Lament

Chapter I

Crossing Worlds

Lightning streaked across the black sky. She could hardly see where she was going as tears blurred her vision. Trees and the occasional headlight of an oncoming car rushed past as she ran harder. Faster. She had to get away from this man.

"Devina get back here!" came his shout, enraged.

She turned further into the close standing trees that made up the outer edges of the park forest, away from the winding road, where she hoped her pursuer would lose track of her. Her mind was shouting at her; when had everything gone so terribly wrong?! She could still hear him shouting after her but his voice was growing fainter. Turning to look over her shoulder to see if he was still in sight, Devina lost her footing and went flying forward. Her forearms and hands became cut and scraped as she caught herself on the forest floor. Knees aching from the impact of the hard earth.

With a tremendous crack of thunder the sky broke into a torrential downpour and the wind picked up with a frightful force, causing the heavy oaks of the forest to creak. Scrambling to her feet, Devina began to run again. She remembered from their journey at the start of the week that there were sudden drop-offs on either side of the winding road through the mountains to the state park camping grounds. She was lucky she hadn't fallen over in her tumble. She needed to be careful or she'd find herself dead at the bottom of one of those drops.

A dark part of her mind made itself known in that moment. Perhaps that would be for the best, she thought bitterly. He'd been lying to her for who knew how long. Everything in her life she'd worked for, everything she'd sacrificed had been for a lie and she felt like the butt of a cosmic joke. Another sob shook her frame and she had to stop to breathe through it. Leaning against a tree she looked down at her soaked form. She probably looked like a drowned rat. Her feet sloshed and slurped whenever they moved in her brown leather boots. Her blue jeans which were tucked into them clung to her like an over-tight glove, and the light blue tunic-styled blouse was sagging from the weight of the rain water, chilling her to the bone. Devina was just about to continue when she heard him calling her name. Her heart thudded dully in her chest. He was only a few yards away! She should have known better than to stop. She'd never been athletic, but he was. Before she could take another step, the tree she was resting against tore apart with an explosive power from the lightning bolt that ripped though it. The force of which threw her across the ground, and right over the edge of one of the drops she'd just been trying to avoid.

The last thing Devina heard before everything went black was him screaming out her name as she plummeted.

The evening had been mild early on in his journey, but as he grew closer to his destination the sky rumbled. In the distance lightning could be seen rolling behind the clouds, moving quickly toward him and the direction of his path. He knew for certain that he would still be on the road when the storm broke over him, but also that it would pass quickly if it kept its current pace.

Thorin had stopped briefly at the Prancing Pony for a small meal earlier that day. He had hoped Gandalf would turn up but he figured he most likely had already gone on ahead to the home of this hobbit Thorin was supposed to meet with. A Mister Bilbo Baggins: a supposed burglar of exceptional skill, though Thorin had his doubts. Now he wished he'd left the settlement sooner to beat the storm. Securing his cloak over his pack and settling the hood over his head, he hastened his pace toward the lights that could be seen just over the low hills. Hobbiton wasn't too far off, no more than an hour's walk at worst.

Once near the bridge leading into Hobbiton, Thorin found it difficult to see far ahead of him, the storm having rushed to meet the Dwarf Prince; King Under the Mountain-to-be, far sooner than he had predicted. Indeed, it had only taken minutes for it to reach him but had lingered for the better part of an hour. Rain crashed down so heavily that the growing lights of the village were difficult to see, even though they were nearly upon him. Thorin cursed quietly to himself for it seemed like the storm had grown in fierceness and now that it had reached him, it seemed to be content with staying where he was.

Before he could cross the bridge into the homestead thunder rang out like an explosion of the likes Thorin had never heard. Lightning had stuck the ground between him and the stone crossing. Shielding his eyes, he braced himself against the wind and dirt that was kicked up by the thunderbolt. When the dust settled he was startled at the sight that met his eyes. What appeared to be the remains of a large tree were strewn across the road, though he knew there had been none rooted near his immediate path to explain its appearance there.

Approaching slowly he caught sight of something he did not expect; something in pale blue. The closer he got he could tell it was a figure. Once he realized this he rushed to their side to see if they were alive and if he could help in any way. It didn't escape his notice that, in addition to the downed tree, Thorin had been alone on the road moments before. He did not expect to find a young human girl, unconscious, under the debris. Apart from superficial cuts and bruises he could only see one injury that caused concern; just below her hairline, beginning near the center of her forehead and angling toward her right temple. He was relieved to see she was breathing and he hoped that once the wound was treated it would prove to not to be as serious as it looked. Her chestnut hair was matted lightly with blood. Setting aside his pack he reached under the branches, hooked his arms under hers and slowly, gently, pulled her out from beneath the wooden remains. For several long minutes he tried to rouse her, but she would not wake.

