had been kind enough to allow the company to use his ponies to make it to the edge of the Greenwood, through open plains they rode hard and swift, Arethusa was in the lead, she knew these paths better than most. On a distant hill, there stood the great bear, watching them and the horizon for orcs. The dense trees were in the distance but something was wrong, she could feel it. A disease of evil. She was the last to dismount, Mazey whinnied, understanding that now she had to return to Beorn's homestead with the other ponies.

The entrance to the path was like a sort of arch leading into a gloomy tunnel made by two great trees that leaned together, too old and strangled with ivy and hung with lichen to bear more than a few blackened leaves. Both she and Gandalf approached the Elven Gate, only she did not turn back when the wizard did. "No, this can't be. The Greenwood of Old." Arethusa rested her hand on the bark of one of the trees, a darkness consumed it; it was dying. The entire forest was dying. "It's sick." To the left of the gate was a statue, now overgrown with vines and in some places cracked from the weather. She recognized the likeness immediately, it was Ithilwen, Thranduil's wife. She had adored the elf when they had met in happier times, but now even her stone statue was crumbling and in a strange way, dying.

The wizard had come back to her side, he looked down at her before reaching out and clearing the vines away from the statue. Arethusa stumbled back, her hand coming to her throat as if she could not breathe. Ithilwen's memorial had been desecrated, marked with a red Flaming Eye of Sauron. Gandalf urged her out of the forest for the moment and Thorin approached the fairy, his hand moved to rest on her cheek, he looked worried. Gandalf was leaving, what she had just seen was enough to tell her it was for a good cause.

Her gaze was almost blank when she turned back to the forest, then she remembered the name that someone had called the forest though she could not believe them. Mirkwood. "Arethusa, you will be alright, yes?" She looked to Thorin and nodded, taking up a spot behind Dwalin and in front of Balin. They walked in single file. Nothing was familiar, the path was covered with leaves, broken and cracked in some places, other areas were becoming distorted by the roots of trees. The path itself was narrow and wound in and out among the trunks. Soon the light at the gate was like a little bright hole far behind, and the quiet was so deep that their feet seemed to thump along while all the trees leaned over them and listened.

Arethusa stumbled along, she fiddled with the gem on her necklace and as if her mother's voice was trapped within she was instantly grounded and with clear thought. She remained on the path, but the others had gone astray. Panic seized her heart, she could not see the company anywhere, but she heard a shout. She couldn't be sure whose voice it was, but she followed, hoping that her senses were well enough intact that she would be led to them.

"Thorin!? Bilbo?!" Arethusa picked up a leather pouch that she had seen one of the dwarves carrying. A tobacco pouch. Looking back up to the forest she screamed, her balance faltering, the fairy fell at the sight of a wraith, it took the form of her mother but it was horribly disfigured. She curled away from the ghostly hand that extended towards her with mangled fingers, pointing to where the necklace lie hidden beneath the coarse fabric of her tunic, nestled between her breasts, then it was clawing and hissing. Arethusa squeezed her eyes shut and tried to block out the sickening screech of her mother's voice as it chanted.

Blood and stone,

Gold and steel,

Prepare to face such fated real.

Done to heed where greed that hold,

For justice might of hearts of old.

And come they stand to claim their right, Of beast that stole in single light.

The time soon dawn the gates of past, With persistent core to every last.

The company had heard the scream, Thorin was running before anyone could advise against it. He found her curled next to the trunk of a large tree, her arms wrapped tightly around herself and lip quivering. "Ghivashel." He reached out, fingers barely brushing over her hand before her violet eyes opened. Instantly she threw her arms around Thorin's neck, she did not want to let go. Arethusa pressed her face against his neck, his beard and hair brushed against her cheek; he could feel the dampness from her tears against his skin. The dwarf turned his head, pressing his own face into her hair. Branches snapped and the tops of trees moved, but there was no wind. He lifted the fairy into his arms and quickly rejoined the company.

