A/N: Thanks to everyone who sent in reviews last chapter. I really appreciate it.
Chapter 9: Beorn
Bilbo woke at the crack of dawn, as was his habit, and said out loud. "What a dream." But he very quickly saw that it wasn't a dream at all. He saw sitting next to a large rock, and not ten feet beyond that was a cliff. He silently thanked the Gods that he didn't walk in his sleep.
"So you're finally awake Mr. Baggins are you?" said the voice of Gandalf.
Bilbo rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, yawned, and looked up at the old wizard. "What do you mean finally? It's dawn."
"Yes it is, and we've all been up for nearly an hour."
Bilbo looked around and saw that indeed all the Dwarves, as well as Harry and Luna were wide awake, and eating their breakfast…cold mutton, bread, and some cheese on the side. "Good morning Bilbo," Harry said. "Want something to eat?"
"Please. I feel like I haven't had anything in days." He replied as he made his way over to them. Making sure he kept as far away from the ledge as he could. He saw that Gandalf was talking to the large eagle that he had seen last night. "Did you both get any sleep last night? You both seemed to be really involved in your conversation last night."
"Oh yes." Luna answered. "We talked most of the night actually. Harry told me all about his life, and some of his secrets, and I told him a few thing more things about myself that he didn't know."
At this Harry just gave her a small smile.
"And we've decided that we're going to be a couple. After all, even with magic, you can't have children by yourself."
Harry, who had been drinking some wine from a skin as Luna said this, started choking. She leaned over and slapped him on the back a few times. "Better?" she asked.
"Yeah." He replied after he had caught his breath.
"As I was saying, we've decided to become a couple."
"But I thought you were before." Bilbo said. A bit confused.
"No, we were just very good friends. But he was afraid that it was too soon after Neville died, so he was keeping his distance," she added. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but it took some time to get him to understand that he wasn't betraying his friend just because he was interested in me."
"He died in that war that you were both in?" Bilbo asked.
"Yes." She said sadly. "Neville was a good man, one of the kindest people that I've ever met, and he'll always have a place in my heart, but he wouldn't want me to be alone."
"I'm sorry." Bilbo said, looking down. "I hope I didn't mean to be nosy."
"No, that's alright Bilbo." Harry said to him, putting his hand on the Hobbits shoulder.
"So are you going to get married.?" He asked them both.
"Not yet." Harry replied. "But we're going to see how it goes between us for now. Later? Who can tell?"
"Well if the opinion of this Hobbit means anything, I think you'd be good together." He replied, and then looking again at Gandalf asked," What's Gandalf doing?"
"Oh he's talking to Gwaihir about taking us down to the plains so we can continue our trip." Luna answered.
"Gwaihir?" Bilbo asked.
"The Lord of the Eagles." Luna replied.
"So…that means we have to fly again?" he asked nervously.
"Well it's either that, or you can jump. But if you do Bilbo, let me warn you. That first step is a long one." Harry joked.
Bilbo didn't like the joke.
"Don't worry Bilbo," Harry said with a smile, "I'm sure you'll be able to ride on the back of an eagle this time rather than have them carry you in their talons."
Bilbo frowned. "That's not much of a comfort you know."
"Bilbo, just close your eyes if and hang on if the height bothers you. We won't be in the air very long before we're on the ground." Said Luna.
-=ooo000ooo=-
It was another hour before everything was packed and the Dwarves were ready to leave. They packed up what was left of the meat from the night before, (not much of this was left) and the extra food that Luna and Harry had packed. They put in all in their packs as the Dwarves had lost theirs to the Goblins.
Finally the company was ready. Gandalf came over to them and told them that the eagles had agreed to fly them down to an open meadow they knew of that was about fifteen miles from the mountain. "They won't take us any closer to the men that live in this area because they would shoot at the eagles thinking they were after their animals." He told them. "But it will put us a long distance away from the Goblins that are looking for us."
And so one by one the Dwarves were permitted to climb on the back of an eagle for the flight. Bilbo was one of the last to go. He still wasn't sure about this flying thing. But he realized that he had little choice. Harry didn't tell him that he could have Apparated him to wherever the eagles put them down, once he knew where it was that is. He figured it would be better for Bilbo to face this fear.
