The full chapter title is "A Bear and a House in the Woods" but ffn doesn't let me do that. But this chapter is better known as "Oh god don't fight the bear, ffs, Li Shuwen"

edit: ffn and ao3 both love to freak out on me so i have no idea why it duplicated inside the chapter. Sorry about that. The chapter is actually just normal length

In all seriousness though, I'm dropping this early because I'm going to be traveling on the 27th. So yeet (?). I hope everyone who celebrated had a happy holiday.

Li had ended up smothered in Eagle feathers, as Landroval decided it was his duty to make sure the "Slayer of the Pale Orc" slept well. It wasn't bad, but it was certainly a different feeling to wake up with a feather half in his mouth.

As usual, he had woken first out of the entire company. He checked his injuries, finding the cuts and gashes mostly healed (bones, not so much) and slipped from under the Eagle's wing, stretching in the morning light as he did. He gazed down at his tunic, spattered and stained with blood and torn in places.

Such was the life of this martial artist, it seemed, to be constantly in need of changing their attire. Or at least, in his memory.

In a flash of golden sparks, his attire had changed back to his red and black Changshan and he reached back to unbraid his hair. It was matted with blood and dirt, but it could be worse, he supposed as he tied it up into a ponytail instead. Gandalf's spell had yet to wear off on his hands, and it had taken a few tries with a good bit of fumbling to get the tie correct.

(Though he supposed that trying to do so with feeling all of the pain of broken fingers would have been a lot worse.)

He summoned his spear to his hands, humming contently at the familiar feeling before he stepped from the Eagles. Gwaihir opened an eye, shifting to the side and stretching his wings as he woke.

"Morning," he greeted the Lord of Eagles, resting his spear on his shoulder.

"And to you," Gwaihir said as they gazed out at the sun rising. "Have your injuries mended?"

He hummed. "No, not fully. My hands are not mended entirely, many bones still remain cracked and broken, but they are healed enough to travel and, I hope, to keep Elrond from strangling me with his own hands when we meet again."

The Eagle made a noise that was akin to laughter, shifting his wings. "Are you certain that you two are not bonded together, Dragon of Red?"

Li huffed a bit, giving the Lord of the Skies a slight glare. "Not you too, Gwaihir," he warned, "The Company has already asked me that once before."

"Then it must be true!"

"No, no it's not," he sighed before he looked up at the lightening sky. "And even if it was, I would not dare, he is an Elf who still loves and longs to see his wife over the sea. Besides, I'm going to be gone from this world after my duty is gone, nothing more and nothing less."

Gwaihir nodded slowly, thinking on it for a moment. "The life of a Servant is a sad one."

"Not really," he said, "Normally, a Servant would not be in one place for this long. The Grail Wars are bloody and often span no more than a month or so. And even then, a Servant is not to act without a Master. A Servant does not make friends while in war. We have no one to leave behind when we pass, aside from our Master— if they have not been killed. We have already lived once, some may have a wish to live and love a second time, but the wish that keeps me fixed as a Servant is of selfish desire to continue to fight and climb even higher."

"Then I do not want to know what you define as sad, Dragon of Red," the Eagle huffed and Li chuckled, glancing over as Gandalf stirred. The Wizard woke not soon after, greeting the two of them merrily.

Soon after Gandalf woke, the rest of the Company did as well. Breakfast was consumed and the camp was packed up— Li had to fight tooth and nail to not get food tossed to him during the meal, he was fine and he didn't need it but the Company was stubborn as all hell now that they knew that Servants replenished energy through eating.

He climbed atop of Landroval's back and settled down in his feathers well before the others in the Company mounted the other Eagles. The large bird twisted back a bit, adjusting his wings and making sure he was fine as he laid back.

Healing would always take time. Even with Gandalf's own magic helping, Li had admitted to the Wizard and Eagle that he did need a bit more rest.

When the Company finally got their things together, Li opened one eye as they took off. The sun was still rising, the morning air was cool, and the mists had yet to lift. He closed his eyes again, feeling the thrum of the Greater Magics slowly fixing his body. Gandalf had done all he could to coax the bone back to the original position, but it was up to Li and his own abilities to heal his hands entirely.

He allowed his mind to wonder. He thought of all he had learned in Middle-Earth— of the Valar, of wars, and of legends, and of the gathering darkness and Free People.

