A/n: This chapter contains scenes that describe a school shooting. Please skip this part if you are easily destressed buy such imagery. I hope you are all enjoying this story.
While the world slept, Gandalf the Grey did not. He was pondering the situation of the young woman in their party and her growing relationship with both Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakensheild.
He puffed on his pipe, remembering a dream he had had the night of the party at Bag End. What he remembered most was words spoken in a deep and commanding voice.
"Keep an eye on Thorin, Bilbo, and the woman in your group, their road shall be a dark one full of mistrust and danger from others. These three were made to be, like the intertwining of trees that grow together." The wizard sighed, blowing a smoke ring that formed into three trees with intertwining roots. What was the purpose of the valor's choice in bringing Miss Megan here, and why with a hobbit and a dwarf?
He couldn't understand the meaning of what the voice had told him. What was the connection with these three? He did not know.
The voice had told him that they would be marked in some manner. He shook his head. Whatever this connection was, it would not be an easy road, dwarves were suspicious of outsiders, especially from the race of man, and hobbits were weary of the big folk and anything that was quear or foreign.
He remembered Thorin's protection of the woman, even though he had only grudgingly accepted that she was going on the road with them. Thorin did not trust easily, and yet he was defending a woman from the race of man. He had watched as he assisted her with the breakfast and listened to their conversation.
The dwarf was clearly still wearry of her accompaniment, but did not show any hostility towards her. Was it out of a sense of duty, or was there more behind the dwarf's actions? Time would tell on that front.
He refilled his pipe once more. Why had the valor taken a woman from the home and family that she knew? He had been surprised at the dream's reveal of that fact.
This woman was determined to find her Mother at all costs. He smiled to himself. Well, there is one thing that she and Thorin share, determination to see a task through no matter the obstacles thrown in their way.
He smiled as he thought of Bilbo Baggins, and his kind actions in taking her in. Hobbits did not like the big folk, and the hobbit had risked his reputation in inviting a stranger into his home. He really was a kind hearted fellow with a curious and adventurous streak inherited from the Took side of his family.
He and Miss Megan certainly had a good friendship, he had been surprised and concerned when she had brought Hamfast Gamgee, carrying a club.
The dwarves had not caused trouble however, Bilbo's quick thinking in reassuring the terrified gardener had put any stop to trouble that might have sprung forth.
Like Thorin, she did not trust people easily, she had certainly been frightened and wearry of him, and had brought a hobbit with a club to Bag End when she feared that Bilbo was in danger from the dwarves. Yet, she did not let life's trials harden her heart and turn her bitter. She shared Bilbo's kind heart and had a strong drive to helping others. Yawning, the wizard put out his pipe and made his way towards bed.
Time would tell how these events would unfold.
Megan opened her eyes, sat up, and stretched.
The sound of bird song greeted her through the window. She got to her feet, and put on her traveling clothes.
Upon exiting her room, she ran into Bilbo.
"Hello Megan," he said. "I was just about to wake you, There is breakfast waiting for us in the common room." Megan smiled and took his hand. A strange current of warmth went through her when they touched.
"Well, let's go then, I am ready to eat." Bilbo chuckled and lead her to a table in the common room. Thorin grunted as they sat down. A steaming mug of coffee was waiting for, she could smell the rich scent to her right.
"Good morning Thorin," she said.
"Morning," he grunted. She could tell that he was not a morning person. Bilbo passed her a plate of fried eggs, bacon, and pan-fried potatoes.
"Not as good as your cooking Bilbo," she whispered to him. "The bacon isn't as done as how you make it."
"Thank you, Megan," said Bilbo. Megan smiled to herself as they ate, the common room was quiet and peaceful and the birds were chirping outside. The three of them ate in silence, not noticing the strange soft light that was around their right arms.
Megan sighed as she put down her fork and reached for her coffee. The common room was beginning to fill up with loud and boisterous bree folk. She felt for the nearest knife and clutched it in her left hand, not being able to see Thorin's look of approval.
"It is merely Bree folk," said Bilbo sounding quite exasperated. "Nobody is going to jump out and get you." Thorin and Megan both scoffed at his statement.
"That Master Baggins is the attitude that shall get you killed," Thorin growled. "You have much to learn I am afraid." Megan nodded in agreement causing Bilbo to let out a huff of annoyance.