Soon they were all in the air. Bilbo riding on the back of a smaller eagle and holding on for dear life. "Don't pinch!" his eagle told him. You don't need to be frightened like a rabbit, even if you do look like one. It is a beautiful morning with little wind, and what could be finer than flying?"
Bilbo was tempted to say: "A warm bath, followed by a hearty breakfast in my kitchen at Bagend afterwards." but he thought that might offend the great bird so he kept his mouth shut, and let go his deathgrip just a tiny bit. He did however open his eyes about halfway through their flight and saw that Luna was on the back of the eagle Lord. She was only holding on with her legs, her arms spread out and a big smile on her face.
Harry knew how she felt. He had felt the same way when he had first ridden on the back of Buckbeak, in what seemed to him like a lifetime ago.
Finally though, Bilbo saw that they seemed to be getting closer to the ground, and that the eagles were circling. He closed his eyes again and didn't open them till he felt a *thump* as the eagle landed.
Carefully, he slid off the birds back and said "Thank you."
The eagle didn't reply, but nodded it's head in acknowledgement.
He looked over and saw Luna gently hugging the eagle Lord.
"Oh great Lord of the eagles, we are eternally grateful for your rescue." Said Gandalf as he walked over to them.
"I have not forgotten the arrow that brought me down, so many years ago.
I have not forgotten the wizard who found me and healed my wound. And now farewell wherever you fare Gandalf. My your aeries receive you at the journeys end."
"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks." Gandalf replied respectfully.
But before the great bird left, he turned his head and said to Luna. "And you, Child of the Moon. May yours and your mates journey be a safe one. We will meet again." and then to the astonishment of everyone, except possibly Harry, who suspected the bird knew exactly who and what Luna was, he bowed his head to her before leaping into the air with a mighty flap of his wings. Luna raised a hand in farewell and Harry saw a tear slowly trickling down her cheek.
After the eagles left, they looked around and found themselves on a flat space on the top of the hill of stone, and saw that there was a well worn path of many steps leading down to a river in the distance. All of them gathered together to discuss what they would do next and where they would go.
"I always meant to see all of you all safely over the mountains," said Gandalf,
"and now by a good deal of luck, I have done it. In fact we are now a good deal further East than I ever meant to come with you. This is after all, not my adventure. I will look in on you all again if I am able, but in the meantime I have other pressing business to attend to."
The dwarves groaned. They had begun to think Gandalf was going in come all the way and would always be there to help them out.
"Not to fear, I am not leaving this very instant," he said. "I can give you a day or two more, and I can most likely help you out of your present plight. Plus, I need a little help myself. We have no food, other than what Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood so thoughtfully brought, and that won't last for too much longer. Also you have no baggage, and no ponies to ride. We are still some miles North of the path I had planed for you to take, and which we should have been following, if we had not run into trouble with the Goblins. There are very few people that live in these lands, unless they have come here since I was last down this way. But there is one person I know of, who lives not far from here. He is the person that made the steps down from the hill to the river. The Carrock I believe he calls it. But we must go and find him; and if all goes well at our meeting, then I think I shall be off soon after and wish you as the eagles say 'farewell wherever you fare!'"
The Dwarves begged him not to leave them. They offered him part of the dragon-gold, and anything else they could think of to get him to stay, but he would not change his mind.
"We shall see, we shall see!" Gandalf replied, "and I think I have already earned already some of your dragon-gold - when you have got it that is."
"So who is this person you're talking about Gandalf?" Harry asked.
"He is a very great person, and when I introduce you, all of you must all be very polite, and do your best not to annoy him, or heaven knows what will happen. He can be absolutely appalling when he is angry, although he is kind enough if humored. Still, he gets angry easily, so be on your best behavior."
"Couldn't you find someone a little more…easy-tempered?" asked Thorin, "and hadn't you better explain it all a bit clearer?"
"No I could not! He is the only man that lives this close to Mirkwood, and I was explaining very carefully," answered the wizard crossly. "If you must know more, his name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer. He told them all. "Sometimes he is a huge black bear, sometimes he is a great strong black-haired man with huge arms and a great beard."
