Howdy ya'all! *grins* I know, I'm already working on SO many fanfics. So, I reaaally shouldn't be posting another one, but I just COULDN'T HELP IT! I've had this story in my head for quite a while, and after seeing the Desolation of Smaug, my inspiration level for writing it just went through the ROOF! XD Anyways, for the most part, It'll be following the movie plot line since, even though I've read the book, it was a long time ago and I don't remember it that well, lol! Another thing, Kili will NOT die, NO MATTER WHAT! So, please give the story a shot and NO flames considering this is my first fanfic having ANYTHING to do with The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. Enjoy!
Rating: T probably just for some language
Genre: Adventure, Romance, and, to the best of my extent, some Humor
Pairing: Kili xXx OC
Disclaimer: I do NOT own The Hobbit, its characters, NOR The Hobbit's plot. I only own my OC Kaiya, any other OCs created along the way, and any part of the plot NOT a part of the movie or book. This fanfic, however, is MINE and I'd like to keep it that way.
Chapter 1
Hatred: A Power Not to Be Underestimated
Gandalf carefully examined the remains of what looked to be a cottage as Thorin barked out orders to the company in preparations for that night's camp.
"I think it would be wiser to move on." The elderly wizard stated pointedly at he turned to face the approaching Oakenshield, "We could make for the hidden valley."
"I told you already." The almost King Under the Mountain replied with slight irritation, "I will not go near that place."
"Why not!?" Gandalf pushed with an insistent tone, "The elves could help us! We could get food, rest… advice!"
"I do not need their advice!" Thorin growled darkly. Such an option was… No, it wasn't even an option! The very idea was absurd!
"We have a map that we cannot read." The gray-haired wizard reminded the company's leader, "Lord Elrond could help us."
"Help?" the Dürin dwarf scoffed coldly before continuing in a venomously scathing voice, "A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls. The elves looked on and did nothing!" approaching Gandalf he gave the wizard a hard look, "You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather, and betrayed my father?"
"You are neither of them." Gandalf attempted to reason wisely with the heir to the Lonely Mountain before growling, "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past!"
"I did not know that they were yours to keep!" Thorin countered with a glare.
A sigh escaped the elderly wizard as he pursed his lips in frustration, knowing full well that he'd lost the argument. Shaking his head in resign, Gandalf whirled on heel and stalked away.
"Everything alright?" Bilbo, who had watched the exchange from a distance, asked worriedly, "Gandalf, where are you going?"
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." The gray-haired wizard huffed as he walked by.
"And who's that?" the hobbit inquired with genuine curiosity.
"MYSELF, Mr. Baggins!" Gandalf snapped in reply as he vanished back into the woods muttering, "I've had enough of dwarves for one day."
Continuing to move - more like stomp - along, the wizard did not cease from his nearly incoherent muttering and was nearly tempted to curse out loud his frustrations when dealing with the stubbornness of dwarves. His mental tirade would have continued if he had not spotted a small moth flittering his way from the corner of his eye.
Extending his hand, Gandalf allowed the small creature to land gracefully in his palm. After several seconds of studying to winged insect, a small and almost smug expression formed on the elderly wizard's face, "So, she has come."
Finally, perhaps things might work out as he wanted after all.
All was quite as a young female, looking perhaps around twenty, stood silently, arms crossed, staring - more like glaring - at a small moth sitting calmly on a nearby tree branch. She'd been following the damnable little critter for the last three days, but had been drawn to a halt when the moth had finally decided to stop moving. The young woman could only guess that meant that she too was supposed to stop and wait.
Oh yes, she knew full well who had sent the little messenger moth.
Gandalf.
Stormy-colored eyes narrowed slightly as she nearly growled at the thought of the foxy old wizard. "Just what in the name of seven hells could he have called me here for?" she shook her head with a soft huff, causing the front most part of her long, dark red hair and bangs to whip around her face.
The rest of her long hair was pulled up in a loose, messy bun. Her build was slender, but well-rounded and toned. Although, she wasn't very tall; perhaps about the height of a taller dwarf. Dark brown pants covered her muscled legs, while the young woman sported a pale green shirt underneath an old tan, leather, long-coat. Strapped to her back was a pair of twin katana like blades.
