Run It Back Again (Part 1)

Chapter 15

*Skyrena's Pov-

As soon as Fili and the others were asleep, I crept through the halls towards the library.  Perhaps I'd be able to find out about shapeshifters and how to save Era.  It took me forever, but I finally found the book.  I swallowed hard as I translated the ancient elvish writing into the common tongue.

"Born to the kin of the skin changers, the shapeshifters take more than one form and can take any form they want.  Originally from Mordor, bred from magic, they were created to be a creature of mass destruction.  After the war on Mordor, the creatures were slain or enslaved by fellow races of Middle Earth.  Though created to bring destruction, these creatures tend to be loyal, resembling the personality of a wolf rather than any other creature."  I stopped, my mind lingering on the words "slain or enslaved."  It just didn't sit right.  What had happened that lead to this?

"Differenting not much from its kin, the shapeshifter uses energy it has stored up or gained from some source to take any form it chooses.  This shift can drain the shapeshifter of a certain amount of energy, depending on how strong the shapeshifter is."  I gulped and shook my head.  This is what Era had proven to me, and I had seen it in our shifting.  I swallowed hard and continued reading.

"Their kin once ranged from 1,500 to 2,000.  After the wars, the 200 who remained went into hiding, hoping to survive.  400 years afterwards, the race seemed to have gone extinct."  Extinct...?  How was it I remained?  I didn't like the truth, but I was bond and determined to find it.  I shook my head and flipped through the book, looking for the part about skin changers...  There was nothing, so I closed the book.

"Excuse me..."  I jerked and looked up.  It was Lord Elrond.  I forced a smile and put the book back where I found it.

"I was just leaving..."  He raised an eyebrow at me and shook his head.

"No need...  I hope you found what you were looking for."  I hung my head.

"Did you... hear what I was reading?"  He nodded and sat down in a nearby chair.

"I do remember the war on Mordor.  I did encounter some of your kin, Skyrena.  I even fought along side a few.  Your kind is not a monster.  However, you were loyal creatures.  If you pledged yourself to a cause, you were tied until your death or the death of the cause.  However, the book doesn't say exactly what became of them.  It just says killed or enslaved."  I gulped and shook my head.

"It would explain a lot..."  I thought back to what Lord Thraudril always told me about being hunted by Orcs as a child.  I sighed and shook my head.  "This is all I need to know...  I want no more information!"  Lord Elrond nodded at the celtic knot around my neck that he'd given me earlier.

"This is something I found after the wars.  A shapeshifter gave it to me before his death as a sign of gratitude.  Perhaps you will make more use of it than I ever managed."  I smiled and nodded.

"Thank you my lord..."  He stood up.

"Think nothing of it, friend of Rivendell."  With that, he was gone.

*Thorin's Pov-

Early in the morning, I woke up to someone shaking me.  I jerked awake and looked around, hoping it was Era who was trying to wake me up.  It was actually Gandalf.

"You must take the company and leave now...  The elves will try to stop our quest."  I nodded and looked over at Era, who was still out cold.

"We'll take her with us.  She'll need Skyrena..."  He nodded.

"Go now..."

*Skyrena's Pov-

I'd finally fallen asleep when Balin came to get me.

"Thorin said we're to leave soon.  Gandalf's request..."  I nodded and rubbed my eyes as I stretched.

"Any news on Era?"  He shook his head.

"She's still too drained of energy."  I nodded and stood.

"But, she is coming with us, right?"  He smiled and rested a hand on my shoulder.

"Why wouldn't she?  She's part of the company now.  Thorin's going to have Fili and Kili carry her until she's awake and strong enough to be on her own two feet."  I smiled and nodded.

"Very well...  Let's go."

*Fili's Pov-

"Fili, you and Kili will take turns carrying Era until we can get her back on her feet."  I nodded and cast a glance at Era, who was still out.  It pained me to see her like this.  I almost couldn't stand it...  "Wrap her up in some furs and let's go."  Kili went covered her with his and nodded.

"Go ahead, Fili."  I picked her up and felt her stir slightly as she shifted her weight and rested her head at the crook of my elbow.  I smiled a little as she stilled.  Looking up at Thorin, who was watching her carefuly, I nodded.

"Let's go..."

*Skyrena's Pov-

We left as soon as the sun was rising.  This time, instead of insisting I stayed by Bilbo, Thorin had me stay close to him.  We travelled for days before we reached the Misty Mountains.  We travelled along the cliffs as long as possible.  However, we were all worried about Era, who was still not seeming to recover.  One night, we found ourselves caught in the middle of a horrible storm.  I sensed movement in the rocks.

"Look out!"  A boulder crashed over our heads.  Giants made of stone moved across the mountains, throwing stones at each other.  I looked over at Balin.  "What are they?"  He gulped.

"Storm giants!"  I ducked as rocks landed beside me.  Not long afterwards, I felt the ground below my feet move.  Looking up, I saw we were standing on a storm giant.  I cluched the ground as we were torn from the group.  Killi, Bilbo, Balin, and I on one side, Thorin and the others on the otherside.  I watched as we were separated from the group only to be brought back, right in front of them.  Soon, it looked like we would crash into the cliff.

"Skyrena!"  I turned into a huge stone and shielded the others from the blow from the storm giant's knee.  Guiding them to the ledge, I heaved a sigh of relief as I saw Thorin and the others coming towards us.  Thorin caught both my arms in his grasp.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!"  I smiled and agreed to.  Suddenly, I noticed Bilbo was gone.  I whirled around in circles, looking for him.

"Bilbo!"  My scream carried through the storm, but I got no response.  Looking down, I saw him hanging from the cliff.  I knelt down to grab him as the rock he stood on crumbled.  Thorin jumped down and hoisted him up.  I caught Thorin's arm and pulled him to safety.  Bifur and the others seemed relieved, but Thorin wasn't.

"He never should have come, Skyrena."  I dropped my jaw.

"You don't mean that!"  The others looked over at us, but I didn't care.  "Just like you don't mean it when you say you wish I had never come!"  He started to respond, but I took off.  Tending to Era, who Fili was guarding nonstop, even when Kili was carrying her, I shook my head.  If she didn't get more energy soon, she may never wake up.