Chapter 14
Beorn

I woke up curled up in Fili's arms with sun on my face. I kissed Fili's bare chest. I go to get up when arms pull me to the bed with Fili hovering over me.

"You might not be to good sneaking out of bed, beautiful." Fili said. I leaned up and kissed him.

"I didn't want to wake you up. But I could get use to waking up next to you." I said.

"Same here." Fili said, brushing his nose against mine. The door bursts open and Fili and I quickly cover up.

"Mahal. Be glad its me and not Thorin or her father." Kili said. Fili growled and I giggled.

"Leave, Kili, so that we can get dressed." Fili growled. Kili leaves. "I wish we could have some peace and our own room where we aren't interrupted." I said.

"We will when we reclaim Erebor." I said, pulling him into a kiss.

"You'll make a life with me in Erebor?" Fili asked.

"Of course. I never felt at home in the Shire. Where ever you live, I'll live." I said. Fili smiled and we got out of bed. We quickly dress and we head to the dining room where a huge man stood getting the table ready with food.

"Your not a dwarf, but you smell of dwarf." Beorn said.

"She's my one." Fili explained. Beorn eyed Fili, but didn't say anything as Gandalf introduced us.

"Sit down. Your friends should be joining us soon." Beorn said. Fili and Kili helped me get on the bench. I saw Thorin sitting near me, but Fili sat next to him as well as me while Kili got on my other side. Beorn comes and fills Fili's mug with milk. He looks at Thorin. "So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"

"You know Azog? How?" Thorin asked, looking at Beorn in surprise.

"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the Orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved." Beorn said. I saw remnants of manacles on Beorn's wrists. I frown sadly. Fili rested a hand on my leg. "Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him." There was silence.

"There are others like you?" I ask.

"Once, there were many." Beorn said.

"And now?" I ask. Beorn looks at me with sadness in his eyes and a sad smile.

"Now, there is only one." Beorn said. I look down. Fili rubs my thigh for comfort. "You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?" Beorn sits down as he talks.

"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf said.

"You are running out of time." Beorn said.

"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf said. Fili takes a drink from his milk.

"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need." Beorn said. I excused myself just to get fresh air as Beorn talked with the others. I stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air. I heard some noise and I follow it. I Found some ponies eating some grass.

"Beautiful." I said. They were ponies that I never saw before. They were black and white with long manes. One came up to me and sniffed me. I smiled and stroked its nose gently.

"The dwarves never had interest in other races, but yet you captured the hearts of the dwarves including the one that holds your heart." Beorn said, coming over. I saw the dwarves getting ready.

"They aren't as bad as they seem. Yes they don't have good manners, but they are loyal and honorable. Fili will protect me till his dying breath. They are honorable men." I said.

"I hope they don't get to greedy around you. You have a warm heart." Beorn said. I smiled and hurry to go help the dwares get the bags on the ponies. Fili put me on one of the ponies and got on behind me. Beorn watched from the distance. A sound came and he turned his head.

"Go now, while you still have the light. The hunters are not far behind." Beorn said. I watched as we rode off as Beorn ran into the forest and disappeared. I closed my eyes and hoped he wouldn't be captured and that we would make it through Mirkwood.

AN: We are getting close to the elves now. I never liked Mirkwood. Oh well. Till next time.