Chapter Sixteen : Skin

She walked back to camp in relative silence, only the sounds of the forest in the mere hundred or so yards, there was no sound at the fireside, she rolled her eyes perhaps the lads had crawled into their bedrolls to avoid her wrath. She sighed fingering the loose fabric that rested on her hips, she was glad that she was short in stature at least Thorin's tunic was comically large on her, more like a potato sack than anything else. She looked over her shoulder at her leader and gave him a sly smile, eyes crinkled at the edges, he looked so uncomfortable she wanted to throw her head back and laugh, his blue eyes found hers and she quickly looked away her cheeks coloured pink. As she neared the edge of camp, the warm glow of the fire illuminated the form of the hobbit, he was waiting for them to return, likely to apologize for walking in on her bath, she blew out a breath watching it float above her head in a fine mist.

Bilbo swallowed looking out into the darkness, wringing his hands together, he was nervous, he didn't like the mountains, something was wrong with this place, it was too cold, too open for his taste. He didn't like being unsure of his surroundings, every dark corner and every deep ravine sent a shiver down his spine. At least Narâ was there to guide them, she seemed completely at ease, the mountain range was her home and she thrived in the environment, her and her beast. He frowned swallowing uneasily, the poor dam was probably mortified after what just happened, he didn't mean to rush up with the others, they had heard her yelling and went running after her. He wanted to apologize for his prying eyes, it felt wrong, and he hoped she would forgive him, so he waited just outside the light of the fire for her to come back.

Narâ approached the hobbit, who had his head downcast, eyes watching his large hairy feet kick up plums of dirt, he must have been so in thought he didn't even hear her approach. She crossed her arms over her chest and rose a brow at him "What are ye looking at lad?" she chuckled as he leapt backwards hand on his chest blinking his doe eyes at her.

Bilbo blew out a breath and opened and closed his mouth, his eyes racking down her profile, thank the stars she had found something to cover herself with, although it wasn't her normal attire, in fact the tunic looked oddly familiar. He blinked at her and snapped his mouth shut, clicking his tongue and made a strange choking sound as Thorin came barging past the duo, completely without his shirt.

"Narâ?" he asked weakly, confusion written all over his face.

She sighed and shrugged "Come on then lad, l only want ta explain once" she grunted following behind a disgruntled Thorin.

Someone wolf whistled as Thorin came into the light and stormed past the fire, a permanent scowl on his face, he was bristling with emotion and last he needed was relentless questions and teasing smirks. He clenched his fists and headed straight for his pack, digging around until he found a spare tunic pulling it over his head aggressively, finally letting go of an angry breath as the fabric covered his scarred flesh.

"Shame I was enjoying the view" Narâ chuckled behind him stopping by the fire sitting down in her previously occupied spot, the hobbit following her with wide eyes. Thorin felt his muscles stiffen and he chewed the inside of his lip letting out a heaved breath before turning around, his eyes automatically searching her out, watching as she sat down by the fire, long legs outstretched as she warmed her toes by the fire. The flame flickering over her pale skin, and he found himself mesmerized by the sight, so much of her flesh was exposed that was normally covered by thick layers of wolf fur. She had several scars littered over her legs, little raised edges against perfect smooth skin.

"Uh Narâ, what are ye wearing?" Kili asked unable to keep his mouth shut, as he stared between his uncle and the dam. He was confused as his gaze traveled over her; she came back in his uncles clothing ones that he had to take off to give her, but she did not wear his beads in her hair. He looked over to his brother for assistance, perhaps he was missing something. Fili looked confused as well eyes darting back and forth between the dam and his uncle who seemed to be boiling over at the continuous staring.

Narâ rolled her eyes and picked at the tunic feeling the roughness of the fabric between her fingers, it was a quality piece made of thick cotton stained a dark hue. She could smell faintly the scent of Thorin on it, and found it oddly comforting, pine and pipeweed he smelled like the mountains. She flicked her emerald eyes around the fire and found everyone waiting for an answer, and she snorted "Well I think it obvious, it's a tunic" she said crossing her legs one of the over fidgeting to get closer to the fire as a cool wind whipped through the camp.

"Its Thorin's" Dwalin blurted, and she nodded "Good Master Dwalin yer eyes aren't so dull" she laughed with another eye roll.