(He might have dozed off for a while, but that was another thing entirely.)

And after a good while, the Eagles started to spiral downwards and Li opened his eyes, sitting up and turning to gaze at the ground. The large stone platform of the Carrock was below, though a far way down still, and Li was only occasionally known for his patience.

"Landroval!" he called up and the Eagle let out a screeching laugh and flapped his wings once— and then folded them.

Down the Eagle dove and he heard the cries of the Dwarves and the screeching laughs from the other Eagles. The brother of the Lord of Eagles suddenly threw his wings back out and angled to land. Li had no problem with high speeds, and if he fell off, he would be fine— the same could not be said for the Company.

But waiting for them down on the Carrock would be fine, he preferred to be doing so, rather than waiting for another ten minutes to land by spiraling down. He preferred his feet on something solid, not that Landroval wasn't solid. It was just different.

When the rest of the Company landed and bid the Eagles farewell, Li glanced to Gandalf and Thorin as they waited for the rest of the Company to finish gathering their bearings.

"We still have a long way to go," Li said, leaning on his spear.

Gandalf nodded. "Yes, I am aware, but hopefully, Azog's death has sent the Orcs spiraling. We should be able to take it far more easily."

Li snorted. "If you think bringing Dwarves to Beorn will be easy, then I worry for your sanity," he said before he whistled sharply, catching the attention of the Company. At Thorin's look next to him, the Company all scrambled over to them.

"The Orcs might have fallen back for now, but stay on your guard," the Dwarf told the rest of them, and then they were off again.

(x)

Of course, danger was never out of sight for the Company and Li cursed as the sound of Wargs echoed in the woods as they ran.

The Orcs had rallied faster than they had expected, though it had been several days since they had left the Eagles.

Bilbo had reported seeing them on the ridge as they traveled— along with a large beast and Li had glared at Gandalf before they had taken off running. The remains of the Orc Pack had picked up on that and were on their trail.

Which had alerted the "beast" that Bilbo had seen and now the Company was being chased by not one, but two groups of hostiles.

"Li! Can't you do something about the Orcs?" Bofur called up as they ran through a field, the sound of something crashing through the forest behind them growing louder. Gandalf was leading them, and Li ran at the wizard's side, but he knew the "House in woods" that he had said they were heading to in order to hide from the Orcs was not just any house. Gandalf was leading them right to Beorn and by the gods was it worrying— and meddlesome. Beorn liked his solitude and had enough problems to deal with then it came to Orcs and Goblins without the Company on his lands.

"If the Company so wishes for it, then yes!" he called back before he glanced to Gandalf. "You get to be the one to explain to Elrond why I ended up with more injuries!" he added before he skid to a halt, brandishing his spear as the rest of the Company ran past him.

He held steady as the sound of crashing through the forest got closer and closer. It was either going to be Orcs or Beorn.

And it seemed that Beorn was the answer, Li realized as the Skin-Changer in his beast form crashed through the tree line. Li's eyes narrowed before he shifted his footing and tossed his spear to the side. In a flash, he had switched to his elder form and Beorn roared as he approached at top speed. The second before he was upon him, the Skin-Changer reared up on his hind legs, bringing his front paws down on Li.

The now Assassin caught the bear's paws in his hands, bracing against the force of a bear that would have been much too large had they been in his old world.

He grit his teeth, feeling his hands flare up in pain as his bones groaned under the strain. Even with a transformation, the injuries stayed but he just grunted and held his ground against the bear before he managed to push him off. He shifted into a battle-ready stance as the bear dropped to all fours, growling lowly.

"Ease yourself, my friend," he said as the Bear paced, huffing and growing lowly. "There are still Orcs out there, and, admittedly, I am in no shape to fight."

Beorn growled again, but seemed to understand, turning and bounding back off to the woods. Li watched him go before he turned, vanishing into his Spirit form and heading to the Skin-Changer's home. He slipped through the doors without a problem, materializing and making a few of the Company startle.

"Beorn's headed off," he said to Gandalf before he turned to the Company. "Make yourselves at home in the hay, don't break anything, don't injure the animals here," he told them before his eyes scanned the Company.

"Óin?" he asked, frowning when he didn't see him at first.

"Right here, Master Li," Óin said, and he twitched slightly as the Dwarf shuffled over. "Were you injured?"