"Very well then," he said. "You two can brood about the scary town of Bree while I go for more food." With those words, the hobbit got to his feet, scraping in his chair in such a way that had Megan flinching at the loud scraping sound, and Thorin letting out an angry hiss of breath through his teeth. Bilbo's normally friendly tone had developed a sharp and sarcastic quality to it that set Megan's teeth on edge as hurt flashed through her. Where was this coming from all of a sudden? Bilbo had never dismissed anything she had to say before.
If this was his attitude, then perhaps some of the dwarves were right in saying that he wouldn't make it in the wild. The food turned rather unpleasantly in her stomach as she thought of her hobbit alone and defenseless with bears or worse after him. She shook her head, forcing her mind from these thoughts. Time to think of logistics, she thought, turning to face Thorin's direction.
"If you are done Thorin, I want to get supplies as quickly as possible and get the hell out of here," said Megan, an edge was in her voice.
"Precisely my thinking on the matter," said Thorin. "The company shall be ready by the time we are through. Come and leave the knife here." With some reluctance, Megan put down the steak knife. "I am armed in case something is to happen," Thorin added in a whisper.
Megan quickly drained her coffee, and they quickly left the inn towards the market.
Megan could feel Thorin was as tense and alert as she was. His grip on her hand was firm as they jogged to each stall, Thorin buying what she needed in a businesslike manner.
She could hear unfriendly whispers around her as they made their rounds.
"Dwarf scum, is that not the dwarf that made me substandard weapons?" Megan's jaw clinched in anger. She seriously couldn't stand these people.
"Pay them no mind," Thorin hissed through clinched teeth. He was clearly as angry about the situation as she was, but knew that causing trouble would do more harm than good. She could feel him shaking beside her.
"Get out of our town," one man geered at them. "Crawl back in the hole where you came from."
"We need to get the fuck out of this place," Megan hissed as they all out ran towards the inn.
"Aye," Thorin hissed in agreement. "We should not have come." Megan forced back her fear, concentrating on where Thorin was taking her. Her Mom had constantly told her that showing your enemy your fear would give them more power over you.
They ran even faster as a crowd formed behind them, hurling insults at Thorin.
Thorin and Megan shoved open the doors and entered the inn, but the crowd followed.
"Oy! Who do you think you are, disturbing my customers!" Butterbeer bellowed, huffing and puffing as he went to see what the commotion was.
"A pack of troublemaking dwarves," a man from the back yelled. Butterber placed himself between Thorin and Megan and the angry mob.
"These dwarves have not caused me any trouble. They can come and go as they please as long as they pay for their stay, which they have, now clear off else I call the Mayer." Megan was rather glad to feel Thorin's firm hand in hers. He pushed her behind himself as the rest of their company filed into the common room, various conversations stopping as they surveyed the scene before them.
They immediately formed a circle around Megan and Thorin, hands on weapons.
"See what you have caused," Butterber yelled towards the angry mob of men. One of the men seemed to have snapped. Megan acted at once as she heard the bow string being pulled. Calling on active shooter drills in college, and being one herself, she instinctively shoved herself and Thorin to the ground, covering her head with her arms before Thorin could react. She could still feel Thorin's arm wrapped around her. She concentrated on keeping her breathing as light and quiet as possible. Thorin must have had the same thought, for she could barely hear him at all. This is not a school shooting, she said to herself.
The dwarven circle pressed in tighter around them, she could feel nothing but dwarves legs pressed in around her and Thorin.
She could feel Thorin's shoulder rising and falling with each breath he took. Forcing back her panic, she concentrated on syncing her breath with his. She could go into shock later, but not now.
In and out, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
She could distantly hear a yell of pain above her, but she forced herself to keep breathing. In and out, in and out, keeping Thorin's breathing as her grounding point. She breathed, forcing back sounds of gun shots and screams deep in her mind. All she could do was breathe and wait, like she did so long ago.
This is not a fucking school shooting, she snarled to herself. Sounds of brawling reached her ears as Thorin tightened his hold on her, then Gandalf's booming voice which nearly jolted her to her feet, but Thorin forced her down, stroking her shoulder in reassurance. A distant part of her wondered where the fuck Bilbo was in all this, but she couldn't think of him now, thinking of that would bring panic, so she lay, breathing and reminding herself that this was not a gun shooting.
Yeah, they may be using less technological weapons than guns, but the aim is the same. Her breath caught in her throat at the realization, her heart pounding too loudly and too quickly in her ears.
Still, she lay, Thorin's shoulder pressed into her own.
"Lass, Thorin, it is over," a voice called to them. Thorin pulled her to her feet, arm wrapped around her.
