The days began to grow longer, and time seemed to all but stop the higher they traveled into the misty mountains, the trail remained constant and never ending. Riswynn stopped the company for another night of rest, the weather had been another increasing problem as rain mixed with snow assaulted the group. She sighed glad that this night was at least a dry one, they had been making good time since first light, footing was improved on the rocky surfaces without the hinderance of rain.
"Rest everyone, on the morrow we will be traveling through the High Pass, we must be vigilant as goblins make their home in these mountains" she said slumping heavily onto the cool ground, rubbing her sore shoulder and neck as she removed the weighty pack, from her back and began digging for something to eat.
"Are there really goblins up here" Bilbo asked nervously, standing off to the side clutching his wooden walking stick with a stiff hand.
"Aye Master Baggins, the Misty Mountains are crawling with them, but don't fret they dwell within the mountain itself, as long as we travel by day, they won't bother us, they hate sunlight" Riswynn grunted, shoving a dried piece of meat into her mouth, chewing loudly.
Bilbo approached her gesturing to the spot on the ground beside her with his stick and she shrugged patting the ground, her golden eyes beginning to glow in the low light as she watched him fiddle with his own pack. He turned to peek at her from the corner of his eye, watching as she finished eating and then remove her daggers sharpening them on a small whetstone. He cleared his throat and she turned her head giving him a smirk "Yes Bilbo?"
"I wanted to ask about the path, how do you know it so well?" he said with a sniff.
Riswynn sighed setting down her dagger letting the cool metal rest on her lap, she looked into the small fire that Gloin had prepared lost in thought. She let her eyes drift across the camp, past her companions to the great vast mountain side, her eyes seemed to come to life, as flickers of crimson danced with golden flecks "I have walked it more times than I care to admit Bilbo, I have traveled most of middle earth searching"
"Searching for what?" he asked curiously, eyes focused on the far away look on the dam's face.
She turned and looked at him giving him a sad smile "Harar, lad, Harar" she said softly standing up walking away from him to the edge of the camp.
Bilbo looked around confused, looking at the Dwarrow for someone to explain what she meant. His eyes landed on Bofur who gave him a sad smile "Belonging lad, that's what she meant"
Bilbo twitched his nose crossing his legs "What does that mean, why doesn't she feel like she belongs"
"She is a binazhâr lad, a dwarf without house or home, if its true she was banished than she is not part of one of the seven clans, she is no better than a petty dwarf" Balin explained looking across the camp to the golden haired dwarrowdam, standing at the edge of the mountain side.
"Why doesn't she just join your clan then?" Bilbo asked cocking his head to the side, ever curious.
"Only the king can decide that laddie" Balin said with a sigh.
Bilbo frowned not understanding the problem "Surely Thorin will allow her to join, is he not the king of your people"
"Aye laddie, Thorin is King of Durin's folk but its not such a simple thing, as king he needs to discuss with his council new Dwarrow joining his kingdom and given her circumstances I doubt many would be happy to receive her" Balin said with a look of pity.
"There is always marriage" Fili said sitting down with a bowl of hot stew, passing one to his brother seated beside him, interjecting himself into the hobbit's conversation.
"Marriage?" Bilbo asked curiously.
Balin sighed rolling his eyes "Yes when a dwarrowdam marries she joins her husbands house without question, so in theory if Riswynn did manage to find her one and marry she could rejoin one of the dwarven houses"
Bilbo picked at his own stew, scraping the edges of the wooden bowl with his spoon absentmindedly "Why doesn't she just marry then"
"Oh, Dwarrow are too proud for settling lad, we will only tie ourselves to the one made for us by Aulë himself, anything less would shame us" Fili said nonchalantly stuffing his mouth with food.
Bilbo sighed rolling his eyes, dwarves had a complicated culture and customs.
….
She closed her eyes and swallowed, letting the cold winds blow past her, stinging her cheeks and brushing her hair from her face. She inhaled smelling the night air, the smell of rain on the horizon, the smoke drifting high into the air from the fire, the stew bubbling in the little cast iron cookpot. She let the silence envelope her, only the lonely cries of the wind to greet her as she stood on the rocky outcroppings just out of earshot.
"Come, before Bombur finishes everything" a deep voice rumbled behind her.
She opened her eyes giving the mountain a final look of departure before turning around, her eyes connecting with Thorin's the icy blue seemed darker on this night he looked tired, his stance not quiet as regal as when they first met. She smiled at him "I'm surprised he hasn't already".
"Perhaps a bowl was already saved for you" he said quietly over his shoulder as he turned to walk away.
