An Unexpected Companion
Chapter 12
Out of the Frying Pan
Wargs. That's what the beasts were called. To Tiki, though, they were the largest wolves she had ever seen. Even larger than the half-man, half-canine people that once dwelled thick in the lands of Valentia and Archanea. She had no doubt that these beasts would be as large as Panne in her Taguel form.
Their size, speed, and ferocity managed to give her pause. Under normal circumstances, she would not have been cowed so easily. However, these were not normal circumstances.
The company of Thorin Oakenshield had their backs to a cliff. A dangerous precipice sat behind them, with only a few trees and boulders standing between them and a long fall to their deaths. The Wargs pressed forward, careful to avoid the sharp edges of Dwarven blades and axes. Tiki stood shoulder to shoulder with Oin and Gloin. The two older dwarves snarled as they shuffled backward. The manakete did her best to look imposing as well, but she had a feeling she wasn't doing a good job.
Her head swam. She was still concussed from her fall, and she knew it. Only pure adrenaline kept her going in the darkness of the mountain, and all of that adrenaline wore off when she ended her transformation. Now, all that remained was the heavy weariness that accompanied the use of her full powers. It threatened to claim her, close her eyes, and put her to slumber.
But she could not sleep. Not now. The dwarves needed her. Gandalf needed her. Bilbo, wherever he was, needed her.
Where is he?
She flicked her eyes around, failing to spot the small hobbit among the fallen trees, moss-covered logs, and large boulders. A pit formed in her stomach. Did he not make it out of the mountain? Did the goblins and orcs get him already? Was one of the wargs going to approach her with a bloody muzzle and a torn, green coat between its teeth?
If so, she may unleash again, if only to let her wrath be fully known. Other than Gandalf, Bilbo was the only true friend she had made since arriving in Middle Earth. The Elves, particularly Elrond, viewed her with immense wariness. The dwarves looked at her with suspicion and mild disdain, at least the older ones. The younger ones like Ori, Kili, and Fili treated her well enough, but they followed their elders and kept her at arm's length for being "elvish". If they knew what she really was, they may not be so kind.
Bilbo did not judge her though. He was fascinated by her, always asking questions about her homeland, about herself, about history and culture. He might be a bit stiff, but so were many of her old friends in Ylisse, and she still loved them for who they were. Her heart ached as she thought of the Shepherds. The ones she failed to save from Grima. The ones who were still fighting an unwinnable war without her.
She might not be able to save them, yet, but she could save the dwarves and Bilbo. She just had to hope the little hobbit was still alive. For now, there were orcs to fight.
A warg snapped its jaws as its rider urged it closer. Tiki snarled in reply, jabbing her ax forward to force the beast back. Vile, beady eyes glowed with immense hatred at her from within the warg's hairy skull. Her lips curled back, and she allowed her fangs to briefly emerge. The orc atop the warg hissed, chittered, then scampered back with its mount. He saw her teeth, and he looked perplexed. Even afraid.
"Gundabad orcs," Oin shook beside Tiki. "No amount of teeth-gnashing is going to make them back off."
"They aren't cowardly like goblins," Gloin muttered.
"But they die the same!" Dwalin bellowed. He beat his chest. "Come, you cretins! Come meet my ax!"
A roar of agreement sounded from the other dwarves, but it sounded so pathetic when the wargs howled a hideous song in reply. The only dwarf who did not roar was Thorin. He remained focused solely on the enemy, the blade he found in the troll cave, Orcrist, pointed at the closest Warg rider.
"Stay together!" Gandalf barked. "Do not drift apart!"
"What I would give for a bow and arrow right about now," Kili gulped.
"What I would give for a way off this cliff," Fili grimaced. "I never thought I'd say that about a mountain."
"Better to die where a dwarf ought to be laid to rest than to meet an end in a stinking forest," Dwalin muttered.
Bifur snapped out a bunch of gibberish Tiki could not understand. The language was harsh. Dwarvish, perhaps? She shook her head. It didn't matter. She had to admire the dwarves for their courage, but courage would only get them so far. Their only option right now was to fight their way out, but the enemy possessed the advantage in manpower, energy, and mobility.
A small snort left Tiki. Where are you when I need you, Robin.
