Fandom: The Hobbit
Summary: A stubborn headed ranger joins the company unaware of the treasure she is about to find.
Pairings: FilixOC ThorinxBilbo
Chapter warnings: none
Chapter Four
The next few days of travel fell into a routine that was near ritual, every morning Thorin would give the word to pack up, once on horse the pace was slow and steady. Arabelle had found herself enjoying the company of Bifur who really could talk on any subject, Ori was great for a talk on history and his cousin Dori made the best tea in camp by far. Arabelle found common ground with Oin as she helped pick out healing plants along the roadside, the pair enjoying comparing notes on different healing techniques. However, her favourite dwarves remained Kili and more so his older brother Fili. For they knew how to make her smile, constantly jesting with each other or the rest of the company she could laugh for days with them. As usual when the sun was right above them and Bilbo had made his second complaint about his empty stomach the company would find a clearing and pull out a mixture of dried meats, old fruits and whatever else was left for lunch.
"Your pony is harsh to settle today Belle." Bifur noted the pony who huffed and pulled at her restraints.
"Eryn is not use to such slow travel Master Bifur. Neither of us are." Arabelle mumbled the last bit under her breath and like a fish to a fresh worm Thorin hooked. "Is our travel not to your liking?" Thorin grumbled as Arabelle swallowed down a bit of stale bread as she mused to herself that it was right on time for their daily fight. She had grown tired of such predictability and so she decided to go against her own nature and apologise "I did not mean to offend. The pace is perfectly adequate for such a group." Arabelle watched as Thorin celebrated his silent victory with a smirk; his mistake.
"All I am saying is if we shall cross an old donkey pulling a troll filled cart it would only be polite to let him pass." It was her turn to smirk in triumph as Thorin's lips thinned into his usual scowl, Kili burst out laughing while the rest of the company stifled their laughs and hid grins.
"Well then tell me, how is it you would travel better?" Thorin challenged.
"Since you asked with such kind manners and definitely no murderous intent, I shall tell you how it is I would speed up this little expedition." Arabelle continued to explain how the faster riders would be better spent scouting ahead, beginning to set up camp while the others rode behind.
"It would help with the hunting Thorin." Balin was the first to actually agree with her "The fresh food is all but gone now and we won't be in any towns for some time."
"If a fire is going early, I'd be able to cook dinner much faster too." Bombur noted.
"Very well then." Thorin looked between his company "Dwalin will accompany you." The two dwarves shared a look and a nod as Arabelle rolled her eyes at the not-so-subtle hint she was being sent away with a minder.
"If you are wanting to keep an eye on me the entire time, might I suggest a party of four as someone will need to travel back to the main group to show them the way to camp."
"We can go uncle!" Kili spoke hitting his brother on the shoulder as Fili nodded keenly, his eyes on Arabelle who smiled at the thought of their company.
"Very well. Dwalin keep an eye on them." Thorin clasped arms with Dwalin as they all began to mount their horses.
"By them he means me." Arabelle smiled sweetly as she trotted past Thorin, Dwalin letting out a low grumble.
"Hey, I can be just as much trouble as you!" Kili noted as he pulled up beside her.
"Now I would not doubt that for even a second Kili." Arabelle laughed.
"It is a good thing I am good at getting you out of trouble." Fili said to his brother "And don't worry Belle I'll happily save you too." Arabelle found herself looking into his eyes which gleamed with the same mischief as Kili. "My knight in shining armour." She laughed, Dwalin finally drew his horse up close to the trio and a wicked grin came across her face.
"Well boys how about a bit of a competition? A prize of the winner's choice, all you need to get is my scarf." She pulled out a dark brown cloth and wrapped it around her neck.
"If I choose that prize to be absolute silence from you for the rest of the journey?" Dwalin grumbled.
"Very well Master Dwalin. Boys name your prize?" Arabelle raised a brow as Kili's normal smile broke into one that could light up the whole of middle earth "Your bow!" he exclaimed.
"And Fili?" She looked to the dwarf who suddenly looked away.
"Now brother calm those filthy thoughts." Kili teased in Khuzdul and Arabelle looked between them wondering if they were making a pack to get all her weapons.
"Your pipe weed." Fili finally spoke.
