There and Back Again: Edith's Story
Chapter XI
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Author's Note: I have been so busy with school and two jobs, I haven't had time to update, but please don't hesitate to drop a review! I love reviews! =) We've come to the end of An Unexpected Journey. Once I'm not so busy with school and work, I will be continuing with The Desolation of Smaug. Enjoy!
She distracted herself from her thoughts. Now was not the time to think about home, Edith thought. Wolves were on their trail and they needed to escape – again. They came to the edge of the cliff. The wolves were closer, the howls louder. Gandalf ordered them to jump up into the trees. Bilbo was struggling to get up, but Dori had helped him, despite his grumblings of having to get back down again to the lower branches. Fili pulled Edith up and steadied her even as the tree swayed due to the weight it held now. Edith looked down at the number of wolves, snapping their teeth at them and snarling below. Some of them tried to jump up to get to them.
"Why is there always some obstacle?" Edith whispered.
Fili wrapped his arm around her, holding her as securely as he could. She leaned into him. She felt his heart pounding – even so, being closer to him as she was brought less anxiety.
"What do we do about the wolves?" Nori asked from the other tree.
"Fili, I am so sorry for yelling at Thorin – I don't know why I do." Edith said, softly as she struggled to maintain balance.
"Let's try to survive this – then we will talk about that later, Edith."
His tone was irritable as he spoke to her. Edith bit her lip, feeling a knot grow in her throat. He was displeased with her – they all were – except for Bilbo. She noticed Gandalf lighting pinecones and throwing them to the others to toss at the wolves. Some were hit, and the wolves yelped and backed away as the fire grew. Oh god, Edith thought. The ground below them caught fire and some of the trees around them. She looked over as a tree cracked and knocked into one that four of the dwarves were in. They cried out as the tree fell. It had a domino effect – the others were knocked over and one of the trees caught ablaze just after the dwarves jumped off to the other tree.
A great rush of wind blew around them, blowing the fire towards the wolves. The sound of wings flapping was heard above them. Edith looked up and saw terrifyingly large birds swooping down, picking up the dwarves off the trees. She shrieked as the talons grabbed hold of her and Fili in the other carefully, lifting her up into the night sky. She closed her eyes, not daring to look down. When Edith opened her eyes, an eagle was flying below her. She screamed as the talon loosened around her, dropping her.
The eagle below her caught her and so she was riding on the back, looking forward at the starry night before her. The air was cool and the wind refreshing but the height was petrifying. She buried her arms in the feathers of the eagle's back and huddled closer to the bird.
"Please, do not pull any of my feathers out," said the eagle, startling her.
She shrieked, earning a chuckle from the eagle.
"Do birds not speak where you come from?" he asked.
"No!" she cried. "Where are you taking us?"
"To safety, my lady," the eagle answered, tilting his head to look at her with one eye. "Tonight, you and your company shall rest in the eagles' eyrie. My lord would like to speak to Mithrandir about certain events."
"Oh," she said. "Will there be any food? I am terribly hungry, as I am sure most of my companions will be."
"If you need sustenance, we are willing to provide for you."
"Thank you, though the dwarves might forget – it has been a long journey for us all. I thank you on their behalf as well."
"You are a gracious, kind lady. Not many of your kin have been kind to us, but you will be remembered by me."
Edith smiled. She gently stroked his feathers on his head. They flew a little longer until they came to what appeared to be a very large nest. Another great rush of wind blew from the wings of the eagles. The eagle Edith was on lowered himself, so she could easily slide down. Her legs were a little wobbly, but she managed well. She turned to look at the eagle. He lowered his head to look at her properly.
Edith touched his beak gently and smiled. The eagle nudged her hand, almost smiling at her. She wondered if he was smiling at her. From his back, he pulled out a small feather, it was a chestnut brown but had some black dots coloring the brown. He carefully placed the feather in Edith's hand. It was quite large, but beautiful.
"A gift for you, my lady," the eagle added.
"It is beautiful, thank you. I shall treasure it, always."
Her eagle kicked up lightly off the ground and went further up to his nest as the rest of the company was gently placed in the eagles' eyrie. Edith put the feather into her boot for safekeeping. She was smiling, but it soon faded when she saw Fili. He looked at her. She was unable to read his current expression, but he walked up to her, much to her surprise.