Her entire body shook from head to foot, she was afraid her legs would give way from the wobbling they were doing. Numbness sat in as she was lead from the in.
The party was grim and silent as Thorin lead the way out of Bree in a fast gallop. Dori had been injured in his shoulder, but Oin patched him out. Thorin was ready to put as many miles between themselves and Bree as possible.
He knew one thing, he would never step foot in Bree unless he had no other choice.
Thorin's gaze went to Miss Megan who was seated behind him. His arms were wrapped securely around her as they rode. There was a dazed look in her eyes, and her body continued to tremble.
He was amazed at her quick thinking when the attack began. He had been about to join the fight himself, but a look appeared in her eyes, like she was somewhere else, and she had knocked them both roughly to the ground, forcing Thorin's head down and commanding him to be quiet an. "keep yo arms over yo head," in a flat detached voice, one which would have normally gotten his ire aimed at whomever used it, but the situation was different, and he recognized the commanding tone of a leader doing their job.
He hadn't had time to think before her instinct had taken over, the bow having barely been drawn back.
He would certainly have words with the wizard about when and where to use his magically powered voice. Miss Megan had nearly leapt to her feet, a wild look in her eyes, and it had been his turn to force her back down. She hadn't been a week willed person, crying in the corner and hoping someone would do the rescuing, she had acted on a warrior's instinct, keeping them both down until the danger passed.
He was more determined now than ever to get her training. He wouldn't start her tonight, he knew that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on what Gloin would be teaching her.
Bilbo was reflecting that not all adventures were pony rides in May sunshine. The party was completely silent, the only sound being heard was the thud of hooves on the ground and the wind through the trees they were passing. Bilbo longed to get a cool drink in the stream they were passing, and his stomach rumbled at the fish he spotted, but Thorin continued their fast and furious ride without any stopping. His lips were pulled back into a snarl with a look of cold fury on his face, blue eyes like fire as they swept the landscape in front of them, expression daring anything to crawl out and attack them. He had a protective arm around Megan's shaking shoulders.
In contrast, she was completely dazed, a look of shock on her normally kind and cheerful face. She sat on the pony, completely still and silent, automatically moving with the beast.
He shuddered himself, remembering the morning's advents, and bitterly regretting dismissing Thorin and Megan's rightly concerned and tense behavior.
He was beginning to realize just how right Thorin had been. The world was not as pleasant and peaceful as his home. Sure, he had read of terrible things in books, but there were merely historical facts, a distant past that would not harm him.
Life was not like in his books however. He remembered sitting at a table, peacefully eating his third helping of eggs and mushrooms, when Thorin and Megan had ran in, a mob of angry men on their heels. Butterber had tried to reason with the mob, but tensions had rose until violence broke out. Megan had thrown herself and Thorin to the ground, commanding him to stay down in a tone identical to the one the dwarf king used when he would not except arguments or anyone to cross his will. Bilbo himself had obeyed that tone, scuttling under the nearest table until the whole thing was over. He wouldn't have recognized the voice belonging to Megan, except for her strange accent. The table was placed where he was able to just make out Megan and Thorin, still as statues in a circle of the other dwarves. He had closed his eyes after that, not wishing to see the violence taking place.
The hobbit knew that he would have to apologize to Megan for dismissing her concerns. Bilbo flinched as he remembered the cold sarcastic tone he had used against Megan, one that he only used on the Sackville Baggins. He grimaced, remembering his cold thoughts about her and Thorin's paranoia and how they didn't like to relax and have fun. Gandalf had said that Bree was safe and friendly t travelers. Bilbo hadn't thought once about the effect that the town had on the dwarves, how they were all tense and quiet, keeping conversation to a bare minimum, eating their food in silence.
More of their rude behavior, he had thought, why couldn't they simply enjoy a beer and a song like normal folk? He shook his head in disgust at himself. He would have to apologize to Megan when that horrible blank look disappeared on her face. He didn't think it would be wise to approach her at the moment. He was afraid she would lash out at him in her current state of mind. His gaze turned to Thorin, who's gentle treatment of Megan was in contrast with the dangerous look still on his face.
Bilbo was relieved when they finally stopped near a bubbling stream. The sun was nearly set now, and the night animals were starting to pop out and make their various noises. Thorin helped Megan off their pony, and lead her to a rock to sit down.
"You will be safe here," he said in a gentle tone that Bilbo didn't think the normally stern Thorin capable of making. Megan nodded, the blank look of shock starting to leave her face.