"Is she alright?" Bilbo stood on a root, looking down at the fairy, her face had gone impeccably pale and her eyes seemed clouded and distant. Thorin readjusted her weight, he knew her to be light as a feather but in the dense air of the forest she weighed pounds more.

"She saw something, this forest has been tricking us. We must move on, find the path." The dwarves spread out over the wood, searching for the stone path but it was nowhere to be found. They had left it hours ago and it would take hours more to find it again. The slivers of sunlight that once had the chance to weave through the blackened canopy of leaves ceased altogether. Night had fallen and the company could hardly bare to lift another foot in search of a path they now believed to be nonexistent.

They would need to rest whether it be day or night. Several dwarves had tried to make a fire, but each time they failed. The air was too damp, too murky for a normal fire. Thorin had placed his coat over Arethusa's shoulders even if the humidity was near unbearable, it was a comfort and she welcomed it. She grew irritated watching them struggle and took a nearby twig in hand, bringing it to her lips she whispered words of deep magic and from the top of the measly stick sprouted a flame. Kili and Fili looked at her funny, but Bofur took the flaming stick and used it, setting their small pile alight.

The only food they had was from Beorn and it would need to be rationed for an undetermined amount of time. A small loaf of spice bread was passed around, everyone took off chunks until there was none left. The two brothers did not like the silence coming from the fairy, she usually smiled, laughed, poked fun at them and the others. In the light of the fire, she looked entirely different. With pale skin that was clammy and dark circles under her eyes, she looked more like a corpse. Thorin sat next to her. "We must find a way out of this forest soon." Her tone was strained, she looked frail.

"Yes," the dwarf looked over her features attentively, his lips twisted into a small smile at the bead within her hair. "Are you becoming sick?" At first, Arethusa did not respond, she only sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder.

Her reply was meek, a poor lie, "No." I am not sick, it is the forest and the darkness, the sickness that lies over it. I am dying, Thorin. "I remember when this used to be the Greenwood," she prattled on about the forest when it was still thriving, "Even Dol Guldor used to be green and good, it was called Amon Lanc. I remember coming here when Oropher was its ruler." Arethusa looked up at the darkened branches and their black leaves, it was sad to think that such a beautiful place had become the dwellings of an evil and the one who had the power to rid it from the land hid within his stone halls. From the corner of her eyes she looked over at him, there was surprise on his face, but it caused her to laugh softly, the tension among the company seemed to fade at the enchanting sound.

"Do not look at me with such shock, Thorin Oakenshield, I told you. Fairies are immortal. Oropher was a fair and just leader." She still remembered that she was in Rivendell when the news reached her of the Elvenking's death. He had left Thranduil behind, his only son, and from a young age, the elf had to learn to be king. The only times she had seen Thranduil happy again since his father's passing was his wedding to Ithilwen and the on the eve of Legolas's conception. "I think he would be disappointed that his son has allowed this to happen. Yet I believe he would very much enjoy spending time with his grandson." She mused. The last time she saw Legolas was when he was nothing more than an elfling hiding behind his father's robes, she imagined that he would have been grown now, fair and strong. Thorin let out a noise that sounded like 'hmph.' Arethusa almost enjoyed his annoyance as she spoke fondly of elves but as she spoke of Thranduil's kin she could sense the poignant reply that was to come.

"Do not speak ill of Oropher, Thorin, you did not know him. You only choose to accept what Thranduil did to your kin and it has poisoned your view of the entire race. Tell me, was Lord Elrond truly so unendurable? He opened his sacred home, provided your company with food and wine and read the hidden runes on your map." She looked up at him, only he was looking away from her, his lips, however, were pressed into a tight line.

"You were not there on the day it happened. When Smaug took Erebor." He gritted out with a low voice, at the statement the company, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation pretended to tend to the fire and their belongings.

