Hola! Thanks for the great response to my little interlude last chapter ;) This chapter is also a little shorter than usual, but I think it's a little closer to the usual length.
Loves to read books – thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it!
Forgive any mistakes please :P
Read. Enjoy. Review.
Chapter Forty Four # Burning Beorn's #
Kíli knew it was too good to last.
Their journey through Mirkwood had taken little over a week and there had been no complications whatsoever, save a slight cold on Bilbo's behalf. They bid farewell to Tauriel at the edge of the woods, though Elladan and Elrohir intended to travel back to Rivendell with them. Despite their relative amity with the elven twins, Nori and Bofur had been somewhat offended by the implication that they could not defend themselves in the wild until Elrohir had explained that they had always envisioned returning to Rivendell rather soon as they had not planned on journeying to Mirkwood for another few decades. Personally, Kíli was glad for the company – Elladan and Elrohir were amusing and surprisingly light-hearted companions for elves.
They had left Mirkwood and set out for Beorn's house on a brilliantly sunny but severely cold day, riding through the thin layer of snow with relative ease at the same comfortable pace they had maintained throughout the forest. According to Bilbo, Beorn had invited them to stay for a few days and Kíli was quite looking forward to it.
Their peaceful travels had been brought to an abrupt halt, however, when Beorn had charged out of a sparse section of woodland in bear form with an ear-shattering roar that startled the ponies, though they stilled when the skin-changer shifted before their eyes to the shape of a man.
The sinking feeling the twisted Kíli's stomach into knots would have told him that something was dreadfully wrong even if his mind had not got there first.
"You have brought trouble with you," Beorn growled in his low voice as his eyes burned with rage.
"Uh, we've done what?" Bilbo frowned, looking more than a little frightened to Kíli.
"There have been orc filth here and they were looking for you. Come quickly – you are not safe out here." The skin-changer's eyes scanned the woods and Kíli's heart began to beat quickly as his eyes flew to the spares trees around them.
"Wait, what?" Kíli urged his pony forward before Beorn could change back into a bear. "What are you talking about?"
"I will tell you when you are safe." Beorn snarled, and Kíli flinched away as the man's body morphed into the giant bear.
Kíli's pony neighed frantically and reared away but the bear made a low groaning sound followed by some odd grunt like noises and all of the ponies began settle, though they continued whickering nervously. In a flash, Beorn began to run back in the direction of his house and the ponies darted after him with no encouragement from their riders, moving at a pace that Kíli thought was far too fast given the snow on the ground. The ponies raced after Beorn for several hours without faltering even as snow began to fall until the bear charged behind Beorn's familiar walls and came out a few moments later in his human form.
"Get inside. Bring the ponies in with you." Beorn ordered in a tight voice and Kíli slipped out of the saddle and landed in the knee deep snow, grabbing a hold of Fosco's bridle and leading him into Beorn's halls.
"What is going on?" Gandalf asked Beorn tightly as the elven twins jogged in, looking rather out of breath from having run behind the ponies.
"Yesterday I found a small pack of orcs travelling westwards across these lands. I have never suffered orc filth to travel near my home, but these were not a usual pack of scum without purpose, and the last one to draw breath was rather talkative. They were hunting you." Beorn scowled, and Kíli realised with a surge of relief that the skin-changer's anger was directed at the orcs and not the dwarves.
"What do you mean?" Gandalf demanded warily.
"The creature told me that two dwarven princes was a fine prize for any orc and after a little persuasion he told me that it was a dwarf who told them who you were and where you were to be, though he did not know the traitor's name. What's more, the orcs were not alone – their group split up before I could reach them." Beorn looked to the elves. "I will go and hunt the others now."
"We will accompany you," Elladan's voice was grave and hatred burned fiercely in his eyes.
