Chapter 7

The Scent of Fear

I had made it to the edge of Rivendell when I sensed someone following me. I sniffed their and groaned. I turned around and sat down. I let out a short howl.

I know you are there….Arwen.

She came out, dressed in her travel dress and she had her sword and pack with her. She smiled.

"~I am going with you. At least until the road turns for Lorien. I have been meaning to go back for sometime. And yes Ada knows about this. He was very approving of the idea.~"

I did not like this. The road through the Misty Mountains was dangerous enough, and I did not want her in danger. Many of the scars I bore came from running into danger in the Mountain Pass, I did not want Arwen to be hurt.

"~We can stay here and argue Vanmoriel. That is if you truly wish to run into the dwarves again. In which case I would be more then willing.~" She said with a smile.

I scowled at her.

Oh very clever! Low blow!

I gave in and nodded my head.

"~Yes you wish to wait?~"

I shook my head and her smile grew. So it was that Arwen joined me on my journey. In truth I was glad of her company. That night when we stopped to rest I turned back into my normal self.

"~I know you are using Lorien as an excuse.~"

She smiled lightly.

"~Perhaps I am. Perhaps not.~"

I sighed and smiled and shook my head. We made a small fire and sat in silence.

"Why Thorin Oakenshield?" She asked suddenly.

I looked up surprised.

*"Ú-chenion." I said in a confused voice.

"I am rather curious as to why you chose him." she said.

It was an innocent question. I looked up at the stars.

"~Long ago, about 160 years, I was there when the dragon took Erebor. I saw him there. Only a glimpse, but enough. He never saw me, he was calling for help from Thranduil. I did not actually know it was Thorin, but he look like a prince. From time to time I would wonder what became of him, but then a few days ago I saw him again. Well, I saw his nephews first, but yes. I saw the pain, sorrow, anger, betrayal and longing in his eyes that night. I believe that was when my heart became his.~" I said.

She nodded and smiled a bit.

"~When you speak of him or even think of him….your eyes shine Vanmoriel.~" She said.

I looked over to her. She was staring into the fire. She looked tired.

"Take some rest Arwen. I am not tired so I shall take watch."

She smiled, too tired to argue she went to sleep. I became a wolf so my senses were sharper. I sat there, thinking of Thorin.

Thorin's POV

"Thorin said I should never have come and he was right. I am not a took I am a Baggins."

I opened my eyes, I never slept much anymore. So the hobbit intended to leave us?

"You are used to this life! Never settling in one place! Not belonging anywhere!"

Not belonging anywhere.

The words echoed in my head. The dark blue eyes of the wolf seemed to haunt me as if she were watching me. There was something about her that was familiar, as if I had seen her eyes before. I had little time to think about when I saw the ground moving.

"UP! WAKE UP!"

Vanmoriel's POV

I felt a strange sense of panic. I could hear nothing, see nothing and smell nothing dangerous. I shook it off and nudged Arwen awake. We continued on to the other side of the Misty Mountains. As we headed down the hillside I yelped in pain and fell to the ground.

"VANMORIEL!"

Thorin's POV

The goblins cracked their whips on me and forced me to the ground.

"CUT OFF HIS HEAD!"

Vanmoriel's POV

The pain dulled down to a numb sting. I stood up and shook myself off.

"Vanmoriel what happened?"

I did not know. Arwen did not question further and we continued on down the hill. The sun was setting when the wind blew. I caught a scent that I had smelled before, but did not know who it belonged to. It was mingled with one I knew all too well.

THORIN!

The howl of a warg pierced the air. My eyes widened and I looked at Arwen. She drew her sword but I shook my head.

I must do this alone!

I knew she did not want to leave. I nudged her towards Lorien and she looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Vanmoriel…"

Another nudge.

"~Very well I shall go. But please…..do not get yourself killed.~"

I nodded and then ran off towards the sound of the howl. I followed the scent but soon I did not even need that. I saw a large fire on a cliff. I made my way up the hill and towards the cliff. It was there I saw the orc pack, but there was another I had not know before. A giant pale orc astride a white warg. He was missing a hand and he had scars down his back. I could smell fear on several of the dwarves and the hobbit. To my horror I saw the tree they all sat in begin to fall! It was on the edge of the cliff. I saw one of them stand up. My heart stopped when I saw it was Thorin. Sword drawn and shield ready he began to run forward. He was going to try and kill the pale orc.

NO! NO YOU FOOL!

The orc let out a roar and he leaped forward knocking Thorin to the ground. He circled around and let his mace collide with Thorin's face.

"NO!"

The warg had Thorin in its jaws. I let howled in rage and then charged forward. Thorin hit the warg's snout and it flung him away. The pale orc said something to another orc and it went forward with a sword. It was going to cut off Thorin's head! I ran faster and as I was about to kill it, someone else jumped it. It was the hobbit! Little Bilbo Baggins! He killed the orc, only to now be faced by the pale orc. I jumped in front of him and growled ferociously. I barked and snapped in warning. It laughed and continued to come forward. A shout came and several of the dwarves, including Fili and Kili came running forward to fight. Bilbo ran forward and I ran to Thorin. I nudged him with my nose but he was unconscious. I pressed my ear to his chest. His heart was beating, but it was weak. Bilbo was thrown back to us and the pale orc advancing on him. I stood in front of him.

If I am to die protecting Thorin and Bilbo…..so be it!

As I was about to jump at him, a heard a shrill cry. I looked up and smiled internally. The Great Eagles of the North had come! They threw the wargs off the cliff and blew the fire at them. Then they began to lift the dwarves and Gandalf up. One of them was coming for Thorin. Another took me in it's talons and carried me away with the dwarves. Gwaihir knew who I was. My eyes remained on Thorin.