"Fine and my prizes shall be all that in reverse. Except for the silence Master Dwalin for that is our normal state, no you will need to do something far worse and actually converse with me." Arabelle grinned as they all nodded to accept the terms.
"Was the point of you lot not to ride ahead?" Thorin called from a few metres behind, the entire company now mounted.
"Good luck boys." Arabelle smirked before clicking her tongue the horse not skipping a beat as her powerful hind legs propelled them forward and out of the grasp of Fili who had taken a quick snatch at the scarf.
Wind wisped her hair behind her, so fast was the speed that her plait began to fall further apart with each movement, yet she would have it all fall out before she would slow down. The loud breaths of her riding companion mirrored her own as she held the reigns, allowing Eryn to guide them. So long they had been together she trusted the offspring of her father's horse with her life. She loved riding, from her youth of riding in her father's lap to getting her very first pony, she had squealed with joy and spooked the poor foal. Today, riding along the familiar countryside her smile was the same as it had been when she had seen that little foal; pure, unadulterated joy. They had pushed far beyond the rest of the group, Arabelle looked back to see the three dwarves galloping behind her. Yelling or in Dwalin's case cursing in their native language she couldn't help but giggle. As they entered a clearing Arabelle noted Eryn's pace slacken as an edge appeared, she patted the horse's neck and congratulated her with coos in her ear.
"Cheat." Kili huffed as he caught up, Arabelle already dismounted and giving Eryn some space to cool down.
"I almost had you." Fili jumped off his horse to join Arabelle on the ground, she spun to smile at him sweetly "But alas your pipe weed is mine, bet you wishing you had chosen another prize now." She smirked only now realising how close their faces had come when she had turned, so close she could not even tell what it was his hand did around his waist but she could feel the movements around her own hips.
"Next time then." Fili pulled out a pouch and put it in her hands, she could feel his breath on her face as he spoke.
"Horse-riding tree-dweller." Dwalin cursed as he pulled up with them "Where have you lead us?" He looked around this clearing was horrible, no defences he half suspected an ambush any moment.
"Our camp is not to be here Master Dwalin. But down there." She pointed down the hill to a small stream, the forest on the other side would hold their dinner.
"Boys water your horses and prepare to travel back, the others should reach here just on dark but it is a good spot." Dwalin jumped off his horse as they all made their way down to the stream.
"Careful Master Dwalin that was nearly a compliment." Arabelle smiled and Dwalin scowled a little bit.
"Dwalin I miss your company what you say you and me travel back together." Kili spoke and was shot glares from the two other dwarves "What?" He innocently looked to his brother who whispered something so low and in another tongue that Arabelle laughed "You do realise you can insult me directly to my face in Khzadul and I'd have not a clue what you speak. I mean Master Dwalin and Thorin make it seem like an art form." Arabelle watched as Dwalin bent down by the stream a slight upright pull on the corner of his lip.
"You boys head back and stay out of trouble." Dwalin looked at the two, though they were of royal blood his orders clearly outweighed their own wishes as they both saddled up.
"I expect a set of arrows to go with my new bow Kili!" Arabelle called out and laughed as an unkind gesture was flung back in response.
"You left them?" Bilbo flabbergasted as Fili and Kili returned "Alone?" The pair looked between each other and then Bilbo nodding in confirmation that they had indeed left the speak-her-mind woman and the swing-first-ask-later dwarf alone. Bilbo's mind spiralling as he wondered who would offend the other first and would it even take an offence to have them drawing swords.
"Settle your nerves, Master Baggins. Dwalin won't hurt her." Thorin calmed the hobbit who had apparently been taking his riding lessons with Arabelle seriously as he now rode at the front of the pack.
"It is not Belle I worry for." Bilbo said as he trotted ahead forcing Thorin to call the rest of the company to pick up the pace. They had yet to witness what this ex-ranger was capable of when it came to battle, and it was Dwalin who was most eager to see this skill. A tense trip pushed the company faster and faster, but as they entered the clearing Kili tried to joke that the lack of a spiked head was a good sign; until the clashing of metal echoed over the hill.
Bilbo had not even a moment to think on it before he tried to propel his horse down the hill towards the intense battle by the stream. Tried was the key word. As the horse had no intention of running towards the pounding clangs of metal and instead decided to dump her stupid rider and race to the safety of the other horses.