"What about us?" Fíli demanded. "We can fight-"
Elrohir replied swiftly. "By leaving these walls you put yourself in danger-"
"But we are not children, nor are we helpless." Fíli argued. "If we're out there we provide the orcs with a target and that will distract them!"
"I do not require any assistance to take care of a dozen orcs," Beorn growled. "They underestimate me. However, these orcs are more organised than most and they do not expect you to be here. It would be regrettable if you were murdered before you even passed the Misty Mountains, don't you think? Remain here where you are safe and we will deal with the threat."
Kíli watched his brother slowly nod and frowned slightly. While the younger brother was somewhat relieved that they did not have to go out looking for trouble, he was surprised that Fíli gave in so quickly. Bofur and Nori still looked dissatisfied but they too nodded slowly.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Bilbo worried and Elrohir drew a long sword with a wicked grin that was most unlike him.
"We will be fine."
"Stay here and keep the outer walls locked and you will be safe," Beorn instructed before pausing and looking sharply to the back of the hall. Moments later four little wolves tumbled into the room, racing up to Beorn excitedly and Kíli could not help but smile.
They were still cubs, though larger than those Kíli had seen when they had previously visited Beorn's home. As opposed to adorable little bundles of fluff, these young wolves actually looked like wolves, only much smaller – though while they barely passed Beorn's knees in height it looked like they would easily pass Kíli's waist.
Beorn looked down at the small pack of cubs and said something in a strange, guttural language that sounded almost like barking. The wagging of each wolf's tail slowed slightly and they looked between Beorn and the company, a sombre look coming into their eyes. One by one they turned and fled back out of the house until a solitary cub remained, turning its golden eyes towards Kíli. Its tail began to wag excitedly and it looked back to Beorn for a moment before bounding over to the young dwarf and nudging him excitedly with his nose.
"Hello!" Kíli laughed, automatically stroking the wolf's soft fur.
To his surprise, Beorn smiled wryly, the tension in his face lessening a slight fraction. "Luno remembers you."
"Luno?" Kíli's eyes widened in surprise and he grinned at the excited young wolf. "Hello, Luno! You've grown!"
Luno's tail wagged happily and he looked to Beorn with a soft whine.
"He'll be staying here," Beorn nodded at the small wolf. "But he is just a cub and if there is trouble you must let him flee."
"Of course," Kíli nodded grimly, scratching behind the wolf's ears as he met Beorn's eyes. "Of course…"
Beorn gave a short nod and looked to the elves. "If you are to follow me, you should do so now."
"Very well. We will return shortly." Elladan promised, following Beorn out of the hall.
Within moments, the dwarves and Bilbo were left standing alone in the skin-changer's house with Gandalf, several tired, skittish ponies and a happy young wolf.
"Well, this is just perfect," Bilbo groaned after a few seconds. "Just lovely! An orc pack before we've even reached the Misty Mountains – that is just what I hoped for."
"I'm more frustrated that we're sitting at home like babes while the elves and the skin-changer are fighting our battles." Nori glared at Fíli. "Why is that?"
Fíli sighed heavily. "What's the point of running into fights we can avoid? I for one want to remain as far away from battle for as long as possible – I'm not convinced I could withstand a severe blow to my hip."
"Well said, Master dwarf." Gandalf smiled, but Bofur frowned.
"But we have friends out there fighting for us," the miner hesitated. "Isn't that a little dishonourable?"
"I would not say so," The wizard shook his head seriously. "As Beorn said he is more than capable of taking care of a pack of orcs, as are the sons of Elrond. Besides, Fíli is right. You are still recovering from injuries that may well disadvantage you in a battle – it would be wiser to save your strength."
Not just physical injuries, either, Kíli thought to himself as he recalled his own numerous nightmares. He liked to think that his sanity could withstand an encounter with a dozen orcs, but he was a little unsure.
After a long moment of silence, Gandalf sighed heavily. "This news troubles me greatly and I do believe we need a little more information. I will return by nightfall."
