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: mention of death

Chapter Six

The whole company was waiting by the broken cart, well previously broken as Bombur and Bofur were finishing getting the wheel back in place Arabelle pulled up to hand the reigns back to the farmer. Thorin was near vibrating from his irritation as she pointedly ignored him, she also ignored Fili who had been racing to catch her and she had half a mind to ignore Kili just out of spite for all of Durin's sons.

"I told you to come back." Thorin pulled his horse in front of hers as the company began to depart, a thankful farmer offering a few bags of food as thanks.

"Do me a favour, next time you get the urge to command me to do something. Don't."

"That is not how this works."

"Tell me then how this works." Arabelle roared, fire raging in her eyes she was near begging Thorin to draw his sword.

"I think we have wasted enough of the day don't you Thorin?" Gandalf interjected himself between the pair, Thorin making a final sneer before moving the group on and Arabelle grumbling to herself as she headed to the back of the pack Arabelle notably ignoring Kili who had waved her to join them.

Arabelle's mood remained sour for the day, purposely sticking to the back of the company she stewed over Fili's treatment of her, her bitterness growing as she wondered how these men viewed women; were they all so rude. Like the perfect dinner she had stewed all day, though as Bilbo would say you need to watch a stew, pay it attention or else it boils over. This was unfortunately true as Arabelle near ripped poor Gloin's head off when he attempted to help her dismount, she promptly excused herself to go hunt. Stalking through the woods she had started off strong, feet slamming into the ground below she jumped over enlarged roots and ducked under foliage until she could no longer hear the dwarves. The only sound being the peace of the forest, she looked to the old tree beside her placing a steadying hand on its bark. The wrinkles of its coarse exterior telling of an age witnessed, roots as large as her body breaking through the forest floor, she craned her neck to see the dimming sky that peaked through the dense canopy. As the wind drifted a few leaves fluttered down from above and Arabelle drew in the scent of that around her, the familiar smell of the only home she had ever known and ever will. Arabelle sighed heavily letting her shoulders slump as the forest grounded her. How could she be mad at Fili when he was only honest about where and more importantly who he was.

"Care if I join you?" Gandalf appeared, staff in one hand and pipe in the other "I am rather over dwarves today." He grumbled.

"That makes two of us." She sighed and fell upon the tree, her back resting against its trunk they sat together and a small fire on his thumb lit the bottom of his pipe.

"You have travelled far on your own." Gandalf stated as though he knew it to be true "Though when one is only of a few it is easy to be alone; though easy is not always right."

"Your riddles annoy me Mithrandir." She huffed at him, watching as his smoke shaped into a butterfly which now fluttered above their heads.

"It is strange, no? That some only follow the lines of men." He continued "That they think the blood of a king cannot flow into the blood of a queen."

"I get it. You know who I am, tell me did Elrond send you? Is this his way of leading me back to Rivendell?"

"I'm afraid I have not spoken to Elrond in many moons, besides Thorin's company refuses to go." Gandalf grumbled, too annoyed to even speak in riddles now he huffed out his smoke in frustration.

"We are so close though." Arabelle had simply assumed it would be their next stop as it would be the only place to seek any food or shelter for days.

"Dwarves are stubborn creatures who do not seek help beyond their own company. Especially from elves." Gandalf replied "Though you seem to have a particular pull on the young prince's ear, perhaps you can speak to him; convince him to speak to Thorin."

"So you came here not for my company but for my help." Arabelle raised an eyebrow to the wizard who slyly smiled, his true intentions not as well hidden as he had hoped "I can try but as you said, they are stubborn and I am not to sure the prince will listen to me at the moment."

"Perhaps they will be more inclined to listen once saved." Gandalf spoke in what Arabelle was assuming was another weird riddle, a moth flying away from his shoulder.

"Rescue?"

"Oh yes apparently least half our company is currently roasting over a troll fire as we speak."

"And you have known this for some time?"

"Thought they needed some time to think things over. Timing is everything my dear." Gandalf shared a smile with her before they travelled up a hill, his woodland spies had not been wrong half the company in bags the other half tied together Bilbo seemingly trying to give cooking instructions to them.

"Three trolls against a Wizard and a Dúnedain. Barely seems fair." Arabelle smirked pulling out her sword "I'll distract them long enough for that sun to rise, stay here and do your wizard stuff."

"Wizard stuff." Gandalf huffed out but stayed hidden as Arabelle just laughed and jumped up to announce herself.

A loud whistle perhaps meant for dogs echoed through the forest having the right effect as the Trolls attention snapped up to the woman on the rocky ledge above them; the dwarves cheering at her arrival.

"Whose that?" One troll asked another.

"Dun know" The other shrugged.

"Whose you?" The third made a snatch for her but she jumped back and wacked his hand with the flat of her sword as though swatting a fly.

