Chapter Two
Cyril's POV:
After breakfast, we packed our belongings and headed out. And the first thing that popped in my mind was why Bilbo wasn't coming. I noticed when I woke up, the hobbit had not woken up. As I mounted Nigel, I rode up next to Thorin. "Bilbo's not coming?" I said. "I'm afraid he isn't. However, the rest of the Company is placing wagers on him if he's going to show or not." Thorin replied. I snorted. I didn't understand why they were placing bets on him. "So are you joining in on the bet?" asked Thorin.
"No, I don't gamble thank you very much. It can't be addicting and it can cause financial troubles." I replied. Thorin snorted. Apparently dwarves don't believe in anything about addictions. A few minutes after we waited, we could hear a voice calling out. "Wait, wait! I signed it!" the voice called out. All of us turned around and saw Bilbo running towards us, waving contract in hand. I smiled brightly. The hobbit handed over the contract to Balin, as the older dwarf looked it over. "Well, it looks like everything is in place! Welcome to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield!" said Balin, smiling at the hobbit.
"Give him a pony!" said Thorin, flatly. "Wait, that wouldn't be necessary! I can walk! As far as Frog mort.." began Bilbo, when suddenly Fili and Kili picked up the hobbit, and sitting him on an extra pony, and we moved out. No sooner as moved out, we had to stop again, because Bilbo had forgotten his pocket handkerchief. "Here!" said Bofur, as he torn off a piece of fabric from his coat and tossed it to Bilbo. "Move on!" Thorin called out, and we continued to press on.
I remained quiet for a while as we ridden that day. There wasn't much for me to talk about with the Company, really. By early evening, we stopped to make camp, and I helped the Company set up. Bilbo shortly approached me. "Uh, Miss Cyril, I got a question. I hope you don't get offended if I ask you." said Bilbo. "What is it, Bilbo?" I said. "What will you do when you turn into-well you know-a dragon?" asked the hobbit. I chuckled. "There is nothing for you to worry about, Bilbo. What I'll do is sit away from the Company for the night once the moon rises." I replied.
"I don't think Thorin is going to allow you to sit away from the Company, especially by yourself." said Bilbo. "Well he has to deal with it, and he should understand why!" I said with a snort.
After supper, the Dwarves told some tales, and there was even some stories about Fili and Kili in their younger days, and life before Smaug attacked Erebor. I smiled as I listened to the stories and couldn't help myself from laughing at Fili and Kili's antics in their younger days. I've began to wonder at times that they don't act their age. Kili however still behaves mischievously as well as Fili. Although I could see a lot of maturity in Fili himself.
After some storytelling, the dwarves took out their instruments as they started to sing and play music, even Thorin joined in with them on his harp. As the moon started to rise, I stood up and left the camp. No soon as I was about to leave, Thorin stopped me. "Where are you going, Miss Cyril?" Thorin called out to me. "Thorin, I cannot be around all of you at this time. I have to distance from all of you for the night, and you know why." I said. Thorin finally remembered what would happen.
"Just be careful, okay?" said Thorin. I nodded as I walked away. Thorin went back and played music and sang with the others. I turned into my dragon form no soon as I left the camp, and I flopped down near a tree, looking up at the stars. I overheard the company arguing over whom would take first watch. "Dwalin, myself and Nori will take first watch over there! Fili, Kili, you'll go on second watch after us."
I could hear Thorin telling the Company. Suddenly I realized Thorin, Dwalin are heading this way. Crap! Dwalin and Nori is going to see me like this! Thorin, what are you thinking of picking this spot? I thought to myself. I told myself not to move at all, so it wouldn't get their attention. But unfortunately, I was found-and of course by all people: Nori. "THORIN! Take up arms, there's a dragon!" shouted Nori, as he quickly brandished his weapon. "Nori! Its only Cyril!" snapped Thorin.
"What?" exclaimed Dwalin and Nori together.
"Its me, Cyril! Didn't you remember what Gandalf has spoken to all of you at Bilbo's home about my curse?" I said, standing up. "My apologies, Miss Cyril-we didn't mean to intrude!" said Nori, quickly. "That's okay, Nori. Don't worry about it." I said with a sheepish grin. "Just don't kiss me okay?" said Nori, as he took his seat near a tree. I rolled my eyes. "Oh, brother!" I sighed. "We didn't know you occupied this area, Cyril. Why didn't you tell us?" asked Thorin.
"Why does it matter?" I said. "Because it does, Miss Cyril. We don't want to startle anyone else." said Dwalin. "Dwalin, its fine really. Besides that, you will definitely need my skills by the time we reach Erebor to face the you-know-what!" I said, grinning. "HEY! We never thought of that way before!" exclaimed Nori, grinning from ear to ear.
"Just think, a dragon versus a dragon! We have a secret weapon to take down Smaug!" beamed Nori. Dwalin even smiled at this. "You just now figured that out?" I said, sharply. Thorin chuckled. "Yes. I knew all long since Gandalf told me first about the plan." said Thorin. "It appears that a certain two dwarves wasn't paying attention!" I said in a sing song voice. "Hey, we were too paying attention!" said Nori, sharply.
"Okay, its time that Miss Cyril get her rest. We asked way too many questions already!" said Thorin. "Thank you, Thorin." I said. "You're welcome." Thorin replied. And so I walked a few yards away from the dwarves, and laid down, as I dozed off into a deep slumber.