She smirked and followed him back to the fire, sitting down next to him, she smiled brightly as Fili danced a bowl of steaming stew toward her, handing it to her with a little flourish and a wink. "Many thanks Fili" she chuckled taking the warm bowl into her hands
"Anything for a pretty dam" he chuckled waggling his brows.
She snorted rolling her eyes, as she blew across the food, the steam tickling her nose. She ate in relative silence, enjoying the warmth that spread through her as the last bite settled in her stomach. She felt revitalized, hunger not knowing at her belly and fatigue not plaguing her mind.
"How many days until we reach the Old Ford?" Thorin asked his eyes settled on her face.
She sighed setting her bowl down, looking up at the darkened sky in thought "Not many now, once we reach the High Pass, things will be slower for a time, the path is narrow and dangerous, but if we are careful and quiet, we should pass through unseen and reach the eastern road by last light a week henceforth"
Thorin nodded satisfied, he was impressed with how well she knew the passage through the Misty Mountains, she was a capable guide for a dwarrowdam "Very Good"
"Thorin I must tell you that things are going to be dangerous from here on out, we are not to light any fires in the nights to come, Goblins might dwell within the mountain side, but they often raid at night looking for food, and believe me food is scare up this high, I don't want to be eaten" she said softly leaning toward him, her eyes glowing brightly with a look of determination.
He nodded "Understood, how can we help?"
She sighed in relief "Just ensure no one falls behind, some of these Dwarrow are still green, and haven't yet seen the harshness of mountain life, it will be freezing, and we will be hungry"
"And what of the hobbit" Thorin grunted in annoyance.
She gave him a weak smile "Thorin please look out for him as well"
He grunted and looked away at the fire, his mouth a grim line of frustration the more he thought of Bilbo the more annoyed he became. Gandalf should have never brought him along, it was a ridiculous idea to bring someone such as Bilbo on this quest, he could barely keep himself alive. Often, he found him being carried up the mountain as he was not strong enough to climb the steep rocky terrain.
"I know that look Thorin Oakenshield, don't forsake the hobbit, he will prove his worth in time" Riswynn said faithfully.
Thorin chewed his lip his eye cast over her profile as she stretched out beside him and laid flat on the ground, her golden eyes shutting "Sleep, I don't want to have to carry you tomorrow because you wont stop grumbling under your breath" she teased.
He felt the corner of his mouth turn up at her words, she was observant even when pretending to be asleep.
…..
Early the next morning the company rose from slumber as the first light of day was cresting the mountain side, washing it in an eerie glow. Riswynn instructed everyone to pack and wear extra clothing as the air would become increasingly frigid. They walked for most of the day in silence, eyes scanning every shadow and ears straining for every sound.
"Be on your guard" Thorin called stopping to allow everyone to pass by him, he was going to keep his word and ensure everyone made it through the High Pass while the dam led from the front.
As the company walked a sprinkle of rain fell from the skies turning into a full downpour, causing moods to further plummet.
"Shouldn't we stop for the night lass?" Dori shouted from behind her, a miserable look on his face that was half hidden under his cloak.
She turned and looked over his shoulder at him giving him a weak smile "We can't stop here; we must keep going if we are to make it down the High Pass"
"How much longer are you going to make us walk?" Kili complained, pulling his cloak tightly around himself shivering from the cold.
She sighed and turned ahead, dropping her gifted walking stick as the terrain became too rough to use it, she had to stop and pull herself over ledges as the path broke apart. One by one the Dwarrow helped each other over the ledge, huddling together for warmth as the wind tore at them and the rain soaked them to the bone. Riswynn frowned, it was getting so dark she could barely see anything through the onslaught of rain stinging her eyes, she squinted and looked out into the darkness as a great mass moved in the distance. The rocks beneath her feet shook as the shape shifted, pulling itself away from the mountain side, causing the very mountain to quake and shudder. Lightning cracked the sky and rain assaulted them as the mountain itself groaned and split apart.
"Watch out" Riswynn screamed grabbing Ori by the collar and pulling him toward the thin ledge they were standing on as huge boulders crumbled from the mountain above them.
Her eyes widened in terror as a massive chunk of rock was hurled at them, smashing to bits showering them in falling debris, she held her hands above her head hissing in pain as rocks sliced her flesh. Lightning split the skies and illuminated the colossal figure of a giant hurling another rock at them.
"Bless my beard the legends are true, giants, stone giants" Bofur cried in astonishment looking over Bilbos head as the stony creature pulled itself away from the mountain and let loose the flying projectile. All heads turned to see another stone giant emerge from its mountain slumber standing up it was hit by the rock, the sound like a boom of thunder as it crashed against its body like a tidal wave. The sound was so loud to her sensitive ears she shrieked and covered her face, as the echo grated against her.
