As usual the disclaimer: I own nothing except Freya. Just thought I would get that out there first!
I hope you enjoyed my little surprise last weekend of two updates in one day :-) I really enjoyed writing the scene with Fili and Kili and just couldn't wait to get it out there so I pulled out all the stops to try and edit and post it!
I hope you are all still enjoying reading about Freya and her mysterious past. It will come back and bite her on the behind at some point, trust me!
You've probably guessed what's coming in this chapter so without further ado, here we go!
~G
Chapter 9: Invitation to dinner.
The sun had set on the camp as dinner was served by an enthusiastic Bofur and Bombur. the stew looked tasty and smelled delicious after such a long and wet day. The drizzle had finally stopped, though the night was cold leaving the air damp and chilly.
Freya was weary and thought that sleep would claim her tonight before long. Freya smiled at Bilbo as he made his way past her with a bowl of stew each for Fili and Kili. She looked around at the company, most were settled and engaged in cleaning armour, tack or equipment. She noticed that Thorin was still sat apart from the group brooding in the ruined house. Balin had tried talking to him, but the exiled king had remained distant and aloof, telling Balin to go and eat his supper, that he had much to ponder. Balin had walked back shaking his head and sat next to his brother to contemplate their next move.
Never one to allow someone to go hungry however, Freya took her bowl and an extra bowl and some bread for Thorin. She received a sympathetic glance from Bofur and Bombur as the brothers handed over the extra food without comment. Balin and Dwalin looked up and watched Freya walk over to the ruined house where Thorin was still sitting alone. Nori and Bofur exchanged a glance and a grin and produced their parchment.
"Care to get in on our wager?" Nori asked Dwalin who glanced at the paper, raised his eyebrows, rolled his eyes and walked away.
"Suit yourself!" Bofur said.
Freya had been unaware of the exchange between the dwarves behind her, all of her attention on what could be an ugly confrontation ahead with the mood she had left the king in earlier. He had returned inside the house after Gandalf's hasty and angry exit, breathing heavily and smashing the only plate that was still whole in the building.
Both Balin and Dwalin had attempted to talk to him without success, both eventually leaving him to his seething. She approached the exiled dwarf king carefully, not sure of what to expect or whether his earlier mood had abated. She had never backed away from a fight, but she felt very nervous around the dwarf king. Her heart hammered in her chest and her mouth felt dry.
She did not know why, but this new found nervousness was starting to bother her. Something about the way he called her "my lady", particularly the way he had said it the night before had made her breath hitch. When she thought of it she blushed, feeling like a flustered little girl.
She had thought she was starting to understand him and accept his indifference, but those two words, the way he had listened to her and the touch of his hand had shattered that illusion. She could cope with indifference and professional cool, but now where did that leave her? He had even asked for her opinion after Gandalf had stormed off and she was now back to not knowing where she stood… or why she was so bothered… what these feelings were on the rare occasion that he smiled.
She went into the house and found him sitting on a large chest that, with the furniture broken he had dragged to the fireside and was servicing well as a chair. He turned his head and watched her enter by the light of a small fire he and Balin had started but he said nothing by way of greeting. His expression was curious and his deep blue eyes sought out her grey eyes.
"Here, I thought you should eat something." She said handing him the bowl. He reached out and took it, his fingers momentarily brushing hers, the warmth welcome and sending a peculiar flutter through her belly.
"Thank you… you didn't have to bring this to me… but it is appreciated." He said. Freya smiled cautiously.
"You are welcome good sir." She replied playfully with a brief and elaborate mock bow and was rewarded with a low chuckle.
Freya turned, thinking she should leave and find somewhere to eat while they were both in a good mood and before another argument started when his deep and husky voice stopped her.
"Sit, please." She turned and raised a quizzical brow at him before he added "Do not feel you have to go elsewhere because of my ill humour."
"Well, since you asked so nicely!" She jested again sitting down earning another chuckle. They ate in silence for a while, neither knowing what to say to each other, but both grateful that this silence was at least not awkward.
