Hello everyone! I just finished my fall semester of college so I've had time to write this up real quick. Not as long as my older chapters but much longer than my most recent ones! I don't know if I'll be able to update as often as I'd like but I'm definitely not giving up on this story (especially now that we are getting closer to the parts I'm super excited to write about)!

This particular chapter was planned since the very beginning and focuses on A LOT of background information and has been revised many many times as I've tweaked the fic around. I want to apologize ahead of time for any bad lore on the Middle-Earth side of the crossover but I'm trying to make it fit together as smoothly as possible without breaking too much canon. Unfortunately with somethings, you just have to punch straight through it for the story to make sense!

Special thanks to my reviewers: TWILLINATOR, LoveHopes, rheavassi, Sketchbananafairy, Rhetttbutler, Pietersielie, and Ice-Shadow-Queen! Shout out to all my new followers and favoriters and to those who simply read along quietly~

Question time:

To all: Glad you all liked that cliffhanger ;P Also thank you for your response regarding my question! It is still open to other reviewers if they wish to put in their opinion

Rhettbutler: Yep, shits definitely going down right now.

LoveHopes: Sorry I couldn't meet your crack!fic needs but I am infinitely gladder that you found a story you enjoyed! Hope I don't disappoint! :P

Hope you all enjoy this chapter, it's been in the plans for a long time and answers many questions that have been asked (and perhaps creates more~)

Characters and Worlds belong to their respective owners (J.R.R. Tolkien and Bethesda). Skyrim OC Refridís belongs to me!

Burned. By the Divines, how it burned. The fires, they craved to strip her flesh from bone and turn them to ash and yet she welcomed the fire with a longing hunger. To be bathed and baptized in fiery glory of dragon's breath and be born anew. She could feel her own grip on consciousness waning as her physical form could take no more of the violent flame but she did not fear the coming darkness for it brought a silence she rarely found.

And with the voracious fire finally having its fill, it let her go and she found herself falling.

As the fire receded the panicking company could finally see the after effects of the training gone wrong. Odahviing gave a long mournful cry when he realized what he had done and immediately began circling the smoldering form of Refridís, whose skin was black and cracked like scales but otherwise simply seemed to be resting peacefully. The great dragon gave out deep worrying warbles as if trying to wake her up but shortly seemed to resign himself to simply lying next to her form in a protectful manner.

Kíli ran towards the Refridís' body, hoping, praying, that she was alive after such a direct hit. The cloak of scales was shed by Dwalin and Thorin who were quickly joined by the rest of the company, each trying to make sure that their king was unharmed and it was only when Óin pushed himself to the front of the group that both members were given the all clear. During their whole check up, Thorin couldn't help but stare in the direction of the burnt body of the elf who had saved him more than once now, the dragon who was dutifully looking after her, and his nephew who was desperately looking for signs of life.

"Óin! Please! I think she's still alive!" Kíli called over to them, startling the dwarven medic into hurrying in their direction.

It was only when he had gotten no closer than 10 paces that Odahviing gave a vicious snarl and a snap of his teeth, blood still oozing from his missing eye. He curled his form tighter around Kíli and Refridís, daring anyone to get closer with a deep growl.

It was Gandalf who made his way forward and spoke, "Odahviing, Refridís is heavily injured by your own cause, surely you wouldn't want her to be dead?"

"She has long been in the halls of Sovengarde," Odahviing responded back, "She will come back when she is prepared."

The grey wizard looked surprised at this explanation when Kíli who had been quietly holding one of the burned hands spoke up, "Refridís is immortal and part dragon. She cannot die, much less from dragon fire."

Odahviing shifted once more, "She very much can die… but not forever."

Refridís heard the soft chirping of crickets and the gentle call of night birds before she opened her eyes. The sky was unfamiliar to her but not too unlike that of Sovengarde. The swirling mass of color concentrating into a large point of light far above her but the stars and their positions were all wrong. The normal chanting of the ancient Nord heroes had been exchanged with something much more harmonious and sorrowful. A song so familiar but at the same time strange to her ears.

