Chapter 23: Into the Mountains

Edyth watches the company pack up their belongings. Hers are already tidy and ready for travel, having awoken early to Thorin and Gandalf talking. A cool, damp cloth presses gently against her cheek, the soothing oil being applied to her rash.

"How's it feeling?"

"Fine," she hums. "Are you finished packing?"

"Just about."

The sun has barely risen, only hints of its glow peeking over the cliff tops. Gandalf had come early that morn, giving them instructions to leave just after sunrise. He seemed the talk hastily, and a good guess would say it was something to do with last night.

Kili drops his hands, signalling that he has finished. "How do I look?" she cheeks, emphasising her cheek.

"Stunning," he quips, tossing the now-empty phial to the side. "But you'd look better without half of your face scratched up."

"I won't disagree there," she says through a remorseful smile, planting her hands on her knees. Kili half-heartedly huffs, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Edyth pinches her brows, leaning forward to capture a glimpse of his downturned face. She slides off the bench, resting on her legs by his feet. Her hands reach for his face, pulling it up softly, turning it side to side.

Kili stares at her as his head moves. "What are you doing?"

"Checking for parasites," she declares firmly, frowning as though it is of the most urgent matter. His face ever so slightly begins to turn back up. Her thumbs pull at his cheeks, tugging the skin around his eyes down before turning his head to the side to 'check' his ears. She sets his head back straight, happy to see the smile back in its rightful place. "I think you're fine for now," she murmurs. "But I'll keep an eye on them."

"I appreciate it," Kili draws with faux sincerity.

"Are you sad because we're leaving behind that Elf?" she tries.

"The harp player?"

"No, the other one that Dwalin told me you were staring at. He was indeed handsome." Kili's subtle smile drops to which she freely chuckles at. Kili shoves her shoulder, throwing a glare in Dwalin's direction. She pushes back up to her feet, scuffing his hair lightly. "Get packing, before Thorin yells at you."

Kili stands from his seat, stalking off to his belongings without another word. Edyth gets her pack ready on her back, adjusting its weight around when someone leans over her shoulder. "Your brother," Thorin mutters. "He's continuing with us?"

Edyth looks over at Bilbo who is indeed, tying off the straps of his pack, ready to leave as the rest of them are. "It appears so," she answers. "Give him some credit."

The company leaves within the hour. Thorin leads them along a hidden mountain pass, well away from the main road in and out of the city and there is no doubt that they are sneaking out. Gandalf is not present with them, but nobody says anything. The Grey Wizard will reunite with them when he can.

She's glad to be leaving. While Elrond was not a terrible host, the whole place is too eerie for her. It felt unnatural; like an oasis only meant to exists in the mind. There is no bustling of life, no neighbours gossiping or a rush of traffic to the early morning markets. It was just too quiet. There has to be something wrong; some well-kept dark secrets

After reaching the end of the path, Thorin announces that they have returned to the wild, and to keep their wits about them. Without the ponies, the company is forced to stick to walking which isn't so bad in either of the Hobbit's minds but any groups and mingles soon drift apart and the nearest to her are either metres ahead, or meters behind.

For days they travel on like this, closer and closer to the Misty Mountains. She overheard Balin and Thorin talking one night. They didn't plan to take the pass through but now with the time constraint of Durin's Day, they could not risk travelling towards the north or south instead. It would add months to their journey; months they cannot afford.

The camps during the night become more sullen and Edyth becomes well and truly used to staying on watch during the late hours. Sometimes she is with somebody else which passes the time quicker, others she is left alone to her thoughts. Tonight, she has been placed on with Dwalin.

For a long time, the only sound is the chirp of crickets and the soft warm wind rustling the grass. With not much choice for shelter, they've been left with all their sides open, hence the two being on watch together.

"Do you reckon those Orcs are still after us?" she questions quietly, eyes leering on the horizon.

Dwalin exhales slowly, digging the tip of a knife into the ground on his side. "No tellin'," he replies with candour. "But I think they've been scared off for a while at least. Probably crawling back to where they came from for reinforcements before they come out again." Edyth nods, drawing her knees up and under her arms. "You did a good job."

The compliment is so out of place that Edyth's brows pull into a deep frown, her head snapping to the older Dwarf.

"The Orc," he adds. "You didn't hesitate. When you see younglings train it's the ones with that instinct that become the best."

Edyth shrugs, pulling at her finger. "I just…"

"Acted," Dwalin fills in. "That's what I'm saying, lass."

Xx

Every day they travel higher above sea level, heading through the beginnings of the Misty Mountains. They go on further than the eye can see in either direction. As they walk, Edyth's head is tilted upwards.

"Watch where you're going."

She looks back down to the ground but there is no danger of wandering off the path. "I am," she smiles over her shoulder. Kili nods. She sighs, looking back up but she can barely see the peak of the mountain that they are walking along. "It's so high. I've never been on a mountain before."