When they had both finished eating Freya stood and took the bowl from Thorin smiling at him briefly, her fingers accidentally brushed his again briefly as she took the bowl from him and they both gave a start at the spark of electricity that passed between them.
Freya looked down into Thorin's eyes, frowning slightly as his hand reached up again and brushed her fingers tentatively, his gaze finding hers with an intensity that scared her. He slowly stood and Freya could feel her heart beat faster, there was a feeling deep within her as though she was falling. She held her ground, not wanting to move through fear and some other unplaceable, yet stronger emotion that kept her rooted to the spot.
She swallowed hard as Thorin reached his other hand to her spare hand, holding it gently. He slowly moved forwards, closing the distance between them. His sapphire blue eyes dark and searching, not breaking contact with hers. Freya felt that the world melted away and all there was in that moment were those piercing sapphires that were slowly getting closer to her as he leaned forwards. He took another step closer again, pressing against her, Freya's eyelids fluttered shut in anticipation and her breath caught in her throat.
At that moment however, they heard a shout from the other end of camp. In unison they jumped and broke apart quickly as though they had been shocked, both acting guilty and abashed. They looked in the direction of the noise as Freya grabbed the empty bowls and walked quickly away from the dwarf that she was sure was about to kiss her, hoping that the dark of the night would hide her blush as she left the house.
"Thorin!" Exclaimed Kili panicking slightly as Thorin approached from the house looking grim.
"What has happened now." He demanded in an authoritative tone.
"It's the ponies… Bilbo…" Supplied Fili. "Four of the ponies have been taken by mountain trolls. Bilbo went to see if he could free them." Thorin sighed exasperatedly and looked upwards as though he was praying to Mahal for patience.
Freya was already grabbing her staff and tightening her belt that held both of her elven daggers at the mention of the word troll, her expression grim. She knew she would not be able to make much difference against 3 trolls, even Gandalf would have to strategise, but she was worried about Bilbo and the ponies and maybe she could get him to safety.
"Arm yourselves!" Commanded Thorin as the company picked up their assorted weapons. Thorin strode towards Kili and told him to lead the way. Before they could enter the tree line however, Freya stepped in front of them.
"You cannot just rush in there, you need a plan". She counselled.
"OK, what do you suggest, for we have little time." Said Thorin in his commanding tone which suggested he was not in the mood for debate.
"I do not know Thorin, but what I do know is that those trolls could be what destroyed this whole farm. They are strong enough to do that, and to carry four ponies away from where they were picketed, for the ponies would not have followed and probably would have fled had they the chance. Trolls may be stupid, but they are deadly and we need to strategise if we are to get those ponies back. They may even have Bilbo by now." Freya concluded wishing Gandalf were there.
"Duly noted." Said Thorin "But there are fifteen of us, we will be fine". He ruled walking around her following Fill and Kili into the wood. Freya closed her eyes and sighed, putting her hands on her hips and looking down in an exasperated gesture. She knew she would be little good against trolls, her magic could not hope to penetrate their thick hides should she choose to use it. The dwarves of the company filed past her into the woods, Dwalin patting her shoulder on the way past and she turned to follow them reluctantly as Kili took the lead.
Kili led them towards the area the trolls had sequestered. They could see a glow in the distance and hear the faint din of unfamiliar voices, even the frightened whinnies of the ponies that were trapped in a makeshift pen. As they got closer they could hear the trolls talking in their coarse voices coming from behind the bushes and trees, they ducked down taking cover.
"He wouldn't make more than a mouthful… not when he's all skin and bones"
"Maybe there's more burglar hobbits round here, we can make a pie!"
"Are there any more of you hiding where you shouldn't be?" Asked a large troll.
"Nope!" Said a terrified Bilbo, who Freya could see was being dangled upside down.
"He's lying! Hold his toes over the fire, make him squeal!"
Kili and Fili moved as though they were about to jump out, but Freya and Thorin both grabbed them in a nick of time.
"We can't just go charging in there." Whispered Freya urgently, frowning.
