Chapter 2
Say Anything To Soothe Me
About an hour after her little chat with Thorin, Kate joined her friends in the kitchen. They had been washing the last of the dishes, which she found strange at first but soon learnt that they had been tricked into doing it by Fili and Kili. It brightened her mood even more, to which her friends didn't miss.
"So, what's made you so happy?" Shania asked, piling the last of the dishes on the drainer.
"It's a new start, a new life," Kate answered, covering the her reasons.
One reason that had got her smiling was simply because she had managed to get a smile out of Thorin, she had been told by his nephews that they have hardly ever been able to do it. She didn't mention the chat she had with their uncle to them though, she'd probably lose her head knowing they'd report it straight back to him. Kate had simply asked if Thorin ever smiled, or if the wind had changed when he had been grumpy one day.
"Come on, you can tell us," Amy urged her.
"I'm telling the truth," She defended, "I can finally be free of my demons."
"We are too if you haven't realized," Shania crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow and cocked her hip, "We know there is more than one reason why, there always is with you."
"I don't have to live in fear of someone telling them who their parents are exactly," She admitted, "The only people who know is you two, and I know you won't tell them."
"We promised that we wouldn't the day they were born, but if we settle down somewhere, people will begin to think," Amy warned, Kate knew she was right, her nephews would have to know sometime.
"When they are old enough I will tell them," Kate sighed, she began to rub her temples, "This is just all too much for me, can we please talk about it later?"
"Sure," Shania dragged the pair out of the room, "You know missed out on a lot while you played sleeping beauty."
Kate rolled her eyes, allowing herself to be dragged to the other end of the hobbits home, who she still had to learn the name of.
"You know our host?"
"Hmm, what about him?" Amy prompted, while biting her sleeve.
"What's his name?"
"Bilbo Baggins," Shania answered, swatting at Amy's hand to stop her from biting.
"Is he coming with us? I never seen him at the meeting," Kate questioned.
"You were fashionably late, like usual," Amy sniggered, earning a playful slap on the back of the head from Kate, "We aren't sure whether he is or not, probably not though."
"Okay."
They were silent after that, until they had managed to find a spare room. It didn't have much except lots and lots of books, obviously it was a small library. The room thankfully had a double seated chair, which Shania hogged. The other two girls were forced to sit on the floor, with their legs splayed out in front of them, and their backs resting against the chair.
"Right, I need answers," Kate demanded.
"What would you like to know?" Shania asked, in mock enthusiasm.
"Why does everyone look like those fictional characters from The Hobbit?"
"Well, we believe that when we died on the plane, we were transported to Middle Earth," Shania explained.
"Yet, we've no idea why we were, or how it is even a real place, but-" Amy was taken over by Shania.
"Brody came up with the idea that we are here because we weren't meant to die, and that Middle Earth-"
"Is the afterlife yet not quite there, it's in the middle," Shania finished off, having interrupted her friend, "He remembered reading something about J.R.R Tolkien believing in a world where people who weren't meant to die go, so he based his stories around it. Whether it is true or not, we don't really care, believing this makes it easier to move on, than to dwell on questions like why we are here, where we are and is this heaven."
"That is a good plan," Kate mused, "And why did Balin say that we are their kin? We aren't dwarves, are we?"
"Ahah, about that," Amy chuckled sheepishly, "According to them lot out there, we are dwarves...well the lads anyway, we aren't because we have no beards and all that. Kili and Fili decided to nickname us the Stunted Ladies."
"Oh my God!" Kate gasped in disbelief, "Your joking, right?"
"Nope," Shania emphasised the 'p'.
"Great," Kate muttered, before frowning and heading to the door.
"Where are you going?" Her friends asked in unison.
"Nowhere," She answered, earning confused looks from her friends, "Listen...they're singing."
The other two joined their friend at the door, who had opened it slightly. Deep humming rang throughout the house, making goosebumps surface on their skin, their hearts began to warm as the dwarves started to sing.
