Chapter Thirteen: Footwork
Narâ was first to rise in the morning, stepping around the sleeping bodies to stand at the balcony, looking out over the city, Rivendell looked peaceful with the morning sun casting its warm glow. She looked up as footsteps approached, a small smile on her face as her beast slowed to stand beside her. Khimâ wagged his tail, nudging his cool nose into her shoulder, and she smirked reaching a hand up to scratch at his chin lazily, causing him to grunt in happiness. She looked into his red eyes and cooed softly to him
"Amma ag zanaitsî.-we shall soon hunt together" she promised, turning to look towards the horizon, to the shadow of the mountains in the distance. A soft sigh escaped her lips at the thought of being outside again, to feel the fresh mountain air, to wide open spaces, surrounded by nothing but the wilds. Khimâ whined low in his throat, pawing at her and she snorted pushing him away gently "atlâm-patience"
"Sometimes I think you prefer the company of yer wolf over us lass" Balin said softly from behind her, and she spun on her heel a embarrassed smile on her face. She looked to the old Dwarrow, he had a teasing gleam in his eye and a warm smile on his face, in his hands he held a steaming mug.
"Balin, you scared me, I wasn't aware anyone else was awake" she said softly, brushing a loose plait behind her ear, moving away from the balcony to join him as he jut his chin out for her to follow.
"Oh aye lass, my brother snores something awful, wakes me every night, couldn't sleep" he said with a chuckle, sitting down beside the small fire, a few pieces of broken furniture had been added, just enough to boil water. She watched him add a few herbs into the small pot and stir them, leaning down to inspect his work he sighed looking up at her "What ails you lass, that you are up so early"
She shrugged "I am fine Master Balin, just restless, we have much ground to cover before we reach the mountain"
He nodded in thought, pouring the hot liquid into a new mug passing it to her "Here lass" he said and she smiled in thanks nodding her head. He watched her from the corner of his eye, she was dressed for travel, back in her wolfen cowl and skirts, leather jerkin, weapons already strapped to her person. She fidgeted with her mug, tapping her nails on the metal, looking at the empty tea pot with absent mind, he sighed "What is going on in yer head lass, perhaps I can be of service"
She looked up at him and gave him a weak smile "perhaps I am nervous, I told Thorin I could lead you safely across the Misty Mountains, the journey is long and treacherous, with no ponies we surely will be slowed down, burdened with our packs it is much slower traveled on foot"
He nodded "Do you think we will be able to cross in time?"
She chewed her lip "Aye, but we shall have to take a more dangerous road, the High pass is patrolled by my kin for the most part, but it shall take us too long to journey on foot, we shall have to cut across Redhorne to get to Men-i-Naugrim that passes through Mirkwood"
"You've given this a lot of thought haven't ye lass?" He asked holding his mug of tea to his mouth, blowing across it softly he took a slow sip, his intelligent eyes watching her.
She ran a palm down her face and sighed "Aye, If we are smart and careful we should pass through unnoticed, my kin does a good job of keeping majority of orcs and goblins in check, but some paths are still dangerous, and there are other things on the mountain that will kill you besides enemies, there is no food or water for miles, we must ration properly to avoid starving to death."
"Valid points lass, you have the makings of a fine leader in you" he chuckled setting his mug down, smiling at the blush that dusted her pale cheeks.
"Thank you Balin, that is kind of you to say" she said looking away cheeks burning.
"What are you two speaking about" Thorin asked with a yawn joining them at the small fire, surprised to find the dam and his old friend awake before himself.
She looked at him and nodded in greeting "We are discussing traveling across the mountains, I have thought long and hard about this Thorin, with your permission I will guide us across, I know a path that will save us time, now that we are to travel without ponies"
He nodded "What path Is that Narâ?"
She sipped her tea from Balin, allowing the hot liquid to sooth her nerves, it tasted of mint leaves, and left her feeling refreshed "It has no name, my kin call it mardâ-'âfah, but I believe it can be used as long as we are careful, the northern most passage covers hundreds of miles, surely it will take too long on foot, this will give us needed time, I will have Khimâ carry some of our supplies, he is stronger and more sure of foot than any of us"
"Will he allow it? He's hardly a pack animal?" Thorin said looking over the dam's head to see the white Warg, sitting on his haunches, red eyes watching the trio carefully, ears perked forward, head slightly cocked in curiosity as if he knew they were discussing him.
Narâ smiled "Aye, just tell the lads to bring me the supplies and I shall fasten them to Khimâ's harness"
Thorin nodded, it was a sound plan and if she was confident, he trusted her judgement, she had traveled the Misty Mountains far more than he ever had, she knew the mountain better than anyone he had ever met. He looked toward Balin and cleared his throat "Get the lads ready, we are leaving" he said standing up, he offered his hand to Narâ hauling her to her feet. He turned toward the dwarrowdam and clicked his tongue getting the wolf's attention as well, Khimâ stood up shaking his long coat and trotted toward them. "Show me what you need, and I'll help you load it on his back" he said looking down at her.
