I swear we have been running for hours – when in actuality it was probably minutes -but hell tell that to the stitch in my side and my legs burning from pounding into the ground and moving as quickly as I could. Even at my normal height on Earth I do not think I ever ran this fast, not even when I had to run for that bus one time to get to an exam.
Focusing my gaze on Bofur's hat flapping around in front of me I do my best to make sure not to fall behind. I do not want Thorin thinking just because I am a woman that I will put the company at risk by falling behind and then need help from a rescue. It goes against my womanly beliefs. But darn it if one of them could just be strong enough to carry me while running that would be a massive help.
At Bofur's sudden stop I slow down to a jog before being squashed up against a big rock by Bofur and Dwalin's arms. I hold my hand in front of my mouth to try and quieten my gasping, because even to my ears with all the rushing of my blood in them I could still hear myself. I look to my left to see Bofur's brown eyes were darting about the place before a sharp scuffle and a snarl above our heads makes us both look overhead. I am so glad that my mouth was covered as a scream nearly escaped me at the sight; a jaw covered in patchy fur and yellow blackened teeth was the view that met my eyes. A soft squeeze on my shoulder where Bofur's hand still was made me look to him. Those soft brown eyes were looking into my own while he mouthed 'calm' at me; nodding I slow down my breathing and clutch the handle of my sword. I know it would do no good if that thing – I believe they called the other ones a 'Warg' – jumped down here but the weight in my hand settled my nerves slightly.
Before I could, you know, gather all my courage, a sharp movement behind Bofur gained all our attention when Kili bloody jumped out from cover and shot at the damn thing! Of all the stupid ideas that man, sorry Dwarf, has had, this is the worst one. Another arrow flies from his bow and another before the Warg and Orc fall from the outcrop with the worst screech imaginable. Well so much for hiding in secret now. Wincing at the noise I push myself closer to the rocks as the Orc climbs up and charges at us all. Thankfully Dwalin and Bifur dispatched them both quickly, or that is what I'm believing as I had my eyes closed so I didn't have to see that disfigured grotesque face and have nightmares for the rest of my life.
"Move! Run!" At the Wizards order I open my eyes back up and push off from the rock, running even faster than I had before. Bofur had his hand wrapped around the cuff of my coat not letting me fall to the ground if I stumbled on a piece of mud or rock. If we get through this, I owe him so much! I keep my eyes on the Dwarves running in front of us and Gandalf who was leading us to goodness knows where and doing my absolute best to ignore the snarls and howls from the Orcs and Wargs behind us.
"There they are!" Pushing myself harder me and Bofur run until Thorin halts in a grassy clearing. Surely we should be finding somewhere to hide and not bloody standing out in the open where those blasted things can and will find us? I am so not ready to be Warg-chow, I am to young to die!
"There's more coming," looking over where I hear Kili's shout I see Wargs and Orcs all around us. I shakily draw my sword and Bofur lets go of my coat and brandishes his mattock as he walks further on. Thorin orders Kili to shoot at the Orcs but I cannot see how we could possibly get out of this without losing someone. Turning to the side I see Ori hit a Warg with a rock from his slingshot and I can feel my heart go into my throat from the smile on that Orc's face. Counting all the Dwarves and Bilbo my heart beats even faster, where is the Wizard? Where's Gandalf gone: "Where's Gandalf?" I shout to the others, we can't have left him behind!
A snarl from near me makes me spin round to see a Warg creeping through the trees towards us. Reaching down I grab a good hefty rock in my right hand, lets hope all those years of shotput at school help me here, and throw it with all my might at the creature. I grin when it makes a good sounding thump on its body, though that grin soon left when the Warg shook it off and growled at me. Well done Marcy you have pissed off the evil creature, brilliant job!
I start to shuffle backwards a little away from the angry Warg before Thorin shouts: "Hold your ground!" Well he is not bloody facing off an angry creature that would now happily rip me to shreds.
"This way, you fools!" At Gandalf's yell I see him between two rocks. Never have I been happier to see someone in all my life. I chance a look back at the advancing Warg, its eyes focused on me. Will I make it? Glaring at the creature I grit my teeth, I did not travel across to a different realm to become puppy-chow and with that thought I pushed off the grass and sprinted as fast as I could towards the rocks where now only Thorin was standing: "come on, move! Quickly, all of you! Go, go, go!"