"You're not leaving now?" Bilbo's eyes widened in disbelief and Kíli looked to Gandalf sharply.
"I am afraid that I do not see much choice, my dear Bilbo. You will be perfectly safe here." Gandalf declared, taking his staff in his hand. "I am merely going to collect some information about our little orc problem. If I do not return by dark, bolt the doors."
With that the wizard swept out of the door and Kíli stared after him in shock. Luno nudged at his pockets and Kíli looked into the dog's beautiful golden eyes.
"Well, we're in a fair bit of trouble now, Luno."
The wolf's tail stopped wagging and he tilted his head slightly, donning an expression that could only be described as sorrow. Unconsciously mimicking the wolf's frown, Kíli sighed and stroked Luno's soft neck.
"We may as well make ourselves comfortable," Bilbo sighed heavily. "I do hope the others don't take too long…"
Silently agreeing, Kíli continued to make a fuss over the wolf cub he had played with what felt like an age ago. When he finally went to sit with his companions, Luno accompanied him, resting his head on Kíli's lap contentedly. Kíli was unsure what he had done to deserve such affection from the wolf but he was grateful for it – controlling the terror coursing through his veins was somewhat easier when the soft fur of the wolf was passing through his fingers. Excitable and playful as he was, Luno's presence was nevertheless calming for Kíli.
As the hours wore on, the nervous chatter of the dwarves and Bilbo flickered and died, leaving a silence that begged to be broken lingering in the air. The sunlight pouring in through the windows began to dim and still no one returned. Finally, Kíli stood up and brushed his clothes off.
"Where are you going?" Bilbo asked suddenly, dragging his eyes away from his entwined hands for the first time in hours.
"To walk around for a while. Would you like to join me?" Kíli asked, and Luno stretched before coming to the young dwarf's side.
Bilbo sighed and shook his head, shifting slightly in his coat. "No thank you…I'd rather sit still while I can."
"Alright," Kíli shrugged, glancing at his brother, who had been staring into space for a while now.
Fíli looked up at him as if on cue and smiled wryly. "Do you want me to come?"
Kíli gave a crooked smile of his own. "Nah, I think I'll manage."
Fíli saluted in a show of false confidence, relighting his pipe with hands that he pretended did not shake.
Luno padded along by Kíli's side as he explored Beorn's large house, wandering aimlessly in and out of empty rooms. The wolf whimpered and Kíli stared at him.
"What?"
Luno nudged Kíli's hand and cocked his head, his golden eyes conveying questioning sadness to the dwarf.
"I'm scared," Kíli admitted quietly, glancing over his shoulder to ensure that there were no lurking dwarves in the hall. "I don't want to be hunted."
Luno moved his head in what Kíli could swear was a nod and the young dwarf smiled slightly.
"You're clever, aren't you? You know exactly what's going on."
The wolf blinked and yawned and Kíli laughed.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Suddenly Luno's ears twitched and his head snapped up to look at the door.
"What is it?" Kíli asked quickly, and the wolf sprang towards the door, growling viciously. "What's wrong?"
Luno darted out of one of the back door and growled, his hackles raised and his teeth bared and Kíli followed his eyes widening as he saw a dwarf, beaten and bloodied, staggering into the garden.
The dwarf's brown beard was stained with blood and his fearful eyes met Kíli's as he began to croak. "Help me! Help me, please!"
Kíli ran forwards towards the bleeding dwarf, calling out as he did so. "Bilbo, Fíli! There's someone-"
The young dwarf was suddenly cut off when two large dwarves crashed out from nearby bushes and seized his arms. Yelping in surprise, Kíli instantly began to thrash around, fear forcing adrenalin through his veins in a matter of seconds. "Let go, let go of me, help, help!"
The bleeding dwarf on the floor sprang to his feet and Kíli's eyes widened in terror as he realised that he had fallen for a blindingly obvious trap. He tried desperately to twist out of the strangers' grasp with every fighting technique that Dwalin and Fíli had ever taught him but no matter how hard he fought, their grip did not weaken.
