their names? Then there's the Red Sorceress Nuldien, and of course our newest member Ariel the Green" Gandalf quickly glanced to his side as Ariel came trotting up beside him completely soaked straight through the bone and looking very irate.

"And who's the seventh?" Bilbo asked his curiosity taking over his own irritation at the weather.

"Well that would be Radagast the Brown"

"And is he a great Wizard? Or is he more like you?"

At this Ariel couldn't help but snort at the look of surprise on Gandalf's face, though he was quick to mask it as he replied.

"I think he's a very great Wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the east and a good thing too. For always evil will look to find a foothold in this world"

That's putting it mildly.

Ariel's jaw gritted tensely as a vision of a red eye burned into pale skin flashed over her eye.

"Ariel careful now." Gandalf's voice broke through her dark thoughts just in time for her to realise that her horse had stopped in its tracks.

"Fan-bloody-tastic" Ariel grumbled under her breath when Finn began to whinny with fright trying his best to tug at his feet which appeared to be stuck. She looked down fully expecting him to be caught in the deep brown mud they had just been trampling through all day. However, she was surprised to find that there were large vines curling and twisting about the horse's feet. She quickly grabbed her staff from a small holster on the saddle and pointed it towards the plant.

"Cut it out will you" she hissed using the staff to tap the vines which were now trying to creep up Finn's long leg.

At the touch of the green stone the vines instantly retreated into the mud though Ariel could have sworn that she heard the faintest of whispers escape it just before it sunk out of sight.

Talking plants? What's next a singing teapot? Dancing animals? Haunted woods-no wait a moment that's Mirkwood.

She rolled her eyes. Trust her life to end up being so weird.

Gandalf's eyes softened in patience and pity as he caught sight of the rather hard expression on her face. His new protégé was still finding it difficult to understand her new powers. Sometimes the plants obeyed her but there were other times, like now, where they seemed to have wills of their own. It was like her presence awoke them from sleep.

One of the many privileges of being gifted with nature powers I suppose

The Wizard could only hope she could find a way to control it before it got out of hand. If something were to go wrong when she was in danger then it wouldn't bode well for anyone.

It was almost sunset by the time the company decided to stop for the day. Thankfully the morning rain had stopped several hours ago and they had all dried out in the sunlight of the day.

Now they were on top of a grassy hill on which square stones had been set though they were weathered down immensely and scattered over the green slopes, just before a small burnt down wooden structure.

From the looks of it to Ariel's eyes it might once have been a tiny house with a fence, only now it was burnt and charred beyond recognition or repair. She vaguely wondered who had lived there.

Gandalf seemed to be thinking along the same lines for he got off his horse and quickly strode up to the house to look at it more closely.

Seeing the wizard's movements as a good sign Thorin spoke loudly

"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili look after the ponies, make sure you stay with them. The rest of you make camp and stick close"

"Yes because we apparently have nothing better to do than wander off" Ariel muttered under her breath as Thorin gave her a dark pointed look.

No matter how long they travelled with one another, the dwarf prince did not seem to trust her at all. Heck he didn't even let her out of his sight for one instant unless she had to make a pit stop in the bushes, and even then, he kept his eyes following her every movement in every direction.

It was like he was expecting her to bolt off at every chance available.

Maybe I should run off just to see him squirm

She thought with a small smirk as she hopped off her horses back, stroking his mane down affectionately as she led him over to a nearby tree.

"Come on boy let's get you some food you've done good today"

Meanwhile at the remains of the small house Gandalf was looking about eyeing the blackened wood with a furrowed brow.

"A farmer and his family used to live here…" he murmured to himself just as he heard Thorin bark orders for Oin to get a fire going. The wizard cleared his throat and spoke loudly enough to be heard over most of the campers behind him.

"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley"

But even as the last two words passed his lips Thorin strode up to him his face set in a grim determination.

"I have told you already, I will not go near that place"

"Why not? The Elves could help us, we could get food, rest, advice."

"I do not need their advice" Thorin growled low under his breath and Gandalf sighed.

"We have a map we cannot read; Lord Elrond could help us-"

"Help?" Thorin spat bitterly "A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls. The Elves looked on and did nothing! And you ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather…who betrayed my father?!"

"You are neither of them" Gandalf remarked sternly this beard bristling as his mouth set itself in a taut line. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold onto the past."

"I did not know they were yours to keep" Thorin snapped back venomously.

Dwarves!

Gandalf huffed softly as he turned right around and began to stride off, his grey robes billowing about him in his aggravation.

"Hey, everything alright?" Ariel asked as he passed her by but the wizard ignored his pupil. She exchanged a glance with Bilbo who himself looked very worried.

"Gandalf where are you going?"

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense!"

"And who's that?"

"Myself mister Baggins!" Gandalf snapped irritably as he brushed past a couple of dwarves muttering darkly "I've had enough of Dwarves for one day. Ariel you stay here and keep an eye on things"

"O…kay…" Ariel frowned as she watched the wizard make his way over the crest of the hill and out of sight.

What was all that about?

But even as she looked about at the others she saw Thorin in the distance glaring over the group in a towering temper.

Oh, great King Grumpy-ass is pissed

She rolled her eyes as she made to stretch out her arms only for her shoulder to twinge painfully.

And I've got a muscle strain and phew I'm smelling like a pig! Could this day get any better?

"Oy Bifur could you go and collect water from that pond back in the forest?" Bombur called as he began to set up the fire along with Oin and Gloin.

Ariel blinked.

"Huh? Pond? What pond?"

Bilbo danced around on his fuzzy large feet nervously, his head twitching this way and that as he tried his best to not look so conspicuous in his observations.

he frowned before making to walk to the other side of the large fire over which a large pot had been placed to cook their night's dinner of rabbit meat stew.

"He's been a long time" he commented to Bofur who was filling up two food bowls.

"Who?"

"Gandalf."

Bofur only shrugged with a small smile.

"He's a wizard he does as he chooses. Here do us a favour and take this to the lads" he thrust two bowls of soup into the Hobbit's hands.

Bilbo looked around at all the dwarves all eleven of them had bowls…wait eleven?

Oh, that's right Fili and Kili are minding the ponies

He nodded before setting off down towards the clump of trees where the edge of the woods they had just been travelling in were standing tall and intimidating in the dark.

He looked up and gulped before taking the first step inside.

At first, he wandered through the undergrowth aimlessly in an attempt to see the two youngest dwarves but they it seemed had gone rather far in.

He turned a corner, pushing aside foliage with his elbow only to jump in surprise as a female voice squeaked loudly.

"ACK! BILBO!"

"AH! Ariel I'm so sorry…I um…uh…ahem…I'm sorry" Bilbo quickly shut his eyes and turned his very red face away. "I'll just…um…err…go then shall I…sorry"

He quickly backed away the way he came keeping his eyes fixed down to the two bowls of food in his hands.

Well that was an eye opener and no mistake- NO! no must bring these bowls to Fili and Kili

He shook his head out vigorously as he finally spotted a head of long dark hair in the distance.

Ariel groaned loudly as she face palmed.

She couldn't believe she just flashed poor Bilbo Baggins.

Just my rotten luck.

She groaned as mortified she sank back down into the watery pool she was bathing in.

She'd only just snuck into it barely ten minutes ago when she was certain none of the dwarves were looking.

Ten minutes too long it seems…

She noted taking note of her fingers which were starting to crinkle up like the skin of a dried prune.

She was quick to dry herself off with her cloak before getting dressed once more.

In the light of the moon above she could clearly see her reflection in the now calm pond.

The leaves rustled about her as she made to scrub out her hair with her hands.

After being bound so long in a practical braid the red-brown locks now fell in thick waves about her shoulders almost like a mane and her light green-brown eyes worn out from sleepless nights and continuous riding through the day.

Well you aren't the same girl that went into that library that's for sure…

What she didn't see was the huge shadow that had come looming up from behind her…

The young human Estel looked up to the sky. After a full days worth of rain the clouds had cleared in the late afternoon to reveal a glorious blue sky and golden sun.

Now it was night and the stars and moon lit up the deep blue black of the heavens much to his company's delight.

Though he himself was youthful and untouched by the frosts of age, all the men with him were all fair, with smooth long hair and slender pointed ears. Their perfect faces were both jolly and astute as they sang and chatted around their large campfire.

Despite being the only human amongst them, the youth felt very at ease. For these were the people he had lived amongst since boyhood. The men who had trained him.

And yet…

He looked out over the forest fingering the white flower that was still in his pocket.

Being human he knew he'd never have the gift of foresight, and yet he was certain he could feel something coming. Something that would change his life and the lives of others for years to come.

Little did he know that something was crashing through the trees kicking and screeching like a banshee as it was being carried off through that very same forest.

When Bilbo Baggins came up beside Fili and Kili the two brothers were simply standing still, staring at a point in the undergrowth of the wood where the remaining ponies were grazing for their evening meal.

The Hobbit blinked as he held out the two bowls in his hands for them to take.

"…what's the matter?"

"We're supposed to be looking after the ponies" Kili gulped nervously.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem" Fili continued with a nervous bite to his lips.

"We had sixteen."

"And now there's fourteen"

Bilbo's heart dropped into his gut like a heavy stone as the three of them quickly made to examine which ponies were still there.

"Daisy and Mungo are missing" Kili said sternly.

"Well that's not good." Bilbo nodded in nervous agreement only for his face to fall as he caught sight of a gigantic tree before them all laying on its side.

"And that's not good at all. Shouldn't we tell Thorin?"

"Uh…no…" Fili exchanged a terrified glance with his brother "Let's not worry him"

"As our official burglar, we thought you might like to look in on it" Kili added hopefully at the Hobbit who was still staring down at the broken tree before him. It's roots were completely torn straight up from the ground as if pushed.

"Well uh…Look something big uprooted these trees"

"That was our thinking"

"Yes, something very big and possibly…quite dangerous" Bilbo gulped as he heard a faint crash in the distance followed by tiny feminine squeaks.

They all exchanged glances.

"Did you hear that?"

"I think so" Kili looked slightly unnerved but Fili was crouching down and peering through a gap in the trees ahead.

"Look there's a light over here. Stay down" he whispered as he gestured to Bilbo and Kili to follow him through the trees, the hobbit still holding securely onto the bowls of food in his hands.

The light was a reddish yellow and was large and flickering against a stone wall some way away.

They ducked quickly out of sight as they heard a bark of loud, booming thuggish laughter and Bilbo's face paled as he caught sight of a humongous hulking shadow appear in the light of the fire or whatever light it was ahead.

"What is it?"

"Trolls" Kili's eyes turned hard before he and his brother quickly made to hop over the log they were hiding behind. Bilbo followed quickly, only just remembering to bring along the food with him even though he wasn't sure why he needed them anymore.

He'd only just caught up with the two young dwarves when something came crashing through the undergrowth to his left. He only just managed to duck behind a tree just in time before a hulking grey skinned figure strode past.

It was huge almost as big as the size of the tree they had found uprooted, though it looked more like a giant boulder than anything, what with its grey rock like skin and thick fat grimy body which was only covered in a ragged loincloth.

In one arms, it was carrying two of the ponies and in the other a familiar figure of a girl in a green dress.

"He's got Ariel, Myrtle and Minty!" Bilbo whispered in terror just as Ariel made to hit the hard skin of her kidnapper.

"Shut up you twig and just stay still. You won't taste good if I kill you now" the troll gruffly growled before giving her behind a small pat with a single finger.

"Let me go mother f-ing bastard! You-"

"Huh…who'd have thought the Lass had such a mouth on her?' Fili and Kili couldn't help but raise their eyebrows even though Bilbo was hissing in horror.

"He's going to eat them, we have to do something"

Both brothers quickly looked at their burglar as the same idea seemed to dawn on them.

"Yes, you should. Mountain trolls are slow and you're small, they'll never see you" Kili whispered excitedly over the top of Bilbo's refusals "It's perfectly safe. And we'll be right behind you"

"If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl" Fili added before shoving Bilbo on ahead, making sure to take the bowls of food from him.

"Twice like a barn owl. No twice like a brown-once like a" Bilbo muttered trying and failing in his terror to remember the words. He turned around "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

But Fili and Kili were not there.

"Mutton Yesterday, mutton today. And blimey if it don't look like mutton again tomorrow!"

Ariel gulped silently not sure if she should find it awesome or terrifying to hear the familiar line from the book she was so fond of being spoken aloud by creatures that could kill her in two seconds flat.

She clamped her mouth shut as the troll that was carrying her and the ponies spoke up gruffly to his two fellows, who were both sitting around a bubbling pot over a large fire.

"Quit yer griping! These ain't sheep. These is fresh nags. And lookey here" he quickly added lifting up Ariel around the middle so that she was high above the light of the fire. "Desert fresh from the pond"

One of the two other trolls, who was fatter than the other two and wearing a large brown apron over his skin and loincloth, chuckled appreciatively whilst his other fellow made to grumble.

"I don't like horse. Never 'ave. Not enough fat on 'em. The girls' not any better"

"well she's better than that leathery old farmer" the troll with the apron grunted "All skin and bone he was. I'm still picken' bits of 'im out of me teeth"

There were deep chuckles as the troll who was carrying Ariel quickly shoved her into a large sack, tying up the strings at the top so that only her head could be seen, before dumping her beside the ponies who were corralled in a tiny pen side by side.

Oh god this cannot be happening

She barely paid attention as the trolls squabbled over the large pot. Instead she tried her best to wriggle up to sit.

Just stay calm Ariel and think this through…they're just three big stupid trolls. You can easily get away from them if you're quiet.

As she thought this she felt around through the sack with her feet.

The ground beneath her was even enough. If she was quiet she could get to her feet and hop away in the sack before they could notice.

But what if they catch me? They're still three big trolls and I'm just one unarmed girl. Oh if only I had my staff-but it's back at the pond-

She felt something tiny tap at her shoulder and would have almost squeaked in surprise had it not been for the hand that quickly wrapped itself over her mouth.

"Shh! It's just me" a familiar voice hissed quietly.

"Bilbo thank goodness." Ariel sighed softly in relief as the Hobbit quickly made to fumble with the ties of the sack.

"Don't worry Fili and Kili have gone to get the others-"

But just before he could untie the knot completely Bilbo had to duck down behind her as one of the trolls looked in their direction towards the ponies.

"Well I hope you're gonna gut these nags. I don't like the stinky parts OW!" he shrieked as the troll who was cooking whacked him hard over the head with a gigantic wooden spoon.

"I said sit down!"

"I'm starving" the troll that had kidnapped Ariel groaned "now are we havin' horse tonight or not?"

"Right there, gotcha!" Bilbo whispered as he finally finished untying the sack from Ariel who quickly tore herself out of the bag before pulling him to duck behind the pony pen.

"Quick we have to get them out" Bilbo whispered and they quickly made to untie the large ropes holding the nervous equines in.

After a few moments of tugging at the complicated knots Ariel huffed.

"They're too thick and tight, we'll need something sharp to cut them"

"And I think I know where to look" Bilbo whispered looking to the hip of the troll seated close to him. There fastened on a belt was a thin but sharp sword.

"Be careful" Ariel hissed as the small hobbit quickly darted behind the back of the troll more quietly than any mouse.

She felt her heart lurch in her chest just as something long and hard to hit her from above.

She looked up to see a series of long thick vines slip away from above her quietly with small soft indiscernible whispers.

She winced rubbing the top of her head as she glanced down at the ground at her feet to where a long redwood staff with a green stone set at the top was lying, glowing brightly in the night.

What the hell? Where-How?

She picked it up quickly just as Bilbo reached out for the hilt of the blade on the trolls hip only for his bounty to escape his grasp as the dumb creature stood up.

He ducked quickly to avoid the troll's hand which had reached out to scratch its behind before sitting back down.

Bilbo gaged the distance for a moment and then took a small jump upwards but at that precise moment the trolls hand reached back and grabbed at him to reach a towel sized cloth that substituted for a handkerchief.

AHG! EWW! GROSS!

Ariel gagged as the stupid creature swiftly brought Bilbo and the cloth to his nose and sneezed into it, coating the poor and very shocked little hobbit in all his snot.

"Bert! Bert!" the troll cried out in alarm as he caught sight of the contents of his handkerchief "Look what's come out of me hooter! It's got arms and legs and everything."

"What is it?" the troll called Bert tilted his head in confusion.

"I don't know" the troll that sneezed whimpered in fear as he looked down into his hand "But I don't like the way it wriggles around"

And with a loud cry he dropped Bilbo onto the ground where he did his best to scramble to his feet, just as one of the trolls brandished a large knife at him.

"What are you then? An oversized squirrel?"

"I'm a burglar-uh a Hobbit" Bilbo squeaked trying his best to back away.

"A burglar Hobbit?" one of the trolls tilted his head whilst another one leered.

"Can we cook him?"

"We can try"

Bilbo did his best to run only to be cornered by the troll with the apron who looked down on him with a milky eye.

"He wouldn't make more than a mouthful. Not when he's skinned and boned"

"Perhaps there's more burglar-hobbits about these parts. Might be enough for a pie. Grab him!"

Bilbo's face paled as he caught a glimpse of a large arm in the corner of his eye. He ducked and dodged quickly as the trolls made slow heavy swipes.

"He's too quick" the sneezing troll screeched while the cooking troll made to smack his wooden spoon in the hobbit's direction.

"Bilbo over here" Ariel mouthed desperately from behind a troll.

Bilbo quickly dove between a pair of thick set grey legs.

Ariel reached out to grab him but before their fingers could even graze one another's one of the trolls had grabbed him about the middle.

"Right come 'ere you little-gotcha"

Ariel ducked to avoid getting seen or hit immediately regretting it as she saw Bilbo dangling upside down over the pot by the ankles. She gripped her staff tightly in her hand and the green gem glowed brighter still.

She shut her eyes as she felt a surge of energy pulse through her body, through every artery, vein and cell. All tiredness, all fear immediately began to vanish as her vision suddenly turned a strange greenish hue. But she was not afraid, for suddenly everything seemed all the clearer to her eyes, even though the darkness of night was so deep. She could see nearly every single plant that grew about her in sharp detail and she could feel their roots and leaves as if they were her own fingers and toes. She narrowed her eyes as she looked upon the three trolls and Bilbo who were all slightly more like blurs of dark shadows that weaved their way through the mass of green around a glowing hot mass that was the fire.

One of the trolls brandished his large knives and pointed it at his gut as he rumbled.

"Are there any more of you little fellas hiding where you shouldn't"

"No" Bilbo shook his head desperately.

"He's lying" a troll sneered.

"No, I'm not!"

"Hold his toes over the fire! Make him squeal!"

"NO!" Ariel yelled suddenly jumping out from her hiding spot and brandishing her staff before her. She smirked as through her green haze she saw the roots in the ground beneath her suddenly burst forth from the ground. Like snakes in a pit they slithered themselves around the legs of the troll with the apron who squealed in shock as he toppled to the ground with a heavy thud.

The other two trolls stared at her in astonishment as she gripped her staff tighter in her hands and hissed up at them.

"Drop him"

"You what?" a troll blinked stupidly at her and she rolled her eyes.

"I said drop him you-you cretins"

"Cretins?" the trolls growled and then suddenly before either could react Bilbo sailed high through the air and right into Ariel who fell to the ground backwards, the latter's sight returning to normal colour and focus.

Crap.

Ariel gasped as she caught sight of the tied-up troll tear apart the leafy bonds over his legs.

"Witch! It's a Witch!"

The Trolls roared loudly and rushed forwards as the hobbit and the girl began to scramble to their feet.

"RUN BILBO!"

But the creatures did not make it to them.

Loud war cries rent the air as thirteen dwarves all sprang forth from the trees about the campfire their weapons of swords, hammers and axes all brandished high to strike.

They all darted between the legs and bodies of the three massive trolls striking and hitting at any points they could reach. However even though their weapons were wielded with great strength and precision they only created tiny scratches upon the tough hides.

Amid all the confusion Ariel felt a hand quickly grab her by the arm and drag her up.

"Quick get out of here lass!" Dwalin's voice gruffly called as he threw her towards the edges of the clearing.

"Oh no you don't you little-" a troll rumbled as it flung out its arm in her direction.

Ariel dove for the dirt and rolled to her feet just in time to avoid the large arm that swung her way.

Without thinking she thrust up her staff into the brute's face. It glowed brightly in his eyes and he cringed away with an almighty screech.

The other two trolls and some of the dwarves turned around at the cry just in time to see a mass of green light burst forth from the tip of Ariel's staff. Ariel herself stared in wide eyed shock just as the green light flew and wrapped itself around the monster's eyes like long whips, which quickly changed to solidify into long thick vines.

"Agh! My eyes! I can't see!" the troll bleated as he stumbled about tearing at his face to rip the makeshift organic blindfold off him.

"Get her! Get the Witch!" The two remaining trolls roared as they lunged towards her.

The dwarves did their best to come in-between but they may have just been flies on the wall for all the trolls cared. Ariel dove out of the way once more only this time she was hit hard by the thrashing blindfolded troll and thrown hard into a tree.

There was a resounding crack as she felt her ribs collide painfully with the tough thick trunk. Stars blinking in front of her eyes, she clutched at her side as she rolled over, doing her best to ignore the stabbing like ache from the injury.

She was in such pain that she didn't even notice the large grey hand stretching out to grab her once more.

There was a small ringing sound as a blade of metal soared through the air in a graceful arc before slicing into the mass of grey flesh, followed by several others. The troll howled in agony and reeled back as Thorin Oakenshield and his company all stood around Ariel's body readying their swords once more, only to stop dead in their tracks.

"Bilbo!" Kili cried out trying to balk forwards a terrified Bilbo was held up high in the air by both his ankles and wrists by two of the trolls (the latter of whom still had his eyes covered by the vines) while the third one snarled down at his companions.

"Lay down your arms or we'll rip his off"

There was a very ominous silence in which the hobbit feared for one shining moment that Thorin would fight on and the trolls would tear his limbs out.

However, he was very much relieved to find that the dwarf prince, though grim and reluctant, swiftly pierced his blade down into the earth in surrender.

That stubborn dwarf! I have never seen such pride in all my life.

Gandalf the Grey snorted as he paced up and down. He was in a small clearing he'd found just a few hours ago. It was secluded but from what he could feel it was safe and private. Just the kind of spot he needed to recollect his thoughts.

He was sorely failing.

"Thorin Oakenshield you really are a handful." He muttered as he put his pipe to his lips and took another long drag. He knew he should've been sparing it for later, for Eru knew how long they would be on this road. But his temper was too sorely pushed today for him to care.

I can only hope Ariel is faring better than I…

He paused, guilt suddenly flooding him.

I probably shouldn't have left her alone with them. Should something happen…After all I am her teacher and I am responsible for her wellbeing no matter how resourceful she appears.

He sighed heavily. Being a mentor was certainly a new and odd experience.

Though he was certainly not the only one of his kind, none of his contemporaries had ever needed training. Oh, sure they all shared advice and tips, but all of them were already learned in great lore and the magical arts by the time they'd first arrived in Arda.

Why Nuldien thought it was a good idea to send someone who has no clue as to how to use her powers is beyond anyone's guess. But still…at least she's a fast learner…

He looked up into the night sky and cursed softly.

Good Gracious have I been here that long?

He should return quickly he supposed as he extinguished his pipe and snuck it back into his satchel.

But even as he turned back around to begin his journey back he paused to look again at the night sky.

Was it just him, or was there a huge bonfire in the distance close to where the company's camp was supposed to be?

"Oh dear…that's not good. Not good at all…" he murmured with a heavy sigh.

Today was just not the wizards day.

Ariel Brooks shut her eyes trying hard and failing to not wince or whimper in pain as her body was roughly shoved into a large sack once more before she was flung unceremoniously down into the large pile of dwarves in sacks on the ground.

She faintly heard the small oof beneath her as she landed with a soft thud, with her head in Thorin's lap, her body draped over Bombur's fat stomach and her legs right over Fili and Dori's shoulders.

"Ow" she cringed as her head collided with the back of Kili's who was laying down in the opposite direction.

"You alright lass?"

Oin called out from his spot next to Gloin. As the most medically experienced person in the company he had kept a close eye on all the dwarves and on Bilbo and Ariel for most of the journey, often patching them up if they needed to at the end of the day. His eyes were worried as he looked up and saw how pale the young girl's face had gone.

"Yeah…yeah…at least I'm alive…" Ariel shut her eyes tight and bit down hard on her lip as her entire left side throbbed with pain. "Though…I think I might have broken something"

"Where does it hurt?"

"Ribs…left side…"

"Ribs…" Oin gently muttered "Lass, feel at your side. Do you feel anything dented in or sticking out?"

Ariel shook her head as she rubbed her side.

"Good then it's probably only a fracture or a bruise"

There were several small sighs of relief at that, including Ariel's. At least with just a fracture it would heal faster and she wouldn't have to worry about damaging her internal organs.

Though it still hurts like hell!

The dwarves' faces all twinged with pity as they heard a tiny whimper escape her despite her attempts to keep her mouth tightly shut. Even Thorin's brow furrowed with concern, though he did his best to keep his face set in its usual calm but grim state.

He knew just as much as the rest of them how much damaged bones hurt, and whilst he had grown accustomed to it over the years he wouldn't deny that they were still not pleasant to experience.

Besides, he told himself, she was a human. Her bones were so much more fragile than that of him and his kin.

"Try to relax and take deep breaths." He said softly as he looked down on her head in his lap. "It'll help take your mind off the pain at least"

Ariel nodded, not even noticing that for the first time since the two of them had met the dwarf prince was not using any snide tones with her, nor was he glaring.

She only did her best to inhale deeply through her nose and out through her mouth, her cheek leaning into his chest as she braced herself against every throb of pain.

Despite himself, Thorin couldn't help but admire her stubbornness as she refused to let herself cry or make a sound. Most young ones facing such an injury would be a wreck by now. But she was just keeping her jaw clenched shut as she steadied herself against him, listening to his heartbeat. It was a robust soothing sound, and Ariel didn't care who it belonged to, for it helped distract her from the pain.

Faintly to the other side she could hear the trolls grumbling as they made to snatch up several of the dwarves and tie them around a long spit which they then positioned over their large camp fire.

"oh! That's hot! That's hot! That's hot!" Nori cried out as embers flew up from the flames beneath and sparked against his cheek as he was slowly rolled over the top of it.

"Don't bother cooking them" one of the trolls grumbled loudly "let's just sit on them one by one and squash them into jelly"

But the troll with the apron shook his head and spoke in a slightly more refined manner as he mimed cooking actions over the bulky dwarf spit.

"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage"

"ooh that does sound quite nice" the troll from before licked his lips hungrily just as many cries of protest escaped the pile of dwarves on the ground.

Ariel grit her teeth, still trying to take deep breaths even as Bombur jiggled his fat belly under her side.

"Untie me mister"

"Eat someone your own size" Gloin added but the third troll only steamrolled over the top of his gruff voice.

"Never mind the seasoning, we ain't got all night. Dawn ain't far away. Let's get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone"

In his spot beside Balin, Bilbo stiffened.

Dawn…dawn…oh wait that's right…trolls turn to stone in sunlight!

"Wait!" he cried out loudly and everyone fell silent at once. "you are making a terrible mistake"

"You can't reason with them they're half-wits!" Nori cried out desperately and Bofur sighed heavily from somewhere below him over the fire.

"Half-wits? Then what does that make us?"

"I meant with the uh…err… the seasoning"

Ariel frowned and despite her pain peered up to watch as Bilbo managed to heave himself onto his feet and hop out into the open space. Just what was the hobbit doing?

Even the trolls were confused as they looked down on their captive with tilted heads.

"What about the seasoning?"

"We'll have you smelled them" Bilbo jerked his head towards the pile of writhing bodies beside him.

"You're gonna need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up"

There were cries of outrage from the dwarves as one of the trolls leered down at Bilbo with a discerning eye.

"And what do you know about cooking dwarf?"

"Shut up" the troll with the apron approached Bilbo eagerly "Let the flurgaburburhobbit talk"

"The secret to cooking dwarf is…is…" Bilbo glanced quickly at his friends for help though they were just as in the dark as the trolls…except for Ariel whose eyes widened at once.

Bilbo, you sneaky son of a gun

"Yes? Come on. Tell us the secret" the troll pressed. "Come on tell us"

"Yes, alright I'm telling you! the secret is too…"

"Spices" the girl mouthed widely at the hobbit "think spices"

"To skin them first"

"BILBO!" Ariel groaned as the dwarves around her cried out angrily.

"What?! Skin us?"

"I'll skin you you little-"

"Tom get me filleting knife" the apron clad troll sneered widely only for his fellow to snort derisively.

"What a load of rubbish. I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scarf 'em I say boots and all"

There was a small rustle in the trees and Bilbo quickly saw just atop the rocky wall behind the trolls a glimpse of a grey robe flicker out of sight.

Gandalf…

His heart raced with joy only to fall again as one of the trolls reached forwards with an inane grin and snagged Bombur's legs.

"Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf"

Poor fat Bombur whimpered in fear as the large creature dangled him up before his wide hungry mouth by the ankles, a disgusting red tongue flicking out for a small taste.

"Oh no not that one. He's infected!" Bilbo cried out.

"He what?" a troll blinked stupidly.

"Yes…he-he's got worms…in his…tubes" Bilbo gulped nervously as the excuse spewed out of his mouth like word vomit.

Had Ariel not been in such agony she would have laughed at the horrified looks on the trolls faces as Bombur was hastily dropped to the ground, his body bouncing a little like a giant beach ball as Bilbo continued to lie through his teeth.

"In fact, they all have worms. The girl as well. They're infested with parasites. It's a terrible business. I wouldn't risk it I really wouldn't"

"Parasites?!" Oin cried out in anger "We don't have parasites"

"Yeah, we don't have parasites, you have parasites!" Kili retorted childishly to the irritation of Ariel who quickly jerked her elbow into Thorin's knee just as he opened his mouth to yell.

"Play along" she mouthed jerking her head sideways in Bilbo's general direction.

"What?" Thorin frowned. But even as he followed her gaze the lightbulb in his head went off. Quietly as he dared he delivered a swift kick to Kili's lower back which jostled the entire group into stillness for a moment before Oin grunted out.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm"

Idiots…

Had Ariel's hands not been inside her sack she would have face palmed at some of the ridiculous shouts she heard in her ears.

"Mine are the biggest parasites!"

"I've got huge parasites"

"We're riddled."

"Yes, I'm riddled"

"Yes, we are badly"

But one of the trolls was not convinced. He thudded up to Bilbo with narrowed eyes.

"What would you have us do then huh? Let them all go?"

"Well…" Bilbo shrugged only to be caught gruffly by a large hand and shaken lightly.

"You think I don't know what you're up to. This little ferret is taking us for fools"

"Ferret?" Bilbo spluttered indignantly just as a deep elderly voice called out loudly from above.

"The dawn will take you all!"

Everyone looked up and their eyes widened in astonishment to see Gandalf standing atop of the high stone wall, his staff raised high above his head.

The trolls all blinked in stupid confusion

"Who's that?"

"No idea"

"Can we eat him too?"

But they never even had the chance to move. With a strong strike, Gandalf brought the end of his staff hard down upon the rock splitting a large chunk off to his side away so that a blinding golden light streamed through onto the campsite, suddenly making everything bright once more.

All three trolls groaned and grunted in pain as the beams of hot light hit their tough skins which began to sizzle and crackle as slowly but surely, they turned from flesh to stone.

Ariel watched amazed as the last small fleck of dust hissed and fell gently to the ground as the smallest finger of the last of the trolls solidified before her very eyes.

Gandalf smiled down at his work and as he hopped down there were many a cheer from the dwarves, though Dwalin could be heard complaining loudly about having someone's foot in his back.

The old wizard was quick to dash over to the dwarves on the ground who he proceeded to swiftly untie. Once they were all on their feet they made to help undo the knots about their friends wrapped around the spit over the fire, which was hastily put out before it could burn through the ropes on the underside of the log.

As they worked the sun rose higher and higher above the horizon and Ariel soon found herself sitting on the ground beside a large tree log as Oin made to prod at her sides gingerly assessing the damage.

She winced once more just as Gandalf came around to check on them after helping untie Dwalin's bonds.

"Well, well, well Ariel. What is this I hear about fighting with some new magic at hand and breaking your bones?"

"Fracture actually" Oin corrected the wizard as he pulled away. "Though it was a close shave to being broken. There's nothing I can do further I'm afraid save say that she'll have to rest up and take it slow for the next few days at least."

"Yes, or perhaps…" Gandalf trailed off before reaching out with a hand and hovering it over the left side of her body.

Ariel strained her ears as she heard him mouth and mumble a few strange words under his breath. But even as she opened her mouth to ask him she felt the pain in her side subside into a tiny twinge.

The old wizard pulled his hand away and she gasped.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome. But what I've done is only a small temporary fix for the pain. You still need to take it easy or else it will worsen. Just don't go fighting trolls any time soon" Gandalf's eyes twinkled as Ariel rolled her eyes.

"Oh yes because I thoroughly enjoyed being battered around by giant brutes with the intelligence of five-year old's."

"Well whatever they did, I think it's safe to say you've had enough excitement for one night. Rest up. You've earned it."

Gandalf smiled, patting her on the head before walking away.

As he passed by the stone statues of the giant creatures he tapped them with his staff and smirked at how hard they'd become.

Well at least there's that trouble sorted out

But even so he frowned as he looked up towards the head of the most hunched up figure of them all.

Over the top of his face was a mass of thick green vines which twisted and writhed about wildly over the now smooth stone surface.

Gandalf gingerly hovered his hand over the plant life concentrating hard. They had a sense of great mystical energy about them.

Hmm...this kind of magic has not been seen for an age…not since Nuldien herself was here…

"Hmm…I wonder…" His eyes quickly turned back to where Ariel was now standing up and talking with a very much relieved Balin, leaning on her staff, the green gem within glimmering a faint green in the morning light.

Nuldien of all the people you could have sent…why was it this girl? True that her heart is in the right place…but you wouldn't have sent her here unless she possessed some secret? Just what are you up to?

"Where did you go to if I may ask?" Thorin's voice called quietly as he came around one of the trolls to face the thoughtful wizard.

"To look ahead."

"And what brought you back?"

"Looking behind" Gandalf's eyes twinkled with faint amusement "Nasty business. Still you're all in one piece"

"No thanks to your burglar" Thorin raised his eyebrows.

"He had the nerves to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that" Gandalf smirked.

"Nor did we ever think that a young witch would fight alongside us" the dwarf prince looked to the vines about the face of the stone troll warily.

Gandalf's eyes hardened darkly on Thorin's face.

"Ariel Brooks is no witch, nor should she be mistaken for one. A true witch is a dangerous being, one you would do well to not mock."

"Then what is she then?" Thorin hissed pointing up at the vines over the stone troll's eyes. "Because this looks an awful lot like witchcraft to me"

"To the untrained eye I suppose it does." Gandalf traced the green vines which glimmered under his touch "but this isn't the product of dark magic. No this…this is much older…purer even. A magic from a more ancient time. Magic in short that I have not seen in many an age"

"And yet it is harnessed by one so young?" Thorin scoffed

"I admit I am at a loss for how such a thing is possible" Gandalf murmured softly before coughing and straightening up importantly. "Yet, strength of mind nor body is not determined by age or gender."

"True…but still her blunders have proven to be quite troublesome. Had she been more attentive to her surroundings, none of us may not have had to go through all that fuss with these trolls. Not to mention she froze right in the middle in the fight-"

Gandalf's sigh was heavy at this.

"Yes, she is inexperienced, and as a result mistakes will be bound happen. But she's not the only one. Look at Fili and Kili, they still occasionally fall over their feet from time to time no matter how much you try to prepare them. And you forget too, that she has barely flown from the nest and travelling far from home amongst a group of strangers, discovering strong new powers and experiencing dangers that she could never have imagined. Can you really blame her for being frightened?"

There was a small pause in which the dwarf prince seemed to ponder the wizard's words before nodding quietly.

"I guess it could've been worse" He murmured. "She's lasted this far and she could've run off dozens of times when things got too tough-"

"But she stayed and did what she could even if she got hurt." Gandalf's beard bristled a little as he smirked knowingly "and not just her. Both Ariel and Bilbo Baggins are not warriors nor are they great heroes and yet when they were placed in difficult life-threatening situations they still managed to be brave and face their fears to help others."

And at this Gandalf looked over the trolls once more his brow furrowed in concern.

"They must've come down from the Etten moors"

"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" Thorin frowned also.

"Oh, not for an age" Gandalf shook his head "Not since a darker power…ruled these lands…"

His voice fell away for a moment as a tense silence ensued between the two of them.

Finally, after looking in the direction of the morning sun he muttered.

"They could not have moved in daylight"

Thorin quickly looked about them.

"Then there must be a cave nearby"

Ariel was the slowest to reach the large mouth of the troll's cave as she was leaning heavily on her staff for support. It was like Gandalf had said. He had treated most of her injury with magic however it had not been completed and too much movement still made it hurt.

And so, it was with great relief that she sat herself down on a large rock outside the hoard and leant back against the rocky wall.

"Breath in and out" she muttered to herself just as she felt someone sit down beside her.

"You alright?"

"Yeah…I'm fine" Ariel opened her eyes to see Fili who had two large red apples in his hands.

"Here" He held one out for her to take.

"Thanks" she took it gratefully and took a bite.

After an entire night of no food the sweet juice on her tongue was almost like heaven and she was quick to start devouring the fruit at top speed.

"Whoa there! Hold up-hold up" Fili chuckled putting a hand on her arm to stop her from taking another bite "just take it slow will you or you'll get sick"

Ariel could not help the small almost painful catch in her chest as she looked down on his hand over her arm. Except she didn't see the dwarf's pale digits. Instead before her eyes it was a large dark-skinned hand as a voice echoed in her mind.

"Woah slow down Airy-fairy the food ain't goin' anywhere"

Fili quickly let go of her his brow furrowed in concern as he caught sight of the melancholic look over her face.

"Hey…what's wrong?"

"Wrong?" Ariel blinked looking up at him in surprise. Then she remembered herself and quickly smiled "Oh no It's just my ribs…and you're right I need to take it slow"

"Ah" Fili nodded in understanding before smiling up at her. "That was your first time, wasn't it?"

"My first time?"

"Your first time fighting."

"Oh!" Ariel blinked "Yeah it was. Though I'm not sure whether I was more a hindrance than a help"

"Hindrance? What do you mean hindrance?!" came Kili's voice as he came to stand in front of both his brother and Ariel munching on an apple and grinning down at her "You took down two trolls on your own. If anything, we probably hindered you from nabbing the last fellow"

"Oh, no-no I couldn't have possibly have-" Ariel blushed shyly only for both brothers to quickly speak over the top of her.

"No, you could've and you would've-"

"You've got to have more faith in yourself Miss Ariel-"

"-besides did you see the looks on their faces when you got that one in the eyes"

"Ha! Absolutely priceless"

Kili guffawed as she covered her face in her hands to stop them from seeing her face which was now almost redder than her hair which Fili then proceeded to ruffle.

"Agh hey! Hey! Watch it! My hair has enough tangles in it already" Ariel giggled trying to swat off the hand. All the dwarves around them chuckled as Ariel tried to comb it through the bird nest atop of her head with her fingers just as Thorin's voice called out loudly.

"Something's coming!"

"Stay together" Gandalf called over the confusion as the dwarves "Hurry now! Arm yourselves. Ariel get up!"

Ariel barely had time to grab onto her staff beside her before the Wizard passed her by, grabbing her arm and dragging her away at once along with the others just as the sounds of something large plundered through the undergrowth of the woods around them.

Ariel gulped only to sigh heavily as she and the company hit a dead end.

Oh, great. We're trapped. AGAIN!

She grit her teeth as she wheeled around ignoring the pain in her side as she held out her staff in front of her just as something burst through the bushes in front of them.

"Thieves! Fire! MURDER!"

All fifteen members of the company stared in shock. There in front of them all was a strange sled like contraption. However instead of horses or ponies being tethered before the sled, several oversized brown rabbits were bristling in bridles some twiddling their whiskers as they looked up at them with wide brown eyes.

Ariel would have almost cooed down at the adorable creatures had she not been so distracted by the man in tattered brown robes riding on the sled behind them. He was about her height with a long grey beared flecked with brown that framed his elderly face at the side of which seemed to have a smear of bird poo over the left side. His eyes, though a warm brown hazel were manic with panic as he panted through a mouth that had several missing and misshapen teeth.

For some reason, he reminded Ariel of an oversized squirrel.

"Radagast!" Gandalf sighed heavily with relief as he stepped forwards "Radagast the brown. What on Earth are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you Gandalf" he replied quickly. "Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong"

"Yes?" Gandalf eyed his contemporary warily as he opened his mouth to speak, only to pause.

At this Bilbo glanced around awkwardly to the other dwarves who all exchanged equally confused looks as the brown wizard fumbled over his words before groaning.

"Oh! I had a thought and now I've lost it. It was right there, it was on the tip of my tongue and-oh!"

Radagast's eyes suddenly widened in dawning comprehension as he opened his mouth.

"Oh, it's not a thought at all! It's a silly old…stick insect" he finished as Gandalf gingerly reached forwards and pulled off the tiny bug off his tongue.

Ariel drew back slightly as Radagast gave a tiny laugh, holding out his hand for the stick insect to jump into before hopping off onto the ground.

At the sight of it she gripped her staff tighter in her hands and the green gem in it glowed, a light humming sound filling the clearing.

Radagast and Gandalf quickly turned around, the formers face once again becoming shocked.

"By my word Gandalf…"

"Ah yes, Radagast, let me introduce the newest member of our order. Lady Ariel the Green. Ariel this is Radagast… the Brown…" Gandalf's voice faded as he watched Radagast hobble up to Ariel, his face alight with astonishment and awe.

"is this…can this be…Oh…but it is!" He cried out in delight as he caught sight of the green gem in her staff. "Gandalf! Gandalf! It's her! It's really her! I knew it! I knew she would come-"

Ariel backed away unnerved at the estatic, almost manic gleam in the older wizard's eyes. It did not help that he was slightly cross eyed.

"Uh…sorry sir but do I know you?"

"What? But surely you-"

Radagast paused as Ganalf put his hand on his shoulder.

"I'll think it'll be better to explain in private after you tell me what you have to say."

"Right…right of course. Well my dear I guess I will have to talk to you later" Radagast smiled warmly as he bowed and tipped his hat, from which a blue bird flew out of, and tittered away excitedly to talk to Gandalf.

A few minutes after they had moved off to a safe distance all the dwarves sighed in relief and confusion.

"What was all that about?" Bofur scratched his head.

"No idea." Nori turned a suspicious eye on Ariel who scowled.

"Hey, don't look at me, I only just met the guy-ooh!" she winced clutching at her side.

"I'm okay" she replied in answer to Bilbo's worried face as he rushed to help her sit on a nearby boulder.

"Well this has been a nice day" He muttered softly as one of the rabbits came up to sniff at the girl's boots. "I mean…apart from almost getting eaten alive by trolls and stumbling into another wizard"

"Yeah…" Ariel agreed quietly as she scratched the animal's ear "though something tells me that this is just the beginning of our strange adventures."

She quickly glanced to her left where she knew that just down the small hill Gandalf and Radagast were talking quietly in hushed voices. What was being said exactly was beyond her but she guessed in her gut that they were talking about something grim and dark.

Which is odd because Radagast was never meant to meet us nor appear in this story.

Ariel frowned as she did her best to track through her memories of Tolkien's works for more information.

Ok…we've left Bilbo's house in the shire. Travelled for a while and met the trolls…now we should be heading to Rivendell. Only Thorin has a grudge against the elves, so unless Gandalf has a plan we're not going to be able to decipher the runes on the map to the lonely mountain let alone continue with the quest through the Misty Mountains…wait the mountains…Bilbo…the ring!

Ariel's hand stilled over the rabbit's fur as a horrible chill swept over the back of her neck.

Oh god how could she have forgotten! The One Ring was still out there as was its master…its master who was currently in Mirkwood where Radagast dwelled!

"Ariel? What are you doing?"

"I need to talk to them" She quickly stood up ignoring the pain in her side and Bilbo's hesitant voice as she made to hobble over towards the two wizards only to stop mid step.

Something was howling far off in the distance.

There was absolute silence from everyone as they listened, all their faces paling at once.

"Was that a wolf?" Bilbo gulped "Are there wolves out there?"

"Wolves?" Bofur's voice trembled as he shook his head just as a snarling sound came from high up above them "No that's not a wolf"

They all turned just in time to see a giant canine like creature with sharp teeth and dark fur matted with blood and dirt roar as it charged down swiftly to all of them.

Ariel screamed as the beast leapt over her ducking head to pounce upon Dori who was standing behind her.

Thorin leapt in at once and swung his mighty sword down on the neck of the beast, cutting its head clean away from its body just as another snarl came up behind him.

"Kili get your bow" he yelled and at once his nephew whipped out his weapon and loosed an arrow into the shoulder of another dark canine that tumbled out of the way snarling as it stumbled onto its feet.

However, it did not get in a chance to retaliate as Dwalin's large hammer smote into its skull just as Gandalf and Radagast leapt up the slope towards them.

"Warg scouts" Thorin grunted as he heaved his blade from the neck of the first warg he'd slain. "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind"

"Orc pack?" Bilbo snapped his face going paler and paler by the minute.

"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf glowered down at Thorin who was looking a fair bit bewildered.

"No one"

"Who did you tell?!"

"No one I swear. What in Durin's name is going on?" he asked desperately.

"Your being hunted" Gandalf growled in aggravation which seemed to be shared by Dwalin.

"We've got to get out of here"

"We can't! We have no ponies or horses. They bolted" Ori cried out as both he and Bifur came scrambling down the hill from where the companies camp site had once been.

Ariel felt her heart sink into her gut. Orcs were riding on Wargs and they were on foot. This was just spelling out suicide!

"I'll draw them off" Radagast nodded determinedly as he made his way to his sled.

"But these are Gundabad Wargs" Gandalf rolled his eyes "They will out run you"

"And these are Rhosgobel rabbits" the brown wizard smirked "I'd like to see them try"

That's it… We're doomed.

Ariel facepalmed. Talk about a rough morning.

Little did she know it was only going to get rougher.

Chapter Text

The company of the Elves were relaxed and merry as they prepared to mount their horses. The day was bright and fair, midday was closing in and there was no cloud as far as their sharp eyes could see to signal any late rain in the afternoon.

The only one who seemed at all restless was the young human man that walked amongst them like he was their own kin. He was already armed and mounted upon his horse and eagerly trotting towards the edge of the forest he and his company had sheltered in for the night.

"Estel! Stay your steed. Enjoy the last of the morning before the sun rises high" his lord commanded with a stern but affectionate call.

But Estel wasn't listening, his eyes were trained on the distant horizon and of the sounds of something howling.

His young face paled, as both dread and excitement filled him.

Wargs were out there somewhere. Probably with Orcs as they seldom travelled this far away from their territories on their own.

Of course, that made them even more dangerous to approach, even when one was fully armed and on horseback. But Estel had been raised by great elves and warriors, and he was certain that if he and his company rode forth to find the foul creatures he'd finally a chance to prove himself a worthy warrior to his lord and father.

But before action could be taken, there had to be a scout.

Good thing he was already on his horse…

"Estel! WAIT!"

Ariel's heart was leaping through her chest as she ran alongside the dwarves behind the large rocks. They had left the safe cover of the forest and were now hiding in the plains behind various large old rocks. All around them in the distance a pack of wolves mounted by indistinct dark humanoid creatures rushed past in a cacophony of snarls and howls.

"Come quickly" Gandalf hissed as he quickly darted out into the open space once more keeping himself almost doubled over in an attempt not to be seen from a distance.

The fourteen members of the company followed quickly, Ariel being led in the middle by Bilbo who had a small blade drawn before him that glowed blue that changed in intensity depending on the distance of the pursuing orcs.

She felt the Hobbit's hand grasping onto hers tighten considerably as the last of the pack ran off after Radagast's rabbit sled and off over the hills.

Thorin had commanded him to keep close beside Ariel as they ran, though now it seemed as if he needed the support more than she did, if his pale panic stricken face was anything to go by.

She gripped his hand tighter in return trying her best to convey whatever comfort she could even though she herself was gasping for breath. Her ribs were still aching terribly and with every dash she took, she became more and more exhausted as if she were running marathons one after another.

Despite all that she had some good feeling about this endeavour.

Radagast's steeds seemed to be giving the orc pack a run for their money and if they were careful enough they could make it out of there alive.

But even as the thought crossed her mind she tripped over her feet over a hidden patch of stone on the grassy ground behind a great boulder. She hissed in pain as she felt the skin on her hands literally peel off and felt something warm and slick coat the palm of her hand.

Thorin's eyes suddenly whipped around to her as she was tugged onto her feet by Bilbo, and he sighed heavily before drawing out his sword.

"Bind it now, and be quick." he growled much to Ariel's chagrin. However, she was distracted by Bilbo as he hastily wrapped his own handkerchief over the cut..

"That should hold" he muttered as the tiny hurried knot was put in place just as something thudded from atop of the boulder. All fifteen of them quickly made to flatten themselves by the side of the stone, Ariel making to crouch down, because of her height, her heart hammering in her chest.

Thorin quickly chanced a glance upwards.

A warg and its rider were currently pacing about on the flat top of the large rock, both sniffing the air and snarling maliciously.

They'd obviously smelt the blood from Ariel's small cut and had come to investigate.

Just a tiny smear of blood…that was all they needed…

Thorin's hand gripped at Orcrist tight as he silently nodded to Kili who stood beside him carefully readying his bow and arrow before quickly stepping into their attacker's line of sight.

He shot at the warg first which gave a loud roar and screech as it toppled over the side with its rider who rolled off it onto the grass to stand unsheathing a bloodied sharp scimitar.

Ariel felt whatever scream she had die in her throat at the sight of the orc.

Whatever she had read in Tolkien's book did no justice to the horrific sight that lay before her.

It was squat, broad and had dark sallow skin with a flat nose wide mouth and a pair of nasty orange-yellow slanted eyes. He bared his mouth in a snarl at them, exposing long fang like teeth as he charged waving the sword in his long arms in a frenzy. As he did, his smell of rotted flesh and filth wafted towards them, sullying the scent of the fresh grass and cool air around them.

Ariel cringed away, unable to watch as Bifur and Dwalin leapt in quickly, striking and hitting the foul creature with their axes and swords. The smell of blood filled her nose as it was hacked limb from limb, it's screeches of pain spluttering to an abrupt stop as his skull was bashed in with a heavy blow from a dwarf's hammer.

"Oh my…" Ariel clapped a hand over her mouth as she opened her eyes and saw the dwarves back away from the bloodied corpse on the ground.

"Aye…we know lass. It's not a pretty sight" Balin muttered as he glanced sidelong at both the faintly sick young girl and the stunned hobbit beside her.

Then came the howling once more in the distance.

Gandalf's face paled with panic though he did his best to keep himself calm as possible as he shouted.

"This way! GO!"

"Come on"

There was a tug and Ariel forced herself to gulp down the huge lump in her throat as she was all but dragged away from the dead orc.

Now they were running faster than they'd ever gone in their lives. Bilbo's thighs were burning like they were on fire as he hauled Ariel behind him by the hand over hills and rocks doing their best to keep up with the others who were all yelling out encouragements or updates on their attackers progress behind them.

Eventually they reached the foot of a hill where there was a small outcrop of rocks on top however there wasn't enough to completely hide them anymore.

"whoa!"

Ariel tripped, her hand detaching from Bilbo's as he reached the crest.

He looked back noticing the lack of weight behind him and he cried out in panic as the girl rolled down and away from his reach this time cutting herself along her cheek as her head hit and scraped hard against the ground.

Whether it was because of the overwhelming pain or the hit to her head Ariel did not know, all that she did know was that her vision was swimming before her eyes as she tried to scramble to her feet.

She saw a shadow loom over her from behind and she turned her head to see a great big riderless warg snarling down at her with its hackles raised.

She screamed in terror as the beast geared itself up to lunge down on her only for a large sword to come swinging in from nowhere as Fili leapt down from the hill. With three quick strikes he hacked at the beasts neck and sent it flying off to the side before turning back to Ariel.

She barely heard the words that left the dwarf's mouth as he and another pair of smaller hands that belonged to Bilbo quickly pulled her up under each arm and quickly dragged her up the hill just in time to see Thorin draw his new elvish blade from its sheath.

"Quick get behind us" he shouted at the three of them as he stepped forwards

"We're surrounded" a dwarf yelled from the side as he began to back away from the crest along with the others.

"Hold your ground!"

But even as Bilbo watched on with terror he could not see any way out. Wargs and orcs were all about them in a great ring that was getting smaller and smaller with each passing second.

This is it…I'm done for…

He gulped only to feel a hand on his shoulder.

"We're not through yet" Ariel gritted her teeth as she gingerly pointed her staff down to the ground which was covered in tall dry golden grass.

Well this may not be as fun as it was back then but it'll have to do

"Everybody get close" She rasped loudly as the green gem glowed and the beneath their feet began to writhe like cobras in front of a snake charmer before suddenly shooting up tall and fast.

But even as she concentrated she wheezed in pain as her side began to throb almost unbearably.

Come on Ariel it's just like what you did to the tomato…only this time make it taller than everyone…come on nice and easy…

She faintly heard Thorin cry out to Kili who was the dwarf furthest from the company and the most in danger of getting lost amongst the rapidly growing cover.

The young dwarf quickly backed away just as an orc aggravated by the lack of a visual fired of a dark arrow in frustration.

Then suddenly there was a cry.

"This way you fools!"

It was Gandalf who had suddenly appeared from beneath two of the rocks behind them before quickly ducking down behind them.

"Come on move!" Thorin bellowed and in a rush Ariel grabbed hold of Bilbo by the scruff of his jacket and threw him forwards towards the rocks.

"GO Bilbo!"

The hobbit quickly scrambled over the top of them before sliding down and following Gandalf's trail into a small hole in the ground that fell onto a narrow stone tunnel.

"Ariel!" he called back but Ariel was facing other issues…like the orc that had come up behind her brandishing a large knife.

She quickly dodged, having seen his shadow looming over her from behind only to fall through the tall grass.

Her heart throbbed as she was reminded of the golden wheat fields of her godmother's farm and how she and her brother and their friends used to run through it and play hide and seek.

Except this was far more dangerous than any childhood game.

She could hear many feet, orc and warg alike surrounding her, and could faintly see their shadows between the many blades of grass.

Horribly, she wondered if this was how ants felt before they got squashed dead.

And speaking of impending death…

There was a horrible snuffling sound and Ariel wheeled around just in time to see a pair of horrible yellow eyes peering at her through the mass of green, from a snarling wolfish mouth.

"Nice doggy…" she gulped holding her staff in front of her, though for all the good it did she felt she might as well be holding a toothpick as the riderless warg stalked towards her, hackles raised.

Its shoulders rolled…

It crouched low…

Its claws unsheathed…

A loud horn sounded…

Wait a horn?

Ariel blinked as the Warg in front of her hesitated, its ears pricking as the mighty hunting horn drew a long powerful note that rent the air.

Run…while it's distracted run!

Was the only thought that ran through Ariel's head. But as she quickly scrambled back, the rustling sound of her feet on the grass alerted the great canine who swiftly turned to snap and snarl at her.

She cried out, tripping over as it lunged for her ankles. It missed but was quick to pin her down, its snapping mouth instead chomping down hard onto her staff, as she held it up to shield her face.

She cried out in pain as one of the clawed paws suddenly slammed down on her injured ribs as it scrambled for purchase.

There was a resounding crack.

It took all she had not to vomit from the sheer pain as her side throbbed painfully, the force of her fall and the heavy weight of the great animal bearing down upon her, which continued to try to snap and snarl and chew through her staff which was now glowing very brightly.

Then suddenly a shadow appeared behind the warg, a tall one, with what appeared to be four legs and two heads.

The strange shape swiped at the monster, something silver and metal slicing straight through its thick neck. It didn't behead the creature but it did drive in half way, its blood splattering everywhere as it was tossed to the side by four kicking hooves.

Ariel gasped as the weight suddenly disappeared from on top of her, only to scream in terror as suddenly the four hooves thudded down…only to land a few feet next to her as the dark brown horse was settled by its rider.

"Whoa! Tálagor, steady, steady…" the voice of a man spoke as a hand patted the large equine's neck.

Ariel blinked, the bright afternoon light blinding her eyes as the man quickly jumped off his horse and strode towards her.

He was tall, lean, wearing dark but shining armour. His hair was dark and rugged, his face youthful, so youthful that Ariel was sure he was around her age.

She tried to sit up, gripping her staff tighter in her hand only to fall back as another wave of nauseating pain washed over her.

When she opened her eyes next, it was to see a pair of grey orbs staring back at her as a pair of large rough hands tilted her head side to side.

"My Lady. My lady can you hear me?" his voice was muffled to her ears.

"Wha…where am I? Gandalf?" she groaned. Her head was swimming, the ache in her side was not helping her as she tried to sit up.

"Please try not to move, you're gravely injured" the young man insisted as he quickly grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

There was the thudding of hooves all around and the two young humans looked up to see several people on horseback surrounding them on all sides.

All of them were wearing the same dark armour as the man, but Ariel could quickly see that they were not human. No humans could be as fair as they, nor did they have as pointed an ear or as tall or proud a frame.

"Estel!" a voice called, a man's fair, wise but also worried and commanding.

A jet-black horse trotted towards them as its rider quickly dismounted.

He was an elf like the others, but where they all were wearing helms, he wore a circlet of gold upon his helmless pale brow with dark hair and dark eyes that looked upon the young man beside her with grave concern as he spoke swiftly in the tongue of his people

"[What were you doing? Why did you not await the signal-who is this?]"

He looked down on Ariel completely bewildered.

"[I do not know my Lord Elrond-]"

Elrond… the  Lord Elrond the Half-Elven?!

Ariel gaped as she watched the greeting unfold before her whilst in the back of her mind her mother's sweet mellow voice spoke softly and gently.

"He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf-lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves, and as kind as summer."

She was so astonished that she barely heard the rest of the sentence.

"[-But she was asking for someone named Gandalf]" the boy, Estel, sighed turning to address Ariel in common speech.

"What is your name?"

"A-Ariel…ow" She winced clutching at her side. "A-and I'm sorry but did he say you were Elrond?"

She looked at the dark-haired elf whose eyebrows rose. His face was mostly calm, but she could see the wariness in his eyes as he said:

"You seem familiar with my name, though I am not with yours. How did you come here, and how do you know Gandalf the Grey"

"Gandalf…he's my…I'm his…apprentice-ah! Sorry. We…we were travelling together with…ugh-crap!" she winced, biting down hard on her lip, trying to ignore the many murmurs and mutters of the other elvish hunters.

Oh god I'm actually speaking to Elrond himself! This is just insane.

"I see…" Lord Elrond frowned his eyes flickering down to the glowing staff by her side and then to her injured body. "May I?"

Ariel nodded as she let him inspect the wound, her free hand instead reaching out to grab Estel's free hand and grip it very tight as her side was gently prodded and examined.

"Broken" Elrond muttered softly as his fingers travelled up and down from the spot. "You will need urgent medical attention."

He turned to Estel, face grave.

"Well then Estel, seeing as you took it upon yourself to rescue her I will place her under your care until we get back home. [Badhrion help them]" he added and at once a tall elvish man with long light brown hair and bright blue eyes jumped down to help them.

Within a few painful minutes, Ariel was mounted upon Estel's sturdy steed, clutching onto the front of the saddle as the young man seated himself behind her, trapping her back against his front with his arms as he reached for the reins.

"Forgive me, milady" he whispered into her ear "but if I move back any further you'd fall off the horse"

"Quite frankly I don't really care at this point" Ariel gulped down hard as her side throbbed again. She sucked in a deep breath, gripping the saddle hard as the horse began to trot, behind the rest of the riders, slowly picking up to a brisk canter, just as the sky began to be stained a faint reddish-pink.

"This way you fools!"

Gandalf cried

"Come on move!" Thorin's bellow echoed all around them.

"Ariel come-whoa!" Bilbo cried out as the girl grabbed him by the scruff of his jacket and threw him forwards towards the rocks.

The hobbit quickly scrambled over the top of them before sliding down and following Gandalf's trail into a small hole in the ground that fell onto a narrow stone tunnel.

He quickly stood aside as Fili, Bifur and Bofur both nearly rolled down into them. Then came Oin, Gloin and Nori and Dori, followed by Ori, Balin and Dwalin who narrowly avoided getting squashed by a panicking Bombur who bounced a little on the stone floor as he landed.

"Kili! Ariel! Het here now!" Thorin bellowed as he stood atop of the stones waiting for his younger nephew to rush over towards him as he dodged arrows fired blindly from behind the tall grass.

As soon as he got close enough they both took a large leap down into the small chasm. They grinded to a halt on their feet quickly turning about with their weapons still drawn just in case they were followed down.

"Wait! The Lass is still up there!" Bofur cried out.

"WHAT?!" Thorin snapped, readying his sword as he prepared to leap back up the slope.

But even as he took a step upwards, a loud ringing horn blast sounded from high above them, loud and clear through their ears.

Bilbo's heart soared through his chest as he heard the clangs of weapons and the terrified screams of orcs as they ran hither and thither above their heads. One such figure itself toppled down the hole into their small hiding spot an arrow stuck straight through his forehead even as the dwarves made to round on it.

Thorin quickly leant down and tugged the arrowhead from the fowl creature and gave it a once over.

"Elves" he grunted angrily before tossing the weapon aside.

Elves…and if what I feel is right, she's still alive…Ariel Brooks you are a lucky one.

Gandalf sighed with relief a small smile gracing his mouth even as Dwalin made to cry out from a narrow stone pathway to their side.

"I cannot see where they pathway leads? Do we follow it or no?"

"Follow it, of course!" Bofur agreed readily as he quickly made to dash off after his friend, the others following suit quickly.

"I think that would be wise" Gandalf muttered with a small smirk towards a very angry Bilbo who spluttered:

"Keep going?! Our friend's trapped up there possibly hurt or worse and you want us to leave her behind and keep going?!"

"Yes Bilbo. I do." Gandalf nodded as he quickly hopped back up the slope to peer over the top of their hiding place. "Ah good, very good."

He turned back to Bilbo who was still glaring at him, along with a very worried Fili and Kili who were bringing up the rear, behind them Thorin held back, ears pricking as the wizard said calmly.

"The Elves have found her. She seems to be in one piece"

"Dead or alive?" Kili gulped, his young face now as pale as death warmed up as he glanced nervously to his equally worried brother.

"Of course she's alive" Gandalf narrowed his eyes grumpily at the Dwarf Princes "She may be young but she is not made of glass. Besides if she is injured the Elves will help her-"

"Because she is human?" Thorin sneered. "Should've known your apprentice would be an Elvish pet."

"Uncle" Fili scowled, only to be waved off as said uncle turned his back on all of them and stalked off.

"You should follow him. Ariel will be fine, I promise" Gandalf assured the hobbit and the youngest dwarves, steering the former forward with a gentle push of his hand.

Fili and Kili followed, the latter of them glaring daggers at their uncle's back.

"How could Uncle say something like that?" he muttered darkly. "Those wargs were about to kill her, she looked absolutely terrified-"

"I know brother. I know" Fili patted his brothers shoulder as they sidled single file through a thin crevice.

Meanwhile ahead of them Bilbo was looking up and about himself as if sensing something strange about them. Indeed, once they were a fair way in he looked back to Gandalf and asked.

"Uh…Gandalf…where are we?"

"You can feel it?"

"yes…it feels like…well like magic" Bilbo muttered.

"That's because it is" the wizard remarked with a twinkle in his eyes. "A very powerful magic"

"There's light ahead" Dwalin's voice echoed about them as the narrow passageway carried it to the back of the group who all made to hurry forwards with excitement.

When they all reached the end they found themselves on a shelf of rock with a small waterfall pouring over the side, spilling down fresh cold water with a light tinkling sound before dribbling down a set of shallow stairs.

Thorin's eyes widened and his whole body stiffened as he caught sight of what stood before him in the light of the late afternoon sun.

It was a valley, wide but recluse to all save by the path of one bridge that led to the valley's highest shelf of land was a great dwelling comprised of a series of buildings almost like a city, all designed in the same elegant sweeping arches and tall roofs, with vast pockets of green trees and vegetation blossoming all over. And yet throughout all of these designs were vast falls of water as the waterfalls behind the house fell and cascaded beneath the buildings, fuelling the large long river far below them over the edge of the cliff they now stood upon.

"The Valley of Imladris" Gandalf's voice was smug as he took in the dropping jaws of nearly all the companions in the company as they stared at the beautiful sight before them "In the common tongue it is known by another name"

"…Rivendell"

Ariel felt as if she'd stepped into a dream as she looked down the steep pathway down into the Valley of Rivendell.

Beautiful, warm, peaceful…safe…

It was almost exactly like how it had been drawn in the illustrations of the book she had been read to as a child. Only now the light of the early evening and the dropping sun bathed the whole elvish haven in rich golden orange light.

She inhaled deeply smiling softly to herself when the wholesome air filled her nose and lungs invigorating her right down to her very feet as Estel directed his horse down along the long winding path that led down to the long bridge over the river Bruinen.

The waters below roared with life, swift and strong but strangely enough the sound of it was not threatening at all. In fact, it only added to the utopian calmness and picturesqueness of the whole image.

Once or twice Estel had to grab Ariel's waist to stop her leaning too far over the edge and falling off as she admired the view as awe and wonderment overpowered any twinges of pain in her head or side.

Finally, they cantered over the bridge passing by two tall statues of Elven sentinels flanking the entrance to a large circular courtyard, their fair forms garbed in sleek armour and long cloaks with slender spears in their hands and long swords in their belts.

"Stand your ground!" a loud gruff call went up and at once the spell was broken.

Clutching the saddle tight, Ariel held on as Estel drew the horse in behind his company, who seemed to be circling around a group of very short people.

Oh thank heavens they're okay!

She sighed as she caught sight of the Dwarves faces and Bilbo's wide eyes. He was gazing up half torn between bewilderment and amazement as he looked up at the tall proud elves that circled them and their horses who nickered and whinnied a little as they were slowed down to a trot and then a walk.

"Gandalf" Elrond spoke as he rode his horse up close to the Wizard who'd been standing calmly alongside another dark haired elf by a set of stairs.

"Lord Elrond" Gandalf's smile widened as he stepped forwards to meet the elven lord as he dismounted from his steed.

Wow…Now I really am dreaming.

Ariel gaped as she watched the greeting unfold before her, not noticing Estel's arm around her uninjured side tighten ever so slightly.

"[my friend]" Gandalf spoke in his clear but gravely form of elvish as he looked upon Elrond's shining armour. "[Where have you been?]"

"[We have been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the South. We slew a number near the Hidden Pass]" then just as quick as thinking he switched abruptly to English "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something or someone has drawn them near…"

At this Gandalf gave a rather guilty look towards his friend. "Ah yes that may have been us"

Elrond nodded once his face turning slightly grave as he pulled out from a small satchel attached to his horses saddle something long and golden.

Ariel gasped softly as the elven lord lifted his hand in which was clenched one meter long strands of golden grass that gently flowed in the soft winds about them.

"And then there is this. Strange how the grass of the plains could grow so fast and so tall even in the height of summer"

He glanced pointedly at Gandalf who tried to shrug nonchalantly though his eyes were glinting with worry.

"Well… it must be something in the soil…or the rain…"

"Or perhaps there is someone who imbued their magic into it?"

Elrond's keen eyes quickly fell upon Ariel who blushed a deep pink as Gandalf suddenly noticed her, his shoulders slumping as he sighed in relief

"Ariel?! My dear girl thank Eru you're alright."

"Ariel!"

"Lass!"

"Thank Mahal!" Some of the Dwarves all groaned as Ariel gave them a tiny wave of hello only to wince as her side ached again.

"hi guys-argh! Shit that smarts" she murmured under her breath, only for Estel to chuckle in her ear.

For a small looking maiden, she really had a mouth on her.

"So what Galdor said was true. You really do have a new apprentice?" Elrond quirked a brow at the Grey Wizard "When did she arrive?"

"About a month ago" Gandalf smiled glancing at. "The Elves of the havens found her on the beach by the sea and summoned me. Since she is new to this world I have been keeping her by my side as my apprentice"

"I see," Elrond once more turned his gaze upon the girl before him eyeing the bloody graze along the side of her cheek and frowned.

Ariel's flush deepened with embarrassment as his eyes quickly darted down to her right hand which was holding on tight to her left side as her other gripped her staff tightly in front of her like a lifeline.

"Though I think it is rather unfortunate that one so young should have to deal with such fowl creatures as Orcs so soon in life… and with such injuries. Lindir!"

He called back to the dark-haired elf by the steps, who stepped forwards at once.

"Help Estel take Lady Ariel to the healers at once"

"Yes milord" Lindir quickly nodded before striding up towards his new charges.

Quickly with his help, Estel was able to help Ariel clumsily dismount his horse, her legs giving way beneath her as she finally succumbed to her pain and fatigue.

Beside the hobbit, Fili and Kili both balked forwards to help, but Estel was swift to scoop her up in his arms and bear her away towards one of the buildings, following Lindir closely.

Goodness! She really must've been exhausted…

Bilbo bit his lip as he caught sight of her long red-brown hair swishing as her head lolled backwards over the young man's arm, her eyes shut and face peaceful.

As soon as they were out of sight, Elrond turned back to Gandalf with a stern face.

"It seems as though you are fortunate to have found your way here in one piece" he then turned to Thorin who turned from glaring at the point his injured comrade had just disappeared to look up at Elrond with narrowed eyes.

Elrond however did not seem perturbed nor insulted and stepped towards the dwarf with a smile.

"Welcome, Thorin son of Thrain"

"I do not believe we have met" Thorin replied in polite tones laced with distrust and wariness.

"You have your grandfather's bearing." Elrond explained patiently "I knew Thror when he ruled Under the Mountain"

"Indeed? He made no mention of you"

At this Gandalf sighed heavily in exasperation.

But Elrond thankfully was a less petty and more tactful lord than most and he quickly spoke in his own tongue.

However, since none of the dwarves or Bilbo could understand it they were confused.

"What did he say?" Gloin growled angrily "Did he offer us insult?"

"No master Gloin" Gandalf called over the cries of outrage, rolling his eyes "He is offering you food."

At once all the yells stopped to be replaced by quick murmurs and small, slightly embarrassed nods.

"Well…" Gloin finally spoke, his gruff voice softer as he addressed their new host "In that case lead on"

"Another Istari appears and yet it is a time of peace" Elrond's voice was grave as he and Gandalf walked alone through a large courtyard surrounded by green flourishing trees.

"Peace?" Gandalf raised his bushy eyebrows "Trolls wandering far from the Ettenmoors and Orc packs raiding farther east than usual. Not to mention Radagast's warnings of a sickness in the greenwood."

"I will admit these are odd occurrences." Elrond nodded patiently "But they are still very much isolated incidents, and there is no solid proof that any of them are tied together"

"and that's exactly what I first thought" Gandalf frowned as he watched the sunlight sink lower and lower over the horizon. "but now that I have travelled with Ariel I feel as if maybe there might be something else lurking in the background. I may not be able to see it but I get the feeling that she can. Maybe that's why she was sent"

"That girl…" Elrond's face tensed "She has a powerful gift …"

"Indeed" Gandalf nodded quietly "though I fear that it sometimes might be a hard burden to bear."

At this Elrond's mouth twitched upwards in a small knowing smile.

"Every great power is a burden Gandalf. You of all people would know that. The real issue I think is, does she have the strength of will to not let that power consume her"

"I think she does" Gandalf said softly "because she has something worth fighting for."

"And what is that?"

"…Love"

There was a silence as both men, wizard and elf, strode down the length of the long bridge.

When the former spoke, his voice was quiet and measured.

"Your Estel has grown quite into the young man"

"Yes. He has" Elrond clipped "though I am afraid he has grown rather reckless over the past few months"

"He is only eighteen years old" Gandalf chuckled softly "honestly I would be more surprised if he wasn't reckless at this point in his life"

"He could've gotten himself killed today," Elrond snapped "I promised his mother I would keep him safe till the time came for him to know the truth-"

"And so you have, by training him to be a worthy fighter you will have kept him safe for years to come. As well as a great deal many others." Gandalf assured his friend gently "After all, had it not been for his boldness my apprentice might not be here"

"I think you mean, had it not been for his desire to save the maiden and save the day, she might not be here." Elrond raised an eyebrow, as the Wizard frowned warningly at him.

"Now-now Lord Elrond, you know perfectly well the rules of my order-"

"I jest old friend I jest" Elrond smirked "Do not worry. I do not think anything of that nature will come from their meeting. No. My gift of foresight tells me the girl's destiny lies with another, though she will be a great ally to Estel when his time comes to claim his birthright… and his kingdom. Especially considering what she is…"

"Indeed old friend. Indeed…"

When Ariel opened her eyes, it was to see a tall pale ceiling high above her head.

She blinked a couple of times.

Odd…this is not my bedroom…

She turned her head to the side, vaguely noticing that she was lying on a very soft bed and under warm blankets. Opposite her she saw a large window beautifully shaped in a semicircle that looked over a wide view of buildings in the foreground before dropping off to a green valley illuminated by a rising moon in the night sky.

It took her a couple more blinks before suddenly she gasped images flashing over here eyes.

The party at Bilbo's hobbit hole, the traveling on the road, meeting and fighting the trolls, the escape from the orc pack and…and…

"Oh my god!"

She clapped a hand to her forehead as a wide grin spread over her face.

I'm in Rivendell! In bloody, freaking Rivendell!

She laughed quietly to herself as she sat up in the bed and dashed over to the window.

From it she could now see the pavement two stories below her room window which was empty, but had the bright orange, yellow flickering light of a fire streaming onto it from the right.

Hmm…what is that?

She leaned over the edge carefully to see where the light was coming from. But her angle was too high and too far for her to get a peek. She did however hear the familiar sounds of loud laughter and delighted conversations.

"Oy Bombur catch!" a voice called out.

There was a small pause and then suddenly a loud crash, as if something wooden had just been smashed down by something heavy. Roars of laughter echoed about the air, merry and bright and full of life.

Without even pausing to think she dashed away from the window and out of the room door, only double taking to quickly snatch up her staff which was leaning against the wall beside her bed. Her bare feet barely made a noise over the smooth stones beneath them as she descended a long set of stairs, her red brown hair flying out behind her as the cool night air tickled her skin gently.

After a good two minutes, she reached the ground floor and turned right, to see a large archway shaped like two trees with entwining branches.

She walked over quietly her face still set in a smile which widened quickly as she finally reached the threshold and stepped out onto a large wide roofed porch. It was brightly lit by a small fire set in a small stone pit in the middle of several low tables that stood next to richly thick fur pelts. Each were laden with warm and soft silk cushions on which nine dwarves and one hobbit were lounging about calmly whilst Gandalf and Thorin each took a large comfortable wooden chair each. All of them were laughing and chortling at Bombur who was sitting upon a heap of broken wood that had once been a table, a plate full of food in one hand and a small sausage in another, looking stunned at how he got there.

It was he who spotted Ariel in the doorway when she gave a loud snort and with a cry he sprang to his feet…before promptly falling back down on his round behind and bouncing a little.

"Surprise!"

Everyone turned quickly as Ariel stepped onto the balcony her grin wider than a Cheshire cat.

"Miss Ariel!

"You're awake!"

"thank goodness!"

"Woah!" Ariel blushed in embarrassment as she was suddenly swarmed by several short dwarves who were all scrambling to usher her inside.

"Miss Ariel you must be exhausted. Come sit here" Nori said as he tried to lead her towards the left side of the balcony only for Oin to tug on her other hand.

"No sit on this side, its warmer"

"Don't listen to them lass" Bofur shook his head and pointed to the wall opposite the archway "Everyone knows the wall just there is the best spot-"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen give the poor girl a break. She has barely been up for more than two minutes" Gandalf chuckled as he stood up and gently detached Ariel from the several hands. Gently he led her by the shoulder and over to a large pelt on the floor beside his chair where little Bilbo was sitting cross-legged on his own, wrapped up in a warm blue blanket.

She quickly sat down beside him and smiled widely as she pulled on a red blanket to cover herself.

"Hello Bilbo. You're looking well rested"

"I-I am…but…" Bilbo stuttered blushing slightly as he stared down at his toes. "but…I'm just glad to see you're feeling better. You really had us worried"

"Oh don't you worry Mr Baggins." Ariel's eyes twinkled as she playfully nudged his cheek with her knuckle "It will take more than trolls or Orcs to take this girl down"

"That's the spirit lass" Dwalin chuckled along with the others.

But then Ariel gave a small grimace as she rubbed her side.

"Though I wish I could say the same for my ribs"

"Still hurting you lass?" Bofur asked sympathetically.