"Ah, no, Beorn and I just locked arms for a bit, he's gone to fend the Orcs off," he said, easily slipping back into his younger form as he spoke. "But I was wondering if you have extra bandages. If, and that is an if, I happen to need to lock arms with Beorn again, I would prefer if the bones in my hands not shift more than they should."

Óin nodded, digging around in his bag and pulling a roll of bandages out. "Do you need help putting them on?"

"Ah, no, I'll be fine, for now, you should all rest," he said, taking the bandages. "Beorn is easily irritated on the best of days. Getting into scuffles with him is normal for me, but I'll keep watch while you all rest."

(x)

Li had stayed up long into the night, sitting on the armrest of Beorn's favorite chair as he wrapped his hands tightly. He could just see out the window as he sat, quietly watching the outside for either Orcs or Beorn.

Beorn arrived sometime in the dead of night, when all of the Company, except for him, were asleep. The Skin-Changer had staggered in, eyes sweeping his house before his eyes landed on him.

Beorn closed the door silently and moving to the chair just as quietly. As he sat, Li glanced over to the Skin-Changer.

"Apologies for leading Orcs to your lands," he said lowly. Beorn shook his head slowly, propping his head upon his elbow as he leaned on the opposite armrest.

"Think nothing of it," he said, "My claws have gone dull since you left last year, so do not think of it."

He nodded slowly, gazing outside.

"You are tired," Beorn noted suddenly, "Rest."

Li gave him a look. "My weariness is nothing compared to that of the Company. They have much more on their shoulders, I am simply along for the fight."

"And yet you worry of them and what will become of them," the man who was sometimes a bear noted.

He was silent before he nodded.

"It is the old man within me, the one who trained others, who worries," he admitted, sighing. "I have seen those who have never seen battle, and for some, it is better that way. There are a few of those in this company who have never— and should never— see war at their age. The boys— Ori, Kíli, and Fíli— are young and their lives are not to be cut so short should it come to that. And the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins is no fighter. I admit, I am also skeptical of the others. Perhaps I am simply too used to only looking after myself that I worry too much when I am tasked with others!"

He shook his head after a moment. "I should head to Mirkwood," he grunted, sitting up.

"Whatever for?" the great Skin-Changer asked, raising a brow and Li huffed softly.

"I am sure you are aware that Gandalf wants us to go through Mirkwood," he said, "Just by being on your lands, it should be enough for you to realize. And between you and I, we both know that in the face of anyone who could bring his people danger, Thranduil's already famous temper rears its head. And when his temper flares, as do his injuries— and when his injuries burn, his temper flares."

Beorn nodded slowly, looking grim. Beorn and the Elves of the Woodlands had a tentative alliance. He would sometimes run along the edges of the forest, nipping at the heels of Elves who patrolled there. And in return, Thranduil's Elves would fire blunted arrows at him.

It was a relationship built on irritations, but also a type of respect. He chased down the dark creatures that escaped the woods and the Elves made sure the spider numbers were kept low so they didn't try and hunt his animals.

(Li had been bit at and shot at once, but that was beside the point.)

"The Woodland Elves are indeed not like their kin," Beorn said slowly, "Less wise, but far more dangerous."

"I wouldn't say less wise, but they are far more prickly than Elrond and his household," Li chuckled before sobering. "But yes, they're more dangerous than Rivendell and Lórien's citizens. And the woodland Kingis bitter, his halls and lands are the only defense from allowing darkness to spread in the rest of this place, but if he sent his people to chase down every Orc that escaped, he would be out of those to defend the Halls and settlements— and those within."

"Spare me the lecture," Beorn grumbled and Li laughed.

"I apologize," he said with a shake of his head.

Beorn just grunted as he leaned back again. "Just go to sleep," was all he said in return, "When you tire yourself out you become like an old man and I find it… annoying."

"So you've told me before," Li said dryly but shifted back to his original position, resting on the back of the chair where the armrest met it. He crossed his arms, glancing outside one more time before he closed his eyes.

(x)

Morning broke with the Company attempting to be quiet as Gandalf told Beorn of their tale and plight over breakfast.

Attempting because Dwarves seemed to be naturally loud and why they were doing so was, Li suspected, because he still appeared to be asleep. Beorn hadn't bothered being quiet when dawn broke, but the large Skin-Changer was quite a bit quieter than one would have expected of his size. Either way, Li had woken early and with a glare from Beorn when he moved to get up and off the armrest, he had settled back down in his previous position. So he had chosen to, instead, to meditate.

