This chapter is dedicated to Miss_Marshmellow and @AngelNatari  Both of their characters (Dailoth and Dasia) are used in this story as a thanks to all their help and support. They'll come in later in the sequel to this.

The sound of a rooster could be heard as the sun hung low in the sky, still slowly coming up. I swung my light pack on my back and I made my way to behind the stables where our horses should be. Apellus was already there, that was no surprise, and the others came moments later, all appearing to be ready. A light breeze stirred and I breathed in the fresh morning air. Without speaking, we all pulled up our hoods and mounted our horses, quietly riding off towards the forest where our business lay. A half an hour later we reached the spot where we would be needing to stop. We all dismounted and took off our cloaks, pulling different ones out. I put my black cloak on and placed the other previous cloak in a pack on my horse and took out a black scarf and put it on as did the others. The plan was to change into our groups' look, send the horses off to our hunting lodge, get the elfings and return them to their homes and then split and go to the hunting lodge and take care of the private owner and his money. We sent our horses off with Star Gazer in the lead and we slowly made our way west to where we would meet Dalion and Dasia. We came upon the small meeting place in the forest shortly after ditching our horses. Jack and me slowly walked towards the two little elflings.

"W-who are you?" asked Dalion fearfully pushing his sister protectively behind him.

I gave Jack a glance and walked slowly over to them. Dalion took another step back.

"Go away, don't come near us."

I was a step away from him when I kneeled down to his height and placed a hand on his shoulder which he shrugged off. "Dalion calm down, it's me Jules. See?" I pulled down my scarf so he could see my face.

"W-why are you dressed like that then?"

"Do you miss your Ada and Nana?"

"Yes."

"I want Nana!" cried Dasia from behind her brother.

"Well if you want to see them again-"

"We do!" he said anxiously.

"-we have to dress like this in order to get you back to them."

He looked at me and I could see his little head processing the information. "You'll take us back home?"

I nodded, "Yes."

"And we won't ever have to come back?" I could see the fear in his eyes and something clenched around my heart.

"Yes, I promise."

He glanced back at his sister who nodded her head slightly and then looked me straight in the eye. "We'll go with you then."

"Okay good. Now you need to come quickly and quietly with us, we'll protect you and you need to do everything we say. Do you understand?"

He nodded. "Good, now come on." I put my scarf back up and picked up Dasia  and she wrapped her arms around my neck and I took Dalion's hand in mine nodding to Jack that we were ready. He nodded and then gave the others the signal and we went off. We walked at a quick pace for about an hour when we heard something. We stopped and froze and I pulled the children closer to me. Jack's eyes narrowed and looked around as did Apellus'. Kelebron came over and I handed Dasia to him who was reluctant in letting go. I let go of Dalion's hand and told him to stay close to Kelebron. I walked up to Jack to find out what was going on.

"What was that noise?"

Jack looked for a moment more and then turned to me, "We're not sure. It could've been anything. There's been a rumor spreading that spiders have been roaming this area and the elves in Mirkwood have had a hard time getting rid of them. Of course it doesn't mean that's what made the noise."

"We're so close now we can't take a chance. Another ten minutes and we can have them home."

"I know, we have to make a change with the plans. Apellus!" Jack called and Apellus came over.

"What's the plan?"

"We don't know if it's spiders or not but we're not going to take a chance with the children. Jules and me will take them and get them home while you and the rest keep a look out and see if you can find what caused the noise. We'll be back in fifteen minutes and no more. If we're not here in that time then send two of you after us and leave two here to keep watch."

Apellus nodded and walked towards the others to tell them the change in plans.

"Do you think this will work?"

"I don't know, but we have to give it a try. Get the kids and let's get in and out of here as soon as possible." I nodded and walked over to Kelebron taking Dasia back and Dalion's hand. Jack took Dalion piggy back style and we hurried off to where there home was. A short while later there home came into sight. We stayed in the trees and let the children off of us. We had both of them in front of us we knelt down to there size and pulled down our scraves.

