A/N: Alright you lovely readers you, I have another update for you. It's a smaller chapter (i.e. not as many words) though this chapter is quite an interesting one. Let me know what you think!
Chapter Summary:
Rain is a nuisance.
Something wet was tickling Lyla's nose. Annoying thing it was really. She grumbled and swatted at her face.
Drip.
Blast it all! What was that?
Grumpily, she opened one eye. And was splashed by a water droplet for the effort.
Of course it would start raining.
Heaving herself to her feet, her joints stiff from the earlier bout of weapons practice, she noted that it was still mostly dark, but everyone was on their feet and collecting the supplies. They couldn't sleep through the impending downpour (if the dark billowing clouds were any indication) so it was prudent to either continue the journey or find shelter. She didn't need Thorin Oakenshield's shout to move on to know which they'd be doing. She'd been in the company long enough to recognize an impatient dwarf when she saw one.
And Thorin was the epitome of impatient. And hot headed…
And he was pointedly ignoring her.
Which rubbed Lyla the wrong way if she was being honest. True she wasn't the most battle ready member of the company but just because she wasn't as skilled as the other didn't give that pigheaded grumpy sod the right to gruffly mistreat her. And with their sparring match Lyla found herself even more confused by the Dwarf king. His actions and emotions seemed to flit back and forth to the point where her head ached just trying to deduce his true character.
Well, there was nothing for it really. She was certain all her worrying would do is give her a headache. And why should she care whether or not the dwarf even remotely cared a little for her? She wasn't so selfish and proud to expect to acquire everyone's good opinion was she?
With a sigh she stuffed her now sopping bedroll in her pack and donned the cloak Dwalin lent her (cleaned of blood and stitched up nicely) and hefted the pack onto her shoulders. She needed to focus on other things instead of the dwarf who was adjusting his sword around his waist, his dark hair dripping down his shoulders in soft waves and the way his shirt clung to his broad chest because he'd forgotten to put on his coat…
'Stop it Lyla'
She felt the heat on her neck and drew her eyes away from the company's leader. How absurd that she should admire that over-zealous dwarf! But he was handsome…
Bah! Stop it!
Six hours of slogging through muddy and rocky terrain and the entire company was grumbling in annoyance and frustration. Tempers were running high and Lyla knew better than to attempt conversation with anyone. Barring Bofur of course. That dwarf never seemed ruffled by any inconvenience and cheerfully whistled a tune as he lent a hand to Lyla, who had slipped on the steep incline, the frigid water running down her back.
"Careful there master Baggins! Wouldn't want to take a little tumble, aye?" Bofur chuckled.
Lyla did NOT share his sentiment. That LITTLE tumble, had it happened, would have sent the hobbit careening into the darkness below…far below…
Little tumble indeed.
Still Lyla was grateful and mumbled her appreciation accordingly. But for the most part she remained silent, determined to keep her footing in this muddy, slick terrain that her hobbit feet for so unused to. She observed how the dwarves moved, carefully, sure-footed, and she envied their ease in navigating rocky terrain, rain or shine. No, her feet were far more suited for woodlands and small dirt paths leading to her smial where a nice warm cup of tea, her armchair, a cozy blanket and a good book would be most welcome—
Another fat splash of rain trickled underneath her clothes and she sighed.
It'd do no good to dwell on home. She was far from it and needed to focus on the reality of her situation.
A large blast of thunder drew her gaze upward. And her heart nearly stopped in shock.
The rocks were moving!
"This is no thunder storm!" Balin exclaimed, "It's a thunder battle. Look!" He pointed and Lyla's eyes widened at the realization that the mountains were starting to take on the forms of men, with legs and arms, a torso…
"Well bless me the legends are true!" Bofur chattered, clamping a hand down on his hat, a grin on his face, "Giants! Stone giants!"
Lyla was certain that THIS right now was a good reason to stay in the Shire. Stone giants? As if she weren't short enough. Now she had to contend with giants impeding (or in this case completely destroying) her pathway, making it impossible to continue on this journey!
Then the ground started moving beneath her feet and Lyla was pitched forward, nearly toppling again into the ravine below if not for Dwalin's quick grasp on her cloak and Kili's steadying hand on her arm. Lyla gazed upward again and her stomach plummeted (probably down to the ravine) as she gazed at the form of a stone giant rising to meet its opponent.
And they were trapped on a stone giant's knee of all places.
Lyla watched the horrified faces of half the company disappear (Bifur, Thorin, Balin, Oin, Gloin, Fili) around the other side as they two were trapped on the opposite knee of the giant.
"Kili!" Thorin's and Fili's voices cried above the fray of battle and rain and Lyla watched the panicked look overshadow Kili's features as his uncle and brother disappeared. They appeared a moment later, however, and Lyla watched in fascinated horror, gripping onto the stone any way she could, that they had jumped from the knee of the giant a more stable (i.e. not moving) mountain face.
They were safe.
Thank goodness.
The same, sadly, could not be said for Lyla and the rest of the company. They each clung to the rocks, desperately trying to find a sure foothold against the movements of the giant, who—by the looks of things—was losing his battle.
A massive boulder was tossed at the giant's head and the force of the blow knocked the stone creature sideways, its legs twisting, so that Lyla, Bofur, Kili, Dwalin and the rest were sent careening towards the rock face Thorin and the others had safely leapt to. The speed at which they were travelling, however, ensured that Lyla and the others would not be as fortunate to enjoy such a soft landing. The giant's knee was going to smash into the rock face. Each of the dwarves grasped each other's arms as they braced for impact.
But just before connection, Lyla slipped, the slick terrain (and lack of footwear) sucking her beneath the armholds of her companions. She tumbled, pitching forward and threw her arms out, desperately trying to grasp onto something.
Anything.
Her fingers found purchase (thankfully) on a small ledge holding and Lyla clung for dear life (for her life DID in fact depend on it). She tried to call out for help, but the words were stuck in her throat, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.
Was anyone even alive to hear her anyway?
Thorin's voice echoed above her as he shouted his nephew's name
"No! Kili!" And then a relieved sigh.
"It's alright!" Gloin exclaimed, "They're alive!"
Lyla tightened her grip on the rocks trying to pull herself upwards.
"Where's Bilbo? Where's the hobbit?" Bofur's voice, tinged in worry rocketed her ears and a small squeak of fright escaped her lips.
"There!" Shouted Ori and Kili and suddenly, as Lyla looked upward, she saw Kili, Bofur and Ori above her, arms outstretched trying to reach her.
"Grab my hand!" Bofur shouted extending his arm as far as he could.
Lyla let one hand go and reach upward.
Her grip slipped.
With a startled cry, she fell further, her palms scraping against rock. By sheer will she clung to the side of the mountain, her feet dangling, unable to find a foothold.
"Get 'im!" Dwalin's voice roared above the others as he too tried to reach her.
Kili, with Fili's arms encircling his legs, dropped down and reached the startled hobbit.
"Grab my hand master Boggins!" Kili shouted, extending his arm towards her.
Lyla reached out again and scrambled to grab ahold of the young dwarf's fingers. His large warm hands encircled her tiny wrists as he brought the hobbit closer to his own body, his grip tight and comforting.
"I won't let you fall. I promise," He reassured.
But Kili should have known that you can't make promises like that. Not on this adventure.
The footing beneath Fili's feet crumbled and he, along with Kili and Lyla tumbled over the side of the mountain.
The only sign of their presence were the surprised and startled cries that escaped their lips.
And the horrified howls of the company and Thorin Oakenshield as they shouted their fallen members' names.
"Kili! Fili!"
"Bilbo!"
