Chapter 10

Meeting Beorn

The next morning Enda woke up and felt Kíli's arm around her. She felt safe when she was around him. She still felt nauseous, her head pounded and she still had a fever but she was not going to let anyone know that she was feeling ill. She looked back at Kíli. He looked so peaceful when he slept. She gently kissed his forehead to wake him up. She then instantly felt the butterflies in her stomach. She instantly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, although she sure she was blushing.

She heard Kíli give a moan and a yawn. She then opened her eyes and smiled sheepishly at him. She was glad that none of the other Dwarves were up yet she was sure that some of them would be annoyed by their closeness. She just got on Thorin's good side, she didn't want to be back on his bad side.

"Morning…" he mumbled as he sat up and stretched but stopped short when his ribs brought him pain. Enda then sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Yes… It is morning," Enda said with a slight smile. He then childishly stuck his tongue out at her and she stuck her tongue out too then she smirked. He then tapped her nose and she scrunched it up.

"You are so difficult. But that's why I like you." Enda felt her cheeks heat up. "It really surprises me that we're so much alike…" Kíli then looked into her eyes. "Yet we get along so well."

"It's because we're likeable despite being difficult."

"True…" Kíli then placed his hand on her uninjured cheek. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He blushed and looked down but then he looked up and smiled nervously. He then startled as he heard someone waking up.

"Good morning…" Bilbo said as he stretched. Enda then looked down blushing although she didn't understand why. Kíli also had turned red.

"Good morning, Master Boggins," Kíli said and he smiled at the Hobbit.

"Baggins," Bilbo said.

"That's what I said. Boggins."

"Say it with me. Bagins."

"Baoggins." Kíli looked a little annoyed when Enda giggled when he couldn't get Bilbo's surname pronunciation right.

"Oh well…" Bilbo said. "Just call me Bilbo. No need to keep calling me Mister."

"But you are my elder. It's only right to show respect because you are not… well a Dwarf," Kíli said.

"Just call me Bilbo. It's better than Mister Boggins. Also I want to try and fit in. No one else is referred to as mister."

"Least of all her…" Kíli said as he gently placed his arm around Enda's shoulders, careful not to agitate any wounds.

"Least of all me…" Enda said with a small laugh. She then placed her hand gingerly to the back of her head. She then started to comb her hair with her fingers. She then felt dismay when she found just how short her hair was.

"Well you're the baby of the group and a girl. Mister wouldn't fit," Kíli said laughing.

"I am not a baby…" Annoyance was evident in her voice.

"But you are the youngest…" Kíli amended.

"Good morning!" Bofur said as he woke up. "How are ya feeling, lass?

"Better… Thank you." Enda saw that Bofur didn't quite believe her and that he seemed saddened that she wasn't being honest with him.

"Enda? I'm glad to see you up…" Ori said as he woke up.

"Dear Mahal, you all are surprised that I am awake. It was just fever and nausea. I'm going to be alright…" Enda shook her head exasperated. "I'm not fragile. I'm of Kírak! We are the toughest Dwarves to roam the earth!"

"Second toughest," Fíli said with a smile and his arm was wrapped around her shoulder.

"Excuse me?" Enda asked as her eyebrows shot up.

"Durin's line would be the toughest…"

"Oh really? My great-great-grandfather, Kírak defeated a whole army of Orcs with only his sword and axe!"

"But Durin-"

"Oh shut it!" Bofur said. "No quarreling. Everyone knows that I'm the toughest Dwarf around!" Bofur then smiled and everyone cracked up. Soon Thorin awoke and glared at them.

"I was sleeping…" he muttered but he gave a hardly noticeable smile at Kíli who was busy with making another joke. He then got up and joined the group and Bombur then cooked up the rest of the food for breakfast. "Morning Enda. Are you feeling better?"

Enda nodded. "Ready to travel when we can…" She then smiled and Thorin could tell that she wasn't being quite honest. "I will be able to contribute more to this quest once we get to the Greenwood Forest…"

"I've heard that it's called Mirkwood now," Gandalf said.

"The forest is sick but only in some parts. When I was there last it was mostly healthy…"

"I hope that it is still…" Gandalf said.

"When do we continue on and meet this Beorn fellow?" Bilbo asked.

"Who is Beorn?" Enda asked.

"He's a skin-changer who lives about two days from here."

"Skin-changer? What's a skin-changer?" Bilbo asked.

