I am posting the next five chapters all at once. I do hope all my readers are enjoying my story. I look forward to your reviews .They are inportant, so tell me how I am doing. love you all, Durinsdaughter 2469
Disclaimer. I don't own any of the Hobbit characters. They belong to Tolkein. I only own my O/Cs.
Chapter 26 The Skinchanger
Bilbo was just dozing back off when he heard a buzzing noise .He opend his eye's and directly above his head were the biggest bee's he had ever seen. One landed on his nose as he swatted it away with his hand. The Hobbit got up and reached for his jacket putting it on as he went to join the others who were already awake and gathered around the table. They were talking quietly. There was a brown Longhorned cow he passed on his right and several goat's running around . Sheep chickens and ponie's all coralled within the barn area. Bilbo asended the three steps taking a spot at the table. One by one The dwarves introduced themselves along with Bilbo. Only one more person was missing and Thorin doubted she would be awake anytime soon. They had spent nearly the whole night talking . Thorin felt the flames shoot through his body with just the thought of Philicia and what they had shared last night. Beorn was standing over the table pouring milk into Fili's tankard when he approached. " So you are the one they call Oakenshield?" Beorn asked continuing to fill everyone's cup's taking a glance at the Dwarf King. Thorin was leaning with his back against a huge wooden post his arms crossed holding his aching side. Kili turned around and looked at Thorin his uncle's eyes glancing down the hallway . "Tell me, why is Azog The Defiler hunting you?" Thorin looked at their host. "You know of Azog?" he said surprised. "How?" " Good morning everybody ," came a feminine voice . Beorn turned to the new voice." And who do we have here? " He asked his eye's glued on the woman. Gandalf put his hands on her shoulders. " Beorn, may I present The Lady Philicia Anderson of Woodland Hills." The huge man walked over to Philicia taking her hand and planting a kiss on it. Thorin jerked when the skinchanger touched her but was steadied by his two nephews as they placed their hand's on his arm's. " A pleasure My Lady" he said dropping her hand. "The honor is all ours." She replied her hand gesturing to everyone. Philicia went over to Thorin as he looked at Beorn with fury in his eye's. "Why did you let him do that" Thorin leaned in and wispered in her ear. "In my world, a long time ago, it was concidered a way of showing respect to a lady nobody does that anymore tho. Well, you saw how women were treated." Philicia reminded him. "I would rather forget ,thank you " Thorin huffed at her. "Philicia there is a spot here." Kili said scooting over closer to his brother. "Thanks but I couldn't reach the table if I tried." She sweety replied. "So how do you know of Azog? "Thorin asked again. "My people were the first to live in the mountains before the orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family." Bilbo and Bombur turned around and stared at Beorn as he continued his story. "But some he enslaved, not for work you understand,but for sport." Bilbo and Philicias eye's went both at the same time to the thick shackles around Beorns left wrist. "Caging skinchangers, torturing them,seemed to amuse him." Beorn rubbed his wrist. "Are their others like you?" Bilbo asked as Beorn poured milk into a tall tankard. "Once their were many."he said. "And now?" The hobbit asked. "Now their's only one," Beorn said his voice sad. "I feel so bad for him Thorin maybe one day someone will come along and he won't be alone anymore." She wispered to him. "Indeed" was all he said. Gandalf who had been standing there quietly listening to Beorn asked if the orcs were still in the area. "I chased them off last night but it is not safe even on my lands after dark . You must not leave the inside of the house after nightfall." Beorn directed that at the leader. So the dwarves continued to eat, the table filled with food. Placed before them was ,Honey cakes and Fresh fruit . There was also a round of cheese bread and some kind of meat in a long white dish. They filled their plates and began feasting. "Excuse me." Philicia approached Beorn "Do you have coffee?" Philicia polietly asked the giant of a man. "In the kitchen is a container you will find all that you need. " Thank you very much "she said. "Tell me what is a human woman doing with a bunch of dwarves?" Beorn inquired. Philicia smiled looking at Thorin before she answered. "Thorin found me I was hurt he helped me I have no family so I am traveling with them to Erebor." Suddenly her hand flew to her mouth as Thoringlared at her. Dwalin rollled his eye's and the rest of the company just kept quiet alll fearing Thorins temper. "So you mean to retake the mountain?" Beorn said looking at the Dwarven King. 