"just a tiny twinge here and there. Not nearly as much as when we first came here" Ariel grunted as she made to position herself to lean comfortably on a couple of cushions. "Whatever those healers did it really helped a lot"

"Well my dear, Elvish medicine is some of the best to be found in Middle Earth" Gandalf smiled as he leant back in his chair "especially when it is practiced by the high elves of Imladris. It was fortunate that we were able to get you help in time before you were damaged beyond repair"

"Indeed…" Ariel nodded as she leaned in on her hand propped up by an elbow. "though my legs still feel like jelly after that run"

"Same here lass" Balin nodded with a sigh "also that chase has left my boots completely worn out on the soles"

"Aye mine too" Nori nodded "and my knees"

"Wish I could say the same went for everyone else" Gloin muttered as at that precise moment two figures made to come up the balcony steps.

It was Fili and Kili and they were looking flushed as they jogged up towards the company dressed only in their pants and their cotton tunics of red and blue which were drenched in sweat.

"Told you I'd win that round" Kili puffed.

"You scoundrel you didn't win" Fili glowered at his brother "You started before I could even say go"

"Oh-ho!" Kili laughed "And who was it that tried to push me out of the way before that turn"

"Only because you pushed me first"

"When?"

"At the start"

"No I didn't!"

"Oh yes you did you big fat cheater"

"Cheater? I didn't cheat"

"Did too and you know it!"

"Did not"

"Did too"

"Did not"

"Did too"

"Did-"

"Fili! Kili enough. You both are in the same spot now so give it a rest" Thorin called out before the argument could escalate further. However when Ariel looked back she saw that even though his eyebrows were raised, his eyes were twinkling with fondness.

"You still cheated" Kili muttered under his breath but Thorin cleared his throat loudly and he and his brother both skulked off to join Bilbo.

When they caught sight of Ariel their faces split into wide smiles of surprise and delight.

"Ariel! You're awake?"

"When did you get up?" they laughed as they quickly made to sit beside her and Bilbo.

"Only five minutes ago" Ariel shrugged before asking "You two look like you've been having fun."

"They've been racing non-stop" Bilbo smirked from the sides. "all evening, up and down, up and down"

"Wow and after all that running we did earlier today too? What food have you been eating here?" Ariel sighed.

All of the talking and smiles around her faltered at once.

"What?" Ariel blinked.

"Ariel…" Gandalf spoke slowly and cautiously "How long do you think you've been asleep."

"Err…only a few hours. What is it now one o clock?" she shrugged.

Thorin sighed and leant forwards in his chair.

"Actually, it's only ten in the evening…and it's been two days since we came to Rivendell"

"Two days!" Ariel's eyes bulged wide.

"Yeah" Bofur nodded "You were out like a light after all that mayhem"

"And it took the elves almost an entire day to fix up your ribs and that head injury" Oin added. "In addition to your broken ribs, you had a severe concussion on the back of your head."

"Only it was hidden because of your hair" Gandalf pointed out with his staff "it was only found when the elf maids tried to wash out your hair and found blood in the water"

"Really?" Ariel's eyes widened as she ran her hand over the back of her head where sure enough a tiny lump was raised just behind her ear. "Wow… I didn't even notice"

"You were in pain already and in shock" Dwalin coughed gruffly. "Not to mention busy trying to outrun an orc pack."

"we didn't know whether you were alright till this early afternoon when that human boy came to tell us." Fili mumbled sounding slightly put out "and even then Gandalf and Lord Elrond wouldn't allow us to see you, until you yourself would awake"

"Well I'm awake now" Ariel nodded leaning back once more to rest on a cushion. "and you can all see that I'm fine. Bit battered like a fish but fine."

Though for how long will I remain fine is the even bigger question. After all…there is a dragon on the other end of our road…

They spent many hours talking late into the night. Drinking, sharing stories, mainly about the travels the older dwarfs had been on, many of them bickering over the smaller details like who won that drinking game or who won a bet.

Ariel often found herself laughing till her stomach was sore, that was until Dwalin began to recount a story about winning the nightly affections of a female barmaid.

"And so I said to her 'lass why don't you and I'-"

"Ahem Dwalin I don't think that subject matter would be very fitting to speak of in front of our younger friends" Gandalf steamrolled over the dwarf loudly giving a pointed look to Ariel who rolled her eyes.

"Gandalf I may be young but I'm not naive."

"Oh really?" Thorin snorted from his seat "Then how old are you?"

"Seventeen, going on eighteen" Ariel shrugged and Bilbo spluttered on his drink beside her, as did many other dwarves.

"Seventeen!" Fili finally choked looking with bewilderment at the girl beside him with wide eyes.

"Uh yeah" Ariel frowned confused by the shocked reactions. "Why how old are you?"

At this Kili's grin widened proudly, like a child

"I'm seventy-seven and Fili is eighty-two"

Ariel bit her lip as she made to calculate using her fingers

"hmm…right…seventy-seven and eighty-two by dwarf standards would equate to um…if the humans average life span is seventy…divide by …and then multiply…so…so if you two were humans you would be roughly in your mid to early twenties?"

There was a small silence as the dwarves stared at her.

Ariel pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

"Wait don't tell me. Not many women in this land are learned in basic mathematics, are they?"

"Not unless they born into a higher caste " Balin exchanged a glance with Dwalin who just shrugged and shook his head.

Bilbo however tilted his head curiously as he took a sip of his mead beside him.

"Do many of the women of your home receive an education?"

"Yeah most do." Ariel gulped suddenly feeling awkward "I mean I attended school since I was six and have been doing so for the past twelve to thirteen years or so-"

"Twelve to thirteen years?!" Dori's eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets as were Bifur's who made to speak in rapid Khazdul.

"He's asking how girls in your world can afford to study whilst helping to keeping the home, and preparing to be courted and such" Bofur translated quickly though he gulped in trepidation of Ariel's answer.

But like before she only shrugged nonchalantly.

"We manage. I mean I can't speak for all the other girls my age but back home I coped with help my mom with her flower shop after school, and then help her cook dinner and clean my room-"

"And courting?" Kili asked slyly.

"Pff! Me courting? Do I honestly look like the kind of girl that would get courted by any guy?" Ariel rolled her eyes again and shook her head.

"Uh…Yes?" Nori glanced sidelong at his brothers and companions who all now eyed the girl before them who now looked rather baffled.

"Huh Really?"

"…Yes…"

Ariel now felt rather disconcerted as odd looks were thrown around the balcony amongst all the male population.

Eventually it was Bilbo who had the nerves to ask the next question that was obviously on everyone's mind.

"So…you've never been courted by anyone?"

"No…" Ariel gulped suddenly finding the ends of her blanket about her very interesting "I haven't…and besides…It's not like I'm attractive anyway"

Again there was another awkward silence.

"What I'm not just look at me!" Ariel snapped as she felt her temple throb with irritation. "I'm short for my age. I got a weird skin and hair colour, and I'm still waiting for certain normal body parts to arrive! Let me tell you puberty ain't fun when you're as flat as an ironing board and the other girls have jugs the size of…jugs!"

Suddenly everyone burst out laughing. Even Thorin and Gandalf were chuckling with amusement. But Dwalin was laughing hardest of all.

" HA! 'Jugs the size of jugs' HA-HA-HA-HA!"

"That cannot be true" Kili chortled and before Ariel could even respond he tugged her blanket away from her.

Ariel squeaked leaning back almost on top of Bilbo her hands flying up to her low neckline as the young dwarf looked down the front of her nightgown with a sly little 'innocent' pout.

"Hmm…not bad. A little small but nice shape, but I can't really tell much. I bet that human lad could tell us a bit more, considering how close he was to you-"

"KILI!" Fili shouted his blue eyes flashing however before he could even move Thorin stepped up behind him and grabbed deftly at Kili's ear and dragged him up to stand.

"OW! Uncle I was just teasing-I wasn't-OWW! Fee save me!"

"No Kee, you made your bed now you lie in it" Fili smirked smugly folding his arms as his brother yelled loudly.

"TRAITOR!"

Everyone guffawed as Thorin shook his head with exasperation and made to drag young yelping dwarf back into the privacy of the building.

"Hey where are you going?" Oin cried out having only half heard what was going on through his ear trumpet.

"To clean my nephew's mouth out with soap." Thorin snapped, turning to his nephew and hissing "Never in all my years-Since when did I or your mother ever teach you to talk to a lady like that?!"

Ariel gulped as she caught sight of the stormy expression on his face though she was quickly distracted by Bofur crying out:

"Oy Bilbo lad why don't you sing us that song you sang at the baths"

"What you want a bath song here?" Bilbo looked about nervously but even so he grinned.

"Yes you woolly footed bundle of song"

"Woolly footed?" Bilbo hiccupped with mock outrage "I'll show you woolly footed"

Ariel giggled with amusement as she faintly caught a whiff of the smell of alcohol from the hobbit's mouth as he sprang to his feet and darted up to where Bofur had erected a makeshift stage made from several of the low tables about them.

Drunk Bilbo Baggins now this should be very interesting!

But even as Bilbo stepped up his mouth opened wide and he began to sing in a surprisingly loud clear voice.

Sing hey! for the bath at close of day

that washes the weary mud away!

A loon is he that will not sing:

O! Water Hot is a noble thing!

O! Sweet is the sound of falling rain,

and the brook that leaps from hill to plain;

but better than rain or rippling streams

is Water Hot that smokes and steams.

O! Water cold we may pour at need

down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed;

but better is Beer if drink we lack,

and Water Hot poured down the back.

O! Water is fair that leaps on high

in a fountain white beneath the sky;

but never did fountain sound so sweet

as splashing Hot Water with my feet!

He was a surprisingly good singer and all his songs were happy and merry, like the one he sung now, his feet skipping along in a well-practiced, well known jig that was until the last word when he finished with a big stomp so hard that he tripped backwards into the dwarves behind him.

Ariel laughed loudly just as something warm wrapped about her shoulders. She turned to see Fili pulling away from her to settle her blanket about her shoulders.

"Thanks" she smiled gratefully.

"I'm sorry about my brother" he murmured as he caught her eye "he didn't mean to be so offensive he's just gets a bit careless when he's had a couple of drinks"

"He wasn't…offensive" Ariel bit her lip nervously "I was just…surprised that's all. I just hope Thorin doesn't grill him too badly"

"He'll be fine" Fili shook his head with an amused sigh. "Trust me, I've seen our uncle get mad and this is barely scraping slight irritation for him"

"Slight irritation are you serious?" Ariel quirked a brow and Fili chuckled his blue eyes twinkling.

"What can I say, he's a grumpy old dwarf"

"ha! Don't let him hear you say that or you'll be the next one being dragged out by your ear" Ariel giggled.

"Not yet I won't. Unlike my brother I know how to keep my mischief a secret" Fili smirked with a wink and Ariel giggled harder throwing her head back only to suddenly feel the world spin about her horribly as her head twinged.

"Whoa! Spinning! My world's spinning" she grunted as Fili grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

"This is why you should rest when you have concussion." the blonde dwarf tutted with a small frown as he slowly made to lean her back gently onto the pelt so that she reclined comfortably.

"Here just lie down for a while"

As he carefully took her head and deposited it to rest on a couple of the cushions.

"So, you and the human boy?" he smirked and Ariel scowled.

"Oh, for crying out loud I barely know the guy!"

"Really? You two were sitting quite close on that horse-" Dwalin grunted from his seat.

"Only because I nearly fell off it a couple of times" Ariel groaned, cursing her now blushing cheeks as Nori sniggered.

"Oh aye. Are you sure that was the only reason lass?"

"Yes, from what we saw of him he's quite a strapping young lad." Bofur raised his tankard of drink to his lips "what with that rugged handsome face, and those grey eyes."

"Well if you like the look of him so much why don't you go and court him?" Ariel snapped, cheeks flushing beetroot red as the other dwarves chuckled.

"Uh…because we don't swing that way lass-" Balin smirked into his tankard

"In what way? Towards humans or towards men?" Ariel snorted and was rewarded with a hearty guffaw.

"HA! Good one lass." Fili chuckled, and despite herself Ariel felt herself smile that was until Gloin gave her a cheeky wink.

"Don't worry lass, I'm sure he doesn't like us dwarves. Though he certainly had his eyes on you quite a fair bit-"

"Stupid old dwarves" Ariel groaned as she all but melted back into the pillows, cheeks aflame.

Gandalf chuckled softly from his seat, though if one were to look closer they'd see the slight anxious glint in his eyes as he beheld his apprentice.

Ariel Brooks may have been just a girl, but deep down he could sense so much potential for greatness. Yes…she would be a great woman in the future and a formidable sorceress…

Just as Estel would be a powerful king…

Nuldien just what are you planning?

Chapter Text

Darkness-

"Ariel get up it's time for breakfast"

She was floating in darkness-

"Come on Airy. It'll be fun. An adventure. We'll have a blast"

It was not a comfortable darkness of sleep-

"That's right boy, behold my power for it will be the last thing you ever see!"

It was the cold empty void of oblivion-

"Tell me Ariel…what do you know of Hobbits?"

And she was falling into it… No…she was drowning in it-

"Warg scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind"

She could barely breath, could barely feel…but she could hear-

"A servant of a very dark power"

A deep hissing voice whispering all around her-

"Ash nazg durbtaluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ish krimpatul!"

As a great red eye suddenly burst before her vision-

"Ariel the Green your power shall be mine!"

-and engulfed her all in flames…

"NOO!"

Ariel's eyes snapped open as she gasped.

Oh my god what the hell was that?!

She gulped down breaths as she sat up, her vision clearing so that she could finally see the dim grey light stream onto her bed. She was completely alone, the light outside her window grey with a hint of pink and gold as the sun started to peek over the horizon.

Just a dream…

She sighed as she ran her hand over her brow, instantly soaking her white nightgown's sleeve with sweat.

I'm still safe here in Rivendell…

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and grunted as her arms and legs creaked from being stiff for so long.

She shivered as she picked up her staff that was leaning on the wall beside her bed, a cold chill spreading over her. She wasn't quite sure where it had come from, for it was the height of summer and the nights weren't that cold. All she knew was that she could feel the eyes of something on her from the shadow in the corners of her room.

Or was it her mind?

She shook out her head as she reached over to take a dress that had been laid out for her on a nearby chair. It was a dress like the elf maidens wore, though while theirs were usually in soft light shades or deep shades of the twilight or night, hers was a deep rich green.

She felt remarkably out of place wearing the garment, it seemed far too luxurious for her taste. And yet it would be extremely rude not to accept it or to complain.

Maybe I should go down for breakfast-no wait! It's the crack of dawn. Nobody would be up by now…

She mused as she began braiding back the russet locks at the front. As she did she looked into a nearby mirror and scowled.

Her eyes were looking exceptionally green today, with only a hint of brown on the outside. She could only suppose it must have been because of her new outdoor lifestyle. Her eyes always did look greener whenever she used to go camping with her father in the woods close to her house, only to turn browner the closer she got to home. She couldn't really explain it, and usually she didn't really care, for no one really did notice the difference unless they were to look at her face closely.

Now however the difference was startling.

I'm being ridiculous

She looked outside her window to see the sky outside brighten as the first rays of the dawn crept over the horizon before her.

A friendly cool breeze whipped at her cheek, making her hair flow softly behind her as she stood up.

Hmm…that feels nice.

She smiled as she walked over to stand at the window. The sunrise was warm and inviting, quickly banishing the cold bite of the early hours of the morning and giving way to what was surely going to be a wonderful summer day.

What she didn't notice were a pair of eyes watching her closely from the ground below.

By the time Ariel had gotten dressed and had walked down the stairs the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf were well tucking into breakfast that had been served in a dining room on the ground floor.

Their conversation hushed as she slid through the doorway, their eyes bulging a little as they beheld her new flowing dress.

"Good Morning…" she mumbled, cheeks flushing deeply, doing everything she could to avoid Thorin, who seemed to be staring at her far more intensely than usual as he grunted:

"Lady Ariel. How kind of you to finally grace us with your presence. Ugh! Balin-" he growled as Balin retracted his elbow from his side and smiled pointedly at the lass.

"Good Morning my dear. How are you feeling? Still woozy from last night?"

"Nope, all the cobwebs are cleared." Ariel forced a smile on her face. Never had she felt more tempted to just point her staff at the Dwarf King's face and stuff his face full of green magical vines.

"Very, good. Very good. Ah Good morning Lindir-" Gandalf up from a spot at the head of the table as his apprentice walked in followed by Lindir who had just come in from the front door.

"Master Gandalf, My Lady" the elf bowed courteously as he came level with Ariel who curtsied back, watching with intrigue as he made to address Gandalf once more "Forgive my abruptness, master but may I have a word in private?"

"Of course. Ariel why don't you take a seat-oh it seems Kili has already given you his" eyebrows rose half in astonishment half in amusement as Ariel was quickly sat down in the chair of said dwarf, blushing and stuttering in confusion.

"No really Kili it's fine-I just-"

But already Kili had sat himself down at the end of the table closest to the door smirking under his breath softly that made Balin next to him quirk an eyebrow at him curiously.

Uh…what just happened?

Ariel blinked like a deer in the headlights at the exchange only for Thorin to roll his eyes and grumble gruffly from directly opposite her.

"Just eat quickly. You're still recovering. You'll need your strength"

Ariel however didn't have time to give him the usual glare ore snide remark as her stomach gave a loud roar at the sight of the food between her and Thorin.

She felt her face flush even darker as the dwarves chuckled fondly. Even Bilbo who sat at her side was smiling as he passed her a bowl of salad.

"you know you really should get what you can quick. Bombur's already finished off one platter of boiled eggs"

"Why am I not surprised?" Ariel sighed heavily as she turned to look at the phenomenally fat dwarf who was sitting opposite to where a still very much quiet Fili was and scarfing down everything in reach.

"You know he broke a table last night" Bilbo shrugged beside her.

"Yes…I heard him…but I honestly don't know whether I should be terrified of that or not"

"Terrified. Definitely be terrified"

She quickly turned back to him and when their eyes met they both could not contain the tiny snorts or smiles as they restrained themselves from laughing out loud.

"What's up with you two?" Ori asked from down the table as he caught sight of the girl and the hobbit both begin to shake hard as small sniggers escaped them.

"Nothing- nothing" Ariel hiccupped as Bilbo did his best to cough down his chortles in gentlemanly fashion.

"No we're just um, just trying to um…it's just that it's the first time I'm actually as tall as a human…person…" he exchanged a small smirk at Ariel who cottoned onto his small fib and began to measure out the top of his head in comparison to hers.

Indeed, at this table they were actually both level since Bilbo was sitting on a chair propped up on several cushions so that he could reach the countertop.

"Aye and it'll probably be the only time you ever are lad" Dwalin smirked as he took a sip from his goblet of juice, much to the amusement of everyone save Gandalf who chose at this moment to return to the room alone.

Ariel looked up and saw that his face was calm though slightly tense about the jaw, especially when he caught her gaze.

Huh…what the hell was that about?

She quickly coughed and gave her best smile.

"So, Gandalf what happened?"

"Oh nothing really as of yet" Gandalf smiled back quickly as he made his way back to his old seat. "Lord Elrond was just inviting us to join him for dinner tonight to celebrate the Eve of Midsummer and I have agreed on the company's behalf."

"You agreed?" Thorin growled only for Ariel's face to turn incensed much to the exasperated sighs of the company.

"Well we are his guests and he has helped us already a fair bit. It would be rude to refuse."

"I wasn't asking for your opinion girl" the Dwarf Prince snapped his dark eyes glowering at her.

"Oh, please like you ever think anyone else's opinion matters besides your own" Ariel rolled her eyes and leaned back folding her arms.

"Oh, but I do value other opinions." Thorin's eyes narrowed "It's your opinions I'm not interested in. You are a child with hardly any experience in the world to speak of and thus have no reason to be giving your two cents worth when it comes to the leadership of this company. You do not belong here, you never have."

"You think I don't know that" Ariel snarled. "You think I don't know I stick out like a sore thumb everywhere I go? Believe me I want nothing more than to go back home"

"Then go" Thorin sneered again "Go back home I'm not stopping you"

"I can't" Ariel growled shutting her eyes and willing herself not to crack.

"And why not? You are barely of use here. I do not see why you must continue to burden Gandalf with your training and secrets. Go run back home to your mother's lap"

"Thorin!" Gandalf barked angrily but it was too late. Ariel had stood to her feet and was looking quietly down at the dwarf in question her face tense.

"Sometimes I wonder who the more despicable creature is-" she murmured through gritted teeth light brown eyes overbright and wet "-you or that dragon."

And before anyone could say another word she threw her glass of juice in Thorin's face.

There were great cries of surprise, and even one loud "HA!" of laughter from Kili which was quickly stifled by his brother literally slapping a hand over his mouth as Ariel stormed back out towards the door.

"How-HOW DARE YOU-Blasted girl get back here!" Thorin spluttered angrily only to stare in shock as she held up a very rude finger to him and yelled:

"Bite me asshole!"

There was a very stunned silence as the door slammed shut behind her back.

"Wow…For an innocent maiden she sure knows her swears" Nori muttered under his breath only to be silenced as a loud sob echoed in the passageway outside only to quickly fade with a pair of frantic footsteps.

"Aye…now she's really upset this time" Bofur sighed as Kili looked up at the others, his humour quickly turning to worry.

"You think we should go after her?"

"Not now" Balin put a hand up to stop them from getting up. "She needs a bit of space to vent. If she doesn't come around in an hour or so then we'll seek her out"

But while the dwarf's faces were on the door, Bilbo's was set on Thorin's face. The girl had barely gotten up from resting and already the Dwarf was giving her trouble. The hobbit had been about to open his mouth to give the dwarf prince a piece of his mind Took style when he caught sight of the grim and stricken expression.

Indeed even as he made to sit down, Bilbo thought he saw a hint of regret and guilt glimmer in those deep blue eyes though it was quick to be masked over as he caught his eye.

Thorin mumbled something darkly under his breath before pushing away his half full plate and quietly leaving the room.

He had barely travelled a few meters away from the door when someone called out from behind him.

"Uncle wait"

Thorin turned around and saw Fili standing behind him his face tense. The young dwarf's blue eyes so much like his uncles were flashing rather fiercely as he made to speak once more.

"You shouldn't have said that to her!"

"I only said the truth." Thorin snapped with a glower. "And often the truth hurts."

"No! What you said was not the truth" Fili glared hard at Thorin "It was a harsh and heartless lie and you know it"

"Are you accusing me of being a liar?" Thorin growled but Fili did not back down.

"No. But it doesn't stop what you said from being untrue. She does belong her just as much as any of us and her opinion does matter. She's Gandalf's apprentice for crying out loud-"

"Did you not hear what Gandalf told Lord Elrond." Thorin hissed "She came from across the sea from lands we don't even know of. And her powers…that witchcraft she does with those plants and pulling the wool over all your eyes-You can say what you like Fili but nothing will change the fact that she's a witch who doesn't belong here."

"You're wrong" Fili cried out angrily "Ariel is not a witch. She's a good person who just so happens to be able to do magic. She's brave, warm and bright. We all accept her and want her to be here, the whole company, Kili too. The only one who has a problem here is you, and that's because you refuse to let go of your pride-"

"Don't you dare take that tone with me boy" Thorin's hands clenched by his sides as he made to pull himself up to his fullest height "you may be of age but I will not hesitate to discipline you or your brother as I see fit if you keep up this behaviour"

"Then go ahead" Fili snapped also drawing himself up so that he made to stand toe to toe with his uncle. "Discipline me however you want. Discipline Kili, he'll not waver either. Nothing will change the fact that Ariel was right. You are being as cruel as the dragon."

"Where are you going?" Thorin hissed angrily but Fili was already stepping away from him still glaring.

"To finish breakfast. And then find Ariel, that's if you haven't finally turned her away for good"

"Fili" Thorin called but already the younger dwarf was striding down the corridor and out of sight.

When he was sure he was alone the dwarf prince sighed heavily through grit teeth.

Now his company and his nephews are turning on him? Oh, how Thorin Oakenshield rued the day he first laid eyes on that pretty girl's face!

It was midday, the sun had risen high now over Rivendell, and Ariel's tears had mostly dried up. Though she still felt rather hollow inside.

Of all the things, you have said Oakenshield, this has by far has been the worst.

She sighed heavily as she entered a building to her right. She'd been trying to avoid walking into anyone, especially the dwarves.

She was fond of them and they of her but she did not think that letting them comfort her would be a good idea, especially since it would only widen the rift between Thorin and herself. He was paranoid enough as it stood and if he thought she was trying to win the trust of his people over him, then she wouldn't put it past him to do away with her somehow.

She was even hiding from Gandalf, though how she managed that she had no idea.

He's probably giving me space to clear my head.

She reasoned dully. Yes, that seemed a very Gandalf thing to do. The man, though he looked old, was a remarkably good at tracking people down when he wanted to. The fact that she hadn't been found only meant he was letting her stay hidden, or else he'd be dragging her back to her room to rest.

Oh well…at least I'm getting a chance to sightsee on my own in peace and quiet.

Ariel mused as she looked around the room she'd just entered. She seemed to have entered a museum of some kind. There were murals all over the walls, statues on pedestals and some artefacts mounted on plinths draped with fine cloths.

Many of them were swords and horns and other such devices of war but even as she looked she saw a small harp upon a cushion and a miniature in gold of a tall-ship sailing aboard the high seas.

After gazing at the small recreation for a few minutes Ariel found her way towards the foot of a tall set of stairs.

She paused as her staff accidently struck the cool stone slabs beneath her feet with a loud clack, the sound echoing ominously about her.

No one seems to be here…

She gulped with a small bite of her lip as she looked behind her quickly before looking up the steps which seemed to go up onto a second floor of some kind.

Raising her staff off the ground in one hand and picking up the hem of her green dress she quietly ascended the stairs

She didn't understand why but her feet no longer seemed to be under her own command as they moved, almost spellbound by the path where she walked.

Eventually she reached the top step and looked about her.

She was standing at the entrance to a terrace which had a statue on one side and a painting on the other before leading onto another corridor that delved further into the building.

Hmm…I wonder what this is?

She tilted her head as she turned to admire the statue, which was carved all in white, in the shape of a tall beautiful woman in flowing robes holding a large elliptical dish in her hands.

Ariel wondered if there was water, or glass that had been made to look like water within it for she could see the light as something reflected in the lowest dip of the dish.

But even as she made to come up close to look down into the basin she gasped softly.

There glimmering in the light of the morning sunbeams that fell over the statues shoulders, were the broken shards…the broken shards of a silver sword.

"Wow" she breathed as she ran a timid finger over the hilt.

So…this is the blade…the blade that cut the ring from-

But then she blinked as she caught sight of something dark reflected in the metallic surface of one of the sharp blade shards.

Ariel quickly turned around only to find herself now facing the painting. Though that did little to improve her mood.

In the left of the image a man in gleaming armour was sitting up on the bloodstained, corpse filled ground in fear, holding up the hilt of a broken sword, the blade of which glowed white hot so that it seemed to illuminate the attacking force. Ariel shuddered as her eyes wandered to the right only to see a shadowy figure, garbed in dark sharp armour towering over the man beneath with such malevolence that his presence almost seemed to fill the entire space of the painting.

However, her eyes were drawn not to the black helmet over his face, but rather to the dark hand that held his dark weapon to strike. Upon the index finger, painted in thin but sharp and bold strokes was a band of bright blazing gold.

She flinched as an image of a fiery red eye flashed over her own vision for a moment.

Just a dream. Nothing but a dream.

"My Lady?"

Ariel squeaked and spun around.

There behind her in dark blue tunic and pants was a young man with shoulder length dark hair and light grey eyes.

Light grey eyes…

"Oh…hi…again" she gulped, masking her fear with a small nervous smile "Estel wasn't it?"

"Yes my lady. I'm surprised you remember my name. You were quite disoriented last we met." the young man, Estel, smiled cheeks slightly pink

"Yeah…uh…well, nearly being crushed by a giant wolf would do that to you"

Smooth Ariel. Real smooth.

Ariel mentally punched herself as her fellow youth chuckled uncertainly along with her.

"I'm relieved to see you're doing much better. I take it Lord Elrond's healers have done their jobs well?"

"Yes very, though…" and at this Ariel felt her cheeks positively burn like fire "though if it weren't for you saving my life I'd probably be dead so…uh…thank you. I really owe you one"

"The…the pleasure was all mine." Estel coughed "So my lady-"

"Ariel" Ariel cut across him quickly "My name is Ariel. I know you're trying to be polite but you don't have to call me my lady. Trust me I'm far from one" She added giggling nervously.

"Somehow I doubt that" Estel smirked and was pleased when she flushed even more pink "So, Lady Ariel, what brings you here on such a fine day. I'd have thought you'd still be resting."

"I was" Ariel snorted remembering the morning's drama "but then I thought I'd take a walk and clear my head. My morning's been pretty hectic-"

"I can imagine" Estel blurted out only to curse himself softly "forgive me, that was out of line-"

"You heard my argument with Thorin huh?" Ariel sighed heavily.

"Nay lady. I ran into your master Gandalf about an hour ago" Estel admitted sheepishly. "He asked me to keep an eye out for you if I should pass you by. He was quite worried for you-"

"Well congratulations you found me!" Ariel murmured with a small grimace.

"I take it you weren't planning on being found?" Estel's eyebrows rose as the girl before him rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Gee, what gave me away?"

"Oh, I don't know, your overwhelming enthusiasm I suppose?"

Both youths narrowed their eyes at each other, only to start chuckling as soon as they met each other's gazes.

"I'm sorry" Ariel tucked her hair behind her ear shyly. "I guess I'm still a bit peeved"

"It's understandable." Estel assured her gently "After what I've seen of your company, Thorin Oakenshield seems to be a rather difficult person to approach"

"Understatement of the century" Ariel muttered under her breath, only to quickly cough as she turned towards the broken sword in the stone statue.

"This sword…"

"Tis the shards of Narsil," Estel puffed up proudly as he reached out to grab the great hilt. "The blade that cut the hand of Sauron-"

"And the One Ring" Ariel breathed, a shiver flying up and down her spine as the blade gleamed in the afternoon light.

"Yes…" Estel murmured carefully quickly placing the hilt back in its proper place before turning her to face the large painting again.

"I take it you know of the War of the Last Alliance?"

"Only the basics" Ariel sighed softly pointing to a figure of a man laying on the ground with a shattered sword raised up high in defence against a dark shadowy figure. "That's him. Isildur, right?"

"Yes. Isildur son of Elendil the tall, brother of Anarion. King of Gondor. It was his mighty arm that hewed down the enemy. I heard the tale many a time from Lord Elrond as a boy."

"You grew up here in Rivendell?" Ariel quirked a curious brow and Estel nodded

"Yes. I was very fortunate. My mother and father died when I was but a small child. Lord Elrond took me in, raised me, fed me, clothed me, trained me as if I were one of his own sons, of which he has two. The twins Elladan and Elrohir. My brothers in all but blood. And his daughter Arwen. I have never met her myself for she has been living with her Grandmother in Lothlorien for the past few decades. But I have heard from her brothers she is very beautiful and very much missed here at home-"

I bet she is!

Ariel smirked slightly, though she couldn't help but feel a little dismayed. She'd always wanted to meet Arwen, the daughter of Elrond, queen to Aragorn the would-be-King of Gondor. And Galadriel…

For some reason Ariel felt both excited and terrified at the prospect of ever meeting the Lady of the Golden Wood. In the books, she was always described as mysterious, wise and powerful, and that uncanny ability to see into the hearts and minds of those she beheld…it was almost enough to give Ariel goose bumps there and then.

She was glad when Estel held out his arm for her to take and suggested he show her the gardens outside.

They were beautiful and in full bloom, much to her delight. The fragrances of the flowers and various trees filled the air with a sweet wholesome scent, that made both young humans smile as they walked and talked arm in arm down a beautifully crafted stone path…unaware that several pairs of eyes were watching them very closely.

"I see my ward has found your apprentice." Elrond smirked enjoying the way the old Wizard bristled uncomfortably.

"Yes, he has accomplished his task very well I must say" Gandalf snorted gruffly, eyes narrowing upon the young man as the pair of young adults passed right under their tall balcony.

"They only walk and talk. I daresay lady Ariel has missed the company of other humans her age while travelling." Elrond murmured, frowning softly as he watched said apprentice suddenly detach herself from Estel to walk backwards in front of him with a wide smile.

With her bright eyes, her light steps making her green dress swish and her warm smile, the Elven lord was not surprised to see that his ward was having a hard time keeping up his gentlemanly façade.

He only supposed he should've expected it after all Estel was the only young human in Rivendell.

All the women he'd come into contact here had been fully grown elleth who had known him since his infancy and helped in his rearing. Nearly all of them were a few centuries old. The only time he'd seen other young humans his own age was when he was passing through small villages or towns like Bree on the rare occasions their hunting parties came close to the town, and even then, he never really got the chance to meet with them.

"I daresay Estel also feels the need for companionship" Gandalf conceded with a small roll of his eyes "Though why he had to pick my apprentice-"

"I daresay the answer will present itself in due time" Elrond muttered, his eyes now narrowing on the girl's head of russet red hair. "I take it she does not know?"

"To be frank, I'm not sure if I quite understand it myself" Gandalf admitted quietly, following his friend's gaze as he watched the two youths start to laugh loudly "Nuldien has kept a great deal many secrets before. But this seems to be unbelievable even for her. Even Radagast could see the connection on first sight!"

"Gandalf, even a blind begger could see the connection from a mile off, and if what you say about her history so far is indeed true, then perhaps it was for that very reason her existence was kept a secret. But that's not the problem here" Elrond sighed heavily "The point is why would Nuldien send the child here in the first place? Why not come herself and explain everything to us? Why send the girl in her stead?"

"Believe me Elrond if I knew the reason I would give it, but I do not!" Gandalf huffed grumpily as he leaned on his staff "All I know is, is that this girl is the key to something bigger. And that if we are to have any hope for the future, I must keep her safe until it's her time-"

"Her time for what?"

"I have no idea…" the wizard muttered falling to silence as he and the elven lord both watched the young humans now laughing loudly at each other's jokes.

They were both so young, so far removed from the troubles of the world.

If only peaceful moments like this could last a little longer…

Gandalf sighed softly to himself.

If only…

"I believe this is where I am leave you" Estel smirked as he led his lightly blushing companion back towards a set of steps.

They were in front of the houses accommodating the dwarves company. Above them the sun hung low as late afternoon dragged on, bathing both young humans in a rich golden light.

"Thank you for showing me the gardens" Ariel smiled at the young man. "They were so beautiful. It really helped after all the fuss this morning"

Now it was Estel's turn to blush a little.

"The pleasure was all mine Lady Ariel. Truth be told it was wonderful talking with you. I do look forward to our next conversation at dinner tonight."

"Tonight?" Ariel blinked then suddenly relaxed "Oh, right. The dinner with Lord Elrond, I almost forgot."

"So did I" Estel admitted taking a step back, but not before taking her hand in his and lowering his face to it in gentlemanly fashion.

"Till tonight then my good Lady."

"Yes…till tonight" Ariel gulped, mentally fanning herself as she watched the tall youth before her step back respectfully, smiling as she nervously stepped back and slipped backwards through the door to the house.

Once it was shut, Ariel slumped back against the wood, a strange strangled giggle of nervous excitement escaping her red blushing and very wide grinning face.

She was quick to cover it up however, as a familiar voice suddenly called out:

"Hello? Who's-AH! Lass there yer are!"

It was Bofur followed by most of the company who welcomed her warmly with a chorus of relieved shouts and exclamations.

She did her best to keep a smile on her face as she greeted the dwarves one by one, assuring them each that she was alright and was feeling better, though she felt her facade crack slightly when she made to go back up the stairs.

Back under the same roof as King Jerkface again…I guess escape really is futile huh?

She grunted, the euphoria from her lovely afternoon starting to seep away.

She heard the soft padding of large feet running up along the corridor.

"Miss Ariel"

"Bilbo?" She quickly turned and saw the hobbit as he came to stop before her panting a little out of breathlessness.

He tried his best to straighten up and coughed a little as he spoke.

"Listen um...I'm not really sure where to begin but…but I just thought you should know that I'm really glad you're also here on this…uh…adventure and…and I understand what you mean when you said that you miss your family…I also…miss my home a lot and I was just going to say that…if you need someone to talk to I'm-"

But he never finished his sentence, for Ariel had knelt and scooped him up into a tight hug.

"Thank you" she mumbled.

Bilbo blinked in absolute astonishment, though it was quick to turn into a small smile as he reached up and patted her back gently.

After a few moments, they both quietly detached not noticing the dark shadow of Thorin Oakenshield at the end of the corridor quickly stride out of sight his face grim and dark.

Well she's certainly worming her way through all of them…and that human boy. How old is he anyway? He can't be more than a year or two older than her at most…still a child…

He thought bitterly as he did his best to walk in the shadows, only to be stopped by Balin who chose at that moment to cross paths.

"Oh Thorin, have you heard? Ariel's come back."

"So I see…" Thorin rolled his eyes "and it appears she has made a new friend"

"ah, the young man you mean?" Balin smirked knowingly "Well, yer can't blame her can ye? After all he is quite a strapping young lad-"

He stopped as the Dwarf King snorted:

"You mean the young fool? The one whom she's cast another spell over?" He snapped as the older dwarf fixed him with a disapproving glower.

"Thorin, come now lad enough is enough. The so what if the girl has magic? She's still just a young lass, one who's very far from home in the company of strangers. I agree that to some degree she is still far too young and inexperienced to be travelling on such a dangerous quest however that does not mean that her opinions are in anyway less valid than ones made by anyone else in this company. Especially since she does make a valid point."

"And what is that?" Thorin rolled his eyes with disdain.

"That you're letting your ego rule your head" Balin gave a heavy sigh "You of all people Thorin should know that such pride is dangerous to hold onto. It consumed your grandfather and your father before you-"

"I am not my grandfather or my father" Thorin muttered though he sounded unsure.

Balin's eyes softened a little with melancholy as he considered the prince's hesitant face.

"I know you aren't laddie. But still…it doesn't hurt to have a friend by your side that keeps your head down to earth"

"She is not my friend." Thorin spat

"Then perhaps she should be. Who knows, maybe you could learn a thing or two from her."

And with that Balin quietly walked off leaving Thorin alone to brood on his own in the corridor.

After a few minutes of standing and looking at the stone floor beneath his feet he rolled his eyes and huffed.

"I cannot believe I'm doing this"

He turned on his heel and strode up the stairs two at a time in his long strong strides.

He quickly reached the second floor once more and came up swiftly to Ariel's door.

He knocked hard on the beautifully carved wood.

"Ariel"

There was no answer.

Oh come on for heavens sake open the door girl.

He knocked again. Again no answer.

He knocked again this time grunting softly under his breath.

"this is ridiculous"

He grabbed the doorknob and twisted it hard pushing open the door with a mighty shove…only to stop dead in his tracks his eyes bulging as Ariel stilled in her spot, the top half of her dress falling from her hands and her bare bosom.

Thorin felt his cheeks flare up with heat as he and the young sorceress stared at one another in shock. Balin called her a girl, a wee lass, but in body she was anything but.

She was slender on top but had curvier wider hips. Her skin was perhaps not as pale as the other humans he'd met in this part of the world, but rather a soft beige, with a speckling of darker brown freckles over her back. As he looked up the length of it he was suddenly struck by her height. Thorin knew that once the girl had truly reached full maturity she would be a tall woman, like her mighty human forefathers used to be in days of old.

She certainly looked mighty as her face contorted with fierce rage, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

The dwarves downstairs all jumped in fright when they heard the loud feminine shriek of:

"THORIN!"

There were small sniggers from the entire company as Thorin Oakenshield and Ariel Brooks both walked silently with Gandalf towards the grand building where Elrond Lord of Rivendell resided.

Even Gandalf could not supress a small smile of amusement as he glanced down at the dwarf prince's sour face which had now a large red bruise over his left cheek from where Ariel's hand had struck hard and sharp.

The wizard then chanced a small peek at the girl by his other side. Her expression would have been rather cold and distant had it not been for the deep flush of pink of embarrassment that was dusted over her cheeks.

With a small sigh Gandalf turned his gaze back towards the path they were all walking on and was relieved to see Elrond himself step down towards them from a high set of stairs and greet them.

Behind him Estel stood dutifully paying his respects to Thorin and Gandalf in turn before offering his arm to Ariel, who took it quickly, far too keen to avoid the small glare at her back from Thorin.

Quickly they were all ushered up into a building and onto an open terrace on which elves were either serving food or drink. As they did so soft gentle music wafted about filling the air with a sweetness that soothed the company as they made to take their seats at two tables.

One was long and low to the ground and with two benches on either side. The twelve dwarves and Bilbo each took a seat at this table, whilst Elrond, Gandalf, Thorin, Estel and Ariel were seated at a taller smaller round table laden with delicate dishes.

The lattermost smiled fondly as the other dwarves on the low table examined the feast in front of them with intrigue and confusion, for most of it was made up of greens and breads with very little meats.

But Ariel didn't mind. The delicate food she was served was scrumptious and surprisingly filling even though she ate a small amount with as much delicacy as she could.

Eventually once they were close to finishing their course, Gandalf showed their host the slender but sharp swords that he had picked up from the troll hoard only a few days ago.

"This is Orcrist" Elrond said his eyes alight with wonder as he examined the detailing on the blade in his hands "The goblin-cleaver. A famous blade. Forged by the high elves of the west, my kin. May it serve you well"

He handed the sword back to Thorin who nodded back respectfully as he took it. Ariel noticed that now he knew more about the sword, the dwarf handled it with greater care than he had done before. She could only suppose that even if he was not fond of elves, even he could appreciate good craftsmanship and heritage. He watched as Gandalf now handed his own longer stronger blade towards the elven lord who now looked if possible even more fascinated.

"This is Glamdring, Foe-hammer. Sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the first age. How did you come by these?"

"We found them in a Troll-hoard on the Great East Road" Gandalf replied "Shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs"

"A troll hoard?" Estel asked with a small frown "But trolls rarely travel this far south."

"That's what I thought as well young man" Gandalf nodded gravely "And what's more, there were three of them, all highly intelligent for their kind"

"Really? Highly intelligent?" Ariel snorted "I've babysat four-year old's with sharper wits than them-"

"I did say intelligent for their kind" Gandalf quirked a brow at her "For there are very few trolls that ever develop the ability to talk. Those that do are few and far between. The fact that we found three of them along the Great East Road is quite astounding."

"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?" Elrond glanced up at the wizard curiously.

Gandalf was quiet for a moment as he seemed to ponder his answer.

So…we haven't told him yet of the quest…

Ariel casually took a sip from her drink only to wince as the fruity bitter taste of red wine coated her tongue. She had never drunk alcohol in her life, let alone taste such a potent beverage. She did her best to look natural as she could when she quickly and quietly set the delicate goblet down and lightly bit into the last of her food before her just as Thorin stood up to his feet.

"Excuse me"

There was a small silence as Elrond watched him go shrewdly. As soon as the dark head of hair was out of sight the elven lord turned towards Ariel with a small smile that couldn't quite hide his inquisitiveness.

"Forgive me Lady Ariel, if I may sound like I am sceptical, but how does a young woman such as yourself bear to travel on such a dangerous road alongside so many…strangers"

"Well…" Ariel paused to nervously dab at her mouth with her napkin "it's not as bad as it seems. You see my father used to take my brother and I camping a lot, and he taught me heaps about surviving in the wilderness-"

"Your father was a Ranger?" Estel wondered aloud.

"No, he was a carpenter." Ariel shook her head "But he always loved the outdoors, and he always said he wanted my brother and I to know how to fend for ourselves just in case. Of course, back home it wasn't quite as dangerous to travel so…well…"

She trailed off, quickly taking another sip of her wine. She didn't like the flavour at all, but she just needed something to do as she was scrutinized by the dark eyes of Lord Elrond.

"You have a brother?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, an older one. Ian."

"and no sisters?"

"None that I'm aware of." Ariel smirked "Trust me, one brother is more than enough siblings for me."

The rest of the table chuckled softly.

"And what of your mother?" Estel asked brow furrowed "Surely she must be worried for her only daughter to be travelling so far from home alone?"

"Probably. I…I never really got to say goodbye to her before I left home. So I wouldn't know how she feels…" Ariel trailed off, her stomach churning uncomfortably as she remembered the words from only this morning:

"Go run back home to your mother's lap"

But my Mum's not here for me to run to anymore

She thought bitterly.

And neither is Dad or Ian. Ariel you're just gonna have to suck it up and push yourself through all of this on your own.

She shook her head out slightly and looked up only to see that the rest of her table were watching her sympathetically, but also a couple of the attending elves that stood about them, their slender hands stilled in mid-air as they made to take the plates away.

"Sorry" she muttered, quickly wiping at the corner of her slightly bright eyes. "It's just-"

"You miss them" Elrond nodded solemnly as he gestured to their attendants to finish their task "It is neither a weakness nor a shame to feel homesickness. Especially if it is your first time being so far away for your family. I remember when it was my first hunt in the wilderness on my own. Though I felt excited at the prospect of flying from the nest, so too did I feel the sting of sadness whenever I thought of my family back home. Though I must admit I am shocked that you never had the chance to bid them farewell before departing on such a long journey."

"So was I in the beginning." Gandalf nodded but then added with a small smile "but time and time again Ariel has proven her strength and fortitude. Rarely have I seen a youngling so hardy when it came to live on the road, and mastering her powers-"

"Hardly. So far all I can really control is if something grows or shrinks-Out of tune" Ariel muttered under her breath before she could stop herself.

"Out of tune?" Elrond exchanged a quick glance with Gandalf who shrugged

"The harp. one of the strings of the lower octaves is slightly flat and the five highest strings are too tightly wound which is why they're sounding sharper than the others. Oh I'm sorry I was just mouthing off again um…sorry…"

But even as Ariel looked back to the musical instrument she found that the performer, a very pretty dark-haired elf maid, was already standing up and gesturing for her to take her place.

"Please sit. I have been hearing a wrong sound all evening but I had yet to find out the cause. You have a good ear, better indeed then some elves I have known. For how long have you played? And who taught you?"

"My…my father did" Ariel murmured quietly as she made to sit down at the instrument "he was a carpenter but he specialised in making musical instruments. Harps were his favourite. When I was young he used to play for the family all the time. And then when I was old enough he taught me what he knew and we used to play together."

"Then my lady I shall leave my charge in your capable care."

Ariel bit her lip slightly feeling a little nervous but the lady only smiled at her with something akin to respect before stepping aside to join Lindir who was standing behind Elrond and looking warily at the dwarves. They had not noticed the exchange of musicians instead opting to stuff their faces and talk loudly and raucously at their table, Thorin walking about them and checking up on each member in turn.

Well at least I can get this over with quickly and quietly.

Despite the small twinge of homesickness in her heart, Ariel felt her lips quirk upwards in a soft smile as her digits traced over the series of strings, their familiar resonances comforting to her ears in spite of their slight deviations from their true sweet sound.

Ouch that really is sharp

She frowned a little in concentration as she adjusted a peg over the higher pitched strings, softly strumming as she went.

Once or twice she glanced at the rest of the company through the strings. On the third time she caught Fili's eye as he looked up from his plate.

She gave a tiny wave to which he responded to with a small smile of his own before quietly pointing at the harp in front of her. She gave a silent shrug and he chuckled about to open his mouth to speak to her only for Kili to call out loudly as he threw across a bread roll to his brother

"Oy Fili catch"

Honestly why do Dwarves love to play with their food?

Ariel shook her head fondly smirking as she turned back to tuning the harp.

Sensing her momentary distraction Elrond turned his attention back to Gandalf, his face grim.

"Thirteen Dwarves, a Halfling and an untrained sorceress. Strange traveling companions Gandalf"

"These are the descendants of the house of Durin" the wizard did his best to smile as he gestured towards the rowdy table before them. "They're noble, decent folk. And they're surprisingly cultured, they've got a deep love of the arts"

But even as he spoke Nori turned to the flautist who was once more making her rounds, and complained loudly.

"Change the tune, why don't you? I feel like I'm at a funeral"

"Did somebody die?" Oin looked about in bewilderment his hearing trumpet held tightly against his ear.

Estel snorted into his goblet of wine, earning himself a small disappointed but still affectionate shake of the head from Lord Elrond who winced as Bofur decided to jump promptly up onto the table

"Alright lads. There's only one thing for it!"

Ariel quickly looked up and Gandalf and Elrond exchanged confused glances just as the dwarf began to sing loud and merrily over the rest of the company.

"The~re's. A~n. Inn, there's an inn. There's a merry old inn, beneath an old grey hill. And there they brew a beer so brown, that the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill. The ostler has a tipsy cat that plays a five-string fiddle; And up and down he saws his bow. Now squeaking high…now purring low, now sawing in the middle. So, the cat on the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle a jig that would wake the dead: He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune, while the landlord shook the Man in the Moon: It's after three he said!"

There were loud cheers as the twelve dwarves delightedly threw their food at their new entertainer who barked loudly with laughter as he was pelted with rolls of pastries and sweet breads. Many of these food items however missed their targets and hit the walls and floor much to the discomfort of their hosts.

Ariel almost panicked when she looked back towards her table.

Estel was doing his best to keep his amused chuckles to himself (and miserably failing) while Elrond shut his eyes with an exasperated sigh along with Gandalf who was pinching the bridge of his nose. He quickly turned to Ariel and she was amused to see that although the wizard was trying to keep a straight face his eyes were almost pleading her for help.

"alright but you owe me old man" she grinned cheekily and he gently frowned at her.

Bilbo was doing his best to duck and avoid any flying pieces of food when he heard the first notes from the harp float into his ears, like the echo of a soft raindrop on a windowsill.

Ariel meanwhile didn't notice any of the eyes that were upon her.

For the first time since she had arrived in Middle Earth she was finally doing something she knew she was good at. Something that felt comfortable to her. It was such a relief that she simply shut her eyes and began to hum quietly to herself.

Bilbo leaned his head on his hand as he shut his eyes quietly. In comparison to the elves she didn't have such a great singing voice, but it was light and sweet enough to hold a tune well.

The Hobbit didn't recognise the tune, or the lyrics. However, he did know for sure that it was certainly not one of the elves compositions. They're songs were sweet and melodic but also sad and bittersweet for they spoke of times long gone. Times when the earth beneath their feet was young and the winds that flew about them were fresh and sweet for they had never been breathed before upon the surface of the world.

No…this song was a different. It was slow and mellow but at the same time it was joyful, as if it were looking forward to a bright future rather than a forgotten memory.

One of the perks of youth I guess…

He reasoned as he caught sight of the girl performing the piece. Oh what he wouldn't give to be that young again and to be able to look forwards without such a cynical eye on the world.

As he let the tune wash over him the dwarves around him fell slowly into silence as they too began to listen as the tune changed key.

Gandalf's small smile fell as he caught sight of Thorin staring at the girl from the other end of the dwarves table. For once his gaze wasn't angry, instead his eyes travelled over the young girls red hair and peaceful face with something soft and wistful…

Well there's something you don't see every day...Goodness what have I started?

In a dark forest, upon a dark hill, the ruins of a fortress loomed high above the trees.

Its shadow was long under the light of the moon, though it wasn't as dark as the ghostly shadow that lurked within its decaying walls of the top most tower.

The shade was almost the shape of a man, though it seemed more fluid than solid even as it raised a hand. It was a disgusting, dark limb, almost like a gnarled claw and just as terrifying even though the index finger was no mere than a mere stump. The figure hissed to the darkness in a speech that was just as harsh as his voice, which sounded like hard metal scraping over the surface of rough stone.

At once the orb beneath its fingers lit up from within.

The hand twitched impatiently as the bright colours swirled about, their shades mostly dark, with flashes of silver moonlight and midnight blue skies.

The shadow hissed again to the dark and the colours within the orb began to writhe faster, a sliver of green and red snaked its way into its core as an image began to form from the mass of shades.

There was a softer hiss from the shadow as a young girl's face came into view. It was soft and gentle as she played upon a harp set before her, her fingers dancing between the strings as she softly sang.

"I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom, for me and you. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue, and clouds of white. The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world."

Such notions of light and of hope were as revolting to the shadow as eating mud would be to a food connoisseur. So, it was with great force of will that the shadow kept its hand stilled above the orb even in its disgust as the girl continued to sing.

"The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, are also on the faces, of people going by. I see friends shaking hands, saying, 'How do you do?' They're really saying, 'I love you'. I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more, then I'll ever know. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Yes, I think to myself…what a wonderful… world…"

She trailed off gently as her fingers plucked the final notes.

The shadow's hand smoothed itself over the surface of the orb, black talon like nails delicately scraping over the girl's face.

The child, she could not see it but he could. The power that glowed from within her, green, bright like fresh emerald coloured grass.

What he wouldn't give to obtain such energy. The powers he gained from absorbing the life-forces of other more powerful beings was indeed beneficial…

But theirs were tainted by the darkness's of their bearer's hearts and stretched by years of wandering the earth in use. Hers on the other hand was for the most part untouched and whole…almost ripe for the picking.

He only needed to wait for a little longer...wait for her to come to him. And she would come to him…For he held her heart's desire right in the palm of his black dead hand.

The moon was well on its way to rising high in the sky by the time the company of Thorin had finally finished their evening meal.

Most of them were now happy to go off to bed, their stomachs full and their minds more at ease with their new resting places. All save five of them.

Gandalf, Ariel, Bilbo, Balin and Thorin were all still wide awake as they stood in one of the many halls of Rivendell with Elrond standing before them patiently as the lattermost growled venomously much to the irritation of all present.

"Our business is no concern of Elves"

"For goodness sake Thorin, show him the map" Gandalf snapped gruffly.

"It is the legacy of my people." Thorin glared at the wizard angrily. "It is mine to protect as our its secrets"

Bilbo, Balin and Ariel all exchanged the same irritated look with one another, the lattermost barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes as her mentor shook his head in exasperation.

"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-Earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond"

Elrond, who had been watching on quietly as the dwarf prince and wizard bickered, now looked expectantly at Thorin who grit his teeth as he reached into the pocket of his outer jacket before handing it forward.

Bilbo gulped nervously as the folded-up leaf of parchment was carefully opened up and examined.

"Erebor?" Elrond's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked back up at Thorin "What is your interest in this map?"

"It is purely academic" Gandalf said quickly before anyone else could open their mouths. "As you know this sort of artefact sometimes contains hidden text. "You still read ancient Dwarvish do you not?"

Whilst it was clear that Elrond was not actually buying the wizard's lie he made no comment as he made to examine the map more closely in the light of the moon through an open window.

Finally, after a moment of nervous waiting he murmured in wonder in his own smooth elvish tongue.

"Moon Runes? Of course,"

Gandalf's eyes widened slightly as the two dwarves, the hobbit and the girl beside him turned with questioning looks.

"An easy thing to miss"

"In this case it is true" Elrond muttered as he turned the page in his hands around to as to change the angle of the light. "Since moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which were written"

"Can you read them?" Thorin's breath was heavy with anticipation and his eyes were alight with hope.

Ten minutes later and Ariel blinked hard as she and Bilbo came up last out of the long dark tunnel and out onto a small shelf of rock just beneath the edge of the of Rivendell's largest cliff face. Before their eyes the great waterfall that flowed through the Valley streamed down like a giant glistening transparent curtain in the bright night.

"These runes were written by the light of a crescent moon nearly 200 years ago" Elrond said as he stepped forwards to place the map of Erebor on a slab of white crystal set at the very edge of the cliff.

"It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell" He smirked slightly much to Thorin's discomfort. "Fate is with you Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight"

And as the last words left the elven lord's lips a bright silver crescent moon finally peeked out from behind a couple of small clouds. Ariel watched in awe as the waterfall before them reflected and refracted the white light which danced lightly about them before the beams hit the crystal slab before them.

It began to glow brightly, illuminating the map from beneath so that in the bottom right corner faint letters could be seen slowly but surely gleaming up from what had once been blank space, till a full paragraph was formed.

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks" Elrond read aloud, slowly but carefully tracing his finger over each line as he passed over it. "and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole"

"Durin's day?" Bilbo blinked in confusion.

"It is the start of the Dwarves new year" Gandalf explained "when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together"

"This is ill news." Thorin murmured grimly "Summer is passing, Durin's day will soon be upon us"

"Not just soon Thorin" Ariel sighed running a hand through her hair "I mean how on earth are we going to get to that mountain in less than two months?"

"It can be done." Balin said stoutly "it's been done before, it's not impossible. Back in the days of Erebor's greatness the dwarves of the Blue Mountains used to come and pay tribute to the king. We're not as far as they are so we'll still be able to make it in time"

"Time? In time for what?" Bilbo still was looking rather confused.

"To find the entrance" Balin explained "We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then and only then can the door be opened"

"So this is your purpose…to enter the mountain?" Elrond's voice cut the air like a knife so sharply that they all stood stunned for a moment.

Thorin was the first to recover though it was to face a rather grim faced Elven Lord.

"What of it?"

"There are some who would not deem it wise" Elrond murmured as the map in his hands was snatched back by the dwarf prince, just as Gandalf stepped forwards.

"What do you mean?"

But Elrond only spoke, his voice thick with warning.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle Earth"

The howls of wargs filled the cold night air around the large raised up mound of Weathertop.

The once great watchtower fortress of the northern realm, now was tainted by the steps of the vilest of creatures, who stood looking from the highest vantage points, over the dark terrain around them.

He was tall for an orc, and built heavily, his skin paler than bone though marred by many red scars that were born with just as much pride as a birthmark. One hand curled about his side as he heard the wargs behind him begin to snuffle and snarl curiously. The other hand however stayed still. However it was no hand. It was just a stump cut off in the middle of the forearm with a crudely fashioned spike like claw appendage pierced through the flesh like a badly hammered nail in wood.

"[The Dwarves, Master…we lost them]" the snivelling raspy voice of one of his kindred spoke from behind him "[Ambushed by Elvish filth we were-]"

"[I don't want excuses]" Azog rumbled his voice like thunder as he turned round to face two much smaller orcs who both cowered as he stepped down towards them.

As the pale orc passed he stroked his hand lightly over the head of a large white warg that sat upon a stone slab, briefly placating it from its snarling state as its master spoke once more.

"[I want the head of the Dwarf King!]"

"[We were outnumbered]" the orc from before whimpered as his chieftain towered over him "[There was nothing we could do. The Dwarf scum have allied themselves with a green-witch, one who made the grass slither like snakes. I barely escaped with my life]"

"[Far better you had paid with it]" the Pale Orc hissed softly as he ran his one hand over the top of the bald head of his lackey who stared up at him in horror before gasping in pain.

The pale orc relished as he felt his prosthetic arm pierce deeply through the pathetic wimp's flesh and he gave a loud war cry. The second Orc who had chosen to stay silent watched on in terror as his fellow was roughly tossed into the centre of five wargs who pounced on the dead flesh at once, shredding the bodily tissue with barely any effort before ravenously devouring it.

Satisfied with the verdict the pale orc walked away to stand back in his vantage point at the rocks.

"[The Dwarf-scum will show themselves soon enough. Send out word! There is a price on their heads!]"

He roared at the shadows from which several more orcs leapt out, quickly mounting their wargs, growling and leering delightedly up at their leader, before speeding down the great mound and into the darkness.

Chapter Text

"Relax your shoulders. The tenser you have them, the harder it will be to swing it fast."

"Right, keep my shoulders loose. Got it."

"And your wrists."

"But if I do that the sword will drop."

"Not if you're gripping it correctly, here."

Ariel felt her cheeks flush a little as Estel came over and gently took her hands.

They were in a large courtyard, under the shade of a great tree. The evening sun was hanging low in the sky, bathing both youths in its rich golden light as it began to dip below the horizon.

Estel smirked as he showed his pupil how to adjust her grip on her blunt training sword. She was better than he'd expected, primarily since she was a maid with little to no experience with swordplay.

She was good at anticipating his moves, even if she couldn't entirely block them as effectively. Whatever she lacked in strength, she made up for with determination, spirit and a surprising swiftness.

"You're holding your breath" his smirk widened after exchanging a couple of soft parries.

"Sorry" Ariel sighed the tip of her sword heavily dropping down to the ground "I guess …I-I just never thought there'd ever been a time I needed to use one of these."

"Quite honestly my Lady, I hope you never see such a time" Estel admitted quietly.

"Why? Because I'm such a Lady?" said lady snorted, and her fellow human chuckled.

"Nay, your gender does not denote your strength. I've met many an Elleth who can fight fiercely. I merely meant that I hope that no good decent person should ever have a need to fight for their lives against such evil."

"A bit too late for that already," Ariel muttered under her breath but was quick to raise her sword to block Estel's gentle blow.

"Well, amateur skills aside, you have fast reflexes. You just need to stop thinking so much," he smirked as he quickly made to thrust his sword forward in a forward jab.

Ariel was quick to jump out of the way, thrusting her own practice blade towards the opening he left on his side. He blocked it expertly but still smiled in pleasant surprise at her daring.

"Much better." He raised his sword and began to swiftly bring it towards her in several swings which she quickly blocked "See, the less you think, the more you can focus on what's in front of you."

Ariel smiled, her ears flushing a light pink as the lesson continued. It was nice to be able to be with someone her age, after being stuck with only dwarves and old wizards to talk to for a few weeks.

True Fili and Kili were closer to her in age, and Bilbo was always good company, but something was comforting about being able to talk to someone else of her own species that helped ease some of the tension of being the outsider. Plus, it didn't hurt that Estel was pretty easy on the eyes-

"AHEM!"

"Ow!" she winced as the flat of her partner's practice blade hit her side hard.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-" Estel apologised rushing towards her as she nursed her side.

"It's okay. I got distracted" Ariel gave him a small smile as he patted her down for injuries, only to flush pink as she realised his warm hand was around her waist. Estel noticed it too, and though he mastered his blush better, she could see the tips of his ears turn the lightest shade of pink as he quickly retracted his hands.

"Uh…" he gulped as they each took a step back from one another. "Sorry, that was rather forward of me."

"It's alright. Stuff happens" Ariel mumbled cursing her cheeks that had now gone as red as her hair.

Stuff happens? Real smooth Ariel.

She rolled her eyes only to jump as another cough pierced the air. A very familiar dwarven cough.

She and Estel both turned quickly to scowl at the source.

"Ah… It's only you, King Under the Mountain" He raised a cool eyebrow as the shadow moved out from where he stood by the nearby fountain.

"It's only you?" Insolent Elven pet.

Thorin Oakenshield glowered as he and the younger human male both squared one another up silently with their eyes, both not breaking contact till Ariel rolled her eyes and sighed.

And Gandalf's little she-devil is even more impudent

He now turned his glare upon said she-devil, only to find her gaze was like ice upon him as she spat:

"What do you want Thorin? I'm in the middle of training."

"So, I can see" Thorin grunted as he quickly spared Estel another glare "Dinner is almost ready at the house, and Gandalf's wants a word with you before you eat. So move it, it wouldn't do for an apprentice to keep her master waiting. So, come on!"

Ariel felt her cheeks flush hotly, though this time it was with anger, not bashfulness. She was used to the Dwarf King's angry growling grunts at her, but sometimes it really bugged her just how rude he could be.

I mean what does he think I am? A dog he can tell to go fetch?

"Okay, first off, Gandalf isn't my master. He's my mentor." She snapped folding her arms stubbornly "And secondly you might be the King of Dwarves but you ain't the king of me, so next time you want to ask me to do something you can do so politely or not speak to me at all and spare us both the pain of dealing with one another."

Why this little-No-No stay calm, she is just a petulant maiden not worth your temper.

Thorin gritted his teeth as he did his best to soothe his temper. Usually, he could keep himself composed as a king should be, but all that would go to pot when this witch entered his vision. He wasn't quite sure why it happened, she just made his stomach broil and distracted him every time she entered the room, though he blamed that entirely on her hair. It was always so unique amidst the usual sea of browns and dirty blondes. True Gloin's beard was just as fiery red, but for some reason Thorin's eyes always found themselves drawn to the darker rusty locks whenever they entered his field of vision.

He was fuming so hotly that he almost didn't catch Estel's next sentence.

"Perhaps it is wise we stop training for today. You've progressed well in a short space of time, and I have no doubt you'll be quite the swordswoman within a couple of weeks."

Thorin's stomach turned over as he saw the shy blush once again consume Ariel's face as she smiled and giggled awkwardly.

"Ah-ha-ha. That's sweet, but I think it's going to take a very, long time till I get as good as you or really, any normal person."

"Somehow I doubt that. But come. Gandalf is waiting, and if he must speak with you before a meal, it must be a very urgent matter indeed" Estel grabbed the two training swords in one hand and was about to take Ariel's arm in his other when Thorin swiftly stopped him.

"I'm afraid you'll have to escort lady Ariel another time boy. Your lord Elrond awaits you at his house."

"Very well then. Thank you for the message master dwarf." Estel forced a polite smile, his cold eyes only softening as he looked at Ariel.

"We continue our lessons same time tomorrow then?"

"Absolutely" Ariel smiled, doing her best to stifle another small giggle as the young human man kissed hand in gentlemanly fashion and bid her goodnight.

"Till tomorrow then my lady. Your majesty" he added to Thorin curtly as he let go of her hand.

When he was safely out of sight and out of earshot, Ariel rounded on Thorin, nostrils flaring.

"You always have to spoil everything don't you?" she hissed fiercely.

"I spoil everything?" Thorin growled, "Wasn't it Gandalf who once said that your kind is not allowed to form attachments to others?"

Ariel gritted her teeth. Yes, Gandalf had told her that before. In fact, it was one of the critical lessons he had been trying to drill into her head since the first day they met. And she had adhered to it…most of the time…

But right now it wasn't helping the mounting frustration that continued to build up inside her even as the dwarf king smirked at her.

It wasn't often that he won their arguments, but when he did it was oh-so-satisfying.

Petty woman

He rolled his eyes as with a huff Ariel stormed off away from the courtyard.

"So let me get this straight." Ariel bit her lip as she stood alone with Gandalf on a higher balcony of the Dwarves guest house "Lord Elrond has given us supplies for a journey, but only as long as we don't head for the Lonely Mountain?"

"To put it simply, yes" Gandalf nodded gravely as he looked out over the beautiful view stretched out before them of the Valley being bathed in rich orange-gold light.

"And let me guess you want to completely ignore him and go ahead to the mountain anyway" Ariel quirked a brow.

"And what makes you say this my dear?" Gandalf raised his own bushy eyebrows at her as she folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Because you've got your little scheming face on."

"My little what?" Gandalf snorted at her and she rolled her eyes.

"Your scheming face; Your eyes get all twinkly and you get this little sneaky smirk."

Gandalf blinked at her for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"You truly are a chip of the old block" he patted her shoulder gently. "But yes you are right. It is still our plan to go on ahead to the Mountain, with or without the blessing of the Elves. Though I will still do what I can to change Lord Elrond's mind tonight. He has summoned me to hold Council after dinner. And speaking of Elrond,"

Ariel bristled uncomfortably as the blue eyes pierced straight through her.

"Thorin tells me that you've been spending a lot of time with the young Estel"

"Oh yeah? And what else has our dear King Under the Mountain told you?" Ariel pouted, cheeks flushing a little red despite herself.

"Ariel," Gandalf sighed "I've told you many times, forming friendships with others is one thing, but it is forbidden for those of our order to seek out relationships."

"He's just showing me around the Valley and teaching me how to use a sword" Ariel grumbled "Listen, Gandalf, I may like Estel, but I swear, there's nothing going on between us. The most he's done is kiss my hand and maybe flirt once or twice. Otherwise the two of us are just good friends, like how I am with Fili and Kili. Speaking of which, why are you so against Estel, I thought you liked him?"

"I'm not against him as a person at all. Merely concerned about the nature of his relationship with you, especially considering what you both are."

"What do you mean?" Ariel frowned in confusion.

Gandalf sighed again.

"What I mean is…Estel, isn't just Estel. His true name is Aragorn. Son of Arathorn and heir-"

"-to Isildur. The true King of Gondor" Ariel finished quietly, head falling into her hands.

Oh, how could she have been so STUPID! She knew the story of the Lord of the Rings like the back of her hand. How on Earth could she have forgotten this one important detail. Of course, Estel was Aragorn. Why else would a human be living in Rivendell? Aragorn was raised in Rivendell for his own protection, it would be logical that Elrond would've changed his name to something else to keep him hidden from Sauron's watchful gaze.

"I take it you know of whom I speak, from your future telling abilities" Gandalf's shoulders relaxed as she straightened up and ran a hand through her hair.

"You could say that. Damn! I can't believe I was so blind" she cursed herself, as the Old man chuckled softly.

"You may have many gifts Ariel, but you are still young and will make some mistakes. Do not worry, we shall work on them with time"

"I guess so." Ariel mumbled as she made to follow the wizard back into the house.

Ariel…

She paused at the threshold and looked over her shoulder.

There was nothing there save the balcony and the view of the sun starting to sink below the horizon line.

Yet she was sure she had heard a familiar voice calling.

Ariel

There it was again, coming from the edge of the railing.

That voice…it sounds just like…

She jumped as she felt an old wrinkled hand suddenly wrap around her shoulder in comfort.

"My dear…are you alright?" Gandalf was looking down on her, bushy eyebrows furrowed in deep concern.

"What?" she blinked then quickly shook her head "Oh it's okay. Sorry Gandalf I just zoned out there for a second. Probably just the wind."

"Well, you might want to get yourself back into the zone as you say. Dinner is ready and I'm sure you'd want to get stuck in quickly before Bofur devours everything" Gandalf smiled as he ushered her to walk before him, though once his back was turned he let himself frown thoughtfully.

Everything looked alright outside and yet…

Hmm…I wonder…

Just what is wrong with her today? She looks so down.

Bilbo watched with a worried frown as Ariel glumly nibbled at her food. She had been downcast ever since her talk with Gandalf just before dinner.

And so, he did what any hobbit would do to lift someone's mood.

"Here, try these, they're delicious." He offered a plate with some sweet meats to her.

"Huh? Oh, thanks Bilbo" Ariel gave the hobbit a small smile as she took some of the sweet meats onto her plate.

"Is everything alright? You look somewhat down" he asked her quietly as he took the plate from her and set it back down in its spot.

"Just thinking…about home" she murmured softly so that only he could hear. "I wonder what my parents are up to? If my brother's gotten any better"

"I'm sure they're all doing fine." Bilbo placed a gentle hand on her arm.

"I know…it's just…I can't help but wonder…" her voice fell away as she sighed. "Y'know what just forget it. I'm just tired. I'll feel better once I eat."

She forced a smile on her face as she took a large bite out of her food.

He wasn't the only one who noticed her dour mood. Thorin, like usual was watching her closely, however unlike the many other times he'd done so, he looked less crotchety and more anxious.

It wasn't like her to be so blue, especially around food. He wondered if it was because of their earlier altercation, yet she didn't seem to notice him as he offered gruffly passed her a sauce she was trying to reach for to drizzle over the meat.

She seemed…sad…truly and utterly miserable.

She claimed she was merely homesick and yet he couldn't help but notice the weight that seemed to have descended upon her shoulders. He knew that weight only too well, for he had worn it ever since he'd lost his kingdom. The weight of one having many tough decisions held in ones hands.

He said nothing to comfort her. For one thing he was afraid he'd botch whatever words came out of his mouth. For another, this was her personal trial and he knew this was something she had to learn to bear for herself.

He only hoped she was strong enough to bear the struggles that awaited her. If only for her own sake.

Little did he know of the voice she could hear, nudging at the back of her mind as if from a distance.

Ariel…Ariel…

Lord Elrond stared after the human youth that stormed away from the courtyard they'd been talking in, and back into the main house.

It had been a hard task to accomplish, but he had finally gotten around to it after all these years.

Telling Estel the truth.

No.

Telling Aragorn, son of Arathorn the truth. About himself and about Lady Ariel, or at least, what they knew about the young Istari, for Elrond himself was still quite unsure as to her true nature.

Just as he was unsure of what to do now.

Now he knows the truth. How he handles this will determine if he's truly ready to take his place amongst his people. I must be patient…

The elven lord sighed heavily as he stared over the sun as it dipped below the horizon.

He shivered a little, yet not because of the cold night air. He looked around. He was certain there was someone else there, lurking in the shadows of a tree.

No. It was impossible. His Ring of Power, Vilya, the Ring of Air, protected his valley from the darkness.

Unless it is a darkness one has brought in with them…But no…either Gandalf or I would've sensed it…

He shook his head slightly to clear it, straightening out the collar to his robes as he made to swiftly set off.

It was time he talked to the Grey Wizard.

"Ariel…Ariel…"

Ariel Brook's eyes opened slowly into the darkness of the high roof above her head.

Just a dream…Just the wind.

She sighed in exasperation as she rubbed at her eyes, looking about herself in confusion.

But that was odd…I could've sworn I heard someone calling me now…and then again earlier on the-

"Ariel…"

Ariel stiffened. There it was again.

That voice…

"Ariel"

She shivered.

It was as if someone had taken a snake's hissing slither and turned it into words.

"Ariel…" it whispered, almost as if in her ear, even though it was still so very distant, and yet it was strangely…familiar.

"Ian?" Ariel breathed. "I-Is that you?"

"Yes Airy I am here…"

"B-but…but…you can't be" Ariel stammered feeling her eyes heat up and burn as they watered over. "Y-You're still back h-home you're-"

"No Airy" Ian's voice turned gentle almost a comforting caress "I'm here…out here on the balcony outside…"

"But how-"

"Please Ariel" Ian's voice was almost now begging, pleading "Please…come to me…I need you…You're the only one who can help me…"

She barely could feel her feet as they swung over the edge of her bed, her brothers voice still whispering to her through the night.

"This way…hurry!"

"I'm coming Ian" Ariel whispered, her feet moving soundlessly over the smooth stone of the floor. She wasn't quite sure whether it was the relief and joy of hearing her brothers voice again, or if it was the fear of losing it, but she seemed to feel more like a passenger of her legs and body than a driver…and for some reason…she did not mind it…no…she did not feel anything.

Before she could even comprehend what, she was doing her legs had carried her to a large set of steps that stood high up in the open air.

"That's right Ariel just a few more steps" Ian's voice hissed gently in her ear as she took a step towards the edge of a small landing on the steps.

"Now stand up"

The entire staircase had low hand rails that only reached her hands as they fell limply over her sides so it wasn't difficult for her to step up onto them.

She looked down and was surprised to find that the great height at which she stood did not bother her…but like before it was not that she was comfortable with her predicament…she just didn't feel at all…at least not until Ian said.

"Now come to me"

"What?" she blinked and looked down. In her stomach she suddenly felt the drop of her gut.

She was more than four stories high off the ground and counting, her body thankfully balanced on the wide step beneath her feet, one step backwards and she'd be safe.

But as soon as she made to lean back Ian's voice hissed in her ear once more.

"Ariel …Come to me…"

"…B-but Ian…I-I-can't! I'll-I'll fall." Ariel stuttered as she tried to move her legs, to her horror she found that they were stuck in place as if invisible ropes had bound themselves about her ankles.

"Don't you want to see me?" Ian's voice snarled and she shuddered.

"Yes, yes I do but-"

"Ariel please…I'm begging you-"

"NO I can't! Ian stop! If I drop I'll die!" she cried out. Then suddenly she felt a burst of heat and saw to her horror a fiery red eye flashing angrily at her.

"I said COME!" a deep rumbling voice roared in her head, louder than any thunderclap and storm combined.

"COME TO ME!"

Ariel barely had time to scream as suddenly she felt the invisible rope around her legs tug her forwards so that she keeled over the edge.

"NO!"

Ariel's body suddenly lurched backwards as a pair of strong hands, grabbed her by material of her nightgown.

She squeaked with terror as she felt the slightly shorter form of a dwarf get squished beneath her as they both fell backwards onto the steps.

"Th-Th-Thorin?" Ariel blubbered as she sat up, looking down on the dwarf king who was still slightly dazed from his fall.

"Are you-ungh-are you alright?" he blinked once or twice to relieve himself of the stars that had begun to burst before his eyes, only to have them rekindled as he was pulled up and into a tight hold.

"He-he was there! H-h-he was…was there…"Ariel's arms about him were trembling violently as she buried her face into his shoulder.

Thorin reached up and patted a large hand over her head of russet hair. It was soft and smelled sweet, but he was quick to squash down these revelations as the young girl tremble in his arms.

"Easy there" he muttered gently, rocking her a little to ease her. "Easy Ariel…I got you…I got you…"

Ariel just sat there holding onto him for dear life as she sobbed.

"His voice…I thought…I thought-"

"Whose voice?" Thorin asked sharply as he pulled away from to look her directly in the eye. "because I didn't hear one at all"

"My…my brother...Ian's…"Ariel spluttered. "But it couldn't have been…he's back home…he's almost half dead…how can he be here if he's half dead?"

She burst out into loud sobs again. Whatever words Thorin had thought to say died in his throat. Instead he carefully brought his arms about her and gingerly patted her back in soothing circles, like one would give a child.

But then again, he thought to himself, in comparison to the rest of the company she was a child…technically barely older than Kili…

And speaking of his nephews…

There was the thundering of footsteps as Kili's voice called out in an aggravated puff.

