The ride of the Eagles was a long one, and though Essence managed to close her eyes, she could not sleep—her beating heart refused to stop, her haggard breaths ceasing naught. The wind tore at her face as the sun began to rise. Her coat, battered as it was, still kept her warm and sheltered despite the chill.
She did not know how long they were in the air before she felt the Eagles begin to descend. She looked up, her eyes watering at the harsh airstream that blew at her. She saw a cliff, and realized that was where the Eagles were to leave them. She frowned—why they would leave them to climb all the way down the rocky terrace was beyond her.
A yell from a dwarf sounded from the air, some words she did not recognize, and the party let out even more yells in response. Essence braced herself for the landing she was sure would be harsh. She closed her eyes, sending a silent prayer to the Vala who had been still for her entire trip on the Eagles. She had felt his silence like a strong heaviness in her mind—he was absent. She knew not why, though it was perhaps that she had disappointed him in her past doings. Almost bringing herself to death had not exactly been her fault, although she was sure it was she he blamed.
Essence was dropped onto the ground, falling less than a foot from the air and landing gently on the firm rock. It was difficult to imagine that it had been just over twenty four hours before that she had been alone, freezing, in a cave, against such stone resembling this.
She gasped in surprise as another figure fell down next to her. She pushed herself back as quickly as her exhausted body could move, but paused when she realized it was simply the hobbit. He scrambled up to come face to face with her, and his tense face changed to a smile of relief.
"My Lady," he said, bowing his head at her.
"Call me Essence," she said softly, and the hobbit stared at the beautiful woman in wonder. "Your name is Bilbo, correct?"
"Yes, Lady Essence," he said, and she offered him a smile of kindness. He knew not how she could be so kindly; being nearly captured and thrown through a series of life and death events, she was still oddly compassionate towards him. After having been in the company of dwarves for so long, he missed the gentleness of a woman.
"May I heal your cuts?" she asked in an offering, but before he could respond, she heard Gandalf's voice yelling her name. She huffed, standing up and brushing herself off. She tired of being ordered around by this wizard. She strode over to see what he sought, her limbs feeling frailer the more she moved. Her boots were extremely careworn by now, and she could feel the rough stone beneath her feet as she walked.
"My Lady," Gandalf said, crouching over Thorin, who was not moving. As she drew nearer, she saw the slightest of breaths move his chest. "Please, help me. Heal him." Essence knelt beside the wizard, and he reached for her hand. She stared into his eyes, wrinkled and wise, and together they lifted their hands over the nearly unmoving dwarf. The other members of the company gathered around them, hoping for a positive outcome.
Gandalf began muttering a string of words she did not recognize, so she willed her power to temporarily be lent with his. Within seconds, the dwarven king inhaled sharply, blue eyes flashing open. Essence's opened as well, although she knew not that they had closed, and looked to the side of her where the wizard was smiling gratefully.
"Thank you, my Lady," he said, nodding at her, and she felt awful for being angry at him for his intense commands during her stay with the company. Gandalf wished only to do well for the dwarves, and she had been selfish.
"Please, call me Essence," she said in response, but it wasn't heard over Thorin's remark.
"The Halfling?" he asked, his voice rushed, and Gandalf smiled warmly down at him, disregarding Essence.
"It's alright," he said. "Bilbo is here. He's quite safe." Thorin began to stand, and Essence, out of habit, clutched his shoulder to make sure he was alright. The look he gave her in return made her immediately regret the decision, and he fiercely shook off the other dwarves who tried to aid him. Essence looked taken aback by his obstinate demeanor, but a glance from Gandalf told her to disregard it.
She looked over and saw that the small hobbit was standing now, looking quite relieved at Thorin's revival.
"You," Thorin breathed roughly. "What were you doing?" he moved forwards toward the hobbit, and Essence paled. She had no memory of what they spoke of—she had actually seen quite little of the hobbit while taking part in this journey. He had been strangely absent from the goblin mines, and she had been struggling against falling out of a tree during the recent orc attack, which left little time for her to introduce herself.
Bilbo's face fell at Thorin's outburst. "You could have gotten yourself killed." He advanced further. "Did I not say you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild? That you have no place amongst us." Essence herself was taken aback at his words, as were many of the dwarves by the looks on their faces.
"I have never been so wrong, in all my life," said Thorin, and embraced the hobbit, leaving Bilbo confused yet pleased all the same. Before she could even smile at the dwarven king's kindness, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Essence turned to see Gandalf behind her. "Gandalf?"
"Thorin will wish you gone as soon as he can have it," he said, his voice soft. "If you wish to help those in need, you must do so soon." He nodded at her, his hand still on her shoulder. "You must also discuss the means of your travels with him. He will give you safe passage through these lands to a place of hospitality, I am sure of it, but expect stubbornness from him and this company." His eyes danced at her, and Gandalf turned away. He left her then, and she stood, silently wishing she was not in such a demanding predicament. It was not that she didn't want to heal the dwarves—she just didn't want the consequences that came along with such an act. Essence realized she was being greedy of her own strength and power but it was so draining to restore so great an amount of people all at once, especially those which she was not comfortable with, and knew she would not be repaid or scarcely thanked by.
"A raven!" one of the dwarves said. "The birds are returning to the mountain!"
"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush!" Gandalf replied, and Essence couldn't help but let a small smile onto her face, despite her current disposition.
