Alright so its up. Sorry if you notice a few more errors in this one... with its length i miss more. Shout out to my nephew Gavin who is the only person that i know personally who is caught up with my story. Thanks for the motivation! Also go check out Broken Hearts by DreamingGalaxies. It's another fun one! To all of you who reviewed last chatper... wow! I'm blown away! Thank you so much, Maja, Memo, Temp Noel, and Sophteis. I'm sorry I could not reply to your wonderful messages. Clobrandwell, thank you for the longest review to date on ffn! Thank you!

Chapter 40:

In which they cross a river and get some food.

"Do ya think we could eat these mushrooms?" asked Bofur the following morning as they passed yet another cluster of the blue topped fungi.

"I would not risk it," answered Bilbo from behind her. "We hobbits are very familiar with mushrooms, but I have never seen any quite like these blue ones here."

Sara tried not to think about her stomach as it clenched tighter. Instead, she remembered how pleasant it had been to sleep curled into Thorin's chest, his arms wrapped around her, and waking to his smell and warmth. Being the one on watch he had woken her first, kissing her temple lightly before setting about waking the others. Shortly thereafter they had continued on their weary way, but as Dwalin had chosen to walk beside Thorin, Sara had opted to walk with Fili, Kili, Bofur, and Bilbo at the back of the company. Every now and then Thorin would glance back at her and she would smile at him, as she did now. Fili, who was in front of her, turned to look at her, his eyebrows raised in question. She rolled her eyes and nudged him forward, trying to stifle her grin.

"What about these ones?" asked Bofur, pointing at some green and black mushrooms. Bilbo pulled a face.

"I don't know those either."

"Have you seen any that are edible?" insisted the toymaker.

"Not for about a week now, but even if I did recognize some, I still would not trust them." Bilbo hitched up his pants and adjusted his suspender straps. He was a far cry from the round faced, red cheeked hobbit she had met in Bag End; his clothes hung loosely on him and he looked disheveled and unkempt, but she supposed they all did. She didn't even want to think about how she smelled, but she guessed she didn't smell any worse than the rest of them, and probably better than most.

"I'm with Bilbo," she said, stopping to take a drink of water. It tasted muddy. "That's one of the universal rules of going through any enchanted forest: stay on the trail, don't drink the water, and never ever eat the mushrooms, even if a giant smoking caterpillar tells you to. Don't do it!"

"Smoking caterpillars?" said Fili dubiously. "What are you on about?"

"It's nothing," she said. "It's just another story from Earth."

"What's it called?" asked Kili.

"Alice in Wonderland," she replied absentmindedly as she followed behind Fili.

"Earth certainly has some interesting tales," sighed Kili, catching Bilbo's elbow as the hobbit stumbled on a loose stone.

"However odd it is lass, I say that's the first story ya tell tonight," said Bofur. "I think we could all use a good distraction."

"I think it's about time you shared some of your stories with me," she said.

"Do you hear that?" asked Fili, stopping so abruptly that Sara ran into him. They all fell quiet listening.

"Aye lad," said Bofur. "We better catch up to Bombur and keep an eye on him."

"Yes," said Bilbo, hurrying his step. "I don't fancy carrying him." Sara caught Kili's sleeve, irritated as the others rushed forward.

"What is it? What can you all hear?"

"I think it's the river from the book. It certainly sounds big enough."

"How far is it?" she asked, biting her thumbnail. Spotting the grim under the nail she thought better of it and let her hand drop to her side.

"Maybe a bit over half a mile," he guessed. Ten minutes later the group came to a halt as they came upon a sudden wall of fog, through which they could hear the river thundering by. As they crept closer through the mist they could see that either side of the path's white stones gave way to a short gravelly beach. The fog was so dense that they could not see more than about two yards in front of them.

"This must be it," said Bilbo loudly. "The enchanted river."

"It doesn't look all that enchanting to me," said Bofur, surveying the scene dubiously. Sara had to agree. The dark water near the shore moved with a sluggishness that reminded her of molasses, and it's surface was littered with fallen leaves and a gray-green algae that choked the bank. The trees along the river did not look healthy at all, instead they actually looked more rotted and dead than those that stood farther back. They retreated outside the fog bank wondering what to do next. Jutting up though mist were the remains of a high arched stone bridge which had long since crumbled and fallen into the river below.

