Hello nuggets!
Here is the next installment, well really this one is the equivalent of two installments, it's so long, but I was on a roll and didn't really know where else to stop this one. So oh well, I hope you all enjoy it!
Cheers the F/F: Iracebeth Irons, heather .taft3, PuppyLove10121, Choking On A Dream, charnii, crazehfreakbehugreh000, AutumnSoldier, Crimson Songstress & Caro1404.
Cheers for the reviews: Drake Rhapsody, Lucy & Silversun XD.
(Also, after a very less than helpful review saying my summary was so vague that I might as well of not of written one, I have decided that I might change it. So if anyone has any suggestions, or can think of a better summary I would love to hear your ideas! Thank you all)
I only own little Todd.
Chapter 23 – Fight or Flight
Todd stood, her bare feet rooted to the floor. The feeling of cold thick liquid beneath them caused shivers to run up her body, wiggling her toes made no difference to the feeling as it pooled around her. She felt heavy, as if every force on Middle Earth was trying to pull her into the ground, never to move again. Sucking in a deep breath she became aware of the acrid stench of blood. The bitter metallic taste lingering on her tongue and hanging in her nostrils, her heightened senses becoming over run. Her eyes opened and they scanned the scene before her. A massacre.
Everything around her lay dead and beaten. As if an otherworldly battle had raged around her, leaving nothing living in its path. Creatures great and wicked lay at her feet. Elves, Men, Dwarrows, Orc and Goblins. Her hands balled into fists as her mind worked in overdrive to comprehend the horizon before her. Her body started shaking and she became over whelmed. Her mind began to stir and the familiar itch returned, she reached up and scratched at her back of her head, closing her eyes and hoping that once she opened them the horror would be gone and she would be back in her spot between Ori and Kili.
The feeling of despair and horror seeped through her mind, the itch following it, moving across her mind like a tide moving up a beach, all consuming and all submerging.
Her breathes started to become more frequent and then more desperate. Her body hyperventilating. She fought to control herself but it was as if something was crawling around in her brain and forcing its self onto her. She shuddered, fighting as hard as she could, her hands snaking through her hair and gripping her head in a desperate attempt to keep the alien force at bay, but it was strong and the stinging smell of blood was calling it, waking it up almost.
Then it clicked. Her eyes flew open and she was faced with the company. They were all stood watching her, pointing and glaring at her. Their friendly faces were gone and forgotten, replaced with hatred and loathing. Ori turned away from her and shook his head, grabbing at his brothers for support. Bilbo looked lost, and hurt, as if he had been betrayed and hurt by her, the look in his eyes broke her heart.
Yet it was Bofur, who stepped forward from the Company that had her breath catching in her throat. Her heart pounded and her knees buckled as she watched him sneer at her, his eyes burning with something so hateful she could hardly breath. She watched, motionless as his hand gripped at his weapon, striding forward to meet her. Once he reached her, he took his free hand and moved his fingers up to touch her forehead, much like he had done after their near death experience as a way of making sure she was ok, and that she was still there, still with him.
Yet this was no caring touch. His eyes bored into hers, conveying a pure revulsion to her. He grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her away from him, making her face the massacre. Making her see the bloodshed and lose of all those races and all those faces, of the dark and the light. She felt him move against her back, his weapon now digging into her back as his breath ghosted over her ear.
"Look to your past, dog…" He whispered, his usual happy and bright voice, dark and cutting like glass. "…look and see what comes for you!"
And she did, and it terrified her more than words could convey.
She woke with such a start that she woke five other company members with her. Her heart was racing and she was completely out of breath and clinging to Ori's arm like her life depended on it. Ori, Kili, Thorin Bilbo and Bofur all woke at her start, yet before they had a chance to respond a chilled sound floated on the air through their camp.
"Up, now all of you!" Thorin whisper shouted, before setting to kicking the rest of the still sleeping members up from their slumber. "We need to get ready to leave, immediately!"
