Cheers!

Chapter Four

Fili and Kili laughed along with Dolora while she continued to tease Bilbo much to his discomfort. Dolora was smiling as she inched closer to the hobbit and patted him on the shoulder giving him a little shake.

"Relax Master Baggins I'm only kidding" she said her warm smile and bright eyes convincing Bilbo as he nodded his head and grunted.

Thorin found the conversation distasteful and stood up from the fire grunting a frown on his face. Dolora looked up at him watching him recede from the fire and raised an eyebrow her smile slipping from her face. She looked over at Balin and frowned the older dwarf looked over his shoulder at their leader concern marring his face. Dolora suddenly felt bad for joking about orcs with Bilbo, Fili and Kili as she looked at Thorin's trusted friend.

"Balin did I do something wrong?" she asked genuine concern lacing her normally cheery voice.

Balin looked back at her and gave her a small smile trying to ease her worry.

"It's all right lass, it's just that Thorin has more reason to hate orcs than most. After Smaug took the mountain, Thror tried to reclaim the ancient kingdom of Moria. But it would seem that the orcs had gotten there first commanded by Azog the defiler who beheaded the king. Thrain Thorin's father who was driven mad by grief disappeared leaving us leaderless. All, was lost until I saw him a young prince facing down the pale orc Thorin stood alone and wielding nothing but an oaken branch he defeated him. Azog learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Thorin rallied our forces and we drove the orcs back the enemy defeated but it came at a great cost for our dead were beyond the count of grief." He said his eyes downcast as a shadow passed over his face.

Dolora's eyes were wide with shock and she could feel tears springing to her eyes as she looked at the somber face of Balin, then behind him her eyes meet Thorin's for the briefest moments. The intensity she saw there sent shivers shooting up and down her spine. She could not imagine what he had went through what he still must be going through to have lost so many in such a horrible way. She hung her head and looked at her hands whispering to herself

"luknu-izd amarâb amkhuh akhâl-a-id dûm Valar" she said closing her eyes and inhaling deeply.

Dolora was no stranger to the loss she felt when she looked into her companion's eyes for she too lost much during her life. She remembered the stinging loss of her mother and the loss of the only home she ever knew when she died; she longed for a place to belong a real home and her heart bled for the dwarrow surrounding her. She looked up past the firelight past the concerned looks on Balin and Dwalin's faces to see Thorin standing some distance away separated from the group. She wanted to say something to him anything to make him smile the frown didn't suit his handsome face but Bilbo spoke before she had the chance.

"What happened to Azog?" he asked his hands resting on his knees as he looked up at Balin.

Balin turned to look at Bilbo his face hardening at the mention of Azog but Thorin rejoined the group and glared at Bilbo.

"That filth died of his wounds long ago" Thorin all but hissed the words.

Balin and Dwalin exchanged a quick glance at each other hesitation and concern flashing through their eyes an unspoken truth communicated between them. Dolora narrowed her eyes at the brothers and cocked her head to the side; Thorin might have missed the gestures but she was paying rapt attention to everyone around her. She felt uneasy after hearing Balin's story and the presence of Orcs and a pack of Wargs in the same dark woods as she made her shift around uncomfortably. Dolora played with her hair finishing her many braids and tucked her thick hair into the hood of her fur lined cloak. She stretched her back raising her hands high into the arm before laying down resting her head on her arms. she wiggled her toes closer to the fire and tried to close her eyes but she sensed someone was hovering over her looking at her face. She opened one eye to peek up at the dwarrow above her she smiled warmly when Dori was looking down at her

"Yes, Master Dori, what do you need" she said yawning once again stretching like a cat in the heat.

Dori looked down at the lass and smiled "Nothing lass just making sure you were all right you seem a bit pale"

"And Thin" said Bofur laughing

Before Dolora could protest she heard the unanimous "Aye" from everyone. She snorted and rolled her eyes sitting up giving Dori a playful smirk then turned her head glaring at her companions

"I'm fine Dori thank you" she said smiling at the old dwarrow he reminded her of her amad looking over everyone's welfare.