"Sara," called Thorin over the river's roar. She saw him at the head of the crumbled bridge and pushed past several of the others and into the mist towards him. A hand found hers at the bottom of the bridge and Thorin pulled her upward till she stood with him at the edge. She looked back at the others and spotted a sullen Dwalin trying not to look at her and Thorin.

"What is it?" she asked looking around. She had to almost shout to be head over the rushing water below them. From their vantage point atop their portion of bridge they could see over the fog, though the far bank and the path were obscured by the other half of the bridge which was much taller than their side.

"I can see no boat," he said gesturing at the expanse of fog in front of them. "No boat, no bridge, no way to cross."

"What do you want to do?" she asked, chewing on her thumb again. His lips pressed together in a thin firm line as his eyes flicked to and for searching for a solution.

"It's a good twenty yards to the other side of the bridge."

"Could we somehow get a rope across the gap?" she asked.

"Perhaps, but I little like the idea of crossing a rope suspended above a river that makes such a sound." He looked at her. " If someone were to fall, their recovery would be impossible."

"Uncle!" came Fili's voice. "I found something!" He stood with the others looking up at them. She and Thorin descended and followed Fili to the left to where a tangle of roots and vines extended out over the river. "What about these? They look strong enough."

Sara backed out of the fog to glimpse the others milling around on the path, watching.

"What is it Sara?" asked Thorin.

"It only just occurred to me," she said biting her lip. "We're off the path but can see and hear the others, and my mind is clear."

"I hadn't even thought about that," said Fili, frowning as he appeared by their side.

"It will be the water," said Thorin ducking back into the fog. They followed him. "Likely it washes away all enchantment but its own, especially where the path is broken." He stepped forward tugging on a vine before testing his weight on an exposed root. Finding it to be sturdy he called for the others to join them.

"We will try and cross here," he said once the others had gathered.

"Try?" asked Ori.

"There is no way to know if there is a true path across until one of us tries," said Fili.

"We should send the lightest across first," said Dori from the back. Everyone turned to look at Bilbo.

"Me?" squeaked the hobbit, stumbling slightly as Gloin pushed him forward. "Must I really? I don't like the look of that water."

"No one asked you to swim it," said Oin.

"Well no but still..."

"I'll do it," said Kili, stepping up beside Bilbo, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not too much heavier than him and my eyesight is still better than his." Thorin eyed him carefully before nodding in approval.

"Very well, you may go first, but be wary." said Thorin as Kili came forward. "If it becomes too dangerous, turn back. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

"No unnecessary ones," said Kili, stepping out onto the roots. He disappeared into the mist and all was quiet as they waited with baited breath.

"Isn't he across yet?" she asked no one in particular, breaking the silence. It had been five minutes.

"Who knows how long it may take," answered Balin. Time crawled by and Fili began to pace until Thorin gripped his shoulder, stilling him.

"He's there," said Bombur pointing. Kili stood on the other side of the crumbled bridge waving his arms to get their attention.

"It's a wonder we didn't hear him, even with this roar we should have been able to," said Nori.

"It may be a part of the river's enchantment," said Thorin as Dwalin reached the bridge's edge on their side. After a bit of shouting back and forth Dwalin returned.

"He said it's stable enough and could hold at least two at at a time but that there's a tricky spot in the middle," reported Dwalin. "It's right hard to hear over the river, I suggest we use hand signals."

"Right," said Thorin, turning to her. "You will come with me. The rest of you follow as you see fit. Don't touch the water and return to the path without delay. Nori you stand watch from the bridge and Dwalin, bring up the rear and be on guard. Something is off about this stretch of forest... more so than the rest. Come Sara." Thorin took her hand, guiding her out onto the roots that shot up from the sluggish water. The wood was slick with algae and slime and she soon as let go of his hand in lieu of holding onto a vine.