No one's POV:
The next morning, The Company woke up and continued on. Gandalf rode up next to Cyril. "Cyril, do you have a minute?" asked Gandalf. "Of course!" said Cyril. "I had done some thinking about your curse, Cyril. There is hope after all." said Gandalf. "Really?!" said Cyril in delight. "Yes. Once we make a stop in Rivendell, Lord Elrond may have the answers you need on how to control your dragon powers." said Gandalf. "Oh thank goodness!" said Cyril. Now Cyril couldn't wait to get to Rivendell.
Orc Camp
An orc scout approaches the Pale Orc, as the looked out over the scenery. "Sire, I found them. The Dwarves led by Oakenshield!" said the orc scout. "Where are they heading?" asked the Pale Orc. "To Imaladris, sire. But they are not alone. They got a wizard, a Halfling and strange woman with them, with flaming red hair. She appears to be half bred." said the orc scout. Azog's eyes widened in surprise hearing this, recognizing the description of the woman, as he recalled he had slain her parents years back.
"The Dragon Woman? You have seen her?!" demanded Azog. "Yes sire." the orc scout replied. "Track them down, and bring the woman and Thorin to me, alive. Our Master had been searching for this woman, and he has big plans for her!" Azog ordered the orcs. "Yes, sire!" said the orc scout, as the led the other orcs and departed from the camp.
Cyril's POV:
Later that night, we stopped for camp as I still processing the words Gandalf had told me. As I set up my bed roll, I could hear shrieks coming from the distance.
I recognized the shrieks remembering it was the same sound I heard shortly before my parents and my old home got attacked by orcs. Fili and Kili broke my thoughts when I heard them telling Bilbo about orc raids, just to scare him. I scowled. Orc raids was nothing to joke about. No soon as they ended their story, they chuckled softly, and I picked up a pebble and thrown it at them. "OW! What was that for?!" cried out Kili. Before I said anything, Thorin spoke up.
And the dwarf paced back and forth in front of them. "You think that is funny? You think orc raids are a joke?!" said Thorin, sharply. "We didn't mean anything by it!" said Kili softly. "You know nothing of this world!" snapped Thorin, angrily and he marched away from the group, with his back towards us. "There is a reason, lads, why your Uncle hates orcs very much." began Balin, as he began telling a story to them. I sat and listened attentively of the story, it was of Thorin in his younger years when he was involved in a battle against the orcs, alongside with his kin folk.
I could feel my own tears in my eyes hearing the deaths of King Thror and Prince Frerin. I only knew very little of the two, and King Thror, I have spoken to once or twice during my life when I resided in Erebor with my family before our exile.
I told myself, maybe it was time for me to tell them about my family. It would be difficult to do, but I needed to do that. "What became of the Pale Orc?" I heard Bilbo ask, once Balin ended his story. "The orc filth died within his wounds long ago. He is no more." snarled Thorin, as he returned to the Company, Thorin walked over and sat with me. Thorin noticed the sadness in my eyes. "Are you okay, Cyril?" asked Thorin gently.
"I'm ready to tell you about my family." I said loudly for everyone to hear. "Oh please do tell us!" said Ori. And so I began telling them from the beginning during my days living in Dale and Erebor. Then I told them of my exile because of our heritage, and once we left Erebor, we moved to the outskirts of the Shire and stayed there. That is when I told them of the Orc raid upon our home. It was after the orc raid, and the deaths of my parents, I was ordered to leave by the Thain, and from there, I moved to Ered Luin.
Thorin and the dwarves looked at me with pity. I could see the hurt in Thorin's eyes when I mentioned my experiences in Ered Luin. "Cyril, I know that was long ago, but I'm asking you to forgive me for the way I treated you. It was wrong, and I wished-I don't know, I wished my sister kept her mouth shut." said Thorin.
A small laugh was heard from Kili. "Thorin, she was only protecting Kili. Many mothers are protective of their children. Its normal." I said. To my surprise, Thorin took my hand. What is he doing? "Don't worry, Cyril. You will have a home. You will stay in Erebor with us!" said Thorin. "You really mean it?" I said. "I meant every word of it." said Thorin, a small smile formed. "I don't know what to say." I said. "Just say you'll stay with us, Miss Cyril!" called out Fili.
I laughed. "Alright, I'll stay with all you!" I chuckled.
No one's POV:
The next morning, the Company had set out, and it had been raining most of the day. There was some grumbling among the Company whom complained about the rain, but Cyril didn't complain at all, she was rather used to such weather, and she rode silently as she listened to the conversation between Gandalf and Bilbo about other wizards like Gandalf. As early evening approached, Thorin called out to the Company to set up camp near an old abandoned farm house. Gandalf, however was against the idea, and that they should make for Rivendell.
Even Cyril was for the idea of moving on as well. But unfortunately due to Thorin's hatred of elves, he refused, and wanted to stay put.
"Gloin, get a fire going! Fili, Kili! You watch over the ponies and Miss Cyril's horse!" Thorin ordered everyone. Cyril helped Bombur with cooking supper. "Miss Cyril, I want to thank you for hunting food for us. It was really nice of you." said Bombur, smiling at her. "You're welcome, Bombur." said Cyril. "See, that's why I'm glad we got a dragon with us. She can be our hunter!" beamed Bofur. Cyril just rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Once supper was ready, Cyril sat down with Balin and Bilbo eating her meal, and chatting quietly with the hobbit and dwarf.