A/N: hey guys! So I'm back into my motivation to write, and had inspiration for another Hobbit fic! This will feature my OC of Liadain, who is a Fae. It'll be my own interpretation of the species and how I see them fitting into Middle-Earth. I hope everyone likes it!
Note: I don't own any of the Hobbit (despite how much I wish it!)
It was always a struggle moving on. Liadain stared at the small village with furrowed brows. She'd been there only two weeks before someone had noticed. Truly though, in this case, it had been her fault. She's been careless, let her guard down. And people always noticed sooner or later.
One slip of her hood was all it had taken. Her hair, such a light blonde that it could be mistaken as glowing white in the right light, and eyes a deep purple seemed to shine as she stood in the local inn. People stared, whispered, pointed. And then someone had said it, the dreaded word. Fae.
In less than a minute, she'd been crowded. Men, women and children all gathered around her, eager for even a glimpse of the legendary creature. She'd reacted in mere seconds, her small size helping her slip through the minuscule gaps between everyone, running up the staircase and into her room.
She wasted no time in packing. What little provisions she had were stuffed into her travel bag, her sword, knives and bow placed in their correct places around her body. Taking a last look at her room, she jumped from her third story window, landing on the ground with a small thud, and ran.
Liadain knew she could hardly blame the humans she encountered. Fae were a species of legend. People were said to be lucky to even glimpse upon one once in their lifetime, though she knew it was not for lack of trying. Fae were known to bring luck and fortune towards any person that could win their favour, and she'd been manipulated too many times to risk it anymore. People rarely had her best intentions in mind.
Fae were solitary creatures, many ventured away from their families once they reached maturity. Liadain thought back to her own family- her mother, father, her twin brother. She smiled. Truly some of her best memories had been when she was growing up, exploring the rich forests of the East, playing in the trees with her brother, learning to hunt and fight with her father, to cook and heal and mend with her mother. Her hand grasped the locket that rested beneath her shirt. Gone. They were all gone now.
Best not to linger too long, she thought, securing her cloak. She couldn't complain, her people were known to live alone after all. Her father used to laugh that she'd been born into the wrong race, fascinated as she was about other cultures they ran into on their travels.
"Perhaps we'll leave you here, Lili" He'd say, as they observed a small town. "To live with all these people." She'd only respond by grabbing his hand tightly and pulling them all away, knowing he was joking, but not wanting to risk it nonetheless.
"No." She'd reply. "All I need is my family."
It had been five years ago since her family had been cruelly ripped from her. Five years of lone travel, staring wistfully at families she passed from town to town.
She wasted no more time in her memories, turning her back on the village and making her way down the hill. It seemed a pleasant enough evening, the sun threatening to set behind thin wisps of clouds that lined the sky. She'd been lucky enough to have her evening meal before she left, all that was left was to find a suitable enough spot to camp for the night.
It didn't take long. An hours walk led her to a small set of cliffs, with outcrops lining the side on multiple levels. Never one to mind heights, Liadain chose one closer to the top. It was close enough to the tree line to gather firewood and food, but still a suitable distance to give herself enough time to defend herself, if need be. Although she hoped she was in a safe enough area. She'd been wandering around this part of the land for the last couple of months, and though she'd heard what were potential threats, she'd luckily kept clear.
Perhaps it's time to move on, she thought to herself, gathering a small bundle of firewood. I've heard a few rumours of Faes travelling near the forests in the East. Perhaps I should venture back that way. Liadain sighed. It was certainly no fun travelling alone, and she'd not spoken to anyone unless to ask for a room to stay or a meal to eat in years.
The sun had just begun to disappear beneath the horizon when she first heard the voices. Peering over the ledge, nestling her body into a bush that overhung to get a better view, her eyes widened as the group came into view. Dwarves! And thirteen of them at that! Along with a rather odd looking man, and what looked to her like a Hobbit. She'd never ventured into any towns inhabited by Hobbits; she'd heard they were rather private, quiet beings who preferred the company of their own kind. So she left them be. But why there was one travelling with a company of Dwarves, she had no idea.
"We set up camp here." The looked to her left to see a rather intimidating Dwarf speak. Clearly the leader, she thought as she looked on. "It is as good a place as any, and we're losing the sun."
