Balin watches as the cat gives an almost human like reaction before she sprints off into the woods "ELEANOR" the hobbit calls out, Balin looks at Bilbo who was stood with Gandalf. The wizard held onto the hobbit, to stop him from running after his sister "Bu-" He mutters out.
"Just give her time" He whisper softly to Bilbo. The interaction between the pair spiked the growing curiosity in Balin, he took note that the company was distracted; laughing and making fun at his brothers expense and sneaky moved towards the woods. He wanted answers, something just did not add up with this cat, casting another look at the company to see he had gone unnoticed and he heads into the woods to search for the cat.
Balin looks around but could see no sign of the cat. However the sound of muttering had caught his attention, he slowly and stealthily moved across the forest floor, avoiding stepping on branches and leaves on the ground, he did not want to scare whatever or whoever was muttering. Balin's heart began to race as he got closer to the muttering, until he found the source. . . . It was the cat. Balin looks at the cat in confusion animals do not talk. Moments later his breath caught in his throat and his heart stop as the cat transformed in to a young lass. "What in Durin's name" He uttered out mesmerised by what he had just seen, as the lass leaned against the tree breathing heavily.
"What just happened?" She whispered to herself, Balin chose this moment to step out of the bushes and stand behind the young lass. As if sensing his presents Eleanor lets out a breath and slowly turns around to face him.
She was a fair lass indeed, with pale skin, and beautiful blonde hair that flowed over her shoulder in natural waves. She was wearing that long sleeved blue dress that completed her curves, showing Balin that she was not a child, however she still looked young in age but what caught his attention most was the lovely ice blue eyes that where staring at him, shining within them was fear "I was just wondering the the same thing lass" Balin says gazing at the beautiful lass in front of him, recovering from the fact that she was a human being; it was a bit of a shock but explained a few things such as why the cat was giving off human reaction and he did most definitely hear her talk.
"I-I" Eleanor stutters out, Balin gives her a warm smile.
He moves closer to Eleanor "How about introduction" He softly tells her "Balin at your service lass" Balin bows at Eleanor.
Eleanor gives him a small smile, her heart races "Eleanor Baggins at yours sir" She tells him, bowing to Balin. She flinches a little as Balin stares at her, she could tell he was interested in learning what she was and why she was here.
"Forgive me lass but you are not a hobbit" Balin says, looking at the girl curiously.
Eleanor shook her head agreeing with the older dwarf "No I am not" She muttered out "I am Bilbo's adopted sister"
"What are you may I ask?" Balin questions, he was trying not to push the lass for an answer but he just couldn't help wanting to know, for the sake of his brother and their company. Even if she does seem harmless, what damage could a tabby cat cause.
Eleanor hesitate's with answering Balin's question. Gandalf told her to keep herself a secret until necessary, but to her luck someone found out before. . . . Would it matter if she told him the truth, he did see her change back from her cat form. Eleanor lets out a shaky breath and meets Balin's gaze "I am a shifter" She breaths out, Balin's eyes grew wide in shock of her answer.
He could not believe what Eleanor had said, his mind could not process it, but when it did he had all sorts off questions he needed answering, Balin continued to stare at Eleanor in disbelief making the girl feel uncomfortable. Balin notices this as the lass shifts awkwardly on her feet "Forgive me" Balin says with a slight bow "It's just" he pauses a moment, realising that Eleanor may be the last of her kin "I am having a hard time believing that you are in front of me lass" Eleanor stares at Balin, her eyes filled with tears that refused to spill over "What happened?" Balin questioned.
"I can't remember much" Eleanor admitted softly, she lowers her gaze to the ground "All I know is that my tribe was attacked by orc's and their leader was Azog the pale orc" She raises her gaze to look at Balin, his wise eyes shined with sympathy for the shifter "We were eating" She mutters out "My parents and I, when we heard the screams" That was all it took for the tears to start falling a sob escapes her lips, Balin moves forward and grabs Eleanor hands to show his support "My mother got me out and my father joined the tribe in fighting" She hiccups out "My mother's favourite form was an eagle" Eleanor tells Balin with a fond smile playing upon her lips "She shifted into her eagle form and told me to get onto her back and we flew away" Eleanor pauses a moment letting out a shaky breath before continuing "But not before she was shot with an arrow" Balin could not believe what he was hearing, he could not believe that a lass as young as her had gone through this terrible attack and then ended up being separated from her family and kin "Mother was able to carry me to the Shire where we met Belladonna and Bungo Baggin, my mother begged them to take me" Eleanor clears her throat and wipes away her tears "And they did, my mother went off to die from her wounds" Eleanor hated to talk about her past, she would never forget her parents but what she wouldn't give to forget the attack that happened to her tribe and many other shifter and skin changers tribes/clans "Gandalf came to visit often and informed me that Azog had taken shifters and skin changers prisoners and that is all I know on what happened to my kin"
Balin let out a shaky breath "I am very sorry my dear"
Eleanor smiles at the old dwarf "It's not your fault Mr Dwarf, nothing can change the past" Balin smiles at Eleanor
"Balin please" He tells her, Eleanor nods her head "What was your fathers favourite form?" He asked.
