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Chapter Four: Many Layers
Rain fell down around the company as they rode, soaking everyone down to the bone without relent and it seemed luck was not on their side.
"What was that ya said about seeing?" Lian yelled over the rain towards the now frustrated leader who had been nothing but agitated upon the arrival of the clouds.
"I have no tolerance for your mouth, woman!" He snapped, dark locks hanging around his shoulders with his fur coat weighing him down heavily with water.
"I believe this mouth of mine warned ya of this." She threw her arms out in emphasis as the heavy downpour continued. Thorin only growled though, a scowl seeming to be his only expression and if she had not seen otherwise earlier she would think so too.
The company grew anxious and weary as they trekked onward, laughter soon being replaced with grumbling and the hobbit had seemed to have forgotten his cloak upon his rush to join them. Only Lian was in high spirits, the rain cooling her down from her usual sweating self.
Finally her conscious couldn't stand it any long and she threw her thick vest onto Bilbo, which happened to be around three sizes too big. He gave a grateful nod none the less though, burrowing his small frame into the semi-dry leather vest.
"Won't you get cold, Miss Lian? Or even more wet?" Bilbo asked, his horse keeping pace with my own.
"This feels far warmer than my home even in the peak of summer. And also if ya haven't noticed, we're all soaked so there's no escaping that." She laughed loudly, brown hair sticking to her face and pelting her armored plating.
"You're far too happy considering the weather, lass." Gloin grumbled, shaking himself out violently on his pony, causing the other dwarves to yell out in protest at the splatter.
"That's because it feels so refreshing! Finally I don't feel like I'm being scorched to death!" She exclaimed with a big grin on her face from ear to ear.
"That's because you wear so many layers, lass." Balin stated.
"Aye, I haven't seen you take them off since you first arrived." Kili added.
"Dear friends, something you must always know about people who live in Forochel, we always dress in layers. It's like a code of modesty if you will." Lian explained nonchalantly.
"Aye, there's modesty alright. If I hadn't have seen underneath those layers I would still be denying you were a woman." Fili laughed, earning a roar from the company as they join in.
"Are you sure that isn't just another 'layer' of armor? Maybe breast plates?" Kili chimed in, referring to her breasts, causing the laughter to grow in volume.
Quickly, Lian rode up to Kili's side as he laughed, taking her chance to kick her leg out from her higher vantage point, sending him into the mud. The group had to be laughing for a good ten minutes after Kili picked himself out of the mud, cursing goodheartedly, the mood momentarily lightened.
"Hey, Mister Gandalf, can't you do something about this downpour?" Dori called to Gandalf, who rode alongside Thorin in the front.
"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain stops. If you wish to change the weather then you should find yourself another wizard to do so." He snapped, clearly the mood hadn't lasted long, the rain picking up even more if possible, causing the ponies and horses to slide on slightly inclines areas.
"Are there any others? Other wizards I mean?" Bilbo asked.
"There are five of us, the greatest is Saruman the White. Then there are two other blue wizards, even though I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf paused, trying to grasp the names.
"Who is the fifth wizard?" Bilbo urged, trying to keep the idle conversation going.
"Well that would be Radagast the Brown." The wizard smiled.
"Is he a great wizard? Or is he…more so like you?" Bilbo questioned, pausing momentarily to frown.
"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals over others. He keeps an eye over the vast forest lands of the East and a good thing too. Evil is always looking to find a foot hold in this world." He answered, ending the conversation.
The company continued until the rain finally ceased, making way for rays of sunshine upon the rocky shores along the river they now stood on. Many of the company dried in the sun while others try to devise a plan to cross the now swollen river, waters raging past with vengeance.
"The waters are too violent, we'll never make it across without casualties." Lian mumbled to Bilbo; who was trying to wring out his clothes.
"Do you think we could perhaps find another way across?" He asked, shaking her borrowed vest out upon a sunbathed rock, bless his soul for trying considering it was saturated
"I don't think Thorin has the patience for such things." She sighed and is proven right once Thorin called for everyone to get ready to cross.
"The pony!"
All heads snapped to attention towards a charging pony, now heading towards the river. "Get him before he reaches the water front!" Everyone quickly got to their feet and races after the horse; who had skidded to halt at the edge of the river.
