Chapter Nine
Meanwhile DJ now found herself being dragged by goblins. Fear came over her as she knew where the goblins are dragging her too. Tears streamed down her face. Hours went by, and she noticed she is now outside the caves with the goblins. They soon arrived at the camp of the orcs. "Master, the goblins have arrived!" said an orc guard to the Pale Orc. "What are they doing here?" snarled the Pale Orc. "My lord, we bring you a gift from our King. I'm sure you will find her in good use." said a goblin with a bow, and the pushed DJ in front of them.
"The King's woman!" grinned the Pale Orc. "Keep away from me, you filth!" shouted DJ. Suddenly the Pale Orc slapped DJ in the face. "No one speaks to me this way! Guards, put her in a cell, until I decide what to do with her. I have other plans." said the Pale Orc. The orc guards nodded, and they dragged DJ in a small make shift cell. After the orc locked the cell he left. She noticed the Pale Orc and many of the orcs left their camp, leaving DJ alone in her cell. After DJ waited for the Orcs to leave, she cried out for help. "Somebody HELP! HELP!" screamed DJ, shaking the cell bars.
Outside near the camp, a large black bear approached. He stopped, suddenly because he could hear a voice yelling, a female voice. The bear snorted and turned, and saw a small cell with a brown haired woman inside. The bear's eyes widened in concern and the bear approached DJ's cell. "A BEAR! That's the last thing I need right now!" shrieked DJ. The bear just looked at her, with friendly eyes and nodded. DJ could sense the bear was trying to communicate with her. "You're not hurt are you?" asked DJ. The bear nodded no. Then suddenly, an idea popped in DJ's mind.
"Will you help me out of here?" asked DJ. The bear nodded yes, signaling her to back away while he worked on freeing her. The bear used his paws, removing the bars from the cell, releasing DJ. "Thank you so much!" said DJ, hugging the bear. The bear made a gesture. "Climb your back? Why?" asked DJ. DJ complied, and she climbed on the bear's back. And the bear began running into the woods. They shortly arrived a a large home. "You live here?" asked DJ in amazement. The bear nodded. DJ climbed down from the bear, and she entered the home, and sat down at a large table.
DJ sat in the home alone for a little while.
Suddenly, a tall man with wild looking dark hair enters the home, looking at DJ. "Why is a woman doing out in the wild all alone?" asked the man. "I was captured by goblins first, but the goblins dragged me to the Pale Orc' s company, and they held me prisoner there. I am separated from a company of thirteen dwarves, a hobbit and a wizard. By the way, my name is DJ. What is your name?" asked DJ. "My name is Beorn. Did you say wizard?" asked the man. "Yes, his name is Gandalf." said DJ. Beorn smiled. "You're a friend of Gandalf's? Any friend of the wizard's is a friend of mine! Let me check your injuries." said Beorn approaching DJ, examining DJ to see any injuries.
"Are you hungry Miss DJ?" asked Beorn. DJ smiled. "Very much." said DJ. Beorn served some food for DJ and himself. "After supper, I have arranged a room for you, so you can rest." said Beorn. "Thank you, Beorn. Were you the bear that saved me?" asked DJ. Beorn smiled. "Yes, I was that bear." said Beorn. Suddenly a cat approached DJ's arm. "Oh, a cat!" beamed DJ, picking up the cat, cuddling it and playing with it. "I see you are a lover of animals!" said Beorn. "Yes, I am. I belong to a animal rescue society back in my world. I save animals and bring them to the original habitat. I not only work with domestic animals, but I also work with bears, lions, tigers, mountain lions, etc.." said DJ.
"Wow!" said Beorn. "But things turned on me after my family died in a car accident. And I ended up here in Middle Earth. I had a friend named Ariella, but she turned against me and my company." said DJ sadly. "Ariella? Daughter of King Thranduil?!" said Beorn. "You know her?" gasped DJ. "I know her yes. She had been here to stay the night last week before returning to her home. She was in a very bad mood when she got here." said Beorn. "I really don't want to know this." said DJ. "Well, I'm going to continue my night watch, and leave you to your dinner. You may go and rest afterwards." said Beorn, smiling. "Thank you!" said DJ.
