Chapter Ten: Of Pictures and Ponies
Emelia had, by this point, long ago given up on trying to predict the things that were going to happen to her in the warm world that she found herself in. She hadn't predicted trolls, and they ended up popping up out of nowhere and holding her hostage for four days. She hadn't predicted the dwarves, and they ended up appearing out of thin air and dragging her along with them in the direction of who knows where. And finally, she hadn't predicted a man covered in bird feces to come crashing through the trees being pulled by a rabbit sled, yet there he was yelling nonsensical things from his perch on his sled.
When she had first heard the cracking and rustling of the trees she had involuntarily panicked. Thus far, nothing had really gone her way, leaving her with an undeniable, almost constant nervousness about what was to come. She felt as if something bad was just waiting for her, lurking behind her. While she liked the majority of the dwarves that she found herself in the company of, they still made her wary. She always felt on edge around them whenever she spoke, due in no small part to the fact that it seemed as if every other word out of the mouth offended the band of burly men. She had not expected herself to be comfortable with them for quite a while. It had taken her eighteen solid years to be completely comfortable with her own family and they were related to her. She knew it would take her more than just a day to be comfortable with the group of dwarves, no matter how hospitable they were.
That being said, her discomfort around the dwarves didn't stop her from gripping onto Kili for dear life when the brown clad man came crashing through the tree line.
She would deny it later, but she couldn't really help the knee jerk reaction of grabbing onto the nearest thing that possessed a weapon. It just so happened that that nearest thing was the one dwarf who would probably throw her towards whatever was coming out of spite. She liked to think she was brave enough to not cower, but it was apparent by her reaction that it was just not the case with her.
Emelia felt her heart going a mile a minute as she backed further and further away from the man on the sled. Kili, much to her great shock, moved back with her, keeping his back pressed into her front slightly, shielding her from whatever was in front of them. She normally would've minded being backed into a tress, but for some reason she paid no mind.
"Thieves! Liars! Murderers!"
She peeked out from behind Kili, smiling despite herself at the sight of the rabbits the man was using to pull his sleigh skidding to a halt next to her feet. The smile quickly faded from her face as she looked at the rabbits up close. They were larger than any rabbits she had ever seen. They, when standing at full height, came up to well above her knee without their ears up. Their feet were larger than her own and their eyes were roughly the size of a small child's fist.
It seemed that nothing, not even the rabbits, were normal in the world she was stuck in.
"Radagast the Brown, why on earth are you here?" It was Gandalf who spoke, sheathing his sword as he walked over towards the twitchy man on the sled. All of the dwarves looked around at each other skeptically before following suite.
As much as Emelia was weary of a man who allowed bird feces to trill down his face, she stepped out hesitantly from behind Kili, all too willing to get away from the stubborn dwarf. She was not exactly thrilled with herself and the way she had clung to him like a frightened child.
The man looked around at them all, his long brown hair swinging about him wildly, before he finally addressed Gandalf with fast, muddled words.
"I was looking for you, Gandalf." Radagast's voice was burdened by the odd combination of being rushed and saddled with a lisp, making his voice match his overall batty appearance fabulously. "Something's wrong. Something is so terribly wrong."
Radagast was out of breath as he spoke to Gandalf, leaning heavily on the staff that he carried with him. Gandalf moved towards Radagast, his eyes narrowed as he observed the man with a cautious and wary expression on his old face. "Yes?"
The man opened his mouth to speak, only to close it again, looking around the clearing in confusion. He eyed each of the dwarves, as if they knew the words he was searching for, before his gaze finally settled on Emelia. He looked at her for a moment, taking in her odd attire and startled expression before he was prodded into speaking again by a urgent sounding Gandalf.
"Radagast."
The man looked back over at Gandalf, shaking his head seemingly out of frustration. "Oh I had a thought." He sounded very similar to a whining child as he spoke. "And now I've lost it. It's right there, right on the tip of my tongue. It was such a good thought…" He trailed off, opening his mouth. He gestured wildly with his hands towards his open mouth, frustration clearly shinning in his bright blue eyes. Gandalf leaned towards him, eyes narrowing even further as he looked into Radagast's open mouth.
"It is right on the tip of my tongue." Radagast sounded downright annoyed for a moment before he his eyes lit up. "Oh, it's not a thought at all."
To Emelia's utter disgust and horror, Gandalf reached into Radagast's mouth, pulling out a long, spindly looking stick bug. Gandalf lifted the insect up until it was in front of his face, before dropping it into Radagast's outstretched hand.
