Disclaimer: I only own Eva, nothing else. Making no money, please don't sue me….
Warnings: Language, minor adult themes if you squint.
AN: This was one of the more enjoyable chapters to write. I think you'll see why when Eva gets re-introduced.
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Chapter 4 - A Bumpy Start
When Eva came to awareness, it was to the feel of a smooth wooden floor beneath her cheek. She could smell mud and dirt around her, but she also smelled the unmistakable scent of roasting meat.
"What the hell?" Eva groaned "Fuck! Ow!"
She had somehow managed to have her pack land on her. The buckle of her bag dug into her back and Eva grumbled.
"Ow… Safe passage my foot! Could be worse, though." Eva mumbled. She got up, brushed herself off, then hauled her pack on. "Now, do I stay or do I-"
The thunder of booted feet got her attention as she pulled her pack in front of her. The group rounded the corner, the shing of metal sounding as she saw swords and axes being drawn. Great hulking men rounded the corner, power and aggression radiating from their being, roaring and ready to strike.
Oh SHIT!
Eva screamed.
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The scream seemed to make the entire Company freeze, weapons at the ready. They spied a small woman cowering behind a bright orange pack. Raven black hair had been braided into a simple single braid down the middle of her back, tied off with a red and gold ribbon. Never had they seen features such as hers in their time on Middle Earth. Her skin was tanned, but not overly so. Full lips, a flat but small button nose, and eyes the colour of obsidian left the Company confused as to how to approach. She shrank back behind her pack as she saw the group of males towering over her.
"By the Valar!" came a voice from behind the group "Put those things away!"
The group of men parted to reveal an old man, the same one that Eva remembered seeing only a few weeks ago.
"AH! There you are, My Lady!" he began in a jovial voice "I had thought you had gotten lost!"
"Gandalf!" boomed a voice from beside the old man "What is the meaning of this?!"
The woman's gaze snapped from the man who had thick black hair and a very neatly trimmed beard to the Grey Wizard.
"I remember you!" she began as she gently placed her pack down.
"I should certainly hope so! I do remember you as well, Lady Eva." Gandalf said warmly "Come now, you must be hungry. Bilbo? Is there anything left?"
A very small male with mousy blonde curls grumbled."I've no idea, your dwarves seemed to have obliterated my pantry! Let me see what I can do."
Gandalf held out his arm and Eva took it in a daze. She couldn't stop looking around Bilbo's beautiful home. It screamed comfort and warmth. Absently, Eva noticed that she had eventually been led to a sitting area where Gandalf let her arm go.
"Lady Eva," began Gandalf grandly "let me introduce you to the Leader of the Company: Thorin Oakenshield."
Gandalf indicated the male with the long black hair and neatly trimmed beard. He held himself regally and Eva stared at him. Her mouth parted as she looked from Gandalf to Thorin and back again. For a moment she was struck with how powerful he looked, but the sour look on his face did not fit.
She burst out laughing. "Gandalf, my good man, I do respect your power, but you've got to be kidding!"
Gandalf's brow furrowed in confusion "Kidding? No, Lady Eva, I do not jest with you."
Eva blinked slowly, mouth falling open before she quickly shut it again "Are. You. MAD?!"
Gandalf wore an air of innocence "No, I'm perfectly within my wits." he replied calmly. Too calmly.
"Who are you?!" demanded Thorin, bring Eva's attention back to him. Gandalf replied to Thorin with a content smile.
"This is Lady Eva," Gandalf said lightly "She will be my companion while I accompany you to-"
"NO!" yelled Thorin and Eva in unison.
"I will not have a woman on this journey!-" Thorin yelled.
"The bloke just tried to KILL ME!" Eva exclaimed
"-hindrance to our Company-"
"-axes and swords blazing! You expect me to-"
"-not a place for gentle folk-"
"ENOUGH!" Gandalf thundered, the room suddenly darkening "If I say-"
"SCREW YOU, OLORIN!" Eva bellowed in reply, her braid flinging to land over her shoulder.
Gandalf's mouth fell open in complete shock. The dwarves all went silent.
"I did not just leave my own home, my own world, to be attacked by fucking khazad on my first day here!" Eva spat as she stalked towards the wizard "I no longer give a damn about this bloody Quest! Send. Me. HOME!"
Gandalf eyed her with a smirk "I'm afraid I cannot do that."
"What did you tell her about our Quest?!" Thorin snarled at Gandalf. His eyes stared coldly at Eva "What do you know?!"
Eva snapped her gaze to Thorin, her eyes burning with fury "I'd be more inclined to answer you if you didn't at like you had a fucking pole shoved up your arse, Mister High and fucking Mighty!"
Thorin's mouth dropped open as suppressed snickers broke out behind them.
She whirled around to face Gandalf "What do you mean, you can't do that?"
"If you have indeed Jumped, as I believe you have been instructed to, then I cannot send you back until your task is complete. I take it you would have discussed that before you came." came Gandalf's calm reply.
There was a heavy silence, then Eva sank to the nearest seat in defeat. "Shit! Shit! Shit! They did think of everything, didn't they?" Eva groaned "Bloody perfect! I'm stuck!"
"Excuse me? Miss Eva?" came the soft voice of Bilbo. Eva looked up and saw the hobbit with a small tray of food in his hands "It's not much, but-"
Eva eyed the spread of bread, cheese and fruit on the plate and her eyes softened "No, Master Bilbo. This will do perfectly. I doubt I would be able to stomach much at the moment. Please, don't worry yourself too much. Though if I could request a warm drink ..."
"Tea?" Bilbo offered
"That would be much appreciated."
"I say the lass comes." came the deep voice of a dwarf leaning against the back of another seat. Eva noticed the three-pointed star hair-do. Nori. "Anyone that can shut a wizard up has got enough balls to at least try."
"Wait a moment." began the dwarf from beside him. The bowl-style cut instantly gave him away as Ori "You said that you left your own world to come here. What do you mean by that?"
Eva huffed as she popped a piece of bread into her mouth "I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you."
"Try me." Nori challenged, his brow quirking as he waited for Eva to answer.
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Edited as of 18/1/2022
