AN: Wow, you guys are really liking the daily updates, I've received more views in the last three/four days than I have in months. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum and continue to update. College is being nice to me for now, so I can stay up most nights and update. In fact, I've basically become nocturnal because night is the only time I can write without being disturbed.
Thanks to all of you who have followed and favorited this story, and even the ones who have just read it too!
Characters and Worlds belong to their respective owners (Tolkien and Bethesda) OC character and story ideas (mostly) belong to Demon-Kagetsuki who I recommend reading.
Rather than strap the young dwarf to a horse, Thorin had decided that they would make camp at the bend in the river. Brænna had rejoined the company, but steadfastly refused to meet any of their eyes, keeping her conversation curt and blunt. As they settled in for the night, the company realized in horror that the pack lost to the river had been the one carrying most of the food.
"We will have to ration what remains and eat what we can hunt," Thorin declared. "I am certain there is game in the woods, and we have capable hunters.
Taking this as a chance to talk to Odahviing, Brænna stood, and without a word, grabbed her bow and black cloak, and strode toward the tree line. Before Thorin could object, Kíli stood as well, declaring, "I should accompany her; it was my fault we lost the pack, and that we are now behind schedule. Also, I'm the only other one who knows how to use a bow for hunting," he said.
Brænna wanted to scream or groan, but she knew if she denied his help, she would look suspicious.
Thorin gritted his teeth, but, realizing that he had no choice but to have them both hunt, he couldn't argue. He shot Brænna a warning look, to which she rolled her eyes. Still, she waited for the Dwemer archer to join her before stalking into the woods. Without a word, the two slung their bows over their shoulders, and headed off into the forest.
Half an hour they wandered before finally finding the tracks of a decent sized deer. Soon after, Kíli decided to speak. "Listen, I know we didn't have the best of introductions-"
"Understatement," she muttered, before letting him continue.
"- But I could've sworn that it was you that I saw in Ered Luin. Despite that, I cannot deny that I am thankful for you saving my life," he continued, before sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "I'm pretty sure most of the company feels the same way, and are just too stubborn to say anything. Could we start over?" he asked.
Brænna looked up from the tracks, wary but hopeful. Seeing no dishonesty or deceit in his expression, she stood, giving him a small nod.
A relieved smile broke out on his face, and he said, "Then let me re-introduce myself. I am Kíli, son of Dís, and nephew to Thorin Oakenshield, at your service." He gave a comical bow, at which she chuckled politely.
"Well, that explains a lot," she said, shaking her head. "My name, as you know, is Brænna Stormcrown, Dragon-slayer and Archmage of the College of Winterhold," she bowed.
"What do you mean, 'explains a lot?'" he asked, a smile on his face.
"That you are Thorin's nephew. I should've seen the similarities when we met but I had other things on my mind," she answered, glancing back down at the tracks, trying to figure out a way to meet up with Odahviing without drawing attention.
Gesturing at the tracks, she said, "I've got a handle on this one, do you think we should split up? We will be able to cover more ground in search of food."
Nodding, no suspicion on his face, Kíli answered, "We should stay in earshot though. There could be anything in these woods, and one of us might catch something too big for one person to bring back.
She nodded in agreement, saying, "That sounds good to me. Should you run into trouble, yell and I will come running to save you… again," she teased.
"I'll hold you to it!" he called as he turned, running off in the opposite direction of the tracks.
As soon as he disappeared from her sight, the smile fell from her face as she pulled up her hood, walking further into the darkest part of the forest. Eventually, she found a clearing in the woods and sat down, hoping that it wouldn't take long for Odahviing to arrive.
"Odahviing, fly silent and secret, we have much to discuss," she whispered into the wind, knowing Odahviing would hear his name anywhere on Nirn.
Thankfully, she only had to wait a few minutes before a shadow fell on the clearing, the Dovah landing surprisingly quiet and gracefully for a creature of his size.
"Mal dov, I have been waiting for your call. My wings were getting stiff," the Dovah grumbled, quietly so his voice would not carry beyond the clearing as he laid down.