"Dinner shall be ready soon," said Thorin before stomping away to put the camp into shape. His voice hardened once more into the stern leader as he gave instructions.
"We shall have two watches this night," he growled, eyes flashing in a warning for people to not cross him. "Dori, you and Oin shall take the first watch. Bilbo, Miss Megan, you are second—"
"How can she keep watch if she cannot see?" Nori dared to ask. Bilbo held his breath as Thorin's face transformed into rath. Megan wore a not this argument again expression on her face.
"I believe we have had this discussion before," Thorin growled, stomping over to the thief. "Do not start with me this night Nori, I shall not put up with it." Nori merely nodded. Thorin turned to face the rest of the group.
"Does anybody else wish to object?" Thorin asked, voice carrying to the others. Various no's answered him. The dwarf nodded before continuing to give out instructions.
"Gloin, Megan shall train with you tomorrow evening," he ended.
"Why not this night?" Gloin asked. "She looks well enough to train to me."
"She is not well," Thorin growled at him. "She must rest and gain her strength. She is in no state to concentrate on weapons training."
"Aye," said Gloin, getting to his feet and lighting a fire for Bombur to start cooking.
Once everybody was occupied and Gandalf was humming to himself as he smoked his pipe, Bilbo walked over to Megan.
"May we speak together?" he asked. She gave a jerky nod, and followed him a little ways from the others. He noticed Thorin's eyes sweep to where she was, then back to the map in his hand.
Bilbo sat beside her on a log by the stream, took a deep breath, and began.
"Megan, I wish to apologize to you for my words this morning," he said. Megan remained silent for a minute, then she turned to him.
He gasped at the cold expression on her face. When she spoke, her voice was full of Winter.
"Do you have any idea how much you hurt me with your statement?" she asked. "You have never dismissed anything I have had to tell you before. The way you spoke to me, and the words you said was quite painful." She took a shaky breath and continued. "I cannot survive in this world very well Bilbo. I need you to be my friend and help me, and not dismiss what I have to say. It was as if you thought what I had to say to be invalid." She was trying very hard not to shout now. "The world is not a fuckin fairy tale Bilbo, I have lived through shit you couldn't even dream of and survived somehow. I could have died today, again!" With that, she burst into tears, sobs racking her body.
Bilbo let out a little whimper at this.
"Your right," he said, his own throat constricting. "I was a fool to dismiss your words, and I shall always regret them. I will never forget laying under that table Megan, all I could think of was how I had spoken to you, and how I left you alone." He took a ragged breath.
"Thorin was there of course, but I promised I would help you, and I broke my word. I shall always listen to what your concerns are, no matter how small I deem them, and I shall never ever leave you again. Please forgive me." His last words left him as a sob as he too burst into tears, a terrible pain erupting through him. Megan let out a soft keening wail, which Bilbo echoed as she through her arms around him.
They clung together, voices and words mixing in a garbled mess of apologies and forgiveness. Their bodies shook as the storm of weeping continued.
It was the kind of crying that left their heads aching and noses running. It eventually passed however, leaving them weary, but in accord once more.
Bilbo placed the soft blanket he had brought, and for once not caring about proper deportment as a Gentlehobbit, he curled up with her, wrapping his arms around her, and drawing her close. They laughed a bit as her huge amount of curls bopped him in the face. He pushed them into a semblance of order before stretching out for a much-needed nap.
"Sleep well my hobbit," Megan mumbled.
"You as well, sweet Megan," Bilbo replied as they closed their eyes, tears drying on their cheeks.
Dwalin scowled in annoyance as he sharpened his axes. Here they all were getting camp ready, and the halfling and women were fast asleep, shirking their duties.
He simply could not understand Thorin's behavior around her. Had he forgotten what humans were like? Thorin had many encounters with humans, being flogged, thrown in jail, and other misfortunes. He hadn't met any nice humans, and if they were, it was to hide a darker nature.
She must want a share of the treasure, he thought. Why else would she be tagging along? Her story about finding her family seemed a cover up to him, something to make them feel sorry for her, and ensnare them in her false kindness. Well, she was showing her true colors now, sleeping when she should be helping.
Thorin himself had insisted that she pull her weight in helping in the camps. Why had she stopped Thorin from rightfully fighting against those vile humans? What right did she have to throw him to the ground like a rag doll and command him about? Instead of fighting, she had forced him to stay low and quiet. Durin's folk did not flee from fights. He shook his head. He would have to keep an eye on her.
It was full on night time. Supper had been eaten, and most people were asleep.
