Chapter 4: New Acquaintances

Thorin dusted himself off, shrugging aside the sack he had spent most of the night in. He stood there now among his fellow dwarves happy and content to be alive.

His eyes caught the young woman hanging upside down, still in the trolls grip. He stifled a laugh when she fell to the ground and then quickly fixed herself, acting like she'd meant to do it that exact way. Thorin was amazed by her, not hours ago she had been lying in the care of Oin, bleeding out from her wounds and unable to stay conscious, but now… she stood as though nothing had ever happened.

He watched as she retrieved her boot from Fili, who had sneakily snatched it from the statues grip as she had recovered from her fall. His nephew looked her up and down with keen and searching eyes, she had simply ignored any attempt at a conversation and walked on, slipping into her boot. He admired her for that.

It was then that her eyes caught his. He tried to avert his gaze but could not. There was something about her… something familiar; he couldn't put his finger on it. She stood, an expression of pensiveness on her features. Her piercing eyes burned into his, was she aware she was looking at him?

Her eyes were a peculiar mix of colour. He could see hazel at the centre bleeding into a peridot green with a dark brown almost black ring around the outer iris. They had an ethereal glow to them. He could think of only one other person with eyes like that. He cast away the thought thinking it incredible; though her eyes were friendly he still did not know who this person was or her intentions.

Her aura was commanding and powerful; he himself had to admit it. Everyone was drawn to her and that slightly worried him, but if she was as sincere as she looked she may be useful.

Thorin snapped back to reality as Gandalf came into view. He strode forward to meet the wizard as he circled the stone trolls.

"Where did you go?" Thorin asked him, he wouldn't admit out loud he was thankful for the wizard's actions, but this wouldn't make him forget the reason he had left in the first place.

"To look ahead" Gandalf said bluntly, staring Thorin square in the face.

"And what brought you back?" continued Thorin.

Gandalf smiled broadly, "Looking behind."

Thorin shook his head and smiled, while Gandalf could be a pain, he was useful in tight spots and was also quite the joker.

"Nasty business! Damn Trolls!" the wizard said, striking the nearest statue hard with his staff, a small piece chipped off and he fumbled to replace it but in the end just let it plunge to the ground.

"Nasty? We were almost eaten alive, Gandalf!" began Thorin, "…and all thanks to your burglar too! I told you I would not be accountable for him!"

Gandalf's bushy grey eyebrows raised high at his. "Yes Thorin it may have been by his doing but… he was the one to get you out, mostly. Had he not played for time you would most likely have been troll food before I had arrived!"

Thorin bowed his head a little, to hide the expression of defeat. Gandalf was right; if not for Bilbo none of them would probably be here now. He would have to thank him at some point.

"Now…" said Gandalf, "these trolls couldn't have moved in daylight so…."

"There must be a cave nearby!" stated Thorin, beginning to walk off, following the huge lumbering tracks of the trolls deeper into the trees.


Braerka stood eavesdropping on the wizard and Thorin, right now she couldn't miss a beat, she wanted to find out what they were doing and fast. She knew the longer she stayed near the more complicated things would become and the more reason she would have to kill him. The others in the company were fixing themselves up, reclaiming clothes and anything else the trolls had taken from them. Each looked more comfortable now in their own attire.

She was about to follow as Thorin began deeper into the forest, when Bilbo approached her out of nowhere, she almost didn't notice him; he was so light of his feet. "Excuse me miss?" he said grabbing her attention immediately.

Braerka, not wanting to come across as her usual in-your-face self, thought a short moment before answering.

"Umm… Yes Master Hobbit?" she said with a slightly shaky voice, 'was that too formal?' she wondered. She had no experience with speaking to halfings or anyone who wasn't a man or an elf, she was cautious of how he would respond.

"Oh please call me Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins, that's my name!" he in a comical voice and bowing low. His voice was also trembling, either for the same reasons as hers or because he was still running on the adrenaline from last night.

"I just wanted to say thanks… for umm… you know stepping in back there. The trolls probably would have eaten us all! You really saved us you know!" he went on to say scratching at the back of his head. She loved his nervousness; no one of the opposite sex had ever been this shy around her, she liked it.