Dolora turned her head in the direction of the ponies when she could hear the distressed whinny of her beloved friend Zul. She stood up and turned to look at Thorin with her eyebrow raised

"Do you think something spooked the ponies?" she asked concern creeping into her eyes as she heard the panicked braying of the ponies

Thorin looked down at his sister-sons flicking his head in the direction of the ponies "You two go check it out"

Fili and Kili rolled their eyes in fake annoyance and groaned getting up to walk over to inspect the ponies. Dolora went to follow them but Thorin placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her but Dolora shot him a look of defiance and Balin chuckled still sitting beside the fire

"Let her go If she wants lad" he said looking up at Thorin while he frowned and grunted.

Dolora shot him a winning smile and winked down at the white-haired dwarf before turning to follow Kili and Fili patting her hip while she jogged to ensure her trusty sword and dagger were still in place.

Everyone watched as the three dwarves headed toward the ponies slowly fading from sight before Dwalin chuckled lightly to himself. Balin rose and eyebrow at his younger brother

"What is so funny Nadad?" Balin asked looking over at Dwalin's smirking face

Dwalin turned and looked at his older brother shaking his head softly "The lass, I think she finds it amusing to challenge Thorin every chance she gets"

Thorin snorted and sat down moving his fur cloak around him and rested his face on a curled fist. He looked into the fire and grunted before smothering a smirk that threatened to slip onto his face when he thought about the fiery dam. Dwalin was correct Dolora did seem to challenge him on everything even something as small as letting Fili and Kili go check on the blasted ponies.

…..

Kili and Fili had reached the ponies only seconds before Dolora but thanks to their keen eyesight they knew instantly that something was wrong. Fili was busy counting the ponies when Dolora walked up beside Kili

"What's wrong?" she asked her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

Kili's eyes flashed down to her weapon momentarily then back up to her face and shrugged his shoulders

"Something spooked the ponies although I'm not sure what" he said turning back to his other brother who was turning to look at them.

"Some of the ponies are missing" Fili said his mouth drawn into a thin line as he looked around for the missing ponies

"Not myrtle, she's not missing right" Bilbo said as he made his way through the thick wooded area towards the three stunned dwarves.

Dolora turned to look at the approaching hobbit her eyes wide and glowing softly in the dark. She narrowed her eyes at him wondering how he managed to sneak up on them without hearing him.

"Master Baggins what are you doing here" She asked placing her hands on her hips glaring at him.

Kili and Fili looked between the angry dwarrowdam and the guilty hobbit and laughed. Dolora shot them a poisonous look and they instantly stopped laughing eyes cast to the ground. Dolora cleared her throat and turned to look at the hobbit again.

Bilbo cleared his throat and rocked on the balls of his large hairy feet "I wanted to help" he answered truthfully

Fili smiled brightly and placed his hand on Bilbo's shoulder "That's prefect, our burglar here should go find out what happened to the ponies"

Dolora snorted and rolled her eyes crossing her arms over her chest and looked around them. In the dim light it was almost impossible to see her surroundings but she could make out a large path of destruction leading away from the ponies and she smiled devilishly to herself.

"That's an excellent idea Fili" she said turning to Bilbo her golden eyes glowing ominously in the darkness "Master Baggins it would seem our ponies have disappeared in that direction be a good lad and go get them back" she said pointing in the direction of the destroyed woodland.

Bilbo's eyes widened as he turned to look at the direction she was pointing. She was right the woodland was destroyed something large came crashing through the area and whisked their ponies away. suddenly he felt foolish for coming over to investigate his curiosity getting the better of him. Dolora snorted and looked at him her eyes narrowing. Bilbo gulped and nodded his head slowly to her surprise

"Very well I shall go look" he said trying his best to steel his emotions before walking away in the direction of the overturned trees and uprooted brush.

The three dwarves watched silently as their burglar slowly creeped through the heavily wooded area his large feet patting along the earth in almost perfect silence. Dolora turned to look at the expressionless faces of Kili and Fili and snorted loudly blowing her long bangs away from her eyes. She moaned exasperated and tightened the straps of her dagger and sword fastened to her hip satisfied they were securely in place; she reached her hand back to fell the soft feathers of her arrows counting them softly to herself. She shrugged her shoulders and cracked her neck and looked at her companions

"What? You honestly think I'm going to let Bilbo go alone, hardly" she said in a huff and she withdrew her long bow and lovingly caressed the smooth wood.