"Krosis, Fahdon, it was not my intention to make you wait so long, but we've run into a small problem," she explained, striding up and putting a hand on her friend's snout.
"Oh?" the Dovah asked, half-nuzzling into her palm.
"I was expecting only the wizard, but he neglected to explain that I would be travelling with a company. I thought I would only have to explain your presence to him, but I am travelling with a troop," she said, then laughed saying, "A troop mostly made of Dwemer, nonetheless. The Dovah I have to face has stolen their home, and so they are less fond of your kind than many others in the world."
"This is quite a problem, I agree. What would you have me do? Fly back to Keizaal?" Odahviing asked.
"Of course not! I don't wish to force you to stay, but I feel safer with you close at hand," she responded. "Besides, who knows how different the Dovah here are. You remember how difficult it was for me to fight the Serpentine Dovah on Solstheim. I do not wish to be unprepared again. I may be unable to die,but it doesn't make it any less unpleasant to be burned," she said, scratching him under the chin.
Odahviing grumbled in agreement before asking, "This Dovah, does he have a name?"
"Yes, I remember- I think it was something like Smoke? Smog? Smaug? Yes, that's what it was, Smaug," she replied.
Odahviing snarled, worryingly loudly, and she said, "I take it that you know this Dovah?" she asked, worried.
"Geh, I know him, but that is not his name. I am surprised to hear he lives since the coward went into hiding when the Dragon War began. He must have hidden here to protect himself," the crimson Dovah answered, clearly trying to suppress his anger. "I am ashamed to call him my kliinzeymah, my hatchmate. His true name is Sahthuriyol."
Brænna looked up in surprise. "He is your brother?"
"Geh, he is. This is troubling. If he has been alive since before the war, he has likely grown incredibly large and powerful, perhaps even more so than Alduin, since he has lived through the intervening years. We can only hope that my zeymah has not grown wise," Odahviing said.
Brænna felt nauseated at the thought of fighting a dragon more powerful than Alduin. She slumped down next to his side, trying not to panic.
"Krosis, if my news does not bode well. You have my claws and wings for the battle. I will stay and fight with you," Odahviing muttered, trying to comfort his friend.
Having gotten her breathing somewhat under control, Brænna answered, "Zu'u nox hi, Odahviing. I am glad to have you by my side." She turned around and pressed her forehead against the Dragon's warm neck scales.
In a rare show of affection, Odahviing pulled away before leaning down and blowing a puff of smoke into her face. "Tell me more about your zeymahzin. I would like to know what I am hiding from."
Groaning, Brænna responded, "These Dwemer are some of the most stubborn, pig-headed creatures I have ever met! Absolutely paranoid about everyone. You remember Ulfric, right? And how much he disliked Mer? Well they are worse!" she said, stomping around the glade.
Quickly, Odahviing learned the names of her many companions, their various flaws, (though some he believed were not so bad). "I do not envy you, Mal Dov,. It is for those same reasons why Dovah prefer to live in solitude from one another. Know well that if you need anything I am simply a call away. Still, I suggest you return to them, as much time has passed," he said, nudging her back the way she'd come from.
"I guess you're right," she said with a sigh as she stood. "And I still have to find some prey so I have something to show when I get back. Do you smell anything like a deer?" she asked.
Raising his head and taking a mighty breath, the Dovah's head snapped off to the right. "I believe we have company," he snarled.
In an instant, Brænna had an arrow nocked, searching the shadows for movement. "Out, now, and if you explain yourself, I might not have my friend here kill you," she said.
Hands raised above his head with a hateful expression on his face, who else but her raven-haired hunting companion stepped into the moonlight. Lowering her bow and glaring at the sky, Brænna cursed in old Nordic.
"The divines must hate me," she snarled before turning back to Kíli. "Well? What are you going to do now? Run off to your uncle and tell him you were right? That I am untrustworthy?" she growled.
"And let the Dragon burn me alive as I ran? I knew I was right about you. I knew that it was you that I saw!" Kíli spat back.
Trying to keep herself calm, she answered, "Odahviing will not attack you unless you give me sufficient reason to. You are perfectly safe in his presence exactly as you were in the forest when you ran off."