"We'll take it as a sign. A good omen," Thorin said, and Bilbo nodded next to him.
"You're right. I do believe the worst is behind us." Essence frowned at the comment, but looked down to her right as she saw an older dwarf with grey hair and some sort of ear trumpet tapping her shoulder.
"Yes?" she replied. She was running on nearly no sleep, and the company were all quite an ornery bunch.
"My Lady, will you be taking my place now?" he asked loudly, and she knitted her eyebrows in confusion.
"Excuse me?"
"I was the healer of Thorin Oakenshield's company, but will you now take my place?" she smiled down at the dwarf.
"No," she said, somewhat sadly. "I do believe I'll be leaving soon."
"That's a shame," he said, smirking slightly at her. She looked down at him in confusion, his bright eyes meeting hers. "You're a great lot better than I ever was." She snorted and he smiled.
"I was blessed by the Valar," she said softly, not thinking for a moment the consequences her actions might hold. "You needn't be intimidated by me; I'm not a simple woman."
"No, it appears not." Nori, the dwarf she had healed before, stood next to her and glowered up in her direction. Thorin turned away from his perch at the end of the cliff and made his way towards them, his stride intimidating.
"Let us travel forth now," said he, clasping his sword in his hands and sheathing it. "We may be able to reach the forest by nightfall." There was a collective groan from the dwarves, and Essence frowned at him.
"Thorin, you must take rest," Gandalf urged, and Thorin looked to him.
"They can travel to the forest, can they not?" he asked, staring across the group of dwarves. Essence looked around at each of the dirty and stinking dwarves. They looked exhausted—the younger ones, Fili and Kili, had dark circles under their eyes—many of the others might have had them too, but their wrinkles seemed to hide them. The dwarves were staggering on their feet, and Essence knew that a trip down the rocks forced by the newly energized king would mean death.
"They cannot." Essence spoke for the dwarves, earning a sharp look from much of the company and Thorin as well.
"Ah, and you," he mused, stepping towards her. "The question remains as to what to do with you." Gandalf looked momentarily disgruntled as the dwarf king moved toward her. "I believe we shall take you to the forest, and leave you there."
"Thorin!" snapped Gandalf, making the dwarf turn to him. "You will not leave this Lady for dead if you know what is good for you."
"I know she is not good for us," Thorin said, narrowing his eyes at her. "A dark magic lies upon you, I can smell it. These things you do are not natural." His mouth turned into a frown. "You are more powerful than any ordinary elf I know of." The air between the two of them was silent; the wind roaring was the only sound that could be heard.
"She is not one to disrespect, Thorin." Gandalf's voice broke their stupor, and he stepped forward. "Lady Essence was once an elf, blessed by Lord Mandos with extraordinary healing powers." Essence held her head as high as she could, attempting to look sophisticated. "She can do things no one, not even myself, can accomplish."
Thorin snarled at her. "You have no gift! The Lord of Death has not blessed but cursed you."
"In that, Thorin, you are correct." Essence's small voice was out of place amongst the shouting, and all eyes turned to her. "It is a curse, but only to me. My gift brings others only happiness and health." She watched his eyes dance madly—it was a wonder what exhaustion could do to one when left to gnaw away at the mind, wishing for sleep. It could compel you into reckless actions. "My King," she said slowly, moving forward a step so she was opposite him. "I wish only for safe passage unto protected lands." She smiled at him gently. "If you allow me to travel with your company, I will bestow upon your them my gifts for the length of my stay."
"She will be a valuable asset to your quest, Thorin," he said, then looked at Essence. "Travelling with a lady such as the Lady Essence is an honor." She sent him a soft smile of gratitude.
"Thank you," she said softly, and Thorin met her eyes. She stared into his eyes, her golden ones meeting his blue. Thorin's eyes seemed to soften for a moment, staring into hers. Perhaps he saw all the good she had done, and chose to repay her for her kindness. She thought back to what Gandalf had said, and how the dwarf king would come to an agreement after a great amount of stubbornness, and she had hope for a fraction of a moment.
Then his eyes turned to stone.
"We will travel with her unto the forest, then leave her." His voice was hard, and Gandalf let out a groan and looked towards the sky, obviously underwhelmed by Thorin's decision. She could not say that she was not. "That is final." Essence's face fell, and she didn't know if it was reality or just by her hope that the company was frustrated as well.
"You are making a mistake, Thorin," Gandalf warned, but Thorin turned on him, walking forward.
"I make no mistake, Gandalf." He refused to look at Essence as he powered forward. "We will move now, and make the forest by nightfall. Then the Lady shall leave us." The dwarves began to slowly follow him, nearly tripping over their own feet as they shuffled forward. Essence caught a very tired grey haired dwarf as he nearly fell over, momentarily forgetting her predicament with the grumpy king. He looked back at her, frowning as she helped Dori back onto the path. His frown turned to a sneer and he turned away from her, disgusted. "There is no place for elves amongst dwarves," he muttered, and resumed his march forward, Essence walking distantly behind.
A/N: I'm so proud of this chapter—2,222 words. This is the biggest accomplishment of my life.
As always, PLEASE review, and bless that anon who always leaves a kind review. I'm always scared I will run into a negative review (although those are accepted) but they have all been kind. I would really, really love feedback on how this story is working for you all, so I look forward to hearing from you!