Chapter 12

Everyone froze. They had not been expecting those words to come out of her mouth.

"W-Wait. What?" Gabriel stuttered out. Percy gazed away from them all a small smile on her lips.

"Why?!" Lucifer exclaimed, the first to get over his shock. "We just got you back!"

Percy lost the small smile she had as she came out of her memories. "Because Eru, the creator of this world, a counterpart of myself almost, he surprised me…"

Optimus sensed there was something that she wasn't telling them. "Primus, what is it?"

Percy took a deep breath. "Eru recreated my father's soul, my father, someone that I thought I would never see again, is alive once again… I've missed him." She whispered. And indeed she had missed her father. Much more than she had realized she would. Everyone went silent in the clearing.

"Your father?" Steve asked.

Percy smiled at him. "Yes, I've told you all about him. Poseidon, god of the sea, was reborn here by Eru as well as a few others… and I only said that I was thinking about staying, Luci, not that I was going to… but it is very tempting to. Blackjack, my pegasus from when I was a demigod, he is here as well. And apparently my two uncles are too but I haven't ran into them yet. I'm just overwhelmed by it all right now." Percy was ashamed to feel a tear fall from her eye. She swiftly wiped it away, not wanting any to see it but it was too late as all had already done so. The Autobots and Archangels knew that their mother missed her first family dearly. And so they all silently came to a decision that they wouldn't show how upset they are if their mother and creator does indeed choose to stay in this other universe.

"I am happy that you have them back with you once again, Primus. And we will be alright here if you choose to stay there with them. You have lost and gained much since this universe was created by you after the passing of your family. As such, if you do so choose to stay there, we will not oppose it." Optimus said for the Autobots and Archangels.

Percy smiled brightly at her sons. "Thank you. I will let you all know my decision soon… it is time for me to awaken here. I love you all and miss you. I will see you soon."

And then she was gone.

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Percy awakened to the soft murmurs of her companions and a stranger's voice. It would seem that she was the last to awaken this morning. She just laid there for a moment, getting her thoughts in order. She hadn't been joking when she had told her creations that she wished to stay here permanently but she knew that Eru most likely would not let her stay even if he wished her to.

"Well, it's about time you've awakened, my lady." Glorfindel said standing over her. Percy opened her sea green eyes to meet those of Glorfindel's and the hand that he held out to her to help her to her feet. She just smiled up at him as she took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. He pulled her up with a little bit more strength than necessary, causing her to crash into his chest.

They just held gazes not saying a word as their eyes spoke a thousand words to the other. Glorfindel leaned down and placed a soft chaste kiss on her soft lips.

"Good morning." He released her and moved back where the others were with their host while Percy stood there for a moment. She was not expecting him to kiss her. But she quickly shook the slight surprise that had come over her and joined the dwarves and hobbit at the table to eat their breakfast that was supplied generously by their host.

"So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me… why is Azog… the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn said, after he had poured Fili and some others some milk.

"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin said, turning to address the skin-changer for the first time. Beorn turned away from the dwarf and the others whom had tuned into the conversation. "My people were the first to live in the mountains… before the Orcs came down from the North. The Defiler killed most of my family." Beorn moved, cupping the jug of milk that he was still holding with both of his hands, a slight clink! echoing through the room. "But some he… enslaved. Not for work, you understand… but for sport."

By this time, Beorn began to circle the table, everyone's eyes locked onto him. They were all riveted with the tragic history of Beorn's people. Glorfindel, Percy, and Gandalf already knew the tragic history of the decimation of the skin-changers. But that didn't make their sympathy or sorrow less than that of the Company's. "Caging skin-changers… and torturing them seemed to amuse him."

"There are others like you?" Bilbo asked, his curiosity getting the better of him as Beorn had paused to pour some milk into Ori's cup.

"Once there were many." Beorn said gravely.

"And now?" Bilbo asked. Percy answered, glancing at Beorn as he turned away from the table.

"Now there is only one."

"You need to reach… the mountain before the last days of autumn." Beorn said, changing the subject and sitting down in a large chair.

