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The Company saddles and rides Beorn's ponies. As they ride away, Beorn, staying at his house, looks around for danger. "Go now, while you have the light. The hunters are not far behind." He says, and his eyes are suddenly in view. The company rides rapidly across the land, slowing to a stop approaching a looming, gloomy-looking forest. Gandalf dismounts and walks into the forest's edge through an ancient archway. Silveria transforms back it k her human form and walks to Gandalf, who turns to her.
"You feel it don't you?" He asks, and she nods softly. Her eyes scanned the forest. "The Elven Gate," Gandalf says loud enough for the company to hear as he turns to face them. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood." He says. "No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin states. Dwalin dismounts. Gandalf squints as he sees something in the distance; it is Beorn, in his bear-form, watching them from a distant ridge.
"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master." He says. Silveria has turned to face the rest of the company. The dwarves and Bilbo dismount and begin taking their supplies off the ponies. Bilbo approaches the forest on foot. He goes up to Silveria, who places a hand onto his shoulder. "This forest feels...sick as if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around it?" He says and looks at both Gandalf and Silveria.
The dragon woman shakes her head and says. "Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south." Bilbo nods and watches as Gandalf follows a path a few feet further into the shadows and approaches a plant-covered statue. At the same time, Bilbo, who is standing by himself, reaches into his pocket and, after some internal conflict, slowly pulls out the Ring and fingers it. Just like when he examined it in Beorn's house, we hear the voice whispering the "One Ring to rule them all" chant. As Gandalf approaches the statue, Galadriel suddenly appears; she is thought-speaking to Gandalf from Rivendell.
"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." Galadriel's voice echo in his head. He approaches the statue apprehensively, then quickly yanks off the vines, revealing a painted-on Eye of Sauron. We see the Flaming Eye of Sauron burst on the screen for a second, and Bilbo, holding the Ring, gasps slightly. Silveria sees it too, and she winces at the pain that shot thru her head.
"If our enemy has returned, we must know. Go to the tombs in the mountains." Galadriel's voice echoes again. Gandalf, hearing her words in his head, nods in agreement. "The High Fells. So be it." He says grimly. The unladen ponies trot away; Nori is just about to finish unsaddling Gandalf's horse when Gandalf emerges from the forest, making the company turn to him. Silveria seeing his expression, understands what he must do. She turns to nori.
"Let his horse be; he's going to need it," she says softly, and Nori stops. As Gandalf strides forward, the Company looks up and murmurs in surprise. "You're not leaving us?" Bilbo says and goes up to Silveria for soft comfort. "I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf says. He then looks at Thorin, then turns and looks at a dejected Bilbo. "You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire." Gandalf says, and Silveria notices Bilbo stiff. "I was going to tell you; I...found something in the Goblin tunnels." He says, and Silveria can hear the uncertainty in his voice.