Bilbo and Bofur were at Todd's side in a heartbeat, as she closed her eyes and steadied her breath, the camp erupting around her. The images of her nightmare started fading as quickly as they had appeared, like a painting burning from the edges in. She tried to hold onto it, to analyze it and understand but before long her mind was clear and all she could remember was feeling scared stiff and petrified. She smiled as Bilbo helped her up and Bofur reached for his hat that had fallen from her head in the night, before placing on her head and pulling it down.
She let her eyes drift to his and she found herself unbelievably relieved to see them full of worry and not hate, but why she could not remember at all seeing them full of hate to know why. She watched as Bilbo went to waking the others, leaving them two apart from the rest. The pre dawn light was beginning to lighten as the sky fell into color of deep purple and blue, throwing the camp into a strange ethereal haze.
"Bilbo, go and scout ahead again!" Thorin ordered, sending Bilbo off back where he had checked ahead the night before.
"You ok there lass?" He asked, low enough for her to hear.
"Just…" She paused when her voice came out smaller than usual; she ran a hand through her red curls. "Just a bad dream I'm fine."
Bofur nodded, the look of worry never leaving his eyes as he reached up and took her head gently in his hands. He hated to see her worried, and he had almost jumped a mile out of his sleeping position when he heard her wake with such a start. He looked into her emerald eyes to reassure himself that she was ok, as she watched him with bated breath. His touch was making her shiver and her gaze getting completely lost in his eyes as he closed the distance and rested his forehead against hers. She felt her body relax and her hand reached up and rested at his elbow.
"Come on!" He spoke softly as he took her hand in his and pulled her to where the company was now stood waiting for their light footed Burglar to return with news on which way to go next. Before long he came running back down the footpath between the rocks.
"How close is the pack?" Thorin demanded before Bilbo had even come to a halt. The flustered Hobbit slowed down and almost had to double over to catch his breath.
"Close, a couple of leagues, no more!" He huffed, catching his breath back slowly. "But that's not the worst…"
"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin cut across him. The company began to shift uncomfortably at the idea of the Wargs catching them up again, they didn't fancy their chances.
"Not yet, but they will soon enough!" Bilbo said his worried gaze shifting between the gruff dwarve and Thorin. "But there's another problem…" He started yet again, before Gandalf cut him off.
Todd caught something in the look Bilbo was giving; he had seen something to unsettle him even more so than that of a Warg pack. She unknowingly tightened her grip on Bofur's hand as she tilted her head up into the breeze. She sucked in a deep breath and held it before letting it go once again through her mouth. Her frown creased and her eyes focused. Something wasn't right.
She could smell the company's usual scent, with the pipe weed and cooking and bodily odor. Then there was the fresh due and the crisp natural air, yet there seemed to be a musty damp fur smell, mixed with something she just couldn't put her fingers on. She let the colors and the images that the scent invoked float around in her head, mulling it all over. What ever it was though, it was close enough for her to catch the scent in her human form, and that must have meant it was large. She turned her head to Bofur, who in turn moved his eyes to her, a questioning look falling over his features.
"He has seen something, something big!" She whispered. "I can smell it!"
"WILL YOU JUST LISTEN!" Bilbo shouted over the chatter of the company, his attempt at quelling the interruptions. Bofur and Todd's head whipped round to him. "I'm trying to tell you, there is something else out there!"
Bofur looked from Bilbo to Todd then back to Bilbo, his face confused at the information he was receiving. She felt the whole company shift, hands flexed over their weapons and as others shifted to be near their immediate family. Gandalf however, remained unperturbed as he took a step towards the still panting Hobbit.
"What form did it take?" He asked. "Like a bear?"
"Ye…" Bilbo started, then, as if catching on to what Todd had, he paused and pulled a face. Gandalf already knew what was out there, and had neglected to tell them. Which in turn did not surprise Todd, but it didn't half wind her up a little. "Ye… Yes that's exactly what it looked like!"
