I do not own any of the characters from Tolkien's brilliant mind, just my OC and AU storyline. Without his dedication and work, I would be unable to write Brianne's story.
Welcome back to Freedom Revised!
Two figures, mounted on ponies, trotted leisurely towards the crossing of a softly rolling river. A third pony, laden with supplies, trailed behind them. The pair's heads, though cloaked, took in the rolling green hills and tall grasses of the area.
"Finally the Brandywine River," the taller of the two moaned, dropping his hood to reveal thick dark hair and a neatly trimmed goatee, "I thought we'd never get there."
"Kili…We've only been traveling for a few days. This will be nothing in comparison to our venture to the Mountain," he responded, dropping his hood as well. Where Kili was dark, the other was fair. His wiry blond hair, braided nicely to keep it out of his face, was framed by additional braids.
Kili clutched his face dramatically, "But it felt like forever and at least we'll have company for the venture to the Mountain."
"And what am I?!" The blonde scoffed, chucking a coin from his purse.
"I mean other than you, Fili," Kili grinned, catching the coin expertly and tucking it into his own purse, "I for one am just glad we have a feast awaiting us and a roof to sleep under tonight."
Rolling his eyes, Fili urged his pony onto the bridge with Kili following closely behind. Kili took in the peaceful riverbank. As the drew closer, he noted something on the opposing riverbank. He was startled when the thing in question rolled over to reveal a dainty arm.
Kili spurred his pony to the river side, leaping off when he approached the figure, "FILI…Come help!"
Fili and Kili briefly took in her battered form. The white tunic, stained with blood, clung to her too thin frame. An arrow protruded from her shoulder and her side had clearly been grazed a few times as well. Faint scars crisscrossed where they saw her skin.
Fili recovered first, checking to see if she was breathing. Recalling what his mother had taught him about people drowning, he quickly compressed her chest and breathed deeply into her mouth. After the third attempt, the woman began to cough up water. Fili turned her on her side, stroking her back, while she violently purged the water from her lungs.
"Miss?" Kili started as her breathing returned to normal. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing startling golden eyes with hints of greens and brown. Before she could respond, Fili's hand brushed against the shaft of the arrow protruding from her shoulder.
She bit back a scream as darkness overtook her vision and she went limp in his arms. Fili moved to scoop her up, "She's injured and I don't have the means to heal her, but perhaps Gandalf will be able to help."
Fili carried her delicately, his stomach rolling when he realized this woman was just over a hundred pounds soaking wet. She couldn't have been more than 26 or 27. The emerald pendant at her neck glowed softly
Kili mounted his horse and gently took her from Fili's arms. The pair made quick work through the Shire into Hobbiton in search of the green door with Gandalf's mark. When he came to an abrupt halt in front of the largest Hobbit hole in Hobbiton, the woman hissed in pain, unconsciously cupping the injury at her side.
Blood seeped sluggishly from the wounds and every motion had her whimpering. As Kili handed her over, he could have sworn she heard her mumbling something…a name perhaps? When the pair entered the hobbit hole unannounced, all laughter and singing died. The eyes in the room swiveled to their heir, cradling a blood soaked woman in his arms.
As quickly as there was silence, noise rose up again as the dwarves clamored to see the woman. "WHERE IS GANDALF?!" Fili shouted over his kin's questions, commanding the room.
Gandalf appeared down the hall, a stunned grimace marring his face as he took in the woman, "Bring her here boys."
The trio walked down the hall, Gandalf ducking through the small entryways, then into a room. He closed the door softly behind them, the chatter from the company effectively silenced. Fili gently laid her on the small bed, sitting heavily in the armchair nearest the bed.
"Care to explain?" Gandalf asked, leaning on his staff.
"We found her washed up ashore as we crossed into the Shire. We very well couldn't leave her there," Kili supplied, gesturing wildly towards her prone form, "She wasn't breathing when we found her, but Fili managed to get her breathing."
"She's heavily injured and looks as if she was being attacked when she fell to the river. Is there anything you can do, Gandalf?" Fili asked, leaning forward on his knees.
"Healing is not my forte, but I have some salve in my pack that will fend off infection and slow the bleeding. Kili if you would go grab it off my horse?" Kili nodded before leaving the room as Gandalf continued, "Fili if you'd remove the arrow?"
After Gandalf rolled her on her side, Fili broke the fletching off the end of the arrow and tightly grasped the tip that pierced through the front of her shoulder. A nod from Gandalf had Fili quickly pulling the arrow from her shoulder.
Her eyes shot open and she began to struggle under them, nearly kicking Gandalf. A hand flew at Fili's face though he caught it with ease and pinned her hands to the bed. Before he realized what was happening, her hands cackled with energy and a shock tore through him. Like a caged animal, she backed up against the wall, and pulled her knees to her chest, one hand on fire and outstretched in front of her protectively.
Fili felt his heart racing, but mimicked Gandalf open, unthreatening arms as he spoke, "Perhaps its best if I wait outside, Gandalf?"
