[IC] Middle-Earth: Bright Stars & Durin's Folk { Wolf & Angel }

[AngelBites15]

Sometime later in the day, the company moved themselves into the wooded areas of the plain. A place where it was said that the darkest of creatures lurked and roamed. Saeril managed to morph her wings into her cloak, since her wings needed rest from the confrontation with Azog and his pack. Sooner or later, they would be picking up their trail at any time. She and the others were waiting for Bilbo to return, since he scowered ahead to make sure they weren't being followed. Saeril kept herself with the brothers and princess, whose cloak was being adjusted by the elder, occasionally exchanging a few words with them until the Hobbit returned.

[WolfLover]

As they waited for Bilbo. Yavanna had been in conversation with the Durin Heirs and Saeril. Whilst, she knew the were safe for now. They had to keep moving, before Azog and his pack would track them down. She didn't want to see the Pale Orc any time soon. They had just managed to get away, with luck and their talent of fighting. She smiled softly, as the elder adjusted her cloak.

Thorin was leaning against a tree. Seemingly deep in thought. He was remembering the moment; he had met Gandalf at Bree. Gandalf was the one that encouraged him to take back Erebor from Smaug, along with the Arkenstone. Just like Gandalf had tried to convince his father to do the same. It seemed, like Thrain was rumored to be seen wondering the wilderness, But Thorin had never found him. Soon enough, Thorin saw Bilbo running back to them.

"How close are the Orc Pack?"

"A few Leagues, if not more." Bilbo breathed out. "But we have another problem..."

[AngelBites15]

Fili checked that his swords were in place. "What kind of problem? Did they see you?". If he'd been spotted, they were now in danger. That was Fili's logic, anyway. His God-Mother has been growing more and more aware of their surroundings, ever since their last encounter with Azog, and he only hoped that it wouldn't happen again too soon. The last thing they wanted to go back and relive that fight. Not to mention that she hasn't slept in the past few days because of it.

He did come to notice Yavanna had been trying to convince her into getting some rest, but the elder refused, leaving Fili to now know how deep her vow went into protecting the three of them, and the company.

[WolfLover]

Bilbo shook his head, hearing Fili "No, that's not the problem." he said. "See, what did I tell you? Quite as a Mouse." Gandalf said with a smile; obviously proud of their Burglar Hobbit. A bit of a chatter broke out between the Company.
"Quite! I am trying to tell you something!" Bilbo rose his voice. "There is something else out there." he said pointing back towards the way he came.

Yavanna looked at Bilbo, it was the first time she heard him raise his voice. But at least, he had everyone's attention. "What kind of something?" She asked, looking worried. As much as she wished Saeril would take her word, the elder needed her rest. But she was too stubborn to admit it. The Princess understood her vow to protect them, but a little rest wouldn't do her any harm.

[AngelBites15]

Saeril looked at the wizard, then back to Bilbo, just as soon as he told the group that there was something else lurking around in the woods. "What did it look like? A bear?", she asked the Hobbit, making sure she knows what he thinks. Unlike the others, she didn't express any stiffness to her. Between her and Gandalf, they knew what creature the Hobbit was referring to.

Bilbo looked at the older she-elf curiously, surprised that she could guess so easily. "Y-yes. But bigger, much bigger.”
Bofur was liking this less and less. “I say we double back", and then there were murmurs of agreement. “And be run down by a pack of Orcs?”, they didn't have many options here, though Gandalf did mention a house where they may take refuge. “Whose house? Are they friend or foe?”, Dwalin questioned, and then suddenly a loud roar ripped through the clearing. Saeril slightly jumped at the roar of a giant bear. It was indeed Beorn. "We don't have a choice", the wizard silently answered himself.

And then, they were running. The roar was getting closer until there was indeed a house in the distance. The she-elf's cloak was only dragging behind her a little bit, but it wasn't that long, so she didn't have to hold it up while she was running. A few times that Kili or Fili tripped, she or Yavanna would pick them to get them back on their feet.

