A/n
I'm sorry it took so long. It has been a busy week, so yeah... Anyway here's another chapter for all you faithful readers.
oh, before I forget. I'd love to hear whom you like better. Mallosseth/Fili or Mallosseth/Thorin, though maybe it is still a little too soon for Thorin?
Mirkwood Forest
The next day Mallosseth wakes up by a hand brushing softly her hair out of her face. She pushes the hand away, not wanting to awaken just yet, enjoying the feeling of her head on his chest.
A voice calls out her name, the hand returns. His thumb rough of skin, soft by touch, gently caressing her cheek to wake her up. Yet again she ignores it, placing her hand over his, feeling his thick short fingers and the rings he wears.
A smile forms on her lips as she enjoys the warmth his body is radiating, the feeling of his chest rising and falling and the sound of his soft breathing.
Suddenly her eyes shoot open as it dawns in on her. She can feel rings on his fingers!
But Fili doesn't wear any rings!
In fact, there is only one dwarf who is wearing rings. Slowly she looks up, moving her head while doing so, to see his head.
The first thing she sees is his thick black hair and short black beard. Clearly too much hair-grow to be Kili. Then her blue eyes meet his blue ones and Mallosseth quickly sits up. For laying underneath her is no other than Thorin!
'Look who finally decided to wake up,' he says, a smirk just barely audible in his voice, removing his arm from her waist. 'I did not mean to wake you, but you were refusing to let me go.'
He chuckles as Mallosseth's face reddens and quickly apologises. She feels embarrassed! Though she is grateful the others are still asleep. Well except for Gandalf whom she cannot see.
'I must admit, it was quiet interesting to be awakened with a female laying on my chest.'
Again he chuckles, as he stretches before standing up. Then he extends his hand to help Mallosseth up, holding her hand just a little longer than necessary.
There, he does it again! Acting strangely towards her, making her feel uncomfortable. Acting kind to her, instead of treating her like she's scum. His behaviour is making her feel cautious around him, yet somehow she is glad. Glad he has made a turn-around, for this makes the arrangement made by the Valar a lot easier.
But that doesn't mean she likes being around Thorin. She liked the 'old' Thorin better, because she knew what to expect. So when the others had woken up, Mallosseth spent most of the day avoiding Thorin and Fili. For she knows she must create a distance between Fili and her.
Bilbo had been the last to join them, after Bofur had fallen over him. The hobbit had opened his eyes in shock, having been fast asleep as the hatted dwarf started grumbling, telling Bilbo to get up or there would be no breakfast left for him.
Both, Beorn and Gandalf, had been away the whole day. Not that Mallosseth is bothered by it. Their wizard comes and goes as he pleases and their host... She isn't really sure what to think of him, finding him hard to measure.
As supper is served by Beorn's wonderful animals, Gandalf walks into the hall. But still no sign of Beorn.
'Where is our host, and where have you been all day yourself?'
Before the wizard can even sit down, everyone starts throwing questions at him. Demanding answers. Especially Thorin seems suspicious, still being his old self around the wizard.
'One question at a time – and none till after supper! I haven't had a bite since breakfast.'
And with that he takes the seat next to Nori eating his supper in peace. Well, as peaceful as one can eat while being surrounded by dwarves.
At last Gandalf pushes away his plate and jug and takes out his pipe.
'What a splendid place for smoke rings,' he states, sending smoke rings, dodging the pillars in the hall, changing them into all sports of different shapes and colours.
And that is the only thing he does for a long time, much to Mallosseth annoyance. And to Thorin's, for he keeps glaring at the wizard. But that doesn't phase Gandalf. He keeps ignoring the dwarves and hobbit who are looking at him expectantly.
'I will answer the second question first,' Gandalf finally speaks as he puts away his pipe. 'I have been picking out bear-tracks. There must have been a regular bears' meeting outside here tonight.' – a so that is what Mallosseth had heard last night- 'I soon saw that Beorn could not have made them all, for there were far too many and of various sizes. They came from almost every direction, except from the west over the river, from the Mountains. There was only one set of footprints and they were going away from here.'