Suddenly the earth gives under the ponies weight, making way for it to fall into the raging waters. Seconds later Fili dived after, a rope secured to his waist as Kili holds tight to the other end.
Fili is quick in grabbing the reins but the rope suddenly goes taut from the weight and without much effort it snapped, sending Kili into a panic as the other dwarves hold him back from jumping in after him.
"After him!" Lian yelled, racing down the river bed to keep up with Fili and the pony as they wash downstream. Her longer legs carried her farther ahead of the group and she is quickly ahead of Fili.
Swinging down over the edge, she wedged her hand between two large rocks, fingers hooking on the edge as she hastily hooked her left arm into Fili's own.
A sharp scream tore from her lungs as she felt the sudden weight of the dwarf and pony upon her, her right shoulder letting out a sickening pop and if not for the pony suddenly finding traction upon the river floor, she was sure her arm would have been torn clean off.
Her shoulder had dislocated it's self from her arm and she was sure several muscles were tearing. Only the faint feeling of her fingers over the searing pain made her tighten her grip even more as the rock painfully scraped against her hand.
Several rough hands quickly reached past her, pulling Fili and the pony back towards the shore then coming back to pull her out of the waters, her grip now slack.
Black dots danced across her vision, the pain was nauseating and making her stomach roll uncomfortably as she took in shallow breaths.
"Fili!" Kili cried, quickly taking his brother into a tight embrace and she tried to smile despite her pain but it came out more as a grimace.
"The lass popped her arm right out of the socket!" Oin exclaimed, his fingers tracing lightly over the limp arm.
"Just put it back in before I vomit." Lian wheezed, already was a lump forming in her throat and a cold sweat coated her skin in a fine layer.
"Don't move." With a sharp pop, Oin shoved her arm back into place, a short scream leaving her lips as she seethed in pain. Already could she feel the large purple bruise forming on her shoulder and though the pain dulled, it still was there.
Panting heavily she sat; water dripping from the tips of her hair as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push down her breakfast from this morning. "Are you alright lass?" Balin kneeled in front of her, worry clear on his face as the other dwarves gathered.
"I will be. I just need a quick rest before we continue." She panted, her voice shaking considerably.
"Thank you, Lian. I'm not sure what would have happened if not for you." Fili said as he came to also kneel beside her, gratitude and also guilt on his handsome face, blond wisps of hair plastered to his skin.
"Just think next time, your life is far more important than that of a pony." She breathed, already calmed down as she firmly patted his shoulder and stood.
"Thank you." Kili breathed, coming up shortly after to place a hand on her good shoulder, complete gratitude shining in his eyes along with his previous tears of joy. Lian simple nodded, going to Bilbo; who held out her damp vest with a small smile and she couldn't help but give him one in return.
"Are you alright?" He asked, worry coating his voice thickly and she just shook her head. "I'm fine, Bilbo."
"Let's move out. We'll look for another way across." Thorin called before Bilbo can voice more of his concerns and she simply ruffled the soft curls on his head before joining the rest of the group. Averting her eyes from the short embrace Thorin gave his nephews before he walked over to her.
"I thank you for saving my nephew; I do not know how I would cope without him." His eyes burned with sincerity and she felt a strange leap in her gut towards that look.
"If one does not make sacrifices for the people around him then all will fall." She quoted, a smile breaking out on her face and lighting up her now slightly tanned complexion.
A smile tugged at his thins lips before he could stop himself, nodding as he turned to take the lead once more. With quick work they had found a way over the river, carefully guiding the ponies and horses over as they continued on.
The sun shined brightly, fat clouds floating through the afternoon sky as the forest glistened with water and the sounds of animals in the distance.
Many of the dwarves had asked of her health, even Bifur had shown his concern through several hand gestures though she had reassured them all that she was fine and it would only leave a bruise.
"We will make camp here for the night." Thorin called, "Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them."
"Better do as he says or we'll get another scolding." Fili urged, them both dismounting their ponies along with everyone, Thorin ordering Gloin and Oin to start a fire.
