They had been on the road for several days when they overtook a group that had been delayed by an injury. The party, composed of a family of three and two single men, asked to join the dwarves. Tomin, the father of the family said, 'Billy hurt his foot and it is only now somewhat healed so we have been moving rather slowly. We would be grateful for some company.'
Bombur said, 'Why of course you may join us. The more the merrier!'
Meta watched as the father lovingly picked up his son and carried him piggy back along the road. The boy's foot was lightly bandage but his face was smiling as his father hoisted him aboard. The mother flitted around making sure her boy was comfortable.
The day was beautiful; sunny and warm with a gentle breeze. Meta talked with the mother, Gella, and heard about their adventures on the road. She thought how nice it was to have another female around to chat with.
After a while, one of the single men developed a rather odd fascination with Meta. He kept walking next to her and making odd comments. 'Never seen a dwarf lady before. Did they let you out of a cave? You sure got a pretty smile,' and so on.
Meta did her best to be polite at first. She nodded her head and smiled slightly but she tried to discourage him by mostly ignoring him. The group was strung out along the road and she didn't think anyone else noticed what a pest he was becoming because he talked in a low voice and stayed quiet if they were near anyone else. Finally she had enough. 'Please leave me alone,' she asked politely. 'I prefer to walk by myself.' She quickened her pace and tried to catch up with the other dwarves who were slightly ahead.
This only made the situation worse. 'Don't be stuck up, little missy! I'm just tryin' to be friendly. Why can't you be my friend?' The man, Mot, picked up his pace to match hers. When she continued to try and get away, he became frustrated and grabbed her arm.
'Don't touch me!' she cried out loud enough to draw attention. 'Leave me alone!' She yanked her arm away from Mot and broke into a trot.
Bifur turned around at her cry and knew right away what the problem most likely was. He ran back to Meta and stood between her and Mot. 'Is something wrong, Meta? Is this man bothering you?' He was much shorter than Mot, but they were still evenly matched. Bifur weighed as much as Mot and was much broader in the shoulders.
Mot put up his hands palm out, 'Everyone settle down. 'I was just trying to be friends with her.' He immediately backed away and watched as Meta and Bifur rejoined the other dwarves. 'Bitch,' he muttered under his breath. 'Just wanted to be friends.' He followed sullenly behind.
'What was that all about, Meta?' Bifur asked. Her face was red and angry, and she had her fists clenched tightly against her sides.
'Oh, he was being rude and wouldn't listen when I told him to leave me alone. I've been warned about his sort, but he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Thank you for coming back. I didn't want to make too big of a scene.' She smiled to take the edge off the situation, but Mot had frightened her with his intensity.
Bifur smiled back. 'Men can be that way even with dwarf-men. They seem to see us as sturdier versions of children and think they can order us around. If he gives you anymore trouble, let me know and I will have a word with him.
Mot seemed to have learned his lesson and left Meta alone for the rest of that day and the next. She relaxed and once again enjoyed the beautiful scenery they were walking through. They skirted the edge of what the B's told her was the Shire. From what she could see, she knew Elva had been right to praise the pretty land. The fields were well maintained and promised a bountiful crop in a few months time. She hoped that someday she might be able to see more of it.
Meta preferred to sleep at the edge of the group. She had discovered that it was easier to listen to the night sounds over the snoring of the dwarves. She was yanked out of a sound sleep when someone picked her up and dragged her into the woods. She tried to scream, but a hand firmly covered her mouth. Squirming and kicking she was pulled away from the group and into a dense thicket of bushes.
The moon was full and bright and as she was pushed down onto her back, she saw Mot looming over her. He leered down at her as he straddled her body and pinned her arms to the ground. Keeping his hand over her mouth, he struggled to loosen the laces of her tunic. Her body writhed under his as she tried to free herself.
'Now you calm down, little dwarf-lady. We can have some fun and then I'll let you go,' he said in a playful voice. Meta tried to twist her head away but he crushed his hand down even harder. 'Hold still, bitch, or I'll break your neck!' The soft voice was more menacing than if he had yelled at her. Meta allowed her body to go limp. 'That's better. I only want to be your friend. Are you built any different from the others? I always like to try different things.' Mot kept up a running dialog as he struggled with her clothing. Meta stayed very still as she tried to find a weakness that she could use to her advantage.
Lulled by her submission, Mot at last allowed the pressure on her mouth to ease slightly. Meta felt the difference and waited a moment longer. When it eased further, she quickly twisted her head, opened her mouth and caught the edge of his hand between her teeth. She bit down with all the strength she could muster, but Mot didn't cry out as she had hoped. However, he did yank his hand away and Meta began to scream. Mot punched her viciously on the side of her head. Slightly dazed, she continued to scream.
In the camp, the sleepers at last became aware of the drama. Meta's screams rang out in the silence of the night. The men and dwarves leaped up and ran toward the cries. Gella checked to make sure her son was alright and followed.
