A/N: And chapter 10! Enjoy!
The sunrise was beginning to spill over the hillsides of Rivendell, shining a deep gold into every crevice and corner of the Elven city. The company was hiking up a small path on the rocky hills, away from Rivendell.
Thorin, leading the group, turned and gestured for Balin to surpass him. "Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Balin, you know these paths; lead on."
Balin agreed and took his place at the front of the line. Bilbo, who was walking in front of Quin near the back of the group, stopped and stared back at Rivendell with longing in his eyes. Quin stopped too, to admire the Elven city with him.
"Master Baggins, Quin, I suggest you keep up." Thorin's voice echoed down to them, and they sighed.
Quin patted Bilbo on the back reassuringly. "Don't worry. Perhaps I'll join you on a journey back to Rivendell one day."
Bilbo nodded. "Let us hope. I will miss this place." He said sadly, before turning back to join the others. Quin took one last glance at Rivendell, trying to burn the vision of the glowing city in her mind, before following Bilbo. They travelled many miles, the Misty Mountains in the distance growing closer by the hour. Quin passed the time chatting with the other dwarves, getting to know them better and learning many things about their personal lives.
She learned that Gloin had a wife and son, the latter named Gimli, who was being trained with axes while he was gone. He pulled a small photobook out of his tunic to show her pictures of them, on which Quin complimented profusely, making Gloin grin with pride. Bifur, she realized, could speak only Khuzdul. She was not fluent in the language but could pick up a few words here and there. Bifur seemed pleased that she knew any words at all. When Quin asked Dwalin about what the tattoos on his head read, the dwarf had told her simply that it was about his early life, following which he proceeded to go into great detail about his accomplishments. She resisted the urge to laugh at his exaggerated gestures as he reenacted battles he'd fought in.
Bofur was apparently a toy-maker before being called to join the quest. He showed her a few prototypes he had with him, which he would work on whenever they had a break to eat or sleep. Quin praised him highly on his craftsmanship, which only made him blush. Bombur was not hard to get to know. His favorite thing to talk about was food, so discussing various recipes was all it took to get him to reveal his passions.
Fili and Kili she didn't spend too much time trying to get to know, already having a type of relationship with the two brothers. They mainly joked around with each other, Quin teasing them about something, and them spending too much time trying to prove her wrong. Óin was a respected healer, Quin had come to find out. He carried a small pack with him that was just for storing herbs and potions, anything that could save one of their lives if they got into any trouble. They spoke for a little while on the advancements of medicine between the different races of Middle Earth, causing an interesting discussion between the two that a few other dwarfs joined in.
When Quin asked Nori about his life, the dwarf was reluctant to say much. He did say some would consider him a thief, though he was thorough in trying to justify his past actions to her, claiming it was simply to help keep his family alive through the years. Quin understood and found him very endearing and brave, once she had gotten him to finally open up. His brother Dori simply seemed to be on the quest for the sake of his brothers. He spoke as if he were the leader of the trio, much to Nori's annoyance. Quin tried not to giggle as the two got into a heated argument about who was the more responsible one.
Ori, as the youngest dwarf of the company, was who she saved for last. He was very shy at first with her, only responding to her questions with brief answers, some of them one syllable if he could get away with it. When she had asked to see his journal, his eyes instantly lit up, and he became much more animated. He was the chronicler of the company, as he dubbed himself, and he showed her much of what he'd written and drawn. Ori had drawn every member of the company in great detail, except her. She tried not to be bothered by the fact, but couldn't help but ask about it.
"You haven't drawn me?"
His face flushed and turned red. "I was going to… but I didn't feel it was right without asking first." He looked away, making Quin smile.
"You may document anything you like about me, Ori. No need to ask. I feel at least someone should know my story after I'm gone, and who better to record it than this company's official chronicler?"
At her flattery, he blushed deeper and grinned. "Alright, Quin. Thank you." He nodded at her and went ahead, excited to find a place to have lunch so he could begin on his documentation of her. She laughed quietly to herself at his enthusiasm, and the company continued the journey in a sort of peaceful content. When they were almost to the mountains, Thorin fell behind to walk with her.
"I see you are putting in effort to get to know my kin." He remarked.
She shrugged and smirked. "I can't just hang around you all the time. I don't want them to get jealous."
He chuckled. "It pleases me to see you getting along with them."
"I want to get to know them as best as I can. Before… they're gone." She stared at the ground in melancholy.
Thorin looked sideways at her. "Surely you do not think that way all the time? That seems like no way to live."
She made eye contact with him, all the exhaustion of her immortal life creeping into her gaze. "It is an unavoidable truth that plagues me often. I'm sorry if I bring down the mood." She gave him a poor attempt at a genuine smile. "I won't mention it anymore."
