Chapter 3: Bears and Wargs
After confiding in Fili the previous night, Gailien does admit she feels somewhat better about the prospects of her life after the quest has finished. Maybe this is the advice she needed to hear – to learn to ignore the opinions of others. As strange as it sounds, the thought never occurred to her. She was a member of the court in Mirkwood and people's opinions meant everything. It determined whether they trust you, who you could marry, where your influence lies. So to hear that she has the option of disregarding them came to her like a rock on the head.
But it is not as simple as closing her ears off to the world. Words will still reach them, wriggling around like bugs across her mind as they seek to penetrate her thoughts. Even now, just thinking over things she has heard being said creates pinpricks in her heart.
And even though Fili assured her that Thorin would not hesitate to open his doors to her, she can't help but have a little doubt that he would be so willing to let an Elf into his Dwarvish kingdom, no matter how friendly they are.
Gailien shoves her worries and thoughts to the back of her mind. Focus on the present and foresee the future. Unfortunately, the previous night was an emotional mess and by the time she returned to camp, most of the Dwarves were already well asleep and her own eyes barely stayed open. She fell asleep without meditating and no visions have to come to her this morning unexpectedly so now they are relying on Bilbo's scouting skills.
The Orcs have changed direction overnight and now step on their heels. The woodland grass scenery has changed as the rocks become even more common and the Dwarves (plus Gandalf and Gailien) wait hidden in the valley as their burglar-Hobbit scurries ahead. They wait quietly, murmuring amongst themselves as they wait for Bilbo's return.
"I'm starving," she mutters to Dwalin, rubbing her stomach. Even though the sun is well past the middle of the sky, they have not had the time to stop for lunch and they awoke too early for her stomach to feel hungry. So now, she faces the consequences of a growling stomach.
"You and me both, lass," Dwalin growls with the same displeasure. "Don't have any of those nuts left do ya'?"
"No, Kili's slimy fingers stole them all the other day." She glares over her shoulder at the young prince who is conversing with his brother, not noticing her eyes. Not that she is truly mad. In fact, she had watched him sneakily dive into her pack and watched in amusement as he pulled them out, sneaking away. She turns back to Dwalin, smirking slightly. "You must be hungry if you're asking for nuts. Last I remember, you turned your nose up at them."
"All I can say is that the grass is looking tempting right about now." He goes to say something more, glancing back at the woman but her eyes are planted forward, hazed over. He calls over Thorin quietly. Thorin breaks his conversation with Balin, sauntering over as Dwalin gestures to Gailien.
Not that she knows, but they've taken a habit of watching over her while she is in her vision and not in meditation, not wanting another accident to happen. She joked about it one night, telling them how she nearly got trampled by horses on the main road of Gondor years ago and after the incident with the fire, they decided not to take any more risks.
Gailien breaks from her vision, stumbling slightly as she brings herself back into the present. Thorin's arms reach out, holding her bicep to steady her. She blinks, making a perplexed face. "I saw…Bees," she says vacantly. "Giant…Bees." She shakes her head, giving both Dwarves an apologetic face. "I'm sorry, I didn't see anything helpful."
Not all of her visions are what she desires to see, naturally. She sees all sorts of things – the weather, the next day's meal, odd glimpses of scenery. She refrains from annoying Thorin with the mundane things.
Thorin squeezes her bicep then drops his hand. "It is no matter. Bilbo should be returning soon." It is a small reassurance, but one she needs to feel the comfort that Thorin still does not see her as a hassle. The easy dismissal – no complaining, huffing or ignoring. Just acceptance. Within a few minutes, Bilbo is rushing back to the company. "How close is the pack?"
"Too close, couple of leagues, no more," Bilbo worries. "But that's not the worst of it."
"Have the Orcs picked up our scent?" Dwalin questions, cutting Bilbo off.
"Not yet, but they will do. We have another problem."
Again, before he can explain, Gandalf interrupts him. "Did they see you?" he pesters. "They saw you."
Bilbo shakes his head, letting his overgrown locks shake. "No, that's not it." Gandalf relaxes, leaning against his staff.
"Good, what did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."
The Dwarves beginning passing on agreements to the person next to them. Gailien rolls her eyes, pushing off the rock she has been leaning on. "I think Bilbo has more to say," she calls loudly over their voices. They quieten. "If you would allow him to speak."
She gestures to Bilbo who nods in thanks. "I'm trying to tell you that there is something else out there," he warns, pointing to the direction he came from. A few Dwarves, including Thorin sigh at the revelation.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asks. Gailien frowns, a few heads snapping to Gandalf. That is a very odd, but specific question to ask, she thinks. What does he know?
"Ye…" Bilbo does his own little double-take, shocked that the Grey Wizard has any idea what he is talking about. He thought he would sound insane trying to describe the beast. "Yes, but bigger. Much bigger."
With the assumption that Gandalf knows exactly what Bilbo is talking about, all eyes turn to him. "You knew about this beast?" Bofur asks. Without answering, Gandalf turns away from the company in thought. "I say we double back."
"We'll be run down by a pack of Orcs," Thorin counters. Giant bees and now giant bears? Gailien begins to wonder is they've wandered into some sort of cursed land. But she agrees with Thorin – they cannot turn back.
"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge," Gandalf announces, intoning on the 'might'.
"Whose house?" Thorin questions. "Are they friend or foe?"
"Neither" is Gandalf's simple answer. "He will help us or he will kill us."
