Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien

Chapter 13

Atonement

TW: Blood, and Violence


"Now where is that blasted thing?" Bilbo muttered to himself, the hobbit's short stature disappearing behind a ghostly pile of miscellaneous items.

Dag gave Claudia a skeptical look, who could only respond with a simple shrug. It was hard to even for Thorin to decipher the hobbit's stream of thoughts at times, Claudia usually just went along with anything Bilbo suggested. This time it had been a weapon he had told Dag about during one of his wild tales during their week stay in the Shire. Dag and Enna had been the only two who indulge Bilbo in his stories. While Claudia and Theo loved the grumpy hobbit stories, she had heard every single one. Over, and over, and over again. But Dag sat by the fire every night, hanging on to every word.

When the week came to a close and their company had begun finishing their packing, Bilbo had stormed into his dining room grabbing Dag and Claudia and dragging them down the descending tunnels that lay deep beneath Bag End. They had searched through three storage rooms filled with the treasures of Bilbo's adventures. Dag had insisted that his ax was completely fine, and Bilbo had argued that his ax had been forged by the greatest dwarven blacksmiths in all of Middle Earth's history. And that if they had to go on an adventure, he would need at least something sharp to keep one of Bilbo's 'favorite princesses' alive.

"Ah-ha! I knew it was here somewhere" A long-staffed ax appeared above a crate of elvish wine.

Bilbo appeared in front of Dag moments later, holding the ax to the guard. The long staff was dark petrified wood, and the silver bit seemed so sharp as if it were still freshly sharpened. But it was the amber gem at the bottom of the staff that caught Claudia's eye. Its imperfect shape was rooted into the wood and glowed dimly. Dag flipped the ax in his palms feeling its weight.
"Thank you, Mr. Bilbo. It's just as beautiful as you described it to be." Dag said, his eyes carefully appreciating the fine craftsmanship of the blade.

Bilbo nodded, "It is all yours, my boy. You're the only one around here who seems so keen on learning about my adventures, I might as well reward you."

Claudia folded her arms, "Bilbo, I love hearing about your adventure and you never give me anything. How about you throw me one of your many bags of gold." She smiled sweetly at the hobbit.

Bilbo's frown became deeper, as his hand flared in the air pushing the pair out the door of his storage room. "You tried that trick when you were a girl, it won't work twice."


Outside the gates of Bag End, Alma and Theo packed away the last of the supplies on whatever creature had space. Enna strapped the full water skins onto each creature, and Glorfindel quietly checked over his mare. Bilbo burst out of the circular front door with Claudia and Dag following in his wake. With the map in hand, Bilbo marched over to Theo, and Alma explained the path he had outlined that would best lead them to the Gray Havens. Claudia listened vaguely, not wishing to insert herself into a conversation with Theo. For the better part of a week, she had successfully avoided her cousin, and she planned to do so for as long as she could. Theo had resolved to send Alma with the Night Lock every night. She never said anything, Alma knew better than to place herself between the two boneheads.

"If we cut along the boards of the Blue Mountains, we could cut off a few days of travel." Glorfindel came behind Bilbo, pointing to the map in his hand.

"We need to stay clear of Ered Luin," Claudia said over her shoulder.

"If we move quickly it will be fine," Theo spoke up.

Claudia paused her work turning to face Theo. "We both know warmly Lord Thraid will greet us if we set foot in their lands unannounced." Sarcasm dripped from her words.

"It is not as if we are knocking on their door, we will simply pass through their land," Theo argued.

"Do the Blue Mountains not bow to your king, will they not welcome the presence of their prince and princess," Glorfindel asked.

Claudia ignored Glorfindel's question and turned to finish her saddle. "Lead us where you must, Theo, since you seem to be our moral compass." She pulled herself up onto the ponies back starting down the path.

She heard Theo call her name, but she ignored it, only stopping at the edge of the hill where Dag sat. Theo hurriedly turned back to his horse furiously whispering to Alma, whose expression told Claudia she was stuck in the middle of her two friends.

"It's a long journey ahead of us, there's not much use in fighting," Dag said observing the rest of their party.

"You didn't say that to Glorfindel, who berated me from the moment we left Rivendell."

Dag softly chuckled, "Glorfindel is not my friend, princess."

Claudia shot a glaring look at the guard. "You're afraid of him."

A smile pulled on Dag's face, he shook his head looking away from Claudia. "I suppose an ancient legendary warrior makes me watch my mouth."