Thorin grabbed her arm gently, stopping her completely. "Never think you have to keep your feelings from me, Quin. I will give you my full attention no matter what, even if it's just to tell me you enjoy seeing the blue skies." The corner of his mouth lifted as he released her.
She could hear how genuine he was, and was grateful he didn't want to shut her out when she was reminded of the weight of her burdens. She smiled and looked up.
"The skies are quite beautiful." In the distance, storm clouds looked to be brewing, the grey masses rolling atop each other in a graceful dance.
Thorin squinted at the distance. "I would normally be inclined to agree, but I believe those storm clouds are right above our destination."
~O~
The wind was howling all around them, the rain beating down as if by the bucketful. The company was struggling to keep their footing on the narrow, dangerous path of rock deep in the Misty Mountains. Even with Quin's magical cloak, she still managed to get soaked.
"Still think the skies are beautiful?!" Thorin shouted back at her, and she glared at him through the flashes of lightning. "Hold on!" He yelled to the others.
Quin and Bilbo were in the middle of the group, and at that moment, the stone beneath Bilbo's feet gave way. He yelped and almost slipped over the edge, but Quin grabbed ahold of his pack and jacket, heaving him back against the wet rock wall next to them.
"Be careful!" Quin shouted, her voice laced with fear, straining to be heard above the screaming winds. Bilbo reluctantly continued on, though he stayed much nearer to the safety of the wall.
"We must find shelter!" Thorin shouted to Dwalin, who opened his mouth to respond, but stopped as his eyes widened.
"Watch out!" He pointed up, and the company turned to see a massive boulder hurling towards them. It crashed right above them, causing debris and large rocks to fall all around the company. Quin held Bilbo tight, protecting him with her body. A few rocks pelted her back, making her grunt in pain.
"This is no thunderstorm; it's a thunder battle! Look!" Balin called out. Everyone turned to see an enormous stone giant separate itself from the mountain, standing proudly. Quin gasped as she saw it rip a chunk from the mountain with ease.
Everyone was shouting, but all Quin could focus on was the creatures before her. She had heard the stories, everyone had, but seeing them in the flesh was very different. Their vocalizations were terrible and ripped through the skies with a great bellowing. The giant threw the piece of mountain, aiming and striking true at a second stone giant that came from behind them. The giant's head broke upon impact, and fell against the cliffside, shaking the earth beneath the company's feet.
They all braced themselves as rocks decreased the surface area beneath them, and they scrambled back to avoid the cliffside. The vibrations grew stronger, and then the earth was actually moving.
"Oh Eru." Quin gasped.
The rock between the party split, causing them to become two halves. Bilbo and Quin were on one half, which turned out to be one knee of a third stone giant. Fili and Kili were separated, as Quin heard Fili plead for Kili to grab onto his hand.
The stone giants clashed, allowing one part of the group to escape when the ground beneath them connected to a safe spot on the path. Quin was holding on for dear life as they were flung through the air. They passed by the other group and she and Thorin shared terrified looks with each other. Quin's group began heading toward the cliffside, and she closed her eyes, hoping death would come quickly. Surprisingly, upon impact, the group safely tumbled to the other side.
Thorin and the others, however did not know this, and only thought they saw the deaths of half their group. Thorin panicked and began running.
"No! NO! Fili! Quin!" He shouted, fear lacing his heart at the thought of them crushed. As he rounded a corner, a large breath escaped him as he saw everyone alive. Quin groaned as she got to her feet, rubbing her elbow with a wince. Her face had some scratches on it, and she looked severely rough for wear. Thorin surprised her when he ran over and embraced her tightly. The wind was knocked out of her, but she returned his hug with a matching fierceness, just as glad to see him alive as he was to see her.
"Where's Bilbo? Where's the Hobbit?" Bofur's frantic voice pulled the two apart, and Quin scanned the cliffside with desperation. The others spotted him before she did. He was barely hanging on to the rocks. Quin immediately dove for him, catching his arm just as he slipped. She pulled with all her might, but his wet hands caused him to slip once more. She screamed in fear, but he caught another handhold further down. The others joined to help, but Thorin swung down and practically threw Bilbo to safety.
Quin's panic renewed as she saw Thorin lost his grip. Thankfully, Dwalin got ahold of him and used his enormous strength to pull him up. Everyone stopped to breathe for a few moments.
"I thought we'd lost our burglar." Dwalin said breathlessly.
"He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place among us." Thorin spat.
Quin narrowed her eyes at him. "How dare you say that to him." Thorin stopped at the iciness in her tone, but turned away to Dwalin. Together, the two went off to find shelter.
