Prologue

“Thorin, please, let me help,” I asked in dwarvish. “No, Verena. We need to do this on our own,” Thorin unwavered his decision while packing with his nephews, Fili and Kili. The three came to visit me with news and decided to stay at an inn in the city as they passed through. 

“No, you do not. I am your friend. Please, let me help you retake your home,” I told him, remaining stubborn. He told me he planned on retaking Erebor and only wanted to tell me. 

“Oh, come on, uncle, let her come with us, She is a Tempest after all,” Fili looked at me with a smirk. “Not to mention her training and that she knows her way around Middle Earth better than anyone,” Kili continued. “Even Fili and Kili agree I can help. This is my way out of here for a while, I’ve been here for years and I need to travel again,” I pressed. Thorin sighed and sat down.

“Gandalf said to meet in the Shire. There, we will have our burglar and the rest of the company. Then we journey to Erebor. We meet in a Hobbit hole with the mark of a thief on the door in a month. If you want to come, be there," Fili and Kili cheered in the background, 

“You have to understand that I can not ensure anything. We are dealing with one of the worst dragons in the history of Middle Earth," He stressed as the brothers continued to celebrate, now oblivious to Thorin and I. 

I smiled softly and sat across from him, “I understand. I do not want you or the other members of your company dying either and I know I can help more than I can hurt.” I reasoned.

“Where are you travelling now?” I asked. “To a meeting with my kin and hopefully, get more support. Then to the Shire,” He said and I nodded. “Is there anything you need me to do between now and leaving for the Shire?” I offered 

“I ask only that you tell as few people as possible, I want this to remain as secret as possible,” Thorin told me “Of course. Cleos is the only one I trust not to tell anyone and act at the right time if we did need help. I will have to tell Nikolas I am leaving but that is all," I said and he nodded in approval. 

“I best be off now. I don’t want Dessa scolding me for the ridiculousness of curfews," I stood and walked towards the door and turned to the three Dwarves. “Stay safe, I will see you all in the Shire,” I said, and turned toward the door. 

~~~

“And where have you been?” Hadessa asked as I entered my room and nearly struck her. “Goodness, Dessa, stop doing that to me," I jumped. “You did not answer my question,” she stated and I walked behind a divider and changed into my bed clothes. “I was in Ilex today,” I answered shortly. “Why?” She questioned. “Am I not allowed to check on our people?" I retorted. 

“Of course you can, but you left this morning and are only getting back now. Ilex is still the closest city to us," She said, worried. So I may have spent a day convincing Thorin to let me go, “Same as the day before,” She continued. I may have spent two days convincing Thorin to let me go.

I sighed and stepped out from behind the divider and walked to my desk and undid the braids and bands from my hair. “I’ve been planning a trip. I will not be telling many people so be quiet about it,” I breathed out. The last part is more wishful thinking on my part but it is worth a shot. “Where are you going? Are you even sure if Nik will let you?” she asked. 

A while back, Alek found a spell that we placed on ourselves so Dessa could not read our minds whenever she wanted and must ask permission before she could. “The whereabouts are none of your concern, and Nikolas can not keep me here forever. I am not a pet he can keep on a leash,” I deadpanned. 

“Well you have to tell someone where you will be,” she said, emphasising that I should tell her. “I will tell Cleos tomorrow,” I brushed through my hair and she huffed, plopping down on my bed. I laughed lightly. 

Once I got all of the knots out, I walked over to her and sat next to her and she sat up. “Promise you will be careful,” she asked and I hugged her. “Of course I will," She wrapped her arms around me. 

“And I expect explanations when you return,” she pulled away and pointed her finger at my nose. “Have I ever told you, you remind me of mother sometimes?” I asked and we laughed. 

“I love you, big sister,” she said in Elvish. “I love you too, little sister,” 

~~~

I woke up before the sun, dressed and got my bow, quiver, swords, and daggers then walked to the training grounds to find no one there. It was still dark so I went straight for archery. 

I laid down my weapons but kept my daggers in hand and walked directly across from one of the targets. I got into my stance with my right foot in front and the dagger I will throw in my hand. I took my aim, and threw the dagger, stepping forward as my eyes remained on the target and saw my knife found its mark. 

I continued to throw daggers until the sun rose, then I switched to my bow. I felt a pair of eyes on me soon after, unphased by the attention. “It is impolite to stare, Zion,” I scolded, knocking my arrow, taking aim and he stepped out. 

“The moment I make myself known, you stop and we go straight into sparring. It is astounding how you haven’t missed once,” Zion told me as I let go of the arrow, splitting into the one before it. 

I had been teaching him some combat and helping him control his strength. Every morning he walks out and watches me train until I notice he is there. 

I set my bow down with my other weapons. “Centuries of practice, an excellent teacher and a well fitting partner is all I needed in learning," I told him, retrieving the arrows. “Martarys and Cleos?” he asked and I nodded.

