The Wanderer

Chapter Five

Dashing through the woods of Mirkwood with Rieka at my side reminded me of a peaceful time, a time when giant spiders did not bother the elves, a time when dwarves could find help from others. Those times was no longer, and I sorely missed them.

Rieka barked suddenly, alerting me to the scent she picked up. She raised her head from the ground and trotted towards Laketown, a village on the waters of the lake.

I followed her without question; I knew her nose could pick up a scent better than any other warg. Rieka stopped abruptly, taking another whiff of the air. She growled menacingly, making me put my hand on my sword.

"What is it?" I asked her. She gave me a rough bark, and I have known her long enough to know that the orcs were not much farther up ahead.

"Go on ahead," I prompted her as an idea formed in my mind, "Pretend to be of their pack, but stall them to give the dwarves more time."

Rieka whined, not too happy with my plan. "Do not worry, my friend. Our parting will not be for long. I will meet you in Laketown." It hurt to know that Rieka would be among the enemy and that she could be discovered, but I knew she could handle herself well if it came to it.

"I will be there," I told her as I scratched behind her ears. She snuggled up to me, giving her goodbye, before running off into the forest to join the pack. I was on my own now, like the many years before I found Rieka.

It would be best to give Rieka time to run up ahead before I started off again, it would look suspicious if I appeared right after her. I took the time to clean off my sword with a cloth; the blade was still covered in dark orc blood. Once finished, the steel blade shimmered in the sunlight poking through the treetops.

I had been given this sword by elves many ages ago, when I had first started my journey. It was named Gwathrenang, meaning Shadowsteel. I would not part with such a weapon easily, as it was lethal, swift, and graceful; everything a true elven sword needed.

As I admired my blade, I heard the sound of crunching leaves. Someone was approaching. My muscles tensed, but I pretended not to have heard the sound; I would catch them off guard if I could.

With one swift motion, twirled my sword into my right hand and had it at the intruders neck. I stopped when I saw who it was, it was Tauriel. The red headed elf stared at me with wide eyes and surprise written on her face.

"Tauriel, it is only you." I lowered my sword from her neck, though a bit agitated she was here. "Why are you here and not with your king?"

She hesitated before answering, "I cannot allow the dwarves to be hunted and killed by the orcs. They do not deserve such a vile death, no one does."

"Neither do you, Tauriel. I will handle it," I told her earnestly.

"No, you must let me help." There was a desperate glint in her eyes, as if there was something she was not telling me.

"What-" A sudden, pounding pain erupted in the back of my skull and I fell to my knees. Someone had smashed a tree branch across the back of my head. The world around me faded into darkness, but I was able to catch a snippet of words before I descended into the murk.

"We will find the dwarves, Tauriel, but helping them is not yet decided."

~~~

Slowly, I regained my consciousness. The sun had risen, making it to bright for my eyes. I tried to feel what was around me, roots and grass underneath me and rough bark behind me. I was at the outskirts of the forest, leaning against a tree, I believe, and my hands were bound behind me.

The realization was enough to force my eyes open. The brightness burned my eyes, signifying I had been out for a while.

"Man erin, Farren." A male voice spoke up. It was the elven prince, sitting on a stump not that far away from me. He was sharpening his blades with a stone, preparing for the battle to come if I was every able to get out of these bonds.

"I suppose you plan on not letting me go," I said, lifting my bound hands for him to see. This was a slight annoyance to my journey, but I had handled worse.

"Not any time soon."

"If you want me to take you to the dwarves, I don't know where they are." He looked up at me then, his impossibly blue eyes showing some emotion I couldn't recognize. I will admit, spending so much time with Rieka rather than people has made it... harder to read the emotions of others.

"We already know where they're going, to Erebor, to take back their mountain." He looked back down at his knife, continuing to sharpen it. "They'll awaken the dragon sleeping there."

"I know," I mumbled, creating a silence between us. The last thing I wanted to do was allow the dwarves to wake up the dragon, but I didn't want the dwarves to go without a home, especially after all that they have suffered. My own fears of the beast were nothing compared to what the dwarves felt.

"Than why let them escape?" Legolas spoke up, "Ada told me the wrath of the dragon you faced while in the north, of the scars that you both possess from the battles fought there."

I winced at his mention of the great battles I had fought nearly 3000 years ago. It was the beginning of the third age, Sauron had just been defeated and I was still very young for an elf.

I was living in Lothlórien at the time, with Galadriel and Celeborn. A messenger with terrible news came from the North some years into the Third Age. It was a letter from Meneldil, he required help in the northern reaches of his kingdom. I came with a few other other elves to Gondor, Thranduil was among them.

Those times have long passed, but I have remember them very well. I owe a great debt to Thranduil from those times. He had saved me when I was injured during battle and brought me to safety, though he endangered himself. That was the day I saw another side to the arrogant king, but I have very rarely seen it since.

"The dwarves have travelled through Middle-Earth many times over, having no place to call home, Legolas. They have fought much, but gained little. It is true that their own folly has brought them here, but our pride may lead us down the same path when we are in need." Surprisingly, my voice remained steady, though my heart ached.

"Tauriel has told me the same," the prince said while putting away his knife and standing up. He gestured for me to get up and I obeyed.

I thought he had no more to say, but as he passed me, I heard him whisper, "And perhaps you are right."