Chapter Thirty-two: Plans Laid
Bella handed out generous portions of apple pie to each member of the Company plus Gandalf and Beorn. It had been with great reluctance that Fili acknowledged that he would not be able to eat the entirety of the pie himself, nor would they have the time even if he could. So, Fili was provided with a second piece before Bella handed out the rest and had a piece herself.
Fili made sure to boast on Bella's cooking skills to anyone willing to listen. Much to Bella's pleased embarrassment and the Company's amusement. Although the laughter ended after the dwarves took their first bite. Bilbo just sat back with his slice and watched with satisfaction as more compliments flooded Bella's way. Gandalf sank further into his chair, eyes half-closed as he savored each bite. Beorn smiled as he took great bites.
Eventually, everyone washed down the last mouthful with Beorn's rich cream. Then slowly, the dwarves' conversation drifted from complementing Bella's pie to the work they'd finished with the warg pelt. And as that wound down, it led to a rather serious discussion that was now a day or so overdue.
"Why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn asked, refilling the milk in several mugs.
"How do you know of Azog?" Thorin asked.
"My people were the first to live in the mountains before the orcs came from the North," Beorn answered. "The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved. Not for work you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."
Bella felt sick, even as she reached out and touched Beorn's scarred wrist. She could almost see the manacle that must have once been there. She recalled Mama mentioning Elrond's sons helping Beorn be free of chain remnants. "I'm so sorry," she murmured. "Were there any others who escaped?"
"To my knowledge, I am the last of my kind," Beorn answered. He gave her a sad smile, gently running his large hand over her hair.
Kili stiffened at the action, but though Fili jerked, he relaxed, possibly recalling their talk about hair a few weeks ago.
"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?" Beorn asked, continuing round the table to his seat on near silent feet.
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes," Gandalf answered.
"You are running out of time," Beorn noted.
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood," Gandalf said.
"A darkness lies upon that forest," Beorn warned. "Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldor."
Fili stiffened beside her even as Gandalf shifted uneasily.
"Who is the Necromancer?" Bella asked.
"Someone I wish you and Bilbo would never hear of," Gandalf answered quickly, before Beorn could say anything. "He is some conjuror that Radagast has caught sight of and believes should be investigated. It could easily be nothing."
"Yet, you wouldn't hide it unless it was something," Bilbo pointed out, straightening in his seat.
Gandalf sighed. "As of this time, it is only for those of the White Council to worry about. If something comes of it and needs to be shared, I will tell you more of it. But, as of this time, there is no known threat."
"Active threat or not," Beorn said, "I would not venture into that wood except in great need."
"We will take the Elven Road," Gandalf said, causing Thorin to stand and sulk against a pillar. Apparently it had been debated and Thorin was displeased that the wizard had won the argument. "That path is still safe."
"Safe?" Beorn replied, almost scoffing. "The wood-elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They are less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not."
Bella was about to be lost in trying to imagine elves so different from Rivendell elves that they would be considered dangerous that she almost lost that last phrase.
"What do you mean?" Thorin asked, turning back to the table, worry and traces of fear in his eyes.
"These lands are crawling with orcs," Beorn answered. "Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You would never reach the forest alive."
Bella half-jumped as a little white mouse skittered over her hand in its search for food. They couldn't possibly have come all this way, survived three days in Goblin Town, and managed to survive Azog and his pack just to end the quest here.
Beorn stood even as the little mouse tried to claim a few crumbs from Bofur's knitted sleeve. "I don't like dwarves," he said. "They're greedy and blind."
Bofur flicked the mouse off with mild annoyance, causing Dwalin to eye the white rodent as it took a couple steps toward him.
"Blind," Beorn continued "to the lives they deem lesser than their own." With extreme care the giant scooped the mouse up into his hand, stroking it with his thumb to calm the creature. All was quiet for a moment as Beorn gazed at his home's smallest resident with protective tenderness before meeting Thorin's eyes. "But orcs I hate more. What do you need?"
"We need food supplies," Thorin answered. "Hunting weapons, water. We were fortunate to have escaped the goblins with what we did, but that means that most all of our essential supplies were lost."
"We also need medicinal supplies," Bilbo said, "at least for minor injuries and illnesses we may gain along the way."
"Athelas would be wonderful if you had any in supply," Bella added.
"You mean kingsfoil?" Oin asked incredulously. "That's nothing more but a weed."