A sharp pain hit her heart. Robin… she had thought of him several times, but this was the first time she truly pondered his loss. She did not know what happened to him back home. She couldn't recall. She did know that thinking about him suddenly made her feel though. For a moment, her heart felt like it was tearing in two, and it caused a tear to bubble in her eye.
I couldn't save him either… could I?
Right as her melancholy reached its peak, a warg lunged at Oin. Tiki snarled, gathered the strength she had left, and swung her ax in a savage stroke. The head bit into the warg's jaws. The beast growled, not even flinching from the devastating blow. Her ax stuck in its leathery hide. Tiki gasped as she couldn't wrench it free. The orc on the Warg's back moved for the kill.
Only for something invisible to hit it from the side. Tiki's eyes widened when she watched a little blue dagger plunge into the Orc's chest once, killing it. Gloin finished off the warg, but she hardly noticed. She could only stare at the floating dagger as it hopped off the orc.
She smelled it in the air next. A warm scent, like honey and warm bread. Only one creature she had encountered had that smell, even after weeks of hard traveling.
"Bilbo…" She whispered.
An orc trained on the floating dagger. Tiki gasped. Without thinking twice, she broke ranks, rushed for the floating dagger, and reached out. Her hand grasped an invisible coat. She wrenched back, pulling the body away. Right as she did, Bilbo appeared. He was tugging something off his finger as she pulled him back.
Whatever relief Tiki had at seeing Bilbo was quickly stifled when unbearable, burning pain flooded her midsection. Her gaze shivered down. A jagged blade dug into her stomach, twisting through her abdomen.
All of her strength evaporated when a tall, imposing, pale orc in front of her wrenched the blade free. Her eyes went wide as she staggered back, struggling to stay standing as her knees knocked and her legs trembled.
Her hearing was dull, but she did hear one dwarf, in particular, utter a near-feral yell as the pale orc towered over her. It raised its arm. Tiki stared stunned as she realized the orc only had one good arm. The other was cut off at the elbow, the appendage replaced by a jagged blade. The orc gave her a sinister smile as it smelled her blood.
Right as it moved in to finish her off, Thorin stepped in the way, raising his oak branch he used as a shield to block the killing strike. The pale orc laughed in glee. Tiki was never the prize he wanted. He wanted the dwarf prince.
The dwarves' line broke, but not because they were routed. Thorin's charge, Bilbo's courage, and Tiki's actions spurred them into action. Dwalin and Balin led the way, swinging their weapons hard into the closest orcs to them. Gloin and Bifur were right behind them, slashing through a pair of wargs as they rushed to support their leader. Gandalf joined them, his blade, Glamdring, a whirlwind of steel while his staff bashed in the skulls of any orcs that dared try to get too close.
Thorin, meanwhile, held off the pale orc. The monster bashed and battered Thorin, tossing him to and fro with savage strikes meant to take the dwarf off his feet. But, Thorin stayed standing, and he refused to be moved from in front of Tiki and Bilbo. He took the attack, doing everything he could to shield them. Despite all his efforts, the Prince could not withstand the assault forever.
With a snarl and a devastating slash, the pale orc knocked Thorin to the ground, leaving the dwarf prince dazed. Tiki wanted to move to help but found herself falling to her back instead, her blood seeping through her red tunic, staining her fingers as she clutched the wound.
This was new for her. She hadn't been wounded like this before. She had always been too strong, too tough thanks to her draconic heritage, for normal weapons to do much harm to her. A good wyrmslayer would injure her, but a simple orcish blade? It made no sense.
Except my powers are empty after the balrog… Fear clenched Tiki's heart. I need… I need sleep. Naga, I need sleep.
The sounds of battle grew softer. She was fading. Her eyes looked up to a darkening sky. A fire broke out nearby, sending embers into the night. Her vision grew blurry, until each spark around her appeared like a flickering light, like fireflies dancing around her. There were more shouts, but she couldn't decipher any of the words.
As her vision grew blurrier, she saw Dori and Bilbo stooped over her, with Dori working fervently on her wound while Bilbo tried to help. The burning pain that swarmed her body was turning numb.