She looked at the bald Dwarrow and rose a brow at his expectant face then to Thorin took a seat beside him and his brother. He only looked at her, waiting for her to explain and she felt herself frown "Khimâ ran away with me clothes and Thorin is letting me borrow his tunic, thought it better than having ye all see me naked" she grunted crossing her arms over her chest "again rather" she hissed in annoyance eyes scrutinizing every face who all found their surroundings far more interesting than the dwarrowdam.

Kili scratched the back of his neck, looking down at the fire rather than the dam "Ah we're sorry bout that Nar, didn't mean to intrude on ye" he said meekly.

She sighed "S'right lad I suppose we are even now, after Rivendell".

"Where is the Warg anyway?" Balin asked changing the subject, looking behind the dam toward the river waiting to see the giant white beast emerge.

She shrugged "Can't rightly say, he ran off when I was in the river with me things"

"Where did you get those scars?" Ori piped up pointing at the lines than ran over her legs, looking intently at one that decorated her lower leg twisting around her kneecap. Dori smacked his brother on the back of his head, hissing at him to be quiet, that it weren't right him staring at her like he was, she was an unmarried dam, his eyes belonged elsewhere. Ori rubbed the back of his head and gave her a sheepish smile, he was always so curious about everything his drive for knowledge sometimes overtook his better judgement, he hoped he didn't offend her.

She gave him a small smile "Always the curious one eh lad" she chuckled weakly, looking down at her lap she ran a finger across the scar at the front of her leg, it was crude and raised a pale white against her skin jagged and uneven. She released a slow breath "This here was a orcish whip" she said looking up at the young Dwarrow who looked shocked mouth slightly open.

"Orcs don't wield whips" Dori said with a snort thinking it a ridiculous tale.

She nodded "Aye most don't, but the orcs from the mountains are crafty, smaller than their brethren they use weapons to drive off anyone that travels these roads, whips have better range than a sword"

"So what happened?" Bilbo asked curiously, handing her the blanket she had mended for him, she gave him a smile of thanks and wound the thick fabric around herself, shielding her scarred skin from prying eyes, as she brought her knees up to her chest pulling the blanket completely around herself.

She rested her head on her knee and looked at the hobbit blinking slowly, getting lost in the memories. "Well I was with me troop, we were clearing out a small cave of orcs that had been giving some of the miners some trouble" she said looking toward the fire "There weren't many of them, maybe fifteen, half starved but vicious, they were using sticks and spears to try to drive us out, a female biggest id ever seen came rushing out of the back of the carven at me, wielding this crude looking thing, all metal scraps and rusted chains, swinging it around like battle axe." She sighed "For I knew what was happening she lashed out, got around the leg and yanked so hard I thought she ripped me leg right off, it was blinding pain, as the metal hooked inta me" she stopped for a moment and shuddered at the memory "I remember screaming throwing me dagger straight for her, it hit her in the shoulder but it didn't seem to faze her, she was crazed, blood lust or desperation I don't know" she said shaking her head "she kept coming raising that damn whip, and let me tell ye me ax can only block so many flying projectiles, she got me a couple times before I panicked and tackled er, plunged me knife right inta her eye as she wailed"

"Did she die?" the hobbit asked curious, blinking his large eyes at her, completely engrossed in her tale.

She smirked "Oh aye lad, she did, but she left me a few gifts ta remember her by" she said rolling her shoulders, the ghost of a whip tearing into her flesh making her shiver.

"I never seen a lady orc before" Kili said chewing his lip, he couldn't imagine what they even looked like, he always assumed there weren't none.

She nodded "Ugly things, not that the males are any better" she smirked shaking her head, long raven locks floating around her. She chewed her lip standing up she approached her pack and pulled out her many beads, fingering through them until she found the one she was looking for, holding it up with a smirk she displayed the crude looking bead, it wasn't polished like the others, and had an odd shape to it "This here I fashioned from her weapon, it might have just been a skirmish to us dwarves but it was a small victory fer me, I use it to hold one of me battle braids" she finished sitting back down beside the hobbit plunking several beads and gems onto her lap.

"How many do you have then?" Bilbo asked as he watched her start to weave her hair into intricate plaits, each one expertly done finished off with a different strange little bead.

She stopped to think, holding a piece of her dark hair between her fingers "Scars or plaits lad?" she asked cheekily, and he snorted "Plaits"

She continued stopping to add a beautiful emerald gem, polished to perfection into her hair, the color a vibrant pop against the coal-coloured hair "Oh I've seen many battles lad, not all deserving of a plait, but I number fifteen at the moment, as fer me scars I haven't the time to count them all, I've so many"

Bilbo frowned, it was so strange to think that the dwarrowdam before him had fought in many battles and earned many scars while he himself had barely lifted a sword.

