"Stay low, keep quiet and stay together!" He spoke in hushed tones. So did everyone for that matter. Weeks had passed as we made our way over the mountain tops, working together to stay hidden and keep watch over one another. As the quieter ones of the group, Bilbo and I would often scout ahead to see which path to take.
Night had fallen as we climbed over the rocks on the mountain side. Gandalf led from the front, then Thorin as we all followed on behind in single-file. Coming to the edge, Gandalf stopped and turned to us all. A slight puff of smoke coming from his mouth as the air grew thicker and started too cool.
"Gaylia?" he spoke.
I turned to face him before making my way past the others to his side.
"Yes, Mithrandir?" I asked as I looked up to him.
"Won't you be a dear and scout on ahead." He grumbled, "We need to know where the Orcs may be."
"Of course." I smiled. "I'll take Bilbo with me."
Catching what I said, the hobbit turned to face me, almost happy that we were going on another late-night scout together. That had been our thing lately and I enjoyed it very much. Spending time with him, getting to know him better. He told me stories from the shire, about his family and his garden. Boy, could he talk about his garden. Not that I minded, but I think I could now name all of the herbs and seeds that he has growing in his patch and the ways in which to plant them myself.
"Let's go." I called to Bilbo as he climbed off the rock where he sat.
"Be careful." Gandalf told us as we stood side by side. "And take care of my burglar." He smiled.
"You have my word." I reassured him.
"I can look after myself you know." Bilbo scoffed.
I smirked, "We all know that, master Baggins." I patted his shoulder, "You've proven that many times before."
Now looking smug, he straightened his jacket, "Very well. Shall we?" he smiled and waved his hand outwards for me to walk.
I shared a look with Gandalf before I walked away. "We won't be long." I called to the others as they chatted among themselves.
As we walked away and over the mountain ridge, I could no longer hear the chatters that came from the dwarves; they faded into small nothings in the distance. Climbing up the ridge at the edge of the mountain Bilbo and I lay down flat as we looked into the mist across the way.
"Be quiet." I ordered him as he crouched beside me, peering over the ragged edge.
Orcs…Orcs riding on the backs of wargs on the other side of the mountain, not too far from where we were. Being led by the one and only Azog in search for myself and the rest of the company.
"They're getting close." I sighed.
"That they are." He nodded his head as we watched as they rode along the mountain; their distant howls could be heard by all.
"We have to tell the others, they will be upon us soon." I rolled over onto my back and he nodded.
Both in agreement, we decided to descend the side of the mountain and head back to the others so that we could inform them about our impending situation that was almost upon us. As we began to move, growling from across the way caught my attention and I grasped the back of Bilbo's jacket and pulled him back down.
"Oww! What was that for?" he gasped.
I held a finger up to my lips to silence him as I pointed to my right. He peered over me and his eyes grew wide.
"What… is… that?" he mouthed.
I shook my head.
In all my time traveling, I had never seen such a creature before. It was as much a shock to me as it was to Bilbo. The sight of a huge, black beast in the dark. The stance that it took looking out into the open. Magnificent but utterly terrifying.
"We must move." I slid off the rock, "Quietly." We got to our feet, watching every step we took more than we were before. Our lives depended on it much more now that there was another creature lurking in the dark, among the orcs, hidden in the shadows.
Moving at speed through the night, Bilbo and I swiftly made our way back to the others unscathed.
"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked as we came down the embankment. I stopped almost instantly, looking to him as his gruff voice reached my awaiting ears.
Thorin… He has changed over these past weeks, much like Bilbo. We had talked into the night most nights when we were on watch together. Something I wasn't use to. I was used to being alone but not since I joined him and his kin. I enjoyed having them around to talk to, to share thoughts and stories with into the night around a roaring fire. I was taken in by them; their trust was building more and more as time went on. They didn't look to me as an outsider as such, nor did they really look to me as an elf but more as part of the company now.
However, in those many late night talks, we never discussed what happened on the mountain after the orc attack. The way his hand briefly grazed my thigh, over the cut caused by one of the goblins in the cavern. He didn't acknowledge it. He almost made it seem like it hadn't happened… but it did.
I came crashing back down to reality as Bilbo spoke from in front of me.
"Too close, couple of leagues, no more. But that's not the worst of it." He breathed heavily.