Bofur span round to face the wandering wizard, half pulling Todd with him, as they still held tightly onto each other's hands.
"You knew about this beast?" He accused, his voice full of frustration and surprise as he vented at Gandalf, and rightly so. The whole mood of the company turned sour at the thought of the wizard leading them into somewhere else they didn't want to be. The idea of Gandalf leading them into the reach of something dangerous was just about enough to anger even Ori. Todd watched silently as Bofur ran a hand through his messy hair, before glancing at her, and nodding to himself. She could practically hear the cogs turning in his brain.
Gandalf wandered to the edge of the gathering to peer into the distance as if he could see everything and nothing at the same time.
"I say we double back!" Bofur said, looking to Thorin for approval before they all set off. Yet he was met with a shake of the Kings head.
"And be run down by a pack of Orcs?" He questioned rhetorically, the Company muttering their agreement and annoyance lowly to back him up. There really was no other way around it.
"There is a house, not far from here, where we could seek refuge…" Gandalf hinted, his voice sounding almost staged. He had been planning this visit to this so-called house for while. Todd could tell. She felt Bofur's fingers tighten around hers. She couldn't help or fight it as her cheeks flushed a slight pink.
Bofur was worried, the last time the wizard had claimed to lead them to safety he had lead them into the waiting arms of the elves, so he was nervous to say the least. He unconsciously tightened his grip around Todd's. He felt her gaze flickered up to him so he turned to meet her emerald orbs, only to find that her cheeks had flushed a light shade of pink. Yet before he had a chance to over think it, Thorin had barged through them, separating their hands, as he moved to speak directly to their wizard.
"Whose house?" He asked, sounding as tired with Gandalf's ways, as the rest of the company was. "Are they friend or foe?"
"Neither… He will help us, or he will kill us." Gandalf stated bluntly. The Company bristled at the idea of such a choice.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin grimaced, sighing frustratedly. Yet before anyone had a chance to stick their point across. A loud powerful roar rose up from behind them, from where Bilbo had emerged from. Making everyone jump, Todd especially as she could hear the pounding of thick padded paws in the distance.
"We need to go!" She breathed, as she started pulling on Bofur's hand. The company edging away from ominous sound.
"None!" Gandalf stated, eyes wide as he stared off behind them. "Run!"
So they did, and they didn't really need any more convincing. The whole company set off grabbing their meager possessions and sprinted down the rest of the footpath they had been following. Todd couldn't even comprehend the pain and burning in the muscles as they ran through the dusky morning and into the humid mid morning. They descended at a sprint through the thickets and last few cops of trees. The whole company was staying silent apart from the odd 'humph' and loud breath taking. No one slowed, as they all formed a line, each person making sure the one in front didn't slow or fall behind. Todd's mind was racing, and the utterly terrifying feeling of that loud, powerful and prevailing creature chasing her was the only thing keeping her going.
They had been through so much already, and after feeling before that they had gotten over the worst, she really wanted to stop and beat herself over the head. She regretted feeling as if nothing more wrong could happen, for her having that thought was probably the most fateful thing to think, for Mahal to hear and then challenge. The needed to keep going, even on their meager meals and lack of energy, so far they were pulling through, she didn't want to even think about how much further the so called 'safe' house was.
They had been running for what felt like a whole day, yet the sun was just beginning to really burn down upon their forearms, sweat was pouring from them when she felt the familiar twinge of her wounds as they underwent the strenuous activity. Yet she never faltered, and one of the reasons for that was the fact that she was too terrified to stop, but the main reason was permanently fixed to her right hand.
Bofur had not let go, even when she had slowed down a little as her wounds started to ache and sting, he moved to run just before her, pulling her just enough to keep her going, yet not enough to hinder him and slow him down too much. The mere touch of his skin to hers was making her determination stronger and stronger, as they sprinted.