"Before Durin's Day falls. Yes." Gandalf said from where he had been sitting off to the side and smoking his weed pipe without a peep coming from him so far that morning.

"You are running out of time." Beorn responded to the wizard.

"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf replied.

"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria… and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there… except in great need."

Glorfindel and Percy exchanged glances at that.

"We will take the Elven Road. That path is still safe."

"'Safe'? The Wood Elves of Mirkwood… are not like their kin, like the Balrog Slayer. They're less wise… and more dangerous. But it matters not." Beorn said, causing Thorin, whom had begun to turn his back to their conversation turned around and met the skin-changer's eyes.

Percy shot a glance towards Glorfindel. This was the first she had heard of him defeating a Balrog. The elf didn't look at her, knowing that she just became very curious about the years that they've been apart.

"What do you mean?" Thorin said.

"These lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing. And you are on foot. You will never reach… the forest alive." There was silence and then Beorn abruptly stood up causing everyone but the two former loves and Gandalf to shift nervously as the large man started to come around the table slowly towards the king as he spoke. "I don't like Dwarves. They're greedy...and blind." Here he paused in walking and picked up a white mouse that was on the table sniffing for crumbs. He cupped the small creature in his hand "Blind to the lives of those they deem… lesser then their own." By this time he was standing about two feet away from Thorin, nothing in between the two. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?"

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"Go now. While you have the light." Beorn said as he helped them all saddle the horses. "Your hunters are not far behind." Beorn warned as he smelt the wind that had shifted, bringing with it the growing foul smell of orcs. They began to direct the horses into a fast canter across the grassy plain towards the large, dark forest that even from this distance Percy and Glorfindel could feel the wrongness of the forest.

In no time at all they reached a small opening that looked like a path in between the tall trees. Gandalf had dismounted by the time all of them had come to a stop and had wondered onto the path towards a stone table that jutted from the ground. The rest of them had remained on the back of their horses because even the dwarves could feel something emanating from the forest.

"The Elven Gate." Gandalf said. He turned around and raised his voice to be heard by the dwarves, hobbit, and Percy. "Here lies our path… through Mirkwood."

"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin said as he had been scanning the horizon and watching their backs since they had left Beorn's home. He dismounted, causing the others to follow suit.

"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master." Gandalf commanded. They began to do so as Bilbo went to stand a little bit behind the wizard.

"This forest… feels… sick. As if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?" Bilbo asked Gandalf.

Percy overheard from where she was helping Bofur with his horse. "That is because evil likes to fester and when there is very little that can be done to combat it, it likes to grow. Greenwood has been infected for many years, the Greenwood elves might've just begun to fall back as the evil began to grow in it to turn it into Mirkwood." She said to the beginning to his words.

"Not unless we go 200 miles north. Or twice that distance… south." Gandalf said in answer to the question that was asked. as he walked further into the woods towards a statue covered in weeds and vines. Percy saw him head in and almost immediately he raced out of the forest shouting, "Not my horse! I need it!"

Percy called for Gandalf's horse and it came prancing over excitedly. Gandalf nodded in thanks. Percy did not understand what was wrong with him.

"What?" Glorfindel and herself asked. Their question being echoed by the others of the company.

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo said, the dread of going into the dark forest instantly doubled as fear of not having the wizard with them began to consume him.

"I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf said as he began to walk past the hobbit but he paused and looked down at Bilbo. "You've changed… Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire."

Glorfindel and Percy stood by Gandalf's horse and eavesdropped on the two as the dwarves were getting ready to march into the forest.

"I was going to tell you. I… found something in the Goblin tunnels." Bilbo said, his fingers in his front pocket. Percy immediately felt a dark presence surround her and she could tell that Gandalf did too as his hand on his wizard's staff turned white with the strength of his grip. She shuddered and felt Glorfindel take her hand in his own. A glance at him showed him looking down at her in concern. He caressed her cheek.

"Are you alright?" He asked her softly. Percy felt her face soften.

"I will be." She was then distracted by Gandalf speaking again.