'Was it of our host?'
'That they were, my dear Bilbo. I followed these as far as the Carrock, until it was too late for me to follow them any further. But the tracks went straight off in the direction of the pine-wood on the east side of the Misty Mountains.'
'To where we had our run-in with the wargs and orcs,' Mallosseth concludes, as she remembers that night. 'So you say Beorn went to see if our story is true?'
'That is indeed what I think. Now I think it would be wise to bed, for we must catch some sleep while we can.'
Mallosseth had not notice it was getting late. But apparently Gandalf had been smoking his pipe for a long time before he had started talking. But now she notices it is getting late.
Bilbo is the first to leave, the dwarves wanting to sing first. Mallosseth had even danced with Kili, before excusing herself. The dwarves following her shortly after.
The next morning Beorn has returned, the skin-changer being most jolly for a change. Which was a frightening sight to see, seeing the grizzly-looking man laughing the way he does. Though Mallosseth fonds it a pleasant change still.
'So you are all still here,' he says as he picks up the hobbit like he is some kind of pet, laughing as Bilbo squeaks in surprise. 'Not eaten up by wargs or orcs or wicked bears yet I see.'
Mallosseth has to suppress a laughter – and failing miserably – as Beorn poker Bilbo's waistcoat most disrespectfully. The poor hobbit is starting to protest, wanting to get down on the floor again as everyone seems to be laughing at him.
'Little bunny is getting nice and fat again on bread and honey. Even the female seems a little rounder,' Beorn chuckles, earning a glare from the said female. She was not getting fat! 'Come and have some more!'
While they are eating breakfast, Beorn makes them all laugh with his funny stories, doing a really good job as a host this time. He also doesn't let his guest wonder long where he had been, telling them of his encounter with a burnt warg and his rider in the forrest.
'You have told a good story, that you did,' Beorn says, 'but I like it even better now I am sure it is true. You must forgive me for not taking your word. But if you lived near the edge of Mirkwood, you wouldn't take the word of no stranger. But for you to have killed the great goblin, the great goblin! I shall think more kindly of dwarves after this.'
Beorn chuckles fiercely to himself, before telling them what he had done to the orc and warg he had encountered. Telling them he now has a nice warg skin as decoration on a tree, the head of an orc on a stake outside the gate.
Mallosseth shutters at the thought. She's glad the fierce man is their friend, enjoying the jolly nature of him.
But it doesn't last long, as Gandalf tells him the reason of their journey. Suddenly the jolly man becomes grim again, like the first time they met.
'You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?'
'Before Durin's Day falls, yes,' Gandalf says.
'You are running out of time.'
'Which is why we must go through Mirkwood.'
A shiffer runs down Mallosseth's spine upon hearing the news. She has heard the rumours about the forrest and its inhabitants. Dark creatures hide in the darkness of the forest.. And even though she had a feeling they will be traveling through it, somewhere she had hoped they would not.
'A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees,' Beorn tells them, his voice growing more grim. 'There is an alliance between the orcs of Moria and the Necromancer of Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need.'
'I know the Wood-Elves of Mirkwoord are not like my kin in Lothlórien or Rivendell, but when we take the Elven Road we will be safe,' Mallosseth say, turning her head to Gandalf. 'Don't you agree, Gandalf?'
The wizard nods, his voice fading with the discussion between the dwarves.
'What do you mean, Mallosseth?' Thorin asks, clearly not pleased with the information. 'How are they not like the other elves?'
'The elves of Mirkwood are less wise and more dangerous,' she answers.
'You will never reach the forest alive, for these lands are crawling with orcs,' Beorn growls at the thought. 'Their numbers are growing and you are on foot.'
There is a silence. Mallosseth had forgotten about the orcs on their tail. Beorn is right, they will never reach the forest alive, not with the orcs riding wargs.
She looks over at Thorin, hoping their Leader might have an idea. But the look on his face tells enough.
'I never liked dwarves,' Beorn tells them, his voice stoic. 'Thinking they're greedy and blind. Blind to the lives they deem lessen than their own.'
