Kili slowly made his way back to the company.
"There he is. I already told you I never hurt him." Emilia said to Thorin.
Kili sat down next to her.
"What happened to you? Thorin was about to have my head because he said I'd killed you." Emilia asked.
"I needed a breath of fresh air, a moment to clear my mind."
Emilia let out a sigh and then she laid back on the ground wearily.
"You alright?" Fili asked when she began to shiver.
"Yeah, um, I'll be fine." She replied shakily.
"Liar, what's wrong?" Fili pestered.
"Just a bit cold that's all." Emilia answered before sitting up and wrapping her coat around her.
"Thee fire elemental cold, how is that possible?" Thorin asked harshly as he moved by.
"Why do you hate me?" Emilia coldly asked without looking at him.
"I hold a grudge against your kind, not you specifically. I have seen your people rip apart lives, homes, families leaving thousands dead in their wake."
"How long ago was that might I ask? Because the last time the Elementals rose to power was hundreds of years ago, long before you were born. My family never had the gift at that time. So please, the only one who still has their power from the last uprising was…" She trailed off.
"Demisrie." Kili answered sadly.
"Yes. Now Thorin, if you wish to speak ill of me, please do it to my face, unlike you do now, which is behind my back."
Thorin stared at her when she looked at him, there was something he had never seen in the assassin's eyes, fear and sorrow. She quickly turned away from him pulling her black hair over her shoulder.
Bilba stood up grabbing Thorin's arm, dragging him away.
"Why?" She asked when they were alone.
"Why what?"
"Why be so harsh on her, she's just a child. A scared fearful child. She has been through much, much more than she is willing to let on."
"I'm scared for my company. She's dangerous."
"You don't know that Thorin. She wants nothing more than to protect you and your kin throughout your journey. And yet you shun her away like she is nothing."
Thorin looked away at the truth of the hobbit's words.
"She's not like the rest. Thorin, she's not here to hurt you. Trust her, please, for me." Bilba pleaded, her blue eyes boring into his. She lightly touched his face. He melted into her touch.
"Just try for me."
"Alright, for you. But, of she hurts any of my company she's gone."
Bilba hesitated for a moment.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Back at the camp, Kili played with Emilia's hair frantically.
"Kili, why are you nervous?" Emilia asked.
"I'm not nervous." Kili replied, dazed.
"Bullshit, you play with my hair when you're nervous. And frankly I'm wondering how my hair is still attached to my head at this point."
Kili gently rested the long lock of blue black hair back onto it's place.
"I'm sorry. They've just been gone for a while, Bilba and Thorin. I'm just worried."
"Let them be, they're adults, they're don't need our watch Kili. They're fine." Emilia absentmindedly answered.
"That's not what I'm worried about. They're talking about you."
"And Bilba has my back. If anyone can talk to Thorin it's her."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive…" Emilia paused and whispered to herself, "I hope."
"I heard that." Kili retorted.
"Of course you did." Emilia replied sarcastically.
Kili began to think if he should reveal to Emilia about Caio and Aros, but he began to doubt it. Putting the thought away in his mind he looked at Emilia again as she braided her hair, pulling it over her left shoulder. She slightly smiled to herself thinking happily.
Kili leaned and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Why are you so happy at the moment?"
"Just thinking," she replied before turning to look at him.
"About what?"
"How I wouldn't want to be anywhere but here. I was just thinking, what if Gandalf hadn't come to if he had never asked for my aid? Where would I be?"
Kili sat there staring into her ink black eyes, unable to answer her drilling questions.
"It was more of a rhetorical question than literal you don't have to answer." She said plainly.
Emilia looked up and smiled when Balin walked over to them.
"Lad, can I talk with her alone for a moment?" Balin asked.
Kili nodded, stood up, smiled at both Balin and Emilia, and then he walked away.
"Hello, Balin."
"Hello lassie, I came with questions."
"Of course, I'll try my best to answer." She answered before Balin slowly sat down in front of her.
