"How can you not think this place is amazing?" Benna asked, looking around them.
It seemed like every inch of space was lush and green. What interested her even more were the hobbits that inhabited it. They were even smaller than she was, all of them having the same pointed ears and large hairy feet.
"We dwarves prefer stone and rock to flowers and fields." Dwalin said, frowning as his eyes scanned along the road.
She stifled a yawn as they passed by another strange house embedded in the ground, leaning back in her saddle "How do we know which one of these is Mr. Baggins' house?"
"We look for the mark the wizard left." Was the simple reply.
"Yah but what does it look like?" Her question was only met with silence. "Do you even know what it looks like?" She pestered, as they dismounted, the sky growing dark behind them.
"I will know it when I see it." Dwalin grumbled.
"Rightttttttt.." Benna muttered, not missing the withering look he gave her.
...
"Right here we are!'' Dwalin said triumphantly, after another half hour of searching.
He pointed to a large round door with a small glowing rune carved into the green paint. They tied up the ponies down the hill and marched up to the door. Dwalin thumped his fist hard on the door three times and they waited as the sound of someone shuffling around inside was heard.
The door was cautiously pulled open to reveal a small man with curly copper hair. He stared at the pair in surprise, hurriedly tying the belt to his robe.
"Dwalin at your service." Dwalin said bowing slightly.
The hobbit's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he continued to stare at them. "Bilbo Baggins at yours….. I'm sorry do we know each other?" He gaped as Dwalin pushed his way inside.
The dwarf turned to look at him "No. Which way is it laddie?"
"Where is what?" Bilbo asked looking at him, then to Benna who still hovered in the foyer.
"Supper he said there'd be food and lots of it." Dwalin huffed before disappearing further into the house.
Bilbo turned back to look at Benna, the pair standing in awkward silence for a moment.
"Oh I'm Benna McCallium, At your service I suppose!" She said, yawning as she finished doing her best little bow.
"Are you alright?" Bilbo asked looking her over "Not to be rude but you look a bit worse for wear."
Benna laughed tiredly "We encountered some trouble on our trip here. Sleep has not been a priority."
"Oh well you can use the spare bedroom if you would like to rest!" The hobbit offered, instantly jumping into the role of gracious host as he took Benna's arm leading her deeper in to the house "Come I'll show you where it is.''
...
Dwalin was still in the hobbits pantry when he heard a familiar call "Oh evening brother!"
He turned, a wide grin plastered on his face "By my beard you're shorter and wider than last we met!"
Balin frowned placing his hands on his belt "Wider not shorter, still sharp enough for the both of us." He paused "Trouble on the road?" He asked, noting the bandaged arm and gash on Dwalin's head.
Dwalin nodded "Aye a bit, Would have been dead if not for the wee lass."
"Lass?" Balin eyebrows furrowed as he looked around the room.
"Aye shes…." Dwalin poked his head out of the room and into the hall, frowning seeing no trace of his companion. "Master Baggins, where is Benna?" He called to the startled hobbit.
"Oh uh, she said she was rather tired so I offered her a room to lie down for a bit."
Dwalin nodded approvingly "Aye she needs it."
Balin looked at him with raised eyebrows "It seems we have much to discuss dear brother."
...
Benna had never fallen asleep so quickly in her life, the second she laid down on the bed and pulled the blanket up, she had drifted off into a dreamless sleep. She awoke feeling groggy and most of all hungry. Sliding off the bed she smoothed out her shirt before opening the door to the hall.
Benna yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she rounded the corner, running straight into someone.
"Oh, sorry!" She apologized, moving the hand from her eye.
"It is no trouble!" The man flashed her a smile, the flaps of his hat bouncing as he moved. "Well say now, you must be the mystery lass we've been hearing about!" He said, his smile growing wider "I'm Bofur at your service!"
"We?"
"Come meet everyone!" The man clapped a hand on her shoulder, steering her towards the din coming from the other room. "Here now lads look at what I found wandering around!" Bofur called as they rounded the corner.
In the center of the room was a large table filled with people all talking and laughing- that was until Bofur's call. As they entered the room the talking subsided, as 14 pairs of eyes fell on her.
"Benna!" She relaxed slightly as she heard Dwalin's voice break the silence. "Come here lass, I saved you some food!" He said waving her over to an open seat at the table.
"Well now I do believe some introductions are in order!" A tall older man spoke up from the corner "I am Gandalf, Gandalf the grey."
"Well you already know I'm Bofur." The hatted dwarf said from his seat at the table "This here is my cousin Bifur." He gestured to the dwarf next to him who grumbled something Benna couldn't understand.
"I'm Bombur."
"Dori," The dwarf beside her spoke up "and my brothers Ori and Nori." He said gesturing across the table.
"I am Balin."