With a soft sigh, the young red-headed woman leaned up against a nearby tree and closed her eyes. She supposed all she could do was wait for the old wizard to arrive. Might as well close her eyes while life gave her the chance.
After a little while, a familiar voice cut into the silence, "I see you've come."
The young woman leaning up against the tree didn't open her eyes immediately or jump, for she'd caught the wizard's scent coming from a little ways away.
"It's been quite a while." Gandalf continued as he approached the red-haired female, "Hasn't it, Kaiya?"
Finally, stormy-eyes opened to pin the elderly-wizard with a half amused, half annoyed look, "I'd say about forty years."
"Indeed." The gray-haired wizard chuckled humorously as he took in the sight of the female before him, "And I do say you haven't changed a bit, in personality or appearances."
"Appearances, huh?" Kaiya countered, shooting her previous mentor a sharp look, "And just whose fault would that be?"
"Mine, I suppose." Gandalf coughed slightly, backing away quickly from such a sensitive subject.
Sighing softly, the stormy-eyed female pushed herself off the tree trunk so as to fully face the gray-haired wizard. "So," she began, giving him a curious look, "why did you call me here?"
"Yes, about that…" the elderly wizard said with no small amount of resolve, "Tell me, what do you know of the dragon Smaug."
Kaiya visibly tensed at the mention of dragons, probably the only creature she hated more than orcs. "I've heard of him. Who hasn't?" The red-haired young woman stated carefully, already having a bad feeling on what was to come, "He came down from the north, burned down Dale, and now resides in the dwarvish city of Erebor."
"Hmm… Seems you are well informed." Gandalf murmured, quirking an eyebrow at the girl, "Though the fact hardly surprises me."
A bit of a smirk showed on the young woman's face. "Informed? Yes, I suppose I make it my business to be so." Kaiya tilted her head slightly, looking up to give her previous mentor a challenging look, "Informed enough to have gotten wind of whose little company you happen to be traveling with. Really now, Gandalf, here you are traveling with a party of dwarves being led by Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, and asking me about the dragon Smaug who is currently residing in the lonely mountain." Stormy-eyes narrowed dangerously, "Just what are you planning?"
"What am I planning indeed?" the gray wizard gave his ex-student a calm look, not in the least bit surprised that she already knew as much. For even after their separation forty years ago, Gandalf knew that the girl had made it her business to keep tabs on him. Gesturing for the red-haired female to take a seat, the cloaked man pursed his lips as he gave the sharp woman a pointed look, "I think you already have guessed such."
"You're mad!" Kaiya gave the wizard an incredulous look, "You intend to take back the Lonely Mountain from Smaug with a party of merely thirteen dwarves and a hobbit!?"
"I most certainly do!" Gandalf snapped back with a voice of resolve, "Just not yet. For now, our first goal is to reclaim the Arkenstone. But I also believe the company would benefit greatly with your cooperation!"
"And what," the red-haired young woman grit out with a dangerous tone, "makes you think that I would cooperate?"
The elderly wizard gave his previous apprentice a long, almost sad look, "Because I don't believe your hatred for dragons is to be underestimated."
Fists clenched as Kaiya continued to search her old mentor's eyes. He had proven a point. The young woman's hatred for the fire-breathing beasts was not something to be underestimated. "Why me, of all people?" she finally growled.
"What a preposterous question!" Gandalf huffed, standing up and giving the girl a glare, "The reason is obvious! You've killed one of the beasts before!"
"Yes, and if you remember correctly, it didn't end very well now did it?" the stormy-eyed woman hissed, also moving into a standing position, "Besides, this is Smaug we're talking about! The greatest dragon that ever lived! Comparing the beast I killed to him is like comparing a field mouse to a tiger!"
"As I am aware." The gray wizard replied with a sigh, but none the less resolved to convince the girl to join in the quest, "But even so, your knowledge when dealing with the monsters will very well come in handy."