"Really?" Edyth chucks her head back over her shoulder with a pointed look. Kili chuckles, nodding in agreement. He speeds up his step, falling in line with her. "Well, when we get to Erebor, you and I are going to climb to the highest peak. You'll be able to see further than you ever have before."

"What about the deepest parts?" she teases. "Down in the mines. I would love to see that as well."

Kili's smile falters slightly. "It's dangerous down there but, if you really want to, I'm sure I can figure something out." He tosses his arm over her shoulder, drawing her close and leans down to her ear as though to spill a secret. "Have you ever heard of Mithril?" Edyth shakes her head, her eyes flicking between the path and him. "It used to be mined here, in the Misty Mountains. It looks like silver but is stronger than steel. Impenetrable. It was worth a lot when it was mined but now that it's not…" he trails off, clicking his tongue. "Priceless."

"What is it used for?"

"Anything someone that can afford it wants it for. Armour, jewellery."

"It sounds marvellous," she muses honestly. "Do you have anything made from it?"

Kili doesn't answer her at first and she watches his eyes dart around, flashing behind them briefly. "Promise me you won't tell anybody?" Edyth frowns slightly, but nods. Kili reaches inside a buttoned pocket with his free hand as they walk. When he pulls out his hand, it is closed in a fist, only raising her curiosity. Desperate to see it, she reaches out, almost wanting to pry his fingers open. His fingers unfurl at her touch and sitting in his palm is the most beautiful metal necklace she has ever seen. Kili was right in saying that it looks a lot like silver but there is this pristine glow to it as though someone has just spent hours polishing away.

Her finger softly brushes over it, almost scared that it would break but she recalls his words. Impenetrable. The hand on her shoulder pulls her closer, destroying the gap between them as he glances over his shoulder. "Why is it a secret?" she whispers, also looking around, very aware of his attempts to block it out of view.

"I…uh…stole it," he murmurs. "Caused a big fuss years ago but I didn't realise why it was so important then. Thorin would string me up by my ears for having it." Edyth barely holds her amused laugh at bay, settling for a giggle behind the back of her hand.

"Well it's as beautiful as you described," she acknowledges. "Thank you for trusting me."

"You're actually the first I've ever told. Not even Fee knows I have it."

"Well, I'm honoured," she chirps. "What do you plan to do with it, besides keep it in your pocket?"

Kili tilts his head to the side, his thumb moving the chain around. "Ah, not sure really. I thought it might make a nice gift but there aren't many people I could give it to considering it's stolen."

Edyth snorts, nodding through her laughter. "True that. Maybe you'll meet a nice female Dwarf from another settlement. One that doesn't know the story."

Kili huffs through his nose, smiling out of the corner of his mouth. "Maybe."

He drops his arm after tucking the necklace away. He does try to continue the conversation, but Edyth barely finds it in herself to respond, a growing headache thumping against her skull. Her companion starts to quieten after a while, sensing her disinterest. He retreats to walking behind her again which makes her feel worse, but the headache becomes sickening.

Maybe an hour or so before sunset, Thorin calls for camp to be made. They've found a somewhat flat part, though the ground is a mix of stone and grass and Edyth already predicts a rough night's sleep.

She begins working as habit takes her, first laying down her belongings. She pinches her nose, hoping the relieve herself of pain at least temporarily before she starts helping Bofur set up their kitchen but to no avail.

It takes her a moment to see the waterskin being offered to her. Edyth opens her mouth to reject the offer but thinks twice. "Thank you," she mumbles, taking it from Fili's hand. The water is nice and cool but does nothing for her head. "Hopefully sleep will ward it off," she manages to joke.

"Headache?" he guesses to which she nods in affirmation. "Sit down and get some rest."

"I have duties," she sighs. "Bofur has already started without me." The hatted Dwarf is already placing together their small kitchenette, looking unbothered by the lack of help but it doesn't get rid of the guilt, nevertheless.

"Sit down Miss Baggins." Both Fili and Edyth look over their shoulders towards Thorin who has walked up behind them. "You can be relieved of your duties for the night. It seems your brother is faring the same." The pair follows Thorin's gesture, finding Bilbo sitting against his pack, his head folded forward into his hands. "Must be something in the air."

Now unable to miss the opportunity to sit down, Edyth thanks Fili with a nod and meanders over to her brother, plopping down next to him. "Headache?" she questions, albeit already knowing the answer. "Why are we always the hassle of the company?" she whispers, shrinking into his side.

"Because we don't belong?" Bilbo mutters back darkly. Edyth swallows down a retort, settling for placing her temple on his shoulder, curling up. Bilbo kisses her head, resting his cheek against it. Tears spring to her eyes, the hopelessness that has been crawling through her mind finally making its way to the forefront. She continues to fail, and now it is becoming a question of how long until they are left in the dust. Without Gandalf here to speak on their behalf, the chances are growing. And with Bilbo's mind already being ready to return, it won't take much.

Edyth doesn't want to leave, she doesn't want to go home to the Shire with nothing waiting for her but books. This is already an adventure of a lifetime. And she'll be damned to leave it all behind.