She rose to her feet, becoming aware of the long dress made of glowing embers surrounding her form.

"I remember," Refridís thought, "I died."

At this thought, an eerie silence overtook the meadow and shadows began to dance in the corner of her eyes. She saw pale figures staring out from the surrounding trees that encircled the clearing, eyes shining like tiny diamonds.

The wood elf took a few steps forward and found herself in front of a still pool of water. With a small bit of hesitance, she peaked forward and was startled. Staring back was a figure with her face, but with eyes of emeralds and hair silver like liquid star shine.

"It is as it should be," a deep voice spoke to her.

Refridís leapt back and was awestruck by the glowing figure before her. It was a mesmerizing man with elegant curved horns upon hair the color fire and eyes of molten gold. He held an hourglass in between clawed hands and held an air of radiant glory that almost hurt if you looked for too long.

Refridís immediately averted her gaze and bowed to one knee, holding her clasped hands in front of her. She did not even need to be told that this was Akatosh, the creator of her world and father of dragons.

"Rise Dovahkiin, my flesh and blood," Akatosh said to her in a soft voice resting one hand upon her head, "I have been watching you for a very long time and had to call in many favors to the creator of this world for this meeting."

"We are not in Sovengarde?" Refridís asked.

"No, we are where those who pass in Middle-Earth come before they make the journey to their final destination. Call this a crossroads if you will," Akatosh responded, "It is the only place where I could reach you."

The Golden Divine took a heavy sigh, looking very distressed, "I should begin by apologizing to you."

Refridís gave him a questioning look before he continued, "You're existence in this world, in both worlds, it was a mistake. All your suffering and sorrow… it should have never happened."

Refridís was alarmed, "What did he mean by a mistake?"

"As you well know, my eldest son Alduin… he was blinded by his morbid hunger for power and was growing stronger and stronger each passing day. He rebuked his destiny in his path for greed, becoming a near unstoppable force. And so I called on powers beyond even own. I reached across the void between worlds and touched upon this one and its own creators, breaching a thin veil and making a path that would cause each one to bleed into the other.

There were words of power that dragons did not know, ones that had to be sealed and protected forever, known only to those who would use them in the greatest times of need. The Valar of this world were having their own troubles and I promised to help them in their time of need if they would help me."

"A favor for a favor, between gods," Refridís whispered.

"Yes… I sent dreams to a select few in Skyrim as well as chose a Qosaar, a Prophet among them to come to Middle-Earth. To scatter the words of power so that they would never be known except by those chosen. All was going well but I had forgotten that the heart of mortals was a passionate thing. My Qosaar fell in love with one of this world and their coupling was something that created something whose whole was greater than the sum of their parts. Something capable of such great power that even Alduin himself could not hope to defeat. I could have never known…"

At this Akatosh paused and Refridís was puzzled, "How powerful?"

"Powerful enough that the Valar laid claim to you as being the future favor," Akatosh responded, having read her thoughts, "As such, you would have to be protected at all costs or else my carefully laid plans would be in ruin and the words of power now out in the open would be available all.

"Once the final word had been placed… my Qosaar had decided to bring his new wife and child back to Tamriel. As they were crossing the thresholds between worlds, the Nords I had trusted to protect them turned and both the Valar and I were powerless to help as they slaughtered those loyal to the Qosaar. They had saved you for last, making sure you had watched each and every pointless murder. You were to be sold as an exotic slave to the old High-King for they wanted both the glory of knowing the words of power and the wealth of those of Jarls," Refridís felt a shiver run down her spine as Akatosh snarled his next few words, "It was when they turned to 'break you in' that they crossed into Nirn and I laid waste to their ship. The savages had killed my Qosaar, ruined my good name, and were going to harm my most precious daughter.

Their end was uncompromising, unforgiving, unpitying."