"What is the extent of your power?"
"You saw it months ago. Well, that's as much as I've conjured. Gandalf is still not sure of the extent of my gift."
"I see. I just wanted to tell you lassie, I never thought you were a monster."
"Thank you Balin. I'm sorry about that. I was just upset."
"You have the right to be upset, Thorin should have never judged you so quickly."
"It's alright Balin, it's not the first time. But still thank you."
"Of course lass. I also wanted to say thank you to you."
"Me? Why?"
"I've never seen the lads so happy unless they're around you." Balin pointed to Kili and Fili who were laughing along with the rest of the dwarves. Emilia felt herself smile.
"And I've never seen you happier." Balin quietly said in return.
She looked into Balin's kind eyes.
But the moment was broken by the loud terrifying sound of warg howls.
They warg howls sounded far away, but Emilia knew the cost of taking risks.
She looked around, the dwarves were frantically packing their things.
Gandalf stared at her.
"How far off do they sound?" He asked after rushing over to her.
"Far, far enough where we could get a headstart on them, but you and I both know the risks of waiting."
Gandalf nodded to her.
"Get them out of here, I'll follow closely."
She sent him a suspicious look before noticing something.
"Where's Thorin and Bilba?" She asked frantically looking around her.
At that moment Thorin and Bilba were rushing through the woods after hearing the howl.
They came to the clearing to see everyone packing up.
"There they are." Gandalf said. Emilia let out a heavy sigh of relief.
"Put out the damned fire." Dwalin commanded.
"I got it." Emilia said before silencing the flames with a flick of the wrists.
"Amazing." Kili glowed.
"Not the time." She retorted, swinging her cloak over her shoulders.
Kili snapped into gear.
"Alright, everyone. Follow Emilia. I'll be on your tail." Gandalf commanded.
Emilia nodded as she armed her bow.
Bilba and Emilia peeked over some rocks on a high ledge and watched Azog and his Warg Scouts running along a ridgeline not far away, occasionally stopping to smell the air in their pursuit of them. Not finding anything, they continued on their way.
Suddenly, Emilia heard a snarl from the side, and ducked behind the rocks.
"Stay down," Emilia commanded. Bilba fearfully nodded.
She peeked out and saw a large bear watching Azog from another pile of rocks, snarling softly.
Bilba peeked her head up too.
"Come on, we have to go. Now."
Bilba nodded before following Emilia.
They stopped in their tracks as the bear roared.
Their pace quickened as they dodged rocks, making their way back to the Company.
Bilba and Emilia had made their way down the rocks to where the dwarves and Gandalf are waiting to hear their spy report.
"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asked.
"Too close." Bilba started.
"A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it." Emilia finished, her hands on her knees, breathing heavily.
"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?"
"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem." Bilba said.
"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf exclaimed.
"No, that's not it." Bilba tried.
"Do you seriously think they'd see us. Really? Such little faith." She smirked slightly at Gandalf.
Gandalf smiled and turned to the dwarves.
"What did I tell you? Quiet as mice. Excellent burglar and warrior material."
The dwarves chuckled loudly in appreciation of the girls. Bilba looks exasperated that no one is hearing her out. Emilia felt the same way remembering what else was wrong.
"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." Bilba snapped.
"Someone had to say it." Emilia said as she pulled her hair out of the way to put on her cloak.
The dwarves look worried.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked.
"How did you…" Emilia gazed suspiciously at Gandalf.
"Ye..."
Bilba paused and looked curiously at Gandalf.
"Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger." Bilba stated.
"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked.
"Did you," Kili asked Emilia. The rest of the company but Gandalf looked at her.
"First time, I'm hearing about this… Don't look at me."
Gandalf turned and walked a few steps away.
"I say we double back." Bofur stated.
"And be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin said.
"I agree, they'll catch us before we even get a chance." Emilia said. It gained her a slight beam from Thorin.
"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge."
