The day had been long and travelling by foot made us slower and gave the orcs more of a chance to catch up with us. Night fell quickly and we hid in a little area surrounded by tall stone as Bilbo snuck back to scout of the area to see where the Orcs were. I sat on a rock at the edge of the group as Fili walked over to me with Kili.
I had my hand resting on my chin which was on my knee, I was in deep thought about recent events. I glanced up at the brothers and saw them both smiling at me, I sat up straight and folded my arms looking between them suspiciously.
"So you and our uncle are...?" Kili asked,
"It's as he said when we climbed down Carrock. We are going to see what happens. We do care for each other, and we don't want any special treatment." I looked between Kili and Fili. They both nodded with smiles on their faces as Bilbo ran back seconds later.
"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asked Bilbo as the hobbit to a second to catch his breath,
"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it." Bilbo started,
"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked,
"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem." Bilbo tried to explain as I stood up and walked over to Gandalf,
"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf was incredibly worried,
"No, that's not it." Bilbo looked at Gandalf who then turned to the others with a smile on his face,
"What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material." Gandalf spoke proudly as the dwarves nodded in agreement. Though as I looked at Bilbo's face, he seemed exasperated that no one seemed to be hearing him out.
"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." Bilbo interrupted everyone, we all stopped and looked at Bilbo,
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked, I looked at him with an obvious frown,
"Ye..." Bilbo paused and looked curiously at Gandalf, "Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger." Bilbo stopped,
"You knew about this beast?" Bofur looked at Gandalf who turned away from the group and walked a few steps away, "I say we double back." Bofur looked at everyone,
"And be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin looked at Bofur,
"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." Gandalf started, but he was still turned away from the group,
"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked, Gandalf turned around and looked at Thorin,
"Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us." Gandalf spoke honestly, I sighed closing my eyes for a moment.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked, I jumped hearing a loud roar in the distance along with trees colliding against something strong,
"None." Gandalf answered, time to move.
The company is running through plains and across streams, we all make our way running for not only the bear but from the orcs too.
"Come on!" Gandalf called, as we run through a forest, I manage to run ahead of the dwarves and follow closely behind Gandalf. An ear-splitting roar echoed through the forest causing the group to halt for a moment. Fear washes over the group as we look towards Gandalf. "This way, quickly!" Gandalf called and we all continued forward, as the dwarves panic and run, Bombur looks on in shock until he is pulled along by Bofur.
"Bombur, come on!" Bofur called,
We exit the forest and I spot a house in the distance surrounded by a large hedge in the middle of the plain. Making sure all the dwarves managed to get out of the forest I wait at the edge of the forest to count them as they left. Nobody is going to get left behind.
"To the house! Run!" Gandalf yelled, I ran behind the dwarves and saw Bombur manage to run by the entire group and towards the house. Bombur gets to the door before everyone else,
"Come on, get inside!" Gandalf yells as Bombur flung himself at the door but fell backwards as it was locked, he rest of the dwarves managed to catch up as I looked back and saw the bear in the forest, the other dwarves push against the door banging and trying to get it open, "Open the door!" Gandalf yelled,
"Quickly!" Thorin pushed through the group and managed to get the door to open, the dwarves push through as Gandalf stood next to me and saw the bear charging through the plains to the house. Gandalf and I pushed inside last as the dwarves pushed the door closed but was met by the beers head. As the bear roars and tries to push the door open, the dwarves yell and strain to close it. Bilbo pulls out his sword and points it unsteadily at the bear, I stood next to him ready to strike.
"Come on, lads!" Dwalin urged them on and with a final heave, the dwarves manage to close the door and drop the bolt across it.
They sigh in shock, fear, and tiredness. I sighed and finally relaxed my tense muscle,
"What is that?" Ori asked as most of the company looked to Gandalf,
"That...is our host." Gandalf answered as his eyes scanned the dwarves, my brow furrowed, and I sat down on the floor where I stood. "His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer." Gandalf explained, "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 overfond of dwarves." Gandalf turned around as I saw Ori peaking through a crack in the door,
"He's leaving!" Ori cheered but he was suddenly pulled back by Dori,
"Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious: he's under some dark spell." Dori spoke not understanding what Gandalf was saying,
"Don't be a fool; he's under no enchantment but his own. Alright now, get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Gandalf snapped and looked towards Dori, he soon turned and let the group.