"It is a person who can change what form they take… Beorn can change between man and bear. Interpret what you will but he is a good person."

"Do you know him?" Bilbo asked.

"No. Not personally. He is a rather unsocial fellow but I'm certain that he would help us. He could give us the supplies we will need for the next part of the journey and he could heal Enda."

"I'm fine…" Enda grumbled.

"No you most certainly are not fine." Gandalf looked at Enda and she gazed back up at him coldly. "You haven't eaten anything in the past four days or managed to keep anything down. Your fever still has yet to break and you are injured. You are not 'fine' Enda."

Enda crossed her arms over her chest and winced when her right arm touched her other arm. "I will be fine, then…" She then scowled in distaste. "I am not an invalid so I don't need to be coddled like one…" Enda then looked down as she saw the Dwarves' sympathetic looks. She hated it; it made her feel like she was being deemed a child.

She then went to looking for her weapons after noticing that her sack with bedroll and excess food and knives had been left in Goblin-Town. She was glad when she found her weapons all together both her quivers and bows unharmed and her sword was still in good condition. She also spotted a few of her knives.

She sighed in frustration when she found that her hair clasp was missing. It had been her mother's and now another piece of 'home' was gone.

She then saw Glade and the other Eagles flying back.

"Are you ready for travel?" the leader asked Gandalf.

With Gandalf's affirmative they all gathered the provisions they had and then climbed onto the Eagles.

Enda enjoyed this flight a great deal better. Her headache was now just a dull throb and she wasn't as nauseous as before. She then saw Glade turn his head to look at her.

"Good morning, Enda. You seem to be doing a little better."

"Good morning indeed. I won't get sick on you, I promise."

"That's a relief!" Glade then laughed and Enda joined in. "You still are sick though. You have a fever still… But I heard something about seeing a healer. I think that would be best for you."

"I thought Fíli was a mother hen… You are more of a hen-" Enda then cut herself off, afraid that she had offended the Eagle.

"A good pun…" Glade made a laughing sound and then Enda joined in but after a few seconds Glade then went back to seriousness. "Well you are one who needs protective friends. Protectors need protecting too…"

"I am perfectly capable of caring for myself." Enda saw the Eagle roll his eyes.

"That is the problem with you Dwarves… You're too proud and stubborn." Glade then paused for a moment. "What is your story?" Glade asked. He then quickly tried to amend his question. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want… I'm sorry if I've offended you or brought back painful memories."

"No I'm not offended. And I am bound to have to face the reality of everything." Enda then began her story only because she liked the Eagle. Glade listened to her and didn't interrupt her except when he had a question.

"I am sorry that you have experienced so many terrible losses… and I am sorry that there is nothing that I can do to help you heal." Glade then looked back at her. "I wish I could make things right…"

"You're a good friend…" They flew in a comfortable silence for a while.

"What is the name of your friend?"

"Which one?" Enda asked, caught off guard by the question.

"The one who keeps looking over at you. He is really rather un-Dwarfish looking…" Glade said.

"Kíli?"

"Ah… Well Kíli seems to certainly like you."

"Yes, well he and Fíli are my best friends in the company."

"You silly girl… I mean he fancies you…" Glade laughed.

"Hush!" Enda said as her whole face turned bright red although she tried to cover it up with a laugh so no one would know what was going on. "You better pray that he didn't hear you!"

"Oh… I think I know the answer but you like him don't you?" Glade said.

"Dear Mahal!" Enda knew that she was even brighter red. "I like him as a friend. I never have understood romance and nor will I … He is the nephew of our king. Nothing could come of a commoner and prince…" Enda said. She recalled all of the stories her mother had told her as a child and only princesses fell in love with princes.

"That isn't true. But you will soon find out for yourself…" Glade said but he then went silent. Enda felt like her face was burning as hot as Dragon's fire. She really hoped that Kíli didn't hear any part of the conversation. She didn't want to make things awkward. She was already accomplishing it enough without the Eagle's help.

After a few minutes Glade then broke back into a more light-hearted subject and Enda was soon laughing along with the Eagle as he joked with her. Then about an hour later they were starting to land.

"This is as close as we will dare to land. We do not trust hunters to not shoot us from the sky," Glade said.

"Thank you for helping us, Glade." Enda then slid from the Eagle's back and she bowed before him.

"It has been a pleasure to get to know you, Enda. I hope that one day we will meet again."

"Yes, indeed." Enda smiled widely.