"Seriously Fili if you can't keep up don't be such a sore loser about…it …"

The younger brother trailed off as he caught sight of the scene before him. He opened his mouth to speak but then suddenly there was the thundering of footsteps and soon Fili and Bilbo were in full view of the spectacle before them.

"Uncle! what happened?" Fili cried out, his face unusually pale, not that Bilbo could blame him. They'd all heard the screams from far down below and it had been enough to make the blood in the hobbits body chill like ice in an instant.

"Keep your voices down." Thorin growled still stroking a gentle hand over the terrified girl's head covering her ears as he whispered "I do not know how, but someone or something tried to push her off…a shadow…"

"What? Pushed?" Bilbo exclaimed in shock "but we were all downstairs and we saw no one come up here. Who could've pushed her?"

At this Kili strode forwards and quickly grabbed Ariel by the shoulders.

"Ariel, who did you see? Was there anyone here with you?"

"Kili don't, she's still in shock!" Bilbo tugged the dwarf's hands away from her.

The Dwarf Prince didn't look too pleased about being told what to do but even as he looked down at the girl on the floor he backed off.

Ariel was now staring ahead through streaming eyes, her entire body trembling from head to foot as she let Thorin gingerly pull her up to her feet.

"Bilbo, Fili quickly take her back to her room and stay with her until I get back. Kili you go fetch Gandalf and tell him what happened."

"And what about you?" Kili asked clearly reluctant to leave his uncle's side. However, Thorin fixed both him and his brother with a stern look.

"I'm going to scope out the area…see if I can find anything of whoever did this. If I don't return after an hour then come looking with the others. Now go all of you"

Thorin watched carefully as Kili ran off down the stairs at a sprint, slowly followed by both Bilbo and Fili who were each supporting Ariel by the sides as they gingerly helped manoeuvre her down the stairs.

Thorin's teeth gritted, as he looked about their surroundings.

Aside from their little group, the staircase was practically deserted. However, Thorin could not shake off the unnatural tingling on the base of his neck…almost as if someone were watching them in secret…hidden to his eyes…

Little was the Dwarf prince to know was that miles and miles away in the shadows of Dol Guldor two blazing orbs of orange lit up like two flames within a dark shadowy face...

…searing with blazing wrath.

Chapter Text

I know this is for my own safety but this really sucks.

Ariel huffed from her spot on the bed.

She was in her rooms at Rivendell, alone, watching the pink sun setting over the hidden valley. It had almost been a full day since she'd almost fallen from that ledge. Nearly a full day since she had heard that enchanting voice, the one that sounded eerily like her brother.

She shook her head out, standing up and walking over to wash her hands in the bathroom. She didn't need to really wash them, she just wanted something to do because by god she was bored.

Ever since her attack, both Gandalf and Elrond had pretty much placed her under house arrest in the company's shared accommodations while everyone else combed through the entire valley. The dwarves, she found, were surprisingly eager to help when they heard of the incident. Indeed, Fili and Kili made it their mission to accompany the elven guard's search party along with the young human Estel, with whom they had forged a somewhat tentative comradery in the wake of searching for the culprit.

But the most startling thing of all was Thorin's involvement in the search. Though he and Ariel were still rather distant with one another he was still the only witness to the strange shadow's attack and was determined to catch them out and deal out his own form of justice. Apparently, his hatred for evil murdering shadows outmatched his loathing of Ariel herself…or the elves he was forced to work with during the search.

In that way she supposed, she was fortunate he took her seriously, though that might've had something to do with how seriously Elrond and Gandalf were taking the issue.

Speaking of the Elven lord and the wizard, they were surprisingly calm about the whole ordeal. Even when Ariel had apologized for the hundredth time for all the trouble she had brought, Elrond merely put a hand on her shoulder and smiled gently.

"It is alright young one," he had said in a kind soothing voice "You are at no fault for what has transpired."

But she was at fault, she thought glumly as she exited the washroom and fixed her hair in the reflection of her full-length mirror.

The Valley of Rivendell was supposed to be protected by Elrond's ring of power, Vilya. Indeed, the enchantments the elf had placed over his domain was supposed to be powerful enough to keep most horrible evils out, excluding the power of Sauron and the one ring-

Ariel froze, her gut dropping beneath her plain sage green dress.

Oh no…oh-no-no-no-no-no! That can't be…Sauron is too weak, he's still the Necromancer…but who else could be that powerful to thwart another ring of power…

She looked at her staff, which she had set propped next to her writing table. Should she tell Gandalf about this theory, if it was even valid at all? Who else was there in this world that had the power to manipulate shadows and evil to such a horrific degree?

And those orcs…

Before they had reached Rivendell, Dwalin had often tried to spook her by saying rabid packs of Orcs and wargs sometimes roamed free around the wilderness. But that squad that had attacked the company appeared to be very well organized. And there was something about their armour too.

Ariel didn't know much about medieval armour, let alone Orc armour. Yet, there was something about the colouring and design upon the garb of the attackers that seemed too…uniform to merely be a wild pack.

She racked her brain as she thought back to the events of Tolkien's work. If Sauron was still the Necromancer, then that meant he was probably at this moment trying to raise an army for the Battle of the Five Armies, in the depths of Mirkwood.

But what could she possibly be expected to do about that?

She wasn't supposed to reveal anything of the events she knew. Not unless she wanted Sauron to somehow find the One Ring and destroy them all before they had a chance to even reach Erebor.

God forbid he got that ring before we reached the mountain. With a dragon on his side, he wouldn't need much of an army. He'd just click his fingers and Smaug would probably fry us all like shish-kebabs.

Ariel thought darkly, shivering as the thought of the dark helmeted shadow riding the back of a scarlet dragon. It truly was the stuff of nightmares.

Rat-tat-tat!

"W-who is it?" Ariel squeaked as she wheeled around to face the door. She sighed in relief as she heard a familiar voice.

"Tis me Lady Ariel."

"Estel?"

Ariel quickly opened the door to see the tall young human man leaning outside her doorway. His grey eyes were strangely misty as he hunched over as if some great weight was resting heavily over his shoulders.

"May I come in?" he mumbled, his voice oddly grim and quiet.

"Yeah, sure" Ariel nodded quickly ushering him inside and shutting the door behind him. Old fashioned propriety be damned, the poor guy looked like he'd been put through the emotional wringer.

She was quick to lead him to her writing table where two chairs stood waiting. She had kept them there because Lindir had kept her company for most of the morning, teaching her basic Sindarin Elvish, much to the dwarves consternation.

It hadn't been easy, but already she was beginning to grasp the small basic greetings and words typical of a beginner.

However, all those lessons practically flew out the window as she reached out to put a consoling hand on Estel's shoulder.

"What's wrong? Are you okay? You look…uh…" she trailed off, not quite sure how to not offend him.

Estel seemed to sense her thoughts because he gave her a hollow smirk.

"Dreadful?"

"Was I that obvious?" Ariel sighed heavily, and he gave a weak chuckle.

"Transparently"

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I feel dreadful." Estel admitted dully his head hanging low. "I just…I just needed someone to talk to…someone who's not an elf dwarf, or wizard…someone-"

"Human." Ariel finished quietly.

Estel nodded, his dark brown locks falling in the way of his face as he looked down to his knees.

"We were tracking down the shadow that attacked you" he murmured. "For a while none of the hunting parties found nothing, but your two friends Fili and Kili and I were determined to search beyond the borders without the rest of the hunting party. Nothing too far, just to the banks of the Bruinen. We had reached the edge of the river, but we dared not cross out of the border..." he trailed off shutting his eyes.

"Did you find anything?" Ariel gulped trying to ignore the familiar prickling on the back of her neck that she always got when she had a terrible hunch.

"There was a shadow." Estel bit his lip, grey eyes hardening as they opened once more "a shadow of a man on the opposite bank hidden behind some foliage. I couldn't make out much of his features, save that he had dark skin and very short dark hair. He was tall, and he was wearing strange clothes."

"What kind of strange clothes?" Ariel could feel her gut sinking low even as Estel said:

"A dark red shirt with buttons, strange blue pants and odd shoes. They looked soft yet durable and were brown-"

"With white shoelaces" Ariel finished quietly.

Estel looked up and was astonished to see the young woman's face quite emotionless and blank.

"I take it you know of whom I speak?" he frowned, and Ariel nodded meekly.

"It's my older brother Ian…or at least it appears to be him. The real Ian I know is lying half dead in an eternal sleep across the sea. Cursed by an old crone." she added when Estel looked confused.

"Is this why you travel with Gandalf then?" he asked softly "You hope to find a cure for his condition along the way?"

"Something like that" Ariel murmured her eyes going distant. Then suddenly she shook out her head. "No, but it can't have been him…he couldn't be able to travel in such a condition. And if he really were, he wouldn't have hurt me. Ian would never hurt me…"

The last words were barely audible, as though she was trying to convince herself more than him.

Estel had no idea what to say, so instead, he reached forward to take one of her hands in his on the desk. There was nothing romantic about the gesture, nor the sad tender look he gave her as he squeezed her hand.

She was quick to squeeze his in return, quickly coughing as she did her best to compose herself.

"Sorry, here I am getting all mopey when I should be comforting you"

"It's alright. I think we've all had a rather tense few hours." Estel chuckled and Ariel snorted.

"You can say that again. So, what happened after you saw the shadow?"

"It vanished, but that may have been because Lord Elrond was quick to appear. He admonished your friends and me for straying so far from the troupe, then he escorted us back to the house and bade us not to leave the valley under any condition. I don't think I've ever seen him looking so afraid in a long time."

Once again Ariel felt the guilt gnaw at her like maggots to dead flesh. Now everyone in the valley was under house arrest, all because she was too pathetic to almost follow an enchanted voice off a two-storey staircase.

But if that is one of Sauron's little puppets, then obviously he's hoping to stir up trouble at least in Rivendell, if only to put his enemies in disarray. And by god it's working.

"I'm sure everything will sort itself out soon. I mean, with Gandalf and Elrond both working together" Ariel added putting a hand on his shoulder "I mean it's not like you're going to be banished for just wandering out of bounds-"

She stopped quickly as sorrow flashed over the young man's face at her words. With a heavy sigh, he ran a hand over his face and through his hair, grey eyes glimmering sadly.

"What…Wait-hang on? You are leaving? Why?" Ariel's eyes widened in shock.

"I told you before that I was taken in as a ward of Lord Elrond when my parents died." Estel looked at her grimly "Well…Lord Elrond has decided that now since I am almost a man, that I am to return to their people. It's alright," - he added when Ariel opened her mouth to speak – "I had a feeling this would happen eventually, after all I am only human, and I have longed for a long time to walk amongst my own kind. Hence why I was so elated when you and your company came to stay"

He smirked slightly at Ariel, who cursed herself as she felt the heat rise to her now very pink cheeks.

"So you're being sent to live with your parent's people?" she coughed, doing her best to keep her face as neutral as possible.

"Yes," Estel gulped looking at their hands which were still intertwined on the table top. "Only my parents…well…they're not quite who I thought they were"

"What do you mean?" Ariel's brow furrowed.

"Have you heard of Dunedain Rangers?" Estel asked, and she nodded slowly. "They are a race of men directly descended from the lines of Numenor…descendants of Elendil the tall and his men. My parents, well, my father, as it turns out, is a direct descendant of the house of Elendil…and thus so am I."

Ariel could feel her gut sink deeper and deeper into the chasm of nothingness as she stared at the young man before her.

Oh, god…please don't tell me…you've got to be kidding me…Please let this be some weird cosmic fluke…

"My name is not Estel," he said, not noticing the paling of his listener's pallor as he let drop the final pin. "Tis Aragorn, son of Arathorn. The sixteenth chief of the Dunedain of the North, the heir to the throne of Arnor and Gondor."

Even though she knew of the stone that had been about to drop, Ariel still felt her gut sink in her body. She really did have the oddest luck in the world. Of all the humans she would befriend first, of course, it would be Aragorn.

It was odd seeing him so young and innocent like this, for in the books he had always come across as grim and serious. Indeed, it was only now not to be could see shades of the weather-worn Ranger in his face as he looked up at her anxiously.

"I take it you've heard of that name?" he muttered.

"A few times. Gandalf mentioned it to me when explaining the history of the Northern Kingdom of Arnor." Ariel gulped. God, she hated to lie to him so deliberately, but what choice did she have? She could hardly tell him he was a fictional character in a book, could she?

Not noticing her inner conflict, Estel, no, Aragorn, snorted bitterly down to his knees.

"Of course, the wizard would know of this."

"But Estel-I-I mean Aragorn-"

"I just don't understand!" Aragorn slammed his empty palm down on the table angrily. "Why didn't Elrond tell me?! Why keep such a big secret from me?! I mean I knew I was of the Dunedain, but to be the heir of Gondor…and now I have to leave…it's just…argh!"

He growled with frustration as his face dropped to his hands.

"Hey," Ariel reached out to grip his fingers consolingly as she pulled them away from his anguished face. "Hey…look at me."

Aragorn looked up despondently into her face. Her smile was sad but gentle and comforting as she pulled him into a tight hug.

"It's going to be okay."

"You can't possibly know that" he murmured as he sat stock still in her arms.

"I do." She said firmly pulling away to hold him by the shoulders "Listen, I've not known you very long, but from what time we've shared I can tell you this. You're kind, smart, strong, a little bit reckless sometimes, but you always try to do the right thing no matter how hard it is, and that's…that's why I know, that whatever happens you're going to be okay."

She reached out and hugged him again, and this time he hesitantly returned the gesture. His rougher larger hands shook slightly as they pressed into her back, his face burying itself into the top of her head as a tear escaped him.

"Shh, it's alright…" Ariel hummed gently, rubbing soothing circles on his back. "You're going to be okay…you'll see."

"How do you manage it?" Aragorn mumbled into her hair "Being so far from home, not knowing if you'll see your loved ones again?"

"To be quite frank I'm not sure I do manage it sometimes" Ariel admitted with a small pout. "Homesickness is kinda like being stuck in the middle of the ocean. Sometimes the seas are calm, and you're sailing along just fine, the next the wave hits you and strikes you. Sometimes you keel over from the sheer force of it, and all you can do is try and push your boat back up with all you got and keep sailing no matter how hard it is."

"Tis said my people came from over the seas…" Aragorn's voice sounded slightly hoarse as he gulped down on the large lump in his throat. "I wonder if you are also descended from them, for you speak with great fondness for the ocean."

"Who knows, maybe I am. To be fair, I don't know much about where my parents came from." Ariel snorted and tried to pull away, only for Aragorn to hold her in place with his hand on the back of her head.

"Forgive me" he breathed "But I've not been held by another human since my mother passed on, and I barely remember much of her. It's so different to the embrace of an elf. They possess far greater strength than us and thus hold back."

"Well that's one thing you can look forward to when you go back to the other Dunedain" Ariel smirked as she tried to lighten the mood "I daresay many human girls wouldn't mind falling into your waiting arms"

Despite himself, Aragorn chuckled and loosened his grip to look at her in the eye.

"On the contrary, I am not too fond of physical affection from strangers. With you, however, I feel a kinship, such as I have not felt before. Not just because you are human. You are like a sister, not in blood perhaps but in bond, and I feel that our friendship will continue to strengthen as the year's pass"

Ariel could feel her cheeks all but burn like red-hot coals as she opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"Tis Lindir my Lady. May I come in?" a smooth masculine voice called gently through.

"uh…wait just a moment Lindir" Ariel looked at Aragorn as he detached himself from her.

"It's alright. Go ahead"

"Are you sure?" she murmured as they both stood up.

"I'm sure" he nodded.

"Alright then." She patted his shoulder before walking over and opening the door.

"My Lady, the Lord Elrond and Gandalf the Grey are requesting your presence at the main house. They wish to speak with you in private. Estel" Lindir turned solemnly to Aragorn, not even surprised at the younger man's presence.

"You are to come with me; we still have much packing to do before you set out at dawn tomorrow."

"Of course, Lindir." Aragorn bobbed his head though he hesitated to step towards the door. Seeing the look on the boy's face, Lindir sighed softly.

"You may say your goodbyes before you leave if that is what you wish. I will meet you both downstairs when you are ready."

"Thank you old friend" Aragorn smiled gratefully at the elf who quietly shut the door.

"So this is it" Ariel huffed as she turned to face Aragorn "You're leaving"

"Yes…" Aragorn looked down at his boots. Despite being taller than her by about one head, he looked remarkably like a small child, scared and unsure even as she made to hug him one last time.

"Hey…you're going to be fine." She rubbed his back gently "And who knows, once my quest is over we might see one another again."

"I hope so." Aragorn muttered into her crown "maybe we can continue our lessons, I daresay you'll have plenty of time to practice on your travels."

"Sounds like a plan." Ariel smiled as she pulled away. "Stay safe Este-Aragorn" she corrected herself, though she regretted it at once as she caught sight of the stricken look on his face.

"It's alright." He assured her before she could open her mouth "Aragorn is my true name. I should start getting used to hearing it more often."

"Maybe, but just because your name changes, it doesn't mean you have to." Ariel patted his cheek clumsily as she tilted his head down to plant a small kiss on his brow.

"For luck" she smirked as he blinked down at her in surprise. "Trust me. You're going to need it out there."

"As will you." Aragorn returned the gesture, before murmuring into her crown "Thank you Ariel"

The walk to the main house was silent as Lindir led Ariel and Aragorn up the front steps. There stood Gandalf and Elrond. Both their faces, fair and aged, were grim as they watched the two younger teenagers stride up towards them.

Elrond indeed felt a stab of pity as he beheld the determined expressions in both their eyes. In twenty-four hours, the innocence and carelessness of youth had all but been ripped from the heir of Isildur and the young sorceress. Now they would both have to start facing the trials and tribulations of true adulthood. The elven lord could only hope they pulled through alright in the end.

"Master Gandalf, Ada-I mean Lord Elrond" Aragorn nodded his head respectfully as he made to pass them on his way up the stairs with Lindir. However, he paused at the top and glanced back at Ariel who forced a small grin onto her face.

"What are you looking at me for? Those bags aren't going to pack themselves by magic y'know."

Despite himself Aragorn grinned and spared her a small wave goodbye which she returned, her hand only dropping as soon as the door shut behind her friend.

"I take it the two of you have said your goodbyes then," Gandalf said, his gruff voice surprisingly gentle.

"Yeah. Yeah, we have" Ariel sighed heavily.

"Do not grieve my dear. I'm sure the two of you shall meet again once all is over." Gandalf's expression softened as he patted her shoulder consolingly. "Now come, there is much we need to discuss."

"Yes indeed." Elrond now turned to face Ariel, his expression grave as they strode to the side of the building towards a tall set of stairs.

"the last of our scouts have just returned from our eastern borders. The shadow that attacked you has all but vanished from all sight and knowledge, but the orcs that pursue your company are very much determined to follow your footsteps."

"Yeah…I figured" Ariel muttered, running a hand over her hair, and when both Elrond and Gandalf quirked their brows at her she sighed "Listen, I may not be that experienced with fighting orcs, but it doesn't take a genius to see that the ones that attacked us were just a small part of a much larger group."

"Indeed. One that seems to know of your plight to reach the lonely mountain" Elrond frowned hard at Gandalf who rolled his eyes.

It seemed to Ariel as if this had been an argument that had been going on for a long time. Thus it peeved her a little when the two older men started to speak in soft elvish.

"[Alike and yet unlike]" Elrond glowered at Gandalf irritably "[How could I have not seen it before?]"

"[I only started putting together the pieces myself shortly after we met Radagast]" Gandalf muttered. "[But surely now you see why such a mission is necessary?]"

"[Indeed, though I wish you had informed me earlier when you first found her. She could've been delivered here safely and much earlier where she could've been trained and taught her craft. Now you tell me you are going to drag this poor child halfway across the world when she has little to no experience with danger?]"

Gandalf shook his head before switching abruptly to English again "Of course I was going to tell you. I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I think you can trust that I know what I'm doing."

"Do you?" Elrond responded with narrowed eyes, glancing back at Ariel who was trailing behind them on the stairs at a respectable distance, trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation. "That dragon has slept for sixty years. What will happen if your plan should fail, if you wake that beast?"

"What if we succeed?" Gandalf countered swiftly "If the dwarves take back the mountain our defences in the east will be strengthened."

"It is a dangerous move, Gandalf." Elrond shook his head.

"It is also dangerous to do nothing!" Gandalf exclaimed in exasperation. "Oh, come, the throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright. What is it you fear?"

Ariel watched curiously as she saw a dark look flash over Elrond's face. When he spoke next, his voice was low and just as grim.

"Have you forgotten? A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?"

He looked towards Ariel who blinked as she realised that he was addressing her. She didn't know whether to feel flattered that he sought her opinion on such an important matter or terrified of being put under the spotlight.

"Um…" She gripped her staff tighter in her hand as Gandalf also looked at her curiously. "I don't know about swear it won't happen, I mean Thorin does obsess a bit about the mountain…b-but I also don't think he would let himself fall that easily. He's a bit of a stubborn ass like that" She added, more to herself though both men heard her.

Elrond scowled as he caught sight of Gandalf's small smug smirk. Obviously, this wasn't the answer either had expected. Nonetheless, Elrond was persistent with his argument.

"That may be, but Gandalf, these decisions do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-Earth."

"With or without our help, these Dwarves will march on the mountain. They are determined to reclaim their homeland. I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels he is answerable to anyone. Nor, for that matter am I." Gandalf sighed doggedly before glancing at Ariel "Nor is young Ariel."

"It is not me you both must answer to" Elrond smirked as they finally approached the top of the steps where a flat open space set between a circle of stone pillars girdled in ivy.

It was a beautiful place, overlooking the full valley from on high, illuminated by lamps that lit the space with a gentle white light, revealing a large table set with five chairs at the centre of the space.

But Ariel did not care much for the beauty of the place.

There, standing in the middle of a grand archway on a slightly elevated platform, shining in the light of the bright waxing crescent moon above was a woman. She was tall and fair, wearing a dress of a shimmering white, with long wavy blonde hair that seemed to be a mixture of gold and silver light. Her face, while her face was unlined and forever youthful, her eyes seemed to swirl with ancient memories. She stood proud and tall over all the men present, elf and wizard alike.

"Lady Galadriel" Gandalf was also surprised by the woman's appearance, though not as startled as his apprentice who had gone so pale it was a miracle she didn't faint right there and then.

Oh my god…oh my god! It's Galadriel! I'm meeting freaking Galadriel! And if she's here, then that must mean-

Ariel quickly glanced back at the stone table but was suddenly interrupted when Galadriel addressed Gandalf in Elvish.

"Mithrandir [It has been a long time]"

"[Age may have changed me, but not so the Lady of Lorien]" Gandalf responded in kind with a bow, giving a sharp glance at Ariel who blinked as she was suddenly startled out of her stupor.

She gave a short curtsy; her face turned down to her shoes as she felt her cheeks burn red hot with embarrassment. Trust her to start gaping like a fish at this moment.

I must look like such an idiot!

Ariel huffed in her head, as she looked down at her plain green dress and scuffed brown travel boots. Never had she felt so dull and insignificant.

Not noticing his apprentice's discomfort, Gandalf smiled up at the Lady of Light warmly.

"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you," he said in English.

"he didn't" A new voice, deep and aged spoke into the night.

Ariel stiffened as she wheeled around to face the figure that had just appeared in the shadows to her right. It was an old man, garbed all in white robes and holding a black staff. He had long white hair and dark bushy eyebrows and beard and slightly sinister stern face.

"Saruman" Gandalf sighed with relief, though Ariel found herself feeling more apprehensive with each passing moment as the White Wizard stared coldly at her with suspicious eyes.

"You've been busy of late, my friend." he rumbled in his deep voice "So…This is the young child Nuldien sent across the sea."

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that Ariel did not like at all. He somewhat reminded her of one of her least favourite teachers at school, professional but cold and calculating and condescending.

She gripped her staff tightly in her hands, the green stone glimmering faintly in the dark.

Seeing her trepidation, Gandalf stepped forwards putting a firm hand on her shoulder. "Yes, indeed she is. Ariel, allow me to introduce the head of our order, Saruman the White. Saruman, this is Ariel the Green."

"It's an honour to meet you, sir. You as well Lady Galadriel" Ariel gulped as she bobbed her head respectfully to Galadriel who had descended back down from her platform to come level with them.

"The honour is ours young one. It is not every day one gets to meet a young fledgeling Istar. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" her eye's twinkled as she approached Ariel, her expression softening as she saw the younger girl look towards her shoes.

"Seventeen Mam. I will be eighteen in a couple of months" Ariel gulped, though she could already feel her nerves abate somewhat as she investigated the elven lady's face. Mysterious and powerful though she may have been, she had a comforting air about her even as she asked:

"And your family?"

"They're back home over the sea, I'm the only one here" Ariel glanced back down to her feet only to have it raised by a gentle pale hand.

"Come," Galadriel smiled kindly as she steered Ariel towards the table "You must tell us your story. All of it from the beginning"

And so Ariel told them about herself, about her parents and her family, though she kept the information about her homeworld as brief as she could to avoid any confusion or probing questions about it. She told them of her brother, how the two of them had been working at the library, and how the hag had cursed him, how Nuldien had come to her and sent her to the shores of the Grey Havens with a magic spell.

It was then she stopped to take a break, noticing that Gandalf and Saruman had joined her and Galadriel at the Council table while Elrond stood behind them leaning against a pillar.

All three men were looking pensively at her, frowning as they tried to digest her words.

"This hag that cursed your brother…" Elrond murmured stroking his chin. "What did she look like?"

"Uh…umm…She was about my height but she was hunched over. She wore all black, which now I think about it was really weird because it was a pretty hot day and-" she paused as Saruman narrowed his eyes sternly at her. "-And her face it was…well…it was kinda like looking at a vulture. She had this wrinkled skin and this big beaky nose, she had thin white wispy hair…and her hands….they were…they were like claws and one of them had…a mark…"

She stopped quickly to gulp down the lump that had formed in her throat. She could still feel it now, the burning hand on fire. The strange brand on an aged palm.

"A mark?" Saruman scoffed softly "And pray to tell what sort of mark was this?"

"A…a red eye. It-it was on her left palm."

There was a mind-numbing silence as all the White council stared at her. Not for the first time Ariel wished she could melt into her chair and disappear. Now she'd dropped the pin; there was no going back.

She saw Saruman, Gandalf and Elrond exchange a glance.

"Do you think it could be…" Elrond started, and Saruman nodded.

"Balcheth" the white wizard rolled his eyes "of course that miserable crone would be behind such an attack. Please, child, continue"

"But wait-who is she? What-"

"The rest of your story young lady. Now" Saruman cut across her irritably.

Ariel scowled but reluctantly acquiesced to his request. Maybe it was because she knew what he would become, but she thought something was off about the way Saruman was looking at her.

Do not fret young one; all shall be explained to you in time. The White Wizard often has very little patience in such strange matters as yours.

Galadriel's voice suddenly whispered inside her head and Ariel almost jumped in alarm. Then again she wondered why she was so surprised. She knew Galadriel had these powers, of course, she was going to use them to suss out the current situation.

Though that didn't mean Ariel was at all prepared for them either.

Even so, she calmly continued her story, telling the council how she was found on the beach, how Gandalf had taken her under his wing. She told them of her trip to the Shire and her travels with the dwarves and how Aragorn and Elrond had saved her from the wargs and brought her to Rivendell.

By the time she had finished telling of her incident with the shadow from the night before, Galadriel had stood up from her seat and was pacing around the table deep in thought.

"These are strange events" Saruman stroked his beard thoughtfully, but Ariel could see the disdain with which he looked at her. "especially strange that one so young should be sent across the sea because of a hag's mere meddling with mortal affairs."

"Mere meddling?" Ariel felt her gut heat up like a furnace of anger "My brother was almost killed"

"A tragic moment for you and your family I am sure. And this shadow? All this fuss for one near accident? Have you not considered Child that you might have been sleepwalking?" Saruman snorted.

"Saruman" Elrond started only to be steamrolled over by the young human girl.

"Sleepwalking?" Ariel rolled her eyes "Oh yes why didn't I think of that? Oh yeah, maybe because I was wide awake when this happened!"

Behind her back, Galadriel paused mid-stride, a small amused smirk creeping up her lips as she glanced down at Gandalf who was sighing in exasperation.

Of all the time his apprentice had to rear her hot head it had to be now. Though the more he thought about it, he really couldn't blame her.

Saruman wasn't exactly known to be the friendliest of wizards. He especially was most suspicious of magic wielders outside of this council and the other Istar of Middle Earth. Though that may have been because of his pride. Wise lore master he might have been, but like all creatures that dwelled upon this land, he was not without vice nor fault.

And so it did not surprise Gandalf in the slightest when the White Wizard's nostril's flared angrily.

"Impudent child." He scoffed turning to Gandalf, "I would've thought since you had designated yourself as her teacher you would've taught her some manners."

"Tis true Ariel is a little rough around the edges." Gandalf muttered sparing Ariel a glance to silence her before she could retort "However, given the circumstances surrounding her presence here it might do you well to consider her story without prejudice. She might not yet have much in the way of experience but I trust her word and judgement, and so did Nuldien, and she always had an eye for these sorts of things."

Saruman straightened up stiffly eyes flashing, but he stayed his anger quickly as he caught sight of Galadriel's warning look behind the young woman's back.

So, the Lady has taken a shine to this urchin? Why am I not surprised?

With a cough, he schooled himself back together and forced a benign smile as he addressed Ariel again.

"Forgive me for my hastiness young one." he tried to say kindly, but Ariel could see the sharp gleam in his dark eyes "I must confess it has been a long time since I've heard a tale so strange. Especially one concerning our old friend Nuldien."

"I take it she hasn't been around for a while?" Ariel sighed as she leaned back in her chair.

"Not for a couple of centuries" Elrond answered, his posture relaxing now that confrontation had been avoided. "Though there were rumours that she appeared briefly before King Thror in the days before the dragon attacked the lonely mountain. Only she disappeared before any of us could make contact."

"Oh…" Ariel deflated. Well, there went her one chance at finding out more about the woman that sent her.

Sensing her disappointment Galadriel was quick to change the topic as she addressed Ariel again.

"Your powers grant you control over nature" it wasn't a question, yet Ariel felt compelled to nod and answer.

"Yeah…yeah they do."

"To what extent?"

"I'm not sure" Ariel gulped her grip tightening on the wood of her staff. "I mean…I've always had a green thumb since I was small. I've never found a plant I couldn't look after. And I've usually been pretty good with most animals…But these powers I have now…I've never…" her voice fell away as she looked down into her hand

"I see" Galadriel looked thoughtfully at the young girl "And what of the rest of your family? Have you ever seen them wield any magic before?"

Ariel shook her head. "No, never. Why? Is there someone else like me?"

"Radagast, though he is rather flighty and scatterbrained" Saruman added under his breath.

"Nonetheless he is wise in his own way." Gandalf countered swiftly. "and he is a valuable well of knowledge as far as the animals of this world are concerned"

"Yeah, I saw" Ariel snorted only to cough quickly as Gandalf spared her a small disapproving look.

Right gotta be on my best behaviour.

She heard someone clearing their throat and looked up to see Saruman looking at her sharply again.

"That shadow that attacked you, can you describe it in more detail"

"Maybe…I'm not sure…I didn't really see it per se. I mean I did see a shadow but it wasn't anything y'know, concrete and…" Ariel trailed off, gulping as she felt all eyes turn to assess her shrewdly.

"Okay…uh…At first, I couldn't see it. I could only hear it. It sounded like…like my brother."

"I see and later on when you could see it?" Elrond probed.

Ariel paused, biting her lip anxiously as she remembered the fiery red eye that had filled her dreams of late.

"Like I said before…just a shadow. Kinda like smoke" she mumbled not meeting any of their eyes. Saruman opened his mouth to say something but quickly stopped as Galadriel once again silenced him with a look.

"You have done well to have made it this far young one." The Lady of Light smiled gently at the younger woman before addressing the rest of the council "Though perhaps you might answer one more question."

"Sure? What is it?" Ariel blinked.

"Your parents, and your brother…are they all human?"

"Uh…yes…at least I think so?" Ariel looked around at the rest of the council.

"Hmm…" Galadriel frowned as her eyes scanned Ariel's face up and down, drinking in each of her features. The red-brown locks, the hazel eyes that seemed more green than brown in the light of the moon, much like the green glow from within her soul.

Galadriel had not felt such raw untapped power since the days of her own youth. It was very different from Gandalf's inner fire and the burning power within Saruman's form that she could feel nor was it like the light of the Eldar that glowed within herself or Elrond. It was like feeling the life force of a young tree, strong and yet subtle, fresh and yet supported by centuries of the earth's energy.

She was sure Gandalf, Elrond and Saruman could sense it. After all the girl wasn't really doing anything to hide her power.

The Lady of Light's thoughts were interrupted when Ariel shivered and fought desperately to stifle a yawn, failing miserably as she tried her best to hide it behind her hand.

"Tis getting late." Galadriel glanced at the Moon in the sky which was already beginning to dip just below its peak before looking back at Ariel. "And you should get your rest. You have been through a lot."

"But what about the council?" Ariel frowned.

"It shall continue, for we have much to discuss." Saruman snorted waspishly.

Ariel rolled her eyes.

Oh great, so now I'm getting turfed out while the "grown up's" have their chat.

Seeing her temper beginning to flare again, Gandalf smirked and quickly pulled her to her feet.

"Do not worry; you will be free to re-join us once you have rested."

Ariel opened her mouth to retort only to yawn as another wave of tiredness hit her again. Just what was with her? Why was she so tired suddenly?

It was only when Lindir arrived to escort her away from the meeting, and she turned to glance one last time at the council did she see why.

Thereupon Galadriel's hand, hidden in the folds of her dress, something was glimmering faintly.

Something that looked like a silver ring...

But then the glimmer was gone as Lindir took her arm and led her down the stairs and away from the council.

Once the young girl was out of sight, Saruman rounded on Gandalf with narrowed eyes.

"It seems you have kept a great deal from us Old friend!"

"I'm not quite sure what you mean Saruman" Gandalf replied carefully, though Elrond could see the Grey Wizard stiffen a little as the White Wizard scoffed.

"Oh but don't you?" he stood to his feet and looked at the rest of the council. "barely a month or two since you started sniffing your nose into this dwarf business, and a young human girl with ancient magic suddenly springs into your lap? And you expect us to not be suspicious of her presence?"

"I must agree with Saruman." Elrond nodded, though his tones were far gentler and steadier than the old wizard. "It is unheard of that a human could ever possess the powers of one of your order unless Nuldien found a way to somehow transfer her powers across to another being."

"A preposterous notion" Saruman scoffed irritably "We might be able to grant a small portion of our power temporarily to another being, but even then their abilities are severely limited, especially if they are human like this woman-no! this child."

"Unless of course…she was not completely human, and she did not know it." Galadriel's voice was soft and careful as she glanced at Gandalf "I take it you have not yet told her about your suspicions then?"

"No, I haven't told Ariel anything." Gandalf fiddled with the hem of his grey sleeve "Of course I plan to eventually when I have more proof that my theory is correct. Her situation is a tricky one, and should word get out before we have the full truth the consequences could be catastrophic."

"You make it sound like you're expecting a great and powerful force of evil itself to descend down upon us once it finds her." Saruman leaned back in his chair.

"It already has, Saruman." Gandalf glared up waspishly at his colleague. "That shadow of her brother was no parlour trick. There are dark forces at work here, and this child has a part to play"

"You might think she is an agent for the darkness?" Elrond quirked a brow. "She did not feel as such to me."

"Neither to me," Galadriel said softly. "No. Young Ariel is no agent of Sauron or Morgoth. If anything it is quite the reverse. That which is dark always lusts for the energy of something warm and bright to feed upon."

"the Lady is right" Elrond nodded thoughtfully his eyes hardening a little "it has been a long time since such a young force of nature walked this earth. And your apprentice has yet to learn to harness and control her strength. Many a dark creature will be naturally drawn to her essence. One can only hope you can teach her to contain her power before something else tries to take it for its own."

Ariel"

"hmm"

"Ariel wake up."

Her brow furrowed as she opened her eyes to see the blurred outline of a dark-haired person as he shook her shoulder.

"Kili?" Ariel grunted as she sleepily sat up. "Wha? What happened?"

"We're leaving" came a voice from somewhere behind. Ariel turned quickly and saw to her surprise Thorin standing in the doorway with his arms folded and his face set.

"Leaving?" Ariel looked out her window. It was barely tinted grey as the dawn just about peeped in over the horizon.

"But why I thought the plan was that we were going to wait for a couple of days till Gandalf asked Lord-"

"Plans change" Thorin grunted. "Elrond will never condone this quest and Durin's day is almost upon us which is why we must leave as soon as may be."

"We must leave?" Ariel narrowed her eyes at him, and the dwarf prince bristled.

"If you wish to remain then I will not stop you." but then quietly added "nor will I blame you or fault you for wanting to return home…especially after what I have said…and after what that shadow tried to do to you."

Ariel stared at him in surprise. Was he, the great Thorin "jackass" Oakenshield…trying to…to apologise to her?

"Thorin…" Ariel gulped running a hand through her hair. Thorin looked up at her expectantly.

"Can you please leave I need to get changed?"

Thorin blinked for a moment. Ariel rolled her eyes.

"Well I won't be able to travel in my nightclothes now will I?"

Thorin's eyebrows rose in surprise, though it was short lived as he gave a small nod in acceptance.

"Of course. We will be on the ground floor when you finish. If you are late we'll leave without you" he added in his usual irritable gruff grumble before leaving the door.

Thorin leaving me without an argument? Oh god, what is this world coming to?

Ariel shook her head before quickly turning to look at Kili, who had been watching the exchange in silent shock.

"You too Kili" she waggled a finger towards the door. "Or do I have to slap you too?"

She had meant the comment to be playful however she was surprised to see the young dwarf flush a little before fleeing off after his uncle, shutting the door tight behind him.

Quickly as she could in the dim light she found her travelling clothes which had been mended expertly by the elves.

Her travel dress that had been torn and dirtied was now as neat and as green as the day it had first been given to her as had her dark green cloak, corset and arm braces. However, there were a couple of small differences. For one thing, the boots were an entirely new pair, thin, lightweight and well fitted, though still comfortable. They were just like the shoes she'd seen the sentinels of Rivendell wear as was the new sword which had been sheathed in a dark green scabbard on a sturdy brown leather belt. Ariel marvelled for a moment at the details in bronze of the hilt and guard which had been shaped to resemble a great leafless tree branching outwards with the blade sticking out the top like a silver thorn.

The sun's about to rise

Ariel bit her lip as she secured her sword once more on her hip before adjusting the hood of her cloak over her head before picking up her staff.

She was becoming used to having the stick around in her hand. Sometimes she wondered at how natural it felt to wield it. Almost as if her hand had been made to hold it like that.

When she came down, she found the company all packed and waiting for her silent but fidgeting. Even Bilbo was tapping his large fuzzy hobbit foot softly against the ground; a nervous tick he always got when he was anxious.

She was just about to ask him about what was wrong when Balin suddenly stepped forward to greet her.

"Good morning lass. How are you feeling?"

"Oh…" Ariel gulped. "I'm fine. How are all of you?"

"Oh good now that we've all been properly fed and rested." Bofur spoke up with a small grin "Bombur has put on the weight he'd lost."

Bombur gave her a tiny wave and a smile, which Ariel returned doing her best to look as inconspicuous as possible. She'd caused enough trouble already on this quest; she didn't want to be the source of any more problems.

As if guessing her discomfort, Thorin was quick to hiss:

"Right are we ready to leave now?"

After many small excitable choruses of "yes" and "of course" they all snuck out in pairs or threes out the doors of their buildings.

Ariel did her best to stay at the back of the pack, trying to pair herself off with Bombur who was usually emotionally oblivious to others save when they were hungry. However, when she made to try and walk out behind the dwarf, she felt two pairs of hands grab at her arms and steer her up.

It was both Fili and Kili and their faces were grim as they hissed.

"Thorin has told us to stick close to you," Fili answered her before she could even open her mouth.

"Ordered more like" Kili muttered, "both of Bilbo and us if we're not around."

"And Dwalin and Balin" Fili added, "Thorin told them but not anyone else about the man we saw at the river."

"Thank goodness" Ariel sighed. At least the two older dwarves knew how to keep a level head when it came to dangerous situations.

She bit her lip as she suddenly registered Thorin's name in Fili's sentence.

"Did Thorin or either of you find anything last night when he went looking?"

"We don't know. We only saw that strange man, and he was quick to vanish as soon as Lord Elrond found us. As for uncle, well, if he has seen anything, he's not told us." Kili shrugged though he looked worried as he glanced up towards the head of the company where Thorin was counting off their party as they snuck out across a courtyard.

Ariel ducked her head slightly as she and the two young dwarves made to dash across the empty clearing.

As they darted over, her mind was filled suddenly with the giggles and soft snickering's of naughty children, a small splash of water accompanied by a loud angry and yet amusing growl.

Despite her tiredness, Ariel smiled widely.

"What is it?" Fili asked curiously as they made their way behind Bifur and Bofur to hide under a set of stairs.

"It's just…just" Ariel snorted into her hand "I've not snuck around like this since I was a kid. The last time I had to was when we were pranking Kirovski at school."

"Kirov-what?" Kili quirked a confused brow at her. The human names of Ariel's home always confused him greatly.

"He was my school bully" Ariel explained her smile widening as the memory played over much clearer over her mind's eye "And he was the most horrid boy you'd ever meet. Used to stick gum in my hair and then tug on it while he called me names like Air-head."

"What did you do to him?" Kili snorted in amusement as they crept around a statue of an elvish sentinel.

"Who said I did anything to him?" Ariel mock pouted in innocence only for Fili to raise a brow at her. "Ok, ok my friends and I may have…accidentally poured a bucket of paint over his head."

"Accidentally?" Fili snorted as Kili began to snigger under his breath.

"Oh yes," Ariel giggled. "We had an art class, and the teacher told us to clean out the last bit of pink paint from the paint tins by pouring it out the window. Of course, she didn't specify which window we had to pour out of so…"

Both dwarfs both doubled over with laughter as they stopped just under a tree. They were back at the courtyard before the bridge from which they'd first entered Rivendell all those days ago.

Thorin looked back and rolled his eyes as he saw both his nephews and Ariel giggling like naughty children about to pull a prank.

"Will the three of you hurry up?!" he snapped quietly as the three of them still sniggering ran towards the bridge.

"Whoa, careful" Kili grabbed Ariel's wrist as she stumbled a little on the narrow stretch of stone.

Ariel gulped as she looked down. The light of dawn was barely peeping over the horizon now, and the ground beneath her was still very much dark, so much so that it was difficult for her to see the bridge or the large drop beneath it to the roaring rapids far below.

She was grateful the two brothers held onto her hands as they walked across, guiding her nimbly but safely to the other side. Dwarves while not as sharp as Elves had keener eyes for the dark than her normal human ones.

Once she felt the rough earth under her feet, she sighed suddenly feeling a rush of energy as the grass beneath her glowed slightly.

Both Fili and Kili jumped in alarm, but a second later, Ariel opened her eyes with a huge sigh.

"Wow… that was nice" she exhaled with a long puff and as she spoke both dwarves thought they saw her eyes flash green for a moment before returning to their hazel shade.

"Uh…is everything ok with you three?" Bilbo's voice wafted as he stood some way away from them.

"Oh yes we're fine Bilbo" Ariel smiled.

Bilbo smiled back though he was unsure. He had been with Bofur in the pair before the three youngest members had crossed and was waiting for Bombur and his partner to get up the large rocky stairs that climbed high to the top of the valley so that he could follow.

When he saw Ariel's eyes glow green he had stood rooted to the spot. During that moment it seemed as if she were another person, no another being altogether. She had looked for a moment like a tree had been carved into the shape of a person and was breathing after long years of sleep.

But Ariel was not a living tree. She was a living person.

I only see these things because I'm sleep deprived

"Be on your guard. We're about to step over the Edge of the Wild. Balin, you know these paths lead on. Master Baggins I suggest you keep up."

"What?" Bilbo blinked suddenly realising that he had stopped in his tracks and was looking blankly back at the valley of Rivendell veiled in the light of the rising sun.

He quickly turned to see Thorin standing still as the rest of the company moved past him, counting them off and pulling up the stragglers. When Bilbo made to step towards him, he spared the hobbit a small irritable roll of the eyes before trudging off to follow Nori.

The Hobbit rubbed his eyes as he made to follow Bifur's trail as the rough dwarf stepped before him grumbling softly in his native tongue.

Bilbo still couldn't believe they were going to sneak out of Rivendell without Gandalf to guide them. It felt so wrong like they were thieves stealing out of the back door.

He just hoped the Wizard wouldn't take long to catch up with them.

Meanwhile, Ariel turned around to face the valley. Somewhere amongst those beautiful houses, a young human man was preparing to start a new life amongst his people: a young man with a great destiny, one of nine that would change the whole world as they knew it.

She only hoped she'd live long enough to see him grow into that role.

"Good Luck Aragorn." She murmured under her breath "I really hope you make it."

A woman with flowing hair of glistening gold and eyes that were as blue, and as the clear waters of untouched, untainted streams looked over the sunrise as it bathed the Valley of Imladris in the morning light.

But her mind was not on the dawn. Her gaze instead was set upon the high wall of the valley, upon the side of which a tiny green light glimmered in and out of focus as it wove behind boulders and vegetation that grew on the rocky cliff face.

The lady frowned as she focused her mind upon the glow.

No matter how much she dwelled upon the source, she could not shake off the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She turned her head towards the flat round courtyard she was standing before to see two elderly men both in long robes. One was dressed in grey the other in white, arguing in soft voices. A few feet away a tall dark and grim elf lord was conversing in rapid elvish with a servant of his house before quickly following them down a set of stairs.

Lady Galadriel of the Golden Wood of Lothlorien eyed the grey-clad old man as he tried to speak calmly to his fellow.

"Saruman, I understand that we do not want to believe the enemy has returned, but surely these incidents are not coincidental."

"Incidents?" Saruman the white narrowed his dark eyes upon Gandalf with obvious impatience "Gandalf we all know that the humans are wary about magic in any form. They see a small shadow move of its own accord, and they believe it to be witchcraft when in fact it is merely a light trick. And as for Orcs and Trolls, they are foul creatures that will move at will and have no care for the borders they cross."

"Saruman these were no ordinary Orcs we met on our road!" Gandalf hissed "these were an organised company, a scouting party, not mere hunters looking for food-"

"Enough old Friend" Saruman sighed heavily "I am weary. We have talked long into the night, and even the wise need their rest."

And with that, the old Istari walked away leaving behind his frustrated colleague.

"Wise need their rest. Hmph" Gandalf huffed as the hem of Saruman's white robes whipped out of sight down the stairs "More like he cannot handle the truth."

"You are worried."

Gandalf looked up at Galadriel who was assessing him, not with shrewd eyes but with concerned ones.

"Yes I am" he murmured as he made to walk up to her vantage point. When he was level with her, she spoke once more, this time more quietly.

"Because of the power the child has within."

"She did not ask to be sent here in the first place" Gandalf looked at the cliff wall where he knew the company of Thorin had passed over.

"No she didn't" Galadriel nodded in agreement. "but perhaps that is for the best. I have always found that those who are best suited to power are those who do not seek it. However those kinds of people are few and far between, and great power always does attract those of great greed."

At this, the grey wizard looked up at the tall, fair elven lady before him. However, her gaze was not hard nor disappointed. It was merely concerned.

"You will follow them."

"yes," Gandalf nodded.

"You are right to help Thorin Oakenshield. But I fear this quest has set in motion forces we do not yet understand. The riddle of the Morgul blade and the green stone must be answered. Something moves in the shadows unseen, hidden from our sight, it will not show itself. Not yet. But every day it grows in strength and seeks new power. You must be careful."

At this Gandalf's face paled but even as he made to stride away, Galadriel called after him.

"Mithrandir. Why the Halfling?"

Gandalf turned around his eyes softening with thought.

"I do not know" he admitted quietly "Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold people in check. But that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk. Simple acts of kindness and love…"

And now the old wizard smiled to himself sadly.

"Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid…and he gives me courage."

Galadriel's face softened as she silently glided towards him and took his wrinkled hands in her smooth, unblemished ones.

"Do not be afraid, Mithrandir." She spoke softly. "You are not alone. [If you should ever need my help, I will come]"

Chapter Text

Ariel Brooks had been to a fair number of loud concerts in her life, but nothing could have prepared her ears for the claps of thunder as rain pelted down from on high over the slopes of the Misty Mountains.

She shivered as she tried her best to sidle carefully along the edge of a thin path of stone, keeping her hand flat to the rocky wall beside her as her anchor against the slippery ground.

KABOOM!

Lightning crashed on a mountain across from them, the light so bright the night was as bright as day for a split moment.

"This is getting ridiculous" she mumbled before bellowing out at the top of her lungs to be heard over the howling wind to the front of the line "Thorin! THORIN! This rain is not going to stop any time soon! We can't keep going on like this!"

"We don't stop until nightfall" Thorin roared back at her with his usual eye roll.

"The sky is so dark already! How will we even know if it's night or not?!" Kili grumbled beside Fili as they followed right behind Ariel who flinched as five seconds later the thunder rolled in again, growling like the giant rumbles of a beast in the dark clouds.

"Agh!"

"Bilbo!" she squeaked in terror as the poor hobbit in front of her slipped on a smooth and wet rock, almost toppling over the edge of the cliff. Thankfully however he was caught and pulled back by Dwalin and Bofur and Oin, though they too almost slipped off in the process.

"THORIN!" Dwalin shouted "The lass is right, it's too dangerous for any of us to walk any further. We need to find shelter!"

Thorin looked back ready to retort as usual to the discontent with his plans; however upon seeing the desperate and hangdog expressions on the faces of his soaked company he nodded.

There were immense groans of relief…though it was not to last for long.

"LOOK OUT" Dwalin yelled as suddenly out of nowhere a giant slab of the mountain across from them was torn out of the hard rock and tossed in their direction by a gigantic stone hand.

Within moments the great rock had splintered and was falling in massive pieces, the smallest of which was roughly about the size of a horse each!

Ariel's scream mingled with that of the others as they all shrunk under the shelter of the wall of the cliff face.

"This is no thunderstorm" Balin cried out pointing out into the distance "It's a thunder battle LOOK!"

And even as he spoke a great figure rose up from the side of one of the mountains. Ariel gaped open-mouthed in both awe and fear as it rose to tower high into the air. It was so humongous that it was almost as high as the mountain itself.

"Well bless me" Bofur gasped "The legends are true. Giants! Stone Giants!

With a bellow that shook the earth beneath their feet, the great Stone Giant grabbed another significant chunk out of the side of a mountain in the range and threw it hard over their heads.

Ariel turned quickly as the shadow of the projectile passed over them only to see another tremendous giant spin as its jaw was clocked hard, bits of rock flying off as it splintered upon impact.

"Take cover you fool!" Thorin was yelling, and Ariel wasted no time in grabbing hold of Bilbo's hand and tugging him back to stand as close as he could to the rocky wall as it began to crumble away.

There was a loud gasp from beside her Ariel looked up to see Kili's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as he looked down at her feet.

"Kili-" but even as she looked down, she felt her heart sink like a stone. There right in-between her legs was a massive crack in the rock.

"Oh-my-god-oh-my-god-oh-my-god" she bleated her breath heaving with panic as with every millisecond passing the crack in the rock widened.

"Here take my hand!" Kili reached out to grab her, but soon she was dangling over the edge, her arms too far away from him to reach. She stumbled as the earth shuddered and suddenly felt her feet hit the air.

"GOTCHA!"

Ariel felt an arm grab her by the scruff of her cloak and tug her back onto the rock behind just before the place where she had once stood fell away.

She held on tight as Fili braced her hard with his full arm against the cliff wall as the entire shelf began to move.

Ariel looked up and almost wet herself at the sight that greeted her. A stone giant, as great as the two that they had just seen was creakily getting to his feet as if he were an old boxer being tagged into another fight in the ring…and all fourteen of them were standing right on his knees.

She shut her eyes and prayed for her life as the Stone Giants began another bout, the knees jerking about as the large creatures crashed into each other like angry bulls.

Ariel heard Fili yell out to her but didn't understand the words as she felt them begin to fall forwards.

Oh no. This is it.

She whimpered to herself, feeling tears spring over her eyes

I'm going to die; there's no way I can survive this.

She gripped the dwarf's arm for dear life as she heard a great roar of someone from far off as they crashed into the mountainside.

Then suddenly everything was pitch black and silent.

"NOOO!" Thorin bellowed in horror as he saw the great stone giant's knee crash headlong into the cliff.

His nephew was one of those few that had just crashed and if he even so much as let a scratch of harm come to them-

His heart was hammering against his ribs, he dashed forward, not caring for the wet or his other friends behind him.

No, let them be alright! Let them be alright!

He rounded a corner and sighed with relief as he caught sight of six dwarves all grunting and groaning in pain.

However, when Bofur came up to check the bodies, he began to panic.

"Where's Bilbo? Where's the Hobbit?"

And then another horrified yell this time from Kili as he helped his brother up.

"Where's Ariel?"

Thorin quickly whipped his head around and to his dismay found that both his nephew and his comrade were both right. Neither the Hobbit nor the girl was anywhere on the shelf.

The dwarf prince felt his heart sink like stones in deep water as he heard the small desperate cries from somewhere below.

"Mahal help us!" Ori cried out as he looked down at his feet. There was Bilbo his eyes wide with terror as he gripped onto the edge of the cliff.

But even as the dwarf darted down to grab his hand, the hobbit slipped with a cry.

Thorin dashed over quickly assessing the cliff wall, even in his panic. There was a small but sturdy rock that jutted out just at Bilbo's level.

Without so much as a second thought, the dwarf prince hopped down onto the small rock and grabbed Bilbo by the scruff of his jacket, up into the dwarves arms.

"Phew! I thought we nearly lost our burglar" Dwalin puffed.

"He's been lost ever since he left home" Thorin growled as he saw the hobbits furry feet finally gain enough grip above him. "He should never have come."

"No-wait THORIN!" Bilbo yelled as he was brought back up to stand. "Ariel's still down there she's-….oh no…"

Bilbo felt a lump form in his throat and clapped a hand over his mouth.

There were several gasps and whispers from above.

Thorin's eyes widened as he looked down.

There down far below but still visible to their eyes a girl with dark red hair and covered in green, was lying on a flat shelf of rock. Her eyes were shut, and her face was pale and unkempt as the rain kept pelting down upon her, swamping her body in muddy, mossy slime.

"… Lass…" Balin shut his eyes just as Ori began to blubber beside him.

Even from the height at which they stood above her, they could tell she was not moving one inch.

Thorin's eyes darted around trying to see if he could find a foothold to climb down on, but even as he did his head knew it was no use. No one, not even a dwarf could've survived a fall that high. It would take a miracle for Ariel to even be grasping at the brink of death now.

There were several loud shouts, and the grinding of boots on stone and Thorin looked up to see Kili struggling against the hands of the other members of the company, who were trying to pull him away from the edge.

"Get off! Let go!" The young dwarf roared angrily.

"Kili get back up!" Thorin growled, unable to restrain the tremble in it.

Kili looked up at his uncle his face determined even through the tears streaming from his eyes.

"We can't just leave her down there! What if she's-"

"Kili there isn't a way down. It's too high! There's no way she could've survived" Thorin winced as the words left his mouth. "I'm sorry."

The camp they made in the cave was one of silence that night. No one dared speak to anyone save in passing trivial matters, and even then they were granted disapproving looks, especially from Fili and Kili who were currently sleeping side by side on their own in a corner as far away from Thorin as they could.

Thorin kept his eyes on his two nephews as he lay on his side; guilt overriding his mind. It had been a hard blow for them to be stopped from fetching Ariel's body from that ledge till the rain and storm outside had cleared.

Out of the two of them, Fili was in the worst state. He had been holding onto Ariel when she had fallen and seemed to think he was responsible for her death, despite Kili's attempts to persuade him otherwise.

Whether it was because of their ages being so close, or their carefree personalities, out of all the company, the two young brothers had been the fondest of Ariel. Almost like she was another younger sibling.

And now she's our first casualty.

Thorin's usually stoic jaw clenched as he stared hard at the stone floor he was laying on.

"Go back home to your mother's lap."

He felt disgusted with himself. He couldn't believe he had said such things. Even if the young woman was a witch..

No matter how much the girl had grated on his nerves with her free spirit and sharp tongue he'd never once wished for actual harm to come to her.

His guts now not only had dropped in his body but had vanished as he remembered the sight of the lifeless youthful face below. Ariel's eyes were shut, but he could still see the remnants of fear and pain imprinted into the features.

He dared not imagine what she must have been feeling on the inside when she'd fallen.

Alone, far away from home amongst strangers. It was a death nobody deserved.

"Forgive me, Ariel Brooks."

Far below on the dark shelf of rock, a girl with dark red hair stirred.

"Ow…" Ariel grunted feeling her neck twinge as she turned her head to look to the side.

"Guys…what happened? Guys?"

There was no one around her.

But no surely-how the hell did I survive that drop? I should've surely died and broken my back-ooh! Oow!

She rubbed her lower back as she sat up, trying to ignore the sinking feeling of dread as she called out softly.

"Bilbo? Balin? Dwalin? Bofur? Fili? Kili? Bombur? Oin? Gloin? Nori? Dori? Ori? Bifur?...THORIN?!"

She yelled the last name with much anger and frustration as she kicked hard at the stone wall, stubbing her toe in the process.

She hopped on her uninjured foot, cursing softly with the foulest of curse words that would have made her mother and father faint with shock before striking the stone again.

"Thorin you goddamn ass-! You mother f-ing moron son of a b-! Where the bloody f-ing hell are you, idiots?!"

But even as she roared a flash of lightning sounded on the mountain peak above her and the rain only pelted down harder.

Great, it's still raining, and I'm all cold, wet and alone here…on this shelf…there's No way up and no way down,

She shivered as the cold droplets from above pelted down upon her already soaked body and head just as she felt something warm dribble down her cheek. She reached up timidly and felt the cut from where her cheek had scraped against the rock beside her.

It'll probably get infected.

She snivelled quietly to herself as she made to crouch down in a huddle on the ground. However, for all the good it did she might as well have just continued to lie down and let herself get washed away.

CRACK!

Ariel's head jerked up quickly to look at the wall. What had once appeared to have been solid stone now had a great big crack running down the centre of it.

What on earth-

CRACK!

Ariel fell backwards onto her behind just as a large slab of stone to the right of the crack began to grind itself forwards to reveal a dark gaping chasm of a cave.

The walls were round and high, carved out of the stone of the mountain itself, with wooden beams to support it. Each of these beams was dead and lifeless as the stone and were held together by ropes and dark, dirty iron chains.

However none of that seemed to matter to her now, not when from the darkness several shorter creatures with long arms, snubbed faces and dirty, disgusting skin was crawling towards her like a swarm of giant mutated cockroaches.

Ariel screamed.

Bilbo Baggins jumped up from his sleep, his eyes wide and his brow drenched with sweat.

What was that?

He looked around wildly. All about him were dwarves sleeping and snoring on the ground. Outside rain pelted down like a snare drum on a continuous roll while thunder and lightning flashed outside.

And yet in spite of all that racket, the hobbit was sure he'd heard a scream of a girl.

No.

He shook his head sadly to himself

She couldn't have survived, and neither would I have if I had fallen.

And at this Bilbo began to wonder. What if it had been him that had taken Ariel's place?

Would the dwarves grieve for his loss? Or would he have just been left to decompose on a flat lump of rock, without the dignity of a grave or a proper send-off? Just a nameless corpse or skeleton on the side of a mountain.

Thorin's words from before echoed through his mind.

"He has no place amongst us."

Was that it then? Was Bilbo Baggins just dragged away from his hobbit hole for nothing?

Without further ado, Bilbo picked himself up off the ground and began to strap on his gear again.

That was it! Thorin Oakensheild had just left the body of a dead young girl lie and rot on the mountainside. If this was how it was going to be then he wanted no part in it; screw the contract!

Picking up his walking stick and holding it high in his hands he trod carefully over the legs of the sleeping dwarves almost accidentally tripping over Oin's feet as the dwarf suddenly decided to turn over onto his side.

Bilbo paused as some of the dwarves stirred for a moment, before dropping back into their loud snores.

He sighed silently under his breath before quietly creeping towards the cave entrance.

However just before he could step out there was a soft frantic hiss.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

It was Bofur, and he was sitting up in his corner from where he had positioned himself for the first watch.

"Back to Rivendell" Bilbo clipped but as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the dwarf was scrambling over to him.

"No, no you can't turn back now eh? You're part of the company; you're one of us."

"I'm not though am I?" Bilbo shrugged. "Thorin said I should never have come and he was right. I'm not a Took; I'm a Baggins. I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door."

"You're upset, and you're homesick," Bofur said sympathetically "I understand-"

"No, you don't." Bilbo hissed "You don't understand. None of you do. You're dwarves, you are used to this life to living on the road, never settling in one place not belonging anywhere! If you did understand, then there wouldn't be a girl lying dead over the edge of a cliff!"

Bofur's once kind and sympathetic face now paled and fell like a stone.

Bilbo repeated over what he'd just said in his mind and quickly backtracked.

"Oh, no I'm sorry I didn't-I didn't-"

"No…" Bofur mumbled quietly looking back at the rest of the sleeping company "You're right, we don't belong anywhere."

He turned back to the hobbit with a small, sad smile.

"And I wish you all the luck in the world Bilbo, I do."

He patted Bilbo on the arm, and Bilbo smiled gratefully at him before beginning to turn around.

Bofur frowned as he caught sight of something glimmering on Bilbo's belt.

"What's that?"

"Hmm?" Bilbo quickly looked down to where the dwarf was looking and blinked.

His sword, the small blade Gandalf had picked up from the troll hoard was glowing a bright blue. He could almost remember the words the wizard had told him when he had been handed the weapon.

"The blade is of elvish make which means it will glow blue when orcs are about."

His face drained of colour.

Oh no…

There was the rustling of material as Thorin leaned up from his spot on the ground. Contrary to what the Hobbit had first thought, he had not fallen asleep. He'd been wide awake ever since Bilbo had tried to sneak out and had been watching the exchange between him and Bofur with quiet disappointment.

He should have known that the hobbit would not stay with them now that his only real friend in the company was gone.

But now he was alert as he saw Bilbo pull out the blade on his hip just as the ground beneath them shuddered ominously.

Thorin quickly looked about and saw to his horror that there was a crack in the floor winding its way in between all the sleeping bodies of the others.

"Wake up! Wake up!" he barked kicking out to whoever he could reach.

The rest of the company, who had only just managed to get to sleep within the past hour suddenly jerked awake and looked around in confusion.

Just in time for the floor to suddenly drop beneath them and plunge them all into total darkness.

Ariel Brooks screamed and screeched as she struggled against the many filthy long arms of the goblins about her.

She could only guess they were goblins because despite her terror her mind was working on the double to remember the passages in TheHobbit book where Thorin and the company got captured by the Great-

OH MY GOD! NO-NO-NO-NO-NO! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING TO ME!

She squeaked with terror as a goblin reached out to grab her by the roots of her hair and tug her forwards. Its swarm of fellows followed each one of them doing their best to snatch a piece of their terrified victim's clothes, ripping the material with their claw-like nails.

Ariel almost gagged from the smell of decay and filth that blew off the foul creatures like radiation from a nuclear power leak. It was so pungent that she was almost throwing up over herself as she was dragged further and further into the darkness.

The paths about her were only made of wood and rope or stone if they were close enough to the wall. However, they seemed sturdy enough to hold the weight of all the disgusting inhabitants they served plus her own.

But Ariel was not concerned about whether she would fall. As she passed by a crack in the rock, a large sweaty, wrinkled hand, probably one of the goblins, had just yanked her staff and her sword away from her body. Horrified she did her best to scramble back for it only for a row of small sharp teeth to dig itself in her shoulder in punishment.

She howled in pain, much to the amusement of the goblins who all cackled as she screeched.

"AHHH! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! HELP ME PLEASE SOMEONE! ANYONE?!"

Usually Ariel would've scoffed at such typical damsel in distress lines, however now that the time came for her to be in trouble, she found that nothing else was willing to spew from her mouth. She had no weapons to fight with, and she didn't know any martial arts whatsoever, so hand to hand combat was out of the question.

She wasn't powerfully built like a dwarf, nor fast like an elf, nor small or as sneaky as a hobbit. She was just a single human girl with only her voice at her disposal.

A voice that just about fell away into a horrified silence as she was dragged into a vast space deep within the heart of the mountain.

This entire area was larger than five football stadiums combined, so big in fact that the goblin city itself could fit snugly in with room to spare. Flaming torches lined all the walkways and walls providing a bright but still harsh orange-red glow about the caverns that cast dark, stark shadows.

Ariel could feel her eyes streaming over in tears of fright as she was brought over a rickety wooden bridge and onto a platform raised high in the centre of the Goblin city. There seated in all his morbidly disgusting glory sat a goblin of enormous size -no wait- enormous was merely a euphemism.

Oh god he's bigger than Jabba the Hut

Ariel gulped down the bile threatening to rise in her throat as she looked upon the Great Goblin for the first time.

He was towering over her at more than nine feet at least and was giant, obese, bloated with lots of warts, lumps, and scars riddled over the fatty hips that were thankfully covered by a torn and soiled loincloth. In his hands, which alone were the size of large dustbins, he carried a large staff decorated with the skull of what seemed to be a ram, adorned with shrunken heads. But what got to Ariel most was his chin or rather the massive drooping almost tumorous growth that was hanging off the bottom of the large piggy face like the misshapen blown up waddle of a turkey.

Ariel barely had time to take in all of the terrible mass before she was thrown before the Great Goblin's feet with a harsh shove. When she squeaked upon impact with the floor, there was a horrific din as all the goblins about her began to cackle once more.

"Well, well, well" The Great Goblin King sniggered maliciously as he looked down from his large wooden throne to the girl at his feet.

"What have we got here boys?"

"A treat for your malevolence" a smaller goblin servant hissed bowing low to his leader. "found her kicking down one of our small escape doors."

"One of our escape doors hmm?" The Great Goblin turned an imperious eye on Ariel as he tilted the end of his bone staff so that it hit the underside of her chin. Without even a twitch of his fingers, Ariel felt the rod push up her head so it could be viewed in the light of the fiery torches.

"Tut-tut-tut!" He shook his head disappointedly as he looked over her small waist and chest "scrawny. Not enough meat for eating. But she does have a he-ehe- a pretty face…" he leered down at the girl before him nefariously "don't worry my pet I'll find a use for you sooner or later. Who knows you might be good entertainment. Clap her in chains and bring 'er over here."

"NO, Wait-stop-AH!" Ariel screeched as she was pounced upon by a goblin from behind who roughly forced her to lean forward on her hands and knees as another goblin hurried forwards. In its arms were a pair of rusted but strong Iron shackles which were both attached to her wrists, joining them so that they could only move a foot apart at most. Around her neck too another metal shackle was placed this time with a long chain that flowed over to wrap around the large flabby arm of the Great Goblin.

Like a dog to a leash

Ariel winced as she was shoved to the side of the throne to sit and shiver in the shadows.

"Hmm…how do I look now?" the Great Goblin sneered to his followers as he lounged about on his throne, along gigantic gorilla-like appendage reaching down to savagely tousle Ariel's damp locks atop her head.

Without thinking she automatically jerked her head around and spat savagely onto the ham hands that reached out towards her.

The goblins about them all broke out into fits of horrible laughter once more; even the Great Goblin was amused.

"HA! Well aren't you a feisty one?" he barked with glee as he returned the favour and spat at her.

Ariel shut her eyes, barely feeling the tears stream down her face as something mucous like and slimy soared over her head, specks of it hitting her scalp.

Her companions all thought she was dead and now she might soon be gone after this monster was done playing with her and spitting on her like she was filth beneath his dirty feet.

"Aww did I hurt the poor little pet's feelings?" the Great Goblin mockingly cooed as Ariel cringed away from his touch.

"So…Sorry" He flicked out the rope and chains, and she yelped in pain as the hard metal flicked harshly against her back like a sharp whip.

Mum! Dad! Ian! SOMEONE ANYONE PLEASE!

She whimpered as the Great Goblin struck at her with his makeshift whip once more, this time slashing her over her arm and shoulder and a little bit on her cheek. Ariel felt another cut searing as blood oozed over her cheek, staining it red.

The Goblins about her eyed the red liquid that came trickling down. They were hungry for meat, and such a fresh delicacy were maidens that even a tiny droplet of their blood was enough to send them into a frenzy. However, they dared not take their king's prey.

Ariel shut her eyes tight as she heard the hungry murmurings of the Great Goblin behind her as he sniffed the air.

"Ohhh…that smells good…" he tugged on her chains hard and instead of whipping her, he instead dragged her over to the foot of his chair before hoisting her up by the chainlinks to dangle before his face.

He licked his lips with a disgusting red tongue as he eyed the bleeding cuts on her face, her shoulders and upper back, her long dark reddish-brown tousled hair, the terrified light chestnut eyes before darting down to her legs as she kicked out in a struggle. During her wriggling, a long tear in the right of her skirts, courtesy of his manhandling subjects, began to unravel further till it stopped mid-thigh, exposing a fair amount of bruised light brown skin.

"Hmm you do look appetising" he growled. "Maybe if I take just a little nibble-"

"Sire! SIRE!" a small goblin quickly darted onto the platform from a bridge from the opposite side of the cavern. "Sire we've got more visitors."

"Visitors?" the Great Goblin dropped his prize promptly to the floor where she landed with a thud. "Well, what are you waiting for? Turn up the music. Show them in. And then afterwards I can enjoy my snack" he hissed glancing down to the ground.

Ariel scrambled away from the Great Goblin's line of sight to hide hunched over in the shadows of his throne. He had many old sharp bones lying about the floor of the high chair. If only she could figure out a way to pick at the locks on her shackles-

She was distracted from her task by the goblin citizens sudden roars of delight, as a platoon of the foul vermin came swarming in from where the messenger had just arrived.

As they came closer, she was able to catch snippets of loud shouts that certainly didn't sound like any goblins she'd heard thus far.

"Unhand me!"

"Let go-"

"You filthy little bas-"

Those voices, they sound just like-

"GUYS!" she screeched from her spot as she caught sight of poor Bifur and Ori bringing up the lead as they were dragged onto the platform before the Great Goblin King.

Next, she saw Thorin, Bofur, Bombur, Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, Nori, Dori, Gloin and Oin…but no matter how hard she looked there was no sign of Bilbo.

Her gut dropped as she looked over the group who in turn was staring at her with shock as if she were a ghost.

Thorin's face indeed was the palest of the lot as he caught sight of the bedraggled girl he'd once thought dead. When he caught sight of the chain binding her to the Great Goblin his nostrils flared incensed.

Those monsters, how could they?!

Ariel couldn't help but shiver and turn her face away in shame. No matter how angry she got at him, it still didn't stop the fact that he might have been right about her abilities, or rather lack of capabilities, as a warrior after all.

However, she didn't have any time to wallow in her self-pity for the Goblin King was gearing up to sing as disconcerting and cacophonic but unmistakably musical notes began to play from somewhere far above.

Clap snap, the black crack
Grip, grab, pinch, and nab
Batter and beat
Make them stammer and squeak!

And with that "squeak" the Great Goblin hopped to his feet, and the floorboards beneath him squeaked in protest to his massive weight.

Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town

And with every "Down, down, down" all the Goblins about the entire city made to roar out in unco-ordinated harmony causing a clash so vile upon their ears that many of the dwarves cringed and stuffed their fingers in their ears.

With a swish and smack
And a whip and a crack

He snapped the chains once more upon Ariel's hunching back. She managed to roll out of the way just in time; however her fortune was only temporary as the chain around her neck was tugged to its fullest extent choking her throat tight.

Everybody talks when they're on my rack
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town

Ariel spluttered and bleated as her body was suddenly tugged back in front of the Great Goblin who was still singing loudly.

Hammer and tongs, get out your knockers and gongs
You won't last long at the end of my prongs

And as he hit the high note of that bar, the Great Goblin struck a smaller goblin on the end of his bone staff and flung it carelessly over the edge, its dark blood staining and splattering over the wooden floorboards beneath.

Clash, crash, crush and smash
Bang, break, shiver and shake
You can yammer and yelp
But there ain't no help

The Company of Thorin all cried out in horror as the girl yelped and shrieked as the chains whipped down on her once again, this time hitting their mark right across her back in long diagonal swipes in time to the words of the next line in the song.

Pound

CRACK!

Pound,

CRACK!

far underground

CRACK!

Down, down, down in Goblin To-own!

The company had to duck as the Great Goblin did a turn, wheeling his massive arms around him like a windmill for a good minute before stomping down on his finishing note, onto which he added another even louder crack of the chains.

Ariel shrieked so loudly and so shrilly that Ori almost fainted then and there on the spot much to the delight of the goblins about them.

"Catchy isn't it?" The Great Goblin sighed as he bowed to his audience as all of his minions cheered him on. "One of my own compositions."

The company's eyes, however, were focused on the floor. There Ariel was sobbing in a small ball on her side, wishing she could vanish and go back home right then and there within a heartbeat.

The Great Goblin spared her a small snort before nudging his foot out to roll her onto her back so they could all see her pale, sweaty, grimy, blood and tear-stained face.

"Oh yes, this is my brand-new pet. Do you like her? I do. Pretty little thing isn't she. Squawks like a baby bird in the nest, ehehe!"

There was the scuffling of material as Dwalin lunged forwards against the push of his comrades who were standing in front of him, doing their best to keep the snarling dwarf out of trouble.

"You abomination! You filthy despicable-"

"Abominations, mutations, deviations." The Great Goblin shrugged nonchalantly over the top of the dwarf "That's all you're going to find down here."

Ariel flinched as the sounds of metal hitting wood announced the disposal of weapons at the great Goblin's feet.

"Now, who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom." He snarled "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"

"Dwarves your malevolence" a goblin bowed respectfully from the sides.

"Dwarves?"

"Found them on the Front Porch."

"Well don't just stand there. Search them" the Great Goblin commanded but even as he pointed his finger; he yanked Ariel forwards by the neck sending her sprawling face first into the ground.

But the company did not have time to come to her aid for at that moment the goblins swarmed them, stripping them of whatever gear and pack they carried.

Eventually one of the vile creatures got hold of Nori's rucksack which it tipped over to reveal a whole mass of delicately crafted candlesticks, cutlery and various other household items.

"It is my belief your great protuberance, that they are in league with elves" another small goblin held out a golden candlestick for his king to see.

"Made in Rivendell," the Great Goblin scoffed "Ah Second age couldn't give it away. What are you doing in these parts?"

"Uh don't worry lads. I'll handle this" Oin stepped forwards before Thorin could open his mouth.

"No tricks. I want the truth, warts and all" the Great Goblin sneered.

Ariel rolled over and looked up from her spot on the floor, hope brimming in her light eye as Oin said.

"You're going to have to speak up. Yer boys flattened my trumpet", and he held up his battered and now flattened remains of an ear trumpet.

The Great Goblin rolled his eyes.

"I'll flatten more than your trumpet!"

"If it's more information you want, then I'm the one you should speak to" Bofur but in quickly before the temper of the vile king could rise.

After a tiny nod, Bofur sighed.

"you see we were on the road. Well, it's not so much a road as a path. Actually, it's not even that come to think of it. It's more like a track. Anyway, the point is, we were on this road like a path like a track, and then we weren't. Which is a problem because we were supposed to be in Dunland last Tuesday."

That's it! We're doomed.

Ariel's head thudded to the ground in absolute exasperation as another dwarf piped in.

"Visiting distant relations."

"Yes." Bofur nodded vigorously before adding "A few in-breeds on my mother's side-"

"SHUT UP!" The Great Goblin roared, and everyone shrank away "If they will not talk we'll make them SQUAWK! Bring up the mangler, bring up the bone breaker! Start with the pretty on here. I'm sure she'll squeal something sweet in no time."

He looked down at Ariel, tossing down her chain from his hands and at once the goblins began to swarm about her.

"WAIT!" A gruff voice boomed, and at once the Goblins around Ariel drew back as Thorin stepped forwards to stand in front of her, glaring up at the Great Goblin.

The Great Goblin looked down on him, recognition dawning in his disgusting features

"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror. King Under the Mountain."

And with that, the Great Goblin gave a mocking bow before adding with a sneer.

"Oh, but I forgot you don't have a mountain. And you're not a king. Which makes you-hmm-nobody really. I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just a head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak. An old enemy of yours. A pale Orc, astride a white Warg."

Thorin's glare turned if possible, even stonier than before as the Great Goblin's eyes glinted with wicked pleasure.

When the dwarf prince spoke, his voice was strained as if he were doing his best to hold back all of his anger behind a stone.

"Azog the Defiler was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago."

"So you think his defiling days are done do you?" The Great Goblin hissed before turning to a snivelling tiny goblin by his side who had a wooden clipboard and a stick of graphite in his hand.