"You're Dwalin's brother right?" She asked "He mentioned you on our journey!"
"Only the good things I hope." He replied with a smile.
"Oin." "Gloin!" The two dwarfs on the far side called out.
"Hello." Benna said politely.
"What's she saying?" Oin shouted.
"She said hello you deaf old bat. Use your horn!" Gloin yelled back to him.
"No I don't think the lass wants any corn." Oin said frowning.
"Horn!" One of the younger dwarves shouted from across the table "He said use your horn!". Leaning back down he smiled at Benna, holding her gaze for a moment "Fili at your service."
"Kili at your service!" The dwarf next to him said enthusiastically.
"And of course you have met Mr. Baggins already," Gandalf gestured to the hobbit "And allow me to introduce the leader of our company -Thorin Oakenshield."
The Dwarf at the head of the table inclined his head to her.
There was a beat of silence as everyone in the room looked at her expectantly. "Oh right! I'm Benna McCallium, it's great to meet all of you!" Benna said with a small wave.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, my dear why don't we find somewhere quiet to talk," The wizard smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder "Dwalin had given us a brief tail of you situation but I'd like to hear it again from you."
…
Gandalf puffed thoughtfully on his pipe "And you did not receive any injuries from this fall?"
"No nothing." Benna shook her head as Gandalf hummed deep in thought.
"Wait," She looked up suddenly, rolling up her sleeve "There is one thing!"
The wizard leaned forward with great interest, inhaling sharply as she showed him the mark on the inside of her arm. Gently he took her arm and examined it.
"How very interesting..." He murmured.
"What's interesting?" Dwalin rumbled from the door frame.
The wizard turned to look at him "I think it would be wise if your brother and Thorin were here as well." He said, returning this attention back to Benna.
"So what is it?" She asked as the wizard studied the mark again.
Gandalf looked up at her, his expression a strange mix of humor and reverence that she could not quite understand "Something all together unexpected."
The pair looked over as Dwalin returned, Balin and Thorin in tow.
"What is this about Gandalf?" Thorin asked, his voice taking a slight tone of irritation as his eyes flicked from Gandalf to Benna.
"If you do not mind." Gandalf gestured for her arm. She pushed the sleeve back up as the wizard turned her forearm towards them.
"What is that?" Balin asked leaning closer.
"That Balin is the mark of the Valar." Gandalf turned to Benna "My dear girl I do not believe you survived that fall."
Benna gave him a strange look "But I'm right here, alive and well. I barely have a scratch on me!"
She looked over to Dwalin as if to confirm that she was in fact still sitting in front of them.
"Speak plainly." Dwalin grunted looking between the wizard and Benna
Gandalf sighed patting her hand thoughtfully "Moving between worlds is not something that can be done by the living. You died on that mountain side in your world. It would seem however that the Valar saw it fit to bring you back to life here. That mark on your arm is proof."
"But why?" Benna shook her head, unsure if she should laugh or cry.
The wizard leaned back in his chair "I believe you were sent to help on this quest."
"No." Thorin scowled cutting him off, jabbing a finger in Benna's direction "Return her to her homeland. Your hobbit is enough of a burden to carry on this quest, now you wish to add this girl?"
Benna shot the dwarf a glair, opening her mouth to tell him where exactly he could shove his quest when Gandalf cut her off.
"Thorin Oakenshield are you really so foolish as to attempt to meddle in the will of the Valar?" Gandalf stood, his voice rising as he loomed over the dwarf kind "That mark on her arm is proof that she has been sent here to help us. Besides," He continued his voice now holding a hint of mischief "I cannot send her back to her world even if I wanted to. She died before coming here, she cannot go back."
Thorin gave the wizard a pained look before sighing deeply "I will not be responsible for her. Her death will be on your head."
Gandalf nodded
"Very well Balin get another contract."
The wizard's words finally clicked in Benna's head "So wait I can't go back to my world?"
Gandalf shook his head "No my dear, I'm afraid not."
She looked over at Dwalin and much their surprise started laughing.
"What's so funny lass?" Balin asked cautiously wondering if it had all proved too much for the girls sanity.
Benna grinned, her green eyes flashing mischievously "Your brother made an oath to me when we were traveling, that he would guard and watch over me until I could go back to my world."
"So?" Thorin looked between the two.
"So I can't ever go back to my world which means…." There was a loud groan as Dwalin finally put the pieces together. "Looks like your oath is going to last a bit longer than you thought." Benna laughed as she left the room.
"Mahal preserve me." Dwalin groaned even louder, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sunk further into his chair.
...
Benna followed the sounds of raucous laughter back to the dining room, taking Thorin's vacated seat at the head of the table. She glanced around the table as leaned over to grab a plate, noting that the dwarves were watching her with great interest.
