▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 ━︎━︎ 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍 her room, readying her things. A soft knock came on her door and she looked up and gave a gentle smile when she spotted her sister. Arwen frowned when she noticed her sister's fighting gear. Her sword was on her back along with a small pack. "You are leaving again?"

"For a while this time, sister." Ellaria answered.

Arwen straightened. "With the Dwarves?" Ellaria nodded. "Does father know?"

"He does." Ellaria confirmed, walking past her sister and out of her room.

"How do you even know they will accept your help?" Arwen asked, rushing after her.

"They will have no choice." She stopped, turning to face Arwen. "I will be back soon, Arwen. Watch over father whilst I am away." She pressed a soft kiss to her sister's cheek, giving her a gentle smile.

"I will." Arwen assured. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Ellaria stood outside, waiting patiently for the Dwarves departure. She leaned against the rocky path they had traveled, smiling to herself when she heard them approach. She turned her head, watching as Thorin came to a stop when he spotted her. She rose a perfect brow. "Going somewhere?"

Thorin rose his chin. "Princess."

"Thorin." She pushed herself from the rocks. "I want to offer my help."

Thorin's eyes narrowed. "We need no help from an elf. Especially not one that has a crown tied to her name."

Ellaria let out a melodic chuckle. "I know where you need to go, I know how to get there without having to scan a map or question the way the wind blows, you need my help. I do not want anything from you, nor do I have any desire to take what is rightfully yours. If it brings you any comfort, which I know it will not, I have no desire to claim my crown. I only want freedom." She glanced up, straining her ears. "Now, if I am correct, which I am, my fathers men are looking for you and your company. We may continue to stand here and debate, or you can accept my offer and we leave without them knowing the path we will take."

Thorin kept his glare. He did not like elves, just as they didn't like dwarves, but as he turned his head to look at Balin the grey haired elf gave a shrug and Thorin grumbled to himself. "Fine." Ellaria dipped her chin in a bow and turned and began walking with the Dwarves following after her. "Be on your guard. We're about to step over the edge of the wild." He looked at Ellaria. "Since you claim to know these paths, princess, please, lead on."

Ellaria sent him an amused smirk before doing as he asked. She began walking, Balin following her along with the rest of the Dwarves. Thorin turned to Bilbo who had stopped to stare at Rivendell. "Master Baggins, I suggest you keep up."

Their travel began as they walked for miles and miles, days and days. Ellaria admired it all. The view was amazing, the animals they passed were beautiful, to say Ellaria was truly enjoying herself was an understatement. Now, as they climbed up a mountain, rough rain was falling on top of them, lightning thrashing through the sky as wind blew at them violently. In the process, Bilbo had almost fallen off the mountain and would have plummeted to his death had two of the Dwarves not grabbed him when they did.

"We must find shelter!" Thorin yelled.

"Look out!" Dwalin roared, pointing up at the sky. Ellaria looked up and her eyes widened when she saw a large boulder come flying overhead, slamming into the mountain and shattering the boulder to pieces, sending a rain of falling rocks right on top of their heads. Ellaria clung to the side of the mountain, protecting her head as they fell. One clipped her on the shoulder, send a pain exploding through her shoulder and vibrating down her arm before the pain diminished.

"This is no thunderstorm." Balin claimed. "It's a thunder-battle! Look!"

Ellaria stood up straight, watching from across them as what looked like a mountain had formed into a large rock beast. It stood up, towering over the mountain they were standing on. Ellaria's eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, bless me." Bofur said. "The legends are true! Giants! Stone giants!"

Another boulder was thrown by the giant, but instead of crashing above them like the first one had, it flew past them causing them to turn their heads and see a second stone giant on the other side of the mountain. "Take cover, you fool!" Thorin snapped at Bofur.

Suddenly, the mountain that they were on began moving, the solid ground they had been standing on crumbled at their feet, separating and making the dwarves split up. Ellaria let out a harsh breath. "You've got to be kidding." The stone giant they were all standing on began to stand. Ellaria clutched the rock tightly, easily keeping her balance whilst the Dwarves struggled. The stone giants fought with each other, and when the stone giants leg crashed into another rock, Ellaria immediately started sprinting.

"Come on!" Ellaria shouted, quickly making it safely onto the other rock and watching as the dwarves that had not been separated followed her. They watched helplessly as the other dwarves and Bilbo were being thrown around on the stone giants leg. The giant was clearly losing against the others and they watched in horror as the others were slammed into the side of the mountain, disappearing from sight.

"No!" Thorin yelled as the giant fell away, revealing all of the others were no longer on its legs and the stone giant began crumbling and fell to the ground below.

Instantly, Ellaria went running, coming to a stop when she spotted the rest of their company alive and well. A relieved laugh fell from her lips. She turned to Thorin. "They're alive. All of them." She moved towards them only to stop when she noticed the hobbit was missing. Her eyes snapped to the edge where she saw hands clinging. "The hobbit!" Before she could move, the dwarves reached over the side, struggling to reach the hobbit before Thorin held onto the side as he jumped down, pushing the hobbit up into the hands of the other dwarves before he himself began falling.

Ellaria didn't hesitate to do as Thorin himself had done for the hobbit, gripping the edge of the mountain as she gracefully let herself dangle off the side. She watched the disdain cross his face and ignored it as she gripped his arm and pushed him up towards the other dwarves who grabbed him and pulled him up. Ellaria pulled herself up, dusting her clothes off and turning to look at Thorin who was already looking at her.

"You're welcome." Ellaria mumbled, turning and walking away.

"I thought we lost our burglar," Dwalin said.

Thorin turned to look at the hobbit. "He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us."

"If you are done complaining," Ellaria hummed, "I think I've found our shelter." She turned and walked away, entering the cave she had discovered and turning her head when Throin stepped up beside her.

"Search the back." Thorin instructed Dwalin. "Caves in the mountain are seldom unoccupied."

Dwalin did as he was told before calling out, "There's nothing here."

"Right, then." Gloin smiled, dropping some wood. "Let's get a fire started."

"No." Thorin disagreed. "No fires. Not in this place. Get some sleep. We start at first light."

Balin frowned as he turned to Thorin. "We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan."

Thorin slowly turned his head to look at the dwarf. "Plans change. Bofur, take the first watch."

"I'll keep watch." Ellaria interrupted, causing Thorin to glare at her. Ellaria rolled her eyes. "You do not trust me, Oakenshield, and I can understand why. But I mean you no harm. Plus, elves do not need to sleep as often, I can keep watch the entire night and be just as energized in the morning. No offense, but I have better senses than you and can hear danger coming from miles away." She stared at Thorin, refusing to back down. "I have no intention of putting you or your company in danger. Please, let me do this."

Thorin stared at her begrudgingly, distrust dancing in his eyes. After a long moment, reluctantly, Thorin forced himself to agree.