"That's disgusting." Emelia said before she had even realized she opened her mouth.
The only person who seemed to hear her was Kili. He turned to look at her, a large smirk dancing across his dark face. He smiled at her briefly before he realized that it was, in fact, her that he was smiling at. He immediately looked away from her, rolling his shoulders slightly in frustration. Emelia had to fight the urge to smack him upside the head, just to see his expression. It wasn't as if he didn't deserve it. She had tried to apologize, and all he had done was say he had nothing to apologize for in return. The bastard deserved a good smack.
"Come with me Radagast." Gandalf said simply leading him away and out of earshot of the rest of the people watching the brown clad man with confused expressions. Radagast hobbled away with him, whispering something to his rabbits as he went before the two of them disappeared from earshot entirely. The group was silent for a moment, eyes all trained onto the direction that the two had gone before Thorin finally broke the uncomfortable silence by calling for Balin and Dwalin to come join him, leaving the rest of the dwarves, Emelia and Bilbo to entertain themselves while the two older men talked.
Emelia looked around awkwardly for a moment, before her eyes settled on Fili and Ori, laughing together lightly as they leaned against one of many trees in the clearing. She made her way over to them, shooting Kili a dark parting look, before she sat herself down on the grass next to them.
"I dislike your brother Fili." She said simply, causing the blonde dwarf to smirk.
"How do you know he is my brother?" Fili asked, settling himself down on the grass next to her, only to have Ori follow tentatively on her other side.
"While I understand why you wouldn't want to claim him as a blood relation, it doesn't take a genius to pick up on the naming trend you have going on around here. Plus, you already told me."
Fili laughed at her words loudly, causing a few of the older dwarves to look over at them. "He is acting rather odd."
"I think by odd you mean foul and nasty." Ori piped up, earning an appreciative smile from Emelia.
"Ori gets it." She said simply, causing Ori to blush slightly at her words. He chanced a glance up at her, before turning his attention back down to the large book he held in his gloved hands. "You get it Ori."
"Maybe you intimidate him." Fili said offhandedly, earning unladylike snort from Emelia.
"Maybe he's just an ass."
"That's a little harsh, don't you think?" Fili asked, trying to defend his brother.
In all honesty, he wasn't exactly sure why the two of them had taken such a disliking to each other so early on. From the little he knew of Emelia, her and Kili would get along better than she got along with even himself. Of course, that would be if they could speak to each other without lobbing insults or dirty looks every opportunity they got. Fili actually quite enjoyed the insults that Emelia whispered darkly under her breath about his brother for the simple fact that it gave him a glimpse of the fiery personality that he was sure was just waiting to come springing out.
"He did jump in front of you at the first sign of danger, after all." Fili couldn't help but smirk at the blush that inflamed across her pale cheeks.
"Saw that did you?"
"That and you holding onto him for dear life." Ori finished, not looking up from his book that he was now scribbling furiously in.
"We all saw that part, actually." Fili had to fight the full out laughter at the annoyed look on her face. "It was so," He paused, lifting his hand up to stroked his braided mustache. "What's the word I'm looking for, Ori?"
"Romantic, endearing, and sweet." Ori said. Emelia was honestly surprised he was playing along with Fili. He seemed far too shy, on the surface, to ever think about teasing someone he hardly knew. Or at least that's what she thought.
"How poetic, Ori." Fili was now struggling to hold back his laughter at the sour look on Emelia's face.
Emelia looked around the clearing, struggling to keep the blush off her face all while trying to find something to change the subject. She had had enough of discussing Kili. She didn't like to talk to him, and she enjoyed talking about him substantially less. She had only attempted to apologize because Fili had practically begged her. She swore to herself that she wouldn't ever make that mistake again. No amount of begging on the blonde dwarfs part could ever get her to stoop so low again as to apologizing to the brick wall that was Kili.
She looked around until her eyes settled on the picture that Ori was furiously scribbling down, adding in little words and phrases to the side. His hand was covered in black ink from his quill, indicating that he did this sort of thing more often than Emelia would have guessed. Seeing him working so intently on something so artsy made her chest feel slightly lighter than it had in the last couple of days. People drew all the time back in Alaska.
"What are you working on, Ori?" She scooted closer to him, leaning over to peer down at the drawing in his book. It was actually quite beautiful to look at, with its intricate detail and accurate shading. It was only when she was close enough to look at it, did she recognize that it was the clearing they were sitting in.