Bilbo smiled to himself as he fed Murtle an apple. Just then, a horrible shriek was heard in the distance. Megan flinched, startled by the noise.
"What was that?" Bilbo asked in alarm, going to stand beside Megan.
"Orcs," Fili said. "There will be dozens of them out there tonight. They will come when we are all asleep. There won't be any screams, just lots of blood." Megan's eyes grew wide with absolute terror as Fili and Kili laughed. Bilbo gasped, clutching Megan's shaking hand for dear life.
Thorin looked absolutely furious.
"You think it's funny," he snarled. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"
"We didn't mean anything buy it Uncle," said Kili.
"No, you didn't," Thorin spat. "You know nothing of the world." Thorin stomped past Bilbo and Megan, heading towards the cliff's edge to peer out.
Bilbo felt Megan drop his hand.
"Where are you going?" he asked her.
"To see Thorin," she replied.
"He is to your right," said Bilbo.
Thorin gritted his teeth. He was beginning to see his siter was right about bringing Fili and Kili along. Anybody who took pleasure at laughing at an orc raid was not ready for such a dangerous quest. He wheeled around, hearing quick footsteps.
"Miss Megan," he began through gritted teeth. "You should be in be—" He cut himself off at the haunted look in her eyes.
"Don't mind him laddie," said Balin. "Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs."
"Megan, are you well?" Thorin asked in a much gentler tone. She shook her head. Thorin listened as Balin told everyone the story of the battle with Azog. Megan lasted for about a couple of minutes before she was covering her ears, trying to block out his voice as the story went on.
"I'm sorry Thorin," she said, " I don't mean to be disrespectful to what you went through, but I can't hear this right now, I can barely handle my own shit."
"I understand," said Thorin, leading her further from Balin's story.
"Is this more manageable?" Thorin asked. Megan nodded.
"Do you wish to tell me what is amiss?" asked Thorin. Megan nodded.
"Can I please have some water?" she whispered. Thorin grabbed his water skin and handed it to her. After taking some careful sips, she began to speak.
Thorin Oakensheild had been in many battles, and seen dragon fire destroy many of his ken. What Miss Megan described made him sick to his stomach. Children being shot up in schools with weapons called guns, which made a loud bang, neighborhoods where the threat of being killed was all too real, and so many deaths by these horrible guns.
Thorin hugged her close as she continued to speak in a slow flat voice, as if she were speaking to herself. He could feel her heart pounding like a bird desperate to escape as she described the horrors of living through a school shooting.
Thorin's own heart began to quicken like a war drum gone out of control.
"Were you wounded in this shooting?" Thorin whispered. In response, she lowered her shirt sleeve, showing him a scar on her left shoulder. He thanked Mahal and whomever else was listening that she was alive.
"Then, about a year before coming to this world, I lost my best friend to a drive by shooting," said Megan. "We adopted one another as family when we were children. He was as my little brother." Thorin made a soft sound of understanding, remembering the death of his little brother all too well.
"Now you feel as if you shall never be safe again," Thorin whispered. Megan nodded.
"I have what is called PTSD," she said. She went through a hole list of symptoms, which included flash backs, extreme alertness, and a whole bunch of other things. This explained her jumping at near every little noise, and how she barely trusted any of them.
"The Shire must be as a paradise to you," said Thorin. "A place where you can finally rest, yet, you are here on the road."
"I have to," said Megan in near desperation. "I need to find my Momma, and I don't care what I have to face, I must find her. I can't lose anyone else Thorin. I'm just so fuckign tired down to my very soul, but I cannot give up until she is found."
"I too have a missing parent, my Father, Thrain. He went missing after the battle of Moria." Megan hugged him close.
"He-she is alive, I know it," they whispered together.
"I promise you this," said Thorin, "We shall find both Thrain and Jenifer. If we do not find them during this quest, then we shall continue to look together, that I swear to you. We must not give up on them." Megan nodded in agreement.
"There is one thing that troubles me," said Thorin. " When we arrived at Bag End, did you truly not know we were coming?"
"We had no idea," said Megan. "Gandalf only said that he would inform the others. He did not let us know that you would be disrupting our evening and scarin me half to death."
"I am so sorry," Thorin whispered. "You had every right to bring whatever help you needed." He was going to have some strong words with Gandalf.
"I believe that Balin is finished with his tale," said Thorin. "Shall we head back?"
'Yes," said Megan. They walked back to camp together, Thorin noticed all the dwarves and Bilbo looking at him with respect.
"The pale orc, what happened to him?" asked Bilbo.