Refridís was quiet, throughout the story she felt something picking at the inside of her mind, begging to be let out and now that she knew…

"I could unlock them…" Akatosh said gently, "the memories, I sealed them away as I thought they would be much too painful to bear in your young state but you have grown."

"How much?" Refridís suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Akatosh questioned despite knowing what she was asking.

"How long has it been since that incident? How old am I?" Refridís demanded, how many years had she lost?

"I saved you after the ship sank but there was now no one to know the key to defeating Alduin. I sent Kyne to give words of power to Paarthurnax after he swore allegiance to me, who passed it down to other Nord warriors. You were not needed in the timeline with Alduin gone and it was only when he reappeared that I placed you back in the physical world," Akatosh responded.

"But-But that's at least-" Refridís started.

"Five millennia give or take a few centuries," Akatosh finished.

Refridís felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She had been aware that she was probably a lot older than she looked but her estimate was nowhere near what Akatosh had told her. In addition, she had only been consciously aware of about half a millennia of her life? She sank into the grass, the revelation being to much for her.

Akatosh looked down at his hourglass, "It seems as if our time is up."

Refridís glanced up for a second confused before noticing a thick fog creeping up on the two of them, the distant calls of dragons telling her in that the souls were searching for her.

Akatosh kneeled down to her level, "I am truly sorry, dii mon, for your fate. You have as much protection as I can give you in this land and my blessing. Aal hi siiv drem ko hin tiid do ahkon." {My daughter, May you find peace in times of trouble}

She could feel her grip on the crossroads slipping, the lights that had been comfortingly soft becoming sharper and the roaring of dragons overtaking all sounds as the fog surrounded her. As she was pulled back into consciousness, the last thing she saw was Akatosh turning into a giant golden dragon and flying towards the center light.

Refridís' head ached savagely as the constant fighting and roaring of absorbed souls overtook the quiet peace of the crossroads and she let out a quiet groan. Something shifted next to her and she heard muffled voices talking excitedly. She couldn't move but she wasn't very surprised by that. Death by fire tended to form a hard carapace of scales over her skin until she broke out of it. It was more after that she broke out that she was worried about. After all, many clothes weren't dragonfire-resistant, much less the ones she was wearing.

Kíli had sat dutifully next to the elf's fallen form for hours as Odahviing refused to let anyone else get close enough to take over for him. He didn't really know what was supposed to happen, much less what to do when she came back to life but he had promised her that he would never leave her alone.

'Just like she promised to always come back to me…" he thought to himself.

The young dwarf glanced up towards Odahviing and felt mixed emotions towards the dragon. On one side, he felt his dwarven side pulling at him fiercely, telling him that this dragon had attacked his kin and was supposed to be slain on the spot, that his honor as a Durin needed to be upheld. On the other side, the scaled beast looked absolutely pitiful. His eye had yet to stop bleeding and he was making soft whimpering noises that he thought a dragon wasn't capable of making. He kept on glancing between Beorn's house where the Company had retired to and the still smoking body. Their host had been told why half his field was torched and what the situation was of Refridís. He hadn't taken it well and had gone off in the woods.

Kíli still shivered at the way Beorn had growled "for their safety".

He hadn't noticed it at first but when Odahviing perked up, he immediately glanced down at the curled up form. Thin veils of silvery light pulsed from where Refridís' heart would be and travelled through all the little cracks and crevices of the scaled skin before sinking in. Kíli held his breath for a tense moment before he saw the elf's chest slightly rise and fall.

"SHE'S WAKING UP!" Kíli shouted, bringing a flurry of activity from inside the massive home.

Everyone filed out, making sure not to get to close when Odahviing gave a warning growl. Óin had brought out a hastily made medical kit from objects inside Beorn's house just in case it was needed and many of the other members looked on in hope. Fíli had a small smile, he had hoped and prayed to Mahal that Refridís would be alright, not only for his brother's sake but because he had found quite a friend in her. Thorin stayed near the back, an unreadable expression on his face as he waited for what happened next.