She sighed looking at the hobbit who stared at her, his eyes focused on her curled up legs, as if he could still see the scars hidden under the woolen material "I know it aint a nice sight, a lady shouldn't be full o scars and such" she said bashfully embarrassed that her scars had been brought to light.

"Nonsense, you are a lovely dam" Balin interjected with a soft smile, his kind eyes holding her own, and she nodded her head in thanks "Thank you Master Balin"

"Aye scars only prove how fierce ya are lassie, give me a battle bred dwarven woman any day rather than some puffed up frilly thing" Dwalin grunted wiping a meaty paw across his mouth.

"That's because no other would have you brother, with your impeccable manners" Balin snorted his eyes crinkled with mirth.

Dwalin frowned and rolled his eyes at his brother, giving him a shove playfully. Narâ smiled at the interaction, it reminded her of the companionship she had with her older brother, she was his shadow, following him around, she missed him dearly. She pulled the blanket a little tighter around her shoulders as the wind danced across her skin, sending shivers down her spine, it was far to cold to be sitting awake rather than huddled down in her own pile of furs and blankets. She stood up and slowly let the blanket fall from her shoulders gently placing it on the hobbit who only gave her a questioning look, she smiled at him and stood up straight cracking her back with a satisfied groan "A'right lads best get some shut eye while we can, next leg o the mountain is rougher than the last" she turned and moved toward her belongings stopping she turned and looked over her shoulder "There isn't much water further ahead I suggest ye bathe while ya can" she chuckled slipping into the darkness at the edge of camp, pulling open her little bed roll she tucked into the heavy blankets of thick wolf fur.

Thorin watched her leave, releasing a pent up breath of air, at her departure, it was torture watching her sitting across from him in his tunic, he blamed it on not seeing another dam in months but he knew that was far from Mahals truth. She was the most remarkable dwarrowdam he had ever had the pleasure of meeting and she was wearing his clothing like she belonged to him, a primal part of himself flared up with pride at the thought, and the jealous part of him typical of dwarves hated that the others saw her in such a state. He turned and gave the others a frosty eyed glare "Do as she says, rest we leave at first light" he grunted turning to his long time friend who was watching him with an amused smirk "Dwalin take first watch, keep the fire going" he said leaving them to retire.

Bilbo sighed and stood up pulling the thick white cowl around himself, it was warm, far warmer than anything he had thought to bring, it had a soothing scent embedded in the long white hairs, it smelled of fresh air and herbs. He looked over at the bundle of wolf furs and smirked, the dam was already fast asleep the top of her coal-colored head was peeking through the layers of white. He slipped into his newly mended blanket and sighed; he was glad he had made at least one friend since the journeys beginnings.

Something wet touched her face and she groaned, rolling onto her side, swinging a hand through the air she connected with something solid. The mass woofed and nudged her causing her to snap her eyes open and wheeze out a breath as a long pink tongue lashed against her face.
"Khimâ you little barâg-brat where have you been" she hissed pushing his large hairy face away from her. He cocked his head and looked at her with his glowing red eyes, trying to lap her up with his affection and she hissed tapping him on the nose causing him to belly down and whine.

"Someone is anxious to get into your good graces" Thorin chuckled sitting at the fire, watching the Warg assault his master.

Narâ stood up with a huff, rolling her eyes she pat Khimâ on the head and he woofed happy to have her attention, wagging his massive tail. She shushed him running a hand down the side of his face looking past him to acknowledge Thorin "He is a big nadan-child but I love him and he knows it" she chuckled softly pushing past the Warg to join Thorin at the fire. She stopped and looked down surprised to see her clothing neatly folded sitting beside him, she rose a brow "My things" she said gesturing to her belongings and he nodded "Aye, I took them off the Warg when he came back in the night"

She chuckled "How many holes do I have to mend this time" she said cheekily looking at her Warg who only wagged his tail harder standing on the edge of the many Dwarrow who still slept soundly around the fire.

"I mended them for you" Thorin said quietly, and she whipped her head around confused.

