Mirkwood and Elf King

Elena's POV

We arrived at the edge of Mirkwood safely. I am laying down catching my breath as the others untack the ponies. I spot Beorn on the ridge in the distance in bear form. I called to him as a final farewell. He returns it. "Not my horse, I need it!" Gandalf suddenly exclaims. I look up at him confused.

As Gandalf strides forward, the Company looks up and murmurs in surprise. "You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asks shocked as I stand up stretching my muscles.

"I would not do this unless I had to" Gandalf states. Gandalf looks at Thorin, then turns and looks at a dejected Bilbo. They speak privately as I give them a deaf ear. I don't like eavesdropping on friends. Gandalf turns and begins walking toward his horse; he speaks as he passes Thorin. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me" he instructs.

"This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray" he tells us. Great, like the forest didn't smell dangerous enough. Gandalf gets on his horse. It begins raining lightly, even though the sun is out. "You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again. No matter what, stay on the path" he tells us. Then gallops away, taking my shirt and belt with him. Great, guess I have to stay in panther form.

We enter the forest, Thorin and I leading the way. I brush my tail over the path behind me to remove leaves so that the others can see it. While using my sensitive paws to feel the path.

As we keep following the path through the forest, it twists and turns over all sorts of terrain such as bare ground, high ledges, fallen tree trunks, and more. The color palette used is very blue/gray, and gloomy. Dwalin thumps the handle of his hammer on the ground to find the paving stones of the trail. "The path turns this way" he tells us.

Soon the others start to complain about lack of air and feeling dizzy. I to am feeling a little dizzy and shake my head. But it only makes it worse and I groan. The dwarves suddenly run into each other as Nori, in front, stops abruptly. "The path...it's disappeared!" he exclaims.

We are standing in front of a steep cliff, and there is no path ahead of us. "Find it. All of you look. Look for the path" Thorin orders. We all stat to search for it, with no luck. I even climbed into a tree for a higher vantage point, but still couldn't find the path. In the end we wander aimless.

Until we came to a broken stone bridge. No way the others could jump it. I got a running start and sprinted. I jump and land on the other side. But the bricks gave out under my hind legs. I gripped the bridge and pulled myself back up. The others crossed on the vines. We continued to wonder the forest.

Until we found Dori's dropped tobacco pouch. The dwarves started mumbling about find the sun. But only Bilbo and I climbed into a near by tree. We climbed to the very top. Our heads break through the trees and into the air. Suddenly, it is as if a spell has been broken, and my head clears.

I can tell so did Bilbo's. As he breathes deeply, blue butterflies flying all around us. The sun is setting, and everything looks beautiful. Bilbo smiles and laughs. As I enjoy the sun purring. Bilbo then looks off into the distance and sees several landmarks. He calls down loudly to the dwarves below. "I- I can see a lake! And a river. And the Lonely Mountain. We're almost there!" he shouts.

But we here no reply. So we climb back down to see the others gone. Worriedly, Bilbo climbs down a bit and peers around. He steps forward, only to trip over a spiderweb and fall several feet, bouncing painfully off branches. Yelling in pain and shock the entire time. He catches himself on a branch, then watches in horror as a web parts to reveal a massive spider. As the spider opens its fangs and hisses at him.

I snarl and pounce on its fat body clawing it. It drops dead and I look around. I spot something in the trees and nod to it. It's a group of dwarf sized cocoons. "I'll get them down, you release them. Stay hidden" Bilbo tells me. I nod my head and he goes to climb another tree.

I stay hidden and come out as the first cocoon lands on the ground. I rip it open to reveal Bofur. He gasps awake. "Thank you Miss Elena" he says in gratitude. The other cocoons appear and he helps me free the others. "Where's Bilbo?" he asks me and I look up into the canopy.

Only to see a swarm of spiders to surround us. We all fight them. Soon elves come to our aid. Once the spiders were dead though, the elves pointed their weapons at the dwarves. I snarl standing in front of them. Suddenly an elven rope is lassoed around my neck. I growl and try to break free.

"Elena!" some of the dwarves shout and come to help me. But the blonde elf sticks his sword to Thorin's throat. I snarl and snap at him, thought he is out of range.

"Do not think I won't kill you, dwarf. It would be my pleasure" he sneers. The elves then search the dwarves. I relax until the elf insults Gloin's family and lunge. Making the elf holding me let go of the rope. But before I can reach him. He swings around and strikes me with his bow. I land on the ground groaning in pain as another elf retrieves the rope.

"Keep a tighter grip on her" a she elf orders. 

The elves begin to lead the dwarves away. As they begin to walk, Bofur turns and whispers to Thorin. "Where's Bilbo?" he asks. I look around for the hobbits with my eyes and do not see him.

We are soon led over a bridge and into the Woodland Realm. After they pass through, the lead elf addresses the guards of the gate. "Holo in ennyn" he says in elvish and the gates start to close. I look at them longingly, wanting to go find Bilbo.

Most of the dwarves are taken to the dungeon. Meanwhile Thorin and I are taken to the throne room. They took Thorin in first. I soon heard him yelling insults a the elf king. He is dragged away to the dungeons. The blonde elf and the she elf then lead me into the room.

"A skin changer and here I thought Beorn was the last of your kind. Though I did hear rumors about you" the elf king drawls as he sits on his throne looking at me. "Give her a cloak" he orders. The blonde elf removes his and wraps it around me. I turn back into a human. "Why do you travel with the dwarves?" he asks me.

"A mutual friend requested I join, said I'd find something on the journey" I state.

"I'm sure you did, but you left him" he states.

"He understands why I have to continue on this journey" I grumble.

"But you swore no oath or signed any contract. You're free to do as you wish" he states. "I will only offer you this once, leave the dwarves return to your own kind. And I shall give you all you need for the journey" he tells me.

"Why make me this deal?" I ask him confused.

"You are one of the last of your kind, a rare and noble breed. I'd hate to be the reason your kind goes extinct. So do you accept my offer?" he asks me.

"What about the others?" I ask him.

"My deal to Thorin still stands, if he accepts I'll let them go" he tells me.

"Very well, I agree" I tell him. He has his son the blonde elf Legolas escort me out of the room. So that he could talk to the she elf Tauriel. Who is the captain of the guards. Legolas lead me to a bathing chamber and allowed me to bath in peace. An elf maid brought me new clothes and did my hair. She then lead me to my room for the night.

I slept for most of the afternoon. When I woke up there was a small person shaking me. I opened my eyes to see Bilbo and hugged him tightly. "No time, we have to get the others out while the elves are distracted by their festival" he tells me. I nod my head and he leads the way. I steal the keys and we lets the others out. He lead us to the cellar and we went into the empty barrels and the floor opens up beneath us.

*cliff hanger*

A/N

Picture above of Elena's new outfit and on the external link of Legolas, Tauriel & Thranduil.

Tauriel: so Elena is a skin changer?

Legolas: yes, I thought she'd look hairy like Beorn

Tauriel: she is beautiful

Legolas: I didn't notice *sips his wine* How did it go with father?

Tauriel: the usual, he wants me to prepare a guard for Elena tomorrow

Legolas: I'll help *alarm goes off* The Dwarves! *runs to retrieve his weapons while Tauriel runs to the cellar*