There and Back Again: Edith's Story

Chapter VIII

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Author's Note: I had to do a little bit of digging around for information about natural remedies for nausea since that is what healers like Oin and others like him would have used, like athelas for example. I've not heard of anyone ever using mugwort, but barley water and chamomile tea are common. Right? Let me know what you think in the reviews! = ) Stuff keeps happening to Edith, poor girl, I know – but that's what happens in Middle-earth. Something always comes up!

The light of the sun was just beginning to show as the company of Thorin Oakenshield rose to leave the Hidden Valley. Kili had noticed that his brother was not there. He must have stayed with Edith the rest of the night. Oin had mentioned briefly late last night that Edith had had either a nightmare or a vision. Kili had heard her scream, and when she, it sounded like she had been slain. It had been a blood-curdling scream. Despite the moodiness of his brother earlier, when Fili heard her, he was prepared to murder anyone who harmed Edith. He had been the first one to go to her. Some of the dwarves followed, fearing one of the elves might have done something to Edith. They had their weapons drawn and ready to defend her.

Kili continued to follow the corridor as he was lost in his thoughts. He found the two nestled rather cozily together in her sleeping quarters. Fili had fallen asleep sitting up, Edith resting comfortably against him. Fili had an arm wrapped around her and her arm was on his chest. Kili chuckled as he threw a pillow at the pair. Fili woke up startled, removing a dagger from its sheath and Edith shrieked. The elder prince glared at his brother before putting the dagger away and getting up.

"Kili – what the hell did you do that for?" Edith cried, moving as far away from Fili as she could.

"We're about to go. I thought I'd wake you two before you missed us all leaving." Kili answered, laughing. "Although, I must say you looked quite comfortable. I hated the idea of disturbing you both but – thankfully it was me and not Thorin."

Fili grabbed a pillow and chucked it at Kili. He easily dodged it and left the room.

"Oh, I swear that brother of yours is asking for trouble sometimes." Edith muttered, getting her fresh set of clothes from her knapsack.

Fili chuckled.

"I'll let you change."

The dwarf left her, and she got dressed in haste. She decided to save the dress, though she knew she wouldn't need it any time soon. It wouldn't hurt to have something nice, if the occasion ever would rise again. Edith found all the dwarves ready to go. Thorin looked at her and gave her a nod.

"You will fend for yourself. I will not be responsible if you live or die."

"I understand."

Thorin turned and led the company out of Rivendell. Edith walked in the back of the company with Bilbo, Fili and Kili. She noticed the hobbit stop in his tracks to take one last look at the Hidden Valley. He released a heavy sigh as he looked down at his feet. Edith placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Bilbo," Edith urged him forward. "When you go back home you can make a stop here again!"

"I suppose you're right."

She gave him a kind smile before encouraging to keep him going. She followed the company in the rear with Bilbo, wanting to avoid Thorin and Dwalin as much as possible. Fili and Kili were second to last behind the company. Fili stopped in his tracks to look behind to see if Edith and Bilbo were coming. He watched the two of them interact even at a distance. At the sight of their friendship, he felt resentment towards the halfling.

He clenched his jaw when he heard Edith laugh and the hobbit smile, like the previous evening. Once they were closer to the company, he turned on his heel and made his way forward. Edith noticed his actions and glanced over at the blonde-haired dwarf. She frowned a little. Edith released a sigh as she turned her attention back to Bilbo.

"He likes to keep an eye on you, you know. He does that often." Bilbo said, breaking the silence.

"I don't know why." Edith said, laughing incredulously.

"What happened last night? He was rather angry when he returned – well, before your nightmare."

Edith bit her lip, wondering if she should talk to the hobbit about any of this. Before she could stop herself, she told him.

"He kissed me after he brought me back to my sleeping quarters. But I pushed him away."

Bilbo looked rather surprised and raised a brow. He watched Edith as she glanced at the back of Fili's head. He turned and looked quickly at her, perhaps to make sure she was still there. Edith nodded once. It was hard to read his expression whenever he looked at her. They continued the hike up the mountain pass. The air grew thin around them the higher they went. It was difficult to breathe at such high elevation of the Misty Mountains.

Edith felt the ache in her legs as she pushed forward, not wishing to slow the company down. She continued to breathe heavily, feeling light-headed momentarily. Edith stopped and leaned against the face of the mountain away from the edge. Bilbo stopped beside her. He noticed her face paling and her hands shaking. From the side of his knapsack, he held out the waterskin.

"Drink something, Edith, you look faint." Bilbo said.

Her hand's trembled as she drank from it. It was refreshing but Edith still felt weary. She handed the waterskin back to the hobbit and he put it away. Bilbo looked over at the rest of the company who hadn't even noticed they stopped. Fili, however, looked back before stopping a moment. For a moment he thought Edith might collapse where she stood, her face unusually pale. She surprised him and straightened herself up before continuing forward. Bilbo glanced at Fili and frowned. He had promised to look after Edith and yet they were distancing themselves from one another. Fili touched her shoulder, stopping her as she passed him. Bilbo snuck around them to avoid being caught in the middle of an argument and continued ahead.