"But we can't let them torture and eat Bilbo, I thought you were his friend?" Whispered Kili angrily turning to face Freya. She loosened her grip slightly.
"I am his friend, but…" The end of her sentence was cut off as Kili slipped from her grasp and ran from cover attacking the trolls.
"Oh shit." Cursed Freya earning an incredulous glance from Fili at her language. Turning to Fili and Thorin she continued whispering urgently "Well that's done it then! Just keep them busy as long as you can." She said, moving off and skirting the clearing carefully carrying her staff and unsheathing a dagger.
"I said, drop him!" She could hear Kili demanding. She peered round a bush in time to see Bilbo get thrown at Kili who caught him, just as Thorin led the rest of the company out of cover to charge the trolls. She watched from cover as the dwarves worked seamlessly, attempting to inflict some serious damage on the trolls.
Freya joined the fight attempting to use the shadows as much as possible; she stayed on the edges of the camp unseen but leaping in and out of the fray stabbing with her dagger and keeping the trolls off balance with her staff. As the fight progressed Freya saw the largest troll grab Ori off the ground, she skirted round to help the poor young dwarf, but was beaten to it. She almost laughed as she saw Dwalin run up to the troll striking at a foot with his war-hammer, he remained crouched as Thorin ran up his back and took a flying leap, stabbing the troll right in it's bicep and causing it to drop Ori while howling in pain.
Freya's inattention cost her though, as she had to leap to get out of the way of the ponies as they bolted to safety. She cursed herself for jumping further into the camp as the smallest troll looked right at her and snarled making to grab her.
"Oh no you don't!" she cried as she jabbed quickly and sharply with her staff into the troll's eye and sunk her dagger into it's hand causing it to give a satisfying squeal of pain. The troll caught her by surprise however as it lashed out with it's uninjured hand sending her flying across the camp crashing into a tree.
She hit her head hard and slumped dazed and struggling to remain conscious. Thorin who was not far away started to run over to check on her. Just then however, a shout sounded behind them and the Dwarves all stopped staring in growing horror as the trolls held up Bilbo between two of them by his arms and legs. Kili went to attack but Thorin held him back.
"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip 'is off!" Demanded the largest troll smugly. Thorin reluctantly laid down his sword and the other dwarves followed suit. He deliberately moved in front of where Freya was slumped on the ground effectively shielding her from view.
The dwarves found themselves quickly stripped of armour down to their underclothes, the trolls complaining that they did not want to pick bits of leather and chain mail out of their teeth. While some of the dwarves were tied to a spit and place over a fire, Bilbo and the rest found themselves roughly stuffed feet first in sacks and thrown into a pile. As one troll went to get more wood to make the fire hotter, the remaining two tended the spit.
"'ere, we're one short ain't we?" Asked a troll.
"Yeah where's the bitch who stabbed me and wrecked me' eye!" There was a brief silence as Thorin admired her handiwork - the troll's eye was half closed and bloodshot.
"You are mistaken, you have all of us!" He shouted angrily, but too late.
The troll had moved off into the bushes and soon found her. They heard a muffled grunt as the troll picked up Freya and brought her dangling limply by her legs as she struggled to regain consciousness. The troll laid her down in front of the dwarves. One of the other trolls took out a knife and made his way over to Freya, the dwarves begun shouting and attempting to move, Thorin's voice rose above the others.
"By Mahal if you touch her you will live only long enough for me to make you regret it!"
The troll smirked at them and Freya started to mumble and roll her head as consciousness returned. Her eyes flickered open and upon seeing a troll leaning over her, she gasped and started to struggle, she managed to land a good kick on the vile creature's nose before it slipped a knife into the laces of her leather armour corset and cut.
"Get away from me you vile creature or I swear I will gut you and use your innards to rebind my armour!" She screamed.
The larger of the trolls backhanded her across the face and she had to fight to retain consciousness again. She was stripped to her tunic and breeches like the dwarves had been. She was then shoved roughly into a sack and tossed over to the dwarves landing between Kili and Thorin.