The others murmured in agreement, tying their ponies to the side. "Fili, Kili, go collect some firewood before it gets too dark. Be quick." Liadain thanked the stars that they had access to their own section of woods. The last thing she wanted was to be noticed. What looked to be the two youngest, one dark haired, one fair, stood and nodded before disappearing into the trees. Giving the group a lasting (and curious) look, she pushed herself backwards towards her own fire, hoping it wasn't too visible.
A couple of hours passed before Liadain knew it. She'd taken to lying on her back, staring up at the stars as she listened to the quiet murmur of voices beneath her.
"Hello girl. That's a good girl. It's our little secret, Mrytle; you must tell no one. Shhh."
Liadain sniggered quietly as she sat up and took a drink from her water container. She rolled forward, container in hand to peer over the ledge again, just in time to see the Hobbit sneak an apple to a pony.
She placed her container gently to the side, perfectly content to watch the camp beneath for a few more minutes before she turned in for the night. It was at this moment, a chilling scream echoed through the air, altering her and many of the others below.
"What was that?" Asked the Hobbit, running over to the two younger looking Dwarves in a panic.
"Orcs." Replied the brown haired Dwarf.
"Orcs?" He squeaked, as another scream sounded.
"Throat cutters." Said the blonde Dwarf, exchanging a smirk with his companion. "They'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them."
"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood."
Liadain rolled her eyes as the two Dwarves laughed, clearly trying (and succeeding) to scare the Hobbit.
"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Snapped the leader from across their camp.
"We didn't mean anything by it." Replied the brown haired Dwarf, sounding downcast.
"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world."
Liadain watched on as the leader walked towards the cliff edge, staring out at the valley. Meanwhile, a very old looking, white haired dwarf with a rather impressive beard walked up to the trio sitting underneath Liadain, giving them a sympathetic look. "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."
Liadain listened on with rapt attention. Thorin... where had she heard that name?
"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs lead by the most vile of all their race: Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King."
Durin... Liadain thought. Could this be Thorin Oakenshield? The one my father told me stories of?
"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. That is when I saw him: a young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc."
Liadain could imagine the Dwarf beneath her facing down his enemy as she listened to the older Dwarfs story. He seemed like a fierce warrior.
"He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent…wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. 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. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King."
Liadain blinked back tears. She couldn't imagine the pain he must have lived through. Neither, it seemed, could anyone else, as they all stood looking at him in awe.
"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" Asked the Hobbit, timidly.
"He slunk back into the hole whence he came." Growled the one Liadain now knew as Thorin. "That filth died of his wounds long ago."
Liadain released a breath she hadn't known she was holding, stretching her arms out as she prepared to crawl her way over to her bed roll. It seemed the night was over and everyone was preparing for sleep. Unfortunately, she'd misplaced her water container, and looked on in horror as her hand launched it over the side of the ledge, landing by the Dwarves with an almighty thud.
The reaction was instant. Liadain scrambled backwards, grabbing her cloak and pulling it over herself. Beneath her, she could hear the Dwarves reacting to the sudden invasion, grabbing their weapons or whatever was close to hand.
"What is that?"
"Looks like a water container."
"Well, where did it come from?"
"It fell from that ledge."
"Show yourself!"
Liadain gripped her sword tightly in her hand as she stood still. It had been Thorin that had spoken that final order, and he hadn't done so pleasantly.
"Show yourself or we will shoot."
Liadain took a deep breath. She could run, very easily, but there was no chance she'd be able to pack up her belongings in time before someone made their way up to her ledge. She could wait, stationary, for someone to find her, or she could go down and meet them head on. The smarter choice, she thought. Perhaps it'll show I'm trustworthy and they'll let me be on my way. Steeling herself, she placed her sword into her scabbard, and made the gentle jump down the ledge, landing in front of the company of Dwarves.
She felt every pair of eyes land on her figure, feeling exposed as she stared at them from beneath her hood. Their looks ranged from hostile to curious, and she fought against stepping back as Thorin marched towards her, sword in hand.
"I said, show yourself."
"I... I..." she stuttered. "I have."
"Let me make myself more clear." He took another step towards her. "Remove your hood."
Liadain took a longing glance up at her ledge, seeing the faint smoke from her fire rise against the cliff face. Why hadn't she just stayed put? She was always too curious for her own good. Her mother had always said so! She raised her arms slowly, gauging the Dwarves' reactions as she moved, and slowly pulled her hood back.