"No, I didn't, you did! I was merely lead by your example! You're the hero Bilbo!" she told him, he needed a confidence boost she could tell, she would be the one to give it to him.

He looked at her, a wide bemused grin on his face, "You really think so?" he asked, not quite believing what she was saying.

"No! Of course not!" she said bluntly, beginning to walk away, after a few steps she turned back to him and smiled, "I know so!"

She continued over to where Gandalf and Thorin had stood moments before moving into the forest. Allowing herself a quick glance over her shoulder she saw that Bilbo was still stood there with a dumbstruck look on his face, he was smiling broadly so her words must have meant something to him however small they were.

Braerka began to make her way towards the rest of the group; some had made off back to their camp to get important items and were now giving them out to their rightful owners. Dwalin marched up to her and handed over her coat and other items she had left behind.

"Thank you." She said as he handed her stuff over. She avoided eye contact, 'don't think he remembers me either!' she thought, as he said nothing.

She slipped on her coat, slung her satchel and bow over shoulder and began returning her many daggers to their places. Dwalin lingered close by, watching her closely. She felt uncomfortable and shifted uneasily before coming to a conclusion. 'Maybe he wants something'.

"Can I help you?" she asked him.

"uh…" he thought for a moment, "…no lass, it's alright" he said, starting to move forward, only he turned back and approached her this time with purpose.

"In fact it's not alright!" he said, his voice was firm and full of resolve, "I'm sorry!"

'Sorry for what?' she thought, she was about to ask when he continued almost as if he had read her mind. Her expression must have provoked the explanation.

"For last night, I was the one who… who hit you. I was an idiot for swinging early I know that now!" he said. Braerka felt like hugging him but didn't knowing it would seem outlandish. The emotion he was expressing was unlike anything she had ever heard from this old warrior before, she remembered him as someone who didn't dwell on the past or the things he'd done wrong. It was a nice side of him to see if not a little strange.

"Oin said you broke a few ribs, but you seem to be holding up well" he went on to finish.

She smiled at him as he returned to his normal self, "No, I'm quite alright Dwalin; you have nothing to worry about!"

He looked at her confused for a moment, then she realised, she had just called him by name, and as far as they were concerned she didn't know them. 'Smart one, look what you've done!' scolded the voice in her head.

"Did I tell you my name?" he asked.

"No!" she blurted out immediately, "but… I heard one of the others address you…" she said trailing off waiting for him to accept it as the truth. He did so and nodded, he beckoned her to follow as the others moved off to where Thorin had went in search of the trolls cave.

As she walked Braerka felt a constant nagging in her side and ankle, the crystal had failed her once again and she was beginning to loathe it. Why wouldn't it just do its job like it had done when see first found it? Back in the underground fortress she had discovered near Fangorn forest where she had found the gem and first used it, it had seemed like a blessing but not it was a hindrance. It never worked and when it did it wasn't for long.

Catching up to the others she saw they were settled outside what looked, and smelled, like a Troll's hoard, she decided to pass up the opportunity of seeing its interior. Dwalin continued with Thorin and several others into the cave.

Braerka set herself up on a moss-covered rock; she sat cross-legged checking the string on her bow and fixing herself up. She had just slid her small dagger into its hidden place and was tightening the straps on her vambrace when the blonde dwarf from earlier walked up and leaned against the rock.

She peaked at him from the corner of her eyes, then continued as he wasn't even there. He persisted and stood gazing up at her as she pulled the last buckle on the leather-bound iron wrist guard. She didn't like how he stared at one point she thought she was going to slap him.

Every time she thought she heard footsteps leaving her side she would look around to see his pale blue-green eyes staring up at her. She wanted him to just go away and plait his beard or whatever it is that young dwarf prince's do. She continued fixing her attire, and then began redoing one of her own braids.

"You know, your well kitted out for a woman…" the dwarf began, was this what he'd spent so long staring at her for, to tell her she was well armed? But then it struck her, the way he looked at her, the way he had been the one to retrieve her boot, he liked her! She scoffed silently and then looked to him, her thick eyebrows raised high.

Alarm entered his eyes, "not that you shouldn't or anything!" he began, defending his words, "it's just not many woman travel now… like… you" he trailed off, lost in her gaze she tilted her head and looked at him her eyes questioning, she said nothing.

