The next morning was a bit of a blur to Bilbo, the rain had been coming down, and he felt groggy, and apparently Gandalf was not the wizard who could control the weather. He shook his head and turned his attention to the red haired dwarf, her eyes were on alert as they rode on, How is she always so alert and yet so calm? he shook his head, he would never understand her motives, much less the others motives. He sighed as he continued on his pony, the rain was still pouring.
She sat in annoyance as Thorin argued over the refuge Gandalf offered, and Thorin was reluctant. she stood from her perch on the tree and studied her surroundings, It was a mountainous field, with a burned down house, she shook her head and sighed, You should listen to him, this home was nowhere near a town, so no man could have done it. Her head turned at a rustle in the leaves, she had her hand on her dagger, and was relieved to see the familiar form of Bilbo, but he was coming as Gandalf was leaving," Where are you going Gandalf?"
" To consult with someone who has some sense."
" and who would that be?"
"Myself, Mister baggins!" As Gandalf said this he turned and left, muttering to himself. Hana shook her head, and left to join the rest of the company.
Night came quickly and the worry on the hobbit's face was extremely noticeable, Hana had known the source of his troubles and decided to ease them, she leaned over and whispered to the hobbit," He will return, he just needs to calm himself." Bilbo nodded his head, and a look of confusion covered it and he spoke," How did you know?" She was looking at the fire now and sighed," Your eyes speak more then your words, master Baggins." he shook his head as Bombur handed Bilbo two bowls," Give these to Fili and Kili if you don't mind." Bilbo nodded his head, and took off towards the ponies. She watched him as he disappeared, and a strange feeling arose in her stomach, Something isn't right here. She rose and followed Bilbo. She stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the loud stomping, Cave trolls! What are they doing this far south?They have taken some of the ponies as well. She growled to herself as she heard Fili and Kili, " We will be right behind ya Bilbo," She was starting to grow angry at the two, First they take advantage of Bilbo's fear, and now they send him after cave trolls! She went to follow Bilbo, and as soon as he came into her sight, he was being used as a tissue for one of the trolls."Ew, it has arms and everything!" The smaller troll exclaimed, the bigger and taller troll spoke," That didn't come outta your nose dim whit he's a," He glanced over at Bilbo," What are you?"
" I'm a burgl- I mean hobbit!" The troll was confused," A burgleobbit? What the blazes is a Burglarobbit?" The eldest of the three spoke," Does it really matter?"
" I agree, can we eat him?" asked the youngest eagerly," I don't see why not." She was about to step in when Kili and the rest of the company charged in. The next few moments passed quickly as the trolls had Bilbo by his arms and legs, and threatened to pull them off if they didn't surrender their weapons. She silently cursed as all of them dropped their weapons. Hana didn't know what to d as she watched the company be either tied to a spindle over a fire, or put in a burlap sack.
Thorin was angry, no furious as the trolls discussed how they were going to eat them. He hadn't really paid them any attention, he was trying to come up with an escape. He had realized that one of his company wasn't there, and this angered him even more, Where is that blasted wench?! The image of her head jerking and her rising to follow Bilbo soon crossed his mind, and he then turned his head to Bilbo. The hobbit was now standing in his burlap sack, and hopping towards the trolls," No no, you're wrong!"
"What do you mean?"
"The seasoning, its going to take a lot more then sage, I mean have you smelled them." The dwarves were now yelling at him as the troll started to speak," What would you have us use then?"
"I happen to know the secret to cooking dwarf."
"What is it then?" Bilbo pondered on this for a moment, and Thorin was growing agitated, Bilbo's face brightened," The secret is to...skin them first." All the dwarves were yelling at the hobbit, and the older troll spoke,"Get me filettin knife."
"Now hold on a minute, I've eaten plenty with their skins on."
"Aye lets just eat em whole I'm starving." said the younger one as he picked up Bombur, Bilbo quickly spoke," No not that one!" The troll lowered him from his mouth, " Why not?" Bilbo struggled with an answer," Because he has parasites in his um tubes!" the troll threw him down and Bilbo continued, " As a matter of fact they all have parasites." all the dwarves were yelling and disagreeing when Thorin finally realized what he was doing and kicked Kili who soon caught on as well," aye we all have em!" Kili yelled , " Mine are as big as me arm !" The troll was looking at Bilbo," And what would you n have us do then, let them go?" Bilbo shrugged his head, and the troll caught on," I see what you're tryin to do, and I ain't fallin for it!" That's when the trolls turned their head to see a woman come out of the trees, she held her bow up, and aimed it at his heart," Would you mind fallen for this then!" She yelled, and the troll tried to move, but she chuckled," You cannot move, half whit, unless I deem it so." She looked over at the figure standing behind them, and spoke," Dawn will take you all!" as she said this Gandalf pulled back the tree's and the sunrise bled through and the foul creatures turned to stone.
