Hey to everyone following this story. I'm so sorry it took forever to post this chapter. Writers block and busy life got in the way XP.
Chapter 15: Breakfast at Beorn's
The dwarves sat around Beorn's table. Their legs dangling from the seats, they all looked like little bearded children. Nova and Luna placed the large bowls, plates, utensils, and mugs on the table. A arrangement of nuts, berries, breads,cheeses, and honey combs for them to consume. No one moved, they didn't even breath. "Go on you all must be starving." Luna said. They looked at her then the food. Bombur heisted but took a piece of bread and cheese. The others joined in on the feast. Beorn walked around pouring milk in the mugs.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn asked.
"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asked.
Beorn looked his daughters, they retreated to the kitchen. The dwarves watched as the two left."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. Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him." He said.
"There are others like you?" Bilbo asked pointing to him and the girls.
"Once there were many." Beorn said.
"And now?" Bilbo asked.
"Now there's only us." He said in regret. The girls peeked in feeling bad. "You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn." Beorn said taking a seat.
"Before Duran's Day falls, yes." Gandalf said.
"You are running out of time." Beorn said.
"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf said.
"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." Beorn said.
"We will take the Elvin Road, their path is still safe." Gandalf said.
"Safe? The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not." Beorn said.
"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." Beorn said getting up from his chair. "I don't like dwarves, they're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." He said picking up a mouse that Dwalin pushed away from his arm. He looked at it. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?" Beorn asked.
"I and my men need another day or two of rest. Would you allow us to stay?" Thorin asked.
"We love to have you stay. We can help prepare supplies for your long journey." Luna said.
"You all must bathe first. Your body odor is strong to our sensitive noses." Nova said.
"Then we can set up proper bedding for your stay." Luna said.
"Gandalf. I must speak with you later in the day." Beorn said walking out of the home. The dwarves finally could breather an began to eat. They lightened the mood by telling the two girls of their journey so far. Luna and Nova drawn in by every detail. Millions of question adding up in their heads.
"You met the Elves of Rivendell? Was it a magical place?" Nova asked.
"Yes. you could feel the magic in the air." Bilbo answered. he knew the dwarves would speak ill against the Elves.
"Stone giants. Huge creatures." Bofur said stretching his arms high.
"We've seen stone giants before. They were migrating to the lower parts of the mountains. We use to travel during the fall." Luna said sitting on the ground as the dwarves stayed seated at the table.
Outside Beorn finished chopping up the wood. Crescent came back panting from the long run, Beorn dropped his ax an scratched her head. "My daughter, have you calmed down?" He asked. Crescent nuzzled her father. "Good. The dwarves are staying for a day or two. They need help." Beorn sighed.
Crescent fetched her clothes an quickly shifted back. As she dressed behind the chickens coop she asked, "Father, if the dwarves reclaim their home will we be able to search the mountains for more of our kind?"
"It was once the land of our kind. Very few may be in those mountains." Beorn said.
"Few is better then none." Crescent said stepping out. Beorn nodded in agreement as the two talked.