Hi all! I am so sorry for this chapter being so late, I did not intend for it to be this late. But, here's the next update for you! I'm hoping to have the next chapter up within a day or two. . .if not, then Friday maximum. Hope you all enjoy it. Oh! Before I forget, I've changed the first chapter very slightly to add in another character to Violet's family.
The only characters I own are Violet, her mother, siblings and any other of Violet's family you don't recognise xx
Review Responses;
Outofthisworldgal - She'll still have the wounds and they will still be bandaged. Unfortunately, the change doesn't heal wounds.
I'd love to see a wolf try to raise an eyebrow lol! It'd be comical to watch.
And no, I can't wait for that part either! Though it is quite a few chapters away.
Dinosaur Imperial Soldier - The Numenoreans who are of the line of E;ros live to be 400, other lines are 350. The Dunedain are 150-180 years, except for the kings of the Dunadan who live longer. We'll be seeing the Goblins and Azog in about. . .three maybe four chapters. Not sure yet.
Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 - I'm glad you did!
The Company of Thorin Oakenshield
The dwarves and the hobbit watch the wolf leave the balcony.
Thorin turns to the wizard. "Why did you bring her to us?"
"You mean apart from retrieving her pack? I brought her here in the hope that you would consider accepting her on our quest."
The other dwarves mutter to themselves at hearing this. Thorin merely raises an eyebrow. "Now why would I accept a woman on our journey?"
"Well, she knows these parts of Middle Earth very well. When she is in her wolf form, she has a heightened sense of sight, smell and hearing, so she will be able to track better than any of you can. She can also keep a better watch out for danger.
"That doesn't seem like a bad idea, Thorin." Balin speaks up, causing the Dwarf King to look to the old dwarf. "You know that I also know these parts, but it would be nice to get help from someone who has keener senses than I. I'm not getting any younger."
Thorin doesn't say anything for a while as he thinks about this. He's already regretting Gandalf's choice of burglar, he didn't want to regret bringing this woman with them. Although. . .this woman would prove to be of more use than the hobbit. He's right that she would have better senses than any of them, so she will be useful for hunting, tracking and as he said, keeping an eye out for danger. She's also already proved she's willing to get into a fight, already saving Dori and Kili from being eaten by Warg's. He wonders why Gandalf didn't just employ her as their burglar instead of the hobbit.
Thorin sighs. "Very well. I will talk to her first."
Gandalf simply nods, seeming to accept his decision.
I walk back to the balcony after changing into my beige cotton, knee length pants and brown tunic, my feet bare as they usually are when I'm in Rivendell. I wear nothing else, except for the manacle on my wrist.
I glare down at the iron circle, the main reminder of my imprisonment. However, I have always vowed that it would stay there until Azog has been defeated, whether by my hands, my father's or someone else's. My father also wears the same manacle on his left wrist, the chains still attached from when he wrenched them off before we escaped.
Reaching the balcony, I walk in to see the dwarves huddling together and the hobbit sitting beside Gandalf. I walk over to the pair, Gandalf smiling as he notices me.
"Ah, Violet, there you are my dear."
"You wanted me for something, Gandalf?" I ask as I notice the others staring and Thorin giving me a hard look, whatever for I have no idea.
"Yes, I did. I'd you just come with me, Thorin and I need to talk with you."
Glancing at the dwarf leader, I follow as Gandalf leads us up some stairs to a pavilion. I sit across from Gandalf, Thorin stood leaning against a marble pillar with his arms folded across his chest.
"What did you need me for, mellonamin?" I ask the Grey Wizard.
"I've been talking to Thorin here, and I believe you will be a good asset to the company."
I blink, not expecting this. "You want me to join the company?"
I look between the two, Gandalf smiling as Thorin look to me in hesitation for a moment before he nods.
"Gandalf has told us that you know this side of the Misty Mountain?"
I no. "I know this area pretty well. From here to the Eastern Woods."
I notice his expression harden further at the mention of the woods, but he doesn't say anything.
"You'll also be able to help with tracking and keeping an eye out for danger, thanks to your wolf form." Gandalf explains.
I no as I turn to Thorin. "If you are sure that you want me to join you, then I accept."
Thorin nods. "Very well. I will have Balin write up a contract for you. You will receive one fifteenth of the treasure for your service to us."
