Beorn was kind enough to lend the company his ponies as transport to Mirkwood. He only had eight of them so some of them had to double up. Gandalf, being the biggest and tallest, got one to himself. Thorin shared with Bilbo while all the other dwarves paired off together. Kili and Fili argued over who should share with with Luin. It was solved by Luin seating himself in front of Balin. The oldest dwarf waved at the younger ones with a laugh.

"Thank you for sharing with me lad", Balin said as Luin patted the horse's neck. It was a lovely white and brown speckled mare with a smooth temperament. Luin ran a hand along her mane.

They had ended up staying another night at Beorn's cottage. The day before having been spent packing fresh supplies and washing up. Luin had managed to clean his robes and pack the fresh material back into his case. He had filled his water skin and sharpened his swords. Beorn has also produced a long cloak, so dark blue that it was almost black, that Luin had left the last time he had stayed. It had been years ago and he was surprised to find the cloak in such good condition. It now was draped over his shoulders in a comforting weight.

"I doubt I would have gotten any quiet from the brothers", Luin replied. Both he and Balin laughed as Kili shoved Fili off the horse with a hand to the face.

Balin laughed again as Fili tugged his brother after him. "Aye, those young ones are quite enraptured by you. Being so different from everyone they've ever met".

"I am merely a wizard", Luin answered with a shrug. "And they have not met any elves, so of course I am a curiosity". He peered over his shoulder at where the old dwarf was seated behind him. "Also, I am far older than you. Not a lad", he smiled.

"Ah", Balin sighed. "Forgive me. You look so young Luin, it is easy to forget". Luin assured him that he was not offended. He did look young, barely older than a teen although he was actually over a thousand years old. It was a simple mistake to make and Luin was never annoyed by it. It was much like calling him an elf. He was not a child, not inexperienced and not an elf. But that was what he appeared to be and that it what people saw.

A little ways away, Gandalf was talking to Beorn. "You will release my ponies when you reach the woods?" Beorn asked.

"You have my word", Gandalf promised. Beorn turned to face Luin in conformation. Luin placed a fist over his heart to signify his own promise that Beorn's horses will not be kept longer than needed. Beorn nodded in return.

There was a caw from overhead and both Gandalf and Luin looked up. A flock of Rooks flew past. Black shapes against the blue sky. "We're being watched", Luin murmured. Gandalf shared the words, blinking as the rooks disappeared behind a tree.

Brown nodded grimly. "The orcs will not give up", he muttered. "They will hunt you down until they see the dwarves destroyed".

Gandalf leaned down closer to Beorn's ear and whispered something. It was out of earshot for the dwarves but Luin still caught it. He was asking about the darkness of the land. The tension bubbling under the surface. Both Luin and Gandalf were aware of it. Both wizards could feel it in the air. Beorn knew of it too. There was a necromancer dwelling in the ruins of Dol Guldur and his poison was throbbed like a dark beacon over the land. Luin was not as in tune with it as Gandalf was but he could feel the sickness if he concentrated hard enough. It made him shiver with a deep unnatural coldness.

"Why now? What has made the defiler crawl out of his hole", Gandalf asked in a lowered breath. The darkness had intentions from Suron and Luin shuddered to think about what those were. The return of Azog and the start of this quest had been to coincidental.

"The orcs have made a treaty with the sorcerer of Dol Guldur", Beorn replied in a hush voice that verified all Luin's suspicions. Luin's golden core pulsed with a seed of dread at the implications of this treaty.

"Are you sure of this?" Luin asked. Behind him, Balin pretended to be watching Kili and Fili fight over the reins of their horse. The old dwarf laughing amusedly at their antics.

"Packs have been seen gathering there", Beorn replied. "And there are more to come". Luin's core gave another pulse. This was not good. A dark omen.

"What do you know of this sorcerer? The one they call necromancer?" Gandalf questioned.

"I know that he is not what he seems", Beorn  replied, voice foreboding. "Foul creatures are drawn to his power". Luin shivered at the thought of all the possible things that Beorn could be meaning.

"Gandalf", Thorin called from his steed a short distance away. "We are losing time". Luin glanced at the sky and he was right. They would need to leave soon in order to reach the wood.

As Gandalf turned to steer his horse away, Beorn grabbed the reins and halted him. "Wait", he said quickly. "There have been rumours of the dead being sighted walking near the high fells of Rhandur".

"The dead", Luin echoed under his breath. The deep of dread in his stomach blossomed slightly. The nine dead kings. The dead ringbarers of man. It they were walking around then it meant that Mordor was rising.

