Chapter 2

He could see the sun creeping over the horizon, outlining the houses that rested in front of him. Bard stood by the window, already awake and dressed. He only had to wait a few more minutes before he could leave to his barge and travel back to where he had seen his sister last. He waited in silence as Heidi and Sigrid slept peacefully behind him. Every day for two weeks he left his house early. He searched the banks of the river and the trees nearby. Each night, he returned without any sign or trace of her. For that first week a few men had joined him in his search for Nora. However, many of them had their own families to think about and had to return to work. This left him alone, in his search for his sister.

Bard let out a heavy sigh before he walked over to the door. His hand almost reached the knob when he heard stirring behind him.

"You're going out so early, once again?" he heard his wife questioned. "How long will you continue to look for her?"

"She's my sister." Bard said as he turned back to his wife. "I can't just leave her out there."

"It's been two and a half weeks, Bard. Nora, she's gone. Even if you do find her, she'll probably be..."

"Don't!" Bard stopped her. Heidi could see the regret in her husband's eyes. A deep pain and sense of loss consumed him since the day the orcs attacked. "She's my sister. I can't give up on her."

"Bard." Heidi shook her head. She stood from the bed and made her way towards him.

"I promised to protect her, to look out for her."

"Bard." Heidi continued to press.

"She's part of my family."

"What of your family that still lives?" Heidi asked in desperation. "The last two weeks you have essentially ignored us. You leave at first light, before either Sigrid or I wake. You come home late and discouraged. Bard, I miss Nora too. I do. I never wanted anything bad to happen to her. However, my love, it doesn't change facts. Nora's been lost in that forest for two weeks. You know the dangers as well as I do. There's very little hope that she survived." Heidi pleaded with her husband to see reason. Everyone in town seemed to accept the fact that his sister had died. Why couldn't he?

"I am all she's had for six years." Bard tried to explain. "If it were you or Sigrid, I would do the same. Allow me to search for her, one week more. If have not found her by then, I will discontinue my search." Never, did Bard expect to lose Nora, at least not in that way. "I should have never taken her with me that day." He looked down as the regret seemed to overtake him. Nora, should have never been out town. He shouldn't have humored her wishes.

"You could not have known what would happen." Heidi tried to comfort him as her hand gently touched his. "It is not your fault. Nora, was head strong. She had always been that way."

"She looked to me. She relied and depended on me..." Bard began but was quickly interrupted.

"Yes, she did." Heidi agreed before she continued on with a soft sad smile. "She could not have had a better man looking after her." Bard's sad eyes moved up to his wife's. "But, Bard, she's not coming back. If you were going to find her or if she was still alive you would have found her by now. She didn't have the necessary food or water supplies to survive out there. You know this."

"One more week. That's all I ask." he told her. Heidi looked down in disappointment but knew he needed to find some source of solace for what happened.

"Alright." she nodded. "One more week. Then please, I need my husband and our daughter needs her father." Bard looked at his wife a moment more before he nodded. He knew that was true and he was determined he would not let them down the way he felt he had let Nora down. The two embraced and kissed. They bid each other a fond farewell and soon Bard was gone.

Within an hour's time Bard found himself on the banks of the lake. His eyes scanned the trees. His hands raised to his lips as he called out "Nora". He was determined to find her. He had to.

…...

There was chill in the air and she could feel warm red liquid leave her body. Her body shook from the pain the gigantic bear's claws caused her. Then, in a confused dreamlike state, she felt herself being lifted up off the ground and the swaying motions of being carried somewhere. The blurred vision of a man came into her mind. She could feel herself being set down on a bed. Warm water was poured over her and something being pressed down onto her abdomen. She let out a scream of pain and began to thrash around the bed.

"Shhhh." she heard a gruff, yet gentle voice say. "Easy, you'll be alright." She felt two strong hands grab onto her shoulders and felt herself being pinned down. She didn't realize the man who was there was simply trying to help her. Her mind couldn't comprehend anything logical at the moment which only caused her to panic more.

"Where am I?" she managed to say as she tried to wrestle herself out of this stranger's grip. "Who are you? What happened?"

"Easy." the voice repeated and she felt herself being pushed down further into a rock hard bed. Her vision began to swirl and her eyes couldn't focus on anything. It was then she felt a sharp sting as who ever had placed her on the bed began to clean out her wounds. She fought against him but his firm hand kept her down as he attempted to calm her again.

Her mind continued to race but her heart began to slow down. She felt herself losing the battle to stay awake and soon darkness overtook her once again.

...