I shak my head with a smile. "With all due respect, I don't need any treasure. I appreciate the thought, but I have no need for materialistic things."
He looks to me in surprise for a moment before he nods. "If that is what you want. However, I do wish to give you something for saving my nephew."
My eyes narrow in confusion. "Nephew? You mean Kili?" Thorin nods. "It was my pleasure. I couldn't stand back and let him get hurt or worse, killed. It is not in my nature."
Thorin lets a small smile slip onto his lips at this. "I still wish to thank you."
I smile and nod. "If that is what you wish, then very well. But I won't accept too much from you."
He nods. "We'll be leaving in just over a weeks time, so you'll have enough time to heal from your injuries."
I nod as the three of us return to the others. They all look up as we make our down in expectancy.
"Balin, have a contract written up for Miss Violet here." Thorin says, causing the dwarves to cheer.
I blush slightly, not exepcting this reaction from them. Thorin sits next to the bald headed dwarf and a dwarf with white hair and a white beard which splits in two at the bottom and flicks up slightly. Gandalf puts an arm around my shoulders and walks me closer to the group.
"Allow me to introduce you to our company. You already know our leader, Thorin Oakenshield, with him are the brothers Balin and Dwalin."
Balin looks up from his writing and gives me a kind smile and a bow of his head, Dwalin just nods his head in greeting.
"Then there's Oin and Gloin,"
He points to two older dwarves, one with grey hair and a beard who holds a golden ear trumpet, so I gather he is either fully deaf or almost. Next to him is a dwarf with long red hair and a long red beard. They both bow to me and I smile as I incline my head to them.
"The Ri brothers, Dori, Nori and Ori."
I recognise Ori as the one that Thorin stopped from running out in front of the Orcs he has flaming red hair and wore knitted jumpers and gloves. Then there was the grey haired dwarf that has the elaborate braids in his hair, I guessed him to be Dori, so the other would be Nori, the one with the same coloured hair as Ori and his hair styled like a star, three points on the top of his head, his eyebrows were even braided into his hair they were that big. The three of them bow like the others did, Dori not looking too pleased, whether he still thinks of me having a dark spell on me, I do not know.
Gandalf turns to the next dwarves, but doesn't has the chance to say anything before the dwarf with the floppy hat speaks up.
"Nice to meet ya, lass! I'm Bofur. This is my brother Bombur and our cousin Bifur."
He indicates his brother as the biggest dwarf with red hair and his red beard in a circle and hanging over his protruding belly. He gives me a shy smile and I smile back before turning to their cousin, the one with the axe protruding from his forehead. He has wild black hair with specks of grey. His moustache and beard the same colour, his moustache having thick braids on either side of his lips and his beard one thick braid. He says something to me in a different language, causing me to look at him in confusion.
"He says he's pleased to meet you too." Bofur translates for me.
I smile at the wild looking dwarf. "It's a pleasure to meet you also."
Bifur smiles back as Kili and the blond dwarf steps forward.
"Fili." The blond introduces.
"And Kili."
"At your service." They both say together as they bow in sync.
I giggle slightly at this, it must have taken them some time before they could be so in sync with each other. Although, with them being brothers, it probably came naturally to them.
I smile and bow my head. "Violet at all of yours."
Gandalf turns to the Hobbit. "And last but not least, this is Bilbo Baggins."
He smiles. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Violet."
I smile back. "As it is to meet you, Master Bilbo."
We all sit around a camp fire the dwarves have made, which I notice they have used some of the elves furniture to do so. I hide a grin say nothing on it.
"So, Miss Violet, since we'll be travelling together, how about we get to know more about you?" Bofur suggests.
I smile. "What would you like to know?"
The young dwarf, Ori, took his chance to speak up, albeit shyly, as he took out a book and quill to write. "What is it like to be able to change into a wolf?"
I smile at his eagerness to learn something new. "It's. . .definitely an experience. Thanks to the change, my senses are slightly hightened in human in form than normal, which I like. Unlike other Skin Changers, I can actually control my animal side. Mama always put it down to my half blood."
"Half?" Kili asks curiously.
I nod. "Half Skin Changer, half Dunedain. My mama was one of the Dunedain Rangers before she met my papa."
Balin looks up from where he's still writing out the contract. "Dunedain? You don't see many female Dunedain these days."