"He sounds like Hagrid." Harry softly said to Luna. "Only he also seems to be an Animagus."
"I cannot tell you much more," Gandalf went on, not hearing Luna's comment, "though that ought to be enough. Some think he is a bear descended from the great and ancient bears that used to live in the Misty Mountains. Others think that he may be a man descended from the first men who lived here even before the dragons or even the Goblins came here from the North into this part of the world. At any rate, he is under no enchantment or spell but his own. As a man he keeps cattle and horses. They work for him and talk to him. He does not eat them; neither does he hunt or eat wild beasts. He keeps hives and hives of great fierce bees, and lives most on cream and honey."
And with that, the company set off.
-=ooo000ooo=-
It was the middle of the afternoon before they noticed that great patches of
Tall grasses had been turning to flowers. All of the same kind, and growing together as if they had been planted. Mostly there was clover, patches upon patches of it. There was a loud buzzing and droning in the air. Bees were busy
everywhere. Bees the like of which Bilbo had never seen before.
If one of those bees were to sting me, he thought, would swell up as big as Harry!
"We are getting close now," said Gandalf. "We are on the edge of his bee pastures. I think his house is just over the next rise. You had better wait here," he said to the dwarves. I will take Mr. Potter, Miss Lovegood, and Mr. Baggins with me at first, and tell him of the rest of you after he's accepted the idea that we're here."
Harry didn't notice, but Luna started to walk up the hill on her own. He did notice though when he heard a scream. "Harry!"
Leaving Gandalf and the others behind without a thought, he bolted up the hill, wand in hand. When he got to the top though, he found Luna perfectly alright. She was just standing there, tears streaming down her face. "Luna, what's wrong? What happened?" he gasped, trying to catch his breath.
Her only answer was to point towards a small open meadow. In it were about 50 small creatures. At first Harry thought they were rabbits, but upon looking more closely, he saw that these rabbits had small odd shaped horns sticking out of the their heads. "Luna…are…are they…"
"Snorkacks." Luna said with a hitch in her voice. "Oh Harry, we've found them." And then grabbed him in a hug that would have put Mrs. Weasley to shame.
By now though, the rest of the company had caught up to the pair. Alerted by Luna's scream, they all had their swords out, ready for battle. Even Bilbo had pulled his short sword out from inside his breeches.
"What's the matter Miss Lovegood?" asked Gandalf, and like with Harry, she simply pointed to the small animals. Gandalf, misreading her reaction simply chuckled. "No need to worry Miss Lovegood. They're just Billy-Bumblers. They won't hurt you."
Harry laughed. "No, no Gandalf. Luna wasn't frightened. She was surprised. She's been looking for these creatures for as long as she can remember. They're thought to be a myth in our world."
"You called them Billy-Bumblers?" Luna asked the old wizard.
"Yes. They're everywhere in Middle Earth. Some people raise them for food, others for pets. But most of them live wild as these ones seem to do."
"But if they're everywhere, why is this the first we've seen of them?" she asked.
"This is a protected vale my dear. Most Bumblers in the wild are afraid of men and so they stay hidden. But here, on Berorn's lands, where men seldom come, they know they are safe."
"Do you think they'd let me go up to them?" she asked. "I'd love to see one up close."
"If you try offering them some food, they'll probably approach you. But I warn you. If you do, you'll likely never get rid of the creature."
For Luna, this was all she needed, and turning to Harry asked, "Do you have any of the bread left that we brought from Rivendale Harry?"
"I think I may have some." He replied chuckling. He removed his pack and started rummaging through it. He pulled out a half a loaf of bread, unshrink it, and gave it to Luna who started breaking it up into small pieces. Slowly she started walking up to them, Harry beside her.
When they had both gotten to within a few meters, she crouched down and held out the bread on her open palm, trying to entice the small rabbit like creatures to come and get it.