Fili and Kili nodded and watched her walk away starting to follow Bilbo before she looked over her shoulder at them and gave them a small smile "If I need you you'll come yes?" she asked hesitation slipping into her voice.

Kili smiled at her and nodded and with that she left.

…

Bilbo had been following the trail of destruction his nerves on edge when he saw a giant troll carrying one of their ponies the poor creature bucking and neighing frantically as it panicked. The giant troll crashed through the low underbrush and stopped around a large campfire joining two other trolls before tossing the pony with the others closing off the would-be fence. Bilbo's heart was racing as he had never had the misfortune of seeing such large and seemingly stupid creatures. They smelled foul and he grimaced at their poor etiquette while they argued how to properly eat the ponies. The largest who was holding a large ladle was trying to educate his companions on cooking the ponies. Bilbo flinched when one of the trolls sneezed into the cooking pot that was bubbling over the fire; and to his disgust the other two seemed delighted complementing him on adding flavor to the mix. Bilbo covered his mouth to try and suppress a gag and ducked lower behind the lush vegetation moving silently around the three trolls to come beside the pen holding the ponies' captive. He tried to untangle the mass of large ropes but he couldn't get them to budge, frustration building on his face he grimaced and ducked when one of the trolls turned to look at the ponies. Bilbo spotted a large fileting knife strapped on the hip of the trolled called Bert. A streak of brilliance and courage flashed through Bilbo and he decided he need to get his hands on the knife to cut the ponies free. Bilbo crept around behind Bert and tried to slip the knife gingerly out of its bindings but at that exact moment Bert reached down to relieve himself of an ill-timed itch and his hand clasped firmly around Bilbo and sneezed on him. Bilbo covered in a disgusting layer of mucus grunted and grimaced before coming face to face with three stunned trolls.

….

Dolora slipped quietly through the brush keeping her knees bent and taking wide steps around the uprooted brush before stopping and straining to hear the faint sounds of distress coming from Bilbo. She gripped her bow painfully tight and sped up coming to a small clearing her eyes wide as she peered at three large mountain trolls, one had Bilbo in his hand and it would appear they were talking to each other. Dolora growled softly when they were trying to decide whether to eat poor Bilbo. Dolora narrowed her eyes as anger flooded her heart and she stood up a small smile twitching at the corner of her mouth when Bilbo refused to tell the trolls if there were any more of his friends hiding about. She whistled loudly and snapped off an arrow striking the cave troll holding Bilbo causing her burglar to hit the ground hard and scramble away as her companions rushed through the dense foliage and attacked the trolls. Dolora smiled wickedly and started sprinting around them firing off her arrows while the other dwarrow decided for a more direct attack and wielded swords and broad axes. Dolora loved the sensation of a good fight and felt exhilarated as she sped around the large slow trolls but frowned when he arrows refused to leave a sizable mark. She had never battled with a cave troll before and their skin was thick and tough.

