Chapter Fifteen: Skin Gazer
The hunting had proven to be of little success, Khimâ despite being a top predator was not known for his stealth, he was far to large and heavy to chase down the smaller hare that inhabited the mountain range. Narâ groaned in frustration as another potential meal slipped through her fingers, watching the fuzzy little tail disappear in the small shrubbery. She sighed and pat Khimâ on the flank, they had tried their best, the lads would just have to suffer another night of lembas bread, and whatever Bombur was creative enough to make with it. Her stomach growled in protest and her mouth felt the dryness of the bread before it even touched her tongue. She craved a good meal, a knot had been forming in her gut at the lack of good food, they had been traveling the mountain path for well over a week, and food was starting to thin out. She had promised Thorin she would return with some meat, and by the eager looks on the lads faces she knew without a doubt all would be sorely disappointed if she returned with nothing. She ran her fingers through the long shaggy coat of her Warg, scratching at his ears, he groaned in delight pushing back against her nimble fingers.
"Khimâ what are we to do boy? Can't go back with nothing lads'll kill us" she chuckled giving him a final pat, kicking her heel softly into his side.
The Warg snorted out a breath, creating a fine mist from the chill in the air and shook his long coat and began to trot letting his keen sense of smell guide them. The hidden pass was now long behind them, she had moved the company to a more dangerous route in hope they could cut the travel time short, but it had been hard, the terrain was dangerous, and they couldn't afford to slow down. Khimâ slowed and sniffed the air, lowering himself into a semi crouched position he stalked forward as carefully as he was able, she rolled her eyes, all these years hunting with him and he still behaved like a large cat, perhaps it was partly her fault, she had taken him away from a pack and he didn't know how to hunt like a proper Warg. She looked over his head into the semi darkness and almost cried with joy at the sight before her, several large mountain goats, with glossy brown hides and huge horns grazed lazily along the rocky slopes of the mountain completely unaware of the duo hunting them. She pulled gently on Khimâ's fur, and he stopped, she carefully knocked and arrow and pointed at the closet goat, it was far away but she only needed to maim It and Khimâ could easily catch it and finish it off.
She held her breath and fired releasing it in a great whoosh as the arrow sailed through the air and embedded itself into the flank of the goat. It gave a bleat of agony alerting the others of the danger and took off at a respectable speed. Khimâ growled lowly in his chest and burst forward, paws finding purchase along the rocky ground he leapt forward as the goat started to climb higher up the slopes, its hooves adapted perfectly for mountain life. Narâ shrieked out in freight as Khimâ relentlessly chased after the goat, mind fogged with blood lust at the scent in the air, he was unaware his rider had tumbled off as he leapt from ledge to ledge.
She felt the bite of rock across her shoulder blades, and the warmth of blood trickle down from her head as it snapped against the ground. Her world blurred and sound ceased to exist as her mind tried to comprehend what had just happened to her. she groaned and attempted to roll over hissing in pain as the slippery rocks cut into her palms. She took a deep breath and shuffled her weight back flat against the rockface, one foot dangling in mid air as her eyes adjusted to the scene before her. Khimâ managed to tackle the goat, knocking it off balance he savagely ripped into its throat, blood ruining his perfectly white coat. She placed a palm against her head and sighed, her heart beating wildly in her chest, her Warg was far to comfortable running the sides of the mountain, but she was not, she had almost cracked her head open and fallen to her death. Perhaps traveling in search of food at such an hour and such a height was unwise. Khimâ trot back to her wagging his tail, dragging the goat alongside himself, it was larger than she anticipated, with long curved horns it was rather pretty to look at besides its completely mangled throat. Her Warg growled low in his throat a sign of his happiness and she could only smirk at him, her head still throbbing from the impact. She stood on shaky legs almost tumbling off the ledge her wolf had graciously placed her on, when said wolf pushed himself against her steading her movements. She managed to tie off the goat on Khimâ's haunch, her head pounding like metal on an anvil, body sore screaming for rest, she could feel the stickiness of blood on her backside and grimaced. Water was in short supply this high into the mountains and she would be lucky if she found a stream large enough to bath.
"Khimâ bagdazhâr" she mumbled pulling herself onto his back, lying almost flat against his shoulders she held on with all her strength as he effortlessly flew down the side of the mountain, back on the original path they had taken that evening to hunt. He walked until he saw the light of the fire his packmates had prepared and barked once getting their attention. Several pairs of eyes looked up in shock at him, surprised at the sudden noise.
