So, it's time for Arriah to get in some cardio.
Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue
Arriah sat on a rock just to the left of the cave, the stench leaving her dizzy enough that she'd had to sit down. The rest of the company were either inside the cave plundering it's riches or packing up camp. Ori had brought her pack earlier, as well as her two swords, and she was grateful to feel their weight again.
"Bilbo!"
"Huh?"
"Here, this is about your size."
Arriah assumed it was some sort of weapon.
"I can't take this."
"The blade is of Elvish make, which means it will glow blue when orc's or goblins are near by."
Ah. A fine blade it must be, too.
"Uh, ah, I have never used a sword in my life."
"And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one."
A loud noise from the trees broke Arriah away from Bilbo and Gandalf's conversation and she stood, alert and stiff.
"Something's coming!"
Thank you for that information, Thorin, I wouldn't have guessed.
"Stay together. Hurry now! Arm your selves!"
Arriah's hand was grabbed and she was pulled along. Thanks, Bofur.
"Thieves! Fire! Murder!"
She sniffed the air as Bofur dropped her hand. Rabbit, bird poo, and mushroom... Must be Radagast.
"Radagast...Radagast the Brown."
Arriah sighed and relaxed.
"What on earth are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you Gandalf- oh, Arriah! My dear, is that you?"
Arriah stepped to stand beside Gandalf. Or at least, she was pretty sure it was him.
"Yes Radagast, it is me. Now tell us, what are you doing here?"
"Oh- something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong."
"...Yes?"
...
"Just give me a minute...Oh, I had the thought, now I've lost it. It was right there, on the tip of my tongue."
Arriah raised an eyebrow. Radagast's voice changed as he spoke next.
"Oh, it's not a thought at all, it's just a silly little...stick insect!"
Arriah sighed.
"Come Radagast, we'll speak over here. Arriah you stay."
The huntress gave a nod and listened as the two wizards walked away.
"Am I the only one who noticed the bird poo? I wasn't right?"
Arriah giggled and turned towards Kili's voice.
"Don't worry, he's been keeping birds in that old hat of his for many, many years."
"Ah, nice to know."
Arriah shrugged and turned, listening in on Gandalf and Radagast's conversation.
"Now, a Necromancer, are you sure?"
Arriah's eyes widened. There was a rustle of cloth.
"That is not from the world of the living."
Arriah narrowed her gaze before turning and facing the wind. She was not liking the scent that was being blown towards her. There was a muffled sort of howl and everyone was alert.
"Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?"
"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf!"
Snapping twigs and growls came from behind her. Her eyes widened as warg scent washed over her. The beginnings of a growl began to build in her chest as she turned to face the beast. But an attack never came, instead the was a 'shing' of metal, and a whimper. She turned to her right.
"There's another! Thorin, behind you!"
There were yells and swords sliced through the air.
"Warg scouts, which means an orc pack is not far behind."
"Orc pack?"
"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?"
"No one."
"Who did you tell?!"
"No one, I swear! What in Durins name is going on?
"You are being hunted."
Arriah's hand fell the the hilt of the sword that rested at her hip. The other was strapped to her back.
"We have to get out of here."
"We can't! The ponies, they've bolted!"
Arriah breathed out deeply, trying to calm herself.
"I'll draw them off."
"These are Gundabad wargs, they'll out run you."
"These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try."
Radagast seems confident. I wonder what Rhosgobel rabbits taste like?
Suddenly her hand was grabbed and she was running, being led by her instincts and trust in the dwarves. Fili, you should know, the quickest way to my heart is food, not making me run.
"Come on."
It was all stop and go. On way, then the next. The company was quiet, save for heavy breaths and the clanking of packs and gear.
"Stay together."
"Move!"
They continued to run, Arriah stumbling every once in a while.
"Ori, no!"
They had stopped again.
"Get back!"
Fili led her forward again.
"Come on, quick!"
Don't rush me, Gandalf. Never rush a woman.
Arriah barely registered a 'where are you leading us?' from behind her as Fili led her on. Suddenly the red-head was pulled to the side and pushed up against a rock. Fili leaned in and whispered.
"Warg. On the rocks above us. Don't move."
She manage a nod. They were close, very close, and she could feel his hot breath on her ear.
She listened to the warg above her sniff and growl.
Ell to en, sae wolf, sho cosen ma di. Do not hide, little wolf, I know you're there.
Arriah winced at the harsh way the warg spoke Maywae. There was a shuffle of feet and the sound of an arrow whizzing through the air. The warg cried out and Arriah figured that it had fallen from the rocks, given the loud thump she'd just heard.
She was pulled from the rock and pushed back. The sound of metal cutting down the warg and its rider rang through the air and buzzed in Arriah's ears.
"Move! Run!"
And she was being pulled along again. Faster this time. Warg howls resounded through the air sending shivers through Arriah's body.
"There they are!"
"This way, quickly!"
Running, again. Well, I guess this'll count as my yearly cardio.
"There's more coming!"
Thanks for telling me, Kili. Arriah sniffed at the air. They were everywhere.
"Kili! Shoot them!"
Lotta' pressure for one guy.
"Were surrounded!"
Fili held Arriah's hand tightly, his sword occupying his other hand.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine."
Arriah took what she assumed were to be encouraging words and reached for her own blade. Pulling it from it's sheath with a 'shing' she let go of Fili's hand.
"Arriah-"
"Just stay close!"
She was no stranger to fighting wargs. This would be an easier task to complete if I was in my other form...but now's not the right time.
"Where's Gandalf?"
"He's abandoned us!"
Arriah furrowed her brows. No, he's still here, his scent it to strong for someone who's abandoned us.
"Hold your ground!"
Arriah backed up, bumping into whom she assumed was Fili.
"This way, you fools!"
"Bofur!"
Her hand was grabbed and she was led away. Bofur's grip was firm, he wasn't going to let her go.
"Sheath your blade."
As soon as she did arms wrapped around her, her feet were kicked out from under her and she was practically laying on top of Bofur as he slid down...something. At least that's what it had felt like.
She stood the moment he released her.
"You alright lass?"
Arriah nodded. "Where are we?"
"A cave."
Arriah nodded again, listening to the sounds of the battle above her. She would only admit it later, but she now turned to where she assumed the entrance to the cave was as she restlessly waited for Fili to be the next to slide down into the cave.
"Kili! Run!"
Three more slide down. Fili.
"Fili?" She was quiet.
"I'm here."
He was in front of her. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Worried?"
Arriah scoffed. No way I'll admit to that.
"Hardly, but if you died who would listen to my stories?"
"You haven't told me any yet."
"Oh, so it would seem... tonight then. Deal?"
"Deal."
A loud horn interrupted to two. Ah, that's an elvish horn.
Sounds of dying orc's and wargs erupted from the cave entrance. Suddenly Arriah was pushed back, by Fili she assumed, as she heard a body tumble down into the cave.
"Elves."
"I can not see where the path way leads, do we follow it or no?"
"Follow it of course."
Fili nudged her forward.
"I think that would be wise."
She stopped. "Thank you, Fili, but I need to speak with Gandalf."
The hand on her back disappeared. "Behind you."
She nodded and waited till the dwarf was gone.
"Gandalf, are we, you know, in that cave?"
"To which 'that cave' do you refer?"
"The secret passage to Rivendell. Which other one would I mean? I can practically smell the elvish magic."
"Then there's your answer."
So, chapter 7, and it looks like Fili and Arriah are getting closer. R&R!