"Now listen very carefully to us. Right over there is your home. Your parents are going to come out and you'll be able to live with them again. But there is a catch. You can't tell anyone that we brought you here, or we set you free, ever. Just say some friends helped you get back, do you understand?" Dalion with a serious face answered yes and Dasia nodded slightly trembling with some fear.

I touched her cheek. "Hey... it's okay. You're going to be fine. You're home now and no one's ever going to take you away again okay?"

"When will I see you again?" she asked quietly.

I glanced at Jack and then back to her. "Don't worry about that, you'll see me again one day... it just may be a really long time."

"I don't wanna leave you!" she said and threw her arms around me.

"Shhh..." I said and stroked her red hair. "... you have too. It's better for you here." I pulled back and wiped the tears streaming down her face. "You be a good girl okay? Listen to your parents and you'll be fine." I gave Dalion a quick hug and then Jack disappear for a moment to get the attention of the house. He came back a moment later and gave me a nod.

"Now both of you go, your parents and future are waiting for you ." I turned them towards the house and gave Dalion a little nudge. He took his sister's hand and walked out of the trees and towards the house in the clearing a couple feet away. The door opened as they were still walking and a shout came from the house. A young small elleth ran out towards Dalion and Dasia yelling Nana and Ada.

"Dailoth!" cried Dasia her little legs ran and jumped into her older sister's arms. She was now crying and hugged Dalion while holding Dasia. Two more elves who seemed to be their  parents ran out a few moments later and embraced their children, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

"How did you get back? Where did you go?" asked the mother as she held Dasia close.

"Some friends." Replied Dalion.

"What friends? Who and where are they?" asked the ellon looking around. Jack and me scrunched down avoiding his gaze into the trees. "I don't see anyone." He said and looked back to Dalion.

"It doesn't matter. Whoever it is we're indebted to for bringing back our kidnapped children back." said his wife. Jack put a hand on my shoulder and I nodded, looking back one more time before we left and disappeared into the trees, making our way back to the others. We found them a few minutes later.

"Did you get them back?" asked Kelebron anxiously coming up to us.

I nodded, "Yes, they're fine and safe with their parents."

"Good, I have a bad feeling about what's around here." Said Apellus.

"Well then we should get out of here as soon as possible." Said Jack and we all started to walk forward but stopped as something big and black dropped in front of us. Celebron raced forward and killed the creature with his dagger.

"Spiders!" he yelled as he pulled out his dagger and moved to kill another. All of us went into our fighting mode. I pulled out my bow and shot a spider a couple feet away and then pulled out a dagger slashing and then stabbing another behind me. We kept fighting for a couple more minutes until we had killed them all.

I wiped a few drops of sweat off my forehead as we all regrouped from our scattered positions.

"I don't think they're coming back, at least not yet." Said Phelius in our language.

"Let's hope not. We should go before more trouble comes." Said Kelebron. I heard another stick behind me and I spun around with my arrow instantly set to my bow ready to kill a spider. Just as fast everyone else was prepared for another attack. But when I was about to release my arrow I realized that it was not more spiders, in fact, it wasn't an animal at all. Instead surrounding us were elves, ready to shoot if we made a threat. We all backed up into a circle with our back to each other as they came closer.

"No one say anything, don't move or do anything until I tell you." I whispered through my teeth to them in our language.

"Stop talking and put down your weapons!" I glanced around seeing that everyone had heard me. Jack nodded and we all reluctantly put down our weapons slowly.

"Who are you?" asked a red haired elleth with a dagger in each hand. The Woodland guard had come, and we would not be able to escape.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Hey guys! Another update, hope you like it. I'll update next week. Hope ya'll have a great weekend and Happy Valentine's Day. :) Let me know if you liked the chapter and if you think they make it out of Mirkwood.

   Navaer Mellons,

                           ~Jules

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~