"Found what? What did you find?" Gandalf asked. Bilbo removed his hand from his pocket, and instantly the dark presence dissipated.

"My courage." Bilbo said.

Percy and Gandalf both knew now that there was something the hobbit was keeping from them. But both knew that neither had the time to investigate further. "Good. Well, that's good. You'll need it." Gandalf said. He turned and mounted his horse. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before… the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me. This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It'll seek to enter your mind and lead you astray." Gandalf told Thorin.

"'Lead us astray'? What does that mean?" Bilbo questioned, worrying even more.

"You must stay on the path. Do not leave it. Follow Percy and Glorfindel they will be less susceptible to the darkness then yourselves. If you leave the path, you'll never find it again." He began to gallop away. He shouted out one more piece of advice. "No matter what may come, stay on… the path!"

Thorin began to take the lead as the heavens began to pour down upon them.

"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day. Elf, Percy, lead the way." Thorin said. They all began to follow the two ancient beings. "It is our one chance to find the hidden door."

And with that, they started walking through the creepy evil forest.

They walked for days through the forest the darkness slowly seeping into all of their minds. Glorfindel and Percy were fighting it as much as possible but they both knew that they would not be able to fight it much longer. The rest of the company had already begun to lose it when the day started. It was only a matter of time now.

"The path turns this way." Percy called back to the company but wasn't sure if they heard her clearly as they were all now completely infected by the Mirkwood. She leaned against Glorfindel, feeling herself becoming weaker. Glorfindel wrapped an arm around her waist and supported her against himself. He was feeling weaker himself but not as much as Percy since he was an elf and she was not. He faintly heard the dwarves behind him and knew that the dwarves hadn't turned when Percy had said to and now the dwarves and hobbit were now lost. The forest must have dulled his senses because he didn't sense the attack from above until it was too late and two were set upon by giant spiders and his vision went black.

"Air. I need air."

"My head, it's swimming!"

"What's happening? Keep moving."

"Nori… why have we stopped?"

"The path… it's disappeared."

"What's going on?"

"We've lost the path! I knew we couldn't trust the elf! And the witch! Find it. All of you, look. Look for the path!"

"I don't remember this bit."

"None of it's familiar. It's got to be here."

"What hour is it?"

"I do not know. I do not even know what day it is. Is there no end to this accursed forest?!"

.

"Look. A tobacco pouch. There's Dwarves in these woods. Dwarves from the Blue Mountains, no less. This is exactly the same as mine."

"Because it is yours. Do you understand? We're going around in circles. We are lost." Bilbo exclaimed.

"We are not lost. We keep heading east." Thorin said.

"But which way is east? We've lost the sun."

"I thought you were the expert."

Bilbo began to climb a tree without the dwarves noticing as he figured out if he can see the sun, he can figure out what way was east.

He faintly heard Thorin speaking below.

"Enough! Quiet! All of you! We're being watched." Thorin commanded but Bilbo hadn't clearly heard Thorin's words and so shouted down his own words to his companions below.

"I can see a lake! And a river. And the Lonely Mountain. We're almost there! Can you hear me? I know which way to go! Hello? Hello." Bilbo called out as he came down but all of the dwarves were gone, but there were drag marks leading into the brush so Bilbo followed it, his hand in his pocket where the ring was. He came around a corner and immediately ducked back as he saw these gigantic spiders wrapping his friends in white cocoons. Bilbo took a deep breath and then slipped the ring onto his finger, it was up to him to save his friends could he counted enough white sacks to be the dwarves and two that could only be Percy and Glorfindel because Bilbo could faintly remember Percy and Glorfindel having disappeared long before he had climbed the tree.

Bilbo slowly went around the corner again and began to tiptoe silently towards the closest cocoon. He noticed that the spiders seemed to be communicating in some language that he couldn't understand and were snapping and hissing at each other.

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Percy felt herself drifting and begin to form through an orb that had not summoned her which was weird as that should be the only way she could travel to her universe unless Eru was letting her go through. She opened her eyes sluggishly, even in spirit form she still felt the effects of Mirkwood and the drainage it was doing upon her.