"That's not unsettling at all," she mumbles. Gailien tilts her head from side to side, visibly weighing up the options. "That's fifty-fifty, Thorin. Better than the one hundred if we don't." To emphasise her point, a roar is heard, presumable owned by the beast.
There is no further debate and the company starts sprinting out of the Carrock, Gandalf leading them into an open plain. If were a nicer day, Gailien might have been tempted to stop and enjoy the sight of the small flower fields of purple petals, but Gandalf's constant beckoning and the Orcs on their tails keep her moving forward.
They exit the plains into a woody area once again. Gailien curses to herself as her leg twinges in pain, not yet fully recovered but she doesn't dare let her pace slow. In fact, she even passes Gloin and Oin with how determined she is to keep up.
Gandalf leads them into a small clearing, and they pause for a moment as Gandalf resets his bearings. The creature roars again, only this time much closer. Gailien's eyebrows raise slightly in curious fear, trying to imagine the bear that Bilbo described.
"This way! Quickly!"
Gailien grabs Kili's forearm as he continues to look in the direction of the beast's call, pulling him along until he starts running himself. Quick glances over her shoulder assure her that the rest of the company is also behind her, including Thorin and Fili. Bilbo is a few meters behind her. The woods end into another dry grass field but a few hundred yards ahead is what looks like a house. With all credits due, Bombur sprints past her with astonishing speed – natural sprinters, Dwarves are.
"Into the house!" Gandalf cries. "Run!"
The house is surrounded by a large green shrubbery fence, no doubt a few Dwarves high with a single entryway created by a crafted wooden arch. Gandalf waits at the archway as the company begins storming onto the property grounds. Gailien passes the threshold and is in slight wonder. There are large trees, creating a small forest and hay roofed huts. The ground is well tended to with gravel path and established garden areas. But what intrigues her the most are the abnormally large bees – the ones from her vision.
She barely has time to smile or watch them in wonder however as the creature is still on their heels and they have yet to reach safety. "Come on! Get inside!" The last Dwarf runs pass the threshold as Bombur is the first to reach the door, smashing right into it. The brothers are the next to reach, slamming their fists against the thick wood. Gailien reaches it next and begins to try and look for a way to open it but the creature growls behind them, almost upon them. She spins, watching wide-eyed and frozen as the large bear-like creature (because it certainly is not a normal bear) runs on all four paws towards them.
"Open the door!" Gandalf orders as the Dwarves bang against it.
"Quickly!" Thorin cries, pushing past all the Dwarves and breaking Gailien from her frozen state. He pushes a lever up, unlocking the front door and the entire company scrambles in at the very last moment possible. They try to close the door but the creature jams it head through the opening. Gailien pushes her back against the wood, grunting as her feet slide against the floor, pushing all her weight into it.
"Come on, lads!" Dwalin yells from above her, his large arms towering over her head. With a final heave, the Dwarves and Gailien manage to push the door shut and the wooden shaft is put in place to lock it. Gailien puffs her cheeks, wiping the accumulating sweat off her forehead.
"What is that?" Ori questions Gandalf.
"That is our host," Gandalf answers. Gailien's jaw opens. "His name is Beorn, he's a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear, sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not over-fond of Dwarves."
"I'm beginning to think facing the Orcs might have been a better idea," she mutters, half-joking, half meaning her words. The odds don't seem to be in their favour either way. Bofur, who is walking past makes a face of wide-eyed agreement.
The house is almost like a barn. The ground is littered in hay strands and there are large farm animals just resting over in one corner. There are buckets and other ordinary things lying about, looking well used.
"He's leaving," Ori says, leaning away from the door.
"Come away from there!" Dori cries, pulling the younger Dwarf away from the door. "It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious, he's under some dark spell." Gailien now only rolls her eyes at Dori's words, already knowing that he has a tendency to have harsh judgement.
"Don't be a fool," Gandalf says. "He's under no enchantment but his own. Alright now, get some sleep all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Gailien sighs, walking past him to find a spot to sleep in, just overhearing Gandalf mutter "I hope."
It does nothing to settle her nerves, but if the man that resides in the bear's body is reasonable enough, then they may have found a haven for a few nights where the Orcs cannot reach them. There is no way that they would attack with the bear on guard.
Following the Grey Wizard's advice, the company begin settling down amongst the hay covered ground. Gailien settles down near on of the pillars, letting her bedroll roll out underneath her. Out of habit, she crosses her legs and closes her eyes, preparing to meditate but a hand rest on her knee. She slowly peels her eyes open, finding Thorin sitting down next to her in his own bedroll.
"Not tonight," he says. "Just get some rest."
Part of her wants to protest since she hadn't the previous night either but there is no arguing that she is tired. "If you insist." Uncrossing her legs, she slides down under her cover, resting on her back. The hay isn't the most comfortable bedding, but it does beat many of the hard, rocky grounds they have had in the last few weeks. One of the large bees flies over their heads, hovering.
"The bees from your vision," Thorin observes. Gailien smiles fondly at it. "I hope they don't sting us while we sleep."
Her smile drops at his worry. "I wasn't worried about that until you brought it up," she grumbles. "That's all I'm going to be able to think about now." She crawls deeper into her cover, bringing it up past her shoulders. Thorin almost laughs but it stays most as an amused smile. Her loose hair tickles her chest and a hand slithers up to play with the fraying ends. She needs to cut it. Perhaps Beorn will have some scissors lying around that she can use since using a knife would not be ideal.
Also, just a thank you for the reviews from the last chapter, I got more than usual (and I think I know why ;) ). I really enjoy reading them!