"Send word to the Pale Orc. Tell him I have found his prize."

"What has roots that nobody sees, is taller than trees. Up up it goes, and yet never grows?"

"Uh, easy um…mountain I suppose?"

"Bones will be shattered; necks will be wrung-"

Ariel was clinging for dear life onto Gloin as the goblins all around them danced about trying to snatch at anything and everything on her and the dwarves that they could get their hands on.

"LASS!" the dwarf yelled as Ariel was snatched from his side and was pounced on by a particularly horrific goblin with greenish skin which immediately began to paw at her body, its claws scraping hard at her green dress.

Then suddenly a pale fist slammed hard into the jaw of the disgusting little vermin with a loud yell.

"Get off her scum!"

"Ori" Ariel bleated her hands clutching at the collar of the smallest dwarf's wool knitted sweater as he quickly grabbed her.

"Get down and follow me" he yelled as he pulled her down and away from a small goblin that lunged at them both. It flew over the top of them landing into a couple of its fellows behind as Ori and Ariel did their best to crawl under the feet of them, keeping out of sight.

However, their safety was not to last for long as Ariel slipped on her hands and knees loudly and at once a pair of filthy claw-like hands grabbed at her ankles.

"Ori-Ori-AHHH!" she screamed as Ori, only just realising her trouble flung himself at her.

"No!"

But too late for even as his fingers grazed hers, she was dragged away from him.

Ariel cried out in terror as her knees painfully scraped against the rotten wood beneath her. She twisted, struggled and turned, but the only thing she saw was the face of a remarkably ugly goblin gripping at her as he pulled her back towards the Great Goblin's throne.

With a high kick, Ariel managed to send it flying off her only to incur the wrath of several of its fellows. She scrambled backwards as they advanced on her, her hands hitting cold smooth metal as she planted them on the pile of weapons that the goblins had confiscated from the company.

Must get a sword or something…anything! Even a goddamn fork is better than nothing!

After fumbling about for a good few seconds, her hands found the hilt of a sword.

Without thinking she swung the blade out in front of her just as two goblins pounced onto her.

There was a shriek of pain and a splattering of dark blood. All the other dwarves turned around in surprise to see one Goblin holding onto a bloodied stump that was once where its hand had been while the other was dead on the ground, a large gash over his neck as Ariel held up a slender silver sword gleaming a bright, vivid blue.

"Orcrist" Ariel breathed, but then she looked up and saw to her horror that the goblins about her were snarling as their king shrieked.

"I know that sword. It is the Goblin-cleaver! The biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks. SLASH THEM, BEAT THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL! CUT OFF THEIR HEADS"

And as he roared all his minions jumped down viciously upon their prey their faces incensed Ariel clung onto Orcrist for dear life and not knowing what else to do she swung the sword in her hands wildly at any goblin that dared come within a metre of her.

It seemed to work, if only for a little time.

Unlike the other dwarves about her Ariel barely had much upper body strength and the sword was unnaturally heavy in her hands. So being the amateur swordswoman, she soon found her arms beginning to ache even when she held the blade still.

Her opponents seemed to notice her shaking limbs for they began to attack in earnest, one of them even managing to cut her shoulder with a small knife. As she jumped back, she fell backwards onto the floor.

The goblins all snickered and several of them pinned her arms and legs down while another one bore down on the girl dangling a gleaming serrated bone dagger above her head.

This is it, I'm done for! I'm going to die!

Tears leaked from her eyes as Ariel struggled against the grimy hands weighing her limbs down.

Then suddenly everything turned into a bright blinding white.

Ariel stayed still in as the light obscured her vision and blew all the goblins restraining her off of her body; their cries somehow lost in the silence of shock.

She could swear that it was so quiet where she was that she could even hear the sounds from far below echo up through the rocky caves for a split second.

"They stole it from us! Thief! Thief! They stole my precious!"

? That…that couldn't have been…Gollum?!

But Ariel did not have time to ponder the screams, not when the world suddenly drew her back into darkness as the white light disappeared.

Something long and wooden rolled towards her from the side and blinking she turned her head.

Her heart leapt in her throat as she caught sight of a green gem glimmering from within the head of a redwood staff.

She grabbed at it quickly her head rising to see the tall, familiar silhouette of an old man. He was wearing grey robes with a tall pointed hat atop his head and bearing a sword in one hand and a staff in the other, both of which glinted in the light of the returning flames.

"Take up arms" Gandalf the Grey commanded as his apprentice and the company all looked upon him in shock and awe.

"Fight. FIGHT!" he cried, suddenly lunging forward, wielding both sword and staff high in his hands.

Ariel didn't know how but the sight of Gandalf suddenly made her gut burn with renewed vigour as hope rekindled and without further ado, she sprung to her feet.

It was absolute pandemonium.

The dwarves and goblins were striking at one another left right and centre. Yells and shrieks blasted like loud thunderclaps; blood spurted from wounds from swords and axes, teeth broke as hammers struck.

Ariel barely knew what was happening, though she did manage to realise that in all the confusion one of the dwarves' swords that had accidentally almost hit her, had cut through the chain that held her hands bound together.

Now free to move her arms she began to attack with much faster and broader strokes, striking down all the goblins she could see as they tried to swarm on them once more.

"Look Out!" She cried as she saw the Great Goblin suddenly rush out from his chair to lunge at Thorin who was busy fighting off another goblin to his right.

Ariel thrust out her staff, and a ball of green light suddenly burst from the end of it, blasting straight into the oversized goblin king and sending him flying off the edge of the platform.

Thorin looked up and was surprised to be seeing, not the scared whimpering girl he'd just seen getting whipped on the floor, but a young woman with a weapon in her hands and a determined gleam in her bright eyes as she struck down another goblin that had attacked her.

He gave her a firm nod as they passed one another on the small battlefield, him slicing down his opponents while she struck with her magic creating vines that would hold and strangle the vile goblins that dared come close to any of the company.

Once most of the platform was clear of most of their captors Gandalf called out to the company loudly.

"Follow me quick!

Ariel wasted no time in running after the wizard as he ran off the platform and over a wooden bridge, the dwarves following close behind.

"How on earth did you find us?!" she yelled, her heart hammering in her chest as they descended, down, down and down further into the centre of the mountains.

"I'll explain when we get to safety, but right now, we must keep moving. QUICKLY" Gandalf cried as he saw more goblins begin to crawl out from various cracks and holes in the walls above them their faces alive with malice.

There was puffing from behind her and Ariel quickly turned to see Bombur at the back of the line of dwarves running and huffing as his stout legs carried his overweight form as fast as they could over the wood.

The chilling sounds of harsh screeches and roars hit her ears again as a whole pack of Goblins jumped to block the path in front of them.

Ariel looked about for any sign or another pathway, but it was no use. There was only one way in front.

It was Balin who came up with the solution.

"grab the post" he cried out picking up one of the handrails of the bridge in his arms. Ariel and the others quickly grabbed onto it and pushed it out in front, using it to shove the goblins out of their way, much like an icebreaker would break apart ice.

They had been running in this manner for only a few moments when Ariel suddenly gasped as she jerked backwards.

One of the goblins had crawled up under the pathway scaffolding beneath them and had grabbed onto the long chain that the Great Goblin had put about her throat.

She choked and spluttered as the chain around her neck tightened horribly, constricting her air passages as she was dragged back towards the edge of the path.

"Hold on Lass!" she heard a yell and shut her eyes as Dwalin's dark shadow leapt down over her swinging his axes down. With a mighty swipe, he cut down the goblin dragging her before slamming his other axe down, this time on the chain. It broke asunder the links shattering as they severed from one another in a loud metallic crunch that made Ariel's ears ring.

She winced as she was tugged to her feet and shoved back into the company who all made to drag her along behind.

Once or twice she almost tripped or fell through a hole in the decaying wooden boards beneath her feet as they proceeded over the bridge, after bridge after bridge.

Holy crap, this is absolute madness!

Ariel screeched in her head as she once again was caught in the middle of several goblins, swinging her staff and blasting them with her magic as hard as she could.

Meanwhile, around her, all the dwarves were facing problems of their own with moving forwards for every step they took goblins kept blocking their path as they ran, jumped even swung over tracks and gaps.

There has gotta be a way of mowing them down in front of us

She bit her lip as she ran forwards after Gandalf who was still trying to yell encouragements from the front of the line as goblins leapt down from who knew where.

Quickly she looked up as the firelight of the torches about her illuminated the rocky ceiling.

She gasped as she saw a giant round rock dangling just a short way above them.

That'll work

"Stand back!" she yelled shoving her staff forwards. A green blast fired upwards to the ceiling and hit the large round rock which fell with a tremendous thud right before Thorin's face as he skidded to a stop just in time.

"What are you trying to do girl? Kill us?" he roared, but Ariel just shouted back at him just as angrily as she ran up to shove her weight against the rock.

"Just shut up and push!"

It took her and the efforts of four dwarves but soon the rock was rolling along, fast and robust down the path before them like a giant marble.

Heartened by this new weapon the dwarves all proceeded to run off after the rock, pushing it around corners and fast downhill whenever they were faced with stairs.

As it rolled it squashed and smashed into goblins, pounding them into pancakes or tossing them off the path and down into the depths of the caves below.

Eventually, the rock itself fell off and over the edge as gravity called it over a small cliff face, but the dwarves were not perturbed. Not when Gandalf could see the exit right before them.

However even as they ran onto the bridge between them and the great hole in the rock before them something tremendous and substantial broke through the wood from beneath.

They all stumbled back in alarm as the Great Goblin clambered up onto their pathway leering down at all of them.

"You thought you could escape me?"

The Great Goblin swung his bone staff before them.

"What are you going to do now Wizard?"

Gandalf keeled backwards only to be pushed back up onto his feet by the dwarves.

It took him a split second to come to his senses, but when he did, he did not disappoint.

"HA!" Ariel laughed victoriously when she saw him poke the goblin's eye with his staff before swinging the sword Glamdring, its blade slicing across the great king's fat belly.

"Aye, that'll do it" The Great Goblin grunted only for his head to roll to the side as Gandalf once more sliced his blade, this time cutting the throat.

There was a thud and a shudder as the Great Goblin keeled over and slammed down hard onto the ground, his body lifeless.

However, the tremor was more than enough.

Within seconds the wood was cracking and snapping, and Ariel looked down in alarm to see that the supports beneath were giving way.

"HOLD ON!" she heard a dwarf yell and quickly she felt two pairs of arms grab hold of her by her shoulders and tug her down just as the floor fell away beneath her.

It was worse than when she'd been thrown off the cliff by the stone giants. Everyone was screaming, wind and splintering wood scratched her already scratched up face and body. But even so, she kept clinging on for dear life onto the people beside her as they fell, down, down, down and –

CRASH!

The remains of the wooden bridge finally hit the ground.

"THIEF! THIEF! BAGGINS! CURSES AND CRUSH THEM! THIEF!"

"Well, that could've been worse."

BAM!

Ariel gasped her eyes flying open. She seemed to be lying in the dark on top of something soft that was groaning in pain.

"Oww…"

She recognised the voice at once.

"Kili?"

She tried to move around to get off her friend however found to her dismay that someone else was laying on top of her their blonde head next to hers.

"Are you alright?" a voice muttered softly in her ear.

Ariel squeaked for a moment in surprise though it was quick to pass as Fili puffed in her ear, his short-braided beard scratching her cheek.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Oh god are we alive?" Ariel breathed in shock only to wince as Fili tried his best to push himself up off her. It was a difficult task seeing as there was a large beam of wood pressing against his back.

"If by alive you mean not crushed or eaten alive by goblins yet then yes, we are" he grunted as he tried to push himself up onto his knees.

Kili spluttered as he tried to move Ariel's red hair out of his face.

"Cheery today aren't you brother AGH! Fi!"

Ariel looked down and saw that one of his Fili's knees had accidentally knocked his brother below the belt right in-between his legs.

"Sorry, Kili but it's a bit cramped in here if you haven't noticed!"

"Ugh! Men." Ariel shut her eyes and sighed heavily, as she squirmed and found to her relief that her entire body, though sore and stiff, was completely unscathed. However, she was surprised to see that her head was not even in contact with the ground beneath her. After a quick twist of her neck, she finally felt Fili's large numb, cold fingers clasped protectively over her scalp and neck, holding her face close over his shoulder while Kili seemed to have positioned her securely by the waist so that her back was cushioned by half of his stomach.

Her back-

Both Fili and Kili stiffened as Ariel gave a tiny whimper in-between them.

"Ariel what's wrong."

"It's…its nothing I just…agh!" Ariel hissed biting down on her lip as she did her best to crawl out from under Fili as he managed to push himself onto his hands and knees even under the weight of the wooden structure above them.

As she withdrew off him, Kili sighed with relief and looked up and about.

The other dwarves and Gandalf were groaning and moaning as they detached themselves from the wreckage of the bridge on top of which the corpse of the Great Goblin now lay as millions of his minions crawled down the-

"GANDALF!" Kili cried in horror pointing at the caves above.

Ariel looked up, and her face paled her hands gripping onto her staff tightly.

Like a hoard of cockroaches, hundreds upon hundreds of goblins were crawling down the walls towards them with high speed and much anger.

"There's too many we can't fight them" Dwalin growled as he pulled Nori to his feet.

"Only one thing will save us, daylight!" Gandalf cried out as he pointed to a hole in the rock before them "Come on."

Without pausing to think Fili threw off the wooden beams from his brother and they both quickly scrambled over to a still struggling Ariel. They both grabbed her from around her shoulders and pulled her to her aching feet, almost dragging her along as the entire company ran back into the darkness.

Ariel barely heard the yells as she did her best to focus on the path ahead which was now dark and stony.

"This way!" Gandalf called.

Ariel felt herself get tugged about a corner and as she did her hands touched the stone wall. Only it wasn't only the rock. Something plant like was creeping up it. She shut her eyes and felt it as her hand scraped by it with every running stride.

Roots?

At once a rush of energy flooded through her at the touch, streaming through her body, right down from her hands to the very tips of her toes.

She opened her eyes and almost gasped. It was just like when she had fought against the trolls the first time. The whole world was cloaked in darkness, but she could again see very plainly the roots all above her head, glimmering a faint green. The dwarves before her were like smoky shadows as they followed a bright white flame like figure. With a jolt to her stomach, she recognised the staff and the pointed hat.

That was Gandalf? But why was he so different from the dwarves? Was it his magic?

"Hey, look it's happening again" Kili whispered as they continued to rush along the walls Ariel keeping her hand trailing after the mountain roots. Through them, she could almost feel the very hairs of the roots as plainly as she could feel her hair on her head as they crept along the wall and straight through to the-

"Gandalf!" she hissed as she passed by the wizard as he made to stop at the said corner and count off the members of the party. "We need to turn on the next bend to the right."

As their gaze met the wizard stiffened. Her eyes were no longer the light orbs of chestnut but a bright glimmering green.

Those eyes…they're just like when…but it couldn't' be…

The wizard shook his head out to clear it and barked to the two young dwarves on either side of her.

"Go to the front. Thorin! Follow Ariel; she knows the way out."

"What about you?" Ariel asked looking behind.

"Don't mind me just go ahead" Gandalf called before falling behind to encourage the rest of the company onwards from the back.

Invigorated by the presence of the root's energy Ariel was soon by Thorin's side, though when she came level, he spared her a small frown.

"Where to?" he asked gruffly.

"We turn left on the second turn and go down some stairs before another left through a narrow passage, then a right then another right and then straight outside!" she puffed.

"Are you sure?"

Ariel was about to snap back at him when she noticed that his look was not one of aggravation but one of concern.

"Yes, I'm very sure" Ariel nodded quietly but then stumbled as her back throbbed in agony. Luckily, Thorin quickly caught her and slung one of her arms over his shoulders to support her weight as they ran.

"You truly are a magnet for trouble" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head at her and rolling his eyes.

"Just turn left now jackass" she snarled.

Despite their desperate predicament many of the dwarves sniggered behind them, though they quickly stopped as the growls of Goblins suddenly became louder behind them.

Their hearts all hammered in their chests as they ran down a set of stone steps for a good fifty meters before turning right, the sounds of the goblins echoing horribly behind them.

Suddenly there was a cry of relief from Bofur as they approached the end of a narrow pathway.

"LOOK THE SUNLIGHT!"

And indeed, there it was. As the company turned a corner, they were all hit with a blast of bright yellow light as it streamed through a great big hole before them, out of which they could see grassy slopes and the tops of trees.

Ariel's heart soared, and suddenly she found her legs pumping harder than they'd ever gone in her life. She was running so fast that poor Thorin who was still holding onto her was now being the one dragged behind.

"Whoa there girl slow down-wait up!" but Ariel was already out of his grip and darting headlong out of the cave.

Ariel laughed with relief as the warmth hit her skin, her pain melting away within moments to be replaced by absolute joy.

Oh, how good it felt to see the sun on her face and the wind in her hair.

She only skidded to a stop when Gandalf's old voice called out to her.

"Whoever is running up ahead needs to slow down so I can do a head count!"

She rolled her eyes

"So slow old man."

But even so, she doubled back up the slope towards a small rocky outcrop within a ring of trees where Gandalf had rushed ahead and was now re-counting the members of the company that came up to him.

Ariel quickly came back up almost running into Fili and Kili, the latter not even bothering to avoid ramming into her as he flung his arms around her.

"Thank Mahal you are alright. We thought you were a goner on that shelf."

"Kili-Kili I'm alright really I-"

Ariel blushed as she felt the young dwarf bury his face in her soft bosom. She didn't know whether it was accidental, he and the dwarves were always shorter than her by about a head. But from what Ariel had seen of Kili so far, she knew he was defiantly one of the biggest flirts she'd ever met. Even so, she didn't think she could see him as anything more than another brother.

Fili seeing her discomfort gave a pointed cough.

"Kili that's enough you're suffocating her" he tugged his brother off of the girl before taking her hand and calmly leading her towards a rock before forcing her to sit down.

Meanwhile, some way off Dwalin snorted with amusement as they caught sight of Ariel spluttering in confusion, her face completely red as she was patted down and checked over by the two brothers.

"How is your back?" Fili muttered as he made to pat down her shoulders.

"I can't feel anything" Ariel replied before sighing heavily as the blonde dwarf gave her a raised eyebrow. "Honestly Fili I don't…I mean I was feeling it earlier but-"

"It's probably the adrenalin rush" Kili winced as he checked over her back where he could see through the torn fabric horrible bruises "Yeah that can happen…that generally tends to mean that you'll feel it after you've rested. Ouch! these look nasty."

"Well that's just wonderful" Ariel groaned sarcastically, and Kili chuckled reaching out to ruffle her hair gently.

"Don't worry. At least this time there aren't any broken bones."

But even as his younger brother said this Fili's face faltered as he made to push back the front of her hair to examine a large bruise on her right temple.

"I think that one was from the fall earlier" Ariel mumbled reaching up to rub at it with her sleeve.

Fili's eyes fell to his feet at the last word.

"I'm sorry…" he mumbled as he examined the other smaller cuts that littered her cheeks and jaw. "I'm so sorry please forgive me-It was my fault-"

"Fili it's not your fault. I'm just glad I wasn't left behind" Ariel ran a hand through her long red hair.

However, Fili just shook his head.

"No Ariel that's the thing…we were going to leave you there…we thought-I thought you were-And I thought I had-I thought you were…because of my mistake and…I just…"

Fili shut his eyes and turned his face away, his face a mask of pain and shame.

Ariel's eyes softened as her heart stung. She should've by all means be feeling angry at him and the others for leaving her for dead…but she couldn't…not after seeing the anguish in Fili's blue eyes.

Ariel knew that look all too well, for she had worn it not so long ago as she had sat beside a hospital bed waiting for someone she loved to open their eyes, even though she felt in her heart of hearts that they probably never would.

"Fili, what is done is done. And even though you didn't catch me back at the cliff you still were there to catch me when we all fell from that platform, so thank you." Ariel rolled her eyes before gently punching his forehead his cheek affectionately with her knuckle.

"I was there too if anyone's interested" Kili rolled his eyes, only to have his hair ruffled playfully by Ariel's hand. The other dwarves openly chuckled at their youths with fondness.

"Tch! children" Dwalin shook his head exchanging a chuckle with Gloin as they passed by Gandalf who was continuing to count on his fingers.

"-five, six, seven, eight. Bifur, Bofur. That's ten. Fili, Kili, Ariel that's thirteen. Bombur is fourteen" the wizard sighed with relief as the fat dwarf came to a puffing stop. However, his relief was quick to fade when he suddenly re-counted off again on his fingers.

Ariel blinked. The wizard had only counted fifteen of them including himself.

But hang on…there's supposed to be sixteen who have we got missing-OH SHIT!

Terror flooded her once more, and she sprang to her feet ignoring Fili's attempts to calm her down.

"Bilbo!" she called out loudly. "BILBO! Oh crap, where is he?! What happened to him?!"

She looked around at the group only to see that the rest of them were just as clueless as she was.

"Curse the Halfling!" Dwalin snarled under his breath "now he's lost?"

"I thought he was with Dori" Gloin frowned at Dori who looked flabbergasted.

"Don't look at me? I don't know where he is."

"Oh come on someone has to have seen him last" Ariel turned back to them all panic flooding her voice.

"I think I saw him slip away when they first collared us" Nori spoke up quickly and Gandalf's face tensed.

"Well, what happened exactly? Tell me?"

"I'll tell you what happened" Thorin growled stepping forwards "Master Baggins saw his chance, and he took it. He has thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth, since first he stepped out of his door. We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone."

There was another silence as everyone looked down to the ground in disappointment. Even if Bilbo sometimes seemed more of a hindrance than a help, they had all liked him in some way or another.

Ariel, however, refused to believe it and did her best to try and rack her brain for what she could remember of the Hobbit when she'd last seen him.

They'd been on the stone giant…he had fallen off. However, if what Nori had said was true then the others had managed to save him and drag him down to Goblin-town with them.

No, wait a moment Goblin-town, Goblin-town, what happened to Bilbo when he went under the mountains.

But even as she thought she remembered the strange screams she'd heard back when Gandalf had blinded them all with that blast of white light.

The voice that had screamed…she'd I thought it was merely an echo…

"They stole it from us! Thief! Thief!"

Hang on…that voice, was that-oh my god was that Gollum?!

Ariel quickly looked about herself with wild eyes.

Had that been the disgusting little creature that had been screeching all this time? He sounded far stranger than she'd imagined.

Wait a moment, but if that was Gollum screaming then Bilbo must have found the-

"No he isn't" a familiar voice smugly smirked, and Ariel looked up sharply to see Bilbo suddenly appear from behind a tree.

"Bilbo Baggins" Gandalf chortled as Ariel sprinted over to the Hobbit and scooped him up into her arms.

"Oh, Bilbo thank goodness."

"ARIEL! YOU'RE ALIVE?!" Bilbo gasped in surprise as he was swung around in the embrace before being set down securely on the ground where Ariel proceeded to hug him tight once more.

"You're one to talk" Kili laughed as Ariel let go of the flustered now blushing hobbit.

"How on earth did you get past the goblins?" Fili asked.

"Oh um…ehehe" Bilbo chuckled nervously, and Ariel's eyes darted quickly down to one of his hands just in time to see a glimmer of gold slip into one of his waistcoat pockets.

She suddenly felt her gut burn.

The one ring. That one dastardly, godforsaken tiny band of gold! That was the reason her brother had been cursed?! That was why she had been dragged so far from home!?

That vile, horrible little band of shit!

She quickly hid her anger behind a mask of a smile as she stepped away to give Bilbo some air, though it took all Ariel could within her not to snatch the ring from Bilbo and crush it using one of the dwarves hammers.

She barely heard Gandalf's voice as he smiled with relief.

"Well, what does it matter? He's back."

"It matters" Thorin frowned confusion etched in his thick brow as he looked upon the hobbit "I want to know…why did you come back?"

Bilbo's face fell for a moment.

"Look I know you doubt me. I know you always have. And you're right I often think of Bag-End. I miss my books. And my armchair, and my Garden. See that's where I belong. That's home. And that's why I came back because, you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you…and you were taken from it." he added with a glance towards Ariel "But I will help you take it back if I can."

Thorin opened his mouth to speak, but for the first time since Ariel had ever met him, the dwarf prince couldn't seem to form a reply. Instead, she saw his blue eyes glimmer for the faintest of seconds before quickly darting down to the ground.

The other dwarves too, all twelve of them, also looked down to the ground with both shame and sorrow as their friends' words touched their hearts.

The only one who was smiling was Gandalf, and it was full of pride and wonderment, a look he exchanged with Ariel who nodded back at him as she put a supportive hand on the hobbit's shoulder.

"Told you he'd be the right hobbit for the job" she muttered and suddenly the spell over the dwarves was broken.

They all broke out into laughter, even Thorin and Dwalin managed small smiles the latter of whom was more amused as it looked upon the young girl.

"Geeze lass, why couldn't you run like that when we were chased by those wargs last time?"

"Dunno. Why couldn't you guys pick me up off that shelf?" Ariel snorted.

She had meant it to be a joke only it seemed to make them all fall into a very uncomfortable silence.

Many of the dwarves turned to Thorin who once again looked somewhat sheepish as even Fili and Kili's eyes turned hard upon him.

"Ariel-" he started to say but then suddenly he was cut off by a loud howling sounds.

But those weren't the howls of ordinary wolves…these were the vicious, bloodthirsty war cries of wargs.

Thorin cursed softly under his breath.

"Out of the Frying pan-"

"And into the fire" Gandalf muttered before yelling out in the loudest command they'd heard him use

"RUN!"

Chapter Text

"[Run them down! Tear them to pieces!]"

The voice that yelled the words of black speech was as loud and as harsh as the wargs that howled with it.

The sound of it made Ariel's heart almost freeze in her chest as she ran helter-skelter along with the thirteen dwarves, the hobbit and the wizard down the slopes of the high mountain and into the trees.

SHIT- SHIT- SHIT- SHIT! The sun!

She gasped in horror as the sun began to dip low over the horizon, staining the sky a bloody red.

"Quickly now" Gandalf called from the head of the company as he led them through the trees, but Ariel knew it was no good.

Even though she and the company were far ahead, the warg scouts after them would have no trouble using the force of gravity to propel themselves down faster than any of them could ever dream of running.

We need high ground!

But even as the thought crossed her minds, she skidded to a stop. In her sprint, her legs had taken her to the very tip of a tall precipice on which several tall trees were precariously holding onto with their tough roots.

There were snarls from behind, and Ariel quickly turned to see in the dimming light the dwarves already fighting wargs that had leapt upon them from behind.

They were well and indeed trapped.

Ariel looked back over the top of the cliff, and her heart sank further. There was no path of the high top she stood on. There was only a tremendous massive jump into oblivion.

Unless-

Ariel blinked as unbidden a small memory of hers played before her eyes. A small nine-year-old girl with dark red-brown hair, climbing up a tree to avoid getting picked on by several large hulking bullies in the school playground.

It probably won't achieve much but what choice do we have?

Without waiting for anyone she quickly jumped up for the lowest foothold in the bark of the closest tree she could find.

Seeing her jump up Gandalf cried out.

"Up in the trees all of you! Climb!"

"Bilbo!" Ariel cried out in horror as she saw the poor hobbit look about in confusion, a bloodied sword in his hands. He had only just managed to tug the blade out of the head of an attacking warg only to find himself alone on the ground as the Dwarves hoisted themselves up into the surrounding trees.

He looked up at Ariel's voice as she quickly scrambled to the lower branches of a tree to his left and held out her hand.

The warg pack was almost upon him when he finally was pulled up onto the lowest branch.

"Quick get to the top-AH!" Ariel squeaked as a large set of snarling jaws snapped at the hem of her dress tugging it down.

"Hold on Lass" Oin yelled as he grabbed onto Ariel's arm and swiftly pulled her up.

Ariel winced as the snapping sounds told her that her dress was ripped once again.

Despite herself, she groaned with irritation. She already had that long slit along the side of both her green dress and the white petticoat underneath that revealed her leg. Also, she'd lost her hair tie so that her hair now flew all about her face in the cold wind and one of her sleeves was barely hanging on by two threads. All this, of course, was courtesy of the Great Goblin's rough handling. She was sure that by the time she was done with this quest she'd barely even have rags to wear.

Though would you prefer it if they ripped your legs off?

She reasoned in her head as she and the others scrambled up into the trees. As she climbed, she could almost feel the tree beginning to keel over from the top from the combined strain of its carriers.

She gulped as she managed to hang onto a branch while pointing her staff towards the tree trunk.

She tried her best to concentrate on finding the roots; however the constant growling and howling from beneath her was proving to be a most unsettling and terrifying distraction.

Eventually, however she finally felt the tingle of energy flow through her and pushed the tip of her staff deeper into the wood.

"Come on" she grunted as she felt the roots react slowly to her powers. She'd managed to grow other plants fast so why wouldn't tree roots work?

She tried to concentrate harder on her powers but felt to her frustration something like a barrier.

No, come on don't block me out now-not now when we're all going to die!

But even as she barely managed to dig in the foundations ever so slightly into the earth, there was a sudden silence from the Wargs and several gasps.

"Azog"

She looked up and saw that it was Thorin who had spoken, his voice breathless as he stared in horror at the Wargs in front of them.

Ariel turned, and her gut fell away into nothingness.

There stalking towards them from the top of a large boulder was a white warg, baring its teeth and snarling at them. Upon its back an orc, unlike any Ariel had ever seen so far, was sneering victoriously up at them all. He was as pale as the steed he rode, though many battle scars marred his skin. But what drew Ariel's attention the most was the fact that his left hand was not there. There was only a strange metal claw-like scrap of metal stuck crudely through the stump of flesh.

She shuddered as the pale orc spoke to the darkness of the night, his voice rough like stones and metal as he spoke in the black tongue of his kin.

"[Do you smell it? The scent of fear? I remember your father reeked of it, Thorin son of Thrain]"

"It cannot be" Thorin breathed, but already Azog was bellowing a command to his followers.

"[This one is mine. Kill the others!]"

There were many cries of fear as the warg pack suddenly charged forwards and swarmed about each one of the trees the company were taking refuge.

The could not climb very far, but still, they could jump just high enough to snap at those in the lower branches.

Ariel shrieked as one warg almost managed to grab hold of her foot in its massive jaws. She quickly struck at it with her staff, poking it in the eye and it fell, though it was replaced by another one of its fellows who crashed into the tree making it shake violently.

They're going to shake us off or topple it over!

Ariel winced as more and more the Wargs' put their strength together to push against the large tree trunk.

"Be ready to jump lass!" she heard one of the dwarves shout at her, and she opened her eyes just in time as the tree began to tilt sideways.

With a cry, she leapt forwards onto the branches of the tree behind her only to feel that one tilt too.

Oh crap!

She jumped again off to the next tree with the others, and the tree after that, and the tree after that one too, until she and all the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf were all clambering to the top of the single tree on the edge of the cliff.

Azog laughed with malicious delight as he caught sight of his terrified foes doing their best to climb higher up the tree like terrified birds.

"They're gonna push us over!" Ori yelled out as the tree gave a jerk backwards.

"Ariel!" Gandalf cried out as he stood from one of the topmost branches. "ARIEL use your powers and secure this tree! I'll try to get rid of the wargs."

"On it!" Ariel nodded before securing her feet on a branch. Once more she pressed her staff into the wood and focused as hard as she could.

However just like before it was difficult to get the roots to grow and it took all her energy and focused even to get them to move an inch, especially with all the noise about her.

Come on Ariel; you can do this…you can do this…just reach for the roots-just reach for it and…and-come on!

Seeing his apprentice focus on her task, Gandalf turned back to his own as he grabbed a pinecone from a tree branch and held it up to his staff. With a couple of blows and whispers into the gem set in the tip, a red spark suddenly lit up. It caught onto the small pinecone, and at once the little globe turned into a tiny, fiery ball, which the wizard quickly flung down onto the wargs beneath.

It struck one hard on the shoulder, setting it's fur alight. It yelped in terror and pain barking and snapping at its concerned packmates before promptly diving into a bush. However, the bush itself caught the flame from the canine's back and also burned bright.

Seeing this new weapon, the dwarves and the hobbit's hearts soared and quickly Gandalf threw down to them their projectiles to fire.

The company all cheered as the wargs scattered and fell back with many loud barks and yelps and Azog roared in anger.

However, Ariel screamed, her voice a yell of terror and nightmares that made everyone's stomach's turn to ice.

The noise…the stench of the smog and smoke-

Despite her attempts to block it out, Ariel's mind suddenly geared straight into overdrive.

No-no-no! Don't think about that now! Don't go back there!

But it was no use. She could see the flashes of bright light, could see the small girl screaming in the blaze as a wooden support beam fell burning to the ground.

"Mummy! Daddy!"

The little girl was screeching and screaming as the fire leapt up high before her. It licked at her skin as she raised her hands to shield herself from the heat. Her throat burned her lungs were clogged; she couldn't see the way out…she could only see a few metres away, as a shadowy figure stalking towards her through the flickering light a mysterious figure with burning red eyes-

"NO!" Ariel cried out as with a hard, mental tug; she pulled her powers away from the tree, her mind suddenly snapping back to the present.

There were a shudder and a groan, and suddenly all the dwarves too were crying out as their tree, shaken too much by their movement began to keel over the side of the cliff to lie perpendicular to the cliff face.

As it fell, Ariel also felt her grip slip.

Desperately she grabbed hold of a tree branch only to hear a crack as the wood strained under her sudden weight.

She was going to fall again; only this time there was no way she would survive the drop.

Tears sprung to her eyes as she heard another small crack and groaned as the branch began to bend. She gripped the piece of wood tighter even though she knew it was of no use.

No, I have to live…I have to or else Ian won't…my mum and dad…oh please god…please let me live!

"ARIEL!" she heard one of the dwarves' yell, but she was too terrified to respond or do anything else save hold on.

CRACK!

"AHHH! AH!"

Ariel squeaked as suddenly she felt a rough hand grab onto her outstretched wrist fast and tight before she could drop even half a foot down.

It was with wide eyes that she recognised the leather bracers on the arm.

"Thorin" she gasped grasping for his hand.

"Don't worry, I've got you" Thorin grunted as he began to pull her upwards towards him.

The dwarf prince's grip tightened as he caught sight of the frightened, pleading look over the young girl's face. It was just as scared as when she had been about to fall off the mountain cliff.

"I'm sorry Thorin" she blubbered as she clung on to his hand "I'm sorry I couldn't hold onto-I couldn't-"

"Shh…I've got you, Ariel, just hold on" Thorin murmured as he managed to pull her up far enough for both his arms to grab her shoulders.

Before that moment he had always thought how pitiful it was that she was such a skinny girl, but now he could not have been more grateful for her lighter build as he managed to drape her securely over a much stronger branch without much trouble.

His hand gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze as she managed to secure her feet on the branches below her. She did not thank him aloud, but her brown-green eyes were wells of both relief and gratitude as she clung on to the tree-branch, her staff in her hand glowing dimly as she seemed to calm down.

But even as she regained her grip on her new post, Ariel looked up, and her heart sank.

Thorin followed her gaze silently and found that they were resting upon Azog's distant figure flickering horribly in the firelight. Thorin's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of his nemesis's pale eyes roving the rest of the tree, to the other members of the company as they struggled for their lives to hold on.

Most of them were like Ariel, clinging on securely onto the branches but there were few like Nori and Ori who were barely hanging on for dear life.

Azog chuckled as he caught sight of the girl the dwarf was still holding secure his lip curled up into a sneer.

So noble Oakenshield.

He smirked wickedly.

But still so weak.

Thorin's entire body tensed as the pale orc nodded wordlessly towards the dwarf reining in his white warg

"Stay here" he growled softly before standing to his feet.

"No Thorin-!"

Ariel struggled as she held onto her branch, terror flooding through her as she watched the Dwarf prince stride down the tree trunk and back onto the solid ground before the fire.

She looked across from her spot to Bilbo who was also hanging just on the opposite side of the tree trunk across from her. His eyes too were wide and terrified as he watched Thorin unsheathe Orcrist and brandish it before him.

As he ran into the flames, he picked up a large tree branch in one arm holding it almost like a shield as Azog's warg steed reared and pounced upon him from its vantage point.

Thorin fell to the ground as the warg's claws scratched him hard over the shoulder.

He clambered clumsily to his feet as the warg made to turn about however he was too late, and once more he was thrown back as Azog swiped his spiked mace at him, this time hitting him squarely in the chest.

"NO!" Balin shouted along with the others as they saw him fall back down, his head hitting the ground hard.

Ariel, however, could not find the voice to scream as she watched horrified at what was unfolding before her. Azog's warg, which was as great as a lion in size, had taken Thorin's body in its mouth and sunk its teeth into him. The jaw was so strong that the fangs sliced straight into his armour like a knife through soft butter.

Thorin in his pain and shock did his best to strike at the beast and managed to hit it squarely between the eyes with the hilt of his sword. The warg roared in pain as it flung him aside.

However, the damage had been done, and Thorin now lay sprawled on the ground unmoving.

"[Bring me the Dwarf's head]" Azog smirked coldly to an orc that had just ridden up by his side.

The evil creature snickered as it dismounted its mount and unsheathed its ugly dark blade from its hip.

There were cries of despair and of outrage from the dwarves as they watched on in horror, unable to move as their leader lay unconscious and unaware of his impending death.

No this can't be how it ends; it just can't!

"THORIN!" Ariel screeched through tears of panic and terror "THORIN! COME ON YOU MORON! YOU IDIOT GET UP! GET UP! HE'S GONNA KILL YOU! YOU HAVE TO GET UP! THORIN!"

By Mahal, for a small person, she has a set of lungs on her.

Thorin's head lolled to the side as he stirred, just in time to see the orc advancing upon him.

His eyes darted to his sides. Orcrist was just there, just barely out of his outstretched fingers reach. He twitched and struggled to reach, but his body was almost spent.

But even as his fingers scraped the pommel of the hilt the edge of a blade came level with his throat.

He glared defiantly up at the orc standing over him as it raised its sword high above its head ready to strike.

Wham!

The body of someone small had hurtled sidelong into the orc at a run and had shoved it out of the way.

In the later days following, Ariel would describe that the moment she saw the face of Thorin's saviour would perhaps be the most surprising memory of her life.

It was not one of the dwarves, nor was it the wizard or a great hero…but a hobbit of the shire who wielded a small but bright sword in his hands and a heart that was by far larger than many fully-grown people she'd ever met.

"Bilbo…" Ariel breathed as she watched in awe as the halfling ran his blade through the orc that had raised his sword to his friend.

As soon as he was dead, Bilbo quickly stumbled to his feet to stand in-between Azog and his prey.

The Pale Orc, who had just looked just as surprised as everyone else, was now snarling with hateful venom as he looked upon Bilbo who swung his sword wildly in an amateur attempt to ward off the snapping wargs before him.

The Halfling had come between him and his prey…and that would certainly not do at all.

"[kill him]"

Ariel did not need a translation to understand the order that left the Orc leader's scarred lips, and it was with a great effort that she raised her staff.

Please work! Please. You've gotta work now!

She begged as she pointed the glowing green gem into the wood.

…you've got to protect them.

And then suddenly it was as if something like a wall had been lifted as her power suddenly shot straight down the length of the tree and right into the earth in a flash of light just as the first warg rider bore down on Bilbo.

At the same moment, the other few orcs and wargs with them fell back as several of the dwarves rushed forwards in a charge led by Dwalin, Fili and Kili.

Ariel struggled up onto the tree trunk, her body aching but her mind suddenly alight with determination and renewed hope as she saw many of their attackers retreating in surprise, some accidentally burning themselves to death in the flames around them while others were hewn down by swords and axes.

Of all the orcs, Azog was by far the least scathed by flame or weapon for his attentions were focused on hunting and stalking Bilbo who had fallen back down to the ground in fear, still in front of Thorin's lifeless body.

She didn't know whether it was because of the flames or because of the new cut above her eye bleeding down her face, but suddenly Ariel saw red.

With a roar, she sprang to her feet and fired a burst of magic straight at Azog that sent both him and his white warg flying backwards into a tree.

However, Ariel did not have time to observe her victory. Not when a great feathery mass descended, and two large claws suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her into the air.

Bilbo gaped in absolute astonishment as a great massive bird greater than any warg they had ever encounter swooped down from on high and seized the young girl in its talons before lifting promptly into the air.

As the eagle screeched the sound rent the air like an ancient war cry as an entire flock descended from on high and down into the fiery mass of trees.

Many were grasping at the wargs and orcs and tossing them over the cliff. Others were grasping at the trees or fanning the flames onto those enemies that remained earthbound. The rest meanwhile were picking up the dwarves and tossing them down onto other eagle's backs, as the first one had just done to Ariel who squeaked as she landed on a mass of feathers covering the muscle.

She gripped the neck of the great bird hard with her fingers, gasping in shock as she looked about.

Oh my god, what the hell just happened? Am I flying on a giant bird! No, wait-the others!

"No, my friends-"

But even as she cried out, the eagle she rode tilted its wings gently in the air, and it circled back around to face the cliff.

Ariel gaped as she saw one by one each of her friends be picked up by birds from off the cliff face.

One…two…four…seven…twelve…fourteen-and me that's fifteen…but wait-GAH!

She held on for dear life as the bird she was on suddenly swooped down into a very steep dive.

HOLY SHIT-HOLY SHIT!

She screamed as the bird began to pull up sharply at one of the cliff edges. With a great flap of its wings, it increased the drag of air and slowed down enough to slip its talons over something before lifting once more into the air.

Ariel had to gulp down bile in her throat as the eagle's flapping wings made the bird bounce up and down in continuous almost sickening patterns as it rode the wind, far away from danger…and even further away from the mountains.

Meanwhile back on the ground Azog the pale orc had finally rid himself of the tight bonds of ivy that had imprisoned both him and his warg against the burning tree. With a growl, he winced as tendrils of dark blood dribbled down his exposed pale flesh from where his bindings sharp thorns had pricked painfully at his skin like tiny needles.

When he looked up into the sky, he was just in time to see the great eagles and their passengers ascend into the night sky and beyond reach.

They are gone.

His grip on his mace in his only hand tightened as his teeth bared into a growl

THEY ESCAPED!

He tried to take a step forward only to be tugged back by a small rope of vines still tied about his wrist.

That witch.

He snarled to himself. There were very few people with power in the world like this.

He looked about at the bodies of the fallen followers who lay burning amongst the flames.

A Halfling and a woman did that.

It seemed he had underestimated Thorin Oakensheild's alliances.

But no more.

Azog tugged harshly at his organic bonds, and they broke…along with his temper.

No one got in the way between Azog the Defiler and his prey!

"[Thorin Oakenshield!]" He roared into the darkness in his foul tongue "[You shall burn! You, your friends, your Halfling and your Green Witch! You all will burn!] RAGHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The shadow of Dol Guldor had been growing darker day by day. But nothing could compare to the howling darkness that surrounded the ancient ruins now even as the pale light of dawn peeked over the horizon.

Even the elves felt it in their halls of Mirkwood. Something had disturbed the peace. Something evil and it was slowly seeping into the woods beyond the ancient ruin's borders.

One elf, a tall female with vibrant red hair and a fair face, could feel such enmity about her as she looked down on the gigantic dead spider that lay a few feet away.

Its black blood drenched her sword and made the metal of it glimmer oddly as she sheathed it.

"[Filthy spider]" the elf woman spat in her smooth tongue just as someone's footsteps came up behind her. She quickly turned about drawing a bow and an arrow as swiftly as the wind, only to stop dead when she saw her would be victim.

It was a male elf, with long silvery blonde hair and bright blue eyes wearing all green like her.

"[Careful Tauriel]" he smirked as he looked down the length of the arrow facing him. "[You wouldn't want to shoot the royal prince down now would you?]"

Tauriel snorted however lowered her bow down gently and turned back to the spider.

"[One cannot be too careful out here Legolas. Especially with these monsters roaming the forest]"

"[You made quick work of it]" Legolas nodded with admiration as he inspected the wounds on the dead creature.

Tauriel opened her mouth to speak but as she looked up her words faltered in her mouth.

"Tauriel?" Legolas quickly straightened up looking about them warily and placing a hand on his bow and quiver. But the female elf merely shook her head and tugged his arm down.

"[no look]" she pointed into the trees.

There standing just several meters away in the thicket was a white hart, tall and with a full pair of antlers set high upon its head like two great branches of trees.

It gazed at Legolas and Tauriel for a moment, its dark eyes assessing with a piercing stare, before quickly darting off into the forest.

Wordlessly the two elves darted forwards

Such creatures rarely appeared in this part of the vast forest, especially in these dark times and so it was with great excitement that they came upon the spot in which it stood. However, as they came upon the spot, they were astonished to find nothing was there.

Not even a leaf on the ground was out of place. It was like nothing had ever moved in that spot.

"[A trick of the light? Or perhaps the enemy is now trying to lure us into a trap]" Tauriel suggested though Legolas was already seething.

"[No! It must have been here for a reason. A pure creature like this never shows itself in places of such evil unless…. unless…]"

His voice fell away as he looked down to the undergrowth.

Tauriel looked down too, and her eyes widened in shock.

Where they had thought was only dead and sickly dark leaves a little flower was blossoming. Its petals were of the purest white, and its stem was thornless and whole even as it peeked out from the dark, harsh forest undergrowth.

"[But…]" Legolas breathed as he looked at the other almost dead plants about him and his friend "[but what does this even mean?]"

"[Maybe…]" Tauriel smiled gently as she crouched down to caress the plant's petals "[maybe it means there is hope yet for us]"

"[Hope?]" Legolas snorted "[hope from where? It is just one flower Tauriel]"

"[One from thousands]" Tauriel nodded "[but still one strong enough to push through on its own. And such strength and purity is precious and should not be lost or left behind to wither in the darkness]"

Legolas watched curiously as with gentle hands Tauriel scooped up the small flower, roots and all and deposited it safely into a small pouch on her side.

For some reason he could not fathom, he had a feeling that this plant no matter how small had just drawn them into something far more significant than they could ever have dreamed. Though what it was the elvish prince had no idea, though he was to learn.

Ariel should have sighed with relief as she felt the first rays of the morning sun hit her face as it rose over the tops of the misty mountains.

But she could not. Not when Thorin Oakenshield was half dying in the talons of the great eagle she was riding.

She gripped her staff tight trying her hardest to resist the urge to look down. She wanted desperately to see if the dwarf was alright; however she was also very much terrified of seeing the massive drop between her steed and the earth below.

She'd almost dropped off two cliffs within twenty-four hours she didn't think she could handle the terror of dangling for her life another time. At least not for a few more days.

Instead, she looked sideways at the birds that flew around her. From the horrified faces of the dwarves, she figured that Thorin was looking in a rather terrible shape.

But he can't be dead. He can't be.

But what if he was killed? Or worse, what if he was alive but would never wake up or open his eyes?

"I'm sorry Thorin…" she murmured tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry…you were right…I was an idiot. I was a stupid, naive idiot who thought I could help. But what have I done up to now? Just caused trouble and been a big smart arse. But when the time came that you needed my help, I just crumbled. You may be a stubborn ass sometimes, but I was wrong to compare you to that dragon. Please Thorin, forgive me, and please don't be dead."

Ariel's grip on the soft dark feathers tightened, as she bent her head down to rest against the eagle's neck, her hair whipping out behind her, tangled by the breeze.

The faces of Bilbo and the other dwarves about her fell as they heard the small sob carry on the wind.

Gandalf himself sighed heavily. While he was relieved to hear that Ariel had made her peace with the dwarf prince it nearly broke the wizard's heart that it had to happen after such drastic circumstances. After all, the girl was still at a young tender age, and while she'd already dealt with the loss of her brother, he doubted that she would be able to deal with the loss of someone else dear to her.

And neither would Fili or Kili or even Bilbo for that matter

He reasoned as he looked upon the two brothers and the hobbit who were all watching the eagle carrying Thorin with fear and anxiety.

The other elder dwarves, however, were looking far more despairing, for many of them had seen wars and much death and while the loss of their prince was a devastating blow to them all, they knew that some things in life were inevitable.

But Thorin's not dead yet

The wizard's hand on his staff clenched tight. He could still sense Thorin's life flowing within him, though it was holding on by the barest of threads.

He was relieved when he felt the eagle beneath him tilt downwards as they passed over the last outpost of the misty mountains and down over towards a great stony peak that stood in the centre of a large wood.

The Carrock of the eagles was an excellent vantage point even in the Misty Mountains. Though open on top it commanded a broad view of the vast expanses of Wilderland, Mirkwood and the River Anduin of whose upper reaches ran fast and powerfully through the lands below.

Ariel, while knowledgeable about the key plot points of Tolkien's works, did not know this nor did she care about her location as the great eagle she rode, descended upon the Carrock.

In a small hop, it deposited Thorin's body gently upon the large slab of rock before tilting its neck down for Ariel to slide smoothly down.

Her feet had barely scraped the surface of the rock when she fell to her knees beside Thorin.

She tried to take deep, steadying breaths as she pressed her fingers to his neck, feeling about for a pulse. However, she could feel nothing.

No don't panic, don't panic, check his wrist

But even as she inhaled a deep shuddering breath, she bit her lip. The bracers over his arms were thick leather and very difficult to shift away from his wrists.

"Come on you bloody bastard-come on just give me a heartbeat or something" she sniffled angrily as she quickly leant down and pressed her ear over his chest.

Thump-thump…thump-thump

Ariel's breath caught in her throat, and she looked up just in time to hear footsteps come up behind her.

It was Gandalf and the dwarves.

"Thorin" the wizard cried out as he knelt by the dwarf prince, just as Balin snatched Ariel up from the ground and held her back securely by the shoulders.

"He'll be alright lass" the old dwarf muttered softly he patted her trembling back gently. "He'll be alright."

"He better be" Ariel whispered as she gulped down the lump in her throat.

She felt a warmth about her hand as it was taken by Kili who was standing beside her along with Fili whose face was pale.

She squeezed the dwarf's hand back tight as she watched Gandalf murmur something softly under his breath as he hovered his hand over Thorin's face.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dwarves and the wizard, Bilbo watched on his face a mask of worry and guilt.

He felt like he was intruding on a very private family moment and yet he felt as if he too should have been included.

But who am I really to them?

He thought bitterly.

I'm just another piece of baggage…I'm not-

But then suddenly the hobbit's thoughts stopped entirely as a pair of deep blue eyes slid open and a gasp of breath was released.

Oh, thank god!

Ariel sighed with relief, pinching the bridge of her nose to stem her tears as Thorin murmured hoarsely to Gandalf.

"The…the Halfling"

"It's alright" Gandalf assured him gently "Bilbo is here. He's quite safe."

Bilbo seemed to sigh in relief but then quickly stumbled as Thorin suddenly rolled over and began to scramble to his feet, his face livid.

"You!" Thorin barked at the hobbit who was looking bewilderedly up at him as he stalked forwards slowly "What were you doing? You could've gotten yourself killed!"

"No Thorin-" Ariel tried to baulk forwards only to be held back by many hands.

Thorin, however, ignored her his eyes narrowed upon Bilbo who was now looking down at his own furry feet in guilt and shame.

"Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the Wild? That you had no place amongst us?... I have never been so wrong in all my life!"

Hold on a moment-What the F-!

Ariel's eyes bulged out of their sockets, and her jaw dropped as Thorin Oakenshield wrapped both his arms about Bilbo and hugged him tightly.

Bilbo himself looked very confused but also immensely relieved when the dwarves all about them began to laugh and cheer at the gesture.

Gandalf also smiled warmly as Bilbo gingerly returned the gesture with a soft pat on the back before he was released from the hold by the dwarf prince who made to grumble softly.

"I am sorry I doubted you."

"No, I would have doubted me too" Bilbo admitted, "I'm not a hero, or a warrior or sorcerer…I'm not even a burglar" he added much to the amusement of the others.

Even Thorin managed a small smile.

The only one of them who didn't smile was Ariel…but that wasn't because she wasn't happy.

"Is that…" she breathed before quickly darting out in front, past everyone to stand at the head of the Carrock. "Is that what I think it is?"

Everyone turned to see what she was looking at and whatever comments or words they had been about to utter die in their throats.

There far in the distance but standing very tall was the shadow of a single mountain with a sharp snow-capped point.

"Erebor," Gandalf nodded as he looked out over the great view before him "The Lonely Mountain the last of the Great Dwarf Kingdoms of Middle Earth."

"Our home" Thorin smiled as he looked upon the silhouette of the old kingdom in the distance just as a bird twittered overhead.

They all looked up, however instead of seeing a giant eagle, they saw a tiny bird, flittering and swooping gracefully through the air and singing joyfully as it steered itself in the direction of the mountain.

"A raven" Oin chuckled "The birds are returning to the mountain."

"A raven?" Ariel squinted "That doesn't look like any raven I've ever seen."

"That's because it isn't" Gandalf snorted "that dear Oin is a thrush."

"But we'll take it as a sign" Thorin nodded in the direction of the mountain "A good omen."

"You're right" Bilbo agreed warmly "I do believe the worst is behind us."

"NO!" Ariel suddenly cried out "Don't say that!"

"And why not?" Thorin looked up surprised at the girl who raised her eyebrows in return.

"Uh maybe perhaps because after the last person said that we had a giant goblin king crash down on top of us and nearly squash us to death?"

"Well aren't you a cheerful ray of sunshine this morning" Thorin snorted and Ariel rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to retort only for Gandalf to suddenly snap.

"Oh for goodness sake will the two of you ever stop this petty arguing?"

"He started it?"

"And you're continuing it so who's being a petty chi-"

"Thorin Oakenshield if you want to live don't you dare finish that sentence!"

"And here we go again" Balin pinched the bridge of his nose as Fili and Kili both exchanged small sniggers of amusement.

"Told you it would happen, now pay up" Bofur muttered to Gloin who rolled his eyes as he begrudgingly handed over a couple of silver coins.

Meanwhile, Bilbo was chuckling under his breath.

We have barely been in safety for more than ten minutes, and already you both are arguing once more. This must be a new record.

Chapter Text

Darkness grew deeper over the edges of Wilderland. But that didn't deter a lone figure as it swiftly crossed over open fields and towards a single solitary house towards the edges of the great woods.

This figure quickly looked behind themselves, their red cloak swishing behind them in their haste as they made to the front door.

They knocked once swiftly. However, no one answered.

They knocked again.

Again nothing.

A woman's voice sighed in the darkness.

"Oh, you stupid bear of all the times you had to be gone-"

"I am right here" a deep voice rumbled, and the woman gasped as she wheeled about. Behind her was the silhouette of a very tall, very large man with a mane of dark hair and dark eyes that glimmered in the moonlight behind him.

The woman gulped nervously.

"Oh…I'm sorry old friend…I must've passed you in the dark"

"It is alright" the man nodded quietly his voice now slightly gentler, laced with amusement. "It has been a long time since we last met."

"Yes" the woman nodded slightly nervously "Yes it has. I am sorry I haven't come to see you."

"Do not apologise. You have come now and that is what matters most" the man's face softened.

The lady in the red cloak's smile widened, though it fell just as quickly.

"My Lady?" the large man reached out a hand to lightly touch the woman's shoulder, but she shook her head.

"You must forgive me" she murmured gravely "I have not come for a visit. I came here for your help"

"Anything for you dear friend" the man patted her shoulder gently and the woman wiped her eyes on her sleeve of her dress which like her cloak was a deep red.

"It is not help for myself that I ask for" she sniffed "There is someone very dear to me. They are in trouble. Azog the Defiler has been tasked hunt them and their friends down. They've only just escaped with their lives-"

"But Azog still hunts them" the man's voice tensed.

The woman in red nodded. "Yes, he hunts them, and they have proven themselves able to fight him but-"

"But you are afraid of what might happen." the man's face softened "Do not worry. I shall look after him and his companions if that is what you wish"

"Oh thank you! thank you so much!" the woman in red gasped with relief before adding in a mumble "Oh uh… is should have probably said this before but the one I mention is not a man. It's a girl"

"Are they gone Bilbo?" Ariel Rosalie Brooks winced as the hobbit shifted his furry feet on her shoulders as he peered over the top of some rocks.

He was silent for a moment as he watched carefully. A pack of mounted Wargs were running off in the distance but one small whisper or move out of place and they'd be on their tails faster than piranha's to fresh meat.

"All clear-oh shoot!" He quickly ducked once more as something growled close by.

"What?" Ariel gulped her grip tightening over Bilbo's ankles at the horrible sound. It was the sound of a great beast, but it seemed too large to a warg.

That knowledge itself, was enough to make Ariel's heart hammer harder in her chest as she helped lower the hobbit back to the ground.

"What was that?" she muttered as Bilbo almost slipped but he just shushed her quickly.

"Shh…just get me down I'll explain when we reach the others"

"Ok, ok! Crap!" Ariel jumped as the great strange beast behind them gave a guttural roar. She glanced back quickly and saw to her astonishment something massive and dark standing atop of rocks someway off, something that looked strangely like a bear.

Huh? A bear?

There was silence as she and Bilbo darted down the great hill, over stones and through trees and down into a small sheltered clearing where thirteen dwarves and a wizard stood waiting nervously.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin growled as the hobbit and the girl both ran into view.

"Too close" Ariel puffed. "Way too close. They couldn't have been more than-what? Just a couple of leagues away?"

"Yeah, but that's not the worst of it" Bilbo added grimly.

"Have the wargs' picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked as he fingered his drawn axe in his hands.

"No Ariel's distraction seems to have drawn them off" Bilbo nodded to Ariel who blushed a little, trying hard not to look too pleased with herself.

She had only just managed to gain some measure of control again over her powers after that terrifying night on the cliff, and with the help and guidance of Gandalf had managed to send her energy straight through the ground and over towards the wood in the other direction to where the company was going. It had caused a bright flash of green light as it had surfaced, one that anyone could have noticed from a mile off.

However, that was the least of their worries now as Bilbo kept on explaining.

"We don't know for how long though. They still might be able to pick up our scent if we're not careful. That and we have another problem"

"Did they see either of you?" Gandalf muttered anxiously but Ariel shook her head.

"No that's not it"

"There what did I tell you, quiet as mice?" the wizard chuckled much to the amusement and admiration of the other dwarves "excellent burglar material"

"Will you listen? Will you just listen?" Bilbo cried out as Ariel rolled her eyes in exasperation "We're trying to tell you there is something else out there!"

"What form did it take?" Gandalf breathed after a full minute "Like a bear?"

Bilbo looked up at the wizard utterly perplexed.

"Ye-Yes but bigger…much bigger…"

There was a sudden very sticky silence as Gandalf paused once more, his face strangely grim.

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur gulped and when the wizard didn't reply his face paled. "I say we double back"

"And be run down by a pack of orcs" Thorin sighed heavily though Ariel suddenly gasped.

Big bear on edge of wilderness?! Of course, how could I have forgotten?

"Wait, wait hold on there is someplace we can go to safety, a-a house. It shouldn't be too far from here I don't think…" she glanced awkwardly at Gandalf who quickly hid his confusion behind a small nod.

"Who's house?" Thorin narrowed his eyes on both Sorcerers "Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither." Gandalf shook his head "He will help us, or he will kill us."

"What choice do we have?" Nori groaned only to gasp as a great loud roar, like a beast, rumbled through the air about them.

"None"

I swear…by the time we're done with this quest we will all be champion marathon runners

Ariel puffed as she ran up ahead of the other dwarves through a wide-open field of green grass.

She could barely remember a time in her life where she had run as much as she had in the past few days, let alone be fit enough to keep running as far as she did or as fast as she did.

"How far is the house?!" Gandalf called from behind her.

"I can see it now" she called back just as another great monstrous roar sounded from behind them.

"Come on guys we're almost there" she shouted back to the others as they all stuttered in their steps. She didn't need to be able to feel the earth beneath her to know that the bear behind them was closing in and fast.

Come on girl push it hard, push it!

She puffed as she extended her legs out further and pumped them harder into a final sprint towards a large pair of great wooden doors set within a great barrier of hedge and wooden fence.

"GET IN!" she cried out as she managed to push her way through the doors, her arms straining against the massive handles as she struggled to keep them open.

"One-four-six-nine-thirteen-fifteen!" she counted off as all the company came pouring through behind her and into a garden filled with grass and flowers.

However, no one had time to stop and admire the beauty of the place for the snarling giant bear had burst out of the tree line of the nearby woods and was charging towards the house with a ferocious speed.

"Quick get inside!" Thorin bellowed as the others crashed into the front door, struggling to find a handle or even a lock or key.

Eventually someone had the brains to reach up and un-bolt a small latch towards the top.

They all rushed inside with loud yells of panic as the bear leapt for the end of Ariel's skirt as she and Bilbo both dove through the last small gap before the door managed to shut.

With a great final push from Dwalin, Gloin and Thorin the bear was pushed back and the lock on the door refitted back into position.

"What is that?" Poor little Ori was shaking where he stood gaping at the place where he'd seen the snarling mass of black matted fur.

"That is our host" Gandalf sighed with relief as he straightened up "His name is Beorn and he's a skin changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear. Sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overly fond of dwarves."

There was a silence as the whole company exchanged nervous glances, all save Ori who was peeping out a nearby window.

"He's leaving" he murmured as he pressed his ear to the door only for Oin to drag him back hissing with worry.

"Come away from there. It's not natural. None of it. It's obvious he's under some dark spell"

"Don't be a fool!" Gandalf rolled his eyes "He's under no enchantment but his own."

"Huh? Who is enchanting?" Ariel spluttered as she suddenly popped up from where she had been on the ground.

Had Bilbo not been so shocked by what the wizard had just said he might have laughed at the state Ariel was in, for when she'd leapt inside Beorn's house she'd promptly landed headfirst into a large pile of hay. Her dark russet hair was so messy that it stuck out at odd angles with golden strands of hay poking out like a strange form of frizz.

She blinked blankly as she looked about at her surroundings.

The building around them seemed to be a mix between a cottage and a barn. Animals either stayed in pens or were walking about all over the place. Hay and straw littered most of the floor, save for an elevated platform of stone where a small kitchen area seemed to have been erected.

Thorin and Dwalin and Balin made to check out this space whilst others made to inspect the barn and the animals.

"Come on get some rest all of you. You'll be safe here tonight" Gandalf called before anyone could get out of earshot. But then he softly added as he looked outside a window.

"I hope"

Tauriel of the Elves of Mirkwood, even though she was still only young by the standards of her people, had seen many seasons pass and had watched many flowers grow.

And yet even as she watched on the small white rose now growing in a small pot in her rooms of the Woodland Realm she could not believe her eyes.

Days had passed since the flower had first been found and still it continued to thrive as well as one that had only just blossomed from a bud.

She barely even jumped as a sudden knock came at her door. Settling her silver green robes, she called out quickly in Elvish.

"[come in]"

She was quickly greeted by the sight of Legolas as he strode over the threshold, garbed in a tunic of silver-green. He smirked with amusement as he caught sight of his friend whose eyes had not left the plant even when he'd arrived.

"[Tauriel you did not come down for the feast. Are you still bewitched by your new charge?]"

"[Not bewitched]" Tauriel murmured "[Merely curious. Most plants we try and salvage from the dark sickness barely last more than a day when we try and rehabilitate them. This one however continues to stay in bloom, indeed it thrives. Even though we both found it amongst other plants that were surely dead.]"

"[Yes, indeed, I too was wondering about that]" Legolas frowned "[I asked my father of what it might mean. But he thinks it is merely a fortunate survivor]"

"[And what do you think?]" Tauriel looked up at her friend with a quirked brow of intrigue.

"[I think…]" Legolas murmured "[that you were right when we first found it. This blossom is precious. It is a sign of the Valar Yavanna herself. A gift to remind us of the pure remaining even when we think all hope is lost. Perhaps she may even be telling us that help is on the way soon and we must be on the lookout for it. The spiders that once roamed the south are now moving closer to the river…and the darkness over Dol Guldur grows every day…We are running out of time]"

"[Yes, we are]" Tauriel nodded grimly. "[Hopefully you are right, and the help will come before it is too late]"

"Ariel"

She was drowning in smoke…

"Ariel"

But Ariel's eyes were shut tight.

Her skin was burning…

"Ariel" the voice hissed once more and this time she felt a hand jostle her slightly by her shoulder.

The shadow was looming over her, reaching out to grab her…

"Ariel wake up!"

…and a red eye was flashing down upon her as she held up an arm to shield herself-

"AH-mph!" Ariel's squeak was quickly muffled by a hand as a voice softly hissed down at her voices cried out.

"Shh Ariel, it's alright its just me"

"Fili!" Ariel spluttered in shock as she looked up into the face of the young blonde-haired dwarf as it loomed above her, his blue eyes full of worry.

"Are you alright?" he whispered his eyes darting over her sweat drenched pale face "you looked like you really were upset"

Oh great he heard me.

Ariel sighed heavily.

"It was just a stupid nightmare, nothing major. Just unpleasant" she rolled her eyes though her hand unconsciously rubbed at her left wrist. "I'm sorry I woke you up"

"No-no it's alright" Fili reached out to put a hand on her shoulder as she sat up. "I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Why?" Ariel frowned but then her eyes caught sight of the small wooden pipe he'd tucked hastily into the pocket of his jacket. "ah"

"Yeah…" Fili nodded as he took the pipe back out and held it up to light it "Haven't been able to sit in peace for a while since the cliff"

"Tell me about it" Ariel snorted watching curiously as with a small flick of flint the bowl of the pipe began to smoke gently.

Fili smirked softly with amusement as she watched the smoke rise in small curling tendrils up into the air.

"hmm…Ariel?"

"Yeah-ugh! Fili!" Ariel spluttered as Fili chuckled, smoke puffing into her face with every exhale.

"Oh come now it can't be that bad"

"Maybe it wouldn't be if you didn't blow it all into my nose at once" Ariel hissed still coughing softly, though they were quick to turn into gruff hacks.

"It's- ahem-ok" she puffed as Fili leant over her with worry once more.

"Here" he muttered reaching down to his belt and pulling out his water skin which he carefully brought to her hands

"Just take it slowly, slowly" he murmured soothingly, holding the skin steady as Ariel made to take a couple of deep gulps.

"Better?" he asked when she rasped for breath.

"yeah" she nodded opening her mouth to speak only for a tiny belch to escape her lips.

"oh, shit I'm sorry I-I just-"

She blushed a million shades of pink as the dwarf beside her chuckled harder than before.

"Ha! Don't apologise. Besides-pff-Better out than in-che-he-he"

"S'not funny" she pouted but he only laughed harder as she reached out to slap him on the chest.

"Ow!" he winced. "That hurt"

"Oh come on that wasn't even a proper slap!" Ariel rolled her eyes "I thought dwarves were supposed to be tough as stone. So much for the strong line of Durin"

"Oh-ho-ho! You did not just say that" Fili narrowed his eyes though the corners of his lips were tilted upwards in a smirk

"Oh yes I did-HA".

Ariel did her best to stop the squeal of giggles as Fili's fingers darted swiftly to ghost over her ribs, the sensation of which sent her toppling back down into the pile of hay they were both resting on.

"Fili-ha-Fili stop-stop I'm too ticklish-ha"

"No way" Fili grinned "the reputation of Durin's line must be avenged"

Ariel laughed only for a gruff voice to hiss from somewhere in the darkness.

"Hey, will you two cut it out! Some of us want to sleep!"

"Sorry uncle" Fili quickly clapped a hand over Ariel's mouth, pursing his lips in the effort to not smile though he failed miserably.

Ariel giggled softly as she heard Thorin's gruff voice mutter darkly from somewhere off to her left.

"Children! Always so noisy-hmph!"

Fili and Ariel both did their best to keep quiet as they listened to the dwarf prince grumble himself to sleep in the dark.

Once it was silent Fili snorted softly and removed his hand from Ariel's mouth.

"By the maker he is such an old man sometimes"

"The maker?" Ariel tilted her head to the side.

"Mahal or Aulë. He was one of the Ainur…they are supposed to be holy beings that helped create Middle Earth during its beginnings" Fili whispered quietly "he was a great Smith and craftsman and created the first seven fathers of the dwarves."

"Like Durin?" Ariel propped herself up onto her elbow on her side.

Fili nodded smiling softly at the childlike curiosity over her face.

"Were there any other Ainur?"

"Many apparently…I only know of the maker from the stories my mother used to tell me and Kili when we were Dwarflings"

"Sounds much cooler than the bedtime stories I used to have." Ariel huffed enviously "Only princes rescuing princess or cute fuzzy animals in forests"

"alright that does sound rather flimsy" Fili agreed "But there must be something you liked"

"Well…" Ariel bit her lip "I always did like mermaids"

"Mermaids?"

"Yeah Mermaids" Ariel nodded with a sigh only to see Fili looking thoroughly confused. "uh…you have no clue about what I'm talking about do you?"

Fili shook his head.

"Never heard of such creatures in my life. What are they?"

"umm…well…Mermaids…are or they're supposed to be…uh these mythical beings that live in the sea. From the waist up they are shaped like beautiful women but from the waist down they have the tail of a fish instead of legs. There are also Mermen who are the male version but there are not many myths that mention them."

"Well that sounds…bizarre" Fili quirked a brow and Ariel giggled.

"Yeah it sounds weird, but it actually looks nice when you see an illustration of one. They also were supposed to have beautiful singing voices which they would use to lure sailors into the sea or rocks so they could drown them or eat them"

"Oh so beautiful and deadly huh?"

"Yeah I guess you could say that?"

"So what stories are there about them?" Fili muttered as he lay himself down on the soft stack of hay, putting his pipe once more in his mouth.

"Oh, there are a couple" she coughed her eyes darting down to the hay. "The most famous story about a mermaid is called, err…The Little Mermaid…and it was written a very long time ago by a man called Hans Christian Anderson."

"The people where you come from have strange names" Fili muttered but then quickly backtracked "Sorry, sorry, please continue I'm listening"

"Uh ok well the story begins…well it begins like most other fairy tales I guess. Um… Once upon a time far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflower, and as clear as crystal, it is very, very deep; so deep, indeed, that no cable could fathom it: many church steeples, piled one upon another, would not reach from the ground beneath to the surface of the water above. There dwell the Sea King and his subjects."

Darkness grew deeper as the night drew on and still Azog the pale orc was skirting around the edge of a great open field in the shadows of the trees.

Just a few hundred metres away a great hulking bear, greater than the white warg he rode was pacing up and down with heavy growling breaths.

Another wall between me and my prize

Azog growled to himself just as another Orc came running up silently beside him hissing in the familiar black speech.

"[We attack them now. Kill the dwarf filth while they sleep]"

"[No]" Azog snarled as he turned his back on the sight before them and stride back amongst the trees"[The beast stands guard. We will kill them on the road]"

But even as he spoke branches snapped and the wargs of his pack snarled as another dark hairy shape burst forth from the trees.

It was another warg rider, though he was far different from his other fellows who were all smaller and squint eyed and ape like. This one was rather like Azog himself, with pale skin (though not as pale) and just as tall and strong, though he wore more armour over his head and shoulders.

He spoke down to the pale orc with much urgency.

"[They are gathering in Dol Guldur. The Master has summoned you!]"

Thorin Oakenshield had been wanting to enjoy a silent night's sleep after all the mayhem and stress of being chased by Azog's warg and orc pack. However, it seemed as if fate had other plans for him that night.

He rolled his eyes and tried to shut them tight as the sounds of his nephew's and the young woman's voices wafted through his ears.

By Mahal, youths really were chatterboxes at the worst of times. Of course, the Dwarf Prince had to remind himself that Fili was nowhere near as young or as innocent as he'd once been.

Despite most past bitterness's, Thorin remembered those times with his small nephews most fondly indeed. Boli, their father had died when Kili was still but an infant and Fili was only a small toddling child and ever since then Thorin had done his best to help his sister Dis and be a father figure, especially considering he himself would never get married.

From their first steps on their own two little legs, to the first time either of them had held a sword or the first time either of them travelled along the road with him, Thorin had always been there to watch over and see to guide them as best he could.

Come a few years they won't need my guidance anymore…

He mused with bittersweet pride as he turned over slowly to listen as Ariel made to tell her story. It was a strange tale, about a maiden of a strange underwater species who fell in love with a human prince after she rescued him from drowning at sea. Then the little mermaid was willing enough to give up her fish tail and voice to a witch so that she may walk on the surface and be with him for eternity, even though it sounded like the poor mermaid would not ever find that happiness and it would cost her own life.

"The little mermaid drew back the crimson curtain of the tent and beheld the fair bride with her head resting on the prince's breast. She bent down and kissed his fair brow, then looked at the sky on which the rosy dawn grew brighter and brighter; then she glanced at the sharp knife, and again fixed her eyes on the prince, who whispered the name of his bride in his dreams. She was in his thoughts, and the knife trembled in the hand of the little mermaid: then she flung it far away from her into the waves; the water turned red where it fell, and the drops that spurted up looked like blood. She cast one more lingering, half-fainting glance at the prince, and then threw herself from the ship into the sea, and thought her body was dissolving into foam…."

Thorin, cracked open an eye slowly to watch as Fili gave a small sigh into the silent night about them.

"Wow…"

"Yeah…" Ariel nodded slowly her smile softening with sadness. "I know right. It used to make me cry all the time when I was little, but I don't know… I just couldn't stop begging my mother to tell it to me each night"

"I don't blame you" Fili paused for a moment to puff on his pipe slowly "It's such a sad story…but beautiful, nonetheless. But I must ask, did this Little Mermaid have a name?"

"…Yes…" Ariel gulped. "Well, at least she did in one version of the tale."

"What was it?"

"It-it was…um… well in one incarnation of the tale it was Ariel" the last word came out as such a tiny whisper that Thorin had to strain his ears from his spot to hear it. But when he did it took all he had in himself to not snort out loud then and there and keep his mouth shut.

Instead he opted to watch as Fili smirked widely.

"So…you are the little mermaid then huh?"

"Uh…no …my mother just loved the story so much she named me after her…that's all. I mean I don't have a fish tail, I'm fairly average singer and I'm not that beautiful a dancer or a strong person so…" Ariel blushed a little as she realised that his sole attention was on her face, his expression intent and curious.

"This is coming from a girl who had enough guts to strike at Azog the great Defiler and put up with my crotchety uncle daily. You could've run away or let yourself be trampled over at any time, but you didn't. You fought back even when you were down. You are stronger than you think Ariel Brooks. And I am glad that you are here…"

Ariel tilted her face down into the hay beneath her, her smile now shy as Fili's fingers tucked the last lock of hair behind her ear and trailed softly over the soft angle of her jaw.

"These beads…" she asked quietly looking up at Fili's hair curiously "are they just for decoration or are there actual symbolic meaning behind them"

"Both actually" Fili answered just as softly. "The beads in my hair were my uncle Frerin's. they are family heirlooms of Durin's house. Whereas the beads here on my beard are of my father Boli's line, or at least two of them. Kili will get the other two when he finally grows his beard in a few years"

"So he's young by Dwarf standards?"

"Fairly young" Fili nodded "If he were a human he'd probably be around your age, give or take a few years, though you seem a fair bit more mature than he is"

"Well that's because I'm a girl" Ariel smirked before adding with a sigh "though he is better at fighting than I am"

"You're not that bad" Fili shrugged "I mean your technique could do with a fair amount of work, but you have a knack for it that much is clear. You just need someone to help further refine your skills. You certainly improved after those couple of lessons with that human boy from Rivendell."

"Only because I almost begged him, and even then it wasn't that easy. Truth be told I've not met anyone else that would be willing to teach me since I came here." Ariel snorted, remembering some of the earlier comments from Thorin and the older dwarves from when she'd first started the quest. Fili seemed to remember too because he frowned.

"Well now you've settled into our company, I'm sure there's someone here who wouldn't mind. Someone strong, patient, willing…a good friend…"

Ariel quirked an eyebrow up at him.

"Is that an offer I hear on the table Mister Fili"

"Maybe?" Fili smirked "Why you think I couldn't teach?"

"No-no it's not that" Ariel bit her lip "it's just that it is a big thing of me to ask- "

"And it won't be for nothing" Fili leaned in slightly closer to murmur softly. "If I agree to teach you how to fight, you must tell me the stories about where you come from."

"Stories?"

"Yes. One story for every lesson"

"Why?" Ariel frowned slightly in confusion.

"because I swear if I have to hear Dwalin boast about all the fights or pub brawls he's been in one more time I swear I'm going to go mad"

Ariel giggled again only this time it was punctuated by a soft wide yawn.

"hmm…a fighting lesson for a story…sounds fair enough…when do we start?"

"Tomorrow if you want…but first we need to get some sleep alright?"

"Alright…" she blinked sleepily as she rested her head back down on the hay. "G'night Fili"

Fili watched with faint amusement as Ariel's eyes grew heavier with each passing second, before finally drooping shut.

As soon as the gap between the eyelids was completely shut her breathing turned deep and even at once.

By the maker you have got to be kidding me

Thorin rolled his eyes as he saw his nephew stroke his thumb tenderly over the back of the young girl's hand which was now resting in-between them, smiling as he whispered down to her.