It's cold…
The fringes of her vision turned black. As she began to slip out of consciousness, Tiki swore she saw dark wings flapping over her head. Massive wings. She didn't know what they were, only that they were coming down for her.
Then all went silent.
The countryside around Ylisstol was beautiful during summertime. Wildflowers of all colors blossomed and bloomed, painting the green plains with a myriad of colors that were breathtaking to witness. Even at three thousand years old, the sight of the tall grass rolling like waves on the ocean as flowers floated among the ripples stole Tiki's breath away.
She reached down, her hands brushing through the soft grass that grew to her hips. The pink dress she wore rippled and flowed as a warm summer breeze whipped past her, causing her loose, emerald hair to flutter around her. She closed her eyes, letting nature brush against her and soothe her mind.
"A beautiful day, isn't it?"
Tiki's eyes fluttered open as a warm hand wrapped around her own. She glanced down, smiling at the pale fingers that held her with a tender touch. She was the only one he didn't wear gloves around. He didn't mind her seeing the Brand of the Defile marring the back of his hand.
"Summers always are," she replied, looking up into Robin's amber eyes, "at least, that's what everyone keeps insisting to me."
"It still amazes me that you hadn't seen a Ylissean summer in hundreds of years," Robin replied with a light laugh. "How many have you enjoyed now? Three? Four?"
"Five now, love," Tiki replied, a smile cracking over her lips. "Or is it more? I can't quite recall."
"Neither can I," Robin replied, his voice so soft and comforting as it slipped into Tiki's ears, making her heart flutter. "Gods, it feels like yesterday I met you for the first time, atop the Mila Tree."
"Rescuing me from my dastardly captors in Walhart the Conqueror and his minion General Cervantes," Tiki snickered. "Shaving that poor man's wonderful mustache."
"I recall taking more than his mustache when we finally faced him," Robin hummed, rubbing his chin.
Tiki shook her head and gave his chest a light pat, her fingers briefly digging into the soft, linen material of Robin's white shirt. She turned, facing him, her eyes flicking up to stare into his own.
No one else in her long life had ever made her feel the way Robin did. She always carried a girlish crush on Marth, from her youth, and she did have a lover or two over the thousands of years she lived. But, none made her heart thump in her chest like this. None made her feel so… normal. It was strange to think that was what she desired most. So many people in the world, from Valm to Archanea, worshiped her as a divine oracle. Yet, she wanted none of that.
Robin saw her as a stunning woman and a friend, and that mindset allowed their relationship to blossom from a close friendship to something much more. Robin did not treat her delicately just because she could commune with Naga. He did not treat her with reverence because of her status as one of the last living Manaketes. He did those things purely because he loved her.
That was all Tiki could ask for from him.
"Tiki…" Robin breathed as their foreheads touched.
Her eyes closed as she drank in his scent. He smelled like ink, and the pages of an old tome, with hints of herbs from potion work alongside Miriel, Tharja, and Henry. She wanted to remember it forever. It brought her more comfort than any amount of sleep or chats with Naga could.
Their fingers interlocked. Tiki raised her chin and felt her lips brush against Robin's. However, as soon as they touched, something flashed through her mind. An image, violent and bright. An eye, wreathed in flame.
Her heart jumped. Pain flooded her stomach. She gasped, lips trembling, hovering close to Robin's as he stayed frozen in front of her. Reality crashed into her mind as she watched the sun grow dark behind Robin. It did not set. It was shrouded away by a shadow that swallowed the light and plunged her home into permanent darkness. Ash fell from the sky, choking the fields of wildflowers and killing the verdant sea of grass.
Six feathered wings, black as midnight, soared over Ylisstol. The city turned from a shimmering light on a hill to ruins engulfed in fire. The dead swarmed over the walls.
Robin turned to ash in front of her, an icy breeze carrying him away. Fear and grief swelled in her heart as she grasped at the ashes on the wind, trying to will them to stay together, to no avail. A voice whispered in the back of her mind, like a sweet poison, making her shake.
"So, this is what happened to you, stranger from Archanea."
Tiki gasped. A thin film of sweat covered her skin as she shivered, trembling on a bed of branches and twigs. Her fingers clawed at the strange ground as her bleary vision hid her surroundings. Panic made her heart pound. Before she could lash out, a gentle hand rested against her shoulder.
