DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and sometimes Peter Jackson's stuff might fall in too. I only own my OC. Please, feel free to leave any comments and questions. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known. Thank you!


~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~


CHAPTER 29

"How could I be so dense as to complain about dwarves to a dwarf hater and then expect him to help them a few days later? Yeah, I was angry but thats no reason to go and sabotage the whole adventure!" I face palm myself for my lack of foresight. Me; I seer without foresight. What a laugh "Thorin is going to be so angry... Not that I care or anything. He can go swallow a bee for all I care. Who does he think he is, talking to me that way?!"

I pause to think of my statement for a moment. 'Dang it!' He's a king. Acting all high and mighty is part of his job description. That doesn't extend to abuse though. I rub my arms and wince at the twinge the action causes to run up them.

"Did he have to grab my arms like that? I thought dwarves were suppose to be chivalrous. I swear he's going to get a return to sender on this injury." I pause in my rant to pick up a stick and chuck it through the air towards the setting sun "Not that it even matters if Beorn murders the whole lot of them... Gosh, how could I be so stupid!"

After a few more seconds of beating myself up for my dull witted blabber gums, I take a moment to actually try and think about how to fix this. No one will appreciate the situation as it is. Beorn already has it in his head that Thorin is an oath breaking rapist and I'll be lucky if Gandalf doesn't turn me into a toad.

"How can I make this-"

A sudden wetness on my fingers brings my attention away from my statement. I look down and spot a dog with a stick at its feet. 'The stick I threw earlier.' The german shepherd, at least he seems to be the same breed, is panting excitedly and I can't help but smile. Reaching down without a second thought, I begin to pat his furry head.

"Hey there, boy" I greet kindly as he huffs in contentment "How are you doing?"

If I recall correctly, Beorn's animals are rather smart. I wish they had incorporated that in the movie. Then again, over 100 died during the filming for various reasons Soooo... This will have to do. 'If I speak, they should be able to understand me for the most part I guess.' I kneel by the spirited canine and pull his wiggling body into my lap. I haven't been able to interact with an animal in so long; wargs and ponies don't count. I scratch him behind the ears and coo beside myself.

"You're such a friendly boy. Beorn is lucky to have such a handsome buddy." he rolls over to his stomach and I scratch his belly gleefully "Can I be your friend too? Mine seem to be... busy."

He offers a small yip in return that I take for a yes. We stay together getting comfortable with one another, until the sun dips behind the horizon. He climbs to his feet and nudges me to my own; a clear message to get a move on. I allow him to usher me towards the house before I think of a better plan.

"Alright Duke." I pat his head to let him know I understand "I get the idea. I'll race you to the house!"

I start running without any other warning but it isn't long before the dog catches up to me. I once had a dog named, Daisy. Duke reminds me of her, due to both his breed and energetic personality. Since I can't call him 'dog' the whole time, I have taken to calling him Duke. He was more than happy when I presented him with the idea... I think.

Duke let's me win our race but I can't say I mind. He has four legs, I needed the handicap! Upon walking in, I instantly spy animals peering at me from around the huge barn-like house. I don't know where they were hiding before, but the place is overrun with them now. There are farm animals: cows, pigs, sheep, horses, and ponies as well as animals in the house pet category: dogs and cats. There is also a single owl perched on a low beam. I do not feel any of the anxiety I am known to have with human interaction, so I boldly step forward and introduce.

"Hello, its a pleasure to meet you all. I will be staying here a while, so I hope we get along well." I bow deeply like my Japanese professor taught me "Please take good care of me."

"Baa" a sheep sounds as I stand straight "Baaaaa."

"Oh... um... Baaaaaaaa to you to Mr. Shee-" the sheep head butts my hip with the vengence of an angry moose before pushing its head into my hand. Holding my hip in a mild form of agony, I eyeball the creature "A girl sheep then..."

"Baaaa."

"Be a deer, ha ha, get it because..." the sheep doesn't laugh "Ahem, you should greet my companion, Thorin, the same way. Knock some sense into him."