"good night Ariel"

In the great tower of the old fortress of Dol Guldur the shadow with burning eyes was once more looking down through a magical orb with a clawed hand stretched above it.

His fiery eyes narrowed and seared hot as they looked upon the faces of several people sleeping soundly in the night. One in particular caught his eye, for her dark red brown hair and sweet innocent face as she lay dreaming alongside a young blonde-haired dwarf. However unlike before her mind was far away from the darkness of her heart, instead it was far away in dreams of the calm beautiful ocean. Of a beach lit up by hundreds of lanterns at a festival.

The hand above the orb tensed with revulsion and pulled away as the young dwarf by her side made to bid her goodnight, the last of his words garbling as the magical connection was cut off.

The shadow stood for a moment in the cold empty darkness of the tower about itself.

The girl was becoming more of a hindrance than he'd first thought. Her tender heart brought light to the greedy prideful hearts of these Dwarves. What would come next? Would she save the great king of dwarves from its gold-sickness too?!

No! He could not have that happening!

He would not see an Erebor reclaimed by the light, he would not see the dragon killed and the Line of Durin return to its throne beneath the mountain, nor let his line continue in his kin.

No…Thorin Oakenshield would not be king! He would make sure of that…

Only he just had to get that girl out of the way, had to silence her, once and for all. And yet…and yet…

He looked down at her through the orb's surface, his clawed finger reaching out to stroke at her face to trace a lock of red hair that had fallen over her cheek. Of course her interference would ruin everything, yet it would be a such waste of raw untapped power and potential if she were to die…

His fingers now trailed over her arm and wrist, the claw like nails smoothing out over the image of her skin.

"Balcheth!" his charred lip curled, his tongue as black as the shadows that made him and the heart that he bore.

"[Yess my Lord]" The voice of a woman sneered through the darkness. Upon the wall above the doorway behind him a faint shadow of something massive and covered in feathers was briefly illuminated by a flickering torch, held high in its bracket.

"Balcheth…" The Necromancer's voice simmered down to a dangerous purr "[…I have a new job for you. Bring me the Green Witch that travels with Thorin Oakenshield, alive and unspoiled]"

"[Of course, my Lord]" Balcheth hissed. There was a rush of wind and dark feathers as a gigantic pair of shadowy wings suddenly beat into the air, leaving the Dark Lord all alone in the blackness of his tower and his thoughts.

When Fili son of Boli awoke it was to find that he was pleasantly warm as something, or rather someone, draped themselves sleepily over him.

He craned his neck up to see the identity of his living breathing blanket only to see the top of Ariel's soft red-brown head of hair just beneath his chin. She seemed to have curled her body unconsciously over his own, with one leg accidentally wrapped over his hips.

The young dwarf gulped as he saw that whilst she wore black boots up to under her knee, most of the rest of the leg was completely bare as it poked through a large tear along the side of her green dress. The light maple beige of her skin was shining in the soft golden light of the morning sun that was peeking in through a window high above.

He took a deep breath to steady himself as he felt her snuggle tighter against him, her soft slender chest pressing against his own tough stout one.

He knew the gesture was completely innocent on her part. Indeed most of the many innuendos the rest of the company were fond of joking about around a campfire usually went over her unexperienced head. And therein lay Fili's problem.

Even with her spirit and temper, Ariel was as innocent as a lamb in mind and soul. Her body on the other hand…well she may not have been as short as a dwarf lady, nor as hairy as one, but most of the younger (or single) dwarf men in the company weren't blind when it came to the beauty of the female form.

Fili could clearly recall a scene from a few days back just after they'd left the Eagle's Carrock. Ariel was helping Bombur cook the spoils of their days hunt for the evening meal.

Ariel had been tasked with handing out the bowls to the dwarves and had been leaning to pass over to Ori and Nori when Dwalin and Kili had both looked up from their food to watch.

Fili's teeth grit as he remembered the way his brother and his friend's eyes had both stared unabashedly at the young but rounded rump of the girl as she leant down even further to pass a bowl to Bilbo who was seated on the ground.

There was a tiny scruffling noise and Fili quickly jerked himself out of his thoughts just in time to see his younger brother sit up from the spot of hay across from him and Ariel.

Kili's dark hair was flecked with golden straw and hay but otherwise he looked rather contented with his rest.

He grinned as he caught sight of Ariel snuggling closer into his elder brother's chest.

"You lucky dog you" he playfully waggled his eyebrows as he nudged Fili's boot with his own. "So what happened?"

"Shh! She's asleep" Fili hissed feeling his cheeks heat up a little "and nothing happened."

"really because you both look pretty cosy like that" Kili raised his brows as he eyed Ariel's exposed leg. Fili's eyes narrowed dangerously as he tugged one half of his jacket over the limb to obscure it from his brother's not so innocent smirk.

"Kili don't be ridiculous, she's a friend who had a nightmare. We talked and we fell asleep next to one another like friends do! Nothing more nothing less"

"Yeah I heard the talking last night" Kili grinned "And let me just say that it was absolutely adorable! Really sweet so warm and fuzzy that it melted my heart."

Kili was glad that Ariel was sleeping over his brother because he was sure that had she not been there Fili would've probably killed him on the spot.

Fili the heir to Thorin, Fili the responsible one, Fili the elder that had always loved to seem more mature and grown up ever since they were small…had been just caught cuddling a girl, and a human girl for that matter.

Seeing his elder brother's look of embarrassed wrath Kili's face softened.

"Hey Fee relax! I get it ok. I know you don't think of her like that."

"It's not just that" Fili mumbled his eyes turning sad. "Kili, she's on her own, her family are across the sea. She has no one to look after her."

"Who has no one to look after them?" a deep voice growled as a shadow came over them. Both Fili and Kili jumped as they looked up to see their uncle towering over them with a grim face.

Thorin rolled his eyes as he caught sight of Ariel, who was still fast asleep and dead to the world as she lay half draped over his nephew who was looking extremely uncomfortable suddenly.

"Don't get too used to her presence. It won't last long." he grumbled gruffly down at Fili whose eyes hardened.

"How do you know that?"

Kili gulped as Thorin's face tensed. Finally, after a terrifying pause of a few seconds that felt like years he spoke softly.

"Even if she did stay with us at the end of the quest, she would be with us for long. She may have magic but she's still human…her life will end well before yours."

Fili's face paled though he did his best to stay determined.

"There may also be a chance that I may also die before the journey's end"

"Not if I have anything to say about that" Thorin growled as he stepped over both his nephews' legs and out towards the front of the barn only to stop when Kili hissed angrily at his back.

"So that's it then?! You'll do whatever it takes to make sure just us dwarves and Bilbo are alive, but you won't care if Ariel dies!"

"You and your brother are my family Kili. And the others are our kin! It's a king's duty to protect his own." Thorin growled softly as he turned to look upon the younger dwarf his face cold but furious, but Kili was not deterred.

"And isn't Ariel one of us now? Hasn't she earned her stripes amongst us after the mountains?"

"Kee don't" Fili pinched the bridge of his nose but Thorin was already snapping back angrily.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that boy! You may be my nephew but I am still your king and I will not be spoken to like that!"

There was a silence as Kili stared in shock at Thorin, his face stricken and pale. His uncle had never once pulled the king card on him or Fili ever. Perhaps it had been used on Balin or the others but never ever did Thorin ever try to assert his kingship over his relatives…but now…

"…unbelievable…" Kili's voice was barely a whisper "whatever she'll do she'll never be good enough for you will she?... because she's… different? I was once told when I was a dwarfling that just because I was different that didn't mean my life was worth less than others. I cannot believe that the same dwarf that told me that would be so prejudiced towards someone like me."

"Kili…" Thorin murmured guilt coursing through him as Kili turned his back on him and strode silently back across to the kitchen of Beorn's barn where he sat down upon a stool, pulled out his pipe and began to smoke, his face an unusually grim mask.

Fili sighed heavily as Thorin looked down on him to speak only to catch sight of Ariel's sleeping face upon his chest. The dwarf princes' face suddenly tensed up as both fury and hurt flashed in his eyes.

Taking the trust of my kin…You are proving to be a real pain in my side girl!

Fili's arms tightened protectively around said girl in them who began to stir as her breath began to get constricted by the strength of his hold.

"Fili…what's going on?"

"Nothing" Thorin snapped before Fili could respond "just get up and make yourself useful somehow. Try the kitchen I daresay you'll find something to do there!"

And before Ariel could even think of even hissing something back, he turned on his heel and strode over to wake up Dwalin who was still snoring loudly in a corner.

Once he was out of earshot Ariel glowered sleepily at Fili.

"What the hell shoved itself up his ass now?"

"He fought with Kili"

"Ah…That's not good. Not good at all." Ariel bit her lip as Fili pointed up to the kitchen where Kili was still sulking and smoking angrily.

"It's not" Fili agreed as Ariel pried herself off him, blushing a little with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry I used you as a mattress last night"

"It's alright" Fili smirked weakly "besides you made a pretty good blanket yourself"

"one of my many gifts" Ariel snorted but then quickly glanced over back at Kili as he swore and muttered darkly under his breath to himself.

"What was the fight about? Actually you know what I'll ask Kili" Ariel steamrolled over Fili just as Thorin's voice wafted over to their spot, cold and steely.

"Fili wake up the others on your side now!"

"Yes uncle" Fili mumbled though he couldn't help but chance a worried glance at his uncle.

He didn't know whether Kili or anyone else had noticed it but there was a tiny glimmer of gold flashing in the depths of his uncles once stormy blue eyes.

The dark shadow of a woman moved through the shade of the trees doing its best to dodge sunbeams of the morning light as they streamed through the forest canopy above.

She was a short hunched over creature with jet black robes covering her from head to foot, obscuring everything but the chalk white skin of her gnarled claw like hands. They clenched on the bark of a nearby tree, slicing its surface like knives, as she looked through the gap between two trees.

The woman hissed and cursed softly under her breath as she caught sight of the distant wall around a large cottage.

So they found shelter for the night

She snarled as she saw just over the tops of the wall, the head of a tall hairy figure as it swung an axe over its shoulder.

Damn…the bear is protecting them…no wonder Azog and his little party scarpered. Even so…

She took a deep inhale and at once her entire body buzzed with energy…energy that was dark as the cloth that covered her.

Oh what a curse that is…beautiful intricate and deadly…my master's handiwork most definitely…Oh if I could get my claws on the lucky bastard that bore such a burden…So deliciously corrupting it is…

But then suddenly she shuddered as a wave of something sweet, fragrant and altogether positive washed over her.

Ugh! What is that?! That is foul! That is…that is…ah…I see now…

The crone's eyes flashed from under her black hood as she looked back at the cottage from where she could feel the overwhelming warmth and care emanating from.

It's from the girl no doubt…Definitely has a female air about it…just like that Red Bitch she is, all sweet with her flowers and little plants…don't you worry master I Balcheth will deal with that little spawn of Yavanna once and for all!

Gandalf the Grey was not a wizard that one took lightly. He may have walked in the guise of a tattered dawdling old man but his mind was sharper than any of these dwarves put together.

He had been awake through most of the night, his eyes keeping watch over every single member of the company in his sights. Bilbo had been awake laying on his side and fiddling with something in his hands.

Gandalf guessed that the hobbit could hear the monstrous sounds of their transformed host from outside and was trying to busy his mind by idly fidgeting, a habit which he was prone to falling back on when he was nervous and scared. So the old wizard had just glanced over him.

When he saw Ariel and Fili however, Gandalf's lips had quirked into a small smile. After so many days of growing darkness there was finally a little light peeking through. Though he did have to admit he almost sighed with exasperation as he caught sight of the young dwarf's face as he listened enraptured by the girl's story to him.

Poor girl…sensitive to the powers of others and yet oblivious to her own draw and pull…

Well he supposed it was better that way. It was like Galadriel had said, those people who were best suited to power were often those who didn't seek it out for themselves.

He waited through the night listening and watching as even the two new friends fell asleep close to one another. Then came the morning and with that some very interesting…very disturbing developments.

Thorin Oakenshield's temper was suddenly beginning to crack again, though this time something was very different. No something was very wrong.

Gandalf's eyes narrowed as he watched the Dwarf Prince round up a couple of his more trusted friends and drag them into council in a corner of the barn.

His face was pale and stricken and his tone was tense. But worst were the eyes, blue like always though whenever they flickered warily over to the direction of Ariel they glinted a faint gold.

Gandalf's eyes grew worried as he watched Thorin repeat the action several times even though the girl was not paying him the slightest attention as she tried to cheer up a still really sulky Kili.

He's probably still angry with Kili and he's taking it out on her…

Gandalf shook his head as words spoken to him not so long ago came back to the forefront of his mind.

"A strain of madness and sickness runs through that bloodline Gandalf…whatever Thorin Oakenshield is now…he will not be so the closer he gets to that treasure. It will start with paranoia"

But even then Gandalf's frown deepened.

But it's not like Ariel actively wants to take his friends trust, nor would she ever. Besides we are so far from the mountain…So how on earth could the gold-sickness be affecting Thorin from here?

When Bilbo Baggins woke up it was to find a large golden and black bee buzzing lazily before his nose.

Jumping he quickly swatted the great big insect off of him before scrambling to his feet and looking about himself. All the dwarves, Ariel and Gandalf were up and standing close by the door by the kitchen looking outside nervously as something thumped someway off in the distance.

"Well it's not like we'll be able to run anyway from a guy that's part animal" Ariel grumbled softly to Fili who stood beside her nodding in agreement.

"Yeah he'll probably sniff us all out before we even get a foot out the door"

"Well I say we should still leg it. Slip out the back way" Nori was hissing but Dwalin growled over him.

"I'm not running from anyone, beast or no"

"There is no point in arguing" Gandalf snapped over all of them "We cannot pass through the Wilderland without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down before we even get to the forest. Ah Bilbo there you are" the wizard added as Bilbo sidled past Thorin and into the company's midst.

"Now this will require some delicate handling. We must tread very carefully. The last person to have startled him was torn to shreds. So I will go first and I shall take Bilbo and Ariel with me"

There was a very awkward silence as the wizard motioned to both the hobbit and his apprentice whose faces were paler than ever as they walked up to the door.

"Using live bait to lure the beast? Good plan" Dwalin and a couple of the others chuckled.

"ha ha very funny" Ariel snorted trying to sound sardonic only to have her voice waver.

"Gandalf are you sure this is a good idea?" Bilbo asked privately agreeing with the warrior dwarf whose smirk was turning worried.

Gandalf only rolled his eyes.

"Yes, the rest of you, you just wait here and don't come out until I give the signal."

"Right wait for the signal" Bofur nodded as he took a spot at the window out into the garden outside as Gandalf continued to give out last minute instructions.

"Oh and no sudden movements or loud noises and don't over crowd him. and only come out in pairs-no actually Bombur…um you count as two so you should come out alone"

Poor Bombur who was munching on a raw carrot nodded quietly his face slightly sombre at the prospect of coming out alone to face the beast.

Ariel couldn't blame him.

Even though she knew what Beorn was thanks to her knowledge of the books back in the real world it didn't stop her gut from sinking as she stepped out along with Bilbo behind Gandalf and into the bright morning sun.

There stretching out before them was a beautiful garden and field, green and fresh and picturesque…or at least it would have been if Ariel had not seen the large axe swing down and hack a great big piece of wood in half.

Holy shit…

Her eyes widened as she watched the man wielding the weapon bring it over his head to strike again.

Beorn was humongous…even bigger than Azog had been though he was certainly ten times more human in shape and stature than the pale orc. His skin was ruddy and his hair was more like a shaggy dark brown wolfs mane.

He looked ferocious in comparison to the sweet barnyard animals that crossed over his lawn, peacefully grazing here and there and barely paying him the slightest attention.

Don't judge a book by its cover yet Ariel...

She reminded herself as they stepped close enough to talk to him at an arm's length.

"Good morning" Gandalf called pleasantly, though he looked very nervous.

Beorn did not seem to notice and merely swung his axe down on another log of wood on the stump.

Katwhack!

And here I thought Dwalin and his axes were terrifying…

Ariel bit her lip as Gandalf repeated himself again.

"Good Morning"

This time Beorn heard him and paused. Settling the axe in the stump.

"Who are you?" he rumbled, his voice as deep and as gravelly as an actual bears growl.

"I'm Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey" Gandalf replied calmly with a courteous bow.

However at the sound of the name, Beorn turned about sharply axe in hand to face them with sharp eyes.

"Never heard of him"

"I'm a wizard." Gandalf smiled benignly "Perhaps you've heard of my colleague Radagast the Brown. He resides in the southern borders of Mirkwood"

"And who is this?" Beorn growled before turning his eyes sharply on Ariel who almost jumped with fright at the sudden keenness of the stare.

"Oh…this young lady is my apprentice Ariel the Green" Gandalf smiled only for Beorn to steamroll over him once more.

"What do you want?"

"Well um simply to thank you for your hospitality. You may have noticed that we took refuge in our lodgings last night-"

"And who is this little fellow?" Beorn's eyes widened and his hands tensed around the axe.

Ariel's eyes darted down in a panic to see Bilbo timidly protest as Gandalf tugged him out from behind his back.

"well this would be Mr. Baggins from the Shire"

"He's not a dwarf is he?" Beorn's eyes narrowed dangerously and Ariel's grip on her staff tightened in her hand but Gandalf was quick to smile and gloss it over.

"Why no. No he's a Hobbit, of a good family and unimpeachable reputation"

At this Bilbo managed a small smile and a polite bow to Beorn who relaxed considerably as he looked over the three guests before him.

"A Halfling, a girl and a Wizard. How come you here?"

"Oh the fact is that we've had a bad time of it from Goblins in the mountains"

"What did you go near Goblins for?" Beorn rolled his eyes "Stupid thing to do"

"You are absolutely right" Gandalf agreed quickly.

"I'll say" Ariel muttered darkly to herself glancing back at the cottage behind them only to sigh in exasperation.

Dwalin and Balin were the first to pop out the door, both with as broad a smile as they could muster.

"And here we go" Bilbo murmured under his breath to Ariel who snorted as Gandalf stuttered nervously. But it seemed finally his luck was running out for before he could even string two cohesive words together ten other dwarves began to file out in groups of two or three from the front door.

It was Nori, Dori and Ori first, followed by Oin and Gloin, Fili and Kili, Bifur and Bofur and then Bombur.

"are there any more?" Beorn snorted as he counted off the fat dwarf as he waddled into view and Ariel's teeth gritted slightly.

"just one"

And indeed as she spoke Thorin strode through last, his face grim and set.

"Ah…" Beorn suddenly nodded as a spark recognition lit up his face "Oakensheild…then this means you are…"

He turned quietly back to look at Ariel who gulped.

"Ariel Rosalie Brooks"

It wasn't a question it was a full blown statement, one that made Ariel stare dumbfounded.

"You…you know who I am?"

"Yes I have been awaiting your arrival for a while" Beorn nodded "for you see an old friend of mine asked me to help you. Nuldien the red sorceress"

"Nuldien?!" Gandalf's eyes widened as some of the dwarves began to murmur softly behind him. "She was here? How long ago was this?"

"Barely a week ago. She was very worried for your plight against Azog. She also asked me to pass on a message to you Lady Ariel. However it is inside the house. If all of you would care to follow me."

There was mostly silence as the Company made to sit around the large wooden table in Beorn's kitchen, drinking fresh cow's milk from giant tankards and eating fruit and berries laid out for them in tiny bowls.

However Ariel did not take a seat even though Fili, Kili and Ori had saved her a spot beside them.

Instead she turned to Beorn her face tense.

"This message from Nuldien…"

"Is right here"

Beorn's face turned grim as he reached out for a small side table on which a white envelope was sitting unnoticed and untouched.

He handed it to Ariel who took it gingerly her eyes roving the letters of her name on the front. The hand looked familiar to her.

"This…this is my father's handwriting" she breathed and the other dwarves were astonished to see her eyes slightly brighter than normal. Indeed her fingers trembled as she fumbled to open the envelope pulling out a single leaf of paper.

"Well what does it say?" Bofur asked excitedly only for Balin to put a hand up to stop him from getting up.

"Just give her space lads. If it's a letter from her family she'll want to read it herself." He said gently.

Bilbo watched worriedly as Ariel silently made to walk off to stand away from the dining table and in the barn section of Beorn's house. She was almost as timid and shaken as when she'd almost been attacked by that shadow in Rivendell.

Ariel barely noticed the curious and anxious eyes on her as she read through her father's words, each one making her heart grow heavy.

My Dearest Ariel,

You may not know it yet but if you've been keeping track of the date wherever you are now, you will find that you are no longer the sweet innocent seventeen year old girl that was whisked away from us nearly two months ago.

Now you are an eighteen-year-old young woman.

As you know it is a custom in my family to pass on one last small piece of wisdom to the next generation on such a birthday. And like your brother before you I will endeavour to give you the best advice I can before you venture beyond mine and your mother's reaches for good.

But what do you say to a girl that already has grown up so much?

After all a parent can only advise and guide, but it is up to the child to forge their own path.

Bearing that in mind I guess that all I can tell you is that to never forget that no matter where you go or how far we are from one another, your family will always love you and will always be with you.

Your mother and I are so proud of how far you have managed to make it on your own and whilst we know it is hard we know that you will find the strength within you to keep going on no matter what.

Because you are our Ariel. A girl with a strong head on her shoulders, a warm heart on her sleeve and an untameable fire in her soul.

With all my love,

Your father,

Calvin Brooks.

"I love you too dad" Ariel whispered tears streaming down her face as she pressed the paper gently to her lips.

"Ariel" came a timid voice and Ariel looked up quickly to see Thorin walking towards her.

"What is it Thorin?" she clipped scrubbing at her eyes as she stiffened in preparation for a snide remark or barked out order.

However Thorin's voice was quiet and measured as he spoke.

"Beorn has agreed to help us get to Mirkwood"

"Oh? Well that's good I guess" Ariel bit her lip.

"I also hear that Fili's agreed to give you sword lessons"

"He has" Ariel nodded before adding tersely "that's not a problem is it?"

"if you keep arguing like that it might be" Thorin growled but then he quickly backtracked at the look flashing over the young girl's face.

"So that's it then Ariel brooks is not good enough to fight alongside this company?"

Thorin looked up at her face and was astonished to see that there was genuine hurt and dejection in her usually fierce green-brown eyes.

"Then if I'm so useless I'll just go shall I? To be rid of me once and for all isn't that what you want?"

He winced internally as Kili's words from that morning wafted over his mind.

"If you were to leave…where would you go?" he murmured softly.

"I dunno I'd figure something out…" but even then Ariel sounded unsure as she looked down at her feet.

"You don't even know this world" He murmured softly. "you'd die if you just wandered on your own like that"

"Then so be it" Ariel muttered before making to turn away but before she could even take a step, Thorin's large hand grabbed her arm.

"By Mahal, Girl will you stop and listen for once in your life!" he growled. "I don't want you to leave, none of us do!"

"What?" Ariel breathed as she looked down on the dwarf prince before her.

His face was tense and awkward as his blue eyes darted around the barn trying to look at anything but her as he shifted nervously on his feet.

"you may be a pain in my behind most of the time" he mumbled darkly. "but no matter what you're still a part of this company, still our friend. "

Ariel stared down at Thorin in shock. She wasn't quite sure of what to think anymore. She'd spent so long expecting nasty snide comments from the dwarf that she'd never once think that he'd ever accept her as anything but a sack of extra baggage.

For him to overcome his pride and say something like this to her was huge…

"Thorin…I…I don't know what to say"

"Then just don't say anything" Thorin grumbled his grip tightening on her arm "just stay"

She felt her throat constrict as she made to open her mouth to reply.

"I…I will…but Thorin…"

"Yes?"

"Can you let go of my arm? I can't feel it anymore"

Thorin looked down on the slender limb in his hands and saw that her skin over her hands had gone unnaturally pale.

He loosened his grip but did not let go. Something on her wrist had caught his eye.

"What's this?"

Ariel was about to protest as Thorin yanked away her arm bracer, only to gasp in shock and horror. There over her entire left wrist and forearm was a band of dark discoloured skin shaped like the imprint of a large hand. At first she was about to berate the dwarf for his rough handling, only she noticed to her horror that the mark was even bigger than his tough grip…bigger and darker and redder…almost like it had been burnt straight onto her …

"What on earth…" she breathed as she turned her limb over. Yet even as she brought it up to look at it in the light of a sunbeam, did something red and fiery flash over her minds eye.

My dream…

She breathed as she remembered her dream from the night before, of a shadow in the fire advancing upon her, how she raised her arm to defend herself, this arm in fact.

But that was only dream and I was safe here with everyone at the time…But I was safe in Rivendell and look what happened there…wait Rivendell…that shadow…the eye…oh no…this can't…no he can't be trying to…to…

Her heart hammered in her chest, the throbbing of it like the beating of fast galloping horses in her ears. Her breath caught painfully in her chest as breathing suddenly became difficult. She was vaguely aware of her feet juddering beneath her but barely noticed anything as sweat beaded on her brow and yet instead of heat, she only felt icy cold seep through her arteries and veins. She gripped her staff tight in her unhurt hand as everything began to blur as the edges of her vision darkened-

"Ariel" a voice murmured in soothing tones and she blinked as she caught sight of an old man's face right in front of hers.

"Gandalf?"

"That's it Ariel. Just focus on me. That's it" the old wizard sighed as he saw her gently settle her down to sit on a nearby haystack. A few feet away, Beorn and Thorin were standing and watching them, their faces masks of grim concern. It was then she realized she was trembling all over from head to foot and that her eyes were streaming with tears, though she could do nothing to stem the flow as she whispered in a breathless rush.

"He's coming Gandalf. He-He knows where I am, he's coming for me just like he did in Rivendell-"

"Who's coming Ariel?" Gandalf asked her gently, though he already had a sinking feeling in his own heart.

"Him." She hissed, gripping onto her staff so tight her knuckles had gone white. The gem in its head glowed an almost venomous green and Gandalf quickly looked up to the rafters of Beorn's barn as the air around him seemed to chill. There above his head small vines that had once been harmless overgrowth, now suddenly grew longer and bore a few gnarly rather sharp looking thorns.

Then suddenly they stopped in their tracks as she sucked in a deep breath.

"S-Sorry." She mumbled shaking her head "S-sorry, I-I-I didn't mean to-I should be more in control-" she inhaled sharply, shutting her eyes as she tried to centre herself. It worked…to a certain degree.

"Thorin perhaps you should check on the rest of the company" Gandalf gave the dwarf a pointed look through the corner of his eye.

Thorin opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it as he met the wizard's eye.

"Of course, let us know if you need anything" he bobbed his head at the old man before glancing at Ariel. However, she was quick to avoid his eye, though from shame or from something else he was not sure.

All that he did know, was that there was something brewing in the background of his company's adventure. He was sure of it. Gandalf was hiding something, something that was probably far worse than the party of orcs hunting them. Something that was probably bigger than their entire quest.

But what devilry could possibly be worse than that defiler? Apart from the dragon of course.

Thorin scowled as he strode away to join the others outside the house. Whatever was going on he was going to get to the bottom of it make no mistake about that.

The day passed on in a surprisingly more relaxed manner after the rather drama packed morning.

Ariel was now seated outside with the rest of the Company while Thorin went inside to get answers from Gandalf and Beorn about the strange happenings of that morning. After she had calmed down from her small panic attack, the Skinchanger had gently applied a bandage and some honey based salve to her left arm where the burn was. Ariel had to admit that while Beorn's size had intimidated her at first, he had handled her arm with the softest of touches she had ever felt.

Despite the lack of pain, Ariel did her best to try and not use that arm as much as possible, thanking her lucky stars that she was right handed as Fili did his best to demonstrate how to hold a sword using an axe hilt to practice on, much to the others amusement.

Dwalin especially found it particularly funny whenever the young girl kept trying to swing her blade down upon the log of wood they'd chosen to practice on.

"Hmm don't worry lass" he chuckled as Ariel did her best to heave the heavy blade and swing down on the log only to miss it.

"If you don't hit it with the blade you sure will burn it with your eyes"

His laughs became louder as the novice's hit landed against the green grass instead sticking in the ground.

"The axe's too heavy" Ariel grunted as she tugged the blade out of the yielding earth.

And indeed she wasn't kidding. It wasn't like she hadn't chopped firewood before, but that was with one of her father's simple wood axes back home. Beorn's axe, though crude and simple, was almost as heavy enough as a Dwarven battle axe.

"I figured that would be the case" Fili called as he re-entered Beorn's garden carrying something wrapped in his cloak in his arms.

"I picked this up when we were running about the Goblin tunnels" he explained "It's long but it's light and sharp"

Ariel gasped as he unfolded the material and revealed a very familiar slender sword with a green scabbard and a bronze hilt shaped like a tree.

"my sword!" she exclaimed reaching out and taking the blade in her hands.

"Your sword?" came Bofur's surprised exclamation as he sat with the others as they picnicked lunch under the shade of a tree.

"From Rivendell. It was given to me by the elves" Ariel explained and there were some small hisses and shushings.

"Not so loud lass" Dori hissed "Thorin's still inside the house."

"Oh god seriously still after all this time" Ariel rolled her eyes "I mean I can understand Thorin being pissed at the Mirkwood Elves but Elrond helped us"

"I know. But that's Thorin Oakenshield for you. No trust for Elves no matter what" Fili patted her on the shoulder as he took her sword away.

"Hey that-"

"You'll get it back" Fili smirked "but only after you manage to hit the log with this"

He put the axe back in her hand. "Come on! Chop, chop!"

"I'll show you chop, chop" Ariel grumbled under her breath.

"Watch out brother, I think you've just awakened the beast" Kili guffawed loudly as he caught sight of the fierce determination flash over Ariel's face as she made to raise the axe above her head.

"Woah there lass hold on hold on!" Dwalin's voice cried out as he rushed towards her quickly. "Hold on I think I see what your problem is"

He quickly brought her arms down before her.

"You're too tall"

"Uh this comment coming from a dwarf? OW!" Ariel winced as she felt a rough hand slap itself sharply over the back of her head.

There were many chuckles from the dwarves as Dwalin growled roughly.

"No talking back to your teacher youngling. Now take your stance again"

Ariel pouted but did as she was told without a peep.

"Now bend your knees, but keep the weight on the balls of your feet"

"Balls of my feet?"

"Yes"

"…ok then…" Ariel gulped as she bent her knees but twisted said part of her feet in the dirt.

"now when you swing try and keep your elbows close to your body till you have it over your head."

Ariel did as she was told, slowly so as to memorise the action.

"That's it lass nice and easy. Keep your eyes on the target… and swing!"

She swung down hard and there was a loud groan as wood split from wood straight in half.

Ariel stared in shock at the split log before her on the stump as several loud cheers sounded about her.

She looked up at Dwalin who smirked at her awe and surprise.

"It's always the same with novices' they don't have proper stance and that's why they fail dismally."

"But I can't stay rooted down to one spot in a fight like that can I?" Ariel frowned.

"Nay you can't lass and you shouldn't." the old dwarf agreed "That's why I said to use the balls of your feet. If you stay on those and keep your legs bent it's easy to move about side to side and back and forth quickly. Here put down that axe and I'll show you."

Ariel put down the axe in her hand and laid it by the stump as Dwalin backed off into a clear patch of grass a little further away.

"Alright lass now arms up" he growled as he took a fighting stance.

Ariel blinked "Arms up?"

"yeah arms up! Come on like me and keep your legs like they were back there."

"O-ok" Ariel stuttered glancing at the others nervously.

"Don't worry lass he won't hurt you" Balin spoke up with a patient smile "he's trained plenty of bairns before. Most of them smaller than you."

God they had to be taught by Dwalin…that sounds terrifying!

Bilbo could not help but gaze in sympathy at the poor young girl as she timidly took a fighting stance.

Dwalin looked like he was torn between laughing at her fear or rolling his eyes at it. However instead he just chose to clear his throat and gruffly bark to his new pupil.

"Now come on hit me"

"But-"

"For goodness sake girl just hit me"

Ariel quickly lunged forwards, her much tinier fist landing on his shoulder. However, Dwalin did not seem even the slightest bit phased. Indeed, he just stood there bushy eyebrows raised.

"Really?" he grumbled dryly "That was the best you could do?"

Ariel felt a twinge of anger build up as she heard Kili snigger softly behind her only for Fili to shut him up.

She hit Dwalin again this time harder. She winced a little as she felt her knuckles collide with the dwarf's chainmail armour he wore beneath his tunic.

"I can't believe it" Dwalin raised his eyebrows. "This is the same girl that managed to slap Thorin Oakenshield so hard she bruised his face for two days?"

"That was different" Ariel grumbled "He pissed me off, offended my mother and walked in on me getting dressed-"

"I hardly see how that should affect your strikes" Dwalin snorted "Your opponent in battle is going to be doing a lot worse to you than all that, much worse, especially since he's premeditating the act of killing you."

"Are you going to hurt me?" Ariel mumbled feeling her body tense up.

"Hit me again that pathetically and maybe I will" Dwalin's eyes narrowed as he readied himself once more.

Ariel stared at him. He wouldn't hurt her. Not really. Dwalin may have acted like a big strong grump a lot of the time but at heart he was one of the biggest worry warts of the company.

But she had also seen him in battle, and she had to admit, the thought of the dwarf as an enemy was just as frightening to her as facing down a pack of orcs.

And so, for the third time she lunged forwards only this time with her punch came for his head, a loud cry from her mouth almost like a battle cry but less restrained and more…wild.

Dwalin barely had time to block the attack before she quickly withdrew her hand only to punch with her other one from underneath this time hitting him square in the solar plexus.

He didn't drop dramatically as she'd envisioned in her mind, but the dwarf did grimace with pain as her tiny fist dug into his ribcage.

With a quick flick of his wrist she was jerked away from him only she did not stay down. Without pausing to think she rolled to her feet swiftly just in time to dodge out under his arm as he swung it out to hit her.

"Come on!" he barked with mirth even as she made to charge at him once more this time ducking in her head at the last moment as she tackled him headfirst into the ground football style.

The dwarves and Bilbo all roared with laughter as they saw their most fierce fighter be mowed down into the grass and struggle with the young girl who made quick work to wrestle him down to the grass and pull him into a headlock.

"Whoa! Lass! Lass!" He half chuckled half choked "Whoa let go! Let go"

"HHHh HSFADow was that?" Ariel grinned as she let him go and stumbled away from him. "Was that tough enough for you master dwarf?"

"Hmm, better." Dwalin snorted noting with amusement that her eyes glimmered fiercely once more. "Alright a lot better than before. Come on let's take a bite and then we'll practice more."

"Thank god" Ariel sighed with relief her feet immediately directing her on autopilot towards the food.

Once she was seated comfortably and had a few berries popped securely into her mouth Bofur piped up.

"Miss Ariel, I hate to sound rude but how does a nice charming young girl like yourself know how to wrestle like that?"

"One of the perks of being me" Ariel muttered as she made to settle her corset which had gone slightly skewed after that tackle. "I used to get bullied heaps by the other boys when I was younger."

"How come?" Bilbo frowned.

"Because they didn't like the fact that a little girl like me used to beat them at everything else." Ariel muttered as she gulped down water from her water skin. "The boys back then were very, um, prideful and they didn't like their egos bruised especially by the runt of the litter."

"Did they beat you?" Kili frowned exchanging a concerned glance with Oin and Fili before glancing at the bandages on her left arm as they peeked out from under her sleeve and bracer.

"Yes, though it usually depended on whether or not they could get away with it or if the teacher was watching" Ariel snorted though her face had gone tense. "Either I used to run away into a tree to escape or my brother Ian would come and protect me. But obviously he couldn't be there all the time. One day it got bad and they cornered me by a brick wall far away from any tree. One boy had even taken a large heavy stick and was about to hit me with it. But then…"

She then suddenly sighed and ran a hand over her head.

"But then?" Nori prompted as he and the others leaned in.

"I'm not really sure," Ariel shrugged "I guess I just snapped. One minute I was cringing and cowering for cover, and the next I had broken a boys jaw and given another one a black eye."

"Your survival instincts kicked in." Dwalin smirked "And a good thing too, sounds like you were in pretty bad trouble."

"Yeah, even though I fought back I still came back home black and blue" Ariel nodded a small smile playing on her lips. "My Dad was so mad when I told him what happened. I seriously thought he'd find those boys and kill them himself if it hadn't been for my mum telling him to calm down. Anyways they had words with the other boys parents though that in itself was another battle because apparently the boys were from well to do families and apparently were very sweet but rambunctious boys according to their gossiping mothers." She sneered as she mimed quotation marks with her fingers.

"But they still paid for their crimes?" Balin asked.

"Yeah it was a good thing my teacher was more interested in morals than money or status. She made them apologize in front of the whole class and everything." Ariel paused as she chewed on a sweet strawberry in her fingers before continuing. "They kept their distance for a time. I don't think I actually had a problem with them till last year."

"They didn't try to gang up on you again did they?" Dwalin growled but Ariel chuckled

"No, nothing like that at all. It was just that Kirovski suddenly seemed to notice that I was a female with breasts and hips."

"And did you give that boy another black eye?" Bofur chortled along with all the dwarves.

"Hmm no, but I did smash whatever little was between his legs so…"

There was silence as she munched and when she looked up it was to see rather stunned faces of her friends as the all looked on her.

"What? don't women in this world ever stand up for themselves or something?" she blinked feeling her cheeks light up.

"…Not human women…at least not many of them" it was Balin who answered, and Ariel wasn't sure whether he was nervous or impressed "Are you sure there isn't some dwarfish blood in you lass?"

"Of course, there isn't!" Dori steamrolled over the top "The girl is as hairless as stone as any other human."

"Do…Do all dwarf women have lots of hair?" Ariel gulped torn between laughing and awkwardness. She knew that dwarves were very fussy about the state of their beards, but to think that women had them or that they were a desirable trait at all was rather…well…odd…and she couldn't help but feel strangely self-conscious about herself as she looked over her smooth skinned arms.

"Yeah nearly all of them do." Kili explained "Most have at the very least, long sideburns and hairy legs. Like that cute lass Zal in Erid Luin"

"So what because I'm hairless I'm…unattractive by dwarf standards" Ariel tilted her head curiously.

"What NO!" it was Ori who had shouted much to everyone's amusement. Indeed, even Bilbo snorted softly under his breath, though he coughed quickly to cover it up as the young dwarf spluttered and mumbled:

"no…you're human…and even if you are you are still nice enough by…human standards a-and dwarf standards um…" he trailed off, his cheeks turning a brilliant shade of magenta.

"I think what our good friend Ori means to say Ariel," The hobbit patted the young dwarf's shoulder with a kind smile "Is that it doesn't matter what race you come from, you look fine just the way you are. Isn't that right Ori?"

"…yes." Ori mumbled softly.

"Oh well that's very sweet Ori" Ariel smiled just as the thudding of several feet came up behind them.

They all turned to see Gandalf, Thorin and Beorn walking out the front door, the lattermost detaching himself from the wizard and dwarf to head off in the direction of a group of ponies grazing in a distant corner of the large garden.

"We are staying one more night then we'll leave for the forest" Gandalf announced as Thorin made his way to examine the stump where Ariel's chopped wood log was still laying split in two.

"Beorn's been kind enough to lend us his ponies until we reach the forest edge. But after that we must let them go. Since there are only ten ponies and one horse some of us may have to double up. Bilbo, Ori since you two are the lightest you should sit with Fili and Kili and Bofur you should try to ride with Oin."

"What about the lass?" Gloin raised his eyebrows.

"Ariel will ride with me since she is taller" Thorin answered before Gandalf could open his mouth "Though I doubt it'll make much difference who she rides with she's so scrawny"

"Since I am to be graced with your majestic and fair presence do I at least get to drive the poor beast or will we both be forced to put up with your terrible sense of direction?" Ariel shook her head with a sigh.

"I assure you I am more capable of driving a pony than most others" Thorin snorted.

"Says the guy that got lost twice on his way to Bilbo's hobbit hole even though the map was very clear about where to go."

Thorin opened his mouth to retort only to see that Ariel was pursing her lips in the attempt not to laugh, her eyes glinting with playful mischievousness but not contempt or scorn.

"Don't get too smart woman," he rolled his eyes, a small smirk playing on his lips even as he turned his back on the group to walk away, but not before calling out. "By the way you need to work on your wood-chopping skills. Even a mouse could swing an axe better than that!"

"Oh go suck an egg Oakenshield!"

The night air was cool and crisp, the moon above them bright and full and softly illuminating the insides of the barn of Beorn's large house where all the dwarves, Bilbo, Gandalf and Ariel rested.

Or at least Ariel was trying to rest as she tossed and turned over for the umpteenth time that night. She couldn't help it. She just had too many thoughts bouncing around her head.

How? How can Sauron have marked me from such a distance? I mean I know he's quite powerful even without his ring but how?

She sat up wincing as she felt her left arm twinge. For some reason the burn seemed to hurt more in the night than it did in the light of day.

Not that it really changed things for Ariel as she gingerly got to her feet and quietly crept her way towards the raised kitchen.

Her footsteps were as silent as a ghost as she approached the spot where Gandalf slept. The wizard was asleep, as per usual with his eyes open. Ariel could remember only too well how much it had freaked her out the first time she had seen him like that early on in their quest. It still unnerved her even as she stepped over his outstretched legs and up the step that led into the kitchen.

She sat at the table doing her best to make sure she made as little sound as possible as she drew up a chair and sat down heavily in it.

She felt tired, but not because she wanted sleep. In fact, sleeping was the last thing she wanted to do. And if she did want to sleep, she wanted to do so in her own bed, back home with her favourite mattress and comforter in her warm fleecy pyjamas. And when she woke up, she wanted to smash her fist down sideways on her old alarm clock, go downstairs and eat breakfast with…

She pulled out her father's letter from where she had stashed it inside her corset, her eyes feeling the familiar burn as they teared over. She knew it was pathetic, knew she had to get some balls and grow up but-

"It is alright if you miss them" a deep voice murmured in the night.

Ariel looked up and saw the large hulking mass of Beorn standing in the large doorway that led from the kitchen to the outside of the house.

"Sorry" she mumbled scrubbing away at her tears, and he quirked a thick bushy brow in confusion.

"For what? You are doing nothing wrong. You miss your loved ones; it is only natural you should feel sad."

"Do…do you miss yours?" Ariel asked timidly glancing down at his wrists where she could see the remains of the nasty shackle shaped marks that marred the dark and hairy skin around his wrists. How long had he born those? Years? How long did skin-changers live?

"Sometimes" Beorn answered her question, his wild brown eyes as surprisingly gentle as his voice as he made to sit opposite her at the table. "Like waves upon sand, it comes and goes, though I would hate it more if I were not to feel anything at all."

"hmm" Ariel nodded, her thumb smoothing itself over her father's inky words.

"Everyone keeps saying they know I'll be able to do what I need to do." She muttered, staring at the letter in her hand. "But…but how can I do what has to be done when I don't even know what I need to do? I'm not special, I wasn't born into a noble house of great titles, nor was I born into a family of magic users. I'm not wise or all-knowing like Gandalf, Saruman or Elrond or Lady Galadriel-"

"Wizards and elves are not all-knowing, little one" Beorn cut across her smoothly "Yes, they have lived longer and have seen much, but that doesn't mean they know all. They just know how to handle themselves when they confront the unknown, just as you will learn in time."

"But what if I don't?" Ariel bit her lip. "What if it turns out I'm completely useless? What if I make a mistake?"

"Does a wolf cub instantly know how to hunt without sacring its prey? No." Beorn countered swiftly "Does a faun automatically know how to avoid a trap and a lure set for them? No."

He reached out and put a gigantic hand on the young girl's shoulder "You are still young, little-one, and you still have room to grow. But you won't be able to do so if you are too scared of looking into the unknown on your own."

"I know…" Ariel mumbled eyes now fixed on the tabletop "I just…I wish I knew what to do…that's all"

"As for that I doubt even the wise could tell you what you need to do." Beorn reached up to her chin and tilted her face upwards so she could look into his eyes. "Only you know what you can and cannot do, and only you can make the choices you must make. It is not always straightforward, but that is the way things are, and in time you will find it easier to forge your own path for yourself."

He paused as he heard a grunting snort from the direction of the dwarves still sleeping in the barn.

"You should get some rest." he stood to his feet. "You have a long day of riding ahead of you and you will not get many opportunities to have a full night's sleep in the wild"

"I know" Ariel muttered as she felt a yawn creep up on her from out of the blue. Yet before she crept down the stairs, she paused and turned to look back. Beorn was opening the door to the outside ajar, his back hunched slightly.

"Beorn"

He paused and glanced over his shoulder and she gave him a small smile.

"Thank you"

Beorn didn't say anything. He merely nodded gruffly; however, she could see the glimmer in his rugged eyes soften ever so slightly even as he turned around and strode outside, his two footsteps suddenly turning into four which thudded on the ground as their owner began his prowl back into the night.

"You will leave my ponies before you enter the forest?"

"You have my word" Gandalf assured Beorn as they walked through the dense woodland they were currently using as cover till they were ready to set out across Wilderland.

They knew it was to be a journey, not of comfort but of speed, especially considering the news that Beorn had seen a couple of orcs and wargs patrolling solo here and there on the edges of the great plains.

But that wasn't all that was worrying the wizard as he looked away to behind two trees in the far off distance. Was it just him or had he just seen a pair of watchful evil eyes peer out at him for a split second?

"We're being watched" he murmured softly and Beorn nodded as he sniffed the air.

"Yes…the orcs will not give up. But that was no orc smell…it was something fouler…more dangerous…and I fear it will not stop hunting you till they see you destroyed"

"But why now?" Gandalf frowned "What has made such creatures as the Defiler crawl out from his hole?"

"There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the sorcerer in Dol Guldur."

"Are you sure of this?" Gandalf breathed in shock.

Beorn nodded.

"Packs have been seen gathering there each day more and more come."

The skin changer paused as something screeched far off in the distance. It could've been a bird. However, if made the hairs stand up on the back of Gandalf's neck as he made to murmur.

"What do you know of this sorcerer? The one they call the necromancer"

"I know he is not what he seems. Fell things are drawn to his power. Azog pays homage to him,"

"Gandalf! Time is wasting" Thorin called out as he took his spot before Ariel on the tallest pony.

Gandalf nodded and quickly made to walk off to his own tall horse but Beorn continued to speak.

"There is more. When she came to me all those days ago, Nuldien told me that she had seen something like the dead walking near the High Fells of Rhudaur."

"The dead?" Gandalf quirked a brow only for Beorn's thick ones to bristle.

"Is it true? Are there tombs in those mountains?"

Gandalf's eyes turned to the distance as the familiar but distant voice of a woman's filled his head.

"When Angmar fell, the men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried him. In a tomb so dark it would never come to light"

"Yes" Gandalf's voice was barely more than a murmur "Yes there are tombs up there"

Beorn's face grew tenser than ever but he maintained composure.

"I remember a time when a great evil ruled these lands. One powerful enough to raise the dead. If that enemy has returned to Middle-Earth, I would have you tell me."

"Saruman the white says it is not possible" Gandalf said sternly "The enemy was destroyed and will never return"

"And yet your apprentice bears a mark such as he used to brand his enemies and prisoners in days of old."

Gandalf's face paled as both he and Beorn looked down upon said apprentice who was glancing up at them curiously from her spot behind Thorin.

"Wait one more moment before you depart" the skin changer muttered to the wizard before stepping forwards towards the dwarf prince and the young girl, the former of which narrowed his eyes as Beorn gestured towards Ariel.

"Give me your hand child"

Ariel did as she was told only to see the gigantic fingers place something small within them.

She looked down curiously and saw to her surprise a couple of small brown seeds, barely bigger than the nail of her pinky finger.

"The greenwood of old has grown sick. The plants withered and evil" Beorn murmured softly "No matter how much of a gift you have the dark power over them will severely limit your control. Hopefully this might tip the balance in your favour."

"They're just seeds." Thorin growled down at the tiny seedlings with disdain.

"Some of the best things in life come in the smallest of packages," Ariel snorted before adding with a smirk "Thorin Oakenshield on the other hand comes wrapped up in his ego that's bigger than a mountain."

"And thus, begins fireworks." Gandalf sighed as Thorin rolled his eyes. Beorn however chuckled.

"You have spirit. That is good. Nuldien always did like those of great spirit."

"Are you sure she didn't give you any other message?" Ariel asked trying her best not to sound desperate. But she couldn't help it. That woman had been solely in charge of sending her to Middle-Earth in the first place. The reason she was entangled in this mess in the first place. If anyone knew the answers to all of Ariel's questions it would be her.

Beorn seemed to guess this but it only made him sigh heavily.

"I'm afraid not young one. That letter from your parents was the only thing she'd said you'd need from her."

"Oh…ok…" Ariel's face fell.

Thorin's face softened with pity as he glanced back on her, adjusting his grip on his pony as it whinnied with fright. There had been another inhumane screech from close by and it was severely distressing not just one but all the equines present.

"You must go now" Beorn growled as he stepped back "As long as you have light, you'll be safe. Though your hunters are not far behind."

"Thank you" Thorin nodded gruffly down towards the skin changer before flicking the reins of his pony hard.

"Hold on" he hissed at Ariel who barely had time to register his words before they were speeding off at a fast canter straight through the trees.

But even as they sped out of the line of the trees and out into the open sunlight Ariel could have sworn, she'd seen through the corner of her eye a dark bird-like figure stooping atop a rock high above them watching them with beady eyes.

Ariel felt her injured arm suddenly sting again and gritted her teeth, her grip on Thorin's waist tightening uncomfortably.

"Just my arm" she hissed before he could comment "Nothing drastic."

"It might be" Thorin muttered his eyes darting about him to the other riders. Beside them were Fili and Kili who were sharing and trying to race Bofur and Bilbo as the fields about them widened and expanded.

However instead of joining them, Thorin slowed the pony's pace slightly, tugging on Ariel's hand so that she leaned into his back, just close enough for him to murmur softly.

"I'm not supposed to tell you this, but Gandalf says the brand on your arm might have been caused by magic."

"Whose magic?" Ariel gulped. Damn, this wasn't supposed to happen, Gandalf wasn't supposed to know about Sauron's return till he had found Dol Guldur later in the story. Had her attack at Rivendell sped up the timeline? Was the mark on her arm a dead giveaway?

But the dwarf prince stayed silent as he watched Gandalf's horse gallop on ahead to lead the company. Once he was well ahead of the racers Thorin spoke once more.

"You said a hag cursed your brother…One that looked like a vulture with a dark symbol on her palm"

"Yeah…that's right" Ariel bit her lip torn between relief and dread "do you know who she is?"

"Tell me does the name Balcheth mean anything to you"

"No I have never come across such a name in my life" Ariel tilted her head.

"Neither did I" Thorin muttered "But both Gandalf and Beorn seemed to recognise it. I don't know what she really is, but whatever she's got planned for you cannot be good."

"She's a hag" Ariel rolled her eyes rubbing at her stinging arm "nothing she's got planned bodes well for any of us"

"you're right" Thorin agreed grimly "it won't"

Where are you, Crone?

"I am at the borders of the Forest my lord. The girl will come soon. She rides with Oakenshield. You need not worry I shall capture her once they are in the open -"

No. Wait till she is in the forest. You shall have no trouble separating her from her friends once she is in my domain.

"Very well my lord. And what of her friends"

Lead them astray off the path. Let the forest have them, or toy with them as you will. My prize is worth far more than a dithering band of dwarves.

"I assure you my lord…everything is going swimmingly. The girl will be yours soon"

I should hope so, because if you should fail…there won't be any barren shadow left for you to hide Balcheth…

Chapter Text

It was nearing dusk as they approached the eves of Mirkwood, where Gandalf said the Elven gate and road began.

"Set the ponies loose! Let them return to their master"

"Finally," Ariel sighed with relief as she dismounted from the pony, her backside sore after a near full days solid galloping and cantering along over great hills and plains.

"You look surprisingly well" Fili smirked as he and Kili both dismounted from their pony. "Considering who you were stuck with"

"It could've been worse" Ariel smirked as Thorin made to walk his pony over to Dwalin's to talk quietly. The trip hadn't been too bad. Thorin and her had spoken little but whatever was said was relatively normal and calm.

"No sign of the orcs" Said dwarf king grinned with relief "we have luck on our side"

But even as he spoke Ariel thought she saw some way off into the distance the familiar form of a great black bear prowling a rocky outcrop. She glanced back at the Fili and Kili with a playful wink only to see Kili's face tense as they looked upon his uncle's back.

"Still not talking huh?" she asked Fili who shook his head sadly.

"He knows Thorin's apologised. But he's still angry that he pulled the king card on him"

"Well they're both going to be singing different tunes once they go…in there…" Ariel shivered as she looked over her shoulder at the forest behind them.

Its trees were almost bare, with the smallest of golden and red autumn leaves still clinging onto their branches even though everything about them looked dead. But this was not the frigid cold of winter settling in…for the tree's barks had turned either a sickly grey or a dark black, right down to the roots.

Even Bilbo noticed the difference as he made to step down from his pony with Bofur.

"This forest feels sick…as if a disease lies upon it," he muttered as he strode up toward the beautifully carved wooden gate that led to the small path that winded into the forest. "Is there no way round?"

"Not unless we go 200 miles north and twice that distance… south…Goodness Ariel what are you doing?"

The wizard raised a brow as Ariel jumped away from a nearby tree with a tiny squeak, pulling her hand away as if she'd been burned.

"Nothing" she bleated as a dwarf came up to help her "Just a spider that's all."

But even as she spoke Gandalf saw the pure terror in her eyes as they glanced pointedly towards the tree.

He approached it slowly, reaching out with his staff to push aside the ivy that had just been spawned by his apprentice's accidental release of power.

His breath hitched and his eyes widened as he caught sight of a sharp fiery eye, painted in red upon the pale sick bark of the tree.

No…it could not be…

"But it could" a voice in his head that was not his own whispered.

"Something moves in the shadows, unseen hidden from our sight. Every day it grows in strength. Beware the Necromancer he is not what he seems. If our enemy has returned, we must know. Go to the tombs in the mountains"

"The high fells…so be it…" Gandalf nodded in agreement as he stepped away from the foul image which he quickly covered back over with the vines before turning to the company who had just finished freeing the last of the ponies and were getting ready to unsaddle the large black horse the wizard had rode.

"Not my horse I need it."

Of course, he has to go deal with the necromancer now…but does he know who or what he's getting involved in?

But even though she knew he had to go Ariel still felt her heart sink as Gandalf rushed past them all.

"You not leaving us?" Bilbo gulped as the wizard paused to looked down on him with sympathy.

"I would not do this unless I had to. You've changed Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the shire"

"I…I was going to tell you," Bilbo blurted out almost desperately "I…found something in the goblin tunnels,"

Ariel stiffened in her spot as she saw to her horror and apprehension, Bilbo fiddle with something in his waistcoat pocket.

No-no-no don't reveal it here. Not when we're this close to Sauron.

Gandalf however did not seem to notice as he merely quirked a curious brow down at his appointed burglar.

"Found what? What did you find?"

"M-my…My courage." Bilbo coughed quickly and at once his hand stopped fidgeting.

"Good…you'll need it." Gandalf smirked down at the Hobbit.

Phew, talk about a close shave…

Ariel sighed quietly with relief as she looked about at the others. They didn't seem to have noticed Bilbo's small slip because they were so sombre about seeing their guide leave them as well as the fact that the overcast skies had suddenly begun to burst with a tiny shower of rain.

Brilliant! Just brilliant! I'm sore and wet now.

She barely caught onto what the wizard said as he began to stride through the rest of the group.

"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe, and do not enter that mountain without me,"

Then Gandalf turned to Thorin and murmured.

"Remember whatever happens in that forest. Don't you ever let any of them out of your sight. This is not the greenwood of old" Gandalf added more loudly so as to include the others "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 will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."

"Lead us astray? What does that mean?" Bilbo muttered softly but the wizard only continued to give out his advice.

"You must stay on the path. Do not leave it. If you do, then you'll never find it again. Especially you Ariel, I want you to stay close to the company of all times whatever happens. A strange power controls these parts and the company will need you."

"But Gandalf-" Ariel began to say but already Gandalf was on his horse and beginning to ride away.

"No matter what may come stay on the path!" he called out just before he was out of earshot.

The company watched him go, their eyes fixed on the dark tail of his horse as it rode swiftly away into a tiny pinprick in the distance. Then it suddenly vanished.

"Alright…Show's over get a move on" Thorin muttered darkly, turning his back on the fields to face the forest path. "We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's day. It's our one chance to find the hidden door!"

As their leader made his way forwards Ariel felt something tug at her hand. She jumped a little but it was only Fili that smirked softly as he gently tugged her to follow.

"What's the matter little mermaid? Can't move without your fish fins?"

"Ha-ha very funny."

But even as Ariel looked up into the canopy of the dark trees above, she shuddered.

She couldn't see it, but she could feel it. Something or someone was watching them…watching them with evil intent…

But is it Balcheth's eyes…?

She gulped as her left arm burned with pain once more

Or is it his?

Ariel Brooks had, had many sleepless nights whilst on the road of her current quest. But none of them were as tense nor as terrifying as the one she was having now.

It was the company's first night in the Forest of Mirkwood and they were all still rather shocked and confused by Gandalf's sudden departure

They ate little and spoke softly amongst themselves though they were sure they were safe on the path. They also didn't light a fire so most of their whatever they ate was cold.

In short it was a cheerless and dark night when they all went to sleep with Thorin and Ariel keeping first watch.

Thorin would've stayed up on his own only Ariel insisted that she remain awake. Not that she'd have much chance of falling asleep.

The trees around them were packed so close together so that the air about them was unnaturally hot and stuffy. Ariel indeed felt rather as if she'd been pressed into an overcrowded party full of people that she'd rather not mix with, for the plants that surrounded them had an unwholesome sickly feel.

She jumped as a bush to her right rustled slightly, its sound strangely magnified in the stillness of the night.

Come on Ariel just breath it's just the wind …

Close by near Balin's sleeping head, Thorin looked up from where he had been crouching.

His tense grim expression softened slightly as he caught sight of the immense of fear imprinted on the usually determined energetic girl.

"What's wrong" he mumbled softly grimacing as he saw her flinch at the sound of his voice.

She couldn't help it. The silence about them was almost deafening.

"Nothing" but even as she said it, she winced and began to rub at her left forearm.

Thorin sighed heavily as he quietly walked towards her.

"It's been getting worse hasn't it? And don't bother lying and saying that it's not" he added when she opened her mouth to speak "I've seen you holding onto it all day."

"It's not infected" Ariel grumbled as the dwarf came to stand over her. "I've checked it whenever we stop. It just twinges at these really odd moments"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

But even so Thorin's eyes narrowed as he looked over the girl before him. Her face was beginning to look sickly pale and papery and whether she knew it or not she'd developed a small shiver, despite the stuffiness of the air around them.

"Get some sleep. I'll wake up Balin or Dwalin and they'll take your place"

"But-"

"No arguments." Thorin steamrolled over her, fixing her with a stern look. "Get to-"

Suddenly he fell silent.

Ariel blinked in confusion and opened her mouth to speak but Thorin had already swooped down and clapped a large hand over her mouth, his face tense as he pricked his ears.

"Thorin what-" Ariel gave a muffled snap but Thorin just put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion.

There was absolute silence as they both glanced at the shadows about them. Or was it silent?

Somewhere in the faintest distance…something hissed…as it slithered over dead leaves nearby…

It was almost like someone was dragging cloth over the ground, as if they were wearing a thick, heavy cloak.

Then just as suddenly as it had started… it stopped.

Ariel's body was so tense she could've used it to fire an arrow, but that wasn't the worst of her problems.

"Ariel…" Thorin's voice was wary as the girl before him suddenly hunched over with a small whimper, clutching onto her burnt arm.

"It's alright" she wheezed "I can deal with it"

"Obviously you can't," Thorin rolled his eyes as he reached for her arm.

"No-Thorin-don't-"

But he'd already snatched off her bracer, before rolling up her sleeve.

His eyes widened as he looked down upon the flesh there.

The hand mark over her arm looked, if possible, even darker than before. Thorin could barely suppress the growl that escaped him as he saw the size and aggressiveness of the mark that marred the once young blemish free skin.

"You call this nothing to worry about?"

Ariel shut her eyes and turned her face away from him mumbling something so softly under her breath that he barely heard it.

"What was that?" he clipped irritably.

Ariel sighed heavily.

"I said you've already got enough on your plate without worrying about me"

Thorin stilled in his spot.

"You're…you're worried about worrying me?"

Ariel looked up, blinking in confusion. Thorin's voice that had so often been a growl was now a soft mumble of surprise. His face too was now just as befuddled as the time when Bilbo had returned just after they came out of the Misty Mountains.

"Well yeah…" Ariel bit her lip nervously, not knowing what to make of the sudden change in the dwarf "Thorin…you're always so busy worrying your ass off about everyone else and making sure we all make it through and don't kill ourselves or each other along the way…and whilst we may bicker worse than two idiots, when the times have been tough you have pulled through…but still…I just didn't want to add to the stress…and-"

"But why?" Thorin's brow furrowed.

"Because…" Ariel mumbled doing her best to try and meet his eye "because isn't that what friend's do? Worry about each other and try to help one another?"

She gulped as she waited for his reply. However, she was surprised. For the first time since she had met the dwarf prince, he looked remarkably lost…as if he had no clue of what to say…

And that made her wonder. When was the last time someone had spoken to Thorin Oakenshield, not as a leader or an heir of dwarfish royalty…but as an ordinary person…as a friend…?

She did her best to smile comfortingly in understanding as she patted his hand that was still holding onto her arm.

"Thorin, you may be in line to be king, but you don't have to bear everything on your shoulders alone."

That seemed to pull him out of whatever stupor he'd been stuck in and he coughed

"That may be the case…but still…I am the leader of this company and it is my duty to make sure that I look after those I am charged with especially the youngest," he added fixing her with a slightly stern look "and being the youngest at only seventeen you should-"

"Eighteen" Ariel smirked smugly. "Just four days ago I turned eighteen. Not so much of a child now huh?"

"By human standards you aren't" Thorin agreed a smirk of his own gracing his features "but by dwarf standards you are barely into childhood"

"And by human standards you are a very old man" Ariel countered with a small grin, that turned into quiet chuckles as Thorin glowered at her. However, his eyes were not scornful nor angry. In fact, they were rather amused even as he huffed.

"Hmph! Very funny. But that still doesn't change the fact that you're injured."

"I've had worse." she tried to counter with a smirk though her face fell slightly "Besides…It's not so easy getting to sleep nowadays."

"Your nightmares" Thorin nodded and when Ariel looked surprised, he sighed "Yes we've all noticed Ariel. Ever since the shadow in Rivendell you've been tossing and turning in your sleep and mumbling non-stop."

"It's nothing…besides it happened a long time ago," Ariel mumbled best to avoid his eyes as she yanked her arm away from the dwarf prince and curled her knees close to her.

"I don't think it's nothing." Thorin frowned grimly "Whatever it was it was enough to trigger your panic attack at the cliff when Azog cornered us...when the fire started."

He didn't need to see the way she tensed up to know he'd struck gold. But then he also wasn't surprised. He'd seen over the weeks how uncomfortable she was with the company's campfires, always skulking around the edge torn between fear and the need for warmth. He also noticed just how on edge she was close to even the smallest of candles though he had to admit he was impressed by how calm she managed to keep herself despite her fear.

Ariel meanwhile was opening and closing her mouth like a stunned goldfish before spluttering.

"It's...so what about the fire? We were all worried about burning to a crisp."

But she saw Thorin quirk a disbelieving brow and sighed heavily.

"Alright you really wanna know? Fine then," she huffed "My granny, well she's not really my granny, she's really the mid-wife that helped my mother deliver me and my brother. We just called her granny because she was so old, and she was like family. But anyway, moving on…Granny's house caught fire when I was seven. I don't know how or why. My parents kept trying to tell me it was an accident with the stove,"

"But it wasn't?" Thorin's eyes narrowed.

"No" Ariel muttered darkly her eyes hardening "No…It wasn't"

"How do you know?"

"Because I remember," Ariel snapped up at him "It was midnight. Granny, Mum and Dad were asleep and had put me and my brother to bed. But after a while I got thirsty. I didn't want to wake anyone up, so I went downstairs on my own. I was in the kitchen drinking my cup when I saw…when I saw it."

"It?"

"The shadow. It was big, bigger than my dad and he's already taller than six feet mind you. And it had these eyes… these horrible burning eyes" and at this Ariel shivered as the very same eyes burned into her mind.

"So, this shadow…it started the blaze?" Thorin murmured a finger to his bearded chin in thought.

"It must have…" Ariel bit her lip as it began to tremble a little "I mean it was dark and it was hard to see…but one moment it was pitch black the next there are these flames everywhere and...I couldn't breathe…my skin was scorching…I was alone and the building was burning and collapsing about me…I couldn't see any of my family…and…and then the shadow was walking towards me through the fire and…no I will not cry…I will not cry!"

Ariel scrubbed furiously at her eyes which had begun to sting as tears pricked the corners.

Thorin did not say a word as he watched her struggle with herself for a moment before taking a deep shuddering breath and pull herself together.

"I don't remember much after that," She gulped down the lump in her throat. "I blacked out before the shadow could reach me. When I woke up, I was being tended to by…doc-healers-" she corrected herself quickly, "-outside the house with my brother and parents standing over me. But granny didn't make it. She was old…and her room was far away from all the others…there was no way she could've gotten help."

"I'm sorry" Thorin murmured softly but Ariel waved him off, grunting as if she had a head cold.

"Don't be…besides it was almost eleven years ago anyway. What is done, is done and I may not be able to change my past…but I'll be damned if I let myself be ruled by my fear again."

Thorin's eyes softened as she ran a hand through her mane of red-brown hair her face as bitter as her voice.

"When Smaug took Erebor" he said quietly "he set fire to all that he could find save the treasure. It was so scorching hot that many dwarves perished from the temperature alone, not to mention those that suffocated from inhaling all the foul smoke that rose up from it. Many of those that survived and managed to get out of the mountain were burned…not just in body but in mind too…there were even a few dwarves that couldn't bear to work in forges ever again in spite of being trained to do so for all their lives"

He reached out to Ariel's chin and tilted it upwards to meet his own determined gaze.

"Ariel there is no shame in feeling fear. What you went through was something no child should ever experience. Saying that did you ever find out how you got out?"

Ariel nodded.

"My father was the one who rescued me. He, Mum and Ian had made it outside and realised I wasn't there. So, he dove back in to get me. He got out alright even though his leg was burned badly. He can still walk, but he's still got a bit of a limp, though he tries his best to smile it off and continue working like before"

"He sounds like a brave man" Thorin murmured, a slight hint of admiration lacing his voice. "Brave and good of heart…like his daughter."

"By all the heavens above has the moon turned green or is that a compliment I hear from you Thorin Oakenshield?" Ariel's mouth opened into a wide astonished grin.

"Perhaps…but if it is then don't get used to it" Thorin growled gruffly though his eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked down upon the girl before him.

However, he truly meant what he said.

When he had first seen her back at Bag End, he'd only thought her a small timid child only trying to put on airs to make herself seem more mature than she seemed. Had anyone told him that she was so internally strong he would have scoffed and laughed, but he no longer did so now. Indeed, she was stronger than most women both young and old he'd ever met. The only one that came close was his own younger sister Dis and that was saying something as she was one of the strongest women Thorin had ever known.

He opened his mouth to speak but was stopped when he caught sight of Ariel's face as she caught a glance over his shoulder. Her face paled.

"Thorin…is it just me or is everything grey?"

Thorin turned around as well and he felt his heart sink.

Everywhere about the two of them was a sea of greyish dark fog, so dense and thick that they couldn't see anything beyond a meter around the two of them.

Ariel felt every single hair rise on the back of her neck as she heard something whispering softly in the distance. It sounded eerily like a snake's hiss turned into words.

"[shroud them in shadow, bring me my master's prize]"

"What new devilry is this?" Thorin growled as he stood up to his feet and drew Orcrist from its sheath. He felt his foot hit something and hissed as he heard a small grunt and groan of pain.

"Balin wake up! Wake up all of you now!"

"Thorin…what's going on?" The old dwarf grunted as he raised his head along with Dwalin and Bifur who were sleeping beside him.

From someway off Thorin could hear the grunts and groans of the others as they stirred.

"Fog at this time of night?" Bilbo muttered as he scrambled to his feet.

"Quick grab onto one another" Bofur shouted and there were many murmurs of agreement as multiple hands made to grasp at one another in the fog.

Thorin wheeled around, reaching out towards Ariel who stood behind him. Yet just as her fingers grazed his, a shadowy hand grasped at her shoulder.

There was a split second in which both Ariel and Thorin stared at one another in horror…then…

"AHH!"

"Ariel!" Thorin cried out but too late, her body had been dragged backwards into the wall of fog, her scream of terror suddenly going silent, though the echoes of it still rang horribly in the dwarf's ears.

"Uncle?" Kili's voice called from somewhere further away "What's going on?"

But Thorin did not answer, his eyes only widening in shock as he made to swat at the fog to find a scrawny limb, or even a red-brown lock of hair.

"Ariel!" Thorin boomed loudly but the only thing that greeted him was silence and empty space.

"Lass?" Balin called out as he stood to his feet alongside his leader, looking around.

At those words he faintly heard the others behind him begin to yell out loudly.

"Ariel!"

"Miss Ariel!"

"Lass! Where are ye?"

"Damn the girl! Now she's lost!" Dwalin growled.

"She wouldn't have left us on purpose!" Bilbo snapped angrily though terror was lacing his voice like ice.

"And she didn't" Thorin barked, though panic was beginning to settle on his mind "Something took her"

"It must be this fog" Ori's voice was trembling as he looked about in fear along with Oin who nodded vigorously.

"Yes, remember what Gandalf said…this forest is cursed"

"Cursed or not we have to find her" Kili stood up to his feet only for Gloin to grab his arm.

"If we do that lad then we'll leave the path and we'll also get lost"

"So, what we're just going to leave her to die again like we did in the mountains?!" Kili snarled as Dori tried to come between him and Gloin.

"No that's not it lad-"

"Then what?! we just abandon-"

"Kili enough! We'll think of something" Fili tried to calm him down but his brother was having none of it.

"Think of something? The more time we spend thinking the more chance that our friend is dead!"

"Calm down everyone and use your heads-"

But even as the voices grew louder and angrier all around him Thorin turned his head down in shame.

Barely one night in this accursed forest already one of his company was gone missing.

But where could she have gone?

Her head was throbbing, badly. It was like someone had taken her head to an anvil and cracked it open with a stone hammer.

Where…where am I?

Ariel Brooks opened her eyes. Everything around her was cold…cold and dark.

She remembered vaguely being carried by grasping hands through a grey fog but after that there was nothing but black and before that…

Hang on where is everyone?

"Guys? Guys where are we?" She murmured trying to prick her ears for any familiar sound

As she moved her head to try and see more of her surroundings, she felt stone slabs graze her nose.

Stone…but I was in the forest…

But even as she made to lift her head up a couple of inches, she heard a couple of horrible voices speak in a harsh evil tongue.

"[The she awakens oh great Defiler.]"

"[Stand back! I will deal with her.]"

Ariel gasped as she felt a pair of large strong hands grab at her and force her up onto her knees.

Her head spun horribly as whatever blood that had been in her head quickly drained from her, however it wasn't quite enough to impede on her vision which had just revealed to her a truly horrifying sight indeed.

She was nowhere near a forest at all. Instead she was surrounded by ruinous walls of stone that towered high above into the dark sky and sank low into a large pit of darkness. In the centre of the towers and attached to the main structure by a narrow bridge was a crumbling platform, on which she was now kneeling, her body held up and restrained by chains held up by a-

She screamed as she caught sight of a great pale orc who chuckled darkly as he looked down on her with pitiless yellow eyes.

"[hmmm…so you are the witch who struck me down]" Azog the Defiler snarled as he leant his face down to peer menacingly down at the frightened young girl who struggled and shrieked in his hold.

"[My orcs said you were a formidable sorceress. HA! The fools, you are but a child…a child who reeks of fear…so pathetic]" he brought his claw like prosthetic limb up to her neck and scraped it feather light over her skin.

At once Ariel stilled, her body trembling in absolute terror as she felt a small sting on her neck as the metal lightly scratched her, a single drop of ruby red blood dribbled down her front from where it had been marred.

She did her best to look around trying desperately to search for a glimmer of green amongst the grey slabs about her. But no matter how hard she looked; her staff was nowhere in sight.

No-no-no-no-no! NO! This cannot be true! This just cannot be happening!

Of all the terrors she'd experienced on her travels, this by far was proving to be the worst of them all.

She shut her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks as she heard Azog chuckle again with malicious derisive amusement before turning to face two more orcs, smaller in stature but just as wicked in their dispositions and appearances.

"[Send her to the dungeons! The master will call for her when he is ready]" he barked at them and they obediently scuttled forwards to snatch at Ariel who began to scream and screech once more.

"NO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! PLEASE! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU! HELP! HEEEEEELP!"

Bilbo hung his head as he slumped against the trunk of a tree.

It had ben three days since Ariel's disappearance. Three days since they'd wandered into this forsaken forest.

"Air" Bofur puffed beside them as the entire company came under the cover of a particularly dense patch of trees "Air…I need air…"

"My head…" Oin blinked as he was disorientated "it's swimming"

Bilbo couldn't blame the old dwarf for sounding so sick. He himself was torn between throwing up as he walked or fainting on the ground. But he kept going.

They had seen signs on the path before them that there had been orcs close by to where they had camped along the path and that they had been dragging someone with them.

From what Dwalin and Balin could tell from the marks on the ground the prisoner had been small and slender but apart from that there was no way of telling much else.

They could only hope that they were made by Ariel.

Ariel…

Bilbo's heart sank at the thought of the young girl all alone, surrounded by orcs who would no doubt kill her or use her for malicious sport…just as they had done to Beorn and to so many other people and creatures they could get their hands on.

Better her than you though

A small nasty voice echoed in the depths of the Hobbit's head.

Bilbo paused mid step and clapped a hand over his mouth in horror.

Goodness! Was that him?! How could he have thought something so horrible? Especially when it was about a dear friend?

He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice his fingers of his free hand were ghosting over a pocket in his waist coat in which something small and metallic lingered.

He was only jolted out of his stupor by Kili's voice as he scouted on ahead, though it did little to help his mood. The young dwarf sounded very sarcastic and scathing.

"We found the bridge"

But even as they came up level with their now youngest member their hearts sank.

There before them was a stone bridge, broken in two with the middle of the arch fallen away. Beneath them a stream, black as the trees about them and smelling foul was flowing…or at least it was moving, for the water looked more like jet black tar sludge that was gurgling unpleasantly along.

"Well we could try and swim it?" Bofur suggested half-heartedly at an attempt at humour though no one laughed. Thorin looked especially grim.

"Didn't you hear what Gandalf said? A dark magic lies upon this forest and the waters of this stream are enchanted."

"Doesn't look very enchanting to me" Dori snorted to Bilbo and Ori who stood beside him.

Meanwhile Fili and Kili were rushing to the side of the bridge where several large black vines were hanging low enough for them to climb.

"Here these look strong enough!" Kili grunted as he began to hoist himself up only for his brother to grab him roughly.

"Kili are you mad! Get back here"

"What? They held up my weight just, fine didn't they?" Kili pouted "Besides If we had Ariel here, she would've gone across on her own as well before any of us could stop her"

"If Ariel were here Kili she would've used her powers to make it safe for us to cross too. But she isn't here so step back" Fili snapped over him sparing a small glower at Thorin who had just stepped forwards to reprimand them both.

However, upon hearing Ariel's name his face fell, as did the faces of the rest of the company.

"I understand this is hard for all of you at the moment" Thorin muttered softly, trying his best not to show the guilt that plagued him "It's hard for me too. But if we are to find our friend, we can't just go taking risks like this so rashly. Which is why we will send the lightest across first. Bilbo!"

"hmm yes?" Bilbo turned at once and saw all the thirteen dwarves looking at him expectantly.

He sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.

Great…just what I always wanted! To drown in a toxic cursed river!

Ariel…

A voice called to her softly in her ear.

In her mind's eye Ariel could see herself laying down with her head in a familiar warm denim covered lap as slender fingers began to trail through her hair softly…comfortingly…

"Mum…"

It's alright darling

A woman's voice cooed as she leaned down to kiss her daughter over her brow.

Ariel smiled softly to herself as she smelt the familiar scent of her mother waft up into her nose as she buried her face deeper into her lap.

Honeysuckle…lavender with a hint of washing detergent and spice…

The corners of Ariel's eyes stung as she felt her heart almost burst in her chest.

"I miss you so much"

I'm right here my little mermaid…

Her mother stroked her hair away from her face.