[WolfLover]

Yavanna swallowed slightly, wondering what this creature was. A very very large bear? Well, this was different. "We can't turn back." Yavanna said softly, as the Dwarves wanted to double back. At least, Gandalf knew a safe place where they might be able to go.

The roar of the bear, seemed to get everyone moving. Yavanna run besides Fili and Kili. Bilbo was not far behind them. For a little person like a hobbit himself, he could run pretty fast. Yavanna noticed Kili as about to trip...she reached out quickly; pulling him back up before he even landed on the ground. One of the Dwarves seemed to stop...staring at what creature was approaching.

"Come on." Yavanna called out.
"Get a move on." Thorin called back, as he run towards the house. Seeing one of his companions just staring in the distance....before finally running again. Kili was one of the first few whom reached the house...banging on the door. Hoping someone might have been inside to open it. Yavanna run towards the door...seeing the latch, she pulled it up...opening the door quickly. Allowing everyone to run inside.

But the roar was even closer. As soon as they tried to close the door. Yavanna saw the large head and sharp teeth...snarling at them. She pressed against the door with the Dwarf company; trying to shut the door. The young Princess let out a loud gasp of pain...as the bear managed to claw at her arm, through the gap. Her grip on the door loosened...but they managed to close the door behind them. But the growling was still present outside. Yavanna winced...her arm bleeding slightly.

[AngelBites15]

Running inside, Saeril had one of her curved daggers at the ready. Beorn was beyond any other creature she has ever met during her travels with Gandalf. If the beast ever passed the door's limit, she had her resources, and a family to protect. Just as they had managed to shut the door, everybody was panting. "Yavanna!", Fili exclaimed, having to spot the Princess with a bleeding wound upon her arm. "Are you okay?", clearly not; she was hurt!

This didn't go unnoticed for the elder, and Saeril became concerned almost immediately. "Dear child", she breathed, having to approach her, while sheathing her one dagger into its normal space.

"What was that?", Ori asked, panting.
"That is our host", the wizard announced, saying it as a matter-of-fact. "His name is Beorn, and he's a skinchanger".

As his God-Mother guided Yavanna to a spot where she can sit down, Fili was already looking for something to tend to the wound. Looking up and down at the seemingly-huge furniture that was too big for a dwarf, he managed to find a rag and dripped it into a bucket of water nearby.

Saeril's leg ached a little from the running but she didn't complain; she never would. Not at a moment like this. She was only relieved that Yavanna and her godsons were safe. Fili came back to her with the rag, just as she gently took the princess' arm, and lightly wiped the blood. Hearing the girl wince brought pain to Fili's ears, and Saeril took extra care in tending to the scratch. The blonde held onto Yavanna's hand the whole time.

"Sometimes, he could be a huge black bear, and sometimes, he can be a great strong man", the wizard informed the company of what kind of creature it was. Basically, shapeshifters. "The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with", he spoke while watching the company get used to their surroundings. "However, he is not overfond of dwarves", he then added grimly.

"Beorn has had a troubled past, I'm afraid, and it's best not to advance on him during a first encounter", Saeril spoke up, just as she carefully wrapped the wound with a piece of cloth, that Fili managed to find. They didn't have the proper tools to tend to wounds, and they weren't sure if Yavanna had any viles left in her possession. The winged she-elf sadly didn't know much on healing enchantments, but she did learn one that was popular among her people. But now wasn't the right time to use it.

Just as she finished tending to Yavanna, she moved some of the girl's raven-black hair from her face, before giving her a light kiss onto her forehead, and letting her lean her head upon her shoulder.

[WolfLover]

Yavanna felt a little dizzy. Her arm aching, from the gash that was inflicted by the large bear. Hearing Fili. "I'll be okay...just a scratch." she tried to pass it off, as nothing. But the pain across her face said otherwise. Yavanna would have reached for a vile...but unfortunately, her vile of medicine got shattered during the encounter of the falls, in the Goblin Caves.