Far over the misty mountains cold,
To dungeons deep and caverns old,
We must away, ere break of day,
To find our long forgotten gold.
The pines were roaring on the height,
The winds were moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread,
The trees like torches blazed with light.
By the end of the song, the three friends had left the small library, and were standing outside the bedroom that the two boys slept in. Tears had welled up in their eyes, each one of them shared the same mixed feelings of shock and sadness, they had been singing about their homeland that was lost to the dragon Smaug!
Out of the trio, Kate was the first to move, joining Brody and James in the spare bedroom. Her other two stayed their, until finally following her. Kate hadn't took the other spare bed, instead opting for the floor so Shania and Amy could have it, and so she could be next to the young boys. Her friends knew better than to argue, so they settled onto the bed, falling asleep rather quickly.
oOo
Sunlight shone brightly through the cracks of the curtains, blinding an arousing Kate. She groaned in annoyance, using her hand to block it out. She stretched out her aching limbs, her bones cracking as she did so. Reluctantly, she got up, her backside was numb from having slept on the floor all night. Still, she vacated the room, leaving her weapons behind. She wandered around the home, going no where in particular, but looking for the kitchen at the same time.
After another ten minutes, she found the pantry. Fortunately, there was at least some food left, she had heard from the two Durin brothers that they had cleared the entire pantry. She grabbed an apple from the top of the pile, shining it against her shirt before taking a bite. Kate ventured outside with her apple, wanting to relax in the sun in peace, which she knew she wouldn't get once her nephews were up.
The warmth of the sun hit her face, along with the cold fresh air as she opened the front door. It refreshed her, making her more alert than she already was. Shutting the door behind her, she sat on the bench, watching the sun rise higher into the morning sky, all the while munching on her apple.
Shortly after finishing the fruit, the front was opened. She looked to see Gandalf at the doorway, smiling softly at her. Kate returned the gestured, sliding along the bench to allow the wizard to sit. He sat beside her, looking into the distance, neither saying anything.
"Your friends told me you had collapsed," Gandalf said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, we think it was just from exhaustion," Kate confirmed, "But it doesn't make sense, I wasn't tired. The last thing I remember before I collapsed was a sharp pain in my head, almost like the pain you get when someone knocks you out with a rock or something similar, but I wasn't knocked out."
"No, no it doesn't," He murmured, "Though I know someone who may be able to answer your question."
"Really? Who?"
"Lord Elrond of Rivendell, but I'm not sure how I'll be able to speak with him, Thorin is refusing to accept help from the elves."
"Damn him, we have to get him to give in, even if it means putting my life at risk."
"Now that is going a bit far."
"Not if you wake up scar free after collapsing," Kate sighed heavily, "It's like my body is completely new."
"Well, I'm sure there are reasons, but for now we must try our best to change his mind," Gandalf stood up, "Come, everyone is up and enjoying breakfast, you should join them."
"Yes, I think I should," She agreed, following the wizard back inside and to the dining table, that was still set up from last night.
oOo
"Shania, Amy, ride with Kili and Fili. Brody, James, ride with Dwalin and Bofur," Thorin ordered, "Kate, your with me."
"Yay! Master Dwalin! Master Bofur!" The two brothers cheered, getting a chuckle from the named dwarves.
"You better look after them mind," Kate told them, hugging her nephew's
"Don't worry, no harm will come to them!" Bofur assured her, while picking up Brody.
"Kate!" Thorin shouted, "Get over here! Now!"
"Fuck off! I am not a dog!" Kate yelled back, angering him further, she ignored it and turned to Bofur and Dwalin, who were shocked to how she just spoke to their king, "What's with him?"
"Probably because the hobbit isn't coming, so he thinks we've wasted time coming here, which we have," Bofur answered, putting Brody onto his pony.
"You might want to watch your language as well, lass," Dwalin advised, picking up James.