Gandalf was untying the company along with Hana, and Thorin was speaking to Gandalf," Where did you go?"
"To look ahead."
"What brought you back?" Gandalf looked Thorin in the eyes," Looking back."
Hana stood with Thorin and Gandalf, Gandalf asked a simple question, "What are trolls doing this far south?" Hana cut in, " A better question, how did they get here?" Thorin looked up," There must be a cave nearby ."
The troll hoard had a stinch worse then death, and looked around at all the weapons and spoke," This is a troll hoard so be weary of the things you touch." All the dwarves drew their hands back, and Hana saw something that had caught her eye. She walked over and squatted close to the ground, it was a necklace, but it was no ordinary necklace. Its silver chain had blue sapphires interlocked in the loops, and the pendant attached was a sapphire gem with an onyx rose encased in the middle, How did my mother's necklace get here? she questioned. She thought it was lost forever, and that her promise to her mother on her deathbed was all in vain.
Her mother lay dying in a pool of her own blood, the dragon had destroyed everything, and her mother was the only thing she had left to hold onto, but the dragon had struck her hard enough that it wouldn't last long. She watched as her mother's pale skin turned a sickly yellow , and her shaking hands reached for her sapphire necklace," Hana, I want you to do something for me." she coughed out, and she removed her necklace and placed it in Hana's hand," I cannot protect them any longer, the only one who can, is you." Hana was now gripping her mother's hand, but she showed no emotion," Who am I to protect mother?" she asked, her hesitation and sadness clear in her voice," I know you, you fear what will come if you let go, you fear more pain will come. Do not block them out, you must protect them,"
"Who mother?" She smiled and placed her hand on Hana's cheek," This necklace is not just a keep sake my dear, but a magical token, it will glow when you come near the one that is meant to be, the one you are to stand beside in battle, it will make you stronger but, it will only appear when you are ready " She opened her hand ," My daughter you are not yet ready," The necklace disappeared, " But soon you will be, and I hope that you will accept it." Hana was still emotionless, as she looked into her mother's eyes," I will mother, but what must I accept?" Her mother smiled and with the last breath in her body, she whispered," Love."
Her mother's dying wish was for her to let someone in, and that was when the necklace would appear. But she didn't believe in it anymore, caring only leads to more pain. So why would it appear now, her mind immediately went to the brooding king with the stormy gaze, she shook her head, It couldn't be, could it? Her gaze shifted to Thorin, and she felt his gaze upon her, she looked away quickly as she felt a pang in her stomach, she quickly retrieved the necklace, and exited the Troll cave.
Thorin did not understand the red haired woman, at first she spoke as if she had no feeling at all, and then her anger was so cold, and then her eyes were unreadable to even him. He had watched her pick up the necklace and then glance at him, but she quickly left, like she was running away from something, or better yet him. He held the sword Gandalf had given him close to his side, and followed her out the cave, and that's when he saw her have her bow drawn towards a tree, and her voice cut through like fire," Something is coming, at the ready!"
She lowered her bow when she heard a voice screaming," Murder!" She let a slight smile creep onto her lips as she spoke," Radaghast, what are you doing here?" Gandalf had hurried out, and glanced at the two dwarves," You two know each other?" Radaghast spoke," Yes, but Gandalf, I must speak with you." Hana turned her head from the old wizard dwarf, and stood at the ready. That's when she heard it, she drew her bow, and right before the warg could attack, she placed an arrow in it's skull. And then two more came, and fell to the same fate, Warg scouts? So they finally caught up to us. She glanced at Gandalf, and he nodded, he glared at Thorin," Who did you tell of your quest?!"
"No one I swear!" Bilbo looked up and asked," Gandalf what is happening?"
"We are being hunted."