They had settled by a burnt down farmhouse, its structure ruined by the unknown and for some reason a foul stench hung in the air. Crinkling her nose Lian took a seat upon a bolder, rolling her stiff shoulder with a sharp intake of breath.
It was beginning to ache considerably but she knew it would eventually fade through the days; the flesh was very tender upon even her own touch. She dreaded trying to find sleep tonight with the uncomfortable pain.
The bickering between Thorin and Gandalf grew heated, only had she caught bits of the conversation but she had enough to guess the situation as the wizard turned with a scowl to storm off.
"Is something wrong? Where are you going, Gandalf?" Bilbo asked, a bit anxious that the wizard was leaving.
"To seek the company of the only one around here who has any sense." He growled, stalking past the hobbit.
"Who is that?" He asked.
"Myself, Mr. Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves as of the moment! Maybe even a life time!" He called back, tall form growing farther and farther from the company.
Thorin yelled for Bombur to start cooking and stalks to his own seclusion.
"So dramatic." Lian mumbled, running a hand over her face tiredly as she slipped to the ground, leaning against the rock awkwardly. Her eyes grew heavy and she finally gives in to resting her eyes for a bit, at least till food was ready.
The sudden jerking of her shoulder woke her immediately, causing her to instinctively throw her hand out in a fist, backhanding whoever was in front of her. A pained grunt is made upon contact and she looked over to see Nori holding the side of his head, a sharp glare pointed towards her.
"Sorry." She mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. How long had she been out?
"We have to leave now. There's trouble, so get your stuff." Was all he said, quickly getting to his feet to gather his own things.
Finally she took notice of the bustling dwarves as they grabbed their weapons and she too scrambled to her feet as they all trudge into the woods quickly.
The moon still shone in the sky so it was obviously night time, though as to why they were moving through the dark she did not know, she did not ask though as she readied her axe for anything. The foul stench growing stronger as they near a flicker of light, obnoxious voices clearly heard.
"Are there any more of you little fella 'iding where you shouldn't be?" One of them booms and you can faintly here Bilbo deny his accusation.
"He's fibbing!" Another almost squealed with another frantic denial from Bilbo who can now be seen in the hands of what looked to be a giant Troll. Lian had never seen a troll before but she had heard tales of them and there was no way of mistaking their size and stench as anything else.
"Hold his toes over the fire! Make him squeal like a lil girl." They laughed and lumber towards the boiling pot over a campfire or should she say bonfire.
One of the three trolls suddenly fell to his knees with a squeal with the arrow Kili had let loose on him. "Drop him now!" Kili yelled, jumping into view as the rest of us hover, waiting for a good moment to emerge.
"You what?" One asked dumbly.
"I said." He drawled out slowly, "Drop him, now." He twirled his sword into his grasp and holds it firm under the attention of the trolls.
The troll growled and threw poor Bilbo straight at Kili, causing the two to tumble onto the ground but within a safe distance from the trolls.
With loud cries of battle the dwarves and she charged from their cover, steel connecting with thick flesh, huge hands swatting the smaller beings away. The battle was not entirely in their favor though, the trolls were big and their skin tough. It would take hours to kill all of them and they did not have that amount of time nor energy on their hands.
"Bilbo!" Kili cried.
"Lay down your arms!" The troll had gotten a hold of Bilbo and held him tightly in his large hand, face twisted into a foul scowl as he growled. "Or we'll rip off his!"
Thorin looked towards the hobbit and pondered for a few moments before he stabbed his sword into the ground, following the clangs of the rest of their weapons, including her own. They were trapped.
The trolls roughly grabbed them and shoved them into thick sacks, leaving their heads free as they throw them in a pile upon each other. Lian was now lying on top of an angry Dwalin and Dori as Kili flailed around in front of her along with Gloin's harsh bucking; nearly head butting her in the process.
"Quit yer squirmin'!" A troll yelled, harshly kicking them.
The company now lay silent as the trolls begin to argue on how to cook them and so on. Never did Lian ever think she had to worry about how she was to be cooked until now. She couldn't hear much of their conversation though since she had ended up being kicked down onto Thorin with a grunt and sharp yelp from her, thanks to Nori.