"Yes quite…and don't mention this to anyone for now," Gandalf nodded, watching the woman with interest as Fili exited the room. The fire on her palm began to flicker as Gandalf stepped closer, his power dampening what little control she had over her own. Just as she was within arms reach, the door slammed open revealing a confused hobbit, followed closely behind a bashful Kili.
The sudden noise made the fire in her palm soar. A few things happened all at once: the hobbit shouted as his mother's wedding quilt lit up in flames, Kili dropped the salve and accompanying bandages, and Fili drew a dagger, bracing himself for a fight. A snap of Gandalf's finger silenced her flame, rendering her unconscious, and shut the door to the room where the hobbit sputtered.
Gandalf cut the tunic from her torso using the dagger he kept at arms reach. Gingerly picking up the salve, Gandalf uncorked the bottle and began to apply it to her wounds. After he finished, he pulled the hobbit into the room, "Bilbo, assist me would you'll with binding her wounds?"
"Is it safe?" Bilbo whispered, standing as far from the woman as possible.
Gandalf pulled him close, gesturing for him to hold the woman up, "She's gone unconscious again, so best make this quick."
The pair made quick work of binding her wounds. Bilbo found his stomach rolling as he saw her body littered with scars and a dark tattoo over her left breast. Gandalf coughed, jolting him from his observation. When they finished, Bilbo search through the chest the foot of the bed for a tunic to cover her form. Working together, they slipped her into the tunic. Gandalf took the armchair closest to the bed.
"I'm going to wake her, Bilbo," Gandalf whispered, gently laying his finger tips on her forehead. She took in a shuddering breath, eyes blinking open slowly.
"W…Where…where am I?" Her voice was hoarse from a near drowning and she placed her hand softly on her throat.
"Bag End, my home," Bilbo responded, leaning against the door. She blinked slowly at him before turning her head to Gandalf.
"More generally you're in the Shire of Middle Earth. Home of the halflings," Gandalf elaborated, "A question for a question my dear? Who are you?"
"Brianne Enura of the Azure Kingdom," she responded, hand absentmindedly stroking the emerald pendant at her neck.
Gandalf quirked his head at her, "The Azure Kingdom? I cannot quite recall such a place in Middle Earth. Perhaps you would care to explain how you ended up washed up on the shore of the Brandywine River?"
"The Brandywine River? I tumbled off the Agate Waterfall while being pursued," Brianne thought it best to keep her attempted suicide to herself until she knew this wasn't another one of Alec's tricks, "And you? Who are you?"
"I am Gandalf the Grey and my companion is Bilbo Baggins. Two of our company found you washed up on shore and brought you to me for healing. I'm afraid healing is not my forte, so we did what we could."
Gripped her emerald tight, she whispered "Curare…curare…curare."
A soft light engulfed her wounds, slowly stitching the skin back together. Even a small healing spell made Brianne's vision dance, but her heart settled as she realized she still retained her magic, something Alec usually took away in his tricks.
"Your magic is extraordinary…" Gandalf murmured. Brianne used both hands to rise from her prone position, finally taking in the pair. Gandalf, a wizened man, was draped in a worn grey traveling cloak. Brianne could feel the power radiating off of him and from the staff that leaned against the door.
Bilbo, Brianne realized curiously, was no larger than a child, though the wrinkles on his face, and his round belly indicated he was very much a grown halfling. His feet were bare, covered in curly hair, which matched his short curly locks. Rounded ears with a small point peaked out from under his hair.
"Thank you Master Gandalf. However can I repay yours and Master Baggins' kindness?" Brianne asked, resting her feet on the cool tile of Bag End.
"I think I may have an idea, so whenever you are ready, please join us for dinner down the hall," Gandalf rose from his spot, "Bilbo would you be so kind to show Brianne to the washroom?"
Brianne followed Bilbo closely through the rounded halls of Bag End. She trailed her hand over the intricate vine carvings in the wall, taking in the quaint home. Bilbo tersely led the way, mumbling under his breath about dwarves and unexpected parties.
"Master Baggins?" Brianne started.
"Please call me Bilbo…Hopefully you'll not eat me out of house and home," He insisted, "Washroom is through that door. Towels are in the cupboard to the right and I think I have some spare clothes about your size in there as well. Just follow the hall to the noise and you'll find us."
Brianne watched him leave through the open door of the washroom before closing and locking it. The tub, sunken into the ground, bubbled invitingly and as she stepped into it she realized it was fed by a hot spring. Her wounds stung sharply, so she quickly washed the blood from her body and hair and exited the tub.
Just as Bilbo had mentioned, a few tunics and breaches resided in the cupboard. After slipping into the dry cotton garments and running her fingers through her shoulder length hair, she exited the washroom and began to follow the singing back to the foyer.
Just as the final note ended, Brianne heard a knock at the door. The knock sounded again, but the talking continued in the other room. Before realizing what she was doing, Brianne opened the door coming face to face with a rather shocked dwarven king.
"WHO IN MAHAL'S NAME ARE YOU?" He shouted, striding into the house and leaving the door open behind him. With a sigh Brianne closed the door and leaned against it. What in the gods had she gotten herself into?
Woohoo! Chapter 2 Updated. I hope you're enjoying the story thus far and I can't wait to hear your thoughts! Happy Sunday!
