Chapter 2: Embarking on an adventure
Aesa had fallen asleep before the rest of the company; her thoughts had lured her into the deep grasp of sweet blissful sleep until she felt a small ache in her back, tugging her out of dreams of vivid reds, oranges and golds and back into the reality that lay before her eyes.
Lids fluttered like butterfly wings as they pried back, a hand rose to wipe the sleep from her eyes as she yawned, arms swiftly reaching to the heavens as Aesa felt the joints that had gone stiff pop and begin to feel somewhat better. Realising that she had fallen asleep in the armchair by the fire, the woman shook her head at herself before rising out of the chair to find that Gandalf and Thorin were the only other two awake. With a small frown Aesa glanced out the window to find it was early morning with the rays of the sun attempting to push through the remnants of the night. A soft smile graced her lips as she took in the early signs of dawn approaching yet the smile faded as she turned and made her way to her pack that was in the hall. "A good bath will do before the others wake up." Her voice carried over to Gandalf whom nodded and puffed on his pipe. With a chuckle Aesa made her way into the hobbit's bathroom.
It was as big as the other rooms but something about the bathroom made her feel… gigantic. Aesa's eyes widened until she decided that the bath will not run itself and set about her task, busying herself with a fresh pair of clothes that were laid out ready for her to wear. After at least ten minutes of simply enjoying the feel of the water on her flesh Aesa reluctantly stepped out of the warmth and dried before placing the fresh clothes on, ready to go sort out her pack and mount for the journey ahead.
When Aesa approached the kitchen, she found that a few more dwarves had arisen from their slumber and was now eating whatever was left from the feast the previous evening. Grabbing an apple on her way through, she cast a glance at who was present with her and that was Bombur, Óin and Dori – the three were preparing breakfast for everyone when they all had woken up. Aesa smiled politely at Dori as he made his way over to her, a cup of tea in hand. "Morning Miss Aesa, care for a cup of tea?" The female nodded and extended hand to take the cup that was offered and murmured thanks to the dwarf before he was off again, offering anyone else a cup.
Draining the cup dry regardless of how hot the liquid was, Aesa moved to gather some supplies needed for her pack; more apples, her water canteen was emptied and refilled with fresh water, a second set of spare clothes carefully folded and repacked while she pulled out several spare blades and throwing axes. Once everything was repacked and ready to go, Aesa silently padded back into the living room to offer Thorin a respected incline of the head and grin to Gandalf. "I'm going to get my mount sorted and we'll meet you out on the Old East Road; if my suspicions are correct, we will not be alone." A sparkle shimmered in her eye as she glanced at Gandalf, holding his gaze until the old wizard nodded and she flashed a grin, exposing white but sharp teeth.
The journey to the borders of the Shire was quiet; left hand was coiled around the reins of her mount Swyft as she lazily wandered the battered path towards the road that would lead them on the beginnings of their journey, however her sharp senses were on high alert; ears would twitch at every sound, nostrils flared as the occasional breeze rolled over her, lungs drinking in the scents caught on the wind as she walked. "Swyft, I do not like this but it appears to be all clear. Now to wait until everyone arrives." With a gentle pat to the horse's neck, which whinnied in response to her voice, Aesa stopped at a small stump to settle down and keep watch of her horse that was grazing nearby.
Eventually the Company caught up with her, with many of the dwarves giving a cheery greeting to the female as she nodded and smiled in return. Whistling softly a tune that caused Swyft to prick his ears and trot over to her, Aesa quickly mounted and fell in line with the others.
It was some time into the day – afternoon judging by the position of the sun – that Fili and Kili rode up beside her on each side, both grinning from ear to ear. "Miss Aesa, do you have any feelings on the matter of Mr Baggins showing up?" Kili spoke with a smile in his voice which caused the woman to turn her head at break neck speed, her rather long braid whipping around her as she thought. When she spoke it was with tones of amusement, one brow rose as she held Kili's dark gaze with her own. "I know he will return; he craves for nothing more than to step over his threshold and journey into the unknown. Also on that note, little Prince, my name is Aesa, not miss." She chuckled softly at the small blush forming on the younger prince's cheeks and resumed onwards, reaching down occasionally to offer her stallion a rub over his neck.
"Aesa, why are your eyes different?" Ori spoke up from somewhere in front, his head turned to cast an innocent gaze onto her and she inhaled and exhaled the breath, gaze somewhat glazed as she cleared her throat. For a moment there the company fell into a heavily silence, with Aesa frowning softly to herself rather than the innocent dwarf. It took her several minutes to compose her thoughts and she proceeded on with the story.
"That is a story, Ori that I am willing to share with you. My eyes are different because I'm bound to mortal form with the accursed magic of Elves. These Elves I talk about are of the Mirkwood realm, ruled over by that insufferable Thranduil, and many many years ago I was in the North on some business when I heard he confronted the Drakes that lived there. When I arrived, he was in the middle of conversation with one of the largest Drakes to have ever walked the Earth, and it was that Drake that took offense to something that the Elven King had said. I was there on purely business matters for a friend –"her gaze found Gandalf's blue pools "- and he insulted what I was. In a fit of rage that consumed me, I burned his face and tortured him with fire and steel. I am not proud of that, however, there lay the great Thranduil at my feet, bleeding and screaming, begging for a shred of mercy that I wasn't going to give him. To wrap the tale to a close, Ori, that infernal creature had used magic that gifted me with this form."
Her story was incredibly watered down and she left out parts that would undoubtedly get her banished from the Company. Those closest to her were watching her with wide eyes, lips all formed small O's as she allowed the silence to cover them, but broke it when she whispered out, "He took my pride as one of them, my seat of power, my glory. This form allows for me to lift it, only when in dire situations, and for incredibly short periods of time." Even Thorin was looking impressed – more at the fact that Aesa had managed to attack and wound Thranduil but he was still suspicious of her.
That night the company had set up camp early as to get a decent night's sleep before they set off again at dawn. Aesa had set up her bed roll next to Óin and Bifur, the latter of which was rapidly telling the woman a tale of his own, though the story was spoken in the secretive Dwarvan language of Khuzdul. Aesa nodded and laughed when necessary, only going out on what her mind told her to laugh at, before Bifur wandered off to find Bofur. "Interesting tale you spoke of earlier. Is it perchance your story?" Bilbo had taken the seat Bifur had vacated from, her head turned softly to smile wearily at the hobbit. "Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, Master Baggins, for tales like mine are woven, not thought of." Bilbo looked perplexed as his mouth opened and closed several times, looking at Aesa with that curiosity that seemed to never diminish in his eyes. "I will not reveal my true story until further on into the journey, it's not the place nor the time to do so." And with that, Aesa bid the hobbit a good night and sweetest of dreams before settling down in her bedroll and coiled up under her blanket.
Chapter 2 of the story Of Fire, Dwarves and Gold is now up! I have decided that the best course in terms of the Pairing for this story AT THE MOMENT is the whole company... for reasons! The eventual pair will be Thorin x OC, with minor FiliXOC, KilixOC and BilboxOC... maybe some SmaugxOC also!