I can't say I'm a fan of what I've written in this chapter, sorry if it turns out bad, I promise that the next chapter will be a lot better. Hope you all can still enjoy though!
Coming back inside, there was much celebration as Anyekia assured the Company that she was alright and much praise to Beorn's healing abilities was thrown about. Most of them didn't notice the look shared between Thorin and Anyekia as they sat down at the table to a meal, Anyekia more than hungry not really remembering the last time she ate.
"You like trouble Anyekia." Beorn says to her, piling food onto her plate.
Anyekia smiles. "No, I think I just attract it."
Gandalf snorts. "Who was it that insisted on joining this Company?"
"And who was it that first told me of the Company?" Anyekia gives Gandalf a look, Gandalf hiding his smirk.
"I told you certainly, but I didn't insist you come along."
Shrugging lightly, Anyekia digs into the meal. Beorn was staring at her hair.
"You've been using your ability too much."
This caused a silence to fall over the Company, many eyes falling on her causing her to pause as she goes to eat another mouthful, blushing.
"Let her eat first, you can ask questions later." Thorin gives a purposeful look at Beorn, who nods in agreement. Anyekia gives them both an appreciative smile before returning to her meal, the rest following suit.
Anyekia was the last to finish eating, feeling a lot better with a fuller stomach. They'd all been happily talking throughout dinner but now was the time for explanations as she noticed Beorn surveying her.
She sighs. "I am aware of the condition of my hair Beorn."
All eyes turned to her as her and Beorn looked at each other.
"It almost killed you when I first met you, so why would you keep using it?" He didn't bother hiding the growl in his voice and this made many of the dwarves nervous.
Anyekia bit her lip. "Well, most of the time, I've used it to save myself or others." She glances down the table to see the dwarves watching.
"And other times?"
Letting out a slow breath, she doesn't look at any of them. "It's addictive. I cannot begin to describe it, but knowing that it is there, knowing what I can do with it, it is enough to sit in the back of my mind and be a constant temptation." She frowns. "But I do not often give into that temptation, I am not blind to the risks."
"Your hair and overall exhaustion says otherwise." Beorn frowns. "I do not mean to sound pushy, but if you intend to reach the mountain in full strength-"
"I'll be fine." She says shortly. "And thank you for your concern Beorn, and for your help again, but I can take care of myself."
They all look at Anyekia worriedly as Beorn glares at her, worried that she had insulted him in some way, but it became clear, when he smiled, that it was not the case.
"You are still as fiery as ever." He laughs. "Something I am sure that your companions are glad of."
The dwarves laughed in agreement and soon, they were asking questions about everything. Knowing that they had a right to know now, she began to explain.
They were a good audience, she had to admit, and they also asked a lot of questions, many of which she did not have an answer for.
After what seemed a lot particularly on her ability, Gandalf cut in. "No one knows, we have been trying for years to try and work out what has caused it and it can do, but with little success. Let's just hope that it is not as theory suggests."
Anyekia winces. "I guess we won't know until it comes to that."
"You're putting yourself at great risk lass." Dwalin said.
"Something I am comfortable with doing." She mumbles, not entirely convincing everyone there that she meant it. "What I am more concerned with at the moment, is Azog."
This got a murmur of agreement from the dwarves and discussion began about what to do about it. Last any of them knew, Azog and his orcs were out in the forest surrounded Beorn's house.
Beorn offered them his horses to get them to the edges of Mirkwood, the Company more than grateful for his help and it became decided that they would leave early in the morning, not being able to afford more delays.
As the dwarves moved off to find their resting spots for the night and Beorn exiting outside to make sure that they were not to be attacked, Gandalf following, Thorin noticed that Anyekia did not move, she seemed lost in thought.
"Anyekia?"
She starts, looking up at him. "Hmm?"
"Are you alright?"
"Of course."
He frowns. "Then you should be resting for the night."
She gives a weak smile. "I can't."
He comes back to the table, sitting next to her. "What do you mean?"
"I…don't sleep very well, for varying reasons. It was as Gandalf mentioned early on, that has been what they've been trying to fix the most." He gives her a questioning but worried stare. "It's mostly nightmares, it doesn't make me overly keen to sleep. It's fine Thorin, you go sleep." She smiles at him reassuringly.
It doesn't ease him and the concern is clear in his blue eyes. "Anyekia…"
Anyekia rests her hand over his. "It's fine, I promise. I think six days straight is enough sleep anyway."
"Then I'll stay up with you."
"Thorin-" He stops her with a look, causing her to blush and sigh. "Fine, but don't let me catch you complaining about being tired."
He snorts and entwines their fingers. "You will catch no complaints here Firestorm."
They moved to a corner far from the Company so they could talk without disturbing those trying to sleep. Gandalf returns and finds them in deep conversation, he looks between them for a moment, a worried expression on his face, but decides not to disturb them, turning away to find his own spot to rest for the night.
Morning came around quickly, and Beorn came in in the early hours to find Thorin fast asleep on Anyekia's shoulder, Anyekia smiled shyly at him as he shook his head.