Beorn picks up a mouse that had been scampering on the table and holds it, while approaching Thorin. The tall dwarf is standing with is arms crossed, looking at the huge man.
'But I cannot let a female die because I refused to help,' the skin-changer then says, looking at Mallosseth. He holds out his hand for her to touch the mouse, letting her pet it. 'And you seem important to her. Besides, I hate orcs more.'
Mallosseth smiley brightly as Beorn asks what they need, hugging the person sitting next to her. The flustered hobbit clears his throat after she releases him, not being used to such female attention. And the glare two certain dwarves are giving him doesn't make the situation better for Bilbo.
They have travelt long and far, before they approach the looming, gloomy-looking forest. Gandalf dismounts his horse and walks into the edge of the forest, before Mallosseth has even come to a stop. She watches the wizard walk through an ancient archway, before she prepares to dismount her pony.
But two arms are stretched out for her, to help her out of her saddle.
'You have been avoiding me the past few days,' the blond dwarf states as she stands in his arms. 'Why?'
'To make it easier, Fili. Now could you please let me go?'
Fili shakes his head and pulls her closer to him. His arms sneak around her waist as he pulls her into a hug.'
'No,' he whispers in her ear, sending shiffers up and down her spine. 'I will never let you go. I will love you forever.'
Before she can even register what is happening, Fili kisses her. She stands there in shock, not sure what to do. Her heart telling him to kiss him back, her mind telling her to stay true to Thorin. Eventually her mind wins and she pulls back.
'Fili, no. We can't,' she tells him, taking a step back. 'I am to marry Thorin. I am truely sorry and I wish we could be together. I love you, I always have and I always will. But I cannot be untrue to my future husband, your uncle and future king.'
With that she turns around, whispering an 'I'm sorry' and walks away. She doesn't look back, she doesn't dare to look back as tears form in her eyes. She doesn't want to see the hurt look on the face of the one she loves.
She hears Gandalf order them to set the ponies lose to return to their master. But she doesn't care. Someone else will take care of her pony. She doesn't want to be around any of the dwarves, for they must have seen what had just happened between Fili and her.
Instead she walks over to Bilbo, who is standing at the edge of the forest.
'This forest feels...sick,' Bilbo tells her as she stands next to him. 'As if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?'
Mallosseth shakes her head, though it is Gandalf who answers his question.
'Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south.'
As Gandalf walks further into the forest, Mallosseth glances back at Fili, feeling his eyes on her back. She can see the determanation in his eyes as their eyes meet and she knows the dwarf will never give upon her.
But at wat cost?
Why did there have to be a prophecy about me?
Thorin's p.o.v.
They have entered the forest some time ago. A couple of days, maybe even a week? He doesn't know. The forest being too thick to see the light of the sun or moon. Not even the keen eyes of his nephews or the female next to him can see them.
He taps the ground with his axe to see where the path leads to, his other hand holding Mallosseth close to him. He can sense she isn't at ease with him, but he doesn't care. Not anymore.
At first he had asked Balin about it, being clueless about the distance the female had started to create. According to the older dwarf it had been because of his sudden change towards her. And that she might feel shaken up by it.
So Thorin had tried to make her feel more comfortable around him, trying to make her like him. Letting her come to him, instead of Thorin forcing himself into the life of the young female. And who knows, some day she might love him like she loves Fili. That is what Thorin had tried at the beginning.
But after he had seen Fili kissing Mallosseth, something had snapped. Apparently the boy would not give up on Mallosseth so easily. So Thorin has decided to make it clear the said female is his, not Fili's and the dark-haired dwarf has not left her side ever since they have entered the forest.
Is he being jealous? Maybe. Is he being possessive? Obviously.
But Thorin had seen the heartbroken look of Mallosseth. Being torn between love and duty.
I will not allow her any more pain!
'I wish Gandalf was still here,' he hears the hobbit whine, but he ignores him.
'Found the bridge.'
That's more like the news Thorin wants to hear. He quickly makes his way to Bofur, who is pointing at a stone bridge, not letting go of Mallosseth.
'Oh,' Mallosseth says, her voice grim. 'Well that's no good.'