"Ba."

"... Agreed."

Straightening back up I make my way back to the table and finish my meal. I don't care for honey, but I don't dare insult the bees for fear that they may murder me. Not to mention I doubt that they have processed sugar. Duke pads over and takes a seat at my feet. Silently, the other animals return to their places and the afternoon progresses quietly. Every now and again a curious creature wanders over and presses its head into my side, probably a warning from mafia Lord Sheepgirl. I find my phone in my backpack and take pictures of every single one before returning it. After a few minutes of silent interactions the animal wanders away and I am left with Duke.

"I feel like Pocahontas." I say to no one in particular when the owl lands on my shoulder "Should I burst into song again? Like uhhh In 1607, we sailed the open sea. For glory, God, and gold in the Virginia company..." Duke tilts his head, clearly not knowing what a Virginia is so I change the words "In 2941 we climbed the Mounts Misty. For Arkenstones and gold, paired up with Thorin's company."

"Who?"

"Pocahontas, everyone knows Pocahontas." I rub it's feathers "My favorite song has to be 'Colors of the wind.' Its a good one. I'll sing it for you some time. Unless it's the company you're confused... I'm talking to an owl..."

Getting up, I ask Duke to assist me by showing the way to the kitchen to avoid the odd bird. It flies of my shoulder as Duke lops off into a room off to the side of the house. The owl watches me curiously as I clear off the table and wash the dishes before putting them away in their correct places. It takes a few tries but I get it right, eventually. It wouldn't be polite for Beorn to return from a night of... whatever, and have to clean the house too. I was a girl scout after all. 'Leave the place better than it was when you arrived.' I sweep the hay back into a pile and make sure all the animals are comfortable before I search for a place to lay my own head.

Duke is kind enough to show me to a room with a huge bed. It has to be at least a California king; the sheets are soft and thick to the touch. The entire room smells like wood and varnish, probably due to the solid wood headboard. I run my hand over the structure and admire the beautifully carved bears on the top. I instantaneously decide that I'm going to commision Beorn to make me one to take home.

"Thank you, Duke." I turn to the dog who looks pleasantly pleased with himself "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. Will you stay with me or do you have your own little lady to turn in with?"

The dog yips, turns in a full circle, and rushes over to jump on me. He licks my face fervently and I allow it for a moment, giggling at his show of affection. Petting him in a calming fashion, he leaps off my lap and bounds to the door, somehow closing it behind himself.

"I guess that means 'I love you but my mate awaits' in dog."

I open my bag again and pull out my camisole and a pair of bloomer like shorts that I asked Merilin to have made for me. They are longer than underwear, coming down to mid thigh, but are too light to be shorts. 'Do they even allow shorts here?' Shrugging off my question, I dress in my make shift night clothes and crawl into the humongous bed. The covers swirl around me and I fall asleep much quicker than I thought I would. Cocooned in by my own warmth and the weight of the comforter, I slip into a deep sleep.


~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~


I wake up annoyed. The sun is beaming down on my face in golden rays that persist no matter which way I turn. I shove my head under my pillow and groan in irritation. Once I'm awake, I'm awake. Even when I want to continue sleeping. 'Like right now.' The bed is just as comfortable as it was last night. I inhale deeply into the sheets and feel a tingle of an unfamiliar scent. Before I can further investigate it, there is a knock at the door. I quickly turn over and pull the covers up to my neck before calling out.

"Yes?"

"It is time to eat." Beorn rumbles through the door "Come."

"Alright. Give me second to get dressed and I'll be right there."

"You can out out as you are." he replies in a flirty voice "I promise not to mind."

"No." I say firmly but just as amused "Thank you very much."