Slowly one of the Bumblers inched it's way over to her. Protected vale or no, it was still being cautious. But as it got closer, it seemed to sense that these big creatures meant them no harm, and finally it came right up to Luna and took the bread gingerly out of her hand and started to eat it. This of course was the signal for most of the others to approach as well. Soon Luna was surrounded by the entire lot and she had to start breaking up the bread in smaller pieces so that there would be enough to go around.
She was so occupied be the little animals that she didn't notice as a very large man began to approached them. He was flanked on either side by two huge horses. Harry figured from Gandalf's description that this must be Beorn. He was indeed as Gandalf had described. Very large, very strong looking, and with a thick black beard. I was right. He looks exactly like a smaller version of Hagrid. Harry thought.
"They don't look dangerous. You can be off!" he said to the horses as he approached the group. Harry saw that he had a rather large, and very sharp looking axe propped over his shoulder. "Who are you and what do you want?" he asked gruffly, when he was standing in front of them and towering tall above Gandalf.
"I am Gandalf," said the wizard.
"Never heard of him," growled the man, "And who are these?" he said looking over the rest of the company.
"This is Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood," Gandalf replied, indicating Harry and Luna. "Mr. Baggins, a hobbit of good family and unimpeachable reputation. Also Thorin Oakenshield and his company. They are traveling East towards the Iron Hills, and it is only by accident that we are here in your lands. We were waylaid by Goblins in the mountains and had no choice but to make our escape this way."
"Goblins?" said the big man a little less gruffly. "So you've been having trouble with them have you? What did you go near them for?"
"We did not mean to. They surprised us at night in a pass which we had to
cross. We were planning on taking the Northern pass through Mirkwood when we were attacked. We only just managed to escape."
"Hmfff!" he grunted. "Very well. I guess I'm stuck with unwanted visitors for a day or two. Come up to the house and I'll find a place for you all to stay tonight. Supper is at dusk," and with that he turned his back on the company and strode off towards the cottage, axe still on his shoulder.
-=ooo000ooo=-
This is how, about an hour later, they all found themselves in Beorn's front yard with Gandalf telling the huge man their tale of their trip through the mountains and their encounter with the Goblins. Beorn listened to their tale without too much comment, save the occasional question. Although he wouldn't admit it though, he was beginning to get very interested in they're tale. He had once lived in this part of the mountains long ago, and knew that part of the world very well.
When Gandalf's story came to where they were all forced into the trees and the Goblin's horrid song when they set the trees on fire, he said "I wish I had been there! I would have given them more than fireworks!"
"Well," said Gandalf very glad to see that his tale was making a good
impression, "I did the best I could. If it weren't for the Eagles…well I don't know what would have happened to us."
By the time he finished his tale, the sun had fallen behind the peaks of the mountains and the shadows were getting long in Beorn's garden.
"A very good tale!" he said finally. "The best I have heard for a long while. If all
beggars told such entertaining ones they might find me kinder. You're probably making it all up, of course, but you deserve supper at least for the story all the same. Let's have something to eat!"
"Yes, please!" they all said together. "Thank you very much!"
Beorn clapped his hands together and four white ponies trotted up to him. He said something to them in a strange language, and they then trotted off. "Come." He told them. "Supper will be laid in about a half an hour." And then led them to a large table, around which was set chairs and polished log stools. On the table were wooden plates and drinking bowls. In fact nothing save the knives were made of metal at all.
There they had a supper, the likes of which they had not had since they left
Elrond's house in Rivendale. The torches and the fire flickered about them, but the table was lit by two large red beeswax candles. All through they're meal, Beorn told them tales of the wild lands on this side of the mountains, and of Mirkwood Forest which bordered his lands.
The dwarves listened with much interest, for they knew that they must soon venture into those woods. Harry told them that Mirkwood sounded much like the Forbidden Forrest back home, and though he knew they had to go through it, he wasn't looking forward to it. Whatever Luna thought of Beorn's description of Mirkwood, she didn't share.
When dinner was over, the Dwarves started telling tales of their own, but Beorn seemed to be growing disinterested, and paid little attention to them. They spoke mostly of gold and silver and jewels and the making of things by smith-craft, and Beorn didn't seem to care for such things. He lived a simple life here with his animals, and didn't care much for the happenings outside his lands.