"You really must learn to hold your tongue in front of my uncle." Fili said, severely. "You cannot forget your place. He is our king and you insulted him. You must understand you cannot say things like that in front of him. Yes, my uncle is determined. I know it, the company knows it and so does he. There is no time any reason for you to react as you did."
"Fili, truly, I am—I did not—I don't mean the things I say when I am angry. I have tried to please him, not to cause any more trouble." Edith heard her voice cracking. "Please, forgive me."
She quickly brushed away a stray tear that had fallen down her cheek.
"It is Thorin you must apologize to, not to me. Wait until we have had rest and food."
Edith nodded. Fili turned to leave, returning to the rest of the company. She felt the knot in her throat and her heart felt heavy in her chest. She would not blame them if they shunned her or refused to speak to her for a while. Edith was the fool, not Thorin or Bilbo or any of the other dwarves. The others had gathered around the fire, but Edith remained in the darker parts of the nest. Her stomach growled but she distracted herself by looking up at the stars.
Even as she wept silently, the stars brought wonder to her thoughts. She shivered in the sudden cool breeze that gently swept across the nest floor. The dwarves laughed, causing her to turn and look. They talked quietly amongst themselves. Gandalf was speaking to the Lord of Eagles nearby. The warmth of the fire was inviting but she would not bring herself to get up. She clenched her jaw as Bilbo glanced her way. He'd seen her – damn it, she thought. While the other dwarves were distracted, Bilbo got up. He took a leaf with cooked meat in it to Edith. He sat down beside her, offering it to her silently. The smell was delicious, and it was hard for Edith not to refuse.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The hobbit chuckled as he watched her eat, smiling in delight at the taste of food. Physically, she felt better. Emotionally, she was still sore.
"You should come sit by the fire."
"No," Edith replied. "Not tonight…"
"You'll freeze here by yourself. Please, just come sit with me."
"They're not going to forgive me any time soon for yelling at Thorin again. I will give them time. I would rather not feel uncomfortable somewhere I am not welcome currently."
"Edith," Bilbo began.
"I am perfectly serious."
He sighed as he got up.
"I hope you do join us," he added before walking back to the fire.
Edith continued to star up at the stars, soon finding herself drifting to sleep. Her head rested against the wall of the rock and she had her legs curled up close to her. It was rather ridiculous, her behavior but she knew that it would at least give the dwarves time think and to unwind on their own. She had slept most of the night but woke up feeling something warm draping over her shoulders. She looked down at the cloak, and though she was half asleep, she realized it was Fili's. She curled up her feet underneath and soon fell back asleep, burying herself within the warmth of the cloak.
In the morning, someone had gently begun to wake her. Edith moaned and rolled over. She heard a heavy sigh.
"Edith, come, wake up." Fili exclaimed, a little louder.
She sat up in a daze, feeling rather like a corpse more than a human. She looked at Fili and handed him his cloak. He took it and put it back over his head.
"You didn't have to do that." Edith remarked, getting up and stretching.
"You were freezing when I came to check on you." Fili added.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"They wouldn't have minded, you know."
"Minded what?" she asked.
"You sitting by the fire with us, you did not need to shun yourself. Edith, you are still a part of the company."
Edith felt the knot growing in her throat. Before she could speak, she let out a sob, tears blurring her vision. Fili wrapped his arms around her, embracing her as she wept.
"I am sorry, ibinê, for the way I spoke to you last night. Forgive me." Fili said, softly. "It was wrong of me to yell the way I did. I hope you'll forgive me for my anger."
"I do forgive you, Fili, but you were right. I should not have reprimanded your uncle. I promise I will remember my place and control my temper."
She pulled out of his embrace, sighing. With her sleeve, she wiped her tears and her nose. He rested his forehead against hers, holding her head. She sniffled. Suddenly, her heart began racing wildly as their noses brushed together. Edith wanted to kiss him, despite everything they'd gone through, and the arguments. She touched his cheek, his beard tickling the palm of her hand and the tips of her fingers.
"Fili, should we even do this?" she whispered.
He mumbled before kissing her. This time, Edith kissed him back. She wrapped her arms around him and he drew her body closer to his. She kissed him almost desperately, hoping he would never let her go. Edith felt as though something had woken up in her soul that very moment. Something odd she had never felt with Jack. It had been several long months – and now she realized this is where her future in Middle-earth lay. Someone in the background had cleared their throat, causing Edith and Fili to stop. Edith looked with wide eyes that the entire company, in fact, and the Lord of Eagles had been watching them. Fili tried to hide his chuckle, but it was useless.