"Don't listen to him Bilbo. You belong with this company." Quin told Bilbo determinedly. Bilbo looked at her in disbelief but appreciation for her standing up for him. Soon enough, Thorin and Dwalin came back, leading everyone to a dry cave not far off. Inside it was dry and quite warm, though Quin was very wary.
"It looks safe enough." Dwalin remarked.
"Search to the back; caves in mountains are seldom unoccupied." Thorin ordered, and Dwalin obeyed, finding nothing.
Gloin came in with a small bundle of wood he no doubt found in the corner of the cave.
"Right then! Let's get a fire started." He rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"No. No fires, not in this place. Get some sleep. We start at first light." Thorin said, his eyes scanning every inch of their shelter.
"I don't think we should stay, Thorin. Something seems off." Quin told Thorin quietly. She didn't know what it was, but she couldn't shake a strange feeling that they weren't safe. She fingered the handle of Frostfire nervously.
Thorin looked at her a bit guiltily, as if for his earlier remark at Bilbo. "I know. But they company is exhausted and those stone giants are still out there. If we go now, we might not make it down the mountain." Quin nodded reluctantly.
"We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan." Balin spoke up to Thorin, who sighed.
"Plans change. Bofur, take the first watch." He nodded at Bofur.
Sleeping was proving hard for Quin. She had set up her bedroll only to appease the disapproving gaze Thorin had directed her way when she had made no move to try to sleep. She laid down with her eyes closed, but her senses were in full awareness. Frostfire was still strapped to her side, and her hand rested on the handle as she thought about the next part in their journey.
Quin peeked open an eye when she heard soft shuffling. She was surprised to see Bilbo rolling up his bedroll and packing his things. The Hobbit grabbed his walking stick and made to leave. Quin immediately sat up in bed, startling the Hobbit.
"Just where do you think you're going?" She whispered sternly.
Bilbo struggled to come up with an explanation. Bofur had heard her whisper, him still keeping watch, and he too waited for the Hobbit to answer.
"Back to Rivendell." He said sadly.
"No, no, you can't turn back now, you're part of the Company! You're one of us." Bofur protested, and Quin couldn't help but grin at the kindness of the former toy maker.
Bilbo just shook his head. "I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door." He lowered his gaze.
Quin huffed. "Thorin didn't mean that, Bilbo. He's stubborn and pig headed sometimes." Unknown to her, Thorin was lying awake not too far away, listening to their conversation. He grimaced as she commented harshly on his character.
"He should know better than to judge a book by its cover, but underneath his harsh exterior I truly believe he's got a good heart. Don't doubt yourself, Bilbo." She pleaded. Thorin's frown shifted into a smile as she then complimented him.
"I get it, Bilbo, you're homesick." Bofur added. Bilbo turned to the dwarf, frustrated.
"No, you don't, you don't understand! None of you do. You're dwarves, wanderers." He glanced at Quin, acknowledging her. "You're used to this life, to living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere." He stopped short, seeing the wince on Bofur and Quin's face. Quin was more trained at hiding her emotions, so his comment didn't hit her that hard. However, she felt the hurt emanating from Bofur, and wanted to reassure him, but Bilbo spoke before she could.
"I am sorry, I didn't…" Bilbo tried to take back what he said, frantically glancing apologetically between the two of them.
"No, you're right. We don't belong anywhere." Bofur gave Bilbo a genuine, sad smile, standing up to place a firm hand on the Hobbit's shoulder. "I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do."
Bilbo smiled. Bilbo turned away, looking right at Quin, who had, during their exchange, had come to stand by Bilbo's side.
"Don't forget to come visit, you hear? You can tell me all about how you slay that dragon." Bilbo grinned, his eyes a little watery, making Quin's eyes do the same. She embraced the Hobbit fiercely.
"I'll miss you." She whispered in his ear.
"What's that?" Bofur interrupted them, and they broke apart to see him staring at Bilbo's sheath. The Hobbit looked down and lifted the handle of his sword, only to see it glowing bright blue. Far beneath them, the rumble and squeaking of machinery came alive.
Thorin was up on his feet, having felt the vibrations as he eavesdropped. "Wake up. Wake up!"
Quin grabbed the rest of her weapons quickly, before seeing the sand slowly seeping out of cracks beneath them.
"Brace yourselves!" She shouted to the others. Before anyone could move, the floor of the cave opened, dropping them into a tunnel, into the darkness below.
A/N: And that's that! You all know what's coming next, so look forward to it, because I loved writing it! For this chapter, I wanted to include some dwarf characterization, based on the research I could find online, just to establish more of a relationship between them and Quin. Hope you all have a great week, and thanks for reading!