Thorin looked over in amusement at the Warg, he was a strange creature but loyal and intelligent. He was currently covered in a fine layer of blood and muck, and he felt himself swell with pride, the lass had promised to get food and it appeared she had delivered, he could see the outline of something large strapped across the Warg's back. His amusement quickly faded to concern when Narâ didn't not dismount with a smug look on her face. He stood up ignoring Balin's conversation and marched toward the wolf, the large beast wagging his tail at his approach, cocking its head to the side, long pink tongue hanging from its mouth. He snorted and pat him on the head moving to his side he looked up in shock at the dam on his back.
"Narâ?" he asked gently reaching up to help her down, she only groaned in reply allowing him to take her from her wolf, he grunted at the dead weight of her in his arms, her muscles giving out the second her feet hit the ground.
"What in Mahals name happened?" he demanded his tone coming out harsher than he intended, as her head lolled to the side, and her eyes fluttered her entire body supported by him alone. she was pressed tightly to his chest, and he swung her up into his arms and marched into the camp straight toward Oin, who was busy helping his brother tend to the fire.
"Oin" he barked loudly getting the deaf old healers' attention. Oin looked up in surprise at Thorin who was carrying an unconscious looking Narâ.
"What happened laddie?" Oin asked standing up moving as quickly as he was able toward his leader.
Thorin wanted to roll his eyes in frustration, obviously he had no idea what was wrong with her and that is why he needed Oin's help. "Fix her" he growled lowering the dam gently to the ground nearest the fire.
Oin moved gingerly toward the dwarrowdam and took her face in his hands "Lassie can ye hear me?" he called, and she groaned blinking her eyes open lazily.
"I hear ye" she hissed, trying to wave him away and sit up, falling backward head hitting something solid and warm.
"She's bleedin" Oin said moving his hand toward the firelight, the crimson stain clearly visible on his palm. The dam struggled again trying to sit upright, she didn't want to lay down her head spun something awful, and blood pounded in her ears, she needed to sit up and think get her head on straight. "Leave me" she growled out with force at the prying hands.
"Lass ye split yer head open" Oin tutted moving her poorly aimed hands away from his face as she continually tried to swat him away. She was disoriented and her speech was far more slurred than she realized. He looked toward Thorin who was watching the ordeal with a fierce gaze, he was clearly very protective over the dam and the old healer felt the corner of his mouth twitch into a grin. "Lad find me the medical herbs" he said shooing him away with a firm wave of the hand. He moved to the back of Narâ's head pushing away the large heavy raven locks fingering her skull as gently as he was able as she groaned out in pain at his touch.
"What are you doing to her" Thorin shouted as he approached them a small satchel in hand, Oin currently had his hands tangled in her hair, it was highly inappropriate behaviour for a healer, their hair was a sacred thing is not to touched by anyone. Oin only rolled his eyes and grunted, he might not have heard everything the lad said but his increasingly murderous eyes told him all he needed to know "Lad, her wound is behind all this hair, unless you want me ta chop it off, best let me touch it, so I might move it outta the way"
Narâ could only open her mouth and accept whatever mixture Oin had thought right for her aliment, it tasted of bitter roots and left her mouth dry as the deserts of Rhea. She grunted as her plaits were removed, her many beads plunked into her lap as Oin removed them one by one, until her hair was loose and free flowing down her back, he had crudely pulled a needle and thread through her scalp, and she grit her teeth in agony as he finished the last stitch. Whatever he had given her had taken most of the edge off, pain she could handle it was not unknown to her, she sighed opening her eyes to find icy blues trained on her from across the fire.
She tried to crack a grin, but he only narrowed his eyes further "What have I done now Thorin?" she teased in her normal playful tone.
Thorin huffed out a breath, hastily taking a bowl of stew offered to him, shoveling the warm stew into his mouth. Bombur must have discovered the lasses kill while she was being tended too, he took a moment to actually taste the meat, it was goat, and it was delicious. His anger simmered below the surface, what had happened to her, why was she bleeding, she needn't kill herself over a measly goat. "What happened?" he grunted between a mouthful of food, normally he wouldn't speak in such a manner, but his stomach had other ideas and demanded it be fed to hell with proper etiquette and conversation.