"I suppose we've been caught." Edith muttered, trying desperately to contain her smile.
"It's about time," Kili exclaimed, loudly.
Fili sent his brother a look. Some of the dwarves burst into laughter. Thorin shook his head and went to prepare to leave. Edith noticed the coin bags tossing between the dwarves.
"Why on earth would you place bets on us?" she questioned, raising a brow.
"It was only a matter of time before something became of you both. Shall I call you sister now?" Kili inquired.
"I know you are tempted to but please refrain from doing so." Edith answered. "For now, at least, I wouldn't want your uncle worrying anymore than he has over his heir."
"Well, for now, I will just welcome you to our family, properly." Kili mused.
Kili embraced her and rested his forehead on hers briefly. She smiled at the gesture and placed her hand on his shoulder. She helped the company prepare to leave. Last night with the food that had been left over, Bofur had smoked the meats into a jerky – Edith placed the folded leaves into her small knapsack, which she'd managed to keep even after the goblin tunnels. She packed extra rations for the dwarves as well.
"Where does your journey take you from here?" the Lord of Eagles asked of Gandalf.
"We must move quickly – I do not wish to linger any longer than necessary."
"Be wary of the Greenwood, Mithrandir. It has changed, and it has grown darker than ever."
"Have you any knowledge of the old fortress?" Gandalf asked, quietly. "There has been word of a Necromancer seen at Dol Guldur."
"We dare not venture that far North, not even for the hunt. I would advise you against that path."
As Edith listened, chills went through her – a dreadful foreboding came over her as she thought of a Necromancer lurking in the darkness of this world. What evil could a being such as that bring to the world? Edith's face paled and she suddenly felt uneasy. Fili glanced at her, frowning slightly. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Are you well, ibinê?" he asked, gently.
"I am – but I could not help but feel something strange is happening. I think we should listen to the Lord of Eagles. We shouldn't go through Mirkwood." Edith whispered, holding her arms.
"Edith, we will be alright crossing through. We have a wizard for company."
"Fili, I really think we should listen."
"Listen to me, we will make it through the forest unharmed. I will make you a promise that we will come out alive."
Edith sighed and nodded, still feeling apprehensive. Fili took hold of her arms and kissed her forehead. The few eagles that had rescued them the night before came down from their perches and nests at the command of their lord. Gandalf had asked if they could bring them as far as the eagles had desired. The Lord of Eagles agreed to bring the company of Thorin Oakenshield to the Carrock. Walking there would have taken longer and Edith was grateful for the temporary relief of walking and running.
Fili lifted Edith off the back of her eagle. She thanked him quietly as she put her hand on his arm. A gentle nudge to her back startled her – but she turned to look at the eagle who'd carried her to the Carrock. He chirped as Edith smiled at him. She placed her hand on the curve of his beak.
"Thank you, my friend, for all your help." Edith said.
"If ever you find yourself in need, I offer you my services, my kind lady – you and your betrothed."
The eagle glanced at Fili, the dwarf nodded once giving his thanks. Betrothed, Edith thought – just thinking about it excited her. But they were not there yet, she only just declared her affection for Fili. After their farewells, the eagles departed, a burst of wind blowing around the company from the wings of the eagles. Edith looked at the wilderness before her, the sunrise was magnificent that morning and the world looked so vast and endless – nothing like she had ever seen before. There in the remote wilderness, a single mountain caught her attention. That was the Lonely Mountain! Edith looked on in wonder, a small gasp escaping her. Her eyes widened as she saw it, a periwinkle blue haze in the distance. The others looked on too, all with similar expressions to hers. Edith glanced at Thorin – she had never seen him with such joy in his eyes as he had now. He smiled and looked on unrequitedly for his homeland.
"What is that?" Bilbo inquired, noticing their reactions.
"That, Master Baggins, is the Lonely Mountain – our home." Thorin said.
A cawing of a bird distracted them as it flew towards the mountain.
"Look, a raven is returning to the mountain!" Oin exclaimed.
"That my dear Oin, is a thrush." Gandalf replied.
Edith watched as the thrush flew further and further into the horizon, soon not to be seen at all. Fili grasped her hand and she smiled at him.
"We're going home!" he said, joyously.
"Yes, we are."