"You are walking a dangerous road with Oakenshield," he whispered, walking over to them. "Especially with Azog after you both."
"I believe it will be alright Beorn," Anyekia said quietly. "In the end. I'm not rushing through this."
Beorn surveys her in silence, his expression unreadable. "I suggest you wake him, you need to leave as soon as possible."
He leaves them there, Anyekia feeling slightly disquieted by his observation. Turning her attention to Thorin, she prods him awake. He grunts, stirring, but instead of waking up, his arms wrapped around her waist.
She squeaks, feeling herself tipping. "Thorin?"
"What?" He mumbled, holding her tightly and nuzzling into her chest.
"It's time to get up." She had to rest one hand on the ground to top herself falling.
"I'm not asleep."
Anyekia giggled, she couldn't help it. "You've been asleep for the last couple of hours." She prods him again. "Now it's time to get up."
"If I never slept, then aren't I already up?" He joked but sighs, and unwraps his arms, moving away from her and rubbing his eyes. He looks at her sheepishly. "Sorry."
She pecks him on the cheek before standing. "That's alright." She stretches. "It'll be good to be on the road again."
Thorin raises an eyebrow at her. "You've only been awake a day and you already want to move?"
"I like being on my feet." And she bounds away to start waking up the others.
The morning was cool and fresh but it didn't stop most of the Company from grumbling as they moved out to the horses, Beorn waiting patiently with them, each horse laden with food and supplies for their journey.
Anyekia hugs Beorn as the dwarves gear up their horses and he gives her a small package filled with healing herbs.
"Just in case little Firestorm." He ruffles her hair. "You take care. I'd hate to lose the only dwarf I'd like."
She laughs and thanks him, heading over to the dwarves, catching a dark look from Thorin that just causes her to raise an eyebrow.
They set off quickly and made good distance over the day, only stopping to rest once the sun was setting. While they set up camp, Anyekia stood at the edge, looking out over the plain as darkness set in.
"Everything alright?"
Anyekia turned to see Fili watching her curiously. She nods. "Yes. Beorn is watching over us, no doubt he will do so till we reach Mirkwood."
"The bear is out there?" He asked nervously.
She smiles. "Beorn is no threat to us now, he will stop any approaching orcs that may come our way."
"You have a lot of faith in him."
"When someone's saved your life, wouldn't you?"
Fili said nothing to this, he goes to say something but is called back over to help by Dwalin and moves away. Anyekia turns back to the plain, she wasn't going to say anything but an unsettling feeling was in the air, something told her that evil was on the move, unseen, and she was almost certain it had something to do with them.
She also didn't want to say that going into Mirkwood was bothering her, she did not have many happy memories there and she hoped that they could get through quickly and not draw any unwanted attention.
They ate and settled down for the night, Anyekia insisting she take watch, Thorin arguing until Gandalf interjected saying that she would be alright and it was better just to let her do so. She paced quietly to keep warm, the fire slowly burning lower and lower until she realised that it was about to go out and stoked it quickly, firing it back up.
"You are nervous."
She jumps and finds Thorin watching her.
"You should be asleep."
He shrugs lightly. "I was, but when you are a light sleeper and someone is moving around…"
Rolling her eyes, she sits at the edge of camp, her back to him. "Is this better?"
She doesn't expect him to join her, sitting close. "I'd be better if I knew why you were nervous?"
Drawing in a deep breath, she did not stop looking at the darkness around them. "Something…something is out there Thorin, not necessarily Azog, just something. The closer we seem to get to Erebor, the more I feel it. It is unsettling."
"Is that all?" He had guessed about Mirkwood, but he wanted her to admit it.
"Yes." She said quietly. "You should be resting, you do not-"
"Tell me, are you going to avoid answering questions on other topics as well? Such as if I brought up our relationship?" His voice was calm but it still caused her to wince.
"It's not like that. I get the sense you already know what is bothering me, and I do not wish to say it for fear of what it makes me sound like. I am not going to complain because I know that this is the only way to go." She frowns. "As for the rest of that question, no, because that would be voiding what we have."
"Fearing Mirkwood does not make you a coward Anyekia, there are bad memories there, it is understandable." He was watching her closely, reading her expression even as she continued to stare into the night.
"Fear…is not the right word. Agitated, maybe." She confided. "Or conflicted. The whole idea of going in there is setting me on edge. I do not like it, but I will not let it affect me."
Thorin watched her, his respect for her only growing. "You are a strong woman Anyekia."
Anyekia smiles with a small laugh. "Just passing around compliments Oakenshield? Seems unlike you."
He chuckles. "Only to you Firestorm."
They sit in silence for a moment, keeping watch together.
Anyekia sighs and leans on him. "Well, if you are going to stay up with me, you might as well keep me warm."
"I can do more than keep you warm." He growls as he wraps an arm around her.
She snorts, snuggling close. "Don't wear out your welcome."
He grins, kissing the top of her head. "Like I would."
They sit like that for the rest of the night in silence, occasionally one of them moving to stoke the fire back up, but they were content to be like that and let the night pass out.