She sighed and shrugged her shoulders "I think the lads gathered everything you listed out, looks like the packs are over there" she said pointing at several large leather satchels. She moved toward them and picked one up hauling it over her shoulder, it weighed more than she expected, and she huffed a breath, surely the lads didn't think to bring rocks with them did they. The weight was removed from her shoulder, and she spun on her heel watching as Thorin grabbed the satchel with ease smirking at her grimace "I could have carried that" she snorted crossing her arms in annoyance.
He chuckled "Aye you could have, but I'd like to leave before midday" he teased, and she rolled her eyes at his banter.
"Fine, come along, Khimâ nîd-down" she commanded watching her wolf drop to his belly, awaiting her next command. She moved to his side and ran a hand over his back, digging through the thick, soft fur until she found the leather strapping of his harness, she pulled out several latches fastening the pack from Thorin to his side. She pulled the strapping tightly and nodded satisfied it would hold while the Warg walked the uneven grounds. She looked over her shoulder at Thorin and smiled "Fetch the rest then, I haven't got all day" she smirked looking down her nose at him as he knelt beside the Warg checking over the harness.
He stood up and rolled his eyes "Dams" he muttered under his breath turning to retrieve the other packs leaving the dwarrowdam to tend to her wolf. Kili groaned approaching Thorin with a frown on his face "Uncle, the sun is barely up and yet you make us leave, I haven't even eaten yet" he pouted like a small babe, rubbing a hand down his hairless face. Thorin snorted hauling a satchel over his shoulder gesturing to the remaining few "Bring those" he said ignoring his sister-sons complaints walking back across camp, Kili grunting behind him complaining of doing manual labor.
Narâ watched in amusement as Kili complained to Thorin, he was hungry he was still tired, too tired in fact to carry the luggage. She chuckled as Thorin said something which caused the younger Dwarrow to straighten up and bright smile on his face as he quickly approached her practically throwing the supplies at her in a mad dash
"Here you are Miss Narâ" he shouted and spun on his heel storming through the camp, shoving past a bewildered Balin and annoyed Dwalin.
She huffed a breath looking to Thorin as he approached her "What did you tell the lad, he looks fit to burst"
Thorin sighed "I told him there was jerky in my pack and he could help himself if he would stop complaining like a dwarrowdam" he said a small smirk pulling up the corner of his lip as she clicked her tongue in irritation and tossed the pack at him in the same fashion as Kili just moments before.
"There be a useful Dwarrow and carry my things" she said turning up her nose, waltzing away from him with an air of dignity, stepping up onto an elven chair she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly.
"Laddies, listen up" she shouted over the hustle and bustle, all heads snapping up to her in surprise causing her to nod appreciatively, she placed her hands at the small of her back and stood taller "We are gunna be crossing the mountain soon, I wont lie lads the path is dangerous, so stick together and listen to my commands, I have walked these paths my entire life I know the way, now food and water are scarce so no stuffing your faces at meal times" she said pointedly looking down at Bombur with a playful smirk, causing the large Dwarrow to swallow nervously and nod. She smiled and continued "First lag o the journey, we will be fine, game is still plenty and there are a few rivers that we can collect water but the higher we climb the colder it becomes, no plants no animals, no fires"
Gloin shot to his feet in irritation "No fires lass, but how will we survive" he grunted, he was responsible for lighting the fires each night and he didn't like his responsibility being taken away, he didn't take orders from a dwarrowdam. He turned and looked at Thorin, cheeks reddened in outrage, but his leader only leveled him with an icy glare and shook his head once.
Narâ sighed holding up a hand "Gloin, while we all appreciate yer fine skills, fires attract unwanted attention, and we don't want to be found high in the mountains, we can stop for breaks and cook only in daylight hours, at night if we need ta we can huddle together and keep warm"
"Have you had to travel like this before" Bilbo asked curiously stepping out from around Dwalin's large form, staring up at the dam as she stood tall before him.
She gave him a weak smile "Aye lad, I have patrolled the mountains for many years, there have been some long nights and hungry days, that's why I ask for your trust in me now"
"Narâ will lead" Thorin commanded crystalline eyes flickering toward emeralds and she nodded her head in thanks.
….
The first hours of the journey were uneventful, they were able to leave the elven city without so much as a backward glance, no elf dared oppose their unwanted dwarven company from leaving their halls. The sun was shining brightly, as Narâ walked in front of the group, Khimâ walked happily beside her, ears twitching at the smallest of sounds, tongue hanging from his maw as he panted. She smiled at her beast, glad that he seemed to be enjoying his freedom once again. She closed her eyes and allowed the sunlight to warm her face, it smelt of fresh pine and dew, and she smiled humming a tune to herself as she continued to walk the ever-steady incline of the High pass.