'We do." Thorin answered his arms gripping one another tightly. "You and your companions are welcome to stay as long as you need to." Beorn offered. "I now must attend my friends". Thorin went into the kitchen and found Philicia with a morter and pestal grinding coffee beans. "Could you see who want's a cup for me please" ?She asked Thorin as he came up beside her. She continued to break the beans into a fine powder pouring boiling water over ther cloth straining the coffee through and into the large pitcher she had found. "Balin. Fili and Bifur, so far." He said kissing the bare skin at the back of her neck." Thorin." She giggled."I'm going to spill this. " I can think of another thing you could spill." Thorin turned her around planting a kiss on her lip's. "After breakfast I will fix your braid for you."He softly kissed her again. "Thank you that would be awesome, Now help me with this will you please?" Thorin and Philicia carried the plate of honeycakes and coffee to the table. She went back for more cup's and the sugar and spoons. Balin poured a cup for her and after a splash of milk and creme Philicia enjoyed the first cup of coffee since leaving Rivendell. "You all go I will clean up." She told everyone. So one by one the dwarves went out into the morning sunshine to train and sharpen their weapons." A word Philicia. " Thorin led her by the hand to their shared room. No sooner did she shut the door when Thorin's lip's crushed her's. He splayed his huge hand's across her back as she encircled her hand's around his neck. She was pressed up against the door as Thorin started pulling her shirt up. "Philicia my heart." He let out a soft groan steering her to the bed backing her up till she caught the back of her knees on the mattress. "Thorin."She moaned his name as he deepend the kiss continuing the assault on her sences only breaking away when they couldn't breath anymore. "Will you fix my braid now?" She asked taking her tossled locks in hand.. Thorin sat her on the bed and taking the small section of her hair began plaiting it .She held it in place as he got the beads from the bathroom and finished braiding her hair clasping it with the silver bead at the bottom. "Thank you, and I love you." She said getting up. "Come we are going to show you how to use a blade properly today. "Thorin took her by the hand and led her from the bedroom. A little while later she found herself standing in the grass Orcrist in hand. "Now keep your knees bent and on the flat part of your foot."Thorin showed her how to stand. She went through some easy manuvers and even tho her arm was killing her she continued to practice the drills Thorin had shown her. "By the end of the afternoon the August sun and the weight of the blade had her sweating . Thorin wiped her brow with a dry cloth and began showing her how to strike and thrust giving the death blows."The orcs will show you no mercy so you must know how to defend yourself." Thorin informed her as he stood behind her his hands covering hers showing her how to parry and thrust and just where the weak spots were on most orc's. "Now,strike ,that's it harder put all your strength into it!" Philicia brought the blade down and slammed into Thorin's. Metal clashed against metal as their bladed locked."That was excellent. You being a woman your are much more agile then we are and lighter. That can give you an advantage in battle." Thorin said to her bringing his sword up again and showing her more moves. By now she was panting and nearly out of breath the weight of the blade causung her arm and shoulders to cramp up. She was just about to swing when a pain shot through her arm and up her shoulder .Philicia dropped the blade and cried out in pain grabbing her arm. "Perhaps you should show the lass some strength training before placing the blade in her hand's." Dwalin offered as he watched the sparring session. "Perhaps you are right." Thorin answered his eye's never leaving his lady love. " Can we stop for a while my arm is killing me." Philicia looked at Thorin continuing to clutch her arm. "Come on let's get Oin to look at that for you." Philicia followed Thorin in the house they found the healer sorting herbs that Beorn had cut from his garden for him to dry out. "Can you take a look at her arm she seems to have injured it?" Thorin asked sitting Philicia on the chair."Tell me when did it start hurting lass?" He began examining her arm and shoulder."I was practicing with Thorin,I went to swing and I felt a sharp pain in my arm."She told him as Thorin pulled her braid to the other side giving Oin a better look at her arm. "It really hurt's."She said "Well it appeares you have a sprain. I am going to apply this balm it will make it less painful to move." Philicia looked at Thorin them back to Oin. "Do It "He commanded. The balm had a soothing effect upon contact and smelled like ben gay. "Doe;s it have camphor and mint in it?" She asked as she picked up the jar and smelled it. "Aye indeed it does ,do you know anything about the healing art's my dear?" Oinasked his curiosity aroused. "My mom was a great healer." Philicia answered him. Thorin looked at her urging her not to let to much slip out. When he was done Oin warned her about lifting heavy things for a few day's giving the