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Apparently, the matter that Radagast needed to discuss with Gandalf so urgently was not of any of the dwarves' concern or that of Marie's. Thus the company was reduced to wait until the two wizards were finished before they continue on their way.

Thorin paced irritably at this further set back.

Bofur sat beside Marie on a small boulder as he sharpened the end of his large mattock weapon, humming a merry old tune as he worked, while in front of them the company splintered off into different groups to speak of mostly trivial things.

"The Greenwood is sick, Gandalf. A darkness has fallen over it." Radagast said quickly, his voice small and weasel like to Marie's ears. She didn't mean to eavesdrop since it was very rude, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her. This Radagast fellow was so odd to her, and yet she found his quirky behaviour strangely relatable. She strained her hearing from her spot, just a little ways from the conversing wizards and pretending to be examining the sheath her new blade.

"Nothing grows anymore, at least nothing good. The air is fouled decay, but worst are the webs."

"Webs? What do you mean?" Gandalf pulled his pipe from his mouth and gazed the Brown wizard a questioning look.

"Spiders, Gandalf. Giant ones."

Marie shivered and decided to turn out of their talk if was going to be about spiders. She instead gave her full attention to Bofur's mattock, both scared and curious about the strange weapon. Bofur noticed her observation and held up the weapon, "I take it that you're not familiar with a mattock Miss Marie?" He asked.

"No, in fact I wasn't aware that half of these weapons even existed." She said, glancing around at the various tools of war the dwarves carried in their hands or across their backs.

"One of our many specialties. Unlike most, our weapons are made to withstand the test of time and brunt of a battle. A blacksmith takes pride in every one of his creations."

"And are you a blacksmith?"

"No, just a humble toymaker." He said with his signature grin. While Marie didn't think to place him as a toymaker when they had met, she could defiantly picture him working at a bench with his carefree attitude and a half finished toy in hand.

"But, if you are a toymaker, why would you need a weapon such as this?" She tapped he old iron of the mattock with her index finger.

"One can never be too cautious when facing a dragon."

Before Marie could manage a courteous smile in agreement, a terrible howling filled the air. Everyone was set on edge and all but Marie reached for their weapons. "Was that a wolf?"

"No, that is not a wolf." Bofur held his mattock up in a defensive pose.

"Above!" Gloin cried and Marie swung round to see a mass of ragged brown and black fur and a very very big mouth filled with teeth appear over the rock face and leap down at the company. Bofur pulled Marie out of the monster's path, allowing Thorin a clean shot at it. He buried his new elvish blade deep into the monster's neck, killing it instantly. Another one appeared behind Thorin, but was quickly shot down by Kili. Dwalin crushed its head as it fell just to be sure.

Both creatures looked like emaciated wolves only they were as large as a pony, hides covered in scars.

Marie felt her knees knocking together as Gandalf and Radagast joined them. Thorin pulled his blade out of the carcass and grunted, "Warg scouts." Once his blade was free he stepped away from the creature with distain, "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."

Marie saw fire in his eyes. The kind of fire that was fueled by an old hate, anticipation of a fight and something almost wild.

"Who did you tell about you quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf's voice was grave and serious.

"No one."

"Who did you tell!?"

"No one, I swear."

But still Gandalf was acting more hyper vigilant than usual, his grey eyes darting around the area. "What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin growled.

'That's what I'd like to know.' Marie thought and clutched her sheathed sword tightly.

"You are being hunted." The wizard finally answer. "We have to get out of here, and fast." Dwalin said.

"We can't!" Ori and Bifur came running over the rocks. "We have no ponies, they've bolted." Ori said crestfallen. Marie internally groaned. 'I knew it. I knew it, I should never have left home.'

"I'll draw them off." Came the surprisingly confident voice of Radagast. Marie looked up at the odd wizard, and saw that he had suddenly changed from quirky to 'Gandalf' like serious. Gandalf himself just shook his head at his fellow wizard.

"These are Gundabad wargs. They will outrun you."

"These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try."

Needless to say, even Marie had to take him seriously with that tone of voice.