He was handsome, for a dwarf, she thought to herself, not burly and rough like most but he was younger than the rest it seemed, it was only expected.

"I'm Fili, by the way!" he stated, taking her hand and shaking. "Let me introduce my 'friends"

He then proceeded to introduce the rest of the company as they went about their business.

"That's Dori and Ori," he said pointing to two odd looking dwarves, one with highly decorated braids woven into his hair, the other was sporting an old fashioned bowl cut style.

"Over there is Balin, Bifur and Bombur" he continued, indicating the old one she knew, though his beard was now pure white. He was with an old looking warrior who spoke only in the dwarfish language of Khuzdul, probably because of the axe still embedded in his skull. She understood snippets of his speech but she had never studied the language long enough to master it. Beside him was Bombur, who she recognised from almost being eaten last night, he still looked a little shaken from his ordeal but was holding up well and nursing what looked to be a small flask of ale.

"Oh yes over there is Oin, our physician and talking to him is my brother, Kili" he went on to say, pointing over to them. Oin had his hornpipe brought up to his ear; the old dwarf must be deafer than a post she assumed. Kili however was speaking loudly enunciating every syllable of what he was saying so the old dwarf could hear. He threw his hands up in defeat, after what had been his third attempt.

She took in the names and made sure she knew who was who before continuing.

"And who went into the cave?" she asked him, he promptly answered

"Nori, Bifur, Gloin, Dwalin and my uncle, Thorin"

"Thorin Oakenshield?" she asked him, just to make him think she didn't know who exactly they were, which for some of them was true.

"Ah… so you've heard of him?" he said amazed.

"Who hasn't?" was all she could say. She glanced at the cave entrance, muffled voices came from within, 'they must have found something' she asserted from the tones.

She heard Fili sneer, he then stood and walked around to the other side of the rock, blocking her view of the cave and again made himself comfortable. She smirked as he did so, he walked with an air of royalty about him and if everyone should bend to his will, and though he was a prince he was far from reserved.

She thought for a while; maybe she could ask him about this quest, get the information she so desperately desired and use his apparent interest in her to her advantage.

"Why are there so many of you? Are you going to a party?" she asked him, outwardly trying to make herself seem sincere.

He smiled at the question, as if he'd been waiting for her to ask, "No, unfortunately it's not a party, but it is an important mission. You need a lot of people when you embark on quests such as ours". He spoke with mystery in his voice, he was deliberately being vague. She decided she would have to be a little more persuasive to get what she wanted.

"And what sort of quest would that be, Fili?" she asked, she said his name slowly and made her voice smooth and sultry. She leaned forward, close to him, and gently flicked on of his braids. He breathed deeply in response and then took her hand and began playing with her fingers.

"Oh you know… the usual. Save the day, become a hero kind." He said in a charming voice about to kiss her hand. She quickly withdrew her hand realising she wasn't going to get anything out of him. 'This quest must be very important if he can't tell me anything!' she concluded.

She then sat back up and turned, raising her hood to block the young dwarf prince. She was infuriated, never before had she been denied what she wanted by any man of any race and now this dwarf had outright rejected her, 'I'm losing my touch!'

She went back to check her belts and buckled when she heard laughing, she balanced herself and looked up to see an amused Kili sauntering over.

"Ha-ha! Having trouble with the lady brother?" he said giving Fili and hard slap on the back. She looked at Fili, he wore an expression of hurt, wounded by her retraction, but it also looked fake, as if he was playing it.

"Nothing I can't handle!" Fili told him, parting with a sly smirk and winking at her. She was impressed by his tenacity and enthusiasm, but was far from caving to him. She was sure that both of them, as young dwarven princes, could get pretty much any girl they wanted, she decided she wouldn't give in to either them so easily, if ever.

"Be careful!" she warned him, "you can get burnt when you play with fire!"

"I take that as a challenge then!" Fili responded, Kili laughed at his brother, then looked to her and nodded. Fili gave him a light punch in the arm and then left them.

After a few moments Kili finally stopped laughing and turned to her. "So how are you milady?" he gave a curt nod and swung himself round to where Fili had stood moments ago. "Your leg seems to be holding up fine"

His charismatic grin made her feel strangely at home, 'must be something that runs in the family' she thought, she remembered Thorin smiling to her in a similar when she younger, it had always made her feel safe.