Claudia shifted in her saddle, preparing her body for the agonizing ride ahead. "I don't care if he's a Valar, he doesn't get to speak to anyone like they are less than. And as for Theo, he doesn't get to choose who knows my secrets." She said bitterly.

Behind them, Enna, Alma, and Theo lined up preparing their leave. Glorfindel, however, still lingered at the gates of Bag End. Claudia was about to snap at him to hurry up when a small voice boomed, "Hold on I'm coming too!"

Frodo burst through the open door, his curls bouncing as he jumped down the steps. Strapped on his tiny torso was a leather breastplate, a small sword that dragged on the stone behind him. A silver helmet covered his eyes when he stopped in front of Glorfindel.

"I'm ready!" The boy declared proudly to the elf.

Everyone stared at the boy who proudly stood before the warrior. Bilbo came forward to snipe at Frodo, but before he could Glorfindel held up his hand to stop him. Green eyes focused on Frodo he bent his knee before Frodo His large hand engulfed Frodo's shoulder.

"I fear that this adventure is not for you, young Frodo." The hope that glimmered in Frodo's eyes, his pinched face slumped, and stared at the ground. "Destiny has called your cousins, but I have seen many heroes over the years. And I know one day your adventure will come calling, all you have to do is listen."

Teary eyes looked over to Theo and Claudia. "Do you promise to write all about your adventures for me?" He hiccuped, using his forearm to wipe away the snot that ran from his button nose.

Claudia spoke gently to Frodo, "We will write down everything, see and fight, Frodo. I'll even hand-deliver the story myself."

A smile broke out on his blotchy skin as he addressed Claudia and Theo. "You promise?"

"We swear to you, Frodo." Theo placed his hand over his heart.

Seeming to accept his cousin's promise Frodo dragged his feet over to where Bilbo stood. With Glorfindel now in tow, the small company began down the path of the unknown. Waving to the last friendly faces they would see in a while they headed toward the sea.


The heat of July bore down the party in full force. They had left Bag End and the Shire a week ago, and in that week summer had smothered the lands of Middle Earth. Far above them, a bevy of birds circled their party as they traveled through the plains as if waiting for one of them to drop. Claudia glared at the stoney peaks of Ered Luin in the distance. Every day they ventured closer to Ered Luin, her stomach filled with dread. The last thing she wanted to deal with on this journey was the Blue Mountain Dwarves. Though they were still a day's ride from entering their territory, she could only hope that Theo was right and the dwarves would simply let them pass. Though knowing Claudia's luck, nothing ever went simply for her.

"The mountain will not move no matter how hard you stare at it." The deep feminine voice of Alma spoke.

Alma's fiery braids glowed under the beating sun, her armor hanging off her saddle as she had stripped to her under tunic-like Claudia had. A thick calloused hand held out a water can to Claudia, who gladly accepted.

"I thought if I stared hard enough it would catch fire."Claudia laughed dryly, truth hiding behind her words.

Alma shook her head, "You shouldn't speak of your father's birthplace like that. They once welcomed our people when no one else did."

"That was before my mother and Tauriel." She grumbled, her eyes sliding to Theo, who was leading the company next to Dag. Alma seemed to follow her eye line.

"I don't think you should forgive him," Alma said.

"Alma, I know what you are doing."

Though she ignored Claudia and continued, "He is reckless and impulsive, you'd think after every stupid thing he's done and said he would eventually learn his lesson."

Claudia glared at her friend as she babbled on. "I mean there was that time he thought it was a good idea to explore that underground water system and we nearly got stuck in that cave-"

"That was my idea," Claudia grumbled.

"Or that time he thought it would be funny to hide Thorin's favorite harp, and had to clean out the stables for a month."

"Also my idea," Claudia admitted.

"Or that time-"

"Okay, okay I get it. We are both impulsive and stupid. That doesn't negate the fact that he would tell something so private to that asshole." She jerked her chin in Glorfindel's direction.

"All I'm trying to say is that we all do dumb things sometimes, you two more often than most people. But Theo was just trying to help in his own way. He loves you so much, Claudia. I think you've let him suffer enough."

Claudia huffed, scratching the back of her neck. "I could let him suffer a few more days."

Alma grinned, bumping her tone shoulder into Claudia's. "Or I could remind Lord Glorfindel of that time-"

Embarrassment flushed through Claudia at the mention of her first encounter with the elf lord. "You are not as funny as you think you are, Lady Alma." Claudia teased her friend with her official title, something she so rarely used.

"I leave the jokes to you two," Warm eyes darkened as Alma took in her friend's face. "Now go on hug and makeup. I'm tired of being the messenger between you."

