The Starlight Queen

Chapter 1

It started on a quiet, peaceful, spring afternoon. I was in the woods as usual, hanging upside down in a tree reading Into The Mountain, My long auburn hair flowing in the wind below me, and my bright curious yellow eyes following the story with great interest. I heard a noise in the bushes. I grabbed my dagger, but didn't look up, or probably down, in this case since I'm upside down.

"Irena." I heard someone call my name. I didn't respond, I recognized that voice. I put my dagger back and grinned behind the book.

"Iri," they called again, this time from directly below me.

"Shhh! I'm reading!" I responded, smiling, and brought the book closer to my face.

"Well then, I guess you can go right ahead and keep reading. We are going on an adventure." I heard the person say cheekily, obviously enjoying himself.

"Kili! You should have led with that!" I said, finally looking up from my book. I noticed another dwarf. "Oh! Hi Fili, I didn't see you there," I said, flipping to the ground gracefully.

"Maybe that's because you had your nose in a book," Fili teased, grinning. I punched him playfully.

"So what are we doing this time? Are we gonna climb the lonely mountain?" I asked, climbing my tree. "Or are we gonna jump off a cliff?" I said, saluting and falling forward off the branch, but caught myself with my bare foot and swung back up. "Oooh! We could go murder the goblin king." I said, grabbing a stick and fenced with the air. "Or-"

"We are going to claim Erebor back from The Fire Serpent." Kili interrupted, knowing full well I could go on for hours. I was silent for a bit.

"That is..." I said, throwing my stick at him. "That's crazy, even for you guys."

"He dodged my stick." I thought in fake irratence.

"So... are you staying behind then?" Fili asked challengingly.

"Hey now, I never said I wouldn't come, this will be absolutely epic!" I said, grinning. "When do we start?"

"As soon as we get the rest of our party," Fili explained, "We have to go South to the-" He stopped as he realized that he was pointing in the wrong direction. "South to the Shire," he said, correcting himself.

"Wait, why are we going to the Shire?" I asked.  "Isn't that in the wrong direction?" I continued, pointing South-East, towards Erebor.

"We are going to show up at a hobbit's house and eat all his food. Then give him a job offering as our burglar, then leave. Basically." Kili explained.

"Just a random hobbit's house." I clarified.

"Well... Gandalf has a particular hobbit in mind."

"Why Hobbits of all the races?" I asked. "All they seem to care about is their crocheted doilies."

"I don't know, but I'm sure Gandalf has his reasons."

"Who is this Gandalf guy? He seems pretty insane."

"You don't know about Gandalf?" Fili asked, highly surprised.

"No... should I?"

"He is only the best wizard ever," Kili said.

"And he has some of the coolest fireworks."  Fili added.

"Hm... so he is a wizard?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and sitting down on the branch I was standing on. "Let me guess, it was his idea to go on this quest?"

"Actually no, it was Thorin's." Kili said.

"Ah, that makes sense, now that you mention it." I said, tilting my head. "Let us take our leave!" I said, pointing towards the Shire.

"Are you ready?" Fili asked, raising an eyebrow. Kili smirked.

"Uh, duuh. what kind of adventurer isn't always ready?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips where my sword and my dagger where clipped to my belt, glinting in the sunlight.

"Where's your bow?" Kili asked.

"Oh, uh..." I looked around. I heard a snicker. I stopped and rolled my eyes. "Kili, Gimme my bow back." I said, holding out my hand, smiling. he threw it up to me and playfully pouted. I reached up to catch it, my fingertips grazed the string, and I gasped softly. I backflipped off the branch, following the bow down. I caught it and landed.

"Kili!" I scolded. "You could have broken my bow!"

"My apologies, my lady," he said teasingly bowing and grinning at me, not sounding at all sorry.

"Come on, we have to get going if we wanna get there anytime before Durin's day," Fili said.

"Durin's day is in three months," I said.

"That's the point," Kili whispered in my ear.

"Oh." I said, and promptly felt like an idiot. And with that, we where off.

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Hey guys! Hope you liked that chapter, sorry it was short, let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas in the comments. Thanks for reading!