"Stay close," he said. She glanced back, but the company had already vanished from sight. Gradually they crept forward, her feet slipping occasionally on the wet bark. After a few minutes Thorin stopped. Kili had been right. Here in the middle of the river the water charged past under their feet with a deafening ferocity, matching ever the swell of the river Kili had fallen into. There was at least a ten foot gap in the vines and roots, and in the midst of the rushing water separating them from the other side, a rock hunkered in the river, it's surface covered with moss and slime. Without a word Thorin leapt and was on the rock, another leap and he was on the other side, a hand extended to her.

"Jump. I will catch you should you falter," he said. She looked at the gap, a knot of anxiety forming in the pit of her stomach. She studied the rock looking for a place to land and push off again. She gauged the distance trying to ignore the water roaring past.

"It looks so far."

"Not too far," he said. "You are more than capable of the jump."

"Maybe so, but my brain keeps saying not to do it," she said, bouncing on her heels, trying to loosen her calf muscles which had seized up.

"Don't think of it as jumping a river, think of it as jumping to me," he said. He moved to the very edge of the roots and leaned out ready to catch her. "Don't pause on the rock."

"Alright," she said, shaking out her arms and hitching her pack higher. She threw herself forward, fear spiking through her veins. She made it to the rock but as she pushed off again she knew it was no good. Her foot slipped, cutting her momentum in half. The black water rushed to meet her and she flung out her arms in a desperate attempt to catch something, anything. The icy water closed around her feet, but just as she was sure she was going to be swept away, Thorin's hand caught her wrist. Her feet dragged through the water as he swung her up to stand beside him on the broad root. Her heartbeat raced and she worked to calm herself as he drew her into his side.

"Sara are you all right?" he asked, clearly panicked as he searched her face. "Are you sleepy?" She paused to examine herself, but found the adrenaline rush had her quite alert.

"The farthest from it."

"Have you forgotten anything? You're the one person we can't afford to have lose their memory." She frowned up at him.

"Well I would hardly remember if I had forgotten, would I. But no, I don't think I have. I think you have to be submerged or drink the water for it to affect you." He didn't look convinced. "Really I'm okay," she assured.

"If you are certain. Let's get to the shore." A few minutes later they were on the stony bank and they exited the fog bank. Kili waved to them from his place on the bridge before sighing to Nori to send the next pair over. Thorin went to stand beside him and Sara stood looking down the path as it stretched into the distance. Thorn was right, something did feel off about the forest surrounding them. She felt eyes on her but it didn't feel the spiders or the forest creatures. She searched the surrounding woods for anything unusual and her eyes landed on the path. There was a growing shape on the path in the distance.

"Thorin, Kili," she yelled. They looked down at her and she pointed to the figure approaching. Thorin shot several hand signals to Nori and in seconds they were at her side. They watched the shape grow for a moment.

"Ready your bow," said Thorin, but Kili already had an arrow notched and ready to lose. Thorin took her arm and drew her back into the fog beside he and Kili before pulling his own bow over his shoulder.

"We must bring it down in one shot, fell it instantly. We can't afford to track it off the path."

"What is it?" she asked.

"A stag," said Kili, his eyes sparking with excitement.

The deer was close enough now that she thought she could make out its shape. They were going to have food again! It had been four days since they last ate and while they were not in immediate danger of starvation she had definitely felt a lack of energy. At the thought of roasting meat she became aware of just how hungry she truly was, the tight pain in her belly twisting in anticipation. The stag was about 50 yards off and both dwarves raised their weapons, poised to release, waiting. As it approached the animal slowed and then stopped, nose twitching, its ears twisting back and forth. Cautiously it came forward and Sara held her breath, praying to whatever deities she could think of. The animal was now some 20 yards off, but again it stopped. Suddenly its ears fell flat against its head and it turned to dart away, but Kili was faster. There was the sound of one bow releasing and the another. With a whoosh and a thump Kili's arrow buried itself into the deer's skull dropping it where it stood. Elated, Sara let out a cheer and Kili ran to his kill.

"Kili, wait!" hissed Thorin, reaching for him, but Kili was already at the deer's side, yanking the arrow from it's head.

