Chapter 14

Hey guys so I just wanted to thank all of you for joining me on this venture, I hadn't suspected such a large following! Thank you for all of your reviews they really help and are a joy to read. I just wanted to give a shout out to my editor without whom this story would be riddled with horrible grammar.

Kili urged his pony to move quickly down the path, eager to reach this Beorn Gandalf had spoken of. Fili behind him squeezed, clinging to him tighter than necessary.

"There's nothing to be afraid of from the horse, brother," Kili reassured.

"They're dangerous creatures," Fili whispered, "They can injure you from both ends and they are crafty in the middle."

"You rode on Myrtle just fine."

"Minty was ours," Fili tensed, "This is an enemy pony."

"Why do you whisper? The horse can't understand you."

"Actually he can," Nymeria commented, bringing her horse abreast with Kili's, "Perhaps not what you say but he can smell fear on you as easily as any dog." Kili chuckled with her as Fili tensed behind him. She's very funny and she knows how to ride. Kili had seen her ride before but now he really saw the experience with which she controlled her horse. She smiled at him, her scar crinkling with her skin.

"You never told me how you got that," he stated tapping his eye. Instantly Nymeria's smile faded and turned to a grimace.

"It's not a story for public retelling," she murmured looking ahead. Kili groaned under his breath, wishing once more that they were alone and that they could just do whatever they wanted. Kili had tried to join Nymeria on her horse but Fili had insisted that Kili direct their horse and the hobbit rode with Nymeria instead.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Nymeria blurted, Kili watched her reach to her belt and pulled out his small knife that he used to carve and cut wood. Surprise and confusion wrestled with his brain as his hand flew to his belt where the knife should have been.

"How in Durin's name did you get my knife?" Kili accused snatching the knife from her hand. Nymeria threw her head back, her laugh tinkled through the air.

"The point is I'm giving it back," she giggled. Kili wondered when they would arrive at the location of this Beorn. He wanted to spend more time alone with Nymeria.

"If you two are quite done," Gandalf growled, he had stopped walking and Nymeria had nearly run over him with her horse. A flush crept up Nymeria's cheeks but Kili couldn't hide his smile, however Thorin's scowl was enough to wipe the grin from his face.

"Why have we stopped?" Fili asked filling the tense silence.

"Because Beorn isn't the most trusting of creatures, so it is far safer to approach on foot," Gandalf explained as the dwarves slipped from their ponies, removing their bridles and tack.

"What now?" Kili asked.

"Turn them loose, they will be well cared for here," Gandalf ordered. Kili gave his pony a sharp smack and the beast took off following its brethren into the wood. This particular part of the forest seemed lusher than the wood they had been traveling through earlier. Everything was greener and the animals bolder. Kili had seen more here than on the entire adventure. Nymeria stayed by her horse gently rubbing its nose, a sad look on her face. Kili joined her, he didn't know much about horses but the creature obviously held something special for her.

"Do you want to keep it?" he asked even though he already knew the answer. Her eyes gave it away.

"Have you heard of the kingdom of Rohan?" her voice was soft. The name sparked a memory of tutoring from Balin when he was very young. Kili never paid much attention to the dwarf's dusty old books, Fili was the one who had to know everything, since he would be king.

"Horselords?" he ventured.

"Yes, they would be able to appreciate such a high quality creature," Nymeria sighed as she gently pushed the animal off, took Kili's hand, and began following the company. Kili hated himself for it but still whenever they came into contact her touch made his skin tingle and her fingers left ghosts on his flesh.

The company traveled through the lush woods quickly, following a faint path across the forest. Kili never let go of Nymeria's hand even when his uncle would turn and glare. The other dwarves treated them no differently, but Gandalf would see them every now and then and a look of extreme worry would cover his face. While they walked deeper into the forest, every now and then Kili would see a creature of the forest stop its business, stare at them, and then take off into the woods with unnatural haste. When they reached a small clearing filled with large boulders Gandalf called for them to stop. The dwarves gathered, eager to know why they had stopped.