Claudia shook her head, lightly kicking into Kelis's belly. Sticking her tongue out at Alma, Claudia rode up next to Theo. Dag peered over at Claudia and smiled slightly at the princess. Sensing she had not come to speak to him Dag pulled on his reins slowly falling to where Alma rode. He shifted for a second as if wrestling with him on what to say to Claudia. O she spoke first.

"How far are we from the gates of the Gray Haven?"

"I think if we head toward the river today and follow it down we should get there in a few days." He said with the tone he usually reserved for his parents when he was in trouble.

Claudia nodded, her eyes drawing on the upcoming hills.

"So does this mean you are speaking to me now?" He questioned.

Claudia glanced at Theo, his green eyes wide like a child's, peeking out behind brown hair. She saw remorse in them and Alma's words from the night before rang in her ears.

"I-"

Fear suddenly soaked her skin and iced her blood. The puff of black smoke appeared just over the head of the hill reaching into the cloudless blue sky.

"Theo-"

A blood-curdling scream rang in the distance.

She stood up straight," Did you hear that?"

Theo turned to follow the direction of the scream, his sword in hand now. Everyone stilled as they too listened. Another scream rang in the air, this time closer. Glorfindel appeared to her right in a moment.

"That sounded like it came from over that hill," Glorfindel called loud enough for only them to hear.

"It sounds like someone's hurt," Enna added.

Theo tightened his grip on the rein and looked to the map Bilbo had given them. "We should move quickly, get as close to the river as we can."

Theo's voice became distant in her ear, the clouds of smoke darkening her vision. The screams curled in her ears, and her breathing became labored.

Claudia blinked. "We can't leave them, if someone is hurt we must help them." She said regaining her senses.

Glorfindel narrowed his eyes, "There could be a hoard of Orcs just beyond that treeline. We could be heading straight for battle.'

"If there is something beyond that hill, we will likely meet them soon enough." She countered. "If there is danger we will keep our distance."

She looked back to Theo. "What do you say?"

Theo glanced between the elf and the princess. Biting his lips he thought for a moment. "We should check it out." Theo resolved.

Glorfindel threw his hands in the air. She could hear him mumble under his breath something to the effect of, "I wasn't resurrected just to die in the company of idiots."

She watched the rest of their company venture forward with Glorfindel rounding out the back. "Is the mighty warrior, who once made the Witch King flee in fear, afraid of a few orcs?"

"I'm afraid of walking into something we are not prepared for," He spat. "I'd rather not be worried about keeping you all alive if we get into a fight."

Claudia grinned wickedly. "You worry about me. Who knew the cold-hearted elf lord had such a soft spot for a dwarven princess. Don't worry I won't tell the other elves."

The whites of his eyes grew wide, horror and embarrassment painting his face.

"That is not! You are the most ridiculous- Absolutely-" He fumbled through his words, but Claudia had already rode ahead.

Ash billowed from the sky, blanketing the skeleton of what she could only assume was once a village. The clouds oozed and billowed across the vibrant blue sky like spilled ink staining parchment, leaving a sickish gray tint to the world below. The ash laid over the land like snow, the white stark against the blackened bones of the buildings that were left standing. The homes that once were filled with love and laughter were now chard bones. Their deep black colors were like voids of the golden plains.

Claudia was too stunned to speak, quietly following as Enna made her way down into the ghostly village. It had been nothing more than a few buildings, a stable, and watering well. The dirt road that navigated the small town was covered with forgotten belongings. Strung-out clothes were half-heartedly wrapped around silver items. Books and dolls were trampled into the earth. Slipping off of Kelis, Claudia couldn't deny the weight of dread that seeped into her as her feet touched the earth.

"What happened here?" Enna said mournfully joining Claudia.

Dag scanned the nearby building. "This doesn't look like the work of orcs."

"Perhaps it was one of your masked friends, princess," Glorfindel voiced.

Keeping her chin high, she spoke ignoring Glorfindel's comment. He wanted her to snap back, and she would not give him the satisfaction.

"Whatever did this doesn't seem to be here anymore, we should look for any survivors," Claudia said.

The smell of burnt wood and rotten meat stung Claudia's nose. She held up her arm hoping to ward some of the vile stenches off. Carefully she ventured through the torn-down structure, holding her palm over one of the wooden beams, the faint burn of fire still injured there. Whatever had passed through this poor village couldn't have been far.

"Over here!" Dag's voice came from across the village.