Silence greeted his statement as Kaiya mulled over what had been said. Slowly she began to ask herself the question of 'why not'. The red-haired woman wasn't afraid of death. In fact, if the 'incident' forty years ago hadn't happened, she would be a decrepitating old woman well into her sixties. "Forty years…" Kaiya mulled over the thought with a strange air, for a normal human that would be most of their lifetime. But for her…
"Well, then," Gandalf finally decided it was time to depart, "I'm going off to find the hidden valley. If you decide to come, then meet me at the river fork when the moon reaches its highest peak." Pausing, he turned and gave his previous apprentice a fond look, "I very much hope to see you there, for you of all people should know what it's like to lose your home to a dragon."
Kaiya's stormy eyes sharpened viciously at the old wizard's retreating words. Memories of many years ago flashed through her mind, reminding her, making her blood boil. Quite often as of late, the red-haired young woman had found her mind mulling over the dragon residing in the lonely mountain. Always, despite her detachment to most things, she'd found herself wavering someone between empathy and pity for the dwarves of Erebor who'd been driven from their home, and the people of Dale who had been slaughtered and their city burned to the ground.
All by a damned dragon.
A growl sounded quietly from the stormy-eyed female's throat, for who knew how long it'd be until Smaug decided to again leave his nest in search of the perfect place to wreak havoc and sow destruction? Lake-town, a once prosperous city, was frightfully close to the beast's lair. Depending solely on the whim of a dragon, Lake-town could be destroyed in an instant. In fact, it was practically inevitable.
Hissing as she'd whirled on heel, Kaiya stormed towards the direction in which she was supposed to meet Gandalf at moon high. The possibility of the troublesome dwarf company awaking Smaug and his fury was far too high, and Lake-town would no doubt pay the consequences for their actions.
"Not on my watch." The red-haired young woman growled mentally. Yet, in the end, Kaiya knew there was no way in hell she had what it took to kill Smaug. A dark smirk worked its way onto her face at the thought, "Then I'll just have to hunt out someone who can."
Halting in his steps, Gandalf finally let out the breath he didn't know he'd been holding. In the last decade, he and his previous apprentice had done nothing more than write to one another. This being how the wizard had learned of Kaiya's ability of now having a decent amount of control over her new and unique… abilities. However, even if they had written to one another, this had been the first time in forty years since Gandalf had actually seen the girl.
Little be said, it relieved him greatly to see that she seemed to be doing alright.
Even if she clearly was still a bit touchy with him on topic of the choice he'd made forty years ago.
He supposed now all that was left was to find the hidden valley to Rivendell and hopefully- no, positively meet Kaiya at the river fork at moon high. A slight chuckle escaped from the elderly wizard.
She'd come.
Of this, he had little doubt. Gandalf hoped Thorin wouldn't be too wary of her. Though, that shouldn't be too much a problem, considering that the wizard had already informed the company leader of his plans for their fifteenth member.
Flashback
Bilbo Baggins house was almost entirely silent as the company of dwarves scattered round wherever they could fit in order to acquire at least some sleep before starting again on their quest. However, unlike the rest, there were still two up and conversing quietly over the kitchen table.
"So," Thorin began calmly, looking over the table at the elderly wizard before continuing with a hint of scorn, "what now? For it seems that this burglar you've chosen has no intent of living up to your high expectations."
"Let him sleep on it." The gray replied, puffing on his pipe, "I have a feeling he'll quite change his mind. Now, I'm more concerned with how to convince our prospective fifteenth member to join our party."
"Fifteenth?" the almost king under the mountain inquired with a raised eyebrow, "You've made no previous mention of such."
"No, I haven't… but after some thought, I decided it was the right choice." Gandalf muttered as he mulled over thought of the person in mind, "I have already sent one of my little messengers to find her."
"Her!?" the long-haired dwarf's eyes widened considerably.
"Yes, Thorin Oakenshield, she is a her!" the cloaked male sighed exasperatedly, "And I assure you that she has plenty to offer!"
"Enlighten me, then." Thorin growled darkly at the prospect, "Just what could a woman possibly have to offer on such a dangerous quest!?"