The thumping behind me just made me more determined to get to those rocks, all the fear of being caught just fuelled my running. At Thorin's worried gaze my way I knew that the Warg must be close behind me and at his yelling I figured he was telling me to move faster. Newsflash, short legs mean you can only run so fast. I was so close to the rocks I could cry but the thumping of the ground behind me meant that the Warg was literally at the back of me, the snapping and snarling sounds were as if its jaws were right beside my ear. And so, I made a split-second decision. A stupid ass decision, but one I made anyway because I knew there was no way I was getting to those rocks without this Warg getting hold of me.
I threw myself on the floor with my sword pointed up. The Warg did not have time to stop and ran straight over me with my sword digging into the underside of it which nearly ripped it from my grip. At the sharp howl and snarl from it I pushed myself up and faced it with my sword held in my right hand and another rock in my left. As it turned back around, I saw blackened blood dripping to the floor from underneath it. At least I had made my mark. Gritting my teeth once more, I start to circle round it to try and run towards those rocks again, I was so close. I notice its back legs start to bend as a dog would when it is about to pounce and I aim my sword at its head, it worked last time lets hope it works this time!
But before either of us have a chance to move an arrow and then another one slam into the Wargs head, making it shriek before hitting the ground. I didn't stand around and wait to see if it survived as I fled once again to the rocks where an angry Thorin was waiting, when I finally reached them he pulled me up the side before letting me fall down the large crack.
Sliding down to the bottom I am met by Gandalf who gently pulls me up and to the side while dusting me off. "Are you okay my dear?" I nod while I shakily try and wipe the black blood off my sword, a wizened hand stops me and does the job before sliding it back into its sheath.
"Gandalf?" I can't get my voice above a whisper as we both hear Thorin shouting Kili's name.
"Yes Miss Marcy?" Looking up at the Wizard whose blue eyes stare down at me as if they can see into my soul.
"Don't ask me on any more adventures, yeah?" I crack a small smile as he chuckles softly and agrees as we watch both Thorin and Kili slide down the crack. A tiny sigh escapes me and the tightness in my chest lessens as I see Kili is fine. I've got to thank him for killing that Warg otherwise who knows what would have happened – well we know what would have happened I'd be processing through that Wargs digestion tract right about now but anyway. Seeing his gaze track the small cave we are in, smiling at his brother, before carrying on and stopping when his eyes meet mine. I go to smile but we are interrupted as a horn bellows above us all. Bemused I look to the Wizard who just shakes his head with a secret smile, I am assuming that horn is a good thing? A thumping down the crack above us draws all our gaze and most of the Dwarves weapons as an Orc hits the floor, rolling to a stop in front of Thorin. Looking at it from around Gandalf's arm, who had pushed me behind him at the ruckus, we all watch as Thorin yanks an arrow out of its chest and throws it away in disgust once he sees the tip of it: "Elves".
Elves? Clutching onto Gandalf's sleeve I hide a smile, are we actually going to meet Elves? At my hidden excitement, the Wizard chuckles over his shoulder at me as Dwalin finds a pathway and asks if we should follow it, all agreeing we start off. Bilbo appears at Gandalf's other side and starts a conversation with the wizard, smiling at them both I walk ahead of them so they can have some semblance of privacy. This, however, puts me directly behind the brown haired Dwarven Prince whose angry glare over his shoulder puts a stop to any thanks I was about to bestow upon him. What is wrong with him now?
"Kili?" At my voice he nods his head slightly, assuming this means for me to continue talking. From his actions he has been spending way too much time with his uncle. "I just wanted to thank you for saving me earlier", at his heated look over his shoulder I stop and bite my lip. Was he angry because he had to save me? "Are you angry at me Kili?" It sounded so pathetic once I said it and the tightening and pulling in my chest were not helping the matter either.
He stops in his tracks which makes me bump into his back not expecting him to stop so suddenly, luckily, we were at a rather large part of the pathway so Gandalf and Bilbo squeezed past but not before giving me worried looks. Sending them both a small smile, they carry on walking but not without looking back every few paces with the same worried looks. A glance to the Dwarf in front of me proves I was right about one thing. Kili was angry.
"Angry? Yes, Marcy I am angry! You nearly got yourself killed; do you realise the danger you were in? You could have died! If I hadn't had been there and shot those arrows do you realise that, that Warg would have killed you and eaten you! What were you trying to prove?" I'm not sure when I started crying during his angry rant, but I sure know that I was crying by the end as I dared not look up at the Prince who was normally so calm and fun-loving. To hear him use that tone and be angry at me just twisted something deep inside of me and it was agonising.