"Primus!" She heard and met the eyes of Optimus and his Autobots and the rest of NEST. She didn't even have the energy to smile at them in greeting.

"Hello, dear ones."

They all knew something was wrong with her and began to crowd around her as much as possible. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

She took a deep breath and blinked slowly. "I am as fine as can be in my current situation. I had forgotten how overpowering evil can be. Such evil that I have not faced since I was sixteen years old." She paused. "I am afraid. Which is also something I have not felt in a long time. It is humbling to feel these things again. To be like I was all that time ago and without the vast amount of power I've come to rely on to get me out of anything. I am glad to be here in this world, that Eru has granted me leave to be here. I have found those that I have loved again but know that this world is not where I'm meant to be. So be assured, dear ones, that I shall return to you all soon. My deeds here are almost done. Now I must go, I feel myself being released from the prison that my body resides in. Till next time, my children."

None could get a word in as she began to disappear back into the orb. And Percy understood the lesson that she hadn't known she had needed to learn on her vacation. And what she said had been true. She was glad that she had learned what she needed to and knew that she would not forget it in a long time.

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Percy came to and opened her eyes to see a white film like substance being split open above her and Glorfindel standing above her his swords out and stabbing at the large spiders that dared to approach the two of them. He had a slight reprieve when the dwarves began to attack and he pulled her out of her cocoon prison. She immediately moved to his back and drew her own sword and began to fight with him like they did all those years ago. The dwarves moved so that they were in their own circle as well when out of the trees came an elf troop that began to cut through the rest of the spiders and land surrounding the dwarves, Glorfindel, and Percy although none had really focused on the latter two.

One last spider began to charge the defenseless Kili as he had just thrown his last knife and he begged for the she-elf whom had arrived last to the 'party' to give him a weapon but she said, "If you think I'm giving you… a weapon, Dwarf… you're mistaken." as she threw her dagger straight into the skull of the last spider in the clearing.

Percy and Glorfindel watched silently as the Mirkwood elves began to search their companions one by one.

The blonde haired elf watched as the red haired elf drew the attention of the two whom had yet to be really noticed or searched.

"B'ey! Give it back! That's private!" Gloin said as she withdrew a gold round object from his pocket, and when she opened it, saw two very hairy dwarves.

"Who is this? Your brother?" She said, slightly mocking even though she knew that dwarf women had beards as well, even if they weren't as thick and long as their male counterparts.

"That is my wife!" Gloin said, insulted.

"And what is this horrid creature? A Goblin-mutant?" Legolas asked coming over to look over the female's shoulder, examining the other picture. The two had forgotten how much fun it was to antagonize dwarves.

"That's my wee lad, Gimli."

Percy couldn't take it any longer and spoke up. "Is all of this really necessary?" The elves jumped and turned to her and Glorfindel as if just noticing them. Percy knew that they had recognized Glorfindel by the way their eyes widened.

The blonde haired elf stepped towards them. "My Lord Glorfindel, my apologies to not have noticing you sooner. And who is your… companion?"

Percy felt her eyes narrow. A crack of electricity sounded as she felt herself grow more irritated. "My name is Primus the Black, the sixth and most powerful of the Istari. But my friends call me Percy."

The elves all stiffened as the dwarves felt a slight stirring of hope that their powerful companion could get them out of this mess. "Primus? There is no Istari by that name." The blonde haired elf scoffed. Glorfindel stepped up beside Percy and laced his hand with her's.

"Just because you have not heard it, Prince Legolas, doesn't mean it isn't so. Your father should remember her now and the elves that fought in the war against Melkor and Sauron also will know her name. Percy, may I suggest-" Glorfindel was interrupted by one of the elves that had still been searching the dwarves step towards Legolas and hand him an unsheathed sword. He examined the elf blade closely, reading the name inscribed there and jerked his head to look at the dark haired dwarf and away from the angry woman claiming to be an Istari and the famous elf lord.

"Where did you get this?" He demanded.

"It was given to me." Thorin defended himself as the elves all stared him down.

"Not just a thief, but a liar as well." Legolas said.