"Bilbo!" Arabelle cried as they dropped their weapons racing to where he now laid sprawled out on the grass, though Thorin reached him first checking the hobbit over before snapping around "What! Were you two doing!" He growled at them both, even Dwalin taking a step back.
"We were just sparring Thorin." Dwalin had his hands up.
"Sparring?" Bilbo gasped out from behind Thorin "You looked ready to kill each other!"
"It was a good spar." Arabelle shrugged "I still think a sword more practical than an axe." She smiled at Dwalin who huffed "Of course a tree hugger like you wouldn't like the axe."
"Spoken like a true mountain dweller." Arabelle returned the insult a clear shift in what yesterday would've ended up in a brawl now just had them both half grinning.
"Let's have a look at that wrist there Bilbo." Oin had found his way to the still fell hobbit, who had subconsciously been nursing his right arm, Thorin turning back to him but Arabelle was the one to fall to his side.
"Another riding lesson Bilbo, never force a horse into anything." She laughed as she helped pull him up Oin deciding it was just a nasty sprain and talking about finding some binding. "Come we will get you by the fire."
Oin had kindly strapped up Bilbo's arm, Bombur having put the final touches into the stew as they joined the rest of the dwarves most of whom had shed their shirts as a battle to find the strongest dwarf raged. In pairs they would first butt heads, then clasp shoulders and whoever was either on the ground or out of the circle lost and would join the spectators. Kili had just been outed by his own brother, who had perhaps revelled in the victory too much as now Thorin entered the ring.
"I don't know much about Durin but if those are his sons." Arabelle allowed her deep inhale to express what words could not, for she thanked the stars for the royal line of Durin.
"Arabelle." Bilbo chided as he realised, he too had been ogling at the older of the pair who now engaged in a battle of strength.
"Just saying you can have Thorin whom you are so clearly undressing with your eyes, and I'd gladly take Fili off your hands." Arabelle giggled a little and Bilbo squirmed and scowled at her.
"This is rather inappropriate don't you think?" Bilbo corrected her manners yet again "You are forty years older than me, act your age." He scolded her and she couldn't help but laugh again at the irony.
"Bilbo surely you have learnt by now that age is all relative once you cross race." Arabelle continued as Bilbo looked twice as confused "Well you are what, over fifty these days? And let's say you live to be a terribly old, cranky hobbit who passes in his sleep you would be near one hundred." Bilbo nodded "So you are well into the second half of your life, beginning to be considered old amongst your fellow folk." Bilbo took an inhale from his pipe, it had been commented on multiple times the fact he had yet to find a wife "My ancestors on the other hand have been known to live well for over two hundred years, meaning me at a 'older' age of eighty is well under halfway. Hence, you the senior amongst us." Arabelle watched as Bilbo mulled over the numbers, once again redoing them and on his final third round he tilted his head and sighed; she was right.
"Well as your senior then I am telling you that this is an improper conversation, and we should discuss more important things." Bilbo said as his eyes followed her to were Thorin and Fili both began to grunt, tiring as they continued to push and shove at each other.
"Like what?" She asked playfully watching as Bilbo's eyes also lingered over the arena "The weather?"
"And what might you two be spouting about?" Gandalf near sent them both flailing to their backsides.
"Weather." They said in unison.
"Best avert your gazes it appears the fighting is over, and it is bath time." Gandalf laughed as what remained of the dwarves clothes ended up on the ground and both Arabelle and Bilbo made an extremely strong point at not looking towards the sons of Durin; even when Kili insisted on calling them in.
As night fell the dwarves joined each other around the campfire, fresh clothes and Nori seemed inclined to pass around an oil with essence of lavender insisting they could all do with some fresh smells. Arabelle laughed in agreeance, excusing herself to wander downstream and seek a private area to herself, Kili offering to stand watch earned him both a backhand from his brother and a rude gesture from Arabelle as she strolled off out of sight. Not too far from the men Arabelle found a small area where the stream slowed, though close enough she could hear whenever a good joke was told as a boom of laughter thrummed in the background. The water deep enough to cover up to her belly Arabelle took a moment to bask in the moonlight, while she had come to enjoy the company of dwarves, she had forgotten how much she enjoyed the company of herself. She let out the few remaining strands of her plait that had held in after the day of travel, allowing it to flow down her shoulders she released the bindings of her chest and placed her weapons along the bank side as she took her clothes into the water to see them washed properly.