"Calm yourself, Tiki," Gandalf said, his voice soothing, yet commanding. In an instant, Tiki's racing mind slowed. She gasped, falling back as her vision cleared. "You've had quite the ordeal."
Tiki turned her head and looked at the old wizard. He sat on a makeshift bench made of a large log amid what Tiki could only describe as an enormous bird's nest. She smelled smoke from a small fire, as well as the savory scent of meat on a spit. Her mouth watered, but when her stomach growled, pain flooded her. She groaned, curling on her side even as Gandalf's gentle hand brushed her shoulder.
"There, there," he said. Tiki felt warm power flood her body, soothing the sharp burning in her gut, "rest easy, my friend. There is no need to be startled or afraid. You are in safe company now."
Tiki uttered a shaky exhale. After gathering her bearings, she forced herself to sit upright. Tight bandages wrapped around her stomach and chest. A blanket helped cover her modesty. She looked around, spying her tunic torn and bloodied, but neatly folded, nearby. A blue robe sat folded beside it.
"What happened?" She croaked, her throat scratchy and dry, making her voice hoarse.
A grim look formed on Gandalf's face. "We lost you, albeit briefly. If not for Bilbo and Oin's quick work, you would have passed on to the next life."
Tiki's heart tightened. A ragged gasp tumbled from her lungs. She wiped her eyes with her hands, groaning.
"The others?" She asked. "Bilbo, Thorin?"
"Alive and well, as far as I'm aware," Gandalf replied, reaching into his robes for his pipe. He lit a flame on his finger and then ignited the pipeweed at the end of the pipe. After taking a long puff of smoke, he nodded at Tiki. "Thorin was not keen on waiting for you to wake. Now, he did stay for two days, but you've been unconscious for five, and Durin's day approaches."
Some disappointment filled Tiki, not directed at Thorin, but at herself.
"I should've known better than to do something stupid," she muttered. "I pushed myself past my limits."
"We all did, Tiki. There is no need to be so hard on yourself," Gandalf gently replied. "If not for my friend Gwaihir, we would all have met a terrible fate. So, do not blame yourself. Assistance is needed, even for the strongest of us."
"Gwaihir?"
A loud screech sounded above her. Tiki looked up and blinked in amazement as a massive eagle dropped from the sky, landing softly on the edge of the enormous nest. It ruffled its feathers and chirped at Gandalf.
"Yes, I know you do not appreciate open flames in your nest, Gwaihir, but Tiki prefers to have more carnivorous eating habits, as I'm sure you can understand. However, unlike you, she prefers her meat well done. Right?"
"Medium rare, but well-done works fine as well," Tiki muttered, her mouth-watering as she spotted a hunk of what looked like beef cooking over a small fire nearby.
"Ah, well, then it should be ready," Gandalf waved a hand, and the fire went out. "See? No harm done in the end, Gwaihir."
The massive eagle titled its head then shrugged its wings. Its large, inquisitive eyes focused on Tiki. Somehow, the bird made her feel so small, even though she could grow to equal its size in her draconic form.
Tiki gasped. "My dragonstone!"
"Safe and sound," Gandalf reached into a pouch on his belt and withdrew the small, pale gemstone. Tiki immediately snatched it from him, causing his brow to furrow. "Tiki, what happened in the Misty Mountains?"
Tiki's throat tightened. She remembered the darkness, the goblins surrounding her, shadow and flame, Durin's Bane. Her desperate flight in a frantic escape from the underground hell she wound up in, followed by her pure exhaustion and then near death at the hands of the orcs on wargs.
"I transformed out of necessity," she explained, "not realizing that it would drain me so severely. It was… stupid of me."
"I'd hardly describe something done out of necessity as stupid. A tad foolish, perhaps, but stupidity?" Gandalf shook his head. "You were well aware of what you needed to do. But, I must ask, what would cause you to assume your other form? Goblins?"
Tiki shook her head. "They tempted me, and I was about to, but something else intervened in the darkness."
Gandalf's brow furrowed. Tiki shivered.
"Gandalf," Tiki exhaled, "is there a city in the Misty Mountains?"