muscle time to heal. " So no sparring alright." He said looking at Oakenshield. "Absolutly no sparring." Thorin chuckled his hand's coming to rest on Philicias shoulder's. Oin put everything back in his pouch and reaching for the fresh herbs he left them alone. No sooner did Oin leave then Thorin placed a soft kiss on her lip's telling her how good she did and progress should happen quickly. "Thank's."She said putting her arm's around his waist her head laying against his broad chest. He held her that way for a few moment's before tilting her chin up and claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss. "AH, so sorry" Bilbo said averting his eye' after walking in on them. "Apology is not necessary Master Baggins." Thorin said embarresment flooding his face as he stepped away from Philicia. "I have to go find Beorn anyway got to ask about what I can do around here to help out. I'll see you later Thorin." Philicia left The king with the hobbit. She found Beorn in his garden. "Excuse me, I was wondering since we are going to be here for a while if there is anything I could do to help out maybe I could cook or clean up ,I am a good seamstress." She looked up at the strange man. "I do have some shirts that could use some mending."He offered. "Great!" She exclaimed. "Bring them to me and I will have them done by tomorrow. And once again thank you for your hospitality." She started to leave when Beorn turned to her a bunch of fresh carrot's in his hand's. "Tell me Lady Philicia what are your fellings to Thorin Oakenshield?" She lowered her eye's before answering the skinchanger's question. "I really don't know what to say."She said. "The truth is all I ask?" Beorns gold eye's bore into hers . "Thorin means the world to me. I can't say how I feel ,there are no word's to describe it." Philicia's beautiful eye's misted with tear's as a flash of Thorin laying on a white slab of stone, Beorn standing over him, came to her mind. She tried not to cry but the scene from the movie haunted her and she knew that it would come to pass should her plan fail. "I'm sorry, please excuse me. She said running to where the trees were a sob breaking as she left. Beorn stood there a minute wondering what made the beautiful young girl cry. He took the bunch of carrot's into the kitchen and gave them to Bombur who was cutting potatos and onions for a vegetable stew he had planned for supper. "Where is Oakenshield?" Beorn asked. "I think I saw him out in the makeshift forge earlier ,he's up to somthing been there for a while now,him and Balin. "My thank's. Beorn said and saunterd off.
"What do you think Balin?" Thorin asked his lifelong friend and closest advisor. Thorin held the small gold circle up for Balin to see." If ye don't mind me asking laddie what is it going to be?" Thorin stood ramrod strait for a moment before plopping down on the stool he had been sitting on for the better part of the morning. " Balin, I seek your council." Thorin said figeting with his fingers his voice filled with emotion. " You know you can always talk to me laddie. I can tell something is troubling you. You can not hide it from me." The white bearded dwarf said taking in the turmoil on his kings face. Thorin reached into his pocket his hand seeking the little bag he had hidden in his trousers. He pulled the pouch out dumping the diamonds into his palm. " I bought these while we were in Hobbiton." Thorin told Balin."Those are diamond's Thorin! " Balin said his eye's full of wonder at the sparkling jewel's. "What are you going to do with them?" Balin inquired. "I am going to set three of them in this ring the largest in the middle and the two smaller one's on both of the other side's. Balin I am going to ask Philicia to marry me." Thorin spoke, his words carefully chosen. "By Mahal are you certain of this, Thorin!" Balin exclaimed his eye's big as a smile splayed across his face. " I know I have not known her that long ,I have not the time for lengthly courtship's." Thorin's ocean blue eye's focusing on the little gold band pinched between his forefinger and thumb." Thorin, you must be very sure of this for once it is done there is no undoing it."Balin counseled. "Tell me, and the truth laddie, have ye lain with her?" Balin looked at the king a serious expression on his face. "No ,I have not." He said not meeting his old friend's face. " Balin If I had never met her I would have taken the mountain possibly married a dwarrodame of high birth and made the best of it. Or stay alone and never know a woman's comfort and Fili be my heir. All that has changed now, I can not see the rest of my day's and that girl not a part of it. I love her so ,so very much It is like a need that can never be quenched. I am scared. I do not know what to do?" Thorin buried his face in his hands his shoulder's shaking as he gulped deep breaths of air. Just then Beorn came up to the forge. "Your lady ran for the tree's something frightend her for she ran crying." Beorn informed Thorin. "Which way?" He asked as Beorn pointed to the clump of tall trees near the edge of his property.