"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked.
Emilia raised one eyebrow slyly as a smirk crossed her face.
"Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us."
"Not again… What's with you and neutral parties?" Emilia questioned before rolling her eyes.
The dwarves looked at each other in dismay.
"What choice do we have?"
A roar split the night behind them; it was the bear.
"None."
"We're following you this time Gandalf." Emilia said.
The company was running through plains and across streams.
"Come on!"
"Go I'll stay in back." Emilia called.
The entire company stopped as the roar sounded through the woods.
"This way, quickly!" Gandalf yelled.
As the dwarves panicked and ran, Bombur looked on in shock until he is pulled along by his long red beard.
"Bombur, come on!" Emilia yelled.
As they exited the forest, they spied a house surrounded by a hedge in the middle of a plain.
"To the house! Run!" Gandalf yelled before quickly moving toward Emilia.
The Company ran across the plain; Bombur, the fattest dwarf, outran all the rest of them in his fear. Emilia was happily shocked by his burst of adrenaline.
They ran through a gate in the hedge.
"Come on, get inside!"
"Hurry up!" Emilia called after the dwarves.
They ran to the front door of the house; it was closed, locked. Bombur, who reached the door first, threw himself against it but fell flat on his back when the door doesn't budge. The rest of the dwarves caught up and began throwing themselves against the door, trying to open it. Gandalf and Emilia look back as a massive bear broke out from the edge of the forest and ran toward them. Upon instinct Emilia armed her bow.
"Whatever you do. Do not shoot the bear." Gandalf warned.
"Open the damn door!" Emilia yelled.
"Quickly!"
Thorin, pushing through the dwarves pressed against the door, managed to raise the exterior bolt, opening the doors. The entire company bolted inside the house and they tried to slam the door shut, but the bear had already gotten its head in the door. As the bear roared and tries to push the door open, the dwarves yelled and strained to close it. Bilba pulled out her sword and pointed it unsteadily at the bear.
Gandalf looked on in apparent amusement, Emilia took note of his happiness. The dwarves yelled as they pressed against the door.
"Why is this making you so happy? We're going to get ourselves killed."
"Not in the slightest chance."
"Of course." Emilia sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Come on, lads!" Dwalin yelled.
With a final heave, the dwarves managed to close the door and drop the bolt across it. They sighed in shock, fear, and tiredness.
"What is that?" Ori asked.
"That...is our host."
"Oh, by the Valar, no." Emilia replied running one hand through her hair. Kili grabbed her other which caused her to smirk happily.
The dwarves and Bilba turned to Gandalf in bewilderment.
"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer."
"That's not as bad." Emilia breathed quietly. Kili looked at her confused.
"Not now, I'll explain later." He nodded.
Oin checked his hearing trumpet to make sure he has heard Gandalf correctly only to find it smashed.
"Sometimes he's a huge black bear; sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overfond of dwarves."
The dwarves looked at each other in dismay. Ori peaked out a crack in the door.
"He's leaving!"
Dori pulled him away from the door.
"Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious: he's under some dark spell." Dori exclaimed.
"Don't be a fool; he's under no enchantment but his own. Alright now, get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Gandalf called.
"You sure about that?" Emilia asked, raising her eyebrow.
The dwarves started spreading out through the house. Gandalf whispered quietly to himself and Emilia.
"I hope."
"That's what I thought." Emilia said before moving toward some of the hay in the barn area of the house. She lightly set her stuff down.
"Are you nervous?" Kili asked as he sat next to her, setting his stuff down with hers.
"Pleasantly."
"Pleasantly nervous? How so?"
"I trust Gandalf, a lot. Being content now I'm alright, but I am still definitely nervous at that creature out there."
Emilia woke up next to Kili who was holding her tight. She breathed in deeply before smiling.
She slightly moved so she escaped Kili's strong yet comforting grasp.
But she froze when she saw the door open and close.
"Morn-" Kili began.