A grave look formed on Gandalf's face. "Moria," he replied. "The lost dwarven realm of Khazad-Dum."
Tiki wearily nodded. "Then that's where I fell. There… I met Durin's Bane." Gandalf turned ashen. "We had a bit of a chat."
"What did you tell him?" Gandalf demanded, barely detectable panic lacing his voice.
Tiki gave Gandalf a curious look. "Nothing substantive. But, to escape him, I had to transform. I destroyed the exit in the process, so it couldn't follow me out. Still… I don't think any creature has unnerved me that much since I was last face to face with the Fell Dragon."
"But you did not reveal who you were, or what you were specifically?"
Tiki shook her head. When she did, relief flooded Gandalf's face. He puffed on his pipe and nodded.
"Why are you so worried about all of that?" She asked, making Gandalf take a long drag of smoke.
The wizard was silent for a moment as he stared past the edge of the nest east, toward the rising sun. Tiki followed his gaze. In the distance, she saw several rivers crossing across vast wetlands and plains. Beyond those plains, she saw one of the largest forests she had ever seen sprawling across the horizon. At the very edge of the forest, the silhouette of a mountain rose over the earth like a little tooth. The sight stole Tiki's breath away.
"The Lonely Mountain," she breathed. "We're close."
"The others will have to pass through Mirkwood to reach it, then make their way around Laketown and the ruins of Dale before they reach the mountain. They still have a long way to go."
Tiki whipped her gaze to Gandalf. "Then what are we waiting for? We need to catch up to them."
Gandalf reached out and sat her down before she could even try to stand.
"It is not our fate to join them at the Lonely Mountain. Not yet," Gandalf replied.
Tiki frowned. "I've suffered worse wounds."
"I doubt that considering this one nearly killed you," Gandalf countered. "However, I can see you're determined to get moving, and I know better than to argue with a lady such as yourself. There is a different task before us. One I'm hoping you can assist me with."
"And what is that?"
Gandalf's lips thinned. "It may have something to do with why I was so worried about what you revealed to Durin's Bane." His gaze turned to Mirkwood once again. "A darkness moves ahead of us. A shadow has descended upon Mirkwood. According to my friend, Radagast the Brown, a Necromancer has taken up residence in an abandoned fortress within the forest known as Dol Guldur." His gaze shifted back to Tiki. "The White Council has decided to investigate."
"So, they're sending you," Tiki surmised.
Gandalf nodded.
"Well, you're not going alone," Tiki pushed herself to her feet, a fridge wind from the misty mountains causing goosebumps to form across her skin. "If I cannot help Bilbo and the others reach the Mountain, then the least I can do is help you with this Necromancer."
A grateful smile creased Gandalf's lips. "I would be grateful for the assistance." He remained seated and gestured at the meat over the smoking remains of the campfire. "But first, you must eat. Then, when your strength is returned, we will make the long journey to Dol Guldur, with a little help from Radagast of course."
Tiki nodded. She reached for the meat over the fire, plucked the spit, and bit into her meal, savoring the charred skin and succulent juices washing over her palate. A low growl emanated from her throat, causing Gandalf to cough and choke on his smoke. Tiki offered him an apologetic, sheepish smile.
"Sorry. Old instincts."
Gandalf snorted. "Just make sure you don't do that around the others. Or have you already?"
"I was able to maintain some self-control, don't worry," Tiki replied with a small chuckle. She bit into her meal again. "So, what's Radagast like?"
Gandalf drew in a deep breath. "He's… a unique fellow. But he means well, and you won't find a more loyal friend."
Tiki smiled at that. Faint memories of the Shepherds hit her. Every single one of them was quirky and wacky in their own way. Even Robin. Her smile saddened.
"He sounds like my kind of person."
And chapter! Oooooooh, I can feel the old speed I had returning, and it's dangerous lol. I'm having an absolute blast with this story, especially now that I know where exactly I'm going with it. Needless to say, we're going to be dissecting this Tiki's past and personality a little bit, and it's going to be a real treat to do. I'm excited! And, we have a way to differentiate from the main story, with Tiki joining Gandalf on his side-quest away from Thorin's company. Don't worry, she'll get back to the others eventually, and it will be most amusing and epic when it does happen.
Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it. Have a nice day!
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