"I'm fine, thank-you Kili" she said, she was about to ask him if he was okay, when Oin approached her probably having heard their short exchange.

"I need to check your leg" he stated bluntly, lifting a few things from his bag. She removed her gaiter and boot and allowed him undress the bite which had all but completely healed overnight. Oin looked shocked to say the least, but he said very little and gave it a quick clean and bandaged it again. She then replaced her walking boot and gaiter and felt comfortable once more.

The dwarves that had been in the cave exited it in a rushed, a few of them came with their hands over their mouths, 'was it really that bad in their?' she wondered.

Thorin came out last carrying two swords and headed right for her. She found herself consciously jumping to her feet and dusting herself off. He sped towards her with a resolute trudge, and stopped when he got to her. Kili looked at her with sympathetic eyes before walking a few paces from them to stand with his brother.

"So…"Thorin began, "What do they call you?"

Braerka thought quickly before answering, she couldn't tell him her real name could she? She toyed with the idea before deciding he was best kept out of the loop for now.

"They call me…."she thought again, "Shepherd", she sighed after telling him. He smiled somewhat amused by the name. It may not technically be her name, but he hadn't asked for her name, he asked what they called her and they in this case were the elves.

"Shepherd?" he repeated, the amusement was clear for all to see, she would receive no kind words about staying true to it this time. "That's a strange name…for a woman"

"Well…" both her and Thorin turned to see Kili trod towards them, "… a strange name for a strange woman!" Braerka felt herself smiling at this, they had only just met still he felt the need to defend her, 'Odd!' she thought.

Thorin half laughed in response, before giving his new blade a look over. It was smooth and flowing, covered in cobwebs, of elvish make by the looks of it. He then considered his old broadsword before offering it to her.

"Here, take it, it is redundant on my person and you'll need something bigger than your measly daggers if you are to accompany us much further." She accepted it gratefully, nodding to him; he nodded back then left her alone. It was a few seconds more before what he had said sunk in.

"Wait! Who said I was coming?" she called after him realising she had said nothing of the likes to him or anyone. She looked to him and he pointed to the entrance of the cave, there stood Gandalf. 'Of course' she mused, who else? She was now certain that the wizard knew something about her or he at least had an inkling; or maybe he just did these things on a whim, maybe there was no logic behind it.

She chuckled internally shaking her head. She looked to the heavy blade she now held. It was top heavy, but that only made it easier to swing. She loved how the hilt felt in her hand tough and unbreakable, like a force to be reckoned with.

She tied it to her belt and let it hang by her side. Glancing up, she looked to Thorin, who was speaking with Balin. She had missed him greatly and now she had him back, in a manner of speaking. All in the world seemed right, and as it was supposed to be at that moment.

"Something's coming" one of the company cried. Everyone immediately stood to attention grabbing their weapons close and getting ready to move. She heard a violent rustling in the distance and it was getting louder.

"Stay together!" Gandalf shouted, as they sprang into action, "Hurry! Arm yourselves!"

They began to run off in direction off the sound, ready to meet whatever came. One by one they took up arms and ran off following Gandalf, leaving the hobbit at the mouth of the cave.

He stood drawing the blade that Gandalf had just given him. He looked unsure of the weapon in his hand, he looked like he had never used or even seen one before. The blade too was elvish but much shorter than Thorin's.

"Hey, Bilbo!" she shouted to him, beginning into a jog. "Come on! You don't wanna be left behind now do you?"

He reacted to her words quickly, sheathing the short sword and snatching up his satchel. They both ran in pursuit of the dwarves and the unknown entity, its rustling now permeated the forest loudly.

Braerka ran with purpose though her injuries still hurt her; Bilbo who had been running behind her was actually gaining on her and not long after was bolting ahead of her. This would be an experience, while it lasted, she would get the information she wanted, avoid killing her old friend and possibly get her long lost life back.

AN: Hey guys, thank you to anyone who's reviewed so far and to all the new readers :) can't explain how happy it makes me to know someone is actually reading this! Anyways please R&R, enjoy and feel free to criticise me on anything! Expect the next instalment in about 2 to 3 days, until next time, KiliFanatic ;)