"I'm sorry Kili, I just knew if I didn't do something it would have gotten me anyway, I was trying to give myself more time to get to those rocks. I wasn't trying to prove anything, I was just trying to survive," I did my best to keep my voice firm. But it cracked and swayed as the tears kept coming down my cheeks. Wrapping my arms around my stomach I try to stop that incessant twisting feeling. Looking up into his hardened eyes I bite my lip: "I'm so sorry Kili, I didn't mean to be a problem and need to be rescued".
A soft hand cups my cheek and a thumb brushes away the tears from under my eye, my gaze focuses back on his which had dramatically softened. Thank goodness for that. He pulls me gently forward towards him and places my head on his chest while wrapping his arms around me. Bemused I unwrap my own arms from around my now lessening twisted stomach and place them around his waist, I wasn't exactly expecting a hug after his angry rant but I'll take it. The pulling sensation that I had been feeling for the last few days almost evaporated as soon as Kili hugged me, finally being able to breath properly again I gasp softly into his chest as one of his hands rubs my back.
"I'm sorry Marc, I didn't mean to get angry at you. I know you were just doing what you could to survive, I know my Uncle is actually quite impressed with how you handled the situation, but you absolutely terrified me. I didn't think I would be able to kill that creature in time before it got to you, I've never been so worried in all my life". Kili's words gently brush against my ear as he continues holding me, my tears had all dried up and all the adrenaline and worry left my body feeling quite boneless so I can't promise but I'm pretty sure Kili was actually holding me up vertically at this point.
"Sorry Kili, I didn't mean to worry you," I mumble into his jacket again but he hushes me, the hand rubbing my back goes to brushing my hair out of my face. One look up at the Dwarf Prince I feel my heart thump a little bit harder as his eyes focus on mine. Gulping slightly at his darkened gaze I tentatively smile up and relax when his friendly smile appears on his face, much more suited to him than the anger I saw before. "Perhaps we should hurry and catch up with the others, it wouldn't do us any good stuck here alone" I look towards where the others had gone while speaking. Agreeing he lets me go somewhat reluctantly – perhaps that is just my wishful thinking – and we both carry on down the pathway joking together quietly but that pulling sensation in my chest is back making it a little harder to breathe and my gaze is never far from his face and his never far from mine.
Finally, we see Bilbo and Gandalf and jog to catch up, at the arrival of us Gandalf raises his eyebrows to which I reply with a small smile, he murmurs something under his breath before he turns back round. Amused at the Wizard, me and Kili both smile at each other. The pathway went on for a long while, turning and twisting and becoming so tight in parts I could not help but wonder how Bombur got through but we eventually come to an opening.
I stand beside Gandalf and Bilbo as we all stare out at the beautiful valley below us, the waterfalls glinting in the sunlight and the lush trees rustling with the wind. It was stunning. And snug in the valley there are beautifully crafted buildings that even I could see from here would just be gorgeous to look at.
"The Valley of Imraldis. In the Common Tongue, it's known by another name", before I question what that is Bilbo answers it for me: "Rivendell". Wait I know that name. Thinking back to my old English class we read a book called Lord of the Rings, wasn't there a place in that called Rivendell? Quite sure one of my friends used to go on and on about it being the place where some Elves lived … looks like she was right.
Gandalf continues: "here lies the last Homely House east of the sea". Well it certainly does look homely, so how do we get down to it?
An angry Thorin turning towards the Wizard put a damper on that plan: "This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy". Wait do the Dwarves not get on with Elves? A quick scout around the faces of the company and I can almost guarantee that they do not like the Elves, I wonder what happened? I must remember to ask Gandalf.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself", well he's been scolded.
"You think that the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us". Why will the Elves try to stop the Dwarves reclaim their homeland? Surely everyone has a right to try and claim back their home? Looking at our leader I solidify the resolve to help them, everyone deserves the right to a home, their actual home and I'll be damned if these Dwarves don't get theirs.
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered", at Thorin's nod I hold in a snort of shock, he actually backed down for once? "If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will be leaving the talking to me". Okay that time I did snort, and then coughed to cover it up when Gandalf's bushy eyebrows pointed at me. Let's see just how charming our Wizard can be, I smirk as we start to descend into the valley. This ought to be interesting.
HI GUYS,
I am so so so so sorry it has been a bazillion years since I updated this, I've had the worst couple of years and haven't been able to write and then suddenly today I thought screw it and decided I was going to just keep going!
Please please REVIEW the more reviews I get the more I will write as then I know people are actually reading and enjoying this story! Thank you for all your patience and I love you all!