"What got ya singing lass?" Bofur called from behind her, he had been watching her from the front of the progression, a spring to her step, a smile on her face as she interacted with her Warg, she seemed overjoyed to be outside again, all he could say about the journey so far is that his feet hurt something awful.
She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled "It is a crime to be happy Master Bofur such that I shouldn't sing"
He grunted shouldering his heavy pack, while the Warg was able to carry most of their burdens he couldn't carry everything, so he was forced to carry most of Bombur's cooking supplies after the lard almost had himself a spell carrying the extra weight that morning. "Nay lass, not a crime, just surprised is all"
She snorted and shook her head, her long plaits dancing behind her shoulder blades at the movement "Do you offer me insult lad"
He blinked and shook his head vigorously "Hold up don't go putting words in me mouth lass" he said his cheeks pink in embarrassment.
She chuckled "I only jest Bofur" she teased, and he rolled his eyes at her, she certainly was in a better mood than this morn.
"Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though we pass them by today
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the moon or to the sun
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe
Let them go, let them go
Sand and stone and pool and dell
Fare you well, fare you well
Home is behind, the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
The world behind and home ahead
We'll wander back to home and bed
Mist and twilight cloud and shade
Away shall fade, away shall fade
Fire and lamp and meat and bread
And then to bed, and then to bed"
She sang the words to the tune she was humming to herself loud and clearly as she walked running a hand over the soft fur on Khimâ's side, eyes looking ahead at the slowly darkening skies.
"Never heard that one before" Bofur sighed looking at Kili and Fili who walked just in front of him, both of them shrugged clearly haven't heard it before either.
She chuckled "Aye don't imagine you woulda, its called ibsên-akmâth"
Kili frowned "The walking song, well that's hardly original" he grunted at the back of her head.
She nodded "Aye it's the perfect, because it's the perfect song fer walkin" she howled out in laughter a happy smile on her face.
"Are we ready to make camp Mistress Narâ, I fear poor Ori is growing weaker by the second" Dori called alarmed from the back of the progression, his eyes looking at his younger brother who only snorted at him and tried to swat him away as he was pestered by his mother hen.
She stopped making a good show of looking around the surroundings, her eyes scanning the area, it was secluded enough for the evening, although only a day into the journey they were hardly in a place that would be considered dangerous. There were several tall pine trees scattered around them, tall enough that scouting would be possible given someone was comfortable climbing to the top. She scratched at her naked chin, the skin smooth beneath her fingertips as she had just shaved the tiny black hairs away before leaving Rivendell "Dori this here should be fine for the evening, what you think Thorin?" she asked looking at her leader with a smile.
He looked around satisfied "Aye it'll do fine, Bombur start cooking, we are starving" he said loosening his pack from his shoulders, setting it down beside a small outcropping of large boulders. He turned and addressed his sister-sons "Kili, Fili, go scout the area, make sure its clear" he said waving his hand toward the large pines in the distance, his eyes settled on the hobbit with a frown "Take the halfling with you" he added with a grunt.
Narâ approached his side, Khimâ following along like a massive shadow "Thorin would you like me to hunt before nightfall is upon us?"
He stretched cracking his back and looked over her head to see Bombur already started with dinner preparation. His eyes found hers and he shook his head once "Not tonight, we still have rations from Rivendell, rest" he said, and she grunted.
She didn't like sitting around and tonight was the first real hunt she was able to go on with her Warg, this low on the mountain game was still plentiful and the air still warm with summers heat, soon it would be too late and the chilly winds would drive everything away. She chewed her lip turning to her beast "Khimâ" she called clicking her tongue the wolf lowered himself, head cocked to the side as his master removed his packs. He stood up and shook out his coat, pawing the ground and she smiled "busnu" she cooed softly at him running a hand over the soft tufts of fur along his long ears. He rutted his wet cool nose into her abdomen nearly knocking her over, tail wagging excitedly "atas Khimâ" she chuckled pushing him away, he barked loudly at her and leapt over her head, causing her to snort and roll her eyes.
"Sent em hunting lass?" Balin asked walking up behind her.
She smiled gently at the older Dwarrow and shrugged her shoulders "Aye he deserves to run free for awhile, he needs to hunt for he eats one o us" she winked at him, and he only shook his head with a smile as he placed his bedroll on the ground next to Thorin's and Dwalin's. She smirked while Thorin and Balin had their belongings neatly laid out, Dwalin seemed to bundle his blankets into a heap and just fall onto them.