Radaghast had decided to diverge the orcs with his sled of rabbits. And it was working out well, until one warg rider found his way over to the rock they were hiding behind, Thorin had motioned for no one to move as he glanced at Kili. Kili nodded and drew back his bow and released an arrow. The warg was dead, but its rider was far from it . Hana raised her bow and shot it, grimacing as she heard his screams, Blasted orcs, can never be quiet, even in death. Thorin looked around and had hoped the pack had not heard their fallen warriors cries, but he heard Gandalf yell,"Run!" and he knew they had been spotted. He turned his head to see Hana running behind him, her cloak was flowing behind her and he could now see her swords. He recognized them but he would ask later, for he did not feel like asking this scornful woman if she was a thief or a scavenger. His eyes shifted to find Gandalf as they were soon cornered,but saw no sign of him, one of the dwarves spoke,"Where's Gandalf?" Thorin spoke," He has abandoned us!" The dwarves circled up with Bilbo in the middle, and Hana turned her head at the sound of Gandalf coming from the small opening ," In here you fools!" And everyone turned and made their way, but Thorin Kili and Hana were still outside."KIli!" yelled Thorin urging him to enter the opening, Hana was glaring at Kili, but nher gaze turned to worry as a warg started to sneak up on him, she didn't know what she was doing for a moment but one thought crossed her mind, Not again! she drew her swords and yelled,"Move!" and Kili slid to the cave like he was being pulled, and Thorin fell into the cave alongside Kili. She was alone, and she smiled as the head of the warg that was about to kill Kili was rolling on the ground. The slight pain on her side was dulled by her adrenaline, more wargs came, when all of a sudden they surrounded her and she was cornered, and that's when she spoke," Be still." All the wargs were still and she felt someone pull her down into the cave. She fell to the ground, her eyes grew worried when she heard the wargs, I froze them! How can they be- her thoughts were stopped as the sharp pain in her side continued. She shook her head, as Thorin started admonishing her," Why were you being so careless?! You could have been killed!" Hana sat up, expecting to retort, but her voice was interrupted by an orc flying in and an arrow whizzing by her head embedding itself into the wall. Thorin pulled the arrow out and snarled,"Elves!" But before he could scold Gandalf Bofur spoke," Does this lead anywhere?" he walked down further, and Gandalf spoke,"Follow the path." Hana tried to stand, but her side would not allow it, but she pushed through the pain. She was walking behind the company wincing every time something grazed her left side, and her leg. Balin turned his head and saw Hana gritting her teeth as she pushed through the narrow space of rock. His eyes shifted to the places she had just passed, only to see them drenched in blood.
They were now at the end of the cave, and Hana knew exactly where they were, and knew Thorin would be angry with Gandalf for bringing them here. Bilbo spoke after Gandalf said something that seemed to slur together in her mind, and that is when darkness took over her vision, and she felt herself falling to the ground.
Thorin's eyes shifted behind him, he was still furious with Gandalf, he had brought them to the elves he so despised. But as he turned he saw Hana falling to the ground, but before she fell he found himself at her side catching her, his eyes found their way to where she had been walking, and noticed the blood dripping from the stone, he yelled,"She 's injured! Oin!" Oin came up, and he was glancing over her wearily, and his eyes shifted to her side as he moved her cloak. Her tunic which was once white, had turned crimson, and the shredded fabric revealed some of the injury. Oin lifted her tunic some, and he held back a gasp."How was she walking with this?" Thorin's attention was drawn to her side, and he saw three claw marks, and an orcs arrow barley showing in her side, and the blood continued to came over and his eyes were full of worry," Can you help her?" Oin shook his head," I do not have the supplies, and she has already lost a lot of blood-" Gandalf spoke," I know of someone who can help." Thorin was glaring at Gandalf, but reluctantly carried Hana and followed the wizard.
They reached the bridge, and soon met the one known as Lord Elrond. Thorin had been holding tightly to Hana when Elrond saw she was injured, Elrond spoke," If she is injured let us take care of her." Thorin glared, and Gandalf spoke with a tone of anger," Let them take her!" Thorin was still glaring but his grip lessened as he handed her over to one of the elves, and growled,"If she comes to more harm by one of your kind-"
"Thorin!" Yelled Gandalf, and Thorin looked down. Elrond spoke something in elvish,"Does he mean us insult?" Questioned one the dwarves angrily, and Gandalf replied, slightly annoyed," No he is offering you food and rest."
"ah, well lead on then."
The elf that held the red haired dwarf hurried to the healing wing. He placed her on the bed, and went to work as the other healers came looked down at her side where the blood was coming from and gasped, "How are you-" That's when he saw the mark on her wrist, a dragon mark, "dragonsbein." he whispered, and he looked at the woman again, "So they all didn't die." He shook his head and put his mind into focus.
Meanwhile with the Orcs...
They had seen her, the one they thought dead, the one that their master saw as a threat, the last of the Dragonsbein. They trudged their way to see their master, in fear of what he might do to them because of their failure. The pale white orc stood in the back surrounded by wargs," Why have you come," He turned his head,"And without the head of Oakenshield?" The orc gulped, and walked forward as the other stayed behind," They were strong, the elves came after we almost were killed by the woman-"
"My ranks were almost killed by a woman/!" He growled, and the orc gulped,"She was a Dragonsbein." the orcs body tensed,"dragonsbein?" he hissed the orc nodded his head and spoke,"We barely escaped with our lives-" azog gripped the orc's neck with his metal claw," You should have died then." And he threw the now dead orc to the side, his voice boomed to the remaining orc," I want a price on both of their heads! I want them dead!"