They sat long at Beorn's table with their wooden drinking-bowls filled with mead and the last of the wine that Harry and Luna had brought with them from Rivendale, and soon the dark night came on outside. The fires in the middle of the hall were built up afresh, and the torches were put out.
Whether it was magic or the wine, Bilbo soon found himself beginning to nod with sleep. He had just nodded off, when he woke with a start. The door in Beorn's hall had creaked and slammed. Beorn was gone.
The Dwarves, who had all been sitting around the large fire, didn't seem to be bothered too much by this, and soon they began to sing:
The wind was on the withered heath,
but in the forest stirred no leaf:
there shadows lay by night and day,
and dark things silent crept beneath.
The wind came down from mountains cold,
and like a tide it roared and rolled;
the branches groaned, the forest moaned,
and leaves were laid upon the mould.
The wind went on from West to East ;
all movement in the forest ceased,
but shrill and harsh across the marsh
its whistling voices were released.
The grasses hissed, their tassels bent,
the reeds were rattling-on it went
o' er shaken pool under heavens cool
where racing clouds were torn and rent.
It passed the lonely Mountain bare
and swept above the dragon's lair :
there black and dark lay boulders stark
and flying smoke was in the air.
It left the world and took its flight
over the wide seas of the night.
The moon set sail upon the gale,
and stars were fanned to leaping light. (1)
They sang many other songs as well, nearly all about the dragon or about the loss of their ancient home, but by the time they were done with the second song, Mr. Baggins was fast asleep by the fire.
-=ooo000ooo=-
Luna smiled as they finished they're song. "I like it." She said softly to Harry. "It reminds me of when Daddy and I used to sit around the campfire when we were out looking for Snorkacks in Sweden."
Harry saw that while her smile disappeared, and her lower lip trembled slightly as she mentioned her father, she hadn't started crying this time. Luna was slowly getting better. He put his arm around her and pulled her into a gentle one arm hug. "I wish I had known him better Luna. He must have been an amazing man."
Luna didn't answer him, but leaned closer into the hug. She had brought one of the Snorkacks with her when they had entered Beorn's house, and she was stroking the small animals fur while they were sitting there listening to the Dwarves sing, and Harry saw that it seemed to give her a great deal of comfort, and the Snorkack for it's part, didn't try to get away. It just lay there contentedly on her lap as she stroked it's fur and occasionally scratched it behind the ears, just like a cat. It seemed to sense instinctively that there was no harm in Luna.
Suddenly Gandalf stood and addressed the company. "It is time for us to
sleep," be said, "for us, but not I think for Beorn. We can all rest safe and sound in this hall, but I warn you all not to forget Beorn's warning: You
must not stray outside until the sun is up, at your peril."
Harry saw that deep blankets had been laid out around the edges of the hall by the animals, and they had all been provided with pillows. Harry got up and walked quietly over to Bilbo. He took out his wand and levitated the Hobbit over to one of the blankets, and after placing him on one of them, covered him over with another. He'll be wondering how he got here tomorrow morning. He thought with a chuckle.
He saw that Luna had claimed two blankets and pillows for herself and Harry close to the fireplace, and had moved them next to one another. She was already lying down when Harry, who had just finished taking care of Bilbo, came back over to her. He kicked off his boots, and got down on his blanket facing Luna. The little Snorkack was in between them and seemed to be asleep. "Goodnight Luna." He said to her, and then summoning up all his Gryffindor courage, he leaned over, (being very careful not to squash her little chaperone) and gently kissed her on the cheek.
Luna smiled at him, and reaching up, stroked the side of his face. "Goodnight Harry." And then turning to the Snorkack added, "And goodnight to you too Fuzz." (2)
Harry blinked. "Fuzz?"
"That's what he told me his name was." She said in a matter of fact way that left no room for question.
Harry chuckled. "My mistake. Goodnight to you as well Fuzz." He said as he petted the animals head.
The hall by now was quiet, with only the sounds of the crackling fire, and the crickets chirping outside. Soon they were all sound asleep.
(1) Song taken from The Hobbit. Copyright 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien.
(2) I borrowed this name from Bobmin's Sunrise Over Britain.