Running back to Kelis, Claudia grabbed her staff and raced toward Dag. The thick outline of his body stood against the wilting foundation of what once was a home. In front of him, Enna was on her knees cradling a creature in her lap. Claudia found as she got close it was not a creature, but the bloodied body of a woman. She appeared to be in the late stages of her life. With white hair that was matted and colored with her blood. Her clothes were torn to expose the bones that lay within her broken flesh. Her lips were barely open enough to speak. Claudia dropped onto her knee next to the elf, her hand laid on the arm Enna used to hold up the woman. Theo and Alma bowed their heads, unable to stomach the scene. Glorfindel stood at the edge of the group, his face unmoving, unchanging.

Enna's dark eyes, glossy with the tears she held back, looked at Claudia. She shook her head lightly, giving Claudia no hope they could aid the woman. The woman thrashed in Enna's arms, riding through a wave of unimaginable pain.

"They-they are coming." The voice was barely audible and repeated to Enna, who tried soothing her.

The woman's cloud eyes looked at Claudia, brightening as if they recognized something. A trembled wrinkled finger raised in the air pointing at Claudia.

"The- they want you, Princess Claudia." The eyes of a person were no longer, replaced with soulless black. The old woman suddenly stood with great strength reaching for Claudia.

An arrow pierced through the woman's heart. The black eyes faded, the old woman crumbling to her knees. Claudia jumped to her feet, backing into the solid form of Glorfindel. She looked up at him to find his expression mirroring hers. Regaining his composure Glorfindel pushed Claudia away from him.

An on pour of arrows in rapid succession rained down on them. Taking shelter in the shambles of the house they waited for a break in the storm. The skin of Claudia's neck chilled watering down her spine. Touching the skin she stood ignoring Theo's pleas to stay under the cover. But she went out in the open, her breath catching at the sight of three masked figures that stood at the end of the dirt road.

"No," she whispered, stumbling back.

Glorfindel emerged from the shelter, his green eyes set angrily at Claudia. Unaware of the figures, his hand clasped around her arm drawing her in. He forced her to face him, his eyes catching every piece of herself.

"Are you okay?" He questioned his body tense.

Claudia pushed away the tears that rose and placed her hands, his elbows lightly squeezing.

"They're here." She whispered.

In the space between them, a single arrow passed. Glorfindel pushed her away, effortlessly pulling out his sword. Theo and the others emerged from the shelter, their weapons at the ready. Opposite them, the masked figures stood. Long black clocks danced on the wind, and the wood faces stared at them unmoving. Theo slowly dropped his fighting stance, his weapon falling to his side.

"It can't be." He muttered.

The masked figure in the center took a step forward, a small hand appearing from their clock. The skin of the hand was tan, the fingers long and thin like her mother's. Lifting the hand above their shoulder they gracefully twisted into a snap. The sound of the sharp friction between fingers seemed to quiet the earth. The masked figures on either side of them brought out weapons, a curved sword - unlike anything she had ever seen - and a spear. With a simple flick sparks of the purest blue illuminated them.

Enamored by the light-wielding weapons, none of them registered two more masked figures that flanked either side of them until they attacked.

Claudia

The voice - as old as time itself - called her from the depths of the trees.

Come home.

The voice beckoned her.

Claudia's blood ran cold, and her spine straightened in attention.

"No, please…" Claudia strained.

With the world spinning around her Claudia moved through the village, fighting off the sinking feeling that was pulling her toward something unknown. The echoes of screams bleed into her ears, she needed to pull herself back to reality. With every step her body grew heavier, she used her bo as a walking cane guiding her to a still-standing beam.

In her line of vision against the gray-dim world came one of the figures. Claudia screamed for her body to move. To do anything.

"You again." The voice, crisp and sharp, said.

There was no anger in their words, just genuine curiosity. They stalked closer to Claudia, crouching down to get a better view of her.

Swallowing the fear that coursed through her, she tightened her grip around the staff.

"Did you miss me?" Claudia purred.

Without hesitation, the figure let out a surprising soft chuckle. The lean fingers appeared from their clock again, reaching out to grasp a small bundle of chickweed that blossomed among the fiery remains.

"Make this easy for me, friend. Come with me and I will spare your friends." The mask asked gently.

Claudia was many things. Sometimes she could be selfish. Sometimes she was stubborn and foolish. Bullheaded, reckless, and idiot. But she was not dumb. If she were to go with… whatever these mask people were, they would not leave her friends alone. They had destroyed a village and killed innocent lives. They were not above going back on a promise.