After DJ ate her meal, she went to her room and climbed into bed. She slept for a very long time. She lost track of time during the many hours of slept she had. When she woke up, the sun was shining, and she could hear voices outside her room door. "Where is she? Is she here?!" asked a deep voice. "Yes, she's in the room over on the left!" said the voice of Beorn. DJ stood and froze. She recognized the deep voice. Suddenly, the door opened, and Thorin entered the room. "Thorin!" exclaimed DJ. "DJ! Thank Mahal, you are safe!" cried out Thorin, taking DJ in his arms, holding her tightly.
"Beorn saved me from the Pale Orc The Pale Orc has no idea that I am gone." said DJ.
"I know-I had a battle with him just several hours ago. I nearly died, but Gandalf and the Eagles saved me." said Thorin. "I see the injuries! Oh Thorin!" said DJ, resting her head on the dwarf's broad chest. "It doesn't matter. The most important thing matters is that you are safe." whispered Thorin, stroking DJ's hair. DJ smiled. "Come, lets go and join the others." said Thorin. "What time is it?" asked DJ. "Its early afternoon, DJ." said Thorin. "Holy crap! I slept that long?!" exclaimed DJ. Thorin nodded. When they arrived at the dining room table, the entire company and Bilbo smiled when Thorin and DJ entered.
"Hurray! Miss DJ is okay!" chirped Kili grinning. "Yes, I'm okay, guys." smiled DJ. "Weren't you scared out of your mind? Especially being in captive by the Pale Orc?" asked Fili. "Yes, I was very terrified. I didn't understand what he needed me for!" said DJ. "He was going to use you as his slave, DJ. His plan was to make you his bride and enslave you." said Thorin. "Well its not going to happen. I want that orc to stay as far from me as possible." snapped DJ. "We will make sure of that, DJ. No orc will lay a hand on you, especially Azog." said Balin.
"Thank you." said DJ. Later, Beorn shared stories with the company.
In return, the dwarves shared their own stories with the skin changer. When nightfall came, Beorn left for the night, leaving the company to their own devices. Thorin led the company into Great Hall, with a fire pit centered in the room, and they gathered around the fire, sitting on the floor cross legged. DJ sat next to Thorin, who was sitting cross legged with his back against a wall. "Who is in a mood for a song?" called out Bofur, after a brief silence, taking out his flute. The dwarves agreed on a song. Thorin shortly notices a lute nearby, and he reaches for the instrument.
Thorin took the lute, and soon as he started playing, Bofur joined in with him on his instrument. Presently, Thorin began to sing, leading all the dwarves into an old dwarven song:
The wind was on the withered heath
But in the forest stirred no leaf;
There shadows lay, by night and day
And dark things silent crept beneath.
The wind came down from mountains cold
And like a tide it roared and rolled;
The branches groaned, the forest moaned
And leaves were laid upon the mould.
When Thorin strummed a final chord on the lute, the song ended. DJ smiled, as she rests her head on Thorin's shoulders. Her eye lids started to droop. Thorin could see DJ was getting tired. She was tired from all the excitement from reunited with her friends and Thorin again. Thorin put aside the lute, and he picked up DJ, carrying her to her room. He laid DJ gently down on the bed, and he climbed into bed with DJ, holding her close to his chest. "I love you, DJ. No one is going to take you from me again, that's a promise." whispered Thorin.
Thorin kissed DJ on the cheek as DJ fell asleep on his broad chest. The next morning, the company discussed their next move for their quest. And the mention of entering Mirkwood Forest was brought up. This angered DJ, because she knew whom she would have to face when they entered. "No, no! Bad idea! There's no way we're going in there!" snapped DJ hotly. "DJ, we have no other choice. If we went another way, it would be extremely perilous!" said Gandalf. "Gandalf, if we went in there, something bad is going to happen. A little war is going to happen." said DJ hotly.
Thorin knew what DJ was speaking of, and this concerned him. He knew that they may face the Elven King and Ariella, and he knew there will be a lot of conflict going on, not just between him and Thranduil, but between Ariella and DJ, which would get really violent. "DJ, whatever you do, just try and stay calm. Whatever happens DJ, we got your back!" said Dwalin. DJ sighed. "Okay." said DJ. "We will leave this afternoon." said Thorin. And it was decided the company will depart Beorn's that day.