I smile. "She was the first. She was trained by my grandfather along with my cousin, Arathorn."
Thorin looks to me, as well as Balin and Dwalin.
"Arathorn? Was he related to someone called, Arathor?" The exiled King asks.
I look to him, wondering how he could know him. "Yes. . .Arathor was his uncle."
The three look at each other with solemn expressions on their faces, even a couple of the older dwarves look solemn.
I look to Thorin. "You knew Arathor then?"
He nods. "I did. Regrettably not for long. He and his men fought with us in the Battle of Azanulbizar, and they fought well. Arathor fought side by side with me and he fought hard and well. . .right to the end. He was a good man. . .one I would have liked to have known better outside of battle."
I smile at this. I never knew much about Arathor, it was usually hard for my family to talk about. But to know something, even if it's as small as what Thorin has told me. . .it brings a warm feeling to my heart.
"What was he to you, lass?" Balin asks me.
"He was my grandfather."
They look to me in surprise.
"I didn't know he had any bairns." Dwalin mutters.
"He didn't. . .not at the time. . .mama was born a few months after his death, so she didn't get the chance to meet him."
Balin looks at me with regret written over his face. "I'm sorry lass. . .for you and your mother."
I give him a small smile. "That's very kind of your, but there's no reason to apologise. I'm sure mama and he have become really close by now."
They all look at each other in sorrow, apart from Gandalf who already knows the story.
"You mean. . .you mother is no longer with us?" Kili asks me.
I shake my head. "No. She died twenty four years ago."
Everyone goes silent at this. Fili speaks up, trying to change to subject.
"So. . .do you have any other family?"
"Of my immediate family, there's just me and papa now. But, outside of us I also have my cousins from mama's side of the family."
They say no more on my family, sensing it to be a touchy subject.
"If I may ask, what happened to your eye? Can you truly not see out of it?" Bilbo asks.
I give a small smile as I run my fingertips down the scar along my face. "No. I was attacked by orcs when I was a child. Papa managed to save me, but not before the orc left it's mark on me."
"And the shackle on your wrist?" Gloin asks.
I look down to my wrists to look at the heavy metal. "I would rather not talk about that, Master Dwarf. It is a reminder of a painful time in my life."
No one says anything after this, but I know a couple of the dwarves find me to be suspicious because of the shackle. Gloin and Dori mainly. After a few moments, Balin clears his throat as he hands me the now finished contract.
"Here you are. Contract of employment to Thorin Oakenshield. All you need to do is sign it and you will be an official member of the Company."
I take the contract from him and have a quick read of it, reading that I would be fulfilling the role as navigator and upon completion of employment, would receive some of the treasure of Erebor. At the mention of the lost kingdom, I look up.
"Erebor? What is this about Erebor?"
"That is our quest. To retake the Lonely Mountain from Smaug." Thorin explains.
I stare at them all in shock for a moment before I grin as I sign the contract. "I don't know whether to think you all as brave or stupid."
Most of them chuckle, Thorin's lips quirk upwards slightly in amusement.
"How about 'stupidly brave?'" Kili suggests.
I laugh. "That works." Passing the contract back, I nervously fiddle with the cotton of my pants. "Would. . .would we see Dale at all?"
"Quite possibly, seeing as Dale is on Erebor's front doorstep. Why do you ask?" Dwalin speaks up.
"My gramma was born there. It would be nice to see the place of her birth."
"She was born there?" Thorin asks.
I nod. "A year before it's destruction."
They look at me in shock for a moment before Bofur pats my back. "Well, it seems as though we were meant to meet after all. You have a reason for this quest, just like the rest of us."
I just smile as Balin folds up the contract after checking it over. "Everything seems to be in order, lass. Welcome to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield."
The dwarves start cheering, even Bilbo cheers slightly, Gandalf just smiling. For the rest of the night, I sit with the dwarves, laughing and chatting along with the dwarves. Father had mentioned to be before that dwarves were greedy, selfish and blind to the lives of others that are lesser than their own. . .but I don't get any of that from this group. These dwarves have been nothing but friendly with me, and apart from a couple of suspicions, have treated me as one of their own. I am really looking forward to getting to know them all as our journey continues.
There we have it! Please stay tuned for more and keep your lovely reviews coming!
Translations:
Mellonamin - My friend