"Come ere Narâ, join us by the fire" Oin shouted from the fire, and she winced at the volume, he wasn't wearing his ear trumpet so likely had no idea he was screaming at her. She gave him a weak smile and nodded, moving to join the others she sat between Bofur and Bifur, while Bofur joked and whistled a tune to himself she found her attention focused on Bifur. She hadn't spoken to him much on the journey, he tended to keep more to himself and his cousins. He was whittling something out of a smooth piece of wood, a carving tool in his hand, he scrapped and chipped away at it, and she was fascinated by it.
"Kud astû ikfên-What are you carving?" she wondered aloud, watching his deft fingers peel layers of wood away forming some kind of animal.
Bifur looked up at her surprised to find her watching him closely, her eyes alight as she watched his hands and the carving he was working on. She seemed genuinely curious leaning slightly forward to get a better look at the piece.
"O he loves to tinker he does, toymaker by trade he is" Bofur interjected looking over the dam to Bifur who looked to be working on another trinket.
She wanted to roll her eyes at Bofur, of course he would put himself into the conversation the Dwarrow never stopped talking. She looked back at Bifur and gestured to the piece holding out a hand, gently he placed in in her palm and she smiled brightly, it wasn't finished but the skill to create something so magnificent was not lost on her. It was a Warg, with large ears, long tail and fur, it was remarkable the detail on the face, she smiled it looked like her wolf, she handed it back "Khimâ?" she asked, and he nodded a blush on his cheeks.
She put a hand to her heart and bowed her head "mamahbanmul-its beautiful"
He smiled back at her and started carving again, smaller little cuts to define the fur and shape the teeth, she watched in silence until loud footsteps and laughter reached her ear. She looked up over the fire to see Kili and Fili return, wide smiles on their faces as they strut infront of the hobbit who looked absolutely miserable, his jacket covered with dirt and his cheek. She rose a brow "Master Baggins, trying out a new look?" she teased, and he only deepened his frown and sighed.
"Hardly, I was scouting with Kili and Fili, but they insisted on running ahead and I miss stepped and tripped" he huffed running his hands down his jacket trying to remove as much dirt as possible, his eyes landing on the golden buttons frowning as one wiggled back and forth it was surely loose.
She frowned at the two young Dwarrow "Lads you were supposed to be scouting together not running off and leaving poor Bilbo behind"
Kili held up a hand "Hey now, not our fault Mr. Bilbo is slower than us, I seen the tree root perfectly fine, did you see the tree root Fi?" he asked a smirk on his face as he looked to his older golden headed brother.
Fili felt his smile widen as he nodded playing along "Aye I did"
Kili shrugged "There you see, maybe Bilbo ought to keep a better eye and better footwork"
"Maybe he should learn to balance on those big feet o his" Fili added looking over at the miserable hobbit, who only looked angry and embarrassed.
Narâ went to open her mouth, an angry growl on the tip of her tongue when Thorin spoke "Maybe you should learn to follow orders as well, I told you to take the halfling scouting not to trick him and lead him on a wild chase through the mountains"
Fili swallowed face burning in embarrassment "We didn't mean nothing by it Uncle" he said softly and Thorin snorted crossing his arms over his chest looking down his nose at his young nephews "Certainly not, now if you think Master Baggins needs footwork, then you shall train him yourselves"
Dwalin snorted, choking back a laugh at the thought of training the hobbit, he was to gentle a lad for fighting, and was clearly out of his comforts out in the wilds with them. Narâ frowned, the others didn't need to pick on the poor hobbit so, she stood up and brushed off her wolfen skirt "I have already provided Bilbo with some training, but it would seem it was not enough, Bilbo with me" she said moving to her pack that her weapons leaned against.
Bilbo watched her with confusion, surely, she didn't want to train now, it was getting dark and he was starving and tired, not to mention a tad sore from falling flat on his face. He twitched his nose and looked toward Thorin who was watching with an amused smirk on his face.
"Well Master Baggins, don't keep the lass waiting" Thorin said looking at the befuddled little hobbit, he was clearly uncomfortable with the idea, and to be honest he felt that training him was a waste of time, but it seemed to please Narâ, and he would allow it. His eyes flickered to his sister-sons who seemed happy to be off the hook, going about camp laughing with each other "Kili, Fili you will join them" he called out halting them in their movements, empty bowls in hand they frowned at the lost prospect of food.
Dwalin stood up and smacked Thorin on the shoulder "If there is to be weapons training, I shall supervise, can't have the lass teaching him the wrong techniques" he joked jovially causing Narâ to send him a withering glare.
"I'll teach you a thing of two" she growled under her breath loud enough that only Bilbo could hear her.
"Now lad, take up yer sword" she instructed holding a long slender dwarvish dagger in her palm, her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief as she lunged at him.