She would have to heal naturally. Kili looked worried, seeing the Princess arm was bleeding. Yavanna had to lean against Kili for brief support...or she felt like she might pass out. "You call, that a host?" Kili asked, with a raised eyebrow. He tried to keep Yavanna upright. Letting his God-mother led her to a seat. Kili followed them, sitting near by...but had a worried look in his eyes. "Can't you...do that...healing magic, you know?" he asked Yavanna.

Yavanna flinched as Saeril tended to her arm...letting out a slight gasp. But smiled through the pain at Kili. "Unfortunately, that's not how it works. I can heal others, but my gift cannot work on myself. At least not that way....it'd have to heal naturally, somehow." Yavanna held onto Fili's hand...squeezing it a little tightly...as her arm hurt. She rested her head against his shoulder...hiding her face briefly against his arm.

As Saeril finished attending to her arm, Yavanna gave her a thankful smile. "Thank you." she said softly. It seemed not long ago, that she was attending to Saeril's own injury. Now she was the one getting nursed. Before leaning against her shoulder. Her hand still remained in Fili's.

Thorin sighed. This was going to be an interesting encounter. He looked at Yavanna. "Are you alright?"
"I will be..." Yavanna told Thorin with a soft smile. "It hurts a bit right now." That was a bit of an understatement. It was throbbing. But she tried not to worry them all.

[AngelBites15]

Obviously, Beorn didn't have many companions as of late, but for Saeril to cross paths with him, he was only viewed as a victim of tragic circumstance. Someone that was pitied upon. "Do not worry about yourselves; you'll be safe here tonight...", the wizard trailed off and muttered under his breath, though he knew Saeril would be the only one to hear it. "I hope".

Saeril hoped that would be true, but then she figured that as long as Beorn walked about outside, she figured that they would be fine from their hunters. Carefully, she and Fili led the girl towards a spot in the hay where she would be able to sit down and rest; a spot Fili had, once again, managed to find, and set up. They were careful with Yavanna, and Saeril decided to keep her cloak on as slept on top of a blanket, and some hay, while letting the princess lay her head on her chest, like a child. Fili and his brother were not too far away, having to sleep next to them the whole night.

That same night, nobody noticed Beorn in his strong male form, as he enters the house. No one, except Bilbo, noticed him.

[WolfLover]

As Fili and Saeril helped her. She pressed a soft kiss to the Dwarf's cheek...giving him a soft smile. Yavanna was thankful for his and Saeril's help. Once she got comfortable on the floor...she tried to get some sleep. The pain in her arm died down slightly...but it felt sore and a little numb. But she felt comfortable, sleeping like that near the elder she-elf. Feeling quite safe, with her and the boys close by.

During the night, the Dwarves were snoring. Bilbo was laying awake; as he couldn't fall asleep. He had pulled out the ring from his pocket, inspecting it. When he heard the door open...he quickly tucked it inside. He was curious and watched the large man walk into the kitchen. He wasn't sure, if he noticed him or not. But Bilbo quickly looked away...before managing to get some sleep that night.

When he woke up the next morning. A rather large bumble bee was sitting on his nose. Everyone else was awake...sitting at the breakfast table. Yavanna seated besides Fili. Kili on her other side, with Saeril. Breakfast was being served. After Bilbo swatted away the bees...he made his way over towards the breakfast table, to join the group.

Thorin was the only one not sitting at the table, He was leaning against one of the pillars. Deep in thought and quite.

[AngelBites15]

Fili blushed at the affection that the girl had managed to surprise him with. As fond as he was of her, he honestly didn't expect such an action to be presented. That was when he knew: She must be looked after, and protected. For that, he made a mental note to keep his word.

Upon Gandalf's request, Beorn was reluctant to beckon the dwarves to sit at this large table where they could eat and drink. Saeril was relieved that her companions were now being accepted by the great beast, otherwise, it would have turned into a jeopardizing predicament that could turn messy very quickly. However, she kept her presence with the ones she had grown to care for and love.