The warm sunlight, spread across her face as the day begun. The sunbeams danced across her eyelashes beckoning her wake. Nora scrunched her eyes together as she felt herself slowly come to. The dream of the man lingered in her mind. Her head spun a little, and slowly moved from side to side. She let out a small groan before she felt something cold and wet against her hand. Instinctively she moved her hand back away from the cold. Her eyes shot open in confusion. Her vision remained out of focus for a moment before she looked down and saw a dog next to the bed. He panted and had his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He looked at her with curiosity before he let out a couple of loud barks that caused Nora's head to flinch in pain. She didn't realize it, but that was the dog's way of informing his master that she had awaken.

"Hello." she greeted the dog softly. Her hand slowly moved towards it. The dog noticed her motions, quickly wagged his tail and placed his head under her hand. Nora smiled and rubbed his head. "You're a friendly dog, aren't you." The dog continued to pant as he enjoyed her attention. He let out another bark before he softly licked her fingers. Nora let out a small chuckle only to wince in pain. Her other hand rested itself on her abdomen for a second before she raised it to the tip of the blanket that was draped over her. She lifted it up to see her tunic had been removed and blood-stained bandages now covered her.

Nora's mind turned back. She remembered the attack on her and her brother. Memories of Bard instructing her to leave him behind and walking for what seemed like endless days through the woods, filled her mind. She remembered the second attack on her by the orcs and the bear, that had killed them so swiftly. It was then she remembered the bear had also taken a swipe at her. That's why there were blood stained bandages there.

She then looked around the room and took in the unfamiliar smells and sounds. Piles of hay were stuffed every which way, goats, horses, oxen and other big farm animals filled the barn-styled room. Baskets of apples, oats, and various other fruits, vegetables and seeds were placed randomly around the room. It was then she heard a small squeak and spotted a little white mouse running on the bed next to her. Instinctively she shooed the mouse with her hand and caused it to roll off the bed.

"Careful!" a rough voice said as a man emerged from the corner. Nora's eyes quickly lifted up to meet his. "You must not hurt the animals that live within my gates. If you do, I shall turn you out and allow the forest kill you." he warned. The man was tall, strong and had every advantage over her. Fear, began to fill Nora and she quickly sat up and tried to crawl backwards away from him, which caused a wave of pain to overcome her. The man noticed her actions and the wince on her face. He held out a hand to stop her.

"Don't sit up so fast." he told her with in that gruff voice she had heard in her dream. Maybe, it wasn't a dream, after all she determined. He walked over to her and gently pushed her back down. "You may reopen your wounds." Nora watched him with mistrust as he set a bowl of water, some freshly picked and cut herbs, and some clean bandages on the table next to her. He then sat down on the bed. Beorn went to remove the blanket that was covering her only to have Nora pull it back to her.

"What are you doing?" she asked surprised by his yanked the blanket to her in a quick motion. By doing this she accidentally slammed her fist against her abdomen causing her to flinch in great pain.

"Be at ease. You need fresh herbs and new bandages." the large man's brown eyes stayed on hers. He could tell she had no intention of trusting him. He continued on. "You need not fear me. I mean you no harm nor will I threaten your virtue."

Nora watched him a moment more. Who was this man? Where was she? How could she trust him? What did he have planned for her? At the same time, what choice did she have? If she moved but a little, she would find herself engulfed in pain. Realizing she didn't have much of a choice, she nodded for him to proceed. Beorn returned her nod and pulled the blanket off of her, though he was careful to keep her modest.

"What's your name?" Nora questioned as the large man began to undress her wounds. While she didn't trust him, she found herself quite curious about him. Between his gigantic size, wild hair, long eyebrows, and black forked beard, he looked quite grizzly and animal-like. She had never seen anyone like him before.

"I am called Beorn." he answered. His eyes flickered to her before he glanced back down at the damage he had caused. "And you are?"

"Nora." she said. She watched him closely as he began to clean out the first of the four claw marks. An awkward silence filled the air. She had no idea what to say to him, though she had many questions. She returned for her thoughts for a moment though she continued to carefully watch him. Almost like she was making sure he wasn't going to hurt or rape her.

"Why were you in the forest?" Beorn could sense her confusion and felt the same mistrust for her, she seemed to feel for him. Still, he was anxious to know why she was in these parts? What business could a woman have here, in the woods, alone?

"I got lost." she answered honestly. "My brother and I were attacked by a small group of orcs. Bard told me to run into the woods to get out of harms way. I guess that didn't really work out the way we thought it would." She nodded down to the lacerations. "We were suppose to meet after the orcs were gone but I found myself surrounded by unfamiliar trees. I did not know which way to turn so I walked and walked and walked. I obviously did not find my brother."

"So you are here by mistake and you don't know if your brother is alive?" Beorn questioned. Her eyes widened. She hadn't even thought of that. He placed some fresh herbs in her wound and moved down to the second cut.

"My brother is very skilled with a bow and blade." Nora tried to reassure herself more than convince Beorn of her tale. "He is alive." Bard couldn't be dead, could he? Was that why he didn't find her? Was that why she couldn't find him? Beorn noticed her uncertainty but shook it off. He wanted her to heal and quickly. The sooner she healed, the sooner she could leave.

