The girls get an insight into Thorin, and start making friends with our favorite Durin Brothers!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, it all belongs to Peter Jackson, JRR Tolkien, and JK Rowling.
Chapter 6: Pranks and Stories
Isabella hadn't been lying about Arianna being clever. Embellishing the truth a bit perhaps by saying she was cleverer than Rowena, but not lying. Arianna knew that leaving the hobbit's home in a fit of anger was a very bad idea and that sleeping outside in the wilds where anything could get them was an even worse one. She realized that most of her housemates, had they been in a similar position, would have walked back into the house (hole?) in the hill and asked for forgiveness and a nice bed for the night. Unfortunately, her temper and pride refused that course of action. So she led Isabella down the little hobbit paths until they reached the outskirts of the forest. "We'll go a little farther in and start a fire" she said, turning around to look at her friend following behind her. "The fire should keep any creatures away from us." Arianna honestly hoped she was right.
Finding a little clearing, the girls gathered fallen branches by wand light, figuring there weren't any others around to see the curious sight. Laying the sticks in a small pile, Arianna muttered "Incendio", setting it ablaze. Looking around the clearing, she decided that they should take turns keeping watch, just in case. Telling Isabella about her idea and that Arianna would take first watch, she transformed two left over twigs into brown blankets, handed one to Isabella and wrapped the other around herself. "I'm really glad our magic still works here" Isabella mumbled before yawning widely and falling asleep.
"Me too" Arianna replied. She didn't want to think about what this incident would have been like if they couldn't use their magic because they didn't have it, not because they didn't want to use it around others.
Thankfully both of the girls were still in the Shire, even if no one from the Shire could see them, as Arianna was unable to stay awake for longer than 30 minutes after Isabella had fallen asleep. The most dangerous thing that got near them that night were a few moths that were attracted to the light from the fire.
"There you two are! I bet you feel very clever, having scolded the Prince of Erebor and then running of into the woods at night!" Springing up, both girls looked around, wands in hand. "Put those ridiculous sticks away, if they are even what you claim them to be." In front of them sat Gandalf astride a chestnut draft horse cross. "I have convinced Thorin that not bringing you along would be a greater folly then having you join us" he continued, gesturing for the girls to follow him and his horse. "Gee, thanks" Arianna said, staying where she was. "We don't need help from that insufferable dwarf."
"Yes you do. And he needs your help as well. No one has ever spoken to him in such a manner, except perhaps his sister, who is by rights a force to be reckoned with. That alone makes you both quite valuable" Gandalf said quieter, winking at the girls. "Now come along."
The girls followed Gandalf to where the others were waiting, already mounted on their ponies. "Isabella,' Gandalf said, looking at the taller girl, 'you will ride with me. Arianna, you can go ride with Dwalin, as he has one of the larger ponies of the group."
'Dwalin?' Arianna thought furiously. 'That's almost as bad as Grumpin McOakenPants!' One glance at Isabella confirmed that she was feeling the exact same way, however Arianna wasn't sure if she used the same nickname or not. Gandalf, either out of innocent obliviousness or just plain indifference, led Arianna to Dwalin's pony. The dwarf clearly looked like he would rather drag Arianna with his pony instead of letting her ride it. "Do you need help up my dear?" Gandalf asked, clearly ignoring the looks of hate Dwalin was giving the red head.
"No, I've ridden before. May I please borrow the stirrup Mister Dwalin?" Arianna asked, trying to look as polite as possible, all too aware that Thorin had turned and was now watching her. She figured that he was secretly hoping she'd fall off onto her butt and didn't want to miss it. Thankfully, she hadn't been lying to save face. She had ridden before, a few times. It was enough to pick up the basics, just as how to mount a horse. Placing her left foot in the now vacated stirrup, she did a little bounce and then hopped up, swinging her right leg over the pony's rump and settled behind Dwalin. Isabella, having ridden as well (with Arianna of course), did the same on Gandalf's horse. Both girls looked at each other and shared a secret smile. Poor Thorin would remain disappointed for today at least.
Isabella looked around, noticing that Mister Baggins wasn't with them. When she asked Gandalf where he was, he just stated that "Bilbo Baggins will be along in a moment." Several dwarves snorted at that answer, but then were silenced as they heard a shout of "I signed it!" and Bilbo ran up to them, his contract flying behind him. Isabella smiled at how eager and nervous he looked. He really was a cute little fellow.
"Well, everything seems to be in order Master Baggins. Welcome to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield!" Balin announced. "Get him a pony." Thorin ordered, his nephews obeying by lifting Bilbo up between them and placing him on a pack pony behind them, despite his protests of "I can walk! I have legs you know!"