He looked up at her to answer, only to jump slightly at how close she was, a blush sweeping across his face. Emelia couldn't help but feel slightly flattered that he still blushed around her, despite having seen her covered in her own refuse and troll gunk. She had imagined it would be hard for any of them to see her as anything but that. It would have been hard for her, if their roles had been reversed.
"It's a chronicle of our journey." He said, stuttering for a moment as he got used to her sitting so close to him. He glanced over at Fili for a moment before continuing. "I like to write everything down; so that when we reclaim Erebor everyone will know the whole story from top to bottom."
Emelia barely had time to smile before all of the dwarves were shouting things in a language she didn't understand at the very confused Ori. Thorin came thundering over from his spot with Dwalin and Balin, face red with anger. It seemed that Ori had told her something that she wasn't exactly meant to hear. Oin and Gloin were conversing quietly with each other, shooting dark looks at the now shaking Ori as he stood up quickly to face the now furious leader of their company. Kili made his way over to Fili, eyes darting back and forth between Emelia and Ori. Everyone looked so angry by his simple statement and it baffled Emelia. In fact it baffled her so much that she spoke even before Thorin had time to tear into Ori, which it looked like he was gearing up to do with every step he took.
"What's going on?" She asked, feeling slightly bad that Ori was now facing the entire wrath of the company for her question.
Thorin didn't even look at her, choosing instead to grab Ori by the collar. "What all did you tell her?"
Emelia was quite sure if she had been in Ori's place, she would have peed herself all over again. Ori seemed at a loss for words as he was held by a very angry Thorin. Emelia didn't blame him. Thorin's glare could curdle milk if he tried hard enough.
"What did you tell her?" Thorin repeated his question again, his voice much lower and lethal sounding.
"He said something about Arbor, or whatever…" Emelia said in an attempt to get Thorin to let go of the now shaking Ori.
Thorin looked like he was about to murder something. He held him for a moment longer before releasing him roughly, clenching his hands up in fists. Emelia thought for a moment that he was going to hit Ori, until he brought one of his hands up to his own face and rubbed his nose, breathing heavily out of anger.
"I-it just slipped out." Ori said weakly, cowering under the gazes of all of the dwarves. "I didn't mean to. She was just asking me about my book and it just slipped out…" He trailed off quietly.
"How foolish can you be Ori?" Dwalin snapped.
"Okay, what is going on?" Emelia asked, entirely tired of her questions being ignored.
"Silence." Thorin snapped over to her, causing her to snap her mouth shut so quickly it made a pop. "You will hold your tongue for the foreseeable future, Miss Montgomery. You have now caused this company even more trouble than you are worth and I will not hear any more of your incessant and useless blathering."
That shut her up. She shook her head weakly at the look she was getting from Thorin. It made her feel like a child, worse than a child. She pulled her arms around her chest, nodding her head blearily. All of the dwarves were looking over at her with alarmed expressions. Even Fili looked at her differently. Balin wasn't smiling at her like he normally was. Kili was now looking at her like she was the worst thing he had ever laid eyes on. Ori was looking at her with an almost apology on his face. The only person who looked just as confused was Bilbo. But even he was avoiding making eye contact with her.
Thorin glared at her for a moment longer, before he turned to address Fili with a very angry look on his face.
"You will make sure she is ready to travel with us, with thanks given to Ori, and prepared for the long journey. She will not be a burden. See to it that she has a weapon that she won't maim herself or others with." With those final words he marched away, followed closely by an angry looking Dwalin and a concerned looking Balin. The rest of the dwarves were silent for a moment before slowly returning back to the spots they came from, leaving Emelia, Ori, Fili and Kili, reaming in a little circle. Emelia took in each of their defeated expressions for a moment before she braved a question. Her voice came out as an almost whisper in a desperate attempt to not be overheard by Thorin.
"What's going on?
Fili couldn't even bring himself to smile at her. "You have…."
He was cut off by a very loud, and alarmingly deep, howl coming from behind Kili and himself. Everyone immediately straightened up, looking around them for any sign of the creature.
"Was that a wolf?" It was Bilbo who spoke first, thankfully voicing Emelia's own concerns. "Are there wolves out there?"
"Wolves?" Bofur came from out of nowhere, holding his axe up slightly as he looked around. "That was no wolf."
Just as he spoke a growl echoed around the clearing briefly before a huge creature that was anything but a wolf came leaping at them. If Emelia hadn't been so shocked she would have screamed. It leapt, faster than Emelia would have thought possible, down at them, its massive claws flexing and shinning in the sunlight filtering through the trees. Thorin, who was the closest, immediately swung his sword towards the creature catching it in the face and sending it to the floor in a tangled head. Kili followed suit with an arrow in between its eyes, silencing the whimpering creature instantly.