Once out of the smaller cops of trees they made it onto a plain, a great expanse of land between hillocks and mounds. The sheer lack of placed to hide or shield their whereabouts set off every alarm bells inside of her, yet they kept of running. She tried her hardest not to look back now that she knew she would probably be able to see what ever it was that was chasing them. She knew if she did, she would either stumble and take Bofur down with her, or be completely overcome with fear that she was do something stupid.
She caught eyes with the few members who did who ever choose to peer behind them. She watched their features closely. Nori first, turning quickly, his face remaining pink, flustered and out of breathe, but not scared. Dwalin and Gloin then chanced a peek too, the later even turning a few times to try and see what it was exactly that they were running from, yet once again nether really reacted how a terrified person should.
Their lack of reactions made Todd think, if they were really being chased at all, but she really didn't want to stop or slow down to find out.
"I… can't… breath!" she heard Bilbo puff from just behind her.
She turned just enough to see him a few steps behind. His face was red and blotchy and she could see him wincing as if the burning in his legs was getting too much. She held out her hand to him, and she grunted at him to take it. He looked to her and she could see the relief, if only just to be tethered to someone to know he wasn't the only one struggling. She pulled on Bilbo a little pulling him closer as they ran.
Just as the Company had made it to a crop of trees and were making their way through they heard the familiar bark and growling of Wargs. Todd ears picked it up first, and she cursed under her breath as she turned to look for them, yet they weren't quite in eye shot yet. Bofur, hearing her curse over his loud breathing, turned to look at her.
"What?" He asked, panting heavily, much like the rest of the company.
"Wargs!" She shouted both as an answer to Bofur and to warn the others. Yet it was the next sound that caught everyone's attention.
An almost earth shuddering loud roar erupted behind them. Even closer than they had thought possible. What ever this beast was, it was fast and gaining on them, even faster. With the morning light now playing against them as they ran in the broad day light, bursting out from the last of cop of trees and into yet another grassy clearing. Yet something was before them, large and welcoming as a place to hide, it was surrounded by a large mossy, ivy-covered wall, the gate made way for a view of a quant but large cottage, the perfect place to barricade and whole up in.
"THIS WAY!" Gandalf shouted, as the house they had been running for appeared before them.
Todd's limbs gave one last push as she surged forwards, she wanted nothing more than to get to the house and collapse away from the danger. She was so busy concentrating on the approaching house, that she almost missed the large rotund Bombur sprinted past them, his face pale and shaken. Todd would have laughed if it were any other situation, but she couldn't help but look behind her, Bofur's hand tightening around hers, when he saw the fear on his brothers face race past him then also.
Both turned to see a large bear like beast burst from the copse of trees they had literally just left. Its jaw was frothing and throwing spittle before it as it chased after them. Its large powerful leg muscles pumping towards them at an alarming rate.
"Mahal above!" She heard one of the other company members shout.
"RUN… HURRY!" Gandalf shouted as he made it to the gate and stopped to make sure that everyone made it in. Bofur yanked Todd through the gate, making her lose Bilbo's hand. Yet in the complete rush for them to all get to the gate they carried on until they collided with the rest of the company at a large wooden door. Todd shook herself off and jumped to try and see what was taking those at the front so long to get through. She swung her head around to see the bear gaining more ground on them. Gandalf counted Nori and Balin through the gate before sprinting after them.
"OPEN THE DOOR!" He screamed.
""HURRY!" Thorin added, shoving his way through the desperate dwarrows, he flung open a large high latch and the whole company piled in. Shouts and screams of fear erupted as they shoved their way through.
Bofur pulled Todd all the way through the door and carried on going, his momentum taking him till he fell to his knees, Todd falling down behind him.