"So you're coming with us then?" Fili asked, looking at her over the rim of his mug.
Benna paused for a moment giving him a sideways look "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop?"
"Oh aye she did, but lucky for us Nori's did not!" Kili grinned slapping Nori on the back "You'll have to do better than a shut door to keep his prying ears away."
The pointy haired dwarf merely shrugged and went back to eating.
"Tea Lady. McCallium?" Dori asked placing a cup in front of her.
"Oh thank you!" Benna smiled wrapping her hands around the warm cup "But just call me Benna, lady sounds a bit too regal for me."
"So did you really die then?" Nori asked, leaning in. Just as she opened her mouth to reply she was cut off by Dori smacking him across the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for?"
"You can't just ask her about something like that!" Dori frowned "Its personal!"
Benna shrugged "I don't mind. If what Gandalf says is true then yes I did die before I came here."
Fili leaned in closer to her his voice dropping a bit "Can I see it? The Valar's mark?"
She nodded holding her arm out to him. He took her arm almost reverently, his fingers warm against her skin. Benna suppressed a shiver as he lightly traced the rune.
"Thats it then?" Gloin asked looking over her shoulder "Doesn't seem like much."
Ori leaned in as well pulling out a large notebook "What was it like?"
"I don't really know," Benna said, shaking her head "I remember slipping from the trail and then I woke up here."
Ori nodded, scribbling furiously in the book. He looked like he was about to ask another question but stopped as Thorin and the others joined them.
"Get some sleep all of you," Thorin said sternly "We leave at first light".
…
Morning came once again far too early for Benna's liking, grumbling as Dwalin pounded on the door of the guest room. "Come on Bennna, we've let you sleep as long as possible everyone's almost ready to leave!"
She slid from the bed pulling on pants and a shirt from her bag, before stuffing a few stray items back into the pack and shouldering it. Another knock sounded on the door.
Benna growled irritably, flinging open the door to see Balin standing in the hall smiling at her. "My brother said you might fall back asleep so he charged me with making sure you were awake and ready."
She smiled sleepily "This is about as ready as I get."
She followed the older dwarf down the hall and out the door to where the rest of the company stood strapping luggage and tack to the ponies.
"And here I thought we would have had to drag you from that bed. You were sleeping like the dead!" Dwalin laughed, taking her bag from her, strapping it in place on the waiting pony.
"That's rich from the guy who was asleep for over a day not too long ago!" Benna snorted and she hauled herself onto the pony.
"Move out!" Thorin called from the dead of the line spurring his pony forward, the others following in kind.
"Where's Bilbo?" Benna asked looking around the company.
"He did not wake this morning, nor did he sign his contract. I do not think he will be joining us" Fili shrugged as he brought his pony up beside her.
"Oh but Gandalf seems to think he will show, he bet three gold on it!" Kili said coming up on the other side "Care to join in the wager?"
Benna thought for a moment "I think Bilbo will come." She reached into her bag and tossed two coins at Kili
"Did you hear that lads, our lady here has faith that our hobbit will come!" Kili called out, prompted a chorus of 'not a chance' and 'he might show'
Not a few moments after the muttering died off a shout rang out from behind them.
"Wait I signed it!" Bilbo called panting as he came to a halt in front of them.
He handed the sign contract to Balin who looked it over carefully. "Welcome master Baggins to the company for Thorin Oakenshield!"
Thorin sighed "Get him a pony."
Just as Bilbo began to protest Fili and Kili rode up beside him, hauling him onto the open pony.
"Don't look so tense Bilbo!" Benna chuckled, looking at the hobbit's deep frown as he held the ponies reigns "It's not going to bite you."
"Aye the lass is right," Gloin called back "They can sense when a rider is tense!"
"Here," Benna said riding up to Bilbo, taking his reins in one hand "loosen your grip."
"Thank you Miss. Benna." The hobbit sniffed, still eying the pony with trepidation.
"You need to relax Bilbo." She chided.
"I do not think I shall relax while I am on this beast!" He cried tensing as the pony shifted beneath him.
"What about a game?" Benna suggested "To take your mind off things."
"A game?" Fili asked riding closer, curiosity now peaked "What kind of game?"
"It's called I spy.." She started only to be cut off as Dwalin groaned.
"Not this again".
...
Fili, Kili, and Bilbo proved to be much more enthusiastic about 'I spy' than Dwalin had. After they had exhausted everything there was to spy Benna moved on to the 'alphabet game' which drew Ori and Nori into playing. Finally the sun began to dip in the sky and Thorin called for them to stop for the night. She shifted in her saddle trying to get feeling back into her legs before she tried to dismount.
"Are you alright?" Fili asked pausing to look at her as he unloaded the ponies.