"So, you are the one that they call Oakenshield", Beorn growled as he poured milk into each of their mugs. It would seem he had at least heard the tale of Thorin before. "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"

[WolfLover]

Yavanna took notice of the tall man; taking in his features. The hair, his gravely tone of voice. His entire presence. He seemed bit reluctant about the Dwarves, but due to Gandalf and Saeril, he offered his services. She took a sip of her milk, once he poured her some. After she thanked him gently.

Thorin rose a slight eyebrow. "You know of Azog?" he asked, turning to face the Shapeshifter. "How?"

[AngelBites15]

"My people were the first to live in these mountains; before the orcs came down from the north", Beorn explained as he walked up and down the length of the room, kind of caught in the past a little. "The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved. Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skinchangers and torturing them seemed to...amuse him", his voice was low, to the point of almost growling in anger. "There used to be many of us, but I remain as the last", he finished.

"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn", it was a statement, not a question. "Before Durin’s Day falls, yes", Gandalf confirmed. "We must go through Mirkwood", just by hearing that forest, Saeril stiffened a little, she kept a soothing hand on Yavanna's.

"A darkness lies upon that forest; foul things creep beneath those trees", Beorn warned. "There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and The Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there, except in great need", Beorn told the wizard of the dangers within the forest. "It's not safe there; the Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They are less wise, and more dangerous", he concluded.

"It doesn't matter; as the Orcs continue to hunt us, we don't have much of a choice", Saeril spoke up from her position. "You will never reach the forest alive", Beorn growled before standing up at his full height. "I don’t like dwarves; they’re greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own", he notices a mouse on the table and picks him up. "But Orcs I hate more", he growled in anger to himself. "What do you need?", he asked the dwarven Prince.

Later, the beast was kind enough to let the group borrow his horses from the barn on their way to the forest. Saeril helped Fili and Yavanna upon a horse, while she and Kili took another. "Go now, while you have the light. Your hunters are not far behind", Beorn warned them before they left, with the elder she-elf sitting behind the youngest upon their horse.

[WolfLover]

Bilbo and Yavanna were quite, just like the rest of the company. Listening to Beorn's story. The young Princess, felt sorry for him. Seeing the chain around his wrist..she couldn't imagine what it must have been like for him and his people. Now the last one of his kin. When she felt Saeril stiffen beside her...she glanced at her with concern. But gave her a soft smile.

Kili frowned, as he heard Beorn talk about Dwarves like that. What an insult. His jaw clenched slightly. Yavanna wasn't too happy to hear those words either. They didn't strike her as such.

After Breakfast, Yavanna was sitting behind Fili on their horse. She would have been at the front, if it weren't for her injured arm. Her arm probably would have tired after not too long. Yavanna was a good rider, but not as good as her sister. Her elder sister Arwen, was the fastest rider in Rivendell. Yavanna lacked such skill...but she had others, that Arwen was not so good at. Kili himself was quite a good rider, as he and Saeril rode off. His horse sprinted down the path towards the forest. Gandalf was in front, with Thorin not far behind. Yavanna had her arms gently wrapped around Fili's waist, to hold onto him.

Bilbo rode on his own, a few of the other Dwarves had to share due to the number of Horses Beorn had. Lucky, they had transport, quick and the could be safe from the Orcs.

[AngelBites15]

Fili kept a hold of the reigns, relieved that the princess was able to stay back and let her arm heal. The company traveled a few hours until they arrived at a forested area. Unlike the rest of the foliage, everything within the entry appeared withered and dead. “This forest feels...sick, as if a disease lies upon it", Bilbo was uneasy, and he looked to Gandalf in hopes of him coming up with another route. "Is there no way around?”

Fili wasn't liking the looks of this, either. The woods were dark, and the trees were too close together to allow a horse through such a tight space. Just as Saeril and Kili managed to catch up with them, he glanced to the elder. "This isn't like our forest, is it?", the blonde questioned her lowly, referring to her home and the woods of his childhood.

Gandalf looked back to see the huge black bear watching them, who seems to be making sure that they didn't take the ponies into the forest. "Set the ponies loose", he ordered them. "Let them return to their master. We must travel through on foot. Going around will take twice as long", he spoke as he stepped to examine the entrance to the forest.