"No, it's a healing herb," Bella returned. "Especially useful against infections linked to the darkness, orc poisoning, morgul weapons, and so forth. If we're honestly going to be dogged by orcs for the rest of our journey, I'd feel a lot more comfortable if we had at least a small pouch of semi-fresh and/or dried athelas."
"I have several bundles I can give you," Beorn answered. "Have you been trained how to use it?"
"Gandalf taught both of us the basics," Bilbo assured him. He nodded at Oin. "We'll pass on that knowledge to you," he said.
"We'll need foods that will keep well," Bombur said.
"How well would your vegetable cuts travel?" Fili asked Bella, teasing.
She lightly scowled. "I'm sure that they would be either the first items to be thrown out or the last items left rotting at the bottom of the food packs."
"What's that?" Oin asked.
Thorin cracked a smile as Kili grinned. "Your vegetable venison didn't turn out so well?" Thorin guessed.
"The only part of the meal he didn't wolf down like a starved dog," Bella answered.
"I loved the seasoning," Fili said. "And I appreciated the attempt." He lightly pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Nori and Bofur whistled, though Dori quickly put a stop to that with a couple smacks. Ori was scribbling in his book with a smile twitching at his lips. Balin was already going to Beorn's side to discuss supply needs in greater detail and arrange potential transportation. Bombur and Gloin watched quietly, their eyes far away as though thinking about their wives back home. Dwalin smiled, a twinkle in his eye. Bifur sent them Iglishmek signs that Fili would later translate as prayers of blessing and happiness.
Despite the more romantic overtones of the day, the evening was focused on readying a supply list that could start getting packed in the morning. As the discussion moved from the table to the fireplace, Bella spied Bilbo catching a private word with Beorn. Satisfied with the answer, Bilbo joined her, Fili, and Kili. Upon quiet questioning, Bilbo revealed that he was inquiring about painkillers and sleeping herbs for Bella's monthly curse. Bella thanked him, the excitement of everything having pushed all thoughts of it from her mind. She made a mental note to double-check her pack, just in case she needed to stock up on wrappings. That held the potential of a nightmare within Mirkwood.
Before everyone went to bed, the initial list of supplies was complete and plans were made to finish the warg pelt. Plans to finish Bella's coat with the fur were also made. Bella merely rolled her eyes as she considered her Masterpiece, her final hobbit courting gift.
Author's Note: Okay, first off: Sorry that I'm a couple days late. Slipped from my mind Monday, busy with two shifts Tuesday, and finally after a run-around morning, I finally remember that I have not posted the next chapter. So, here we are.
Admittedly, not too much in this short chapter. But the Company needed to know the state of Mirkwood and get supplies from Beorn since almost everything was lost in Goblin Town. I did borrow from the film again here and my only true nitpick in their portrayal is that I think they played too much on Beorn's scary aspect and not enough on the loving, shepherding nature that he has towards the creatures that take refuge on his land and in his house. I say this because the scene always tricks me into thinking Beorn will do something horrid to the mouse when it is really the furthest from his mind. That could just be me, but yeah. There are reasons I am definitely more fond of Book Beorn as opposed to Film Beorn.
Well, next chapter will see the final trek to Mirkwood. Welcoming any and all theories, questions, or what not. Just loving hearing from my readers.
Those interested, my last winning record of NaNoWriMo was 80,617 words. The story is still not quite halfway finished according to my outline so it is still growing with 91,144 words. Upfront confession, a little over three thousand of those words are from a set of scenes I had written before November and only added once the challenge was complete. My brain is demanding a bit of a break, and I don't blame it. A part of me would still like to think that I could have reached my personal goal if I'd had more time. But as I said in my last note, I shall not bemoan possibly the best Thanksgiving weekend me and my family have had in years. If it had been a more simple, quieter weekend, I might have churned out several thousand more words out. But I wouldn't trade in the time I could spend with aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, grandparent, parents, niece, and nephews for anything. That said, this evening and tomorrow I'll be spending time with extended family again, celebrating a bit of Christmas with a Sight and Sound production and a musical put on by our school. Afterwards, I may very well try to bury myself again within the extensive crossover that is doing its best to wrest itself from my control. But I have plans, and I will insist that it at least touch on my map for settings if nothing else. And this will be a project that I will be rewriting scenes as I edit later. Not normal for when I write fanfic, but some scenes refused to be detailed initially, so there you have it.
Apologies for the long ramble. Stay safe as winter comes upon us. Hope to post next Monday.