A/N: I apologize severely for that last chapter. I can't... feelings...

"Why aren't you just glowing this morn," Fili leaned over and nudged Kali in the ribs with his elbow. One hand was on the handle of his very large flagon of milk (which was being re-filled by their host) and the other reached up to wrap around it to prevent spilling as he drank.

 The man refilled Kali's flagon as well and she struggled slightly to lift it once it was filled. The glass itself was as tall as her forearm and as big around as two of her forearms combined, "Hush, Fili," although the remark was meant to be serious, she couldn't help the smile form on her lips. It was followed by a blush. To hide both, she downed the milk easily as she listened to the tall man talk. 

 He walked slowly around the table, refilling glasses as he went. Taller than Gandalf, he was, and hairier than all the dwarves combined. Beorn talked directly to Thorin, "So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" his voice was deep and he spoke slow.

 Thorin had a large flagon of his own, and he was leaned up against a wooden pillar instead of seated with the rest at the large table, "You know of Azog? How?"

That was not answering the man, Thorin, Kali thought as her glass was filled yet again. Quickly, she gulped it down, letting a long, low burp out as a result.

 Kili snickered from her other side, "That was not lady-like, Miss Silverarm."

 "Why do you drink so fast?" Fili asked, "No one will take your drink from you."

 "I like milk..." was her small-voiced response as, yet again, she searched for the milk pitcher to refill her flagon.

 "My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the orcs came down from the North," Beorn continued, stopping at the opposite end of the the table than Thorin stood at, "The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved."

 A pang of guilt hit Kali in the gut. As she gazed over him, she saw the remnants of shackles around Beorn's wrists. Kali forced herself to look away and in the process caught Bilbo's eye. He looked concerned but she shook him off, focusing entirely on Beorn instead, "Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."

 "There are others?" Bilbo began and paused, but continued even after Kali had kicked him underneath the vast table, "Like you?"

"Once," Beorn turned his deep brown eyes on the halfling, "There were many."

"And now?" Bilbo asked again.

 "Now, there is only one," Beorn answered lowly. A thick, uncomfortable silence fell over the group as the scale of Beorn's past began sinking into everyone's minds. He'd been tortured and enslaved, his family murdered and yet he still had the courage to live. After a moment, he spoke once again, "You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?"

 Gandalf nodded once, "Before Durin's Day falls, yes."

 "You are running out of time," Beorn countered, narrowing his eyes.

 "Which is why we must go through Mirkwood," at Gandalf's words, Kali tensed greatly. Her mug began ripping open her wounds ever so slightly as her grip tightened (she'd taken the wrap that was around her hands this morning off).

 "A darkness lies upon that forest," Beorn growled, "Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need."

 "We will take the Elven Road," Gandalf announced, "That path is still safe."

 Beorn scoffed at the idea, "Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not."

 Thorin glanced up at the two tallest men there, "What do you mean?"

 "These lands are crawling with orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive," Beorn explained, standing slowly from where he'd sat down, "I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own."

I very well resent that statement, no matter how true it may be, Kali had switched her bloody flagon for Kili's clean one and was now drinking the milk from that one.

 Beorn had begun moving towards Thorin, and as he stopped behind Dwalin Beorn picked up a tiny white mouse in his hand. His gaze flickered from it to Thorin, "But orcs I hate more. What do you need."

*

Kili helped Kali onto one of Beorn's ponies and then jumped onto his own, wheeling it around so it stood even with the one she was on, "All situated, milady?"

 "Yes, Kili," she gave him a glance that said I can care for myself, thank you.

 "Go now, while you have the light," Beorn instructed sharply, "The hunters are not far behind."

 Quickly and smoothly the horses rode, and Kali's ran in such a way that she hardly needed to hold onto the reins (which was a good thing, for if you remember her hands are badly injured). The Company moved in almost a single-file line the entire way there and soon Gandalf was slowing.

 The others crowded around him and most dismounted, Gandalf's voice ringing out, "The Elven Gate," he turned to the others, "Here lies our path through Mirkwood."

 "No sign of the orcs," Dwalin looked around as he dismounted, "We have luck on our side."

 Kali followed Gandalf's gaze and found what he was looking at: out in the distance was a large black form in the distance. Beorn... "Set the ponies free," Gandalf commanded, "Let them return to their master."

 Kali had knelt down to begin doing just that but was stopped by Oin suddenly appearing, "Miss Silverarm."

 "Yes, Oin? What can I do you for?" Kali looked up at him, standing, "Is something wrong?"

 "With you, yes," without warning he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her down on the grass, grabbing her hands. He hummed, "Just as he said..."

 "Just as who said?" Kali tried scrambling backwards away from Oin, for fear he'd gone mad however he had none of that type of behaviour and knelt on her feet.

 "Never you mind that," Oin had now begun gently scrubbing at her hands, getting the dried blood off as to get a clearer look at her wounds. He hummed again, "Just something minor. It should be healed in a couple days."

 She began to squirm again, "Very well. You've looked me over now release me so we can be on our way, Oin."

 He shook his head and pulled out a solution from his bags. When he unscrewed the cover Kali was hit with a wave of fresh vanilla, and before she could process anything Kali's hands were being rubbed with it, "This should help the healing process, however I'll need to wrap your fingers to prevent disturbing the injury."

 "That you will not be doing, Oin!" Kali objected, still unable to free herself, "I need my hands to wield my bow!"

 Oin put away the vanilla scented thing and sat back on his heels, speaking to her with a grudging tone, "Very well. Wear these instead," Kali watched as he pulled free a pair of leather bracers, "Put these on, then. They will allow your fingers to move while protecting your palms."