"Fili, please don't." Edith whispered, sighing heavily.

"What were you talking about with the hobbit?" he inquired.

"That is my business. Am I not allowed to have other people to talk to?"

"Fili, go ahead with Kili and scout the path up ahead." Thorin called from up front.

He sent Edith a look before following his uncle's orders. Thorin called for a respite while the brothers did as they were told. Oin did his rounds to check on everyone's health. When he found Edith, she was pale and looked like she was going to faint. A sudden wave of nausea went through her.

"How are you feeling, lass?" he asked.

"I feel sick. I am not accustomed to climbing mountains. I have lived at such low altitudes all my life." Edith said, bending over.

"Aye, you're adjusting to rather different conditions. Drink some of this, an herbal remedy."

Edith took a sip from the bottle that Oin gave her. It was a ghastly, bitter taste and the after taste was far more unpleasant. However, for a moment she felt slightly better. It had all come up, much to her disappointment. Some of the dwarves groaned and Bilbo felt queasy as he turned away from the sight. Edith coughed and wiped her mouth on her sleeve before breathing heavily. She closed her eyes and stayed bent over as she sat on the rock.

"Better out than in, lass." Oin said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She closed her eyes as a dull headache started. There was another wave of nausea before she brought everything up again.

"What the devil did you give me, Oin?" Edith choked.

"Infusion of mugwort, barley water and a bit of chamomile tea, I found this works best for nausea for some, but I gather that you've not had anything of the sort, I used very little mugwort for this."

"Mugwort?" Edith asked, her voice hoarse. "I did not suspect that you would have it here!"

"You know your medicines, aye?"

"I do, though I haven't heard of anyone using mugwort in quite a long time. Mugwort and chamomile help with stomach pains and nausea, barley water is often used for cleansing is it not?"

"Aye, it is, lass. Did you use such remedies when you were a healer?"

"Sometimes, but we had other medicines too – stronger. I think that was the last of it…I don't feel sick to my stomach anymore."

"Bombur, give her some of that bread the elves gave us."

Bombur shrugged off his pack and pulled out what was asked. Edith nibbled on it slowly, hoping it would stay down. Not long after, Fili and Kili returned from scouts. The road was clear ahead with no open signs of danger. By the time they were ready to leave, Edith finished the bread and drank some more water. She sighed as they marched forward. There wasn't much conversation to be had that day. Every once and a while, someone would call from the front to check on the others in the back. Edith hummed to help pass the time of walking.

How she missed music, being able to turn on the radio in the kitchen and to dance and sing to it as often she liked. Whenever Jack had been home, and she had been too, they often went out to dance halls and spent most of their evening there. One night, they had stayed out dancing until two in the morning. When Jack had brought her home, her mother had been up in the living room. She sat in the rocking chair waiting for Edith's return, her expression sour and discontent. The next day Jack and Edith had laughed about it at the café down the street.

Nori glanced back at her as her humming continued and grew louder.

"The lass keeps humming, perhaps we should ask her just to sing for us again. What do you say lads?" Nori asked, smiling at Edith.

The dwarves agreed, and Edith chuckled.

"I suppose I must now. I hadn't realized how much I was still humming."

Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?

Track twenty-nine, boy you can gimme a shine

I can afford to board a Chattanooga Choo Choo

I've got my fare and just a trifle to spare

You leave the Pennsylvania station 'bout a quarter to four

Read a magazine then you're in Baltimore

Dinner at the diner, nothin' could be finer

Than to have your ham 'n' eggs in Carolina

When you hear that whistle blowin' eight to the bar

Then you know that Tennessee is not very far

Shovel all the coal in, gotta keep it rollin'

Chattanooga there you are

There's gonna be a certain party at the station

Satin and lace, I used to call funny face

She's gonna cry until I tell her that I'll never roam

So Chattanooga Choo Choo, won't you choo choo me home!

"I haven't heard a song like that before!" Ori said, shyly. "What's a Chattanooga Choo Choo?"

"Er, it's something you travel with…it can go faster than a horse, but it's just a song, Ori." Edith answered. "My songs are rather strange, aren't they? But it's fun to hear music with it and dance."

The dwarves sang next and Edith smiled a little as she listened to their songs. She heard Fili and Kili sing. The next song they all sang had caused Bilbo to frown. It had been about him and clearly the hobbit didn't take too kindly being made fun of. Some of the dwarves laughed and Kili placed his hand on Bilbo's shoulder.

"That wasn't very kind," Edith muttered.

"You weren't there! You should have seen his face, the poor hobbit, when we cleaned up our mess. It was very entertaining for us." Kili replied, in his defense. "He was certain we would break everything he owned."

"Yes, well, I never hosted for a company of dwarves. I wasn't certain what to expect from any of you!" Bilbo argued. "You saw what they did to the floor, carpets and pantry, Edith, I hope."

"It was quite clean when I got up, but the pantry was severely lacking in food."