Thorin walked over to me and offered his hand to help me up, I placed mine in his and he pulled me to stand.
"Are you okay?" Thorin asked, I nodded and looked around everyone,
"Best find a place to sleep." I spoke as Thorin smiled gently, we walked around the home of Beorn and found a comfy place to sleep. I grabbed a blanket from the side and moved to lay on the floor, but Thorin stopped me,
"Sleep on here, I'd rather you sleep on the bench then on the floor." Thorin spoke as I smiled at him,
"I've slept in mud before Thorin, cold stone will not harm me for one night." I smirked as Thorin grabbed another blanket and wrapped it up to support his head, I lay down on the floor and Thorin lay down next to me. I took a deep breath and relaxed my body, closing my eyes I felt Thorin's arm land gently on my waist.
The day had been long and tiring, I soon fell asleep in the home of another shape shifter.
The next day I woke up early and felt a body close behind me, Thorin must have pulled me closer during the night as we slept. I smiled to myself gently and slowly sat up being careful not to wake Thorin. I looked around and saw him sleeping peacefully, turning my neck I stretched my muscles on my shoulders to slowly wake my body up. I sat up and saw Gandalf was already up, I gently moved out of Thorin's arms and towards the wizard.
"Good morning, my lady." Gandalf spoke quietly as we were the first to wake up, I nodded towards him with a gentle smile.
I sat and talked with Gandalf until most of the others had woken up, we all waited by the door as the sun had already rose. The others were debating on how to approach Beorn to introduce us, and since Gandalf said that he wasn't too keen on Dwarves they were all worried.
I sat on a bench away from the group as Nori spoke up,
"Well I say we should leg it, slip out the back way." Nori suggested feeling quite afraid of the man chopping wood outside, Dwalin grabbed Nori's arm and turned him sharply,
"I am not running from anyone, beast or not." Dwalin growled, some of the other dwarves started to speak up,
"There. Is no point in arguing, we cannot pass through the wood without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down, before we even get to the forest." Gandalf interrupted the group and looked at Bilbo who had just joined me, "Bilbo, there you are, now this will require some delicate handling. Now, we must tread very carefully, the last person to had startled him was torn to shreds." Gandalf explained as I saw Thorin and Kili look at each other, "I will go first, and ah, Bilbo, if you could come with me along with Raine," I looked up at Gandalf and moved towards the wizard without any fear, if he was half man half beast, he would be able to sense fear quite well. Bilbo however stepped forward nervously,
"I-Is this a good idea?" The hobbit asked,
"Yes, Bilbo. Now the rest of you wait here, and don't come out until I give the signal." Gandalf explained as I waited next to Gandalf by the door, I looked back at Thorin and gave him a small smile as I could see he looked slightly worried, though he hid it with a small frown on his face.
"Wait for the signal." Bofur nodded nervously,
"No sudden movements or loud noises and no crowding him. Only come out in pairs... Oh, actually Bombur, you count as two so you should come out alone." Gandalf explained to the dwarves as they were nodding in acknowledgement, "Remember, wait for the signal." Gandalf explained and the three of us walked out of Beorn's home.
Walking forward I stay besides Gandalf and Bilbo, the wizard coughs and moves his hand through his hair as we all started walking forward,
"You're nervous." Bilbo spoke and Gandalf looked past me and towards the hobbit in disbelief,
"Nervous... What nonsense." Gandalf muttered as we stopped near the larger human who continued to chop wood, "Good morning!.'Good morning!" Gandalf called twice as the man hadn't heard him the first time. Beorn stops and turns slowly to Gandalf and me.
"Who are you?" Beorn asked, he looked intimidating with his large figure, his back was covered in hair just like a wild animal and his eyes were a black as the night sky.
"I'm Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey, and this is Lady Raine." Gandalf introduced us,
"Never heard of you." Beorn looked between both of us,
"I'm a wizard! Perhaps you've heard of my colleague, Radagast the Brown. He resides in the southern borders of Mirkwood." Gandalf explained,
"What do you want?" Beorn got straight to the point,
"Well, simply to thank you for your hospitality. You may have noticed that we took refuge in your lodgings last night." Gandalf explained, I glanced down as I noticed Bilbo in the corner of my eye peak his head from behind myself. Beorn had spotted Bilbo and frowned at the hobbit.