Trying to gauge his reaction, Brænna stared at the Dwemer as countless expressions flickered on his face. It would have been the understatement of the Age to say that she was shocked when he lowered his bow.
Tentatively, he asked, "Odahviing is his name?"
"It is," the dragon responded, raising his head to its greatest extent. "You may approach. As my Mal Dov said, I will not harm you if I do not detect ill intent."
Kíli walked forward slowly until he stood only a few yards away. He had grown up on stories his uncle had told about dragons, painting them as vicious, cruel, and unforgiving, yet here one stood in front of him, relaxed and observing him without open hostility. He turned toward Brænna only to see the exhausted expression on her face.
Keeping an eye on the dragon, he asked, "Are you all right?"
Instead of answering, she asked, "How long have you been hiding there?"
Unconsciously stepping forward more, he answered, "I heard rumbling, and came as fast as I could. When I saw you speaking with the Dragon, I hid. I heard everything from when the beast said that Smaug was his brother."
Sighing again, she said flatly, "So you heard my ranting about the company."
Shrugging, he answered, "I did take offense at parts, but based on our behaviour, you're not completely wrong. Still, that isn't the point- you've been hiding a damned Dragon!" he said, stabbing a finger at Odahviing.
"Watch yourself, Dilfahliil, (Dwemer)" growled Odahviing.
"And I will continue to keep him hidden as long as you keep your mouth shut. Since you've been eavesdropping, you heard he would be willing to fight his own kin in case Smaug wakes. Your friend may say that it is dead, but unless there is a draconic disease, Smaug is most certainly alive, and merely sleeping," Brænna informed him. "Not to mention, he may still have a mate and nest in the mountain."
"You expect me to keep this a secret from my Uncle?" he argued back, shocked at the prospect, and taking an involuntary step back.
"Yes, I do," she shot back before taking a deep breath and calming herself. "Look, I know that this has destroyed whatever small amount of trust you have gained in me, but you have to believe me when I say his presence here is a good thing. I could not have been more against Gandalf's choice in Bilbo joining the company, and I am certain, no matter how quick or light on his feet, Smaug will awaken. Do you really think the halfling will survive an encounter? Forget about me, Kíli, think of the Hobbit. I promise, I will tell the company when the time is right, but for now, please keep this just between us. It will be better in the long run, I swear it to you."
Clearly struggling with the decision, Kíli stared at her pleading face before letting out a defeated sigh. "Fine. But if I suspect you are lying to me about the Company's safety, I will have no choice but to defend my kin."
Brænna nearly fainted from the weight that was no longer on her shoulders, and she could barely stop herself from hugging the Dwemer in relief, stopped only by his upraised hands. "Don't worry, if you are in danger, I would fight alongside you, even against Odahviing."
"So… do I get a ride?" Kíli asked cheekily after he got over the shock of the Wood Elf attempting to hug him.
"I think not!" Odahviing said in a huff. Speaking purely in Dovahzul, he told Brænna, "I am not a horse, and it is bad enough that you have placed a saddle on me,"
Looking sidelong at Kíli, she answered, "Maybe, one day. For now, we must return to camp. It has been far too long since we left and they are most likely wondering where we are. Thorin may not be so understanding as you are, should a search party discover us with a Dragon," she answered, slinging her bow over her shoulder. "Did you happen to bring anything down?"
Kíli shrugged, answering, "There is the deer whose tracks we were following. I took it down not long before rushing over here."
"Good. Hopefully that will excuse our lateness," she answered before turning to Odahviing. "I will try calling for you again when it is safe. I hope it will be a little bit easier now that I have someone on the inside to cover for me. Fey tirahk, lokzeymah."
"Follow your own advice, little dragon. I also thank you, Dwemer, for keeping my existence unknown," Odahviing responded, before leaping into the air to find a good hiding place.
There was a moment of silence shared between Brænna and Kíli as they watched the Dovah fly.
"I am placing a lot of trust in you," she said, walking toward the treeline. "Please, do not make me regret it."