Saeril glanced at the forest as Fili asked her about the difference between this one and Fangorn. "A little bit. This one is more denser; heavier, being much longer and taller. Unlike the woods you're used to, you can easily get lost in this one", she's been here, and it was all true. Fili let himself down before he carefully helped Yavanna off the horse.

"A shame to lose such fine beasts", Saeril stated as she dismounted, and helped Kili down. "If only you saw the creatures back in Fangorn", she chuckled at a fonding memory of the Ents, although she hoped her laughter would bring a little light to their upcoming situation. "Mighty things they are", the she-elf sighed as she thought about her home, softly smiling at the creature before her.

[WolfLover]

As they arrived at the entrance of the forest. Yavanna looked at the entrance in front of them. Just like Bilbo, she felt uneasy about the forest. She could feel the darkness...the sickness of the forest before them. It was her elvish nature. She was a lover of nature, of forests...of the beauty of Middle Earth. This forest, was nothing like the one she knew back home and grew up exploring. It was dark.

Listening to Saeril, compare Fangorn forest with this one, she smiled softly. "I imagine Fangorn must be beautiful." she said softly. "By the way you describe it, it reminds me of Lothlorien a little. How I loved to explore there." Yavanna smiled at her childhood memories, any time she went to visit her grand-parents.

Kili glanced over at Yavanna, as she brought up a place he was not familiar with. "Is it beautiful there?" he asked her with a smile.
Yavanna nodded "Very much so. It's one of my favorite places...I would often visit, when I was younger. My grandparents, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn rule over those lands." she said with a warm smile on her face. As Fili helped her down, she smiled at him softly...before she gently stroked the Horse's muzzle. "It would not be wise, to bring them into the forest." she said softly. She let her and Fili's horse go back towards it's master.

Kili stood on the ground, beside his God-Mother once she helped him down. It seemed like Gandalf was deep in thought for a while. Before he returned and asked them to not send his horse back.
"You're leaving us?" Yavanna asked, what could make Gandalf rush off in such a hurry? The young Princess did not know, of the conversation he had with her grand-mother back in Rivendell.

[AngelBites15]

Saeril and Fili smiled fondly when they heard Yavanna talk about another section of Middle-Earth; one that the winged she-elf knew too well, while Fili didn't. It had been a while for the elder to be there, and the only thing she remembered about that forest was the glowing lights of the trees at night. It was a beautiful homeland for the many Elves, including the legendary Noldor. However, she frowned when the princess asked about the beauty of Fangorn. In truth, it wasn't as bright as how it was those many, many years ago. Ever since the downfall of her race, there wasn't much to the forest anymore, except for the fellow Ents who shared that said-territory.

Pulling an old clump of vines off a stone statue, Gandalf saw that a large eye had been plastered with red war paint. Galadriel's voice spoke to him in his mind. "If our enemy has returned, then we must know. Go to the tombs in the mountains. "The High Fells. So be it", he swallowed, turning quickly back to the group. "Not my horse, I need it!" he called. "I would not do this unless I had to", Gandalf answered to the princess as he got onto the horse's back. "I have business that needs attending to, and it cannot wait. No matter what happens, stay on the path!", he reminded them, before riding away.

“Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin’s Day", the woods were uninviting, and a broken, paved path that leads them towards the darkness. Foliage and shrubbery crowded the travelers, and the trees seemed to reach the sky and block out the possibility that the sun was above them. "This is our one chance to find the hidden door."

Saeril has been using her elven stealth to allow herself to walk quieter, but the forest itself was eerily quiet. Something wasn't right, she knew. It didn't feel normal. She couldn't help but see Kili stride away from the group. That was when she remembered: the very air was heavy with illusion. It had no effect on the Elven folk, but she just found out that Kili nor his brother were immune. They began to walk slower, their speech began to slur; they were hallucinating and disoriented, and they began to feel light-headed but they forced themselves to keep going.