She smiled gently as a bowl was placed in her hands, Balin giving her a little wink as he plopped down beside her, he looked her over and nodded satisfied she was well and in one piece. He reminded her of a fatherly figure, she only wished her father would look at her with kind eyes and a gentle smile like Master Balin often did. She dipped her spoon into the stew and swirled the contents with a heaved breath "Khimâ threw me, landed on one of the slopes, luckily me head broke me fall before I tumbled over" she said with a half smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.
"No more hunting" Thorin growled out, white knuckling his own utensil, practically vibrating with pent up anger, he couldn't afford to have the company slow down now that they needed to reach the mountain before Durin's day, any major injuries would be catastrophic, he tried to convince himself that was the only reason his heart was beating out of his chest and his mind was muddled with emotions, surely it had nothing to do with Narâ being the one that befell the injury.
Narâ rose a brow and shook her head lightly, wincing at the movement "Relax blue eyes its only a bump on the head, sides I'm sure Bombur would give me a better walloping if I didn't bring him meat to feed this lot of vagabonds"
Bombur nodded his head up and down enthusiastically, stew dripping from the corner of his mouth onto his fiery beard as he shoveled the remainder of the stew pot into his mouth, clearly enjoying himself now that she had brought fresh meat. She chuckled smiling at the fat dwarf, at least he was happy with her contribution. She looked back to Thorin who only narrowed his eyes and huffed like a dwarf ling something she found immensely funny "Stop pouting blue eyes its unbecoming of a King" she snorted unable to stop the happy laughter from spilling from her mouth.
He only rolled his eyes at the dam, watching her from across the fire, her smile seemed infectious and soon everyone seemed to be in a much merrier mood, save the hobbit who looked downright miserable. Narâ followed Thorin's eye to see Bilbo huddled in on himself sitting at the far corner of the camp he had an empty bowl at his side, and a thin ratty looking blanket pulled over his shoulder. She watched with amusement as he fingered the holes that decorated the brown coloured fabric.
"Master Baggins, what ever is the matter" she called getting his attention.
Bilbo looked up in surprise, he had not expected anyone to notice him at the far edge of camp, he tended to remain secluded for the most part, some of the dwarves had warmed to him, but he was still generally uncomfortable after what happened at Rivendell. The dwarrowdam gave him a reassuring smile and pat the ground vacant at her side, Balin who was sitting beside her nodded in a friendly greeting to him. He swallowed and stood up walking quietly to her side, sitting down cross legged he pulled the thin blanket tighter around his shoulders shivering slightly as the wind cut through his traveling jacket.
"Cold Bilbo?" She asked raising a brow and he only shrugged his shoulders in reply, he didn't want to seem weaker than he already was amongst such hardy folk. She smirked and unclipped her wolf skin cowl throwing the heavy furred article of clothing over the hobbit, although she was female, she was larger in stature than the hobbit and her cowl was more than large enough to cover his thin shoulders.
Bilbo blushed and tried to remove it when she gave him a stern look "yer cold lad, hobbits aren't used to such temperatures are they?" he shook his head and twitched his nose "The shire is warm most of the year, I am not used to the winds is all" he said weakly, and she pat him on the head like a small child.
"Rest little hobbit, may it keep ye warm" she gestured to the blanket still wrapped partially around his torso "Give it ere lad I can mend it for you" she said reaching into a thin satchel at her hip pulling out what appeared to be a sewing needles.
Bilbo smacked his lips and shook his head "No don't trouble yourself I am perfectly capable of tending to my own things" he chirped, and she only rolled her eyes and yanked it off him, causing him to yelp out in surprise, even injured she was far stronger than he imagined.
She smoothed the dirty fabric over her lap, looking at the holes that had formed in the thick woolen blanket. She threaded the needle and began to work quietly, working the fabric in her hands until it was mended and whole again, she enjoyed simple tasks such as this it kept her mind busy.
"Narâ" Kili asked innocently from across the fire looking at her with wide chocolate-coloured eyes, he bat his lashes at her and held up a pair of socks, giving her a wide cheeky smile. She snorted and rolled her eyes nodding her head "Fine bring em ere lad" she said. Once finished with Bilbo's blanket she folded it neatly and grabbed the socks, making a sour face at the offending odor.