"What happened to your arrow?" she asked, looking to Thorin. "Did you miss?" She froze, for in his hands he still held his bow, his arrow notched on the cord. She looked back toward Kili to see another arrow protruding from the stags body on the far side where she knew the heart to be.

"But if that's not your arrow," she asked in a whisper as Thorin drew his bow taught again. "Who's is it?"

An arrow slammed into the crack between the white stones by Kili's knee and the dwarf prince froze. Slowly he reached for his arrow which was resting on the ground but another shaft dug into the path centimetres from his fingers.

"I would advise against it dwarf."

A figure dropped from the trees and landed several yards from where Kili knelt. It was an elf. There was no mistaking the height, the slender build, and the pointed ears sticking out of the almost platinum blonde hair, the top half which pulled back in a fishtail braid. He was clad in a dark green leather jerkin which was pulled over a loose cream colored tunic and dark brown pants. Strapped to his back was a quiver of arrows and two silver short swords, and in his hands he held a longbow, an arrow pointed with deadly accuracy at Kili. Thorin trained his arrow on the elf and Sara held her breath, wondering if she should stop him. She never got the chance. Another elf joined the first, this one a female with bright copper hair, also pulled back in the similar fashion. She was dressed nearly the same but with a brown leather jerkin that hugged her ample curves. She held a bow at the ready. Blondie turned to look directly at where she and Thorin crouched low in the unnaturally thick fog bank.

"If you wish your companion to remain unharmed, surrender your weapons quietly," said the blond elf. "Do not attempt to warn the others of your party. Even if they could hear you, I have archers in the trees with arrows trained on them. We would prefer to take you captive without bloodshed, but we are not unwilling." Sara could hear Thorin's teeth popping and grinding ominously and she feared he might actually crack them. She rested a hand on his forearm but he did not lower the bow, although his gaze flicked to her out of the corner of his eye momentarily. She leaned into him, her nose pressing into his hair just over his ear.

"We knew this would happen eventually," she reminded him, whispering as quietly as she could, hoping the river interfered with the elves hearing as well.

"It was not supposed to happen this way," he growled quietly. "Or this soon."

"Nothing has happened the way it's supposed to for quite a while now," she whispered. "But if you kill him, we will definitely be enemies with the elves. Is that really what you want?"

"It's your plan to befriend them," he growled. "Not mine."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't mean that I'm wrong. Besides, are you going to risk Kili, you gave him your word. You tell me, what's the best way to live up to that promise?"

"Are you coming out?" called the elf. "Or shall it come to violence?" She squeezed Thorin's arm and after a tense moment, his grip relaxed.

"Tell them nothing of our Quest," he hissed as he pulled her to her feet. "They are to know nothing. They are not our friends."

"Yet," she murmured as they came out into the open. He scowled at her.

"Wise decision dwarf," said the elf as Thorin reluctantly dropped his bow and quiver of arrows. "All your weapons if you please, along with your packs." Sara set her bag down and took the knife off her hip, stepping back. Thorin held Orcrist in his hands, his knuckles white, but after a few moments indecision, and a look at Kili, his fingers went slack, the blade falling to the ground.

"And you dwarfling," said the copperheaded she elf, gesturing to Kili with the tip of her arrow. "Away from my kill and surrender your weapons."

"Your kill," exploded Kili. "I shot and killed the Stag!" Sara had rarely seen Kili so angry. His brows were drawn so low and close they were almost one dark line across his face, and his actions were jerky and harsh as he threw his sword, bow, and hunting knife to the ground. Copperhead bent forward and yanked to the arrow from the animal side, waving the bloody arrow under Kili's nose.

"I also shot the stag, and it would still be dead without your meddling."

"Meddling," spluttered Kili in disbelief. "You know mine was a harder shot. You would have had to track it into the woods had I not dropped it."

"Kili," warned Thorin.

"The hart is mine," said Copperhead.

"I shot first!" yelled Kili.

"Enough," said Blondie, his tone frigid as he leveled his bow on Kili. "Step back and be silent. The young should not speak to their elders that way. You have yet to even grow into your beard." Kili's jaw snapped shut with an audible clack. At this moment Fili and Ori staggered forward, an elf behind them.

"My brother is of age,"