"Now I hope Beorn will be able to heal you. May the sun and stars guide you."

"I don't know how to respond… But I hope that you will prosper well." Enda bit the inside of her cheek. "But thank you for everything. If ever you need a Dwarf I will be there to help you."

"Until we meet again, small one." Glade then took off in flight as he followed the other Eagles.

Enda watched them for a few moments before she turned to her companions. They all watched the Eagles until they snapped out of the admiration.

"Let's get going. It will be another half day, at least, before we reach Beorn's home," Gandalf said. He then started to lead the way. Kíli and Fíli walked by Enda and they all talked and laughed for a while before Enda fell silent.

Kíli and Fíli noticed how pale she had gone, her face was twisted in pain and sweat covered her face. She stumbled forward and would have fallen if not for the brothers' quick catch. Enda's head lolled forward and she was too weak to lift it.

"Enda?" Kíli asked. All he received was a low moan. Kíli looked to his brother, fear marring his features.

"Uncle!" Fíli shouted.

"No!" Enda said, trying to sound forceful but it came out merely as a whimper. "'M fine… No worries…" Enda then tried to get to her feet but the attempt was in vain. She then saw that everyone was looking at her although everything seemed to swim around her. Words suddenly seemed to turn into a low buzz around her and she looked around, wide eyed and blankly. Her head than lolled forward again and her eyes fell shut.

"We have no time to lose," Gandalf said. "She needs to get to Beorn." Kíli's hand rested upon Enda's sweaty, burning forehead. "You will have to carry her. We're only about an hour from his place. We must make haste."

Kíli felt himself blanch. Enda was gravely ill. His thoughts then raced to worst case scenarios. If he lost her he would never heal. He then felt himself get pulled to his feet by Dwalin.

"Come on lad." Kíli then noticed that Thorin had picked Enda up again and she let out a soft cry of pain. No matter how he carried her he aggravated her injuries. Kíli then ran behind them feeling useless and frightened. He felt Fíli place his hand on his shoulder and smile encouragingly.

"Soon she will be better. We're close to Beorn's."

They continued to run until suddenly Gandalf came to a halt. The Dwarves and Bilbo all then stopped and they saw a huge man in the road with his arms crossed across his chest.

"Beorn…" Gandalf said.

"You know me. But who are you and who is this company?"

"I am Gandalf. This is Thorin and Company. We are in desperate need of help, one is gravely injured and I do not have the skills to heal her."

"Come with me and tell me your story," Beorn said. He then started to lead them and Gandalf hastily explained the encounter with the Goblins to him. Beorn growled in disgust every time that Gandalf said the word 'Goblins' but did not interrupt Gandalf.

Beorn then brought them to a large house. He then took Enda into his arms and Gandalf and him then went into a room. Kíli was about to follow but Thorin stopped him.

"It will be alright." Kíli then was led to a chair and was forced to sit. Kíli cried out as his broken ribs protested at the sudden movement.

"Aulë's sake!" he shouted and tears pricked his eyes although he blinked them away.

"Kíli, I want to see to your ribs again," Óin said. "I want to make sure they aren't poking into your lungs after all of this physical exertion."

Óin did a brief exam of the younger Dwarf and was satisfied that he was in no worse condition than before. They all sat awaiting any news from Gandalf or Beorn. They were served tea by some animals which stood upon their hind legs. Bilbo by far was the most shocked.

Kíli merely sat. He hardly moved and didn't speak a word. He felt numb from worry and his brain was still playing out scenarios that could happen. He just stared at his hands and he only nodded or shook his head slightly when his uncle and brother questioned him.

They sat for in the room for hours before Beorn came out of the room looking rather grim and exhausted. Kíli's heart dropped and Fíli and Thorin quickly placed their hands upon his shoulders.

Hey everyone! I apologize for the long wait. I had a hard time with this chapter. I think I'm happy with it so here it is.

I want to thank pyrokitty714, CarstenBerg, and the anonymous guest for the reviews! I love you guys.

I hope you like this chapter and aren't too upset with how I left it off. The next chapter will be up hopefully sooner than later but it will depend upon how eager you all are for it. (Pretty much reviews equal motivation. :P Just saying.)

Please review. Whether it's a comment, question, or concern. I love getting feedback from you so I know that you are enjoying it or at least think it has potential as a story. Feel free to point out things I may have overlooked or things you like or not.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing and following.

~Maethorni