She caught movement behind them and saw Bilbo grabbing a long crude knife to cut the ponies free but before she could call out to him one of the trolls grabbed him tightly and faced down Thorin and her companions. Kili made a move to save Bilbo but Thorin placed a hand across his chest as the three trolls pulled at Bilbo's limbs the cook smugly instructing everyone to drop their weapons. Dolora ducked low and tried to hide as Thorin threw down his sword everyone quickly followed suit. Dolora hissed when one by one the trolls snatched up her friends and took away their weapons and armor. She wanted to laugh when Dwalin's beloved weapons were taken from him and he was fastened to a large spit along with Ori, Nori, Dori, Bifur and Bofur all of them in nothing but their underclothes. She shook her head and scolded herself for thinking anything about the situation was funny however smirked when she knew she could tease them all relentlessly when this was over. She reached behind her back and felt for her arrows but her hand came away empty and she growled softly. She could see Bilbo, Thorin, Gloin, Kili, Fili, Bombur, Balin, and Oin stuffed into sacs constricting their movements behind the three trolls. One of the trolls was mumbling about not wanting to wait to eat them for daylight was approaching and he would eat them raw. He leaned over and grabbed a disgruntled Bombur the heavy dwarf wiggling helpless as the troll dangled him over his open mouth. Disgusting teeth and foul breath instantly caused Dolora to gag and she bolted upright out of cover. Not sure how she could forestall the trolls but she need them to stop paying attention to Bombur long enough for her to devise a plan. The three trolls shot a look in her direction and she whistled loudly whirling around the campfire to face them. Her eyes briefly locked with Bilbo's as he nodded his head in understanding. Staling the trolls was their only hope until daylight broke the canopy of treetops. Stunned and not sure what to do Dolora stared down the trolls her golden eyes blazing and her chest heaving. Her hand reached for the dagger on her hip and she unsheathed it and smiled wickedly at the stunned trolls snapping her wrist she sent it sailing through the air and it embedded itself in the hand on the troll holding Bombur. He wailed viscously and dropped the plump dwarf a heavy thud echoing as Bombur hit the ground hard and groaned. Dolora flinched and ducked when a massive meaty hand tried to snatch her.

She was glad that she was smaller and more agile than her male companions as she ducked and weaved. She hissed and laughed at the fumbling trolls cursing them in her native language causing them to cock their heads and her dwarven kin to laugh.

"Mêzun zaznâ a'tum arkhâs huluk-è khrub thkar" she laughed sticking her chin up at them as they failed to catch her.

Before Dolora could dive out of the way the cook and another troll came crashing into her and she felt the wind get knocked out of her as a meaty fist clenched painfully tight around her abdomen. She wheezed as no air came into her lungs and dug her nails into the leathery tough skin of her assailants' hand. Bilbo let out a panicked yip as Dolora was brought over to the fire and squeezed her breath coming out in pants. As the troll brought her closer to his face she could have sworn he flinched when he looked into her blazing golden eyes. She was angry very angry and being crushed alive was not something she looked forward to she growled up at the stupid expression on the trolls' face and whipped her head about latching onto the dirty foul skin on his hand with her teeth bared pouring all her remaining energy into the bite.

The troll yelped and threw Dolora away from him and she closed her eyes as she sailed through the air meeting something hard. She wheezed as she got up on her hands and knees and looked the trolls in the eyes her normally warm golden eyes had changed into a bloody vicious red and she bared her teeth at them. The troll she had bitten took a tentative step back and held up his hand a small trickle of blood pooling around his massive wrist.

"The bloody thing bit me, look it made me bleed. Kill it" he squealed stomping over to Dolora still down on all fours.

Dolora looked up and hissed but her breathing was labored and she spluttered trying to get to her feet. she absentmindedly wiped the back of her hand across her mouth trying to rid herself of the crude taste of dried blood and dirt from the trolls' hand. She looked up in defeat as he descended on her and roughly grabbed her by the braid before she could roll out of the way. She screamed as he picked her up by her hair and dangled her over his mouth his breath washing over her making her wish he would kill her to rid herself of the smell. She wriggled and kicked as her booted foot contacted his lip. In a last feeble attempt to free herself and as her rage continued to build she brought her feet up to her chest and lashed out viscously smashing her small armored foot into his teeth. He wailed and flung Dolora to the ground knocking the wind out of her as she violently contacted the ground seeing stars as she looked at the faces of her kin. Her fire swirled eyes locking with the worried face of Bilbo. She tried to offer him a weak smile but was pulled up by her braids again and she roared the sound ear splitting and inhuman.

Bilbo watched as the cave troll held Dolora above his gristly mouth licking his lips in anticipation before he quickly blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Wait you don't want to eat that one, she has worms. You have to cook a dwarf properly if you want to eat them" he said hopping up in his wool sac to face the cook.

