The next morning, Halien braided her hair and made them breakfast again with sausages and potatoes. The dwarves had grown accustomed to her cooking for them, as she had every day that she journeyed with them, though she and Bilbo would take turns cooking, or they'd help each other cook the meals. When they were finished with breakfast and ready to continue on their journey, Thorin signaled them to mount their steeds and move forward, then led the company on.
As they continued their journey, the day seemed to grow longer and drag on and on. Fili and Kili rode next to each other like usual, and Halien brought up the rear. The dwarves began to sing a song they knew, lightening the mood a bit. Halien smiled, glad to see them happy considering the circumstances. They were on their way to reclaim a home that they have not seen for nearly two centuries- unsure of how they were going to get into the city, nor how they were going to defeat Smaug. Halien worried as their thoughts clouded her mind. She felt dizzy and rested her head against Torwen's neck, her braid slipping down her shoulder.
Torwen whinnied, asking if she was alright. Halien told her yes, that she was just a little overwhelmed by all of the thoughts she heard in the dwarves' minds. Torwen understood, but suggested that she practice blocking their thoughts from entering her mind to the point of her being in control as to when the thoughts come and go. Halien smiled and rubbed Torwen's neck, thanking her for the advice. She could sense Torwen smile, if a horse could smile.
The company continued to travel until nightfall, when Thorin suggested they make camp. The dwarves set up camp and Halien offered to go hunting.
"What do you know of hunting, Halien? You never joined the hunting parties when you were with us." Bofur said, jokingly.
"You'll see, Bofur. I am not like most of my people." she replied and went off with Torwen into the woods.
Gandalf chuckled and looked at Bofur. "She is more skilled a huntress than Kili is an archer and Thorin or Dwalin are warriors. She will bring something back."
Bofur shrugged and went about finishing the fire, then went about setting up a wooden stand to cook their dinner on.
After what seemed like hours, the dwarves' stomachs were growling like a warg and they began to wonder if they should make something to eat or wait until Halien returns. Just when they were beginning to doubt her, though, Halien comes back with a buck slung over Torwen's back and five game birds in her hand.
"You caught all that?" Ori asked, fascinated.
"Yes, Ori. There should be enough meat and other things we can get from these creatures to last us a few weeks at least." she said and handed the birds to the young dwarf. "Care to help me skin and gut them?"
Ori felt his stomach tighten and shook his head. "Maybe next time." He handed the birds to his brother, Dori, who then handed them to the other brother, Nori. Nori rolled his eyes and got out his knife and began to work on the birds.
Meanwhile, Halien hoisted the buck off of Torwen's back and lugged it over to an open spot nearby. Thorin watched as she carried it on her shoulders like it was nothing. This elf was definitely stronger than she looked. Halien pulled her knife from her belt and began to work on the buck. She cut a length of rope and tied it around the hind legs before hoisting it up into the air over a branch and tied it off around the trunk of the tree. She stuck the knife into the buck and began to skin it. The dwarves who had never seen or done anything like that before turned away and went about busying themselves so they didn't watch.
When Halien was finished skinning the buck, she gutted it and laid the organs aside. She set the hide aside as well, then cut the meat off of the buck in sections- continuing to do so until there was nothing left but bones. Cleaning off her knife and sheathing it, Halien dug a hole beneath the buck's skeleton and lowered the skeleton into the hole. She then pushed the dirt back into the hole and buried the buck as she thanked it for providing her and her companions with food and hide to use for clothing and such.
"Bilbo, do you happen to have any salt on you?" Halien asked the hobbit, coming over to the fire.
Bilbo nodded and pulled some out of his pack. It was a well sized pouch, but Halien made sure not to use all of it. She thanked him and went over to the meat. She sprinkled a little salt on each side of the pieces of meat, then used her magik and combined fire's heat with the dryness of wind to dehydrate the meat just enough to preserve it for a few weeks. She brought the pouch of salt back over to Bilbo and thanked him again before she wrapped the cured meat in leaves and packed it away in one of the sacks. When the meat was put away, Halien cleaned the hide next- rinsing off the blood and dirt. She then dried the hide with her magik and when she was satisfied, Halien began to shave off the hairs on the hide with her knife.