Panic flashed through Kíli's desperate mind and he threw his body weight around as best he could, Kíli screaming out as loudly as he could. "Help me! Help, Bilbo, Fee! Help me!"
With a ferocious howl Luno leapt forward and lurched at the dwarf on Kíli's right, sinking his teeth into the arm of the young dwarf's attacker. As the offensive dwarf howled in rage and pain Kíli grabbed the opportunity with both hands and wrenched his arm free, punching the other dwarf in the face repeatedly, animalistic roars tearing from his throat until the other dwarf let go.
Immediately Kíli turned and began to scramble back towards the relative safety of the house but one of the dwarves threw something over his head. As it crashed into Beorn's door it exploded in a fierce flash of light and sound and heat and Kíli's jaw fell open as flames began to devour the wooden home.
He barely heard his own scream of rage and denial as he raced back towards the house, but he most definitely heard the whining howl of pain that came from Luno and he turned in time to see the little wolf crash into a nearby tree.
"Run!" Kíli roared at the whimpering cub. "Get out of here, Luno, run!"
With a forlorn howl, Luno darted out of the garden and Kíli turned and fled, but in the seconds he had spent ensuring Luno's escape his attackers had advanced significantly towards him.
Fearfully, Kíli wondered why his father, brother and friends had not yet left the burning building as he tore past the spreading flames and ran around the outside of Beorn's burning home. Another strange dwarf burst out from behind the corner and drew back his fist.
Before Kíli could so much as widen his eyes in surprise, the fourth stranger smashed his fist into Kíli's face. Blood splattered across his face as pain erupted in his nose and Kíli staggered backwards, twirling slightly with displaced momentum. Almost immediately a strong pair of arms wrapped around him and wrestled him to the floor and he roared, thrashing about as viciously as he could.
"Fíli! Bilbo, Fíli!" he bellowed, his neck craning upwards as he searched desperately for any sign of them leaving the house. With a start, Kíli realised that the house was no burning from both ends and he gasped in horror as the sound of another explosion shattered his ringing ears. "No, no!"
A muffled shout replied to him and he could hear Bilbo's screams from inside the house rising above the yells of the others. "Kíli? Kíli!"
"Bilbo!" Kíli screamed back, kicking viciously at his attackers. "Help me!"
With a growl, the bloodied dwarf who had so successfully baited Kíli seized the younger dwarf's arms and a lesson with Dwalin sprang to Kíli's mind. Taking a short, sharp breath Kíli twisted his arm and wrenched it around just like Dwalin had taught him, freeing his hand perfectly before kicking the startled dwarf in the groin. As the bloodied attacker doubled over Kíli dug his fingernails into the arms clenched around his waist, scratching the dwarf as deeply as he could as he thrust his foot backwards in a vague attempt to land a kick in the dwarf's legs or groin.
His efforts paid off and Kíli managed to wiggle of his attacker's grip, whirling around and landing a kick in the third dwarf's stomach before sprinting towards the burning house with no idea as to what he thought he could possibly do.
A hand tightened around his hair and wrenched him backwards and Kíli cried out in pain. A thick arm wound its way around Kíli's neck and he gasped in horror as it began to tighten quickly. Kíli scrambled hopelessly in his attacker's grip as he gasped for air, but the other dwarf was clearly far stronger than him and the world began to spin as less and less air made its way into his lungs.
Soon his desperate struggles began to weaken and the fear fuelling his speeding heart began to blind him. He tried to beg but he could not even choke and Kíli Baggins lost consciousness with the stench of smoke in his nose and the screams of his burning family in his ears.
Du du duh!
I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Let me know if you did! I hope it doesn't seem too rushed? I quite like all the aspects of it but the overall thing isn't my favourite...anyway, I'll stop moaning - thanks for reading :D
