A.N. Last chapter for today. I'll be working on editing some more to put up. Knowing my lack of patience, I'll probably put some up tomorrow.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original characters and plot points.
Something had tingled down Danica's spine when Thorin had almost called her name. Sadly, she hadn't really been able to enjoy the feeling, as the hunters quickly grabbed her, and pulled her away from the Company. Fear had her breath rasping painfully through her lungs, but the sight of the cougar helped to keep her steady. Since it appeared to be following them, she could only hope that it would possibly attack the men, giving her a chance to escape. When they pulled her down a darkened alley, some of her hope withered. The one who had held her arm now shoved her against a wall.
"So, who are ya, then?" he asked, his breath sour. "We were told about the dwarves, halfling, and wizard, but not about you,"
"Maybe she's their whore," another stated with a chuckle. "Don't know as I've ever seen a dwarf that protective over a human woman before,"
The leader moved closer to her, laying a hand on her waist. "Must be a pretty good lay for a dwarf to get that riled up. Perhaps we should have a taste?"
Danica slapped his hand away, then kneed him in the groin. He doubled over in pain, but the one who had shoved her kept her from escaping. He grabbed her arms, pulling them painfully behind her back. The others were about to close in, when the cougar jumped down, crouching between them and Danica. A feral growl ripped from its throat, which had the men stumbling back a step.
"It's either the cat, or us," Dwalin's voice echoed from behind them. He sounded rather cheery at the prospect.
The dwarves looked like they'd already been in a fight, but seemed none the worse for wear. In fact, Thorin was holding his sword against one of their necks, and Danica knew that he didn't intent to keep the man alive.
"I told you to let us go," he said softly.
Fighting suddenly broke out, with the cougar joining in to help the dwarves. The hunter who had been holding Danica let go so he could help his comrades, while the man Danica had struck rose from the ground, and grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Bitch," he spat, before his fist cracked against the side of her face.
With a cry, she went sprawling to the ground, vision wavering. There was a chorus of enraged shouts from the dwarves, followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground next to her. Danica managed to open her eyes, and saw the man beside her, trapped under the cougar's heavy paws. Fili and Kili helped her up, and checked her head, but her eyes watched as Thorin slowly walked toward the trapped man, and pressed the tip of his blade against the hunter's chest.
"Give me a reason not to," he murmured lowly. "For I have all I need to justify killing you,"
With the bodies of his companions littering the alley, the man could do nothing but shake his head. Danica wanted to stop it, but she knew that the hunter would just spread word about where they had been, and where they were going. He was far too dangerous alive. However, before Thorin could finish the deed, the cougar opened its mouth, and ripped out the man's throat. Danica was barely able to turn her head to avoid seeing the worst of the carnage. Fili and Kili led her out of the alley, where they joined the rest of the Company, including Gandalf, whose face was grim.
"I believe that takes care of all of them," he said. "They tried to send a raven, but Kili shot it out of the sky,"
"There will be more," Danica responded, feeling numb and dirty.
Thorin walked out of the alley, the cougar just behind him. He went straight to Danica. The intensity of his gaze and stance had her slouching a little. When he lifted his hand, she couldn't help the small flinch, which had him pausing for just a moment before gently turning her head so he could see where she'd been struck. Even the smallest touch hurt, and she was beginning to be aware of just how painful it was.
"Oin," Thorin called. When the elderly dwarf appeared, Thorin took a small step back. "I fear he may have fractured the bone, and she likely has a concussion,"
Danica bent a little so Oin could get a good look at her face. He tutted, then reached into his satchel, and pulled out some salve.
"This will help numb some of the pain, and help the bruising. Thorin was right; your cheekbone has been fractured, but it's not too bad. It will heal on its own, well enough. We will keep an eye on you through the night,"
"Thank you," Danica said, wincing when she tried to smile.
Oin chuckled. "And no smiling for a few days,"
"She may as well not breathe," Kili joked.
"Is no one else concerned about the cougar that just happens to be following us?" Bilbo piped up, eyes remaining warily on the beast. Everyone looked over to where the cat sat behind them, watching them calmly.
"I wouldn't worry about her," Gandalf said with an amused smile. "I would call her Miss Danica's guardian. She helped guide her here,"
There were some complaints at that, as well as how Gandalf knew it was a female, but no one could argue with the fact that she was there for a purpose. Encouraged by Gandalf's words, Danica walked over to her, and knelt down. The cat easily looked into her eyes, and there was an ageless wisdom within the warm, brown, feline orbs. An understanding passed between them, and then the cat turned, and ran into the dark.
"It'll be back, won't it?" Dwalin grumbled.
"Yes," Gandalf started them moving, the grin still on his face. Most of the dwarves sighed.
"If yer going to keep the blasted thing as a pet, ye may as well give it a name," Dwalin said to Danica.
Unsure, she looked over at Gandalf. He nodded encouragingly. She thought about the understanding that had passed between them.
"What's the elvish word for trust?" Danica asked.
"Estellio, but if you wished for the feminine; Estellia,"
Smiling, then wincing, Danica stood. "Estellia,"
Once Oin was satisfied that her cheek was taken care of, and everyone was moving toward the stables again, Thorin pulled her aside.
"You are never to do anything like that again. Do you understand?"
She nodded, but didn't say anything. Anger simmered between them, but she was too tired to argue. Unfortunately, he saw the resistance in her, and wouldn't let it go.
"What you did was irresponsible, and put this entire quest at risk," his tone was like that of a parent to an unruly child, and efficiently got rid of her fatigue.
"My decision was a risk, yes, but we didn't have much of a choice. I did what I felt was necessary to protect all of you, and by doing so, protect the quest,"
The others had stopped, anxiously watching the building confrontation. Thorin's eyes narrowed even further than they already had, but he just gave a dismissive sigh, and turned.
"You are nothing but a child,"
Her jaw dropped in indignation. "Excuse me?" when he didn't stop, she sped past him, forcing him to face her. "We have all only just begun to get to know one another. You have no idea what my life has been like, nor what I have seen,"
He studied her coldly. "You may think you have lived a long life, but a century ago, at your age, my home was taken by a dragon, and my people had nothing. We spent a lifetime finding, and building another home, amidst grief and loss you could not understand,"
Heat crept up into her ears, and she clenched her fists to keep from striking out. "Don't you dare presume to know the kind of grief and loss I understand. I may have lived a short time compared to you, but I have experienced plenty,"
The way he shook his head was condescending enough to make her growl, though he ignored it. "I do not need to know of your experiences to see your innocence and naivete," he stated. "They make you arrogant and reckless,"
"I'm arrogant?!" she swallowed the insults she wanted to hurl at him. "You seem to be working pretty hard to prove that I am just a child. Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?"
They stared each other down for a moment, until Gandalf hurried them all along. Thorin quickly moved past her to the front of the group, and she stayed near Oin. As the adrenaline wore off, she felt a little abashed, and wondered where the gall had come from. How was she supposed to get along with him now?
P.S. A much shorter chapter, but the previous one would have been reeeeeeally long otherwise. Thanks for reading!