The dwarves watched in wonder as she shaved off the hairs, then smoothed out the leather. Halien knew that they needed more packs, so she cut the leather and weaved the pieces together with fiber from leaves, using her magik to guide the fibers through the holes. She made the packs large enough to where they could be worn on one's back or hang on a saddle, but light enough to where they were practical for simple uses, then added a special dwarven- elven mixed design and embroidered their names on them. She wanted it to be special, a gift to thank them for accepting her as part of their company. She gathered up the sacks and handed one to each of the dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo. She presented one to Thorin, who much to hers and everyone's surprise, took it without question. Halien bowed and smiled when she heard him silently thank her and admire her work.
Then, Halien returned to deal with the organs. The heart wasn't much use, so she left that aside. She took the stomach, the intestines, and the lungs- as well as the smaller and less important bits- and dried them out. She made sure that the intestines were cleaned, then stretched them out. These were useful when dried: they could be used as rope, binding for bandages, and a few others things. The lungs and stomach she dried out as well, making two more water skins from the lungs and a large pack out of the stomach. She took some wood chips from nearby and used her magik to manipulate them into water skin lids, securing them to the top of the skins as tightly as she could. The fat from the buck she stored in an empty jar for lighting torches. The fat often had a sweet scent to it when burned, depending on the region the animal lived in, but it was often used with torches and in lamps. When she finished with the organs and put everything away, she grabbed the birds that Nori had set aside and placed them on a large stick and laid it on the stand that had been set up above the fire. She let it cook over the fire as she filled a pot with water before she added potatoes and carrots to the pot. She rotated the meat, then sat near the fire to keep an eye on dinner.
Around her, the dwarves went about their own business, some sharpening weapons, some making more arrows, some reading maps or playing music, and always one person on watch. Thorin sat with Balin and discussed the best paths to take to reach Erebor while Ori helped Kili make more arrows, using the feathers from the birds for fletching. Halien watched as Dwalin took the next watch, relieving Dori of his. Dwalin asked to speak with her for a moment.
"Yes, Dwalin?" she asked when they went off to the side, away from the others.
"I know you can read minds, lass," he began. "I know shouldn't ask this, but I must know. Is Thorin really sure of this quest?"
"What do you mean? Are you afraid of something?"
Dwalin nodded. "I am worried the lad is not taking this as seriously as he should. I have no doubt in his abilities and I would follow him without question, but after everything he has been through, I have to be sure."
Halien nodded. "You have nothing to fear, Dwalin. Thorin is giving his heart to this quest. He is more worried for everyone's safety than he is having any doubts. He is determined to get everyone to Erebor safely and out alive."
"Thank you, lass. You know, Thorin seems to have grown to admire you. He may even trust you now, enough to know you'll have his back." Dwalin said. As he walked away, Halien said, "I know, Dwalin. Thank you."
Dwalin nodded, having given her the message silently. Halien sighed and went back to the fire. Halien turned the birds and continued to let them cook. She began to hum to herself to pass the time by. Ori looked up and asked if she could sing them a song. Halien looked at the others, who were just as enthusiastic, then at Gandalf, who nodded.
"Very well," Halien said, then began to sing. "May it be an evening star, Shines down upon you. May it be when darkness falls, Your heart will be true. You walk a lonely road, Oh how far you are from home. Mornië utúlië, Believe and you will find your way. Mornië alantië, A promise lives within you now. May it be the shadow's call, Will fly away. May it be you journey on, To light the day. When the night is overcome, You may rise to find the sun. Mornië utúlië, Believe and you will find your way. Mornië alantië, A promise lives within you now, A promise lives within you now."
The dwarves were enchanted by her voice and Gandalf smiled, having always loved her voice. Even Thorin was enthralled.
"That was beautiful," Ori said.
Halien smiled and stood. "You're too kind, Ori. Now, dinner is ready, so let's eat."