And Thorin can see why. The midsection of the bridge is missing, making it impossible to cross.
'We could try and swim it,' Bofur suggests.
'Didn't you hear what Gandalf said,' Thorin says, looking suspiciously at the water. 'A dark magic lays upon this forest. The waters of this stream are enchanted.'
'It doesn't look really enchanting to me,' he hears Bofur mumble, but he ignores it.
'Well, that means we must find another way to cross it,' Mallosseth states as she looks around.
'Stay close,' Thorin whispers to her when he notices she is walking away. 'I don't want you to get hurt.'
'These look strong enough,' Kili suddenly says and Thorin looks at his youngest nephew.
He is standing next to some vines and roots that reach all the way to the other side of the river. Kili is about to climb into the overgrowth, but Thorin quickly stops him.
'We send the hobbit first.'
'Why Bilbo?' Mallosseth asks as she inspects the roots. 'I'm the lightest, so I would be an obviouse choice...'
'...What she said,' the hobbit squeaks, not liking the idea of going first.
'Or do you think I'm getting fat as well?'
Thorin smirks at the female standing in front of him as she is glaring at him. Seems like someone is still angry at the skin-changer for his statement the other day.
'I will not let you put your life on the line. Bilbo is the lightest after you, so he will go first. And that's final!' Thorin adds as Mallosseth is about to protest.
Mallosseth turns her back to him with a 'hmm', clearly not pleased. Not that it matters as the hobbit slowly makes his way to the other side.
To Thorin is seems safe enough, so when Bilbo is almost at the other side, he tells the others to cross the river as well. Thorin leading the way. He can hear the hobbit talking, but doesn't really hear what he is saying.
The closer he is getting to the other side, the stranger Thorin begins to feels. A strange drowsiness falls upon him and not only him. The others are having trouble staying awake as well.
He even had to catch Mallosseth from falling, while she usually is light and steady on her feet.
With a final jump, Thorin reaches the other side, looking over at the others. Bombur has fallen asleep halfway and the others are complaining loudly.
With a soft 'thud' Mallosseth lands next to Thorin, shaking her head once she stands up straight. Gandalf had been right about the river being enchanted. Thorin has had noticed the female being less sensitive to magic, probably due to her elven-blood. But if even she has been affected, than it must be real strong magic.
'Are you alright?' he asks her, really concerned about the female.
'Y-yeah, just a little drowsy,' Mallosseth says quietly. 'I think the forest is affecting me.'
Suddenly something moves in the shadow of the trees. Thorin can hear it move, but he can't see it. Then a white stag jumps into the clearing of the riverbank, looking straight at them.
Thorin reaches for his bow, preparing to shoot it if it's going to attack them.
'He's beautiful.'
Thorin glances at Mallosseth, seeing the amazed look in her eyes, almost admiring the animal. No, it is indeed admiration he sees in her eyes as she takes a step closer to the stag.
Suddenly Thorin releases his arrow, ignoring the hobbit asking him what he is doing.
'Why did you do that?'
Thorin can hear the anger in her voice, but he doesn't care, feeling releaved he has missed. He is asking himself the same question. Why did he shoot at it? Was it the way it had looked at them that made him feel treatent? Or did it make a wrong move?
'It's bad luck, you know,' the hobbit tells him, obviously not pleased as well.
'We don't need luck, master Baggings,' Thorin growls at the hobbit. 'We make our own luck.'
A splash is heard and Thorin turns to see Bombur has fallen into the water.
'I'd rather not share your luck then,' Mallosseth mumbles as she too looks at the fat dwarf floating in the river. 'At least he is still alive.'
A/n
and that's the end of yet another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
For those who feel Thorin is a little out of character, maybe he is. But I like to think him of a kind and caring dwarf for the ones he cares about. As you can see him smiling at Kili in the first movie when he arrives at Bag End.
And for those who feel Beorn is out of character, in the books he is quiet different than in the movie. More jolly after he knows they are telling him the truth about the great goblin.
Anyway, don't be shy to review and maybe tell me which pairing you like best?