Freya was barely aware of what was going on, but her head was splitting making it difficult to think. She vaguely registered that she must have a concussion as she fought to open her eyes.
"Stay with us Freya." She could hear Thorin's deep voice etched with concern as she felt him wriggle a little closer to her while Kili did the same. She needed to vomit, which was bad as she was lying on her back. She attempted to sit, groaned and stopped slumping back down as the world spun as Kili got closer and placed his head near to her lap.
"Need… to be sick." Said Freya weakly. Thorin edged closer to her sliding on his bottom, he positioned himself behind her and whispered
"Lean on me and Kili so you can sit up." It took Freya a couple of attempts to do this, but she managed to give a weak and grateful smile that Thorin could not see.
"Thank you…" she said weakly as she got more comfortable. She leaned to the side and started to wretch but mercifully nothing came out.
The trolls had been arguing about how to cook the dwarves best; whether sautéing them was the best idea, or whether to sit on them one by one and squash them into jelly. Freya cracked an eye open to find Bilbo had wriggled to his feet and was attempting to stall. She could not engage her brain at that exact moment, everything was foggy and it felt as though the world was spinning and lurching beneath her… but she knew what Bilbo was doing was a good plan. She had been vaguely thinking they needed to keep the trolls occupied and away from the Company and the ponies herself, but she couldn't think why.
"…the secret to cooking dwarves is…" Bilbo was trying desperately to think of something to say "…you have to skin them first." He said she could see his shoulders sinking and his head drop as he cursed himself and the dwarves shouted angrily. "No, no, wait!"
"Tom, get me fillitin' knife." Ordered the largest troll, obviously the cook and leader of the trio.
"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on! Scoff 'em I say, boots and all" said one of the trolls.
"He's right, nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf! Nice and crunchy!" said the smallest dwarf picking up Bombur and dangling him over his mouth about to take a bite.
"WAIT you can't eat that one!" Shouted Bilbo thinking quickly. "He's got… worms in his… tubes!"
Bombur looked mortified, but Freya let out a quiet chuckle as the troll dropped him, the plan suddenly hitting her like a lightening bolt.
"Clever hobbit! Dawn! That's what he's been doing, stalling for dawn!" She whispered her head leant on Thorin, he tensed behind her, hearing her and catching on to the plan.
"In fact they all have, they are simply riddled with parasites, I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't." Said Bilbo as the dwarves protested that they did not have parasites. Thorin aimed a kick at Kili's back and a stern look as the other dwarves fell silent catching on.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm!" Cried Oin
"I've got huge parasites!" Called Kili, the others chiming in.
"And what would you have us do, let 'um go I suppose?" Demanded the large troll.
"Um, well!" Said Bilbo hoping they would do exactly that.
"What about 'er Bert?" Said the smallest troll indicating Freya as he started walking over to the dwarves and Freya behind Bilbo. The largest troll caught him by the nose causing him to squeak in pain. "She's different Bert. I can feel it!" He said nasally as Bert held on.
"Doesn't mean she ain't infected too. We'll have to marinate her in herbs first… hum, but then, that would spoil the delicate flavour." Said Bert thoughtfully. Kili wriggled closer to Freya and Thorin pressed himself closer protectively.
"She's... well... she's got them too, it's a terrible business!" Said Bilbo desperately.
"Do you think I don't know what you are doing?" Said the large troll Tom. "This little ferret is trying to take us all for fools!" He said poking Bilbo in the chest causing Bilbo to stumble.
"Ferret?" Scoffed Bilbo indignantly.
"The dawn will take you all!" called a loud voice that Freya knew well. She let out a weak laugh feeling relief wash over her as the trolls looked up unimpressed by the interruption.
"Whose that?"
"No idea"
"Can we eat him too?"
Freya opened her eyes to see Gandalf stood atop a boulder silhouetted against the grey light of dawn, staff in hand. He brought his staff down hard onto the boulder splitting it cleanly and washing the clearing with light as the boulder fell away and dawn's first rays poured into the clearing.
The trolls screamed in pain and slowly, amid clouds of dust, they turned to stone to sit there forever more.