"What" she grunted giving her head a little shake, surely she heard that wrong, he only smirked poking at the fire not looking at her "I said I mended them for you, the Warg torn them up running around the mountain, not sure how good they are up itll save yer modesty" he said quietly and she snorted covering her mouth at the loud sound that echoed through the camp.

She sat down heavily and picked up her skirts, fingering the new stitching in the white fur, it was done carefully a testament to his skill, he was good with his hands it would seem and she flushed at the thought, giving her head another shake. She licked her dry lips and sighed "Thank you Thorin, you didn't have to" she said her voice coming out in a breathy whisper.

He continued to tend to the fire, moving the coals around the base of the little iron kettle "Cant have ya running around naked, far to distracting and we are on a time limit" he said with a chuckle.

She rose a brow and smirked at him leaning closer "Too distracting for the lads or for you" she snickered her eyes alight with mischief and happiness.

He rolled his eyes "Both" he grunted under his breath, and she threw her head back and laughed picking up the bundle of clothing disappearing into the brush surrounding the camp.

Narâ felt much better as she pulled her own clothing over her head and fastened the strapping of her jerkin, the tough leather material felt like a second skin, and she was vulnerable without it. She fixed her skirts brushing down the soft furs and smiled as her fingers brushed over the stitching, such a small gesture but it warmed her heart that he thought of her. He was a wonderful Dwarrow, strong, brave, and kind the perfect dwarf to call king and she was glad of her decision to follow him to Erebor, she had grown quiet found of her little rag tag group even the hobbit. She moved through the brush pushing away the dried and brittle limbs of an ancient pine and stumbled into camp, looking up in surprise as the others were awake and packing up their belongings. "Ready lads" she called clicking her tongue for Khimâ the Warg trotted to her side, bowing his head she scratched behind his long ears.

"We are passing through marâd'utn'afhûn the path is narrow, every Dwarrow will walk in single file, strongest at the front to help the others over the ravines that break up the path, keep a sharp eye laddie's, it looks as if weather won't hold today" she called looking up at the darkening skies with a frown.

They had only just begun the mornings journey when the rain started, at first it was a light drizzle, enough to pester the eyes and dampen the spirit but soon it turned into a torrential downpour. She swiped her hand across her eyes and strained against the sting of the rain and the gusts of wind that threatened to knock her over. She grunted grabbing the smooth rock face at her side and pushed forward, her boots skidding on the slick stone underfoot. It was one of the worst storms she had seen on the Misty mountains, and this happened to be one of the most dangerous trails, one that was only used in dire circumstances.

"Maybe we should turn back" Dori shouted from somewhere behind her and she hissed shaking her head, her hair was soaked sticking to her back weighing her head down. The sound of the storm crackled through the air and she shouted over it "Nay we cant, we have come to far" she growled out, pushing forward looking ahead she could see the silhouette of Khimâ in the semi darkness that had spread out over the mountain as the sun was swallowed by darkening storm clouds. She shivered as the rain seeped into her bones forcing her to move faster to keep warm, she clutched the rocks and pulled herself over a small ravine, the rough stone biting into the soft flesh of her stomach as she kicked her legs and pulled herself up. She heaved out a breath turning to look over her shoulder "Eyes alert lads, there is a small ledge here" she called moving ahead just out of the way as Thorin pulled himself up, with far more ease than herself and she felt her frown deepening, curse Dwarrow and their superior strength. She marched through the rain, stomping through puddles of water to stand by her Warg, turning over her shoulder she watched making sure everyone was over the ledge, snorting as Bilbo was practically thrown up by Dwalin the bald Dwarrow clearly agitated having to play nurse maid to the hobbit.

"Come on then" she called, waving her hand forward, she trudged through the water, her boots splashing rivulets of water over the edge of the path straight down into endless darkness. She felt herself loose her footing and yelped as the path became uneven, reaching up to grip the rockface she felt air, a scream threatening to lose itself from her lungs when her Warg was by her side, his teeth embedded in the thick cowl she had gotten back from the hobbit. He pulled her to safety his red eyes focused on her face, and she released a slow breath as her heart throbbed in her chest. She pat him on the snout and rested her forehead on his chest listening to his deep breathing.

"Are you alright" Thorin called, watching the dam shivering against the soaking wet pelt of her wolf, she was breathing hard, and he felt his own breath quicken, as panic set in.

She turned at the sound of his voice and nodded weakly "Fine, watch yer step" she called over the sound of the wind.