"Take cover you fools" Thorin screamed over the thundering sounds, flattening himself against the slippery wet rocks.
Riswynn felt hands on her shoulders pulling her flush against the rocky path, the rain stinging against her skin and the cold stone biting into her flesh.
"We have to move now" Dwalin shouted giving her a subtle push forward and she snapped her eyes open and nodded.
"This way hurry" she called rushing forward, one hand clutching onto the mountain for dear life as it shook with the force of the stone giant battle. She yelped in freight as the ground split before her, causing her to stumble and land on her knees, looking up in horror as the mountain moved and she realized they were on a giant themselves, the path carved into its very being. She stood up as quickly as possible as the path began to widen "Jump hurry" she screamed holding out her hand grabbing the rough hand of Thorin and pulling him along with Balin, Dwalin, Ori, Gloin, Oin and Kili.
"Fili" Kili shouted trying desperately to reach for his brother.
Riswynn grabbed him by the collar "Hang on you fool" she screamed pulling him close as the giant moved, and they stumbled ducking as waves of crushed rock cascaded down around them. She felt her eyes burn as her anger began to rise out of frustration and desperation to save her companions, glowing a vibrant crimson in the darkness she clutched the rocks her nails digging in to keep her steady as the giant fought smashing the other with a huge fist. It stumbled back into the mountain side, and they went flying toward the passage she saw her opportunity and threw Kili forward "Jump all of you go now" she growled her eyes flashing in warning as they obliged jumping to their safety as she waited for the others. The giant began to stumble backwards as its massive head was dislodged and fell to the ground below crumbling into a pieces as it smashed off the rocky mountain "HOLD ON" she bellowed to the others as they swayed wildly the wind whipping past them as the mountain came closer and closer, her keen eyes could make out a small ledge with just enough room for them to jump safely as they sailed toward it with haste "JUMP NOW" she called leaping forward as the giant crashed into the rock and began to crumble away. She turned her head coughing at the impact when something large smashed into her knocking the wind from her lungs.
She wheezed a breath and crawled out from under Bombur as Thorin and the rest of the group came rushing around the corner, looks of relief flashing in their eyes at the sight of their companions safe. She stood up on shaky legs, her eyes scanning each head taking a mental count when Bofur began shouting
"Where's Bilbo? Where is the hobbit" he called urgently looking around?
"He's here" Ori called leaning down over the edge of the mountain side, where her eyes found Bilbo dangling kicking his feet to get purchase on the wet rock.
"Help me pull him up" Bofur called grabbing him by the wrist with Ori struggling to pull his weight over the ledge.
Thorin growled in frustration his eyes meeting her crimson pools for a brief second before he slung himself over the ledge grabbed the hobbit by the scruff of the neck and threw him higher into the awaiting hands of the other Dwarrow. As he went to pull himself up his footing slipped and he felt himself slide down the mountain, a shout lodged in his throat as a hand grabbed his wrist and dug in, long nails biting into his skin he looked up in shock into the brightest pools of fire he had ever seen.
Riswynn reacted without thinking seeing him slip before the others she lunged forward sliding across rock she grabbed for him before he fell, digging her nails into his armor to stop him. She bit back a scream as she pulled her wounded shoulder popping at the action as she pulled. Another set of hands appeared as Dwalin laid beside her and pulled up Thorin, bringing his body over the ledge to safety.
"I thought we lost our burglar" Dwalin said with a pant looking at the panicked face of Bilbo.
Thorin whirled on him with a scowl "He's been lost ever since he left home, he should never have come, he has no place amongst us" he growled in anger, reaching down to grab the dam under the shoulder he pulled her to her feet.
Riswynn looked over her shoulder at the face of her friend as Thorin pulled her forward into the mouth of a small cave "Come this way" he called.
Her keen eyes allowed her to see the small space, it was dark as night but dry from the rain, the flashing of lightning allowed for small flashes of light as the company settled down for the evening.
"We camp here" Thorin grunted his anger still high as he scanned the Dwarrow eyes settling on the dam, she looked exhausted, her eyes still burning as she rubbed her shoulder he approached her slowly and she looked up at him in confusion
"Thank you, for saving my life" he said looking down at her with an odd expression.
She nodded, chewing her lip "Of course"
"Alright lets get us a fire going" Gloin said excitedly rubbing his hands together and she turned and looked at him shaking her head "No fires, not here, its not safe"
"How will we keep warm then lass" Gloin grunted in annoyance.
She smiled at him "Why cuddle of course Master Gloin" she winked.