Author's Note: I own nothing.

12 Little Bunny

The next morning started far too early for most of their likings. The eagles had returned, it turned out this rocky outcrop was part of their roost, which did sort of explain why it was so high up. Gandalf explained that the eagles had offered to take them just a bit further.

"They cannot get us any closer to the mountain than where we are headed for men carry great yew bows in defense against them." He explained when Dori asked why the eagles couldn't just carry them all the way to the mountain. Bella spent most of the trip with her head buried in the feathers of the eagle carrying her. She'd never really liked heights at the best of times, clinging to a moving beast in the air was not what she considered the best of times. When they again landed they were atop another rocky outcrop, though this one had steps carved into the sides, for which Bella was grateful. She did not wish to climb back on top of the great bird. In fact if she'd had her way she would sit down and not move again for a long while. Unfortunately this little adventure was turning out to be far more dangerous than they could have guessed. They needed to scout out the area and since she was the least injured of them Bella volunteered to go, after all she had her strange little ring and her letter opener at her side. Thorin had objected slightly but been overruled by Gandalf's insistence that Hobbits could go all but completely unnoticed when they wished, after all none of them had seen or heard her until she revealed herself to them at the cliff.

She slipped off quietly heading out. She picked up a few medicinal herbs on her way and frowned as she ducked down behind an outcrop of rocks near the river. There were beasts out there, and in the rising light of the sun she spotted what had to be Wargs, but they were riderless, scouts then. But a low growl she didn't recognize caught her attention and had her freezing like a rabbit who'd just spotted a hunter. About two hundred yards away stood a massive bear. There weren't many bears in or near the Shire but she'd grown up on stories of the Old Took, her grandfather on her mothers side, having to take a group of armed Hobbits to drive off a brown bear that had killed several sheep on their land. This was no simple brown bear though. This beast was unnaturally large, and dark as the night that was waining around it. If she hadn't been as keen eyed as she was she would not have spotted the beast. She stayed completely still, heart in her chest pounding fit to burst. But the bear was focused on the Wargs down below, roaring out a challenge before charging down at them as they scattered. Bella took her chance, racing through the trees back to the company. When she arrived there seemed to be some debate happening as to if they should go see what the roaring had been.

"Bear." Bella panted, making most of them jump. "Bear, fighting Warg scouts. We should move. No Orcs yet, probably soon." She said trying to catch her breath and speak at the same time. Gandalf stepped up to her.

"What did this bear look like?" He asked.

"Massive. Eight feet tall if it was a foot, and black as night. It rushed down to fight the Wargs." She gasped out.

"Poor bear." Ori lamented and Gandalf shook his head.

"Not quite. I know the bear you speak of and he will soon be finished with these intruders. We should make for the house before he does." The Grey Wizard said.

"What house?" Dwalin asked. Gandalf's explanation of the house and its skin changing owner almost turned the dwarves away from the idea of heading there but Autumn was in full swing and they needed to reach the mountain before the first day of winter, Durin's day. They need a place to safely plan, assess their supplies and heal from their skirmish in Goblin Town and the fight with Azog and his Orcs. They made it into the house Gandalf had spoken of in a mad dash, barely outrunning the massive bear who was to be their host.

All tired from days of running and only a few hours of rest at the Eagles roost they collapsed into the hay in the barn, not really daring to head further into the house, not wishing to anger their beastly host who remained outside. Bella fell asleep in the clean hay and woke the next morning to the warm sun and the buzz of bees. They were large, about half the size of Bella's closed fist. One of them buzzed past her face as she sat up and blinked. Thorin's coat was draped over her. She tucked it over her arm and headed for the sounds of quiet chatter. The company's weapons had been left at the entrance of the barn so Bella set aside her little letter opener as well.

The company was sat around a large table, most of their legs dangling, save Gandalf who appeared to be finishing up the story of their escape from Goblin town to their host. He was no longer a massive bear, instead he was a man, still massively tall with black hair and surprisingly kind eyes. He smiled lightly as Bella paused at the doorway.

"And here is the elusive little bunny herself." Beorn commented with a slight grin. Bella raised her eyebrow at him, though he could have easily lifted her as a parent lifts a small child she'd never been called bunny before and she wasn't sure if she should consider it an insult or not.

"Yes I can see the similarities, quick and often hard to find, much like a rabbit." Kili said with a wide grin. Thorin glared at him as Fili elbowed him. Beorn though laughed, he seemed much more agreeable now than he had as a bear.

"Also quite small. The Wizard here speaks very highly of you little bunny. I am Beorn, you and your company may rest here for a day or two before you continue your journey. I may not trust dwarves much but Orcs I hate more. I will give you what you need to travel further." Beorn said stepping forward and nodding slightly to Bella she curtsied lightly.

"Thank you for your hospitality, you have a lovely home! I didn't see much of your garden on the way in but I did see several flowers I've never seen before. They're beautiful!" She said with a little smile. She knew she must look a mess. She hadn't bathed since Rivendell, the hem of her skirt was in tatters, she had no buttons left on her vest, one of her sleeves was torn and there was bound to be dirt and hay in her hair. But despite all that Beorn's eyes lit up and he laughed seeming to surprise everyone else at the table. He scooped Bella off the ground, she squeaked, the dwarves all twitching towards their weapons. But instead of harming her Beorn sat Bella next to him at the table.

"You are wonderfully polite little bunny! Ask away about your flowers, I'll tell you all I know." It didn't take long for Beorn and Bella to sink into a bright conversation about the plants that grew around the Shire and what Beorn could grow around his home. Thorin frowned as Bella bounced slightly as she ate, speaking of a strain of mushrooms that her grandfather was rather proud of. Apparently he'd spent years cultivating it. He turned away from the two as someone jabbed him in the ribs. He turned and raised an eyebrow at Dwalin who was smiling slightly.

"I think I know that look." Dwalin said in Khuzdul, amusement lacing his voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Thorin insisted.

"I've seen that look in your sister's eyes every time another dwarrowdam speaks to her husband." Dwalin said, a few snorts sounded around the table though neither Beorn or Bella noticed as they now seemed to be debating schedules for watering certain kinds of flowers. Thorin shook his head, he wasn't jealous. He couldn't be jealous, she wasn't his. She couldn't be. He shook his head.

"We should be planning our next move not speaking nonsense." He said with finality but he missed a look pass between Fili and Kili, one of mischief and curiosity that he would have recognized as one he'd seen shortly before they enacted some sort of plan. Their mother had often caught that look and stopped the plans before they could come to fruition but no one here spotted it in time.