She turned to her wolf and smiled at him whispering loud enough for his sensitive hearing "Thank you" she said patting him on the chest "C'mon boy we have to find shelter" she said giving him a gentle shove to move.

Khimâ licked her wet face once and turned slowly as his massive size didn't allow for sudden movements on such a narrow path. He could see well enough in the rain, it mattered little to him, and his acute sense of smell could pick up the faint scent of smoke in the distance, smoke meant fire and fire meant dwarves, he wagged his tail master would be pleased. He moved quickly with a grace only known to his kind, leaving his pack to lag behind him as he desperately searched for a place, he could keep them safe.

Narâ groaned watching as Khimâ bound away, his four paws were far better equipped to maneuver over the slippery rocks that her two stumpy legs. She grunted biting her lip as pain flared up her hand as the rock sliced through her palm, everything was soaked, and she was miserable. She squinted her eyes moving a hand to shield them looking as Khimâ sailed over something just up ahead, his lithe form disappearing. She growled under her breath and moved on, she couldn't afford to stop now, they hadn't cleared enough land to warrant camping for the night, and in this weather they would all freeze to death if she didn't find suitable shelter. She knew a few caves littered the side of the mountain along this trail, but it was risky as this was goblin territory, and she needed her companions to he silent.

"Wish Mr. Gandalf was here, he could stop this bloody weather" Dori shouted in frustration, pulling his hood further up over his face, he was so tired of being wet and cold, surely the dam meant to stop soon, no one could walk forever in this mess.

"Wizard don't control the weather" Bofur chuckled, pulling off his miner's hat, he squeezed the excess water and flopped it back onto his head, frowning as more water trickled down into his eyes. He snorted with a shrug as Dori gave him a withering glare.

"Where is Gandalf anyway" Bilbo shouted, he was missing his friend, and surely, he was meant to catch up to them by now.

Thorin frowned "The wizard will return when he sees fit, he is no concern of us now" he growled pushing his way forward, ignoring the complaints of the hobbit. He stopped beside Narâ grinding his teeth in anger, why had they stopped so suddenly, he looked at the dam then ahead squinting his eyes pushing his long hair away from his face, growling out his frustration at the crumbled rockface in front of them. She had led them down a dead-end path, taking up precious time they couldn't afford to loose. He round on her, ready to vent out his anger when she pulled out her intricate horn and blew long and steady into it. He winced at the volume, it was such an odd thing to witness, he had never heard such a thing before meeting her. He looked toward the crumbled ravine, swallowing hard as Khimâ seemed to appear out of thin air, sailing over the busted rock, completely at ease as his paws found purchase and catapulted him over the deadly drops.

Narâ turned to Thorin at her side and rose a brow at his perplexed face snorting at him she eyed her beast "Khimâ will have to carry us across one at a time, its too dangerous to try and climb over this, someone will slip and fall to their death" she said, and he snapped his mouth shut eyeing the dam then the crumbling ravine. He shuffled toward the edge, and peered over, it was a straight drop down into the darkness of the mountain and he swallowed a fall from this height would crumble bones to dust, he looked back at her and nodded "Alright"

She turned and waited for the others to catch up clapping her hands to get everyone's attention "A'right lads, Khimâ will take us across this next part, hold on tight and don't look down"

"Wait why are we riding the beast" Dwalin shouted in anger, pushing past bodies he stormed toward the dam, causing Khimâ to bristle lifting a lip to reveal a deadly white canine. Dwalin held his hand up and snorted at the beast trying to pacify him.

She sighed and shook out her long soaked pleats, "The path is broken up, the storm must have broke away some of the rockface, there is enough for Khimâ to get through, hes a Warg native to these mountains and has a better chance than any of us" she called to everyone, clicking her tongue she waited for her Warg to belly down and pulled herself onto his back, grabbing the slick fur between her fingers she let him rise to his full height.

"I'll go first, everyone be ready, just hold on tight and let him guide you, he wont let you fall I promise" she called, whistling out he turned and leapt over the ravine, and suddenly she was airborne, the air whooshing from her lungs, she snapped her eyes shut, shuddering as his body hit the ground before he sprang again leaping over the crumbling stone until he settled on the other side. She pried her eyes open and heaved a breath, sliding off his wet flank she hit the group with a wet plop her boots creating small ripples in the puddle at her feet. She turned and waved over at the others "Bring them Khimâ" she commanded, and he barked out heading back the way them came.