"I think my legs have gone numb," She admitted sheepishly "I don't want to fall flat on my back trying to get off."
"Here let me help," He said walking over. "Just swing your leg over and I'll catch you if needed."
Benna gave her leg one last shake before swinging it over the saddle. Triumphantly she reached the ground only for her leg to cramp as she took a step towards her pack. Fili caught her under the arms just as she began to fall, hauling her back to her feet.
"See," He smiled down at her, "I told you I'd catch you. Why don't you go sit down, I will take care of your bags."
She nodded gratefully before walking sorely over to the camp.
"Here lass come have a seat!" Bofur called, waving her over to where he sat with his cousin. "Riding got ya a bit weak in the legs?" He asked as she eased herself down next to Bifur.
"I think it might be less painful to cut them off at this point." Benna groaned, rubbing her sore legs. From beside her Bifur spoke to her, gesturing as he talked. She looked at him confused "I'm sorry I don't understand."
"It's not your fault lass. Bifur here had a run in with an orc ax many years ago." Bofur said with a sad smile "Now he can only speak the dwarven tongue Khuzul and Iglishmek."
"What's Iglishmek?" Benna asked as Bifur gestured again from beside her.
"Secrete Dwarven hand speak." Bofur clarified.
"Oh!" she said, watching as he gestured to her again "We have something similar in my world." She said smiling at him. She made a short sweeping gesture up her chest with her hands "This means what's up….. It's kind of like a way of asking how are you". Bifur repeated the action back to her, "I'm sore." She laughed. "I don't know a lot of signs but I can show you some basics if you'd like. It will be a boring journey if we can't even have a conversation with each other now wont it?"
The dwarfs' eyes lit up and he nodded his head furiously.
She was still practicing with Bifur when Bombour's cheery call of "Dinner!'' sounded through the camp.
Benna rose stiffly and wandered over to the fire where Bombur handed her a bowl of stew.
"That's a nice thing you're doing there lass," He said quietly "Bifur gets anxious being around new people, especially when he can't communicate with 'em."
Benna smiled "Hopefully I'll pick up some Khuzul as we go. I don't know enough signs to really be of any use."
"I'm sure any of the lads here would be willing to help ya learn." She nodded taking the bowl of stew back to her seat before scarfing it down.
Benna gave a yawn as she put her bowl in the pile of dishes, making her way over to where Fili and Kili sat against the rock face smoking their pipes. She yawned again, plopping down on the ground next to them.
"Tiring out on us already there Benna?" Kili asked, blowing out a puff of smoke.
"Listen after dying only to get resurrected in a strange world and then get dragged on a quest by a bunch of strangers, I think I deserve a pass to be tired!" She huffed.
The brothers chuckled.
"Aye I suppose that could be tiring." Fili said looking at her through the faint haze of smoke.
The peace of the evening was cut off by a shriek echoing in the forest.
"What was that?" Bilbo gasped, jerking to his feet.
"Orcs" Fili replied grimly.
"There'll be dozens of them out there." Kili added "They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams just lots of blood".
Benna felt her whole body tense, instantly looking around the camp for Dwalin, as the memory of the creature's dark menacing eyes glinting as they had stalked towards her were brought to the front of her mind. Her thoughts were broken as she heard the brothers begin to chuckle behind her. Her head snapped back to look at them.
Fili looked away from his brother as he felt her shift, his laughter dying off as he saw the look of fear on her face.
"You think that's funny?" Thorin growled "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"
The brothers lowered their heads at their uncle's ire.
"We didn't mean anything by it.'' Kili said quietly.
"No you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin snapped at him, stalking off across the camp.
Balin shook his head "Don't mind him laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs.."
Benna listened intently as Balin told the story of Moria, watching as his eyes grew misty as he spoke. The camp was silent as Balin concluded his grim story.
"What happened to the pale orc?" Bilbo asked warily.
"He slunk back into the caves from whence he came. He died of his wounds long ago" Thorin spat as he rejoined the company. "Nori take the first watch, Gloin will relieve you in a few hours. The rest of you get some sleep, we leave at first light."
One by one the dwarves began to set out their bed rolls, some reading or carrying hushed conversations as they prepared for sleep. Benna retrieved her sleeping bag from her pack and laid it out by a large rock. Even if it had been a joke, she knew the threat of orcs was a real one and felt on edge having her back to the open forest.
She settled back looking up at the night sky. Her peace was interrupted as Fili and Kili flung their bed rolls down on either side of her.
She propped herself up, scowling at them "Find somewhere else to sleep."
"We're sorry Benna honestly." Kili said in an unusually subdued voice "We got carried away."
"Aye it wasn't right of us." Fili shook his head "We would never let anything happen to you."
She looked between the two of them for a moment before sighing "Damn it, you guys really make it hard to stay mad at you."