Her shoulder felt on fire from the harsh treatment of the trolls and the roll had not helped when she slammed into his knee.
"Stop moving around, woman!" He hissed, his teeth clenched in anger.
"How about ya tell the others that?" She hissed back, glaring daggers up at him.
He looked like he was about to reply with a nasty insult but all grew silent when Bilbo suddenly yelled. "Wait!"
"What?" The troll asked, clearly annoyed upon being interrupted.
"T-that's not how you should cook them! There's a secret!" Bilbo yelled.
"What would 'at be?" He asked, his interest peaked.
The hobbit pursed his lips for a few seconds before the troll finally yelled for him to spit it out.
"You umm…You skin them!" He suddenly blurted, causing a massive uproar from the company and she grunted upon the violent jostling. Threats being thrown left and right towards him.
"What a load of rubbish. I've had 'em with the skins, they're nice and crisp that way." A troll complained, now spinning a bundle of dwarves over the fire as loud complaints are being yelled.
"He's right, nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf for a bit of a snack." The other said, lifting Bombur up and dangling him over his mouth. The poor dwarf was yelling and squirming as he came closer to the gaping trolls' mouth.
"Not that one! He's infected!" Bilbo suddenly claimed, causing the troll to pause and look over.
"What?"
"He's got worms crawling in his…tubes." He explained, causing the troll to drop Bombur in disgust.
"Actually they all have them. They're infested with parasites, it's a terrible thing, I wouldn't eat them if I was you or else you'd might get them too." Bilbo shook his head as if to make his point.
"We don't have damn parasites!" Kili yelled but stopped with a sharp kick from Thorin which jostled Lian's shoulder but she just gritted her teeth and bared it. Bilbo was buying us time it seemed and the dwarves were all a bit slow on catching up.
"I got one as big as my forearm!" Dori claimed, beginning a chain of how big and disgusting their parasites were.
"We're crawling with them!" They yelled from above the fire. Bilbo looked completely nervous as the troll turned to him.
"What do you think I should do? Let them all go?" The troll growled.
"Well…" Bilbo drawled out, as if it was the only logical thing to do.
"You think I don't know what you're trying to do?" The troll poked the hobbit in the chest roughly, causing the lad to stumble. "This little weasel is taking us for fools!"
"Dawn shall take you all! May you become nothing more than stone!"
With a mighty thrust, Gandalf split the bolder he stood upon, sunlight pouring into them. Screams leave the mouths of the trolls as they try to move away and cover themselves.
They finally cease their movement, nothing but stone as the sun bathed them all in light and after a brief moment laughter and cheers sound. Lian joining them as she let out a laugh of relief, leaning her head back onto Thorin's thigh. There she caught Thorin smiling, a genuine one for once and she suddenly felt a bit winded.
"You get your foot out of my back, you fool!" Dwalin yelled suddenly causing the others to laugh as Gandalf moved to release them.
Ori quickly untied her, releasing her from the rough sack. She gave him a smile in return, sending a bit of color to the tenderhearted dwarf's cheeks but he smiled back none the less.
"Well aren't ya quite the clever hobbit." She mused, snapping the hobbit out of his thoughts in front of the huge stone trolls. "Well it really wasn't anything." He insisted, color rising to his cheeks upon the compliment.
"None the less ya saved us all from being turned into dinner and I thank ya for that." She placed a firm hand on the hobbits shoulder and gave it a squeeze before leaving.
Once everyone was released they traveled on, apparently the trolls must have had a cave to travel by so they were to venture there. Once they found it Lian quickly pulled her leather cover over her mouth, gagging upon the stench.
Bugs swarmed in the damp hole while vines hung from above the cave as they ventured forth, several complaining about the smell along with loud gagging and coughs.
Piles of gold filled the cave along with jewels, weapons, etc. Many of the dwarves seemed drawn to take some and they were determined to try as Gloin told Nori to grab a shovel.
Thorin seemed to be drawn to a rack of swords, covered in cobwebs and dust. "These swords were not made by any troll." He stated.
"Nor by Men." Gandalf added, unsheathing a sword with wonder and awe.
"These were forged in Gondolin, by the high Elves of the First Age. You could not wish for a finer blade in all of Middle Earth."