Arethusa placed her hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her, "No, I was not, but I do know held grudges and pride will be your downfall." His eyes were burning embers at her spoken words, but she cared not, she had only spoken the truth and that was what irked Thorin the most, he knew deep in his gut that it was the truth. He almost expected her to pull away from him and sit alone but she leaned further into him and he caught a glimpse of the white light emanating from a jewel tucked in her tunic. Arethusa's skin erupted in shivers as his fingers traced along the silver chain around her neck and before she could react he had pulled the white gem free and held it within his hand, the light gathered the entire company's attention.

"By my beard, it looks almost like the Arkenstone." Bofur murmured, Bilbo looked up from his hands at the statement to see the shining gem. "By Durin, it does." She wasn't sure who had uttered the second exclamation, perhaps it was Glóin or Óin. "What kind of stone is this?" Arethusa closed Thorin's hand around the gem if anything foul was lurking about such a light would draw it to them.

She shook her head, her eyes flashing over to Bilbo who looked at her curiously, "I do not know, it was my mother's necklace. She never told me. I always thought it to be a star." Silence came after that, she did not wish for them to know the truth, for nothing good ever came of the truth when people knew it to be one of the Silmarili, it was better that they never knew. The fire had died down, Thorin and Arethusa remained awake while the company slept. "Will you still not tell me what it means?"

The forest air would not allow his thoughts to remain clear and at her question, he saw no reason to not tell her. Thorin grasped her chin, the ghost of a smile on his lips, his kiss was soft and quick, he gave her no chance to reciprocate. "Ghivashel, it means treasure of treasures." Her throat tightened at his admission, it was a lover's endearment and it thrilled her to know what it meant but her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

However, her response was almost disapproving, "I am no treasure to be kept, Thorin." Her fingertips glided over his nose and to the small scabs that remained from four nights ago.

His hands curled around her wrists and pulled them away from his face. "I am aware." Those were the last words he spoke for the night. Arethusa leaned fully against him, comfortable with the silence and slowly drifted into a dreamless sleep.

⌘⌘⌘

The morning came, or at least what the company thought to be morning, their search for the path continued and on this day the ill-effects of the Mirkwood air settled in quicker than the day prior. Hours must have passed before they reached the stone bridge that crossed the enchanted stream, only it had broken away and now was rendered impassable. Downstream, Kili had found thick vines that could serve as a passage to the other side and immediately he began to scale them only for Thorin to scold him. "We send the lightest first." He looked to both Bilbo and Arethusa, they each nodded and took to the vines. Halfway to the other side she felt sick, the dark magic was draining her to the point where blood seeped from her nose, she looked over to Bilbo.

He was struggling to regain the ability to stand. Even with all her grace, Arethusa fumbled and staggered until the vine dropped off and she fell onto the stone path on the other side, Bilbo fell next to her. "Something's not right. Not right at all." His voice was wheezy and strangely high pitched. He helped Arethusa sit up and looked across the way. "Stay where you are!" It was too late, the company was moving slowly across the vines, slipping and gripping onto them. The enchantment was stronger over the water than anywhere else in the forest and it would take hours for the effects to wear off.

Thorin was the first to make it across. His feet thudded on the stone path, bow in hand. Kili and Ori would be the next to make it. The snapping of branches took Arethusa's attention away, in a clearing there appeared a white stag. She stepped forward, knowing it was not an illusion but a guardian of the forest. "What are you doing?" Arethusa wasn't sure if Bilbo was asking her or Thorin, but she continued to meet the gaze of the creature until an arrow clipped its antlers, then it was running off back into the depths of the wood. The fairy turned back to look at Thorin, her brows settled into a deep furrow. Bilbo shook his head. "You shouldn't have done that. It's bad luck."

Arethusa turned back to where the stag had been, Thorin's words echoed within her head. "I don't believe in luck, we make our own luck." At the shouts of the dwarves and the sound of a large splash all three looked back at the vines. Bombur had fallen to the enchantment and was now asleep. It took several moments to haul the largest dwarf up and out of the water and onto a poorly crafted stretcher. Six dwarves were needed to carry it. The fairy's foot caught a root that she had not seen and tripped, stumbling forward into Thorin and Balin. They each braced her even in their own trance of madness.