"Beorn is not a man who enjoys surprise," Gandalf began. What does it matter, no doubt he already knows we're here. "Bilbo and I will go first and then two by two everyone will follow at ten minute intervals." Gandalf's voice faded into white noise as he gave out the order of how the dwarves should come down the path. Kili sat on the soft grass in the cool shade of the boulder and pulled Nymeria down with him, Fili soon joined them. Gandalf approached the boulder and pointedly looked at Kili and his elder brother.

"Kili, Fili you are to depart down the path ten minutes after Oin and Gloin," he commanded, "Nymeria come last, ten minutes after Bombur." Nymeria and Fili nodded and Gandalf bustled off to finish giving direction. Fili took out his trick ring-a strangely challenging children's puzzle-and began playing while Nymeria began plucking blades of grass and weaving them in a strange pattern. Seized with a need to busy his fingers Kili gently took a piece of Nymeria's hair, a strange notion gripping him, furrowing his brow in concentration he separated the piece of hair into three pieces. Desperately he tried to remember how his elder brother had tried to convince him to braid his hair, and had insisted upon teaching him. The silvery hair was smooth on his fingers as he clumsily began braiding it. Nymeria stopped her grass weaving and turned her head ever so slightly to see what he was doing.

"What are you doing?" she laughed.

"Braiding…at least I'm trying," Kili murmured holding up the tiny braid. Nymeria smiled again and returned to her weaving and Kili returned to braiding her hair. Gandalf and Bilbo soon disappeared onto the path, Balin and Dwalin followed ten minutes later. It seemed all too soon when Oin and Gloin disappeared after Thorin and Bofur, who had followed Balin and Dwalin. Kili released Nymeria's hair which was now full of small braids, she turned again to face him taking his hands in hers. His heart quickened as her thumb traced the lines in his hand.

"Kili we should go now," Fili ordered putting his ring away. Kili moaned and stood up, staying here with Nymeria seemed the better option.

"Wait," Nymeria called. She took Kili's hand and slipped a small green thing around his wrist, "Until I see you again," she whispered. Kili grinned at her and lightly kissed her on the cheek before dashing down the path to catch up with his brother.

Kili had thought the woods lush before but the life here thrived, as if they were nearing the center of the forest's energy. The trees grew so close together their branches twined around each other in never ending embraces. Their leaves turned the light of the sun a bright green color washing everything in the tone. Far away bird songs collided with each other forming odd mutant melodies that sounded somehow more pleasant than the song would have been on its own. Just as the woods seemed to be at their thickest they thinned out again like curtains being pulled away to reveal a large magnificent house. It was made from wood, a few large pens held a few horses and other assorted creatures. The path led to a lovely garden in full bloom. As they passed through the gate and drew closer to the house, they saw Gandalf who was sitting next to a hulking man dressed in furs. He appeared quite intimidating and made all the dwarves around him seem much smaller. Thorin nodded to Fili and his younger brother as Gandalf paused midsentence.

"Fili," his brother began.

"And Kili," Kili continued.

"At your service," they finished bowing to the great man. Kili assumed he was the master of the house.

"I am Beorn," he rumbled. He gestured to the log upon which their uncle sat. As they took their seat Gandalf continued retelling the story of how they came to be at Beorn's doorstep. Every ten minutes another pair of dwarves would arrive and bow with an "at your service," and they would take a seat. At long last Bombur came puffing down the path on his lonesome. As he bowed to Beorn Kili's eyes searched the woods for any sign of Nymeria. To his despair as Bombur took his seat Nymeria was nowhere to be seen, Gandalf resumed the story as if nothing were amiss. Kili made to rise to go and look for her. Fili's hand grabbed Kili's forearm with a sharp glance that commanded Kili to keep his seat. Uneasily, he forced himself to stay on the log, however he no longer listened to Gandalf's retelling, he only watched the woods waiting for any sign of her. His fingers twisted around each other forming nervous knots, he wished Nymeria was here so he could at least know she was safe. His brain had gone into fits remembering how easily fiends like the goblins and Ascar had separated them. His fingers found the bracelet she had given him, he lifted it to his face to get a better look. The bracelet was pieces of grass intricately woven together to create the look as if they were one twisted piece of grass. The pattern felt soothing against his fingers as he ran them over the bracelet repeatedly.

"A fascinating story," Beorn began, "But you said there was sixteen of you and only fifteen sit with us."