Thorin hesitated before unsheathing his own blade, awe even in his eyes.
Lian had found nothing in the cave of interest, gold held no lure for her as well as jewelry though she had held appreciation for some. Suddenly though, there it was, half buried in gold and she dare not say what else.
Slowly she kneelsedso memorized by the piece that she didn't even wrinkle her nose in disgust at the even fouler stench around her.
There lay a mace, polished iron shining dimly in the light as a layer of cobwebs, dust and other 'stuff' cover its blunt head, the handle barely peeking out from the 'stuff'.
With a cringe she reached her hand in and grabbed the handle, pulling the weapon out quickly and gagging. She found herself an old cloth and wiped it off as best as she could. The stench still clingin to it but at least she didn't have to worry about the 'stuff' getting on her and with that she joinefd the rest.
With a breath of relief she exited the cave, the stench still strong from the cave but not as much now that the moist smell of rain still covered the forest.
"Seems you've found yourself a mace, lass." Balin chuckled upon notice of the weapon.
"Aye, it seemed about time I learned to be handy with something other than an axe." She chuckled back, crouching down to drop the mace into a puddle of water, rubbing it with mud and water until it was clean and no longer smelled of 'stuff'.
"That'd probably be wise." He smiled before leaving her to herself. She strapped it tightly to her back, only wincing slightly at the weight it put on her shoulder.
"Something's coming our way!" Thorin yelled, gaining everyone's attention as bird squawk and chirp in a frenzy.
"Arm yourselves for whatever may come!" Gandalf commanded, everyone moving to defend against whatever was coming.
"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" Came the cry, a sleigh pulled by rabbits bursting through the forest and stopping in front of them with a sudden jerk.
"Radagast! Radagast the Brown." Gandalf sighed in relief, quickly sheathing his sword.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Gandalf asked the frantic wizard.
"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong, something's very, very wrong!" The wizard rambled, eyes wide and almost crazed looking as he moved his hands frantically.
"Go on." Gandalf urged, only for the wizard to start and stop and then repeat.
"Just give me a minute, oh, I had the thought and now I've lost it completely. It was right there on the very tip of my tongue! The bloody tip!" He exclaimed.
Then from within his mouth came an insect. "Oh, it wasn't a thought; it was just a little stick insect." He chuckled in bewilderment, playing with the small creature in his hand.
The dwarves seemed to be puzzled by this man and Lian could not blame them, the fellow was quite queer. Gandalf quickly led him away to talk amongst each other and the dwarves settled down for the moment, Ori finally taking the time to show Lian his drawings.
"Yer quite good, Ori." She smiled, looking at a drawing he had done of the Blue Mountains.
"Thank you, Miss Lian. I'm glad you like them." He smiled back, his sweet face alight with joy upon the compliment.
She laughed at the drawing of Golin kissing the beard of, she assumed, his wife just like you would someone's hand. It tickled her how smitten he was for the dwarven woman; considering his usual rough and tough demeanor.
Suddenly a piercing howl cut through the forest like a knife, making her quickly snap to attention. Ori had done the same but had made sure to safely secure his drawings and they both join the group.
"Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asked, not sounding that worried.
"Wolf? No, that is no wolf there." Bofur answered, anxiety clear on his face and the rest of the company's as they look towards the direction of the howl.
Sharp snapping sounded from behind and they turned to see a Warg lunge forward while another came from the other side. They fell easily but they had done their purpose effectively.
"Warg scouts! Which means an orc pack is close behind." Thorin breathed, slightly out of breath from the sudden rush of adrenaline.
"Orc pack?" Bilbo blanched. Lian shivered, few times would stray Gundabag orcs and their wargs wandered into their land. The causality rates they had dealt on her soldiers far more than they could handle.
"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin? Who was it?" Gandalf stalked to Thorin, anger and panic clear on his face.
"No one." He answered.
"Who did you tell?!" Gandalf demanded. Lian had never seen this side of Gandalf before.
"No one I swear." Thorin insisted, causing the grey wizard to let out a frustrated breath.
"What in Durin's name is going on, Gandalf?" Thorin asked, confusion and a hint of desperation in his tone.