He hadn't done so in quite a long time, he had realized, as the Mooncell and Redline Wars had been just that— Wars. Chaotic and with little time to take things easy. In the Grand Order, he had been having too much fun running and fighting and just being with people who were of like mind as him to bother settling down for long periods of meditation— though he had spent time just relaxing in quiet with some of the other Chinese Servants who were enthralled with the concept of the Radio. Da Vinci had found one and he had snagged it before Edison and Tesla could snatch it up for whatever asinine projects they wanted to out-do one another with.

(Nazha had loved the Radio.)

In the Lostbelt, as Captain of the Royal Guard, he had been busy doing that, and busy being a Lancer for Fujimaru.

(Yu Mei-Ren refused to hang out with them afterward, even when Xiang Yu decided to join them for tea sometimes, though there wasn't exactly much space to do much of any physical hanging out on the Shadowboarder. In Atlas, it had been easier, and Yu Mei-Ren was, in fact, a wet blanket.)

That said, it had been nice to settle down and focus on meditation for a few hours.

And while the Company bumbled about and ate breakfast, and while Beorn held them all under a watchful gaze, Li stayed still and mediated for a bit longer under the guise of sleep.

Eventually, he started to listen in, listening quietly as Beorn questioned Thorin and turned his attention to the Company, wanting to know— from them, rather than he or Gandalf— why it was that they were there. Why they had been chased down by Orcs.

And with great delight, Beorn had laughed at the story of how Azog was killed.

"Of course, the Tiger would kill the Defiler," Beorn huffed out after laughing and Li opened one eye, glancing over as the Skin-Changer shook his head. He closed his eye again, settling back into stillness.

"You make it sound like it was bound to happen," Thorin grunted and Beorn set down the pitcher of milk he had in hand.

"Of course," Li heard him say. "Despite traveling with him for so long, it appears you still do not know about him."

"How could we?" he heard Dwalin snort. "He keeps to himself unless he's lecturing or fighting."

"We have heard stories, but few things about himself," Balin added, attempting to soothe his brother's irritation. It seemed that being in the presence of someone so imposing and every bit as dangerous as he looked had set the Dwarf on edge. "He is certainly more solitary," the elder of the two brothers continued with a nod.

Beorn just grunted, shuffling coming from that area and the clinking of chains signaled that he had moved from where he was.

"Mmm. Yes. He is quite solitary," he said, "But all he needs is his fists. If he is faced with a strong opponent, then you can expect him to fight."

"How long have you known, Li, Mister Beorn?" he heard Bilbo ask. Beorn chuckled under his breath.

"Longer than the Wizard with you, but not as long as the Elven Lord over the mountains."

Li stopped paying attention after that, choosing to sink back into his mind and continue his meditation and planning.

He hoped that he could keep the fight against Smaug within Erebor, but Dragons were as prideful as the Woodland King— but far less honorable. If Smaug wanted to flee, he would— like a coward.

With his Servant Strength, he could launch his spear into the beast's heart, though he knew the weapon might be too short to reach its brain through its eye. If the story rang true, then there should be an exposed part already and he would not have to use his brute force to loosen the scales.

But even if he entered his Berserker form, he would not get out of the fight unscathed.

Had he been another dragon, then he wouldn't have had to worry, as the scales of a dragon's underbelly were softer. But his spear was just a spear, made on Earth and not in Middle-Earth. But alas, he was only called the Red Dragon, and was not one himself.

He did not know if he would return alive when he was done killing the dragon.

And if he managed to live?

Then that meant that there was an even more dangerous Calamity behind it.

(x)

The Company stayed at Beorn's home for a total of two weeks. In the time there, Thorin grew moodier and Li and Beorn had gotten into a total of six fights that had lead to the Company all witness Li and a large Bear fight over the stupidest things— one of which had been the last slice of a large Honey Cake.

Gandalf, watching with his pipe smoking, had told the Company to leave it be as Li in his Assassin form was tossed into the air by an irate bear.

(He had landed on his feet and that was what mattered in the end, right?)

Aside from himself, Beorn had different standings on the rest of the Company.