"Have the Orcs picked up out scent?" Dwalin asked.
I shook my head, "No… not yet, anyway."
"We have another problem." Bilbo added.
"Did they see you?" Gandalf asked worriedly. "They saw you." Not letting the hobbit answer before he drew up his own conclusion.
"No, they never seen us." I answered for both of us.
He smiled, "Good, what did I tell you? A hobbit, quiet as a mouse." He praised Bilbo then faced me, "And an Elf, nimble and fast. Excellent burglar material."
The dwarves began muttering among one another quietly.
Bilbo's face reddened before his outburst. "Will you listen! I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."
Gandalf narrowed his eyes, "What form did it take? Like a bear?"
"Ye…Yes" he stuttered as we both looked too the wizard, "But bigger. Much bigger."
All eyes were now on the wizard.
"I say we double back." Bofur said.
"We'll be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin added.
"There is a house; it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." Gandalf informed us all.
"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin enquired.
I was hoping they would be a friend. I wasn't much in the mood for a fight tonight. I wanted rest, some food and hopefully no Orcs.
"Neither. He will help us or he will kill us." Gandalf informed.
Well, there goes the rest and meal I was hoping for.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin sighed.
Suddenly, I heard a noise bellowing in the distance.
"Gandalf, we must go!" I yelled to him.
Making a run for it, we bolted through the Carrock led by Gandalf, the Orcs hot on our heels behind.
"This way! Quickly!" Gandalf yelled over his shoulder. As we ran behind him, I spot the house in the distance. "Into the house! Run!"
Pilling against the door, the dwarves tried to open the latch but it appeared to be locked. I stayed behind at the entrance with Gandalf, watching as the beast broke through the treeline.
"Open the door!" Gandalf yelled.
"Quickly!" Thorin called as he ran through the others, pushing them aside and headed straight for the door. Jumping slightly from the ground, he flipped the hinge to the door opening it swiftly before we all rushed inside.
We were barely inside of the door before the beast's body slammed against the wood, almost snapping it in two with its weight. Pushing with all the power we had, we braced the door as it pushed back, its jaw snapping through the gap. The saliva dripping from its jaws.
"Come on, lads!" Dwalin yelled.
Finally, with one last push, the door was now closed and the beast was locked outside.
Ori turned to Gandalf, "What is that?" he asked in horror.
"That is our host." He smirked as we all turned to face him in confusion. "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."
The audible swallows could be heard around the room as moans and groans were coming from outside the door. Ori pressed his year against the wood, "He's leaving." He told us.
"Come away from there!" Dori pulled him back, "It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious; he's under some dark spell."
"Don't be a fool." Gandalf huffed. "He's under no enchantment but his own." He removed his hat and observed the room. "Alright now, get some sleep all of you. You'll be safe here tonight. Approaching the window, he peered out and sighed, "I hope."
Later that night, I was sitting atop one of the beams in the barn that we were staying in that night. My legs gently swaying back and forth as I sharpened my blades with the edge of a rock.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
I looked over the beam, placing my blade on the hay to my side.
"Shouldn't you?" I asked back.
He smirked, "May I join you?"
I dipped my head and moved over on the beam, making room for him beside me. Once he was up, he grunted as he took a seat, allowing his legs to hang over the edge and sway. Our legs began to sway in sync as we looked down on the others as they slept soundly.
"Have you heard anything?" he asked.
I shook my head, "No. Just the breaking of the trees from the wind." I looked too him, "No Orcs or… Beorn for that matter."
"Good." He sighed. It was a long and relieving one, like the tension was just draining from his body at my words. I liked it, I liked that I could relieve some of his tension, take his mind off of things, even if it was just for a few seconds.
"Since there is nothing out there, I think we should rest now." He turned to me. "We have a long a way to go tomorrow."
I wanted to sit and talk like we had done so many times before, but truth be told, I was exhausted. The past few days were non stop running, morning and night with barley any food. So tonight, just sleeping seemed like a good idea.
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea." I smiled.
He got to his feet slow and steady and braced himself against a vertical beam, he held his hand out to his side for me to take. I smiled and reached up, placing my hand in his palm, his fingers closed around mine softly. His hands were calloused from the years of work and war. Each of the cuts and rough patches told a story, hid a secret and held a meaning… and I wanted to know each and every one of them.