Hi all, it's Caladwen's day today and they're finally getting on their way with the quest, plus one elf. I'm so excited to have finally made it this far with her. I hope you all like this chapter xx
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The Misty Mountains
After getting a couple hours sleep, I see it is still dark out. I get out of bed, change into my travelling atire and make sure I have everything in my pack before leaving my room. I spend the next hour or so to get extra supplies we will need; food, blankets and such. I then go to the terrace the dwarves are staying to find everyone but Dwalin asleep.
He looks to me in surprise. "You're up early, lass."
I just smile as I being sorting everything into the dwarves packs. "I didn't need too much sleep. You on guard duty tonight?"
He nods as he watches what I'm doing. "Aye. I have to say, I'm really glad you're back and are coming with us."
I grin at him. "I'm glad to be with you all too. I really have missed you."
He grins before coming over to help me. As we work together, I look him over and have to finally ask something that's been on my mind since seeing him.
"I have to ask, what happened to your hair?"
He grins as he reaches up and pats his bald head. "Shaved it after Azanulbizar."
I smile sadly at him. "It looks good. Love the tattoos, too."
He grins again before we continue on with packing. I wake the others up just before sun rise, surprising a few of them of my presence. But, once we're all ready to leave, Thorin allows me to lead everyone out of Rivendell, following the path by the secret entrance.
"Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Caladwen, Balin, you two know these paths; lead on." Thorin orders.
"Aye." Balin replies as he joins me at the front.
"Master Baggins, I suggest you both keep up."
I glance back to see Bilbo looking back at Rivendell once more before filing in behind Oin and walking along. Balin and I lead everyone away from the elven city and we soon leave the boundaries of Rivendell and out into the wild.
We spend the next few days traveling along the wilderness and the plains, Thorin pushes us through the day as much as we can before taking rest during the night. Kili and I go hunting when we do rest. We eat and spend the time talking and telling stories before one by one falling asleep. Since I don't need as much sleep, I spend a few nights keeping watch, allowing the dwarves and Bilbo to get as much rest as they can.
A week after we've left Rivendell, we stop for the night not far from the path into the Misty Mountain. From here, I can see Mount Gundabad, my elven sight catching the top of the settlement I had spent almost three years of my life as a prisoner. I had asked Thorin if we could move on a bit more and find somewhere else to rest, but he said there would not be time as it would be dark soon. Looking to the sky, I see he's right as the sun is setting over the mountain.
I know he's worried for me, especially when he sees the wary look on my face. After we've eaten, he gets me to sleep, saying he and Dwalin will be on watch that night. I hesitate, knowing I won't get any sleep - at least a peaceful sleep – that night, but agree anyway, knowing there's no use in arguing with him. I set my bed roll down next to Thorin's and settle down to sleep.
"She-elf! Get up!"
I groaned and bit my lip hard to stop from crying out in pain as I felt a whip lash out onto my bare back, waking me from my restless sleep. The Orc that woke me up roughly grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me onto my feet, shoving me out of my cell.
"Get to work, slave!"
Gritting my teeth from my new and almost healed wounds, I get on with the jobs I am ordered to do. Cleaning, cooking, feeding the Wargs and even providing 'entertainment' by fighting Orcs in my already weakened state. I do not complain, because if I did, I would be killed. After over a year of enduring this, I am surprised I have not yet faded, but there's one thing, should I say person, that keeps me going. Thorin. The thought and dream of seeing my One once more keeps me fighting. . .he keeps me alive.
This day does not intend to be another good day for me. . .when do I ever get any good days stuck in this nightmare? As I am lifting a heavy pot of stew, one of the wounds on my arms tears open once more, blood pooling quickly. I bite my lip to keep from crying out and turn to take the pot to the waiting orcs. As I begin to walk over, however, my bleeding arm spasms suddenly and to my horror, the pot slips from my grasp to land on the floor with a clatter, stew covering the floor and splattering up onto me as well.
The Orcs see this and five of them instantly jump on me and whip, slash and cut me wherever they can.
"What is all this racket!?"A dark and evil voice shouts, causing the Orcs to stop.
I look up and inwardly cringe, Azog the Defiler is standing there, glaring down at me. As he sees what has happened, he chuckles evilly.
"Had another clumsy moment, she-elf?" he asks as he stalks over to me, lifting me up by my throat. I grab onto his arm as he squeezes, cutting off my air supply. "Boys, I think now is about time that we finally mark this one as our own, what do you say?"
My eyes instantly go wide as the Orcs cheer. Azog throws me back into a group of Orcs, who all drag me back and throw me onto a stone table. I scream and try to fight back against them, but they all pin me down, one of them pulling my left arm out, the underside facing up.
Azog walks over and runs a hand over my cheek, I have to hold back from shivering in disgust at his touch. "You will soon learn, that once you are mine, you will never be free."