"The last should be here any moment now," Gandalf assured, "Here she is now." Kili's head whipped to see a silver owl come swooping down from the trees to the path, but just before landing it turned into a lithe leopard and stalked through the gate. Kili's heart slowed with a sigh of relief as the leopard rose to two feet and took the form of his beloved. She inclined her head to Beorn.

"Masters," she said. Beorn leaned forward, a fascinated hungry look on his face. Gandalf gestured for Nymeria to take a seat, however the only seat available was next to Beorn. As she sat next to him Kili watched them eye each other up. Like two animals examining their opponents before a battle. By now the sun was beginning to set.

"Come in, we'll eat and you can tell me about our late attender," Beorn grumbled before rising and passing through some curtains. As the dwarves followed, Kili hurried to catch up with Nymeria. Pushing through the deep red curtains he snatched her hand. She pulled him through the curtains close to her. They followed Beorn's hulking figure through a grand door at the back of the small sitting room that hid behind the curtains. The door opened up to a grand hall, a great fire burned in one end of the hall. A long table ran down the center, laden with food. Dogs scurried about the hall one placed a jug of wine on the table while another helped push a last bench into place at the side of the table. Beorn took his seat at the head of the table. Gandalf swooped in and escorted Nymeria to sit at Beorn's right, himself to the left. Kili made to follow, however Thorin planted himself next to Nymeria and Kili had to satisfy himself with sitting next to Bilbo who sat next to Gandalf.

"Eat," Beorn commanded. He began filling his own plate with food. Much to the dwarves delight there was much meat to be had, Kili filled his with pork and assorted fruits. The food was of wonderful quality and the wine was wonderfully sweet.

"The last of the Lovari," Beorn proclaimed after he had finished eating. Kili's ears perked up listening to this conversation rather than the story Nori was telling.

"Yes, I hope I will not have to repeat the story," Nymeria replied putting down her half eaten apple.

"No need, however the fact of your existence has been shielded from me. Where have you been lurking your life?"

"With the elven King Thranduil." At this Beorn pulled back in his chair, surprise briefly flashing across his face before becoming stony and unreadable.

"An interesting choice," he murmured flicking his eyes to Gandalf.

"Not one that I made I'm afraid," Nymeria snarled, "What gives you the right to judge where I was raised?"

"Nymeria!" Gandalf hissed glaring at her, "Such a topic is not meant to be discussed so openly."

"Calm friend," Beorn appeased, "The insolence of a child is easily forgiven." Nymeria bristled, for a moment Kili feared for what she might do. Her eyes flashed with anger and it looked as if she might transform right there and challenge Beorn. Instead she held her tongue, everyone at the head of the table seemed to collectively take a deep breath of relief except Beorn.

"Of course," Gandalf conceded.

"We are lucky that I am the only one here with any alliance to the elves. Had any other ear heard such an insult and we would no longer be eating dinner," Nymeria argued.

"I meant no insult, I was merely stating that it is interesting that the elves did not see fit to alert me of your existence especially since I sit on their doorstep."

The dinner then passed on uneventfully Beorn spent most of his time speaking with either Nymeria or Bilbo. Thorin was refusing to supply Kili with much more than one word answers so he spent most of the dinner in silence. When everyone had finished Beorn had his dogs show the dwarves the way through a door into a small room. Several cots stood with their backs to the walls. Kili took one about halfway down the room and Nymeria quickly chose the one next to him. She dropped her boots on the floor and weapons on her bed. Kili had taken off his overcoat and was now laying on his back looking up at the ceiling. Suddenly Nymeria's head was on his chest her body curled up close to his. He tried to keep his heart from racing but soon it was throbbing in his ears.

"What's wrong?" Kili took her hand and began lightly playing with her fingers. Trying to behave nonchalantly.

"I know why Gandalf had me come last and by myself," she paused but Kili did not answer. "He wanted to parade me like some cow in front of Beorn to secure his interest in us."

"Did he tell you this himself?"

"No, but this is how the wizard's mind works," she growled. "I hate being the last. It makes me no more than effective chess piece." Kili inclined his head to rest his chin on the top of her head.

"You're not a chess piece," he whispered, "You're Nymeria and you're mine." Suddenly the door to the main hall opened and Beorn stood in the doorway.

