After half an hour we had left the forest and walked out into open space, a fire not far from the edge of the tree line.
"Here we are." Kili sighed gesturing towards the campsite they'd made. I could hear laughter and conversation from here. I exhaled heavily. Suddenly feeling a little afraid, after a week of travelling on my own, meeting 13 other people at once seemed quite overwhelming.
"Don't worry," Kili whispered, suddenly closer to me as I felt his breath against my ear. "We're a friendly lot."
The two brothers walked in front of me, they'd told me they wanted to explain to the others my situation before they made my presences known. We neared the campsite and drew attention from the dwarves.
"Kili, Fili? I thought I told you to watch the ponies?" A deep voice called from the other side of the fire.
"We know Uncle, but while we were watching the ponies we heard a commotion." Fili, what I'm guessing the older of the two brothers to be answered.
"Commotion?" The deep voice questioned.
"Yes, so we went to see what it was and we found a group of bandits, they'd chased a girl, who'd been travelling on her own, they caught her-"
"Yes, they were threatening her and went to take her away with them!" Kili added. "So I shot two of the men and the rest left in fear." He finished proudly.
"And what of the girl?" The voice asked, even I could tell he didn't like the sound of where the brothers were going with the story.
"Well, as we said, she was travelling alone-"
"Has been for at least a week." Kili interrupted again. "So we had no choice Uncle, we could hardly leave her to fend for herself when we could offer her some safety." Kili looked over his shoulder and stepped aside, allowing the dwarves to see me. Which resulted in much conversation between the dwarven men.
"What is your name?" I looked up at the dwarf sat at the opposite side of the fire, I recognised the face, it was familiar but I couldn't place it.
"My name is Eska Cadeghrie, Daughter of Farrin; Son of Ferr." I felt he required a more formal introduction than that of the brothers.
"Ferr? Of Nogrod?" He asked, I nodded. "I am Thorin Okenshield, your grandfather was a friend of my family's." He said with a slight smile. Thorin Okenshield! King of the Lonely Mountain! Of course, that's who he is, I remember my father told me stories of the Lonely Mountain, of the riches, Dale and of course, Smaug. "You are welcome to join us, as long as you don't slow us down. But I'd suggest leaving our party at the next town we pass. Our journey is not for a women."
I felt my blood boil at his words. Women! What does he know!?
"With all due respect, Sir I am more than capable of protecting myself." From the corner of my eye I noticed Kili's eyes widen at my words. I knew not to speak to a noble like that, but I was in no mood to take his rubbish!
"You proved that well tonight." He commented with a raised eyebrow. I bit my tongue. That was true, I had needed to be saved tonight, but I was ill prepared, without my arrows I'm near enough defenceless against men on horseback on my own! "Bofur, give the girl some water and a bowl of food."
I nodded in thanks to Thorin, who nodded back with a smirk. Seeming to find my comment amusing he turned his attention back to the brothers.
"Fili, Kili! Eska is your responsibility, but for now get back to the ponies, and no more distractions." He warned, going back to conversing with an older looking dwarf. Great, I have babysitters!
They both turned to me with slightly shocked faces. I looked at them and almost choked on my own saliva at their faces! The forest had been to dark to see them properly but now in the fire light I could easily see their features. They were a handsome pair.
Fili had light eyes that were kind and sweet and a braided moustache, leading into a long beard. His hair sitting oddly neat around his face fall to just above his shoulders. Looking at them now, Fili was definitely the older brother.
Then I looked to Kili, oh my Durin! He's beautiful! His eyes were dark and intense, being enhanced by his dark eyebrows which were oddly neat and messy at the same time. His dark slightly wavy hair sat at a similar length but he had a slight fringe, falling into his eyes, a long straight nose and don't get me started on his lips, although they were slightly chapped they looked so very kissable. And to my surprise he didn't have a beard, just a layer of stubble covering his chin.
'This one could be trouble for me.' I thought to myself while I scolded myself for staring, although I'd noticed they too, were staring at me.
"What was that?" Fili asked, his voice slightly higher pitched from disbelief.
"What?"
"Talking back to Thorin like that, no one's done that in a long time!" Kili whispered, sounding somewhat impressed.
"Well, I don't like to be seen as weak."
"Apparently not." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "We've got to go, I'm sure Bofur will introduce you to the others while we're gone." He pointed over at the dwarf with the hat on who was pouring what looked like soup into a bowl for me.
"Ok, thanks."
"Don't mention it, Just Eska." He winked before they left, heading back towards another part of the forest.
"Here you go, Lass." Bofur said in a strong accent, he gestured to the ground near the other dwarves I sat down and he copied, offering me a bowl and a flask. "Eat this up, you look near enough starved." I gladly did, taking a long swig of water, and a mouthful of warm soup, the first thing I'd eaten in days.
"Thank you." I nodded.
"I'm Bofur, by the way." He grinned and waved slightly.
"Eska." I replied between mouthfuls of soup. The stuff warmed me as it slid down my throat.
"Lovely to meet you."
"Could you possibly tell me whose who? Seeing as I'm to travel with you, it seems right to know names."
"Why of course!" He seemed more than happy, scooting a little closer and pointing at the dwarf sat opposite me, the other side of the fire.
"That there's Gloin." Gloin was engrossed in sharpening his axe but looked up and smiled at me.
"Oin." He gestured to an older dwarf who waved, while readjusting his belt.
"Dwalin." I looked at the rather intimidating looking dwarf with the bald head and broad shoulders who grunted a 'greetings'.
"That's Bifur." I felt my eyes widen at the axe inbedded in Bifur's head.
"What er…his head-"
"Oh the axe?" Bofur asked looking at me questioningly, I could only nod, unsure how to ask how it got there. "Terrible thing, it would do more damage taking it out than leaving it there. He doesn't talk, but he gets his point across quite well enough."
"Oh…right." I let out a short nervous laugh and let him carry on.
"That's Balin, then you've got Bombur." The eldest with the kind eyes; Balin. The largest dwarf with the plaited beard; Bombur.
"Of course, you met Thorin." I nodded again, getting slightly distracted at the fact my bowl was suddenly empty.
"Dori, Ori and Nori." Dori's the one with the…unique hair and 3 braided beard, Ori the very young looking one and Nori is another old one with the two braid beard and the large nose.
"That over there is our Burglar, also known as a Hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins." I smiled warmly at the nervous looking Hobbit who waved from his place in the circle and mouthed 'Hello!'.
"And that's it! Well, other than Kili and Fili, but you know them." His eyes widened a fraction. "Oh! And of course Gandalf, our wizard companion, but he's gone. No one knows if or when he'll be back but you'll have to meet him another time. He's probably just strolling around these parts mumbling to himself, Crazy old man."
"Fair enough." I concluded.
"What happened to your cheek, it looks sore." He commented, with furrowed eyebrows. He pulled a bowl of clean water closer and ripped off part of a cloth to his side.
"Those bandits happened." I groaned.
"Here, I'll clean it up. Don't want any scars on that pretty face, ay?" He soaked the cloth and dabbed it against my cut skin.
"Thank you." I smiled contently, although the water stung it was nice having someone take care of me. I slouched off my bag and relaxing for the first time properly in at least a week. Being on my own meant I had to always be on guard, watching for dangers, not properly sleeping. But with this many others I could relax a whole lot more.
Or so I thought.
If you're reading this I hope you like it so far, it's my first Hobbit fiction so not everythings going to be exactly accurate, but I do hope you like what you're reading!
Oh! And I forgot to add a disclaimer; I don't own any or take credit for any of this wonderfully imagined world, apart from Eska, really.
Please review, and thanks for reading!
W x