Pushing through the pain Claudia stood on her shaking feet. A sigh came from behind the mask as they slowly stood.

"He said you would make this hard." And then they swung.

Having only a moment to react Claudiwas able to dodge the mask's fist, swinging the staff to the back of the hooded figure. The mask ducted just as wood was about to collide. Claudia's were still unfocused and groggy, allowing the mask to reach up a gloved hand and stop the staff in mid-motion. Claudia willed with all of her strength for the staff to move, but the figure was stronger than her. The mask kicked out their no-support leg, the hard heel of their boot cracking Claudia's rib. Unable to fight off the sudden force of pain Claudia let go of her staff and her hands pressed her heating ribbings. Though before her hands reached her skin the staff slammed against her right cheek. Stars swarmed Claudia's vision as she doubled over.

Claudia raised her finger to the corner of her lips. Cool liquid dampened her fingertips, pulling her hand away she found sticky red smeared across her tanned skin.

"That's no way to greet an old friend." Claudia managed between breaths, looking up at the mask behind the curtain of hair.

The mask didn't seem to appreciate Claudia's quips. Taking Claudia's staff the mask broke it in two over their knee before flinging it into a nearby fire. Black voids set on Claudia, the wooden mask titling as they took her in. With a flick of the black leather wrist, a long sword appeared from the depths of her cape.

"We'll see if you'll make any jokes when I drag you to him by your hair."

Claudia ignored the threat and spat. "Him? Do you serve a man? How embarrassing."

The woman let out a brutal scream of frustration and brought down their sword. Claudia closed her eyes preparing herself for pain that never came. The ringing of metal on metal stretched in Claudia's ear as to her right Glorfindel's sword held off another - aimed directly at Claudia's head. Spinning under the engaged swords, Glorfindel began his dance. Though it wasn't like the training she had witnessed with the Halidir's elves. His movements were more powerful, made with a precision that meant to kill. And the mask countered every movement with the same energy.

Claudia backed away from the great battle the two imposing figures were locked in. The heel of her boot rolled as she walked over the remains of her bo staff. She picked up what remained of her staff. Suddenly the body of Glorfindel slammed into the beams Claudia had used to stand. The mask, with their back, turned to Claudia and rolled their sword in their hand.

"Killing a great Elven Lord will be a bonus." They said swaggering closer to Glorfindel.

Without hesitat, Claudia cracked the wood it into the back of the mask's skull as hard as she could. The mask stood for only a second before crumbling to the ground. Claudia stared at the slumped figure before racing to Glorfindel's side.

"We have to go," she hurried him.

Glorfindel groaned, holding his head as he tried to find footing. Wrapping her arm around his waist, she tried to guide him away from the village. His body was warm against hers, his stomach expanding beneath her hands.

"Where are Theo and Dag?" Claudia gritted against the weight of his body.

"They should be heading toward the river. Alma managed to round up our horses and will be meeting us there." He grunted.

She nodded, dreading the thought of pulling the elf up a hill. But she pushed forward, consistently looking over her shoulder praying no other masked creatures were stalking them. When they reached the top of the hill Glorfindel had gathered his strength once again and detached from Claudia's side. His skin was pale and glistened with sweat. She hated how even after a fight the man still looked perfect. When his green eyes locked with hers, Claudia looked away.

"I think they retreated," she said.

Glorfindel scanned the bones of the village. Claudia took in the stillness and his quietness.

"I'm not so crazy after all."

He bowed his head, "We should find the others."

His back turned to the village and began toward the river. Claudia drew the silhouette of the village in her mind, burning it there for someone to remember the lives that had been lost. Bowing her head, she recited a dwarven funeral prayer. Hoping that they would find some peace in their next dwelling.

She took one step and was pushed forward by an invisible force. Numbness washed over her hip, trickling down her leg. The highest point of her hip caught sudden fire blistering up her body. A loud buzzing filled her ears as if two bees had made home there. Her eyes trailed down to her bloodied side. A shaking hand touched the blood pouring out of the open wound. Looking forward she saw the sparks of an arrow that was stuck out of the tree in front of her.

"Glorfindel," She said, unknowing if she were screaming or speaking.

Her knees gave out, the cold earth kissing her face as fell. An ancient voice breathed darkness into her eyes. The icy grip of nothingness embraced her.


Long time no see. Shout out to The Tell-Tale Man for checking up on this story. Life is messy and complicated. If I could spend all day writing I would, but I must work. But I will try to update this story more frequently. Let me know if you like this story and where it's heading. I'll try to get the next chapter up in the next couple of weeks.