"Please, he wouldn't hurt me," She smirked, "Unless he wants those two monsters on her case."
The two dwarves rolled their eyes, while James and Brody laughed at their new nickname. Kate smiled, before walking up to Thorin, who was waiting next to his pony. He picked her up around her waist, placing her onto the pony's saddle, joining her seconds later.
The rest of the company followed in suit, mounting their own ponies, horse in Gandalf's case. On his command, everyone moved out, with the wizard at the front, followed by Thorin and Kate, then Dwalin, James, Bofur and Brody, with Dori, Ori, Nori, Gloin, Oin, Balin, Bombur and Bifur in the middle and Kili, Fili, Shania and Amy bringing up the rear.
Shania was riding with Kili, with her sitting in front, resting against his chest. She was content with this position as she was able to use him as a pillow, and he turned out to be pretty comfortable. Amy had her arms wrapped tightly around Fili's torso, having always been scared of horses her whole life after being thrown off one.
"Hey! Calm it Aims!" Shania said, seeing her friend's petrified face.
"Don't call me that!" Amy whined, "Only Kate gets to call me that!"
"Aww, why?"
"Because she came up with the nickname."
"Fine..." She huffed, "I'll call you Twigs."
"And I'll call you Fatty," The small brunette quipped.
"Haha," Shania sarcastically laughed, "Bitch."
"Takes one to know one."
"Thanks for the compliment, 'cus B.I.T.C.H means Being In Control of Herself."
"Your welcome!" Amy sent her one of her lop sided grins, both of them soon cracking up with laughter.
The Durin brothers looked at them strangely, wondering if they had hit their head or something this morning. Both the friends notice their looks, but it only made their laughter increase, resulting in Amy falling off the pony, dragging Fili down with her. This ensued in the entire company to stop any watch the pair, all of them joining in with the youngsters laughter, much to the annoyance and anger of Thorin, who didn't like to be held up.
"Fili! Amy!" Thorin bellowed, annoyance shown in his voice and face, "Stop messing about or I shall have the two of you split up!"
"Sorry," They chorused, helping each other up.
A few minutes later, after they had finally gotten back on the pony, the company continued. It wasn't for another hour before the party began to take wagers on whether or not Bilbo would turn up.
"He will come you know," Shania told Fili, having heard him wager against the hobbit turning up.
"Really?" Fili raised an eyebrow, "Want to bet on it?"
"I'm listening."
"Fifteen silver coins."
"No can do, I haven't any money."
"Then what do you want?"
Shania eyed him from over her shoulder, "Your pipe."
"Very well," He nodded after being quiet for a moment, "And if he doesn't come? What do I get?"
"What do you want?"
He looked her up and down, wondering what he could have. Fili didn't need any weapons, and she didn't have much else on her, but he soon thought of something.
"You have to do exactly what I want for the rest of the journey."
"You got yourself a deal!" Shania smirked, winking at Amy, knowing that she would win this be, having seen the first two movies from The Hobbit trilogy.
oOo
"Wait...WAIT!"
Kate looked behind her, it was Bilbo running towards them.
"I signed it!" Bilbo panted, giving the contract to Balin, who began to inspect it.
"Everything seems to be in order," Balin said, "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
Soft cheers and laughter spread throughout the camp.
"Give him a pony," Thorin ordered, kicking his pony into a walk.
"Are you glad he came?" Kate asked, resting against Thorin's chest.
"No," He answered, his tone of voice clearly telling her he didn't want to talk, but she ignored it.
"Why?"
"He is useless to this company," He answered, sighing heavily, knowing she wasn't going to stop talking.
"And my nephews?"
"They have you to protect them."
"I can protect the hobbit...did you just call them useless?!"
Thorin froze for a moment, choosing his next words carefully, if he could find any.
"No, I just meant that-"
"You did!" Kate whipped her head round to face him, catching the attention of the entire company.