"Right. Take all that can be carried, leave the rest. We must move quickly." Thorin said and the dwarves jumped into action. "Just give me five minutes to get their attention before you do." Radagast said as he ran swiftly over to his sled, with his rabbits ready for him.

"Good luck my friend." Gandalf cried just as the wooden sled took off.

"Will he be alright?" Marie asked quietly as she slipped on her travel pack and sword, concerned for the small man. "I don't know, but we have to move Marie." Kili grabbed her pack and pulled her along. "Hold on a minute." She protest, "How do you get this blasted thing on?" She struggle with the sword's belt and fumbled around with the strips of leather.

"Here." Kili turned her around and proceeded to help her.

"Thank you Kili." She said grateful for the help, and somewhat ignorant of him leaving barely any room between them as he did.

"Kili!"

Both the dwarf and the hobbit look ahead to the owner of the voice, Thorin. "I want you and Fili on point." He ordered. Kili complied and run up to the head of the group while his uncle glared at the back of his head. Marie sped up her pace until she came along side Gandalf.

"Stay close to me Marie." He muttered. The company moved with care as they neared the end of the forest and were left exposed on a rocky valley. Packed behind one large rock, they waited until Gandalf gave the single to move. He poked his head out and watched as the large orc pack chased after Radagast.

"Move now." He said and the company began running. The terrain proved tricky to run on, but the thought of the wargs not far behind was all the incentive one needed to keep running. That is until they spotted Radagast rush by barely half a mile in front of them, with the pack hot on his tail.

"Move, move." Thorin turned them around and they head back. Marie run at the head of the group and kept up a reasonable pace. She may not have had the speed she once possessed but she still had stamina, which was more that could be said about the dwarves who were slowing down.

"This way!" Gandalf shepherded them around the rocks when they spotted Radagast again, closer this time. Thorin grew suspicious of where exactly the wizard was leading them, while the rest followed blindly.

As they rounded the rocks, Fili stared frantically waving his hand, "Warg rider." He hissed.

They all pressed into the rock face as a lone rider that had splinted off from the pack climbed up onto of the rock, the warg and the orc both sniffing the air. Marie felt her heart rise up in her throat, half choking her with anxiety. Thorin, who was standing to her left looked over at Kili and nodded to him. The young dwarf quietly unsheathed an arrow and cocked his bow. He took a deep breath and moved away from the rock to take aim. This exposed him to the enemy just long enough to get a good shot at the warg's neck. It choked violently and both creatures tumbled down in front of the waiting dwarves.

Marie gasped as she caught her first glimpse of an orc. It had a humanoid from, but its face was so badly disfigured and black flesh bulged like a plague over its body and shone with sweat and slime. It made such a terrible howling as the dwarves hacked at it and its steed, its screeching voice cut right through her. She covered her ears and grimaced at the sound of clashing steal and flesh.

"Hurry, hurry." Gandalf urged them to keep moving, for the rest of the pack had heard the cries of their fallen comrade, and knew where they were hiding. Marie did not hesitate and gladly ran. It didn't bother her that her feet and legs were being cut on sharp torn bushes that covered the ground, for an adrenaline rush filled her again, moving her tiny legs underneath her without registering the pain.

"There they are!"

Marie skidded to a halt as she saw several wargs in front of them. The orc pack was closing in, circling them. This was no ordinary pack, it was too large, too organized. Gandalf was right, they were hunting them. But for what reason?

"They're coming!"

Kili tried to keep the wargs at bay with his arrows, but there were too many. They would have no choice but to fight. Marie pulled out her sword and to her utmost surprise, it was glowing. The silver metal of the elvish handiwork had turned a blinding blue.

'How is it ...? Why?'

Marie shook her head and told herself to concentrate of the problem at hand. Her heart pounded hard in her ribcage to the point where every beat felt like a punch, but still she held up her sword and prepared for the worst to come.

"Where is Gandalf?" Bofur cried out.

Marie looked all around her but could not see the grey wizard. He was just there at her side a mere second ago. "He had abandoned us." Dwalin shout in frustration as the pack closed in even further.

'Impossible. Gandalf would not leave us at a time like this ... would he?'