Rather than trying to undress Meta, Mot was now determined to inflict as much pain as possible. He flailed at her head as she tried to avoid the blows. Her arms were still pinned under his legs so she had limited success. As he leaned further forward, she heard a voice from long ago. 'Use your legs, Meta. They are the strongest part of your body.' She bent a leg and thrust her knee as hard as she could into Mot's kidney. Pausing only briefly, he grunted in pain and raised his fist for yet another vicious blow.
Before he could land it, he was bowled over by Bombur's significant weight. Mot and the dwarf rolled together away from Meta who immediately scooted deeper into the bushes. The other men and dwarves were close behind and ran over towards her. Confused and dazed, she continued to push further into the safety of the shrubbery. One of the men knelt and tried to coax her out, but the sight of a Man reaching for her scared her even more and she began to scream again. Thankfully, Gella arrived. 'I want all of you to leave. I'll take care of this,' she shooed them all away as if they were unwanted insects at a picnic.
Kneeling, she faced Meta who was cowering a few feet away. 'They're all gone, dear. Come out when you're ready,' the gentle voice said. 'I won't let anyone hurt you.'
Meta squeezed her eyes shut against the pain in her head. The calm voice continued to speak soothingly. Her senses began to return to normal and she realized that Mot was gone and she was free. Crawling slowly out of the bushes, she fell into Gella's arms.
Eventually, Gella led her back to the camp. Before they left the wood, she had Meta sit under a tree and wait. 'I'll be right back, Meta. Let me see to a few things first.' Gella walked to the fire where the rest waited with Mot. 'Get him out of here. The last thing she needs to see is this oaf.' Gella spit at Mot and pointed into the woods. 'Tie him to a tree if you have to but get rid of him.' Her husband and Bombur dragged the protesting Mot away.
'Now the rest of you,' Gella addressed the others, 'She's been traumatized by that beast, but the best thing you can do is give her some space. Don't pretend it didn't happen, but let her talk about it in her own time. If she chooses to stay silent, leave her be.' She glared at them until they all had nodded silently and turned back to the fire.
Gella returned to Meta and led her back to the family's tent. 'Now you sit here and catch your breath.' She got out a flask and poured something into a small glass. 'Drink this, you'll feel better.'
Meta raised the glass to her bruised lips with a shaking hand. It took a minute, but she finally managed to swallow most of it. It burned on the way down but warmed her stomach once it got there. 'Thank you. Elroy and Elva warned me about Men, but I thought they were exaggerating. No one in my village ever did anything like that.'
'Please don't think all Men are like that, Meta. Most are as upstanding as any Elf or Dwarf. Mot is an exception,' Gella said. 'My Tomin is a good example. Strong, brave and honorable as the day is long.'
They sat quietly for a little while and then Gella looked outside. 'The sun is beginning to rise. Let's get you outside and cleaned up.'
Meta sat on a stump while Gella brought a pan of water and a cloth. She wiped the blood off the dwarf's face and neck. 'Well, you will have a nice set of bruises and your lip is cut, but everything else seems to be alright. How do you feel?'
Meta moved her jaw back and forth and opened her mouth. 'Stiff but not too bad. My hands ache where he knelt on them but nothing seems to be broken.' She put her hand up and ran it around her neck. Gella saw rising panic in her eyes. 'Oh no, it's gone! It must have gotten pulled off!' She struggled to get to her feet all the while crying, 'It's gone, it's gone!'
'What is it, Meta, what's gone?' Gella asked.
Without answering, Meta moved as quickly as she could back to the woods with Gella and her son Billy following behind. The day was bright enough now for her to see where the attack had occurred. The duff was scuffed and pushed aside and the grass was crushed. Meta fell to her knees and started to sift through the leaf litter.
Gella joined her. 'What am I looking for, Meta?'
'A ring on a chain! I have to find it. It's all I have left!' she cried anxiously. Her scrabbling in the leaves became even more frantic. Tears ran down her face as she searched.
A few minutes of looking uncovered no ring. Meta's heart was breaking at this latest calamity when Billy cried out, 'Is this it?' He held up a large gold ring.
Meta looked up at his cry and lunged toward him. 'Oh yes, that's it, you wonderful boy!' She pulled him to her and gave him a big hug. 'Billy, you have saved the day. I would have hated to lose it. It was my father's.' She hugged the child again. He grinned with pleasure as he handed her the ring.
The others had watched and listened as the three had searched. Bofur had wanted to offer his services but had held back because of Gella's earlier words. Now he and the others were relieved to see the little group return with smiles on their faces. Meta paused by the group. 'I am sorry for all the turmoil. Thank you for rescuing me.' She couldn't quite bring herself to look at anyone's face.
'Think nothing of it, my dear,' rumbled Bombur. 'That scoundrel should never have touched you and you can be assured he will have no such opportunity again!'
While Meta changed her clothes, the group discussed what to do with Mot. 'Leave him tied to a tree and walk away!' was Bifur's suggestion. 'Castrate him,' was Gella's. Since neither of these seemed like viable options no matter how attractive, they decided he would have to come along. The dwarves demanded that he be bound at all times and Gella insisted that he be kept far away from Meta. They hoped to meet some travelers headed to Bree and would be able to convince them to take the miscreant off their hands.