"You have my word as a Durin," he answered. "The deer isn't far, let's not make them wait any longer.
They walked in a comfortable silence and managed to find the deer before any scavengers approached. Brænna made quick work of cleaning it, taking out all of the unwanted pieces as Kíli stood guard against any opportunistic predators.
"So… what language was that?" he asked, staring off into the trees."
"Dovahzul," she grunted, tearing out a particularly stringy bit of fat. "The language of Dragons. Difficult to master and understand. It took me centuries of research to speak it fluently."
Taking his eyes off the trees, he glanced at her in shock. "Centuries? Exactly how old are you?" he asked.
Giving him a hard look, with just enough of a smile to know she was teasing, she asked, "Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age?"
Giving her an embarrassed blush, finding himself unable to look into her red eyes, he changed the subject saying, "Sorry. What was it that he called me? Dilfahliil?"
Snorting, she said, "Your accent is atrocious. It's nothing to be offended by, it just means Dwarf," she said, finishing the last of the cleaning. "Here, we should start lugging this back."
She'd wrapped the venison neatly in the skin, and now she slung it over her shoulder, beginning the trek back to the company. Catching up, Kíli teased, "Well, not all of us can spend that amount of time learning a language that nobody speaks here. Also… how did you know what to do when I was… drowning? Nobody I've heard of has used the method you used," he said, blushing again.
"I didn't mean anything by our lips meeting, it was just a way to get air into your lungs," she said, before giving him a hard look. "Don't get any ideas," she warned him, before turning back to their path. "You tend to learn a lot of lifesaving things when your children are running around getting into trouble."
A heavy silence fell over the two of them as she realized what she had said. Hunching her shoulders under the pretense of shifting the weight of the meat, she tried to hide her face from his view. Kíli studied her expression, seeing the pain on her face. Softly, he asked, "Children?"
"Adopted," she said simply. "Orphans of a civil war in my homeland," she explained, refusing to meet his questioning eyes. "I found them abandoned in the cities, sleeping outside and nearly freezing to death. I took them in when nobody else would."
After a moment, and hoping he wasn't going to be shut down or scolded, he asked, "What were their names?"
Brænna smiled sadly, imagining the voices of her children again. "Sofia and Lucia. My little flower girls," she answered. "Sofia would always bring me something fresh from the kitchen, and Lucia would always bring me things she had found exploring the woods around our home."
"And where are they now?"
"Long gone. Sofia married an old friend of hers named Lars and started a family in Whiterun, while Lucia married the son of an old friend of mine," Brænna answered. "They married, had children of their own, and grew old with their spouses," she said, remembering the funeral services, first Lucia, then Sofia, eight years later.
Kíli sensed that she no longer wanted to talk on the subject, which was well timed as Brænna announced their arrival to the rest of the company. He saw a mask of aloofness and indifference fall over her face, hiding her true emotions and thoughts. He'd never noticed it before, but now that she had opened up to him, its existence was painfully obvious. While he was happy that she'd trusted him with her secret companion, and was opening up to him, he was still disappointed that she felt she needed to hide her true self from the group. He felt that she was actually a pleasant friend, and hoped that eventually, the others would be able to see that. He already knew some of the group at least had respect for her, despite her heritage.
Speaking of the rest of the group, how in Mahal's name was he going to hide what he'd found out from Fíli? His elder brother was too observant, especially when it came to Kíli.
I'll just have to redirect him, Kíli thought as they reached the clearing.
"Finally. I was able to send out a search party," Thorin said, placing his hands on Kíli's shoulders.
Walking past, her aloofness and indifference having changed to irritation, Brænna said, "Thank you for your concern, but it was unnecessary to worry," she said as she laid the skin and venison on a log someone had pushed near the fire. "The deer here are much cleverer than in Skyrim. You have your nephew to thank for the catch."
Turning back toward the group, Thorin patted his nephew on the shoulder absently. "We heard rumbling from the forest. You wouldn't have had anything to do with that, would you?" he all but accused.
Brænna snorted. "There's a storm brewing in the north," she said. "Can't you smell it? What you heard was probably thunder."