"While you stay the night I must implore a rule," he declared, "No matter what you hear once the lights fade, do not leave this room."

"We will do as you say but, why?" Thorin asked.

"If you value your lives you will," Beorn strode up to Kili and Nymeria, she lifted her head. "Come with me please." Kili longed for her to remain with him and he could see the mutual feeling in her eyes, however Beorn's eyes bluntly stated that she would go with him whether she wanted to or not.

"Go," Kili whispered sitting up. He smiled at her, gently pushing her in Beorn's direction. With a sigh she rose and silently followed Beorn out through the door. Kili fell back onto his cot, he pulled one of the pillows down to support his head and stared at the ceiling. Already he wished he hadn't sent her away. His brother's face intruded upon his vision.

"Why so glum brother?" he asked. Kili groaned and rolled over. "Your pouting has never suited you well."

"Do not talk to me," Kili growled pulling the pillow over his head.

"Stop acting like a child!" Fili yanked the pillow away from his younger brother. "You're not a child anymore so stop acting like it." Kili scowled at his older brother.

"You're right," he conceded.

"Now go speak with uncle. He sent me over here." Grumbling Kili rose from the cot and lumbered over to what he was certain was another lecture on why he couldn't be with Nymeria.

"Uncle," Thorin's dark brooding eyes lifted from the book he was reading. He nodded to the empty cot next to him and Kili took a seat.

"Kili, I must explain why I've been opposing your relationship with Nymeria." Kili remained silent until he remembered their fight from Murtagh's dungeons.

"Who was Mila?" he asked. Thorin froze, his eyes flashed for a moment Kili wondered if he had overstepped his bounds.

"Your love for Nymeria was something I had shared with another woman. She was dwarfish of course but she," Thorin trailed off, "She was wonderful but was lost amongst the many that were claimed when Smaug attacked Erebor." Shock hit him. Kili had never been able to picture his uncle with anyone but now this made sense.

"I'm sorry," Kili whispered.

"I'm not saying that you may be with her."

"What?!"

"It's not prop-"

"To hell with things that are proper! She has saved our lives a hundred times over!" Kili hissed. Thorin seemed to crumple and harden in a fraction of a second.

"You may be together, however if she shows any sign, no matter how small, of lacking loyalty she will be banished from our venture and if I ever see her from that point on, I will kill her," Thorin's face demanded compliance, so Kili-unwillingly-nodded his head in agreement. He retreated to his cot where Fili waited.

"What did he say?" Fili asked his eyes alight with excitement.

"Nymeria has to remain loyal to us at all times or else he will kill her," Kili almost sobbed. Fili's smile faded from his face, replaced by concern.

"She will not be pleased to hear that."

"No, that's why I won't tell her."

"This is a dangerous road you're starting, brother."

"Nymeria has always been loyal and I have no reason to doubt her. She would change her behavior if she did know. It is better this way."

"Brother, have you forgotten the time when you thought that you could hide the incident with Genbon?" Kili remembered it. Genbon was the son of one of his uncle's advisors. He and his friends had started chasing Kili when they found him practicing his archery. Calling him all sorts of mean names. He had decided to face them and seriously injured Genbon, Kili had tried to hide it when Genbon went crying to his father however Thorin saw right through the lies and Kili was brutally punished.

"Yes," Kili sighed.

"Then tell her, we don't need anything worse than what's happened to occur." Kili lay down on the cot. It felt amazing compared to the hard rocks and earth that he had slept on the past months. Suddenly the fires in the sconces on the walls started to dim.

"It begins," Gandalf whispered. A screeching shriek pierced through the air making Bilbo jump in his seat. The darkness slowly crept in around the dwarves. Kili remembered Beorn's words, "No matter what you hear when the lights fade, do not leave this room." Kili looked around hoping that Nymeria might have returned without him noticing but she wasn't there. Fear dug its claws into him as he became more panicked.

"She's still out there!" he hissed terrified. Fili grabbed Kili's shoulder.

"Well going out there yourself isn't going to help! She's strong, she'll be fine." The other dwarves were settling down uneasily for the night, "Get some sleep," Fili ordered. Kili tried but his mind and heart were moving too quickly. He sat on his cot in the dark and waited, horrified and sick with worry, he waited for either the sun or his beloved.