Emelia just sat there, not even remembering when Fili had pushed her back, standing in front of her. He looked down at her apologetically, offering her a hand to help her up. "We should probably get you what weapon now, Miss Emmy."
She didn't even notice the nickname. She nodded blearily, eyes fixed on the now bleeding creature.
"A warg scout," Thorin snapped to the group, looking around above him for signs of any more. "Which means an orc pack isn't far behind."
"Orc pack…" Bilbo sounded just as panicked as Emelia felt.
It was in that moment that Gandalf and Radagast came storming back into the clearing, anger written on the formers face. He thundered right up to Thorin bearing down on him, gripping his staff so tightly his wrinkly hands were as white as a sheet of paper. "Who did you tell?"
"No one."
Thorin had the audacity to look over at Emelia briefly, which caused not only her, but Fili to tense up slightly at the implication. She didn't know what an orc was, but she did know that she only knew the dwarves, and even if she knew someone else, she wasn't likely to go jabbering to them about Arbor, or whatever it was called.
"Who else did you tell?" Gandalf asked again, much louder the second time.
"No one! What in Durin's name is going on?"
"You are being hunted, Thorin Oakenshield."
Emelia knew something was wrong when Gandalf looked panicked. She knew something was wrong when she felt Fili wrap a hand around her arm, pulling her slightly closer to him. She knew something was wrong when she heard more howls.
"We must leave." Dwalin said loudly and urgently.
"How? All of the damn ponies bolted when they heard the howl." Nori said to the entire group.
To everyone's great surprise it was Radagast who offered the only solution. "I will draw them off."
"These are Gundabad Wargs," He sounded impatient and strapped for a solution. "They will outrun you in a matter of moments."
Radagast looked affronted as he stood up straighter. "And these are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try."
With those final words he jumped on his sleigh and sped off into the trees, speaking rapidly to his rabbits. Apparently, big rabbits were badass rabbits. Emelia watched him leave until she felt a very strong tug on her arm, jerking her into a run. Fili looked down at her, keeping a hand firmly on her arm. He reached into his cloak with his other, roughly digging around before he pulled out a very large looking knife and shoving it into her other hand.
"Try not to hurt yourself or others with this." He said simply, pulling her into an even faster run, ignoring the incredulous look on her face.
"Gimli, I do believe it is time for me to take over."
Gimli immediately stopped, looking up from the grassy field he found himself in with Wenny. Thranduil had insisted if she was going to spend all her time learning dwarf tales, she should at least do it outside, as opposed to cooped up in the palace. Wenny had been delighted, of course, and had taken to rolling around on the grass as Gimli spoke to her in low voices.
He smiled at the elf woman who was standing above him, a small hand placed on his shoulder. Nim, wife of Legolas and mother of Liluwen, hadn't changed substantially in the time that Gimli had known her. She was smiling down at him mischievously, just like she had when she had first approached him sitting on the rocks during their own quest not so long ago. Her long, wavy, blonde hair was pulled back from her freckly face and she was wearing her most casual dress, not looking at all like the future queen she was going to be.
"After all, I am in this part." She sat herself down next to Gimli, placing a soft kiss on his cheek, before she turned to Wenny. "Wenny, you have monopolized my dear friend."
Wenny blushed slightly as her mother spoke to her, sitting up from rolling around in the grass to look at the older woman fully. Nim shoot a conspiratorial smirk over to Gimli before she gestured for her daughter to come closer to the two of them. "You leave me with no choice but to join to two of you."
"Naneth, you wouldn't like the story Gimli is telling me." Wenny said, sitting herself down on her mother's lap, throwing her long blonde hair over her shoulder and out of the way. "It just about dwarves."
"Just dwarves?" Gimli huffed slightly at the mistake in wording. "You seem to quite fascinated by just dwarves little Wenny, if I remember correctly from the last couple of days."
"You know what I mean." Wenny said, blushing even more.
Nim looked between them for a moment before she spoke. "Wenny, I love the story you are hearing about." She paused, pulling her daughter even closer. "In fact, I am in it. I met Emelia, and her hairy friends. They were quite delightful, and so very dwarven. Would you like to hear about it?"
"Only if you're not lying, Naneth."
"Why would I lie to you?" Nim asked simply, situating herself to make the two of them more comfortable. "Now where was our little red headed human? Ah yes, the orcs…"