Not fully believing her, he turned to the rest of the group. "Bombur, prepare the meat. All of you, eat when it is ready, and get plenty of rest. We travel quickly and far, tomorrow. Fíli, Kíli, you have the first watch. Nori, Dori, you the second, and Bifur and Bofur have the third."
During the whole discussion, Gandalf remained completely oblivious, pondering both the road ahead, and the mask Brænna had dropped on the riverbank, which he had hidden in the folds of his robe.
It was late at night, and the only ones awake were Gandalf, Bilbo, Brænna, Fíli and Kíli. The half-Mer had already inspected her swords to make sure they were fully charged and completely sharpened. She was going through her ingredients pouch, throwing anything away that had withered or otherwise become useless, when she saw Bilbo get up and walk over to his pony. She smiled at the Hobbit's complete lack of subtlety as he fed/bribed the pony he had begun to call Myrtle, then frowned, doubting Gandalf for his choice of burglar. Even the most novice of thieves in the Ragged Flagon were stealthier than the Halfling.
Immediately, she was on her feet, swords in hand as she heard a scream pierce the air. Looking out away from the fire she scanned the horizon for danger, completely on edge.
She heard someone whisper harshly, "What was that?"
"Orcs," Kíli responded.
Another scream rent the air before Bilbo whimpered. "Orcs?"
"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them," Fíli answered.
"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood."
Having determined the 'Orcs' were far enough away not to cause an issue, Brænna sheathed her swords and gave the brothers a hard look. Clearly, they were having fun at Bilbo's expense, and she was just about to scold them when Thorin growled, "You think that's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"
The rest of the company began stirring, wondering what the commotion was when Kíli defended, "We didn't mean anything by it."
"No you didn't," Thorin spat back as he strode to the edge of the cliff to look over the valley, also searching for signs of Orcs nearby. "You know nothing of the world."
Brænna stayed quiet, knowing that if she said anything about being Blood-Kin to the Orc Tribes of Skyrim, she would never gain the trust of the company. It was strange how they were described here. The followers of Malacath were showy with their strength and ferocity, but were mostly civil with the people of Skyrim.
She glanced at Kíli who seemed hurt by his uncle's comment and gave him a look of sympathy as Balin walked between the Durin brothers.
"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria, but our enemy had got there first.
"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs, led by the most vile of all their race. Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin," the white-bearded Dwemer continued. "He began… by beheading the king."
Shuddering, Balin continued, saying, "Thrain, Thorin's father was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us."
Brænna shuddered at the description of what was no doubt a large and bloody battle. Memories of the Civil War clouded her mind, and she flinched at the memories of decisions she'd made in those battles. Shaking her head, she was curious about the type of Orc Balin described, but had no desire to meet him.
"That is when I saw him," Balin said, looking up toward where Thorin stood at the cliff's edge. "A young Dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Azog the Defiler learned that day, that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken." The rest of the camp was fully awake and listened to the end of Balin's tale. "Our forces rallied, and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few, had survived. Still, I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call king."
Turning back toward the camp, Thorin noticed that all the dwarves had risen, standing in respect. She herself had gained a new appreciation of the leader she thought of as selfish and ungrateful. The entire company watched as Thorin walked between them. Bilbo asked, "But the Pale Orc? What happened to him?"
"He slunk back into the hole whence he came," Thorin said, his voice harsh with hatred. "That filth died of his wounds long ago." Brænna saw Gandalf glance over to Balin, and saw by their expressions that not all of them believed that Azog's story had ended at that battle.
She turned to look over the valley as Thorin ordered them to get back to rest, announcing they would strike camp at dawn. She squinted into the darkness when she saw something moving in the distance, catching sight of what looked to be a massive wolf running the opposite direction. Scanning the horizon, she saw nothing else of the sort, but could not shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. She could only hope that it, and others like it, would continue to head the opposite direction and away from the Company.
Again, please don't forget to review if you like what I'm doing (and especially if you don't.) Any questions you ask will be answered within the next two chapters!
-Celebrenor