"And I promise, I will repay you for all the food we enjoyed, Master Hobbit." Kili added. "You'll be set for a good long while!"

"I will hold you to your promise, Kili." Bilbo said, smiling.

Edith had slowed down a bit but Kili stayed behind with her, making sure she was alright. She pushed herself to keep going, even though the incline was getting higher. She got more out of breath and her legs continued to ache. This is good for you, Edith. She reminded herself. Kili noticed her expression continuously change and he chuckled.

"What?" she asked.

"It's nothing," he replied.

"Come on, Kili, at least try to be honest with me."

"You look so determined to get across this mountain. It's rather amusing to see your expression."

"Like I said, I am not used to climbing mountains like you and your fellow dwarves. I grew up on very flat lands my whole life."

"You're doing wonderfully keeping up with all of us." Kili added. "So, what happened between you and my brother? You've been avoiding each other since we left Rivendell."

"Kili," Edith groaned.

"He's my brother, Edith." Kili said, seriously.

"Why didn't you stop him from staying with me last night then?" she asked, bitterly.

"He worries about you. But, that's not what I meant though. He came back, and he was rather moody after you went to sleep."

"It's still a sore subject, Kili. I'd rather not think about it for a little while."

"Understood."

The company of Thorin Oakenshield continued the mountain pass for three days. The third day, when night fell, a storm broke. The path grew far more treacherous. The rain, wind and flashes of lightning didn't help the situation. Edith clung desperately to the side of the mountain wall, praying for dear life that she wouldn't fall over the edge. She trudged along between Kili and Fili in the rear. The wind howled viciously and threatened to several times knock them over. They could barely hear one another as they shouted to make sure the others were alright.

"We have to get off the mountain, Thorin!" Edith shouted, over the noise.

"I don't take orders from a woman! We keep going!" he yelled back.

"You could lose one of your men in this thunderstorm!" Edith retaliated.

Suddenly, there was a loud crack within the mountain. The stones began to rumble and shift dangerously. Everyone cried out and Edith shrieked as she was knocked over.

"Edith!" Fili shouted, grabbing hold of her.

"This is no thunderstorm! It's a thunder battle! Look!" Balin yelled. "Stone giants!"

"Bless me, the legends are true!" Bofur cried.

Their path split in two as the stone giant they had been walking on awoke. The stone giant roared. Edith cried out in shock, her eyes wide as she looked back at Fili, feeling the ground shift beneath her. He looked panicked. Edith had been on the split but in the nick of time, Fili pushed her over towards Balin, Dwalin, Thorin, and some of the others. The company was split in two.

"Fili!" Edith cried.

"Fili! Kili! No!" Thorin bellowed.

Bofur had steadied Edith after her being pushed over. The legs of the stone giant moved, and Edith closed her eyes. She prayed this would not be the end even as she let out a blood curdling scream as they swung towards another crevice. The other half of the company were still alive once they had made their way towards the second mountain pass. They jumped. Edith lost her footing and clung over the edge. She looked over and saw Bilbo, his face white as a sheet as he dangled over the edge – holding onto a rock with one hand.

"Where's Bilbo and Edith?" Bofur asked.

"Down there!" Dori exclaimed.

"Edith!"

She looked up at Fili. He looked at her, almost frightened. He went to lie down over the edge and stretched his hand out.

"I can't reach!" Edith exclaimed, trying to pull herself up.

"Pull yourself up! Come on, I'll grab your hand!" Fili shouted.

The rain didn't help. The rocks were slippery, and it was a dangerous attempt. Edith tried as much as she could to push herself up. Her hand slipped on one of the rocks, leaving a nasty gash on the inside of her palm. She shrieked.

"Edith, no!"

Fili grabbed her wrist in time and pulled her up, with help from Kili. He pulled her back up onto the path. Edith trembled as she stood in front of the dwarf that had just saved her life. Her hands shook as she looked at Fili, terrified but relieved she was rescued. His expression reflected hers.

She let out a small whimper as she embraced him. Fili wrapped his arms securely around her and held her as she tried to contain her quiet sobs. He gently placed his hand on the back of her head and thanked Mahal she hadn't fallen to her death. He could feel her shaking even as he continued to hold her. Thorin and Dwalin had rescued Bilbo who had also been quite shaken from his near-death fall.

"We thought we lost our burglar!" Bofur exclaimed.

"We did lose him, along time ago. He never should have come!" Thorin growled, turning away from the hobbit.

Edith looked over at Bilbo, hearing Thorin's comment. Bilbo's jaw was clenched, and he avoided everyone's stare. Fili looked at Edith and brushed wet hair out of her face.

"I think that was twice you saved my life," she whispered, returning her attention back to Fili.

Her heart was pounding. She wasn't sure if it had been because of the almost fall or the fact that Fili was holding her. Perhaps it had been both. He smiled lightly. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He'd been taken aback by her action and she noticed it.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Edith hurried up the path, following the others. Fili followed shortly after, still dumbfounded that she had just given him a kiss. There was still some hope after all.