After Philicia had distinced herself from the house she sat on a old fallen tree and sobbed her heart out. The funeral images she had seen on her cell phone causing her heart intence pain. She laid her head on the log and cried her heart out deep gut wrenching sobs making her tremble as waves of sickness overtook her.. Philicia heard the snap of a twig and for a second a frightening felling took hold till the warm strong arm's encircled her middle. "What is the matter? Thorin asked as he pulled her to his bosom. "You should not be out here by yourself Philicia." Thorin's comforting word's penetrating through the veil of her tear's. "I'm sor-sorry." She stumbled. "I didn't want to be a burdon to anyone." Thorin tilted her chin up to his willing eye's as his large hand touched her on the cheek his thumb brushing away the salty moisture that fell with abandon. 'Tell me what happend, my love?"He asked. "I was helping Beorn in the garden gathering the vegatables ,I remembered a scene from the last movie." She met Thorins soft and concerend face. "And? " He requested his hand coming to the other cheek till he had her head within his huge hand's. "I remembered one day I was on my phone, I was watching the deleted scenes and they showed the funeral for you Fili and KIli and Beorn was standing over you. You were laid out on a slab of white stone surrounded by candles. It hurt so much knowing that's what's going to happen if I can't change thing's." With that she broke out into great gulping sob's. "It's alright my heart. You will find a way I know you will." Thorin softly leaned in and touched his lip's to her's. She opend her mouth as his tounge brushed against her lip's coaxing them to part . Philicia welcomed the invasion of his tounge as she thrust her's into his mouth also. They kissed a drawn out groan forcing it's self from Thorin's throat. They both were panting and between kisses as Thorin lowered her to the soft grass his body covering her's. 'I love you so much." She managed to get out between his fervent kisses. "Oh My love, my everything I love you too, I would be nothing without you." Thorin braced his arm's on the sides of her head keeping his full weight off of her ."What do you feel, here now?" She scanned Thorins eye's only finding tenderness and love there. "Last night how you made me feel , I can't explain it .It's like a a.." "A craving." He finished for her. "Yes." She said kisssing him ferverently again. " I don't know how much longer I can do this. I want you Thorin and after last night if that's what it is like to make love I want it and I want you. But I also want to keep my promise to my mom and dad ,to wait." Thorin kissed her again his hand's pulling her to sit up. "We should return Bombur had got food ready by now." Thorin stood and helped her up as and they walked back their hand's clasped together. "I am going to do some mending for our host and I was wondering of any of the company had anything they need sewn?" "I willl ask and bring it to you." Thorin said. So after a quiet supper everyone was gathered around the table , Thorin sitting at the head. Philicia was sitting next to the fire a basket of shirt's and breeches repairing the various rips and tear's in The skinchangers clothing. She had also been handed a pair of breeches that were Bombur's and a few shirt's belonging to Nori and Dori. There was also a large tear in Thorin's great coat she was planning having fixed before the night was up. An hour later most of the repairs were done .Philicia gave the articles of clothing back to their respective owner's and set to mending the rip in Thorin's coat. ""Are you doing better?" He asked her noticing she had looked real sad at the table earlier. "I'm ok now, Thank you." So the evening wore on as the company talked about the next step on their journey "Gandalf." Thorin started "Do you think Mirk wood is safe? I have heard of giant spiders that inhabit that occursed forest." Thorin sighed with trepidation in his tone. "Mirkwood is still the quickest route , we must stick to the elven path hopefully it is safe." Gandalf informed them. Philicia her ear's perking up hearing about Mirk wood deceideed she would tell Thorin all she knew about that place and the dangers they were going to face going that way. A little while later everyone was turning in for the night ,Thorin found Philicia asleep in the chair his greatcoat on her lap and the thread and needle hanging from her fingertip. He very gently too his coat and laid it over the chair and removed the thread winding the needle within it. He picked Philicia up and carried her bridal style into their shared room. Thorin seeing how exausted she was pulled her shirt off and then her jeans ,helping her into her pj's. He then pulled the covers back removed his mail shirt and only in his breeches and undershirt did he then climb in between the sheet's pulling Philicia up against his chest her back to his belly. "Sleep my love", he said closing his eye's.