He still was not fond of the Dwarves, though he was far more prickly towards Thorin and Dwalin than the others. He appreciated Balin, Bifur, and Óin over the rest of them, and held a neutral stance on the three youngest Dwarves as well. As for Gandalf, he seemed to be mainly indifferent to him. He talked to the Wizard in neutral tones, though his irritation at the Wizard was as plain as day when it happened— which, thankfully, Gandalf did not attempt to bring onto himself.

Bilbo, on the other hand, had somehow managed to get Beorn to become attached. Perhaps it was the small size, though Li didn't bother asking. Bilbo didn't seem to mind, so he didn't bother with prying Beorn away from hogging the Hobbit's attention with conversation of gardening— the Hobbit apparently was already used to being called "Little Bunny".

Li had just chuckled as Gandalf had uttered something about tigers and rabbits when they had been sharing a smoke in the evening. Li didn't smoke often, but Gandalf had offered his pipe one day after one of his and Beorn's scraps.

And Li was also certain that the Wizard had been referencing the number of animal nicknames the people of the Company were getting— though those people were only he and Bilbo with two of the three names belonging to him. Li did swear that he heard Beorn uttering about an "annoying and arrogant porcupine" and he was certain he was referencing to Thorin, but he left it. It was a proverbial can of worms he didn't want to open.

But all too soon, it was time for them to continue onwards.

Beorn had lent the Company enough ponies and a single horse to use in order to get to Mirkwood— Li had turned down the idea of a horse, telling both Beorn and Gandalf that he would ride with the Wizard. Gandalf had agreed that it would be the easiest as well, as Beorn had been reluctant to send his equine friends into danger against Orcs.

(Riding turned out to be Li standing on the back of the horse like there was nothing moving underfoot.)

Li would be the one to handle the negotiations with Thranduil, though he wished he did not have to— especially when Gandalf left them at the Elven Gate to explore Dol Guldur.

He had almost told Gandalf that he would go with him but shook the thought off with a slight nod when the Wizard gazed at him. The ponies were set free and there was a hesitation when Gandalf rode back off.

"We best be quick about getting through the forest. The quicker we go, the less likely the Elves will notice us," Thorin grunted, moving to take the lead, but Li stopped him.

"As soon as you step food along the path and into the forest, your presence has already been noted to the King," He said, a look telling the Dwarf that under no circumstances should anyone but he take lead. "For the one who sits upon the throne, this forest is as much a part of them as they are it."

With that, he stepped forwards onto the path. "Do not step from the path, and keep one another in your sights," he called over his shoulder as the Company fell in line behind him. "I know the way through better than anyone here."

I pin Li as someone who is not quite enthusiastic about flying. I literally don't have a reason, I just dont think he'd be overly excited to spend fifteen minutes spiraling down in the air

And Honestly, I'm not sure about how much more accelerated a Servant's healing is. But I would assume that bones would still take a decent amount of time to heal.

(personal headcanon is that a number of Servants heal at different rates. Servants that are more mystical in nature such as King Arthur, Seigfried, or Chiron would heal faster while Servants from human history and fact that don't have magic or special abilities would heal slower since they're closer to still being human. In that, I mean that, even among the Human Fact servants, servants associated with magic like Da Vinci or even Geronimo would heal faster than Li or Nightingale. Li is, imo, very very close to just being a normal dude. I mean, LB3 confirmed that yeah, Li Shuwen is a beast when it comes to combat, even as a human. so he's very human-like still)

Also cool beorn is cool and I love the idea of the Servants meeting up in groups nationally and just vibing together. Chinese Servants hanging out and having tea and eating good food for the Lunar New year while listening to the Radio? Good Civilization.

Reviews:

Suzululu4moe: The embodiment of the "I'm a healer but [loads gun]" meme

sawtooth44: oh sweet, thanks! The Wiki made things confusing and almost seemed like the Throne was inside the Root, but thank you for clearing that up. I'll have to go back and edit it eventually. I just didn't get to it this time.

Cadmus8: Thank you! I also find characters being too OP annoying unless im specifically in the mood for OP character writing. So I normally try and find either a power balance (in my KNY x FGO one I powered down Musashi by making her Human at first) or try not to use characters coded to be very OP (like Gilgamesh, since his NP is literally just the good ol' Kill Everything Button). Though I do want to write a fic with King Hassan eventually because he's a good kind of OP.