"Sh, say nothing." Emilia warned. Kili stared at the figure entering the home.
"Is that?"
"I'm guessing Beorn. So stay quiet." Kili simply nodded.
Beorn poured milk from a pitcher into Fili's cup. He was much taller than any human, even taller than Gandalf. Beorn addressed Thorin.
Emilia fingered around the glass distractedly as she listened.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" The skin changer asked.
"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin responded.
"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, but some he enslaved."
Bilba and Emilia saw the remnants of manacles on Beorn's wrist. Emilia felt pain for the man, for she knew the pain of being forced.
Kili saw the pain in her eyes, and she felt his hand land softly on her thigh. She softly and kindly smiled.
"Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."
"There are others like you?" Bilba asked.
"Once, there were many." Beorn answered.
"And now?"
"Now, there is only one."
Emilia heard herself sigh out of grief.
The dwarves, Bilba, Emilia, and Gandalf looked on in silence.
"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?" Beorn asked.
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf answered.
"You are running out of time."
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood."
"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need."
"We will take the Elven Road. That path is still safe."
"Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not."
"What do you mean?" Thorin asked.
"These lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive."
Thorin looked shocked. Beorn stood up from the table and faced Thorin.
"I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own."
Beorn picked up a mouse that had been scampering on the table and held it, all the while approaching Thorin. who was standing with his arms crossed.
"But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?"
"Ponies," Gandalf answered.
"A bath would be nice." Dwalin answered.
"Of which I can get you both. There is a river nearby."
The dwarves began to hop off of the tall chairs.
"I doubt you ladies would like to bathe with them." Beorn said to Emilia and Bilba, who modestly nodded.
"I'll set up two wash basins upstairs."
"Beorn, thank you, I know this wasn't a pleasant surprise. But still thank you." Emilia stated.
"I'm only guessing, but you passed were dragged into this." Beorn said with a chuckle.
"It's been prosperous," Bilba replied before looking at Thorin.
Emilia smiled at Kili who was playfully shoving his brother.
"You both found things that are worth much more to you than you're promised." Beorn inquired.
"I guess you can say that." Emilia replied with a smile.
The Company saddled and rode Beorn's ponies. As they rode away, Beorn, who was staying at his house, looked around for danger.
"Go now, while you have the light. The hunters are not far behind." Beorn commanded.
The company rode rapidly across the land, slowing to a stop as they approached a looming, gloomy-looking forest. Gandalf dismounted and walked into the edge of the forest through an ancient archway. Emilia stood watching the plain. Kili stood next to her.
"Are you nervous?" She asked.
"Are you?" He questioned.
She only nodded.
"Here lies our path through Mirkwood." Gandalf called.
"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin cheered.
"Luck is not what we need. What we need is time and possibly strength." Emilia called
The unladen ponies trotted away; Nori was just about to finish unsaddling Gandalf's horse when Gandalf emerged from the forest.
"Not my horse! I need it." He called mailing Emilia spin around on her heel.
As Gandalf strided forward, the Company looked up and murmured in surprise.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilba asked sadly.
"I would not do this unless I had to." Gandalf responded.
Gandalf looked at Thorin, then turned and looked at a dejected Bilba.
"You've changed, Bilba Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire."
"I was going to tell you; I...found something in the Goblin tunnels."
"Found what?"
Gandalf leaned forward curiously and suspiciously; Bilba didn't answer immediately, but she fumbled with the ring in her pocket.
"What did you find?"
Bilba stayed silent for several more seconds, then finally responded.
"My courage."
She removed her hand from her pocket.
"Good. Well, that's good. You'll need it."
"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me." Gandalf stared right at Emilia. Sh turned and crossed her arms.
"This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."
"Lead us astray? What does that mean?" Bilba asked Emilia.
"No idea."
"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again." Gandalf said as rain began to lightly pour.
Gandalf wheeled his horse and rode away.
"No matter what may come, stay on the path!" Gandalf called.