I'm right here

"Why did I have to go?" Ariel blubbered opening her eyes to see the blurred outline of red hair around a pale face. "I want to be here with you"

Everything must come and go Ariel…that is how nature works…at some point we are all meant to fly the nest and find our own path…

"but my path is so dark" Ariel sniffled "and I'm scared…Mum I'm so scared…"

I know…

Now even her mother's voice was sounding tearful as she leant down to kiss her daughter's brow.

But no matter what happens Ariel…I am always here. And so is your father and your brother…we're all in here…and we'll always be there…Always…

"Mum!" Ariel whimpered as she felt a cold stone hard floor replace her mother's warmth.

"Mum! No! Mum! MUM! DON'T GO MUM!"

But even as the last words passed her mother's lips she began to fade away.

…Always…

"MUMMY!"

Bilbo watched with mounting irritation and dread as the rest of the company struggled on the black vines over the equally dark vile sludge of a river.

He'd just told them not to follow him. Told them it wasn't dangerous. But did anyone listen to a hobbit?

NO!

Well don't blame me if one of you idiots falls in.

He rolled his eyes just as someone landed with a heavy thud on their feet beside where he sat puffing for breath.

It was Thorin and he was looking alertly at a spot some way away along the bank of the enchanted stream.

Bilbo stood up to look as well.

There standing one the edge of the waters staring down at them was a tall, great stag. Its fur was of the purest white and its antlers silvery as the clouds before a moon.

Despite the gloomy forest about them all it seemed to shine brightly, as if it had a pure light glowing from within.

The sight almost made the hobbit swell with awe and wonder.

He'd heard of legends regarding such creatures, though he never once thought that he'd ever see one himself. For the white hart was a guardian of the forests it dwelled.

It was said in many a tale that if you caught one you would be granted three wishes as well as be blessed with good fortune forever more.

It was revered throughout all the races of Elves, men, hobbits and even dwarves…though Thorin seemed to think otherwise as he raised a bow and fitted an arrow to its string.

"What are you doing?" Bilbo asked, his voice somehow slower and more lethargic than usual. That was another thing about being in this forest, he somehow always felt drowsy and disoriented at the oddest of times.

Thorin however paid no heed to the small burglar and instead fired the shot at the beautiful creature across from them who quickly darted away as the dark arrowhead zoomed past its side. It had passed so close to the beast that it had grazed its fur. But that was of no importance to the hobbit who stared aghast as the creature bounded back into the forest.

"you shouldn't have done that" he breathed his heart sinking as the snowy pelt disappeared into the darkness of the trees "It's bad luck"

"I don't believe in luck" Thorin snapped his eyes glaring at where the animal had been "We make our own luck."

But before the hobbit could berate him something splashed.

Both Bilbo and Thorin wheeled about just in time to see Bombur's fat form floating in the dark waters of the stream, his eyes shut with sleep and his mouth open in a snore.

Thorin quickly rushed forwards to aid the others in lifting him up but Bilbo hung back, his eyes still straying back to where the white stag had once stood.

For one moment…one shining moment, he had felt hope stir in his heart. Hope for the quest…hope for finding their lost friend…hope for returning home alive…

But now all that was left was darkness.

There was a loud clang of metal and Ariel jumped in her spot on the cold dark floor.

She was in a dungeon made entirely of dark stone, with only one window set high above her in the roof, far away from her reach from which one beam of moonlight was illuminating the space.

Her hands were bound in strong iron shackles and chains as were her ankles so that even as she struggled away from the door to her cell through which Azog's gigantic hulking form had strode through.

His face was split in a malicious manic smirk as he regarded her trembling form.

"[Wake up witch!]"

"huh?" Ariel bleated. She didn't understand a word of the black speech but then again, she reasoned, whatever was said in that language could never mean anything good for anyone, especially when only terrible things happened after the words were uttered.

Indeed, her fears had been realised as Azog strode calmly towards her and grabbed her chains in his prosthetic claw and tugged her up onto her feet. He was callously indifferent to her struggles, the chains preventing her from spreading her weight out sufficiently.

When she did manage to get to her feet, he used his whole undamaged hand to grip hard at her neck and force her to walk forwards.

"[move]"

"W-Where are you t-taking me?" she shivered uncontrollably, her voice very hoarse and scratchy as it left her mouth. She'd been screaming for hours as she was dragged to sit alone in that cell. Then when that hadn't worked, she had bawled her eyes out and struggled to slam herself against the doors. But the orcs guarding her on the other side of the wall merely laughed and chortled at her expense as she slowly but surely grew tired of her struggles.

Eventually she became so tired that she fell asleep on the cold filthy floor of her prison only to wake up just now to be held captive once more by the Defiler as he forced her down the dark hallways of Dol Guldur.

Ariel couldn't help but shudder as all the orcs they passed jeered and hissed at her with malevolent glee. One of them even snapped his pointed fang like teeth at her like a dog threatening to bite.

She jumped back from that one as fast as she could only to collide painfully with Azog who growled and shoved her back into the middle of the narrow corridor, but not before barking down at his legions in the filthy black speech of his people.

Whatever he said had obviously made some impact upon the orcs because even though they still jeered, none of them after that made to approach either of them. Wherever she was being taken to, she was obviously supposed to arrive in one piece.

Though that thought only made Ariel more frightened than ever as she was finally shoved out of an archway and out into the cold open air.

There more orcs were assembled watching her and Azog with great interest along with several wargs who snapped hungrily at the sight of the scrawny pound of meat that was being wafted before them.

Ariel shut her eyes and took a deep shuddering breath as she and the defiler made their way up a set of steep stone steps past a tall stone statue of a hooded figure bearing a sharp blade.

She shuddered. Though she could not pinpoint why, the figure made her feel sick just looking at it.

Azog barely noticed this as he tugged incessantly hard on her chains, forcing her to ascend with him towards the doorway to the tallest of towers of the ruined fortress.

A maiden trapped in the tallest tower. How original.

Despite herself Ariel couldn't help the small roll of her eyes as she reached the door and looked up to the sky where the tip of the turrets roof towered higher than any skyscraper above her head.

Azog then opened the door with a large shove, the aged wood creaking ominously.

Ariel gulped; all sarcasm forgotten as she looked on. Beyond the door, instead of seeing a shadowy room it was completely pitch black.

"[I have brought her master]" Azog rumbled to the darkness though even he looked uncomfortable about stepping forwards.

Ariel soon discovered why for in that moment an icy chill swept over her, that had nothing to do with the cold breeze of the wind. It froze her blood in her veins and made her shut her eyes as a voice cruel and harsh hissed from within with words her ears could finally understand.

"Come in child."

Ariel was now trembling so badly that her chains on her were shaking and jingling as well.

"I said" the bodiless voice snarled venomously "come in!"

Ariel barely had time to shriek before Azog's hand grabbed her by the scruff of her neck before flinging her inside with a mighty shove and shutting the great door behind her with a snap.

She landed hard on something stony beneath her yet still she could not see a thing. It was like she had stepped into a void of nothingness.

"There…" the voice from before whispered to her softly from the darkness "That wasn't too hard was it, Ariel Brooks? "

"W-who are you?" Ariel blubbered as she felt around to get up to her hands and knees.

It was a painful slog as her head still throbbed from before and her body also now was aching from her skirmishes.

Whoever it was in the shadows laughed the sound hollow and cruel, as they watched her struggle helplessly on the ground like a newborn babe.

"So pathetic…but then again…being born of your bloodline I should've expected as such"

"My bloodline?" Ariel spluttered looking around wildly in panic "What are you talking about?! Who are you? and why do you know who I am?!"

"Oh, I've known who you are for quite some time child. In fact, ever since you were born, for you see, I knew your parents."

"No, you don't!" Ariel bleated "How could you?! There must be some mistake!

"I assure you there is no mistake girl" it sneered derisively "you bear the marks of their pedigree as plain as daylight. Those brown eyes of your father…that red hair…"

Ariel flinched as the voice came up suddenly close to the hair over her ear, inhaling roughly as what must have been a face caressed the side of her head.

"Just like your mothers…"

"No…stop" Ariel whimpered tears streaming down her face as she felt a hot searing breath ghost over the shell of her ear "Please…"

"hmm…you even smell the same as her…most curious…seeing as you were raised in an entirely different world"

"Other world?" Ariel squeaked as she felt something like a large claw like hand slip out to collar her neck from behind. She stayed stock still in terror as her head was tilted so that it hung to the side as what felt like a nose, with charred rough skin, passed over the skin of her throat.

"Oh yes I know where you come from" the voice hissed, heady and intoxicated, over her flesh as it inhaled her scent. "And I must say…it was a pathetic move on your parents part. They thought they could hide both you and your brother from me in that dismal world of Earth. But I still managed to find you…Ariel Brooks, daughter of Calvin and Nora…or should I call them Celegon and… Nuldien?"

"…What?" Ariel breathed her heart stilling in her chest as someone chuckled, the sound bouncing eerily around the darkness about her.

"Oh…you poor thing" the voice cooed mockingly the same claw like hands gently stroking her face in the horrible travesty of a caress. "You did not know? Your mother was one of the greatest of the Istari…Nuldien the Red…"

"You're wrong!" Ariel cried out horror flooding her system. "you're wrong! my mother is not Nuldien! It's not true! She would never lie-"

"Oh, but she did lie" The voice around her leered "For Nuldien was the great keeper of secrets. Lies and secrets were all she could give. And how she kept them... Not only did she keep secrets from her order, but she kept secrets from you too…her own daughter…her own flesh and blood"

"NO!" Ariel shrieked clutching her head as it began to throb again. "No! You're lying! You're lying!"

"Oh no I'm not" the voice hissed once more. "and to prove it to you I will show you just what I am girl"

Ariel felt the hands on her person fly away and she scrambled backwards at once just in time to see a light flicker before her.

However, it wasn't the light she was hoping for…it was fire…lots of fire…and it was all around her.

She shrieked and yelled in terror as the flames licked about her body, scraping at her clothes so that they were singed and burned away to filthy rags, much to the amusement of the voice.

"You have not changed at all since that day"

Ariel looked up and her shriek was lost in her throat as she beheld someone standing amongst the flames.

It was a shadow…greater than any being she had ever yet faced. Shaped like a man and yet as fluid as the darkest of smoke…

"Y-you are-y-you are" she sobbed and cringed as a pair of eyes looked down on her…a pair of flaming orange gold eyes…blazing like flames.

"S-Sauron"

"Ariel the Green" Sauron spoke and this time his voice echoed heavily throughout the flaming tower like the reverberations of shaking mountains. "you have interfered with my plans for far too long…now you must pay the price. And so I take from you the gift you treasure most of all."

"No please no!" Ariel shrieked as the fiery eyes flashed and the dark lord snarled.

"I take your voice"

Dol Guldur was silent as all orcs turned to look at the dark tower. It wasn't unusual to hear the screams of absolute agony as their master tortured his latest prisoner. Yet the screams of their newest victim were enough to chill even their blackened hearts.

Such a piercing sound of pure fear

Prince Legolas of the Woodland Realm grimaced with disgust as he looked down the muddy footprints he was tracking.

They were big booted tracks, greater than his own though less human in shape. Made by something metallic if the pressure of the print was anything to go by.

Orcs…

His bright blue eyes narrowed as he surveyed the rest of the ground. It was littered with markings of a similar kind to the one he had just found.

So there was a host was there…but wait what is that?

Legolas quickly darted forwards to examine a branch where a string slender and red was shining faintly in the dim light of the forest.

He reached out carefully to handle it, examining it closely.

It wasn't a string at all. It was a hair and it was somewhere between a rich brown and red.

Orc? But no, those vile creatures could never grow hair so fine.

The elven prince reasoned as he caught sight of a couple more strands on a few branches just ahead.

He snatched them up quickly before they wafted away on the breeze and held them up to his nose.

The subtle sweet smell of rose hit his nose laced with slightly earthy tone.

No. No orc could've shed this…

He looked about and tilted his head as he crouched low to the ground once more.

There were strange markings behind some of the Orc's footprints, almost as if something had been dragged.

Or someone…

But then Legolas stiffened.

Was it just him or had he heard the faintest of screams?

He pricked his fine-tuned elven ears as he stood up, his body stiff as he focused all his energy on his hearing.

It took him a couple of seconds of sifting the sounds of wind and rustling leaves through his mind before he heard it again.

Screams…far off in the south of the forest, though not too far from where he had led his patrol for the day.

The south…

He took a step forward and felt his foot hit something. He looked down to see what it was and was surprised to see a glimmer of gold in the dirt by his feet.

He swiftly swooped down and picked it up in his hands.

It was a small golden watch on a chain, with easy to read black numbers and slender silver hands rotating round and round as they counted the hours, minutes and seconds. He turned the timepiece around to show the blooming rose etched in gold on the back.

It was a well-made piece though he noticed the design was certainly more suited for a woman's smaller hands than his own stronger digits.

He turned his head his brow furrowing as he focused once more on the screams which had begun again. This time he was focused enough to hear that it was the sound of a young woman's voice…scared…frightened…

He looked down at the strands of hair in his hands and the watch.

Whoever she was, could these have been from her?

The poor maiden…

The thought made his insides squirm uncomfortably as he looked up to the southern skies which were swarming with swirling dark clouds over a single high pinnacle in the distance that only his elf eyes could see.

Dol Guldur…

He turned around silently only to see another tall elf man walk towards him, with golden hair and dark stern eyes.

"[Thondir what news?]" Legolas clipped in elvish.

"[My lord, we have reason to believe that the spiders have been sighted towards the north near the black stream. It appears they have grown in strength]"

Legolas sighed heavily. As much as he was truly keen on discovering the mystery of this missing girl and her connection with the Orcs of Dol Guldur, he still had his duties towards his king and his kingdom.

"[Then we shall dispose of them as we did before]" but even as he spoke his eyes darted back in the direction of where he knew the accursed fortress to be.

"[I'm sorry]" he murmured so softly so that only the passing breeze seemed to hear him as he followed his guard back into the forest.

Radagast the Brown looked up from where he had paused his rabbit sled, and up into the dark forest canopy above his head.

Something was wrong, he could feel it in his gizzard. Something horrible had just happened yet he couldn't tell what.

He looked over his shoulder into what he knew to be the south of Mirkwood, where terrible dark storm clouds had been gathering in a vortex of darkness for days.

A few hours ago, however, it had been especially terrible, as an unusual fog settled about him, shrouding his surroundings in a blanket of dull ominous grey. It was so dark above the canopy that it was difficult for him to tell if it was day or night from the forest floor. Worst of all were the trees.

They were looking, if possible, even sicker than before. Their bark was darkening almost burnt black and what had once been rich tree sap was now a tar like gelatinous substance that oozed nastily down to the ground. Any animal that tried to drink or even touch it felt immediately ill. Then there were the vines.

Strong, thick, dark, covered in sharp thorns as sharp as needles as the Brown Wizard discovered as he pulled his hand away from the nearest one.

Yet his small cut did not concern him as much as the strange pulse of green energy that flashed before his eyes for the briefest of seconds.

That power…he had seen it before…but where?

He reached out to a small bare patch of vine only to jerk back as with another pulse of green magic, another thorn shot out to defend its host.

"Oh dear. Oh no-no-no-no-no" Radagast murmured frantically, his brown eyes wide and bewildered. If his hunch was correct, and he dearly hoped it wasn't, then they were in so much trouble.

But what should he do? Should he go back to the source and check to be sure? But no, he also had to go to meet Gandalf at the High Fells…unless…but no that would be too risky. And yet…

It was no use, what other choice did he have?

He sucked in a deep breath and blew out a long shrill whistle, shutting his eyes as he thought:

By Eru I do hope I am wrong.

Chapter Text

Everything swam before the brown-green eyes of Ariel Brooks.

Her whole body felt numb and cold as she lay flat on her back in the middle of the empty darkness. She wasn't sure how long she'd been like this. it could have been minutes, hours, days…weeks…honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if years had passed since she'd first entered through those doors.

"You're awake," a voice hissed in her ear. "I admit I am impressed. There are very few who would have the strength to survive my wrath. Even the old fool Gandalf would not be able to withstand me on his own for so long."

She did not flinch, nor did she turn her head.

Not that she could've. She had no energy left in her to even blink…she scarcely had enough left to breathe.

She could faintly taste her own saliva as droplets of it dribbled from her mouth and over her face which was now a mess of filth and sweat.

She barely noticed as the voice of the dark lord snarled to the darkness.

"Balcheth! Take this dreg to the dungeons, but make sure she is unharmed. There is much I still need her for."

"Yes, my lord," rasped the voice of an elderly woman, yet she still sounded unsure "But sir who shall guard her now that you have sent out all your forces from this fortress?"

"You shall of course, and I expect nothing less than the best of treatment from you." The voice purred smoothly.

Ariel's head lolled to the side as she felt a charred hand smooth itself over her cheek and a hissing voice whisper in her ear with a forked tongue laced with poison:

"Do not worry my pet. I will make sure you are taken care of. After all, I cannot have my newest servant dying on me before I bestow my blessing."

"I will never be yours, monster" Ariel said, yet when she opened her mouth, nothing but her breath came out.

My voice?! My voice…

Ariel gasped softly, trying her best to breathe through her drowning mouth that appeared to be coming straight from her burning throat.

Somewhere beside her the old woman Balcheth chuckled maliciously as she coughed harshly her throat searing in pain.

"Do not worry my Lord. I shall take good care of this child"

Ariel winced as she felt her body be picked up by what felt like many ropes, though she could not see any about her.

Indeed, there weren't any as her body was carried as if on a cloud of air…a cloud of air with white hot needles in it that felt like they were piercing her skin.

"How sad…the little mermaid…struggling for air"

Tears streamed down Ariel's cheeks as she rasped and gurgled, trying to get a breath as she felt her body be carried through a door and down a set of stairs that coiled on the outside of the massive tower.

It took a painstaking effort, but she managed to turn her head to the side and open her mouth. At once red drops began to pitter patter on the ground she hovered above, spewing from her mouth like tiny rain drops in an April shower.

However, it was enough to drain her mouth and provide her with a clear passage for air so that she could breathe and let her catch a glimpse of the ruinous fortress.

Where there had once been hundreds of orcs, were now few sentries that kept watch on the walls or lower levels, with one small pack of wargs patrolling with them. Inside the buildings however she could see fire light flickering and the hulking shadows moving and fighting one another. Ariel could not help but shudder as she caught sight of the hooded sword wielding statues that guarded the foot of Sauron's tower.

Was it just her, or did they somehow feel…alive?

Maybe it was a trick of the strange dark lighting from the storm clouds above, but she almost thought that she could see a something pale flicker from beneath the hood of one of the statues…something like a skeletal ghostly figure.

But she didn't have time to ponder the horrible spectres as the few orcs in the fortress sneered and chuckled vindictively at the miserable sight of her.

She could only guess how pathetic she must have looked, floating in mid-air in rags and covered in a coating of soot, sweat, tears and other disgusting things…

However, there was one positive thing she was slowly becoming aware of. She could now feel her strength returning ever so slightly to her extremities. She even managed to wiggle her toes by the time Balcheth led her body down on the ground floor of the tower where a door led into a corridor lined with heavy metal doors.

It was to the farthest one on the left at the opposite end of the corridor that Balcheth all but dragged the floating Ariel.

It was a large stone room, completely bare of anything save a filthy animal pelt on the ground in front of a fireplace, which was empty and unlit. On the end opposite the door, was one window, if it could be called that. It was just a large square cut out of the wall and barred with thick iron and gnarly dead looking vines, with only a view of the overcast sky above.

Oww… Oh well, at least I can see the sky.

Ariel grimaced, wincing as her ruined body was thrown unceremoniously onto the pelt. Her stomach jolted when she it's head was still attached and felt her gut all but fall from her body as she recognized its shape.

It was a great black bear skin, mouth open in a roar. Yet even as Ariel looked closer at it, she could tell that it wasn't a roar of anger, but one of fear. Was this her fate, she wondered to herself in horror. Would Sauron have his fun with her, kill her, torture her corpse and put it up on display like a trophy?

She gasped tears streaming down her face as behind her Balcheth chuckled maliciously.

"Ah what's this? Crying over an old rug? You are truly pathetic. Then again this is no ordinary bear skin. No this is a skin changer-oh yes" Balcheth sniggered with glee as Ariel looked up at her horrified "Yes, a skin changer, just like that gigantic beast friend of yours. Such a shame we could not catch him too. Morgoth knows how long it's been since I've tasted their flesh. Who knows, one day when my master has regained his strength, we will finally hunt down the monster and I'll hang his pelt on my wall after I've skinned him alive."

Sick did not even begin to describe how Ariel felt as she lay there on top of the skin changer pelt. This matted, bloodstained, dirt ridden fur had once belonged to a shapeshifter, a living, breathing, thinking being just like Beorn.

Beorn…he'd been a stranger, but he'd been so kind to her even though he hardly knew her. And not just him but all those other kind people she'd met on her journey, like Gandalf, Aragorn and Elrond, Galardiel…and the dwarves …

Oh god she hoped the dwarves were alright. She could remember the look of terror on Thorin's face when she had been dragged into the mist. And Fili and Kili and Ori, were they alright. And Dori and Nori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Balin, Dwalin, Oin and Gloin…and Bilbo. Oh poor Bilbo, he still had the ring. The damn ring was here so close to its master! And she knew about it!

But no, I couldn't have said anything could I? Oh no if I said anything about the ring being here-

Ariel shut her eyes as she racked her brain over, only to whimper silently and shudder as she remembered the searing heat of the flames and the hissing whispers in her ear. Yet despite all this, she could not recall her ever mentioning the ring out loud.

In fact, she wasn't sure if she'd thought about it at all. Her fear of the flames had driven any thoughts about the one ring clear from her mind.

She sighed in relief. Trust this to be the one time her phobia had some use.

Now all she had to do was make sure he never found out what she knew.

Easier said than done.

She snorted to herself as with a gargantuan effort she pushed herself over onto a more comfortable position on the fur. The movement cost her nearly all her energy but now she could rest better. At least the fur was somewhat warm, or at the very least a reprieve from the feel of cold stone against her cheek.

She was vaguely aware of the feel of paper against her breast. What was that again? Oh yes, her father's letter. She sighed softly shutting her eyes as she rested a hand against her chest, feeling the envelope through the front of her ragged corset.

Hopefully it wasn't destroyed by the soot and the heat.

Hopefully…

Gandalf the Grey sighed as he led his horse over to the banks of a small nearby stream. He had been riding for a few solid hours, and while he had the energy to keep going without rest, his horse was still mortal and was growing tired.

There was a distant rumble of thunder and Gandalf turned quickly to face the east where he could see the green edge of a vast forest in the distance, shrouded by nasty looking storm clouds above.

What was that Ariel had called them, Cumulonimbus?

The wizard shook his head to himself. Of course, he knew about the proper stages of the water-cycle, and the different meteorological events that ruled the sky. Indeed, there were a great many "scientific" concepts from Ariel's world that he was well versed in. The only real difference was that he didn't complicate his knowledge with overly tedious classification and long-winded names.

Yet there was something strange about these storm clouds…something that wasn't right. It wasn't made from normal changes in the weather, that much he was certain of.

This is coming from the South East.

He frowned as he traced the path of the dark storm clouds with his eyes.

The South East…that was where Dol Guldur was…

He shuddered as he glanced towards his horse. Should he ride back? He could still catch up to the rest of the company if they hadn't already gotten themselves lost in the depths of the forest.

But no, to do so would be folly. He still knew barely anything of this Necromancer, or of his followers. If he rode back now, he'd be riding straight into a trap.

No, he had to know for certain of what he was up against.

Even so…he couldn't help but feel the hair on the back of his neck bristle uncomfortably as he looked once again over the green of the forest.

Perhaps I should've brought Ariel here with me

He pursed his lips worriedly as his thoughts wandered back to the red-haired maiden once more.

She was a bright little thing, if a bit hot-headed, and surprisingly cunning when it came down to her own survival. Yet he still couldn't help but worry for her safety. She was still quite young after all.

If Saruman could've read Gandalf's mind he would have scoffed at the Grey Wizard's apprehension.

"Always you must meddle" he would say.

But is it meddling?

Gandalf thought quietly.

Was it meddling when you took it upon yourself to take a young fledging sorceress under your wing when she had no one in the world to guide her? Was it meddling to feel fond of someone and worry for their safety when they were far away?

The Grey Wizard wondered faintly, if this was what human parents and grandparents felt when they were separated from their charges. Though he had advised and watched over many a family, he had never had one that he could call his own.

He supposed he and his fellow Istari could be considered brothers and sister, for they were of the same species, but none of them were related through flesh and blood. Only through the song of Eru were he and the Istari, and all the Maiar and the Valar connected.

Or at least that was how it was supposed to be…until Nuldien decided to throw all caution to the winds and bear not just one, but two children, with a human father to boot.

I suppose I must press on if I am to find out more about our enemy.

Gandalf sighed once again as he made to turn back to the mountains where he was headed, and into the gloom of the Wilderland.

Ariel barely knew when her eyes had shut. She wasn't even aware she had fallen asleep. She was so exhausted that she hadn't even noticed the small thrush that had perched itself in the gap of the window between the thorny vines just a few hours ago.

It looked down on her quizzically, twittering softly as it gently fluttered down to the ground by the sleeping girl's head. It tilted its head as it examined her grimy red-brown locks and chirruped gently as it hopped around to look at her face.

She looked like the human the Brown Wizard had described. Only she seemed far too thin and malnourished to even move. The thrush had seen more starving, orphaned hatchlings fatter than her.

He started as he heard the lock on the wooden door creak ominously and swiftly flew back out the window as it opened with a clang.

Ariel grunted, though a mere puff of air escaped her lips as her eyes creaked open ever so slightly.

A person was standing in the doorway. Not an orc or Balcheth, but a human. She couldn't see their face for they were garbed head to foot in black with nothing visible save their deathly pale hands, which had yellowing claw like nails and their eyes, two sickly looking dark brown orbs that were human in colour and shape. Though that didn't count for much considering her current location.

When they spoke, their voice was thin and raspy.

"My Lord Sauron bids thee welcome, little Loitare*"

"Ariel" Ariel mouthed, though as before, no sound escaped her even as she struggled to move where she lay.

The dark figure however took no heed of her struggles, the malicious sickly eyes crinkling with wicked mirth as they said:

"I am Ogol. The lady Balcheth has ordered me to see to your needs while you are in her custody. I must say it is an honour to serve one of the Great Master's chosen ones. It has been a long time since he has granted his blessing to anyone. He must have high hopes for you indeed."

His great master's blessing, yeah right. More like curse. And Ogol? Che! Looks more like an Igor to me.

Ariel glared at Ogol, but quickly faltered as her strength once more began to wane. If only she had her staff, then she'd be able to smash it into this filthy fanatic's face.

Now that she thought about it, where was her staff? Did Balcheth or Sauron have it? And her pendant-watch, it was missing too. Did it drop out on the floor while she was writhing in pain? Had she lost it in the forest.

What's the point?

She sighed glumly as she sank further into the fur beneath her, barely hearing Ogol's words as he bustled around her.

It's not like I'll have another opportunity to find them again. Besides I have dad's letter. Though it's probably burnt to a crisp too.

Suddenly her vision was filled with the sight of something greyish, slimy and lumpy set in something metallic next to a stale slice of bread.

"Now come little Loitare, you must eat. You need to rebuild your strength if you wish to start serving the master soon" Ogol purred as he lifted a spoon of the disgusting substance to Ariel's lips.

Despite her disgust, Ariel opened her mouth obediently but shut her eyes. Perhaps it would taste better than it looked.

It didn't.

It took all she had in her not to spit and throw the mouthful back up as the sludge was poured down her throat.

God, even sewer rats have better food than this. Oh well, at least there's bread.

Yet still she kept eating the dreadful muck, barely able to breathe as the man force fed her spoonful after spoonful with barely even a pause to catch her breath even as he stuffed small pieces of bread in afterwards to help bind her stomach. Though she already despised the man greatly, Ogol had a point. She needed to get strong enough to move and soon, if only so she could find a way to escape this hellhole. And the only way to do that was to feed, drink and rest her body for as long as she could, at least until Sauron decided to torture her again any time soon.

"Very well done little Loitare" Ogol simpered as she swallowed the last mouthful with a grimace. "Keep eating like this and soon you will be back on your feet. The master will be pleased"

He petted her on top of her head and chuckled as Ariel glared fiercely up at him. This bastard was treating her as if she were a feisty newly adopted pet dog that needed to be broken in.

Well he can keep on dreaming. I'm not broken just yet. No sir. Not me.

She scowled as she started suckling from a leather water skin placed at her mouth, though that too tasted exceptionally foul. Whatever brew she was drinking was certainly not water, or at the very least was not clean water. Still it was liquid that was keeping her hydrated…somewhat…

If I don't die of parasites or food poisoning it will be a ruddy miracle.

Ariel gasped as Ogol finally took the drink away from her, simpering and cooing over her with that sneering hiss of his.

"Now you sit tight here while I get you some more fitting clothes. No more of this disgusting green. From now on you are no longer one of those pathetic Istar. Now you are one of the Master's chosen ones. Now you are Lady Loitare"

"Ariel. My name is Ariel. Not Loitare" Ariel mouthed in silent anger, cursing him as he all but slithered away from her, sniggering softly to himself with glee.

"Oh yes, Ogol, will make you beautiful for the master, and he shall be pleased. Master has been waiting for you for a long time Loitare. A long time indeed."

His frantic mutterings trailed off into a fit of soft manic giggles that made Ariel's skin crawl even as he set down the tray of food he had brought next to her and shuffled out of the room.

She sat up gingerly, her muscles and back all stiff and sore from her earlier torture. However the meal and drink, while disgusting, had helped restore some of her strength at least. She looked around herself yet again, her eyes darting around every nook and crevice for some sort of way out. Yet the only way out seemed to be the door.

She winced as something metallic caught her eye, but it was only the glint of the small bread knife on the tray, glinting as the grey light from outside streamed in through the cracks in the solitary window-

Wait a moment?!

Ariel's eyes widened as she heard the shuffling feet of Ogol start to get louder as he made his way back.

Quick as lightning she snatched the small knife off the tray and stuffed it into the mouth of the skin-walker bearskin just as the door handle made to turn.

With an effort that all but winded her, she flung herself down upon the fur as Ogol let himself in, hoping against hope he had not heard a sound.

It didn't seem like it. For one thing, he was too preoccupied with the bundle of dark cloth in his hands and he was still muttering under his breath.

"I'm afraid this is all we have for you my Lady, but it will suffice for the master." Ogol sneered as he held the bundle out towards her. It was a plain grey dress, with long fitted sleeves and a frayed hem. It was so drab it could almost blend into the stone wall behind her.

Ariel's lip curled as her captor helped her put on the dress, doing her best not to panic as she felt his gnarled fingers slide oh-so-accidentally over areas of her body that they should never have been. Yet his reverence for his masters orders eventually overrode his desires and it wasn't long before he finished his task and roughly shoved her back down on the skin-changer pelt.

"The master will summon you when he is ready. In the meanwhile you must rest. Sweet dreams little Loitare, we shall make a great servant of you yet."

I have to get out of here.

Ariel shuddered as she gingerly pulled herself back onto her hands and knees and crawled up to the massive bear head on the ground. Carefully she pulled out the knife she'd hidden in the long snout. It was small, with a slightly dulled serrated edge, but at least it was better than nothing.

I have a weapon, now I just need a way out…

She looked around at the room again, her eyes falling on the vines that twisted and entwined themselves through the stones.

There had to be a gap between them somewhere, she wondered as she crawled over to inspect the plant life. Yet even as she looked over them she could tell it was no use. Half of the vines were already dead and had fused so fiercely with the wall that they had all but created a second skin over the top of it, binding and strengthening the blocks in their hold.

Still Ariel did not give up hope as she tried to carefully trace a path along the half dead plants down to the ground.

Water…all plants needed water. No, scratch that, all living mortal things needed water, even the orcs. Ogol had given her water just then, so he must have gotten it from somewhere nearby, unless Sauron was also a master at plumbing and irrigation.

There has to be some water or sewerage system beneath this fortress somewhere. There's no way they could support so many mortal life forms in one place without it. But how am I going to get out and find it?

How indeed…

Sauron's gaze hardened slightly as he looked into the orb before him. The reconstruction of his fortress of Barad Dur was progressing smoothly in Mordor. It wouldn't be long till it would be complete and when it was, the Kingdom of Erebor and the dragon and the whole of Mirkwood would be in his grasp.

All thanks to the carelessness of one wandering grey wizard. The dark lord could have laughed at how ridiculously easy it was to capture the old fool's apprentice. Speaking of his newest prisoner…

Sauron had to admit, that he was impressed by her fortitude. He had not expected the little half-breed to be so stubborn in the face of his power. But it would not last long. After all she was partially of the race of men, and unlike elves, man was far easier to sway to his will. The Nine lords of the Nazgul were proof enough of that.

He looked down into a blackened withered hand where a small ring made of three entwining thorns crafted from dark wrought iron, sat. As the dark lord turned it over in his charred fingers, slender miniscule letters in an ancient script seemed to glow and glimmer an ominous green light, illuminating the small shard of dark green stone that was held tight by the thorns.

It had been a long time since he had made such a token. The last of his creations had been the One Ring and that was now lost to him…thanks to that fool Isildur and his heirs.

The mere thought of that accursed mortal was enough to make what was left of Sauron's blackened heart sear with wrath and hatred. To think that a mere human would be able to make him sink so low…

No…this was not the time to focus on old wounds. Now was the time to act swiftly and decisively.

His hand gripped hard around the ring in his palm sparing a tiny glance over his shoulder. Behind him on the floor, the remnants of a tall, slender wooden staff which lay smouldering from where it had been burned, pieces of its shattered green crystal dull and lifeless on the cold stone. If only he had the One Ring, then he would not have had to resort to using such lesser materials like the girl's pitiful device.

The image in the orb before him swirled and changed as he focused his attention onto the young woman he had tortured mere hours ago.

She was curled on her side in her cell. Her eyes were open but she already seemed more alert than when she had left his chambers. Alert and determined.

A cold smile flickered over his dark shadowy form as his fiery eyes glinted with malicious pleasure. So she was going to continue fighting him till the end was she? Well, no matter, Sauron always did enjoy breaking the strong ones.

Darkness grew deeper and Bilbo Baggins grew ever more uneasy. The night air around him was oppressive and stuffy, so much so that he felt he could barely breathe.

It was like a great hand was squeezing him around his chest and neck restricting each breath as it came in. He had tried to sleep it off, but even breathing in his sleep felt difficult. Also he did not feel comfortable letting his guard down while beneath the dark shadows of the tall gnarled trees above.

By Eru, this forest was beyond sick. It was dying and rotting even as it lived and breathed around them.

And it only seemed to have gotten worse since a day or two ago when that strange storm had passed over the forest. While the canopy had kept out the worst of the rain, the roaring and howling of the wind through the trees was enough to make both hobbit and dwarf blood freeze in the veins of the company. It didn't help that at certain moments, they could all have sworn they had heard a young woman's screams of terror and agony carried through the air.

It was such a frightening sound that even Dwalin, the hardiest and toughest of them all had trembled head to foot as he heard it.

A strange sensation tugged at Bilbo's insides and absentmindedly he pulled out of his pocket a small ring of pure gold. It was such a pretty colour…so tempting and beautiful. He could understand why a creature like that Gollum would have been so protective of it. It was precious beyond all meas-

Something rustled nearby and he quickly tucked the ring away in his waistcoat as he turned to face the source of the noise. But it was only Ori turning over in his sleep on the leafy ground.

With a heavy sigh, Bilbo leaned back against the tree trunk behind him. This was going to be another long night.

One whole week…that was how long Ariel had been in Dol Guldur. One miserable week.

Yet it felt so much longer. Barely any sunlight reached the fortress through the thick storm clouds that constantly swirled over its skies. The only indication of the passing of time was the fact that the days were only a lighter shade of grey that would suddenly turn to pitch black once the sun had set.

Not that Ariel could see that happening from her cell. The only marker of the passing of time was whenever that miserable servant Ogol and the crone Balcheth came in to check in on her.

She still had the knife in her possession, and kept it hidden up the sleeve of her dark grey dress, which hung on her like an oversized curtain draped over bones.

Despite the food she was fed daily, she didn't seem to be putting on any weight. Indeed with each night that passed she felt as if her energy was being sucked out forcibly from within, along with the muscles on her bones. The lack of sunlight was not helping either and by the second day her warm beige skin had taken on a papery and sickly hue.

It wouldn't be long till she was as thin as a wraith…of course she wouldn't be surprised if that was Sauron's plan for her all along. After all what better way to get rid of your enemy then to turn them into one of your most despicable lowly slaves?

Ariel shivered as she looked up at the ceiling from her spot on the Skinchanger pelt. Something terrible was happening up there she just knew it. But without her powers she could not do anything.

Thorin was right, I am nothing but a useless human. Why did I even think I could do this?

Ariel sighed heavily, only to grip her knife tightly under her sleeve as the door to her cell opened.

It was Balcheth flanked by two muscular, swarthy orcs with battle scars all over their faces and bodies.

"Get her up, quickly, or else it will be your heads I will serve to the master." Balcheth snorted as the two hideous guards swiftly strode towards Ariel, snatching at her upper arms. They were so thin that the orcs already massive hands almost had to ball up into a fist to get a solid grip on her.

Ariel winced as she was dragged her up to her shaking feet. As she rose, she looked down at her ankles, which were so bone thin she was amazed she could even support her own weight on them as she was shoved out into the corridor.

They didn't bother cuffing her, after all what could one scrawny, powerless girl do to two fully armed, massive orcs? Then there was the piercing cold that struck her as they exited the tower to walk back up its steps that coiled around its side.

So Sauron wanted to see her once more, not that she could imagine why. She had no magic left in her for him to take unless…unless it wasn't magic he wanted?

She felt her blood run cold as Balcheth opened the door to Sauron's tower and bowed low to the darkness beyond.

"Master, I have brought the girl as requested."

"Send her in" the deep guttural voice of Sauron rumbled from within the shadows. "Alone" he added when Balcheth tried to step in first.

The hag looked taken aback, her eyes flashing scarlet and her hands smoking as embers sparked off angrily at her fingertips. Nonetheless she stepped aside with a bow of her head to let the prisoner past.

Despite her terror, Ariel gritted her teeth and straightened her spine as she took a bold step forward. Why bother feeling scared when she had nothing left to lose? If Sauron wanted to end, her then she might as well go down fighting tooth and nail.

Meanwhile, shrouded in the darkness, Sauron watched the bedraggled girl shuffle in. Though her movements were timid, her eyes were glowing with a bright green fire, one that seemed to blaze in the dark like a candle in pitch dark.

Though she spoke no words, she glowered into the darkness even as the door to his tower shut behind her.

The dark lord's charred lip curled.

Defiant till the end. It's almost a shame I must snuff that fire out so soon.

Legolas Greenleaf, stared out at the clearing in dumbstruck silence. He could not believe his eyes. There it was again, the white hart, tall and proud, its silvery antlers illuminated in a stray patch of moonlight that streamed through the forest canopy.

It was holding his gaze steadily, not even flinching once in fright as he took a cautious step towards it.

What are you doing here? You have not appeared in this wood for centuries, why appear now?

Almost as if sensing his unspoken questions, the white stag turned its head up to the skies. Legolas followed its gaze, only to see with his sharp elven eyes, a mass of clouds above darken suddenly as lightning flashed overhead. They were so dark that they blocked out the moonlight as they gathered, all but plunging the forest into total darkness.

Another sudden storm? That's the second one in two days…how is this possible…unless…

there was a rustle against the forest floor and Legolas looked back down to the clearing before him, only to find it completely dark and deserted.

A pair of light footsteps behind him told him that one of his company had just joined him.

"Sire, the rest of the company have finished their patrol of the western paths." The elf said behind him in the smooth tongue of their people "Where are we to head next?"

"The Southern border" Legolas clipped as he turned to face his officer, a tall Silvan elf with dark brown hair and eyes.

"The Southern border?" the elf blinked both in surprise and trepidation, "But that will take us close to Dol Guldur sire, and your father commanded us-"

"I'm not suggesting we go towards that damned fortress. Only to our borderline, unless we find anything worth investigating of course." Legolas rolled his eyes irritably. What did this elf think he was? A child that needed minding?

Thankfully the rest of his company were less fearful of venturing so close to their enemies territory, and a good thing too. He'd need all the backup he could get if he wanted to get to the bottom of this confounding mystery.

Ariel blinked up at the stone ceiling. Somehow she had ended up back in her cell, alone and once again completely drained of energy.

What had happened? Where was Sauron?

She coughed as she tried to suck in a deep gulp of air, the skin on her throat stinging and blistering horribly as she reached for it with shaking fingers. What she felt there did not help her already mounting dread, as flashes of memory suddenly burst before her eyes.

The oppressing darkness, a roar of fury and frustration as she struggled and writhed like a snake caught in a trap. Then a burning hand reaching out to grab her by the throat as her left hand was raised before her and something metallic slipped onto her finger-

She froze, terror engulfing her as she raised her left hand. There upon her ring finger were three dark thorny vines of severely cracked and fractured wrought iron entwined around a familiar shard of green opalescent crystal. The same kind of crystal she once had in her staff.

Oh no…oh no-oh no-oh no!

She reached up to try and tug the accursed trinket off her finger, only to cry out silently in pain as the iron thorns tightened their grip on her digit.

As they did so, the cracks in the iron began to glow a vivid eerie green. She looked closer at the marks curiously only to realise with a jolt of horror that they were actually engraved words written in a tongue she couldn't read, but knew by sight alone.

It was the same language as was on the One Ring. Slender, fluid, almost as if they'd been scribed with the finest pen, yet her heart couldn't help but beat faster with terror as she turned her hand around to see the rest of the engraving which was quickly fading back to normal.

As they marks faded, she could feel the vines around her finger relax, and as they did small tendrils of dark red blood trickled down her hand from where the iron thorns had dug into her skin.

So…this was his great master plan. Give her a magic ring and trap her with his magic like he did the nine Nazgul. She'd applaud him if she weren't so disgusted, or afraid of further hurting her already bleeding hand.

Yet even as she shook out her left hand she grit her teeth. No…no there was no way she'd ever become Sauron's puppet. Not now, not ever!

There was the grinding of metal on stone and Ariel turned around to see Balcheth standing in the doorway to her cell. As soon as she caught sight of the glimmering green stoned ring on the younger woman's hand, her black beady eyes flashed with a furious fire.

How could he? How could he-after all these years of service. After I've devoted my whole existence to him-he's given this-this brat his blessing?!

Ariel could not help but shiver as she looked at the hag's face. It was beyond furious, beyond any level wrath Ariel had ever seen in her life. Her chalky skin was now deathly pale, her beaky nostrils flared and her lip curling in a bestial snarl, making her look more vulture-like than ever.

And then her black eyes narrowed and Ariel felt herself be thrown back against the wall as an unseen wall of air knocked straight into her.

Head throbbing and eyes watering she slumped down onto the floor, barely able to see as Balcheth raised her hand once more, this time grabbing the younger girl by the hair.

"Keep your mouth shut and follow me brat" Balcheth snarled as she dragged Ariel out of the dungeons and into the lower levels of the courtyard. Their progress was slow and silent, save the soft jingling of the iron manacles that bound Ariel's bone thin wrists and ankles.

Wait, what's going on? Why isn't she taking me to the tower?

Ariel thought wildly as the old crone led her down further towards the bowls of the fortress.

As they moved, there were vindictive chuckles and snarls as Orcs skulked about the ruinous stone walls, trying their best to catch a glimpse of their bedraggled foe as she descended further down the steps, down towards a path that led to a bridge that spanned from the fortresses outermost walls to the forest edge about them.

So I was right there is water that runs under here.

Ariel's breath quickened as she looked between her the drop of the far away ground and Balcheths seething, skulking form.

Heights…heights…why are all these godforsaken places so high above the ground?!

But even as she thought this her mind travelled back to when she and Bilbo had fallen off the Stone Giant.

The poor hobbit had looked so terrifi-

Oh NO! BILBO!

Ariel was glad she was behind Balcheth for had the old hag seen the name she had muttered it would have been catastrophic.

If she's taking me to where I think she's taking me then she'll see him…she'll see him use the…no don't think about it! she may be able to read thoughts!

Had she known nearly two months ago she would be thinking or knowing such things as mind reading witches serving dark evil powers, Ariel Brooks would have happily offered herself up to be institutionalised.

And speaking of institutionalised where are the men with a straight-jacket for this hag?

"Don't worry my dear" the old crone laughed "I will not fling you over the edge. That would be far too quick and kind a death for you. No I have devised something more…entertaining to watch. Well entertaining for me for you see I have not fed my dear pets' fresh meat for quite some time…and I must say they are feeling rather peckish for something other than small woodland animals or those filthy elves. Che! You would indeed be a rare treat for them, though perhaps they might also enjoy feasting on Dwarf as well"

Ariel's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to exclaim loudly.

"No please no! Spare them! Just kill me and spare them please!"

However even though the words had left her lips…no sound had they made.

Somewhere before her Balcheth smirked derisively as she continued to speak.

"Now don't be so melodramatic it won't even take them a moment to swallow your precious little friend's whole after they trap them. I hear the line of Durin is a particularly delicious bloodline…but we both know you knew that very well"

Balcheth cackled as she heard the sharp intakes of breath as her young prisoner made to struggle against her grip.

"Oh don't think I didn't notice how close you've crawled under their skins my dear. How you're tearing down the walls of the stone cold Thorin Oakenshield whilst bewitching the heart of his first heir and ensnaring the friendship of his followers. Quite the little mover and shaker you are"

Tearing walls, bewitching and ensnaring?! Oh my god this old bat is crazier than her master!

Ariel whimpered mutely as she felt her arms accidently graze the branch of a tree that the old as she was dragged further and further into the trees. The wood was so thick that it was large enough to double as an overpass to the forest floor.

Even if she had the energy to escape the magic she definitely wouldn't have enough to survive the terrible evils that lay about her and before her.

She could only hope that the company were having better luck. But as with everything that had happened so far…her hopes and prayers were not answered.

Ages and ages seemed to pass before her eyes as she tried and failed to struggle out of the old woman's grip, her exhausted, malnourished body swiftly showing signs of fatigue.

She could never remember a time she felt so tired or so hurt…both in body and in mind…

Her mind…

Ariel winced as the dark chuckles of cruel laughter and the heat of flames crossed over her minds eye, the sound mingling horribly with Balcheth's cruel voice as it smirked.

"We're here my dear"

The hag gave a flick of her hand and at once Ariel found herself flung forwards onto the dirty ground amid a pile of ant infested leaves.

During their wanderings Balcheth had led them both back down to the forest floor…though the difference in height did nothing to improve Ariel's feelings. Indeed, it rather made her more terrified for the ground was filthy and covered in what could only be described as-

Webs…gigantic freaking spider webs!

Ariel was too weak to struggle now but her hacking coughs and sudden rush of breaths spoke volumes of her fear.

And how Balcheth revelled in it.

"It will be a slow process to eat you my dear." She sneered as the terrified girl descended onto the forest floor at her feet. "My pets have not had the flesh of a maiden in a long while…they will want to savour the flavour for as long as they can"

Ariel gasped as she finally got a look at the old hag's face.

Her…it's her…the one who…to Ian!

And indeed it was the same witch. She had the same chalk white wrinkled cruel bird like face and claw like hands. Her clothes were now jet black robes with a dark matted, blood stained and filthy pelt clasped about her shoulders Ariel was not sure what animal the garment had come from but she was guessing from the shagginess that it was the pelt of a warg.

"you" Ariel mouthed silently. How could she have not seen it before?

Balcheth smiled revealing a set of sharpened fanged teeth. Her beady sharp and cold eyes flashed as she surveyed the girl in her clutches.

"Yes my dear…it's me…now, which one of your friends should I take first?"

My friends?

But even as she thought this a familiar voice wafted to her from somewhere close by.

"I don't remember this bit. Nothing looks familiar"

Wait was that…Balin?

She felt her heart almost stop as the echoes of familiar voices hit her ears.

"It's got to be here"

Gloin?

"It can't have just disappeared!"

Dori…

"Unless someone's moved it"

Dwalin…

"It's not over here neither"

…Ori! Oh no! Guys! Guys! Whatever this bat does don't come close! It's a trap!

Balcheth smiled revealing a set of sharpened fanged teeth. Her beady sharp and cold eyes flashed as she surveyed the girl in her clutches.

Oh this was just almost too delicious to watch.

Seven days now…seven days and counting since the first night…

Bilbo Baggins' thoughts were now almost as sluggish as his legs as he slumped along behind Bofur who was stumbling before him behind the others.

They had been walking aimlessly like this for days now, hours and hours of wandering pointlessly through the forest. They rarely took a break, for the trees above were so thick that they could no longer tell if they were in the dimmest of days or the darkest of nights.

Time seemed to stand still in Mirkwood and not in a good way.

Bilbo only stopped in his tracks when the others stopped too, Ori leaning down to pick something up from the leaf strewn ground.

"Look" he brought up a leather pouch bound with black string for Dori to inspect.

"A tobacco pouch. There's Dwarves in these woods."

"Dwarves from the blue mountains no less" Bofur snatched the pouch from his friend "this is exactly the same as mine"

"because it is yours" Bilbo snapped striding forwards "Do you understand? We're running around in circles. We are lost"

"We are not lost" Thorin barked from the head of the company "We keep heading east"

"But which way is east? We've lost the sun" Oin pointed out.

"The sun?" Bilbo murmured his gaze drifting up towards the tree branches high above his head.

"We have to find the sun"

It was as if suddenly something had slapped him awake from a long deep sleep as his mind was filled with a sudden single clear idea.

"We have to go up!" he tried to yell over the top of the others who were now scrambling and squabbling amongst each other "We have to get above the canopy"

But for all the good his voice was he might as well have not said a word.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head to himself.

Fine if that's how its going to be then I'm gonna just go ahead!

And with that he turned his back on the company and quietly, in that stealthy way that hobbits could move, he lifted his large furry foot onto a low branch and swung himself up into the tree beside him.

The others, too absorbed in their fighting, did not notice him leave…and neither did the old witch who stood above them…for her eyes were set upon one prize and one prize alone.

"So…these are your pitiful little dwarf friends?"

Balcheth's eyes narrowed as she looked down upon the form of Fili as he was restrained by Gloin from lashing out at Bofur and Oin with whom he had begun a quarrel with.

"Ah…and here's your dear company leader"

She watched with intrigue, clicking her gingers to summon up a spell as Thorin Oakenshield roared above the rest of them.

"Enough! Quiet! All of you"

Attacop…Attacop…Attacop…

All the dwarves froze where they stood as whispers seemed to echo down from above.

"We're being watched" Thorin breathed as he looked about them and up into the branches above them.

There was a silence as the dwarf prince looked about him and his companions, his eyes narrowing as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle ominously.

After a full minute that felt like an hour, there was a gasp from Ori and he turned abruptly.

"Kili your bow" Thorin hissed as he caught sight of a shadowy figure step out from behind a tree close by.

But even as the young dwarf had set the arrow to the weapon Fili pushed his aim down yelling out.

"No don't shoot!"

But Kili didn't even need to hear the shout as his bow arm automatically lowered, his brown eyes wide with horror as he stared at his would-be target.

A taller, unnaturally thin young woman had stumbled into the clearing as a gnarled hand pushed her lower back. Her body was garbed in a tattered dark grey dress that seemed to hang off her body, contrasting starkly with a long sheet of filthy hair that was a horrifyingly familiar deep red-brown shade.

"Lass…" Balin breathed in shock as the hand at the girl's back shoved her forwards further into the clearing with such force that she landed heavily to the ground. The impact from the fall with a painful shove the impact completely winding her and making her bruised and battered body ache even more as she landed on her face.

She heard the thumping of hard boots rushing towards her and struggled a little as a pair of familiar hands made to turn her over onto her back.

"Ariel! Ariel can you hear us?"

Fili…Kili…

In spite of herself, the corners of Ariel's mouth twitched upwards in a small smile as the face of the two dwarves wafted in and out of focus. She tried to open her mouth to speak only to cough again, this time feeling her throat tear from within.

Fili watched in horror as a bubble of blood gurgled in her mouth and burst, staining her lips and chin red.

"Oin quick get over here! She's hurt!" he heard Kili call from his side, panic the only emotion in his voice as the others rushed forwards to their aid.

"it's alright Ariel…just hold on, we've got you" Fili grabbed hold of Ariel's limp hand, squeezing it tightly as her eyelids began to droop "Ariel!"

There was a rustle as Oin came scuffling along quickly with his gear and pack open and ready.

"Move aside! Move aside lads." He made to swat Fili and Kili away.

They were reluctant to move from their friend's side However Thorin came up to both of them and put a firm but soothing hand on each of their shoulders.

The two brothers turned to glare at him but stopped as they saw the soft gleam in their uncle's eyes as he gently pulled them back to give the healer some space.

No one dared move a muscle whilst Oin worked on examining the young girl's form as she seemed to hang on the edge of wake and sleep.

After a few minutes the dwarf healer looked up at the others his face grim but still relieved somewhat.

"Her pulse is strong…her breath not so much, but she's-"

But what Ariel was no one found out for at that moment several dark shapes pounced down from the trees above…giant shapes with eight hairy legs each.

"Spiders! Giant Spiders!" Gloin yelled both in fury and in terror as he brandished his weapon along with the others.

Ariel opened her mouth to scream but it was of no use, her distraction had proven to be most effective and soon the dwarves were each hoisted up by sharp mandibles and tugged upwards into the waiting clutches of the gigantic arachnids. Each one was about the size of a small car their long legs spindling their prey round and round as they ensnared them in a strange white string like substance that they excreted from their bodies.

It was Dori and Nori who was the first to go when they both accidently tripped over each other in an attempt to get a better footing.

Then went Gloin and Balin along with Bifur, whose loud war cry in Kazad was lost as he was wrapped up in the spider webs, like the filling of a bread wrap.

"Stay together" Thorin roared as he sliced down an arachnid close to him with Orcrist. But his words were of no use.

Bofur, Dwalin and Bombur, who had all lunged forwards to kill a spider had been picked up instead by three of its fellows and were being hoisted up into the shadows of the trees.

Thorin did his best to cover Oin, Ori, Fili and Kili as the four of them made to drag Ariel's body away, but he soon found himself outnumbered as not one but two giant spiders made to latch themselves onto him from either side.

When they saw their leader become trapped by the spiders webs, Oin and Ori both rushed forwards brandishing their weapons as Fili and Kili did their best to lift Ariel's limp weak form away from the danger.

However they were just as unsuccessful as their friends. Barely two paces back and a giant spider leapt at Kili who had to drop Ariel's arm just in time to leap aside.

"Kili…" Fili breathed as he saw his brother trip over a tree root sticking out of the ground.

The poor young dwarf cried out in surprise as he tried to scramble to his feet only to find all his limbs sticking flat to the ground where a large web had been woven.

There was a snapping sound from above and Kili looked down at Fili and Ariel with dread before he was snatched up swiftly in a sack of white spider webs.

"KILI!" Fili roared as the trapped dwarf began to be pulled up into the tree by a large spider.

Without even pausing to think he lunged for the sack only to miss and land face first in the dirt just as something crashed down from behind.

"NO! FILI!"

Ariel struggled on the ground whimpering silently as a black spider snared up the last dwarf with a web, his body writhing as he tried desperately to reach out and escape.

And all I can do is watch!

Ariel once more felt tears spill from her eyes as she watched the cocoon web about Fili begin to grow still as it was wound tighter and tighter as the spider trapping him rolled him up the slender string of web and up into the trees.

Cackling madly Balcheth leapt down from her spot on the great tree root and stalked low towards her prey, her breaths coming out in low soft hisses of excitement.

"Now that was what I call a show!'

The hag knelt down beside her captive, flicking out what appeared to be a cruelly shaped dagger made from a wargs fang.

Ariel stiffened her body trembling as the blade came tantalisingly close to the side of her head.

However it did not make contact with the skin. Instead in a smooth fast little swipe a single lock of hair, indeed one of her long side bangs on the right of her face, was cut away.

Ariel watched confusion mixing with her fear as Balcheth pulled out a tiny vial and slipped the red-brown lock into it.

"just in case" she hissed softly as she made to stand up as she did she pulled something out of the depths of her warg pelt cloak.

It was a dagger, with a rusted, warped piece of sharpened metal for the blade and an ugly carved hilt carved to resemble a monstrous bird.

Ariel opened her mouth to speak even though she knew it was pointless now to do so, as Balcheth made to delicately trace over the blade in her talon like hands.

"It is a beautiful work…" she stepped forward so that her foot was now pressing down onto Ariel's left wrist. "Shame…that I would waste it on someone like you. Oh well, at least now my lord and master's mistake shall be rectified and I will take that blessing he has bestowed upon you and become his right hand as was meant to."

Ariel's sobs were silent save for the small gasps and gurgles for breath as Balcheth held her down in a secure hold, one of her hands reaching to grab the girl's left hand and hold it still above her head.

Once it was secure she wasted no time tracing the edg of the knife against Ariel's wrist just above the manacle, as if she were a butcher trying to figure out which part of the meat she wanted to cut off her prey.

"stop squirming you little brat" she muttered as Ariel kept writhing and twisting under her weakly.

Ariel however was too panicked to even care for threats. It was almost like the feeling she had when she first had seen Ian in that hospital…so still…barely hanging on by a thread to life…

And now he's never going to make it…

She shut her eyes. Her powers were gone…she was separated from her friends…she was going to die alone by getting eaten by giant spiders.

Heck forget Ian, I'm not going to make it…

Balcheth's joy at her prey's dismay and despair was unparalleled as she let loose a cackle of mirth that echoed about the clearing around them.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Where are your precious mummy and daddy to save you now girl?! Where are they?! I'll tell you where they are. They're safe and snug at home with their perfect son! And your dear new friends they've gone on through this forest without you! To them the gold at the end of the road was more important than the life of one measly weak little girl! They've left you here to rot! And rot you shall for you are nothing! Nothing but a-AHH!"

Balcheth screeched like a banshee as something sharp slashed wildly up at her barely missing her face by inches, only to be tackled backwards to the ground the dagger in her hand all but flying away from her along with a rusted old bread knife.

Ariel panted as she tried her best to pin her would be attacker to the ground. Beads of sweat trickled down her face as she aimed a weak punch at Balcheth's jaw. It hit it's mark but barely caused a dent in the woman's face which snarled angrily as she yanked a gnarled-claw-like hand from her victim's grip.

Ariel cried out in silent pain as one of Balcheth's nails scraped a deep gash into her cheek, before she was once again rolled over onto her back, a gnarled hand reaching for her burnt throat.

"You little fool" Balcheth wheezed as she began to squeeze the girl's windpipe good and tight. "You think you can defeat me in this miserable state? How pitiful"

Ariel gasped and spluttered as with trembling weak fingers she reached up to try and claw at the hands wrapped around her throat. This, combined with the sting of her burnt flesh was so painful, she almost blacked out.

However she kept holding on with all her might to whatever consciousness she had left.

No-no-no! Don't give up! Don't give up!

She thought wildly as she struggled against the tightening grip, black dots starting to appear in her vision.

You didn't get defeated by Sauron! Don't let this hag do you in…you're almost there…almost…just…need…air…

Then suddenly, there was a sharp twang of tightened string and the shwip of something slender flying through the air as fast as lightning.

Bilbo could barely believe his eyes. He was above the top of the canopy of the accursed forest, looking into the pinkish red glow of a setting sun that fell over a gigantic lake in the distance. And even further high in the north east a faint outline of a shadowy peak.

The mountain! Oh goodness we're almost there, almost at the end!

He looked over the view, breathing in the fresh air with relief and wonderment. He'd never before appreciated how good it felt just to breath clean air once more.

However, even as he made to inhale the breeze blowing in his face a distant echo of a scream from down below reached his ears and he looked down.

"What was that?" he murmured to himself as he climbed down just to the branches below only to have his foot slip.

"Oh no…oh come on" he rolled his eyes as he caught sight of the sticky white webs beneath his feet as he tripped over them.

With a cry that was swallowed by the air around him he fell towards the ground.

Desperately he writhed, his limbs flailing about until he eventually managed to grab hold of a branch. But even as he managed to secure a grip he realised to his dread that he'd come face to face with a big, hairy, many eyed spider.

It roared in his face and he yelled, letting go of his grip on his safe branch only to land flat on his back in a white web.

He struggled and writhed, crying out in horror as he saw the great monster scuttle down the length of the tree on its long hairy legs, the front two of which reaching out towards him to roll him up securely into its trap.

Ariel gasped as she felt the hands around her throat suddenly retract as Balcheth fell backwards away from her, her malicious smirk quickly morphing into a high pitched screech of surprise. Meanwhile the arrow that had been fired at her, sliced past her face through the air, cutting off a strand of whatever disgusting white stringy hair she had remaining on her head.

Through the black dots in her sight, Ariel, summoned up all the strength she had left turned her head just in time to see someone leap down from the branches above landing solidly on their own two feet with the grace, precision and lethalness of a hunting cat.

Still clutching and screeching as she held onto her small injury Balcheth quickly made to back away from her new attacker as they advanced upon her, fitting a dark arrow to a slender but strong long-bow.

It was an elven man, clad in clothes of dark green with sleek dark armour over his shoulders and chest. He was tall in build, with a fair face framed by long white blonde hair and sharp bright blue eyes that were currently set in a glare of disgust and pure hatred as it looked upon the old hag.

"How dare you return to this land you witch," his voice was as cold as ice and so venomous that had Ariel not been so relieved, she would have shuddered.

"This land elf-" Balcheth spat as she began to back away "-belongs to my master-AGH!"

She shrieked in surprise as the elf shot another arrow at her one that barely missed her head.

With a feral snarl she lunged at him, only for the elf to dodge smoothly fitting another arrow to his bow string which he shot once more. This time he managed to graze the shoulder of the old hag, drawing a tiny scratch of what must have been blood only it was black in colour with a disgusting almost purplish sheen.

The sight made the elf's eyes burn with bloodlust, but he restrained himself most expertly even as he made to shoot once more.

However his arrow, though keen in its aim did not find its mark.

For Balcheth had vanished in a puff of dark smoke and faltering screeches of pain.

Ariel's eyes darted about nervously as hush suddenly filled the clearing.

She's pretending…

The young girl thought wildly.

She's going to come back and finish the job when he's distracted!

Minutes passed in absolute silence as the elf man made to scout out the immediate area thoroughly, not sparing any bush or any branch.

There was a tiny shift from the ground and he wheeled about swiftly, ready to fire another shot with his arrow only for the arrowhead to face down towards the girl laying exhausted on the floor.

He lowered his bow cautiously and slowly as he stepped towards her.

Ariel's breath quickened as his face swam in and out of focus. Had she not seen how tall he was or that he had no beard she would've mistaken him for one of the dwarves in her weakened state.

The dwarves…

A tear pricked at her eye as her thoughts fell over the now familiar faces of the thirteen dwarves and the one hobbit that she had spent most of her two months travelling with. She never realised just till then, how much she actually missed their company, rough and rowdy though it may have been sometimes.

Please…please let them be alright…

The elf seemed to notice her sudden sorrow in her eyes and his wary glare softened into a frown of pity.

The girl looked broken…lost as she lay beaten and battered in tattered scorched rags, her skin covered in filth, scratches and sweat and tears.

When he knelt to her side quickly, she began to cough and hack for her breathing had suddenly accelerated in pace as she began to squirm where she lay.

"Shhhh." he hushed her softly noticing with sympathy that her eyes were wide with fear at his proximity.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to help you. Now I know this may be difficult for you, but can you tell me your name and where you come from."

Ariel nodded her head ever so slightly and tried to mouth one word.

"Ariel"

The elf frowned as he saw the mouth of the girl move in accordance with the syllables, but no sound escape it.

A mute…but her tongue seems to be intact?

Seeing his confusion, Ariel did her best to silently mouth her name ten times slower, making sure she articulated every single syllable as clear as she could.

"Ae-ri-el?" the elf's brow furrowed even more as he did his best to decipher the silent word.

"Ariel? Is that your name?"

A nod.

"Do you hail from Lake Town?" she shook her head ever so slightly before staring expectantly up at him. For one who could not talk she had very expressive eyes.

"Who am I?" he translated her silence out loud.

Another tiny nod.

"I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm"

Ariel almost felt her entire body stop.

Legolas? Legolas! I was saved by freaking Legolas! First Aragorn, now Legolas? Two members of the fellowship of the ring?! HOLY GODDAMN SHIT HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!

Had she not felt so weak and beaten to a pulp, Ariel might have facepalmed or grinned with excitement and joy. However instead she promptly began to hack and cough once more, another bubble of blood bursting at her mouth again.

Right…injured close to death…friends missing…oh god! Shame on you Ariel!

She mentally chastised herself as she squeezed her eyes shut against the searing pain in her throat.

At once Legolas slipped a hand on the back of her head and another to gingerly rest on her abdomen, as he raised her into a sitting position, her body weight supported solely by him.

She coughed a little as her body adjusted to this new position. However, this time, she noticed with some relief, it was much easier to draw breath as it was easier for her to swallow the saliva and blood in her mouth thanks to the aid of gravity.

Legolas waited patiently for her to take several desperate gulps of air before reaching down to a belt around his waist. From it he drew a water skin pouch which he un-corked and tilted up at Ariel's lips.

Her eyes practically spilled over with fresh tears as the first trickle of clear water slid down her raw and throbbing, dry throat.

"Easy now, easy, you'll choke if you drink too fast" he murmured gently as Ariel almost managed to make her mouth latch onto the pouch like a young suckling babe.

She couldn't help it. She could barely remember when she'd last drank a drop of such fresh clean water. The stuff Ogol and Balcheth had provided her in her cell whilst liquid and drinkable had still been horrid to taste.

With every gulp she took she could feel her limbs regain small vestiges of strength, though not nearly enough for her to move her arms and legs efficiently enough to walk.

The elf seemed to notice this for he sighed softly as he tucked the water skin back in its appropriate spot on his belt.

"Come let us not linger here, it is not safe."

Ariel nodded meekly as she felt the elf's arms slide under her, one around her back and the other under her knees. He picked her up in his arms, doing his best to be careful of jostling her too much. Ariel leaned her head against him, her eyes drooping as she felt the robust but steady beat of his heart from beneath the armour he wore.

Legolas glanced curiously as the girl in his arms quickly succumbed to her exhaustion her eyes fluttering shut and her breathing evening out into calm but steady breaths.

She's young…

He noticed as he began to swiftly but carefully carry her out of the clearing and through the trees.

But she has spirit.

The corners of his lips twitched upwards with admiration as he saw her breath deeply and evenly. Most people in conditions like this would've succumbed to death remarkably soon. But she was holding onto the last threads of hope she had left to her, whatever they may be.

There was a rustling sound to his left and the elf stopped in his tracks, holding his new charge closer to his body protectively.

He sighed in relief as another elf with dark brown hair stepped through the undergrowth towards him speaking in rapid elvish.

"[Prince Legolas I-]" but he stopped mid-sentence, staring down at the unconscious girl in his prince's arms. "[Who in Varda's name is this?]"

Legolas however was not offended as he spoke in hushed but urgent tones. "[Ruidor, you have good timing. This child was a victim of that fiendish hag that we confronted two moons past. She requires urgent medical attention.]"

"[Of course my Lord]" Ruidor bowed low before quickly rushing forwards, only to frown once he got a closer look at the girl.

"[Poor child, she is very thin]" he murmured worriedly as his prince deposited the girl into his arms "[Almost skin and bones and her skin is warmer than what it is supposed to be by the standards of her kind]"

"[Then make sure Eryniel tends to her until we can bring her back to the halls of my father]" Legolas nodded sternly a faint trace of anger brewing in his eyes as he looked about the woods around him and his subject. "[I will return once I have hunted down that abominable witch and those Ungoliant-spawn]"

When Legolas returned to the camp of his hunting party, it was late into the night.

Most of the elves were either asleep in their tents or staying on watch by the light of the fire. One such elf, a woman with fiery red hair was leaning over someone laid close to the ground by the fire.

Legolas's mouth twitched upwards into a small smile as the woman quickly felt his eyes upon her and looked up to face him.

"[Still up Tauriel? It is very late]"

"[Says one who has been hunting down shadows in the dark]" Tauriel spoke lightly, almost playfully but he could still discern the worry in her tones. "[did you find what you sought]"

"[No. The hag seems to have crawled back to Dol Guldur or whatever lair she came from.]" Legolas now frowned bitterly as he stepped towards her and looked down at the figure she was tending to.

It was the strange girl he'd found earlier though this time he was able to discern more of her features as her skin had been mostly cleaned up. She wasn't as fair as an elf but he supposed was sweet by the standards of her race. Her skin was not wholly pale, but a soft beige, almost like light maple wood, and from what he could see of the patches of clean spots, her hair was dark and rich like a redwood. Her soft round face looked innocent as she slept silently, her body curling into the sleeping bag and blankets contentedly.

"[Eryniel asked me to watch over her until she has finished preparing the medicine]" Tauriel explained quietly, her eyes softening with sadness as she glanced towards a tent just a little way off in the clearing. "[She still has a fever to sweat out and her throat was heavily burnt and bruised. She won't be able to speak for a long while, if at all. Then there are the burns on her arms, not to mention all the other injuries everywhere else-]"

"[Poor thing]" Legolas grimaced with sympathy on the sleeping girl "[To be so young and already put through so much torture. I am amazed she has lasted so long in that accursed place.]"

"[So am I.]" Tauriel nodded grimly "[But she hasn't given up yet, so who knows, maybe she'll pull through better than we think. She has spirit this one]"

"[Indeed, Tauriel, indeed]"

They both quickly looked down as the girl began to struggle and squirm in her blankets, her eyes still shut tight and her breath coming out in fast desperate pants. Without thinking Tauriel reached out her hand to swipe over the girl's brow soothingly, murmuring in common speech.

"Shh…shh…little one. You are safe now and among friends. You can rest well tonight. Nothing will harm you"

Legolas watched quietly as the girl's body quickly relaxed, her head leaning into Tauriel's gentle touch as the elven woman soothed away her troubles.

"[What is that?]" he frowned as he caught sight of an opal ring set upon bands of iron thorns glimmering on her finger as it peeked out from under the blankets.

"[It's no use.]" Tauriel sighed heavily, holding his hand back as he made to reach out towards the trinket. "[No matter how many times we've tried to remove it, it won't budge. A dark magic surrounds it. Though considering what you told us about her fight with the hag, Eryniel thinks it was put on by force]"

"[I'm not sure what to make of this]" Legolas murmured softly as he made to sit beside Tauriel's side "[three sightings of the white stag and each time it has led me to strange findings. The flower, the necklace and now this child and this dark ring. What in all of Arda is going on?]"

"[Perhaps some sleep can help you figure that out]" Tauriel gave her prince a stern but gentle look that friends so often give one another when they are watching one another consume too much alcohol for their own good.

Legolas smiled.

Yes, a sleep would do him some good. Besides, he had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a long day.

When Thorin Oakenshield's eyes opened it was just as dark, as when he had them shut.

He racked his muddled confused brain for any details of what had last happened.

It was all a blur. Someone lying unconscious on the forest floor, an old witch's cackles, spiders spinning giant webs to entangle himself and every member of his company.

This has been without a doubt an absolute disaster…

Thorin thought grimly to himself as he did his best to struggle against the bonds tied tightly about him.

The spiders had done their job well, he could barely move Orcrist from his side, nor could he move his arms. He at least could kick out his legs, but with the way he was hanging upside down with the blood rushing to his head, it was proving to be very difficult.

He could hear Bofur and Kili groaning close to him as they also did their best to struggle free.

But to no avail.

That witch…tricked us so easily…dangling our lost friend in front of us…

Thorin snarled in his head as his mind turned to the forest floor.

Had Ariel been snared like they had in the spiders' traps? Or was she missing again? Was she even alive anymore?

She had looked on the brink of death, laying as she had done on the dirty ground.

If she manages to even live through such an ordeal I swear I will never again speak ill of a woman on a quest!

He pricked his ears carefully as the soft pitter patter of feet could be heard somewhere close by, followed by a great screech.

"AH! IT STING'S! IT STINGS!"

Thorin listened bewildered as something heavy thudded down somewhere close by and a familiar voice made to mutter.

"Sting? That's a good name. Sting."

Bilbo Baggins! You are another person full of surprises!

Thorin sighed in relief as he faintly caught sight of the Hobbit's shadow through the white web before his eyes.

He held his breath as he felt the great chord of web holding his body in mid-air get sliced. He felt himself fall but wasn't too distressed. The webs about him were thick enough to cushion him and some of the branches of the trees slowed his fall down considerably.

Though that still didn't stop the dwarf prince from grunting in pain as he landed splat on his back on the forest floor.

We're free!

Thorin struggled fiercely against the webs, tearing them asunder now that he had his grounding. About him the other dwarves were also scrambling to their feet.

He managed to catch sight of Dwalin's bald tattooed head, still half covered in a cap of white webs even as he made to start dashing over to help a very disoriented Balin up to his feet.

The dwarf prince quickly made to count the others.

There were twelve other dwarves in total, and if he had heard right before then Bilbo was somewhere up in the trees keeping out of sight.

As Thorin finally managed to get to his feet he drew out Orcrist from its sheath. It wasn't glowing completely but there was the faintest of blue glowing lines along the edges of the sharp half of the cleaver like blade.

His eyes narrowed as the small glimmer intensified as he looked about to his right where the hag from earlier was standing at a distance, watching with seething eyes.

Then suddenly a voice roared out, almost as if in a war cry, and Thorin turned just in time to see one of Dwalin's smaller Axes, one of Kili's arrows and even a pebble shot out of Ori's tiny wooden slingshot, fly past his face and towards where their enemy stood

Balcheth's eyes widened for a split second as all of the weapons spun towards her at top speed.

She dodged each and every one of them, save for Ori's pebble which surprisingly found its mark solidly in the centre of her wrinkled chalk white forehead.

She set loose a feral snarl that quickly turned into a screech as Bofur, Bifur and Gloin all leapt out from where they had been creeping up behind her.

Bifur's loud shouts in Kazad was indeed most ferocious as he swiped at the foul witch with his spear like weapon, Bofur translating his words for all to hear loudly.

"He says you are a dastardly horrible fiend! And that you deserve to rot for what you did to our friend. And quite frankly I agree"

"Do you now?" Balcheth hissed suddenly flexing her hands.

At once Bofur shrieked with pain.

The pickaxe in his hands had suddenly burst into flames in his hands, the blast so fast and so hot that even as he dropped it to the ground in shock it had dissolved to ash

Balcheth let out a cackle of mirth as the dwarves quickly jumped back from her.

"you fools" she sneered triumphantly "Do you not know power when you see it? I am Balcheth…the Great Hag-Queen of Misfortune and Death!"

"I do not care what your title is" Thorin growled as he advanced upon the old hag, Orcrist gleaming hot under his fingers "But you made a grave mistake by hurting one of our company"

"Oh isn't that just sweet, you do really care for them." Balcheth simpered maliciously, her eyes flashing with malevolent glee as a thought seemed to strike her. "And yet…you all had no trouble leaving dear little Ariel for dead?"

There was such a tense pause that none of the dwarves even dared move or breathe as Balcheth stalked about them in a haze of black smoke and flesh, her voice a tantalising whisper.

"She screamed for days you know? Screamed and screamed for someone to come and rescue her from the pain…from the scorching, burning flames…screamed for her parents…for all of you…but nobody came…hmm…now that is nasty isn't it…I wonder what she'll do when she discovers that her only friends in this world did not even care if she lived or d-"

Balcheth suddenly gasped as one of Fili's small knives flew at her, its aim sending it straight for her heart.

As quick as any of the dwarves could think she vanished in a puff of foul black smoke only to reappear on a tree branch above their heads, her body trembling from the shock of the sudden attack as she looked down on a small cut on her hand.

"…You win this time Thorin Oakenshield. You and your vulgar little troupe" she hissed, her voice as quiet as the wind yet sharper than his blade "but remember…I still have something precious to you"

And before anyone could even blink she vanished into thin air leaving thirteen very stunned, very horrified dwarves below on the forest floor.

"Look out!" Balin yelled suddenly and everyone whipped out their weapons just in time as several spiders jumped down from the trees suspended by ropes made from their silk.

This time however they were ready to face them. The dwarves attacked mercilessly, hacking and slashing at whatever flesh or leg of the arachnids they could reach.

They even had eight of the company pull off the legs of a particularly enormous spider intent upon devouring poor fat Bombur after he'd tripped.

"We're clear!" Thorin roared as Bombur managed to get up to his feet and begin running.

All the dwarves' hearts were hammering horribly in their chests as they ran, following their leader almost blindly through the undergrowth…at least until another giant spider blocked their path.

They just keep coming

Thorin growled in his mind as he made ready to slice the arachnid with his blade.

But then suddenly he caught sight of something just up in the trees above.

Something that looked phenomenally like a…

You have got to be kidding me…

He raised Orcrist higher in his hands as the tall blond haired blue eyed elf, jumped nimbly out of the tree, slid under the last spider, cutting it along its underbelly, and smoothly made to stand before him and the company as he fitted a new arrow to his longbow.