Fili, Kili and Thorin had moved to the edge of the camp having made their own small fire to dry their clothes whilst Fili began braiding his brother's hair, Thorin pulling at Fili's own hair making comment that he needed to change his braids more often. The others respected the royals space, taking to fixing their own hair Bilbo had managed to sneak a little up stream for a quick bath for himself.
"I saw Belle watching you earlier, I swear she looks at you almost as much as you look at her." Kili grinned as he looked up to his brother.
"I do not look at her." Fili tugged at Kili's hair earning a yelp from the younger dwarf which earned him a yank on his own hair.
"Don't hurt your brother Fili." Thorin scolded "And you do look at her. It is fine if you find the girl attractive."
"How can you not?" Fili blurted out a redness coming across his face instantly "I mean…Fine, I think she is very pretty" Bilbo near jumped for joy on overhearing the conversation, running downstream in such a rush he missed the remaining conversation.
"She reminds me of your mother actually." Thorin laughed as both boys scrunched up their faces in disgust "Head strong. Outspoken. Fearless. Dis was not always just running after the pair of you." Thorin smiled at the memories of his youth "But Fili you need to be cautious. I know we have not spoken of this but once Erebor is reclaimed you will be heir to a throne, a real throne and all the real expectations of it." Thorin levelled with Fili's eyes as he pulled out a bead from his own hair "This was given to me by my father, your grandfather, Thrain, when he named me his heir." Fili looked down as Thorin clasped it to finish the braid he had been working on the weight of what just happened sinking in.
"I speak now as your uncle." Thorin smiled lightening up the mood "Fili, enjoy your freedom while it is yours if you wish to fool around with the young maiden then do so at no harm to the quest and be sure to be safe for I am not writing to your mother to inform her of any half-bred grandchildren."
"Uncle..." Fili groaned as Thorin smiled and pushed Fili's head down to focus on Kili's braid "I don't even know if she likes me. Half the time I'm pretty sure she doesn't even notice me."
"Oh, is that why she could barely take her eyes off you all evening. Honestly, I thought she might have kicked Thorin's ass just to be in the ring with you." Kili laughed and even Thorin joined in with a little chuckle "You know maybe you just need to make it more obvious. I mean if it is flirting you need help with brother you are in the right company." Thorin took in his pipe amused with his nephew's antics, it reminded him of a kinder time when Frerin would kidnap him into towns and bully him into speaking with young women.
"And no need to worry uncle, I know my duty to our people." Fili responded as his fingers held his new braid.
By the time Bilbo had made it to Arabelle she had just been finishing tucking her necklace into her chest binding, though neither of them really cared as she had been seen in much less, especially on the night of Belladonna's fiftieth birthday. Though Bilbo had initially fumbled his words, and then wondered if he should tell her at all, they were just boys being stupid unaware of his prying ears; perhaps they were mere talk. But as she innocently looked at him, asking if he was alright with such concern on her face Bilbo knew her struggles with men and her hopeless out look on love.
"Fili likes you." Bilbo found his words "Like he finds you attractive." He clarified, noting Arabelle's slight confusion.
"Oh-" Arabelle breathed out, trailing her hand over the slow moving water below, so slow she could see her reflection under the gleam of the moonlight. Her dark hair was ragged still wet it trailed to just below her shoulders and a few shorter strands clung to her round face, her broad shoulders wrapped with her bindings near flattening her chest completely. She had never been one to think herself as someone others would consider attractive, she had heard the boy's comments but had merely considered them kind words at best and at worst bad jokes. For they would not have been the first to tease her, even as a child her body was plumper than all the other girls and it was only in womanhood had she accepted the fact she would never have the skinny arms or flat stomach of the other girls. To have someone now who would find her attractive? Someone who had seen her ride for days, who had witnessed her snort in laughter and undoubtedly snore in her sleep, could someone truly find her attractive? Could that someone be Fili, with his golden hair and crystal blue eyes that shone like stars and whose smile made her heart flutter. Could someone like that want someone like her.