When Two Worlds Collided

The Dwarves

Meanwhile Alínna and Tauriel were also on a quest to find someone, but a very different someone. They were looking for dwarves. Being captain of the guard, Tauriel was on patrol that morning and had found evidence of dwarves nearby. She took Alínna with her to try and find them because the other elf had been the top tracker, and people said she could track you across all of Middle Earth if age wanted to. Luckily, they didn't have to go that far.

Alínna followed their path for maybe five miles before Tauriel glimpsed them through the trees. They counted about a dozen dwarves, and another person with them.

"A hobbit!" Alínna said. "What would a hobbit be doing with dwarves this close to Rivendell?"

"I don't know," Tauriel admitted. "Maybe they're lost?"

"I'll go ask them!" Tauriel groaned. Alínna liked to dive into situations without determining the best course of action first, and had ended up nearly dead because of it on several occasions. Still, she was reckless.

"Who...?" She stopped suddenly. The dwarves surrounded her, trapping her in their circle.

"Who are you?" The leader asked. He was one of the taller dwarves, and had thick long black hair, braided, and a similar beard.

"My name's Alínna," she said smiling at him. "I'm am elf,"

"I can see that," he said dryly. "I'm a dwarf," One of the other dwarves hid his smile behind a tough calloused hand.

"Why are you passing through Mirkwood?" Alínna seemed unaware that she was enclosed in a circle of warriors with axes and swords.

"I am Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under The Mountain," Thorin's blue eyes met Alínna's, and she saw the regal look around him as he stood majestically, covered in mud. "I've come to take back Erebor,"

Tauriel decided that now might be a good time to come out. Dwarves and elves weren't exactly best friends. She ran towards the circle, pushing dwarves out of her way until one stopped her. He, along with Thorin, was a tall dwarf, with black hair, but while Thorin's was thick and wavy, his was straighter, and his beard was close shaven. He put his hand on her arm. It was softer than she expected.

"And who might you be?" He asked her, softly, but it sounded like thunder to Tauriel.

"Tauriel," she murmured.

"Tauriel," he replied, looking up at her. "Kili, at your service,"

Kili. That's who he was. Kili. The name meant nothing to her, but she hoped she would get to know him better. Who was this dwarf Kili who stopped her with a single touch, making her feel like maybe dwarves weren't so bad after all? Then she brought herself away and stood up. What was she thinking, dwarves aren't so bad? They might not be evil, but they weren't to be consorted with.

"Thorin, son of Thrain, do explain why you are here in elven territory," Tauriel walked over to where he and Alínna stood, head up high. Little did she know Kili was watching her every move, cheeks turning pink as he remembered touching her arm.

"I am reclaiming Erebor," he said, annoyed with these interfering elves. "The land my fathers ruled,"

"Smaug," Alínna said suddenly. "You'll have to get past Smaug,"

Thorin rolled his eyes. "Yes, elf girl, we will have to kill Smaug. But is he not asleep? Can we not kill him in his sleep and regain our rightful place under the mountain?"

"No!" Alínna cried out. "Smaug is just pretending to be asleep, you cannot sneak in there and kill him!" She paused for a moment, looking at Thorin's deadly axe and sword. "I will go with you and help with Smaug,"

Thorin followed her gaze to his shiny weapons. "I think we have it under control,"

"But you don't!" Alínna had a sudden outburst. "You have to take me with you!" She pleaded, so unlike herself, and Tauriel felt the need to chime in.

"Yes! You don't know her, but if Alínna says you need her, you need her. Take her with you on your quest,"

"The elf is right," Kili quietly added his opinion. "No elf would want to travel with dwarves unless they had to," Tauriel looked towards him in thanks. "I say we take both of them,"

"What?" The dwarf next to him, with dirty blond hair and a thick braided beard exclaimed. "Kili, have you lost your mind? They're elves!"

"I know, Fili. But if we let both of them go, don't you think they'll tell Thranduil and capture us, stopping us from reclaiming Erebor?" He appealed to Thorin now, knowing his leader was the one he had to convince.

Thorin rubbed the braids of his beard. "You make sense, Kili. Alright elves, we'll take you with us. But don't try and stop us, because there is nothing you can do to stop an angry dwarf and his ax,"

"You won't regret it!" Alínna said cheerfully. "Now let's go!"