“Your training session today will be one of the last with me for a while but I plan on asking Cleos to continue in my stead," I said in a neutral tone. “Is something wrong?” he asked, concerned. “Do not fret about me, I will be away for a while and we will continue to train like we do now, but harder when I return," I told him and he nodded and we walked to the sparring area. 

~~~

Before we ended, Cleos watched the rest of our match, where I put Zion on the floor, showed him how to do it himself, then he repeated. “Alright, that is enough for today," I huffed and looked at Zion, who was lying on his back. 

“Getting tired?” he asked, still panting. “No, but you are. Go rest before breakfast," I told him, as he shook his head and stumbled off as I turned my attention to Cleos. 

“He’s getting better than when Thallan taught him,” He commented. “Well, no offence to Thallan, but I have more patience to teach, with abilities like his, he needs it, and someone he can’t snap in half easily,” I said and he nodded in agreement. 

“I will be gone for a while and I need you to take over his training sessions. I worked hard getting him where he is and you are the only one I know will improve on it,” I tell him, picking up my weapons from the bench. “If I ask, will you tell me where you are going?” He asked me. 

I nodded to the door and we walked to the castle and towards the throne room and stopped in front of a painting of King Edrick and Queen Hazel. I pull the painting from the bottom corner and reveal a passage. 

I stepped in first and lit my hand on fire for light as Cleos shut the painting behind us and we walked down the passage a little ways and stopped at the second hidden door in the walls and walked into a small room. 

Nik, Cleos, Alek and I found this place as children then decorated it with a few different small things and came here whenever we didn’t want someone else listening. “You can’t tell anyone nor can you try to stop me," I told him as I lit a few candles and extinguished the flames in my hand. “Ver, I know better than to talk you out of anything, now,” he chuckled. 

“Thorin plans to retake Erebor and I’m going with him,” I tell him just above a whisper “Is he mad?” Cleos said in surprise. “You have to completely lose your mind to have such a foolish idea," He continued. 

“Smaug has been quiet for decades and this is the best opportunity for him to take back what is rightfully his before someone else does,” I explained and he sighed. “Who else is going?” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Thorin, Fili, Kili and eleven others,” I said, sitting down and he sat beside me. 

“Why do you want to leave?” he asked. “I want to get out of this kingdom again," I answered. “Nikolas and Alek have not let me go hardly anywhere since Greenwood all that time ago but I am better now, Aurelia healed me herself and I was fine. I am fine," I continued. 

“Ver, they just want you to be safe. We thought we lost you. If Aurelia was a moment later-” “I’m healed now! I know how to protect myself,” I cut him off and he sighed in defeat.

 “Just be careful, yeah? If something happens I’ll be telling Nikolas,” he stood up. I nodded and stood next to him. “Let’s go. Everyone must be waiting for us by now,” he said as we walk out of the hideout and hurry towards the main hall.

Once we got into the hall, we met Nikolas with Alek, Ian, and Thallan on his right, then Vardos, Martarys, Dessa, and Lia on his left sat at the round table. Cleos took his seat next to Martarys and Hadessa and I sat across from him, between Ian and Thallan. 

Soon after, Zion came rushing in and filled the seat next to Aurelia. We ate and talked until we began to excuse ourselves to our duties. When Cleos got up he looked at me then to Nikolas as if to say ‘at least tell him you’re leaving.’ and I nod. 

“Since it's the two of us now, I need to tell you something,” I began cautiously. “What is it?” he asked. “I’ll be leaving for a while, to help a friend in another realm," I tell him. “Who is this friend and how long will you be gone?” he questions “I can’t say and I don’t know,” I answered. 

“It isn’t my place to tell others about it because I am not the one giving orders on this particular journey," I continued. “Verena, you can’t leave for an unknown period of time with such little detail,” he said. 

I moved to the seat next to him. “If I am needed by someone, it is my sworn duty to help them no matter where they are. What are the real chances of me getting hurt beyond repair? Every time I talk about leaving, I know you think of Greenwood. I’m ready to go out on my own again. Please big brother, trust me?” I pleaded. He put his hand over mine and sighed.

“I expect an explanation of what happened when you get back," he said, looking directly into my eyes. “I understand, Nik. I will be fine,”

~~~

At dinner on my last day, I told everyone I was leaving and I would explain when I came back. “As long as you’re being responsible,” Ian joked and we laughed. “I’m more responsible than some in our family, aren’t I?” I asked.

“Of course, everyone is more responsible than Zion,” Martarys replied. “That’s not fair!” Zion groaned, attempting not to laugh.

~~~

The next morning, I packed everything I needed and went to the stables and stopped in front of a brown mare, Penrose. “Hey there, girl,” I said, opening the stall door. “You and I are going on a journey together,” I said softly, walking her out.

I put all of my things on her, which wasn’t much, the heaviest would probably be my weapons but nothing she can’t handle. Before my mother died, she taught my sisters and I how to make lembas bread and since it's the easiest to carry, Dessa and I made some yesterday for me to take.

It’s no lie that I’m closer to Elves than I am any other race but it won’t stop me from travelling with Dwarves. I may be half elven but I’m not prejudiced. 

“Leaving without saying goodbye?” Ian asked, making me turn around to see the rest of my family standing behind me, “Of course not,” I said, walking over and hugged him. “I know better than that,” I hug each of them and back up a bit. “Don’t miss me too much," I smiled as I got on Penrose and galloped out of the city and through the gates.

~~~