Dolora's blood red eyes sought out the sound of Bilbo's voice which seemed to grow further and further away before her blurred vision focused on his face. She smiled at him and he winked at her she knew he was trying to buy them time hoping rescue would come in the form of one specific grey wizard who had yet to make his presence known. Unlike the clarity that came to Dolora's mind when Bilbo began to explain that you had to skin a dwarf before you could eat it her kin were not so clever. They seemed to rouse angrily at their hobbit friend for seemingly throwing them under the bus. Dolora was just glad that the troll lowered her away from his awful breath long enough to hear the small hobbits explanation clearly not interested in eating her If she was full of worms. However, the troll turning the spit with her friends attached was clearly not convinced by Bilbo's explanation and expressed that eating them hole would be perfectly fine. Dolora groaned when her captor again brought her up to his face. She held his gave for a brief second and sneered at him her ruby red lips pulled back to reveal long pearly teeth.

"Oh yes" she hissed "You wouldn't dare take a bit of me I'm full of worms and all things dark and disgusting" she all but growled through her clenched teeth before adding "much like yourself" under her breath.

Seemingly convinced the troll threw Dolora into the heap of dwarves alongside Bilbo. She crashed heavily into Thorin and Balin her limbs getting painfully tangled and she moaned and shook her head. Placing her hand under herself and pushed up only to realize her hand was pressed against Thorin's chest. She squeaked and tried to move but her legs were caught under Balin and she felt face first into him again.

"Oh Mahal, just let me die already" she pleaded as red flooded her pale cheeks.

Thorin grunted and tried to shift out of the way but was unable while constricted inside the woolen sac. Dolora decided her best bet was to roll away and found herself face down in the dirt beside Fili. She could hear movement above them and looked up to see Gandalf emerge from the top of a large stone and bellow out something and smash the stone with his staff. Sunlight instantly flooded the area and the trolls tried to withdraw themselves hissing as the sun burnt their skin. Slowly they turned to stone before her blurry eyes and she let her face drop into the ground.

…..

She could hear sounds faintly in the background thinking herself stuck in some dream she tried to move but pain flooded her body and her eyes shot open. What greeted her was the old face of Oin looking down at her a large ear trump held closely to his head. She was trying to speak tell him she was all right but all that came out were muffled gasps and groans. He grunted and helped her sit up her head swimming she shut her eyes tight and took several long deep breaths. Slowly her world began to slow and she pried open one eye peeking around her. she had been out for some time all her friends were now safely on the ground weapon and armor returned. Oin helped her to her feet and pushed a cup of something into her hands. She looked up at him quizzically and then down at the amber liquid swirling in the tin cup. Oin laughed and pushed her fingers around the cup

"For your head lass" he said smiling at her warmly

Dolora nodded and drank down the concoction in one large gulp. Almost instantly she felt the haze lift from her eyes and she nodded at Oin returning his warm smile with one of her own.

"Thank you" she whispered to him handing back the cup and he nodded.

Dolora took in her surroundings and to her delight the trolls had been turned to stone and she began to look around for her favorite dagger when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Whirling around she faced Bilbo who was looking up at her smiling holding out a long slender dagger.

"Found it while you were out" he said rocking back and forth on his feet.

Dolora reached out and took the dagger from him smiling down at her weapon her golden eyes meeting his soft brown she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Bilbo, if not for you I would be dead right now. You had the sense to stall for time and I'm grateful" she said a small smile tugging at the corner of her full lips.

Bilbo only smiled in response and turned to rejoin the others. Dolora slide her dagger back in its sheath and follow him. She stopped at patted her pony Zul on the snout lovingly and pulled herself up into the saddle. She looked up at her friends already set for a day's travel when Kili walked up beside her

"Sleep well" he teased as he pulled himself into his saddle

Dolora rolled her eyes at the raven haired dwarrow and snorted "Oh Aye, what can I say best sleep I've had in years" she chuckled lightly

Kili smiled at her and turned to rejoin the others. Dolora watched Thorin and Gandalf in what appeared to be a standoff and she cocked her head to the side wondering what had caused a rift between them.

…

I would like to state that during the conversation with Balin about why Thorin hates Orcs most of that dialog was taken from the movie the Hobbit. I did not create nor own those specific lines.

KhuzDul Translations

Mêzun zaznâ a'tum arkhâs huluk-è khrub thkar = Your Foul Breath offends even my horse's ass

luknu-izd amarâb amkhuh akhâl-a-id dûm Valar =May Their souls find peace in the halls of Valar