No Place for Women

"Oh come on Kila! We've been walking forever, and my feet are killing me!" Calili groaned, "Can't we just stop here for tonight?"

Kila rolled her eyes at the childish actions of her sister but ignored them none the less. She knew that her sister was right; they had been walking ever since they saw Radagast early this morning. In fact it was around dawn when they had seen him, and now it was almost nightfall. If they stopped and camped here for the night, and woke up at dawn to continue the journey then they should reach the hidden pathway to Rivendell by mid afternoon. Though she wasn't to sure about sleeping at their current location.

Hearing the sound of a wolf howling in the night sent a chill up her spine, and peace through out her body. Slowly, she picked up a few small logs and placed them in the center of the small opening to make a fire; Calili smiled at her sisters actions before going to fix a place for them to sleep. She chose the small patch of flowers to lay on. Her leather bound book would be her pillow, and the cloak around her shoulders would help provide warmth.

Kila did nothing to make herself a bed for the night, she was prefectly fine the way she was leaning against a rather large rock; once again cleaning her sword, and her eyes on the opening of clearing. Calili was now over the fire, heating up broth that she had put together with herbs and a bit of mushrooms that they had found while they were walking today. It was a taste that they were both used to, not that anyone was complaining. As long as they were able to get food in their stomachs, they didn't care what it was.

Kila's attention was taken away from the sword when Calili handed her a small bowl of the soup. She ate it slowly, so she wouldn't upset her stomach; and what she wasn't able to eat Sebastian ate for her. Calili didn't make much because if she had, they'd dump it out and it'd be a waste. She made enough for their dinner and enough to eat when they wake up. They had come to find it always had a better taste whenever it stayed on the fire over night. So that's what they did.

"Get some sleep." Kila told her sister, "We have a long way to go come dawn; but it'll be worth it."

Calili smiled knowing that she'd get to see her mother soon enough; and it's all thanks to Radagast for telling them to go to Rivendell, and her sister for making sure that she stays safe. Calili moved to where she would be sleeping and layed down on the patch of flowers. Her eyes flashed over to her sister before closing, only to see that she was holding Sebastian with a smile on her face. Kila really did love animals. Just like Sebastian did, animals all throughout the woods would follow them around and keep them company. They have ever since the girls were little.

Though Kila knew they were perfectly safe where they had chosen to camp for the night, she still didn't plan on sleeping. She knew that below them was a cave, and just beyond there was a path that would lead them straight for the hidden path of Rivendell. Soon enough, she saw the sun began to light a way in front of them once more.

How long she'd been sitting there, she wasn't sure; maybe a few minutes or maybe a few hours. She wasn't sure. Looking at the small hedgehog sleeping in her hands, she smiled before remembering an old song she had heard in Valinor before they had left. She had been walking through the empty street one night when she heard someone singing it.

"May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh how far you are from home

Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now."

Her eyes never left her sleeping sister as she sang. Somewhere deep within her she felt like she belonged out here with her sister. After years of feeling like she didn't beong anywhere, when she was out here in the wild, she felt at home. Yet she knew there was still something missing.

Kili's POV

I stood with my brother, Fili, at the entrance of the cave. Dawn had just now began to come up over the woods, filling our sight with more light than a fire ever could.

May it be the shadow's call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

There was a voice from the distance. How far off exactly I wasn't sure, but it was close enough that I could hear her. Her voice was soft, the words seemed to fit through her lips perfectly; the seemed to drip off of her lips like water falling from a leaf onto the ground.

"Fili, listen! Do you hear that? That voice?" I asked.

He seemed confused of what I was asking him; I placed my finger over my lips as if telling him to stay quiet as we stood there. The voice returned.

"Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now."

He heard it too.

"A promise lives within you now"

We had no idea where it was coming from, or better yet who it was coming from. But what I did know...I knew that the voice made me feel like I had somewhere that I belonged. Dwarves have never had a home since ours was taken from us; but that voice. That voice made me feel like I had a home no matter where I was at.

"Let's go!" Thorin commanded walking past myself and Fili.

A small hint of disappointment went through me. I knew that I had to go with them, but to tell the truth I didn't want to stray away from whoever I had heard singing. Her voice was just so amazing. It made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere.