In My Blood

by Medusa101

When Stasi dies and appears in Middle Earth, she learns that her life, future and race are tied to a father she never got the chance to know. As Gandalf's 'companion', she finds herself on a quest to restore a kingdom and kill a dragon while her new capabilities as a Seer telling her that death is right around the corner.

5. Chapter 5

RE: I own nothing but the small sub plot and my OCs, the rest of it is work of Tolkien and the 'The Hobbit' films

Rated T - Language, crude jokes

Chapter 5: could they be true?

-{}-{}-{}-

My hazy vision and pounding head were the first things that greeted me. When had I opened my eyes? I didn't know, but the question was swept out of my mind with no answer as I surveyed what was around me.

Smoke rose into the sky and fires crackled and burned here and there. What shocked me were the bodies. Everywhere felled bodies of Orcs, grizzled mutant creatures and Dwarves lay in bloody heaps of death and destruction. It was a mass murder of life and I stood in the center of it, surrounded by the gaunt scene of death and carnage.

I tried to breathe but found myself coughing out the smell of rancid smoke and another smell I couldn't recognize that was acetous and pungent. I stood on some sort of mountainside, the vegetation and any sort of land marking indiscernible because of the magnitude of the land filled with bodies and carcasses.

My feet were soaked… I was standing in a puddle of blood.

It was then that a noise came to my ears and I stiffened, the sound of wails and cries cacophonous and loud in the buzz of my own thoughts. I forced my legs to move, they were heavy and at any moment I was sure I would collapse.

Through the throng of dead warriors, I climbed over heaps of dead bodies and finally found the source of the noise. Two dwarves huddled together, clutching at each other, screams and moans of anguish coming from both of them. But that wasn't what I fixed my gaze on.

At their feet lay a bloody form that was mutilated and almost beyond recognition. But of course, of coursethe one part that I could clearly see was the face.

The woman had soft brown eyes and her hair was tattered but at one point I was sure it had been beautiful. A heavy bruising lay under her left eye and the skin of her chin, which I was sure must have matched the smoothness of her cheeks was torn and bloodied. She had thin and sculpted features that were perfect and her lips were open in a final gasp.

I knelt down, my knees brushing the floor and reached to touch the forehead of this woman. I knew her. She was dead, but I knew her.

A wail of fury and torment came from the two Dwarves who still stood grasping at each other and I leaned over the body. My Mom.

Tears were dripping down my face like individual rivers before I could even stop them, and I opened my mouth, ready to scream with the two Dwarves. It was an agonizing sadness that afflicted me for the second time in my life. My mother lay dead in front of me. Her enchanting brown eyes were sightless and the last emotion that had ever lay on her face was one of fear. Utter fear.

When I tried to scream, to voice my despair, nothing came out, and I succumbed to a blackness that was unwelcomed and terrifying.

-{}-{}-{}-

I woke up with a start for the second time in one night. My own gasps filled the space around me but it wasn't because I needed air. Stumbling into a sitting position from where I lay beside Nori, I grabbed my water flask and took a huge gulp. I ended up choking and coughing on the water, muffling the noise into my sleeve as I tried to contain myself.

Finally, when all the liquid had left me, I lay back down, staring at the skies above and desperately trying to get the brutal scenes out of my head. I wanted to go home, home to my couch and the warmth of my fireplace. Where dragons, wizards and Dwarves didn't exist.

It was then that a cold wetness appeared on my arm and I tensed before I realized that Remy had slid in between myself and Nori. I scooted to the side and he curled up into me, offering up licks and whines and the unconditional love that only he gave me.

I fell asleep with my blanket thrown haphazardly to the side and an arm around Remy. I did not dream, instead I floated in a soundless oblivion.

-{}-{}-{}-

I was determined to bring myself to act like nothing had happened the next day, especially to Gandalf, but I knew that the wizard sensed my fear and confusion. In fact, I was in denial about wanting to go speak to him because I was angry at him yet I yearned for the comfort and familiarity of Gandalf's riddles.

I rode beside Dori who spoke almost nonstop. I wanted something to fill my thought bubbles whether it be with his favorite type of tea, how irritating Nori was or his tailoring business.

And anyway, we agreed on one thing, Nori was really irritating.

Gandalf knew I was out of sorts, but for the next week I completely avoided him unless completely necessary. I was brewing in my irritation and it only got worse as time proved to show that he seemingly had no problem with it.

Bloody Wizard.

I found myself questioning my dreaming whenever I was left to think for myself. I had assumed that the dream was part of the past Middle Earth because Gandalf had told me my Mom had died trying to achieve her goal. Was it that battle that Balin had spoken about? Had Mom died there?

But yet again I was a Seer, did I even have the abilities to see into the past? It could've been a very realistic dream for all I knew?

The Orange River Dream that Gandalf had said was my first vision had felt just as real as this one… only Gandalf wasn't always right, and maybe I was just having nightmares. I wanted to quiz the wizard but if I did that then I'd have to not be holding a grudge on him and it was hard not to.

A week turned into two, and soon I found myself genuinely missing my Wizards company. Since I had lived in Middle Earth, I had never really spent more than a week without talking to Gandalf… but I had always stayed with him. Now, I couldn't even remember the last time I had rode my Pony by him.

Staring out at the flowing water that we had been marching along, I glanced forwards to the back of Dori's head. I had slowed down after three hours of conversation and now, somehow, Bofur and Nori had began marching alongside me. It had been a long time since I had really talked to them during the journey and I was eager to start again.

Bofur was an engaging character, a little blunt but he had a sense of humor as big as his heart. And he really did have a big heart, he was sympathetic and down to earth and I already loved that about him.

Perhaps Nori wasn't quite the Dwarf I had thought he was. He was definitely snobby, annoying, and a bit rude, but as time had passed I grew to learn of his genuine love for his brothers and realized that the true reason for undertaking this adventure was not 'for the gold'. He just wanted to be with his family.

There had been a few jokes between us here and there but not much, and anyways, Nori was always avoiding Dori just as I was Gandalf. Once I had started speaking to Dori, Nori had kept away from me like a mouse to a cat and Bofur had seemingly chosen to leave me alone for reasons that had more to do so with my sudden silence. I could only imagine that it seemed like I wanted him to leave me alone which, was completely wrong.

"When we cross I vote we push the lads in," Nori said suddenly, breaking my train of thought and the silence.

My gaze traveled to him and I raised an eyebrow, "excuse me?"

He nodded towards the river, "when we cross we should push the lads in."

I glanced to the river and blanched, it was orange, "oh my God, has it always been that color?!"

Bofur glanced to me from my right, "yeu okay lass?" he asked, "we've been walkin' alongside it for the las' hour an' a half."

I glanced to him, eyes wide as I took in his seriousness, "umm… I'm fine," I finally established. The dream had an orange river… but there were such things as orange rivers… at home there were anyways. It had to just be a dream… anyways, the dialogue wasn't exactly the same.

"What do you say?" Nori asked, "do we push the lads in?"

I sent the star haired Dwarf a look, "no, are you mad? They'd be caught in the rapids. And anyways, how do you know we'll cross?"

"Everyone knows we're going to cross," Nori said rolling his eyes.

I glanced to Bofur who raised an eyebrow at me, "aye lass, Thorin said it yesterday. Are yeu' sure ye're alright?"

I shrugged, "a little distracted but fine."

"Wait… yeu' haven't been seein' things have yeu?" he asked, pulling his pipe out of his mouth.

I hesitated, "…no, no, I don't think so Bofur," I said, I knew I sounded uncertain but I avoided his gaze, hopeful of no more questions. Unfortunately the moment I said that, Gandalf glanced back, blue eyes fixed keenly on my own in a glare that said even more than I managed to read.

I gave him a cold look and his lower lip wrinkled in a frown before he faced forwards once again, "but the lads?" Nori asked, seemingly oblivious to the interaction I had just had with the wizard.

I didn't bother answering but I could tell that he and Bofur were giving each other dubious and curious glances behind my back. I ignored them.

"We cross here!" Thorin's voice echoed down the line, around three ponies in front of us, only fifteen minutes later, "the waters are quick but it's shallower here."

He began yelling orders, someone threw a rope to the other side and soon we had Dwalin, Dori and Fili in the water. Kili went next and then I did.

Just a coincidence, it was all I could think to myself, nothing's going to happen.

The water may have been shallower there but it was still incredibly deep, going up to my shoulder blades and Kili's torso. To make everything better, it was as cold as ice and my belly was swimming with nervousness and hesitation.

Glancing around, I looked for Gandalf only to find that the wizard was nowhere to be seen. Where is he? If he knew something terrible was going to happen like me and Kili drowning… he'd stick around right?

But yet all the same he was angry at me so perhaps he wouldn't. I grew frustrated at that, he probably left. But we'd be fine, nothing bad was going to happen. Nothing's going to happen.

But suddenly, Kili slipped, and his pony was pulled so low that her muzzle went straight into the river. Frightened she reared up, and in turn, so did Millie, my pony. Desperately trying to keep my pony in control, I grabbed her harness just as she attempted to bolt. She crashed straight into me and I went flying into Kili, who collapsed with me into the water. With both of us losing our footing we were swept downstream and into the rapids.

Water streamed into my nose painfully, and the more I tried to cough, the more water came in through my mouth. I felt a hand clutch at mine and I grasped back at Kili's hand.

Coughing I desperately tried to keep my head above water, managing only for a second before I was thrust back under. My eyes stung with the grit from the bed of the river and I crashed once again into Kili who managed to grapple me along my waist.

I didn't know how far away we had been swept but suddenly we were slammed into a bolder. There was a cracking noise and I gasped as we were thrust upwards for a second. That second didn't last, and even as we tried to hold onto the boulder we were swept past it.

It was then that I tasted the salty metallic tang and heard Kili let out a yell. The yell didn't last, and once again, we went under. This time I didn't remember coming back up.

-{}-{}-{}-

My head was pounding like a hammer when I came to. What in the name of bollocks happened?

I tried to draw what had happened out into my head, but it was too difficult. I had been walking with Nori and Bofur behind Dori, Gandalf had glared at me… why had he glared at me again?

"Bloody shite," I moaned. My head hurt, it really hurt.

Something shifted beside me, "your language is atrocious."

Piss off.

I decided not to answer, instead opting for the opening of my eyes slowly. I didn't like what my gaze was greeted with.

Waving a hand in front of my face I desperately tried to get rid of whatever was blocking my left eye from seeing the world properly. Something seemed to be hanging over my vision so it felt like I was squinting, "what the hell is that?"

There was a burst of laughter from my right and I glanced to a hazy view of Bofur, who was smoking a minty smelling pipe, "lass, yeu won't go anywhere wavin' about like tha'. Ye've got a bruisin' there, tha's what's blockin' out half or ye're eyesight," he said.

I furrowed my brow which resulted in a twang of pain, "ouch," I snapped, reaching up to gingerly touch my face. Shit that hurts.

From what I could feel, there was a huge lump over my face and for once, I was happy that I had never bothered to buy myself a mirror, "I bet I look lovely… what happened?"

"You don't remember?"

It was then that I realized that Nori sat to my left, arms crossed with a permanently grumpy look on his face, "…no."

"Kili slipped in the river and you two went flying down," he explain, "hit your head on a boulder you did, we thought you were lost."

It came back to me slowly, piece by piece and I moaned aloud, "I am such an idiot."

"Aye, yeu should've let the ponies loose," Bofur agreed without hesitation, I sent him a look which he seemed not to notice, "if it weren't for Gandalf yeu'd be dead."

I blinked slowly… and painfully, "Sorry?"

"If ye'd let go of the horses, both of yeu'd've been alright," he said, "Kili wouldn't have dislocated anythin' and yeu wouldn't have had a concussion. Not to mention that we lost Kili's pony."

"No… Gandalf," I told him, "what do you mean 'if it weren't for Gandalf'?"

Bofur raised an eyebrow and glanced to Nori for a moment, "the wizard pulled the both of yeu out of the water. Gave us a right fright, he did. Disappearin' for a moment and then reappearin' to save yeu, as if he'd known it would happen."

I groaned and leaned back. Remy who was laying on top of my legs gave me a look as if to say, 'you're an idiot' and I rolled my eyes, "he did know it would happen," I finally said, aware of the eyes that stared at me, "where is he?"

"Sat 'imself by the lake he did," Nori said looking a bit confused, "'e's been chanting in elvish or some nonsense like that."

Suddenly becoming aware of my surroundings I glanced around. Kili and Fili sat in one corner, Kili wincing as Oin busied around him and Fili seeming tense. The rest of the Dwarvse were scattered around randomly and from what I could tell, we were in the clearing on the other side of the river from where I had remembered us being last.

I bit at my lip tiredly and glanced down to Remy who was yet to change the expression he was fixing me with, "elvish isn't 'nonesense' Nori," I told the Dwarf beside me before getting up and stepping past Gloin.

"Ye okay lass? Ye took a mighty hard hit there."

"Yeah, I'm good thanks," I said, nodding to the Dwarf.

Unfortunately any chance of reaching Gandalf soon was cut off when I was surrounded completely by Fili and Kili. The latter of the two spewing out 'sorry's' like vomit and the prior tipping my head to the side to view my bruise, "aye, it's a shiner you have there," Fili said, waving his brother away "…be careful next time Ki, someone could've gotten badly hurt."

Kili looked adorably guilty and I shifted as Fili removed his hand from my face, "don't worry about it Kili… how's your arm?" I asked.

He seemed to practically melt with relief once he realized I held no ill will towards him and smiled brilliantly, "grand… well, other than the fact that it hurts like a Wargs' bite."

I felt a flash of guilt course through me and sighed deeply, "it's good we weren't hurt more seriously," I said feeling slightly annoyed with myself, "and… I have to apologize. You see, I had this dream back in Bilbo's house that happened to show me something like this… only I didn't believe Gandalf when he told me I was Seeing."

Both brothers looked entirely confused for a moment, but then realization dawned on their faces. Kili seemed almost uncertain as to how to react but Fili frowned deeply

"You knew this would happen?" Kili asked.

"Well… I wouldn't say that. It was the first dream of mine that ever came true," I said, "Gandalf said I was Seeing but I didn't believe him."

Kili furrowed his brow studying me for a moment, "…it's alright… but you should listen to the Wizard, he's lived ages longer than any of us and his wisdom exceeds ours."

I nodded, "I know … I'm sorry."

"You should be," a new voice said. We turned to look at Thorin who was seated closely behind us his pipe in hand, "your carelessness and disdain has cost us a pony and Kili's aim."

I pulled at my sleeves self consciously and avoided the icy glare that was threatening to pin me to the floor, "I'm really sorry..."

Thorin glared up at me, "as am I.

He glanced away in dismissal and I stepped away from the brothers, not quite able to make eye contact with either of them in that moment. To avoid further conversation with them, I made my way to Gandalf. The rest of the company shooting me sympathetic looks, annoyed ones or completely ignoring ones.

Gandalf did not glance up as I neared him but I didn't expect him to. He was smug anyways, I could tell by the small smile I spied on his face as sat next to him. The Wizard was seated on a flat rock that overlooked the stream and I chose to not say anything to him, opting for him to speak first.

He took in a wheezing sigh before taking out his pipe and scratching the old burnt out leaves from it. He said nothing.

I shifted uncomfortably and pulled at my sleeves, glancing to me, the Wizard raised an eyebrow, "what's got you so riled my dear Stasi?"

I sent him a cross look, as he lit the pipe a light with a finger before taking a deep breath of air, "…I'm sorry Gandalf, I should've listened to you."

The Wizards non-chalant expression turned to a stern and grave one, "that you should. I am a wizard Stasi… and not for just my elvish chants and riddles. There is wisdom in what I speak of, and it would do you good to listen sometimes."

I continued to pull at my sleeves, "you have my sincerest apologies Gandalf."

The Wizard grunted in acceptance and let out a breath of smoke. Even with the events of the past day, I couldn't help but feel a little bit giddy at the fact that I had my Wizard back.

-{}-{}-{}-

The next few days went by in a flash and I found myself charged with sharing my pony with Kili. His own had gotten lost during the incident at the river, and Thorin had told me I would be riding with him. Kili, much to his annoyance, was unable to lead a pony properly due to his shoulder so he found himself latched onto my waist for the few days.

At first I was sure that there would be plenty of awkward silences due to my mistake with the dream, but I was completely wrong. Kili chattered and chattered like a monkey, seemingly forgetting what had happened at the river. He always had something to say whether it be a story about his childhood, a tease towards some poor victim or simply adding into a conversation or story.

Kili had always rode alongside Fili, and Fili continued to ride alongside him. Thus, I found myself getting to know both of the Durin princes and greatly enjoying the both of them.

The youngest of the two of them was Kili. He was the most immature out of all of us and he had a generally cheery and optimistic disposition. His sense of humor was a flurry of teasing and outlandish tales of what he liked to call his 'younger days'. Although… considering he still dutifully pranked the more 'laid-back' members of the company, he was speaking about his 'current days'.

He loved to laugh, that much was obvious. He had a smile that would light up (especially when Fili or I were being teased) and a laugh that was kind of like a bomb. It burst out randomly and loudly and among it was littered several signature 'Kili' snorts that just had us all laughing harder.

Fili was the older of the two and although he was a little quieter, he was no less easier to talk to. He held an air of maturity about him, but it took nothing away from his playful and teasing attitude towards everyone around him. I can tell you, when Fili teases, he comes out on top. And I'm not going to lie, I had kind of assumed he'd be more serious than he actually was as the crown prince, but Fili was completely down to earth.

He seemed very relaxed as a person and he, alongside Kili, would join in on some of the pranks. According to Kili's stories, Fili had never ending ideas about pranks when they were only Dwarflings. Although most of the tales Kili had told us were about his own plans, we all knew when Fili had planned them because he'd smirk and add his own tidbits the whole way through.

Fili puzzled me though. He had a swagger that would put Lil Wayne to shame and a deep voice that practically screamed ladies man… and although there was a hint of cockiness, Fili seemed to have no interest in women. Or so I had seen when we passed by towns.

We made a number of pit stops, usually only for a day to buy some more supplies, or, if Thorin was in a good mood, we'd spend a night at an Inn and have a proper rest and a bath.

Daver was one town on our way that was filled with travelers. It was a bit like Bree but more expensive and there were actual cobblestones. This was, of course, a major relief seeing as most towns had no cobblestones and we'd had to march through mud. Oh how I missed pavement.

During this particular stop, I had ended up with Nori and Bofur at the Inn that Mr. Majestic (Thorin) had given us permission to stay at. We were all shoved together at a circular table, sipping at our pints (unless you were Bofur then you were gulping rapidly) languidly as we tried to keep our attention to ourselves.

The tavern wasn't too busy but it was busy enough to make a scene. And Dwarves were normally good at that. Fortunately the bruises on my face were almost faded and because of my skin tone the darkness of the tavern made them hard to see anyways. Any woman with bruises attracted attention and in our case, even if it was well founded attention, it would be bad.

I glanced down into my jug of ale before looking to the two Dwarves, "it's been a while guys, what's up with you?" I asked, with genuine curiosity, I felt a bit bad that I had spent so much less time with them. Even at the campfire I was either surrounded by the twins or Gandalf was teaching me about different languages, races or magic. Nori and Bofur were the social butterflies of the group so it wasn't as if they were lacking in friends but they had been the first of the Dwarves to form a relationship with me.

"The brothers… are driving me mad," Nori told me leaning forward, "I can't even get meself a decent sleep without Dori telling Ori to put on his mittens, or him telling me to sit up straight. Why do I need to sit straight? You're not sitting straight. Bofur's not sitting straight."

"Well… sitting up straight is good for your back in all fairness Nori. In my case, I've been riding a horse with an annoying Dwarrow for the past five hours so please forgive me if I'm not sitting straight. Bofur's just not the best example for postural positivity… especially when he's drunk, so please forgive him," I said.

Nori looked terribly disappointed at my reply and Bofur gave me a strange look, "Ah'm not drunk," he told me rather breezily whilst waving his pint around, "It'll take a lot more than this to get me 'ammered lass."

Wait, I thought suddenly, narrowing my eyes thoughtfully, does it take longer for Dwarves to get drunk?

"Aye lass, it does, it does," Bofur said reading my question through my expression, "give it another ten pints before ah' get anywhere near tipsy. These are all watered down, they are. An' anyways, ah'll be runnin' to the loo before ah'm drunk, in fact, they'll be comin' out of me…"

"No, no, no no!" I interrupted waving a finger in front of Bofur's handlebar moustache, "way too much information thank you very much, I need not know about your toilet rituals."

At that moment the door to the tavern burst open loudly from behind me and familiar shouts brought my attention to the entrance, "Stasi! Stasi! You won't believe what me and Fili discovered about… Oi! That hurt!"

I glanced back and raised an eyebrow at Fili, Kili, Dori and Bifur who were coming our way. Kili was holding his shoulder whilst shooting his older brother a glare and Fili was rolling his eyes, "we're in a bar Kili, try not to draw so much attention to us."

Kili flipped his brother the bird and I snorted with amusement. I'd been with the Dwarves awhile and as the first Dwarves that I'd really met, I found myself shocked with a lot of things, the main one being the amount of cursing that went on among them. Apart from a select few, the rest of the Dwarves had language worst than mine.

"Nori, you best be coming with me. I've found a shop that sells new blankets. Your's has holes and all sorts of tears in it," Dori practically ordered his brother, basically proving Nori's past point.

Nori braced himself for an argument but Bofur slapped him on the back, "looks like Bifur wants me as well lad, we can all go together."

"What? And who'll stay with me?" I asked skeptically, not at all liking the sound of what was going on, "you can't just…"

My mouth formed a round 'o' shape as Fili and Kili plopped themselves in what had been Bofur's and Nori's seats, Fili taking a mouthful of what was left of Nori's ale, "yeah, you might not want to do that," I told Fili pointing at the jug, "Nori stole that from some random person."

Fili rapidly spat whatever was in his mouth back into the pint before pushing it away with an 'eurgh'. Kili, meanwhile, looked at Bofurs practically empty one, grabbed the one Fili had pushed away and poured what was remaining into Bofurs pint. I watched Kili take long gulps before I glanced to Fili who looked mildly disgusted, "Ki… Ki' can you please not?" I asked, wrinkling my nose and glancing to the younger brother.

"Wha?"

I made eye contact with Fili who shook his head and mouthed, 'don't bother'.

"Eh, okay… so did you guys get anything?" I asked sipping on my own pint, other than mononucleosis.

"Aye, Fili got his pony's hooves done and I got a few new arrow heads. Also, we discovered that you can oil your beer," Kili said. A that I shot him a weird look while Fili rolled his eyes, he didn't seem to notice any of it, "what of you, are you going to get anything?"

I shook my head trying to shake off the thought of 'oiling beer', "no, I was thinking about getting a new belt and tunic but I might wait for the next town to do that."

"Aye, your belt's practically fallin' apart," Fili agreed, "you should probably wear somethin' else like a harness seein' as you have an axe that's that big – not to mention your twin swords."

I shrugged, "probably so, but they're more expensive and bothersome to put on and take off."

Fili blinked at me, "not so… they're pretty simple."

"Perhaps she's daft," Kili said with a grin.

I shot him a look and Fili snorted, "I can show you next time you need to get one… or Dwalin. Probably Dwalin."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Dwalin?"

"Dwalin."

"Fi, Dwalin won't be going anywhere with me," I told him, I had started calling both of them 'Fi' and 'Ki', although Fili had been skeptical he had let it pass – Kili was oddly proud when I had done so, "he is so far the one person who hasn't spoken to me. Bombur's spoken more to me."

"Ah, you'll be grand," Kili told me, taking another gulp of his ale and ignoring the look of blatant disgust upon both Fili's and my face, "he's nice enough, a bit gruff mayhap but that's what comes of fighting through so many wars."

Feeling curious I set my pint down, "what wars?"

"Well, there was the Battle of Azanulbizar with Thorin – the one Balin told us about an age ago… though they call it a battle so I'm not sure if it makes it a war," Kili said, Fili gave his brother a weird look, "and… well he was always the Captain of the Guard really so he was always fighting and stuff."

"Is he good at battle?" I asked.

"Aye, well he best be, he trained Kili and I," Fili said, "Thorin'll want him to do the same to you really."

I looked at Fili with confusion, "bu… I know how to fight though."

Fili, who was scratching into the table with a knife glanced up at me, blue eyes sharp as the dagger he was using, "you think Thorin'll take that?"

"No," I said miserably.

"Aye, he also wants to best you in training," Fili said.

Now I was officially horrified, "What?!"

Fili grinned, seemingly enjoying my reaction to all that he was saying, "Aye, you told him you'd battle with him when we were at Bilbo's house."

I held my head in my hands while Kili observed me curiously, "oh for the love of God, why do I always get myself into stuff like this."

"Perhaps it has to do with mental capabilities," Kili said slyly.

"Brother, you're drinking from a pint that has the saliva of myself, Bofur, Nori and some weird vagabond that Nori stole the pint from," Fili said, "I would highly recommend you not to mention the mental capabilities of others."

I shot Kili a smug grin and he looked unregretful as he took another sip of his pint. My grin fell away from my face rather rapidly, "ew, that's mank."

Kili stuck his tongue out at me, "you're mank."

"You're the child of a Warg," I shot back.

"You're the child of an Orc," was Kili's response.

"You're the child of a Cave Troll," I snapped back.

Fili snorted with laughter and Kili and I both sent him weird looks. The blonde prince looked at us with confusion, "…what?"

"We're brothers you dunce," Kili said pointedly.

Fili wrinkled his nose before turning to me, "you're the child of a goblin."

I frowned, "I've never seen a goblin," I said with genuine curiosity whilst forgetting about the insult.

"Dori has a mirror if you'd like?" Fili said with a sly grin.

I flipped him off and opened my mouth to respond but was interrupted by someone dropping something that was made entirely of leather on the table. Instead of focusing on the item we all glanced up to see… Thorin. Shit, I had flipped Fili off when Thorin was behind me. Said Dwarf shot me a cold look before leaving me with his nephews and marching through the crowds towards the stairs that lead up to the rooms in the Inn.

Kili and Fili were already examining the item on the table and identical grins appeared on their faces, "it's a harness, he got you a harness," Kili said, "that must mean he doesn't doubt you that much."

"How comforting," I replied, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Fili snorted and shoved the thing towards me, "it's well made, your axe and swords should fit."

I glanced to the direction in which Thorin had disappeared, curiosity in my gaze. What had spurred him on to purchase the harness? Was it the fact that he thought I needed something to properly hold my weapons in? So it'd be easier for me to use them – maybe he thought I could do some damage! Or was it because he didn't want me to do anyone an injury?

That might just be the more logical reason, I thought grimly with a deep sitting frown, Good Lord, I'm so sofucked.

I wasn't so sure about that chapter but I was well aware that I hadn't posted in an age and I really wanted to get another one that was at least satisfiable down. Hopefully this was. I'd love to hear your reviews and your advice, thank you so much for reading!

-Medusa101