Just as this happened a host of more than thirty other elves suddenly popped out from behind tree branches and trunks, their bows also raised to strike as they circled the company of dwarves.

"Do not think I won't kill you Dwarf" Prince Legolas smirked as his arrowhead came level with Thorin's forehead. "It would be my pleasure"

Chapter Text

Thorin stared down the length of the arrow pointed at his forehead.

This journey through Mirkwood was proving to be a living nightmare. First, they had lost a companion to evil forces. Then he had lost himself and the rest of his followers in the godforsaken forest, which had led to them almost being eaten alive by giant spiders and escaping the clutches of a vile hag only to run right into the waiting trap of a race of elves he hated with nearly all his being.

He gritted his teeth as the tall blonde elf standing before him, smirked smugly in his face.

"Do not think I won't kill you, Dwarf. It would be my pleasure."

Thorin opened his mouth to speak, but at that precise moment, there was a loud shout from a very familiar voice.

"KILI!" Fili cried out in horror almost balking forwards, only to be forced back amongst the company by an arrow aimed to his chest.

Thorin almost felt his heart freeze in his chest as he heard his youngest nephew's cries of pain as he struggled against whatever was attacking him. Then suddenly there was a high squeal followed by a hacking sound as a blade met with flesh.

The sounds of struggles mixed with the sounds of the spider's roars of pain filled the air as the great beast was sliced to pieces.

Then suddenly-

"Throw me a dagger!" Kili's voice called out desperately only for a woman to answer him with a grunt.

"If you think I'm giving you a weapon dwarf, you're mistaken"

There was a thud and a screech from a spider and then suddenly silence.

The dwarves waited with bated breaths and hammering hearts as the leaves rustled from somewhere close.

Even the elves were looking worried as they glanced in the direction of the noises.

Then suddenly from behind a tree stepped out Kili his dark hair covered in spider webs and dirt. He trudged as he was shoved along by his captor. She was a tall female elf, with pale skin and red hair clad in the same dark green tunics as her fellow host members.

Thorin felt his gut burn uncomfortably in his chest at the sight of his nephew's capture and promptly turned back to glower angrily at the elf before him.

"If you hate us as you claim? Why do you hesitate elf?" Thorin snarled up at Legolas, derisive pleased by his new opponent's blatant disdain and discomfort to his presence.

Legolas's lips curled into a sneer as his grip on the bow and arrow in his hands tightened.

However, he did not let loose the arrow. Instead, he lowered his weapons and turned to the red-haired elf woman that had just appeared with Kili.

"Search them."

The elf woman nodded and quickly barked out an order to the members of her troupe that stood closest to the dwarves.

Thorin's glower turned scathing as his company were corralled into a tight knitted ring, grumbling under their breaths as the elves made to search and confiscate any weapons found on their persons.

The one that took the longest was Fili, for he had knives and daggers stashed all over his body. There were knives in his boots, on the insides of his jacket. There were even knives in the back of his pants and under his hood.

He grimaced with venom as Legolas passed him his hand deftly slipping a hidden blade out from under his hood as he made his way towards Gloin, from whom he took a large silver locket.

"Hey! Give it back! That's private" the old dwarf yelled as the elf prince flicked the trinket open. He rolled his eyes with disgust at the two small portraits of two bearded figures framed in silver within.

"Who is this? Your brother?" he sneered at the portrait on the left.

"That is my wife" Gloin glared.

"And what is this horrid creature? A goblin mutant?" Legolas added, looking at the other side of the locket in which what looked like a child with a big beard was holding a toy axe.

"That's my wee lad. Gimli!" Gloin growled, his voice suddenly dropping to a dangerously low pitch.

Legolas only quirked a cold brow but handed the locket back to the dwarf before turning his back to face the red-haired elf woman behind him.

"[Are the spiders dead?]" he asked her in elvish.

"[Yes but more will come]" The woman fixed him with a pointed look "[they have gotten bolder since their mistress has-]"

But Legolas quickly cut across her.

"[Nay Tauriel, remember we do not mention that witch's presence here.]" he quickly looked over his shoulder.

All the other elves seemed to be busy guarding and disarming their new prisoners.

"[forgive me]" Tauriel murmured apologetically. [It's just… I cannot forget how much damage and fear she has already inflicted upon our people, both now and in the past-on your-to her.]" her voice faded away softly and sadly.

Legolas stiffened his jaw stiffening for a moment though he did his best to speak as calmly and stoically as before.

"[What happened back then cannot be changed]" but even as he spoke, she saw the cold fury in his eyes as they looked up into the shadows of the trees.

There was a small cough, and both Legolas and Tauriel jumped a little. But it was only a dark-haired elf warrior that stood before them. He was holding out the sword Orcrist in his hands.

"My lord Legolas, we found this on their leader's person."

Legolas took the blade gingerly in his hands, his grim expression giving way to wonderment as he beheld the runes on the polished scabbard.

"[This is an ancient Elvish blade, forged by my kin]" he then turned to the dwarves, feeling his gut burn with the familiar disgust and hatred their races had felt so often for one another.

How could such a fine blade have ended up in the hands of such miserable disgusting creatures?

"Where did you get this?" he asked in Common speech glaring down at Thorin who glared back before snarling.

"I was given it. And while we are talking about finding things may you tell us where you found that?"

He pointed towards the belt around the elf prince's waist from which a golden pocket watch with a familiar rose engraving on the back was tied about by its chain.

"What importance is it to you?" Legolas's eyes narrowed. Trust a dwarf's eyes to stray to the shiniest treasure even in the direst of situations.

But Thorin was not interested in the elf's sass, not when he and all the other twelve dwarves about him were mentally holding their breath in mounting hope.

"It belonged to a dear friend" Fili answered at once not heeding his uncle's glower to shut him up "We've been looking for her for days."

"A likely story" Legolas responded coldly before gripping Orcrist tighter in his hand "So …not just thieves, but liars as well. [Let's move out!]"

He barked the last command brusquely to the host of elves who quickly grabbed hold of the dwarves by the arms and dragged them forcibly out of the clearing they were standing in.

As Bofur passed Thorin, he hissed softly.

"Thorin where's Bilbo?"

Thorin quickly looked about him.

He had not seen hide nor hair of the hobbit since he'd fled off into the trees just before the spiders first captured them. And though he'd been the one that had freed the dwarves from the said monsters, he still had stayed out of sight of even the sharp-eyed elves.

Just how could such a feat be achieved?

Thorin thought wildly.

It's almost like he clicked his fingers and turned invisible! But no that's crazy. No hobbit can turn invisible just like that…could they?

How very wrong he was.

The journey through Mirkwood was long and tiring, but Bilbo Baggins still followed on the heels of the elf host and their captives, invisible thanks to the tiny band of gold on his right index finger.

He breathed deeply, doing his best to keep it silent as the air around them grew more wholesome and the light about them brighter.

He looked up and saw to his delight; bright sunbeams poking through the canopy, fresh and warm.

He could have stopped in his tracks and stayed still in one of them forever had his current task not been so important.

The elves were now taking them to the Woodland Realm and if what the hobbit could rightly remember of Thorin's maps, that meant they were moving closer to the Lonely Mountain.

Finally! Finally!

He almost grinned to himself.

They finally had a chance of getting to the mountain…and they were alive! They all were alive!

Even Ariel was alive! He had known it ever since he'd seen the elf prince hold up her golden watch pendant.

She was alive, and the elves had rescued her.

Now if only we had a chance to find her? Just how big is the woodland realm anyway?

But even as Bilbo wondered, he caught sight of a bridge just up ahead leading towards a doorway into the sides of a rocky hill.

They live underground?

He tilted his head in confusion as he did his best to tread carefully over the smooth stone bridge.

Invisible or not, the ring did not stop him from being solid or from making a noise as he moved. Also, out of all the races in middle earth, Elves were by far the most attuned when it came to using all five their senses.

Indeed, even as the Hobbit almost was across the bridge, Legolas, who was bringing up the rear stopped mid-step to glance suspiciously behind.

Breath shallow in his chest, Bilbo barely had enough time or room to slip in just behind the tall, imposing prince before the high stone doors into the halls under the hills were shut by two guards.

So far, so good.

Bilbo nodded confidently to himself as he made to sneak up behind Bombur, who as usual was bringing up the rear.

Now all I have to do is follow the company, find out where they are being held. Then I'll find Ariel and see where she is and then- And then what? Do we escape? Through where? How?  Come on Bilbo Baggins think! You're a Baggins! What would a Baggins do?

But then suddenly the hobbit frowned to himself.

No…he was thinking about this all wrong. The company didn't need a hobbit at the moment.

They needed a burglar.

And what would a burglar do in a situation like this?

At this, Bilbo's eyes wandered to the chain about Thorin's neck from which hung the crux of their entire expedition.

A crux, in the shape of a key.

"This is not the end of it, do you hear me!?" Dwalin yelled as he was shoved roughly into a small cell behind iron bars.

"Hey! Let us out of here!" Gloin cried out along with his brother as their captors dragged them into a pair of cells opposite Fili, who groaned as the elf detaining him confiscated the last of his hunting knives from a secret little pocket in the back of his coat.

Kili watched his brother get shoved into a cell his heart sinking, and he quickly turned about, only to come face to face with the red-haired elf woman that had saved his life.

What was her name again? Tauriel?

Well, whoever she was, she was pretty he'd give her that. Tall, fair, with warm brown hazel eyes that while stern and fierce, also held the promise of care and kindness to those that befriended them.

"Aren't you going to search me?" he asked before he could stop himself, ignoring his brothers groan of irritation. "I could have anything down my trousers."

"Or nothing."

Tauriel's eyebrows rose, and she pursed her lips. In all honesty, she wanted to laugh at the brazenness of the young dwarf's words. Very few men, of any race, had the guts to address her so boldly. However, she was still a captain of the guard, not to mention Legolas was standing just a few feet away, watching her back like a hawk.

So protective, even after all this time.

She turned to him still doing her best not to smirk fondly as the elf prince made to clip.

"[Why does the dwarf stare at you Tauriel?]"

"[Who can say? He's quite tall for a dwarf…um…don't you think]" she quickly added, hoping against hope that it came out as smoothly as possible.

"[Taller than some,]" Legolas rolled his eyes "[Though no less ugly.]"

Tauriel had to laugh at the disgruntled expression on her friend's face.

"[You still worry for me even though you know I could beat you with my hands tied behind my back?]"

"Someone has to watch your back" Legolas responded switching to the common tongue as he strode through the cells, but not before sparing a glare towards Kili who narrowed his eyes back.

Eleven wary pairs of eyes followed the elf prince as he made to stand before Fili's cell doors, pulling out the gold watch from his belt.

"What can you tell me about the owner of this?"

"That she is far braver and more honourable than any of you elves put together!" Fili spat up at him, though Legolas noticed that the blue eyes were not so much angry as they were distraught.

"She? You had a lady dwarf travelling with you?" Tauriel eyes widened as both shock and intrigue. But this time it was Bofur who spoke down from his cell that was right on top of Fili's

"Uh yes, and no…that is to say…yes to the lady and no to the dwarf."

"A human woman?" Legolas's eyes narrowed.

"Aye, a young wee maiden. Barely of age." Balin's voice was soft and sad as it wafted from high above opposite Bofur. "We lost her in the forest on our first night. Consumed by the strange mist she was."

"Got those rare green and brown eyes" Dwalin grunted beside his brother. "And dark hair red hot as her temper."

There were small snorts of amusement throughout the company, though they were quick to turn into forlorn silence. Balin, however, was watching Legolas and Tauriel, who had both exchanged a significant look with one another.

"I take it then you know of whom we speak of then laddie?" he asked, his voice careful and measured.

"We shall see" Legolas's lips pursed, but the dwarves could see the confusion and anxiety mixed in with his gaze even as he clipped:

"The guards will bring you food in an hour. Try and keep your mouths shut till then."

There was silence as the Company watched the two elves go, but they didn't care; they were already muttering to one another in their native tongue.

"[This cannot be a coincidence, could it?]" Tauriel hissed.

"[Of course not.]" Legolas's eyes narrowed. "[But the question is not how…it's why.]"

When Ariel opened her eyes, it was to find herself staring down at soft sheets as her body almost drowned in a sea of warm silk and fur blankets.

So warm…so soft.

She smiled sleepily. So...this is what it feels like to be in a bed?

After almost two whole months of nothing but forest floor, hay heaps or harsh cold stones in a cell, she had nearly forgotten what such a pure comfort as having a mattress beneath her was.

She stretched out slowly, running her hands over the indulgent soft furs, vaguely noticing that her skin looked and felt a lot cleaner than it had ever been for a month.

She suddenly stiffened and blinked.

What the hell? Someone's bathed me?

She held up her arms before her and saw to her surprise and mortification that she was wearing something with long white sleeves.

She quickly looked down on herself and blushed when she saw that she was wearing a white muslin dress that was so thin it was slightly see-through.

But that was not was worrying her.

She struggled a little under her blankets as she managed to pull herself up to sit, yanking out her left hand where a band of iron and opal had begun to burn and dig into her flesh.

She looked down at the digit through tears of pain as blood began to trickle down onto her hand once more as visions of blazing fires and dark shadows flew over her mind.

No, don't think about him! He's far away he can't hurt you!

But what if he can?

A nasty little voice hissed at the corners of her mind.

What if this is all just some trick to lower your guard? A beautiful illusion that he will rip away when I am at my most vulnerable? I can't let him trick me-I won't let him. Not again-

She jumped in fright as from somewhere to her right a door clicked quietly open and a tall, pale elf woman with long golden hair and kind green eyes stepped through, carrying a silk garment over one arm and a tray in her other.

"Oh, you're up, thank goodness" She smiled as she strode over to the bed.

However, Ariel was still very much terrified as the vestiges of her imprisonment replayed on overdrive in her mind.

Flames, shadows, evil whispers in her ears

She opened her mouth to scream only no sounds were coming out, only raspy gasps of air.

The elf woman saw this and at once settled her cargo down on a table nearby and dashed towards her.

"Shh…shhh…it's alright, little one, it's alright" she cooed.

Ariel flinched and struggled fiercely as the elf woman quickly took her shoulders and began rubbing them soothingly like a mother would a cold child.

Wait…wait…her touch…she's…not burning me…

"That's right little one" the elf woman sighed with relief as she felt her charge begin to still where she sat, though her body was still tense and shaking "Now just take deep breaths. Deep breaths, in and out. In…and out…"

Ariel nodded tremulously as she sucked in a deep shuddering breath before exhaling just as heavily.

After a few moments of such breaths, she felt her heart settle into a deep steady pace though she kept both hands gripping the sheets beneath her fingers tight like vices.

"There you go" the elf woman smiled warmly stroking the back of her neck.

Whilst the gesture was well-meant, Ariel could not help but feel a little bit irritated.

Maybe she was not at her most stable frame of mind now, but she wasn't a dog.

She opened her mouth to say so, only to begin coughing roughly as her throat seared with pain.

Not again!

She winced as she felt something warm and liquid dribble down her lip.

"Oh no, you've excited yourself too much now. Wait just a moment" the elf woman fussed as she held up a handkerchief for her patient to hold against her mouth.

Ariel took the cloth and spat into it, cringing as she saw the tiny droplets of red stain the pure white fabric.

Well, it could be worse I suppose…I mean I could be almost drowning in it again

She sighed in her head as the elf woman made to bustle forwards with her tray, on which was a goblet filled with a strange amber liquid.

"It will help repair and soothe your throat. One cup in the morning, and one cup before you sleep at night" the elf woman informed her gently as she brought the cup to Ariel's lips.

Ariel took a ginger sip, her trembling hands ghosting over the sides of the great cup as she prepared to spit. She always hated these sorts of medicines, even when she was a child. Most of them were bitter and weird colours that did not look appetising at all.

However, when she took a sip of the draft she found to her surprise that it was pleasantly sweet and wholesome, like a mixture of strawberries and sweet syrup. But better than that was the warm smooth sensation that spread over the insides of her throat. The searing burning that had been there was almost gone and as air travelled down it did not scratch or hurt at all.

She quickly took the goblet from her designated carer and began to gulp it down in earnest, barely stopping herself from choking by taking the occasional gasp for air.

She was almost finished when suddenly the door opened to her room again and someone tall and dressed in green armour entered proudly.

Ariel felt her stomach jolt, her body once more stiffening in readiness to flee from the newcomer. It was Legolas, his face grim as he looked down upon her and the elf woman to whom he addressed calmly.

"Eryniel I am sorry to interrupt your practice, but the king has requested your charge's presence at the throne room."

The elf woman, Eryniel scowled darkly jumping up to her feet to stand before Legolas, whom, Ariel noticed did not seem so perturbed by what should have been an offensive gesture towards royalty.

They must have known each other for a long time…

She surmised as she looked at the guards on either side of the elf prince. Both were looking relaxed in their spots even as the elf healer made to hiss angrily in her prince's face.

"With all due respect your highness, but this poor child only just awoke and is in barely any state to move let alone leave this bed. If your father wishes to see her, he can either wait till she is strong enough or he can come here himself!"

"Cousin, you of all people know my father will not do such a thing" Legolas sighed heavily "she must come to him right away. It is of the greatest importance that she does."

"Well you know what I think is more important-" Eryniel began to spit, only to be silenced as Legolas's eyes left hers and narrowed on a corner of the room.

There, Ariel crouched, half-hidden behind the corner of a tall wardrobe holding her arms close to her as she tried to make herself as small as possible.

Maybe she could blend in with the shadows if she pressed herself back into the wall. It had often worked while in her cell at Dol Guldur.

However, she wouldn't have any such luck here. This was a lavish room, lit brightly by natural sunlight streaming through an open window and several candles that sat on the dresser opposite here.

"[Now look what you've done, you've scared the poor thing]" Eryniel hissed angrily at her cousin in elvish, green eyes ablaze, but Legolas paid her no heed.

Instead, he walked cautiously towards Ariel, his voice soft and gentle as he spoke to her:

"It's alright. You don't need to be afraid. I'm a friend. I helped you in the forest remember?"

Though recognition flashed over Ariel's face she refused to move from her spot, her eyes darting around the room like a frightened cat's.

"You are in the Woodland Realm. My company and I brought you here while you slept so you could rest and heal in safety." He murmured, relieved when he saw her shoulders relax a fraction as he made to crouch in front of her.

"Forgive me if I startled you. It was not my intention to cause you such distress, however, my father, the king, has requested your presence so he may learn how you came to be on our lands. Of course-" he paused glancing back through the corner of his eye at a still fuming but silent Eryniel "-If you require more rest at present then I suppose I could persuade my father to postpone your meeting till you are feeling well enough to do so?"

There was a pause as Legolas met Ariel's eye. She was still wary of him, but now he could see the spark of something bright gleaming in her green-hazel eyes as she looked him up and down.

Legolas chanced a quick glance to his cousin as their young charge quickly looked to the door then glared down at her own scrawny ankles.

Well…they're no longer hurting and that's a start, and it was easy for me to sneak over here so they might survive a small walk.

Ariel curled her toes once or twice experimentally, then with a deep shuddering breath, she pulled herself up to stand, leaning heavily against the wardrobe.

Legolas had to admit he was impressed as she straightened up to her full height and fixed him with a determined steely gaze. Though she was in a frail state now, she was tall by the standards of men, naturally lean and proud in her bearing.

No… she is no waif of Esgaroth. She is of Northern Dunedain blood to be sure. Legolas smirked as he caught sight of the two guards behind him bristle and stand quickly to attention at the girl's movement, only to stiffen as she glowered at them suspiciously.

Legolas raised his eyebrows at Eryniel, though whether he was impressed or amused it was hard to tell.

"You were saying, cousin?"

Eryniel rolled her eyes and huffed in defeat.

"Fine…fine… but at least let the poor child put on a robe to cover herself."

As amusing and interesting as it was to watch Legolas and his cousin bicker, Ariel was curious and interested to know what the elven king of the Woodland Realm was like. She'd read about him in the books but he'd always felt rather mysterious to her. Mysterious like his kingdom.

Also, there was the case of his and Thorin's great rivalry and hatred for one another. She wondered just how much information about the conflict was true from both sides of the story.

Needless to say, it was with great excitement and nerves that she allowed Legolas to lead her carefully through the great halls of his kingdom.

Wow…this place is so massive…and yet the air is so…clean!

The corners of the elf prince's mouth twitched upwards as he glanced behind and saw the young girl behind him.

Her fear had evaporated slowly as they walked, her hazel eyes now wide with wonder as she looked about herself, mouthing her amazement silently like an overwhelmed child in a candy shop.

She even looked much younger than she already did with the way she clutched the slightly oversized soft green robes about herself, that just could not hide her skinny bruised and burnt arms.

Legolas's eyes softened with pity as he caught sight of the horrible ring glinting on her left hand.

How? How is it possible that such a terrible burden has been placed onto such young shoulders?

The elf prince looked up as he caught sight of the bridge leading to his father's throne, just as a smooth voice spoke softly.

"Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror…this is a surprise"

Ariel raised her head, her heart hammering as a familiar gruff voice answered.

"Yes indeed it is King Thranduil"

Oh my god!

She felt the muscles in her face ache as a grin suddenly spread over it. She had not smiled in so long. In fact, she hadn't smiled at all since they had left Beorn's house not too long ago.

And now here we are, nearly two weeks away and so much has changed.

If she still had not felt so tired, she would've run at once to meet the dwarf prince, no matter how grumpy or rough his greeting would be. However, Legolas seemed to read her thoughts for he quickly put his hand on her shoulder.

"You should not rush. You are still injured."

But even as he spoke he heard the smooth voice of King Thranduil call to him.

"Legolas, bring our other guest forwards.

Despite the command, Legolas paused for a split second, looking down at Ariel with worry as if silently enquiring if she was up to going through with this.

Ariel noticing this gave him a quick fervent nod.

He sighed and murmured softly.

"I may have saved you once in the forest…but I must warn you I may not be able to do so again. Here in this kingdom, my father's word is the law and unlike me, he is not so trusting of outsiders. So, if you do or say anything against him, I cannot protect you…even if you aren't in the wrong. Do you understand?"

Ariel nodded again biting her lip nervously as she glanced up to the back of the great wooden throne raised high above her left.

There was silence as she stepped forwards off the wooden bridge and onto a great circular platform where two people were standing. One was an elf, dressed in silver robes, with a great wooden crown atop his head that was decorated with small red berries that were just as bright as any ruby.

He was tall like the elf prince beside her and bore many of his features, like his blue eyes and pale hair. However only whilst these traits made Legolas look fair and kind, they somehow looked icy and cold on the king, especially when he narrowed his eyes down on the shorter figure that stood before him.

Ariel almost choked as the dark shaggy, spider web covered head of Thorin Oakenshield rose up.

"Ariel?"

His eyes widened in shock and he almost jumped in surprise when without warning Ariel dashed over to him and flung her arms around him, holding him tight to her.

Thorin stood still, his arms limp by his sides as he froze in shock.

Ariel? She was alive? She was on her feet hugging…hugging him?!

If he had been a computer he probably would have imploded from the sheer inability to compute the data that was the thin scrawny girl that clung onto him like a lifeline.

Thin…very thin…

His brain suddenly clicked and he quickly raised his arms and pulled her away to look at her properly.

Her hair, though washed and clean was still very much dull and lifeless, and her skin still paler than its usual maple beige and papery in texture. Her usually bright eyes were sunken and had dark circles and her cheeks had barely even a smidgeon of their usual warm flush of colour.

His jaw dropped further in horror as he caught sight of the horrible red marks over her wrists and ankles from where shackles had once been placed. But those were not her only injuries. There were multiple scratches and scars over her chest and one long thin cut over her brow which was bruised along with her cheek and some spots over her arms. It took nearly everything he had not to cry out in horror as he caught sight of the ring on her finger and the dried blood from where the thorns had dug painfully into her flesh.

"By Mahal woman, I turn my on you for two seconds and you get beaten like copper!"

To anyone else, this would have been a chastisement but to Ariel, it was just as welcome to her ears like a warm friendly hello. She smiled even wider than before, and hugged him tight to herself once more, this time burying her head in his dark hair as her eyes spilled over with fresh tears of relief.

This time instead of standing still, Thorin brought his arms to pat carefully at her sides only to wince. He could feel her ribs, even though the green robe she wore about her was thick. Indeed now that he was close enough he could feel the different textures in the damaged skin as it changed from smooth to rough to burnt- wait burnt?

Oh maker…what being could be so cruel to burn one that is afraid of your fire.

The dwarf prince looked up at Ariel's face, the colour draining from his own as he caught sight of the horrible burns that coiled around her neck like vivid red peeling snakes. Worse still was the expression of joy and glorious relief etched over her tearstained smiling face as she looked down at him.

His stomach jolted uncomfortably at the sight.

How?

How could she still smile to see him? How could she still bear to even look at him after he had left her to suffer once more on her own?

"I am sorry" he whispered, so softly so that only Ariel could hear. "I am so sorry…I let this happen to you"

Ariel frowned in confusion.

Whatever did he mean? Sorry? Sorry for what? She was alive and had found the company. What was there to apologise for?

There was a small snort and Thorin stiffened as Thranduil made to speak, his voice smug as he took one step forward

"Well now, this has proven to be very interesting indeed. The great Thorin Oakenshield comforting a small human woman like she was one of his own kin."

Thorin tensed as he saw that the elven king easily now towered over Ariel who looked if possible, even smaller and frailer in comparison. It was like watching a great wolf look down at a young fawn as it stalked it.

However, the dwarf prince was pleased to see that despite the vast differences in height, Ariel still stood her ground. It took her a couple of moments to get over the initial shock but once she did, she glared defiantly up at Thranduil with fierce eyes, even though her legs were wobbling a little from the effort of holding her body up.

"…interesting…" the elf king murmured leaning down to get a slightly closer look at her irises. Had he just imagined it, or had the hazel orbs glowed green for a split second?

He straightened up, keeping his sharp gaze fixed on the young woman as he looked down his pale nose at her. "Very interesting… what is your name child?"

"She says her name is Ariel father." Legolas stepped forward keeping his eyes fixed cautiously on the scene in front of him.

"And pray tell why you are answering when I question her, Legolas?" Thranduil raised a cold eyebrow at his son.

"I am afraid she cannot speak at present" Legolas replied calmly, unphased one instant by the iciness in his father's tone. "Her throat has been damaged severely from her imprisonment in Dol Guldur. Though hopefully, she should heal soon according to Eryniel's notes."

Dol Guldur?

Thorin's eyes widened in horror as he looked up at Ariel. At the mere mention of her old captor's stronghold, she looked especially tense, her body suddenly taking on a small shudder despite her attempts to keep herself composed.

Thranduil, however, ignored her apparent bout of fear and proceeded with his questions.

"And what would a young woman be doing in such a place as the lair of the Necromancer?"

"She wasn't there by choice." Thorin snapped before he could stop himself.

Thranduil's face split into a pleased smirk.

"Ah I see…so this is the missing member of your company that my captain was telling me of. A woman on a quest? That is unusual, even by dwarf standards. Tell me what her purpose is. She hardly seems to be of much use for the battlefield…a healer perhaps?"

Of course… He wants to bait me into revealing my motives by dangling an innocent before me…what a cheap vulgar trick.

Thorin's eyes narrowed as Thranduil took another deliberate step closer to Ariel so that they were almost toe-to-toe.

She held her ground though she could feel her legs begin to tremble from fatigue even as the elf king hissed.

"But no…she is far too young and inexperienced to deal with bloodshed and wounds. Then what? She is obviously very dear to you and your company. Your plaything perhaps? An odd choice I must say, considering she has no beard like your womenfolk…if that's the case then in-between her duties what then can she do, except drag behind like an extra sack of baggage-"

There was a loud cracking sound as the back of Ariel's hand shot out so fast to swipe Thranduil's face.

Thorin and Legolas both stared in absolute shock as the elf king stumbled back a little, clutching in shock at his jaw where her small hand had hit. Silently he wiped his mouth and saw to his astonishment a tiny droplet of blood from where her nail had cut his bottom lip.

Ariel breathed heavily her mouth opening and shutting in silent yells as all the anger and frustration from the past few weeks suddenly burst from her in a rush. She couldn't help it.

Look down upon her and mock her for being a woman? Fine. She could deal with that even if it was irritating. After all the social standards here in Middle Earth were like Earth's Medieval days so she understood why the men she met might have an issue with her modern views. But calling her a useless whore, while she stood there beaten and burned after being tortured for a whole week by one of the vilest creatures ever to walk the earth, that was just too much. Even Thorin had not dared cross that line (though he had come dangerously close on one or two occasions).

Speaking of the dwarf, Thorin just stood there staring in shocked disbelief. He had never seen Ariel look that furious before, and even more surprisingly, it wasn't even his fault. Her face was flaming red like her hair, and her eyes glowed vividly green as her nostrils flared so that she resembled more a fire-breathing dragon than a human woman.

She could give Smaug a run for his gold with that expression.

Thorin smirked in awe as he recognised the lip patterns of some rather profane swear words and barely restrained himself from laughing as the young girl then shut her mouth and put both her middle fingers towards Thranduil's stunned face.

Well...that's one way to put your point across.

But Thranduil was not impressed or amused as he straightened up and stood to this fullest height.

"You dare strike me?!" he snarled as he advanced upon the young girl, who backed away from him, flinching away horribly as terror suddenly replaced her fury.

Both Thorin and Legolas balked forward at the sign, the latter reaching out to grab onto his father's robe to stop him. Yet he needn't have bothered for Thranduil had seen the abject terror in the young woman's face quickly reigned his temper back in, though his bleeding lip was still curled as he clipped waspishly:

"Legolas take this vulgar little beast to her friends in the dungeons. I daresay she'll feel more comfortable to rethink her actions in a cell."

But Legolas hesitated.

As much as the girl had been rather crude and violent in her response to the insult, he personally did not blame her for her lashing out. She was frightened in a strange place, injured and in pain with no way she could stand up for herself.

But she had just struck his father and king…

"What about her injuries? She still needs medical attention," he asked quietly.

"A healer can be sent down to the cells if necessary." Thranduil narrowed his eyes dangerously at his son "Take her out of my sight."

Legolas nodded stiffly to show he had understood and quickly strode forwards to take Ariel by the arm. Ariel stiffened but his grip wasn't hard at all, just firm.

Ariel quickly turned back to look fearfully at Thorin who gave her a small nod.

"Go with him. The others will be glad to see you"

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly as he felt her small frail fingers reach down and give his own stronger digits a tiny squeeze.

"I will be fine" He murmured shaking his head slightly. "Now go. Get lost"

Ariel rolled her eyes but even so she couldn't help the tiny smirk that flitted over her face.

There you are, you old grump!

She was quiet and docile as she allowed Legolas to steer her away towards a set of small steps that led down to another bridge that meandered away from the king's throne.

Thranduil watched with narrowed eyes as his son and the girl finally wandered out of sight before turning to speak to Thorin with glacial disdain as he circled him.

"A young sorceress and a company of twelve dwarven warriors? One might say, Thorin Oakenshield that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon"

Thorin's gaze hardened as he made to keep his gaze solely fixed on the empty throne before him as the Elven King sneered.

"I myself suspect a more prosaic motive. Attempted burglary…or something of that ilk"

Thorin straightened up as Thranduil circled back around so that they were facing one another.

The dwarf prince watched warily as the elf king's eyes flashed with curious intrigue.

"You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule. The King's Jewel. The Arkenstone"

At this Thorin felt his heart stir as a vision of the bright gem flashed over his mind. It had been a long while since he'd thought on it, for he had been trying so hard just to keep the company alive. But now they were all alright he found his mind haunted by the beautiful glimmers of light, refracting within the orb-like structure.

Seeing the deep blue eyes of his adversary glaze over for a split second, Thranduil smirked.

"it is precious to you beyond measure…I can understand that…there are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight…I offer you my help in exchange for such a price"

Yes. Now Thorin remembered.

Many gems, of course, existed within Erebor and were near priceless in value. But there had been some treasures that did indeed stand out above all the rest…such as a necklace made from pure diamonds linked together by slender strings of mithril.

It was supposed to be a gift to ensure the tenuous peace between the Woodland Realm and the Kingdom beneath the Mountain.

However, from what the dwarf prince could remember, Thranduil had not made proper payment in arms nor in his alliance and so the deal fell through…and with the coming of the dragon of course such a treasure was most likely never to be seen again.

Thorin looked up into the searching eyes of the elf king before him.

"I am listening"

"I will let you go," Thranduil said softly his voice hardening "If you return that which is mine."

And elves call us greedy…

"A favour for a favour" Thorin snorted derisively as he turned to pace.

"You have my word" Thranduil smirked as the dwarf looked thoughtful. "One king…to another"

Thorin paused in his steps, anger flooding through him as his mind recalled faint screams and bursts of flames issuing from a great big reptilian mouth…burning everything in sight…sparing no one…

Empty words from an empty heart…

"I would not trust Thranduil. The great king, to honour his word! Shall the end of all days be upon us. YOU!" He snarled venomously rounding upon the now surprised elf "lack all honour! I have 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, of the inferno that destroyed us!"

"Do not talk to me of dragon fire!" Thranduil hissed swooping down so that his face was dangerously close in Thorin's personal space. "I know it's wrath and ruin"

The elf then shut his eyes and winced, as if a terrible pain was coursing through him. Thorin watched torn between hatred and revulsion as the once fair skin on the left of the elf king's face suddenly melted away to reveal a hideous burn and a milky white eye.

The effect was quite horrifying as Thranduil continued to speak, the exposed tendons tensing and convulsing with every small twitch and motion, before sinking back under their smooth illusion.

"I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. But he would not listen…you are just like him"

Thranduil's hand flicked out casually and Thorin struggled as two guards silently appeared at his sides, grabbing him securely by the arms.

"Stay here if you will and rot" The elf king announced as he made his way to sit back down in his great throne "A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an Elf. I am patient. I can wait"

"Lads look!"

"LASS!"

"Ariel! You're alive"

Ariel could have almost cried for joy as the familiar voices of her twelve friends burst through her eardrums. Indeed she could feel heat well up in her eyes as she made to run towards the nearest cell, leaving her escort behind.

"Oh, mahal you are one lucky little lady you are Miss Ariel!" Bofur grinned as Ariel made to grasp at his and Ori's hands as they reached out to her through the bars. "We thought you were a goner after that fog"

Ariel smiled and nodded squeezing both dwarfs' hands before moving onto the next pair of cells that stood side by side. In them were Bifur, Nori, Gloin and Oin. They too all wrung her hands and gave her warm welcoming smiles before she moved on towards Balin and Dwalin, the lattermost redoubling his grip and holding her back before she could move.

"Hold on lass! Hold on!" he growled eyeing her suspiciously "Now those old coots may be as deaf as old dogs but even yer far too quiet for me."

"Dwalin it's alright I'm-"

But even as Ariel's mouth made to move no sound came from it.

The dwarves all fell into a horrified silence as she quickly shut her mouth and put a hand up to her throat.

"Lass?" Balin frowned his kindly face now full of worry "What happened?"

But Ariel still made no sound. She only looked down to the ground, rubbing at her throat.

"Hey what's going on?" Came Kili's voice from one of the cells below "Why isn't she saying anything?"

"Because she can't," said a voice and Ariel turned to see Legolas striding down to her from a set of stairs.

Dwalin bristled and glowered as the tall fair elf passed him but Legolas ignored him. Instead, he chose to put a careful hand on the back of Ariel's shoulder, steering her away to another set of stairs that led down towards the lowermost cells.

At first, Ariel felt nervous as she made to slowly climb down step by step. The steps were steep and there were no hand railings, not to mention her entire body was beginning to feel really run down as whatever small burst of adrenaline in her body began to run its course.

So weak I cannot even manage one stupid set of stairs!

Ariel did not know who she was to be set with for her face was turned to the ground. She could not help it. Thranduil's earlier words were coursing through her brain.

"An extra sack of worthless baggage"

Oh who am I kidding, Thranduil was right,

Ariel felt her heart sink as she heard iron be moved from where it was set.

I am not a healer, I'm not a warrior. My voice is gone and so are my powers. I am so weak I can barely walk, I am even more useless to the company than when I first joined…

She barely saw her own feet as she was gently ushered her into a cell for her eyes were full of tears as her heart was filled with nothing but a horrible emptiness.

The same emptiness that she had felt when Sauron had burnt her staff with his flame.

Though it sounded bizarre Ariel had always felt since she first touched it like that staff was just as much a part of her as her own arms or legs. And now it was gone it was like she had a big gaping hole. Right there in her heart, she could not even feel the energies from the roots that grew along the insides of the great hills the hidden Kingdom in Mirkwood resided in.

She barely heard Legolas as he made to talk to her cellmate, his tones terse.

"If she has any difficulties summon the guards and they will fetch a healer. Other than that, you will not bother them are we clear"

"As crystal" Fili's voice snapped sounding unusually stern.

Legolas snorted and rolling his eyes made to close the cell, locking it deliberately so for all the company to see before he strode off to talk softly to an elf guard close by.

"Ariel?"

Ariel did not even look up as a familiar pair of hands took hers gently.

She shook her head, already refusing any sort of comfort. But Fili would not have any of it.

Without even waiting for her approval the young dwarf yanked her forwards to wrap his arms around her.

So small…I could fit five of her into my arms if I wished.

He thought to himself, half-torn between fondness and sadness.

Ariel squirmed, sniffling with tears of shame and embarrassment as she felt her body get squashed tight. But Fili refused to budge, save for his hands to begin rubbing in smooth circles on her back.

"It's ok…" He whispered soothingly as he leaned up to press his face into her shoulder, the highest point he could reach on her. "It's ok…"

No…no it's not ok…it's not…

Ariel shook her head, her face buried into the top of Fili's golden mane of hair as he made to murmur softly in his native dwarvish tongue.

She had no idea what he was saying but just listening to the words alone was beginning to make her feel drowsy.

Fili sighed with relief as he felt the girl in his arms relax a little as her body began to give way to fatigue.

"Come on…let's get you some sleep."

Ariel nodded her eyes already half-lidded as she allowed the dwarf to lead her to the tough cot set in the shadowy back of the small cell.

It wasn't as comfortable as the bed she had first awoken in but it still at least had a pillow and a couple of thin furs.

Fili almost smiled as he saw her manage to clamber onto the thin mattress and curl up at once into a ball on her side facing him as he made to sit on the edge close to her.

"Better now?" he asked after he helped pull up both blankets over her and tuck her in.

She nodded but then gave him a questioning look when she noticed that he was only wearing his brown/yellow tunic, pants, and boots.

"They confiscated my jacket" Fili explained, pouting grumpily "apparently it had too many hiding places for my weapons"

Ariel tiredly smirked. She could only just imagine how funny it would look, the elves continuously pulling out knife after knife from everywhere on his person. She would not have been surprised if he had even hidden some in his long hair.

But it must also make him cold not having it on down here?

She reasoned and frowned concernedly up at him.

Fili's smile widened and his eyes softened.

"Don't worry about me. You just rest now."

But even so, she reached up to timidly ghost her fingers at his bearded jaw, her nails scraping against the braids of his moustache.

He gently reached up to take her hand in his, marvelling in how small and soft hers seemed to be in comparison to his broad rough digits.

"You want me to stay with you?" he asked softly.

Ariel nodded though she flushed a little with embarrassment.

She knew it was perhaps a childish desire…but right now she just wanted to have someone close to hold her…

She had never fully realised it until that moment, but she really had undervalued the true warmth and comfort one could get from merely feeling safe where they slept or who they kept beside them.

Fili grinned wider as he swung his legs up onto the bed.

"Alright then. But we're going to have to make some adjustments or else we'll both fall off"

He was going to get some sleep at last and he was going to be sharing a bed with a woman. That truly was a double win!

He slid himself carefully so that he was lying beneath her, with her curled into his chest beneath the covers and her head resting under his chin.

"Better?" he murmured into her dark hair and Ariel nodded as she timidly made to drape her arm comfortably over his chest, which whilst was very firm and solid, was also remarkably warm.

Like a bear…or a lion…

She mused taking in his golden hair as it splayed out from under his head. It was so rich and long, but it suited him as did his short beard. Ariel's lips quirked upwards as she glanced up at the two braids that hung from his moustache. If she had seen those on anyone else, she would have laughed and not stopped laughing.

Back home even her father had not grown his facial hair that long, though that was probably for the best considering his occupation, and her brother Ian had always looked better clean-shaven.

Oh, Dad, Ian…

She sighed softly into Fili's chest.

…I miss you both so much…

Fili saw her eyes glaze over with a misty, forlornness and his heart twinged. He knew that look all too well. He himself had worn it as had so many others, including Kili. It was the look of someone yearning for home…for family…

"Ariel…" he brought a hand up into her hair and began to stroke it through. "if ever you need anything…I'm always right here for you…we all are."

He paused, gulping nervously when he did not get a nod or a shake of the head.

But when he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Ariel looking up at him with a wide smile.

The effect was most astonishing. She was no longer the frightened timid fragile child that had walked into the cell, but the happy free-spirited young woman he had first beheld back at Bag End. The one who was unafraid to laugh loudly and dance as bowls and crockery flew over her head.

He held his breath as she mouthed a silent "thank you" before leaning into him her lips gently pressing against his bearded chin. The action was so innocent, so sweet, and yet it made his face almost burn as it flushed as red as a tomato.

Thankfully, Ariel was too tired and fell asleep just before she could notice anything amiss with her new bedmate, much to his relief.

Meanwhile far away in an upper level of the hidden elven fortress, a small white flower that had been wilting in a small pot by a sill, began to glow a soft green as its petals began to rise…gleaming white with new life.

Two figures, a man, and a woman were riding on horseback over the great fields that lay between the great forest of Mirkwood and the Great Misty Mountains, which loomed ever closer as their steeds galloped at breakneck speed.

The man, who had dark skin with short black hair, was dressed in dark gear that made him look almost like a shadow whilst the woman was dressed all in red, with only a jet black hooded cloak to cover her pale face as she quickly checked her horse into a swift stop.

"Whoa!" Her male companion called as he abruptly tugged on the reins of his own steed which skidded to a rough stop with a loud disgruntled grunt.

After quickly soothing the beast, the man steered it towards the woman who was seated upon her horse, running a hand over her head, and pushing back her cloak hood in the process. At once a head of deep rich red brown locks cascaded down over her shoulders only to be picked up and thrown about by a gust of cold wind. However, this didn't mask the small tears that trickled down the pale face.

The man looked upon the woman, his light chestnut eyes filled with both great sorrow and with great affection as he reached out to wipe her cheeks with his thumb.

"Nuldien" he whispered softly cupping her cheek in his large hand "She'll be fine"

"But Celegon" Nuldien the Red looked up at him, her eyes streaming over "how can you possibly know that?"

"Because she's our daughter." Celegon snorted softly his smile widening "She is our spirited, determined and stubborn daughter. I feel it in my heart that she is alright. And I know you feel it too, magical connection or not"

Nuldien began to wipe her eyes with the sleeve of her red travelling dress.

"I'm sorry" she sniffed trying her best to gulp down the lump in her throat. "It's just…I'm so worried. Ever since I saw that strange storm over Mirkwood a few days ago I haven't been able to feel anything from her and I-"

"Panicked?" Celegon murmured softly. "I know and that's alright Nuldien. Just because you are an Istari doesn't mean you stop being a good mother"

"I don't feel like a good mother at the moment" Nuldien snapped.

"I mean look at what I've done. I let our son be cursed by that horrible hag! I sent our own daughter into a world she has barely any clue about without any idea of how to use the powers she was gifted in. and now I'm leaving her behind to wander a nightmarish forest on her own with some dwarves while we go search quite safely for that confounded old grey wizard!"

"You forgot to mention that the dwarves she was travelling with are going to a mountain guarded by an evil fire-breathing dragon" Celegon quirked a brow at his wife's hysterics as she now made to sob.

"EXACTLY! What kind of mother does that to her baby girl?"

"Nuldien" Celegon sighed as he leaned over from his horse, his face now so close to Nuldien's their noses were touching. "Nuldien…please listen to me. No parent is perfect, not even us, no matter how hard we try to be. Yes, Ariel is our little one and I understand you are worried for her safety and so am I. But losing our heads over the matter will not help her wherever she is. Also, you forget, she is not so little anymore. She is eighteen years old, an adult and as much as I wish we could, we cannot keep protecting her from the evils of the world. Yes, she is going to stumble and hurt herself along the way, but our Ariel is a strong young woman and she will get right back up no matter what. We just have to have faith in her"

"You're right Celegon" she sniffed "you're right I'm being selfish…but it's just…I never expected it to be so…so…hard to let her go"

"Neither did I" Celegon agreed quietly as he leaned forwards.

Nuldien shut her eyes as her husband made to press his lips gently to her forehead and she sighed heavily.

"Goodness…if Saruman were here right now, he'd have my head for acting so hysterically"

Celegon rolled his eyes with disdain as he pulled away from his wife to check his horse beneath him.

"Nuldien if that old coot were here right now breathing down our necks, we wouldn't even be married or even have children. And speaking of old wizards, we must move quickly if we are to cross Gandalf's path at the High Fells"

"Yes, of course…Gandalf" Nuldien nodded swiftly flicking her horse's reins. But even as she made to go into a trot, the red sorceress turned her head to look behind at the shadows of the distant forest.

Thorin Oakenshield if you do not look after my little girl, I will personally make sure YOUR line of Durin is cut off permanently

Thorin Oakenshield blinked in surprise.

What was that voice?

He looked about wildly.

The voice had belonged to a woman's sharp, worried, and oddly familiar.

What did she mean? Look after her little girl?

But even as the dwarf prince looked about himself all he saw were the two tall elf guards that were currently shoved him down the small set of stairs and into the dungeons of the woodland realm.

Honourless pointy-eared tall bastards. They are no better than their king!

With a heavy push, the dwarf prince was shoved into a cell high above the bottom-most levels right next to Balin who promptly made to ask as soon as the cell doors were shut.

"Did he offer you a deal?"

"He did. I told him he could go îsh kakhfê ai-'d dûr-rugnu!" Thorin spat through the bars before him before calling out loudly "him and all his kin!"

Balin almost felt like pulling an Ariel and rolling his eyes with a scowl.

Instead, he resisted (though it took him a lot of effort) and he just sighed.

"Well, that's that then. A deal was our only hope"

"Not our only hope" Thorin softly murmured his gaze lingering as it turned upwards to the roof of the great cavernous halls beyond their cages. "Bilbo is here with us sneaking through the halls unseen. I thought I saw him for a moment when the guards were dragging me here. It was only a glimpse, but I was sure it was him."

"I hope you are right laddie," Balin said though he did not sound hopeful at all.

Thorin sighed heavily as he made to look around at the other cells about them.

"How are they all faring?" he asked quietly.

"They're alright I suppose. A little tired but safe and content for now" Balin's face then split into a knowing smile. "Your heir most of all"

"Ariel is with him?" Thorin raised his eyebrows.

"Aye, he is looking after her now as we speak."

"Tch! I'm sure he is." Thorin snorted.

"Oh, come now Thorin" Balin smiled warmly "They're both young, both innocent-"

"Pff!" Thorin chuckled under his breath "Fili has not been innocent in that way for quite some time"

"In certain physical ways yes I suppose that's true" Balin nodded before adding "but in matters of the heart he still has much to learn…though I think it won't be too long now till he begins to understand those as well."

Thorin's chuckles faded into a quiet grim murmur.

"True…though I hope that when he finds out, that she will not break his heart,"

"She won't laddie" Balin grunted as he made to slowly lower himself down to sit on the floor. "Besides, I don't think you need to worry about that sort of thing between them. Both he and Kili think of her more like a sister than a prize, and I daresay she misses the company of her own brother." The older dwarf sighed softly to himself as he glanced down to the area where he knew Ariel and Fili's cell was.

"Poor lass" he muttered. "Oh well, at least she's safe and sound now. That is all that matters"

"I know Balin." Thorin muttered eyes dropping to the floor "I know."

"I know you're there. Why do you linger in the shadows?"

Bilbo Baggins froze mid-step down a small stair. He had reached a very secluded part of the great kingdom where many luxurious rooms had been laid out.

In one of these rooms, still draped in his luxuriant silver robes the elf king Thranduil was pacing patiently, his eyes upon the stairway the frightened and still invisible hobbit was walking.

Oh goodness, he can see me? He can see me with his elf magic or whatever magic they use

But even as he made to back away another voice spoke up from behind him, a woman's fair and melodious.

"I was coming to report to you"

Bilbo clapped an invisible hand over his invisible mouth to mask his small sigh of relief as the tall red-haired elf Tauriel made to step around him and bow before her king who regarded her stiffly.

"I thought I ordered that nest to be destroyed not two moons past."

Tauriel looked slightly sheepish, though she was quick to hide it as she stepped forth.

"We cleared the forest as ordered my lord. But more spiders keep coming up from the south. They are spawning in the ruins of Dol Guldor if we can kill them at their source-"

But Thranduil cut across her sternly.

"That fortress lies beyond our borders. Keep our lands clear of those foul creatures. That is your task"

"and when we drive them off what then?" Tauriel frowned "will they not spread to other lands?"

"Other lands are not my concern." The elf king narrowed his eyes "the fortunes of the world will rise and fall, but here in this kingdom we will endure"

"But my lord" Tauriel was now looking slightly desperate "that old witch Balcheth has-"

"Silence!" the roar that suddenly escaped the elf king's mouth was enough to make a certain skulking invisible hobbit almost trip over in surprise as he skirted behind him.

Oh no Bilbo just keep it together now

Bilbo pursed his lips as he carefully made to back away from Thranduil who suddenly seemed to grow taller in his rage as he towered over Tauriel

"You do not dare, I repeat, do NOT DARE, utter the name of that murderous hag ever again in my presence" the elf king's eyes were now dangerous slits as he saw his subject turn her eyes down to the ground.

"forgive me, my lord, I meant nothing by it."

Thranduil stared down coldly at Tauriel for a full minute before quietly striding away to look over the small pond before him, just as she made to turn her back on him.

After a deep sigh, he spoke softly.

"Legolas said you fought well today…He has grown very fond of you"

Tauriel paused mid-stride and looked over her shoulder at her king with surprise.

Bilbo bristled from where he stood hidden. Whilst his Took side was certainly very intrigued by the conversation, the sensible Baggin's half could not help but feel uncomfortable. Though he did not look nearly as awkward as Tauriel who gulped nervously before answering carefully.

"I assure you, my lord, Legolas thinks of me as no more than a captain of the guard."

At this Thranduil smirked as he made to walk over to a pitcher set on a small table and pour himself a drink in a goblet.

"Perhaps he did once. Now I am not so sure"

Tauriel bit her lip her eyes brightening slightly with a tiny glimmer of something…hope perhaps?

"I did not think you would allow your son to pledge himself to a lowly Silvan elf"

"No you are right, I would not" Thranduil's voice was so casual it was cruel. "still he cares about you. Do not give him hope where there is none"

Bilbo's heart twinged with pity as he saw the hurt expression flash across the elf woman's face. But no sooner had he seen it then she took a deep breath and forced it down beneath a blank mask as she nodded.

"Yes my lord"

"And that young woman your company found in the forest" Thranduil's nostrils flared slightly as he turned and sat in an ornate chair beside a lavish table. "Was it my son who found her or you?"

"It was the Prince my liege" Tauriel clipped, trying her best to regain her professional composure as her king snorted sardonically.

"I thought as such. Legolas always has had such a soft spot for strays even as a child" the King's voice trailed off slightly only to harden like ice as he coughed "Keep an eye on her and report to me at least once a day on her progress"

"Your majesty?" Tauriel blinked at Thranduil in confusion as he took a sip of his large goblet of wine.

"You heard me the first time. Keep an eye on her, and keep a close watch on that ring she

bears. It is an evil thing and should not be taken lightly."

"[The gates are guarded]"

A voice hissed to the darkness.

"[not all of them.]" another voice snarled "[Follow me]"

There was silence as Kili made to sit alone in his cell, twirling a small round stone in his hands. It was smooth and round, large enough to comfortably fit in the palm of his hand…or toss it up and down idly as he was doing so now, frowning with both concentration and irritation.

Fili was still fast asleep in the cell beside him, still curled up contentedly with Ariel.

The sweet little mermaid…Mahal, what in all of Arda is a mermaid? Sounds kinda fishy to me.

Kili rolled his eyes as he tossed the stone in his hands higher up into the air and caught it.

He looked down at the surface of the stone in his hands, running his fingers over the characters engraved in Khazalid. It spelt out a single word "Return"

It was one of a pair that his mother had owned. The other one was with Fili and it had runes that had said "Protect"

Yeah, he's certainly fulfilling that promise.

He snorted softly to himself.

It was not that Kili objected to his brother's fussing over their young friend. He loved and cared for Ariel just as much as if she were his own sister. She was spunky, feisty, and free-spirited, not to mention kind and sweet to those she cared for…or at least she had been before she had been taken from them in the wood-

"That stone in your hand, what is it?"

Kili looked up and saw to his surprise, Tauriel standing before the barred door to his cell. Her tone was not harsh or commanding as one would expect from a jailer. Instead, it was soft and curious.

Even so, the young dwarf before her could not help himself as he made to keep a straight face and strict tone.

"It is a talisman. If any but a dwarf reads the runes on this stone…they will be forever cursed"

Tauriel took a step back as Kili thrust the stone up to her face roughly.

Pleased by his small mischief the young dwarf could not help but smirk at her shocked expression as he withdrew his hand.

"Or not. Depending on whether you believe in that kind of thing. It's just a token. A runestone…My mother gave it to me so I'd remember my promise"

"What promise?"

"That I would come back to her. She worries. She thinks I'm reckless."

Tauriel's face split into a small smile as she looked down upon the prisoner.

"And are you?"

"Nah!" Kili grinned as he tossed up the rune stone high into the air only for it to miss his catching hand.

It flew through the bars of his cell door and bounced along the ground before rolling precariously close to the edge of the pathway outside.

Tauriel managed to snag it with her boot before it could roll off the tall drop and quickly scooped it up in her hands, eyeing the dwarf before her.

He was an odd one, even by the standards of his people. Mischievous and fun-loving, but not vain or greedy, not to mention kind, for she had seen his treatment of his kin and friends.

There were very few elves even that had such a genuine sweet nature.

She watched him for a moment as he made to stand at the door to his cell, looking up at the higher levels as sounds of laughter and music wafted down from them.

"Sounds like quite a party you're having up there?"

"It is Mereth e-n Gilith, The Feast of Starlight," Tauriel explained her voice growing gentle as her eyes softened with tender fondness. "All light is sacred to the Eldar, but Wood Elves love best the light of the stars."

"I always thought it is a cold light" Kili murmured softly "remote and far away"

"It is memory. Precious and pure" Tauriel turned to him her eyes shining bright as she held out her hand towards him "Like your promise"

Kili reached forwards and took the runestone out of her hand, noticing with some curiosity that when their skins touched it made his fingers tingle a little.

But he did not ponder on it, for his eyes were drawn to Tauriel's expression as she made to look up at the roof of the great halls above, her gaze full of tender longing, her voice wistful.

"I have walked there sometimes. Beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away…and a white light forever fill the air"

Wow…

Kili breathed as he tried to imagine such a scene unfolding before him.

Dwarves may have a love for gems and precious metals, but even they could appreciate the true beauty of nature.

Indeed, the young dwarf could remember a time he had wondered over such marvels.

"I saw a fire moon once. It rose over the pass near Dunland. Huge. Red and gold it was it filled the sky. We were an escort for some merchants from Erid Luin. They were trading in silverwork for furs. We took the Greenway south. Keeping the mountain to our left. And then it appeared, this huge fire moon lighting our path-"

Kili smiled to himself as Tauriel turned to listen to him intently, neither of them noticing a tall shadow standing high above as Legolas watched them in secret, his gaze hardening severely.

Just what was Tauriel doing, talking with this young slip of a dwarf? she was supposed to be guarding him not befriending him!

His hands gripped the small gourd held in them tighter as the young dwarf made to now move onto an amusing story about how his brother, the blonde one that was currently occupying the cell next to him, had hilariously tripped over in a cavern of a mine.

This is getting ridiculous! Just who does that little cave dweller think he is?!

With a soft snarl and a roll of the eyes the elf prince quietly hopped down from his vantage point, landing lightly on the landing before Fili's cell and wrapping on the bars hard.

Kili and Tauriel both quickly turned their heads in surprise but when the latter saw the gourd held in her prince's hand, she quickly turned her attention back to the dwarf.

"It's alright, he's just delivering the medicine"

"Alright, then where was I?" Kili grinned as he turned back to continue his tale, completely missing Legolas's incensed glare.

Just delivering the medicine indeed! As if I were some common guard or servant!

He almost snapped as he felt something tug gently at his sleeve and whipped his head around.

But it was only Ariel. She had been on the brink of waking up when Legolas had arrived at the cell door. Fili was still fast asleep, but she had been sitting up on the floor beside the bed fiddling with the hem of her white shift as she listened to Kili and Tauriel's talking.

She was relieved when the elf prince shoved the gourd he was holding into her grip, doing his best to try and speak as calmly as possible despite his seething temper.

"This is your new dosage of medicine from Eryniel. Be sure to drink it slowly so it can coat your throat properly before you sleep tonight and when you awaken tomorrow morning. You haven't been coughing up blood again have you?"

Ariel shook her head.

"Good." Legolas nodded tersely before handing her another satchel "Some ointments and poultice for your burns. Someone will come with dinner within a couple of hours after the feast is finished. Try and rest till then."

He made to turn abruptly away however at the last moment Ariel reached out and grabbed at his arm once more.

He would have tugged his limb away from her had he not caught sight of the concerned expression on her face.

He frowned in confusion.

Why was she of all people concerned about his welfare, when she herself clearly needed more looking after?

She is a strange child…

He mused as he made to pry her hand off his arm gently.

But she has a kind heart…

"Here…" he murmured reaching into the pocket of his green tunic, "I think this belongs to you"

He pulled out a golden pocket-watch on a necklace chain.

"My necklace"

Ariel mouthed in excitement her face lighting up faster and brighter than lights on a Christmas tree as she took the trinket from the elf.

Legolas's face softened slightly as he saw her hang the chain about her neck, her fingers moving with swift, practised dexterity over the clasp before aligning the timepiece to hang centred on her chest.

"I found it in the woods not far from the ruins of Dol Guldur." He explained when she looked back up to him "Your companions saw it on my person when we arrested them and told me it belonged to you. I am glad to see it returned to its rightful owner."

He paused as Ariel looked back up at him and gave him a warm grateful smile.

He allowed the corners of his mouth to quirk upwards for a split moment…or at least until a pair of laughs hit his ears.

Ariel watched curiously, as the elf's eyes snapped to the sides, his face once more slipping back under a steely mask of loathing.

What the…

Ariel tilted her head as she caught sight of Kili and Tauriel both softly chuckling with one another, their faces both softened by gentle amusement and peace.

Without even pausing to bid farewell, Legolas swiftly turned on his heel and strode away from the cells and back up into the halls of his father.

Well…

The Ariel's eyebrows rose as she watched him go up a set of stairs and out of sight, his face seething with anger.

THAT certainly was not mentioned in the book!

Chapter Text

All the orcs of Dol Guldur scurried frantically away from the great dark tower above them, yellowing eyes wide with terror as the storm above the tower began to swirl fast.

"Get inside!" one of their leaders yelled as the wind began to howl around them and thunder crashed overhead. "Batten down the hatches you maggots, or there will be hell to pay!"

No one needed telling twice. Orcs and wargs all scrambled over one another in their attempts to reach the safety of the indoors, not even caring if they trampled their fellowmen to death in their fear. After all, being caught in their master's anger was something none of these dark creatures ever wanted.

And oh how angry he was now. The orcs fear increased tenfold as lightning flashed and struck a nearby watchtower. There were shrieks and shouts as several orcs fell down along with some of the stones from on high. Below them, the terrified scramblers quickly ducked or tried to cover themselves with their shields as they continued to swarm into the massive iron doors that led into one of the fortresses wings.

They were all so terrified that they didn't notice an eerie green and silver spectre that flickered and slid away from the shadow of one of the stone sentinels that stood guard outside the tower. It was humanoid in shape, tall, sinister and wearing long regal robes underneath it's vicious looking armour. Its face was sunken and gaunt, whatever scarred "skin" that covered it was pulled so tight around the skull. But worst of all were the eyes, its glowing green, white eyes, that stared up at the darkening skies as a horrible, guttural roar suddenly rent the air, drowning all other sounds and blotting out all light.

Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Dol Guldur seethed from the cloak of darkness as he looked down upon the two figures on the ground.

The first was a human corpse, charred and burnt beyond recognition. Its remaining limbs were twisted in unnatural directions from where it had been crushed, a nasty smokey smell wafting from the odd coal-black lump of what might have been a person's skull.

Beside these horrific remains an old hag was bent over on her knees, prostrating herself as she shivered pathetically. Her pasty white, papery skin was covered in burns and her face was heavily bruised and scarred from where a large claw-like hand had struck it in anger.

"You…" Sauron snarled, his voice rumbling like the insides of a volcano. "You let this happen! You let her escape?!"

"Master-master please" Balcheth pleaded, her head and arms bowed onto the floor before her. "I was only trying to help your blessed one come into her own. I took her into the forest to help her learn how to use the new powers you had gifted her-"

"Liar!" Sauron hissed, and Balcheth whimpered and cowered as two glowing fiery eyes suddenly gleamed in the dark like a cat. "I see your mind as clear as I see you wretch. I know you wanted the child gone as soon as you laid your eyes on her. And now you have foolishly set her free before she was ready to play her part. Now the foolish grey wizard and their ridiculous white council will know I am here!"

"Please forgive me, master. Please, I beg of you. All I want to do is to serve you!" Balcheth wailed, tears streaming down her withered bird-like face as the darkness pressed in around her. "I-I will make things right I swear. I-I could still track her down, w-with this."

Balcheth pulled out a small vial from the sleeve of her robe and presented it to her master; head bowed to the ground.

A dark charred hand reached forward and deftly plucked the vial from the aged hag's grip with its third finger and thumb, for the index finger was nothing but a stump of coal, glimmering faintly with a strange internal heat.

Sauron brought the vial into the shadows and looked into its contents with narrowed fiery eyes.

In it was a single lock of rich red-brown hair.

Somewhere in the pitch-black shadows, the Dark Lord's lip curled.

"If it weren't for the fact your magic is of value to me I would destroy you here where you stand," His voice was quiet, but reverberated through the room much like the tremors before a powerful earthquake as he spoke. "Fly to Gundabad at once, make sure all is ready for our advance."

"M-Master?!" Balcheth looked up, only to gulp as the glowing fiery eyes narrowed to slits in the darkness. "O-of course master. All shall be as you wish."

And with that she scrambled to her feet and out the door to the tower, leaving her seething master alone in the looming darkness.

Ariel smiled softly as she leaned back where she sat, listening to the thirteen dwarves conversing softly between the cells.

"So Miss Ariel how did you end up in the clinker with us?" The question was so sudden Ariel turned round in surprise.

It was Bofur who had asked the question.

Ariel quickly glanced through the bars of her cell door to catch Thorin's eye as he stood above.

The dwarf prince smirked, and Ariel thought, though she could have imagined it, that there was a faint gleam of pride in his dark blue eyes as he said.

"She slapped the king."

"What? why?" spluttered Dori exchanged a worried look with Ori.

"He accused her of being a worthless woman of ill repute whose only purpose was to serve us in rather unsavoury ways" Thorin's smirk had now grown as he saw Ariel's face darken angrily at the memory.

"HE WHAT?!" Kili looked livid as he jumped off his bed to peer at the cell alongside his. Where his brother sat on the floor and started to chuckle as Ariel silently snorted and rolled her eyes beside him.

Dwalin chortled with pride as he saw the young girl crack her knuckles angrily from the cell below "Please tell me she managed to bruise his face for that."

"No, but her hit did make his lip bleed" Thorin chuckled softly. "His face was priceless."

"HA! That's our girl!"

The other dwarves snorted and laughed in their cells much to the discomfort of the elves. Many turned to look at the girl in her cell with confusion.

That tiny girl who barely had been alive two days ago had struck their king? No, it couldn't have been true.

A clacking of boots on the stone steps echoed and all the dwarves silenced themselves as the guards straightened up at once as Legolas and Tauriel both strode down towards them and towards Ariel and Fili's cell.

As they passed Kili's cell, Ariel could have sworn she had seen Tauriel and the youngest dwarf exchange fleeting shy smiles, though they were quickly hidden as Legolas's sharp blue gaze narrowed upon them suspiciously.

Then the moment passed and Legolas had turned the key to his destination and opened the door gingerly. He looked momentarily surprised to see the young woman sitting companionably next to the blonde dwarf on the floor, though it was a damn sight better than seeing them spooning in their narrow cot like how he had spotted them last night.

Such a strange child, to be able to tolerate dwarves as if they were her kindred.

He pondered to himself as he looked down at Ariel who was getting steadily to her feet, Fili quickly scrambling to his own to stand protectively in front of her.

"Eryniel has gotten permission from the King to let her check over your injuries up in the healing halls. If you would care to follow me." the Elf Prince said smoothly, ignoring Fili's suspicious glower.

Yet before the dwarf could react Ariel silently put a placating hand on his shoulder.

"Are you sure?" Fili asked worriedly, but Ariel just smiled consolingly and nodded as she silently mouthed:

"I will be fine."

And with a quiet respectful bob of the head to Legolas, she allowed herself to be gently led from the cell, while Tauriel stayed behind to check on the rest of the dwarves and their jailers.

Some of the Elvish guards were quick to want to swarm protectively around the prince and his charge, but Legolas was quick to dismiss them back to their posts.

Though the girl was indeed most strange and bore that horrible ring, he did not feel any malicious intent from her. And even if she did try to escape, he could easily overpower her and bring her back to the cells himself, though he doubted very much whether that would ever be necessary. The girl might have been reckless in her fear but now that she was recovering back to a stable frame of mind, she would not be foolish and bite the hand that had helped her.

Their goings to the healer's wing were slower than usual due to her still frail state. However, Ariel could already feel her body was a lot stronger than it had been when she had first walked down the halls. She only started growing exhausted once they had reached the entrance to the healing halls, and though she was panting for breath, her throat was no longer burning with each puff as it had done earlier.

It wasn't long before she was settled into a nearby room where Eryniel was waiting for her. She ushered the young human woman quickly inside before shooing her cousin to stand outside for privacy as she helped Ariel get undressed for a bath she had prepared.

Legolas rolled his eyes as he stood with his back to the now-closed door. He was a prince, not a glorified guard dog. Still, it would not be proper for him to watch a young woman in such a compromising position, and his father had put him in charge of the human's safety.

Meanwhile back inside, Ariel shivered slightly as Eryniel helped her out of her white slip and underwear, the older elf woman fussing like a mother hen as she looked over her injuries.

"Well, look at that. Barely one night of proper food and rest and already you look so much better" Eryniel's eyes were gleaming proudly as she inspected the girl's body.

Ariel herself was too surprised by the sight of herself in the nearby mirror to be embarrassed by her state of nudity. While the burns on her body were still rather nasty looking, all the cuts, bruises and scrapes she had acquired had all but nearly vanished. Her injured limbs too had ceased swelling, and were, if possible, less scarred than before.

Ariel had always been quick to bounce back from injuries and sickness, but for all her minor injuries to have dissolved in the span of twenty-four hours…something strange was going on, and she had a nasty suspicion already as to what it was.

So…Sauron decided to make some modifications as he tried to break me down huh?

She glanced down at the horrible iron and opal ring on her left hand. It was no longer glowing, but there were still small cuts and scratches in her skin from where the iron thorns had dug in painfully.

Eryniel spared the ring a worried glance as she looked over the girl's hands in hers.

"It still won't come off then?"

Ariel shook her head. She had tried many times while she had been down in the cell with Fili. The dwarf himself had also tried to help her, however every time his fingers even grazed the iron band, the thorns would tighten about her finger and prick painfully at his skin.

Ariel was thankful that Eryniel was more cautious in her approach as she was not sure she could take another round of pain from the trinket at this moment.

She was quick to sit in the wooden tub provided for her to bathe in, Eryniel sitting behind her on the edge as she helped wash her burns gently with a clean washcloth. Though she tried being careful not to burst the small blisters, Ariel could not help but wince in pain every time the soft cloth gently rubbed against her sensitive skin.

It took all she had not to cry out silently in pain as Eryniel made to clean the burns on her neck and lower left arm and hand. These were by far the worst of all her injuries, and though she was no doctor, Ariel was sure they were at least a second to third-degree burn at least.

"Forgive me little one, but you must keep these areas as clean as you can until the skin heals over." Eryniel cooed soothingly as she rinsed out her washcloth in a nearby bowl of sanitised water. "Though I am afraid that once they have healed, they will still scar."

Of course, they will.

Ariel sighed. Now everyone would stare and gawp at her when she got back home…if she ever got back home.

She quickly shook her head. No, she could not think like that. She had a job to do and then she would save her brother and return to her warm bed, her school and her parents. She had to.

There was silence as Eryniel helped her finish the bath and get dressed into a new set of clean clothes that had been prepared and waiting on the nearby chair.

It was a plain white peasant dress with long plain sleeves and had a dark green corset to go over the top.

"I know it might not be appropriate for the season," Eryniel apologised as she helped the young woman lace up the back of the corset. "However, it is all the King would allow me to bring to you given your situation. I will bandage your arm and your throat so they are protected from the elements, but you will have to rely on your blankets down in the cells to keep you warm so you do not catch a chill."

Ariel nodded, though, in all honesty, she was just grateful for the opportunity to bathe and wear clean underwear once more.

She had just managed to bandage her neck and left arm and was in the middle of brushing out her hair when there came a sharp knock at the door.

"Yes, what is it? Oh, your Majesty!" Eryniel quickly bent into a curtsy.

Ariel stiffened at once where she stood.

King Thranduil was standing in the doorway alone, a stony expression on his pale face as he looked over Ariel's now clean form. And there behind him creeping silently and observed by no one else was none other than-

Bilbo?! What the-How in the-?

It took all of Ariel's willpower not to rush up to the hobbit and hug him with all her might as he crept in just behind Thranduil who was appearing to ignore him as he made to stand in front of Ariel a few feet away.

When he spoke, his voice was nonchalant and casual, though his blue eyes were sharp like icicles:

"Eryniel, leave us. I would like to speak to our young guest, alone."

Eryniel looked like she wanted to argue but thought better of it. She might have stood up to the prince because they were cousins, but she would never disobey her king. She could not.

She was quick to stride out of the room to stand with Legolas who caught Ariel's eye briefly as he chanced an anxious peek through the door as the King shut it behind himself.

"I see you have recovered somewhat from your ordeal" Thranduil clipped and though his voice sounded calm and polite, there was a sharp edge to it. "Though one has to wonder how a child such as yourself was put into such a position. It is no matter; you are here now and here you will remain imprisoned unless Thorin Oakenshield will recant his position."

Fat chance of that. Ariel thought, glancing at Bilbo who had snuck off to stand away from the King near the bathtub.

That is odd. Why hasn't Thranduil acknowledged him?

She wondered as the elven King stalked past her to pour himself a glass of water from a nearby side table, completely ignoring Bilbo's presence even though he was directly in his line of sight.

Of course, the Hobbit was sneaky when he needed to be, but this was a small room and he was standing in plain sight, so how could the king of elves, born with superhuman senses, not see him? Then she saw a glimmer of gold upon a small pale hand.

It's the ring! Bilbo is wearing the One Ring. That's why Thranduil cannot see him. But if an elf can't see him then why can I? And why is his outline so…blurred?

The answer soon became apparent as Ariel's left hand began to throb with pain. She winced as she looked down at the iron ring on her finger, her heart sinking as she noticed the engravings pulsing and glowing in that eerie shade of green.

Of course. She too was wearing a magic ring—a magic ring made by the same creator as the One.

Oh my god! That's it. That's why I can see him. Like when the Witch King could see Frodo in the shadow world when he stabbed him on Weathertop, I can see Bilbo now when he's wearing the ring because I'm wearing mine.

Ariel gulped stilling where she stood.

Oh, this was bad. This was very bad. If she could see Bilbo with the ring that meant she was on the path to becoming an evil wraith like the Nazgul.

Her inner panic was interrupted by Thranduil who narrowed his eyes upon the iron band she wore with equal disgust.

"My son tells me you have yet to find a way to remove that evil contrivance from your hand. If all else fails, you may have no choice but to amputate the finger before too long if you wish to escape further torment"

Ariel shivered at the thought. Severe burns, broken bones and now possible amputations. At this rate, she would be returning home in a body bag.

"It seems you are finally grasping the severity of your situation. Such magic rings of power, even the lesser ones, are not to be taken lightly. It doesn't take them long to corrupt their hosts, especially when they are of the race of men."

Oh yes bring race into it, why don't you?!

Ariel scowled angrily but stood her ground as Thranduil smirked at her oh-so-pleasantly.

"But come enough talk about such dark matters. I have a proposition for you that it would do you well to consider, for it concerns the imprisonment of your little dwarf friends."

Ariel blinked in surprise, quickly chancing another glance at Bilbo who also looked quite astonished by the King's sudden change in tone as he held out a goblet of water for Ariel.

She received it as cautiously as she could and took a small sip, keeping her cautious gaze fixed on the King as he served himself more water and said:

"You have been travelling with Thorin Oakenshield's company for a while; they must have told you about the treasure they wish to reclaim."

Ariel nodded nervously, not quite sure where this was going, but listening intently all the same.

"Of course the Arkenstone, the king's jewel, the heart of the Lonely Mountain, is their ultimate goal. I myself had seen it many times when I visited King Thror in Erebor. It is a beautiful stone, but there are other gems in that mountain that are just as valuable. Some of which belonged to me. Gems of purest starlight and moonlight. I gave them to the dwarves so they could fashion them into a gift for one of my own, yet when I returned to the mountain to retrieve my order, King Thror refused to give them back. He said that the price we had offered was not enough and that until we could amass a newer greater payment, he would keep the gems under his, care."

Thranduil growled the last word out with such ferocity that Ariel shuddered.

She had heard Thorin telling this story to Fili and Kili while they had been travelling. He had said that the Elves refused to pay the full amount and had tried to swindle them for fools.

Yet, Ariel could not help but feel as though Thranduil was speaking the truth. He was undoubtedly livid at the mere notion of the betrayal, though he was quick to hide it behind his stone-cold mask once more as he said:

"Needless to say you can understand why I too would see the dragon vanquished and Erebor restored to its former glory. The return of my family's jewels from the Lonely Mountain would not just bring me peace of mind but would potentially help rebuild the friendship between our two kingdoms. But alas, as you have no doubt heard, Thorin Oakenshield is just as overprotective about his treasure horde as his grandfather and thus has refused any offer to grant me this one small favour in return for your company's freedom. A rather foolish decision on his part, then again dwarves rarely use their common sense when their minds are on gold."

He met Ariel's gaze steadily and his eyes flickered smugly when she tried to stare back defiantly despite her anxiousness.

"You, however, do not strike me as such a fool. Innocent, crass and naïve yes, but I can tell you see the truth in my words." He stepped forward to stand in her personal bubble.

Somewhere beside them, Bilbo, still invisible to all but Ariel, shifted closer both to hear the King's next words:

"If you promise to bring me the Gems I seek, I will set you and your friends free without delay, with the full acquittal of any crime committed within my Kingdom. Do this one favour for me, and you and your friends will live. Refuse and, well, need I say more?"

His voice trailed off as he took the goblet of water from Ariel's hands and set it back down to the side-table.

Ariel meanwhile stared hard at his back her mind racing.

Take the deal and give him the jewels, you free everyone and repair a broken alliance. It's a win-win situation which will benefit everyone. Besides, it's not like he's asking you for the Arkenstone.

The logical half of her mind said.

Meanwhile, another small voice whispered softly:

But if you do that you would be going behind Thorin's back and stealing from him, your friend. That is wrong on so many levels. Besides, we don't know which side of that story about these jewels is in the wrong or in the right. Thranduil could be lying, or he himself might have the story backward and misinterpreting events. You would just be putting yourself in the middle of an ongoing feud and for what? A bunch of shiny rocks?

"I can see you need time to consider my request," Thranduil said smoothly as he walked over and opened the door to the room.

"I will give you one night to think it over. No more, no less. I do hope you choose wisely for once the decision is made there will be no going back"

Bilbo Baggins sighed with relief as he leaned back against the wall of an empty corridor. He had just left the healers wing; Ariel having been escorted back to the cells down below by the fair elf prince.

Today was turning out to be quite something. He had almost gotten caught stealing a roll of bread from one of the cooks in the kitchens, then an elf guard with exceptionally keen hearing had almost heard the pitter-patter of his feet as he had peeked around a corner.

But the real cherry on top of the cake of surprise had been entering the healer's room to find Ariel and finding her not only alive but looking directly at him even though he was wearing his magic ring.

Thankfully, she seemed to have enough common sense not to cause a scene in front of the king, but that did not make it any less nerve-wracking for the poor hobbit.