"Bengal tiger" She answered with a warm smile.
Balin removes his hand from Eleanor "May I ask what forms you take?"
Eleanor beams at the question "You may" she says with a little giggle "As you saw before I can change into a tabby cat" Balin nods his head "Like my parents I change into a bengal tiger and an eagle"
"Very impressive my dear" Balin complements her "That was three" He tell her "What is your fourth form?"
"A grey wolf" Eleanor tells Balin "My forms are bigger then the average size of the animals I take" She explains to Balin, making the old look upon her in interest "For example, my wolf form is the size of a warg and as you noticed as well in my tabby cat form, I am a bit bigger then the regular house cat"
Balin laughs at her comment "You will be useful if we run into trouble"
Eleanor giggles and shakes her head "Now you have gone and jinxed us Master Balin" The pair burst into laughter at her comment, however Balin couldn't help but worry that Eleanor may be right. There was no way that the company is going to get through this quest without running into some sort of trouble, especially with Thorin leading us. If what he and Gandalf believe to be true then Azog is still out there, probably hunting Thorin down in hopes to destroy the line of Durin.
The pair calmed down and fell into silence "I am sorry about your tribe and parents lass" Balin sincerely says.
"Thank you" Eleanor utters out, looking to the ground.
Balin clears his throat, looking at Eleanor "I have to ask" Eleanor lifts her head to him "My brother" Was all Balin could get out, he really didn't know how to word what he wanted to ask.
A look of realisation crossed Eleanor face "Ah, that" She choked out, her hands went back to playing with her hair, as the nervous began "Your brother Dwalin is kind of my mate"
Balin eyes widen in shock "I-I" He stutters "Excuse me" He says, not sure if his old ears heard correctly.
Eleanor blushes with a small smile on her lip "He is my mate"
"Well" Balin has never been speechless in his life, he really could process any of this conversation since he came upon the lass "Good luck with that lass, I am sure you will be perfect for my brother" Balin blurted out "And I do hope you can put the stubborn and hard headed dwarf in his place" Balin rants on.
Eleanor watching on in fondness at Balin ranting on about her mate, she laughs at him "I am sure I can manage" She tell him honestly.
"Good" Balin mutters "He deserves you lass" He honestly tells the shifter "I can not wait to see his face when he finds out that the cat he was cuddling with last night is in fact a shifter" Balin laughs but stops when he see the look on Eleanor's face.
"That was embarrassing" She admitted, sighing softly "But I am unsure when my secret will be revealed to the company" She looks softly at Balin "Gandalf told me I have to wait until we are in danger to shift forms to help out" She takes a breath "I'll do anything to protect my brother and mate"
Balin smiles at the lass in front of him, his brother was lucky indeed "I understand that lass" He moves towards Eleanor "Gandalf, I think he wants to show Thorin your worth" He says to Eleanor. She nods her head in agreement, El knew that if Thorin found out too soon he would send her home, she needs to prove herself to the king that she could hold her own. . . . The only problem with that is she hasn't been in a fight before but with the instinct to protect her brother and mate El has no doubt that would be enough.
Balin sighs a little, knowing it was time to get back to the other "I think we better get back before they notice I have gone walk about" Eleanor lets out a giggle at his choice word. Balin holds up his arm for Eleanor to take, she hesitates but ends up taking his arm and pair begin to walk back to the company in silence. As the woods began to thinning, Eleanor lets go off Balin arm "Changing back lass?"
Eleanor nods "Thank you for talking to me tonight and accepting me Master Balin" She sweetly told him.
Balin smiles brightly "Your welcome" he replies, Eleanor smiles at the older dwarf before shifting back into her tabby cat "Lets go" Balin comments.
"Lets" El says, Balin looks at the cat in shock. He was right he did see her talk to Gandalf at the Shire in her cat form. Shaking his hand the pair left the woods and rejoined the group.
Balin went over to his brother as Eleanor went to hers. Bilbo sighs in relief at the sight off his sister, bending down he strokes behind her ears, making El purr "You had me worried El" Bilbo scowled her "You can't run off like that"
El let out a meow and rubs against Bilbo hand "I am sorry brother"
Bilbo smiles "It's ok El" He tells her "Your back that's all that matters"
Eleanor takes a breath "Balin knows" She tells her brother as Gandalf approaches the pair, Bilbo looks at his sister worried that the older dwarf will tell Thorin and have his sister return home. Seeing the look on her brothers face Eleanor reassured her brother that Balin had taken the news well and that he understood that she could be an ally if ever we faced any trouble.
The siblings and Gandalf were pulled away from their conversation by Thorin ordering the company "Time to pack up and go" He shouts out, the company rushed about packing their gear, before tying them on the ponies then mounting their rides. Eleanor felt hands around her, turning her head she sees her mate, he pulls her into his arms and walks to his horse "Move out" Thorin says. If Eleanor could blush in her cat form she would be right now as she was sat in front of her mate.
She was beginning to love this journey.
A/N:Hey guys, hope you enjoy the chapter, please let me know what you think. It was meant to be out a couple of days ago but I wasn't satisfied with the chapter and changed it and it ended up been longer as well.
Stay safe everyone
Angel Wings