"He slunk back into the hole from wince he came," Thorin spat, a rush of anger filling him at the memory of Azog. "That filth died of his wounds long ago. Now, I believe we should get some rest. We have a hard day of riding on the morrow."
Thorin lead Megan to her bed, Bilbo right behind them.
"Please don't leave me," she whispered to them both. Bilbo met Thorin's eye. The dwarf noticed his concern reflected in his brown eyes. Bilbo scuttled to grab his and Thorin's beds, and was back in a few seconds, ignoring Dwalin's indignant shout of protest.
Thorin watched as Bilbo placed their beds on either side of Megan's. Nodding, Bilbo helped Megan lay down, covering her with extra blankets.
He and Thorin went to their bedrolls and laid down, placing protective arms around her.
The marks on their arms pulsed with energy, glowing more brightly than before.
Bilbo and Thorin glanced around them. Rows of desks sat in a large room, while colorful plants hung in the window. Students were studying, pouring over books, and writing on strange looking devices.
"That is not quill and ink," said Bilbo.
"No, it is not," said Thorin in agreement. Why on earth were he and Bilbo in this place? The spotted a younger looking Megan near the front of the room, strange looking ear muffs were on her ears, and she was running her fingers over something, and writing on the strange device like the rest of the students. An older looking gentleman stood at the front of the room behind a large desk. He looked quite distinguished in his suit and tie.
"Time is up students," he said. "Miss Megan, you have extended time on assignments and exams, so take your time." The young woman gave the man a shy smile as she continued her work.
"I will be grading your exams this week, and they will be posted on blackboard by next week," the man continued. Just then came a loud boom that reminded Bilbo of Gandalf's fireworks, and had Thorin reaching for a weapon he did not have. The boom was followed by a loud and booming voice, but neither Thorin or Bilbo could make out where it came from.
"There is an active shooter on campus, this is not a drill. Students and staff, please follow procedures and stay calm." Thorin's stomach dropped. He had a bad feeling what this was. Screams filled the air as the loud booms came closer. As one, they threw themselves under the table, Bilbo and Thorin following their example. Thorin watched as she moved her finger over a strange device shaped like a rectangular. He leaned forward to read the words that seemed to magically appear on the device.
"Momma, there is a shooting on campus I am scared please remember that you are the best Momma in the world love you," Thorin read. Tears sprang to his eyes at the message, he could see other students moving their fingers on their devices writing similar messages.
"Miss Megan," Thorin asked. They were under her table. She however did not answer. He tried touching her shoulder, but his hand went right through her.
What followed was one of the worst things that Thorin had ever seen. Poor Bilbo was ashen faced and shaking like a leaf beside him as screams and loud booms erupted around them. Thorin sent up a prayer as a young lady fell dead with a scream nearby.
"Janet!" Megan screamed, sounding quite hysterical. "That was my roommate you fucking bastard!" She bellowed. Her voice was filled with absolute terror, but there was furry hidden within as well. Megan paid for her boldness. Thorin and Bilbo both cried out with her as a bullet went through her shoulder.
Hearing this scene from her was one thing, but seeing it firsthand… Thorin placed a shaking hand over his face. Bilbo looked half mad with terror, half shrieking, and half sobbing from the horrific scene.
Megan let out a moan of pain that went right through Thorin's heart.
"Megan!" Bilbo howled in response. Thorin could hardly stand the sight and sounds that filled the room, the hobbit had his eyes shut tight, hands covering his ears as he rocked back and forth, letting out whimpers of terror, begging for it to stop.
Thorin jolted awake with a gasp. Tears were on his cheeks as he gasped for air, gazing wildly around him. Bilbo woke a second latter, nearly letting out a shriek. He sat bolt upright, eyes wild as he scanned the aria. He let out a moan of relief as he spotted Megan in-between them, still fast asleep.
Thorin thanked Mahal that she didn't dream the horrors of the shooting. He and Bilbo gazed at one another, their horror reflected in the other's face.
"It's all right Master Baggins," Thorin whispered in a trembling voice. "She is here with us, safe in a place where she shall never have to live under that horrid weapon again." He got up on trembling legs to fill his water skin. He felt biol rising in his throat, and staggered to the nearest bush where he lost his supper.
Why in Durin's name did they have that dream? He thought as he splashed water on his face. The cold sting caused some of the shock to leave him. He went back to where Megan and Bilbo were, and made the hobbit drink a few sips.