They journeyed for the entire day until they reached a cliff of sorts. There was a steep drop off to the left of the girls with a cliff face reaching upwards farther to the girls right. Thorin stopped his pony, declaring that they would spend the night here. Ordering Fili and Kili to go get some fire wood, he had Ori and Dori tie the ponies up. Dwalin seemed relieved to be able to get away from Arianna, if one could read any other emotions on the man's face besides annoyance and disgust. Walking over to Gandalf and Isabella, Arianna asked her friend how she was doing. They weren't able to talk often during the day, as Dwalin enjoyed riding up by his brother and Thorin, while Gandalf stuck to the back with Bilbo and Thorin's nephews.
Arianna decided that she quite liked Balin. The older dwarf asked her questions about where she and Isabella were from. Arianna didn't want to give too many details, still very unsure about the situation they were in, but she did tell him that she and her friend lived at a school and didn't know exactly how they had ended up in Middle Earth. She told him about the giant squid too, thinking the two silent dwarves that were obviously listening as well might enjoy hearing about the creature. She wasn't sure why she cared that Dwalin enjoyed her stories, as she couldn't give a flobberworm if Thorin did.
"Bloody hell, Thorin is grumpier than Snape after I accidentally threw those porcupine quills into that Slytherin's potion!" Isabella whispered, once Gandalf had wandered off. "Come on, let's go sit over by Kili and Fili. They were very nice today and thought that you yelling at their uncle was the funniest thing they've ever seen." Grinning slightly, Arianna followed her friend over to the two brothers. They were leaning up against the side of the cliff, having quickly gathered enough firewood for a large fire. Bombur and Bofur were making some sort of stew and Arianna realized just how hungry she was.
Dinner was a rowdy affair again, with the dwarves laughing and telling stories while eating Bombur's and Bofur's stew. Thorin sat by himself, just observing his company and eating quietly. After dinner, the dwarves and Bilbo settled down to sleep, all except Thorin, Fili, Kili, Balin and Gandalf. The girls decided to sit up a little bit longer with the dwarf brothers as well. The brothers talked about their lives in the Blue Mountains, mainly about the pranks they've pulled on Thorin. Isabella and Arianna laughed, and Isabella shared various pranks she had pulled on her professors, twisting the stories slightly so that it left out her use of magic. She wasn't able to share many of the things that she had done, but the simpler pranks still make the brothers laugh when they heard about them.
Looking up, Arianna saw Bilbo standing up, obviously uncomfortable and unable to sleep well on the ground. Walking over, he stopped, his eye wide and looking around in fear as a howl was heard from the valley. "What was that?" he asked, clearly frightened. "Orcs." Kili answered seriously, glancing at Isabella and Arianna out of the corner of his eye. They looked very serious and each had a hand in a pocket. "They like to sneak into camps in the middle of the night, slitting the throats of those sleeping, and leaving behind nothing but blood and half devoured bodies." Kili finished, trying and failing to hide a little snicker as he looked at Fili. If Bilbo was frightened before, he was positively terrified now. He had whipped around though and stared at Kili, an expression of confusion and hurt on his face as he realized that the dwarf had been joking with him. Arianna was not as restrained however. Reaching over, she smacked Kili on the back of the head and whispered "That wasn't nice Kili! Just because you know more about the dangers of this world doesn't mean you have to be a jerk about them." Right after her admonishment, Thorin walked over growling "You think a night raid by orcs is funny, do you? You know nothing of the world!" and stalked off.
"Don't take it too harshly laddie. Thorin has more reason than most to hate orcs." Balin said, walking over to the four of them. And so Balin told the story of the Battle of Azanulbizar, in which Azog the Defiler swore to wipe out the line of Durin and beheaded the king, Thror. Overcome by rage, the young Prince Thorin attacked the Pale Orc. Disarmed and without a shield, the prince took up an oak branch and blocked the orc's mighty swings. Finally finding a sword, Thorin swung and cut off the Defiler's arm. Thorin then rallied his people and won the day. There were no victory songs or celebrations however, as the price of victory had been steep, with many of their kin slain.
"There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King" Balin said, finishing his tale. Thorin had wandered over to the ledge of the cliff, looking out into the distance. As Balin said his last line, Thorin turned around and saw that all the dwarves were now standing up and watching; Ori had a look of wonder on his face.
"What happened to Azog?" Bilbo asked. "That scum died of his wounds long ago" Thorin replied, walking away from camp.
Arianna shared a glance with Isabella. "I still don't like him." She declared, crossing her arms across her chest and leaning against the rock face. Closing her eyes, she tried to sleep… a feat made difficult by visions of a large white monster, holding a non-descript dwarf head up, while Thorin charged him, screaming his rage.
Time to go edit and upload the next chapter! No sleep tonight! Well... maybe a little bit of sleep. Eventually.