He leaves the door laughing at his own joke, and I imagine that he would fit in really well back home. I vault from the bed and yank some clothes out my bag. Intending to dress briskly, I forget about my wounds and nearly cry out. Checking myself over, I find bruises and scrapes from the day before but thankfully none have bled onto the sheets. My stomach has long since stopped bleeding and the other injuries can hold for now. Brushing my hand over the twin hand prints on my upper arm I pause, shaking in anger. I throw my hair into a sorry excuse for a pony tail and go to join the semi-gentle giant for the most important meal of the day. Upon exiting the room I am nearly taken down by Duke springing into my arms. I manage to keep my balance but my grimace is not lost on Beorn.

"Put Duke down and eat your breakfast." he gestures toward the food "I will check your wounds after we finish."

"Are you sure I'm not putting you out?"

"If you were, I would not offer my help." I smile at his logic

"Thank you for taking care of me." I place Duke on the floor "How did you know I named him Duke?"

"He told me of your actions yesterday." He gestures towards the open area "All the animals seem to have been very enamored by you."

"Oh. That's sounds nice." I sit down and say a quick prayer before starting "I hope you don't mind the name. I'll stop if you want me to."

"He is happy with his name," Beorn places a hand over the dogs head "He has taken a shine to you; he wishes for you to remain here."

"Thanks buddy!" I smile at the dog "As lovely as that sounds, I have a duty to perform and after that I have to return to my family."

"Has the dwarf king not harmed you enough?" I feel an argument coming along and with it a headache "Why must you follow one who does not wish your presence?"

"I gave my word to myself, the watchers of this world, as well as my friends that I would see this quest through to the end." I spoon some oatmelish substance onto my plate, not wishing to start an argument so early "My oath means nothing if I break my word once given."

We eat in silence after this and its slightly awkward. Even more so when we are done and I have to show him some skin. He checks over the bite on my stomach as well as the cuts on my palms and arms. They are scabbing over nicely, and look just as gross as any healing wound. I hesitate in showing the shifter my upper arms but he spots the bruises on them anyway.

"These did not come from Azog, did they?"

"...No." I whisper lowly

He vibrates with fury as he finishes rewrapping my wounds without another word. He's gentle, but I can still feel the anger shivering under the surface. Once finished he hurriedly leaves the room, brushing gently past the worried animals. I don't bother to follow this time, but he pauses at the door.

"Your friends will be arriving sometime this week."

With that, he disappears into the bedroom I had been occupying the night before. 'Room service?' I decide not to think about it, instead focusing on his statement. The company is coming within the next few days and I haven't thought of a way to pay Thorin back for his purple armbands. Would it be wrong of me to lock him out of the house? I doubt Beorn will chase them down, since he already knows they are on their way but that's... an idea. Calling Duke, we go outside and enjoy life, now that I have settled on a plan. Thorin is going to get the scaring of a life time. One so bad he'll wet himself next time he thinks to put his hands on me.

Once the skin changer makes his face known later that afternoon, I tell him my idea. Beorn is more than accepting of my plan and the laugh we share could make a mad scientist jealous. We go over the plot and hammer out details so smoothly that they could cut skin. I make sure that no one will be harmed in this... game... needing to know that while he is in a more primal stage as a bear, he won't be without thought. Beorn thankfully acknowledges that he can run the dwarves silly without them actually being in any danger.

"This is going to be be delicious. I'm sure it's April 1st in some universe!"

I'm shivering in excitement by the time I go to bed. Any feelings of guilt are quickly forgotten when I remember the sorrow Thorin's actions caused me. We spend the next few days practicing, until the only thing to do is wake up and put it into motion. As I snuggle down in the bed I notice that same smell as I did the first night, only stronger. It smells of sunshine, warmth, and... fur? Well, it is his house. It's only natural that his smell is on everything. I once again dismiss the smell and settle down to rest up for tomorrow.


~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~


No one here was silly enough to think Thorin was going to get away with treating her that way, right? No way was he getting off all free Willy. I thought of having Thia hit him but this works soooooo much better. Thank you for your nonflaming reviews Sheepgirl3, Amy, , darksparkeater, and cjsl8ne. Until next time!