Another sigh escaped the elderly wizard, though this one was more weary than exasperated. "Firstly, forty years ago, the girl was once my apprentice." He began softly, taking the Dürin dwarf by surprise as a hint of sadness could be detected in Gandalf's expression, "I say once because due to a certain incident, she was unable to continue being so." The gray-haired old wizard paused, "Anyways, it all began far up North, in the mountains Smaug originated from. While I was traveling about, I happened to wander through a small village, and that's where I met her. The human child was only six at the time, an orphan, but I could sense an incredible magic force coming from within her; raw and untapped. Even to this day, I've no clue of her parentage, but at the moment I met her I knew she was born to train in the arts of magic."
"So, what did you do?" Thorin asked.
"I took her in, of course." Gandalf stated matter-of-factly, "And for fifteen years I trained her in the arts of magic. However," the gray-haired wizard's expression darkened as he continued, "at that time, Smaug, chiefest and mightiest of all dragons, was not the only dragon in the north. Though far weaker than Smaug, dragon attacks were not all that uncommon far up in the northern villages. It was at this time that Kaiya and I were revisiting her home village when such an attack occurred." A sigh left the elderly wizard's lips as he continued, "During the attack, the village was mostly destroyed and the dragon would have escaped without harm had I been less negligent of my apprentice. For somehow, during the chaos, she'd managed to slip away and mount one of the towers holding a windlass bow."
"Did she kill it?" the almost King Under the Mountain demanded, beginning to take an honest interest at the turn of plot events.
"Yes, she did." The gray-haired wizard replied gravely, "But with a terrible ending result. For as she shot it, the creature crashed down into the bow tower, causing it to collapse and topple to the ground; burying its archer beneath the rubble." Gandalf closed his eyes with an almost pained expression as he relived the memory, "By the time I was able to reach and dig her out of the remains, the girl was inches from death, and in my desperation I made probably one of the most selfish choices I've ever made in my entire life."
"And that would be?" the Dürin dwarf pressed the wizard to continue.
"In ancient scrolls," Gandalf began, "it is written that if properly administered, it is possible to fuse the magic of a dragon within a human body by eating the beast's heart."
Blue eyes widened as Thorin already guessed where this was going, "You didn't!"
"I most certainly did." The elderly wizard hissed venomously, "For days after administering the dragon's heart into her system, I watched the girl writhe in pain as her body attempted to adapt to the foreign blood." He sighed painfully as his reminisced over the old memory, "When the girl finally did awaken, she knew immediately that something was wrong with her, for unlike before, she could no longer sense the magic of the wizard running through her veins."
"The dragon's blood overran it." Thorin guessed correctly as he met the wizard with a hard gaze, "Smothered it out."
"Yes, and as such, she was from then on completely incapable of using wizard magic." Gandalf admitted sadly with a weathered look, "And as one might guess, it did not take long for her to figure out just what I'd done. Little be said she was… furious."
"One cannot blame her." The almost King Under the Mountain growled with understanding.
"And just what was I to do, Thorin Oakenshield!?" the gray-wizard snapped, "Let her die!? I could do no such thing, and it was the only way to save her!"
"So, instead you rip away her very future and practically turn her into the very beast that she despises." The Dürin dwarf countered with a matter-of-fact expression.
A heavy sigh left Gandalf's lips as he slumped back into his chair. "That's exactly what she said." He stated wearily, "Though, at least now in the most recent decade we seem to again be on speaking terms. I think…"
"And just what," Thorin growled in a challenging tone, "makes you think that she will be interested in helping on this quest, especially considering her last experience when dealing with a dragon?"
"Because," the gray wizard put in wisely but with a grave expression, "of all things, Kaiya's hatred of dragons is the one thing you do not want to underestimate."
Well, what did ya think? Like it? Did it capture your attention enough to come back for another? If so, then please, PLEAAASE review! Seriously, I'm DYING to know what you guys/girls think of this! But NO FLAMES! Constructive criticism, however, is ALWAYS welcome along with any questions and/or suggestions you might have. Also, the more reviews, the higher my inspiration and the FASTER I'll update! Also, pleaaase follow and favorite this story as well! See everyone in the next chapter! :D
Rock Out!
Kira