This will be a long story, and a slow one. I'm not a fast writer so it could be a week or two between Chapters. Maybe more. I'm not making any promises. I have a lot planned for this one though! Comment or shoot me a message, it would be appreciated! Thanks!
Italicized words will mostly be thoughts. But of course some are for emphasizing. Long lines of italic words in quotes will be singing/reading from a book.
Starting in Chapter 8, full lines of Italics in conversations will be another language being spoke. So as not to take away from the story with a bunch of untranslated elvish or black speech, but the emphasis that the others do not know what is being said.
I do not own any of the characters except for Christianna, my OC. Aeyanna belongs to AshynnaStarlight. Everything else belongs to Tolkien!
"Chrissy?" Bilbo whispered carefully as he approached. The Hobbit took a seat next to her, leaning up against the base of an Oak tree.
She blinked slowly and turned to him. Her mind was fuzzy and her vision going blurry, but he pulled her back to reality. "Bilbo?" She looked around to register where they were. "We are close to Beorn's. Did you tell them to hurry? The Wargs are not far behind us."
He nodded and gave her a wary look, moving closer when he got a distant glare from Aeyanna. Something wasn't right, he didn't need to have keen eyes to see that.
"Yes, yes, I relayed your message to the Dwarves. Though their trail may suddenly disappear as the layers of muck are washed down the Anduin." He drawled amused. "And what in Middle Earth is a 'Beorn'?"
She let out a soft groan that was quickly followed by a giggle, already feeling lighter from his presence. "Why must you ask questions? Even Thorin gave up on that and just glares at me."
He gave an indignant look and huffed at her. "I would like to think I can handle a bit more than that lot. Brain is not quite as… tiny."
She laughed softly and leaned against him. "Look at you, you can't even give a proper insult anymore." She teased him. "Careful Bilbo, your love of the Dwarves is showing."
He puffed up, suddenly resembling a hedgehog, and grumbled under his breath. "Very funny you, are you going to tell me or not?"
She sat up straighter, and got more serious. "You are going to see Beorn soon enough. But there is something else I wish to speak to you about."
He started to frown at her changing expression. "Never mind I take it back. I liked it better when you were teasing me."
"Bilbo. If we get separated, just keep moving for Erebor. I know the path so I will find you all again. I promise. I don't care where we are in the journey, just keep going." She whispered to him. All she could wonder what would happen in Mirkwood. Now that she… remembered.
"Yes, I really don't like this now." Bilbo mumbled.
"I'm serious Bilbo. All that matters is that the story continues without changing the fact that the mountain is reclaimed."
Bilbo leaned forward and matched her serious look. "And what of Bofur, you think he is just going to leave you behind? Regardless of where we are?"
"You must make him go Bilbo! No matter what it takes!" She all but shouted at him.
Bilbo's face turned to one of pure exasperation, he was so tired of this. "I suppose there's no use in arguing against that."
"Hey! Look at that, the Hobbit is learning." She snickered, pushing her hair behind her ear.
"You know, sometimes I really regret declaring that you were my best friend."
"No you don't."
He rolled his eyes. "Alright then. Want to tell me what else is up." He nodded in the direction Aeyanna was in.
It was Christianna's turn to frown and she gave a small shake of her head. There was nothing she could say that Aeyanna wouldn't hear. And there was something she wished to tell Bilbo, that no one else could know of.
He gave her a look of understanding, he'd have to find another time to speak with his friend. But inside he was even more worried than before. What could she not wish her oldest friend to know?
"And… what of you and our dear hatted Dwarf?" Bilbo drawled casually, trying to change the subject.
"And what? We… we can't go any further until he is permitted to court me. If he even wants to court me." She shrugged sadly, looking down and playing with the grass.
"If he even wants to? Chrissy…" He looked almost worried at her. On top of everything else she was dealing with. She deserved to have Bofur at least.
Even if each Dwarvish courtship was different at the best of times. She had to go and be an Elf, with some ridiculous past and two minds inside of her. Of course the new King would be cautious. But this was ridiculous, how many months had it been?
He was certainly going to have to fix that.
Sleep. That was not something that was coming easy to Christianna the past couple of nights, only confirming her suspicions more. She sat up and looked around, pinpointing each of the Dwarves and Bilbo, their snores filling the air. Listening carefully she could hear Aeyanna in the distance, sharpening her blades. But a large form outside of the cottage is what really drew her attention. She knew it had to be Beorn.
She blinked and looked around as she heard the most pitiful whimper, followed by a small 'hoot'.
She moved slowly, carefully. Not wishing to disturb any of the company. Watching her steps so she didn't trip over the hay either, and petting the few animals that she passed. She came upon the doorway for Beorn's kitchen and dining room, hesitantly entering and searching for the source of the sound.
It didn't take but a moment, as she found an Owlet in a basket on the table. One of his wings were bound and some scratches were on the rest of his body; so easily spotted against his light brown, almost golden colored feathers. He was moving uncomfortably around, but he had no hope of getting out of the basket. He was too small.
"Oh. You're just a baby..." She whispered, reaching out and into the basket. Carefully petting his head, he just looked up at her with his big golden eyes.
"You must be careful. The left wing is broken." A very deep, very rough voice spoke behind her.
Her breath caught in her throat, she hadn't been paying attention like she should have been. Turning around slowly to face the man. "B-beorn."
The skin-changer was even larger than she could have imagined. Neither the book nor movie having done him justice.
"You are familiar with my name, but I have no memories of you." He said gruffly, setting down a bowl. The contents looked like an ointment of sorts.
"That is a long story I'm afraid. My name is Christianna. But, his wing is broken?" She murmured and turned back to the Owl, Kili's broken nose appearing in her mind. She swallowed lightly, carefully reaching into the basket and scooping her hands together before the small bird.
He hopped almost immediately into her hands and she lifted him up. She closed her eyes and there was a small flash of a bright light. Her magic had grown significantly, it responded much quicker, and hardly made her dizzy. Not for simple healing anyway.
The Owl started to jump around, frantically shaking his wings.
Christianna beamed when she saw his wing moving, so she set him down and took off the bindings. He immediately took flight around the room, circling around a few times before landing on her shoulder, hooting rather loudly.
"Hello there." She giggled softly, tickling his belly. Causing the bird to ruffle his feathers and hoot even louder.
Beorn watched with his typical expression, picking the bowl of ointment up and carrying it to a cabinet. He made a sound of approval as he glanced her over. "So the legends are true. The only child to ever be born from an Istari. She has finally returned to Middle Earth."
"Legends?" She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes as she went deep into thought. In all of the different books that detailed the history of Tolkien's universe, she'd never come across anything about Laisidhiel, about herself. Or anyone whose life resembled hers.
"A secret child of an Istari. Born with the power to give life. Only the Elves know the full tale, very few at that. I have only heard it in passing, and not for many years, as most who lived in her time are long gone." He spoke quietly, carefully. As if someone else might hear them.
She watched him for a long moment before she gave him a soft nod. She could confirm his statement without saying it aloud. Besides the fact that it was way more complicated than she could ever hope to explain.
He nodded back to her as if he understood. Then turned to leave his cottage again. "You should rest more. I feel that your journey is far from over." He whispered.
She looked down at the Owlet who had shuffled his way into the crook of her arm, looking back at her and letting out a soft happy hoot. She sighed softly. Petting his head as she turned back to Beorn. "Thank you."
Beorn made a quiet grunt-like sound as he went back out his front door. She could hear his footsteps suddenly get heavier, faster, and knew he'd shifted back into the bear, running off to stand watch over his home, over them.