Chapter Six
A/n: I've returned from my break, and finally a update!
And so that evening, the Company set out from Rivendell. Neniel had strolled silently next to Thorin, thinking over her mentors words, wondering why Saruman wanted her. "You're rather quiet this evening, Nen. Are you okay?" spoke up Thorin. "Oh, I'm fine, Thorin. Just got a lot on my mind, that's all." Neniel replied. Thorin nodded as they continued on. They finally reached the Misty Mountains, as they weather turned for the worst, as they climbed the Mountain Pass. "Now, we're in my kind of territory!" sighed Neniel. Bofur chuckled.
"What?" said Neniel. "It's what you said, lass. Its amusing. Never heard of a elf who loves mountains." said Bofur. "She's a dark elf, you git! They love mountains, and underground life." said Dwalin. "It reminds me too much of my old home. Except with less fog. We get a lot of rain, however." said Neniel. Neniel had no complaints about the weather, because was rather used to it.
Later, as the day progressed, the weather gotten much worse. It was raining horizontally, along with heavy wind gusts, lightening and thunder. Suddenly, something caught Neniel's attention: Two large stone figures, appearing to throw boulders at each other. "Bless my beard! The legends are true! Stone Giants!" exclaimed Bofur. "And if they see you being bad, they'll toss a boulder at you!" Neniel joked. "Hey? Who rattled your chain?" Bofur shot back, with a grin.
"We must seek shelter!" Thorin called out, as he led the Company further up the Mountain. Suddenly as they continued, Kili was further ahead of the Company when suddenly the mountain surface had split. "Kili! Grab my hand!" Fili called out, as he tried to reach Kili's hand. But no soon as Kili tried to go for Fili's arm, a large boulder fell in between Kili and the Company. "KILI!" Thorin cried out. Then a bolt of lightening struck the boulder, splitting it, revealing Kili on the other side of the mountain surface, as Kili jumped, reunited with the Company again.
Unfortunately it wasn't the end of their problems. They suddenly hear a loud cry from Bilbo. "BILBO!" exclaimed Neniel, as she ran towards him. "Grab my hand, Bilbo!" said Neniel, reaching out her hand to the hobbit. Bilbo struggled to reach for the Dark Elf's hand.
When suddenly Neniel lost balance of her left foot, and she slipped too. Dwalin and Thorin sprinted towards them. Dwalin pulled up Neniel, while Thorin carried the hobbit back up on the surface. "I thought we lost Neniel and our burglar!" panted Dwalin. "The hobbit has been lost since he left his home. He's been nothing but a burden, he has no place amongst us. The she elf is as nuisance as well! We'll stay in the cave!" said Thorin, leading the Company into the cave.
Thorin's harsh words angered Neniel. How could he say that about the hobbit, and then turn around calling her a nuisance? Neniel wasn't going to have any of it. Neniel angrily marched towards the Dwarf leader. "Thorin, a word with you now!" said Neniel, icily. "Not right now. Can't you see that I'm busy?" growled Thorin. "We're going to talk now, BUSTER!" shouted Neniel. "Fine!" said Thorin, as the two of them walked away from the Company.
Suddenly, Neniel began punching at the Dwarf. "You stupid, selfish bastard! How could you? How could say that about Bilbo? It couldn't be helped the both of us slipped off the Mountain! You are a cold hearted beast, Thorin son of Thrain!" shouted Neniel, as she walked away. "Where are you going?" shouted Thorin. "Crazy!" Neniel shouted back, as she walked out of the cave. "Is she leaving us?!" snapped Dori.
"Don't just stand there Thorin! Go get her!" demanded Balin. "She cannot be traveling the wild alone! Go after her!" shouted Dwalin. Thorin sighed, as he walked out of the cave. Luckily, Neniel hadn't reached below the Mountain yet. "Neniel! Get back here right this instant!" Thorin called out. "NO!" screamed Neniel. "Fine, if she wants to do things the hard way-the hard way it is!" growled Thorin, as he sprinted after Neniel.
Once he drew closer to her, he grabbed her, picking her up. "HEY! You put me down!" shouted Neniel. "You are staying with us!" hissed Thorin. "Why? So I can be a further nuisance to you?!" screamed Neniel, tears streaming down her face. Thorin looked at her face, he could plainly see the hurt in her eyes. "Neniel.." said Thorin softly. "Just forget about it." grumbled Neniel, as they entered the cave, and the two of them sat together.
"Neniel, I'm sorry-I didn't mean it-I was under the pressure of keeping everyone safe-I never meant to say those words." said Thorin, placing his hand on Neniel's cheek. "What of Bilbo-you didn't mean what you said about him?" said Neniel. Thorin remained silent. "Thorin!" said Neniel. "No, I didn't mean what I said about him. Nen, lets no longer fight anymore. I cannot bear it." said Thorin. "Agreed." said Neniel, as she laid back in his arms. "Just rest." said Thorin softly.
After Neniel dozed off, Thorin decided to remain awake, and he could hear Bofur and Bilbo talking. Great, he's planning to leave us. Neniel's right, I should have kept my mouth, shut! thought the dwarf. Thorin shortly took notice Bilbo unsheathing his sword, and it was glowing. Thorin knew what that meant, as he looked at his weapon, and it was glowing too. "Wake up! Everybody wake up!" Thorin called out. "What's going on?" exclaimed Neniel. Suddenly, the floor of the cave gave in, and everyone fell through the floor.