"Mahals balls Kili what did ye step in?" she said tossing them back at the dark-haired archer. He caught them with a shrug "What haven't exactly had the chance to do some washin" he sniffed them and rolled his eyes at her dramatics "They hardly smell at all" he shouted in mock offence.
She stood up dusting off her skirt with a wince "Hardly smell, still smells laddie, you want them mended do it yerself" she said placing her hands on her hips.
He bat his eyes at her and gave her his best pout "Please"
She snorted and rolled her eyes at him "Not good enough lad, don't tell me ya don't know how ta mend things"
He scratched his cheek embarrassed "Well it's a dwarrowdam's duty to do the mending and since I'm a Dwarrow and yer a dam" he let his sentence trail off with a cheeky grin, his eyes narrow in mirth at her open-mouthed glare. She blinked her large emerald eyes and crossed her arms over her ample chest "Anything else youd like little prince, should I cook ya a meal, maybe pop out a few bairn's while im at it, since they all be a dams duty" she hissed narrowing her eyes in challenge.
Kili reclined back resting on his elbows "Well now that you mentioned it" he teased and she withdrew a dagger and let it sail toward his head faster than he could comprehend what was happening, luckily for him his brother had been watching the ordeal and seen the subtle movements of the dam, he grabbed his brother by the back of his tunic and pulled him away just as the dagger sunk into the ground to the hilt right between his legs. Kili went ghostly pale and yipped his eyes wide as saucers, looking at the dagger than almost rid him of his jewels. He snapped his mouth shut and looked up in horror at the dam who was swirling another long dagger in her fingers a cruel smile on her face "Never piss off a dwarrowdam master Kili lest you lose your most valuable possession" she sneered tucking the blade safely back into her leather jerkin.
"Are those all your duties?" Bilbo asked curiously looking up at the dam, she heaved out a breath and turned to look at him, her eyes while normally were warm and inviting bit at him, cold as steel "Aye lad, in dwarven society they all be my duties one I'm married, among other things" she muttered sitting down with a heaved breath.
Bilbo cocked his head to the side, it was strange to him their customs and traditions, the hair, the beads, the rules they followed, it seemed so rigid, hobbits tended to live a quiet and peaceful life of their making. He looked over at Narâ who picked at the ground with her blade, the dagger sending out little clouds of dirt toward the fire, she looked unhappy, and deflated. "Can't you just decide for yourself how you want to live?" he asked her quietly and she looked at him in shock and shook her head.
"Let us speak no more of this" she whispered; she was in no mood to discuss her life with the hobbit curious thing that he was he would never understand. She gave him a weak smile "Lad did you happen to see any water during your scouting this evening"
Bilbo smiled and nodded "Just past the trees there" he pointed to the tall pines that sat sparsely on the edge of camp "Walk about five hundred yards, and you'll find it" he said, and she smiled nodding her head.
She stood up and whistled for her wolf, Khimâ moving to her side with a cocked head tail wagging "Come jalaibsêk -we bathe" she said grabbing at his long fur as he turned to run away, tail tucked at the thought. She clicked her tongue and pulled herself onto his back turning to look over her shoulder at the others as Thorin stood up to stop her she put up a hand "I'm going to wash up, if anyone of you come peeking ill finish what I started with young Kili" she flashed a toothy grin and kicked her heels into her Warg, and he began running toward the sound of rushing water.
He stopped at the rivers edge lowering himself with a pitiful whine and she rolled her eyes jumping off his broad back. "Shh it'll be quick you smell like a goat" she chuckled pulling off the leather saddle she had strapped to his shoulders. He sat on his haunches and watched her with red eyes that glowed like embers in the night, cocking his head to the side as she approached with a bundle of clothing in her small fist. She fastened it to the leather strip at his neck and told him not to move before turning on her heel running stark naked into the water with a happy shriek, sending rivulets of water over Khimâ's face. He woofed at her and shook out his coat, spraying her with muddy water and she frowned ducking down into the cold water. It nipped at her skin and numbed her fingers, but it felt good to wash away the blood as she scratched gently at her long raven locks. She surfaced and smiled taking in a gulp of fresh air, floating on her back she enjoyed the tranquility of the water. She hummed softly to herself ignoring Khimâ as he sat on the bank and shook out his fur with a grunt, dropping down onto the soft grass he began to lick his paws ears twitching at all the sounds of the mountain. She sighed opening her eyes to look up at the blackening skies, the moon would awaken soon, and the stars would light up the sky, perhaps she ought to get Khimâ cleaned and head back to camp. She stood up and moved toward the bank the water was only about waist high he wouldn't even have to swim he only needed to stand long enough in one spot that she could properly brush out his coat. She looked over at him and smiled as he blinked his large eyes at her and slowly wagged his tail.