How? How could she have seen him when he was invisible to everyone else?

Maybe it was her own magic ring… Perhaps it has the power to see things that are invisible?

He mused as he remembered Thranduil's words of warning about the rings of power, then quickly shook his head.

No, no. His ring was nothing like the horrible band Ariel was now forced to wear. For one thing, it was far more beautiful and well-crafted even if it did seem to have trouble keeping it on at the best of times. He shuddered as he remembered that one horrible moment it had almost slipped off his finger while the elf king was talking.

Perhaps the temperature of my hand makes it expand or contract in size. Gold is after all a soft metal.

He reasoned in his head unaware of the strange light glinting off the golden band on his finger as he made his way, invisible to all, down lower into the bowels of the wood elves' realm.

Most of the dwarves were snoozing in their cells by the time Ariel finally got back to the dungeons, guided once more by Legolas. Ariel could not help but smirk as the elf prince rolled his eyes in disgust at the cacophony of snores, grunts and foghorn farts that echoed all around them. Nearly all but one of the guards had left to join the continuing festivities that were still taking place in the upper caverns of their underground kingdom.

"I honestly do not understand how you survived travelling with these dwarves" Legolas muttered quietly so that only Ariel could hear. "They breathe so loud they could wake the entire forest. I don't know how Eryniel expects you to get a decent night's sleep."

Ariel shrugged, silently chuckling with fondness as she was led down the dungeon steps to pass Thorin's cell. Unlike the others, he was still awake along with Balin in the cell beside him. Both of them had been taking advantage of the absence of guards and their company's loud snores to have a quiet chat amongst themselves.

They were quick to stop as they caught sight of Ariel and Legolas.

"There you are, Lass. Thank Mahal. We were beginning to get worried." Balin smiled warmly at the girl before turning to bob his head politely to the prince. "So what did the healer say, laddie? Is everything alright with her?"

"Your friend is fine," Legolas replied graciously, surprised at the elderly dwarf's genial tone. "She will need to keep her burns wrapped up and covered until they have healed over so they do not get infected. Otherwise, everything seems to be coming along smoothly, though it may still yet be a while till she can use her voice once more."

"Ah, that is good news. Isn't that right Thorin?" Balin glanced sidelong at Thorin, who glowered at the prince.

However, when he turned to look at Ariel, his expression softened considerably.

"You are certainly looking better I'll grant you that" he murmured reaching out through the bars to take Ariel's right hand "Are they treating you well?"

Ariel nodded, surprised and touched by this rare show of concern from the stubborn dwarf.

"The King has not threatened you again has he?"

Ariel shook her head, though slightly slower than before. Well, technically the King hadn't threatened her, even if he had acted sinister…even so.

One night. That's all I have to decide. I can make a deal and free my friends or I can try and collude with Bilbo to come and spring us from these cells.

She squeezed Thorin's hand back and gave him a small comforting smile as she mouthed.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Don't worry? But wasn't it you who said that worrying was what friends did for one another?" Thorin snorted and was pleased to see her flush pink and roll her eyes fondly.

Behind her, Legolas shifted nervously as he shared a confused look with Balin, who seemed just as perturbed by the oddly tender scene as he was.

"Come now. You need to rest" the Elf Prince muttered tersely as he began to steer Ariel away from the Dwarves and back down to hers and Fili's cell.

The blonde dwarf was already up and watching them through the bars with a curious expression on his face as he welcomed Ariel back into their shared space.

Thorin watched silently from his cell as Ariel made to settle herself to sit beside his nephew on the floor, the lattermost grinning wide as he recounted something funny one of the older dwarves had told him before they had fallen asleep.

His smirk softened. After all the horror Ariel had been through it was good to see her smile again, for it brought colour back to her cheeks and a youthful light back in her eyes.

Not only that but her real smile was downright infectious. It even brought the ever gruff Bifur and Dwalin's spirits up and they were some of the sternest people Thorin had ever known.

The dwarf prince remembered clearly the words of Thranduil from their meeting and his gaze hardened slightly as he recalled that his own earlier words towards the young girl.

I call him foolish now…but how long ago was it that I and all of us who once said the same things of her…

He thought to himself.

But now look how far she's come in spite of her fears and our scorn. She had her voice and powers stolen by a powerful dark sorcerer, and now she still finds the strength to smile and see the joy in the world. Gandalf was right…you are a remarkable person.

But even as he made to watch both the girl and his nephew continue to laugh he saw the bars of their door before their faces.

But remarkable or not, unless we find a way out of this prison we are all doomed to a life in these cages.

"Galion you old rogue, we're running out of drink" a voice called down in the deep cellars of the Woodland Realm.

The Elf Galion, keeper of the cellars grinned as he looked up from a stack of empty barrels to see his friend, a guard, stride down the stairs with a small frown.

"These empty barrels should have been sent back to Esgaroth hours ago. The Bargeman will be waiting for them."

"All in good time Elros" Galion shook his head fondly but nonetheless made to push another empty wine barrel onto a great wooden board along with twelve others.

"Say what you like our ill-tempered king. He has excellent taste in wine" As soon as he was done he picked up a small flask filled with the deep red liquid and took a generous swig with a smirk towards his fellow elf.

"Come on Elros, try it"

"I have the dwarves in my charge" Elros shook his head holding up a large ring of iron on which many keys were dangling and chinking as they swayed in the air.

"Oh come now old friend, the hole dwellers are locked up. Where can they go? Ahaha!"

Galion chuckled as he quickly snatched away the item from his friend's hands and hung it on a small hook close by.

Elros glanced at them worriedly but did not make a move to retrieve them.

Though he was a dutiful soldier, Galion did make a good point. Besides, it was the second night of the Feast of Starlight. Who in their right mind would not have at least one celebratory drink in honour of such an event? Even the Mirkwood's solitary king and his son were enjoying themselves in the high halls with their subjects.

"I suppose one it wouldn't hurt to take a break" Elros sighed heavily and Galion grinned even wider.

"That's the spirit. Come let's sit down you look dead on your feet."

Despite his small nagging doubt at the back of his mind, Elros couldn't help but smile as a drink was forced into his hand.

Just one before I go back won't hurt…

But that one quickly turned into two, and that two quickly turned into four and that four turned into…well…by the time they'd passed that number, both elves were barely stringing two words together coherently.

"So she says: Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink" Elros was now almost choking on his drink as he and Galion chuckled madly "and he says Madam if you were my wife, I would drink it."

Galion threw back his head back so hard with a bark of laughter that his chair leaned backwards and fell with a thud onto the floor. As soon as he heard his companion's landing Elros's chuckles turned into chokes of laughter as his head thumped hard into the table below him.

He was laughing so hard that he didn't notice the small soft pitter-patter of feet nor the way the keys on the wall behind him swayed a little before they hovered off the hook and away out the door.

Many hours had passed since Ariel had returned from her check-up. Now all was quiet and a sullen mood had swept over the now fully awake dwarves.

Why?

Because all fourteen prisoners had realised that Durin's day was barely less than a week away and that their hours were numbered.

Ariel herself was feeling nervous. She only had a couple of hours in which to give King Thranduil her reply to his bargain, and she still didn't know what path to take.

Should she take the deal or wait for Bilbo to help launch an escape?

God Bilbo, I hope you've found out about the barrels in the cellars

She bit her lip nervously as she rested her head on Fili's shoulder. They were still on the floor of the cell only now they were both lying on the floor side by side underneath both sets of their fur blankets. Ariel would've just told Fili to take them all and use them to sleep but Fili mulishly had let her take most of their space, saying that since she was so malnourished she'd need help keeping warm.

Though she protested much on the outside, Ariel secretly admitted that he had a point about that. Though she had eaten and rested much since she was rescued, she still was quite thin for her height and build and was probably more prone to relapsing into sickness.

And to think those girls at school wanted to be this dress size for their prom dresses.

She snorted to herself.

Stupid twits. It feels terrible. Like I'm a skeleton brought back to life

She smiled softly to herself as she snuggled closer into Fili's warm side.

Who'd have thought dwarves could be so warm and cuddly?

But even as she glanced up at Fili's face, Bofur's voice sighed morosely from where he stood in his cell.

"I'll wager the sun is on the rise. It must be nearly dawn."

"We're never gonna reach the mountain are we?" Ori mumbled sadly.

Fili sighed as he watched the cell door with a longing expression.

"Durin's day is so close" he whispered softly and sadly. "and here we are sitting in these…ahg! Ow, what was that for?"

He frowned at Ariel who retracted her hand from where she had lightly punched him on the shoulder.

She did not speak with words, but to Fili, her bright light hazel eyes spoke volumes as they gleamed with great determination and spirit.

Don't mope around!

"I'm sorry. You're right…" Fili nodded quietly as Ariel smiled encouragingly. "We'll find a way to the mountain somehow."

"Not stuck in here you're not!"

Ariel and Fili sat up straight back from each other in alarm. As did the other twelve dwarves.

Thorin's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as he landed flat on his behind in front of the door to his cell, where someone was jiggling the lock with a key on a ring. Someone four-foot-high with a mop of brown curls on his head.

"Bilbo!" Balin cried out in joy along with the others.

"Shh! There are guards nearby!" the hobbit hissed as he managed to open Thorin's door before dashing off to open the others.

Ariel and Fili sprang to their feet at once, their faces alight with glee Bilbo made to open their cell door with a smirk.

"Hello, I hope you two haven't gotten too comfortable because we've got to move."

"You don't have to tell me twice" Fili muttered as they stepped through but Bilbo was already opening Kili's door.

Ariel, however, had her attention focused on the floors above. People were moving about but none coming close…yet…

Someone's bound to come down to check on us soon. We need to keep them occupied but how?

Her eyes fell upon her cell door.

Bingo!

She looked up and waved her arms silently at up at where Thorin was standing with Balin, talking over the same thing. When the older dwarves caught sight of her, she quickly shut her door and forced it locked upon her empty cell.

"Good thing that Necromancer didn't tamper with that brain of hers," Dwalin muttered with admiration.

Thorin nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as he made to hiss to his comrades:

"Close the doors quick! So they think we're still inside."

With a few gentle thuds, all the iron-barred doors shut smoothly, and soon everyone was clambering up towards the stairs where they had all seen all the guards come in and out of the prison.

"Up the stairs!"

"You first"

However, where thirteen dwarves were going up, Bilbo was trotting down towards another tall set of stairs that led even deeper underground.

"No, not that way. Down here. Follow me" he hissed at Ariel who quickly nodded and tugged on the blue sleeve of Thorin's tunic pointing at where Bilbo was going.

He nodded and soon all of them were creeping down silently in single file down, down and even deeper down beneath the magnificent hills of the elven kingdom.

Ariel's heart thudded heavily as her excitement mounted.

She could not believe she was going to be experiencing the entire barrel escape herself. It had been one of her most favourite moments in the Hobbit book as a child. She was so excited that she couldn't help the grin over her face even as she almost slid down a stair.

The others just shrugged off her excitement as her glee of finally escaping, mostly because they were feeling rather giddy at the prospect of finding a way out.

However, when the dwarves stepped down the last steps and found themselves hidden amongst lines of large wine barrels, they all frowned and murmured in confusion.

"I don't believe it we're in the cellars" Fili hissed angrily as he caught sight of two elves sitting at a far off table, snoring loudly.

Ariel's nose wrinkled as the pungent smell of alcohol hit her nose.

Eguh! And to think I thought elves could hold their liquor?

She shook her head to clear it of the smell just as Bofur narrowed his eyes at Bilbo.

"Yeah, you're supposed to be leading us out not further in."

"Shut up I know what I'm doing now get this way!" Bilbo snapped quietly as he led them towards a large platform right in the open where thirteen empty open barrels were stacked.

"Now what are we going to do with these?" Gloin snarled at Bilbo but Ariel beat the hobbit to the punch as she made to shimmy her way back into the closest barrel.

"Just follow Ariel's lead and get into the barrels"

"Are you both mad?" Dwalin rolled his eyes "they'll find us when they come to look."

"No-no they won't I promise you" Bilbo whispered feeling just as aggravated with the dwarves as they were of him "Please, please you must trust me!"

He looked imploringly at Thorin, who caught his eye sternly.

Whilst he didn't have a clue as to what their burglar was planning, he had to admit it was better than nothing at all.

"Do as he says" the dwarf prince hissed clambering into Ariel's barrel. She squirmed a little as he made to adjust himself against her. it was a tight fit but thankfully she was slim enough that they both had just enough space to move about comfortably. Seeing their leader's determination and example the others began to follow suit.

As soon as they were all settled in, Bofur poked his head out from one of the top barrels.

"What do we do now?"

"Hold your breath" Bilbo muttered as he finished counting off the numbers and strode towards a lever that stood in the floor.

Ariel shut her eyes and took a deep breath, resisting the urge to use it up to sigh as the others exchanged puzzled looks, just as Bilbo tugged the lever sideways.

Ariel was glad to have closed her eyes for one moment she was stationary and vertical and the next she was suddenly rolling downwards and falling as the floor beneath them tilted to reveal running water below.

The water was icy cold and at once she was completely soaked through as hers, and Thorin's barrel dropped for a moment beneath the surface.

She felt Thorin's arms grip tight about her as they surfaced.

"Are you alright?" He spluttered as he forced her head upwards towards fresher air. He looked just about as drenched as she was, his black hair flecked with grey, plastered like a wet mop over his face. This, when combined with his wet beard, made him look rather like a bedraggled sheepdog after a bath.

I probably look ten times worse.

Ariel reasoned as she gave him a nod quickly spitting out a whole mouthful of water over the edge of the barrel.

She could hear the others doing similar things as they too surfaced, using the winding rocks about them to carefully position their barrel's right side up.

"Thorin the current" Dwalin grunted grabbing onto the back of the barrel before Thorin or Ariel could float out of reach.

Thorin quickly threw out both his arms and just about managed to catch hold of the rocks on either side of them. Thankfully the current wasn't too strong, so he managed to hold them there as the others carefully tried to follow his lead without accidentally bumping one another.

There was a great grinding of wood being maneuvered by metal mechanisms and Ariel looked up just in time to see the wooden ramp they'd just rolled off of, tilt downwards again behind them and a small figure fall from it.

BILBO!

Ariel clapped a hand to her mouth in fear as she looked at the water trying to spot a ripple or a bubble that meant the hobbit had survived the dunk. What might be shallow for her would be deep water for him and she wasn't sure he could swim, for they had never had to do so till now.

From what she'd remembered of hobbits, they were not overly fond of water, save the Brandybucks and the Tooks who owned land by the water and used boats (which their other hobbit kind thought a queer and unnatural trait).

But then again, Bilbo was half a Took. Maybe he did learn how to swim?

Oh god, Bilbo please be-

There was a loud splash and a splutter and suddenly the hobbit broke the surface with a loud gasp as Nori reached down to yank him up to the clean air.

Thank goodness.

Ariel sighed with relief as did Thorin who also had been watching for Bilbo since the hobbit had fallen into the water.

"Well done master Baggins" he grinned before quickly turning and letting go of his hold of the rocks.

At once with a jolt, the barrel began to move with the current and soon they were meandering their way towards a bright opening.

After so many days under dark trees and cave walls, Ariel would have cried at the sight of the bright sun had it not been for the fact that the water seemed to drop before it.

Oh god we're going to fall over the edge, aren't we? Cliché much?

She mentally face-palmed as memories of all her favourite adventure films and stories played over in her head, namely the scenes where the heroes got dramatically thrown into a river with many dangerous rapids and probably a high waterfall at the end which may have had a few bloodthirsty crocodiles or alligators waiting to eat them up.

Though knowing our luck we'll most likely run into orcs again. Do they even have crocodiles in middle earth?

But even as the drop came closer, she gripped tight onto Thorin's arm as he yelled loudly.

"Everyone hold on!"

And Ariel did hold on, very tight and very terrified as they fell suddenly over a tall four-metre drop only to be dunked once more in water.

She gasped loudly as she and Thorin surfaced again, now both more soaked than ever. However, for the first time, Ariel wasn't concerned about being wet. She was just worried about the oncoming rapids and rocks.

Oh, Christ even for a cliché this is terrifying!

If she had a voice she would be screaming by now as the barrel's tumbled dangerously fast through the water barely avoiding scraping sharp hard rocks.

Then suddenly, as Thorin was trying his best to steer them past a large rock, the barrel tipped forwards and Ariel found herself sliding out.

"Ariel!" he cried out as he grasped for the girl's foot, but it was too late. Ariel's mouth opened in a silent yell as she felt her body get dragged away down the current of the river.

"Blast it! Ariel!" he cursed as he saw her red blob of hair disappear beneath the white foam of the waters spray and not pop back up.

HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!

She thought wildly as she fought to keep her head above water, only to get pulled under once more.

NO! NO! WHY ME?! WHY BLOODY ME?!

She gasped as her body made to tumble about a little as she reached the ends of the rapids.

As she did she could vaguely remember, her mother's smiling face as she reached out towards a much smaller version of her hands, gently tugging her along inside a chlorinated pool.

"That's right Ariel just relax. The water will help you to swim if you relax. The water will be your friend my little mermaid."

Relax…

Ariel shut her eyes, her head still underwater, trying to ignore the roaring of the waters above her head as she did her best to calm down her mind and relax her limbs.

The effect was almost instantaneous. At once she felt lighter, less tangled up. Her limbs seemed to remember how to function.

Her heart rate had slowed down and her though her breath was beginning to strain against her cheeks she found it was not happening as fast as usual.

Just gotta right myself again and then surface

She reasoned, her mind suddenly feeling clearer than it ever had done for the past two months as she kicked out her legs.

When she felt them work smoothly and in the right directions, she added her arms into the equation and pushed with all her strength. She was pleased to find that she had broken through the surface of the water on her first go.

She gasped for breath quickly looking about her. She was currently floating swiftly along with the current. However, the barrels were all in front of her clumped together around the underside of a tall bridge.

Bottlenecked…

But even as she squinted at the small underside of the bridge, she heard a familiar horrific screech.

She quickly ducked under the water as a dark arrow suddenly whizzed through the air straight towards the spot her head had just been.

ORCS! Goddamn squint-eyed, squat slimy little bastards.

She growled angrily in her head as she quickly swam, using the white foamy surface of the running water to obscure herself from view. She was careful not to come up for air too often, for whenever she did the orcs would aim an arrow at her head. The other dwarves and Bilbo did not notice her however for they were trying their best to fight the fiends off as they tried pouncing upon them from atop the stone bridge.

A gate…they're trapped!

Ariel's eyes widened as she saw in the distance under the murky water a glimpse of crisscrossing metals behind the bobbing wooden barrels.

She surfaced again just in time to see Kili leap out from his barrel and up onto the side of the bridge, his arms reaching out to dive for a big lever that stood towards the top.

However, he did not make it.

There was a swift twang as an arrow was loosed from a bow and Kili cried out in pain.

"KILI!" Fili's scream was loud and shrill as his brother keeled over and fell backwards into the water.

Everything seemed to happen as if in slow motion. The fall, the splash, the yells of the company…and then there was the blood.

Quicker than thinking Ariel dove under.

She hadn't a clue how deep this river was, nor did she care.

All that was racing through her mind was a vision of another person falling before her and an evil crone's voice cackling wickedly.

"That's right boy, behold my power for it will be the last thing you ever see!"

"NOO! IAN!"

Ariel's teeth gritted as she forced herself to swim deeper despite her air supply beginning to dwindle, for she could still see Kili's body as he struggled hard against the water, his movements slowly but surely getting more sluggish from his fatigue.

Oh no, you're not drowning on my watch!

Ariel's eyes glared hard through the water as she quickly surfaced for only a split second, took a deep breath and plunged back down.

She was quick to reach him; though he was still heavier than her and bigger in build.

Right, don't panic Ariel just think! Remember what dad taught you!

She quickly swam up behind Kili's back and locked her arms under his armpits and began to tug.

It was a hard slog, but eventually, his body was relaxed enough that she managed to float him back to the surface.

They both gasped and spluttered loudly, but Ariel did not have time to catch her breath as she dragged him up onto the small bottom step of the bridge close to the barrels.

"Ariel" Kili slurred as he coughed up water, his eyes glimmering with worry.

Ariel didn't answer, instead choosing to give him a helpful thud on the back just as a shadow loomed up behind her.

She quickly turned around and screamed silently as the Orc above her suddenly choked as an arrow with a silver arrowhead struck straight through it.

Ariel quickly snapped her head around just in time to see Tauriel leap from the trees on the left side of the bank, her face livid as she deftly shot two more arrows into different orcs that surrounded the bridge.

Whoa, she is one kick-ass chick!

Ariel would have whistled if she could as she saw the elf woman quickly unsheathe two slender knives and slice down five orcs in a circle around her all within five seconds.

"Ariel Go!" Kili yelled at Ariel, snapping her out of her thoughts as he tried to shove her away, only when he moved, he roared in pain. Ariel quickly looked down and saw to her horror a long black arrow, with jet black crow feathered fletching stuck deep into the young dwarf's thigh.

Oh crap…

She looked up into Kili's face and her heart almost broke. For the first time since she'd met him, the young dwarf looked truly afraid even as he made to yell:

"Go! Get out of here! Save yourself!" but it was clear from the look in his eyes that his heart was not in the words.

He did not want to die…and he did not want to die alone.

Ariel shook her head and set her hands firmly on the arrow in his thigh.

Kili gulped but before he could even say anything, she had given the weapon an almighty tug.

The young dwarf let out a roar of pain as Ariel managed to pull the arrow clean out of his leg, blood pooling out and staining his pants in great dollops.

He panted for breath as Ariel quickly tore off one of the white sleeves of her dress and shoved the bundle of cloth in his hands which she then made him press into his thigh.

"The lever-" he grunted through gritted teeth, his eyes wandering up the bridge.

Ariel looked up and saw the great device above, and without further ado, she quickly jumped up towards it.

It was heavy and made of wood. Still, she persevered and a few moments of heavy pushing she heard metal creaking below her.

"Get in quick!" she heard someone yell to them as she dashed back down to her fallen comrade who was trying to crawl on his hands and knees to his empty barrel which Fili and Ori were holding onto by the edge of the bridge.

Fili grabbed at his brother and pushed him into the barrel before grabbing Ariel's arm and motioning for her to follow.

"HOLD ON!" Oin yelled as the gateway was freed up of some of the barrels.

Ariel clutched tight onto a still shaken Kili as they tumbled once more over the edge of a small fall and into more rapids.

Ariel gasped when they bobbed back upright again doing her best to hold Kili up for he was still very disoriented.

She made to duck quickly as orc arrows swiftly flew over their heads, their shooters roaring and growling in their hideous language.

"ARIEL! KILI LOOK OUT!" She heard Balin cry out before he was dunked underwater.

Ariel quickly looked up and immediately dropped her body over Kili's to shield him as a great orc leapt down from on high, aiming its gigantic axe right down for their barrel.

However, just before the orc could strike, she felt a great tug on the side barrel. The monstrous being crashed horribly into the roaring waters below as Dwalin made to push Kili and Ariel along, but not before shoving a dark weapon into the latter's hands. It was an orc's sword.

"Cut the log" he cried out before pushing them along to float before him.

Ariel turned around and saw a massive tree trunk that had fallen over and had wedged itself between the two stony banks of the river, where some orcs were using it as a shooting platform.

She was about to make a rather pathetic swing with the heavy sword when Kili grabbed her hands. He was nowhere near as strong enough to swim but he was strong enough to hold tight. With her strength and his aim, they both managed to hack a decent portion of the wood off before drawing the weapon back and slicing through another attacking orc.

It was like he was instructing her on how to fight, for with every stroke gone right, he allowed Ariel more and more freedom to aim the sword as she pleased. And Ariel was proving to be a fast learner.

Eventually, he had to duck under the edge of the barrel, to relieve the pressure off his injured leg and Ariel was left to fend for herself.

With a mighty swipe, she managed to throw off an orc that had been thrashed into her barrel after failing to attack Bombur, who seemed to have somehow managed to bounce his way up onto dry land and was whirling about in circles with weapons as fast as Taz in an episode of Loony-tunes.

He had managed to slay twenty or so orcs before he quickly darted back to bounce into an empty barrel in the water just as a tall, pale figure leapt down from on high.

It was Legolas, standing on top of the heads of Oin and Dwalin as they travelled down the swiftly running river. His balance was so precise that he was able to shoot calmly from his bow, even as he made to run over the heads of some of the other dwarves so as to shoot down orcs that were trying to waylay them up ahead.

Ariel stared wide-eyed as the elf prince then nimbly made to jump back up onto the high bank and slew several orcs (that had been about to fire arrows at the dwarves) single-handily before struggling a little with an eighth who had enough wits about him to dodge.

Ariel gasped as she caught sight of a small swarthy figure creep up behind Legolas just as he managed to slay his troublesome opponent.

Oh no, he's going to-

Ariel didn't even pause to think as she raised her hands and tossed her sword with all her strength up towards the soon to be ambusher.

Legolas turned just in time to see the girl's arms raised above her head, the weapon fly from her hand and soar through the air, right into the chest of the rogue orc behind him.

What the?

He tried to rush forwards only to come up short at the edge of a small narrow rock that overlooked the river.

One by one he watched breathing heavily for breath as he saw the girl in the barrel suddenly make around the bend in the river along with her companions.

Did she save my life?

His brow furrowed as he watched her long red-brown hair and the worried brown eyes turning back it for the last look his way.

She could've spared herself the trouble but she didn't…why?

Then suddenly there were two sharp twangs, and an arrow spun past his head.

He whipped around sharply just as Tauriel came leaping down from the treetops, disarming the foul orc that had crept up behind him with merely her kicking feet before swooping in to bring her knives upon his neck.

"[Tauriel wait!]" Legolas barked before she could slice her prey with either one of her blades.

Tauriel looked up; her weapons stilled about the subdued brute's neck as Legolas fixed them both with a hard glare.

"[this one we keep alive]"

A man walked along the banks of a river towards a small barge, his long tattered brown coat the only thing keeping his body from the small chilly late spring morning breeze. Over his shoulders were a sturdily crafted longbow and a quiver of equally dark arrows and in his hands were a couple of dead rabbits.

He had been waiting at this spot with his boat for more than two days now. Not that he couldn't handle himself in this wilderness. Indeed he was remarkably comfortable in it for a man of his bearing. Though he did love being on the water best.

He frowned as he made to check over his barge. It was empty, save for a couple of large ropes and sheets and boxes for food and spare blankets and other such camping equipment settled along the edges.

There should have been empty barrels in the middle of the boat by now.

What is taking those blasted elves so long?

He glowered up the river before shaking his head out in exasperation.

Well if the barrels weren't here by an hour he'd have to leave without them. He had a home to get back to, and life wasn't easy when you didn't receive your wages and you had hungry mouths to feed.

But even as he made to step off the boat again to walk along the other side of the river he saw something white poke itself through a rock close by.

He frowned as he approached the small object, his curiosity drawing him further towards it though for the life of him he couldn't figure out why.

However, when he came close enough, he smiled in small delighted surprise.

It was a small flower with petals that blossomed as white as fallen snow. It almost seemed to shine under the light of the morning sun and against the dark face of the rock it was growing up from it looked positively radiant and delicate.

He marvelled at this for a moment. Flowers seldom grew by the banks of this river. The waters were too fast and often tore plants out by the roots, washing them downstream for the fish in the lake to feed upon.

But this little flower was clinging on tightly to the rock and blossoming strongly despite all of the chaos around it.

The bargeman shook his head and snorted to himself.

Whilst it was an unusual phenomenon, it was still just a tiny flower, and he had no time to continue to dwell on the circumstances about its unusual growth.

Or did he?

He looked back up the river and frowned.

Maybe he was being too hasty to leave now…he had enough camping supplies to last him till the night anyways.

And besides…he just had a feeling, one that gnawed at his gut that he had to wait for something…or someone.

Though who that was, he had no clue.

All that Bard the Bargeman did know was that whoever he was expecting to come would be someone that would change everything.

Though whether it was for good or bad…that was another story.

Hmm…now what have we here

Gandalf the Grey quirked a brow as he looked down the tall, dark slopes of the mountain he had just climbed.

Two figures were still someway beneath him but climbing swiftly up the path he'd just come. Both were in black hooded cloaks but one of them was carrying a dark grey staff with a red gem set in the tip that shaped in the roaring head of a dragon.

No…it couldn't be…

Gandalf's heart froze in his chest as the figure with the staff looked up. The face that looked up at him was that of a woman's, pale and fair but wise even though she wasn't that old. Indeed she looked to be barely out of her mid-thirties at most.

She smiled as she and her partner, a man covered head to foot in dark gear, managed to climb up to meet the old wizard whose face was still a mask of shock even as she made to pull down her dark hood.

"Nuldien…" Gandalf breathed. "Is that you?"

"Hello, Gandalf," Nuldien the Red murmured with a smile as she strode over to hug the grey wizard. "It has been a long time."

"Two hundred years" Gandalf smiled as she pulled away, holding her carefully at arms-length "but you haven't changed a bit."

"Neither have you, old friend." the darkly clad man behind Nuldien smirked as he tugged off his hood and scarf from his mouth.

Gandalf's eyes widened even more as did his smile.

"Celegon! You're here, my goodness you've…not…changed either…." but then suddenly, the old wizard stopped in his tracks.

Those eyes. Those brown eyes flecked with green in the man's face…they were exactly like-

Nuldien's and Celegon both avoided the wizard's eye as he looked between the two taking in their features.

"Nuldien" he finally rumbled after a full solid minute of observing, his tone tense.

Nuldien shifted nervously on her feet.

"Gandalf…you must understand" she bit her lip "We didn't...it just-"

"What happened?" Gandalf's eyes narrowed as Celegon strode to stand beside his wife, his face a mask of determined rigidity.

"What happened is simple Gandalf." The man's eyes hardened as he spoke. "We fell in love. We got married, we had a family, we raised two children."

"Ariel and Ian" Gandalf sighed with a small smile, relief washing over him.

"What?" Nuldien and Celegon both blinked and Gandalf chuckled warmly.

"Oh, you two! You honestly didn't think I'd not figure it out?"

"Wait! Wait!" Nuldien pinched the bridge of her nose "we didn't send Ariel till two months ago? And I never told her about all this world! How on earth could you have known?"

"Oh, but I didn't know-" Gandalf's eyes twinkled at the married couple "-but I had my suspicions. After all Nuldien she is the spitting image of you at that age, not to mention she's inherited your stubbornness Celegon."

"Yes, it's been the bane of my existence as a father," Celegon sighed heavily. "Having a daughter more wilful and free-spirited than a horse of Rohan."

"It has been the bane of Thorin Oakenshield as well" Gandalf smirked softly "as well as some other enemies had met on this journey."

"That's my girl" Celegon chuckled, despite his shock, but Nuldien's face grew anxious.

"She hasn't been too badly hurt on this quest, has she?"

"Well…" Gandalf suddenly looked rather sheepish "I wouldn't say hurt…but she has had…ahem…well, that is to say. What hasn't killed her only has made her stronger-"

"Meaning?" Nuldien's eyes narrowed and Celegon quickly put a consoling hand on her shoulder.

"Nuldien you and I both know that quests are not without injuries of some form" he murmured but Nuldien only glared up at him.

"Just because you were a Northern Ranger and are used to this sort of trekking doesn't mean that our daughter-"

"Actually" Gandalf interjected calmly, with a grateful glance in said ranger's direction "You might be surprised to learn that your daughter is quite at ease with travelling the wilderness. Oh yes," he smiled as Nuldien raised her eyebrows at him coldly "yes since the start she has never once complained about living rough, and off the land, indeed she tried her hardest to help as much as she could especially with her powers. She has learnt fast and adapted even faster. The last time I saw her, she was even attempting to learn how to fight and use a sword."

"My daughter and a sword?" Celegon gulped "I'm not sure whether I should be proud of that or very worried. I mean Nuldien was bad enough with her blade to even cut an onion in half and-OW!"

Gandalf winced as Celegon's head was sharply wrapped by his wife's sharp swift hit with her staff to the back of his head before turning swiftly upon the old wizard and glaring at him too.

"Just because I can't use a blade doesn't mean I can't use this! and don't think that I won't slap you too if you still think that women are not as good as fighting as men are"

"My dear Nuldien after years of working alongside you I can safely say that I personally find women to be the more terrifying gender of the two" Gandalf coughed but then quickly added, "though in this instance it is perhaps for the best that your daughter has inherited her father's skills on the battlefield rather than yours."

And on that note he quickly ducked before Nuldien's staff could reach out and hit him too.

Some things don't change at all…

"is there anything behind us?"

"Not that I can see."

Ariel sneezed, and almost winced with embarrassment. What usually were blasts of noise exiting her mouth were now tiny squeaks like a mouse.

They were still floating in the barrels along with the swift current of great forest river. The orcs had long since fallen behind, but still they had kept pushing themselves along in the water as hard and as fast as they could.

Ariel snivelled loudly as she tried pushing her scrawny arms through the water as hard as she could her feet splashing behind her, loud enough for Thorin to look back from the front of the troupe.

The sight that greeted him was not one that comforted him greatly. Fourteen were looking thoroughly exhausted and soaked through to the bone.

Bilbo, Bombur, Kili and Ariel were by far the worst of the lot. The fattest dwarf was almost always keeling over to the side and it took two dwarves dragging him along to keep him from tipping over into the water.

Kili was even worse. His face was extremely pale, and his leg was obviously almost killing him with pain from where the orc arrow had hit it. If it hadn't been for Ariel's swimming he would've most definitely been last in the line. But the girl herself was beginning to struggle. She was still so weak and thin from her imprisonment in Dol Guldur plus she was beginning to show signs of hypothermia from being in this chilly water for so long.

Bilbo was faring just as bad, as he was dragged along at the back of Nori's barrel, his curly mop of hair plastered in front of his eyes.

They can't go on for much longer…

"I think we've outrun the orcs" Bofur called out from somewhere towards the back of the troupe.

The dwarf prince's eyes dropped towards the water, only to find to his dread that the water was beginning to slow down.

"Not for long, we've lost the current"

"Bombur's half-drowned" Dwalin called out to Thorin from the middle of the troupe.

"make for the shore"

Easier said than done

Ariel puffed as she managed to drag her and Kili's barrel over to the rocky bank by the side of the river.

Kili seeing her struggle abandoned his aching leg and did his best to help her swim onto the small beach of pebbles where they both crawled gasping for air desperately.

"You alright?" the young dwarf puffed turning his head on the hard ground to face the exhausted girl that lay beside him.

Ariel nodded silently wincing as she did her best to move her aching limbs. She was grateful when one of Kili's arms helped drag her up onto her feet.

How he was finding the strength to even stand was beyond her, but he managed it. He also managed a few small steps, using her as a sort of walking aid that was until they both stumbled on a small slippery rock beneath.

Ariel just about managed to find footing for the both of them as Kili cried out in pain.

"On your feet" Thorin was barking from where he stood atop a tall rock and keeping a lookout.

"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding" Fili shouted as he came up beside Kili and Ariel who were both trying their best to sit on the edge of a rock, without putting a strain on the injured dwarf's leg.

But Thorin was sternly looking up at the river path they had just come from.

"There is an orc pack on our trail we keep moving."

"To where?" Balin frowned as he stretched out his old creaking back, working out the kinks in it.

"To the mountain" Bilbo explained as he shook himself off "We're so close."

Balin sighed heavily.

"A lake lies between us and that mountain. We have no way to cross it"

"Then we go around-" Bilbo began but Dwalin shook his head.

"The Orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. And we've no weapons to defend ourselves"

Thorin shut his eyes and sighed.

They were defenceless, cold, starved and wet, with no provisions and had more than two companions that were too weak to walk.

But what choice did they really have but to leg it as fast as possible before the sun could set?

He turned to Ariel and Fili his face grave.

"Bind his leg quickly. You have two minutes."

Two minutes?

Ariel looked down at Kili's leg her face anxious.

It would take more than two minutes to heal that injury that was for certain.

"Well…here we are…" Gandalf the Grey murmured as he stepped out onto the dark slab of rock beneath him. "Careful Nuldien it is slippery on these stones."

He quickly made to stand aside as a woman in a red dress made to slide down the slippery stony path to land nimbly beside him.

"Well…" Nuldien the red clipped sardonically "Isn't this charming?"

They were both deep within the heart of one of the great Misty Mountains, standing on a ring of aged stone steps that circled down and down, nine stories high and counting, deep into the dark earth.

It naturally should have been pitch black down here had it not been for the two orbs of white light from within the gems within both the Istari's staffs. Quietly as mice they made their way down the first wall towards a door carved into the rock itself and framed by cruelly twisted iron gates that were pulled aside to leave it open.

Both sorcerers glanced warily at one another.

"Ladies first," Gandalf muttered, but Nuldien scowled.

"Age before beauty."

"We are of the same age you know," he grumbled and she rolled her eyes.

"And you know you could've chosen to take a younger form if you really wanted to?"

"I tried that for a while when we first came to Middle Earth" Gandalf admitted waspishly "but it proved to be too much of a hassle."

"Typical man! Fine, I'll go check first" Nuldien snorted before striding forwards and stalking into the dark chasm.

"Wait Nuldien-" Gandalf sighed, but already she had she disappeared into the darkness.

"You and your daughter. Peas in a pod" he grumbled as he made to follow her inside.

With the light of their staffs, he was able to see just a couple of metres before him, Nuldien standing before a stone casket doing her best to carefully peer into the depths through the shattered remains of the lid.

"There's nothing" she murmured as she felt him close in beside her "just an empty-gah!"

She squeaked, both she and Gandalf jumping in their spots as something dark and fuzzy streaked out from the depths of the casket, screeching as it flew out of the doorway where a silhouette of a short person was standing.

Both istari wheeled about gripping their staffs tight in their hands to point aggressively at the new arrival, only to stop and sigh heavily.

"Oh, it's you." Gandalf took a deep shuddering breath as Nuldien groaned in aggravation.

"Radagast! What the devil-"

"hehe…sorry, Nuldien" the small ferrety brown wizard smiled scratching his beard nervously before suddenly blinking. "Wait…wait…Nuldien? Oh my, goodness is that you? By Eru, you haven't changed a bit!"

"Yes. Yes, it's me" Nuldien puffed in relief as she lowered her staff "By Eru above you almost gave me a heart attack."

"Oh, I'm sorry old friend I didn't mean any harm by it." Radagast reached out to pat the woman on her shoulder carefully; his face scrunched up in a frown of intrigue "Incredible…so it's really true, you did have a daughter. That Ariel child. Oh, how wonderful, she's such a sweet thing, you must be very proud."

"Yes… But how did you…" Nuldien frowned sidelong at Gandalf before shaking her head out "you know what never mind! Let's just deal with the matter at hand shall we gentlemen?"

"And just what is the matter at hand?" Radagast looked up worriedly at Gandalf "why am I here?"

"Trust me Radagast" Gandalf murmured darkly "I would not have called you or Nuldien here without good reason"

"This is not a nice place to meet" Radagast mumbled as he took off his hat to resettle the birds that lived in a birds nest they'd made at the top of his head.

"No…it is not"

Had neither Nuldien or Gandalf seen this kind of behaviour before they both would have probably laughed as they saw the tiny little brown sparrows within squeak and settle down to roost before they were covered up safely by the brown wizard's hat.

But they didn't. Nuldien especially shuddered as she looked about the darkness that surrounded them.

"There is very dark magic here" she murmured as she trailed her fingers over the walls of the small room they were in, over which there were many runes carved deeply into the rock "very old and full of hatred and despair"

"But just who is buried here?" Radagast fingered his brown beard thoughtfully as Gandalf made to walk past him towards the threshold behind him.

"If he had a name it's long been lost. He would only have been known as a servant of evil…one of a number" the Grey wizard muttered as he shone his light brightly to illuminate the rest of the crypt outside.

"…one of nine"

No matter what Kili did, the injury in his leg was still bleeding profusely, the red staining his blue pants so that there was a patch of purple.

"I'm fine it's nothing" he clipped shoving his hand down to apply pressure to the wound.

"Kili" Fili hissed angrily as Ariel rolled her eyes in exasperation.

The dwarf had been resisting her help for a while now, and it was beginning to grate on her nerves.

Well, that's it! I'm going to patch him up whether he likes it or not!

Kili winced as the sound of ripping material came to his ears and looked down to see a bundle of wet white muslin press gently into his injured thigh, aided by shaking now blue-tipped fingers.

Fili's heart felt heavy as he turned down to the torn hem of Ariel's dress which was so thin that when it was wet, he could see almost straight through to her shins and knees beneath as they stuck to the material.

Ariel stiffened as she saw a warm hand wrap over hers and push down hard.

"Quick wrap the other bit about it as tight as you can" Fili muttered, glaring sidelong at Kili.

Ariel ignored both of them and swiftly began to tear off her remaining white sleeve.

Kili turned his gaze to watch her work and as he saw hid blood coat her fingertips, he shut his eyes in shame.

"Forgive me…" he mumbled, "I should be grateful, but I'm being selfish and forcing you away…and for that I'm a fool."

He looked up just in time to see her give him a small shaky smile as she silently mouthed.

"It's ok."

"No…it's not" Fili shook his head, though inwardly he was relieved his brother had finally gotten the message "You saved his life twice, from drowning and from being killed by those orcs."

At this Ariel blushed and shrugged modestly.

"No Ariel he's right" Kili gulped and as she made to begin tying the final knot about his bandages he grabbed her wrist. "I'm sorry"

Ariel paused as her fingers made to finish tying the knot…her eyes were bright and full of unshed tears. However, after a small sniff, she held it all in and reached out to touch Kili's shoulder before pulling her hand back and touching her necklace chain.

By now all the members of the company knew about how Ariel's brother had given her the trinket and-

"Oh" Kili's eyes widened suddenly and he felt a lump form in his throat as realisation dawned on him. "oh…you mean…that you think of me like a brother?"

Ariel nodded softly before repeating her gesture at Kili's heart and the chain once more before reaching out and patting his cheek clumsily.

Even though his eyes turned down to the ground the corners of Kili's mouth twitched upwards as he mumbled.

"Thank you."

Ariel smiled and softly leaned down to plant a small kiss to the top of the dark wet mop of hair.

Kili smirked as he caught sight of Fili bristling uncomfortably beside the two of them before pouting childishly.

"What? Just that one kiss? That's all I get?"

Ariel giggled as she pulled away from him, waggling a playful finger at him as her eyes twinkled with fond amusement as Kili's face split into a teasing smirk.

"But Fili got one before and you cuddled him. Is that because he's special?"

"Kili" Fili groaned his face going pink, but Ariel was not so easily beaten down in an argument and she poked her tongue out to him childishly before mouthing one word.

"Tauriel"

Fili burst out chuckling softly as Kili's face turned so red so fast and his mouth gaped open and shut like a fish.

There were several sniggers from around them as the older members of the company. Even Bilbo was smirking with amusement as Thorin leaned in to ask quietly.

"What did she say?"

"I don't know" the burglar shrugged "but for someone without a voice she sure knows how to speak her mind."

"That she does" the dwarf prince murmured stiffly but Bilbo saw the pain and guilt behind the blue eyes.

"Look at her Bilbo." He glanced up to where Ariel was now sitting in between Kili and Fili, who both had an arm wrapped around her to keep her close to their warmer bodies as she shivered and shook from the cold "The girl is skin and bones. She doesn't even have a family, no powers or weapons nor even money or status. Just the clothes on her back and she's still giving it up for us even when she needs it more than we do."

Thorin turned quickly to the hobbit who was looking up at him with folded arms and a raised brow.

"Of course she will do that. That's just the kind of person she is. The person she always has been since the start. You've just been too proud to notice."

"Yes…I see that now…" The dwarf murmured his eyes now looking down to the rocks beneath his feet. "though I wish I had the heart to have seen it sooner. Then maybe she might not have…"

"Thorin…" Bilbo sighed, his voice weary but firm "none of us were to know that any of this would happen. How could we? None of us was prepared for such witchcraft and evil to befall us in that forest. But Ariel's safe and back now with us. Who knows maybe you'll both have the chance to set things right."

"Or screw it up" Thorin murmured "everything I try and say ends up coming out wrong when I speak with her."

"Only because you keep thinking that you're going to fail before you even start" Bilbo snorted rolling his eyes with exasperation "Thorin just talk to her alright. We're almost at the end now. The dragon is only a few days away. Talk to her before it's too late."

Thorin opened his mouth to speak but at that precise moment, there was a sharp twang…

The twang of a taut bowstring…

Chapter Text

A blackened scorching hand, missing an index finger, traced over the smooth dark orb, a lock of red-brown hair held delicately between its third finger and thumb.

"Find the girl," A deep guttural voice whispered into the darkness. "Show her to me."

And with that, another blackened hand took a single strand from the lock and dropped it onto the dark orb.

At once, the thin string sank through the surface of the orb as if it were not made of stone but water, with glowing and shifting colours swirling fast within its core.

The two black hands gently placed the small clump of hair down beside the orb, one of them remaining to hover over the orb. Above, a pair of sharp, piercing fiery eyes glimmered in the dark, their gaze narrowing as their owner concentrated with all his might upon his prey.

It didn't take him long to finally see what he sought as a slightly warped image of a young woman became visible to him through the surface of the orb.

She was drenched through and through, her red-brown hair hanging lankly around her bedraggled scrawny form. She was wearing a pathetically thin and torn white dress underneath a now worn-out green corset. Her neck and left arm were both heavily bandaged, but the rest of her body seemed more or less unscathed if a bit pale due to the cold.

However, upon her left hand, on her ring finger, he could still see a gleam of iron and green.

Hidden in the shadows, the Dark Lord Sauron's mouth twisted into a malicious smile as he saw the young woman quickly make to help secure a makeshift bandage around the thigh of a young dark-haired dwarf. Beside him, another young dwarf with golden hair and a beard berated him as he tried to refuse the offer for medical treatment.

So she has made it back to her little troupe of friends? How fortuitous.

Sauron's eyes flashed as he watched the girl give an affectionate peck on the forehead to the young dark-haired dwarf, not noticing another stout figure in the background gazing at her with sad blue eyes.

Hmm…now this is interesting. Thorin Oakenshield, the proud heir of the Durin bloodline, the true king under the mountain, staring besotted at a bedraggled human waif?

The sneer on the Dark Lord's lips grew wider as he made to watch the girl again, as she now silently chuckled and laughed with the two younger dwarves, still blissfully unaware of the banished king staring at her back with wistful sadness.

Perhaps this blunder might prove useful after all.

Thorin opened his mouth to speak, but at that precise moment, there was a sharp twang…the twang of a taut bowstring…

Everyone wheeled about to see Dwalin holding up a large tree branch in his strong hands. A black arrow stuck straight through it.

Ariel's eyes darted upwards in alarm to see a tall outline of a person silhouetted by the bright burning morning sun behind them. Their features were cast completely in shadow with the harsh lighting, but she could still make out the shape of their bow as they fitted a long dark arrow into place.

Ariel gripped on tight to Fili, who pushed her protectively behind him as Kili picked up a large rock in his hands, ready to throw. However, before he could even raise it to complete the action, their attacker shot their next arrow, which didn't hit the dwarf but merely flicked the rock out of his hand so that it landed close to the watery edge of the river.

"Do that again", a gruff voice clipped as its owner fitted another arrow to the bowstring ", and you're dead."

Ariel squinted as a cloud finally blotted out the sun behind the attacker, allowing their face to be seen.

It was a man, tall and dressed in worn, tattered clothes. His hair was dark and slightly shaggy as it blew a bit behind him in the wind and about his face. It was rugged and handsome, and the sight of it almost would have made Ariel blush had it not been for the grim scowl splashed across it as his keen eyes warily surveyed the strange company before him.

"Excuse me, but you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken."

The stranger's fingers twitched on his bow and arrow as Balin made to cautiously step forwards, recognition sparking in the old dwarf's eyes.

"That barge over there it wouldn't be available for hire by any chance?"

"Hire?" The stranger frowned and lowered his bow and arrow. Then suddenly, he scowled. "Sorry, but no, I can't help you. My only job is to collect the barrels. If you want a ferryman, you could try further east along the banks of the lake."

"uh…yes, we could do that…I suppose", Balin fumbled for words glancing behind at Thorin, who shot him a meaningful glare.

Ariel gulped as both dwarves silently argued between one another because the bargeman was beginning to roll the barrel's they had travelled in onto the small barge he'd docked just around the bend in the river to their right before making to undo the ropes that held the boat in place.

She quickly kicked a pebble at Bilbo's furry feet, and he quickly coughed, making to speak up once more.

"Yes, well…um, we could catch a ferry, it's true. But you see, sir, we're kind of in a hurry, and well…as you can see, two of our number are injured."

And just as he spoke, this Kili indeed did buckle and slump back into the rock behind him, clutching at his leg.

"And what makes you think I would help you?" but even as Ariel watched, she could see the small flicker of concern in the bargeman's eyes as he glanced at the injured dwarf.

So…he does care…but he's facing just as tough a time as well with his lot in life…

She reasoned, as did Balin, who quickly cottoned on to Bilbo's negotiation attempt.

"Well, those boots have seen better days. As has that coat-" he nodded to the man's shabby coat, but by god, Ariel thought did it still look warmer than the rags she wore. "-and no doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"

"A boy and two girls. My eldest is probably around her age" the bargeman now glanced up at Ariel, who looked faintly surprised. With a face like his, she'd thought he'd have young children at the most.

But then again, mum and dad were like that too… They always looked younger than they actually were…

She mused, trying her best to ignore the pang in her chest as Balin made to smile good-naturedly.

"And your wife, I imagine, is a beauty."

At this, the bargeman paused, his face now tense.

"Aye…she was…"

Ouch…way to go, Balin.

Ariel almost face-palmed as Balin fumbled with apologies.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Oh, come on, come on. Enough with the niceties." Dwalin growled from his spot beside Thorin.

The Bargeman heard him and straightened up his eyes, narrowed suspiciously.

"What's your hurry?"

"What's it to you?" Dwalin grunted.

"I would like to know who you are. And what you are doing in these lands?"

But something told Ariel that the man already knew (or suspected) a little bit more about them than he was letting on, even as Balin made to smile and say pleasantly.

"We are but simple merchants from the Blue Mountains. Journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills."

"Simple dwarvish merchants, you say?" the bargeman raised his eyebrows as he looked over all the company before his eyes settled on Ariel.

"And what is that young woman doing with you?"

"She's our cousin." Fili blurted out desperately, though even he knew it was feeble beyond measure.

"She's human." the bargeman stated bluntly, but Thorin's eyes only narrowed even further as he countered swiftly and decisively:

"Nonetheless, she's one of us."

"And again, I ask what is a human woman doing travelling amongst Dwarves." The bargeman looked Ariel up and down sharply, then looked at Thorin, who growled.

"That is none of your business. She is our friend, and she is under my protection."

Ariel blinked as a stunned silence fell over the company as they turned to gape at their leader.

Even Bilbo was looking surprised. Of all the company to come to her defence, Thorin Oakenshield was certainly not his first choice, even if he was beginning to warm up to the girl.

Have I swallowed too much river water or something?

The hobbit wondered, only to shake himself as Thorin continued to speak, paying no heed to the rest of the company's astonishment.

"We need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?"

The bargeman considered him closely before turning his gaze down to the somewhat battered wooden barrels that now were laden in his boat.

After a moment of deliberation, he spoke quietly.

"I know where these barrels came from."

"What of it?" Thorin stiffened, as did everyone else in the troupe, all confusion replaced by fear once more.

The bargeman's eyes hardened, but Ariel was relieved to see that it was not hostile, just stern.

"I don't know what business you had with the elves. But I don't think it ended well. No one enters Lake Town but by leave of the Master. All of his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He would rather see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."

Balin's face fell as he turned back to look at the company.

"Offer him more." Thorin mouthed as he caught sight of Ariel miming the same words from behind the old dwarf's back.

Balin nodded and quickly turned back to address the bargeman before he could finish untying the ropes that held his barge in place by the dock.

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen."

"Aye," the bargeman nodded, "But for that, you'd need a smuggler."

"For which we would be willing to pay double," Balin murmured.

There was a heart-stopping silence as the strange bargeman straightened up to his fullest of heights and stared down at all the dwarves, the hobbit and the girl that stood before him.

They were a motley crew…but something in him told him in his guts that they weren't bad. At least not completely. He did not trust their leader, the grim dwarf with the dark hair flecked with grey. Something about him seemed…wrong…like there was something sick growing within him. He could not quite point it out, but it was definitely there, festering in the dark depths of those blue eyes.

But still…he was a desperate man, and he was already late for his shipment of these barrels. The Master would definitely dock his pay a fair bit for the delay, and he needed the money for his family.

"Alright then", he murmured, almost resignedly, "I will do what I can. Now get on quick. The current is coming back in."

Celegon's eyes lifted from his spot beside three horses and a sturdy rabbit-drawn sled as he heard the sounds of the three sorcerers waft down towards him from the tall mountain pass.

He took a puff out of his smoking pipe, straining his ears as he caught a snippet of Radagast's bumbling voice spluttering.

"But why have they disappeared now? I don't understand-"

"The ringwraiths have been summoned to Dol Guldur" Gandalf's voice was terse as he slid down a few rocks to land squarely on the flat road beneath.

"But it cannot be a necromancer," Radagast shook his head as he turned around a bend in the path. "A human sorcerer could not summon such evil."

"Whoever said it was human?" Nuldien spoke up as she followed close behind the two older men, not noticing her husband in her grimness.

Gandalf nodded in agreement. "Nuldien is right. The Nine only answer to one master. We have been blind Radagast. And in our blindness, the Enemy has returned."

There was an uncomfortable silence as Celegon raised his head, taking his pipe out of his mouth to speak softly but tersely.

"Well, that explains a lot. Last I checked, Azog, the defiler, was no ordinary Orc."

"No, he's most definitely not" Gandalf's gaze hardened. "He is a commander. A commander of legions. And his presence in the open can only mean one thing. The Enemy is preparing for war. It will begin in the East. His mind is set upon that mountain."

At these words, Nuldien at once began to stride over towards her horse, untying it from the tree she had tethered it to, ignoring the other's frowns.

"and where do you think you're off to Nuldien" Gandalf called as she made to put her foot in the stirrups.

"To find my daughter", the red sorceress snapped, "You honestly cannot expect me to sit around and wait for my baby girl to be caught in the middle of all this mess. I started her on this quest. I cannot forsake her. Not when she is in such grave danger."

"Nuldien wait" Celegon reached forwards to tug his wife away from the horse before she could mount up. "If what you all say is true, then the whole world is in danger."

"Your husband is right." Radagast nodded vigorously. "You can try and hide your children forever from the eyes of the enemy Nuldien. But the power in that fortress is only going to get stronger unless we do something about it in the here and now."

"I almost hate to admit this, but Radagast has a point" Gandalf nodded solemnly. "I myself had promised to return to the company of Thorin Oakenshield by Durin's day at the mountain. But now it seems I will not be able to do so unless this matter has been taken care of once and for all."

"Nuldien…" Celegon murmured, gripping his wife's arms comfortingly as she made to struggle against him fiercely, "I know you're worried, and so am I…but if we are to save our children from the Enemy's wrath, then we must confront him head on. Our time is up. We can't keep running from him anymore. What kind of parents would we be if we kept running away from our problems instead of showing our children how to face it head on."

"I know Celegon!" Nuldien groaned in exacerbation, "I know that all too well…but…"

She sighed heavily, as did Gandalf, who stepped forwards with as comforting a smile as he could muster.

"Nuldien…I have seen many a warrior strive through this world, and I can tell you without a shred of doubt, If anyone has the courage to get through this war, it's your daughter. Now come. Let us get off this dark and dismal mountain. We have a necromancer to deal with."

Ariel shivered on her spot on the barge. The wind blowing about the boat seemed chillier as it passed over the water, and no matter how much she hugged herself into a tiny ball, she could not seem to create enough energy to keep herself warm.

Thankfully Bilbo noticed this rather early on, and quietly whilst the others were talking amongst themselves, he approached the bargeman that stood at the rudder by the stern of the boat.

"Um…excuse me", the hobbit coughed quietly, trying his best not to look away under the man's piercing wary stare. "but I was wondering…um…my friend there she's well…she's freezing and um…"

Bilbo's voice fell away as he glanced back at the head of the shivering young girl behind him. He was glad to see that when the bargeman's eyes followed his gaze, his expression relaxed somewhat. Indeed, the hobbit noticed, the man looked rather worried as he spoke softly.

"In the bag to my right, there are a couple of blankets. Give her both but make sure her chest is properly covered. Also, there is a bit of bread leftover. Make sure she eats it all, for it will help give her some strength."

Bilbo sighed with relief.

"Thank you, mister…um…"

"Bard." The bargeman, or rather Bard, nodded, the corners of his mouth barely twitching upwards. "And you are?"

"Baggins, Bilbo Baggins" Bilbo gave a polite bob of the head before asking, "The bag to the right, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was" Bard nodded, eyeing the hobbit with amused intrigue as he made to quickly rummage through the bag and pull out two large pelts bigger than himself.

As a citizen of Lake Town, Bard had heard of Halflings' tales, though most of them were more along the lines of children's fairy stories. To see one in real life was most odd indeed.

Bilbo, however, paid no heed to the man's observations and instead made to carry the heavy blankets and a small roll of bread over to the bow of the boat where Ariel was sitting in between Fili and Kili, who was still grimacing in pain from his injury.

She looked almost relieved when she saw the blankets in the hobbits arms.

"Thank goodness", she mouthed silently as Fili helped her wrap up tight inside the dry, warm cloth.

"Here, take this too" Bilbo handed her the bread roll, which she accepted hesitantly.

"Aye, good thinking, laddie." Oin nodded approvingly at the Hobbit "a full stomach will warm her right up from the inside out"

After wordlessly offering some to the rest of the company, who all, of course, refused her, she began ravenously tearing off huge chunks of it with her teeth.

"Che! Look at the lass go" Gloin smirked to the others fondly, and Bofur chortled.

"Like a wee pup with a bone."

However, from his spot by the boat's side, Thorin winced his face a mask of pity and guilt. The bandages on Ariel's left arm had started to loosen, revealing the hideous burnt skin beneath.

He turned away, doing his best to avoid Balin's worried eye, even as the old Dwarf made to stand next to him and speak softly.

"Why so blue, laddie? We're out of that accursed forest finally and are on our way to the Lake Town."

"I know…" Thorin grunted, but his fists clenched on the sides of the boat as he chanced a glance back at the girl.

Balin followed his gaze, his lips pursing as he too looked over the young woman's burnt arm.

"Thorin…" the old dwarf sighed, "whatever may have happened in the past, the lass is safe and sound now. you needn't worry-"

"No, I do", Thorin hissed very quietly. "I do Balin, look at her. Look what that monster did to her! I-I won't…Balin, I'm sorry, but she won't come with us to that mountain."

"But Lad, she's come all this way-" Balin tried to protest, but Thorin shook his head.

"And this is as far as she's going to get while the dragon still lives." the dwarf prince glanced at the burn mark on her arm through the corner of his eye "Balin…you keep telling me to look hard at someone before I pass a judgement on their character. Well, I have looked hard, and I am telling you, she can't go to that mountain, not after that hell she's just been through. She won't cope. And I'm not saying that because of past prejudices. She is a brave, loyal and good person, yes, but everyone has their limits, and I think if we were to push her in front of a fire breathing beast, we'd be hurting her far worse than any torture that Necromancer could contrive."

Balin opened his mouth to speak, but for once, he could not find his words. At least at first. After a moment of collecting his thoughts, he swallowed and then spoke, nodding with a small smile.

"The lass has grown on you."

"…perhaps…" Thorin stiffened as the old face split into a knowing twinkling smile.

"So much so that you would name yourself her protector?"

"Someone might as well have." Thorin snorted. "Besides…it might just keep Fili or Kili from courting her-"

"Thorin!" Balin frowned sternly, but Thorin chuckled under his breath.

"Relax, Balin. I was only joking."

"I should hope so." The old dwarf shook his head ", or else you'd be in for real trouble from both your nephews."

"I thought you said there was nothing between any of them besides brotherly affection?" Thorin rolled his eyes, still very much amused.

Balin rolled his eyes as he quickly turned and coughed pointedly to the others.

"Now, gentlemen, turn out your pockets and let me count out our smuggler's pay."

But even as the old dwarf made to hold out his hands for the money, he couldn't help but watch curiously as Thorin turned back to the company. What once had been hard and cold deep blue eyes were now soft and warm as they watched Ariel giggle behind her hand at the hilariously mulish disgruntled looks on all the dwarves faces.

Oh laddie

Balin sighed softly to himself as he saw the dwarf prince's lips quirk upwards in a small smile, a gold ring glimmering around the centre of his deep blue irises.

I really hope you were joking about that last bit…

"Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world, it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was, so it will always be. In time all foul things come forth."

King Thranduil's voice was cold and icy as a winter blizzard as he stared down at the orc kneeling on the floor before his throne, with his son Legolas holding his blade to its throat, whilst Tauriel stood watching on silently.

When the younger elf spoke, it was with a forcefulness bordering on pure loathing, barely held back by his usual remarkable self-restraint.

"You were tracking a company of thirteen dwarves and a human woman. Why?"

"Not Thirteen", the Orc rasped, "Not anymore."

Tauriel's face tensed as the Orc made to sneer.

"The young one. The black-haired archer. We stuck him with a Morgul shaft. The poison's in his blood. He'll be choking on it soon…and by the time he does, we shall have the little green witch, and we shall feast on her fresh flesh."

"Answer the question, filth!" Tauriel snapped, fingering her blade on her belt.

The Orc saw this and snarled venomously in the black disgusting speech of his people.

"[I do not answer to dogs, She-Elf!]"

There was a metallic cling sound as Tauriel's knife quickly snapped out of its sheath just as Legolas's own blade pressed harder against the foul brute's throat from behind.

"I would not antagonise her."

"You like killing things orc?" Tauriel's eyes were hard and full of hatred and contempt as she looked upon the leering dark creature before her. "You like death? Then let me give it to you!"

And as quick as lightning, her blade swung out in a slicing action.

"HALT!"

Thranduil barked loudly, and his guard captain's knife halted in mid-air just above the Orc's forehead.

"[Tauriel. Leave. Go now]" the elven king ordered sternly, and Legolas glanced up from his prisoner to quickly look at his friend worriedly.

However, she seemed to have composed herself once more and before anything more could be said, she was striding away from the throne room and out of sight.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Thranduil addressed the Orc once more with bitter disdain.

"I do not care about one dead dwarf. Answer the question. You have nothing to fear. Tell us what you know, and I will set you free."

Legolas grimaced as he saw the deceitful gears turn in the orc's head as he considered his options.

"You had orders to kill them? Why? What is Thorin Oakenshield to you?"

At this, the orc gave a low feral growl.

"The dwarf scum," he spat, "will never be king."

"King?" Legolas snorted, "there is no king under the mountain, nor will there ever be. None would dare enter Erebor whilst the dragon lives."

"You know nothing of power. We burned the little Istar runt. We burned her till she lost everything…lost her voice…lost her powers… we burned her like we shall burn the world."

"What are you talking about? Speak!"

At this, the orc smirked.

"Our time has come again", he hissed. "My master serves the One. And the One takes all. Do you understand now, Elfling? Death is upon you…the flames of war are upon you!"

There was a flash of silvery metal, a horrible squelching and cracking sound. Suddenly Legolas found himself holding onto just the head of his prisoner whilst the rest of his body, neck and all, fell to the ground with a heavy thump, shivering as the shocked nerves jolted throughout the corpse.

"Why did you do that?" Legolas dropped the severed head and turned to his father, who quickly sheathed a blade back into his belt without even so much as batting an eyelid. "You promised to set him free."

"And I did", Thranduil muttered coldly…unflinchingly. "I freed his wretched head from his miserable shoulders."

"There was more the Orc could tell us." Legolas frowned, but the elf king just narrowed his eyes.

"There was nothing more he could tell me,"

"Not even more about the new istari we seem to have recently accommodated?" Legolas raised a brow. "I thought there were only six of them that were sent to Arda during the dark ages. And the only woman amongst them bore the token colour red, not green."

"And so there were." Thranduil fixed his son with an unreadable expression. It looked like he was torn between irritation and discomfort. "But even if that child was of such a race, she certainly did not show any of its bearings of wisdom or power. And therefore, it doesn't change the consequences she must face for her actions."

But even as Legolas watched his father turn his back, he could not help but ask.

"What did he mean by the 'flames of war'?"

"It means they intend to unleash a weapon so great it will destroy all before it," Thranduil murmured before calling out for all his guards present to hear. "I want the watch guard doubled at our borders. All roads, all rivers. Nothing moves that I don't hear of it. No one enters this kingdom, and no one leaves it."

"Of course, father" Legolas nodded once before setting off down a nearby bridge to walk up to the great gates to the realm.

Thranduil watched him go for a moment before quickly turning his head back to follow a path to his quarters, his face a mask of worry and uneasiness.

That girl was an Istari the Valar sent to aid the free races of Middle Earth? But that's not possible! That cannot be possible! There is no way in all of Arda that a child could achieve such a task? Let alone one so crass and uneducated.

He scowled darkly as he lightly rubbed at his chin with his long pale fingers.

Though he'd never openly admitted it, for a small thing, she had a surprisingly hard slap, like a fledgling tree branch that was whipped by the wind. His scowl deepened as he remembered the rude gesture she'd made in his face and the proud smirk that Thorin Oakenshield gave at his shock.

But then he also remembered the fear in her eyes and the worry that seemed to emanate from her when he had approached her with his deal the night before. She had seemed especially disturbed by his warning about the corruptive influence of magic rings.

She obviously knew more than what she was letting on. Perhaps that was why her throat had been damaged, and she had been traumatised, the King mused to himself quietly. So she could not put a voice to their enemy's full plans—a sadistic method of silencing one's enemy's, to be sure, but an effective one.

But there was still the matter of that horrible ring she wore. Why give a magic ring to a measly little sorceress only to have one of your servants try and kill them before they have become a threat?

"Guards. Take this accursed body and burn it outside, and send one of the servants up to clean any remaining filth here." Thranduil ordered swiftly, and at once, two guards came to drag the body and the dismembered head away.

But the elf King paid them no heed as he swept from the hall and out of sight.

The Orcs that were scouring the Great Forest River banks of Mirkwood were restless as the scent of blood hit their noses from a series of rocks just below.

They scuffled and snorted, sounding more like the travesties of disgusting pigs as their leader, a great pale skinned orc with armour over his head and chest and carrying a mace in his big hands, sniffed the air.

"[Search the rocks]" he hissed, and at once, his pack followed him dutifully down onto the rocks below.

One of them, a quick small scout with dark skin, bent down quickly by a spot on top of one of the small boulders where a torn up piece of wetted and dirtied white cloth was lying half stained in a pool of dark red liquid.

He reached down with grubby pudgy fingers and picked up the rag bringing it up to his face. He sniffed it once or twice before lightly flicking his tongue over the patch of blood.

"[Dwarf blood!]" he hissed sneeringly to his leader, who was once again sniffing the air, his lips curling with disgust.

"[there is another scent…man-flesh!]"

He quickly strode up over the rocks and under a tree where a series of small wooden posts were positioned on a slab of stone, rather like a dock.

The orc pack leader growled with displeasure as he followed the trail of the river before him as it vanished into the strange mist that hung about them.

"[They have found a way to cross the lake]"

"[There is something else]" another orc leered as he took the white rag from the scout that had found it and inhaled from it roughly "[The girl the master wants found was here as well.]"

The leader's head snapped around sharply.

"[Are you sure?]"

"[Very sure! I would recognise that foul scent anywhere]" the orc hissed, and at once, its fellows began to shift excitedly in their spots.

Their leader smirked.

"[Which of you maggots is up for some witch-hunting?]"

"Loitare."

Everything was dark. She was standing on something cold but smooth. It could have been rock, but it could just as easily been smooth black ice.

"Loitare."

The voice called again as a breeze gently flickered over her bare shoulder.

She turned around slowly, horror filling every fibre of her being as she beheld a tall smoky figure, not quite solid yet not entirely fluid. Its face was horrible, gaunt with skin pulled tight around the skull and horrible sunken glowing eyes. On top of the long remains of dead hair, upon its head, was a tall spiked crown.

"Who-who are you?" Ariel spoke.

Yet even as she spoke, eight more glowing ghostly figures suddenly floated into being behind the first, all of them reaching out with pale, withered, claw-like hands.

"Join us, Loitare-"

"Watch out!" a voice yelled.

Ariel woke up with a gasp and a jolt from her spot on the floor just as the space around her made to turn gently to the left, narrowly avoiding hitting a great stone pillar that had suddenly loomed up before them out of the misty waters.

Oh no…oh no-no-no-no-NO!

The pillar's stones were old and grey and covered in dark moss, and Ariel could not help but see a haze of dark clouds above her head as pale ghostly, ghastly faces stared her down.

"HEY!" a voice cried out, but already she was on her feet darting towards the side of the barge.

She struggled silently but wildly as several hands made to pull her away from the railing and push her to sit back down. One pair of hands, in particular, caught her attention, for whilst they were firm, they were much smaller than hers.

"Ariel! Stop! Stop! It's us! It's me! It's Bilbo and the company! Come on, wake up!"

Ariel's eyes were a blur as tears streamed down her face, but she could still discern Bilbo's voice from all the fear.

The hobbit's heart almost broke in two as the frightened girl in front of him gave a choked sob and flung her arms around him, holding him close.

"That's right, Ariel, just calm down. It's alright. You're safe now," Bilbo murmured as he made to pat the girl gingerly on the head and back. He tried to comfort her just like his mother used to do when he was a young child, though she would then make him a cup of tea to make him feel better afterwards.

However, he was almost jolted out of his soothing state when the boat made to move again, this time to the right so that it passed narrowly between more ruinous remains of buildings.

Thorin rounded on Bard at the barge's stern, his face incensed as he held onto the side railing.

"What are you trying to do drown us?"

Bard spared him a look of calm disdain.

"I was born and bred on these waters, master dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."

"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lake-man," Dwalin grumbled darkly as he stepped away from where Ariel and Bilbo were crouching on the floor. "I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."

"Bard, his name's Bard" Bilbo shook his head with irritation as he made to drape the blankets Ariel had dropped, back around her body snugly.

"How do you know?" Bofur asked curiously.

"Because I asked him" Bilbo rolled his eyes before turning back to gently pat down Ariel's shivering shoulders as she looked up at him nervously.

"Bard is the man we met by the bank. And now he's helping to ferry us across to Lake Town, remember?"

Ariel thought back for a moment and then nodded tremulously.

"I don't care if he's helping us." Dwalin snorted as he glared sidelong at the bargeman in question. "I still don't like him."

"We do not have to like him. We simply have to pay him" Balin sighed with exasperation as he sat at his spot on the front of the boat where a stall keeper had turned over a crate to make a makeshift table, on which many silver coins were being piled up and re-counted after they'd been spilled over.

Ariel suddenly felt very guilty about her panic attack, and she gave the old dwarf a very apologetic glance, to which he only smiled kindly back.

"Don't worry, lass. I needed to do a re-count anyways. Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets." he added sharply to the other members of the company, who all grumbled and groaned as they fished about in their pockets.

Only Dwalin and Thorin did not bother checking themselves for extra coinage since they had given up the last pieces of their money first.

"How do we know he won't betray us?" the old bald warrior muttered to the prince whose eyes narrowed as he glanced back at Bard, who was watching them all with wary intrigue.

"We don't."

Thorin quickly turned to Fili and Kili, who had just settled themselves down on either side of Ariel again and were doing their best to comfort her quietly.

"Quick, braid her hair. Make it look like yours," he hissed softly.

Ariel looked up at him quickly, her brow furrowed with confusion.

"Lake Town or Esgaroth, as it's truly called, used to have a lot of trade with Erebor back before the dragon came." Thorin explained gently, "So whilst this bargeman doesn't know our purpose; he will know something of dwarvish customs. And as we've told him, you are one of us; it would be strange if you did not bear any braids symbolising your allegiance. Even if you are human."

Ariel nodded meekly and bent her head down to allow both Fili and Kili to reach for her hair on either side of her head.

"How should we do this?" Fili muttered to his brother as he did his best to comb through her damp locks with his fingers. "half yours, half mine?"

"hmmm…yeah, that might work If you braid it back like this", Kili grunted, tugging back the front section of her hair and holding it back behind her head, just like how he usually wore his.

Despite herself, Ariel couldn't help but relax slightly as both brothers made to tie back each side of the locks they'd grabbed and braid them into something that felt like a Celtic knot at the back of her head.

"There you have it, Uncle. Now, all we need to do is find a way to shrink her, and she could pass off for quite a fetching dwarrow lass." Kili smirked for a moment before grunting and clutching at his injured leg.

"hmm…looks like something yer sister Dis used to wear when she was younger, you remember?" Dwalin muttered at Thorin, who nodded with a small fond smirk.

"Yes, I remember." Then he turned to Ariel, his eyes softening. "You should tie your hair back more often. It suits you well and allows everyone to see your smile."

He completely missed the surprised looks on everyone's faces as he turned to address Balin, who was still counting all their money.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm missing something big here?" Ori muttered under his breath to Nori, who shrugged just as perplexed. Oin and Gloin, too, shared odd looks with Bifur, Bofur, Bombur and a very shocked Fili and Kili.

Dwalin, meanwhile, was looking at Balin, his gaze hard and wary as his brother quickly coughed and made to clear his throat loudly:

"Ahem, there's just a wee problem with the money. We're ten coins short."

And we all know who has those coins!

Suspiciously, all eyes turned to look upon Gloin, who spluttered indignantly as Thorin raised his eyebrows at him.

"Gloin. Come on, give us what you have."

"Don't look at me! I've been bled dry by this adventure, and what have I seen for my investment?" Gloin grumbled, not noticing his brother Oin's face suddenly split into a dazed look as he caught sight of something high up in the distance.

Everyone else turned to look, including Bard, who had been watching his new passengers closely as they all rose to their feet to gape open-mouthed.

Oh…my…god…

Ariel felt her heart almost stop in her chest as a patch of mist moved aside from her line of vision.

It's…it's…

"Bless my beard", she heard a couple of dwarves murmur in awe under their breaths.

"Take it!" Gloin quickly shoved a small sack of money into Balin's limp hands. "Take all of it."

It was a tall, strong mountain with a snow-capped peak and deep shadows as whatever light from the overcast skies hit its rocky sides. A mountain so magnificent that even from this distance, one could feel its presence looming over them as if they were standing at its actual base…like a great watchful giant beast…

A beast…a dragon…

Ariel quickly grabbed for the hand nearest to hers, and she was relieved when she felt Bilbo's familiar fingers lace in hers and squeeze them tight in reassurance.

"We're finally here!" he murmured, his eyes still transfixed upon the mountain.

There was the thudding of boots on wood, and the Hobbit coughed as Bard strode up to them with a grim expression on his face as he held out his hand.

"The money quick give it to me."

Thorin's face turned grave at once.

"We will pay you when we get our provisions but not before."

Ariel stiffened, waiting for the argument to burst forth from the man; however, she was surprised to see instead that his dark, sharp eyes were more worried than angry.

"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead."

Ariel quickly turned her head sharply just as the mist began to thin out before the view of the bow.

She could faintly see a dock some way off and several people marching up and down it.

She made to tug hard on Thorin's sleeve and pointed quickly to the approaching dock.

The dwarf prince sighed heavily as he turned back to Bard.

"What do we do?"

"All of you," Bard gestured towards the dwarves and Bilbo ", get back into the barrels. And you", he pointed at Ariel. "You go to where my bag is there and hide in that with the blankets."

Ariel nodded, and quickly she made to scarper off towards the bag just as the dwarves made to clamber into the barrels.

As she made her way back into the large bag of rough material, Ariel pouted to herself. Hitherto that moment, she had almost always followed the company's same directions when it came to her safety, and now that she was not doing so, she found herself feeling strangely left out.

Well, at least I'll be warm…

She reasoned in her head as she managed to hide her hair beneath a blanket, leaving a small gap for her to get air.

She watched carefully as she saw Bard's boots walk around the boat for a while before suddenly vanishing from sight.

Her heart was hammering in her chest as a heavy silence ensued for a good ten minutes.

Oh, please don't sell us out! Please, oh please!

She bit her lip as she carefully tried her best to peer out from under her coverings without being seen.

She was relieved when she saw Bard's feet come back into view alone onto the boat, that was until he made to call out loudly.

"Alright, load them up!"

Something creaked loudly, and Ariel winced as what sounded like several large fleshy things pelted down from above like gigantic raindrops.

"Mahal, what's with all these fish?!" She heard one of the dwarves all grunt and curse softly as the dead marine life pelted down from on top of them, filling the barge with a strange fishy smell that made Ariel's nose burn.

Ok, I take it back. I am so glad I'm in this bag!

She clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from gagging, only to feel a foot gently nudge at her side.

"Keep quiet!" Bard whispered as he made to manoeuvre his boat's rudder carefully, "we're approaching the toll gate."