There and Back Again: A Girl's Tale

Chapter 19 Mirkwood

Chapter 19 Mirkwood Forest

"You will leave my ponies before you enter the forest," Beorn said roughly.

"You have my word."

Gandalf and Beorn were standing just inside the tree line, looking down at the company as they prepared the ponies. Gandalf's far seeing eyes fell on Elwen in time to see her lean over and kiss the nose of her beast of burden. He smiled slightly.

When Gandalf turned to Beorn, he caught the skin-changer watching her as well.

"You know who her father is, of course." Beorn gave the wizard a probing stare.

"I was informed by Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel, yes," answered Gandalf carefully. He'd had suspicions of his own, of course, but now that it was confirmed, he felt sorry for the girl.

"I do not understand exactly what the bond is between the girl and these dwarves, but it will be tested in the Woodland Realm," Beorn shook his large head. "I fear for her."

"You've grown fond of her, I see," Gandalf eyed the large man, chuckling. "She has that effect on people."

"She is not like other humans or elves that I have come across," he said. "She did not build strength by climbing over those weaker than herself. She is...different from what I would expect, considering her parentage. Perhaps she is more like her mother, who I know little about."

Gandalf nodded sagely.

Elwen Greenleaf was different. Perhaps it was the age in which she was brought up, far away from the halls of her father and the influence and power he wielded. Or maybe it was simply who she was. Had she been raised in Middle-earth, taking her rightful place in her father's realm, would she still be the same person? There was no way to know for sure, though Gandalf also had his suspicions about this as well.

Gandalf heard birds fluttering in the distance and the hair on the back of his neck stood.

"We're being watched," he said, peering into the dense wood around them.

"Yes," Beorn replied, also scanning the forest. "The orcs will not give up. They will hunt the dwarves until they see them destroyed."

"Why now?" Gandalf wondered aloud angrily. "What has made the Defiler crawl from his hole?"

"There is an alliance between the orcs of Moria and the sorcerer in Dol Guldur."

This startled Gandalf.

"You're sure of this?"

"Packs have been seen gathering there," Beorn replied. "Each day more and more come."

"What do you know of this sorcerer?" Gandalf asked, concerned. "The one they call the Necromancer?"

"I know he is not what he seems. Fell things are drawn to his power." Beorn fixed Gandalf with a wild look. "Azog pays homage to him."

Gandalf couldn't shake the feeling that something far more sinister than a human Necromancer was taking root in Dol Guldur. He recalled a sword that should not have been recovered, given to him by Radagast the Brown before they entered Rivendell. That, along with the Lady's fearful gaze upon being presented with it...

"Gandalf!" Thorin called to the wizard. "Time is wasting."

Gandalf started for the company when Beorn spoke.

"There is more," Beorn added. Gandalf paused, looking over his shoulder. "Not long past, word spread that the dead had been seen walking near the high fells of Rhudaur."