"Who is this little fellow?" Beorn asked,
"This would be Mr. Baggins, of the Shire." I spoke and looked towards Beorn
"He's not a dwarf, is he?" Beorn asked, while holding his axe in a threatening position,
"No, he is a hobbit. Comes from a good family and a good home." I explained as Beorn looked me up and down for a second, I noticed he sniffed the air as the wind blew from behind us gently.
"A wizard, a halfling and a shape shifter... How come you're here?" Beorn spoke as he had his hands on top of his axe, I looked straight towards Gandalf, how was he able to tell I was a shape shifter? He does not know of me...
"It seems we've had a bad time from Goblins in the mountains." Gandalf explained as he placed his hand on my upper arm to calm my worry,
"What did you go near Goblins for? Stupid thing to do." Beorn spoke,
"You are absolutely right," Gandalf waved his arm as he let go of me.
Hearing shuffling behind us I looked back and saw Dwalin walk out with Balin, Beorn lifted his axe up in a second and looked at the two dwarves as Gandalf nervously looked back at Beorn,
"I must confess, several of our group are dwarves..." Gandalf explained,
"Do you call two, several?" Beorn asked a pretty good question as my head turned towards Gandalf,
"Well, now that you put it that way..." Gandalf started stuttering and I moved in front of him.
"We are a larger group yes, thirteen dwarves and us three. I'd rather not lie to you and tell you the truth outright." I spoke as Gandalf placed his hand on my shoulder, the other dwarves started to pile out as Beorn stared at me, every few seconds he would look up to see the dwarves coming out in their pairs until four came out together.
"Are there anymore, or is this girl telling the truth?" Beorn asked as I looked back, Thorin was the last one to step out and look towards Beorn, I sighed and looked back at the tall man. "I appreciate your honesty shape shifter." Beorn spoke, my brow furrowed as Beorn bowed his head slightly.
We moved back into Beorn's house and sat around his table, Beorn gave us food and milk to drink which I was grateful for. I had grown incredibly hungry,
"So, you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn looked to Thorin who was beside me,
"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asked he seemed very surprised,
"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the Orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved." Beorn explained, I looked down at his wrists to see the remnants of manacles on Beorn's wrist. "Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him." Beorn explained,
"There are others like you?" Bilbo asked, I looked at him and frowned slightly, I doubt there were any more of Beorn's kind.
"Once, there were many." Beorn answered,
"And now?" Bilbo asked again, curiosity getting the better of the hobbit.
"Now, there is only one." Beorn answered grimly, I looked at my food on the plate, everyone was silent.
Though I frowned and looked up at the skin changer,
"You knew I was similar to yourself though?" I asked as Beorn looked down at me,
"Yes, your scent is similar to that of a skin changer but is also... Different." Beorn looked over my face,
"Yes, our lady Raine here can change her form but into many other creatures of the land not just one." Gandalf explained, I noticed an immediate change in Beorn's expression,
"Are you from this land? Or the land they call a myth? Shoreline." Beorn looked at me, his expression almost seemed hopeful,
"I have no memories of my past, so I cannot answer." I bowed my head,
"It is told my people came from a place beyond here, called Shoreline." Beorn explained,
"I wish I knew..." I turned my back to Beorn and looked back at the plate in front of me. I could feel Thorin's eyes, no, not just Thorin's but everyone's eyes upon me.
"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?" Beorn asked the group,
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf answered,
"You are running out of time." Beorn looked towards the wizard,
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf explained as I finished my food,
"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need." Beorn explained,
"We will take the Elven Road. That path is still safe." Gandalf explained to Beorn,
"Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not." Beorn shook his head,
"What do you mean?" Thorin asked and looked towards the skin changer,
"There lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive." Beorn explained as I looked to Thorin who's expression was showing shock. "I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." Beorn picks up a mouse that had been scampering on the table and holds it, all the while approaching Thorin who is standing with his arms crossed. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?" Beorn looked down at the dwarven prince. I sighed with relief and stood from the table.