"He isn't lying, Lord Elrond gifted it to him. And if you claim ownership of it, it is you that shall be branded the thief." Percy growled but Legolas barely spared her a glance.

"Tie them together except Lord Glorfindel. We are to take them to see the king as ordered." He then motioned for the other elves to start leading their prisoners back towards the way that they had came. Glorfindel walked silently beside Percy and refused to talk to the other elves when they tried to get his attention. When had his elven kin fallen so far to be suspicious about all that they came across and rude to them as well? He hadn't been to the halls of King Thranduil in many moons and so hadn't realized that they had begun to change. He guessed he should have taken Beorn's words more seriously.

Once they entered the Kingdom of the Mirkwood elves, Glorfindel, Percy, and Thorin were led one way while the others were taken down to the cells and thrown in.

Percy couldn't help but hope that Thranduil had indeed remembered her or would remember her when they met. She would never admit it but she had missed all three elves greatly.

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Once again, Percy and Glorfindel were ignored for the moment as Thorin and Thranduil conversed between each other.

"I'm visible, right? You can see me." Percy hissed to Glorfindel. He smirked but didn't respond verbally, instead putting his arm around her and drawing her into him.

"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive. Attempted burglary. Or something of that ilk. You have found…" here Thranduil paused as he examined the dwarf's expressive face "...a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule. The King's Jewel. The Arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight. I offer you my help." Thranduil said with a bow of his head.

"I am listening."

"I will let you go… if you but return what is mine." Thranduil offered.

"A favor for a favor." Thorin said, confirming what Thranduil said, and began to look contemplative.

"You have my word. One king to another." Thranduil said.

Thorin didn't speak for a moment, but his anger and hatred towards the elf got the better of him, not even thinking twice about his next words. "I would not trust Thranduil the great king to honor his word should the end of all days be upon us! You who lack all honor! I have seen how you treat your friends. We came to you once, starving, homeless seeking your help. But you turned your back! You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us."

Thorin's words angered the elf king and as Thranduil's face got close to Thorin's the elf magic that covered Thranduil's face disappeared for a moment, revealing scars on one side of his perfect face and his blinded eye. "Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know its wrath and ruin. I have faced the great serpents of the North. I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. But he would not listen. You are just like him. Stay here if you will and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an Elf. I'm patient. I can wait." The dwarf king was dragged towards the dungeons, cursing up a storm but Thranduil paid him no more mind as his attention turned to the other two. And this time his face showed his shock as he met the sea green gaze of his past love.

"Percy." He whispered as he moved forward and caressed her face, not caring that she was in the arms of another. Percy felt her eyes close in a sigh as she was reunited with another one of her loves. "I have missed you. I am overjoyed to have my memories back of you." Percy opened her eyes and smirked slightly.

"You know, you and Glorfindel keep saying you have missed me, but I have yet to see any evidence of that." Glorfindel and Thranduil looked at her with dark lust filled gazes.

"We shall have to rectify that then." He motioned the two to follow him as he led them through his kingdom and to his personal chambers. He waved the two in before him and shut the door to his chambers with an order to the elves standing guard that he was not to be disturbed by anyone or for anything.

Thranduil focused his ice blue gaze on the dark haired beauty that was roaming his room and saw out of the corner of his eyes Glorfindel watching her just as intently. So intently were the two males watching her that they somehow missed that while she was moving around she had disrobed until she turned to face them. And the two pounced on the woman that had captured their hearts so long ago. Thranduil had loved his One as he was meant to but now that he had his memories back, knew that he loved this woman even more then he had his queen and probably would have never found his One if he would have been able to remember even a little about Percy.

The three didn't leave the bedchambers for three days this time, even skipping the Festival of Starlight, and by the time they had reemerged with satisfaction coating their faces, a messenger was waiting for them, telling them that the dragon had been slain by a descendent of Girion that now resided in the destroyed remains of Laketown. Shocked that the company had reclaimed the mountain without them, Glorfindel and Percy joined Thranduil and his army on the march to Dale. This was something they just had to see for themselves.