Sorry I didn't post on Tuesday like usual. I've been so busy this week.

As an apology this chapter is longer.

Chapter 9: Revelation

The rain continued to fall the whole day and into the next. When the sun finally came out, the dwarves were overjoyed. They played and splashed in the mud puddles. They sang loudly and danced like obnoxious fools.

The only dwarf who remained calm was Thorin. He did little to hide his annoyance at his fellow dwarves' ridiculous behavior. Hegda watched in amusement and thought about how easy it would be to wipe them all out. Gandalf looked almost as amused as she was. Bilbo didn't even attempt to mask his contempt and horror.

Hegda caught up to Bilbo and asked, "Are you alright Bilbo?"

His brow wrinkled and a look of disapproval crossed his face, "These dwarves have no decency. They were just as boisterous when they were at my house before you and Thorin arrived. They threw my mother's plates around and all but destroyed the plumbing in my bathroom."

"Why did you come on this adventure young hobbit? You are so out of your element."

Bilbo scrunched his face in thought for a moment then replied, "I'm not really sure. I noticed the unsigned contract sitting on my table and signed it on an impulse. I'm surely regretting it now."

"Trust me, things will get much better once we reach the mountain." Hegda said cheerfully flashing her toothy grin.

"Why do you say that?" Bilbo asked tilting his head curiously.

"Well for one thing the journey will almost be over and you will get paid massive amounts of gold for your assistance. Second, we wouldn't have to be around these irritating dwarves." Hegda's eyes flashed dangerously, "Third, I get to fight and finally get my revenge."

"Revenge for what?" Bilbo asked a little nervous. Hegda ignored the question smiled and rode ahead.

The dwarves continued their ridiculous behavior even after the company stopped for the night. Hegda's anger welled up inside of her and she was tempted to transform and kill them all just to get some peace and quiet. Thorin, who usually assigned tasks such as finding food, starting a fire and taking care of the ponies, left the group simply stating that he was going hunting.

Hegda silently followed him. She too had to get away before she lost her temper. She remained unnoticed till she accidentally stepped on a twig making a loud crack.

"Who is there?" Thorin asked with a tinge of angry surprise in his voice. When Hegda stepped out into the open he huffed, "What do you want dragon-slayer?"

"We talked about this yesterday, call me Hegda." she said. Then walking over to him she said, "I'm just curious, usually you give orders and watch while the dwarves busy themselves, but tonight you're hunting. Why is that?"

Thorin sighed. Her endless questions aggravated him but he couldn't avoid answering her if they were going to be traveling together for the next few months. He answered, "Because, even though they are my kin, I am not like them. I find their behavior childish and fatuous. I get no joy from such behavior. I find my peace when I am alone. I needed to get away for a while."

Hegda smiled, "I think we have just found something we have in common. Do you mind if I join you? I could use some time away too." Hegda also wanted to take the opportunity to gather more information about her opponent.

"Do you know how to hunt?"

Hegda smiled her toothy grin. Was he really serious? Of course she could hunt. She was hunting when he was still an infant. She responded, "Probably even better than you."

"We'll see about that." Thorin answered. Hegda could tell that he held back a smile accepting her challenge.

They each had set up a snare in a different area. Then they sat together as they waited.

"Hegda, something has been on my mind since we met. Why have I never heard of your people until I met you? Surely if they were renowned dragon hunters I would have known about them." Thorin asked.

Hegda sighed, he was definitely smarter than the rest of the brainless dwarves. "Probably because there are very few of us left now. Many of my kind were killed when my husband betrayed us to our enemy."

Thorin looked shocked. She had never mentioned that she had a husband let alone that he was a traitor. He asked, "Who is your enemy?"

Hegda looked at him. She needed to answer his question revealing only what she wanted him to know. When he asked if it was Smaug she looked down and answered, "I am on this journey to find answers and also to seek revenge."

She almost laughed. He was totally convinced that she was human to the point where he thought her enemy was Smaug, herself. She thought how ironic it was that her ability to make him believe she was human was the product of the very being she hated most of all, Sauron.

Thorin thought it better to change the subject. She looked uncomfortable discussing it. "Tell me dragon slayer, do you really have experience killing dragons or are you deceiving me about that?" he asked.

"Yes, I actually do. I did not deceive you when I said I killed three." Hegda answered defensively.

Thorin wanted to let the subject drop but his curiosity got the best of him so he asked cautiously, "You mentioned you had a husband. So you were married?"

"Yes, but that was a long time ago. He betrayed me and all of my kind for a promise of great wealth. I killed him myself to help protect my kin." She answered in a false sad tone even though she really felt no sadness at all.

"I'm sorry." Thorin said quietly.

"Don't be. Hudrear deserved everything he got." She said. As much as she tried to conceal her anger she could not. She hated her former mate for his betrayal.

Not wanting to further upset her Thorin ended the conversation. They talked about other things as they passed the time while waiting for a hapless victim to enter their traps. They discussed how the journey had gone so far and about some of Thorin's travels. Finally Hegda got up saying, "We should check our traps now."

Since each trap contained a few rabbits they agreed that their contest ended in a draw. As they walked back to their camp Hegda couldn't help but feel that it was the first time she really felt a connection with the dwarf king.

These next few weeks are going to be very busy for me. I will try to update when I can.

Please write a review. I like to know what my fans think.

If you are interested please check out my other fan fiction: The Exiled Prince and the Half-Blood

~JFDragonFire