A week had passed by then and the company learned that the Orc pack was closing in on them. They were still a long ways away, but Thorin asked Bilbo to use his skills and scout a bit ahead and see how close the pack was. Bilbo was gone for a while, but just as the others were beginning to worry, he came running back down the slope, quite as usual, and reported back to the company that the Orc pack they thought they had escaped were a couple of leagues away.

"They saw you? Did they see you?" Gandalf asked, worried.

Bilbo shook his head, said there was another problem, and explained that there was a beast. Gandalf seemed to know what it was and asked if it was like a bear. Bilbo nodded and said that it was much larger, though.

"Gandalf, is it him?" Halien asked.

Gandalf nodded. The dwarves were beginning to panic, but Gandalf told them of a house not far from where they were. Thorin asked if they were friend or foe and Gandalf said, "Neither."

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked.

A loud roar came from near where Bilbo had just been and Gandalf shook his head.

"None." he said and urged the company to run.

They ran down the rocky slopes to the base of the mountain and did not stop for a breather when they reached an open plain. Purple and yellow flowers dotted the plain, still brilliant in color as the last days of autumn were upon them. The sun had risen high into the sky at this point and Gandalf pointed to where a large cottage lay at the edge of the forest on the other side of the plains.

The company quickened their pace and everyone looked at Bombur as he raced passed everyone else and slammed into the door of the cottage. Fili and Kili slammed into the door, trying to push it open, but couldn't. The roaring came again and they looked to see the bearish beast barreling towards them. Gandalf ordered them to open the door, so Thorin pushed his way through the frightened dwarves and pushed up the lever lock and opened the door. Everyone rushed inside and tried to close the doors before the bear reached them. The bear tried to push its way through, but the dwarves managed to shove the heavy doors shut and lock them.

Panting, Ori turned and asked what the beast was.

"That is our host." Gandalf explained.

Everyone turned to look at him and saw him smiling. Halien laughed a bit, then sat down on the nearest barrel. Thorin went to her side as Gandalf explained that the bear's name was Beorn and that he was a skin changer.

"Sometimes he is a huge black bear, sometimes he is a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with." He explained further. "However, he is not overfond of dwarves."

Ori listened at the door and told them he was leaving. Dori, being the eldest between himself, Nori and Ori, pulled the lad away from the door and tried to insist that Beorn was under some kind of dark spell, that is was not natural. Gandalf told him he was not under any enchantment but his own.

"Dori, skin changers are people who use an ancient form of magik that is all but lost now in order to change their skin. It is a transformation that they choose. They usually choose the form of an animal, and in Beorn's case, he chooses a large black bear. Their magik of transformation is as natural to them as my magik and abilities with animals and communication through thought is to me." Halien explained.

Dori seemed to understand from there and nodded as the others looked around the cottage.

"Get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Gandalf suggested. Then to himself, he muttered, "I hope."

Thorin helped Halien over to a large pile of hay where he had laid out her bed roll. Halien slowly eased herself down, pretending to be weary from travel. She was nearing five months of pregnancy, but she was not worried. Typically, elven women would carry a child in their womb for almost fifteen months due to their longevity. However, Halien knew that if her pregnancy were to get in the way of the quest, she would have to be left behind somewhere safe.

'Are you alright? We had to run hard to reach this house safely.' Thorin asked her.

Halien smiled and nodded as he sat down next to her. It had taken them most of the day to reach Beorn's house, but they were safe and out of harm's way for the moment. 'Could you hand me my book? I feel like sketching this.' She asked Thorin.

Thorin handed it to her and watched her begin to sketch the scene before them: a large open house with a horse and a cow in their stalls and the dwarves and Bilbo laid out on open piles of hay. They were already fast asleep, exhausting from running so hard to reach safety. Thorin sat next to her as she sketched every detail she could manage until the light faded and night fell upon Middle Earth. Satisfied with her work, she closed her book and set it back in her pack. She turned a bit and rested her head on Thorin's chest, trying not to wake him. He had fallen asleep right when Halien started adding the shading details to the sketch. Thorin stirred and wrapped an arm around her as she pulled the blanket he had gotten out for her over them both and settled in.

'Sleep well, my love.' She whispered to him and closed her eyes.

The company slept soundly through the night, but at some point Beorn had changed back to his man form and came into the house. He looked over at the company, then turned away. Halien had sensed him come in and tried to reach out to him with a thought.

'Beorn, my name is Halien. I wanted to thank you for allowing us to stay here.' She said, startling the skin changer.

'You are the elf?' he replied, not seeming to be too surprised by her ability.

'Aye, great Beorn. My kin and I appreciate the accommodations, under the circumstances. I know you do not favor dwarves, and knowing the history of your people, I understand. But these are good natured dwarves; they are not greedy, do not seek to harm others, but only to protect themselves and each other. Please give them a chance?'

Beorn was silent for a moment, but Halien sensed him nod. 'Very well, elf. We shall speak again come sunrise.'

'Many thanks, my friend.' She replied and went back to sleep.