Quickly, the she-elf had to prevent him from almost falling off the edge of the path by grabbing the back of his cloak and turning him around. She was down to his level, and holding his face, trying to tell him that it wasn't real and that he was seeing things. Fili wasn't any better; also in his own trance, and kinda in his own little world. It was strange and out of place to see the brothers like this; so disordered.

[WolfLover]

Yavanna smiled back at the winged she-elf and Fili. Even Kili was smiling, even though he and his brother, did not know such place of beauty. He hoped one day, they might be able to see it. Yavanna then turned her attention to the Wizard. "Stay safe."she said softly. Yavanna always worried about Gandalf...especially with the Orc Pack around. She hoped, the Wizard would be alright.

A bit reluctantly, Yavanna stepped into the strange forest. If it weren't for her elvish blood...she would have been dizzy and disoriented. When Fili was being affected...Yavanna gently tugged him in the right directions. So he did not stray from the path. "Fili...it's alright. Just focus on me...what ever you're seeing...it's not real." she told him gently. Reassuring him, that he was fine.

Kili blinked, as his god-mother stopped him from falling of the edge. "There's...three....of...you." he muttered, his vision so blurry...he saw a triple version of Saeril.

Soon enough, a part of the group stopped. "Why have you all stopped?" Thorin asked.
"Look...the path is gone." Hearing those words, Yavanna knew it. they were lost. "We lost the path...everyone try and find it." Thorin ordered. "We must find it again."

[AngelBites15]

“A tobacco pouch. There’s dwarves in these woods.” Dori spoke in a hushed voice, completely unaware that the pouch had belonged to one of them.
Bofur looked to it, then gave a slow nod. “Dwarves from the Blue Mountains, no less. This is exactly the same as mine.”
Bilbo was exasperated; his head ached and his mind was a marbled mess. “Because it is yours. Do you understand? We’re going round in circles. We are lost.”

Fili was seconds away into falling headfirst into a curious looking swamp. The water was a peculiar color, and no good could have come from it. Thankfully, Yavanna had caught him by his cloak. At first, he was alarmed, but he calmed when he saw that it was only the princess.

His vision seemed to go in and out of focus. Everything appeared tilted; the ground and sky felt as if they had changed places. Desperate for balance, he moved one hand to Yavanna's. "Kili...went this way," Fili pointed towards the swamp with his free hand, insistent that this was where his brother had gone. "I have to find him!"

Saeril kept reassuring Kili, but it seemed that the spell was very potent, even for him. Looking back, she saw Yavanna trying to get Fili to also come into focus, but these hallunications were driving them away from reality.

[WolfLover]

As Balin was looking around for the path, he was muttering to himself. "I don't remember this place. None of it...none of it's familiar."

Bilbo sighed...he eventually sat down. Needing some rest...he was exhausted from all of this. He found that he was sitting near a very large spider web. Curious. He reached out and plucked it. The web vibrated. Making odd noises through out the woods. Plucking it again. Bilbo listened once more...after a few moments; he joined the company again, to keep looking for the path.

Kili shook his head, turning his head. He blinked...he saw a familiar figure in the distance. It seemed like it was his father. "Dad." Kili yelled out "Over here." in that moment, Kili had forgotten his father was long gone. He began to run towards the illusion of his father. Almost falling into a pit.

Yavanna saw Fili was about to fall in a swamp. Rushing over...luckily she reached out; grabbing him just in time. "It's okay...I got you." she reassured him. Yavanna then held his hand, and she looked down at him "Kili's safe...we don't want to go there." she told Fili, as he pointed to the swamp. "Your brother, is with your God-Mother. He's alright." she promised him.

"We're not lost...we keep heading east." Thorin said.
"But which way is east?" Another Dwarf said. "We lost the sun." When chatter broke out between the group, Thorin thought he heard he something "Enough! All of you...We're being watched!" he said looking at the company.

In the mean time, Bilbo had gotten an idea. The sun...they needed to find the sun. Walking over to a tree, he began to climb up.