"How," Bilbo whispered. "How did she return to that awful place after that?" Thorin had no words to answer him. They both whirled around as a blood curdling shriek was heard. Megan sat up, breathing fast, hands automatically going to her head.
She threw herself to the ground as dwarven battle cries filled the air. Thorin could see by her face that she thought she was in the dream. The dwarves grew quiet as they realized it was Megan. She continued to scream, hand going to her left shoulder.
"Stop yer shrieking lass," Dwalin bellowed over her. "You shall bring all the orcs and wargs down on us with your racket!" This did not help matters in the slightest.
She curled up into a ball, breathing so fast that Thorin was afraid she was going to do herself damage. Bilbo knelt beside her, calling for her in a gentle voice.
"She's possessed," said Dori "stay away from her Ori." Nori scoffed at his elder brother's stupidity. The screaming died down to small gasps and whimpers as Bilbo continued to gently coax her back to reality.
"Stay back!" Thorin barked as the company began to draw in closer to her.
"Megan, your safe," Bilbo whispered. "Nothing is going to hurt you." Megan slowly opened her eyes and sat up with Bilbo's help. He was careful to gently touch her so she wouldn't startle.
"Do you know where you are Megan?" Bilbo asked.
"That is a stupid question to ask," Dori scoffed.
'You be quiet," Oin snarled, glaring fiercely at Dori. Megan flinched at the noise, but Bilbo's gentle voice calmed her.
"Is this Bilbo?" she asked in a scratchy voice.
"Yes, it is your Bilbo," the hobbit replied. "Thorin is here too. There are no guns, nobody is going to hurt you," Dori opened his mouth, but Thorin stalked over to him.
"one more word Dori, and you shall be on dish duty for the next month." The elder shrank back from his rath and closed his mouth
She grew even calmer, taking Bilbo's hand off her shoulder and holding it.
"I am at camp," she said.
"Yes, that is right," said Bilbo.
"Is she well?" Gandalf asked from behind them.
"Aye, she is," said Thorin.
"What are those marks on your arms?" he asked.
"Marks?" Megan repeated, eyes going wide. Bilbo and Thorin looked at to where the wizard was pointing.
"How?" Thorin breathed.
"I believe you were touched by the valor," Gandalf replied.
'This can wait till later wizard," Thorin growled. "Bilbo and I just experienced a horrific nightmare." Megan gasped at this.
"Was it?"
"It was," said Bilbo and Thorin together, sitting on either side of her. Megan shivered.
"I shouldn't have told you," she whispered. 'Nobody should have to see it, let alone dream it."
"Shh," said Thorin. "I am glad that you told me." He could see Dwalin listening in on their conversation.
"What dream?" he asked. "You look like you have seen a ghost."
"Megan? Do you wish for me to tell him?" Thorin asked.
"If you want to. He won't tell anybody else, will he?" Thorin squeezed her hand.
"Dwalin is like a brother to me, he shall not speak of it," said Thorin. Megan nodded. Thorin went over to Dwalin, and told him of the dream in a low voice.
"You mean to tell me that students get killed while they are in school?" he asked.
"Aye," said Thorin.
"That is sick," Dwalin whispered. "Why does her government not do anything?" he asked.
"I know not," Thorin replied.
"Her screams were from her reliving it?" Dwalin said. Thorin nodded.
"But why did you and the halfling share this dream of hers? Does it have to do with those marks on your arms?" Dwalin glanced down at the glowing mark on Thorin's arm.
"At this point, I cannot think of any other explanation," said Thorin. He could now see it as well, now that is was brought to their attention.
"The lass and the halfling both have one as well," said Dwalin. "Why would the valor mark your skin in such a way?" Thorin shook his head, not having any answers himself.
'I shall have to speak to Gandalf about it later on."
"GO and sit down Thorin," said Dwalin, you still look pale. "I shall have Oin make some tea for the three of you, it may help you all sleep."
"The watch," said Thorin.
"You can drink the tea once your shift is done," said Dwalin, walking over to Oin.
Thorin walked back to Bilbo and Megan. They were hugging, with his chin resting in her curls.
Thorin wrapped his arms around her as well.
"I shall take your watch with you," he said. "I shall not be sleeping anytime soon. Dwalin is having Oin make us some tea to help us sleep."
"That is good," said Megan.
Thorin and Bilbo helped Megan to her feet, and they walked together, sitting on a huge rock that had a good view of the camp and its surrounding area. The dwarves fell back asleep one by one. Megan wrapped her arms around Bilbo as he began to cry softly.