Meta, Gella and Billy trailed after the group with their ponies. Mot walked between Tomin and Bombur at the head of the group. He was none too pleased about being bound. 'It was only a little fun!' he kept saying until Bombur used his bulk to pin him up against a convenient tree.
'It was not fun and it was nothing little,' he snarled as he pushed into the man's body. 'How does it feel to be sat on? Like it? If you do, I can always go a little further!'
Mot began to turn an interesting shade of blue and finally shook his head. Bombur backed off just enough for him to squeak out, 'Please don't.' After that, the comments ended and he was more cooperative.
A day and a half later, they spotted a small group heading towards them on the road. As the two groups neared each other, Gella, Meta and Billy left the road and sat down under some trees. Bombur and Tomin continued on to speak with the new arrivals and Mot and the other man waited in the middle of the road.
Meta watched as the others neared. It appeared to be a group of mostly men but she thought she saw a dwarf or two among the walkers. Once they met with Bombur and Tomin she was certain there was a dwarf with them. He was taller than usual with grey hair still streaked with a bit of youthful black. He carried himself with a regal dignity that was missing from her current dwarf companions.
Too far away to hear what was said, Gella and Meta could only guess about the conversation. At first, it was the usual greetings among strangers but then they could tell that the story of Mot was being relayed. First the new folk looked towards Mot and then over toward Meta. Even though they were some distance away, she found herself ducking her head into her hood to hide the bruising that had blossomed across her face.
'Do not do that, Meta!' Gella exclaimed. 'You have nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, you need to be proud of how you handled your defense. Not many women would have been able to get Mot to release his grip. He is very strong.'
Even though she recognized the truth in the words, Meta still felt shy about her face. 'I just don't like people to see me this way. I look nothing like I should!' she said through her still swollen lips.
'You look fine, Meta. See those bruises as badges of honor!'
Before Meta could reply, they noticed that the dwarf and one of the men were heading their way with Bombur and Tomin. Bombur continued on for the last little bit while the others waited a dozen feet away. Meta stood to meet him.
Bombur bowed to Meta and said, 'These gentlemen have agreed to take Mot back to Bree to face judgment, but they would like to hear your story first hand so they can tell it to the justice.' When he saw Meta hesitate, he added quietly, 'Without your testimony, Mot may go free.'
Horrified by the idea of Mot going unpunished, Meta slowly nodded her head. The dwarf and another man stepped forward to greet her. 'Meta, meet Thorin Oakenshield, lord of the Ered Luin and Jorel of Bree.' Dwarf and man bowed to Meta.
Boldly she pulled her hood back and tilted her chin up to let the witnesses see her injuries. 'Thank you for listening to me, sirs. Mot must not be allowed to go free.'
The dwarf, Thorin, was appalled at what he saw. No dwarf-woman should ever suffer such injuries. He maintained a calm exterior but inside he seethed with rage. Mot was fortunate that the other men were present or he would have died immediately. 'Tell me your story,' was all he could manage to say.
Meta told them the tale from her first meeting with Mot until the attack. They listened solemnly and Jorel asked a few questions. Had she ever shown an interest in Mot? Had he said anything about being with her in an intimate way? She did her best not to show the anger she felt.
'No. I did not like him, but I tried to be polite when I rejected him until he would not heed my request.'
Bifur related how he had heard her ask Mot to leave her be. 'She asked him to leave her alone, and we thought that was the end of it.'
After the others contributed their views, it was agreed that Mot would be taken back to Bree. 'Even if they should free him, he will be far from you, Meta,' Bofur assured her.
'That is all well and good for me, Bofur, but what about other women? I doubt I was the first or last he will manhandle if he gets away with it!' she cried.
'Thorin is known as a dwarf of honor,' Tomin told her. 'I have heard of him in Bree. If there is anything that can be done, he will see to it.'
Meta nodded. 'I don't see that there is anything else I can do, so I must be content. Like you said, he is no longer my worry.'
The two groups separated and Meta felt much more comfortable on the road. Now she could look forward to the Ered Luin without further concerns! She stayed with the dwarves for the next few miles. 'Tomin said he had heard of Thorin Oakenshield. Do any of you know about him?'
'Oh, aye,' said Bofur. 'He is famous in our lore. He is the heir to the kingdom of Erebor. Certainly you have heard of that?'
Meta nodded her head. 'Mostly about the dragon and that it was incredibly rich.'
'Good enough. Thorin won fame in a great battle. He used an oak branch as a shield and so gained his name. But even without that, he is known as a good leader. That's why we decided to go the Ered Luin. All we need is a fair shot to get settled. Lord Thorin was pleased to hear we were joining him and has promised to help.'
'Good. Now I am more confident that Mot will face justice. That Jorel seemed a little less eager to punish one of his own.'
Bofur smiled at her sadly. 'That is all too often the case among the races, Meta. We tend to treat our own a little more kindly than the others at times. Thorin will see that he does not go free, I can almost guarantee it.'
Hopefully that wasn't too intense. Read, review, enjoy!