"Is this true?" Beorn asked urgently. "I remember a time when a great evil ruled this land. A evil powerful enough to raise the dead. If that evil had returned to middle earth then I would have you tell me". He turned his gaze to Luin who bent his, unable to answer.

"Saruman the white says it's not possible. That the evil was destroyed never to return", Gandalf stated plainly. Luin hid a angry scowl. He never had gotten along with Saruman.

"And what does Gandalf the grey, or Luin the blue say?" Beorn replied. Luin met his friend's gaze blankly. Beorn must have gotten his answer from his expression as the skin-changer turned his face back to Gandalf.

Any replies that Gandalf might have given was forgotten as another flock of rooks flew over head. It jolted then from their thoughts, reminding them of the quest at hand. "Go", Beorn stated. "Now, while you still have light. Your pursuers are not that far behind". With those words, Gandalf kicked his horse onto a gallop. Around them, the company followed his lead and they left the cottage behind. Just as it was disappearing, Luin turned and waved goodbye to his friend. He could not see if Beorn waved back.

They rode for most of the day. Until their legs were sore and backs achey. Balin spent the ride clutching at Luin's shoulders as the hooves thundered along. It was mid afternoon by the time the darkness of the forest was in sight. Even from a distance, Luin could see the crooked trees and twisting branches. It held a gloom like shadow compared to the sunny grass of the surrounding plains. Luin grimaced, not wholly anticipating the journey through Mirkwood.

Gandalf led them along the edge of the forest and up to where a stone arch sat between the trees. The old wizard dismounted and tapped a hand across the white marble, fingers smoothing the carved Elvish runes. Luin dismounted and helped Balin with the saddle. He spared glances at the looming trees. In lothlorien, the trees were tall and comforting. The elves lived among them and lit the forest in a warm blue glow. They were attune with nature and caring of the trees. It seemed than Mirkwood had been missing life for a long time.

"The elven Gate", Gandalf said loud enough for everyone to hear. "This will be out path".

"No sign of orcs", Dwalin commented. "We have some luck on our side". Luin personally didn't really believe in luck but he agreed that no orcs was a good thing. He turned and patted his horse sharply on the rump. It skittered and galloped off back over the plains. As he watched it leave, Luin spotted Beorn's bear form watching them from a nearby hill. Pleased, he lifted a hand and waved at him. The bear nodded its head in return.

"Release the horses", Gandalf commanded. "Let them rerun to their master". The dwarves did as told. The ponies all galloped back the way they had came.

"This forest feels sick", Bilbo commented as he walked up to stand beside Luin. "Could we go around?"

"No", Luin replied. He too could feel the sickness of the trees. "Too much distance to cover and too little time". Bilbo frowned, displeased but did not protest more.

Gandalf had been staring at a marble statue of a female elf just a short distance down the path. She stood with her back to the darkness behind her, like a guardian of some sort. Seemingly making a decision, Gandalf whirled around and strode back over. "Hold my horse!" He commanded as he grabbed the reins.

"Are you going?" Luin asked. "Shall I come with you?"

"No", Gandalf replied gently. He smiled reassuringly down at Luin from his position on the saddle. "I need you to look after the Dwarves. Where I'm going, I do not know what danger I may face there".

Luin nodded. He trusted Gandalf and his choices. The quest would need a wizard now that Gandalf would be leaving. Luin just hoped he was up to the task.

Gandalf said goodbye to Bilbo, giving the hobbit a few words of courage before turning to Thorin and Balin. "I will meet you at the overlook. Keep the key and the map safe. Do not enter the mountain without me", he instructed. Both dwarves nodded as Gandalf turned back to Luin. "Remember, this is not the greenwood of old. There is a stream in these woods that carries dark enchantment. Do not touch the water, cross it only by the stone bridge. The air is thick with disillusionment and it will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray. If you leave the path you will never find it again. Stick to the path!" The last sentence was shouted as Gandalf kicked the horse into gallop. Luin watched as he rode away with the beginning of the setting sun.

Luin sighed as he watched his mentor fade out into the distance before turning his gaze back to the woods. With the darkening sky, the woods only seemed more foreboding and black. Reluctantly, he started walking towards the elven path. The woods seemed more and more threatening as he got closer. With a shiver, he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head as he stepped into the gloom.

"Come on", he heard Thorin command behind him. "We have until Durian's day to reach the mountain. It's our only chance". Slowly, the dwarves followed Luin's blue robes as he disappeared into the woods.