"Shh, it was just a horrible dream Bilbo, we are all here safe," she whispered. Bilbo sniffed.
"I know," Bilbo whispered. "It was just so horrifying to see, and when you got shot with what is it called again?"
"It is called a bullet," said Megan, rubbing circles on his back.
"Bullet," Bilbo repeated. ""When you got shot by that bullet, I was so scared." He shuddered in her arms.
"I know, I know my Hobbit," said Megan.
"I keep thinking of that message you wrote on that device," Thorin whispered.
"Iphone," said Megan. "You can send written messages back and forth."
"Aye," said Thorin. "I was thinking of how my sister and I would feel if we got something like that written." Megan wrapped her other arm around his broad shoulder. "It is simply horrific," she whispered.
"You are such a strong woman," Thorin said.
"I don't feel like one sometimes," said Megan. "There are days where I just wanna cry and scream everything out of me, other days I am just so tired that I just want it all to go away the pain is so overwhelming. Then there are good days, ones where I am more productive, but then the nightmares and flash backs come when something triggers me."
"You are not weak Megan," said Thorin. "You lived through something horrific, and yet you still have to deal with violence in your streets. It takes a very strong person to keep surviving through it all. Bilbo and I are here. If you need to cry or scream, or talk, or anything.
If I can give you something to think upon, there are many of us in this company whom have been through wars. You can talk to any of us, and we can share how we live with it. Balin, Dwalin, and Gloin are excellent dwarves to speak with, and so is Oin our healer."
"Thank you Thorin, I will think about it. You and Bilbo can talk to me as well, I am sure there are questions you want me to answer."
"We appreciate it," said Bilbo. "We shall all get through this together." Megan smiled.
"We will," she said.
"You are still tense," said Bilbo. "Let us give you a massage."
"Aye, it shall help you relax for sleep, we can still keep watch," said Thorin.
'I would love one," said Megan. Bilbo and Thorin settled themselves.
Bilbo worked on her feet and legs, while Thorin massaged her neck, shoulders, and back. Tears sprang to Megan's eyes at the gentle love that they were showing her.
The men in her world could learn a thing or two from hobbits and dwarves, she thought. There was none of this toxic masculinity bull shit here. Sure, Thorin had too keep his stern mask on during the day, his role as king and leader demanded it. He wasn't afraid to open up to those small few that he trusted. He didn't always like it when people saw him during a moment of vulnerability, but it was a Thorin thing, not toxic masculinity.
Dwarves treated their women like the treasures they are, this treatment went towards the other women that were in their charge. Thorin had been fiercely protective of her.
Bilbo was simply amazing. A male hobbit who knew how to cook, loved crochet and gardening, and was not afraid to show his emotions and be in the moment with somebody. He gave excellent advice, and was a fierce friend who showed his love for others in every action he took towards others, from cooking elaborate meals for someone, and being a shoulder to cry on, and with.
It was simple beautiful innocent love that this dwarf and hobbit were showing her, nothing attached to it what so ever.
Once their watch was done and their tea had been drank, they fluffed up her pillows, and placed extra blankets over her before sliding in beside her. She closed her eyes, feeling her heart fill with love for them.
Thorin adjusted her blanket, while Bilbo brushed a curl out of her face.
"I love you both," she said. "You are two of the best friends a woman could ever wish for. I am not used to being so pampered."
"You deserve it," said Bilbo.
"Aye," said Thorin. "We love you as well."
With that, the tea began to take effect, and they closed their eyes, drifting into a deep sleep.
Jenifer stirred from her fitful sleep, gazing at her companion beside her. He was muttering in his sleep, tossing and turning on the hard stone floor of the cell they shared.
He gasped, blue eyes flying open. They were wild for a second, before recognition came.
"Lass," he said. "Is that you?" Jenifer hated the terrified note in his voice.
She scooted closer, taking his rough hand in her own.
"Yes Thrain, it is me, Jenifer," she said.
"I was dreaming about my son, Thorin," he whispered, squeezing her hand.
"I know how you feel," said Jenifer. "I was dreaming about my girl Megan. I don't' now where she could be, my poor child." Tears sprang in her eyes.
"I know, I know," said Thrain, choking on his own tears. "I have no word on my Thorin, if he is alive or not. I haven't seen him for so long, nor my own daughter."
"We must find our babies," said Jenifer.
"Aye, if we can ever get out of this horrible place. I am afraid they shall come for us." Jenifer shuddered, and Thrain tightened his arms around her. "We shall find our children my friend," he said. "We shall."