"Who am I? Who are you?" She questioned back and another troll growled and lurched again only to be knocked back again "Gentlemen can we not talk?" She asked innocently and at least one of the trolls seemed to enjoy her manners.

"Why we talk to yous?" The middle Troll put a hand on his hip.

"Cause you see you appear to be cooking a few of my friends there. And I just don't think that is very nice at all. So I will ask nicely just once, would you be so kind as to release my friends?"

"They be our dinner can we 'ave you for dessert." The biggest moved to grab at her and this time she let him get close.

"Very well. But do remember I asked nicely."

A sweet smile faded as she jabbed her long blade through his eye and out the other end of his skull which was so thick it trapped the blade as he fell. Arabelle quickly pulled an arrow into her bow, releasing it into the eye of the one beside the now dead troll he recoiled in pain. The third made a bellow of a cry and launched at her, she used his advance to jump on his back, plunging two knives into its back she took them both to the ground. While not dead the troll squirmed on its back for a moment, the pain of the blades and sudden fall disorienting it long enough for Arabelle to grab a weapon from the pile they had collected from the dwarves. She grabbed the first handle she could reach; Dwalin's axe. No time to think she locked her hands and swung the blade over her shoulders embedding it into the skull as though she was splitting wood; a loud cheer heard from all the dwarves.

The final Troll was injured, his friends dead, his rage was immeasurable as he stormed towards her, fists curled she ducked just in time though she had been forced to jump before gaining another weapon. She now had no other option than to play a very deadly game of cat and mouse, for someone who hated mornings she was praying for the sun to rise. One duck had her rolling off some rocks as she scrambled, she realised she had fallen into a pen, she was now trapped with no way out; even the simple Troll could tell as much for he ran at her, the entire company screaming for her.

"May the dawn of day take you." Gandalf finally standing up he broke the stone above them to release the rays of morning onto the beast, Arabelle taking a heavy breath out unaware she had been holding it.

"Belle!" Bilbo was the first she released and he rejoiced, jumping into her arms "I thought you dead, they talked such horrid things about eating a young woman. No one had seen you all evening, I thought they had-" Bilbo's eyes watered and Arabelle smiled for it was a kind thing to have a friend who would worry for her and as they broke away she noticed that all the men seemed to have water in their eyes; though if asked they would blame the dirt and smoke.

"Sorry to disappoint gentlemen but it would take more than a few trolls to have you rid of me." She laughed as they all began to cheer for Arabelle The Troll Slayer!

"I told you the axe was a far better weapon." Dwalin noted as he yanked the weapon from the skull, Arabelle rolling her eyes "Much like dwarves it may have some redeeming qualities."

"You saved us?" Thorin looked at her.

"The words you are looking for are thank you." Arabelle replied, Gandalf once again interjecting between the pair "I spotted a cave just up ahead, be worth checking for goods, might be some gold or food."

As the rest of the company gave their thanks in rounds of hugs and pats on the back, they quickly made their way up the hillside and into the cave, comments of treasure having all their attention. Gandalf giving a sly nod to Arabelle as he ushered all other dwarves away; save one. Whose treasure laid before his eyes as she cleaned off her blade and straightened her shirt, she poured some water over her hands which now shook, ever so slightly they wavered and she cursed herself. The adrenaline of battle pumped through her veins and yet she would sooner face a hoard of trolls before having an awkward conversation.

"I want to speak with you." Fili started, and she turned to face him forcing all language from his mind "I thought we…I thought you…I thought I would not get a chance to right what I said."

"You need not." Arabelle stopped him "I get it."

"No you don't-"

"But I do." Arabelle corrected him "I know I speak and act as though I do not have my own responsibilities, but I do and for that very reason I understand that you have yours. You could've lied to me and kept your intentions to yourself, but you were honest; more honest than most."

"Are you ok?" Fili drew close, worried as he watched her flinch when moving her shoulder and yet it was her heart which ached more. She wanted him. Wanted him to kiss her like he had the morning before, wanted to feel the warmth of his hand against her cheek. She wanted him; even if she couldn't keep him. So she did it. She stood and closed the gap between them, her lips crashing into his. She had caught him off guard and for a moment thought perhaps she was wrong, perhaps he no longer wanted her in any way. Then she felt them, his hands around her waist pulling her hard against him as he began to return the kiss it was hungry, lust filled, far more than the time before as they fought for dominance. As they moved against each other Fili's hands had found their way under her shirt, her tender bare skin burned with want under his calloused hands. Her own hands now entwined in his hair tightening lightly as he too tightened his hands on her hips. Grinding up against each other Arabelle could feel the tightness in his trousers, her own pleasure growing as she pushed her hips up against him; he let out a near primitive groan. It was the first time their lips had parted, eyes meeting they searched each other frantically neither knowing what was next.

"Hellloooo."