"We're being hunted." Gandalf answered, a short silence following.
"We've got to get out of here quick." Dwalin growled. "We can't! We have no ponies! They bolted once they heard the wargs." Ori called, running down the forest slope with Bifur, obviously having gone to check them in the midst of their panic.
"I'll draw them away from you." Radagast offered.
"These are Gundabag Wargs we're dealing with; they will outrun you!" Gandalf exclaimed.
"And these are Rhosobel Rabbits; I'd like to see them try." Radagast smirked, quickly jumping back onto his sleigh and racing past us in a flash.
"Will he be alright?" Lian asked, not quite convinced that his safety is plausible.
"I hope he will be." Gandalf sighed before turning to the dwarves.
"We must make haste! We only have a limited amount of time in which Radagast can help us!" Gandalf called out, leading the company towards the edge of the woods and running down the sloping plains once Radagast was clear.
They used the large rocks as cover, steering clear from Radagast's path as Warg howls echo throughout.
Lian's heart was pounding in her chest, her shoulder burning as they moved but the adrenaline had slowly begun to numb her. Several times they had to change their direction due to the wargs, often hiding behind the rocks as to remain unnoticed.
Thorin had asked once where Gandalf was leading us but he only gave him a grim look before we once again race across the lands.
Coming to another stop they huddle tightly against a rock, breathing shallow as they here the soft paws of a straying warg, a thundering growl deep in its throat. Thorin nodded towards Kili and Kili pulls an arrow from his quiver, letting it fly after a quick turn.
The warg and its rider fell to the ground with a roll, cries escaping the wargs throat as the orc lunged at them.
Lian quickly embedded her axe into the Warg's skull as the others tried to silence the orc but they let out too much noise and she knew they would be found.
As if to confirm her fears, several howls sounded, growing closer to the group by the second.
"Move! Run!" Gandalf yelled.
Quickly they moved, trying desperately to avoid the pack as they closed in on the company and then soon enough they founf themselves surrounded, the company backing farther and farther into a corner.
"There's more headed our way!" Kili yelled.
"Shoot them down, Kili!" Thorin ordered as we huddle into a small circle, tall grass surrounding us the color of wheat.
"We're surrounded!" Fili informed, panic creeping into his voice as he joined us, followed by Dwalin and Bilbo.
"Where's Gandalf?" Bilbo cried, drawing a sword.
"He's abandoned us, now we must fight on our own." Dwalin snapped.
"We can't stand in a circle like this! We'll die for sure." Lian panted, taking up the right flank of Bilbo while Dwalin occupies the other.
"Raise your weapons and fight!" Thorin yelled, unsheathing his sword while Ori used his slingshot, not even phasing the warg as they stalk closer. Panic grew thick upon them as they backed farther together.
"Over here, you fools!" Gandalf suddenly cried, appearing from behind a rock.
Quickly they rushed forward and slide into a cave, Thorin calling for everyone to get in the cave while cutting down a warg who charged him.
Lian paused at the entrance of the cave, seeing Kili still a distance away shooting wargs down.
"Kili, run!" Thorin yelled, catching the attention of the young dwarf.
Kili raced across the field, wargs hot on his tail as he grew closer. Lian quickly grabbed his arm when he was close enough and dived into the cave, Thorin right behind them when a yelp came from behind.
Coughing, Lian rolled Kili off her, quickly looking around to see all the dwarves present and covered in sand.
A horn sounded from above, horse shoes thundering from over head and an orc suddenly rolled into the mouth of the cave, arrow protruding from its throat which Thorin took.
"Elves." Thorin spat in disgust, face twisted into a scowl, throwing the arrow to the ground before looking towards Gandalf.
"The path is clear!" Dwalin called from deeper within the cave, urging the dwarves to move along. Narrow walls seeming to close in and far too much for comfort as they trudged though.
Lian stopped at the edge of a cliff with the company, overlooking the most beautiful place she had ever laid eyes on. Before her stood a city nestled against the mountains with blankets of water cascading down around it.
"Welcome to the valley of Imladris, though in the common tongue it's known by another name." Gandalf chuckled.
"Rivendell." Bilbo breathed in awe.
GG no Re.