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THE COMPANY HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR ALMOST A WEEK, they had come to a stop by the remnants of an abandoned home; the place made Maristela uneasy. The ache she had felt a few days ago had eased off and she was able to link it to her dear friend, Sebastian and she just hoped that Radagast was alright. "We'll camp here for the night. Fíli, Kíli, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them," Thorin instructed his nephews, the two making their way over to where the ponies were resting and eating the grass.

"A farmer and his family used to live here," Gandalf expressed to Maristela and Bilbo. "Oin, Glóin," Thorin turned to the two, "Get a fire going." Maristela noticed how her father seemed to be on edge about the burnt farmhouse. "I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley," Gandalf suggested despite knowing that it would be useless. "I have told you already, I will not go near that place," Thorin replied to Gandalf as Attica lay at Maristela's feet, his head against her leg. "Why not? The elves could help us. We could get food, rest, advice," Gandalf advised the Dwarf Prince.

"I do not need their advice," Thorin said sternly as he glanced at Maristela who rolled her eyes at the stubbornness of Dwarves. "We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us," Gandalf encouraged further. "Help? A dragon attacks Erebor, What help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather and betrayed my father," Thorin responded to Gandalf with a scowl upon his features.

Maristela had to admit that Thorin's hatred for the Elves under King Thranduil's rule was justified considering Mirkwood Elves only cared for their own lands and kin, but holding that hatred over Elves as a species made Maristela annoyed; Dwarves weren't exactly the best species either. Each species had their flaws that made them unbearable but to hold the actions of one over many was something that Maristela hated; unless it was regarding Orcs or Goblins, there was nothing good about any of those beasts.

"You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past," Gandalf told Thorin who raised a brow at the words. "I did not know that they were yours to keep," Thorin bit back making Maristela scoff, She lightly nudged Attica; the Wolfhound stood up and allowed Maristela onto his back. "You, Thorin Oakenshield must get off of this pedestal. Your stubbornness and pride will be the death of your people should you not accept help. Understand, Thorin, you must be better than those you claim as your foes," Maristela said before Attica took off, She needed a break from the Dwarves.

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Attica came to a stop upon a hill, Maristela looked out at the vast environment and frowned at the distant sight of Orcs; they were only a few days away at most. She ran her fingers through Attica's fur as the sun began to set, The pastel orange through the sky was a soothing sight that Maristela was wishing to paint. Her thoughts trailed to Durin's Day, the first day of the Dwarves' new year and the signal of the last moon of Autumn on the threshold of Winter; the day of which they needed to be outside the door to access Erebor.

Maristela remembered the stories her mother told her about the festivities of Durin's Day within the halls of Erebor and the city of Dale, she had been there to witness it once. Estelle had spoken highly of the celebration, the way the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains came to Erebor to celebrate alongside them. She mentioned how they would drink well into the night, feasting upon a grand dinner dressed in their finest clothing to commemorate the occasion. Maristela wished to see the glory of the celebration, to bear witness to the importance of the occasion.

It was long after dark when Maristela and Attica made their way back to the camp, however, her attention was taken by the presence of something else. Attica sniffed the air before growling, his ears lay flat against his head as he lowered his body into a prowl, moving forward slowly before lurking in the shadows. Maristela lowered her own body against the Wolfhound, her eyes focused on the sight before her; The Dwarves caught by three large trolls, a few turning on a stick above the fire while the rest lay in potato sacks.

"What have these Dwarves gotten themselves into now?" Maristela muttered to herself with a sigh before looking around for a plan. "Húrin, mellon. Let's show hin trolls a real maeth (Ready, friend. Let's show these trolls a real battle)," Maristela whispered to her companion. Attica's shoulders jostled before the Wolfhound pounced forward, his jaw snapping on the leg of the closest troll resulting in a whine leaving its lips. Maristela used the momentum to push off of Attica's back, driving her dagger into the troll's shoulder before pulling her blade free and slicing it across the troll's neck as he stumbled back.

Maristela dropped to the ground in a crouched manner as the other two trolls snarled in rage, the Dwarves cheered as the Fair Lady used her smaller size to her advantage; she dodged between the trolls before snatching up a fallen dagger, she twisted her body around and cut across the closest trolls leg as the other moved to grab her. Attica snarled at the stumbling troll before pouncing as the other troll pursued Maristela; snatching her up in his tight embrace making the Dwarves and Bilbo tense up.