"Thorin's in for it now!" James whispered loudly to his brother, Brody.
"Just because they're children, does not make them entirely useless! If I thought they were useless, I would've made sure we never came!" She fumed, glaring fiercely at him, "Don't you ever, ever call them useless again! Am I clear?"
"Don't you dare tell me what to do," Thorin growled, warningly.
"Why not? You offend my nephews, my family, my kin!" She questioned, "Tell me, what would you do if I offended Fili, Kili, Dis or how about Frerin?"
"Silence!" Thorin barked, "I have just about had enough of you!"
"Hallelujiah!" Kate cried, "So have I!"
"How dare you-"
"You aren't my king so you can't tell me what to do!"
"I am this company's leader, am I not?" Thorin asked, "And you are part of this company?"
"At the moment, yes."
"Does that not make me your leader?"
"That can be very-" Kate then saw the look Dwalin sent her, she sighed, "Yes."
"Then you will do as I say," Thorin ordered, "Turn round and shut up."
Muttering under her breath, she turned round, keeping her back at least a few inches away from his chest.
"Carry on!" Thorin instructed, kicking his pony back into a walk.
The company followed silently, just holding the laughter at how comical Kate and Thorin looked. The pair stayed like this throughout the day, neither willing to forgive first, both being stubborn. It was only a few hours before camp did she interrupt their uncomfortable silence by softly yawning, lying back against his chest. No one knew whether it was to annoy him, or simply because she was tired, but he didn't wake her, much to everyone's surprise.
oOo
"We'll make camp her for the night!" Thorin called, slowing to a halt.
"Yes!" Amy cried from the rear of the group, trying to get off the pony, but ending up falling off for the second time that day.
The company roared with laughter, rousing Kate from her sleep, which only went noticed by Thorin. Amy groaned in pain, rolling over away from the pony, Fili dismounted to help her up. She took his hand, allowing herself to be pulled her. Once up, she thanked him while rubbing her back, wincing in pain.
"I think I've got a bruise," Amy pouted.
"Aww, diddums," Shania cooed.
"Shut up," Amy told her, playfully glaring at her.
Shania stuck her tongue out at her, Amy did the same. Kili and Fili both rolled their eyes, having had to put up with their childish nature all day. The two women saw Kate, and were about to go over to her, but saw her following Thorin into a more private area.
"Amy, your throwing daggers that they are together by Rivendell," Shania wagered.
"If not, then I get your bow and you've got yourself a deal," Amy held out her hand, she took it, they both shook on it.
oOo
"Come on, give it to me," Kate sighed, crossing her arms and cocking her hip, preparing for what was to come.
"I don't want that happening again," Thorin started, "That was out of order. You need to learn when your crossing the line, you went too far over this morning. How dare you talk to me as such?! And then to sleep-"
"Look! I'm sorry," Kate apologised, "But if you were that bothered you should have woken me...why didn't you?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"That's irrelevant," He dismissed.
"No it's not!" She cried, "You were began to bring it up, so it must be relevant."
Thorin fell silent, unsure of how to answer her.
"Well?" She pressed.
"I don't know!" He shouted suddenly, then repeated himself more calmly, "I don't know."
They both awkwardly looked at the ground, standing in silence for a while, worrying the company who had heard Thorin's outburst.
"I'm sorry," Kate apologised, after the silence became too much.
"And I'm sorry too," Thorin replied, bringing a soft smile to her face.
"Is that an actually apology from Thorin Oakenshield?" Kate gasped.
"Don't push your luck," He growled, striding past her, back to camp.
Kate hurried to catch up with him, falling into step beside him, a smile tracing her lips, his also.
So here is the second chapter. Sorry it's late but the site wasn't loading, I'll try get the next chapter up quick, but no promises.
Please, check out my other FanFiction, Loving You.
Thank you for all you reviews/favourites/follows, if you haven't already done so, the please do. All constructive criticism wanted!
~Birdy~