We mounted the ponies and waited for Gandalf and Beorn as they talked together away from the group, my eye were fixated on Beorn. I was too much in thought about what Beorn said to have heard Thorin try to talk to me, I looked up at him with a blank face as Bilbo spoke too,
"Raine, are you okay?" Bilbo asked,
"I... I don't know. Thinking about what Beorn said about the place called Shoreline." I answered,
"I wouldn't worry about it lass. That place is a myth." Balin spoke,
"Myths are based on some version of the truth." I looked at Balin. "You sound like you know of it?" I asked as Balin looked at Thorin for a second,
"It's a land that is said to be home to those with pure intentions to help the land prosper." Balin explained, "The land is said to be protected by a wall of mountains with only one entrance that has an enchantment put on the halls, if your intentions are pure, you may pass if not then you will be lost inside them until the end of days." Balin finished, I looked to the ground and frowned, could that be where I am really from? Thorin moved next to me and placed his hand on my arm,
"We shall help you find out who you are as best as we can after getting back Erebor." Thorin spoke, I looked up at him with shock, I couldn't ask Thorin to leave his home once he's reclaimed it to help me find my own...
"Go now, while you have the light. The hunters are not far behind." Beorn called as Gandalf got on his horse and we all turned to leave for the forest. The company rides rapidly across the land, slowing to a stop as they approach a looming, gloomy-looking forest. Gandalf dismounts and walks into the edge of the forest through an ancient archway.
"The Elven Gate." Gandalf turns and calls to the others. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood." Gandalf spoke,
"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin dismounts. Gandalf squints as he sees something in the distance; it is Beorn, in his bear-form, watching them from a distant ridge. I jumped off my horse as Thorin jumped off his as well, he moved besides myself as I looked at Thorin.
"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master." Gandalf called. The dwarves and Bilbo dismount and begin taking their supplies off the ponies. Bilbo approaches the forest on foot.
"This forest feels...sick, as if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?" Bilbo spoke,
"Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south." Gandalf explained and headed in the forest.
Thorin took my hand and looked up at me,
"Are you okay?" Thorin asked, I nodded,
"I think so, what Beorn said surprised me. Caught me off guard." I admitted as Thorin's hand reached up to my cheek, I closed my eyes and felt his thumb gently caress my face.
The unladen ponies trot away; Nori is just about to finish unsaddling Gandalf's horse when Gandalf emerges from the forest.
"Not my horse! I need it." As Gandalf strides forward, the Company looks up and murmurs in surprise. I turned towards Gandalf with Thorin,
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked,
"I would not do this unless I had to." Gandalf looks at Thorin, then turns and looks at a dejected Bilbo. "You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire." Gandalf spoke,
"I was going to tell you; I... found something in the Goblin tunnels." Bilbo started as Gandalf looked down at the hobbit,
"Found what?" Gandalf leans forward curiously and suspiciously; Bilbo doesn't answer immediately but places his hands inside his pocket and fumbles around. "What did you find?" Gandalf asked, Bilbo stays silent for several more seconds, then finally responds
"My courage." Bilbo spoke proudly he removes his hand from his pocket.
"Good. Well, that's good. You'll need it." Gandalf spoke as heturns and begins walking toward his horse; he speaks as he passes Thorin. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me." Gandalf stops and looks hard at Thorin as he says this, then continues toward his horse. I looked towards Thorin as he nodded, Thorin looked back at myself and his hand moved over to mine as he gently squeezed it, "This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray." Gandalf spoke to everyone as I looked around the group seeing if anyone was worried,
"Lead us astray? What does that mean?" Bilbo turned towards Dwalin, Gandalf gets on his horse as the weather took a turn, a few rains drop hit my face as I looked up at the sky. The sun was still shining but the rain was still falling lightly. I closed my eyes and felt the cool water hitting my face.
"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again." Gandalf wheels his horse and rides away. "No matter what may come, stay on the path!" Gandalf called as he turned and left the Company.
The Company turns toward the forest.
"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day." Thorin spoke,
"Durin's Day. Let's go!" Dwalin cheered,
"This is our one chance to find the hidden door." Thorin called as he led the group forward into the forest.
I looked at the trees, something about this forest felt... Familiar.