He pulls away and one of his Orcs, Yazneg, walks over and, with an evil grin on his face, begins cutting into my skin, causing me to scream in agony. As blood drips from my new wounds and the pain gets worse, everything begins to turn black. The last thing I hear before the dark claims me is the orcs' cruel laughter ringing in my ears.
I gasp as I wake up, sitting bolt upright as I look around, breathing heavily. I breathe a sigh of relief as I realise I'm still with the Company and not in Gundabad with the orcs. Getting up, I walk away from the group and sit on a boulder, looking in the direction I know Gundabad to be standing.
Sixty years has passed since I escaped from that place, sixty years of bad memories and nightmares that had followed me all this time. I may have been able to escape, but I soon realised after that day, I would never truly be free. Not only do the nightmares haunt me, but I would always have a physical reminder of my capture, and not just from the beatings.
Looking to my left arm, the nightmare I had awoken from hits me. The mark of Gundabad which had been carved deep into my skin would never fade away, clearly visible to all who saw it. Which is why I always wore long sleeves or had it wrapped so it could never be seen by anyone else. Only myself, Gandalf and Elrond know it's there. And possibly Galadriel.
As I raise my right hand to pull the sleeve back, I quickly lower it as I hear footsteps coming towards me. I just smile as Thorin sits beside me.
"You should be asleep." he states.
"I could not sleep. I fear I will find no rest here tonight."
He doesn't say anything for a moment. "I heard you mumbling in your sleep."
I tense slightly as I look away, not able to look at him for fear of everything slipping out. I am not ready to tell him that part of my tale just yet.
"Caladwen, what is it? What's wrong?" he asks as he takes my hand.
I stay quiet as I look beyond the mountains, the fortress of Angmar within my sight.
"What do you see? Gundabad is beyond those mountains, is it not?"
I nod. "It is."
"Is it Gundabad that is causing your restlessness? You need not worry about the orcs from there, Caladwen. They will not give us any trouble."
"No, it is not that. It's just. . .just a distant memory." I see him looking at me in confusion, so I elaborate. . .at least some of it. "Do you remember when I told you of my mother, of when she passed away not long after my birth?" he nods. "Gundabad is the place of my birth and of her death."
His eyes go wide in horror and sympathy as I turn back towards the mountains, my hand wrapping around Thorin's to keep it from trembling, causing him to sit closer and take both of my hands into his.
"The reason for my stunted growth is because I was born almost three months early, like I told you, but it was due to the stress and horror of my mother's capture. I don't have many memories of my mother, The one I always remember are her eyes, her eyes filled with so much love and happiness whenever she saw me, but also fear, pain and despair. I was told I was found a few days after my mother's death, hidden away from the orcs. Gandalf and some elves from Rivendell found me and got me away. There was nothing left of my mother, nor of her guard, to give them a proper burial."
Thorin wraps an arm around me and pulls me into him, allowing me to rest my head against his chest.
"I am so sorry, Caladwen. I am so sorry you had to go through such a thing."
I smile as I snuggle into him. "Don't be, meleth nîn, what happened was not your doing."
"I know, but I still am sorry for you. You should not have had to have gone through such a thing, especially just after your birth."
"Maybe not, but, it did happen. And now I just need to deal with that." As well as what else happened within that fortress.
I stay awake with Thorin through the rest of his watch, just watching the sun rise with him. We wake the others and eat a quick breakfast before we move on, with me giving one last glance to Gundabad as I go.
We finally reach the mountain pass a few days later and walk along the trail, which soon becomes narrow and dangerous, the further up we go, a cliff face on one side and a sheer drop on the other. There is also fierce storm in the air, with lightning and rain all around.
"Hold on!" I hear Thorin calling out from next to me.
I look back in time to see Bilbo as he walks walks, the stone beneath his feet gives away, and he starts falling into the chasm; I breathe a sigh of relief as Dwalin and Bofur manage to pull him back in time.
I turn to Thorin. "Thorin! We must find shelter!"
He nods and continues on.
"LOOK OUT!" Dwalin suddenly yells.
Looking up, I see a huge boulder hurtling through the air; it hits the mountainside above us, causing rocks to fall all around us as we press ourselves against the mountain, Thorin covering me to protect me.
"Look out, brother!" I hear Gloin call out from behind me.
"This is no thunderstorm; it's a thunder battle! Look!" Balin cries, pointing ahead.
I look up to see a stone giant rearing up from a nearby mountain; it rips off a massive boulder from the top of the mountain.
"Well bless me, the legends are true. Giants; Stone Giants!" Bofur shouts.
The giant throws a boulder far in the air; following it, I see another stone giant, appears from behind us, and it is hit in the head by the boulder.
"Take cover you fool!" Thorin calls back to Bofur, who is soon pulled back.