The rest of the company through themselves back at the door trying desperately to shut it, only to have the beast slam right into it. It bulged, as the giant bears head tried to force its way into the house, its teeth glinting and sharp. One mere bite from that thing could kill three of them at once. Its eyes were wide and staring from each face to the next, the pupils large and diluted in its fit of rage. Todd felt her self bolt forward, to help shove the door closed, Bofur following with Nori and Gloin who had fallen to the ground in their haste. They all managed to shove it closed the beast trying its best to push them open as Kili and Dwalin pulled a large thick plank down over the door, bolting it in place.
Todd shuffled her feet back away from the company and far away from the door, eyes wide in fear yet also a terrified type of wonder. She had never seen or heard of a creature quite like the one thumping around outside. Its head must have been about the size of four dwarrows. She took a deep breath trying to gather her wits about her. One hand was shakily held up to her hair, a clump of her ruined red curls tightly fixed inside it, and her other hand was gripping the hilt of one of her twin blades, the tassel hanging limply against the back of her hand. The company all huffed and sighed gratefully to their maker as they realized the door was holding against the beast and they were safe.
"What is that?" Ori voiced as his Brother Dori grasped him in a side hug.
"That…" Gandalf paused, almost as if he was making sure he had the full attention of the room. ".. is our host!"
Todd coughed, as if the air got caught in her throat at the notion. The whole company reacted similarly; they turned to the wise wizard in varying degrees of confusion and indignation.
"His name is Beorn, he is a skin changer!" Gandalf stated, his voice grumbling as he started to wander off into the large house. "Sometimes he is a large black bear and sometimes he is a great strong man! The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with…"
Gandalf carried on muttering as he moved further into the house, he peered at two large impressive bulls, with their horns curling up to the roof. The whole house was made of wood, and carved in the most sparse and fitting way. All the rooms were open, apart from a few separated by curtains towards the back. One side of the house almost acted as a farmstead, with creatures roaming around happily in each others company. From dogs to cattle, from pigs to sheep. Hay littered the floors, yet it was extremely tidy, there was no animal feces or muck lurking anywhere, and the place smelled just fine. Todd had to wonder if this Beorn, spent all his time apart from when he was a giant humongous bear, tidying up. She let her eyes soak everything in.
It was a sparsely decorated place, yet it screamed of homely comfort. There were hardly any paintings and pictures, but there were old worn books double the size of any Todd had seen before, and there were utensils and tools scattered everywhere. She had even spotted a few carves wooden ornaments, very expertly made. It seemed like the most homely place she had been to yet. Cozy, was the word she wanted to say, but there was only one problem with it.
The place was, as was everything in it, huge.
"He is not over fond of Dwarves!" Gandalf then confirmed curtly as the company started to separate, much like Todd had, to look around and suss out their surroundings, others however, like Ori, Bifur and Kili stayed at the door, peering through the holes watching in the creature.
Todd let herself drift back to Bofur's side once she had seen enough of the large dinning area, that she thought would take her at least a good afternoon just to climb up into one of the seats. With out thinking, she went to grab his hand again, missing the comfort it had bought her in the crazy morning they had basically run through.
She eyed him quickly, he was simultaneously watching the door from which they had entered and then bolted, and soaking in the surroundings. His large glistening eyes were wide with wonder, his body still ready for action. She glanced down at his hand and wondered for a second what he would do if she took his hand in hers. It would be a pretty grand gesture, and she was scared that maybe it would hint too much to him. She didn't want him to know of her feeling for him, she wasn't even sure she was certain what those feelings were in the first place.
Yet as her eyes drifted down to his hand, as it hang there at his side, as if waiting for hers, she couldn't resist. She remembered in the first place that he had taken her hand, so why on this middle earth could she not return the gesture.
She shuffled forwards a little more and gently placed her hand into his gloved one. He immediately shifted and turned his eyes to hers. He took in her nervous and pink flustered expression. His face must have been one of slight shock. This was the first real show of affection other than general companionship and friendship that he had really noticed. It made his chest tighten and his face heat up a little. He smiled warmly to her and winked, tightening his grasp on her hand.