They landed on the floor, crash landed in a large underground cave, surrounded by goblins. The goblins confiscated their weapons and they dragged them to their leader, the Great Goblin. "Well, whom we have here disturbing my kingdom? Thieves? Assassins?" demanded the Great Goblin. "Dwarves, your malevolence, and a she dark elf." said a goblin. Suddenly, the Great Goblin turned his attention to Neniel. "You! You have been wanted by a certain old foe of the dwarves! Lads, take her away! Take her to him as a gift from yours truly!" demanded the Great Goblin.
At the same time the goblins dragged Neniel away, as she screamed, Thorin stepped forward. "YOU LET HER GO!" roared Thorin.
"Well, well, well! Its Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror King Under the Mountain! Oh, wait, you don't have a mountain-you have nothing! And it seems an old foe of yours has a price on your pretty head! You know whom I speak!" said the Great Goblin. "You lie! He died in his wounds long ago!" shouted Thorin. "Oh, is it that so! Uh oh, I feel a song coming on!" chirped the Great Goblin, and he began to sing. It sounded more like noise than it did a song. As he sang, the goblins dragged the Company to a torture devise.
Neniel's POV:
Several goblins dragged me out of the caves, and it had been a long and painful journey with this creatures. When the Goblin spoke whom this 'old foe' is, I knew exactly whom he was talking about. The same orc who killed my family and destroyed my home. And I will not allow him to take my life either. Hours went by as we arrived at the orc encampment. The goblins approached the Orc Leader. "We have brought you a gift, sire. In courtesy of our King!" spoke up the goblin scout. "Well, who is it?" spoke up Azog, in Black Speech.
And the goblins shoved me in front of them. Azog snickered.
"At last we meet, Neniel. I'm surprised you survived the wild, unlike your parents! But not for much longer! In the meantime, you will remain hostage with my scouts until I decide on what to do with you. I have more pressing matters to attend to!" said Azog. "Why don't you rot in hell, FILTH!" I shouted at the orc. Suddenly Azog demanded his orcs to grab me and tie me to a tree. After that, several orc guards remained behind to watch me, while Azog and the rest of the Orcs had left the encampment. I knew right then and there they were tracking down the dwarves.
I sat there, thinking of a plan to escape. I wanted to use my powers badly, but Gandalf highly advised me not too, which I didn't understand why. Another hour went by, still I haven't decided how to escape, when I looked behind me, I could see a large black creature heading towards my direction. And what I made of it, it appeared to be a bear. Well great! First getting captured by goblins and orcs, and soon to be eaten by a bear! Will this night get any worse? I thought to myself.
Suddenly the bear stopped in his tracks as he saw me tied to a tree. I prayed that the bear wouldn't harm me. As he drew closer, to my surprise, he bit the rope that tied me to a tree.
The bear is helping me! For the love of things underground, the bear is helping me! I thought to myself. After I was freed, the bear gave me a gesture, as if he was telling me to climb his back, so he would take me to safety. I agreed, and I climbed his back as he speed off. An hour later, we arrived at a large log home, and I entered. I felt amazed at all the wooden furniture that was carefully hand crafted appeared in the home.
I took my seat at the large dining room table, when a tall man appeared with wild looking hair and blue eyes. "You would have gotten yourself killed out there, woman! What were you doing out in the wild alone?" asked the man. I introduced myself, and explained my situation. "A friend of Gandalf the Grey? How interesting. Any friend of Gandalf's is a friend of mine. My name is Beorn!" said the man, as he extended his hand, and we shook hands. "You shall remain here until you reunite with your Companions again. Its too dangerous for you to be out alone." said Beorn. "Thank you Beorn." I said.
After a quick dinner, Beorn showed me to a room where I would sleep, an a washroom where I can bathe. After my bath, I retired to the guestroom and fell asleep.
No one's POV:
The next morning, Neniel woke up, with the sun shining through the window. And she could hear many voices talking from outside the door. How strange, Beorn has expected company? Normally he lives alone! thought Neniel as she quickly got dressed, and she decided to find the sources of the voices. As she entered the dining room, her eyes widened in surprise, when she saw Gandalf, Thorin, Bilbo and all the dwarves sitting at the table. "Gandalf! THORIN!" Neniel cried out. "Neniel! You're alive!" exclaimed Fili and Kili.
"No, kidding, boys!" Neniel smirked. Thorin approaches Neniel as he took her into his arms. "I am glad you are safe. Tell us everything that happened." said Thorin, as he guided her to a chair and sat down. Neniel told everyone her story, from the beginning when the goblins took her to the encampment, and to her encounter with Azog, and of Beorn's rescue. In return, the Company had tales of their own, with their encounter with Azog and his orcs. Beorn advised the Company to stay awhile and to stay indoors, especially at night.
And the Company accepted the skin changer's offer.
By nightfall after supper, Beorn had left for the evening to keep watch over his land, while the Dwarves gathered around the Great Hall around the fire pit, sitting on the floor. Gandalf and Bilbo both went to bed. Neniel sat with the Company, sitting next to Thorin, whom was in front of the Company, sitting cross legged on the floor and smoking his pipe. Suddenly, Bofur and some of the dwarves were in the mood for some singing and music as Bofur took out his flute.
Thorin found a lute sitting nearby and he reached for it, as he gently began to strum and started to sing, shortly joined in by the rest of the Company:
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.