We yell at each other to brace and hold on, and the rocks beneath our feet begin to give way from all the vibrations and from the impact of the falling rocks. I grab onto the mountain to keep myself steady as the ground between some of the other members split; part of the group is on one side, and part on the other.
"Kili! Grab my hand! Ki..." I hear Fili shout.
Looking up, I see him, Bilbo, Dwalin, Bofur, Bombur and Ori on one side of the mountain. I look on in horror as the part of the mountain we are on is another stone giant and we are standing on one of its legs! We manage to jump off the leg and onto the mountain, ducking every so often as bits of rock and rubble fall on top of us. We watch helplessly as the other leg moves past us and hurtles into the mountain as the giant falls into the chasm. I put a hand over my mouth, my eyes wide in horror at the thought of them being crushed and dart around Thorin to run over.
"No! No! Fili!" Thorin yells in anguish as he follows.
As we round the corner, we breath a sigh of relief as I see the others are safe.
"They're all right! They're alive!" I hear Balin shout back as Thorin goes to his nephew.
"Where's Bilbo? Where's the Hobbit?" I hear Bofur ask.
I whip around and notice he is not with us.
"There!" Ori yells.
I look over and see him hanging onto the cliff side.
"Get him!" Dwalin calls out as Bofur and Ori lay on the ground to get him.
As they are trying to reach him, Bilbo slips and falls another few feet before he catches another handhold. As the dwarves try to pull him up unsuccessfully, ignoring Thorin calls, I swing down on the cliff next to Bilbo and boost him up, where the others pull him to safety. I then cry out as I lose my grip.
"Caladwen!" Thorin calls out as Dwalin throw himself down and grab onto my arm.
Thorin drops next to him to grab my other arm and the both of them pull me back up onto the ledge. Getting onto my feet, Thorin pulls me away from the edge slightly, his hands gripping my upper arms gently as he looks at me.
"Are you alright, Caladwen?" he asks, worry evident in his voice.
I smile as I nod. "I'm fine, thank you."
He smiles as he presses his forehead against mine in a sign of affection.
"Thank you also, Dwalin." I say as I turn to the bald dwarf.
He grins and gives me a wink as he stands. "I thought we'd lost our burglar."
"He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us."
I look to Thorin as he turns away, disappointment clear on my face at this. How could he say such a thing like that? Has he truly changed so much?
"Dwalin!"
Dwalin follows him as they go inside a cave.
As Bilbo walks past me, I place a comforting hand on his shoulder. He gives me a small, tight, smile before we walk on into the cave.
"It looks safe enough." Dwalin states.
"Search to the back; caves in mountains are seldom unoccupied." Thorin orders.
Dwalin searches the cave with a lantern.
"There's nothing here."
Gloin drops a bundle of wood on the floor, when we are all inside, and rubs his hands.
"Right then! Let's get a fire started."
"No, No fires, not in this place." Thorin says as he walks past him. "Get some sleep. We start at first light."
Balin turns to him. "We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan."
"Plans change. Bofur, take the first watch."
The dwarf in question nods as the rest of us settle down for the night. Thorin has me set my bedroll down beside him, and even though I'm still unhappy with what he said about Bilbo before, I gladly do so, not wanting to be away from him, especially since I know what lies within these mountains.
I am woken up by someone moving about, thinking it's Bofur coming off watch, I close my eyes to go back to sleep when I hear his voice.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to Rivendell."
I glance up at Bilbo's voice to see Bofur standing in front of Bilbo who is all packed and ready to leave.
"No, no, you can't turn back now, you're part of the Company. You're one of us."
"I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door."
Looking at Thorin, I see him also awake and give him a look as if to say; "See what you've done?" he at least has the decency to look shameful at this.
"You're homesick; I understand."
"No, you don't, you don't understand! None of you do - you're dwarves. You used to - to this life, to living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere."
I look look down at this. That had to hurt for the two dwarves to hear. Looking up, I see Thorin looking saddened by this. Reaching up, I run my fingers over his cheek, to give him some comfort. He gives me a small smile of gratitude and places a kiss on my hand as we hear Bilbo sigh.
"I am sorry, I didn't. . ."
"No, you're right." he looks to the others. "We don't belong anywhere. I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do."
Bofur smiles and places his hand on Bilbo's shoulder, Bilbo smiles back before turning to leave.
."What's that?" Bofur suddenly asks.
Looking up at this, I see Bilbo pull his sword partway out of its sheath and sees that it is glowing bright blue. Just as I realise what that mean, a noise stops my thoughts. Thorin also looks up as he hears the same thing I do, some strange machinery noise. As we sit up, not far from us we see cracks form in the sand on the floor of the cave.
"Wake up. Wake up!" Thorin roars.
Everyone is immediately up, but before anything more can be done, the floor opens up and we all fall through.
Well, there we have it. Now we've gotta get through Goblin Town. Nasty business. Stay tuned next week for more xxxx
Translations;
Meleth nîn – My love