"Where are you from?" the tall man asked. He could smell dirt, trees, water and fish on her, which made him believe she was from around the rivers far north of Rohan.

"Esgaroth." she whispered. Beorn looked up to her a moment, slightly surprised to hear that. It was quite the journey between his home and Laketown.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"A long way from Laketown. It seems you have traveled a great deal south-west from your home." Beorn told her as he finished the second opening and made his way down to the third claw mark.

"What day is it?" she questioned. It was September 10 when she and Bard had set out of Laketown. She couldn't help but wonder how much time had passed since she left her home.

"October 3." the bear-like man answered.

Nora looked away from him. Two and a half weeks passed since she left her brother's house. She couldn't believe she had walked the wrong way in the forest and survived for that long. Silence again filled the air. It was strange how both could have many questions for the other yet neither spoke. Of course Nora, was having trouble concentrating and Beorn, he mostly just wanted to heal her so she could leave.

"What kind bears are there in these parts?" Nora asked after a few minutes of quiet. Her mind went back to that night her journey through the forest came to an end. Beorn paused at the question. "The night I got these wounds. I was surrounded by a group of orcs. An incredibly large and ferocious bear came and began to kill them with such ease. He slashed me and gave me these."

"Do you think he meant to kill you?" Beorn questioned. His hands paused as he finished with the third cut. He looked up to her. So she did remember that night. He wasn't too sure if she would. Between her exhaustion, great need for water and the loss of blood, he didn't think she would remember the details. Yet, she clearly had.

"I don't know." she answered with uncertainty. "I mean, he tore apart those orcs so easily and only slashed me. I don't think I was his main target at least." Beorn nodded at her response. "There were lights in the forest. I could hear laughing and merriment but as I'd approach, everything would disappear and I'd be left in the dark. Is there a spell on that forest?"

"It is lesser down here near the the southern boarders. But yes, illusion seems to be heavy within those trees. You are incredible lucky to have made it through with little trouble." he told her. Nora nodded. Another wave of silence filled the air. Neither had much else to say to the other.

Beorn's healing hands finished with the forth and final cut. He took a quick look at the stab wounds on her leg and arm. All looked well, nothing was infected at least. He proceeded to grab some fresh bandages and began to re-wrap the cuts. Nora watched him. For a strong man, he was surprisingly gentle. This was a detail that surprised her. She leaned against the bed and allowed him to finish his work. She laid there a moment before a thought popped into her mind.

"I'm afraid I'm quite poor." she began. "I have very little to offer you in exchange for your services." Beorn stopped. He thought for a moment before he simply continued with his work. "Why do you help me when there is nothing you can gain from it?"

"I respect life." he answered with a rough sigh. "I would not have the life of an innocent be lost while it is in my care." Telling her he was the bear that had caused this wouldn't ease her mind. Nor would it gain him her trust. Nora found herself surprised by his answer. Where she lived, everyone wanted something. Surely this man did too.

Beorn stood once he finished wrapping her wounds. He picked up the bowl of water, herbs and blood stained bandages. He turned to walk away when the woman broke the silence yet again.

"Thank you." Nora called out. While she still wasn't sure what to make of him, he seemed kind. She was grateful for that. Beorn nodded in response and continued to walk away. His thoughts turned to her question in regards to what kind of bears lived in these parts. He put in the old bandages in a bucket of water to soak. This 'Nora' had probably never heard of a skin changer. There was no need for her to know the truth, he determined, at least not now.

~Author's Note~

Hi everyone! Sorry this is a shorter chapter. I have been so busy this last week between school and life. Thanks to everyone who is following/favoring this story. A special thanks to those who reviewed:

DeLacus:Thanks for your review! I'm glad you're enjoying it overall. Thanks I'm glad you like the way I write. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter too. It's not as action packed but hopefully still good. :)

Marina Oakensheild: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying my story thus far and I hope you will continue to do so. :)

Death of a Dark Angel:Thank you for your review! I'm glad that you're enjoying my story so far. It'll definitely be a fun chapter when Nora finds out that Beorn is the skin changer that hurt her. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and will continue to enjoy the story.

ZabuzasGirl: Thanks for your review! I hope you enjoyed the update! :)

PureAngelEyes: Thanks for your review! I'm so glad that you're loving it and I hope you'll continue to! :)

I think that's everyone! Again, I apologize for the long wait. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I hope you'll all join me for the next chapter. I have a bunch of things planned for these two and I promise there will be a little more action in the next chapter. Anyway, if you have a moment and are so inclined feel free to leave a review! As always, constructive criticism is welcomed! Thanks again!-Lin

Random Note: For anyone reading Ghost of a Rose, I promise the next chapter will be released soon. Just having a few small issues with it. Thank you for your patience!