"Come" she said firmly, and he whined bellying further into the grass.
She grunted "Come Khimâ" she said a little firmer moving toward the bank, water sloshing as she did so.
The Warg stood up and looked down at the little female before bolting away into the cover of the trees as she made a pathetic run for him, slipping in the muddy bank, face first. She groaned and pushed herself up, grimacing at herself as she was now covered in a layer of muck and mud. She turned and stormed back into the water scrubbing her skin vigorously.
"KHIMÂ" she screamed in frustration, damn the blasted Warg, he had run off before she could clean him properly and he had run off with her only clothing.
"KHIMÂ"
"kelfâr 'iknâb -**** damn dog" she cursed shrieking into the wind in rage, her skin prickling as the cold settled in her bones.
"Narâ is everything alright lass, we heard you shouting" Balin came rushing forward a torch in hand the rest of the company following close at his heel's weapons drawn. The minute the light shone on her she screamed and ducked into the water as several sets of eyes blinked in shock at the petrified face of the dam as she clutched at herself to hide her modesty turning her back toward them.
"EVERYONE MOVE" Thorin roared in rage, shoving a dumbstruck Kili and Fili aside away from the dam. Shoving the other Dwarrow aggressively toward the camp, he stopped as Balin grabbed his forearm. He looked down at the offending hand and rose a brow "What" he snapped
Balin scratched his chin nervously "Go see if shes alright lad, ill make sure the others don't bother her, she was screaming maybe shes hurt" he whispered to his long-time friend.
Thorin snorted "She will butcher me"
Balin shook his head "I somehow doubt that" he smirked moving back toward the others barking at them to move.
Thorin turned and looked back toward the river barely making out the silhouette of the dam as she ducked into a small ball in the water, he swallowed and called out covering his eyes "Are you aright" he called walking slowly in a straight line hoping he stopped before he landed in the river himself.
Narâ smirked watching his pathetic attempt to move toward her without actually seeing her flesh, he was covering his eyes with a hand, walking toward her with measured steps. His boot touched the edge of the bank and she chuckled "Stop or you'll end up having a bath as well"
He snorted behind his hand "Not that I couldn't use one myself" he sighed, moving his hand automatically without thinking, he blinked in surprise at the image before him, his cheeks instantly colouring as he stared at her smooth pale skin.
"Thorin yer gunna have to marry me if ya keep staring at me like that" she snickered crossing her arms over her chest the movement causing him to swallow and spin on his heel. He felt like a young Dwarrow again, blood rushing through him and he groaned in embarrassment as he cleared his throat "Apologies" he said voice cracking and she laughed out loud.
"Give me yer tunic, Khimâ has run off with me clothes" she laughed wadding through the water toward his turned back.
He choked and shook his head "What" he said clearing his throat.
She stepped out of the water and wrung out her hair "Give me yer tunic unless ya think I should strut inta camp naked as a babe"
He grunted in anger, he very much would like no such thing, he grabbed his tunic and pulled it over his head, hissing as the wind touch his exposed chest. "This is ridiculous" he grunted uncomfortable, and she only chuckled grabbing the warm fabric pulling it over her head, it was large, much larger than her own tunic, it hung to her mid thigh, still scandalous but better than nothing. "Damn mutt ran off with me things" she muttered pulling her hair out of the collar grimacing at the cold strands.
Thorin wrung his hands together tightly cracking his knuckles "Why does the Warg have your clothing to begin with"
She stepped up beside him and began walking back toward camp, his eyes following the curve of her body as she moved. She looked over her shoulder at him with a raised brow "I wanted to give him a bath and he ran away, like a youngling he is, wouldn't come back when I called" she rolled her eyes and shook out her hair her eyes finally noticing the specimen before her, he was built like the mountain, and she felt her mouth suddenly dry as the desert. She blushed and looked away "Come let's get back" she said weakly her voice surprising high and pitchy.
He smirked at her and nodded following just behind her.