Refridís twitched slightly before curling in on herself slightly, an arm crossing protectively in front of her before slowly leaning on the other to raise her up to a sitting position. She breathed in and out deeply, a small harmless flame escaping her open lips before slowly opening her eyes.

Kíli thought he saw a flash of green but when he blinked and looked again, they were the same familiar crimson he had come to love.

Refridís gave a small shiver and black scales cascaded from her form leaving her bare except for the scales on her back that seemed to have become a permanent fixture on her. She blinked at them, "Could someone get me a cloak?

After much blushing on the part of the dwarves, Balin gave his cloak to her and she took it incredibly gratefully. She sat back against Odahviing's form, the dragon didn't dare move, taking in deep breaths before groaning and holding her head.

"Odahviing, druv?" She muttered.

"Mal ilit, it is good that you return to the plain of the living,"Odahviing responded, his words carefully picked and measured.

"That's not what I asked you wretched-" Refridís snapped angrily before turning towards him and stopping cold, "Oh! Hi nivok sivaas! It's no wonder you did what you did!" {You poor beast!}

Refridís quickly stood up, stumbling slightly as she walked towards the dragon's head. Odahviing leaned down so that she could examine his eye. A hiss of sympathy escaped her lips before she held her hand tenderly on his brow. With a few whispered words, the eye began to heal and within a few seconds it was as if nothing had ever happened. After affirming that he could see clearly out of it she turned towards the rest of the Company.

"I am sure you have many questions but dying has left me incredibly drained so if we can save the questions for tomorrow, I would be highly grateful," Refridís said.

As if to prove her point, her next step towards Beorn's house had left her stumbling and if it wasn't for the quick reflexes of Kíli and Bofur, she would have fallen to the ground.

The elf looked up sharply when she heard Thorin speak, "Yes, we will talk in the morning."

She stared at the dwarven king and Thorin felt as if she were dissecting him with her mind, her intense gaze burrowing into his own. He couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking. She simply nodded and with the help of others made it into Beorn's home.

Gandalf and Thorin were the only two remaining outside the home when Odahviing spoke up.

"Dilfahliil Jun, the one who took my sight from me," the red dragon spoke turning Thorin's attention to him, "Had I been younger and more foolish, I would be taking your life rather than speaking to you. I wish to apologize, as I am not above my nature at times. I can only hope that in time you may find that forgiveness for me."

Before Thorin could even get his mind around the idea of a dragon apologizing, much less to him, Odahviing had already taken off and was beginning his evening patrol of the sky.

"It seems even those creatures we believe to know can surprise us the most," Gandalf responded, a thoughtful expression in his eyes as he stroked his beard before he turned around and retired for the night in Beorn's house.

Thorin was left alone in the cooling night air, watching the dark shape as it flew and blocked the stars. The day had started out so normal and yet by the end, it had brought into question many of the things he had grown up learning to be unquestionable.

He could rely on himself and his mind to make rational decisions for the betterment of his people. He had lost himself to painful memories so strong that he could not focus on what was really happening.

Elves were not to be trusted. One had literally just died to save him from dragon's fire.

Dragons were vicious creatures incapable of mercy or sorrow. One had just mourned the loss of a friend because of his actions and apologized to him for losing control.

The last thought left him sick. If dragons were capable of mercy and sorrow, why had Smaug not shown mercy to his people and caused so much sorrow?

We are finally wrapping up with Beorn before going to Mirkwood and to our second favorite elves (after Refridis of course ;P). I'm super excited about what is to come and while it may take us a while to get there, I have big plans for what happens after Mirkwood. Hopefully I'll be able to update at least once more before my winter break is over so until then, happy holidays!

All reviews, comments, and questions will be answered next chapter or in PMs!

Additionally, if you all want to see what I imagine Akatosh's human form to look like, there is a link to on my profile page!

Also my Tumblr page has some exclusive art for this story and followers tend to get a glimpse of a chapter before it is posted to everyone~