"You aren't worthy of a meal," The troll sneered as the other troll managed to throw Attica away from him. Maristela bit back the urge to cry out as the large troll began to squeeze her in his hold, a gruesome smirk upon his features when Maristela noticed the familiar presence of her father. "Who is that?" The troll pondered. "Can we eat him too?" The other troll asked. "The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf declared before slamming his staff against the boulder to break it in half.

The sunlight of the sunrise poured through the new gap causing the trolls to panic, the one holding Maristela dropped her in an attempt to cover his face however, he simply turned to stone before them. Maristela gasped as she held her right shoulder, she felt incredibly winded but ultimately glad for her fathers timing of arrival. Her attention turned to Gandalf as he held out his hand to help her up off of the ground, she accepted with a smile.

The two worked to release the Dwarves and Bilbo from both the stick above the fire and the potato sacks the others had been trapped in. "Are you okay?" Fíli asked Maristela as he rushed over to her, Attica shaking off his fur before sitting; his tongue lolling out of his mouth to further prove he was fine. "I'm okay, Fee. Calm yourself," Maristela assured him.

"Everyone okay?" Maristela asked out loud gaining responses of "I'm okay" and "just fine" which eased her worries. Maristela walked over to the troll she had killed, she observed the deep cut across his throat. "That was an impressive attack," Dwalin complimented, his eyes glinting with pride. "I mostly improvised," Maristela told him before sheathing her dagger and sword.

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The Company headed into a cave where the trolls have travelled from, the space contained a terrible smell that had the Company complaining but the treasures within the cave made them stop. "A trolls horde is always interesting to see," Maristela spoke with wonder as she moved deeper into the cave, her eyes locking on a blade with a unique design.

Maristela picked up the sword, her eyes focused on the hilt of the blade and its golden design. Her fingers traced the intricate designs within the gold and pearls, she knew instantly that it was of Elvish make. She pulled the blade from its sheath and was left in awe of the perfect condition of the Mithril weapon. "That is a rare sight," Gandalf spoke as he stepped over to her, his own eyes focused on the weapon.

"Forged by the High Elves in the First Age," Gandalf said with a smile, "And held in the hands of a powerful woman." Maristela smirked as she put the sword back into the sheath and tied it to her belt. "It's my own now," Maristela told her father before the two walked towards Thorin who was gazing at a sword, Gandalf grabbing the one by it.

"These swords were not made by any troll," Thorin acknowledged once the father and daughter had approached. "Nor were they made by any smith among men," Gandalf replied as he draws the sword in his hand out of its sheath a few inches to inspect the blade. "These were forged in Gondolin by the High Elves of the First Age," Gandalf voiced.

Upon realising that they are Elven swords, Thorin starts to put his aside with disgust but Maristela's hand on his stopped him. "You could not wish for a finer blade," Maristela told him with a stern gaze. Reluctantly, Thorin holds his sword and draws it out of its sheath a few inches, his eyes inspecting the blade. "Trust me, Thorin," Maristela added with a smile, her hand tapping the hilt of her new sword.

Maristela turned her head to see Glóin, Bofur, and Nori burying a small chest of treasure under the dirt; she shook her head fondly before moving to walk out of the cave. Once outside, Maristela took in a deep breath of clean air and smiled as the other Dwarves made their way out with Gandalf and Bilbo trailing behind them.

"Somethings coming!" Thorin exclaimed as they looked into the woods, Maristela moved forward as she tried to get a better feel of the new presence. "Stay together! Hurry now. Arm yourselves!" Gandalf ordered the Company, Maristela spotted the incoming force and smiled to herself. "Maristela?" Bilbo whispered noticing the way she and Attica relaxed. "It's okay, Bilbo," Maristela assured him.

"Theives! Fire! Murder!" Radagast the Brown exclaimed as he broke through the threshold of the forest into the clearing. "Radagast! Radagast the Brown. Ah. What on earth are you doing here?" Gandalf questioned the Wizard while Maristela moved forward spotting her friend, Sebastian in his pocket. "Sebastian," Maristela spoke as she allowed the little one to leap into her hands.

"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong!" Radagast exclaimed as Maristela felt the remnants of evil within Sebastian's Fëa (spirit) causing her to frown, she cautiously rested her fingers on the top of his head and closed her eyes allowing her magic to seep into the hedgehog completely eliminating the dark magic and healing the creature.

"Yes?" Gandalf asked his friend, his eyes glancing towards his daughter for a moment before focusing back on Radagast. Radagast opened his mouth to speak but shuts it, he opens his mouth again, but closes it again at a loss. "Oh, just give me a minute. Um, oh, I had a thought, and now I've lost it. It was─it was right there, on the tip of my tongue," Radagast explained to Gandalf as Thorin rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Radagast curled up his tongue and looks up at Gandalf surprised, "Oh, it's not a thought at all; it's a silly old─" Gandalf pulls a stick insect out of Radagast's mouth, "─Stick insect." Maristela giggled to herself as Sebastian snuggled into her neck, she held him close to her shoulder like a small baby. The Dwarves and Bilbo appear to be flustered by Radagast and his strange personality, Maristela motions for her father and uncle to step off to the side.

"Who is this little one?" Kíli asked as he and Fíli walked over to the Half-Elf. "This is Sebastian. He's been a companion of mine since he was born," Maristela told them before noticing Gandalf waving her over to him and Radagast. "Excuse me, I am needed," Maristela walked over to her father as Fíli watched her go. "Interested, brother?" Kíli asked his older brother with a teasing smirk.

"I'm not sure yet," Fíli replied before the two made their way back to the others. Maristela stepped up next to her father and allowed Sebastian to slip into her pocket, curling up comfortably to sleep. "The Greenwood is sick, Gandalf, Marisol," Radagast told the two, Maristela smiling at the Elven name she had been given by Lord Elrond; one that the council often used when addressing her.

"A darkness has fallen over it. Nothing grows any more, at least nothing good. The air is foul with decay. But worst are the webs," Radagast continued causing Maristela to perk up, she shivered at the thought of giant spiders. "Webs? What do you mean webs?" Gandalf inquired as he looked to his daughter before focusing back on Radagast.

"Spiders, Gandalf. Giant ones. Some kind of spawn of Ungoliant, or I am not a Wizard. I followed their trail. They came from Dol Guldur," Radagast told the two, Maristela crossed her arms againts her chest at the mention of that cursed place. "Dol Guldur? But the old Fortress is abandoned," Gandalf replied to Radagast while Maristela shook her head. "Evil is always trying to get a foothold in the world," Maristela reminded her father of what he always told her.

"A dark power dwells there, such as I have never felt before. It is the shadow of an ancient horror," Radagast spoke as his eyes glazed over staring off into the distance as though he was reliving what he had experienced, "One that can summon the spirits of the dead. I saw him, Gandalf, Marisol. From out of the darkness, a Necromancer has come." Maristela was tense as her uncle spoke, she looked to her father who seemed as uneasy as she.

"I'm sorry," Radagast apologies once he realised he had zoned out and into his mind. "Try a bit of Old Toby. It'll settle your nerves," Gandalf offered his pipe, Radagast taking a large breath of the smoke. "And out," Gandalf coached, Radagast ─ with his eyes crossed and a blissful look on his face ─ blows out the smoke then stays in a trance-like state for a few seconds.

"Now, a Necromancer. Are you sure?" Gandalf asked him. Radagast pulls out a cloth-wrapped package and hands it over to Gandalf. The Grey Wizard unties it and opens it; upon seeing its contents, he and Maristela shared a worried look when a distant howl is heard. Maristela grips the hilt of her new sword at the sound of the beastly howl, Attica snarling as they all prepare for what comes their way.

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Rosemary Speaks

I had loved writing Maristela so damn much so I can only hope that enjoy reading about her and her addition to the Company of Dwarves.

Do tell me what you thought of this chapter!

Also, the sword she found is another original plot to the story which will have further detail in the next chapter. I hope you are liking the original additions to the Tolkien Universe.

Tell me something you know about the Tolkien Universe, I'd love to hear it!

See you in the next chapter!