Thorin couldn't bring himself to leave her there, nor was there anyone else nearby with whom's care he could entrust her with. He could tell without her standing that she was shorter than he, and slight of build. It would be nothing to carry her a short distance, but did he trust having her around the discussion of his and his kin's mission? Did he have a choice? Shaking away the internal debate, he knew his honour and morality would not allow him to leave an injured woman along side of the road. And so, with a curse, he slung his bag over his shoulder once more, lifted the mysterious girl into his arms, and made the trek over the bridge. He sincerely hoped this burglar's home wasn't far.

"You are quite right Bifur, we appear to be one dwarf short" Gandalf agreed, slowly turning to survey those gathered. He was sure Thorin would have been one of the first to arrive, or at the very least to have arrived with him and the eight that accompanied Gandalf.

"He is late is all," came a deep voice from his right. Turning, he spotted Dwalin leaning against the frame to the dining room, taking a long sip of his ale. "He traveled north to a meeting of our kin. He will be here," he stated simply, giving Gandalf a half smile. Gandalf smiled, feeling relief as he turned back to the goings-on around him. Able to enjoy himself in the excitement around him as Dori bought him a woefully small glass of red wine, as he had requested. Then again he might have known since he was standing in a Hobbit-hole. Sighing he went in search of a larger glass as the dwarfs continued preparing a feast in Bilbo's small dining room, much to the dear hobbit's chagrin. Having found a more appropriately-sized glass for himself, Gandalf was just about to take a seat with the others when there came three loud, rapid bangs on the door instead of a ring at the bell. Everything became instantly quiet. Peering down to find Bilbo looking startled next to him, he gave him a thoughtful look. "He is here," he stated simply.

Laying a hand on Bilbo's shoulder to prevent him from being the one to answer the door, Gandalf stepped just ahead of him and led the way to the round green door. Several of the dwarves has followed behind the pair, anxious to see their King. Gandalf didn't know what he expected when Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror; arrived. Perhaps a bit of difficulty at the start about his choice in Bilbo Baggins as the thirteenth member of the company. He did not, however, expect the dwarf prince to arrive carrying the unconscious form of a small human woman. She was so small, Gandalf might have mistaken her for another hobbit if it were not for a pair of tall boots.

Gandalf stepped aside hurriedly as Thorin pushed his way in. An aggravated "You said this place was easy to find," was the only thing Thorin said to him as he made his way past. To Bilbo's credit, despite his surprise and stress, he was quick to usher Thorin to a room a few paces down the hall.

Gandalf followed behind and Thorin gently laid the woman on the soft bed. "What's happened here? Do you know this woman?" he found himself asking in a hushed voice while Bilbo quickly brought a wash basin and some rags to the side table.

While Thorin relayed how he came by the girl, her sudden appearance, and the storm, Gandalf led him and Bilbo out of the room. Allowing Dori to enter and tend to the woman's injury properly.

"How can this be possible, Gandalf?" Thorin asked, glancing back into the room. "People do not just appear out of thin air, let alone out of a bolt of lightning!" To this, Gandalf had no answers. He could make speculations, maybe has a suspicion or two, but there was no way to know without questioning the girl first.

"Did she say anything to you at all?" he asked but Thorin only shook his head. "Then I do not know. We will simply have to wait until she wakes up. Clearly the magic of our world is far more vast than even I was aware. From what you've told me, it is apparent that people can appear from thin air," was all the explanation the wizard could provide for now.

He could see Thorin did not like his answer, but nodded anyway. Smiling, Gandalf laid his hand on Thorin's shoulder. "While we wait, and before we sit down to eat; Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce you to the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield," stepping aside he indicated for the quiet hobbit beside him to come forward to greet the newest arrival.

Stepping closer to the kind-faced Bilbo, Thorin let a small smile cross his face. "So... this is the hobbit." Almost as quickly as it appeared, the smile vanished as Thorin stepped around him to greet his nephews, Fili and Kili, though he still addressed Bilbo. "Tell me Master Baggins, do you know how to fight?"

"I beg your pardon?"

He continued as if he didn't hear him, a mocking edge creeping into his voice. "What is your weapon of choice? Sword or axe?" He could hear the nervous and sputtering hobbit rambling something about conkers, trying to sound impressive but failing, as Thorin continued to greet each of the remaining dwarves.

Glancing over his shoulder, he gave the hobbit an unamused stare. "I thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." At his none-too-kind remark he smirked as the dwarves behind him broke into a roaring laughter and began filing back into the dining room.

Author's Note:

Hi everyone! So this is the first chapter of Lament. This is my first time writing a story in the world of Middle-Earth, so I hope to hear what you all think so far. Feed-back is greatly valued, good or bad!

Also I will be up front in and say that I don't know which pairing I will do wit. It will either be Kili or Thorin. Either way, the point is to give the Durins' a happy ending. In Devina's version of our world, the films to not exist, just the books. However, I will be trying to pull from both sourced for scenes, dialogue, and inspiration. That being said, I hope to post another chapter in a few days. Enjoy, and don't forget to review! Please and thank you.

Side note for those who may be interested. The inspiration for the story title and this chapter is a song named "Lament" by Light of Aidan. This can be found on YouTube and iTunes.

UPDATED

This chapter has been edited and cleaned up as of 10/30/16