"We need to rest!" The cry came from one of the dwarves carrying Bombur and so the company stopped their journey. Clear thought was returning to Arethusa very slowly despite the voices in her head, everyone was already weary from travel and disillusioned by the cursed air. Arethusa sat on a stump, bracing her head within her hands while the voices of the company echoed through her mind. It all ceased when she saw Bilbo pull on a web, sending a reverberation throughout the network of spun silk.

"Come, Bilbo. If we find the sun then we stand a chance." The hobbit looked up as if she had gone mad but followed, scaling a tree. The webs were everywhere within the branches, spanning from tree to tree, the disease that was upon the forest was worse than she could have ever imagined. The underside of the canopy of leaves was black and sick, but when the two broke through the leaves and into the light of the dying sun it became clear that it was autumn from the rich hues and colors of the leaves. Even small butterflies thrived there and took flight around them.

Fresh air was the cure for the forest induced madness, the spell had been broken, Bilbo smiled as the warmth and color came rushing back to his friend's face, then he turned looking out of the lay of the land, there was a river, a lake, and even the Lonely Mountain. "I- I can see a lake! And a river. And the Lonely Mountain. We're almost there!" Arethusa smiled but it faded when there was no reply from the company below. "Can you hear me? We know which way to go! Hello?" The rustling of leaves and cracking of branches that followed had not come from the wind. "Hello?" Arethusa pulled Bilbo by the collar back into the leaves and motioned towards the masses of webs that were everywhere.

She nodded and slowly Bilbo began his descent, stopping to look around for any sign of the company. "Bilbo!" Before she could move quickly enough the hobbit was falling, knocking into branches, he fell out of her sight though she saw the spider approach. Arethusa pressed her back against the rough bark of the tree and withdrew her long sword. Her movements were swift and agile, like an elf's, she followed the spider without so much a squeak of noise. Descending the branches in haste she jumped, thrusting her blade into the thorax of the creature that had Bilbo within its grasp. It screeched but fell still, its legs curling. She pushed the spider away, the hobbit was already tearing himself from the cocoon of web, it was then she saw his small blade embedded into the spider's underbelly.

Arethusa had to only nod for the hobbit to understand what her plan was, she scaled a tree once again, balancing on the branches. Bilbo followed and together they cut down the cocoons that had been strung up. The dwarves fell to the ground below. A spider they had not seen emerged from the web shocked the fairy lost balance and began to fall, the hobbit turned quickly slipping on the ring. She had been caught in web but a hand snatched her away and tossed her to the ground with the company. Relief flooded their faces, but she looked around at the carcasses of spiders, panicked. "Where's Bilbo?"

"We have no time, run." Thorin declared and Fili reached out, taking the fairy by the front of her tunic, dragging her along as they ran blindly through the wood. The spiders had followed them and once more they had been surrounded but the bristling of the leaves in the branches above said they were not alone. It happened quickly, but an elf stood with an arrow nocked and pointed at Thorin.

The wood of bows creaked as the company was surrounded by elves with arrows drawn back. "Do not think I won't kill you, dwarf. It would be my pleasure." Arethusa had been pushed into the center of the company, but now there were two members missing.

"Help!" She turned pushing Nori out of the way to see a spider dragging Kili away by the foot. "Kili!" It was both she and Fili that shouted his name but she ran towards the dwarf only to be yanked back by the leader of the troop of elves. She cried out and Thorin looked up, eyes burning with rage. Her healer's satchel and necklace were torn away, her blade snatched away. Orcrist had been taken from Thorin and presented to the leader.

"Echannen i vegil hen vin Gondolin. Magannen nan Gelydh. How came you by this?" The elf pointed the sword at Thorin's neck, it was then she saw a glimpse of Thranduil and without a doubt she knew it to be his son.