Now this is more like it, Kali took to intricately designed bracers from him, "Thank you. Now get off my toes before I make you get off my toes."

 Oin happily obliged and walked away. Kali stood and situated the bracers on her arms just as Fili sauntered over, "What was that about?"

It was him, the voice in the back of her head easily read Fili's posture, It was him who told Oin of your hands. "You know very well what it was about," she suddenly snapped.

 "You know my body language all too well," Fili smirked, following her as she strode towards Gandalf and Bilbo, "I see you've a new braid in your hair."

 Kali reached up and pulled her hair over it, shielding it from prying eyes, "That is none of your concern, Fili."

 "This forest feels... sick," Bilbo was speaking both to Gandalf and Kali now, "as if a disease lies upon it."

 "Is there no way around?" Kali looked to Gandalf.

 Gandalf looked down at her, concentrating hard as if to find something hidden, "Not unless we go two hundred miles North, or twice that distance South."

 Before anyone could suggest anything to him Gandalf disappeared a ways into the woods. Kali sighed, "I refuse to go into that forest."

 "Why?" Bilbo gave her a curious look, "Are you wary of the sickness inside?"

 "It is not that," she crossed her arms, "I can brave anything you throw my way. I am just very wary of the elves... I dislike them greatly."

 "Just like Thorin," Bilbo nodded, then frowned, "You seemed... angry at me yesterday. What had I done?"

 "I was taking my pain out on you," and you had attempted to leave me in Rivendell, "I apologize for it."

"Not my horse! I need it!"

 All eyes turned to Gandalf, who had come back from the forest. Bilbo stepped away from Kali and Fili, half standing in front of Gandalf, "You're not leaving us?"

 Kili stepped in Kali's line of vision, "Hello. I see you've a set of bracers such as the type my brother and I wear."

 "Was that your plan all along?" Kali raised her brow, "Tell your brother of the state of my hands so that he would over-worry and go to Oin? Just to get me a set of bracers?"

 Kili grinned, "Perhaps it was. Or, perhaps I only worry for your well-being"

 Kali heard Gandalf a little ways off, speaking with 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."

 "What would happen if we do enter the mountain without Gandalf?" Kali wondered, looking at Kili and Fili. 

 Fili cracked a grin, snickering, "The mighty wizard may smite us with his staff."

"Perhaps the young dwarf is in need of some smiting," Gandalf's voice pulled Fili from his gleeful state. When Fili glanced up at him, however, there was a smile upon Gandalf's face but he was not watching Fili, "Kali."

 Kali stiffened when her name was said, and stiffened even more so when Kili and Fili left, "Yes Gandalf?"

 "You know these woods well," he stated, "Do not let them stray from the path." when she nodded he added, "You are an ample fighter. I suggest you use that to your advantage," his already low voice dropped even more, "Protect them. Everything about the Wood is not to be trusted."

 He turned and began walking towards his horse once more, "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."

 "Lead us astray?" Bilbo looked up at Dwalin, "What does that mean?"

 "Exactly that, Bilbo," Kali told him, "The forest will attempt to lead you astray!"

 Gandalf was finally atop his horse, readying the reins, "You must stay on the path!" his eyes flickered to Kali, "Do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again," his sleek black horse was spurred into action. The fleeting figure called back, "No matter what may come, stay on the path!"

 The Company turned to face the looming forest ahead of them. It looked nothing like a forest should. There were no lush greens, waving grass or twittering birds. The grass, in fact, was lush right up until the forest's edge; from there in it was dead, covered in blackened, dead leaves. Kali shuddered at the thought of going back inside, but Thorin demanded it, "Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day."

 "Durin's Day," Dwalin repeated with a hearty wave of his axe, "Let's go!"

 "This is our one chance to find the hidden door," Thorin led the way to the gateway of the woods, just as a stone cold breeze blew over them. Kali shivered in fright and stood in the gate as everyone filed past.

 Nori gave her a quizzical look,"Not scared, are you?"

 She crossed her arms, "I fear only three things and Mirkwood Forest is not one of them, Nori. Now keep up with the others and do not step from the path." she watched Nori step around her and with a glare she held out her hand, "Give me by daggers, Nori."

 Nori smiled widely at her and gave her what she desired, "How did you do that?"

 Kali righted her daggers in the sheaths at her sides and ushered Nori along, "I am not unlike you, Nori. Thievery is a bad habit to get over and an even worse one to keep. I suggest you find help."

 He gave a sheepish shrug and continued following the others. Thorin, at the lead, turned left, "The path leads this way!"

 The Company followed (almost blindly) as Thorin and Dwalin twisted this way and that, following the path that they were on. The feeling in Kali's chest felt as if someone had her heart in their fist, squeezing the life from her with every step she took. However preoccupied her mind was, though, she did notice when Thorin stepped from the path. Everyone, obviously, blindly followed and ignored Kali, "Hey! Guys, you've stepped from the path!"

 She suspected the illusionary air had already began seeping into their heads because no matter how much she shouted the men completely ignored her shouts. You can do one of two things, Kali, taking deep breaths she weighed all her options, You can stay on the path and continue walking, leaving them to fend for themselves or... "I can step from the path and follow them, risk being caught by the elves or killed by something that lurks in the shadows..." 

I hate myself, she thought, stepping from the path. Everything immediately got darker and colder. Sounds were muted and muffled, as if Kali had been submerged in water. Looking back, she indeed had lost the path, even though it was directly behind her moments ago. With a sigh, Kali picked up her pace to catch up with the others. 

A/N: I'm not unlike Nori, either. And Kali speaks the truth when she says it's a bad habit to get over and a worse one to keep.